cooling Seat Altea 2006 Owner's Manual

Cockpit
58Stop the car and switch off the engine. Check the coolant level
⇒ page 211 ⇒ .
Even if the coolant level is correct do not continue driving. You should obtain
technical assistance.
WARNING
When working in the engine compartment, always bear in mind the safety
warnings ⇒ page 203.
Caution
Accessories in front of the air inlet reduce the cooling effect of the coolant. At
high outside temperatures and high engine loads, there is a risk of the
engine overheating.Rev counter
The rev. counter displays the engine speed in revolutions per
minute.The start of the red zone on the dial ⇒page 56, fig. 33 indicates the
maximum engine speed which may be used briefly when the engine is warm
and after it has been run in properly. However, it is advisable to change up a
gear or move the selector lever to D (or l ift your foot off the accelerator) before
the needle reaches the red zone.
Caution
The rev counter needle must never enter the red zone on the scale. Risk of
engine damage.
For the sake of the environment
Changing up a gear early will help you to save fuel and minimise engine
noise.Setting the digital clock*
The digital clock is located in the instrument panel display.– Turn the setting knob ⇒page 56, fig. 33 anti-clockwise to
the stop to set the hour. If the kn ob is turned briefly anti-clock-
wise the clock will advance one hour further.
– Turn the setting knob clockwise to the limit stop to set the minutes. If the knob is turned briefly clockwise the clock will
advance one minute further.
A4
A5
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Air conditioning149
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Climatic*Control switchesThe climatic or semi-automatic air conditioning system only works
when the engine is running and the turbine is switched on.
– Using the controls ⇒fig. 122 and and the control you
can set the temperature, air distribution and the air flow.
– To switch a function on or off, press the appropriate button , or . When the function is activated, the display window in
the lower left of the button is lit.
Temperature selector ⇒page 150
Button – cooling system on/off ⇒page 150 Button – Rear window heating. The heating will be switched off auto-
matically approximately
20 minutes after switching on. It can also be
switched off beforehand by pushing the button.
Button – Air recirculation mode ⇒page 151
Air distribution control ⇒page 150
Blower switch. There are four speed settings for the air flow. The air flow
should always be set at the lowe st speed when driving slowly.
WARNING
For road safety all windows must be clear of ice, snow, and condensation.
This is essential to ensure good visibility. Please familiarize yourself with
the correct operation of the heating and ventilation system, including the
anti-fog/defrost functions for the windows.
Fig. 122 On the dash panel: Climatic controls
A1
A5
A6A2
A3
A4
A1A2
AC
A3

A4

A5A6
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Air conditioning
150
NotePlease observe the general notes ⇒page 156.Heating and cooling the interiorHeating of the vehicle interior
– Turn the temperature selector ⇒fig. 123 clockwise to select
the required temperature.
– Turn the blower switch to one of the settings 1-4.
– Use the air distribution control to guide the flow of air in the required direction: (to the windscreen), (to the upper
body), (to the foot well) and (to the windscreen and to the
foot well). Cooling the passenger compartment
– Switch on the air conditioner using the button
⇒page 149,
fig. 122 .
– Turn the temperature selector anti-clockwise until the desired cooling output is reached.
– Turn the blower switch to one of the settings 1-4.
Fig. 123 On the dash panel: Climatic controls
A1




AC
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Air conditioning
152Air recirculation mode ⇒page 151, fig. 124 prevents strong odours in
the outside air from entering the vehicle interior, for example when passing
through a tunnel or in queuing traffic.
With low ambient temperatures, the air recirculation increases the effective-
ness of the heating system by heating the air inside the passenger compart-
ment rather than the ambient air.
With high ambient temperatures, the air recirculation increases the effective-
ness of the air cooling system by cooling the air inside the passenger
compartment rather than the ambient air. For reasons of safety, air recirculation is
not possible when the control for air
distribution is set to the windscreen setting
.
WARNING
In air recirculation mode, no ambient air enters the vehicle interior. If the
air conditioning system is switched off, the windows can quickly mist over.
Therefore, you should never leave the air recirculation mode switched on
for longer periods, as this increases the risk of an accident.
2C-Climatronic*Control switches
The controls allow separate adjustment of air conditioning settings for the left and right.

Fig. 125 On the dash panel: 2C Climatronic controls
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Air conditioning153
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
The air conditioning system only works when the engine is running
and the blower is switched on.
– Press the temperature control buttons ⇒page 152, fig. 125
or in order to adjust the temperature on the left hand side or
the right hand side respectively.
– The functions will be switched on when the buttons are pressed. When these functions are activated, they are indicated in the
display. Also, the de-icing and re ar heated window functions will
turn on along with their corres ponding yellow symbol. Press the
button again to switch off the function.The temperature can be adjusted separately for the left and right sides of the
vehicle interior.
Display of the selected interior temperature for the left side.
Button – Manual air recirculation mode
Button – Central air distribution
Button – Downward air distribution
Button – Upward air distribution
Display of the selected interior temperature for the right side.
Button – defrost function for the windscreen. The air drawn in from
outside the vehicle is directed at the windscreen. The air recirculation
mode, if switched on, will be switched off as soon as the defrost function
is switched on. At temperatures over 3° C, the air conditioning system
will be switched on automatically and the blower speed will be increased
by one level in order to dry the air. The button lights up yellow and the
symbol appears in the display.
Button – Rear window heating. The heating will be switched off auto-
matically approximately 20 minutes after switching on. However, it may
be turned off by pushing the button. The button lights up yellow and the
symbol appears in the display.
Temperature selector for the left side ⇒page 153 Blower control
⇒page 154
Button – Switches the 2C-Climatronic on and off ⇒page 154
Button – Automatic temperature, ventilation and air distribution
control ⇒page 153
Button – Switches cooling system off
Temperature selector for the right side ⇒page 153
WARNING
For road safety all windows must be clear of ice, snow, and condensation.
This is essential to ensure good visibility. Please familiarize yourself with
the correct operation of the heating and ventilation system, including the
anti-fog/defrost functions for the windows.
Note
Please observe the general notes ⇒page 156.Automatic mode
In automatic mode air temperatur e, air flow and distribution
are automatically regulated so that a specified temperature is
attained as quickly as possible and then maintained.The temperature can be adjusted separately for the left and right
sides of the vehicle interior.
Switching on automatic mode
– Press the button ⇒page 152, fig. 125 .“AUTO” is shown
on the display.
A9
A14
A1A2

A3

A4

A5

A6A7

A8

A9
A10A11
OFF
A12
AUTO
A13
ECON
A14
AUTO
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Air conditioning155
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Temperature
There are separate temperature selectors for the left and right sides of the
vehicle interior. The selected temperature is displayed above the selector. It
is possible to select interior temper
atures from +16° C (61° F) to +29.5° C
(86° F). These are approximate temperat ures and the actual temperature may
be slightly higher or lower depending on the ambient conditions.
If a temperature below 16° C (61° F) is selected, the display switches to LO. In
this setting the system runs at maximum cooling output and the temperature
is not regulated.
If a temperature above 29.5 °C (86 °F) is selected the display switches to HI.
In this setting the system runs at maximum heating output and the tempera-
ture is not regulated.
Blower
The air flow may be adjusted freely using the control . Always have the
blower running at a low setting to ensure a constant flow of fresh air into the
vehicle. Pushing the button
 to the minimum -1, tu rns the Climatronic off.
Air distribution
The air distribution is adjusted using the buttons , and . Also, it is
also possible to open and close some of the air vents separately.
Switching the cooling system on and off
Pressing the button switches off the cooling system to save fuel. The
temperature continues to be regulated. The set temperature can then only be
reached if it is higher than the ambient temperature.
Air recirculation mode
Air recirculation mode prevents fumes or unpleasant smells
from entering the vehicle.– Press the button ⇒page 154, fig. 126 to switch air recir-
culation mode on or off. It is switched on if the following symbol
appears in the display

.
Air recirculation mode prevents strong odours in the ambient air from
entering the vehicle interior, for example when passing through a tunnel or in
queuing traffic.
With low ambient temperatures, the air recirculation increases the effective-
ness of the heating system by heating the air inside the passenger compart-
ment rather than the ambient air.
With high ambient temperatures, the air recirculation increases the effective-
ness of the air cooling system by cooling the air inside the passenger
compartment rather than the ambient air.
For reasons of safety, air recirculation is not possible when the control for air
distribution is set to the windscreen setting
.
WARNING
In air recirculation mode, no ambient air enters the vehicle interior. If the
air conditioning system is switched off, the windows can quickly mist over.
Therefore, you should never leave the air recirculation mode switched on
for longer periods, as this increases the risk of an accident.
A10



ECON

A2
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Air conditioning
156General notesThe pollution filter
The pollution filter (a combined particle filter and active carbon filter) serves
as a barrier against impurities in the ambient air, including dust and pollen.
For the air conditioning system to work with maximum efficiency, the pollu-
tion filter must be replaced at the intervals specified in the Service Schedule.
If the filter loses efficiency prematurely due to use in areas with very high
levels of air pollution, the pollution filter must be changed more frequently
than stated in the Service Schedule.
Caution
•
If you suspect that the air conditioner is damaged, switch off the air condi-
tioner with button to prevent further damage and have it checked by a
qualified workshop.
•
Repairs to the air conditioning system require specialist knowledge and
special tools. Therefore, we recommend that you take the vehicle to a quali-
fied workshop should problems occur.Note
•
If the humidity and temperature outside the vehicle are high, condensa-
tion can drip off the evaporator in the cooling system and form a pool under-
neath the vehicle, this is completely normal and there is no need to suspect
a leak.
•
Keep the air intake slots in front of the windscreen free of snow, ice and
leaves to ensure heating and cooling is not impaired, and to prevent the
windows misting over.
•
The air from the vents flows through the passenger compartment and is
extracted by slots designed for this purpose. Do not cover these slots with
articles of clothing or other objects.
•
The air conditioning system operates most effectively with the windows
and the sliding/tilting roof* closed. Howe ver, if the sun has heated up the
vehicle, the air inside can be cooled more quickly by opening the windows for
a short period.
•
Do not smoke while air recirculation mode is on, as smoke drawn into the
air conditioning system leaves a r esidue on the evaporator, producing a
permanent unpleasant odour.
ECON
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Accessories, parts replacement and modifications199
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
If a towing bracket is to be fitted after the vehicle is purchased, this must be
completed according to the instructions of the towing bracket manufacturer.
The attachment points for the towing bracket are underneath the vehicle.
The distance between the centre of th
e ball coupling and the ground should
never be lower than the measurement indicated when the vehicle is fully
loaded including the maximum resting weight.
Measurement for securin g the towing bracket:
65 mm (minimum)
350 mm to 420 mm (fully laden vehicle)
357 mm
569 mm
875 mm
1,040 mm
Fitting a towing bracket
•
Driving with a trailer means additional strain for the vehicle. For this
reason, before fitting a trailer system, refe r to the Technical Service to find out
if the vehicle cooling system should be adjusted.
•
Observe the legal requirements in yo ur country (e.g. the fitting of a sepa-
rate warning lamp).
•
Certain vehicle componen ts, e.g. the rear bumper must be removed and
reinstalled. The towing bracket securi ng bolts must be tightened using a
torque wrench, and an electrical sock et must be used to connect to the
vehicle's electrical system. This requires specialist knowledge and tools.
•
The illustration show the dimensions and attachment points which must
be observed if you are retrofitting a towing bracket.
WARNING
Towing brackets should be fitted by specialists.
•
If the towing bracket is incorrectly installed, there is serious danger of
an accident.
•
For your own safety, please observe the instructions provided by the
manufacturer of the towing bracket.Caution
•
If the electrical socket is incorrectly installed, this could cause damage to
the vehicle's electrical system.
AA
ABACADAEAFAG
WARNING (continued)
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Checking and refilling levels
204
WARNING
All work on the engine or in the engine compartment, e.g. checking and
refilling fluids, involves the danger of injury and scalding as well as the risk
of accident or fire.•
Never open the bonnet if you see steam, smoke or coolant escaping
from the engine compartment. Otherwise, there is a risk of sustaining
burns. Wait until no more steam or coolant is emitted, then allow the
engine to cool before carefully opening the bonnet.
•
Switch off the engine and remove the key from the ignition.
•
Apply the handbrake and move the gea r stick to neutral or selector
lever to position P.
•
Keep children away from the vehicle.
•
Never touch hot engine parts. This is a risk of burns.
•
Never spill liquids on a hot engine or on a hot exhaust gas system. This
is a fire hazard.
•
Avoid causing short-circuits in the electrical system, particularly at the
points where the jump leads are attached ⇒page 252. The battery could
explode.
•
Never touch the radiator fan. It is temperature controlled and could
start automatically, even when the engine has been switched off and the
key removed from the ignition!
•
Do not unscrew the cap on the expansion tank when the engine is hot.
If the coolant is hot, the cooling system will be pressurised!
•
Protect face, hands and arms by covering the cap with a large, thick
cloth to protect against escaping coolant and steam.
•
Always make sure you have not left any objects, such as cleaning cloths
and tools, in the engine compartment.
•
If you have to work underneath the vehicle, you must use suitable
stands additionally to support the vehicle, risk of accident!. A hydraulic
jack is insufficient for securing the vehicle and there is a risk of injury.
•
If any work has to be performed when the engine is started or with the
engine running, there is an additional, potentially fatal, safety risk from the
rotating parts, such as the drive belt s, alternator, radiator fan, etc., and
from the high-voltage ignition system. You should also observe the
following points:
−Never touch the electrical wiring of the ignition system.
− Ensure that jewellery, loose clothing and long hair do not get
trapped in rotating engine parts. Danger of death. Before starting any
work remove jewellery, tie back and cover hair, and wear tight-fitting
clothes.
− Always think carefully about pressing the accelerator if a gear is
engaged in either an automatic or manual gearbox. The vehicle could
move, even if the handbrake is applied. Danger of death.
•
If work has to be carried out on the fuel system or on electrical compo-
nents, you must observe the following safety notes in addition to the above
warnings:
−Always disconnect the battery. The vehicle must be unlocked when
this is done, otherwise the alarm will be triggered.
− Do not smoke.
− Never work near naked flames.
− Always have a fire extinguisher on hand.Caution
When changing or topping up service fluids, make absolutely certain that you
fill the fluids into the correct reservoirs. Failure to observe this point will result
in serious malfunctions and engine damage!
WARNING (continued)
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Checking and refilling levels211
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
CoolantCoolant specifications
Coolant is a mixture of water and at least 40% coolant addi-
tive.The cooling system must be filled with a mixture of water and at least 40 % of
our coolant additive G 12+ or an additive with the specification TT-VW 774 F
(it is dyed purple). This mixture gives the necessary frost protection down to
-25
°C and protects the alloy parts of the cooling system against corrosion. It
also prevents scaling and raises the boiling point of the coolant.
The concentration of coolant must always be at least 40% - even if frost
protection is not required.
If greater frost protection is required in very cold climates, the proportion of
the antifreeze additive G 12+ can be increased. However, the percentage of
coolant additives should not exceed 60%, as this would reduce the frost
protection. It would also reduce the cooling effect. A mixture with 60%
coolant additive will give frost protection to approx. -40
°C.
WARNING
•
The coolant additive is toxic. This represents a toxic danger. Always
keep the coolant additive in the original container which should be stored
out of the reach of children. The same applies to coolant which you have
drained off.
•
The coolant additive G 12+ must be added in sufficient quantities to
provide anti-freeze protection at the coldest ambient temperatures that
can be expected. At extremely cold ambient temperatures, the coolant
could freeze, causing the vehicle to br eakdown. As the heater would also
not work in this situation, there is a risk of suffering exposure!
Caution
•
Other additives may give considerably inferior corrosion protection. The
resulting corrosion in the cooling system can lead to a loss of coolant,
causing serious damage to the engine.
•
The coolant additive G 12+ (purple) can be mixed with the additive G 12
(red) or G 11. Never mix G12 (red colour) with G 11.
Checking the coolant level and topping up

The correct coolant level is important for fault-free func-
tioning of the engine cooling system.Before opening the bonnet, read and observe the warnings ⇒ in
“Safety instructions on working in the engine compartment” on
page 203 .
Fig. 156 In the engine
compartment: Coolant
expansion tank cap
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