2017 SEAT IBIZA 5D ignition

Operation
How the ABS works
If one of
the wheel
s turns too slowly in rela-
tion to the vehicle's speed, and is close to
locking, the system will reduce the braking
pressure to this wheel. The driver is made
aware of this control process by a pulsating
of the brake pedal and audible noise. This is
a deliberate warning to the driver that one or
more of the wheels is tending to lock and the
ABS control function has intervened. In this
situation it is important to keep the brake
pedal fully depressed so the ABS can regu-
late the brake application. Do not “pump”.
If you brake hard on a slippery road surface,
the best possible control is retained as the
wheels do not lock.
However, ABS will not necessarily guarantee
shorter braking distances in all conditions.
Braking distance could even be further if you
brake on gravel or on fresh snow on a slip-
pery surface.
Control lamp
The control lamp  lights up for a few sec-
onds when the ignition is switched on. It
goes out again after the system has run
through an automatic test sequence.
There is a fault in the ABS if:
● The control lamp  does not
light up when
the ignition is switched on. ●
The contro
l lamp does not go out again af-
ter a few seconds.
● The control lamp lights up when the vehicle
is mo
ving.
The vehicle can still be braked in the normal
way, without the ABS function. Take the vehi-
cle to a specialised workshop as soon as
possible.
If there is a fault in the ABS, the ESC* and the
tyre pressure control lamp will also light up.
Brake system fault
If the ABS warning lamp  lights up together
with the brake warning lamp , there is a
fault in the ABS function and in the brake
system ››› .
WARNING
● The anti-lock br

ake system cannot defy the
laws of physics. Slippery and wet roads are
dangerous even with ABS! If you notice that
the ABS is working (to counteract locked
wheels under braking), you should reduce
speed immediately to suit the road and traffic
conditions. Do not let the extra safety fea-
tures tempt you into taking any risks when
driving.
● The effectiveness of ABS is also determined
by the ty
res fitted ››› page 210.
● If the running gear or brake system is modi-
fied, the effectivene
ss of the ABS could be se-
verely limited. WARNING
● Bef or

e opening the bonnet, read and ob-
serve the warnings ››› page 198, Working in
the engine compartment.
● If the brake system warning lamp  should
light
up together with the ABS warning lamp
, stop the vehicle immediately and check
the brake fluid level in the reservoir
››› page 206, Brake fluid. If the brake fluid
level has dropped below the “MIN” mark you
must not drive on. Risk of accident. Obtain
technical assistance.
● If the brake fluid level is correct, the fault in
the brake sy
stem may have been caused by a
failure of the ABS system. 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. Electronic differential lock (XDS)*
When taking a curve, the driveshaft differen-
ti
al
mec

hanism allows the outer wheel to turn
at a higher speed than the inner wheel. In
this way, the wheel that is turning faster (out-
er wheel) receives less drive torque than the
inner wheel. This may mean that in certain
situations the torque delivered to the inner
wheel is too high, causing the wheels to
spin. On the other hand, the outer wheel is
receiving a lower drive torque than it could
transmit. This causes an overall loss of lateral
156

Operation
Manual gearbox Driv in
g w
ith manual gearboxRead the additional information carefully
›› ›

 page 37
Certain versions of the model may include a
6-speed manual gearbox, and its diagram is
shown on the gearbox lever.
The reverse gear can only be engaged when
the car is stationary. When the engine is run-
ning and before engaging this gear, wait
about 6 seconds with the clutch pressed
down thoroughly in order to protect the gear-
box.
The reverse lights switch on when the reverse
gear is selected and the ignition is on. WARNING
● When the engine i s

running, the vehicle
will start to move as soon as a gear is engag-
ed and the clutch released.
● Never select the reverse gear when the ve-
hicle i
s in motion. Risk of accident. Note
● Do not r e

st your hand on the gear lever
while driving. The pressure of your hand
could cause premature wear on the selector
forks in the gearbox. ●
When ch an

ging gear, you should always
depress the clutch fully to avoid unnecessary
wear and damage.
● Do not “slip” the clutch to hold the vehicle
on a hill
. This causes premature wear and
damage to the clutch.
● Do not leave your foot on the clutch pedal;
although the pre
ssure may seem insignifi-
cant, it can cause the premature wear of the
clutch plate. Use the foot rest when you do
not need to change gear. Gear-change indicator
3 V
alid for vehicles: with a manual gearbox
The r
ecommended gear for saving fuel is in-
dicated on the dash screen of certain vehi-
cles during driving.
DisplayMeaning 
The optimal gear is selected.

Changing to a higher gear is recommended.

Changing to a lower gear is recommended.
Information regarding the “cleanliness” of
the die
sel
p

articulate filter
The exhaust system manager detects that the
diesel particulate filter is nearly saturated
and contributes to self-cleaning by recom-
mending the optimal gear. For this purpose, it might be necessary to drive momentarily
with a high rpm
››

› page 167. WARNING
The gear change indicator is only an auxiliary
fu nction and in no c

ase should be a substi-
tute for careful driving.
● The responsibility of choosing the correct
gear dependin
g on the situation (e.g. over-
taking, driving up or down a slope or towing a
trailer) lies with the driver. For the sake of the environment
Selecting the correct gear can help to save
fuel . Note
The recommended gear display is switched
off when the c lut

ch pedal is pressed. Automatic gearbox*
Driv ing pr

ogrammes Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›

 page 38
The automatic gearbox has got two gearbox
programmes.
158

Driving
Selecting the normal programme
– Put the selector lever into position D.
Sel ectin
g the s
port programme
– Put the selector lever into position S.
If y
ou select the normal programme, D, you
will drive in the economy mode, i.e. the pro-
gramme is designed to reduce fuel consump-
tion. The gearbox changes up into a higher
gear as soon as possible and down into a
lower gear as late as possible.
If you select the sport programme, S, you will
drive in a sporty mode, i.e. a programme in
which shifts into high gears are postponed in
order to use the full power of the engine.
Selector lever positions Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›

 page 38
Selector lever positions
The gear selected is displayed on the side of
the selector lever and on the display 1)
in the
combi-instrument. The currently selected gear for the automatic gearbox will also be
shown on the dis

play.
Tiptronic gear indicator
If the automatic gearbox is shifted manually,
the selected gears are shown on the screen
at all times 1)
.
P - parking lock
When the selector lever is in this position,
the driven wheels are locked mechanically.
Position P on the lever must only be selected
if the vehicle is stationary.
To move selector lever from position P, the
locking button on the selector lever handle
must be pressed and the brake pedal de-
pressed at the same time while the ignition is
switched on.
To put the selector lever in position P, simply
press the lock button down and, if necessary,
depress the brake pedal down.
R - Reverse gear
The reverse gear is engaged in this position.
Reverse gear must be engaged only when the
vehicle is stationary and the engine is idling. To move the selector lever to position R,
pres
s the lock button down and, at the same
time, press the brake pedal down, with the
ignition switched on.
With the selector lever in position R and the
ignition switched on the following occurs:
● Reverse lights light up.
● The air conditioner automatically changes
the air recir
culation mode.
● The wiper starts if the windscreen washer is
on.
● The parking distance warning system*
switc
hes on.
N - Neutral (idling)
If this position is selected, the gearbox is in
neutral. Power is not transmitted to the
wheels and the engine does not have a brak-
ing function.
Never use the N position to drive down a long
hill. There is no engine braking and the
brakes are subjected to excessive stain.
You could damage the automatic gearbox if
you drive down hills with the gearbox lever in
position N and the engine switched off. »1)
Vehicles with the basic level of equipment do not
show the po s

ition of the gear selector lever on the
screen. 159
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
D - Drive (forward)
In thi s
po
sition the gearbox automatically
changes to a lower or higher gear, according
to the engine's requirements, the driving
style and speed. The braking effect of the en-
gine when driving downhill is very limited
when the selector is in this position. The in-
strument panel display shows the selected
gear as well as the selector lever in position
D.
When travelling at speeds lower than 5 km/h
(3 mph) or when the vehicle is stationary,
press the brake pedal to change the selector
lever from position N to position D.
S - Standard driving position (Sport pro-
gramme)
When the selector lever is in position S, it will
automatically change up into a higher gear
later, and change down into a low gear, if
compared with position D. This way, it is pos-
sible to take full advantage of the engine re-
serve power, depending on the engine de-
mand, driving style and speed. The braking
effect of the engine when driving downhill is
very limited. On the instrument panel display
the selected gear is shown as well as the se-
lector lever to position S.
To select gear range S, press the lock button
on the selector lever. WARNING
● As a driv er

, you should never leave your ve-
hicle if the engine is running and a gear range
is engaged. If you have to leave your vehicle
while the engine is running, you must apply
the parking brake and put the selector lever
in position P.
● If the engine is running and if D or R is en-
gaged,
you will need to hold the car on the
foot brake. The car will creep forward as the
power transmission is not fully interrupted
even when the engine is idling.
● Never accelerate when moving the selector
lever or
you may cause an accident.
● Never move the selector lever to R or P
when driving. Ri
sk of accident!
● Before driving down a long, steep slope, it
is a
dvisable to reduce speed and change into
a lower gear.
● If you stop the vehicle up hill, always hold
the foot br
ake strongly depressed down to
stop it from rolling back.
● Never allow the brake to rub and do not use
the brake ped
al too often or for long periods.
Constant braking will cause the brakes to
overheat and will considerably reduce the
brake effect. This increases the braking dis-
tance and could cause the brake system to
fail.
● Never allow the car to roll down a gradient
with the ge
ar in neutral N, or in selector lever
position D, even if the engine is not running. ●
If the v

ehicle moves with no control, an ac-
cident and serious injury may occur. WARNING
Never switch the engine off until the vehicle
i s s

tationary. You could lose control of your
vehicle. This could cause an accident and se-
rious injury.
● The airbags and belt tensioners do not
work when the ignition i
s switched off.
● The brake servo does not work with the en-
gine off. Y
ou need more force to stop the vehi-
cle.
● Power steering does not work when the en-
gine is not
running. That is why it is much
more difficult to turn the steering wheel.
● Never remove the key from the ignition if
the vehic
le is in motion. The steering lock
could suddenly engage, and you would not be
able to steer the vehicle. CAUTION
If you allow the vehicle to move when the en-
gine is sw

itched off or with the selector lever
in position “N”, take your foot off the acceler-
ator and wait until the engine starts idling
before returning to position “D”. 160

Driving
Selector lever lock Fig. 158
Automatic gearbox The selector lever lock in position P or N pre-
v
ents
g
ears from being engaged inadvertent-
ly, which would cause the vehicle to move.
The selector lever lock is released as follows:
– Switch the ignition on.
– Press and hold the brake pedal and press
the selector l

ever lock on the left of the se-
lector lever at the same time ››› Fig. 158.
The warning lamp  on the instrument panel
lights up when the brake pedal should be ap-
plied. This is essential when the selector lev-
er is taken from the P or N positions.
Level lock only engages with the vehicle sta-
tionary at a speed of up to 5 km/h (3 mph).
At speeds of over 5 km/h (3 mph) the selec-
tor lever lock is automatically deactivated in
position N. The selector lever lock is not engaged if the
selector l

ever is moved quickly through posi-
tion N (e.g. when shifting from R to D). This
makes it possible, for instance, to “rock” the
vehicle backwards and forwards if it is stuck
in snow or mud. The selector lever lock en-
gages automatically if the brake pedal is not
depressed and the lever is in position N for
more than about 1 second.
Selecting gears manually with Tip-
tronic mode
* Fig. 159
Changing gear with Tiptronic. Fig. 160
Steering wheel with paddle levers
for aut om
atic gearbox. The Tiptronic system allows the driver to se-
l
ect
g

ears manually.
Changing gear with the selector lever – Press the selector lever from position D to
the right int
o the tiptronic selector gate.
– Lightly press the selector lever forward
›››
Fig. 159 + to change up to a higher
g e
ar
.
– Lightly press the selector lever backward
›››
Fig. 159 - to change down to a lower
g e
ar
.
Changing gear with the steering wheel pad-
dle levers*
– Press the right paddle lever + towards the
s t
eerin

g wheel to change up ››› Fig. 160.
– Press the left paddle lever - towards the
s t
eerin

g wheel to change down ››› Fig. 160. »
161
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Driving
Starting the vehicle up hills
– Apply the handbrake.
– With a selected gear, accelerate slowly and
at the s
ame time, r
elease the handbrake.
The steeper the slope, the lower the needed
gear. This increases the braking effect of the
engine. For example, when driving down a
very steep slope in third gear. If the engine
brake effect is not enough, the vehicle will
speed up. The automatic gearbox automati-
cally changes up to prevent the engine over-
revving. Use the foot brake to reduce speed
and change into 3rd gear using Tiptronic*
››› in Selector lever positions on page 160.
Y our
v

ehicle has an automatic interlock
which prevents the selector lever from being
put into a position for driving forwards or in
reverse from positions P or N if the brake
pedal is not depressed.
The ignition key cannot be removed unless
the selector lever is in position P.
Control lamp “Pressing brake pedal” 
When the warning lamp next to the selector
lever lights up, press the brake pedal. This is
necessary when the automatic gearbox selec-
tor lever is moved out of positions P or N. A
text message or instructions to perform nec-
essary operations may appear on the instru-
ment panel. CAUTION
● If y

ou stop the vehicle up hills, do not at-
tempt to stop it from rolling back by depress-
ing the accelerator when a gear has been se-
lected. Otherwise, the automatic gearbox
may overheat causing damage. Pull the hand-
brake up or fully depress the brake pedal to
prevent the vehicle from rolling away.
● If you allow the vehicle to roll when the en-
gine is not
running, or with the selector lever
in position N, a lack of lubrication in the auto-
matic gearbox will damage it. Kick-down feature
This feature allows maximum acceleration.
If

y

ou press the accelerator down thoroughly,
the gearbox automatically changes down, de-
pending on speed and engine speed, into a
lower gear to take full advantage of give the
vehicle maximum acceleration.
The gearbox does not change gear until the
engine reaches the maximum determined en-
gine speed for the gear. WARNING
You could lose control of the vehicle if you ac-
cel er

ate on slippery road surfaces. Risk of se-
rious injury.
● Be particularly careful when using the kick-
down fe
atures on slippery road surfaces. With a fast acceleration, the vehicle could lose
traction and sk
id.
● Y

ou should use the kick-down feature only
when traffic and w
eather conditions allow it
to be used safely. Gearbox malfunctions
 Gearbox: Fault! Stop the ve-
hicle and place the lever in the
position P.
There i s

a fault in the gearbox. Stop the vehi-
cle in a safe place and do not continue driv-
ing. Seek specialist assistance.
 Gearbox: System fault! You
may continue driving.
Have the fault corrected by a specialised
workshop without delay.  Gearbox: System fault! You
can continue driving with re-
strictions. Reverse gear disa‐
bled
Take the vehicle to a specialised workshop
and have the fault repaired without delay.  Gearbox: System fault! You
can continue driving in D until
switching off the engine »
163
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

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

Operation
Accumulation of soot in the diesel engine
p ar
tic
ulate filter* 
If the control lamp  lights up you should
help the filter clean itself by driving in the ap-
propriate manner.
To do this, drive about 15 minutes in fourth
or fifth gear (automatic gearbox: S gear
range) at a minimum speed of 60 km/h
(37 mph), with the engine running at approxi-
mately 2,000 rpm. In this way, the soot build
up in the filter is burned. When cleaning is
successful, the control lamp turns off.
If the lamp  does not turn off, or the three
lamps turn on (particulate filter , fault in
the emission control system  and glow
plugs ), drive the vehicle to a specialised
workshop and have the fault repaired at the
earliest opportunity. WARNING
Always drive according to the road weather
condition s, the t

errain and traffic. Driving rec-
ommendations should never lead to illegal
manoeuvres in surrounding traffic. CAUTION
● Your v

ehicle is not designed to use biodie-
sel fuel. Never, under any circumstances re-
fuel with biodiesel. The use of biodiesel fuel
could damage the engine and the fuel sys-
tem. The addition of biodiesel to diesel by
the diesel producer in accordance with stand- ard EN 590 is authorised and will not cause
dam
ag

e to the engine or the fuel system.
● Using diesel fuel with a high sulphur con-
tent m
ay significantly reduce the useful life of
the diesel particulate filter. Your Technical
Service will be able to tell you which coun-
tries have diesel with a high sulphur content. Engine management* 
This warning lamp monitors the engine man-
agement
sy

stem for petrol engines.
The warning lamp  (Electronic Power Con-
trol) lights up when the ignition is switched
on while system operation is being verified. It
should go out once the engine is started.
If there is a fault in the electronic engine
management system while you are driving,
this warning lamp will light up. Take the vehi-
cle to a specialised workshop as soon as
possible and have the engine checked.
Emission control system*  Control lamp
 fla
she
s:
When there is misfiring that can damage the
catalytic converter. Reduce speed and drive
carefully to the nearest specialised workshop
to have the engine checked. The control lamp
 lights up:
If
a fault has developed during driving which
has reduced the quality of the exhaust gas
(e.g. lambda probe fault). Reduce speed and
drive carefully to the nearest specialised
workshop to have the engine checked.
Engine pre-heating/fault system*  The warning lamp lights up to show that the
glow p
lug

s are preheating the diesel engine.
The control lamp  lights up
If the control lamp  lights up when the en-
gine is started it means that the glow plugs
are preheating. The engine can be started
straight away when the lamp switches off.
Control lamp  flashes
If a fault develops in the engine management
system while you are driving, the glow plug
system lamp will flash . Take the vehicle to
a specialised workshop as soon as possible
and have the engine checked.
168