brake fluid Seat Mii 2014 Owner's manual

Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Safe driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Safety first! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Tips for driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Correct sitting position for vehicle occupants . 6
Pedal area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Seat belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Using seat belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
How to properly adjust your seatbelt . . . . . . . . 15
Seat belt tensioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Airbag system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Brief introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
General overview of the airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Deactivating airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Transporting children safely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Child safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Cockpit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Control lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
SEAT information system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Opening and closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Vehicle key set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Central locking* and locking system . . . . . . . . 45
Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Rear lid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Electric windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Sliding/tilting electric panoramic sunroof . . . . 53
Lights and visibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Visibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Windscreen wiper and rear window wiper
systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Rear vision mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Seats and head restraints
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Adjusting the seat and head restraints . . . . . . 63
Seat functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Transport and practical equipment . . . . . . . . . 65
Transporting objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Practical equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Loading luggage compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Roof carrier system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Air conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning
system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Stopping and starting the engine . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Braking and parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Changing gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Run-in and economical driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Engine management and exhaust gas
purification system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Driving abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Driving along flooded roadways . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Driver assistance systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Braking and stability systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Parking sensor system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Cruise control* (Cruise control system - CCS) . . 107
Safety Assist* (City Safety Assist function) . . . . 110
Hill driving assistant* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Start-Stop system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Towing bracket device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Trailer coupling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 Advice
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Care and maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Accessories, replacement of parts and
modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Care and cleaning the vehicle exterior . . . . . . . 125
Caring for and cleaning the vehicle interior . . . 131
Notes for the user . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Checking and refilling levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Filling the tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Bonnet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Engine coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Checking and topping up the windscreen
washer reservoir with water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Vehicle battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Wheels and tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Emergencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
In case of emergency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Vehicle tool kit* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Changing a wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Tyre repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Starting assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Towing and tow starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Emergency locking and unlocking . . . . . . . . . . 186
Changing the windscreen wiper blades . . . . . . 188
Fuses and bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Changing bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Technical specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Technical features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Important information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Engine specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
3

Operation
passengers in the rear seats have fastened
their seat belts ››› page 11 .
St ar
t-Stop system status display
The instrument panel display shows informa-
tion on the current status ››› page 115. WARNING
If the warning lamps are ignored, the vehicle
may stall in traffic, or may cause accidents
and severe injuries.
● Never ignore the warning lamps.
● Stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible.
● A faulty vehicle represents a risk of acci-
dent for the driver and for other road users. If
necessary, switch on the hazard warning
lamps and put out the warning triangle to ad-
vise other drivers.
● Park the vehicle away from traffic and en-
sure that no highly flammable materials are
under the vehicle that could come into con-
tact with the exhaust system (e.g. dry grass,
fuel). WARNING
Even though outside temperatures are above
freezing, some roads and bridges may be icy.
● At outside temperatures above +4°C
(+39°F), even when the “ice crystal symbol”
is not visible, there may still be patches of ice
on the road. ●
Never rely on the outside temperature indi-
cator! CAUTION
Failure to heed the warning lamps when they
appear may result in faults in the vehicle. Note
● Different versions of the instrument panel
are available and therefore the versions and
instructions on the display may vary.
● When several warnings are active at the
same time, the symbols are shown succes-
sively for a few seconds and will stay on until
the fault is rectified. Service interval display
The inspection display appears on the instru-
ment panel display
›››
Fig. 24 or ›
›
›
Fig. 25 2 .
SEAT makes a difference between services
with engine oil change (Interval Service) and
ser v

ices without engine oil change (Inspec-
tion Service). The service interval display only
gives information for service dates which in-
volve an engine oil change. The dates of the
remaining services (e.g. the next Inspection
Service or change of brake fluid) are listed on
the label attached to the door strut, or in the
Maintenance Programme. The set service intervals have been specified
with the service dependent on time/distance
trav

elled.
Inspection reminder
If the inspection period is due to expire
shortly,
Inspection reminder appears when
starting the ignition abbreviated to  and a
warning in
km. The number of kilometres
shown is the maximum number that may be
driven until the next service.
Service due
After the service date, an audible warning is
giv

en when the ignition is switched on and
the abbreviation  displayed on the screen
flashes for a few seconds. Note
The service message disappears after a few
seconds, when the engine is started or when OK is pressed on the windscreen wiper lever.
Note
In vehicles in which the battery has been dis-
connected for a long period of time, it is not
possible to calculate the date of the next
service. Therefore the service interval display
may not be correct. In this case, bear in mind
the maximum service intervals permitted in
the ››› Booklet Maintenance Programme.38

Cockpit
Control lamps Control and warning lamps The control and warning lamps are indicators
of warnings,
››› , faults
››› or certain func-
tions. Some control and warning lamps come
on when the ignition is switched on, and
switch off when the engine starts running, or
while driving.
When certain control and warning lamps are
lit, an audible warning is also heard.SymbolMeaning ››› See 
Handbrake applied.
›››
page
89   Do not continue driving!
The brake fluid level is too low
or there is a fault in the brake
system. 
it lights up:
 Do not continue
driving!
The liquid coolant level is too
low,
the engine liquid coolant tem-
perature is too high or
there is a fault in the liquid cool-
ant system.
››› page
150
flashes: engine coolant system
faulty.››› page
150  
Do not continue driving!
Engine oil pressure too low.››› page
146
SymbolMeaning ››› See 
lights up or flashes:
 Do not
continue driving!
Fault in the steering.››› page
84 
On the instrument panel: driver
or passenger has not fastened
seat belt.
›››
page
11 
Instrument panel display: a pas-
senger in the rear seats has fas-
tened their seatbelt.

A passenger in the rear seats
has not fastened their seat belt.›››
page
11 
Faulty generator.›››
page
154
Vehicles with the Start-Stop sys-
tem: it is necessary to start the
engine manually.››› page
115 
flashes in addition to the rest of
the segments of the fuel gauge:
Fuel tank almost empty.›››
page
139
SymbolMeaning ››› See 
flashes quickly:
the City Safety
Assist system function* brakes
automatically or has braked au-
tomatically. Or:
flashes slowly: City Safety Assist
function is not currently availa-
ble.
››› page
110 

The City Safety Assist* function
has been connected manually. It
switches off after 5 seconds.  
flashes: The City Safety Assist*
function has been manually dis-
connected.


after the ignition is switched on:
indication that the end of the
period for an inspection to be
performed is approaching.››› page
36 
it lights up:
ESC* faulty or dis-
connected by the system. ALTER-
NATIVELY:
flashes: ESC* or ASR regulating.
››› page
89 it lights up:
Traction Control faul-
ty or switched off by the system.
ALTERNATIVELY:
flashes: Traction Control regula-
tor operating. 
ABS faulty or does not work.

Rear fog light switched on.›››
page
55» 39
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Driving
Braking and parking Introduction The assisted braking systems
are the elec-
tr
onic distribution of the brake force (EBV),
the anti-lock brake system (ABS), the brake
assist system (BAS), the electronic differen-
tial lock (EDL), the traction control (TC), the
traction control system (ASR) and the elec-
tronic stability control (ESC*). WARNING
Driving with worn brake pads or a faulty
brake system may lead to serious accident.
● If you believe the brake pads to be worn or
the brake system to be faulty, immediately
refer to a specialised workshop to check the
brake pads and replace the worn ones. WARNING
Careless parking can cause serious injury.
● Never remove the key from the ignition if
the vehicle is in motion. The steering lock
may engage and lock the steering wheel mak-
ing the vehicle impossible to control.
● Always park your vehicle so that no part of
the exhaust system can come in contact with
flammable materials (such as wood, leaves,
dried grass, spilled fuel, etc.).
● Always apply the handbrake when you
leave your vehicle and when you park. ●
Never leave children or disabled people
alone in the vehicle. They could release the
electronic parking brake, activate the selec-
tor lever or gear stick and start the vehicle
moving. This could result in a serious acci-
dent.
● Always take all the keys with you whenever
you leave the vehicle. The engine could acci-
dentally be started and electrical equipment
such as the windows could accidentally be
operated resulting in serious injury.
● Never leave children or disabled people
alone in the car. They could be trapped in the
car in an emergency and will not be able to
get themselves to safety. For example, de-
pending on the time of the year, tempera-
tures inside a locked and closed vehicle can
be extremely high or extremely low resulting
in serious injuries and illness or even death,
particularly for young children. CAUTION
● Special care should be taken when parking
in areas with high kerbs or fixed barriers. Ob-
jects protruding from the ground may dam-
age the bumper or other parts of the vehicle
during manoeuvres. To avoid damage, stop
before the wheels touch the barrier or kerb.
● Special attention is required when driving
through entrances, over ramps, kerbs or oth-
er objects. The vehicle underbody, bumpers,
mudguards and running gear, and the engine
and exhaust system could be damaged as
you drive over these objects. Warning and control lamps
It lights
upPossible cause
››› Solution 
Handbrake ap-
plied.›››
page 90. 
Fault in the brake
system  Do not drive on!
Seek professional
advice ››› page 92.
Brake fluid level
inadequate.  Do not drive on!
Check brake fluid
level ››› page 153.
Together with the
ABS control lamp
: ABS and EBV
do not function. 
Do not drive on!
Seek professional
advice ››› page 92. 
ESC* disconnec-
ted by system.Switching the igni-
tion on and off If
necessary, drive for a
short distance.
Fault in ESC*.Contact a special-
ised workshop.
Together with the
ABS control lamp
: Fault in the
ABS.
Contact a special-
ised workshop. The
vehicle can be
braked without ABS.
The battery has
been reconnected.››› page 154. 
Traction Control
faulty or switched
off by the system.Contact a special-
ised workshop.»
89
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

OperationIt lights
upPossible cause
››› Solution 
Together with the
ESC* control lamp
: Fault in the
ABS.
Contact a special-
ised workshop. The
vehicle can be
braked without ABS.
Together with the
warning lamp :
ABS and EBV do
not function.  Do not drive on!
Seek professional
advice ››› page 92.
FlashesPossible causeSolution 
ESC* or ASR regu-
lating.Take your foot off the
accelerator. Adjust
your driving style to
the road conditions.

Traction Control
regulator operat-
ing.Take your foot off the
accelerator. Adjust
your driving style to
the road conditions.
Several warning and control lamps light up
for a few seconds 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
may 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-
sult 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 152,
Checking the brake fluid level.
● If the brake warning lamp  lights up to-
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
control! 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
appear may result in faults in the vehicle. Handbrake
Fig. 80
Between the front seats: handbrake. Using the handbrake
●
Pull firmly in an upwards direction on the
handbrake lever while pressing the button.
● The handbrake is applied when the control
lamp  lights up on the instrument panel
››› page 89 when the ignition is switched on.
R el

easing the handbrake
● Pull gently in an upwards direction on the
handbrake lever and press the lock button
››› Fig. 80 (arrow).
● Mov

e the handbrake lever downwards
keeping the lock button pressed. WARNING
The incorrect use of the handbrake may result
in a serious accident. 90

Advice
and from the parking distance warning sys-
tem sensors. The sensors of the parking dis-
tance warning system are situated on the rear
bumper ››› .
Do not use a nozzle that sprays the water out
in a direct stream
or one th
at has a rotating
jet for forcing off dirt ››› .
WARNING
The incorrect use of high pressure cleaning
equipment could result in permanent dam-
age, visible or invisible, to the tyres or other
materials. This could result in a serious acci-
dent.
● Ensure there is a suitable distance between
the nozzle and the tyres.
● Never wash tyres with a concentrated jet or
so-called “dirt blasters”. Even at large spray-
ing distances and short cleaning times, you
may damage the tyres. WARNING
After the vehicle has been washed, the brak-
ing effect 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
carefully. Ensure that you are not endanger-
ing other road-users or breaking traffic regu-
lations in the process. CAUTION
● The temperature of the water must not be
above +60 °C (+140 °F).
● To avoid damage to the paintwork, do not
wash the vehicle in full sun.
● To ensure that the system functions well,
the sensors located on the bumper must be
kept clean and free from ice. When cleaning
with pressure hoses and steam cleaners, the
sensors should be sprayed only briefly. A dis-
tance of 10 cm between the sensors and the
steam / hose nozzle must be observed.
● Do not use a high pressure cleaner to re-
move ice or snow from windows
● Washing the vehicle in low temperatures:
When washing 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! Cleaning windows and exterior
mirrors
Cleaning windows and exterior mirrors
Spray windows and exterior windows with a
standard window cleaner containing alcohol.
Dry the windows with a clean chamois leath-
er or a lint-free cloth. The chamois leathers
used on painted surfaces are not suitable for
cleaning windows because they are soiledwith wax deposits which could smear the
windows.
Use window cleaner or a silicone remover to
clean rubber, oil, grease and silicone depos-
its off
››› .
Removing wax deposits
Automatic car washes and certain car care
products may leave wax deposits on the win-
dows. These deposits can only be removed
with a special product or cleaning cloths. If
wax deposits are left on the windscreen and
the rear window, the blades can scratch the
glass. SEAT recommends you wipe the wax
deposits off the windscreen and the rear win-
dow with a soft cloth each time after you
have washed the vehicle.
A window cleaning detergent which helps to
dissolve the wax may be added to the wind-
screen washer fluid to prevent the wiper
blades from scratching the windscreen.
Please ensure you add the cleaning product
in the correct proportions. Products for re-
moving grease do not eliminate the wax de-
posits ››› .
Special cleaning products or window cloths
are available at any technical service. To re-
move wax deposits, SEAT recommends the
following products:
128

Checking and refilling levels
parts of the engine. Before any work, re-
move ties and jewellery (necklaces, etc),
tie long hair back and tie all items of
loose clothing to your body to make sure
that they cannot be trapped by engine
components.
– Take extreme caution when operating the
accelerator and remain attentive. The ve-
hicle could move, even if the handbrake
is applied.
● Always make sure you have not left any ob-
jects, such as cleaning cloths and tools, in
the engine compartment. If any object is left
in the engine compartment, this could cause
malfunctions, engine faults and even a fire. WARNING
Refill liquids and certain materials can catch
fire easily in the engine compartment, caus-
ing a fire and serious injury!
● Never smoke.
● Never work close to places exposed to
flames or sparks.
● Never pour service fluids over the engine.
These fluid may ignite hot engine parts and
cause injuries.
● If it is necessary to work on the fuel system
or the electrical system, please follow the in-
structions below:
–Always disconnect the vehicle battery.
– Never work close to heaters, heat sources
or places exposed to flames or sparks. ●
Always keep a recently serviced and per-
fectly working fire extinguisher close by.
● Never cover the engine with additional in-
sulating materials such as a blanket. Risk of
fire! CAUTION
When refilling or changing service liquids,
ensure that you put the liquids into the right
tank. Making a mistake when refilling could
cause serious malfunctions and damage the
engine! For the sake of the environment
Service fluids leaks are harmful to the envi-
ronment. For this reason you should make
regular checks on the ground underneath
your vehicle. Take the vehicle to a specialised
workshop to be checked if you see stains, oil
or other fluids on the ground. Collect any
spilt service fluids and allow a professional to
dispose of them. Opening and closing the bonnet
Fig. 105
A: Release lever in the footwell on
the driver side B: Release lever on the bonnet » 145Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Advice
Topping up the engine coolant level
● Always protect your face, hands and arms
from hot coolant and steam using a large,
thick cloth over the coolant expansion tank
cap.
● Remove the cap very carefully ››› .
● Only refill using new engine coolant ac-
c or
ding to SEAT specifications ( ››› page 150)
››› .
● The engine coolant level should be be-
tween the marks on the coolant expansion
tank ››› Fig. 109 .
Do not exceed the top level
of

the marked area ››› .
● Screw on the cap tightly.
● If, in the event of an emergency, you have
no coolant that is compliant to the required
specifications ( ››› page 150), do not use an-
other type of additive. Instead, top up with
distilled water only
›
›› . Then re-establish
the correct proportion of the mixture with the
correct additive as soon as possible
››› page 150 . WARNING
Hot vapours and coolant can cause serious
burns.
● Never open the coolant expansion tank if
steam or coolant is coming from the engine
compartment. Wait until you cannot see or
hear any steam or coolant escaping. ●
Always wait until the engine has complete-
ly cooled before very carefully opening the
expansion tank cap. Contact with hot ele-
ments of the engine can cause skin burns.
● When the engine is warm or hot, the cool-
ing system is pressurised. Do not unscrew
the cap on the expansion tank when the en-
gine is hot. Otherwise, coolant may spray out
under pressure causing burns and serious in-
jury.
– Carefully and slowly unscrew the cap an-
ti-clockwise, gently pressing down on it.
– Always protect your face, hands and arms
from hot coolant and steam using a large,
thick cloth.
● When refilling 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. CAUTION
● Top up with distilled water only. Any other
type of water may lead to considerable rust-
ing in the engine due to its chemical compo-
nents. This could consequently damage the
engine. If you have not used distilled water
but another type of water to top up the cool-
ant, a specialised workshop must immediate-
ly replace all of the fluid in the engine cooling
system.
● Only top up coolant to the top level of the
marked area ››› Fig. 109. Otherwise the ex- cess coolant will be forced out of the cooling
system when the engine is hot, causing dam-
age.
● If a lot of liquid coolant has been lost, wait
for the engine to 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 or changing service liquids,
ensure that you put the liquids into the right
tank. Making a mistake when refilling could
cause serious malfunctions and damage the
engine! Brake fluid
Checking the brake fluid level Fig. 111
In the engine compartment: brake
fluid reservoir, lid 152

Checking and refilling levels
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
››› .
Brake fluid specifications
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 br ak
e fluid is used for different rea-
sons, use a brake fluid that complies with the
United States standard FMVSS 116 DOT 4 or
the German standard DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4
››› .
Brake fluids conforming to the standard
VW 501 14, fulfil the American requirements
of the FMVSS 116 DOT 4 standard and the
German DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 standard. However, fluids that comply with the Ameri-
can FMVSS 116 DOT 4 standard or the Ger-
man DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 standard do not
necessarily comply with the VW 501 14
standard. Always check the information on
the brake fluid container and ensure that you
are using suitable brake fluid.
A suitable brake fluid can be obtained from
SEAT dealerships.
Brake fluid level
The level of the brake fluid should always be
between the MIN and MAX marks, or above
the MIN mark
››› .
It is not always possible to check the level of
the brake fluid, as in some models the en-
gine components make it difficult to see the
brake fluid reservoir. If you cannot read the
exact brake fluid level, consult a specialist.
The brake fluid level drops slightly when the
vehicle is being used due to wear of the
brake pads and the automatic readjustment
of the brake.
Changing the brake fluid
The brake fluid should be changed in accord-
ance with the instructions given in the Main-
tenance Programme. Have the brake fluid
changed by a specialised workshop. SEAT
recommends taking your car in for technical
service. This means that only brake fluid complying with the required specifications
will be used. WARNING
If the brake fluid level is low or unsuita-
ble/old brake fluid is used, the brake system
may fail or braking power may be reduced.
● Check the brake system and the brake fluid
level regularly!
● The brake fluid should be changed regular-
ly in accordance with the instructions given
in the Maintenance Programme.
● When the brake fluid is used and brakes
are subjected to extreme braking forces, bub-
bles of vapour form in the brake system.
These bubbles can significantly reduce brak-
ing power, notably increasing braking dis-
tance, and could result in the total failure of
the brake system.
● Always ensure that you use suitable brake
fluid. Only used brake fluid that conforms to
the VW 501 14 standard, FMVSS 116 DOT 4
standard or even the DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4
standard. Other types of brake fluid could af-
fect brake operation and reduce braking pow-
er. Do not use a brake fluid if the container
does not specify compliance with the
VW 501 14, FMVSS 116 DOT 4 or
DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 standards.
● The replacement brake fluid must be new. WARNING
Brake fluid is poisonous. » 153
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Advice
●
To reduce the risk of poisoning, do not keep
brake fluid in drinks bottles/containers or
similar. Other people could drink from these
recipients even if the contents are clearly
marked.
● Always keep brake fluid in the original con-
tainer; keep it correctly sealed and out of
reach of children. CAUTION
Brake fluid damages the vehicle paintwork.
Wipe off any brake fluid from the paintwork
immediately. For the sake of the environment
Brake fluid is an environmental pollutant.
Collect any spilt service fluids and allow a
professional to dispose of them. Checking and topping up the
windscreen washer reservoir with
water
Fig. 112
In the engine compartment: wind-
screen washer reservoir top Check the water level in the windscreen
washer reservoir regularly and top up as re-
quired.
● Open the bonnet  ››› page 143.
● The washer reservoir is marked with the
symbol  on the lid ››› Fig. 112 .
● Chec k
there is enough water in the reser-
voir.
● To top up, mix water with a window cleaner
recommended by SEAT ››› . Please follow
the instructions for use found on the packag-
ing.
● In cold weather, a special antifreeze should
also be added to prevent the water from
freezing ››› .Reservoir capacity
The washer bottle capacity is approximately 3
litres.
WARNING
Never mix an unsuitable antifreeze or other
similar additives with the windscreen washer
water. A greasy layer may be formed on the
windscreen which will impair visibility.
● Use clean water with a window cleaner rec-
ommended by SEAT.
● If necessary, add a suitable antifreeze to
the water in the reservoir. CAUTION
● Do not mix cleaning products recommen-
ded by SEAT with other products. This could
lead to flocculation and may block the wind-
screen washer jets.
● When topping up service fluids, make abso-
lutely certain that you fill the fluids into the
correct reservoirs. Using the wrong fluids
could cause serious malfunctions and engine
damage! Vehicle battery
Introduction The battery is a component of the vehicle's
electrical system.
154