2017 Seat Ateca warning light

Intelligent technology
The retract function may not operate properly
in v
ery dirty belts. Make sure that the inertia
reel seat belts are completely dry before al-
lowing them to retract. CAUTION
● Do not r

emove the seat belts from the vehi-
cle to clean them.
● Do not use chemical cleaning agents on the
seat
belts, as this can damage the webbing.
Ensure that the seat belts do not come into
contact with corrosive fluids.
● If you find any damage to the belt webbing,
belt fittin
gs, the belt retractor or the buckle,
the belt in question must be replaced by a
specialised workshop. Intelligent technology
El ectr

omechanical steering Electro-mechanical power steering assists
the driv
er when s

teering.
Electro-mechanical power steering adapts
electronically to the speed of the car, torque
and turning angle.
If the power steering should fail at any time
or the engine is switched off (for instance
when being towed), the car can still be
steered. However, more effort than normal
will be required to turn the steering wheel.
Driver warning lamps and messages  (in red) Faulty steering! To
park the vehicle
If the warning lamp remains on and the driver
indication appears, the power steering could
be faulty.
Do not continue driving. Seek specialist as-
sistance.  (in yellow) Steering: System
fault! You may continue driving.
If the warning lamp comes on, the steering
could react with more difficultly or more sen-
sitivity than normal. In addition, when driving
in a straight line the steering wheel may be
off-centre. Drive slowly to a specialised workshop and
h
av

e the fault repaired.
 (in yellow) Steering lock:
fault! Go to an Official Service
The electronic steering lock is malfunction-
ing.
Go to a specialised workshop as soon as
possible and have the fault repaired. WARNING
Take it immediately to a specialised work-
shop and h av

e the fault repaired: risk of acci-
dent! Note
If the lamp  (in red) or el
se  (in yellow)
lights up briefly, you may continue driving. Four-wheel drive
3
V
alid for vehicles: with four-wheel drive
On four-wheel drive models, the engine pow-
er is distributed to all four wheels
General notes
On four-wheel drive vehicles, the engine
power is distributed to all four wheels. The
distribution of power is controlled automati-
cally according to your driving style and the
road conditions. Also see ›››
page 173. »
273
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
You may also notice that the engine runs at a
s lightly
faster idling speed when necessary.
This is quite normal, and no cause for con-
cern. The increased idling speed allows the
alternator to meet the greater power require-
ment and charge the battery at the same
time. Checking and refilling levels
Fi l
ling the tank
Filling up Read the additional information carefully
› ›

›  page 48
If the automatic filler nozzle is operated cor-
rectly, it will switch itself off as soon as the
fuel tank is “full”. Do not try to put in more
fuel after the nozzle cuts out, as this will fill
the expansion chamber in the fuel tank.
The correct fuel grade for your vehicle is giv-
en on a sticker on the inside of the fuel tank
flap. Further notes on fuel can be found at
››› page 277.
The capacity of your vehicle's fuel tank is giv-
en in ›››
 page 48. WARNING
Fuel is highly flammable and can cause seri-
ou s

burns and other injuries.
● When refuelling, turn off the engine, the
auxi
liary heater ››› page 161 and turn off the
ignition for safety reasons.
● Do not smoke when filling the fuel tank or a
cani
ster. Naked flames are forbidden in the
vicinity due to the risk of explosion. ●
Ob

serve legislation governing the use,
storage and carrying of a spare fuel canister
in the vehicle.
● For safety reasons we do not recommend
carr
ying a spare fuel canister in the vehicle.
In an accident the canister could be damaged
and could leak.
● If, in exceptional circumstances, you have
to c
arry a spare fuel canister, please observe
the following points:
– Never fill fuel into the spare fuel canister
if it is inside or on top of the vehicle. An
electrostatic charge could build up during
filling, causing the fuel vapour to ignite.
Danger of explosion. Always place the
canister on the ground to fill it.
– Insert the filling nozzle as far as possible
into the spare fuel canister.
– If the spare fuel canister is made of met-
al, the filling nozzle must be in contact
with the canister during filling. This
helps prevent an electrostatic charge
building up.
– Never spill fuel in the vehicle or in the
luggage compartment. Fuel vapour is ex-
plosive. Risk of fatal accident! CAUTION
● If an

y fuel is spilt onto the vehicle, it
should be removed immediately. It could oth-
erwise damage the paintwork.
● Never run the tank completely dry. An irreg-
ul

ar fuel supply could cause misfiring. As a 276

Checking and refilling levels
CAUTION
● The v
ehicle is not designed for the use of
FAME fuel (biodiesel). The fuel system would
be damaged if you used biodiesel.
● Do not mix fuel additives, the so-called
“thinners”, petr
ol or similar additives with
diesel fuel.
● If poor-quality diesel fuel is used, it may be
nece
ssary to drain the fuel filter more fre-
quently than is specified in the Maintenance
Programme. We recommend having this done
by a specialised workshop. If water is allowed
to collect in the filter, this can cause engine
performance problems. Exhaust purification system for
v
ehic

les with diesel engines
(AdBlue ®
)
Introduction To reduce emissions, SCR (Selective Catalytic
R
eduction) c

an be used in vehicles with die-
sel engines. Through the special urea solu-
tion AdBlue ®
, SCR transforms nitrogen ox-
ides into nitrogen and water.
AdBlue ®
is stored in a separate tank in the
vehicle ›››
page 280. WARNING
If the level of AdBlue ®
is
too low and the igni-
tion is switched off, it will no longer be possi-
ble to re-start the engine. Not even by jump-
starting the car!
● Insert enough AdBlue ®
when the dis
tance
to empty is approx. 1000 km, at the latest.
● Never run the AdBlue ®
tank
completely dry. WARNING
AdBlue ®
is an irritant, corrosive liquid that
c
an cause injuries if it comes into contact
with the skin, eyes or respiratory organs.
● Before opening an AdBlue ®
rec
ipient, al-
ways take the manufacturer's instructions for
use into account. If the instructions are fol-
lowed correctly, it is not likely that the user
will come into contact with AdBlue ®
.
● If AdBlue ®
come
s into contact with your
eyes, rinse it immediately with plenty of wa-
ter for at least 15 minutes before seeking
medical attention.
● If AdBlue ®
come
s into contact with your
skin, rinse with water for at least 15 minutes
and, in case of skin irritation, seek medical
attention immediately.
● If you accidentally swallow AdBlue ®
, rinse
y

our mouth with plenty of water for at least
15 minutes. Do not induce vomiting unless
advised to by a doctor. Seek immediate medi-
cal attention. CAUTION
AdBlue ®
m ay damage the vehicle's painted
s
urfaces, plastic, upholstery and carpet,
among other things. In case of a spill, clean it
as soon as possible with a damp cloth and
plenty of cold water.
● Remove the AdBlue ®
that
has crystallised
with hot water and a sponge. Warning and control lamps

It lights up red
Unable to start
the engine! The
level of AdBlue is
too low.Park the vehicle on level ground,
taking the appropriate and neces-
sary safety precautions and fill the
tank with the necessary minimum
amount of AdBlue ®
››› page 280. 
It lights up yellow
AdBlue
®
level is
low.
Fill tank with AdBlue ®
before the
indicated number of kilometres
››› page 280. SEAT recommends
contacting a specialised work-
shop.
» 279
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
together with

It lights up red
Unable to start
the engine! There
is a fault in the
AdBlue ®
system.Visit a specialised workshop with-
out switching the ignition off and
on, and have the system checked. 
together with

It lights up yellow
The AdBlue
®
system
is malfunctioning or
has been filled with
AdBlue ®
that does
not meet the prescri-
bed standard.
Immediately consult a special-
ised workshop and have the
system checked. Some warning and control lamps will light up
briefly
when the ignition i

s switched on to
check certain functions. They will switch off
after a few seconds. WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ››
› in Warning
and c ontr
ol lamps on page 107. Information on AdBlue
®The consumption of AdBlue
®
depend s

on
your personal driving style, the temperature of the system and on the outdoor tempera-
tur

e when the vehicle is used.
AdBlue ®
freezes at temperatures of -11°C
(+13°F). The system has heating elements
that guarantee its operation even at low tem-
peratures.
The AdBlue ®
tank level capacity is approxi-
mately 12 litres.
The minimum amount to be poured in (as-
suming the tank is empty) is indicated on the
AdBlue ®
sticker located on the floor of the
luggage compartment.
The AdBlue ®
tank should never be empty.
When the distance to empty drops below
2400 km, a warning to refill the AdBlue ®
tank
will appear on the dash panel display
››› page 280. If this information is ignored, it
will later no longer be possible to re-start the
engine ››› in Introduction on page 279. If
thi s

warning does not appear, it is not neces-
sary to refill the AdBlue ®
tank.
AdBlue ®
is a registered brand of the German
Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA)
and is also known as AUS32 or DEF (Diesel
Exhaust Fluid). CAUTION
Filling the AdBlue ®
tank
excessively can
cause damage to the tank.
● SEAT recommends refilling the AdBlue ®
tank
at a specialised workshop. Refilling AdBlue
® Fig. 220
AdBlue tank cap. Operations prior to refilling
P
ark

the vehicle on a flat surface. If the vehi-
cle is not parked on a flat surface, but, for ex-
ample, on a slope or on the side of a curb,
the level indicator may not detect the load
properly.
If a warning message about AdBlue ®
levels
appears on the dash panel display, fill at
least the minimum amount required (approx.
5.7 litres). Only after adding this amount will
the system detect that AdBlue ®
has been
added and you will be able to start the en-
gine again. The maximum amount that can
be refilled is 12 litres.
Switch the ignition off. If the ignition is
switched off during refilling, the warning to
refill may continue to appear on the instru-
ment panel display.
280

Checking and refilling levels
WARNING
● Sw it
ch the engine off, remove the key from
the ignition and apply the hand brake. If the
vehicle has a manual gearbox, place the lever
in neutral; if it has an automatic gearbox,
place the selector lever in position P. Wait for
the engine to cool down.
● Keep children away from the engine com-
par
tment.
● Never spill liquids used for vehicle opera-
tion on the engine c
ompartment, as these
may catch fire (e.g. the antifreeze in coolant).
● Take care not to cause short circuits in the
electric
al system, especially when working
on the battery.
● If working inside the engine compartment,
remember th
at, even when the ignition is
switched off, the radiator fan may start up au-
tomatically, and therefore there is a risk of in-
jury.
● Never cover the engine with additional in-
su
lating materials such as a blanket. Risk of
fire!
● Do not unscrew the cap on the coolant ex-
pan
sion tank when the engine is hot. The
cooling system is under pressure.
● Protect face, hands and arms by covering
the cap w
ith a large, thick rag to protect
against escaping coolant and steam.
● If it is necessary to work in the engine com-
par
tment while the engine is running, the ro-
tating components (for example, poly-V belt, alternator, radiator fan) and the high voltage
ignition sy
s

tem are an additional hazard.
● Observe the following additional warnings
if w
ork on the fuel system or the electrical
system is necessary:
– Always disconnect the battery from the
on-board network.
– Do not smoke.
– Never work near naked flames.
– Always keep an approved fire extinguish-
er immediately available. CAUTION
When topping up fluids make sure the correct
fluid i s

put into the correct filler opening, oth-
erwise this can cause serious malfunctions or
engine damage. For the sake of the environment
Inspect the ground underneath your vehicle
r e

gularly so that any leaks are detected at an
early stage. If you find spots of oil or other
fluids in the area where it was parked, have
your vehicle inspected at the workshop. Note
In right-hand drive vehicles* some brake flu-
id r e

servoirs are on the other side of the en-
gine compartment ››› Fig. 221. Opening the bonnet
Read the additional information carefully
› ›

›  page 11
The bonnet is released from inside the vehi-
cle.
Check that the windscreen wiper arms are
not unfolded. Otherwise the paint may be
damaged.
The bonnet can only be unlocked when the
driver door is open. WARNING
Never open the bonnet if you see steam or
drip s

of coolant being released from the en-
gine compartment. Failure to comply could
result in burns. Wait until no steam or coolant
can be seen before opening the bonnet. Closing the bonnet
–
Slightly lift the bonnet.
– Release the bonnet stay before pressing it
bac

k into its support.
– Carefully close the bonnet.
– Press the bonnet down until it locks into
pl

ace.
– Make sure that the bonnet catches onto its
cl

asp. Do not press down too hard ››› .
»
283
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
WARNING
Oil is highly inflammable! Ensure that no oil
c ome
s into contact with hot engine compo-
nents when topping up. CAUTION
If the oil level is above the area A do not
s t

art the engine. This could result in damage
to the engine and catalytic converter. Contact
a specialised workshop. For the sake of the environment
The oil level must never be above area A .
Other w

ise oil can be drawn in through the
crankcase breather and escape into the at-
mosphere via the exhaust system. Note
Before a long trip, we recommend finding an
en gine oi

l that conforms to the correspond-
ing VW specifications and recommend keep-
ing it in the vehicle. This way, the correct en-
gine oil will always be available for a top-up if
needed. Changing engine oil
Read the additional information carefully
› ›

›  page 48.
The engine oil must be changed at the inter-
vals given in the service schedule. We recommend that you have the engine oil
ch

anged by a Technical Service.
The oil change intervals are shown in the
Maintenance Programme. WARNING
Only change the engine oil yourself if you
h av

e the specialist knowledge required!
● Before opening the bonnet, read and ob-
serv
e the warnings ››› page 282.
● Wait for the engine to cool down. Hot oil
ma
y cause burn injuries.
● Wear eye protection to avoid injuries, such
as
acid burns, caused by splashes of oil.
● When removing the oil drain plug with your
fing
ers, keep your arm horizontal to help pre-
vent oil from running down your arm.
● Wash your skin thoroughly if it comes into
cont
act with engine oil.
● Engine oil is poisonous! Used oil must be
st

ored in a safe place out of the reach of chil-
dren. CAUTION
No additives should be used with engine oil.
Thi s

could result in engine damage. Any dam-
age caused by the use of such additives
would not be covered by the factory warranty. For the sake of the environment
● Bec

ause of disposal problems and the spe-
cial tools and specialist knowledge required,
we recommend that you have the engine oil
and filter changed by a Technical Service.
● Never pour oil down drains or into the
grou
nd.
● Use a suitable container when draining the
used oi
l. It must be large enough to hold all
the engine oil. Cooling system
Top

ping up coolant Read the additional information carefully
› ›

›  page 49
Top up coolant when the level is below the
MIN (minimum) mark.
Checking coolant level
– Park the vehicle in a horizontal position.
– Switch the ignition off.
– Read off the coolant level on coolant ex-
pan

sion tank. When the engine is cold, the
coolant level should be between the marks.
When the engine is hot, it may be slightly
above the upper mark.
286

Advice
However, if the brake fluid level goes down
notic e
ably in a short time, or drops below the
MIN mark, there may be a leak in the brake
system. Seek specialist assistance. A warn-
ing light on the instrument panel display
monitors the brake fluid level ››› page 106.
In right-hand drive vehicles the brake fluid
reservoir is on the other side of the engine
compartment.
Changing brake fluid
The regular intervals at which the brake fluid
should be replaced are listed in the Mainte-
nance Programme. We recommend you have
it replaced at a SEAT Official Service, during
an Inspection Service. WARNING
● Br ak

e fluid should be stored in the closed
original container in a safe place out of reach
of children. Risk of poisoning!
● If the brake fluid is left in the system for
too lon
g and the brakes are subjected to
heavy use, vapour bubbles may form in the
brake system. This would seriously affect the
efficiency of the brakes and the safety of the
vehicle. This may cause an accident. CAUTION
Brake fluid should not come into contact with
the v

ehicle paintwork, as it is abrasive. Windscreen washer reservoir
Chec k

ing and topping up the wind-
screen washer reservoir Read the additional information carefully
› ›

›  page 50
Check the water level in the windscreen
washer reservoir regularly and top up as re-
quired.
The container for the windscreen washer con-
tains the cleaning fluid for the windscreen,
the rear window and the headlight washer
system*.
● Open the bonnet  ›
›
›
page 282.
● The windscreen washer reservoir is marked
with the symbo
l  on the cap.
● Check there is enough windscreen water in
the re
servoir.
Recommended windscreen wipers
● For the hottest seasons we recommend
summer G 052 184 A1 f
or clear glass. Propor-
tions of the mixture in the washer fluid tank:
1:100 (1 part concentrate per 100 parts wa-
ter).
● All year round, G 052 164 A2 for clear
gla
ss. Approximate proportion of the winter
mixture, up to -18°C (0°F): 1:2 (1 part con-
centrate per 2 parts water); otherwise, a 1:4 proportion of mixture in the washer fluid
tank.
C

apacity
The reservoir holds approximately 3 litres in
versions without headlight washer and 5 li-
tres in versions with headlight washer. WARNING
If the water from the windscreen washer does
not c

ontain enough anti-freeze, it may freeze
on the windscreen and rear window, reducing
forward and rear visibility.
● In winter, ensure the windscreen washer
cont
ains enough anti-freeze.
● In cold conditions, you should not use the
wind
screen wiper system unless you have
warmed the windscreen with the ventilation
system. The antifreeze could freeze on the
windscreen and reduce visibility. WARNING
Never mix an unsuitable antifreeze or other
s imi

lar additives with the windscreen washer
water. A greasy layer may be formed on the
windscreen which will impair visibility.
● Use clean water with a window cleaner rec-
ommended by
SEAT.
● If necessary, add a suitable antifreeze to
the wat
er in the reservoir.288

Checking and refilling levels
CAUTION
● Do not mi
x cleaning products recommen-
ded by SEAT with other products. This could
lead to flocculation and may block the wind-
screen washer jets.
● When topping up service fluids, make abso-
lutely
certain that you fill the fluids into the
correct reservoirs. Using the wrong fluids
could cause serious malfunctions and engine
damage!
● Not having windscreen wiper fluid reduces
vi

sibility through the windscreen, and leads
to loss of visibility in headlights in models
with headlight washer. Battery
Gener a

l information Read the additional information carefully
› ›

›  page 50.
The battery is located in the engine compart-
ment and is almost maintenance-free. It is
checked as part of the Inspection Service.
Nevertheless, check the terminals are clean
and have the correct tightening torque, espe-
cially in summer and winter.
Disconnecting the battery
The battery should only be disconnected in
exceptional cases. When the battery is dis- connected, some of the vehicle's functions
are “lo

st” (››› table on page 289). These
functions will require resetting after the bat-
tery is reconnected.
Deactivate the anti-theft alarm* before you
disconnect the battery Otherwise the alarm
will be triggered.
FunctionReprogramming
One-touch function of
the electric windows››› page 128, One-touch
opening and closing.
Remote control key
If the vehicle does not re-
spond to the key, they
should be synchronised
››› page 120.
Digital clock››› page 104.
ESC warning lampAfter driving for a few me-
tres, the warning lamp goes
out again. If the vehicle is not used for long periods
The
v

ehicle has a system for monitoring the
current consumption when the engine is left
unused for long periods of time ››› page 274.
Some functions, such as the interior lights, or
the remote door opening, may be temporarily
disabled to prevent the battery from running
flat. These functions will come back on as
soon as the ignition is switched on and the
engine started. Winter conditions
Durin

g the winter, the starting power may be
reduced, and if necessary, the battery should
be charged ››› in Important safety warn-
in g

s for handling a vehicle battery on
page 290
Important safety warnings for han-
dling a
vehicle battery All work on batteries requires specialist
kno
wl

edge. Please refer to a SEAT Official
Service or a workshop specialising in batter-
ies: risk of burns or exploding battery!
The battery must not be opened. Never try to
change the fluid level of the battery. Other-
wise explosive gas is released from the bat-
tery that could cause an explosion. 
Wear eye protection.

Battery acid is very corrosive and caustic. Wear
protective gloves and eye protection. In the event
of electrolyte splashes, rinse off with plenty of
water.

Fires, sparks, open flames and smoking are pro-
hibited.

The battery should only be charged in a well-ven-
tilated zone. Risk of explosion!

Keep children away from acid and batteries!»
289
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety