2017 Seat Leon 5D traction control

The essentials
Easy Connect CAR menu settin g
s Fig. 41
Easy Connect: Main menu. Fig. 42
Easy Connect: CAR menu. The actual number of menus available and
the n
ame of
the v
arious options will depend
on the vehicle’s electronics and equipment.
● Switch the ignition on.
● If the Infotainment System is off, switch it
on.
● Press the Infotainment button  /  and
then the Vehicle fu
nction b utt

on ››› Fig. 41, or, press the Infotainment button
 to go to
the Vehicle menu ››
›
Fig. 42

.
● Press the SETTINGS function butt
on to
open the Vehicle settings menu.
● To select a function in the menu, press the
desired b
utton.
When the function button check box is activa-
ted , the function is active. Pressing the menu button
 will always take
y ou t
o the l a

st menu used.
Any changes made using the settings menus
are automatically saved on closing those me-
nus.
MenuSubmenuPossible settingDescription
ESC system–Activation and deactivation of the traction control system (ASR) and the electronic
stability control (ESC) system, selecting the Sport / Off-road* mode of the electronic
stability control (ESC Sport)››› page 187
TyresTyre pressure monitoringTyre pressure storing (Calibration)››› page 283
Winter tyresActivation and deactivation of the speed warning, adjusting the speed warning value››› page 287» 33

The essentials
Driver information System Intr oduction With the ignition switched on, it is possible
to r
e
ad the different functions of the display
by scrolling through the menus.
In vehicles with multifunction steering wheel,
the multifunction display can only be operat-
ed with the steering wheel buttons.
The number of menus displayed on the in-
strument panel will vary according to the ve-
hicle electronics and equipment.
A specialised workshop will be able to pro-
gramme or modify additional functions, ac-
cording to the vehicle equipment. SEAT rec-
ommends visiting a SEAT Official Service.
Some menu options can only be read when
the vehicle is at a standstill.
As long as a priority 1 warning is displayed, it
will not be possible to read the menus
››› page 41. Some warning messages can
be confirmed and made to disappear with the
windscreen wiper lever button or the multi-
function steering wheel button.
The information system also provides the fol-
lowing information and displays (depending
on the vehicle's equipment):
Driving data ›››
page 38
■ MFD from departure ■
MFD from r ef

uelling
■ MFD total calculation
Assist systems ››› page 40
Navigation ››› Booklet Navigation system
Audio ››› Booklet Radio or ››› Booklet Naviga-
tion system
Telephone ››› Booklet Radio or ››› Booklet
Navigation system
Vehicle status ››› page 41 WARNING
Any distraction may lead to an accident, with
the risk of

injury.
● Do not operate the instrument panel con-
trol
s when driving. Using the menus on the instrument
p
anel Fig. 43
Windscreen wiper lever: control but-
t on
s. Fig. 44
Right side of multifunction steering
wheel: c ontr
o

l buttons. The driver information system is controlled
w
ith the mu
ltif

unction steering wheel buttons
››› Fig. 44 or with the windscreen wiper lever
››› Fig. 43 (if the vehicle is not equipped with
multifunction steering wheel). 36

Instruments and warning/control lamps
engine hot. However, it is advisable to
c h
an
ge up a gear or move the selector
lever to D (or lift your foot off the acceler-
ator) before the needle reaches the red
zone ››› .
En gine c
oo

lant temperature display
››› page 117 or natural gas gauge in ve-
hicles with natural gas engine (CNG)
››› page 119
Displays on the screen ›››
 page 41,
››› page 115.
Adjuster button and display
››› page 117.
Speedometer.
Fuel gauge ››› page 118. WARNING
Any distraction may lead to an accident, with
the risk of

injury.
● Do not operate the instrument panel con-
trol
s when driving. CAUTION
● To pr ev

ent damage to the engine, the rev
counter needle should only remain in the red
zone for a short period of time.
● When the engine is cold, avoid high revs
and heavy ac
celeration and do not make the
engine work hard. 2
3
4
5
6 For the sake of the environment
Changing up a gear in time reduces fuel con-
sumption and noi se. Rev counter
The rev counter indicates the number of en-
gine rev
o

lutions per minute ››› Fig. 122 1 .
Tog ether w
ith the gear-change indicator, the
rev counter offers you the possibility of using
the engine of your vehicle at a suitable
speed.
The start of the red zone on the dial indicates
the maximum engine speed which may be
used briefly when the engine is warm and af-
ter it has been run in properly. Before reach-
ing this range, you should change to a higher
gear for vehicles with a manual gearbox or for
automatic gearboxes put the selector lever in
“D” or take your foot off the accelerator ped-
al.
We recommend that you avoid high revs and
that you follow the recommendations on the
gear-change indicator. Consult the additional
information in ›››
 page 42, Gear-change
indicator. CAUTION
Never allow the rev counter needle
›› ›

Fig. 122 1 to go into the red zone on the scale for more than a very brief period, other-
wi
se ther

e is a risk of engine damage. For the sake of the environment
Changing up a gear early will help you to save
f uel and minimi

se emissions and engine
noise. Indications on the display
A variety of information can be viewed on the
in
s
trument

panel display ››› Fig. 122 3 , de-
pendin g on the
v
ehicle equipment:
● Bonnet, rear lid and doors open
›››
 page 41.
● Warning and information messages
›››
 page 41.
● Distance travelled ›››
page 117.
● Time ››› p
age 116.
● Navigation instructions.
● Outside temperature ›››

 page 42.
● Compass ››› p
age 116.
● Shift lever position ›››
page 191.
● Recommended gear (manual gearbox)
›››
 page 42.
● Multifunction display (MFD) and menus
with differ
ent setting options ›››
 page 36.
● Service interval display ›››

 page 44. »
115
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Driving
CAUTION
● Never l et
the brakes “drag” by leaving your
foot on the pedal when it is not necessary to
brake. This overheats the brakes, resulting in
longer stopping distances and greater wear.
● Before driving down a long, steep gradient,
it is
advisable to reduce speed and select a
lower gear. This makes use of engine braking
and relieves the brakes. If you still have to
use the brakes, it is better to brake firmly at
intervals than to apply the brakes continu-
ously. Note
● If the br ak

e servo is out of action, for exam-
ple when the car is being towed, you will
have to press the brake pedal considerably
harder than normal to make up for the lack of
servo assistance.
● If you wish to equip the vehicle with acces-
sories s
uch as a front spoiler or wheel covers,
it is important that the flow of air to the front
wheels is not obstructed, otherwise the
brakes can overheat. Braking and stability systems
El ectr
onic

Stability Control (ESC)The ESC helps to improve safety. It reduces
the t
endency
t

o skid and improves the stabil-
ity and roadholding of the vehicle. The ESC detects critical handling situations, such as
vehicl

e understeer or oversteer, or wheelspin
on the driving wheels. It stabilises the vehi-
cle by braking individual wheels or by reduc-
ing the engine torque. The warning lamp will
flash on the instrument panel when the ESC
is intervening .
ESC includes the Anti-lock brake system
(ABS), the brake assist system, the traction
control system (ASR), electronic differential
lock (EDL), electronic self-locking*, selective
torque control* and tractor-trailer sway miti-
gation*. ESC also helps stabilise the vehicle
by changing the torque.
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
ABS prevents the wheels from locking up un-
der braking until the vehicle has reached a
virtual standstill. You can continue to steer
the vehicle even when the brakes are on full.
Keep your foot on the brake pedal and do not
pump the brakes. You will feel the brake ped-
al pulsate while the ABS is working.
Brake assist system
The brake assist system can reduce the re-
quired braking distance. The braking force is
automatically boosted if you press the brake
pedal quickly in an emergency. You must
keep pressing the brake pedal until the dan-
ger has passed. Traction control system (ASR)
In the event of
wheelspin, the traction control
system reduces the engine torque to match
the amount of grip available. This helps the
car to start moving, accelerate or climb a gra-
dient.
Electronic differential lock (EDL)
When the EDL detects wheelspin, it brakes
the spinning wheel and directs the power to
the other driven wheel. This function is active
up to approximately 100 km/h (62 mph).
To prevent the disc brake of the braked wheel
from overheating, the EDL cuts out automati-
cally if subjected to excessive loads. The ve-
hicle can still be driven. The EDL will switch
on again automatically when the brake has
cooled down.
Tractor-trailer sway mitigation*
If the vehicle is pulling a trailer, it will control
the following: Tractor-trailers tend to sway.
When the swaying of the trailer is felt by the
vehicle and detected by the ESC, it will auto-
matically brake the towing vehicle within the
limits of the system and mitigate the sway.
Tractor-trailer sway mitigation is not available
in all countries.
Electronic torque management (XDS)
When taking a curve, the driveshaft differen-
tial mechanism allows the outer wheel to turn »
187
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
at a higher speed than the inner wheel. In
thi s
w
ay, 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
grip on the front axle, resulting in understeer
or “lengthening” of the trajectory.
The XDS system can detect and correct this
effect via the sensors and signals of the ESC.
Via the ESC, the XDS will brake the inside
wheel and counter the excess driving torque
of that wheel. This means that the driver's
desired trajectory is much more precise.
The XDS system works in combination with
the ESC and is always active, even when ASR
traction control is disconnected, or the ESC in
Sport mode or disconnected.
Multi-collision Brake
In an accident, the multi-collision brake can
help the driver by braking to avoid the risk of
skidding during the accident, which could
lead to further collisions.
The multi-collision brake works for front, side
or rear accidents, when the airbag control
unit records its activation level and the acci-
dent takes place at a speed of over 10 km/h
(6 mph). The ESC automatically brakes the vehicle, as long as the accident has not dam-
aged the ESC, the br
ake hydraulics or the on-
board network
The following actions control automatic brak-
ing during the accident:
● When the driver presses the accelerator,
the automatic
braking does not take place.
● When the braking pressure through press-
ing the brak
e pedal is greater than the sys-
tem’s braking pressure the vehicle will brake
automatically.
● Multi-collision braking will not be available
if ESC
is malfunctioning. WARNING
● The ESC, ABS, ASR, EDL, el ectr

onic self-
locking differential or selective torque control
systems cannot exceed the limits imposed by
the laws of physics. Always bear this in mind,
especially on wet or slippery roads. If you no-
tice the systems cutting in, you should re-
duce your speed immediately to suit the road
and traffic conditions. Do not be encouraged
to take risks by the presence of more safety
systems. If you do, an accident may occur.
● Please remember that the accident risk al-
way
s increases if you drive fast, especially in
corners or on a slippery road, or if you follow
too close behind the vehicle in front of you.
The ESC, ABS, brake assist, EDL, electronic
self-locking and selective torque control sys-
tems cannot prevent accidents: risk of acci-
dents! ●
Ac c

elerate with caution on slippery surfa-
ces (for example, icy or snow-covered). De-
spite the control systems, the driven wheels
could spin, affecting the stability of the vehi-
cle: risk of accident! Note
● The ABS and ASR w i

ll only operate correctly
if the four wheels have identical tyres. Any
differences in the rolling radius of the tyres
can cause the system to reduce engine power
when this is not desired.
● The regulating processes of the systems
can mak
e noises when they intervene.
● If the warning lamp  lights up
, or  alter-
natively, there could be a fault ››› page 119. Switching on/off the ESC and ASR
Fig. 197
Centre console: Button for switching
on/off the E
SC

and ASR188

Driving
The ESC is switched on automatically when
the en gine i
s
started, and only works when
the engine is running and includes the ABS,
EDS and ASR systems.
The ASR and ESC function should only be
switched off in situations in which traction is
insufficient, among others:
● When driving in deep snow or on surfaces
that ar
e not very firm.
● To “free” the vehicle if it gets stuck.
Then switc
h the ASR and ESC function back
on.
Depending on finishes and versions, it is
possible either to disconnect only the ASR or
else activate ESC Sport mode.
ESC in “Sport” mode
Sport mode can be connected via the Easy
Connect ››› page 120 system menu. In front-
wheel drive vehicles, the interventions by the
ESC and the ASR are limited. In four-wheel
drive vehicles, the interventions by the ESC
are limited and the ASR is switched off com-
pletely ››› .
The c ontr
o

l lamp  lights up. For vehicles
with a driver information system*, the driver
will be shown the electronic stability
control (ESC) option: sport.
Warning! Limited stability. Disable ESC “Sport” mode
Through the Ea

sy Connect system menu
››› page 120. The warning lamp  will switch
off. For vehicles with a driver information sys-
tem*, the driver will be shown the elec-
tronic stability control (ESC)
option: on.
Disable ASR
The Easy Connect system menu is used to
switch off the ASR ››› page 120. The traction
control system will be disabled.
The control lamp  lights up. For vehicles
with a driver information system* the driver
will be informed that ASR is disabled.
Activate ASR
The Easy Connect system menu ››› page 120
is used to switch on the ASR. The traction
control system will be enabled.
The control lamp  switches off. For vehicles
with a driver information system* the driver
will be informed that ASR is enabled.
Disconnection of the ESC
In some versions of the model, besides the
traction control system (ASR), the electronic
stability programme (ESC) can also be
switched off. ●
Pres s the  button ››› Fig. 197 for approxi-
mately 1 second to switch to ESC Sport
mode.
● Press the button  ›››
Fig. 197 for approxi-
mately 3 seconds to switch off the Electronic
Stability programme (ESC), including the ASR
function. The  control lamp lights up and
the ESC OFF message is displayed perma-
nently on the instrument panel display.
● The ASR and ESC function are reconnected
by pr
essing the button  ››› Fig. 197.
● OR: activate or deactivate the ESC Sport or
ESC
function in the Easy Connect system us-
ing the  button and the
S
ET
TINGS and
E SC


System function buttons. The
 contr
o l
lamp and the ESC OFF message on the in-
strument panel go out. WARNING
You should switch on the ESC Sport mode on-
ly if the tr

affic conditions and your driving
ability allow you to do so safely: risk of skid-
ding!
● With ESC in Sport mode, the stabilising
function w
ill be limited to allow for a sportier
drive. The driving wheels could spin and the
vehicle could “skid”.
● If the ESC is deactivated, the vehicle stabi-
lisation f
unction is not available. » 189
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
– When the en gine i
s
running, switch off the
traction control (ASR) 1)
.
– Turn the selector lever to the position “S”
or tiptronic, or else sel

ect the sport driv-
ing mode from the SEAT Drive Profile*
››› page 230.
– Press the brake pedal firmly with your left
foot and ho

ld it down for at least one sec-
ond.
– With your right foot, press the accelerator
down to the f

ull throttle or kick-down posi-
tion. The engine speed will stabilise at
about 3,200 rpm (petrol engine) or about
2,000 rpm (diesel engine).
– Take your left foot off the brake pedal. WARNING
● Alw a

ys adapt your driving style to the traf-
fic conditions.
● Only use the launch control programme
when roa
d and traffic conditions permit, and
make sure your manner of driving and accel-
erating the vehicle does not inconvenience or
endanger other road users.
● Make sure that the ESC remains switched
on. Plea
se note that when the ASR and ESC
are deactivated, the wheels may start to spin, causing the vehicle to lose grip. Risk of acci-
dent!
●
After moving off, the ESC “sport” mode
shoul d be de

activated by briefly pressing the
  button. Note
● Af ter u

sing the Launch control programme,
the temperature in the gearbox may have in-
creased considerably. In this case, the pro-
gramme could be disabled for several mi-
nutes. The programme can be used again af-
ter the cooling phase.
● Accelerating with the Launch control pro-
gramme pl
aces a heavy load on all parts of
the vehicle. This can result in increased wear
and tear. Downhill speed control*
The downhill speed control function helps
the driv
er when driv
in

g down steep gradi-
ents.
Downhill speed control is activated when the
selector lever is in D/S and the driver applies
the foot brake. The automatic gearbox auto-
matically engages a lower gear that is suita-
ble for the slope. The downhill speed control function attempts to maintain the speed at
which the v

ehicle was travelling when the
foot brake was applied (subject to the laws of
physics and technical drive limitations). It
may be necessary to adjust the speed again
using the foot brake in certain situations. Giv-
en that the downhill speed control can only
change down to 3rd gear, on very steep de-
scents the tiptronic mode may be required. In
this case, manually reduce the tiptronic to
2nd or 1st gear to use the engine brake and
reduce the charge on the brakes.
Downhill speed control is deactivated as
soon as the road levels out again or you
press the accelerator pedal.
On vehicles with cruise control system*
››› page 209, downhill speed control is acti-
vated when you set a cruising speed. WARNING
The downhill speed control cannot defy the
la w

s of physics. Therefore, speed cannot be
maintained constant in all situations. Always
be prepared to use the brakes! 1)
Vehicles without driver information system: the
warnin g l

amp flashes slowly/Vehicles with driver in-
formation system: the warning lamp stays on.
196

Operation
Control lamp  fla
she s
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.
Driving tips
Driving thr
ough flooded roadsTo prevent damage to the vehicle when driv-
in
g thr
ough w

ater, for example, along a floo-
ded road, please observe the following:
● The water should never come above the
lower edg
e of the bodywork.
● Drive at pedestrian speed. WARNING
After driving through water, mud, sludge,
etc ., the br

aking effect can be delayed slight-
ly due to moisture build-up on the discs and
brake pads. Applying the brakes carefully
several times will remove the moisture and
restore the full braking effect. CAUTION
● Drivin g thr

ough flooded areas may severely
damage vehicle components such as the en- gine, transmission, running gear or electrical
sys
t

em.
● Whenever driving through water, the Start-
Stop sys
tem* must be switched off
››› page 205. Note
● Chec k the depth of

the water before enter-
ing the flooded zone.
● Do not stop in the water, drive in reverse, or
stop the en
gine in any situation.
● Note that vehicles travelling in the opposite
direction ma
y splash water that could exceed
the maximum permitted water height for your
vehicle.
● Avoid driving through salt water (corro-
sion). Four-wheel drive
3 V
alid for vehicles: with four-wheel drive
On f
our-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 187, Brak-
ing and stability systems .The four-wheel drive is specially designed to
comp
l

ement the superior engine power. This
combination gives the vehicle exceptional
handling and performance capabilities, both
on normal roads and in more difficult condi-
tions, such as snow and ice. Even so (or per-
haps especially for this reason), it is impor-
tant to observe certain safety points ››› .
W int
er ty

res
Thanks to four-wheel drive, your vehicle will
have plenty of traction in winter conditions,
even with the standard tyres. Nevertheless,
we still recommend that winter tyres or all-
season tyres be fitted on all four wheels to
give even better braking response.
Snow chains
On roads where snow chains are mandatory,
this also applies to cars with four-wheel drive
›››  page 69.
Changing tyres
On vehicles with four-wheel drive, all four
tyres must have the same rolling circumfer-
ence. Also avoid using tyres with varying
tread depths ››› page 281.
Off-roader?
Your SEAT is not an off-road vehicle: it does
not have enough ground clearance to be
used as such. It is therefore best to avoid
204