Seat Leon. Service Manual - part 16

Care and maintenance

Automatic car washes
Before going through a car wash, be sure to
take the usual precautions such as closing
the windows and roof. If the vehicle has spe-
cial accessories such as spoilers or a roof
rack or two-way radio aerial, etc., it is advisa-
ble to consult the car wash tunnel operator.

It is best to use a car wash without revolving
bristles if possible.

Washing the vehicle with a high pressure
cleaner
When washing the vehicle with a high-pres-
sure cleaner, always follow the operating in-
structions for the equipment. This applies
particularly to the 

operating pressure and the

spraying distance. Do not hold the nozzle too
close to soft materials such as rubber hoses
or seals. The same applies to the parking aid
sensors*, which are located in the rear bump-
er.

Do not use a nozzle that sprays the water out
in a 

direct stream or one that has a rotating

jet for forcing off dirt.

Stickers attached by the factory
Follow these directions to avoid damaging
the stickers:

●

Do not use high pressure cleaners.

●

To remove ice or snow from the stickers do

not use window scrapers or ice scrapers.

●

Do not polish the stickers.

●

Do not use dirty cloths or sponges.

●

Preferably wash using a soft sponge and

soft neutral soap.

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.
You should start on the roof and work down.
Special car 

soap 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

●

The vehicle should only be washed with the

ignition switched off. Failure to follow this in-
struction could result in an accident.

●

Do not clean the underside of chassis, the

inside of wheel arches or wheel trims without
protecting your hands and arms. You may cut
yourself on sharp-edged metal parts. Other-
wise, there is a risk of sustaining cuts.

●

When washing the car during the winter

season: water and ice in the brake system
can reduce braking effectiveness: risk of acci-
dent!

CAUTION

●

Do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight –

otherwise the paint can be damaged.

●

Do not use sponges, abrasive household

sponges or similar to clean insect remains.
This could damage the surface.

●

Clean off stubborn dirt (insects, etc.) from

the headlights at regular intervals, for in-
stance when filling the fuel tank. The head-
lights should only be washed with water, do
not wipe them with a dry cloth or sponge. It
is best to use soapy water.

●

Never wash tyres with a jet that sprays the

water out in a direct stream. This could dam-
age the tyres even if the spray is kept at a
distance and only used for a very short time.

●

Before washing the vehicle in an automatic

car wash, please make sure to retract the ex-
terior mirrors to prevent them from being
damaged. Electrically retractable exterior
mirrors must not be folded in or out by hand,
always use the electrical power control.

CAUTION

●

Before washing the vehicle in an automatic

car wash, please proceed as follows to lock
the wiper arms so that they are not moved to-
wards the top of the windscreen:

–

the bonnet must be closed.

–

switch the ignition on and off.

–

press the windscreen wiper lever forward
briefly (windscreen washer function).
This will lock the wiper arms.

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For the sake of the environment

The car should only be washed in special
wash bays. These areas are prepared to pre-
vent oily water from getting into the public
drains. In some places, washing vehicles out-
side the areas intended for this purpose is
prohibited.

Camera sensors and lenses

●

Use a small brush to remove snow and a

de-icer spray to remove ice.

●

Clean the sensors with a solvent-free prod-

uct and a soft, dry cloth.

●

Moisten the camera lens using a standard

alcohol-based glass cleaning agent and
clean the lens with a dry cloth. In the active
lane assist*, the area in front of the lens is
normally cleaned with the windscreen wash-
er.

CAUTION

●

When you clean the vehicle with a pressure

washer:

–

Stay a suitable distance from the sensors
on the front and rear bumpers.

–

Do not clean the camera lenses or sur-
rounding area with the pressure washer.

●

Never use warm or hot water to remove

snow and ice from the reverse camera lens,
as it could crack the lens.

●

Never use abrasive cleaning agents on the

lens.

Waxing and polishing

Care
Waxing protects the paintwork. It is time to
apply a 

coat of good wax when water no lon-

ger 

forms droplets and rolls off the clean

paintwork.

Even if a 

wax solution is used regularly in the

vehicle washing tunnel, it is advisable to pro-
tect the paint with a hard wax coating at least
twice a year.

In the summer, you will find it is much easier
to remove dead insects (which accumulate
on the bumper and the front of the bonnet) if
the car has been treated with care products
recently.

Polishing
Polishing is only necessary if the paint has
lost its shine, and the gloss cannot be
brought back by putting on wax.

If the polish does not contain wax, a wax
product should be applied after polishing.

CAUTION

●

Do not use polishes and hard wax on pain-

ted parts with a matt finish or on plastic
parts.

●

Do not apply paint polishes to the side trim

that runs around the panoramic roof and ends
on the windscreen. However, it can be treated
with hard wax.

Trims

In respect for the environment, the silver-
plated trims on the body are made of pure
aluminium (they do not contain chrome).

Dirt or marks on the trim mouldings should
be removed with a 

cleaning product with a

neutral PH (do not use a chrome cleaner).
Body polish is also unsuitable for use on trim
mouldings. The intensive cleaning fluids of-
ten used before the car goes into a car wash
may contain alkaline substances, which can
cause dull or milky patches when they dry
out.

SEAT Official Services carry stocks of cleaning
products which have been tested for use on
your vehicle and are not harmful to the envi-
ronment.

248

Care and maintenance

Plastic parts

Plastic parts are cleaned with a power wash-
er. If this is not sufficient, plastic parts
should only be treated with a special solvent-
free 

plastic cleaning agent. Do not use paint-

work cleaners, polishes or wax on plastic
parts.

Carbon parts

The carbon parts on your vehicle have a pain-
ted surface. They do not need any special
care and are cleaned just like any other pain-
ted part 

››› 

page 246

.

Paint damage

Minor damage to the paint, such as scratches
or stone chips, should be touched up without
delay before the metal starts to corrode. Suit-
able 

touch-up brushes or sprays for your car

can be obtained from a SEAT Official Service.

The number of the original paint finish on the
vehicle is given on the data sticker

››› 

page 281

.

If corrosion is already visible it must be thor-
oughly removed by a specialised workshop.

Windows

Clear vision is an essential safety factor.

The windscreen must not be cleaned with in-
sect remover or wax, otherwise the wind-
screen wipers will not function properly (jud-
dering).

Traces of rubber, oil, grease or silicone can
be removed with a 

window cleaning solution

or a 

silicone remover. Wax residue can only

be removed with a special cleaner. Your SEAT
Official Service will be able to provide you
with more detailed information.

The windows should also be cleaned on the
inside at regular intervals.

Use a separate cloth or chamois to dry the
windows. Cloths used for waxing and polish-
ing contain residues that will cause smears
on the glass.

WARNING

Do not use water-repellent coatings on the
windscreen. In bad visibility conditions (e.g.
in the rain, dark or with a low sun), these
coatings may cause dazzle: risk of accident!
Such coatings can also cause the windscreen
wiper blades to make noise.

CAUTION

●

Remove snow and ice from windows and ex-

terior mirrors with a plastic scraper only. To

avoid scratches caused by dirt on the glass,
the scraper should only be pushed in one di-
rection and not moved to and fro.

●

The heating element for the rear window is

located on the inner side of the window. To
avoid damaging them, do not apply stickers
to these heating elements.

●

Never use warm or hot water to remove

snow and ice from windows and mirrors. This
could cause the glass to crack!

Wheels

The wheels require regular attention to pre-
serve their appearance. It is important to re-
move road salt and brake dust by washing
the wheels at regular intervals, otherwise the
finish will be impaired.

After washing, the wheels should only be
cleaned with an "acid-free" cleaning agent
for alloy wheels. This is available from SEAT
Official Services and specialist retailers. Nev-
er leave the cleaning agent on the rims for
any longer than specified in the instructions
before rinsing it off. If the wheel cleaner fluid
contains acid it can attack the surfaces of the
wheel bolts.

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.

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WARNING

Please note when cleaning the wheels that
water, ice and road salt can impair the effec-
tiveness of the brakes; this can cause an acci-
dent.

Exhaust tail pipe

It is important to remove road salt and brake
dust by washing the wheels at regular inter-
vals, otherwise the exhaust tail pipe material
could be damaged. To remove impurities, do
not use rim, paint or chrome cleaners or oth-
er abrasive products. Clean the exhaust tail
pipes with cleaning products that are suita-
ble for stainless steel.

SEAT Official Services carry stocks of cleaning
products that have been tested and ap-
proved for use on your vehicle.

Caring for the vehicle interior

Radio display/Easy Connect* and con-
trol panel*

The display can be cleaned with a soft cloth
and a professionally available “LCD cleaner”.
Moisten the cloth with a small amount of the
cleaning fluid.

The Easy Connect control panel* should first
be cleaned with a brush so that no dirt goes
into the device or between the keys and
housing. Next, we recommend cleaning the
Easy Connect control panel* using a cloth
dampened with water and washing-up liquid.

CAUTION

●

To avoid scratching the screen, do not wipe

the display with a dry cloth.

●

To avoid damage, ensure that no liquid

goes into the Easy Connect control panel*.

Plastic and leatherette parts

Plastic parts and leatherette can be cleaned
with a damp cloth. If this is not sufficient,
plastic parts and leatherette should only be
treated with a 

special solvent-free plastic

cleaner.

Textile covers and trim parts

Textile covers and trim parts (e.g. seats, door
trim) should be cleaned regularly with a vac-
uum cleaner. This will remove surface dirt
which could otherwise be rubbed into the
textile material during use. Do not use steam
cleaners, as the steam could carry the dirt
deeper into the textile material.

Normal cleaning
We recommend that you use a soft sponge or
a commercially available lint-free, micro-fibre
cloth for normal cleaning. Only use brushes
on floor coverings and mats, as other textile
surfaces could become damaged.

In the case of normal surface dirt you can use
a foam cleaner. Use a sponge to spread the
foam on the textile surface and to work it into
the material lightly. However, make sure that
the textile material does not become soaking
wet. Then dab off the foam with a dry and ab-
sorbent cloth (e.g. a micro-fibre cloth) and
vacuum off any residue once the surface is
completely dry.

Cleaning stains
Treat drink stains (such as coffee or fruit
juice, etc.) with a cleaning solution for deli-
cate fabrics. This solution should be applied
with a sponge. If the stains are difficult to re-
move, a washing paste can be applied direct-
ly onto the stain and worked into the fabric.
The surface will then have to be wiped with
clear water to remove any residue left by the
paste. To do so, use a damp cloth or sponge
and then dab the stain with an absorbent
cloth.

Remove chocolate or make-up stains with a
cleaning paste (for e.g., soft soap). Then re-
move the soap with water (wet sponge).

250

Care and maintenance

A spirit-based cleaner can be used to remove
grease, oil, lipstick or ball point pen. Then
dab the dissolved grease or colour particles
off with an absorbent cloth or similar. You
may also have to treat the stain once more
using washing paste and water.

If the covers or textile trim panels are badly
soiled we recommend that you have them
cleaned by a professional cleaning company
with a shampoo and spray.

Note

Open Velcro fasteners on clothes can damage
the seat upholstery. Make sure they are
closed.

Natural leather

General information
Our range of leathers is large. The main type
used is particularly nappa in various forms,
that is, leather with a smooth surface in dif-
ferent colours.

The amount of dye used determines the ap-
pearance and properties of leather. If the
leather is left in a more natural state, it re-
tains its typical natural napped appearance
and confers excellent all-weather properties
to the seats. Fine veins, healed scars, insect
bites, wrinkles and a subtle variation in shad-

ing remain visible; these are the characteris-
tic features of genuine natural leather.

Natural napped leather does not have a pro-
tective surface coating of dye. It is therefore
somewhat more prone to damage. This
should be borne in mind if children or pets
often travel in the car, or if there are other
factors that could lead to damage.

Types of leather with a coloured surface coat-
ing are likely to be more resistant to damage.
This has a great advantage for day-to-day
use. However, this means that the typical
natural characteristics of the surface are less
apparent, though this does not affect quality.

Cleaning and care
Due to the natural properties of the specially
selected hides employed, the finished leath-
er has a certain sensitivity to grease and dirt,
etc. so a degree of care is required in every-
day use and when looking after the leather.
Dark clothing (especially if damp or incorrect-
ly dyed) may stain leather upholstery on the
seats. Dust and grit in the pores and seams
can scratch and damage the surface. There-
fore leather should be cleaned at regular in-
tervals, depending on the actual amount of
use. When they have been in use for a certain
time, your car seats will acquire a typical and
unmistakable patina. This is characteristic for
leather as a natural product and is a sign of
genuine quality.

To maintain the value of natural leather you
should note the following points:

CAUTION

●

Avoid exposing leather to direct sunlight

for long periods, otherwise it may tend to
lose some of its colour. If the car is left for a
prolonged period in the bright sun, it is best
to cover the leather.

●

Sharp-edged objects on clothing, such as

belts, zip fasteners, rivets or similar, can also
leave permanent scratches and rough marks
on the surface of the leather.

Note

●

Use a suitable impregnating cream with ul-

tra-violet protection at regular intervals and
after cleaning. The cream nourishes and
moisturises the leather, keeps it supple and
able to breathe. A protective film will also
form.

●

Clean the leather every 2 to 3 months and

remove fresh dirt as soon as possible.

●

Remove stains from fresh ball-pen and oth-

er inks, lipstick, shoe cream and similar
stains as soon as possible.

●

Preserve the colour of the leather. A special

coloured cream will renew the colour of the
leather when required and will eliminate dif-
ferences in colour.

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Cleaning and care of leather uphols-
tery

Natural leather requires an extra degree of at-
tention and care.

Normal cleaning

–

Moisten a cotton or woollen cloth with wa-
ter and wipe over the leather surfaces.

More stubborn dirt

–

More stubborn dirt can be removed using a
mild soap solution (pure liquid soap: two
tablespoons dissolved in one litre of wa-
ter).

–

Do not let the water soak through the leath-
er or penetrate into the seams.

–

Then wipe off with a soft, dry cloth.

Removal of stains

–

Remove fresh 

water-based stains such as

coffee, tea, juices, blood etc. with an ab-
sorbent cloth or kitchen roll, or use the
cleaning agent from the care set for dried-
on stains.

–

Remove fresh 

grease-based stains that

have not penetrated the surface such as
butter, mayonnaise, chocolate, etc. with an
absorbent cloth or kitchen roll or with the
cleaning agent from the care set.

–

Treat 

fat-based, dried-in stains with grease-

dissolving spray.

–

Treat 

less common stains on leather, such

as ball-pen and other inks, felt-tip pens,
nail polish, dispersion paint, shoe cream
etc. with a special leather stain remover.

Leather maintenance

–

The leather should be treated regularly
(about twice a year) with a special leather-
care product.

–

Apply these products very sparingly.

–

Then wipe off with a soft cloth.

Should you have questions regarding the
care and cleaning of the leather upholstery in
your vehicle, we recommend that you contact
your SEAT Official Service. Our representa-
tives will be happy to advise you and tell you
about the product range for leather conserva-
tion, for example:

●

Cleaning and care set.

●

Coloured leather-care cream.

●

Stain remover for ball-pen inks, shoe cream

etc.

●

Grease dissolving spray.

●

New products and further developments

CAUTION

On no account use solvents (such as petrol,
turpentine), wax polish, shoe cream or simi-
lar materials.

Cleaning Alcantara upholstery

Removing dust and dirt

–

Moisten a cloth just a little and wipe down
the seat covers.

Removing stains

–

Moisten a cloth with lukewarm water or di-
luted 

white spirits.

–

Dab at the stain. Start at the outside and
work inwards.

–

Dry the clean area with a soft cloth.

Do not use leather 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.

252

Intelligent technology

CAUTION

●

Do not use solvents, wax polish, shoe

cream, stain removers, leather cleaning prod-
ucts or any similar products on Alcantara.

●

To avoid damage, stubborn stains should

be removed by a specialised workshop.

●

On no account use brushes, hard sponges

or similar utensils.

Seat belts

–

Keep the seat belts clean.

–

For cleaning, use a mild solution of soap
and water.

–

Check the condition of the seat belts at reg-
ular intervals.

The retract function may not operate properly
in very dirty belts. Make sure that the inertia
reel seat belts are completely dry before al-
lowing them to retract.

CAUTION

●

Do not remove the seat belts from the vehi-

cle to clean them.

●

Do not use chemical cleaning agents on the

seat belts, as this can damage the webbing.
Ensure that the seat belts do not come into
contact with corrosive fluids.

●

If you find any damage to the belt webbing,

belt fittings, the belt retractor or the buckle,

the belt in question must be replaced by a
specialised workshop.

Intelligent technology

Electromechanical steering

Electro-mechanical power steering assists
the driver when steering.

Electro-mechanical power steering adapts
electronically to the speed of the car, torque
and turning angle.

If the power steering should fail at any time
or the engine is switched off (for instance
when being towed), the car can still be
steered. However, more effort than normal
will be required to turn the steering wheel.

Driver warning lamps and messages



 (in red) Faulty steering! To

park the vehicle

If the warning lamp remains on and the driver
indication appears, the power steering could
be faulty.

Do 

not continue driving. Seek specialist as-

sistance.



 (in yellow) Steering: System

fault! You may continue driving.

If the warning lamp comes on, the steering
could react with more difficultly or more sen-
sitivity than normal. In addition, when driving
in a straight line the steering wheel may be
off-centre.

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Drive slowly to a specialised workshop and
have the fault repaired.



 (in yellow) Steering lock:

fault! Go to an Official Service

The electronic steering lock is malfunction-
ing.

Go to a specialised workshop as soon as
possible and have the fault repaired.

WARNING

Take it immediately to a specialised work-
shop and have the fault repaired: risk of acci-
dent!

Note

If the lamp 



 (in red) or else  (in yellow)

lights up briefly, you may continue driving.

Progressive steering

Depending on the vehicle equipment, the
progressive steering can adapt steering hard-
ness to the current driving situation. The
power steering only works when the engine
is running.

In city traffic you do not need to turn so much
on parking, manoeuvring or in very tight
turns.

On the road or on the motorway, progressive
steering transmits, for example, in bends, a

sportier, more direct and noticeably more dy-
namic driving sensation.

Four-wheel drive

3

 Valid for vehicles: with four-wheel drive



 

››› 

table on page 2

On four-wheel drive models, the engine pow-
er is distributed to all four wheels

General notes
On four-wheel drive vehicles, the engine
power is distributed to all four wheels. The
distribution of power is controlled automati-
cally according to your driving style and the
road conditions. Also see 

››› 

page 176, Brak-

ing and stability systems

.

The four-wheel drive is specially designed to
complement the superior engine power. This
combination gives the vehicle exceptional
handling and performance capabilities, both
on normal roads and in more difficult condi-
tions, such as snow and ice. Even so (or per-
haps especially for this reason), it is impor-
tant to observe certain safety points 

››› 

.

Winter tyres
Thanks to four-wheel drive, your vehicle will
have plenty of traction in winter conditions,
even with the standard tyres. Nevertheless,
we still recommend that winter tyres or all-

season tyres be fitted on all four wheels to
give even better braking response.

Snow chains
On roads where snow chains are mandatory,
this also applies to cars with four-wheel drive

››› 



page 60

.

Changing tyres
On vehicles with four-wheel drive, all four
tyres must have the same rolling circumfer-
ence. Also avoid using tyres with varying
tread depths 

››› 

page 273

.

Off-roader?
Your SEAT is not an off-road vehicle: it does
not have enough ground clearance to be
used as such. It is therefore best to avoid
rough tracks and uneven terrain as much as
possible.

WARNING

●

Even with four-wheel drive, you should al-

ways adjust your speed to suit the condi-
tions. Do not let the extra safety features
tempt you into taking any risks when driving.
Risk of accident!

●

The braking capability of your vehicle is

limited by the tyres' grip. It is therefore no
different from a car without four-wheel drive.
So do not be tempted to drive too fast on firm
or slippery roads just because the vehicle

254

Intelligent technology

still has good acceleration in these
conditions. Risk of accident!

●

On wet roads bear in mind that the front

wheels may start to “aquaplane” and lose
contact with the road if the car is driven too
fast. If this should happen, there will be no
sudden increase in engine speed to warn the
driver, as occurs with a front-wheel drive car.
For this reason you should always choose a
driving speed suitable for the road condi-
tions. Risk of accident!

Power Management

This system helps to ensure reliable
starting

The power management controls the distribu-
tion of electrical energy and thus helps to en-
sure that there is always enough power avail-
able to start the engine.

If a vehicle with a conventional electrical sys-
tem is left parked for a long time, the battery
will gradually lose its charge because certain
electrical devices, such as the electronic
gearbox lock continues to draw current even
when the ignition is off. In some cases there
may not be enough power available to start
the engine.

Your vehicle is equipped with an intelligent
power management system to control the

distribution of electrical energy. This signifi-
cantly improves reliability when starting the
engine, and also prolongs the useful life of
the battery.

The main functions incorporated in the power
management system are 

battery diagnosis,

residual current management and dynamic
power management.

Battery diagnosis
The battery diagnosis function constantly
registers the condition of the battery. Sen-
sors detect the battery voltage, battery cur-
rent and battery temperature. This enables
the system to calculate the current power lev-
el and charge condition of the battery.

Residual current management
The residual current management reduces
power consumption while the vehicle is
parked. It controls the supply of power to the
various electrical devices while the ignition is
switched off. The system takes the battery di-
agnosis data into consideration.

Depending on the power level of the battery,
switch off the individual electrical devices
one after the other to prevent the battery
from losing too much charge and to ensure
that the engine can be started reliably.

Dynamic power management
While the vehicle is moving, this function dis-
tributes the available power to the various
electrical devices and systems according to
their requirements. The power management
ensures that on-board systems do not con-
sume more electrical power than the alterna-
tor can supply, and thus maintains the maxi-
mum possible battery power level.

Note

●

Neither is the power management system

able to overcome the given physical limits.
Please remember that the power and useful
life of the battery are limited.

●

When there is a risk that the vehicle will

not start, the alternator power failure or low
battery charge level warning lamp will be
shown  

››› 

page 109

.

Flat battery

Starting ability has first priority.

Short trips, city traffic and low temperatures
all place a heavy load on the battery. In these
conditions a large amount of power is con-
sumed, but only a small amount is supplied.
The situation is also critical if electrical devi-
ces are in use when the engine is not run-
ning. In this case power is consumed when
none is being generated.

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In these situations you will be aware that the
power management system is intervening to
control the distribution of electrical power.

When the vehicle is parked for long periods
If you do not drive your vehicle for a period of
several days or weeks, the power manage-
ment will gradually shut off the electrical de-
vices one by one or reduce the amount of cur-
rent they are using. This limits the amount of
power consumed and helps to ensure relia-
ble starting even after a long period. Some
convenience functions, such as remote vehi-
cle opening, may not be available under cer-
tain circumstances. These functions will be
restored when you switch on the ignition and
start the engine.

With the engine switched off
For example, if you listen to the sound sys-
tem with the engine switched off the battery
will run down.

If the energy consumption means there is a
risk that the engine will not start, a text will
appear in vehicles with a driver information
system*.

This driver indicator tells you that you must
start the engine so that the battery can re-
charge.

When the engine is running
Although the alternator generates electrical
power, the battery can still become dis-
charged while the vehicle is being driven.
This can occur when a lot of power is being
consumed but only a small amount supplied,
especially if the battery is not fully charged
initially.

To restore the necessary energy balance, the
system will then temporarily shut off the elec-
trical devices that are using a lot of power, or
reduce the current they are consuming. Heat-
ing systems in particular use a large amount
of electrical power. If you notice, for instance,
that the seat heating* or the rear window
heater is not working, they may have been
temporarily switched off or regulated to a
lower heat output. These systems will be
available again as soon as sufficient electri-
cal power is available.

You may also notice that the engine runs at a
slightly faster idling speed when necessary.
This is quite normal, and no cause for con-
cern. The increased idling speed allows the
alternator to meet the greater power require-
ment and charge the battery at the same
time.

Checking and refilling levels

Filling the tank

Filling up

Read the additional information carefully

››› 



page 50

If the automatic filler nozzle is operated cor-
rectly, it will switch itself off as soon as the
fuel tank is “full”. Do not try to put in more
fuel after the nozzle cuts out, as this will fill
the expansion chamber in the fuel tank.

The correct fuel grade for your vehicle is giv-
en on a sticker on the inside of the fuel tank
flap. Further notes on fuel can be found at

››› 

page 258

.

The capacity of your vehicle's fuel tank is giv-
en in 

››› 



page 50

.

Vehicles with natural gas engines and hy-
brids
Every 6 months it is necessary to run on pet-
rol until the control lamp switches off  and
then the tank must be refilled. This is neces-
sary to ensure that the system works proper-
ly, as well as the fuel quality required for driv-
ing with petrol.

256

Checking and refilling levels

WARNING

Fuel is highly flammable and can cause seri-
ous burns and other injuries.

●

Do not smoke when filling the fuel tank or a

canister. Naked flames are forbidden in the
vicinity due to the risk of explosion.

●

Observe legislation governing the use,

storage and carrying of a spare fuel canister
in the vehicle.

●

For safety reasons we do not recommend

carrying a spare fuel canister in the vehicle.
In an accident the canister could be damaged
and could leak.

●

If, in exceptional circumstances, you have

to carry a spare fuel canister, please observe
the following points:

–

Never fill fuel into the spare fuel canister
if it is inside or on top of the vehicle. An
electrostatic charge could build up during
filling, causing the fuel vapour to ignite.
Danger of explosion. Always place the
canister on the ground to fill it.

–

Insert the filling nozzle as far as possible
into the spare fuel canister.

–

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 vapour is ex-
plosive. Risk of fatal accident!

CAUTION

●

If any fuel is spilt onto the vehicle, it

should be removed immediately. It could oth-
erwise damage the paintwork.

●

Never run the tank completely dry. An irreg-

ular fuel supply could cause misfiring. As a
result, unburnt fuel could enter the exhaust
system and damage the catalytic converter.

●

When filling the fuel tank after having run it

completely dry on a vehicle with a diesel en-
gine, the ignition must be switched on for at
least 30 seconds before starting the engine.
When you then start the engine it may take
longer than normal (up to one minute) to
start firing. This is because air needs to be
bled from the fuel system while starting.

For the sake of the environment

Do not overfill the fuel tank, it may cause the
fuel to overflow if it becomes warm.

Note

There is no emergency mechanism for the
manual release of the fuel tank flap. If neces-
sary, request assistance from specialised per-
sonnel.

Note

Diesel vehicles are fitted with a protective de-
vice that prevents the insertion of the wrong
fuel hose

1)

. It is only possible to refuel with

Diesel nozzles.

●

If the pump nozzle is worn, damaged, or if

it is very small, it is possible that it will not
be able to open the protective device. Before
trying to insert the pump nozzle by turning it,
try a different pump or request specialist
help.

●

If you fill the tank from a reserve fuel canis-

ter, the protective device will not open. One
way to resolve this is to pour the fuel in very
slowly.

Refuelling with natural gas

Fig. 239 

Tank flap open: gas filler mouth 

1

,

filler mouth retainer 

2

»

1)

Depending on country

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Before refuelling, the engine and the igni-
tion, mobile telephone and heating must be
switched off separately 

››› 

.

Read the instructions on how to use the natu-
ral gas pump carefully.

The vehicle is not prepared for refuelling with
liquefied natural gas (LNG) 

››› 

. Before refu-

elling with natural gas, make sure you add
the appropriate type of fuel 

››› 

page 258

.

Opening the fuel tank cap
The natural gas filler mouth is behind the fuel
tank cap, next to the petrol filler mouth.

●

Unlock the vehicle with the key or with the

central locking button 



 situated on the driv-

er door 

››› 

page 116

.

●

Press on the rear area of the flap and open

it.

Refuelling
Special feature: if the ambient temperature is
very high, the natural gas pump protection
against overheating disconnects this auto-
matically.

●

Remove the plug from the gas filler mouth

››› 

Fig. 239 

1

.

●

Connect the pump filling nozzle to the gas

filler mouth.

●

The fuel tank will be full when the pump

compressor automatically cuts the supply.

●

If you wish to finish refuelling in advance,

press the button on the pump to stop the
flow.

Closing the fuel tank cap

●

Check that the gas filler mouth retainer 

2

is not trapped with the filler nozzle. If neces-
sary, place it in the filler mouth again.

●

Insert the plug in the filler mouth.

●

Close the tank flap. Make sure you hear it

click into place.

WARNING

Natural gas is a highly explosive, easily flam-
mable substance. Incorrect handling of the
natural gas can cause accidents serious
burns and other injuries.

●

Before refuelling with natural gas, engage

the filling mouth correctly. If you can smell
gas, stop refuelling immediately.

WARNING

The vehicle is not prepared to use liquefied
natural gas (LNG), and this fuel must not be
added under any circumstances. Liquefied
natural gas can cause the natural gas tank to
explode, resulting in serious injury.

Note

●

The filling nozzles of natural gas pumps

can differ in the way they are operated. If you

do not know, ask a qualified employee at the
petrol station to do the refuelling.

●

Noises heard when refuelling are normal

and do not indicate the presence of a fault in
the system.

●

The vehicle natural gas system is prepared

both for refuelling with a small compressor
(slow refuel) and a large compressor (fast re-
fuel) in natural gas service stations.

Fuel

Types of petrol

The correct grade of petrol is listed inside the
fuel tank 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).

The following titles appear on the corre-
sponding adhesive on the fuel tank flap:

258

Checking and refilling levels

Super unleaded 95 octane or normal 91 oc-
tane unleaded petrol
We recommend you use super 95 octane pet-
rol. If this is not available: normal 91 octane
petrol, with a slight decrease in power.

Super unleaded petrol with a minimum of 95
octanes
You should use super petrol with a minimum
of 95 octanes.

If super is not available, in an emergency you
may refuel with normal 91 octane petrol. In
this case only use moderate engine speeds
and a light throttle. Refuel with super as soon
as possible.

Super unleaded 98 octane or super 95 oc-
tane unleaded petrol
We recommend you use super plus 98 octane
petrol. If this is not available: super 95 oc-
tane petrol, with a slight decrease in power.

If super is not available, in an emergency you
may refuel with normal 91 octane petrol. In
this case only use moderate engine speeds
and a light throttle. Refuel with super as soon
as possible.

Petrol additives
The quality of the fuel influences the behav-
iour, power and service life of the engine.
This is why the petrol you use should carry
suitable additives already included by the

petrol industry, free of metals. These addi-
tives will help to prevent corrosion, keep the
fuel system clean and prevent deposits from
building up in the engine.

If good-quality petrol with metal-free addi-
tives is not available or engine problems
arise, the necessary additives must be added
when refuelling 

››› 

.

Not all petrol additives have been shown to
be effective. The use of unsuitable petrol ad-
ditives may cause significant damage to the
engine and the catalytic converter. Metal ad-
ditives should never be used. Metal additives
may also be contained in petrol additives for
improving anti-detonation ratings or octane
ratings 

››› 

.

SEAT recommends “genuine Volkswagen
Group Fuel Additives for petrol engines”.
These additives can be bought at SEAT deal-
ers, where information on how to use them
can also be obtained.

CAUTION

●

Do not refuel if the filler indicates that the

fuel contains metal. LRP (lead replacement
petrol) fuels contain high concentrations of
metal additives. Using them may damage the
engine!

●

Never refuel with fuels containing a large

proportion of ethanol (for example, E50, E85).
This could damage the fuel system.

●

Just filling one full tank of leaded fuel or

fuel containing other metal additives would
seriously impair the efficiency of the catalytic
converter.

●

Only use fuel additives that have been ap-

proved by SEAT. Octane boosting or anti-
knock additives may contain metal additives
that could seriously damage the engine or
the catalytic converter. These additives must
not be used.

●

High engine speed and full throttle can

damage the engine when using petrol with an
octane rating lower than the correct grade for
the engine.

Note

●

You may use petrol with a high octane num-

ber than the one recommended for your en-
gine.

●

In those countries where unleaded petrol is

not available, you may refuel with a fuel with
a low lead content.

Diesel fuel

Please note the information on the inside of
the fuel tank flap.

We recommend the use of 

diesel fuel 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

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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).

Water in the fuel filter

1)

If your vehicle has a diesel engine and is
equipped with a 

fuel filter with a water sepa-

rator, the instrument panel may display the
following warning: 



 

Water in the

fuel filter.

 If this is the case, take the

vehicle to a specialised workshop so that
they can drain the fuel filter.

CAUTION

●

The vehicle 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”, petrol or similar additives with
diesel fuel.

●

If poor-quality diesel fuel is used, it may be

necessary 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.

Natural gas



 

››› 

table on page 2

Natural gas
Natural gas can be compressed or in liquid
form, addition to others.

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is the result of
heavy cooling of natural gas. Therefore its
volume is considerably reduced compared
with compressed natural gas (CNG). In vehi-
cles with a natural gas engine, liquefied nat-
ural gas cannot be directly refilled, as the gas
would expand excessively in the vehicle gas
tank.

Therefore, vehicles with a natural gas engine
must only be refuelled using compressed
natural gas 

››› 

.

Natural gas quality and consumption
Natural gas is divided into the groups H and
L depending on its quality.

Gas type H has a superior heating power and
inferior nitrogen and carbon dioxide content
than type L. The higher the heating power of
the natural gas, the lower the consumption
will be.

However, the heating power and the propor-
tion of nitrogen and carbon dioxide can fluc-
tuate within the quality groups. Therefore, ve-
hicle consumption can also vary when using
a single type of gas only.

The engine management automatically
adapts to the natural gas used according to
its quality. Therefore, different quality gases
can be mixed in the tank, without the need
for comprehensive draining before applying a
different quality gas.

Updated information relating to natural gas
quality is displayed on the instrument panel

››› 



page 30

.

Natural gas and safety
If you can smell gas or suspect that there is a
leak 

››› 

:

●

Stop the vehicle immediately.

●

Switch the ignition off.

●

Open the doors to appropriately ventilate

the vehicle.

●

Extinguish cigarettes immediately.

1)

Valid for the market: Algeria.

260

Checking and refilling levels

●

Move away from the vehicle or switch off

objects that may cause sparks or a fire.

●

If you continue to smell gas, do not contin-

ue driving!

●

Seek specialist assistance. Have the fault

repaired.

WARNING

Failure to act when you can smell gas in the
vehicle or when refuelling can cause serious
injuries.

●

Carry out the necessary operations.

●

Leave the danger zone.

●

If necessary, warn the emergency services.

WARNING

The vehicle is not prepared to use liquefied
natural gas (LNG) and this fuel must not be
added under any circumstances. Liquefied
natural gas can cause the natural gas tank to
explode, resulting in serious injury.

Note

Have the natural gas system checked regular-
ly by a specialised workshop, according to
the Maintenance Programme.

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Engine compartment

Checking levels

Fig. 240 

Diagram for the location of the various elements.

From time to time, the levels of the different
fluids in the vehicle must be checked. Never
fill with incorrect fluids, otherwise serious
damage to the engine may be caused.

Coolant expansion tank
Engine oil dipstick
Engine oil filler cap
Brake fluid reservoir
Vehicle battery (underneath the cover)
Windscreen washer reservoir

The checking and refilling of service fluids
are carried out on the components men-
tioned above. These operations are descri-
bed in 

››› 

page 262

.

1

2

3

4

5

6

Overview
You will find further explanations, instruc-
tions and restrictions on the technical speci-
fications as of 

››› 

page 281

.

Work in the engine compartment

Read the additional information carefully

››› 



page 12

Always be aware of the danger of injury and
scalding as well as the risk of accident or fire
when working in the engine compartment
(e.g. when checking and refilling fluids). Al-
ways observe the warnings listed below and
follow all general safety precautions. The en-

gine compartment of the vehicle is a poten-
tially hazardous area 

››› 

.

WARNING

●

Switch the engine off, remove the key from

the ignition and apply the hand brake. If the
vehicle has a manual gearbox, place the lever
in neutral; if it has an automatic gearbox,
place the selector lever in position P. Wait for
the engine to cool down.

●

Keep children away from the engine com-

partment.

●

Never spill liquids used for vehicle opera-

tion on the engine compartment, as these
may catch fire (e.g. the antifreeze in coolant).

262