Driving
Flashes
Traction Control*
regulator operating.Take your foot off the accelera-
tor. Adjust your driving style to
the road conditions. 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. WARNING
If the warning lamps are ignored, the vehicle
ma y
stall in traffic, or may cause accidents
and severe injuries.
● Never ignore the warning lamps.
● Stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible. WARNING
Driving with brakes in bad condition could re-
su lt
in a serious accident.
● If the brake warning lamp does not
go
out, or if it lights up when driving, the brake
fluid level in the reservoir is too low or there
is a fault in the brake system. Obtain profes-
sional assistance immediately ››› page 194,
Checking the brake fluid level.
● If the brake warning lamp lights up t
o-
gether with the ABS warning lamp , the
regulation function of the ABS could be mal-
functioning. As a result, the rear wheels can
lock relatively easily when braking. If the rear wheels lock this could result in loss of vehicle
contr
o
l! If possible, reduce your speed and
drive carefully to a specialised workshop
close by to check the brake system. During
the following journey, avoid sudden braking
and manoeuvres.
● If the ABS warning lamp does not
go out
or if it lights while driving, the ABS is mal-
functioning. The vehicle can only be stopped
using normal braking without ABS. The pro-
tection provided by the ABS is not available.
Visit a specialised workshop as soon as pos-
sible. CAUTION
Failure to heed the warning lamps when they
appe ar m
ay result in faults in the vehicle. Brake assist systems
The assisted braking systems ESC*, ABS,
EB
V
, B
AS, ASR, TC and EDL only operate when
the ignition is switched on. They contribute
significantly to increasing active safety.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)*
ESC* reduces the risk of skidding and increa-
ses the vehicle stability by braking individual
wheels under specific driving conditions.
ESC* detects critical handling situations,
such as understeer, oversteer and wheelspin
on the driven wheels. The system stabilises the vehicle by braking individual wheels or
by r
educing the engine torque.
The ESC* has limits. It is important to realise
that ESC* is also subject to the laws of phys-
ics. ESC* will not be able to deal with all sit-
uations with which drivers may be faced. For
example, if the road surface changes sudden-
ly then ESC* will not be useful in all cases. If
the vehicle suddenly enters a section cov-
ered by water, mud or snow then ESC* will
not provide assistance in the same way as on
dry ground. If the vehicle loses its grip on the
ground and moves on a film of water (“aqua-
planing”), the ESC* will not be able to help
the driver control the vehicle due to the loss
of adherence with the road surface prevent-
ing braking and steering. If the vehicle is
driven through series of bends at high
speed, the ESC* will not always be as effec-
tive: the vehicle reaction to aggressive driv-
ing is not the same as at reduced speeds.
Adjust your speed and driving style to suit
visibility, and weather, road and traffic condi-
tions. ESC* cannot push the limits of the laws
of physics; improve the transmission availa-
ble or maintain the vehicle on the road if a
lack of driver attention creates an inevitable
situation. Otherwise, ESC* assists in main-
taining vehicle control in extreme situations
and uses the movements of the steering
made by the driver to maintain the vehicle
moving in the desired direction. If the vehicle
is driven at such a speed that it will leave the »
137
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
Driver assistance systems
●
“Dry the br
akes and remove ice” by braking
carefully. Ensure that you are not endanger-
ing other road-users or breaking traffic regu-
lations in the process.
● After driving through water, avoid sudden
sharp manoeu
vres. CAUTION
● Driv ing thr
ough flooded areas may severely
damage vehicle components such as the en-
gine, transmission, drive train or electrical
system.
● Never drive through salt water as salt cau-
ses c
orrosion. Always rinse any parts of the
vehicle which have been in contact with salt
water. Driver assistance systems
P ark
in
g distance warning sys-
tem*
Introduction The parking distance warning system assists
the driver when p
ark
ing. If the rear of the ve-
hicle is approaching an obstacle, an intermit-
tent audible warning is emitted. The shorter
the distance, the shorter the intervals be-
tween tones. If the vehicle is too close to the
obstacle, the audible warning becomes con-
stant.
If you continue to approach an obstacle when
the sound is continuous, this means the sys-
tem can no longer measure the distance.
Sensors situated on the rear bumper transmit
and receive ultrasound. Using the ultrasound
signal (transmission, reflection from the ob-
stacles and reception), this system continu-
ously calculates the distance between the
bumper and the obstacle. WARNING
The parking distance warning system cannot
rep l
ace the driver's assessment of the situa-
tion.
● The sensors have blind spots in which ob-
stac
les and people are not registered. ●
Alw a
ys observe the area around the vehi-
cle, as the sensors do not always detect
small children, animals or objects.
● The surface of certain objects and some
clothing do not
reflect the ultrasound signals
from the parking distance system. The sys-
tem cannot detect or incorrectly detects
these objects and people wearing these
types of clothes.
● External sound sources can affect the park-
ing dis
tance aid signals. In this case, under
certain circumstances, people and objects
will not be detected. CAUTION
● The sensor s
may not always be able to de-
tect objects such as trailer draw bars, thin
rails, fences, posts, trees and open boots,
etc. This could result in damage to your car.
● Although the parking distance warning sys-
tem detect
s and warns of the presence of an
obstacle, the obstacle could disappear from
the angle of measurement of the sensors if it
is too high or low and the system would no
longer show it. Therefore, it will not warn you
of these objects. Ignoring the warnings of the
parking sensor system could cause consider-
able damage to the vehicle.
● The bumper sensors may become damaged
or misa
ligned, for example, when parking.
● To ensure that the system works properly,
the bumper sensor
s must be kept clean, free
of ice and snow and uncovered. » 153
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
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