General instrument panel
warning in km . The number of
k ilometres
shown is the maximum number that may be
driven until the next service.
Service due
After the service date, an audible warning is
given when the ignition is switched on and
the abbreviation displayed on the screen
flashes for a few seconds. Note
The service message disappears after a few
second s, when the en
gine is started or when
OK is pressed on the windscreen wiper lever.
Note
In vehicles whose batteries have been dis-
connect ed f
or a long period of time, it will not
be possible to calculate the next service date.
Therefore the service interval display may not
be correct. In this case, bear in mind the max-
imum service intervals permitted in the
››› Booklet Maintenance Programme. 91
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
OperationFunctionNecessary operations
Lock the vehicle with-
out activating the
“Safe” security system.
Press the button on the ve-
hicle key twice.
Press the central locking but-
ton on the driver door
once. When the vehicle is locked, the “Safe” secur-
ity sy
s
tem deactivates the door handles, pre-
venting people from opening the vehicle. The
doors cannot be opened from inside ››› .
Upon sw it
ching off the ignition, the instru-
ment panel display will show that the “dead-
lock” is activated or (SAFELOCK or SAFE-
LOCK ).
When the “Safe” security system is deactiva-
ted, the following occurs: ● The vehicle can be opened and unlocked
from the in s
ide using an inside door handle.
Control lamp on the driver door
When the vehicle is
locked:Meaning
The red LED flashes for ap-
proximately 2 seconds at
short intervals and then more
slowly.The "Safe" security
system is switched on.
When the vehicle is
locked:Meaning
The red LED flashes for about
two seconds then turns off. Af-
ter 30 seconds, the LED flash-
es again.The "Safe" security
system is switched off.
The red LED flashes for about
two seconds at short inter-
vals. Subsequently, the light
will remain switched on for
about. 30 seconds.There is a fault in the
locking system. Con-
tact a specialised
workshop. WARNING
Careless use of the "Safe" security system
can c au
se serious injury.
● Never leave anybody inside the vehicle if it
has
been locked using the key. When the
"Safe" security system is activated, doors
cannot be opened from the inside!
● When the doors are locked, it is difficult to
get t
o passengers in the vehicle interior in
case of an emergency. Passengers could re-
main trapped inside and unable to unlock the
doors in case of an emergency. Doors
Intr oduction WARNING
If a door is not correctly closed, it could open
une xpect
edly when driving and cause serious
injuries.
● Always stop immediately and close the
door.
● When clo
sing, ensure that the door has
closed c
orrectly. A closed door should be
flush with the corresponding parts of the
bodywork.
● Open and close doors only when nobody is
in the way
of the door. WARNING
A door held open by its retainer could be
blo wn c
losed by the wind or close if the vehi-
cle is on a hill, causing injury.
● When opening and closing doors, always
use the door handl
e.98
Air conditioning
support, the roof carrier system and the load
bein g tr
an
sported ››› .
A lw
a
ys check the weight of the base support,
the roof carrier system and the weight of the
load to be transported and, if necessary,
weigh them. Never exceed the maximum au-
thorised roof load.
If you are using a roof carrier with a lower
weight rating, you cannot transport the maxi-
mum roof load. Do not exceed the maximum
weight limit for the roof carrier given in the
fitting instructions.
Distributing a load
Uniformly distribute loads and secure them
correctly ››› .
Chec k
att
achments
After fitting the base supports and the roof
carrier system, always check the attachments
after a short trip and at regular intervals. WARNING
Exceeding the maximum authorised roof load
can r e
sult in accidents and/or vehicle dam-
age.
● Never surpass the maximum authorised
weight f
or the roof, the maximum authorised
weight on the axles and the total maximum
authorised weight of the vehicle. ●
Never e x
ceed the capacity of the roof carri-
er system even if this is less than the maxi-
mum authorised roof load.
● Secure heavy items as far forward as possi-
ble and di
stribute the vehicle load uniformly. WARNING
Loose and incorrectly secured loads can fall
fr om the r oof
carrier system causing acci-
dents and injury.
● Always use suitable ropes and straps in
good condition.
● A
lways secure loads correctly. Air conditioning
He atin
g,
ventilation and air
conditioning
Introduction Read the additional information carefully
›› ›
page 28
One of the following systems can be installed
in the vehicle:
● Heating and fresh air system
● Manual air conditioning
● Climatronic
The heatin g and fr
esh air system heats and
ventilates the interior. The heating and fresh
air system cannot cool.
The manual air conditioning and the Clima-
tronic cool and dehumidify the air. They oper-
ate most effectively with the windows and
the sunroof closed. If a great deal of heat ac-
cumulates in the interior, ventilating it can
accelerate the cooling process.
Display of active functions
The LEDs that light up on the rotary controls
on the buttons indicate that the function in
question is activated. »
129
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Operation
In the case of the Climatronic, the control
p anel
s
creen shows the functions that are
currently activated. WARNING
When visibility through the window display is
poor, the ri sk
of collisions and accidents
which may cause serious injury increases.
● To guarantee good visibility, keep all win-
dows
free of ice and snow and properly dem-
isted.
● Adjust the heating, air conditioning and the
heated r
ear window so that the windows do
not mist up.
● Drive off only when you have good visibility
through the windo
ws.
● Do not use the air recirculation for long pe-
riods of
time. When the cooling is switched
off and the air recirculation is on, the win-
dows can mist over very quickly and seriously
impair visibility.
● Switch the air recirculation off when you do
not need it. WARNING
Used air can quickly cause driver tiredness
and reduc e their att
ention span, which could
lead to collisions, accidents and serious in-
jury.
● Never switch off the fan for a long time or
leav
e the air recirculation on for too long, since no exterior air enters the interior during
that
time. CAUTION
If the air conditioning is not working, switch
it off immedi
ately, together with the de-
frost/demist function (in the case of manual
air conditioning) and have a specialised
workshop check it out. This may help to avoid
other possible damage. CAUTION
To avoid damaging the heated rear window,
nev er affi x
adhesives to the electric filaments
on the inside of it. Air recirculation
In air recirculation mode, no fresh air enters
the
v
ehic
le interior.
To switch on the air recirculation, turn the ad-
juster to the right or press the button.
To switch off the air recirculation, turn the ad-
juster to the left or press the button
again ››› .
WARNING
Used air can quickly cause driver tiredness
and reduc e their att
ention span, which could lead to collisions, accidents and serious in-
jury
.
● Nev
er use the air recirculation for too long,
since no e
xterior air enters the interior during
that time.
● When the cooling is switched off and the
air recir
culation is on, the windows can mist
over very quickly and seriously impair visibil-
ity.
● Switch the air recirculation off when you do
not need it. CAUTION
In vehicles with an air conditioner, do not
smoke when air r ec
irculation is switched on.
The smoke taken in could impregnate the
cooling vaporiser and the activated charcoal
cartridge of the dust and pollen filter, leading
to permanent unpleasant odours. Note
● Climatr onic:
When reverse gear is engaged,
the air recirculation switches on briefly to
prevent exhaust gas from entering the interi-
or.
● When the outside temperature is very high,
it is
recommendable to switch the air recircu-
lation on briefly to cool down the interior
faster. 130
Driving
Maximum cooling power or heating power in
the c a
se of
Climatronic
When driving, the maximum cooling power or
heating power can be adjusted by pressing
the 1 or
2
› ››
Fig. 144
b
utton repeatedly.
The temperature is not regulated.
● Maximum cooling power: adjus
t the tem-
perature below +16°C (+60°F). The display
then shows LO.
● Maximum heating power: adjus
t the tem-
perature above +29°C (+84°F). The display
then shows HI.
Dust and pollen filter
The dust and pollen filter should be changed
regularly in order to maintain air conditioner
performance.
If the vehicle is used frequently in areas
where the outside air is highly polluted, it
may be necessary to change the filter before
the next scheduled service.
Water under the vehicle
If the humidity and temperature outside the
vehicle are high, condensation can drip off
the evaporator in the cooling system and
form a small pool underneath the vehicle.
This is normal and does not indicate a leak! Driving
St op
pin
g and starting the en-
gine
Switching on the ignition and starting
the engine Fig. 145
Vehicle key positions Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 20
Immobiliser display
When an invalid key is used or in the event of
a system fault, is displayed on the instru-
ment panel. The engine cannot be started.
Pushing or towing
For technical reasons, the vehicle must not
be push- or tow-started. Jump starting is pref-
erable. Key not authorised for the vehicle
If a key
which is not authorised for this vehi-
cle is inserted in the ignition lock, it can be
removed as follows:
● Automatic gearbox : the key c
annot be re-
moved from the ignition lock. Press and re-
lease the selector lever locking button. Key
can be removed from the vehicle.
● Manual gearbox: Remov
e the key from the
ignition. WARNING
Switching off the engine while driving makes
st op
ping the vehicle difficult. As a conse-
quence you may lose control of the vehicle
and there is a risk of serious accident.
● The assisted braking and steering systems,
the airbag sys
tem, seat belts and certain
safety equipment are only active while the
engine is running.
● The engine should only be switched off
when the vehic
le is at a standstill. WARNING
While the engine is running or starting it
cou l
d help reduce the risk of serious injury.
● Never start or leave the engine running in
poorly v
entilated or closed spaces. Exhaust
gas contains carbon monoxide, a toxic, col-
ourless and odourless gas. Carbon monoxide
can cause people to lose consciousness. It
can also cause death. » 133
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Driving
Engaging the steering wheel lock
In v
ehic
les with automatic gearbox, the igni-
tion key can only be removed when the selec-
tor lever is in position N.
– Remove the key from the ignition in posi-
tion 1
› ››
Fig. 145
›
›› .
– Turn the steering wheel until you hear it en-
gag
e.
P
ossible vehicle theft is prevented with the
steering lock engaged. WARNING
Never switch off the engine while the vehicle
is mo
ving. You may lose control of the vehicle
and there is a risk of serious accident.
● 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. T
o stop, the brake pedal must be
pressed with more force.
● As the power steering does not work if the
engine is
not running, you will need more
strength to steer than normally.
● If the key is removed from the ignition, the
steerin
g may lock and it will not be possible
to steer the vehicle. CAUTION
If the engine has been driven at high speed
for a pr o
longed period of time, it may over-
heat when turned off. To avoid engine dam- age, allow the engine to run for approximate-
ly 2 minut
e
s in neutral before switching it off. Note
After stopping the engine, the engine com-
p ar tment
fan may continue running for a few
minutes, even when the ignition has been
switched off or the key removed. The radiator
fan is automatically switched off. Electronic immobiliser
The gear lock prevents the engine from being
s
t
ar
ted with an unauthorised key and the ve-
hicle being moved.
The vehicle key has a built-in chip. It auto-
matically deactivates the electronic immobil-
iser when the key is inserted into the ignition
lock.
The electronic immobilizer will be activated
again automatically as soon as you remove
the key from the ignition lock.
For this reason, the vehicle can only be used
with a genuine SEAT key with the correct
code. Coded keys can be obtained from SEAT
dealerships ››› page 92.
If an unauthorised key is used, the signal
appears on the instrument panel display. The
vehicle cannot be started in this case Note
The correct operation of the vehicle is only
guarant eed when origin
al SEAT keys are
used. Braking and parking
Introduction The assisted brake systems are the electron-
ic di
stribution of braking force (EBV), the an-
ti-lock brake system (ABS), the brake assist
system (BAS), the electronic differential lock
(EDL), traction control (TC)*, the traction con-
trol system (ASR) and the electronic stability
control (ESC*). WARNING
Driving with worn brake pads or a faulty
brak e sy
stem may lead to serious accident.
● If you believe the brake pads to be worn or
the brake sy
stem to be faulty, immediately
refer to a specialised workshop to check the
brake pads and replace the worn ones. WARNING
Careless parking can cause serious injury.
● Never remove the key from the ignition if
the v ehic
le is in motion. The steering lock » 135
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Operation
braking distance or even result in the total
fai
lur
e of the brake system.
● Reduce speed or change down a gear when
faced w
ith steep and long slopes. This allows
you to use the engine braking effect and to
reduce the strain on the brake system. Other-
wise, the brakes may overheat and fail. Only
use the brakes to reduce speed or to stop. Note
Make use, when having the front brake pads
c hec k
ed, and have the rear pads checked al-
so. The thickness of the brake pads should be
checked visually and regularly, by looking
through the openings in the wheel rims or
from underneath the vehicle. If necessary, re-
move the wheels to check them thoroughly.
SEAT recommends taking your car in for tech-
nical service. Changing gear
Intr oduction When reverse gear is engaged and the igni-
tion i
s
sw
itched on the following takes place:
● Reverse lights light up.
● The rear wiper blade performs one move-
ment when the wind
screen wiper is activa-
ted. ●
If nece
ssary, connect the parking distance
warning system. WARNING
Rapid acceleration can cause loss of traction
and skid din
g, especially on slippery ground.
This could cause loss of control of the vehicle
resulting in an accident and considerable
damage.
● Use rapid acceleration only when visibility,
weather
, road conditions and traffic permit. WARNING
Do not allow the brakes to “rub” for a pro-
long ed period of
time, or brake frequently or
for long periods of time. Continuous braking
heats up the brakes. This could significantly
reduce braking power, increase braking dis-
tance or even result in the total failure of the
brake system. Control and warning lamps
It lights up red
Fault in the auto-
matic gearbox.
Do not drive on!
Seek professional advice. Failure to
do so could result in considerable
damage to the transmission
››› page 146.
It lights up yellow
In the automatic
gearbox the
gears can en-
gage incorrectly.Switch the ignition on and off.
When the control lamp does not
light up, find the nearest special-
ised workshop and have the auto-
matic gearbox checked.
The automatic
gearbox over-
heats temporari-
ly.Let the transmission cool with the
gearbox lever in the position .
When the control lamp does not
light up, find the nearest special-
ised workshop and have the auto-
matic gearbox checked.
It lights up
Place the automatic
gearbox lever in the
position
and do not
press the brake pedal.
Press the brake pedal to select
a gear range.
Together with the yel-
low control lamp for
the temperature of the
transmission
: the
automatic gearbox
overheats.
Press brake pedal and let the
transmission cool. Avoid
pressing the accelerator. When
the control lamp does not light
up, find the nearest special-
ised workshop and have the
automatic gearbox checked.
Together with the turn
signal display in the
instrument panel dis-
play: the automatic
gearbox lever is not in
the position
, indica-
tion to start the en-
gine.
Move the gearbox lever to the
position and start the en-
gine. 142
Driving
Flashes
An automatic gearbox
in the vehicle does
not guarantee that the
vehicle will not roll
away.Apply the handbrake.
Flashes
In the instrument pan-
el display, in addition
to the control lamp re-
questing the brake
pedal to be pressed
: indicated for start-
ing the engine.
Move the gearbox lever to the
position and start the en-
gine.
On the instrument
panel display: Whilst
driving in a forward di-
rection, try to move
the automatic gearbox
lever to the position
.
Stop the vehicle and move the
gearbox lever to the position in order to subsequently
change to the position .
On the instrument
panel display: The au-
tomatic gearbox lever
was placed in the po-
sition
or , but the
brake pedal was not
pressed.
Press the brake pedal, move
the gearbox lever to the posi-
tion
, and subsequently to
the required position or . When switching on the ignition some warn-
in
g and indic
ation l
amps light up for a short
time to check the operations. They will switch
off after a few seconds. Manual gear change
Fig. 147
Gear shift pattern of a 5-speed man-
ual g
e
arbox Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 26
Shifting down a gear
Shifting down a gear while driving must be
carried out gear by gear, i.e. to the gear im-
mediately preceding the current gear and at
an engine speed that is not excessive ››› .
At high s
peed
s, or high engine speeds, skip-
ping one or various gears when shifting
down a gear can cause damage to the clutch
and the gearbox, even if the clutch is not en-
gaged during the process ››› .
WARNING
When the engine is running, the vehicle will
st ar
t to move as soon as a gear is engaged
and the clutch released. ●
Never en g
age the reverse gear when a vehi-
cle is moving forward. WARNING
As a consequence of shifting down a gear in-
c orr ectly
, you may lose control of the vehicle
and cause an accident with serious conse-
quences. CAUTION
If, at high speeds or high engine speeds, the
ge ar l
ever is shifted down to a gear that is too
low, serious damage can be caused to the
clutch and gearbox. This may also happen if
you press the clutch pedal and it does not en-
gage. CAUTION
To prevent damage and avoid premature
we ar
, please observe the following:
● While driving, do not leave your hand rest-
ing on the ge
ar stick. The pressure applied by
your hand is transmitted to the gearbox se-
lector forks.
● Always ensure that the vehicle is complete-
ly st
opped before engaging the reverse gear.
● When changing gear, always make sure the
clutc
h pedal is pushed right to the floor.
● Never hold the vehicle “on the clutch” on
hill
s with the engine on. 143
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety