Operation
of your brake pads checked by technical serv-
ic e
s
more frequently than recommended in
the Maintenance Programme.
If you drive with wet brakes, for example, af-
ter crossing areas of water, on days of heavy
rainfall or even after washing the car, the ef-
fect of the brakes is reduced as the brake
discs are wet or even frozen (in winter): in
this case, the brakes should be “dried” by
pressing the brake pedal several times. WARNING
Longer braking distances and faults in the
brak e sy
stem increase the risk of accidents.
● New brake pads must be run in and do not
have the c
orrect friction during the first
200 km. This reduced braking capacity may
be compensated for by pressing on the brake
pedal a little harder, which also applies when
the brake pads have to be changed further
on.
● If brakes are wet or frozen, or if you are
driving on r
oads which have been salted,
braking power may be lower than normal.
● On steep slopes, if brakes are excessively
used, they w
ill overheat. Before driving down
a long steep slope, it is advisable to reduce
speed and change down into a lower gear or
range (depending on the type of transmis-
sion). Thus, make use of engine braking and
relieve the brakes.
● Never let the brakes “drag” by applying
light pre
ssure. Continuous braking will cause the brakes to overheat and the braking dis-
tanc
e w
ill increase. Apply and then release
the brakes alternately.
● Never let the vehicle run with the engine
switc
hed off. The braking distance is in-
creased considerably when the brake servo is
not active.
● If the brake fluid loses its viscosity and is
subj
ected to heavy use, vapour bubbles can
form in the brake system. This reduces the ef-
ficiency of the brakes.
● Non-standard or damaged front spoilers
coul
d restrict the airflow to the brakes and
cause them to overheat. Before purchasing
accessories please observe the relevant in-
structions ››› page 187, Modifications.
● If a brake system circuit fails, the braking
dist
ance will be increased considerably. Con-
tact a specialised workshop immediately and
avoid unnecessary journeys. Control lamp
Situations in which the warning lamp lights
up *
●
the brake fluid level is too low
› ›
›
page 206.
● there is a fault in the brake system.
This w
arning lamp can light up together with
the ABS system warning lamp. WARNING
● If the br ak
e warning lamp does not go out
or if it lights up when driving, the brake fluid
level in the reservoir is too low so there is a
risk of an accident ››› page 206, Brake fluid.
Stop the vehicle and do not drive on. Obtain
technical assistance.
● If the brake warning lamp lights up to-
gether w
ith the ABS lamp this could be
due to an ABS fault. This could cause the rear
wheels to lock quickly when you brake. This
could cause the rear to break away. Risk of
skidding. Stop the vehicle and seek technical
assistance. Handbrake
Fig. 157
Handbrake between the front seats. The handbrake should be applied firmly to
pr
ev
ent
the vehicle from accidentally rolling
away. Always apply the handbrake when you
leave your vehicle and when you park.
150
Operation
Stop the vehicle in a safe place well away
fr om mo
v
ing traffic. Seek specialist assis-
tance.
Gearbox: too hot. Adapt your
driving accordingly
Continue driving at moderate speeds. When
the warning lamp switches off, you can con-
tinue driving in a normal manner. Gearbox: press the brake and
engage a gear again.
If the fault was caused by a gearbox with a
high temperature, this driver message will be
displayed when the gearbox has cooled
again.
Run-in and economical driving Runnin
g in a new engine The engine needs to be run in over the first
1,500 km (900 mi
l
e
s).
Up to 1000 kilometres (600 miles) – Do not drive at speeds of more than 2/3
the maximum s
peed.
– Do not accelerate hard.
– Avoid high engine revolutions.
– Do not tow a trailer. From 1000 to 1500 kilometres (600 to 900
mile
s)
– Speeds can be gradual
ly increased to the
maximum road speed or maximum permis-
sible engine speed (rpm).
During its first few hours of running, the in-
ternal friction in the engine is greater than
later on, when all the moving parts have bed-
ded in. For the sake of the environment
If the engine is run in gently, its life will be in-
cr e
ased and its oil consumption reduced. Tyre and brake pad run-in
New tyres should be run-in carefully for the
fir
s
t
500 km (300 miles). New brake pads
should be run-in carefully for the first 200 km
(125 miles).
During the first 200 km (125 miles), you can
compensate for the reduced braking effect by
applying more pressure to the brake pedal. In
case of a sharp braking, the braking distance
will be longer with new brake pads than with
brake pads which have been run-in. WARNING
● At fir s
t, new tyres do not give maximum
grip, and require running-in. This may cause an accident. Drive particularly carefully in the
firs
t
500 km (300 miles).
● New brake pads must be “run in” and do
not hav
e the correct friction properties during
the first 200 km (125 miles). However, the re-
duced braking capacity may be compensated
by pressing on the brake pedal a little harder. Environmental compatibility
Environmental protection is a top priority in
the des
ign, c
hoice of materials and manufac-
ture of your new SEAT.
Constructive measures to encourage recy-
cling
● Joints and connections designed for easy
dism antlin
g.
● Modular construction to facilitate disman-
tling.
● Incr
eased use of single-grade materials.
● Plastic parts and elastomers are marked in
accor
dance with ISO 1043, ISO 11469 and
ISO 1629.
Choice of materials
● Use of recycled materials.
● Use of compatible plastics in the same part
if its c
omponents are not easily separated.
● Use of recycled materials and/or materials
originating fr
om renewable sources.
164
Driving
exhaust can come into contact with flamma-
bl
e m
aterials under the car (e.g. on grass or
at the forest edge). Fire hazard!
● Do not apply wax underneath the vehicle
around the ar
ea of the exhaust system: Fire
hazard! Note
While the control lamps , , or r
e-
m ain lit, ther
e may be engine problems, fuel
consumption may increase and the engine
may lose power. Catalytic converter
To maintain the useful life of the catalytic
c
on
v
erter
– Use only unleaded petrol with petrol en-
gines, as
lead damages the catalytic con-
verter.
– Do not let the fuel get too low in the tank.
– For engine oil changes, do not replenish
with too muc
h engine oil ››› page 203, Top-
ping up engine oil.
– Never tow the vehicle to start it, use jump
lea
ds if necessary ›››
page 52.
If you notice misfiring, uneven running or
loss of power when the vehicle is moving, re-
duce speed immediately and have the vehi-
cle inspected at the nearest specialised workshop. In general, the exhaust warning
lamp wi
ll light up when any of the described
symptoms occur ››› page 98. If this happens,
unburnt fuel can enter the exhaust system
and escape into the environment. The cata-
lytic converter can also be damaged by over-
heating. CAUTION
Never run the fuel tank completely dry be-
cau se the irr
egularity of the fuel supply may
cause ignition problems. This allows unburnt
fuel to enter the exhaust system, which could
cause overheating and damage the catalytic
converter. For the sake of the environment
Even when the emission control system is
work in
g perfectly, there may be a smell of
sulphur from the exhaust gas under some
conditions. This depends on the sulphur con-
tent of the fuel used. Quite often the problem
can be solved by changing to another brand
of fuel. Diesel engine particulate filter*
Fig. 161
Vehicle data sticker on back cover of
the M aint
en
ance Programme. Your vehicle is fitted with a DPF (Diesel Partic-
u
l
at
e Filter) if the vehicle data sticker (back
cover of the “Maintenance Programme”) lists
the code PR 7GG ››› Fig. 161.
The diesel engine particulate filter eliminates
most of the soot from the exhaust gas sys-
tem. Under normal driving conditions, the fil-
ter cleans itself. If this is not possible (for ex-
ample, multiple short trips) the filter will be
obstructed by soot and the diesel engine
particulate filter warning lamp will light up.
This does not represent a fault, it is a warning
that indicates that the filter has not been
able to regenerate automatically and that you
must perform a cleaning cycle, as indicated
below. »
167
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Care and maintenance
Products for vehicle maintenance
C ar
-c
are products are available in your Tech-
nical Services. Keep the product instructions
until you have used them up. WARNING
● Car -c
are products can be toxic. Because of
this, they must always be kept closed in their
original container. Keep them out of the reach
of children. Failure to comply could result in
poisoning.
● Always read and observe the instructions
and warning
s on the package before using
car-care products. Improper use could cause
health problems or damage the vehicle. The
use of certain products may produce noxious
vapours; they should be used in well ventila-
ted areas.
● Never use fuel, turpentine, engine oil, nail
varnish r
emover or other volatile fluids.
These are toxic and highly flammable. Risk of
fire and explosion.
● Before washing your vehicle, or carrying
out any
maintenance, switch the engine off,
apply the handbrake firmly and remove the
key from the ignition. CAUTION
Never attempt to remove dirt, mud or dust if
the sur f
ace of the vehicle is dry. Never use a
dry cloth or sponge for cleaning purposes.
This could damage the paintwork or the win-
dows of your vehicle. Soak dirt, mud or dust
with plenty of water. For the sake of the environment
● When pur c
hasing car care products, try to
select ones that are not harmful to the envi-
ronment.
● The waste from car-care products should
not be dis
posed of with ordinary household
waste. Observe the disposal information on
the package. Care of the vehicle exterior
Autom atic
car wash tunnel The vehicle paintwork is so durable that the
v
ehic
l
e can normally be washed without
problems in an automatic car wash tunnel.
However, the paintwork wear depends to a
large extent on the kind of the car wash tun-
nel, the brushes used, its water filtering and
the type of cleaning and preservative prod-
ucts.
Before going through a car wash, be sure to
take the usual precautions such as closing
the windows and sunroof. There is nothing to
note apart from that.
If the vehicle has special accessories such as
spoilers or a roof rack or two-way radio aerial,
etc., it is advisable to consult the car wash
tunnel operator first. After washing, the brake
s could take some
time to respond as the brake discs and pads
could be wet, or even frozen in winter. “Dry”
the brakes by braking several times. WARNING
Water, ice and salt on the brake system can
reduc e br
aking effectiveness. Risk of acci-
dent. CAUTION
Before putting the vehicle through the car
wa sh, do not
tighten the aerial if it is folded
because it can be damaged. Hand-washing
Vehicle washing
– First soften the dirt and rinse it off with wa-
ter
.
– C
lean your vehicle from top to bottom with
a soft s
ponge, a glove or a brush. Use very
light pressure.
– Rinse the sponge or glove often with clean
water
.
– Special car shampoo should only be used
for v
ery stubborn dirt.
– Leave the wheels, sill panels etc. until last,
usin
g a different sponge or glove. »
189
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Advice
– Rin se the
v
ehicle thoroughly with water.
– Dry the vehicle surface gently with a cha-
mois l
eather.
– In cold temperature, dry the rubber seals
and their sur
faces to prevent them from
freezing. Apply silicone spray to the rubber
seals.
After washing the vehicle – After washing, avoid sudden and sharp
brakin
g. “Dry” the brakes by braking sever-
al times. WARNING
● Wa sh
your vehicle with the ignition switch-
ed off.
● Protect your hands and arms from cuts on
sharp meta
l edges when cleaning the under-
body, the inside of the wheel housings etc.
Risk of injury.
● Water, ice and salt on the brake system can
reduce br
aking effectiveness. Risk of acci-
dent. CAUTION
● Never r emo
ve dirt, mud or dust if the vehi-
cle surface is dry. Never use a dry cloth or
sponge for cleaning purposes. This could
scratch the paintwork or glass on your vehi-
cle. ●
Wa shin
g the vehicle in low temperatures:
when washing the vehicle with a hose, do not
direct water into the lock cylinders or the
gaps around the doors, rear lid, or sunroof.
Risk of freezing. For the sake of the environment
To protect the environment, the vehicle
shou ld be w
ashed only in specially provided
wash bays, to prevent toxic, oil-laden waste
water from entering the sewer system. In
some places, washing vehicles outside wash
bays is prohibited. Note
Do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight. Washing the vehicle with a high pres-
s
ur
e c
leaner Be particularly careful when using a high
pr
e
s
sure cleaner!
– Always observe the instructions for the
high-pres
sure cleaner, particularly those
concerning the pressure and the spraying
distance.
– Increase the spraying distance for soft ma-
terial
s and painted bumpers. –
Do not use a high pr
essure cleaner to re-
move ice or snow from windows
››› page 192.
– Never use concentrated jet nozzles (“rotat-
ing jets”) ›
›› .
– After washing, avoid sudden and sharp
br ak
in
g. “Dry” the brakes by braking sever-
al times ››› page 149. WARNING
● Never w a
sh tyres with a concentrated jet
(“rotating nozzle”). Even at large spraying
distances and short cleaning times, damage
can occur to the tyres. This may cause an ac-
cident.
● Water, ice and salt on the brake system can
reduce br
aking effectiveness. Risk of acci-
dent. CAUTION
● Do not u se w
ater hotter than +60°C
(+140°F). This could damage the vehicle.
● To avoid damage to the vehicle, keep a suf-
ficient di
stance from sensitive materials such
as flexible hoses, plastic, soundproofing ma-
terial, etc. This also applies to bumpers pain-
ted in the colour of the bodywork. The closer
the nozzle is to the surface, the greater the
wear on the material. 190
Advice
Cleaning of windows and mirrors Cleaning windows
– Moisten the windows with commercially
avai l
able, alcohol based glass cleaner.
– Dry the windows with a clean chamois
leather or a lint
-free cloth.
Removing snow – Use a small brush to remove snow from the
window
s and mirrors.
Removing ice
– Use a de-icer spray.
Use a c l
ean cloth or chamois leather to dry
the windows. The chamois leathers used on
painted surfaces are not suitable to clean
windows because they are soiled with wax
deposits which could smear the windows.
If possible, use a de-icing spray to remove
ice. If you use an ice scraper, push it in one
direction only without swinging it.
Use window cleaner or a silicone remover to
clean rubber, oil, grease and silicone depos-
its off.
Wax deposits can only be removed with a
special cleaner available at your Technical
Service. Wax deposits on the windscreen
could cause the wiper blades to judder. Add-
ing a window cleaner that dissolves wax to the windscreen washer fluid prevents wiper
bla
des from juddering, but wax deposits are
not removed. CAUTION
● Never u se w
arm or hot water to remove
snow and ice from windows and mirrors. This
could cause the glass to crack!
● The heating element for the rear window is
located on the inner s
ide of the window. To
prevent damage, do not put stickers over the
heating elements on the inside of the win-
dow. Cleaning windscreen wiper blades
Clean wiper blades improve visibility.
1. Use a soft cloth to remove dust and dirt
from the w
ind
screen wiper blades.
2. Use window cleaner to clean the wind- scr
een wiper blades. Use a sponge or a
cloth to remove stubborn dirt.
Care of rubber seals If rubber seals are well looked after, they will
not
fr
eez
e so quickly.
1. Use a soft cloth to remove dust and dirt from the rubber seal
s. 2. Apply a specialist care product to the rub-
ber seals.
The rubber s
trips on the doors, windows, etc.
will remain pliable and last longer if they are
treated with a suitable rubber care product
from time to time (for example silicone
spray).
Caring for rubber seals will also prevent pre-
mature ageing and leaks. The doors will be
easier to open. If rubber seals are well looked
after, they will not freeze so quickly in winter.
Door lock cylinder The door lock cylinders can freeze up in win-
t
er
.
T
o de-ice the lock cylinders you should only
use spray with lubricating and anti-corrosive
properties.
Cleaning chrome parts 1. Clean chrome parts with a damp cloth.
2. Polish chrome parts with a soft, dry cloth.
If
thi s
does not provide satisfying results, use
a specialist chrome cleaning product.
Chrome cleaning products will remove stains
from the surface.
192
Advice
Technical Services hav
e the pr oper products
for cleaning and preservation as well as the
necessary workshop equipment. For this rea-
son, we recommend having this work per-
formed by them.
The anti-corrosion protection is usually re-
moved if the engine compartment is cleaned
with grease removing solutions, or if you
have the engine cleaned. On commissioning
this work, ensure that all surfaces, seams,
joints and components in the engine com-
partment are given anti-corrosion treatment. WARNING
● When work in
g in the engine compartment,
always observe the safety warnings
››› page 198.
● Before opening the bonnet, switch the en-
gine off, app
ly the handbrake firmly and al-
ways remove the key from the ignition.
● Allow the engine to cool before you clean
the engine comp
artment.
● Do not clean, for example, the vehicle un-
derbody, wheel ar
ches or wheel trims without
protecting your hands and arms. You may cut
yourself on sharp-edged metal parts. Failure
to comply could result in injury.
● Moisture, ice and salt on the brake system
may
affect braking effectiveness. Risk of acci-
dent. Directly after washing, avoid sudden
and sharp braking.
● Never touch the radiator fan. It is tempera-
ture-c
ontrolled and could start automatically, even when the key is removed from the igni-
tion!
For the sake of the environment
Fuel, grease and oil deposits can be removed
when the en gine is
washed. The polluted wa-
ter must be cleaned in an oil separator. For
this reason, engine washing should be car-
ried out only by a specialised workshop or a
petrol station. Caring for the vehicle interior
C l
e
aning plastic parts and the dash
panel –
Use a clean, damp cloth to clean plastic
par
ts
and the dash panel.
– If this does not provide satisfactory results,
use a spec
ial solvent-free plastic cleaning
product. WARNING
Never clean the dash panel and the airbag
modul e s
urface with cleaners containing sol-
vents. Solvents cause the surface to become
porous. If the airbag triggered, plastic parts
could become detached and cause injuries. CAUTION
Cleaning products which contain solvents will
dam ag
e the material. Cleaning wooden trim*
–
Clean the wooden trim with a water-mois-
tened c l
ean cloth.
– If this does not provide satisfactory results,
use a gen
tle soap solution. CAUTION
Cleaning products which contain solvents will
dam ag
e the material. Cleaning upholstery and fabric trim
Cloth seat covers and fabric trim on the
door
s, he
a
dlining etc. can be cleaned with a
special interior cleaner or with dry foam and
a soft brush.
Cleaning the radio and climate con-
trol
s To clean the radio and/or climate controls,
u
se a sof
t
damp cloth. For more resistant dirt,
a neutral soap solution may be used.
194
Advice
is equipped with a particulate filter, the sul-
phur c ont
ent
of the fuel must be below 50
parts per million.
Winter-grade diesel
Summer fuel becomes thicker in winter and it
is more difficult to start the engine. For this
reason, petrol stations in some countries al-
so offer winter diesel with improved fluidity
when cold (winter-grade diesel).
Water in the fuel filter 1)
If your vehicle has a diesel engine and is
equipped with a fuel filter with a water sepa-
rator, the instrument panel may display the
following warning: Water in the
fuel filter. If this is the case, take the
vehicle to a specialised workshop so that
they can drain the fuel filter. CAUTION
● The v ehic
le 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”, petro
l or similar additives with
diesel fuel.
● If poor-quality diesel fuel is used, it may be
neces
sary to drain the fuel filter more fre-
quently than is specified in the Maintenance Programme. We recommend having this done
by
a s
pecialised workshop. If water is allowed
to collect in the filter, this can cause engine
performance problems. Working in the engine compart-
ment
saf ety
notes for work in the engine
compartment Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 10
Before starting any work on the engine or in
the engine compartment:
1. Switch off the engine and remove the key from the ignition.
2. Ap
ply the handbrake.
3. Move the gear lever to neutral or the selec- tor lev
er to position P.
4. Wait for the engine to cool down.
5. Keep children away from the vehicle.
6. Raise the bonnet ›››
page 199.
You should not do any work in the engine
compartment unless you know exactly how to carry out the jobs and have the correct tools!
Have the work
carried out by a specialised
workshop if you are uncertain.
All service fluids and consumables, e.g. cool-
ant, engine oil, spark plugs and batteries,
are under constant development. SEAT pro-
vides a constant flow of information to Tech-
nical Services concerning modifications. For
this reason, we recommend you have service
fluids and consumables replaced by a Techni-
cal Service. Please observe the relevant in-
structions ››› page 187. The engine compart-
ment of the vehicle is a hazardous area ››› .
WARNING
All work on the engine or in the engine com-
par tment, e.
g. checking and refilling fluids,
involves the danger of injury and burns, acci-
dents and even fire.
● Never open the bonnet if you see steam,
smoke or coo
lant escaping from the engine
compartment. Otherwise, there is a risk of
sustaining burns. Wait until no more steam or
coolant is emitted, then allow the engine to
cool before carefully opening the bonnet.
● Switch off the engine and remove the key
from the ignition.
● App
ly the handbrake and move the gear
lever t
o neutral or selector lever to position P.
● Keep children away from the vehicle. 1)
Valid for the market: Algeria.
198