Care and maintenance
The optimal reach of the equipment is only
ac hiev
ed w
ith an external aerial.
Check first with a specialised workshop that
understands the technical possibilities of in-
stallation if you wish to use a two-way radio
with a transmitting power of over 10 watts.
SEAT recommends taking your car in for tech-
nical service.
All legal requirements, together with the in-
structions for the use of two-way radios must
be observed. WARNING
If the two-way radio is not securely fastened
in pos ition, it
could be sent flying around the
vehicle in the event of sharp braking, sudden
manoeuvres or accident, causing injury.
● While driving, two-way radios must be se-
curely
fastened in position, outside the air-
bags deployment zones, or safely stowed
away. WARNING
When using a two-way radio without a con-
nection to an e xt
erior aerial, the maximum
permitted levels of electromagnetic radiation
may be exceeded. This is also the case if the
aerial has not been correctly installed.
● You should only use a two-way radio inside
the vehic
le if it has first been correctly con-
nected to an exterior aerial. Information stored by the control
u
nit
s Your vehicle is fitted at the factory with a ser-
ies
of
electronic control units responsible for
the engine and gearbox management. In ad-
dition, the control units supervise the per-
formance of the exhaust gas system and the
airbag systems.
Therefore, while the vehicle is being driven,
these electronic control units are continuous-
ly analysing the vehicle data. In the event of
faults or deviations from the theoretical val-
ues, only this data is stored. Normally, the
warning lamps on the instrument panel light
up in the event of faults.
This data can only be read and analysed us-
ing special equipment.
The storing of the data allows specialised
workshops to detect and repair faults. Stored
data may include:
● Data relating to the engine or the gearbox
● Speed
● Direction of travel
● Braking force
● Detection of seat belt
The v ehic
le control units never record conver-
sations held by passengers in the vehicle.
In vehicles equipped with an emergency call
function via the mobile phone or other appli- ances connected in the vehicle, it is possible
to send the v
ehicle position. If the control
unit records an accident with airbag activa-
tion, the system may automatically send a
signal. This will depend on the network oper-
ator. Normally, transmission is only possible
in areas with good coverage.
Event Data Recorder
The vehicle is not fitted with an event data re-
corder.
An event data recorder temporarily stores the
vehicle information. Therefore, in the event of
an accident, it is possible to obtain detailed
information about how the accident occur-
red. Vehicles with airbag systems can store
data relating to impact speed, seat belt sta-
tus, seat positions and airbag activation
times may be stored, etc. The volume of data
depends on the manufacturer.
Event data recorders can only be mounted
with authorisation from the vehicle owner
and, in some countries, they are governed by
local legislation.
Reprogramming control units
On the whole, all the data required for the
component management is stored in the con-
trol units. The programming of certain con-
venience functions, such as the turn signals,
individual door opening and instructions on
the display can be modified using special »
167
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Care and maintenance
waste. Observe information provided by the
manuf
act
urer. Washing the vehicle
The longer substances such as insects, bird
drop
pin
gs, resinous tree sap, road dirt, in-
dustrial deposits, tar, soot or road salt and
other aggressive materials remain on the ve-
hicle, the more damage they do to the paint-
work. High temperatures (for instance due to
strong sunlight) further intensify the corro-
sive effect. The vehicle undercarriage should
also be thoroughly washed at regular inter-
vals.
Automatic car washes
Always observe the instructions provided at
the automatic car wash. The standard pre-
cautionary measures prior to entering the car
wash should be taken to avoid damage to
the vehicle (close all windows and the roof,
fold in exterior mirrors). If the vehicle is fitted
with additional components (spoiler, roof-
rack, aerial, etc.), check with the car wash su-
pervisor whether these can enter the car
wash ››› .
The v
ehic
le paintwork is so durable that the
vehicle can normally be washed without
problems in an automatic car wash tunnel.
However, wear and damage to the paintwork
will depend on the type of car wash used. SEAT recommends the use of car washes
without bru
shes.
To remove traces of wax on windows and to
prevent wiper blades from scratching, please
observe the following ››› page 172, Cleaning
windows and exterior mirrors .
Washing the car by hand
When washing the car by hand, use plenty of
water to soften the dirt first, and rinse off as
well as possible.
Then clean the vehicle with a soft sponge,
glove or brush using only slight pressure.
Start at the roof and work downwards. Spe-
cial car shampoo should only be used for
very persistent dirt.
Rinse the sponge or glove thoroughly and of-
ten.
Wheels, sills and similar should be cleaned
last. Use a second sponge for this. WARNING
Sharp components on the vehicle may cause
injury .
● Pr
otect arms and hands from sharp edges
when cle
aning the vehicle undercarriage or
the interior of the wheel hubs. WARNING
After the vehicle has been washed, the brak-
ing eff ect
will be reduced (and the braking
distance increased) due to moisture (and ice
in winter) on the brakes.
● “Dry the brakes and remove ice” by braking
caref
ully. Ensure that you are not endanger-
ing other road-users or breaking traffic regu-
lations in the process. CAUTION
● The wat er t
emperature should not exceed
+60°C (+140°F).
● To avoid damage to the paintwork, do not
wash the
vehicle in full sun.
● Do not use rough sponges or similar which
coul
d damage the surface to clean away the
traces of insects.
● Never wipe the headlights with a dry cloth
or spong
e, always moisten first. It is best to
use soapy water.
● Washing the vehicle in low temperatures:
When washin
g the vehicle with a hose, do
not direct water into the lock cylinders or the
gaps around the doors or roof. Locks and
seals could freeze! CAUTION
To avoid any risk of damage to the vehicle,
pl e
ase check the following points before us-
ing an automatic car wash: » 171
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Advice
Polishing
P o
li
shing is only necessary if the paint has
lost its shine, and the gloss cannot be
brought back by applying wax.
If the polish does not contain wax, a wax
product should be applied after polishing. CAUTION
● To pr ev
ent damage, car polish or hard wax
should not be used on components painted in
matt paint, plastic components and the glass
headlamp and tail light covers.
● Do not polish your vehicle in a sandy or
dusty
environment. Care and cleaning of chrome and alu-
minium wheel
rims●
Use a clean, damp, lint-free, smooth cloth
t o c
l
ean anodized surfaces.
● If there is a lot of dirt, use a special clean-
ing product
which does not contain solvents.
● Then, polish the chrome and aluminium
wheel trims w
ith a smooth dry cloth. CAUTION
In order to prevent damage to the aluminium
and chr ome wheel
trims:
● Do not clean or polish them in direct sun-
light. ●
Do not c l
ean or polish them in sandy or
dusty environments.
● Do not use abrasive cleaning agents such
as home c
ream cleaners.
● Do not use insect sponges, scouring pads,
or simil
ar products to clean insect deposits.
● Do not polish dirty surfaces.
● Do not use products containing solvents.
● Do not use hard wax. CAUTION
Chrome hub caps or wheel covers may have
been p ainted a
dditionally. Do not treat them
with aluminium or chrome wax products, nor
chrome or aluminium polish. Instead, use
commercial paint wax or polish. Cleaning wheels
Cleaning steel wheels
U
se an indu
s
trial cleaner to remove brake
dust. Therefore, clean wheels regularly with a
separate sponge.
Any damage to the paint on steel wheels
should be touched up before the metal starts
to rust.
Caring for and cleaning alloy wheels
Remove road salt and brake dust by washing
the wheels approximately once a fortnight.Use an acid free detergent to clean the wheel
rims. SEA
T recommends treating the wheel
rims thoroughly with a hard wax about once
every three months.
It is important to remove road salt and brake
dust by washing the wheels at regular inter-
vals, otherwise the finish will be impaired.
Always use an acid-free detergent for alloy
wheel rims. Car polish or other abrasive
agents should not be used for maintaining
the rims.
If the protective coating on the paint has
been damaged (for example, hit by a stone),
it should be repaired immediately.
Caring for rubber seals The rubber seals on doors, windows, etc., re-
m
ain fl
e
xible, provide a better seal and last
longer if they are regularly treated with a
product specifically designed for use on rub-
ber.
Before applying the product, use a soft cloth
to remove dust and dirt from the rubber
seals.
174
Advice
Caring for and cleaning the ve-
hic l
e int
erior
Introduction The dye from many items of modern clothing
(e.g. d
ark
jeans) is not always colour-fast.
Seat upholstery (material and leather), espe-
cially when light-coloured, may visibly discol-
our if the dye comes out of clothing (even
when used correctly). This is not an uphols-
tery defect but indicates that the dye in the
item of clothing is not sufficiently colour-fast. WARNING
Car-care products may be toxic and hazard-
ous. If c
ar care products are not suitable or
are used inappropriately, this could result in
accident, serious injury, burns or intoxica-
tion.
● Car care products must always be stored in
the original
container which should be kept
closed.
● Observe information provided by the manu-
factur
er.
● To prevent confusion, never store car care
products
in empty food cans, bottles or other
containers.
● Keep all care products out of reach of chil-
dren.
● Harmfu
l vapours may be produced when us-
ing car c
are products. Therefore, care prod- ucts should only be used in well-ventilated
sp
ac
es or in the open air.
● Never use fuel, turpentine, engine oil, ace-
tone or any
other volatile liquid to wash,
clean or care for the vehicle. These are toxic
and highly flammable. WARNING
Inappropriate care and cleaning of vehicle
c omponent s
may effect the vehicle safety
equipment, increasing the risk of severe in-
jury.
● Vehicle components should only be
cle
aned and maintained in accordance with
the manufacturer's instructions.
● Only use approved or recommended care
products. CAUTION
● Cle
aning products which contain solvents
will damage the material.
● To avoid damage, stubborn stains should
be remov
ed by a specialised workshop. Note
Suitable vehicle care products are available
from y
our technical service. How to care for the upholstery
To treat and maintain your seat upholstery,
keep the f
o
llowing in mind ››› :
● Before entering the vehicle, close any Vel-
cr o f
asteners that might snag on the uphols-
tery or trim fabric. Any open Velcro fasteners
may damage the trim or upholstery fabrics.
● To prevent damage, avoid direct contact
between sharp dec
orative objects and the
upholstery and trim fabrics. Decorative ob-
jects include zips, rivets and rhinestones on
clothing and belts.
● From time to time, clean the dust that gath-
ers in the per
forations, folds and seams so
that the surfaces of the seats are not dam-
aged by its abrasive effect.
● Make sure clothes are colour-fast to avoid
them running and s
taining the upholstery.
This is especially important if the upholstery
is light in colour. CAUTION
If the instructions for upholstery and trim
car e ar
e not followed, they may deteriorate
and discolour. Note
SEAT recommends you take the vehicle to a
Spec i
alised workshop to treat any stains on
the upholstery caused by the discolouration
of clothing. 176
Care and maintenance
Cleaning padding and textile covers Normal cleaning
● Before applying cleaning products, please
re a
d the instructions for handling and the
warnings shown on the container.
● The upholstery, textile covers, and carpet
should be r
egularly vacuumed (with vacuum
brush).
● We recommend that you use a soft sponge
or lint-free, mic
ro-fibre cloth for normal clean-
ing ››› .
Gener al
s
uperficial dirt on upholstery and
textile covers can be cleaned with a normal
foam cleaning product.
If the upholstery and the material trims are
very dirty, we recommend you have them
cleaned by a specialist cleaning form.
Cleaning stains
It may be necessary to clean the whole sur-
face and not only the stain itself. Especially if
the surface has been dirtied through normal
use. Otherwise, the stained area may be-
come lighter than the rest of the surface after
treatment.
Type of
stainCleaning the vehicle
Water-based
stains, e.g.
coffee or fruit
juice.– Use a sponge and wipe with a solu-
tion of water and wool wash.
– Dry with a dry, absorbent cloth.
Persistent
stains, e.g.
chocolate or
make-up.– Apply a washing paste a)
directly to
the stain and allow it to work.
– Apply clean water using a sponge or
damp cloth to remove the cleaning
product deposits.
– Dry with a dry absorbent cloth.
Grease-based
stains, e.g. oil
or lipstick.– Apply neutral soap or cleaning
paste a)
and allow it to work.
– Remove dissolved grease or colour
particles with an absorbent cloth.
– Then apply clean water. Take care not
to soak the upholstery.
a) Bile soap can be used as a cleaning paste. CAUTION
● Brushe s
should only be used to clean the
mats and floor mat! Other surfaces may be
damaged if a brush is used.
● Do not use steam cleaning equipment, as
the dirt bec
omes more encrusted in the mate-
rial when steam is applied.
● Never use brushes for cleaning damp mate-
rial
as they could damage the surface. Cleaning storage compartments,
drink
s
ho
lders and ashtrays Fig. 161
In the front part of the centre con-
so l
e:
Storage compartment with cup holder. Fig. 162
Ashtray removed and open with area
t o s t
ub cigarettes » 177
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Checking and refilling levels
Checking and refilling levels
F uel
T y
pes of petrol The correct grade of petrol is listed inside the
fuel
t
ank flap, on the rear right-hand side of
the vehicle.
The vehicle is equipped with a catalytic con-
verter and must only be run on unleaded pet-
rol. The petrol must comply with European
Standard EN 228 or German standard DIN
51626-1 and must be unleaded. You can re-
fuel with a maximum ethanol proportion of
10 % (E10). The types of petrol are differenti-
ated by their octane rating (RON).
The following titles appear on the corre-
sponding adhesive on the fuel tank flap:
Super unleaded 95 octane or normal 91 oc-
tane unleaded petrol
We recommend you use super 95 octane pet-
rol. If this is not available: normal 91 octane
petrol, with a slight decrease in power.
Super unleaded petrol with a minimum of 95
octanes
You should use super petrol with a minimum
of 95 octanes. If super is not available,
in an emergency y
ou
may refuel with normal 91 octane petrol. In
this case only use moderate engine speeds
and a light throttle. Refuel with super as soon
as possible.
In any event you can always refuel with 98-
octane petrol.
Petrol additives
The quality of the fuel influences the behav-
iour, power and service life of the engine.
This is why the petrol you use should carry
suitable additives already included by the
petrol industry, free of metals. These addi-
tives will help to prevent corrosion, keep the
fuel system clean and prevent deposits from
building up in the engine.
If good-quality petrol with metal-free addi-
tives is not available or engine problems
arise, the necessary additives must be added
when refuelling ››› .
Not al
l
petrol additives have been shown to
be effective. The use of unsuitable petrol ad-
ditives may cause significant damage to the
engine and the catalytic converter. Metal ad-
ditives should never be used. Metal additives
may also be contained in petrol additives for
improving anti-detonation ratings or octane
ratings ››› .
S EA
T r
ecommends “genuine Volkswagen
Group Fuel Additives for petrol engines”.
These additives can be bought at SEAT deal- ers, where information on how to use them
can also be o
btained. CAUTION
● Do not r ef
uel if the filler indicates that the
fuel contains metal. LRP ( lead replacement
petrol) fuels contain high concentrations of
metal additives. Using them may damage the
engine!
● Never refuel with fuels containing a large
proportion of
ethanol (for example, E50, E85).
This could damage the fuel system.
● Just filling one full tank of leaded fuel or
fuel c
ontaining other metal additives would
seriously impair the efficiency of the catalytic
converter.
● Only use fuel additives that have been ap-
prov
ed by SEAT. Octane boosting or anti-
knock additives may contain metal additives
that could seriously damage the engine or
the catalytic converter. These additives must
not be used.
● High engine speed and full throttle can
damag
e the engine when using petrol with an
octane rating lower than the correct grade for
the engine. Note
● You m a
y use petrol with a high octane num-
ber than the one recommended for your en-
gine. » 181
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Advice
–
Ins ur
e that the fuel container complies
with manufacturing standards, for exam-
ple, ANSI or ASTM F852-86. CAUTION
● Alw a
ys remove any fuel spilled anywhere
on the vehicle to avoid damage to the wheel
housing, the tyre and vehicle paintwork.
● Refuelling a petrol engine with diesel can
cause seriou
s engine and fuel system dam-
age; the resulting malfunctions are not cov-
ered by the SEAT warranty. If you refuel with
the wrong type of fuel, never start the engine.
This applies to even the smallest amount of
the wrong fuel. Seek specialist assistance.
With the engine running, the composition of
the wrong fuel could significantly damage the
fuel system and the engine itself. For the sake of the environment
Fuels can contaminate the environment. Col-
lect an
y spilt service fluids and allow a pro-
fessional to dispose of them. Control lamps and fuel gauge
Fig. 164
On the instrument panel: fuel gauge
f or petr
o
l Fig. 165
On the instrument panel: Fuel gauge
f or petr
o
l and natural gas. The fuel gauge can vary depending on the ve-
hic
l
e equipment
››› Fig. 164 or ››› Fig. 165.
It lights
upPossible cause / Solution ›››
a)
The fuel tank is almost empty. The re-
serve tank is being used (red mark
››› Fig. 164) ››› page 31.
Refuel as soon as possible ›››
.
a)
The natural gas tank is almost empty. The
reserve tank is being used (red mark
››› Fig. 165) ››› page 31.
Refuel as soon as possible ›››
.
a)
This only applies to vehicles with the fuel gauge on the dash
panel ››› Fig. 164.
Flashes for
about 10 sec- ondsPossible cause / Solution
›››
and the seg-
ments remaining a)The fuel tank is almost empty. The
reserve tank is being used
››› page 31.
Refuel as soon as possible ›››
.
a)
This only applies to vehicles with the fuel gauge on the dash
panel display.
Several warning and control lamps light up
for a few seconds when the ignition is switch-
ed on, signalling that the function is being
verified. They will switch off after a few sec-
onds.
In natural gas engines
During driving, the fuel gauge needle is in
the fuel area with which the car is currently
184
Advice
used engine oil in places such as a garden,
wood
s, dr
ains, roads, paths, rivers and drain-
age systems. Engine coolant
Introduction WARNING
Engine coolant is toxic!
● Only keep engine coolant in its original
c ont ainer
, tightly shut and in a safe place.
● Never store engine coolant in empty food
container
s or bottles as other people may ac-
cidentally drink it.
● Always keep engine coolant out of reach of
chil
dren.
● Ensure that the proportion of engine cool-
ant ad
ditive corresponds to the lowest out-
side temperature to which the vehicle will be
exposed.
● If the outside temperature is extremely low,
the engine coo
lant could freeze causing the
vehicle to stop. As this would also cause the
heating to stop working, vehicle occupants
without warm clothing could freeze. For the sake of the environment
Coolants and additives can contaminate the
env ir
onment. If any fluids are spilled, they should be collected and correctly disposed
of, w
ith r
espect to the environment. Coolant warning lamp
Several warning and control lamps light up
for a f
ew sec
onds when the ignition is switch-
ed on, signalling that the function is being
verified. They will switch off after a few sec-
onds.
It lights up red
Excessive engine
coolant temperature.
Stop the vehicle!
Stop the vehicle safely as soon
as possible. Switch off the en-
gine and let it cool.
Insufficient engine
coolant level.
¡Stop the vehicle!
Check the engine coolant
when the engine has cooled
and, if it is low, refill with en-
gine coolant ››› page 193.
Engine coolant sys-
tem faulty. Do not drive any further.
Obtain professional assis-
tance.
Flashes red
Engine coolant sys-
tem faulty.Seek specialist assistance.
It lights up blue
The natural gas en-
gine coolant tempera-
ture is low. The en-
gine has not reached
the operating temper-
ature.As long as the warning lamp is
on, avoid high engine speeds
and pushing the engine too
hard.
WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ›››
in On the
ins trument
panel on page 26. 192