Checking and refilling levels
●
Noise s
heard when refuelling are normal
and do not indicate the presence of a fault in
the system.
● The vehicle natural gas system is prepared
both for ref
uelling with a small compressor
(slow refuel) and a large compressor (fast re-
fuel) in natural gas service stations. Bonnet
Work in
g in the engine compartment Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 10
Before working in the engine compartment,
make sure that the vehicle is parked on hori-
zontal and firm ground.
The engine compartment of the vehicle is a
hazardous area. Never work on the engine or
in the engine compartment if you are not fa-
miliar with the operations to be carried out,
the applicable safety standards and especial-
ly if you do not have the necessary instru-
ments, liquids and tools ››› ! If required,
h av
e an
y work carried out by a specialised
workshop. Negligent work can cause serious
injury. WARNING
If the vehicle moves unexpectedly, this could
cau se seriou
s injury. ●
Never w ork
under the vehicle if it has not
been immobilized. If you must work under-
neath the vehicle with the wheels in contact
with the ground then it should be parked on
flat ground, the wheels should be prevented
from moving and the key should be removed
from the ignition.
● If you have to work underneath the vehicle,
you mus
t use suitable stands additionally to
support the vehicle, there is a risk of acci-
dent!. The jack is not intended for this kind of
work and its failure could lead to severe inju-
ries.
● Disconnect the Start-Stop system. WARNING
The engine compartment is a dangerous area
cap ab
le of causing serious injury.
● For all type of work, always take the utmost
precaution
s, work carefully and note the gen-
eral safety standards in force. Never take per-
sonal risks.
● Never work on the engine or in the engine
compar
tment if you are not familiar with the
necessary operations. If you are not sure
about procedures then visit a specialised
workshop to carry out the necessary work.
Working incorrectly can cause serious inju-
ries.
● Never open the bonnet if you see steam or
cool
ant escaping from the engine compart-
ment. This may cause serious burns. Always
wait until you cannot see or hear the sound of steam or coolant coming from the engine
comp
ar
tment.
● Always allow the engine to cool down be-
fore openin
g the bonnet.
● Contact with hot elements of the engine
and the exhau
st system can cause burns.
● Once the engine has cooled, follow the in-
structions
below before opening the bonnet:
– Engage the handbrake and place the gear
selector lever in N or the gear stick in
neutral.
– Remove the key from the ignition.
– Keep children away from the engine com-
partment and never leave them unsuper-
vised.
● When the engine is warm or hot, the cool-
ing sys
tem is pressurised. Do not unscrew
the cap on the expansion tank when the en-
gine is hot. Otherwise, coolant may spray out
under pressure causing burns and serious in-
jury.
– After cooling, carefully and slowly un-
screw the cap anticlockwise, gently
pressing down on it.
– Always protect your face, hands and arms
from hot coolant and steam using a large,
thick cloth.
● When refilling liquids, avoid spilling them
on part
s of the engine and the exhaust sys-
tem. Spilled liquids could cause a fire. » 187
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Advice
WARNING
The high voltages of the electrical system can
give el ectric
shocks as well as causing burns
and serious injury and possibly even death!
● Never cause short circuits in the electrical
syst
em. The battery could explode.
● To minimise the risk of electric shock and
serious c
onsequences while the engine is
running or starting the engine, note the fol-
lowing:
– Never touch the electrical wiring of the
ignition system. WARNING
In the engine compartment, there are rotat-
ing p ar
ts that could cause serious injury.
● Never place your hands directly on or near
the radi
ator fan. Touching the rotor blades
could seriously harm you. The ventilator
works according to the engine temperature
and could start suddenly even when the igni-
tion is turned off and the key is removed.
● If any work has to be performed when the
engine is
started or with the engine running,
there is an additional, potentially fatal, safety
risk from rotating parts, such as the drive
belts, alternator, radiator fan, etc., as well as
from the high-voltage ignition system. Al-
ways work with the utmost caution.
– Always make sure that no parts of your
body, jewellery, ties, loose clothing and
long hair can be trapped by the rotating
parts of the engine. Before any work, re- move ties and jewellery (necklaces, etc),
tie long h
air b
ack and tie all items of
loose clothing to your body to make sure
that they cannot be trapped by engine
components.
– Take extreme caution when operating the
accelerator and remain attentive. The ve-
hicle could move, even if the handbrake
is applied.
● Always make sure you have not left any ob-
jects, s
uch as cleaning cloths and tools, in
the engine compartment. If any object is left
in the engine compartment, this could cause
malfunctions, engine faults and even a fire. WARNING
Refill liquids and certain materials can catch
fire e a
sily in the engine compartment, caus-
ing a fire and serious injury!
● Never smoke.
● Never work close to places exposed to
flames
or sparks.
● Never pour service fluids over the engine.
These fluid ma
y ignite hot engine parts and
cause injuries.
● If it is necessary to work on the fuel system
or the electrica
l system, please follow the in-
structions below:
–Always disconnect the vehicle battery.
– Never work close to heaters, heat sources
or places exposed to flames or sparks. ●
Alw a
ys keep a recently serviced and per-
fectly working fire extinguisher close by.
● Never cover the engine with additional in-
sul
ating materials such as a blanket. Risk of
fire! WARNING
If the bonnet is not correctly closed, it could
s ud den
ly open while driving leaving the driv-
er without visibility. This could result in a se-
rious accident.
● After closing the bonnet, always check that
it is
properly secured by the locking mecha-
nism in the lock carrier piece. The bonnet
must be flush with the surrounding body pan-
els.
● While driving, if you notice that the bonnet
is not
correctly closed then stop immediately
and close it correctly.
● Make sure the bonnet is opened and closed
safely
(when the engine is off, no smoke is
coming from the engine compartment, there
is enough space around the car, no people
are near, etc.). CAUTION
● When refi l
ling or changing service liquids,
ensure that you put the liquids into the right
tank. Making a mistake when refilling could
cause serious malfunctions and damage the
engine! 188
Checking and refilling levels
Checking the coolant level and top-
pin g up Fig. 170
In the engine compartment: Marking
on c oo
l
ant expansion tank Fig. 171
In the engine compartment: Coolant
e xp
an
sion tank cap Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 32
If the coolant level is low, the coolant warn-
ing indicator will light. Preparations
● Park the vehicle on even, flat and firm
ground.
● A
llow the engine to cool ›››
.
● Open the bonnet › ›
›
page 187.
● The coolant expansion tank is easily recog-
nisab
le because of the symbol on the cap
››› Fig. 171.
Checking the engine coolant level ● When the engine is cold, check the coolant
level
using the side marking on the expan-
sion tank ››› Fig. 170.
● If the level is below the “MIN” mark, top up
with coo
lant. When the engine is hot it may
be slightly above the marked area.
Topping up the engine coolant level
● Always protect your face, hands and arms
from hot c
oolant and steam using a large,
thick cloth over the coolant expansion tank
cap.
● Remove the cap very carefully ›››
.
● Only refill using new engine c
oo
lant ac-
cording to SEAT specifications
( ›››
page 32)
››› .
● The engine coolant level should be be-
tw een the m
ark
s on the coolant expansion
tank ››› Fig. 170. Do not exceed the top level
of the marked area ››› .
● Screw on the cap tightly. ●
If, in the ev
ent
of an emergency, you have
no coolant that is compliant to the required
specifications ( ›››
page 32), do not use
another type of additive. Instead, top up with
distilled water only ››› . Then re-establish
the c orr
ect
proportion of the mixture with the
correct additive as soon as possible
››› page 32. WARNING
Hot vapours and coolant can cause serious
burn s.
● Nev
er open the coolant expansion tank if
ste
am or coolant is coming from the engine
compartment. Wait until you cannot see or
hear any steam or coolant escaping.
● Always wait until the engine has complete-
ly coo
led before very carefully opening the
expansion tank cap. Contact with hot ele-
ments of the engine can cause skin burns.
● When the engine is warm or hot, the cool-
ing sys
tem is pressurised. Do not unscrew
the cap on the expansion tank when the en-
gine is hot. Otherwise, coolant may spray out
under pressure causing burns and serious in-
jury.
– Carefully and slowly unscrew the cap an-
ti-clockwise, gently pressing down on it.
– Always protect your face, hands and arms
from hot coolant and steam using a large,
thick cloth. » 193
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Advice
● Chec k
ther
e is enough water in the reser-
voir.
● To top up, mix water with a window cleaner
recommended b
y SEAT ››› . Please follow
the in s
truction
s for use found on the packag-
ing.
● In cold weather, a special antifreeze should
also be ad
ded to prevent the water from
freezing.
Reservoir capacity
The washer bottle capacity is approximately 3
litres. WARNING
If the water from the windscreen washer does
not c ont
ain enough anti-freeze, it may freeze
on the windscreen and rear window, reducing
forward and rear visibility.
● In winter, ensure the windscreen washer
contain
s enough anti-freeze.
● In cold conditions, you should not use the
winds
creen wiper system unless you have
warmed the windscreen with the ventilation
system. The antifreeze could freeze on the
windscreen and reduce visibility. WARNING
Never mix an unsuitable antifreeze or other
simi l
ar additives with the windscreen washer
water. A greasy layer may be formed on the
windscreen which will impair visibility. ●
Use c l
ean water with a window cleaner rec-
ommended by SEAT.
● If necessary, add a suitable antifreeze to
the water in the r
eservoir. CAUTION
● Do not mix
cleaning products recommen-
ded by SEAT with other products. This could
lead to flocculation and may block the wind-
screen washer jets.
● When topping up service fluids, make abso-
lutely c
ertain that you fill the fluids into the
correct reservoirs. Using the wrong fluids
could cause serious malfunctions and engine
damage! Vehicle battery
Intr oduction Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 33.
The battery is a component of the vehicle's
electrical system.
Never work on the electrical system without
fully understanding the operations required,
the applicable safety standards and without
the correct tools ››› ! If required, have any
w ork
c
arried out by a specialised workshop.
SEAT recommends taking your car in for tech- nical service. Negligent work can cause seri-
ous injur
y.
Location of the vehicle battery
The battery is located in the engine compart-
ment.
Explanation of the warning indications on
the vehicle's battery
Wear eye protection!
Battery acid is very corrosive and caustic.
Always wear protective gloves and eye
protection!
Fires, sparks, open flames and smoking
are prohibited.
A highly explosive mixture of gases is re-
leased when the battery is under charge.
Keep children away from acid and batter-
ies!
WARNING
Working on the vehicle battery and the elec-
trica l
system can cause corrosion, fire and
electric shocks. Always read and take into ac-
count the following warnings and safety
standards before carrying out any work:
● Before working on the battery, switch off
the engine, the ignition and al
l electrical de-
vices then disconnect the negative connec-
tion on the battery. 196
Advice
Checking the battery electrolyte level
● Make sure there is sufficient lighting to
c l
e
arly recognise the colours. Never use
flames or shiny objects as a light source.
● Depending on the level of acid, the Magic
eye on the top of
the battery will change col-
our.
Colour indica-
torNecessary operations
Light yellow or
colourlessThe electrolyte level of the vehicle's
battery is too low. Have the battery
checked and, where applicable, re-
placed by a specialised workshop.
BlackThe electrolyte level of the vehicle's
battery is correct. WARNING
Working with the vehicle battery involves a
risk of
corrosion, explosions and electric
shock.
● Never tilt the vehicle battery. Battery acid
coul
d spill out of the openings for the release
of gases and cause corrosion damage.
● Never open the vehicle battery.
● If battery acid splashes on you, immediate-
ly rinse
your eyes and skin abundantly with
water for several minutes. Then seek medical
care immediately.
● If acid is swallowed by mistake, consult a
doctor immediat
ely. Charging, replacing and connecting or
di
s
c
onnecting the battery Charging the battery
The v
ehic
le battery should be charged by a
specialised workshop only, as batteries us-
ing special technology have been installed
and they must be charged in a controlled en-
vironment ››› . SEAT recommends taking
your c ar in f
or technical service.
Replacing a vehicle battery
The battery has been developed to suit the
conditions of its location and has special
safety features. If the battery must be re-
placed, consult a technical service for infor-
mation on electromagnetic compatibility, the
size and maintenance, performance and
safety requirements of the new battery in
your vehicle before you purchase one. SEAT
recommends you have the battery replaced
by a technical service.
Use only maintenance-free genuine batteries
conforming to TL 825 06 and VW 7 50 73
Standards. These standards must be dated
April 2008 or later.
Vehicles fitted with the Start-Stop system are
equipped with a special battery. Therefore,
this battery must only be replaced by another
with the same specifications. Disconnecting the vehicle's battery
If
y
ou must disconnect the battery from the
electrical system, please note the following:
● Switch off the ignition and all electrical
equipment.
● The v
ehicle must be unlocked before dis-
connecting the b
attery, otherwise the alarm
will be triggered.
● First disconnect the negative cable and
then the positiv
e ››› .
C onnectin
g the
vehicle's battery
● Before reconnecting the battery, switch off
the engine and all
electrical devices.
● First reconnect the positive cable and then
the negativ
e ››› .
Diff er
ent
control lamps may light up after
connecting the battery and switching the ig-
nition on. They will be turned off after a short
trip at a speed of between 15-20 km/h
(10-12 mph). If the warning indicators remain
lit, please visit a specialised workshop to
have the vehicle checked.
If the battery has been disconnected for a
long time, it is possible that the next service
date is not displayed or calculated correctly
››› page 88. Respect the maximum service in-
tervals permitted ››› Booklet Maintenance
Programme.
198
Advice
Wheels and tyres
T y
r
es
Introduction SEAT recommend that all work on tyres and
wheels
i
s carried out by a specialised work-
shop. These workshops have the necessary
special tools and replacement parts, trained
personnel and facilities for disposing of the
old tyres while respecting the environment.
SEAT recommends taking your car in for tech-
nical service. WARNING
The vehicle cannot be totally controlled or
brak ed if
the tyres (new or used) are worn or
damaged.
● Incorrect use of wheels and tyres could
make driv
ing more dangerous and result in
serious accidents and damage.
● All four wheels must be fitted with radial
tyre
s of the same type, size (rolling circumfer-
ence) and the same tread pattern.
● New tyres do not give maximum grip and
wil
l not have reached their maximum braking
capacity to start with, and therefore need
running in. To prevent accidents and major
damage, extreme caution should be taken for
the first 600 km. ●
Check ty
re pressures regularly and ensure
they are maintained at the pressures indica-
ted. If the tyre pressure is too low, they could
overheat, resulting in tread detachment or
even burst tyres.
● Never drive on damaged (punctured, cut,
crac
ked or dented) or worn tyres. Driving on
damaged or worn tyres could result in burst
tyres, serious accidents or damage. Worn or
damaged tyres must be replaced immediate-
ly.
● Never exceed the maximum permitted
speed or loa
ds specified for the type of tyre
fitted on your vehicle.
● The effectiveness of driver and brake assist
syst
ems also depends on the grip of the
tyres.
● If you notice unusual vibration or if the ve-
hicle p
ulls to one side when driving, stop the
car immediately and check the tyres and
wheels for damage.
● To minimise the risk of losing control of the
vehicl
e or causing a serious accident, never
undo the bolted joints of beadlock wheels.
● Never mount used tyres or wheels if you are
not sur
e of their previous history. They may
be damaged, although the damage is not im-
mediately visible.
● Old tyres, even if they have never been
used, ma
y lose air or burst unexpectedly
while driving, especially at high speeds, re-
sulting in serious accident and injury. If tyres
are over six years old, they should only be used in an emergency and with extreme cau-
tion.
Note
For technical reasons, it is not generally pos-
s ib l
e to use the wheels from other vehicles.
In some cases, this may also be true for the
same model of wheel. Please refer to the ve-
hicle documentation or ask at a technical
service. Handling tyres and wheels
Fig. 173
Diagram for changing wheels. The tyres of a vehicle are the components
whic
h ar
e s
ubjected to most stress and are
the most underestimated. Tyres are very im-
portant, as the support offered by their nar-
row surface is the only point of contact be-
tween the vehicle and the road.
200
Advice
WARNING
Aggressive fluids or substances could result
in v i
sible or invisible damage with the conse-
quent risks.
● Always ensure that tyres do not come into
contact
with chemical products, oil, grease,
fuel, brake fluid or other aggressive substan-
ces. WARNING
Old tyres, even if they have never been used,
ma y
lose air or burst unexpectedly while driv-
ing, resulting in serious accident or damage.
● If tyres are over six years old, they should
only be u
sed in an emergency and with ex-
treme caution. For the sake of the environment
Old tyres must be disposed of by qualified
personnel ac
cording to the laws in the coun-
try concerned. Wheels
The design of wheel bolts is matched to the
rims. If
diff
er
ent rims are fitted, the correct
wheel bolts with the right length and correct-
ly shaped bolt heads must be used. This en-
sures that wheels are fitted securely and that
the brake system functions correctly
››› page 72. For technical reasons, it is not generally pos-
sibl
e to use the wheels from other vehicles.
In some cases, this may also be true for the
same model of wheel.
The tyres and rims approved by SEAT are spe-
cially matched to the characteristics of the
vehicle and are critical to good road holding
and safe handling.
Wheel bolts
Wheel bolts must be tightened to the correct
torque ››› page 72.
Beadlock wheel rims
Beadlock wheel rims have various compo-
nents. These are joined together by special
bolts using a special procedure. This ensures
good performance, a better seal, improved
safety and wheel run out. Therefore, worn
rims should always be replaced and must on-
ly be repaired in a specialised workshop.
SEAT recommends visiting a technical service
››› .
Wheel rims
w
ith bolted trims
Wheel rims may be fitted with interchangea-
ble trim parts which are attached to the rim
using self-locking bolts. Worn trims should
only be replaced at a specialised workshop.
SEAT recommends visiting a technical service
››› . WARNING
The use of worn or damaged wheel rims could
mak e driv
ing more dangerous and result in
serious accidents and damage.
● Only wheel rims which have been approved
for use w
ith your vehicle should be used.
● Inspect wheel rims regularly for damage
and repl
ace as required. WARNING
If the bolted joints of wheel rims with bolted
ring trims ar
e not correctly tightened or loos-
ened, this could result in serious accident.
● Never loosen the bolted joints of wheel
rims with bo
lted ring trims.
● Any work relating to wheel rims with bolted
rims shoul
d be carried out at specialised
workshop. SEAT recommends taking your car
in for technical service. Note
A SEAT Service Centre should be consulted to
find out whether wheel s
or tyres of different
sizes to those originally fitted by SEAT can be
fitted, and to find out about the combinations
allowed between the front axle (axle 1) and
the rear axle (axle 2). 202
Wheels and tyres
Spare wheel or temporary spare
wheel* Fig. 177
In the luggage compartment: hand
c ontr
o
lled wheel for securing the spare wheel Removing the spare wheel
● Open the rear lid and lift the luggage com-
p ar
tment
shelf ››› page 123.
● If necessary, remove the boot variable floor
›››
page 123.
● Lift up the carpet from the recess and re-
move it
from the luggage compartment.
● If necessary, take out the vehicle tool kit
with the cont
ainer.
● Completely remove the hand controlled
wheel from the c
entre of the spare wheel
››› Fig. 177 by turning it in an anticlockwise
direction, and take out the spare wheel. Storing the replaced wheel
● Pull back the carpet.
● With the wheel rim facing downwards, sit-
uate the rep
laced wheel in the spare wheel
well so that the wheel rim central hole coin-
cides with the opening.
● Turn the hand controlled wheel with the
shank s
crewed clockwise until the replaced
wheel is secured.
● If necessary, store the vehicle tool in the
container
, inside the boot.
● Replace the carpet on the boot floor.
● Lower the rear shelf.
● Close the rear lid.
If the sp
are wheel is different to the rest of
the vehicle tyres
If the spare tyre is not the same as the tyres
that are mounted on the vehicle - for example
with winter tyres or the temporary spare
wheel - you should only use the spare tyre for
a short period of time and drive with extra
care ››› .
R efit
the norm
al road wheel as soon as possi-
ble.
Please observe driving advice:
● Do not drive faster than 80 km/h (50 mph).
● Avoid heavy acceleration, hard braking and
fas
t cornering. ●
Snow ch
ains on the temporary spare wheel
are not permitted ›››
page 41.
● After mounting the spare wheel or the tem-
porary
spare wheel, check the tyre pressure
as soon as possible ››› page 203.
It is advisable to check the spare wheel or
temporary spare wheel tyre pressure when
checking the rest of the vehicle wheels at
least once a month. The spare wheel should
have the highest pressure allowed for the ve-
hicle ››› page 203. The sticker situated on the
temporary spare wheel shows the tyre pres-
sure. WARNING
Incorrect handling of the spare wheel or the
tempor ar
y spare wheel can cause loss of ve-
hicle control, producing collisions or other
serious accidents and injury.
● Never use the spare wheel or the temporary
spar
e wheel if it is damaged or worn to the
wear indicator.
● In some vehicles the spare wheel is smaller
than the origina
l tyres. This can be seen on a
sticker showing the text “80 km/h” and
“50 mph”. This text indicates the maximum
velocity permitted for this type of tyre.
● Never drive faster than 80 km/h (50 mph).
Avoid po
werful acceleration, hard braking
and taking corners at high speed.
● Never drive more than 200 km with a tem-
porary
spare wheel fitted to the drive axle. » 207
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety