Operation
For vehicles with no coolant temperature
g aug
e, a c
ontrol lamp appears for high
coolant temperatures ››› page 274. Please
note ››› .
The c oo
l
ant temperature gauge only works
when the ignition is switched on ››› Fig. 124.
In order to avoid engine damage, please read
the following notes for the different tempera-
ture ranges.
Engine cold
If only the diodes in the lower part of the
scale light up, this indicates that the engine
has not yet reached operating temperature.
Avoid high revs and heavy acceleration and
do not make the engine work hard.
Normal temperature
If in normal operations, the diodes light up
until the central zone, it means that the en-
gine has reached operating temperature. At
high outside temperatures and when making
the engine work hard, the diodes may contin-
ue lighting up and reach the upper zone. This
is no cause for concern, provided the control
lamp does not light up on the instrument
panel digital display.
Heat range
When the diodes light up in the upper area of
the display and the control lamp appears on the instrument panel display, the coolant
temperat
ure is excessive ››› page 274. CAUTION
● To en s
ure a long useful life for the engine,
avoid high revs, driving at high speed and
making the engine work hard for approxi-
mately the first 15 minutes when the engine
is cold. The phase until the engine is warm al-
so depends on the outside temperature. If
necessary, use the engine oil temperature*
››› page 43 as a guide.
● Additional lights and other accessories in
front of
the air inlet reduce the cooling effect
of the coolant. At high outside temperatures
and high engine loads, there is a risk of the
engine overheating.
● The front spoiler also ensures proper distri-
bution of the c
ooling air when the vehicle is
moving. If the spoiler is damaged this can re-
duce the cooling effect, which could cause
the engine to overheat. Seek specialist assis-
tance. Fuel level - Petrol/Diesel
Fig. 125
Instrument panel: petrol/diesel
g aug
e The display
››
› Fig. 125
only works when the
ignition is switched on. When the display rea-
ches the reserve mark, the lower diode lights
up in red and the control lamp appears
››› page 114. When the fuel level is very low,
the lower diode flashes in red.
The fuel range is displayed on the instrument
panel ››› Fig. 122 3 .
The c ap
ac
ity of the fuel tank of your vehicle is
given in the Technical data section
››› page 58. CAUTION
Never run the fuel tank completely dry. An ir-
re gu
lar fuel supply could cause misfiring. In
this way the unburned fuel can reach the ex-
haust system, which could cause the catalytic
converter to overheat resulting in damage. 118
Instruments and warning/control lamps
Fuel - Natural Gas level 3 Valid in vehicles equipped with natural gas engine
(GNC)
Fig. 126
Instrument panel: Natural gas gauge The gauges
››
› Fig. 126 and ››› Fig. 125 only
work when the ignition is on. When the dis-
play reaches the reserve mark, the lower LED
lights up in red and the control lamp ap-
pears. When the fuel level is very low, the
lower diode flashes in red.
● The green warning lamp ›››
Fig. 126 1 lights up when the vehicle is running in natu-
r
al
g
as operating mode.
● The green warning lamp 1 turns off
when the n at
ur
al gas is exhausted. The en-
gine changes to operate with petrol.
● The yellow control lamp lights up when
the re
serve level has been reached. Things to note
If the v
ehicle is left parked for a long time im-
mediately after refuelling, the natural gas lev-
el indicator may not accurately indicate the
same level shown after refuelling when the
vehicle is started up again. This is not due to
a leak in the system, but to a drop in pres-
sure in the gas tank for technical reasons af-
ter a cooling phase just after refuelling.
Control lamps
Warning and c
ontrol lamps Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 47.
The control and warning lamps are indicators
of warnings, ››› , faults
››
› or certain func-
tion s.
Some c
ontrol and warning lamps come
on when the ignition is switched on, and
switch off when the engine starts running, or
while driving.
Depending on the model, additional text
messages may be viewed on the instrument
panel display. These may be purely informa-
tive or they may be advising of the need for
action ›››
page 114, Instruments.
Depending upon the equipment fitted in the
vehicle, instead of a warning lamp, some- times a symbol may be displayed on the in-
strument p
anel.
When certain control and warning lamps are
lit, an audible warning is also heard. WARNING
If the warning lamps and messages are ignor-
ed, the v ehic
le may stall in traffic, or may
cause accidents and severe injuries.
● Never ignore the warning lamps or text
mess
ages.
● Stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible.
● Park the vehicle away from traffic and en-
sure th
at there are no highly flammable ma-
terials under the vehicle that could come into
contact with the exhaust system (e.g. dry
grass, fuel).
● A faulty vehicle represents a risk of acci-
dent for the driv
er and for other road users. If
necessary, switch on the hazard warning
lamps and put out the warning triangle to ad-
vise other drivers.
● Before opening the bonnet, switch off the
engine and al
low it to cool.
● In any vehicle, the engine compartment is a
hazar
dous area and could cause severe inju-
ries ››› page 270. CAUTION
Failure to heed the control lamps and text
mes s
ages when they appear may result in
faults in the vehicle. 119
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Opening and closing
The vehicle keys or new spare keys can be
o bt
ained fr
om a SEAT Official Service, a spe-
cialised workshop or an approved key service
qualified to create this kind of key.
New keys or spare keys must be synchron-
ised before use ››› page 132. CAUTION
All of the vehicle keys contain electronic com-
ponents. Pr ot
ect them from damage, impacts
and humidity. Note
● Only u
se the key button when you require
the corresponding function. Pushing the but-
ton unnecessarily could accidentally unlock
the vehicle or trigger the alarm. It is also pos-
sible even when you are outside the radius of
action.
● Key operation can be greatly influenced by
overl
apping radio signals close to the vehicle
working in the same range of frequencies, for
example, radio transmitters or mobile tele-
phones.
● Obstacles between the remote control and
the vehic
le, bad weather conditions and dis-
charged batteries can considerably reduce
the range of the remote control.
● If the buttons of the vehicle key are press-
ed ›››
Fig. 132 or ››› Fig. 133 or one of the cen-
tral locking buttons ››› page 128 is pressed
repeatedly in short succession, the central
locking briefly disconnects as protection against overloading. The vehicle is then un-
lock
ed. L
ock it if necessary. Unlocking/Locking by remote control
Read the additional information carefully
›› ›
page 15
The vehicle will be locked again automatical-
ly if you do not open one of the doors or the
rear lid within 30 seconds after unlocking the
car. This function prevents the vehicle from
remaining unlocked if the unlocking button is
pressed by mistake. This does not apply if
you press the button for at least one sec-
ond.
In vehicles with a security central locking
feature (selective unlocking of side doors)
››› page 127, when the button is pressed
once, only the driver door and the fuel tank
flap are unlocked. When the button is press-
ed a second time, all the vehicle doors are unlocked. WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ›››
in Descrip-
tion on pag e 125
. Note
● Do not u se the r
emote control key until the
vehicle is visible. ●
Other fu nction
s of the remote control key
››› page 137, Convenience opening and clos-
ing. Selective unlocking system
The selective unlocking system allows you to
only
u
nlock the driver door and the fuel tank
flap. All other doors and the rear lid remain
locked.
Unlocking the driver door and tank flap
– Press ( once) the b utt
on on the remote
control key or turn the key once in the
opening direction.
Unlocking all the doors, the rear lid and the
tank flap simultaneously. – Within 5 seconds, press ( twice) the
but-
ton on the remote control key, or turn the
key twice within 5 seconds in the opening
direction.
The anti-theft security system* and the anti-
theft alarm* are immediately disabled if you
unlock only the driver door, without unlock-
ing the other doors.
In vehicles with Easy Connect*, you can pro-
gramme the security central locking system
directly ››› page 128.
127
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Operation
Adjusting the central locking You can use Easy Connect* to select which
doors
ar
e unlocked with the central locking
system. Using the radio or the Easy Connect*
system, you can select whether the vehicle
automatically closes with the “Auto Lock”
programme at speeds of more than 15 km/h
(9 mph).
Programming the unlocking of the doors (ve-
hicles with Easy Connect)
– Select: button > SETTINGS
fu
nction
b
utton > Opening and closing > Cen-
tral locking > Unlocking doors .
Programming the Auto Lock (vehicles with
Easy Connect)
– Select: button > SETTINGS
fu
nction
b
utton > Opening and closing > Cen-
tral locking > Locking while
driving .
Programming the Auto Lock (vehicles with
radio)
– Select: SETUP button > control button
Central locking > Locking while
driving .
Un loc
k
ing doors
You can choose to unlock all the doors or
only the driver door when you unlock the vehicle. In all
the options, the fuel
tank flap
is also unlocked.
With the Driver setting, when you press the
button on the remote control key once, on-
ly the driver door is unlocked. If that button is
pressed twice, the rest of the doors and the
rear lid will be unlocked.
In vehicles with a conventional key, turn the
key in the door lock, in the direction of open-
ing, twice within 2 seconds.
If the button is pressed, all the vehicle
doors are locked. At the same time, a confir-
mation signal* is heard.
Auto Lock while driving
If you select on, all the vehicle doors are
locked at speeds above 15 km/h (9 mph).
Central locking switch Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 15
Please note the following when using the
central locking switch to lock your vehicle:
● It is not possible to open the doors or the
rear lid fr
om the outside (for safety reasons,
e.g. when stopped at traffic lights).
● The LED in the central locking switch lights
up when all the door
s are closed and locked. ●
You can open the door
s individually from
the inside by pulling the inside door handle.
● In the event of an accident in which the air-
bags
inflate, doors locked from the inside will
be automatically unlocked to facilitate access
and assistance. WARNING
● The centr a
l locking switch also operates
when the ignition is switched off and auto-
matically locks all the vehicle doors when the
button is pressed.
● The central locking switch does not operate
if the v
ehicle is locked from the outside and
the anti-theft security system is switched on.
● Locked doors could delay assistance in an
emergency
, potentially putting lives at risk.
Do not leave anyone, especially children, in
the vehicle. Note
Your vehicle will lock automatically when it
re ac
hes a speed of about 15 km/h (9 mph)
(Auto Lock) ››› page 125. You can unlock the
vehicle again using the button on the cen-
tral locking switch. 128
Lights and visibility
●
In icy c ondition
s, always check that the
wiper blades are not frozen to the glass be-
fore using the wipers. In cold weather, it may
help to leave the vehicle parked with the wip-
ers in service position ›››
page 72. Note
● The w inds
creen and window wipers only
function when the ignition is switched on and
the bonnet or rear lid, respectively, are
closed.
● The interval wipe speed varies according to
the vehic
le speed. The faster the vehicle is
moving, the more often the windscreen is
cleaned.
● The rear wiper is automatically switched on
when the winds
creen wiper is on and the car
is in reverse gear. Windscreen wiper functions
Windscreen wiper performance in different sit-
uations
If the vehicle is at a
standstillThe activated position provision-
ally changes to the previous posi-
tion.
During automatic
wipe
The air conditioner comes on for
approximately 30 seconds in air
recirculation mode to prevent the
smell of the windscreen washer
fluid entering the inside the vehi-
cle.
Windscreen wiper performance in different sit-
uations
For the interval wipe
Intervals between wipes depend
on the vehicle's speed. The high-
er the vehicle speed the shorter
the intervals. Heated windscreen washer jets
The heatin
g on
ly thaws the frozen jets, it
does not thaw the water in the washer hoses.
When the ignition is switched on the heated
windscreen washer jets automatically adjust
the heat depending on the ambient tempera-
ture.
Headlight wash/wipe system
The headlight washers/wipers clean the
headlight lenses.
After the ignition is switched on, the first and
every fifth time the windscreen washer is
switched on, the headlights are also washed.
Therefore, the windscreen wiper lever should
be pulled towards the steering wheel when
the dipped beam or main beam are on. Any
incrusted dirt (such as insects) should be
cleaned regularly (e.g. when refuelling).
To ensure the headlight washers work cor-
rectly in winter, any snow which has got into
the bumper jet supports should be cleaned
away. If necessary, remove snow with an anti-
icing spray. Note
The wiper will try to wipe away any obstacles
that ar
e on the windscreen. The wiper will
stop moving if the obstacle blocks its path.
Remove the obstacle and switch the wiper
back on again. 149
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Seats and head restraints
●
Do not s pi
ll liquid on the seat. CAUTION
● To av oid d
amaging the heating elements of
the seat heaters, please do not kneel on the
seat or apply sharp pressure to a single point
on the seat cushion or backrest.
● Liquids, sharps objects and insulating ma-
teria
ls (e.g. covers or child seats) can damage
the seat heating.
● In the event of smells, switch off the seat
heating immedi
ately and have it inspected by
a specialised workshop. For the sake of the environment
The seat heating should remain on only when
needed. Otherw i
se, it is an unnecessary fuel
waste. Front centre armrest
The centre armrest can be adjusted to various
l
ev
el
s.
Adjusting the centre armrest – To adjust the tilt, lift the armrest from the
star
ting position so that it is engaged.
– To return the armrest to the starting posi-
tion, remov
e the armrest from the upper
fixed position and lower it. The armrest can be moved backwards and
forw
ards.
Folding down the passenger seat
back
rest* 3 Applies to the model: LEON / LEON ST
Fig. 152
Front passenger seat: lever for fold-
in g do
wn the b
ackrest. The front passenger seat can be folded down
t
o inc
r
ease the storage space.
● Pull lever 1
› ›
› Fig. 152
and push the seat
backrest 2 until the backrest is horizontal.
WARNING
When the front passenger seat is folded
down it c
annot be occupied. Folding down and raising the rear seat
b
ac
k
rest 3 Applies to the model: LEON/LEON SC
Fig. 153
Clip to support the seat belt. Fig. 154
Backrest release lever. The backrests can be folded forward individu-
al
ly
or t
ogether. »
155
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Transport and practical equipment
bars or conventional roof carrier systems can-
not be sec
ur
ed to the roof water drains.
As the roof water drains are integrated in the
roof to reduce air resistance, only SEAT-ap-
proved cross bars and roof carrier systems
can be used.
Cases in which cross bars and the roof carri-
er system should be disassembled.
● When they are not used.
● When the vehicle is washed in a car wash.
● When the vehicle height exceeds the maxi-
mum height, for ex
ample, in some garages.WARNING
When heavy or bulky loads are transported
on the roof c
arrier system, car driving per-
formance is affected, as the centre of gravity
shifts and there is greater wind resistance.
● Always secure the load properly using belts
or retainin
g straps that are suitable and in a
good condition.
● Bulky, heavy, long or flat loads have a neg-
ative effect
on aerodynamics, the centre of
gravity and driving performance.
● Avoid sudden braking and manoeuvres.
● Adapt your speed and driving style at all
times t
o suit visibility, weather, road and traf-
fic conditions. CAUTION
● Remo v
e the cross bars and the roof carrier
system before entering a car wash.
● Vehicle height is increased by the installa-
tion of cr
oss bars or a roof carrier system and
the load secured on them. For this purpose,
check that your vehicle's height does not sur-
pass the headspace limit, for example, for un-
derpasses or for entering garage doors.
● Cross bars, a roof carrier system and the
load sec
ured on them should not interfere
with the roof aerial or hamper the path of the
panoramic sun roof ››› page 138 and the rear
lid.
● On opening the rear lid make sure that it
does not
knock into the roof load. For the sake of the environment
When cross bars and a roof carrier system are
ins t
alled, the increased air resistance means
that the vehicle uses more fuel. Attach the cross bars and the roof car-
rier sy
s
t
em Fig. 187
Leon/Leon SC: attachment points for
the r oof
r
ailings for the roof carrier system. » 171
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Operation
WARNING
Cold start sprays could explode or cause a
sud den inc
rease in the engine speed.
● Never use sprays to cold start the engine. CAUTION
● The st ar
ter motor or the engine may be
damaged if you try to start the engine while
driving or if you restart it immediately after
switching it off.
● If the engine is cold, avoid high engine
speeds, p
ushing the engine too hard and rap-
id acceleration.
● Do not start the engine by pushing the ve-
hicle or t
owing it. Unburnt fuel could enter
the catalytic converter and damage it. Note
● Do not w ait
until the engine warms up with
the vehicle stationary; if you have good visi-
bility through the windows, start driving im-
mediately. This helps the engine reach oper-
ating temperature faster and reduces emis-
sions.
● Electrical components with a high power
cons
umption are switched off temporarily
when the engine starts.
● When starting with a cold engine, noise
level
s may briefly increase. This is quite nor-
mal, and no cause for concern.
● When the outside temperature is below
+5°C (+41°F), if the en
gine is diesel, some smoke may appear under the vehicle when
the fuel-oper
at
ed auxiliary heater is on. Stopping the engine
3 Valid for vehicles: with starter button
StepSwitch off the engine with the starter
button
››› page 180.
1.Stop the vehicle completely ››› .
2.Press and hold the brake pedal until the step
4 is performed.
3.If you are driving an automatic vehicle, place
the selector lever in position P.
4.Connect the electronic parking brake
››› page 183.
5.
Briefly press the start-up button ››› Fig. 192.
The START ENGINE STOP button blinks again. If
the engine fails to switch off, perform an
emergency disconnect ››› page 180.
6.If the vehicle is equipped with a manual
gearbox, put it into 1st or reverse. WARNING
Never switch off the engine while the vehicle
is mo
ving. This could cause loss of control of
the vehicle, accidents and serious injury.
● The airbags and belt tensioners do not
work when the ignition i
s switched off. ●
The brak e ser
vo does not work with the en-
gine off. Therefore, you need to press the
break pedal harder to brake the vehicle.
● Power steering does not work when the en-
gine is not
running. You need more strength
to steer when the engine is switched off.
● If the ignition is switched off, the steering
column c
ould be locked, making it impossible
to control the vehicle. CAUTION
If the engine is made to work hard for a long
time, it ma
y overheat after being switched
off. To prevent damage to the engine before
switching it off, leave it idle for approx. 2 mi-
nutes in neutral. Note
After switching off the engine, the cooling fan
ma y
continue to operate in the engine com-
partment for a few more minutes, even with
the ignition off. The radiator fan is automati-
cally switched off. 182