Operation
Trailer towing Wh at
do
you need to bear in mind
when towing a trailer? Your vehicle may be used to tow a trailer
when fitted w
ith the c
orrect equipment.
If you wish to retrofit a towing bracket, con-
sult ››› page 257.
Connectors
Your vehicle is fitted with a 13-pin connector
for the electrical connection between the
trailer and the vehicle.
If the trailer has a 7-pin plug you will need to
use an adapter cable. It is available at any
Technical Service.
Trailer weight/drawbar load
Never exceed the authorised trailer weight. If
you do not load the trailer up to the maxi-
mum permitted trailer weight, you can then
climb correspondingly steeper slopes.
The maximum trailer weights listed are only
applicable for altitudes up to 1000 m above
sea level. With increasing altitude the engine
power and therefore the vehicle climbing
ability are impaired because of the reduced
air density. The maximum trailer weight has
to be reduced accordingly. The weight of the
vehicle and trailer combination must be re- duced by 10% for every further 1000 m (or
par
t
thereof). The gross combination weight
is the actual weight of the laden vehicle plus
the actual weight of the laden trailer. When
possible, operate the trailer with the maxi-
mum permitted drawbar load on the ball joint
of the towing bracket, but do not exceed the
specified limit.
The figures for trailer weights and drawbar
loads that are given on the data plate of the
towing bracket are for certification purposes
only. The correct towing bracket figures for
your specific model, which may be lower than
these figures, are given in the vehicle docu-
mentation or on ››› page 291, Technical
specifications.
Distributing the load
Distribute loads in the trailer so that heavy
objects are as near to the axle as possible.
Loads carried in the trailer must be secured
to prevent them moving.
Tyre pressure
The maximum permissible tyre pressure val-
ues are shown on the sticker on the rear part
of the left front door frame. Set the tyre pres-
sure of the trailer tyres in accordance with the
trailer manufacturer's recommendations. Exterior mirrors
Check whether
you can see enough of the
road behind the trailer with the standard rear
vision mirrors. If this is not the case, you
should have additional exterior mirrors fitted.
Both exterior mirrors should be mounted on
hinged extension brackets. Adjust the mirrors
to give sufficient vision to the rear.
Tow rope
Always use a cable between the vehicle and
the trailer ››› page 255.
Trailer rear lights
The trailer's rear lights should comply with
the statutory safety regulations ››› page 255. WARNING
Never transport people in a trailer. This could
re s
ult in fatal accidents. Note
● To w
ing a trailer places additional demands
on the vehicle. We recommend additional
services between the normal inspection inter-
vals if the vehicle is used frequently for tow-
ing a trailer.
● Find out whether special regulations apply
to to
wing a trailer in your country. 254
Operation
WARNING
The towing bracket ball coupling must be
st or
ed securely in the luggage compartment
to prevent them being flung through the vehi-
cle and causing injury. Note
● By l
aw, the ball coupling must be removed
if a trailer is not being towed if it obscures
the number plate. Driving with a trailer
Fig. 234
Turn the 13-pin connector. Before driving
●
Grip the 13-pin connector at area A and
r emo
v
e it in the direction of the arrow
››› Fig. 234.
● Remove the protective cover 5
› ››
Fig. 222
up w
ards.
After driving
● Grip the 13-pin connector at area A and
in ser
t
it in the opposite direction to the arrow
››› Fig. 234.
● Fit the protective cover 5
› ›
› Fig. 222
on
the ball coupling.
Safety lug
The safety lug B
› ›
› Fig. 234
is used to hook
up the trailer's retainer cable.
On hooking it up to the safety lug, the retain-
er cable should have slack in all the trailer
positions with respect to the vehicle (sharp
bends, reverse gear, etc.).
Headlights
The front part of the vehicle may be raised
when the trailer is connected and the light
may dazzle the rest of the traffic.
Adapt the height of the headlights using the
headlight range rotary adjuster 1)
. WARNING
● Never u se the s
afety lug to tow!
● Adjust your speed to suit the road and traf-
fic condition
s.
● All work on the electrical system must be
carried out on
ly by specialised workshops.
● Never connect the trailer's electric system
to the electric
al connections of the rear lights
or any other power sources.
● After hooking up the trailer and connecting
the socket, c
heck that all the trailer's rear
lights are working properly. Note
● If ther e i
s any fault in the trailer's lighting,
check the fuses in the instrument panel fuse
box ›››
page 62.
● The contact between the retainer cable and
the safety
lug may give rise to mechanical
wear in the lug's surface protection. This
wear will not prevent the safety lug from op-
erating properly or cause any fault and is ex-
cluded from the warranty.
● When connecting and disconnecting the
trail
er, the towing vehicle's handbrake
should be applied. 1)
This does not apply for vehicles with bi-xenon
hea dlights.
256
Operation
If a towing bracket is to be fitted after the ve-
hic l
e i
s purchased, this must be completed
according to the instructions of the towing
bracket manufacturer.
The attachment points for the towing bracket A are on the lower part of the vehicle.
The di s
t
ance between the centre of the ball
coupling and the ground should never be
lower than the indicated value, even with a
fully loaded vehicle and including the maxi-
mum drawbar load.
Elevation values for securing the towing
bracket:
Elevation values for securing the towing bracket:
B65 mm (minimum)
C350 mm to 420 mm (fully laden vehicle)
D1,033 mm
E322 mm
F338 mm Fitting a towing bracket
●
Driving with a trailer involves an extra effort
f or the
v
ehicle. Therefore, before fitting a
towing bracket, please contact a Technical
Service to check whether your cooling system
needs modification.
● The legal requirements in your country
must
be observed (e.g. the fitting of a sepa-
rate control lamp). ●
Cert
ain vehicle components, e.g. the rear
bumper, must be removed and reinstalled.
The towing bracket securing bolts must be
tightened using a torque wrench, and a pow-
er socket must be connected to the vehicle
electrical system. This requires specialised
knowledge and tools.
● Figures in the illustration show the eleva-
tion value and the att
achment points which
must be considered if you are retrofitting a
towing bracket. WARNING
The towing brackets should be fitted at a spe-
ci a
lised workshop.
● If the towing bracket is incorrectly instal-
led, there i
s a serious danger of accident.
● For your own safety, please observe the tow
brack
et manufacturer's instructions. CAUTION
● If the po w
er socket is incorrectly installed,
this could cause damage to the vehicle elec-
trical system. Note
● SEA T r
ecommends that the towing hooks
be fitted at a specialised workshop. Consult
your SEAT dealer in case additional modifica-
tions to your vehicle are necessary.
● Due to the specific design of the exhaust,
the fitting of a c
onventional towing hook is not recommended for some sportier versions.
Ple
a
se consult your Technical Service.258
Care and maintenance
Steel wheel rims –
Clean steel wheel rims regularly using a
separ at
e sponge.
Use an industrial cleaner to remove brake
dust. Any damage to the paint on steel wheel
rims should be repaired before starting to
rust. WARNING
● Never w a
sh tyres with a cylindrical jet. Even
at large spraying distances and short clean-
ing times, damage can occur to the tyres.
This may cause an accident.
● Water, ice and salt on the brake system can
reduce br
aking effectiveness. Risk of acci-
dent. Directly after washing, avoid sudden
and sharp braking. “Dry” the brakes by brak-
ing several times ››› page 179, Braking ca-
pacity and braking distance .Alloy wheel rims
Every two weeks
– Wash salt and brake dust from alloy
wheel s.
– Use an ac
id free detergent to clean the
wheel rims.
Ev
ery 3 months
– Apply a hard wax compound to the wheels. Alloy wheels require regular attention to pre-
serve their ap
pearance. If road salt and brake
dust are not often removed, the aluminium
finish will be impaired.
Always use an acid-free detergent for alloy
wheel rims.
Car polish or other abrasive agents should
not be used for maintaining the rims. If the
protective coating is damaged, e.g. by flying
stones, the damaged area should be re-
paired immediately. WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ›››
in Steel
wheel rims on p
age 265. Vehicle underbody protection
The vehicle underbody is coated to protect it
fr
om c
hemic
al and mechanical damage.
The protective coating can be damaged when
driving. We recommend that you check the
protective coating under the body and on the
running gear, and retouch it if necessary, be-
fore and after the winter season.
We recommend that you go to your Technical
Service to carry out repair work and addition-
al anti-corrosion work. WARNING
Do not apply underseal or anti-corrosion
co atin
gs to the exhaust pipes, catalytic con-
verter or the heat shields on the exhaust sys-
tem. The heat of the exhaust system or the
engine could cause them to ignite. Risk of
fire. Cleaning engine compartment
Take special care when cleaning the engine
comp
ar
tment.
Anti-corrosion treatment
The engine compartment and the surface of
the power unit are given anti-corrosion treat-
ment at the factory.
Good corrosion protection is particularly im-
portant in winter when the vehicle is fre-
quently driven on salted roads. To prevent
the salt corroding the vehicle, the entire en-
gine compartment should be thoroughly
cleaned before and after winter.
Technical Services have the proper products
for cleaning and preservation as well as the
necessary workshop equipment. For this rea-
son, we recommend having this work per-
formed by them.
The anti-corrosion protection is usually re-
moved if the engine compartment is cleaned
with grease removing solutions, or if you »
265
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Advice
●
To av oid d
amage, stubborn stains should
be removed by a specialised workshop. Cleaning Alcantara upholstery*
Removing dust and dirt
– Moisten a cloth just a lit
tle and wipe down
the seat covers.
Removing stains – Moisten a cloth with lukewarm water or di-
luted whit
e spirits.
– Dab at the stain. Start at the outside and
work in
wards.
– Dry the clean area with a soft cloth.
Do not use l
eather cleaning products on Al-
cantara seat covers.
You may use a suitable soap on dust and dirt.
Dust and grit in the pores and seams can
scratch and damage the surface. If the car is
left standing in the sun for long periods, Al-
cantara leather should be protected against
direct sunlight to prevent it from fading. How-
ever, slight colour variations will arise in nor-
mal use. CAUTION
● Do not u se so
lvents, wax polish, shoe
cream, stain removers, leather cleaning prod-
ucts or any similar products on Alcantara.
● To avoid damage, stubborn stains should
be remov
ed by a specialised workshop.
● On no account use brushes, hard sponges
or simil
ar utensils. Cleaning seat belts
A dirty belt may not work properly. Check all
se
at
belts
regularly and keep them clean.
Seat belts cleaning
– Pull the dirty seat belt right out and unroll
it.
– Cl
ean dirty seat belts with a gentle so
ap
solution.
– Allow it to dry.
– Do not roll the seat belt up until it is dry.
If lar
ge stains form on the belts, the automat-
ic belt retractor will not work correctly. WARNING
● Do not u se c
hemical cleaning agents on the
seat belts, as this can impair the strength of
the webbing. Ensure that seat belts do not
come into contact with corrosive fluids. ●
Check the c
ondition of the seat belts at reg-
ular intervals. If you notice that the belt web-
bing, fittings, retractor mechanism or buckle
of any of the belts is damaged, the belt must
be replaced by a specialised workshop.
● Do not attempt to repair a damaged seat
belt y
ourself. The seat belts must not be re-
moved or modified in any way. CAUTION
After cleaning, allow seat belts to dry com-
p let
ely before rolling them up. Otherwise, the
belt retractors could become damaged. 268
Checking and refilling levels
Checking and refilling levels
R ef
uel
ling
Refuelling Read the additional information carefully
›› ›
page 57
If the automatic filler nozzle is operated cor-
rectly, it will switch itself off as soon as the
tank is “full”. Never attempt to fill beyond
this point, as this will fill the expansion
chamber. Fuel may leak out if ambient condi-
tions are warm.
The correct fuel grade for your vehicle is giv-
en on a sticker on the inside of the fuel tank
flap. WARNING
● Fuel i
s highly flammable and can cause se-
rious burns and other injuries.
–Never smoke or come into contact with
sparks when filling the fuel tank of the
vehicle or a spare fuel canister with fuel.
This is an explosion hazard.
– Follow legal requirements for the use of
spare fuel canisters.
– For safety reasons we do not recommend
carrying a spare fuel canister in the vehi-
cle. The canister could be damaged in an
accident and leak. ●
If, in e x
ceptional circumstances, you have
to carry a spare fuel canister, please observe
the following:
–Never fill the spare fuel canister inside
the vehicle or on it. An electrostatic
charge could build up during filling, caus-
ing the fuel fumes to ignite. This could
cause an explosion. Always place the
canister on the ground to fill it.
– Insert the fuel nozzle into the mouth of
the canister as far as possible.
– If the spare fuel canister is made of met-
al, the filling nozzle must be in contact
with the canister during filling. This
helps prevent an electrostatic charge
building up.
– Never spill fuel in the vehicle or in the
luggage compartment. Fuel vapours are
explosive. Danger of death. CAUTION
● Fuel s
pills should be removed from the
paintwork immediately.
● Never run the tank completely dry. Irregular
fuel s
upply can cause misfiring. As a result,
unburnt fuel could enter the catalytic convert-
er and cause damage.
● When filling the fuel tank after having run it
compl
etely dry on a vehicle with a diesel en-
gine the ignition must be switched on for at
least 30 seconds before starting the engine.
Subsequently, when you start the engine it
may take longer than normal to start firing (up to one minute). This is due to the fact that
the fuel
sy
stem has to purge itself of air be-
fore starting. For the sake of the environment
Do not try to put in more fuel after the auto-
m atic fi
ller nozzle has switched off, this may
cause the fuel to overflow if it becomes warm. Note
There is no emergency mechanism for the
manua l
release of the fuel tank flap. If neces-
sary, request assistance from specialised per-
sonnel. Fuel
Ty
pe
s of petrol The correct grade of petrol is listed inside the
f
uel
t
ank flap.
The vehicle is equipped with a catalytic con-
verter and must only be run on unleaded pet-
rol. The petrol must comply with European
Standard EN 228 or German standard DIN
51626-1 and must be unleaded. You can re-
fuel with a maximum ethanol proportion of
10 % (E10). The types of petrol are differenti-
ated by their octane rating (RON). »
269
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Checking and refilling levels
We recommend the use of diesel
f uel which
complies to European standard EN 590. If
diesel fuel which meets European standard
EN 590 is not available, the Cetane number
(CZ) must, at minimum, be 51. If the engine
is equipped with a particulate filter, the sul-
phur content of the fuel must be below 50
parts per million.
Winter-grade diesel
Summer fuel becomes thicker in winter and it
is more difficult to start the engine. For this
reason, petrol stations in some countries al-
so offer winter diesel with improved fluidity
when cold (winter-grade diesel). CAUTION
● The v ehic
le is not designed for the use of
FAME fuel (biodiesel). The fuel system would
be damaged if you used biodiesel.
● Do not mix fuel additives, the so-called
“thinners”, petro
l or similar additives with
diesel fuel.
● If poor-quality diesel fuel is used, it may be
neces
sary to drain the fuel filter more fre-
quently than is specified in the Maintenance
Programme. We recommend having this done
by a specialised workshop. If water is allowed
to collect in the filter, this can cause engine
performance problems. AdBlue
®
Inf orm
ation on AdBlue ® The consumption of AdBlue
®
depends on
y
our personal driving style, the temperature
of the system and on the outdoor tempera-
ture when the vehicle is used.
AdBlue ®
freezes at temperatures of -11°C
(+13°F). The system has heating elements
that guarantee its operation even at low tem-
peratures.
The AdBlue ®
tank level capacity is approxi-
mately 10.4 litres.
The AdBlue ®
tank should never be empty.
When the distance to empty drops below
2400 km, a warning to refill the AdBlue ®
tank
will appear on the dash panel display
››› page 271. If this information is ignored,
later on it will not be possible to re-start the
engine. If this warning does not appear, it is
not necessary to refill the AdBlue ®
tank.
AdBlue ®
is a registered brand of the German
Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA)
and is also known as AUS32 or DEF (Diesel
Exhaust Fluid). CAUTION
Filling the AdBlue ®
tank e
xcessively can
cause damage to the tank. Refilling AdBlue
® Fig. 236
AdBlue tank cap. Operations prior to refilling
P
ark
the
vehicle on a flat surface. If the vehi-
cle is not parked on a flat surface, but, for ex-
ample, on a slope or on the side of a curb,
the level indicator may not detect the load
properly.
If a warning message about AdBlue ®
levels
appears on the dash panel display, fill at
least the minimum amount required (approx.
5 litres). Only after adding this amount will
the system detect that AdBlue ®
has been
added and you will be able to start the en-
gine again. The maximum amount that can
be refilled is 11 litres.
Switch the ignition off. If the ignition is not
switched off during refilling, the warning to
refill may continue to appear on the instru-
ment panel display. »
271
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Advice
Fill with a refill bottle
On ly
u
se AdBlue ®
that complies with ISO
22241-1. Only use original containers.
● Open the tank cover ›››
Fig. 236.
● Unscrew the tank cap by turning it in an an-
ti-clock
wise direction.
● Please observe the manufacturer's instruc-
tions, indicat
ed on the refill bottle.
● Check the expiry date.
● Remove the cap of the refill bottle.
● Insert the neck of the bottle in the tank fill-
er neck
vertically and screw the bottle on by
hand, by turning it in a clockwise direction.
● Press the refill bottle in the direction of the
fill
er neck and hold it in this position.
● Wait until the contents of the refill bottle
have been pour
ed into the AdBlue ®
tank. Do
not compress or break the bottle!
● Turn the bottle in a counter-clockwise direc-
tion and gently p
ull it upwards ››› .
● The AdBlue ®
tank
i
s full when no more liq-
uid comes out of the bottle.
● Screw on the tank cap in a clockwise direc-
tion until
it is tightly closed.
● Close the fuel tank flap.
Operations
before driving
● After refilling the tank, only sw
itch on the
ignition. ●
Leav
e the ignition on for at least 30 sec-
onds for the system to detect the fluid load.
● Make sure you wait for at least 30 seconds
before s
tarting the engine!
Refilling the dispenser with AdBlue
Valid for vehicles with selective catalytic re-
duction.
● Open the tank cap.
● Turn the SCR tank cap anti-clockwise
›››
Fig. 236.
● Add AdBlue until the nozzle stops for the
first
time.
● Close the SCR tube by turning it clockwise
until
you hear a click. WARNING
AdBlue ®
shoul d on
ly be stored in the original
container, which should be tightly closed and
kept in a safe place.
● Never keep AdBlue ®
in empty food c
ontain-
ers, bottles or other similar containers. Other
people may confuse it for other products.
● Keep AdBlue ®
out of the r
each of children. CAUTION
● When refi l
ling, the nozzle grip should be
aligned downward. Otherwise the nozzle will
not connect automatically. ●
Do not tr y
to add any more additive after
the nozzle has stopped for the first time. The
AdBlue tank could overflow and AdBlue could
spill out.
● Only use AdBlue ®
that c
omplies with ISO
22241-1. Only use original containers.
● Never mix AdBlue ®
with wat
er, fuel or addi-
tives. Any type of damage caused by such a
mixture will not be covered by the warranty.
● Never pour AdBlue ®
into the fuel
tank. This
could result in engine damage.
● Do not carry the refill bottle inside the vehi-
cle. If
there is a leak (due to temperature
changes or damage to the bottle), the
AdBlue ®
may damage the vehicle. For the sake of the environment
Dispose of the refill bottle in an environment-
friendly m anner
. Note
You can buy refill bottles that are adequate
for AdBlue ®
u se at
SEAT dealerships.272