The essentials
● Zone B : You can add oil but keep the level
in th at
zone.
● Zone C : Add oil up to zone
B .
T op
pin
g up engine oil
● Unscrew cap from oil filler opening.
● Add oil slowly.
● At the same time, check the level to ensure
you do not a
dd too much.
● When the oil level reaches at least zone B ,
u n
s
crew the engine oil filler cap carefully.
Engine oil specifications
Service intervalEngine typeSpecifica- tion
Petrol engines with Set
Service Intervals (de-
pendent on time/dis-
tance travelled)1.0lVW 504 00
1.0l GNCVW 502 00
››› in Topping up engine oil on
page 191
››› page 189 Coolant
Fig. 42
Engine compartment: coolant expan-
s ion t
ank
cap. The coolant tank is located in the engine
c
omp
ar
tment.
When the engine is cold, replace the coolant
when the level is below .
Coolant specifications
The engine cooling system is supplied from
the factory with a specially treated mixture of
water and at least 40 % of the additive G13
(TL-VW 774 J), purple. This mixture gives the
necessary frost protection down to -25°C
(-13°F) and protects the light alloy parts of
the engine cooling system against corrosion.
It also prevents scaling and considerably rai-
ses the boiling point of the coolant.
To protect the cooling system, the percentage
of additive must always be at least 40 %, even in warm climates where anti-freeze pro-
tection is
not required.
If for weather reasons further protection is
necessary, the proportion of additive may be
increased, but only up to 60 %; otherwise an-
tifreeze protection will diminish and this will
worsen cooling.
When the coolant is topped up, use a mixture
of distilled water and at least 40 % of the
G13 or G12 plus-plus (TL-VW 774 G) additive
(both are purple) to obtain an optimum anti-
corrosion protection ››› in Checking the
c oo
l
ant level and topping up on page 194.
The mixture of G13 with G12 plus (TL-VW 774
F), G12 (red) or G11 (green-blue) engine cool-
ants will significantly reduce anti-corrosion
protection and should therefore be avoided
››› in Checking the coolant level and top-
pin g up on p
ag
e 194.
››› in Checking the coolant level and
topping up on page 193
››› page 192 32
Operation
ahead as you drive and keep a safe distance
fr om the
v
ehicle in front, it is possible to slow
down by simply lifting your foot off the accel-
erator. This eliminates the need for constant
braking and acceleration.
Calm and steady driving
Constancy is more important than speed: The
more you drive at a constant speed, the lower
the fuel consumption.
When driving on the motorway, it is more effi-
cient to drive at a constant and more moder-
ate speed than to be continuously accelerat-
ing and braking. As a general rule, you will
reach your destination just as quickly when
you drive at a constant speed.
The cruise control function helps you to ach-
ieve a constant style of driving.
Moderate use of additional devices
It is important to travel in comfort, but con-
venience systems should be used ecological-
ly.
Some equipment, when connected, increase
fuel consumption considerably, for example:
● Air conditioning cooling system: If the air
conditioning sy
stem is required to cool to
significantly lower temperatures than the true
outside temperature, it will require a large
amount of energy from the engine. Therefore,
we recommend that the selected temperature for the vehicle is not too different to the out-
side temper
ature. It is a good idea to air the
vehicle before starting your journey and to
drive a short distance with the windows
open. Then you can close the windows and
switch on the air conditioning. Keep windows
closed when travelling at high speeds. Driv-
ing with the windows open increases fuel
consumption.
● Switch off the seat heating when the seats
have w
armed up.
● Switch off the heated rear window when it
is not
moist or covered in ice.
Avoid short journeys
Fuel consumption is much higher when the
engine is cold, immediately after it has been
started. It takes a few kilometres of driving
for the engine to warm up and to normalise
consumption.
The engine and catalytic converter need to
reach their proper working temperature in or-
der to minimise fuel consumption and emis-
sions. The ambient temperature has a deci-
sive influence.
Fig. 150 shows the difference in consump-
tion for the same journey at +20°C (+68°F)
and at -10°C (+14°F).
Therefore, unnecessary short journeys
should be avoided. Try to combine trips. The vehicle uses more fuel in winter than in
summer, ev
en when other conditions are the
same.
The engine takes a long time to warm up
when it is idling. In addition, mechanical
wear and pollutant emissions are also espe-
cially high during this initial warm-up phase.
It is therefore best to drive off immediately af-
ter starting the engine. Doing this avoids run-
ning the engine at a high speed.
Adjusting type pressures.
Having the correct pressure in your tyres
helps to reduce rolling resistance and, as a
result reduces fuel consumption. Increasing
the tyre pressure slightly (+0.2
bar/+3 psi/+200 kPa) can help to save fuel.
When you buy new tyres, make sure they are
optimised for minimum rolling resistance.
Use low friction engine oil
The use of low viscosity totally synthetic oils,
known as low friction engine oil, helps to re-
duce fuel consumption. These oils reduce the
resistance caused by friction in the engine,
they flow around the engine more quickly
and efficiently, particularly in cold starts. The
effect is particularly noticeable in vehicles
frequently used for short journeys.
Always check the engine oil level and ob-
serve service intervals (engine oil change in-
tervals).
150
Advice
Advice
C ar
e and m
aintenance
Accessories, replacement of
parts and modifications Introduction WARNING
The use of spare parts and accessories, or in-
corr ectly
performed modifications or repairs
may result in damage to the vehicle, acci-
dents and serious injury.
● SEAT strongly recommends you to only use
SEAT ap
proved accessories and SEAT ®
origi-
nal spare parts. These parts and accessories
have been specially tested by SEAT for suita-
bility, reliability and safety.
● Have any repairs or modifications carried
out at a s
pecialised workshop. These work-
shops have the necessary tools, diagnostics
equipment, repair information and qualified
personnel.
● Only mount parts with the same specifica-
tions a
s the parts fitted at factory.
● Never mount, fasten or fit objects such as
drink hol
ders or telephone cradles over the
covers of the airbag modules or within their
deployment zones. ●
Only u
se wheels and tyre combinations
which have been approved by SEAT for your
vehicle type. Accessories and spare parts
SEAT recommends you consult an Official
Serv
ic
e before purchasing accessories and
spare parts or consumables. For example,
when fitting accessories at a later date, or
when replacing a component. A SEAT Official
Service will advise you as to the legal require-
ments and manufacturer's recommendations
regarding accessories, spare parts and other
components.
SEAT recommend you use only approved
SEAT accessories and genuine SEAT spare
parts ®
. These parts and accessories have
been specially tested by SEAT for suitability,
reliability and safety. In addition, SEAT tech-
nical services will guarantee that assembly is
performed professionally.
Although we continually monitor the market,
SEAT cannot guarantee that products not ap-
proved by SEAT are reliable, safe or suitable
for the vehicle. Therefore, SEAT cannot accept
liability, even in those cases authorised by
an officially recognised technical inspection
office or other official body.
Any retro-fitted equipment which has a direct
effect on vehicle control must be approved by SEAT for use in your vehicle and bear the
e
mark (the E
uropean Union's authorisation
symbol). This includes cruise control systems
or electronically controlled suspension.
If any additional electrical devices are fitted
which do not serve to control the vehicle it-
self, these must bear the mark (European
Union manufacturer conformity declaration).
This includes refrigerator boxes, laptops or
ventilator fans. WARNING
Unprofessional repairs or modifications to
the v ehic
le may affect the performance of the
airbags, and may cause operating faults or fa-
tal accidents.
● Never mount, fasten or fit objects such as
drink hol
ders or telephone cradles over or
next to the covers of the airbag modules or
within their deployment zones.
● Objects placed over the airbag covers, or
within their deplo
yment zones, could lead to
serious injury or loss of life if the airbags are
triggered. Service fluids and components
All vehicle fluids and consumables
, suc
h a
s
notched belts, tyres, coolant fluids, engine
oils, spark plugs and batteries are continual-
ly being developed. Therefore all fluids and
164
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
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
Advice
engine oil using approved engine oil in ac-
c or
d
ance with the corresponding VW stand-
ard ( ›››
page 32). All oils indicated are
synthetic multigrade oils .
Engine oils are being continuously further
developed. Technical services are constantly
updated with any modifications. SEAT there-
fore recommends that you have the engine
oil changed by a technical service. CAUTION
● Only u
se engine oils whose specifications
are expressly approved by SEAT. The use of
any other type of oil could cause engine dam-
age!
● No additives should be used with engine
oil. An
y damage caused by the use of such
additives would not be covered by the factory
warranty. Checking engine oil level and topping
up
Fig. 168
Marked engine oil dipstick Fig. 169
In the engine compartment: Engine
oi l
fi
ller cap. Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 31 Preparations
●
Park the vehicle on flat ground so that the
engine oil
reading is correct.
● The engine must be hot to be able to check
the engine oil
level. Stop the engine and wait
a few minutes for the oil to drain back into
the sump.
● Open the bonnet ›››
page 187.
● The engine oil filler neck can be recognised
by the symbo
l on the cap ››› Fig. 169 and
the dipstick by its coloured handle.
Check the engine oil level
● Pull out the dipstick and wipe it on a clean
cloth.
● Rep
lace the dipstick, pushing it in as far as
it wi
ll go. If the dipstick to measure engine oil
has a mark, when you reintroduce it this
mark should slot into the corresponding
groove located on the upper end of the tube.
● Remove the oil dipstick again and check
the engine oil
level.
● After reading the oil level, replace the dip-
stick
in the tube completely. WARNING
Oil could catch fire if it comes into contact
with hot en
gine components. This could lead
to a fire, explosion and severe injuries.
● Always ensure that after topping of oil, the
engine oil
filler cap is correctly tightened.190
Advice
●
When refi l
ling liquids, avoid spilling them
on parts of the engine and the exhaust sys-
tem. Spilled liquids could cause a fire. Under
specific circumstances, the ethylene glycol
can catch fire. WARNING
If there is not enough anti-freeze in the cool-
ant sys
tem, the engine may fail leading to se-
rious damage.
● Please make sure that the percentage of
additiv
e is correct with respect to the lowest
expected ambient temperature in the zone in
which the vehicle is to be used.
● When the outside temperature is very low,
the cool
ant could freeze and the vehicle
would be immobilised. In this case, the heat-
ing would not work either and inadequately
dressed passengers could die of cold. CAUTION
● If ther e i
s no appropriate coolant liquid
available, fill it using distilled water, and
nothing else. Any other type of water may
lead to considerable rusting in the engine
due to its chemical components. This could
consequently damage the engine. If you have
not used distilled water but another type of
water to top up the coolant, a specialised
workshop must immediately replace all of the
fluid in the engine cooling system.
● Only top up coolant to the top level of the
marked ar
ea ››› Fig. 170. Otherwise the ex- cess coolant will be forced out of the cooling
sys
t
em when the engine is hot, causing dam-
age.
● If a lot of liquid coolant has been lost, wait
for the engine t
o cool down completely before
adding coolant. Extensive coolant loss is an
indication of leaks in the engine cooling sys-
tem. Have the engine cooling system inspec-
ted immediately by a specialised workshop.
Otherwise engine damage may occur.
● When refilling service liquids, ensure that
you put
the liquids into the right tank. Mak-
ing a mistake when refilling could cause seri-
ous malfunctions and damage the engine! CAUTION
The original additives should never be mixed
with c oo
lants which are not approved by
SEAT. Otherwise, you run the risk of causing
severe damage to the engine and the engine
cooling system.
● If the fluid in the expansion tank is not pur-
ple b
ut is, for example, brown, this indicates
that the G13 additive has been mixed with an
inadequate coolant. The coolant must be
changed as soon as possible if this is the
case! This could result in serious faults and
engine damage. Brake fluid
Chec k
in
g the brake fluid level Read the additional information carefully
›› ›
page 33
In the course of time, the brake fluid absorbs
water from the ambient air. If there is too
much water in the brake fluid, the brake sys-
tem could be damaged. In addition, the boil-
ing point of the brake fluid is significantly
lowered. When the brake fluid contains too
much water and the brakes are subject to
considerable forces, bubbles of water vapour
can form in the system. These bubbles can
significantly reduce braking power, notably
increasing braking distance, and could even
result in the total failure of the brake system.
Ensuring that the brake system is always
functioning correctly is essential for your own
safety and the safety of other road users
››› .
Br ak
e fluid s
pecifications
SEAT have developed a special brake fluid
optimised for the brake systems of their vehi-
cles. To ensure the optimum working of the
brake system, SEAT recommends the use of
brake fluid in accordance with the VW 501 14
standard. If this brake fluid is not available or
another brake fluid is used for different rea-
sons, use a brake fluid that complies with the
United States standard FMVSS 116 DOT 4 or
194
Wheels and tyres
The service life of tyres is dependent on tyre
pr e
s
sure, driving style, the care they receive
and the correct fitting.
The tyres and wheel rims are an essential
part of the vehicle's design. The tyres and
rims approved by SEAT are specially matched
to the characteristics of the vehicle and our
critical to good road holding and safe han-
dling.
Avoiding damage to tyres and wheels
● If you have to drive over a kerb or similar
obs
tacle, drive very slowly and as near as
possible at a right angle to the kerb.
● Inspect the tyres regularly for damage
(punct
ures, cuts, cracks, dents).
● Remove any foreign bodies found on the
outside of the ty
re tread and ensure that they
have not passed through the wall of the tyre
››› page 205.
● In addition, the instructions for tyre control
syst
ems should always be observed.
● Replace damaged or worn tyres as soon as
poss
ible ››› page 205.
● Regularly check tyres for non-visible dam-
age ››
› page 205.
● Never exceed the maximum permitted
speed or loa
ds specified for the type of tyre
fitted on your vehicle ››› page 208.
● Do not allow tyres (including the spare
wheel) to come int
o contact with aggressive substances, grease, oil, fuel or brake fluid
›››
.
● Lost valve caps should be replaced imme-
di at
ely
.
Tyres with directional tread pattern
Tyres with directional tread pattern have
been designed to operate best when rotating
in only one direction. An arrow on the tyre
sidewall indicates the direction of rotation on
tyres with directional tread ››› page 208. Al-
ways observe the direction of rotation indica-
ted when mounting the wheel. This guaran-
tees optimum grip and helps to avoid aqua-
planing, excessive noise and wear.
If the tyre is mounted in the opposite direc-
tion of rotation, drive with extreme caution,
as the tyre is no longer being used correctly.
This is of particular importance when the
road surface is wet. Change the tyre as soon
as possible or remount it with the correct di-
rection of rotation.
Interchanging tyres
To ensure that the wear is equal on all tyres
the wheels should be changed round from
time to time according to the system
››› Fig. 173. The useful life of all the tyres will
then be about the same time.
SEAT recommends you take the vehicle to a
specialised workshop to have the tyres
changed. Tyres over 6 years old
Tyr
es are subject to an ageing process as a
result of physical and chemical processes.
This may affect their performance. Tyres
which are stored for long periods of time
without being used, harden and become
more fragile than tyres which are in constant
use.
SEAT recommends that tyres over six years
old are replaced with new tyres. This also ap-
plies to tyres (including the spare wheel)
which appear to be in perfect condition on
the outside and which have a tread depth
within the values stipulated by the Law ››› .
The d at
e of
manufacture, part of the tyre
identification number (TIN), indicates the age
of the tyre ( ) ››› page 208.
Storing tyres
Mark tyres when you remove them to indicate
the direction of rotation (left, right, forwards,
backwards). This ensures you will be able to
mount them correctly when you replace
them. When removed, the wheels and/or
tyres should be stored in a cool, dry and pref-
erably dark location. Do not place tyres
mounted on the wheel in a vertical position.
Protect tyres not mounted on wheels from
dirt by storing them in suitable bags and
standing them on the ground on their tread. »
201
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety