The essentials
Driving style
T o
w
ing requires some experience, especially
when using a tow rope. Both drivers should
realise how difficult it is to tow a vehicle. In-
experienced drivers should not attempt to
tow.
Do not pull too hard with the towing vehicle
and take care to avoid jerking the tow rope.
When towing on an unpaved road, there is al-
ways a risk of overloading and damaging the
anchorage points.
Switch on the ignition so that the turn sig-
nals, windscreen wipers and windscreen
washer can work. Ensure that the steering
wheel is unlocked and moves freely.
Place the gear lever in neutral on vehicles
with a manual gearbox. With an automatic
gearbox, place the lever in N.
To brake, press the brake pedal firmly. The
brake servo does not work when the engine
is switched off.
The power steering only works when the igni-
tion is switched on and the vehicle is moving,
provided that the battery is sufficiently charg-
ed. Otherwise, it will need more force.
Ensure that the tow rope remains taut at all
times. ››› in Instructions for tow-starting on
page 76
››› page 75 Tow-starting
In general, the vehicle should not be started
by
t
owing. Jump-starting is much more pref-
erable ››› page 43.
For technical reasons, the following vehicles
can not be tow started:
● Vehicles with an automatic gearbox.
● If the vehicle battery is flat, it is possible
that the en
gine control unit does not operate
correctly.
However, if your vehicle must absolutely be
tow-started (manual gearbox):
● Put it into second or third gear.
● Keep the clutch pressed down.
● Switch on the ignition and the hazard warn-
ing lights.
● Rel
ease the clutch when both vehicles are
movin
g.
● As soon as the engine starts, press the
clutc
h and move the gear lever into neutral.
This helps to prevent a collision with the tow-
ing vehicle. How to jump start
Jump lea
ds If the engine fails to start because of a dis-
ch
ar
ged battery, the battery of another vehi-
cle can be used to start the engine. Before
starting, check the magic eye on the battery
››› page 196.
For starting assistance, jump lead cables con-
forming to the standard DIN 72553 are re-
quired (see the cable manufacturer instruc-
tions). The cable section in vehicles with pet-
rol engine must be at least 25 mm 2
. WARNING
Incorrect use of jump leads and incorrectly
jump st ar
ting could cause the battery to ex-
plode resulting in serious injury. Please ob-
serve the following rules to minimise the risk
of a battery explosion:
● The battery providing current must have
the same v
oltage (12V) and approximately
the same capacity (see markings on battery)
as the flat battery.
● Never charge a frozen or recently thawed
batter
y. A flat battery can also freeze at tem-
peratures close to 0°C (+32°F).
● If a battery is frozen and/or has been frozen
then it mus
t be replaced.
● A highly explosive mixture of gases is re-
lea
sed when the battery is being charged. Al-
ways keep lit cigarettes, flames, sparks and » 43
The essentials
Start the engine of the vehicle with the
fl at
b
attery and wait for 2 or 3 minutes
until the engine is running.
Removing the jump leads Before you remove the jump leads,
switch off the dipped beam headlights if
they are switched on.
Turn on the heater blower and heated
rear window in the vehicle with the flat
battery. This helps minimise voltage
peaks which are generated when the
leads are disconnected.
When the engine is running, disconnect
the leads in reverse order to the details
given above.
Make sure the battery clamps have sufficient
metal-to-metal contact with the battery termi-
nals.
If the engine fails to start after about 10 sec-
onds, switch off the starter and try again after
about 1 minute. WARNING
● Ple a
se note the safety warnings referring to
working in the engine compartment
››› page 187.
● The battery providing assistance must have
the same v
oltage as the flat battery (12V) and
approximately the same capacity (see imprint 8.
9.
10.
11.
on battery). Failure to comply could result in
an exp
lo
sion.
● Never use jump leads when one of the bat-
teries
is frozen. Danger of explosion! Even af-
ter the battery has thawed, battery acid could
leak and cause chemical burns. If a battery
freezes, it should be replaced.
● Keep sparks, flames and lighted cigarettes
awa
y from batteries, danger of explosion.
Failure to comply could result in an explo-
sion.
● Observe the instructions provided by the
manufact
urer of the jump leads.
● Do not connect the negative cable from the
other vehic
le directly to the negative terminal
of the flat battery. The gas emitted from the
battery could be ignited by sparks. Danger of
explosion.
● Never attach the negative cable to fuel sys-
tem component
s or the brake lines in the oth-
er vehicle.
● The non-insulated parts of the battery
clamp
s must not be allowed to touch. The
jump lead attached to the positive battery
terminal must not touch metal parts of the ve-
hicle, this can cause a short circuit.
● Position the leads in such a way that they
cannot c
ome into contact with any moving
parts in the engine compartment.
● Do not lean on the batteries. This could re-
sult
in chemical burns. Note
The vehicles must not touch each other, oth-
erw i
se electricity could flow as soon as the
positive terminals are connected. Changing the wiper blades
Wind s
creen wipers service position Fig. 61
Wipers in service position. The wiper arms can be raised when the wip-
er
s
ar
e in service position ›››
Fig. 61.
● Close the bonnet ›››
page 187.
● Switch the ignition on and off.
● Press the windscreen wiper lever down-
ward
s briefly ›››
Fig. 32 4 .
» 45
Safe driving
Safety
Saf e driv
in
g
Safety first! WARNING
● This m
anual contains important informa-
tion about the operation of the vehicle, both
for the driver and the passengers. The other
sections of the on-board documentation also
contain further information that you should
be aware of for your own safety and for the
safety of your passengers.
● Ensure that the on-board documentation is
kept in the
vehicle at all times. This is espe-
cially important when lending or selling the
vehicle to another person. WARNING
Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs,
medication or n ar
cotics may result in severe
accidents and even loss of life.
● Alcohol, drugs, medication and narcotics
may
significantly alter perception, affect re-
action times and safety while driving, which
could result in the loss of control of the vehi-
cle. Driving advice
B ef
or
e driving For your own safety and the safety of your
pa
s
sengers, always note the following points
before every trip:
– Make sure that the vehicle's lights and turn
signal
s are working properly.
– Check tyre pressure.
– Ensure that all windows provide a clear and
good v
iew of the surroundings.
– Make sure all luggage is secured
›› ›
page 114.
– Make sure that no objects can interfere
with the pedal
s.
– Adjust front seat, head restraint and mir-
rors
properly according to your size.
– Ensure that the passengers in the rear
seats alw
ays have the head restraints in
the in-use position ›››
page 51.
– Instruct passengers to adjust the head re-
straints
according to their height.
– Protect children with appropriate child
seats and pr
operly applied seat belts
››› page 64.
– Assume the correct sitting position. Instruct
your pa
ssengers also to assume a proper
sitting position ›››
page 48. –
Fas
ten your seat belt securely. Instruct your
passengers also to fasten their seat belts
properly ››› page 52.
What affects driving safety? As a driver, you are responsible for yourself
and y
our p
assengers. When your concentra-
tion or driving safety is affected by any cir-
cumstance, you endanger yourself as well as
others on the road ››› , for this reason:
– Always pay attention to traffic and do not
g et di
stracted by passengers or telephone
calls.
– Never drive when your driving ability is im-
paired (e.
g. by medication, alcohol, drugs).
– Observe traffic laws and speed limits.
– Always reduce your speed as appropriate
for ro
ad, traffic and weather conditions.
– When travelling long distances, take
break
s regularly - at least every two hours.
– If possible, avoid driving when you are tired
or stre
ssed. WARNING
When driving safety is impaired during a trip,
the risk of
injury and accidents increases. 47
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Seat belts
●
Av oid d
amaging the seat belt by jamming it
in the door or the seat mechanism.
● If the fabric or other parts of the seat belt
are dam
aged, the seat belts could break in
the event of an accident or sudden braking.
● Always have damaged seatbelts replaced
immediately
by seat belts approved for the
vehicle in question by SEAT. Seat belts which
have been worn in an accident and stretched
must be replaced by a specialised workshop.
Renewal may be necessary even if there is no
apparent damage. The belt anchorage should
also be checked.
● Never attempt to repair, modify or remove a
seat belt
yourself. All repairs to seat belts, re-
tractors and buckles must be carried out by a
specialised workshop. Warning lamp
Fig. 67
Warning lamp on the instrument pan-
el Fig. 68
Indication of seat belt status in the
re ar se
ats on the instrument panel display
It lights up or flashes on
the instrument panel
Driver's seat belt not
fastened or front
passenger seat belt
not fastened if the
front passenger seat
is occupied.
Fasten seat belts!
Objects on the front
passenger seat.Remove any objects from the
front passenger seat and store
them safely.
On the instrument panel
display
A passenger in the
rear seats has not
fastened their seat
belt, if the seat is oc-
cupied.*
Fasten seat belts!
On the instrument panel
display
A passenger in the rear seats has fastened their seat
belt, if the seat is occupied.* 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.
An audible warning will be heard if the seat
belts are not fastened as the vehicle drives
off and reaches a speed of more then
25 km/h (15 mph) or if the seat belts are un-
fastened while the vehicle is in motion. The
seat belt warning lamp will also flash.
The warning lamp does not switch off until
the driver and front passenger fasten their
seat belts while the ignition is switched on.
Seat belt status display for rear seats
The seat belt status display on the instru-
ment panel informs the driver, when the igni-
tion is switched on, whether any passengers
in the rear seats have fastened their seat
belts. The symbol indicates that the pas-
senger in this seat has fastened “his or her”
seat belt ›››
Fig. 68.
The seat belt status is displayed for around
30 seconds when a seat belt in the rear seats
is fastened or unfastened. You can switch off
this display by pressing the 0.0 / SET button.
»
53Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Safety
●
Ens ur
e deployed airbags and the system
components involved are immediately re-
placed with new, SEAT-approved components
for the vehicle.
● Have any repairs or modifications carried
out at a s
pecialised workshop. Specialised
workshops have the necessary tools, diag-
nostics equipment, repair information and
qualified personnel.
● Never fit recycled or reused airbag compo-
nents in
your vehicle.
● Never modify the airbag system compo-
nents. WARNING
If the airbags are triggered, a fine dust is pro-
duced. Thi
s is normal and it is not an indica-
tion of fire in the vehicle.
● This fine dust may irritate the skin and eyes
and cause br
eathing difficulties, particularly
in people suffering from or who have suffered
from asthma or other illnesses of the respira-
tory tract. To reduce breathing difficulties,
get out of the vehicle and open and doors and
windows to breath in fresh air.
● Should you touch the dust, wash your
hands
and face using a mild soap and water
before you eat.
● Prevent the dust from affecting the eyes or
open wound
s.
● Rinse your eyes with water if you have dust
in them. WARNING
Solvents cause the surfaces of the airbag
modul e
s to become porous. If an airbag is ac-
cidentally triggered, the detachment of plas-
tic parts could cause serious injury.
● Never clean the dash panel and the surfa-
ces
of the airbag modules with cleaners con-
taining solvents. Description of airbag system
Vehicle safety components
The f
o
l
lowing safety equipment makes up the
vehicle safety design to reduce the risk of se-
vere and fatal injuries. Depending on the ve-
hicle equipment, some equipment may not
be fitted in the vehicle or may not be availa-
ble in some markets.
● Optimised seat belts for all seats.
● Seat belt tension devices for driver and
pas
senger.
● Seat belt force limiters for driver and pas-
senger
.
● Seat belt warning lamp
● Front airbags for driver and passenger.
● Side airbags for driver and passenger.
● Airbag control lamp .
● Control units and sensors. ●
Head r
estraints optimised for rear-end colli-
sion.
● Adjustable steering column.
● If necessary, anchor points for child seats
for the re
ar seats.
● Where applicable, mountings for the child
seat up
per retaining strap.
Situations in which the front and side air-
bags do not deploy:
● If the ignition is switched off during the col-
lision.
● In fr
ontal collisions, when the deceleration
meas
ured by the control unit is too low.
● In minor side collisions.
● In rear collisions.
● In the event of the vehicle overturning.
● When the impact speed is lower than the
refer
ence value set in the control unit.
There is a fault in the system if the control
lamp :
● does not light up when the ignition is
switc
hed on,
● turns off after 4 seconds after the ignition
is sw
itched on,
● turns off and then lights up again after the
ignition is sw
itched on,
● illuminates or flashes while the vehicle is
movin
g.
60
Airbag system
WARNING
● The seat belt
s and airbags can only provide
maximum protection if the occupants are
seated correctly ››› page 48.
● If a fault has occurred in the airbag system,
have the sy
stem checked immediately by a
specialised workshop. Otherwise, during a
frontal collision the system might not trigger
correctly or may fail to trigger at all. Airbag activation
The airbags deploy extremely rapidly, within
thou
s
andths
of a second, to provide addi-
tional protection in the event of an accident.
A fine dust may develop when the airbag de-
ploys. This is normal and it is not an indica-
tion of fire in the vehicle.
The airbag system is only ready to function
when the ignition is on.
In special accidents instances, several air-
bags may activate at the same time.
In the event of minor head-on and side colli-
sions, rear-end collisions, overturning or roll-
over of the vehicle, airbags do not activate.
Activation factors
The conditions that lead to the airbag system
activating in each situation cannot be gener-
alised. Some factors play an important role,
such as the properties of the object the vehi- cle hits (hard/soft), angle of impact, vehicle
speed, etc
.
Deceleration trajectory is key for airbag acti-
vation.
The control unit analyses the collision trajec-
tory and activates the respective restraint
system.
If the deceleration rate is below the prede-
fined reference value in the control unit the
airbags will not be triggered, even though
the accident may cause extensive damage to
the car.
The following airbags are triggered in seri-
ous head-on collisions ● Driver airbag.
● Front passenger front airbag
The fol
lowing airbags are triggered in seri-
ous side-on collisions
● Front side airbag on the side of the acci-
dent.
● Re
ar side airbag on the side of the acci-
dent.
In an acc
ident with airbag activation:
● the interior lights switch on (if the interior
light swit
ch is in the courtesy light position);
● the hazard warning lights switch on;
● all doors are unlocked; ●
the fuel s
upply to the engine is cut.
Airbag safety instructions Front airb
ags Read the additional information carefully
›› ›
page 14. WARNING
The airbag is deployed at high speed in frac-
tions of
a second.
● Always keep the deployment areas of the
front airb
ags vacant.
● Never secure objects to the covers or in the
deployment
area of the airbag modules, e.g.
drink holders or phone supports.
● The deployment space between the front
pas
sengers and the airbags must not in any
case be occupied by other passenger, pets
and objects.
● Never fix any object to the windscreen
above the fr
ont airbag on the front passenger
side.
● Do not alter, cover or stick anything to the
steerin
g wheel hub or the surface of the air-
bag module on the passenger side of the
dash panel. » 61
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Safety
WARNING
Front airbags are deployed in front of the
st eerin
g wheel and the instrument panel.
● When driving, always hold the steering
wheel on the outer edg
e of the ring with both
hands: 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock position.
● Adjust the driver seat so that there is a dis-
tance of
at least 25 cm (10 inches) between
the centre of your chest and the hub of the
steering wheel. If your physical constitution
prevents you from meeting these require-
ments, make sure you contact a specialised
workshop.
● Adjust the front passenger seat so there is
as muc
h distance as possible between the
front passenger and the dash panel. Side airbags*
Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 16. WARNING
The airbag is deployed at high speed in frac-
tions of
a second.
● Always keep the deployment areas of the
side airbag
s vacant.
● The deployment space between the front
pas
sengers and the airbags must not in any
case be occupied by other passenger, pets
and objects. ●
Do not mou nt
accessories on the doors.
● Only used protective covers for the seats
that ar
e approved for the vehicle. Otherwise,
the side airbag would be obstructed when de-
ployed. WARNING
Incorrect handling of the driver's and front
p as
senger seat could prevent the side airbag
from deploying properly and cause severe in-
juries.
● Never remove the front seats of the vehicle
or modify an
y of their components.
● Great forces must not be exerted on the
seat b
ackrest bolsters because the side air-
bags might not deploy correctly, might not
deploy at all or might deploy unexpectedly.
● Any damage to the original seat upholstery
or around the se
ams of the side airbag units
must be repaired immediately by a special-
ised workshop. Deactivating airbags
C ontr
o
l lamps Fig. 74
Control lamp for disabling the front
p a
s
senger front airbag on the dash panel
It lights up on the combi-in-
strument
Fault in airbag sys-
tem and seat belt
tensioners.Have the system checked immedi-
ately by a specialised workshop.
It lights up on the dash panel
Fault in the airbag
system.Have the system checked immedi-
ately by a specialised workshop.
Front passenger
front airbag disa-
bled.Check whether the airbag should
remain disabled.
62
Emergencies
case it is lost, another adapter can be or-
der ed u
s
ing this number. Note the anti-
theft bolt code for the wheels and keep it
in a place other than the vehicle.
Towline anchorage, removable.
Wire hook for pulling off the wheel cover,
integral hubcaps and the wheel bolt
caps.
Jack. Before storing the jack in the tool
kit, fold its hook. The crank must then be
folded tight against the side of the jack in
order for it to be safely stored.
Wheel spanner.
Wheel bolt cap clips. Note
The jack does not generally require any main-
ten anc
e. If required, it should be greased us-
ing universal type grease. Changing a wheel
Intr oduction Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 36
Some vehicle versions and models do not
have a factory-fitted jack or box spanner. In
this case, we recommend consulting a Speci-
alised workshop to change the wheel. 3 4
5
6
7 You should only change the wheels yourself if
the
v
ehic
le is parked in a safe place, you are
familiar with the procedure and safety stand-
ards and you have all the necessary tools!
Otherwise, you should seek professional as-
sistance. WARNING
Changing a wheel can be dangerous, espe-
ci a
lly on the hard shoulder. Please observe
the following rules to minimise the risk of in-
jury:
● Stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible.
Park at
a safe distance from surrounding traf-
fic to change a wheel.
● When changing a wheel, keep all passen-
gers, and p
articularly children, a safe dis-
tance away from the work area.
● Turn on the hazard warning lights to warn
other roa
d users.
● Ensure the ground on which you park is flat
and solid. If nec
essary, support the jack on a
wide solid base.
● If you are changing a wheel yourself, you
should be f
amiliar with the required proce-
dure. Otherwise, you should seek professio-
nal assistance.
● Only use suitable tools that are not dam-
aged when ch
anging a wheel.
● Always stop the engine, apply the hand-
brake l
ever firmly and place the selector lever
in position N, or engage a gear for a manual gearbox to reduce the risk of the vehicle mov-
ing ac
c
identally.
● Have the tightening torque of the wheel
bolts
checked as soon as possible with a reli-
able torque wrench. WARNING
If the wheel trims are not appropriate or not
fitt ed c orr
ectly, they could cause major acci-
dents or damage.
● Incorrectly mounted wheel trims may come
off whil
e driving and endanger other road
users.
● Damaged trims must never be mounted on
the wheels.
● Alw
ays ensure that the brake ventilation
and coolin
g is not cut off or blocked. This is
also valid if hubcaps are fitted later. If there
is not enough air, you may require signifi-
cantly longer braking distances. CAUTION
Remove and remount wheel trims taking care
to av oid d
amage to the vehicle. Tyre repair
TM S (T
yre Mobility System)* Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 35
72