lights Seat Altea 2008 Owner's Guide

Lights and visibility
114Instrument and switch lighting / Headlight range controlInstrument and switch lighting
When the headlights are switched on, the brightness of the instruments and
switch lighting can be regulated to suit your requirements by turning the
thumb wheel ⇒fig. 75 .
Those vehicles fitted with xenon gas discharge headlights are fitted with an
automatic headlight range system.
Headlight range control
Using the electrical headlight range control, you can adjust the headlight
range to the load level that is being carried in the vehicle. In this way it is
possible to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic more than necessary. At the same
time, the driver has the best possible lighting for the road ahead using the
correct headlight settings.
The headlights can only be adjusted when the dipped beam is switched on.
To lower the beam, turn the thumb wheel down from the basic setting 0.Dynamic headlight range control
Vehicles with
gas discharge lamps (“xenon lamps”) are equipped with
dynamic headlight range control . This means that the headlights will be
adjusted to suit the load level of the vehicle and “nodding movements” when
pulling off and braking are automatically compensated for.
Vehicles with gas discharge lamps do not have headlight range control.
Self directional headlights*
When driving around bends the headlights will light the most
important areas of the road.This cornering light gives better illumi nation of the side of the road when
driving through a corner. The dynamic lighting is controlled automatically
according to speed and the steering wheel angle.
The two main headlights move at different angles to avoid that the front of the
vehicle is left comp letely in the dark.
Fig. 75 Instrument panel:
regulation for instrument
and switch illumination
and headlight range
control
A1
A1A2
A2A2
Fig. 76 Cornering
lighting using directional
headlights
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Lights and visibility115
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Note
The system operates from a speed of about 10 km/h.Hazard warning lights


The hazard warning lights are used to draw the attention of
other road users to your vehicle in emergencies.
If your vehicle breaks down:
1. Park your vehicle at a safe distance from moving traffic.
2. Press the button to switch on the hazard warning lights ⇒.
3. Switch the engine off.
4. Apply the handbrake. 5. On a manual gearbox engage 1st gear, and for an automatic
move the selector lever to P.
6. Use the warning triangle to draw the attention of other road users to your vehicle.
7. Always take the vehicle key with you when you leave the vehicle.
You should switch on the hazard warning lights to warn other road users, for
instance when:•
reaching the tail end of a traffic jam
•
there is an emergency
•
your vehicle breaks down due to a technical defect
•
you are towing another vehicle or your vehicle is being towed.
All turn signals flash simultaneously when the hazard warning lights are
switched on. That is that the two turn signal indicator lamps
  and the
indicator lamp in the switch
 will flash at the same time. The hazard
warning lights also work when the ignition is switched off.
Turning on the emergency indicators
The emergency indicators turn on automatically when braking sharply at a
speed of over 60km/h, or if the ABS works for a prolonged period, in order to
alert the vehicles behind. If you accelerate, or continue at over 40km/h, the
emergency indicators turn off automatically.
WARNING
•
The risk of an accident increases if your vehicle breaks down. Always
use the hazard warning lights and a wa rning triangle to draw the attention
of other road users to your stationary vehicle.
•
Never park where the catalytic converter could come into contact with
inflammable materials under the vehicle, for example dry grass or spilt
petrol. This could start a fire!
Fig. 77 Instrument panel:
switch for hazard warning
lights
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Lights and visibility
116
Note•
The battery will run down if the hazard warning lights are left on for a long
time, even if the ignition is switched off.
•
The use of the hazard warning lights de scribed here is subject to the rele-
vant statutory requirements.
Turn signal and main beam headlight lever
The turn signal and main beam lever also operates the
parking lights and the headlight flasher.The turn signal and main beam headlight lever has the following
functions: Switching on the turn signals
– Move the lever all the way up
⇒fig. 78 to indicate right , and
all the way down to indicate left.
Signalling a lane change
– Push the lever up or down to the point where you incur resistance and then release the lever. The turn signal will flash
several times. The corresponding warning lamp will also flash.
Switching main beam on and off
– Turn the light switch to position

.
–Press the lever forward ⇒ fig. 78 to switch on the main
beams.
– Pull the lever back towards you to switch the main beam head- lights off again.
Headlight flasher
– Pull the lever towards the steering wheel to operate the flasher.
Switching on parking lights
– Switch off the ignition and remove the key from the lock.
– Move the lever up or down to turn on the right or left-hand parking lights respectively.
Fig. 78 Turn signal and
main beam headlight
lever
A1
A2A1
A2A3
A4
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Lights and visibility117
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
WARNING
The main beam can dazzle other driver s. Risk of accident! Never use the
main beam headlights or the headli ght flasher if they could dazzle other
drivers.
Note
•
The turn signals only work when the ignition is switched on. The corre-
sponding warning lamp
 or  flashes in the combi-instrument. The
warning lamp
 flashes when the turn signals are operated, provided a
trailer is correctly attached and connected to the vehicle. If a turn signal bulb
is defective, the warning lamp flashes at double speed. If the trailer turn
signal bulbs are damaged, warning lamp
 does not light up. You should
have the bulb replaced.
•
The main beam headlights can only be switched on if the dipped beam
headlights are already on. The warning lamp
 then comes on in the combi-
instrument.
•
The headlight flasher comes on for as long as you pull the lever – even if
no other lights are switched on. The warning lamp
 then comes on in the
combi-instrument.
•
When the parking lights are switched on, the headlight and the rear light
on the corresponding side of the vehicle light up. The parking lights will only
work if the key is removed from the ignition. If the lights are switched on, a
buzzer gives an audible warning while the driver door is open.
•
If the turn signal lever is left on after the key has been taken out of the
ignition lock, an acoustic signal sounds when the driver door is opened. This
is a reminder to switch off the turn signal, unless of course you wish to leave
the parking light on.
Interior lightsInterior front light, type 1 The switch ⇒fig. 79 is used to select the following positions:
Courtesy light position

Rocker switch in flat position (not ac tivated). The interior lights are automat-
ically switched on when the vehicle is unlocked or the key removed from the
ignition lock and turn off about 20 seconds after the closure of the doors. The
interior lights are switched off when th e vehicle is locked or when the ignition
is switched on.
Interior light switched on

Push the switch to the position
.
Interior light switched off O
Push the switch to the position O ⇒fig. 79 .
Fig. 79 Interior roof trim:
front interior lights
AA
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Lights and visibility
118
NoteIf not all the vehicle doors are closed, th e interior lights will be switched off
after approx. 10 minutes, providing th e key has been removed and the cour-
tesy light position selected. This prevents the battery discharging.Interior front light, type 2 The switch ⇒fig. 80 is used to select the following positions:
Courtesy light position

Rocker switch in flat position (not ac tivated). The interior lights are automat-
ically switched on when the vehicle is unlocked or the key removed from the
ignition lock and turn off about 20 seconds after the closure of the doors. The
interior lights are switched off when the vehicle is locked or when the ignition
is switched on. Interior light switched on

Push the switch to the position
.
Interior light switched off O
Push the switch to the position O ⇒fig. 80.
Note
If not all the vehicle doors are closed, the interior lights will be switched off
after approx. 10 minutes, providing the key has been removed and the cour-
tesy light position selected. This prevents the battery discharging.
Fig. 80 Interior roof trim:
front interior lights
AA
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Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
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Front reading lights Switching on the reading light

Press the corresponding button ⇒fig. 81 and ⇒fig. 82 to switch on
the reading light. Switching off the reading lights

Press the corresponding button to switch off the reading light.Rear interior and reading lights* The switch
⇒fig. 83 is used to select the following positions:
Interior light switched off 0
In switch position ⇒fig. 83 , the interior and reading lights are switched
off.
Switching on the reading light

Turn the switch to position (left reading light) or to position (right
reading light).
Courtesy light position

Turn the control to position . The interior lights are automatically switched
on when the vehicle is unlocked or the key removed from the ignition lock The
Fig. 81 Interior roof trim:
front reading lights, type
1Fig. 82 Interior roof trim:
front reading lights, type
2
AB
AB
Fig. 83 Interior roof trim:
rear interior lights and
reading lights.
AC
A1A2
A4
A3
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Lights and visibility
120light turns off about 20 seconds after th e closure of the doors. The interior
lights are switched off when the vehicle is locked or when the ignition is
switched on.
Interior lights or both reading lights switched on

Turn the control to position .
Note
If not all the vehicle doors are closed, th e interior lights will be switched off
after approx. 10 minutes, providing th e key has been removed and the cour-
tesy light position selected. This prevents the battery discharging.VisibilitySun visors
The sun visors for the driver and the front passenger can be pulled out of their
mountings in the centre of the vehicle and turned towards the doors ⇒fig. 84
.
The make-up mirrors in the sun visors have covers. When you open the cover
, a lamp in the roof lights up.
The lamp* in the roof lining will go out when the vanity mirror cover is pushed
back or the sun visor is pushed back up.
Note
The roof lamp will turn of f about 10 minutes following the removal of the igni-
tion key. This prevents the battery discharging.
A5
Fig. 84 Sun visor on the
driver side
A1A2
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Lights and visibility121
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Windscreen washersFront windscreen wipers


The windscreen wiper lever controls the windscreen wipers
and the automatic wash and wipe.
The windscreen wiper lever ⇒fig. 85 has the following positions:
Switching off the wipers
– Move the lever to position .
Intermittent wipe
– Move the lever up to position . – Move the control to the left or right to set the length of the
intervals. Control to the left: long intervals; control to the right:
short intervals. Four wiper interval stages can be set using switch .
Slow wipe
– Move the lever up to position .
Continuous wipe
– Move the lever up to position .
Brief wipe
– Move the lever down to position to give the windscreen a brief
wipe. The wiper will start to move faster if you keep the lever
pressed down for longer than 2 seconds.
Wash and wipe automatic system

– Pull the lever towards the steering wheel - Position . The wash function will start immediately and the wipers will start with a
slight delay. The wash and wiper systems will function at the
same time at speeds of over 120 km/h.
– Release the lever. The wipers will keep running for approximately four seconds.Optional heated windscreen in the wiper blade* area (page
In some countries and with some versions, there is the possibility of heating
the windscreen in the area of the windscreen wiper blades in order to aid de-
icing in the zone.
This function is activated by turning the exterior heated rearview mirror*
control forwards ⇒page 126.
Fig. 85 Windscreen wiper
and windscreen wash
lever
A0A1
AA
AA
A2A3A4
A5
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Lights and visibility
122
WARNING
•
Worn and dirty wiper blades obstruct visibility and reduce safety levels.
•
In cold conditions, you should not use the wash / wipe system unless
you have warmed the windscreen with the heating and ventilation system.
The washer fluid could otherwise freeze on the windscreen and obscure
your view of the road.
•
Always note the corresponding warnings on ⇒page 222.Caution
In icy conditions, always check that the wiper blades are not frozen to the
glass before using the wipers for the first time. If you switch on the wipers
when the wiper blades are frozen to the windscreen, you could damage both
the wiper blades and the wiper motor.
Note
•
The windscreen wipers will only work when the ignition is switched on.
•
In certain versions of vehicles with alarms, the windscreen wiper will only
work when the ignition is on and the bonnet closed.
•
When in use, the wipers do not go as far as the rest position. When the
lever is moved to position 0, they are totally hidden.
•
The next speed down will automatically be selected if wiper speed
⇒ page 121, fig. 85 or is selected when the vehicle stops. The set speed
will be resumed when the vehicle starts again.
•
The windscreen will be wiped again after approximately five seconds once
the “automatic wipe/wash system” has been operated while the vehicle is in
transit (automatic function). If you activate the wipers less than three
seconds after the drip function, a new wash sequence will begin without the
last wipe. To reactivate the “automatic” function the ignition must be turned
off and on again.
•
When the “intermittent wipe function” is on, the intervals are directly
proportional to the speed. This way, the higher the vehicle speed the shorter
the intervals.
•
The wiper will try to wipe away any obstacles that are on the windscreen.
The wiper will stop moving if the obstacle blocks its path. Remove the
obstacle and switch the wiper back on again.
•
Before removing any objects that may be trapped in the side areas of the
windscreen, always move the wiper arms to the service position (horizontal).
•
The heat output of the heated jets is controlled automatically when the
ignition is switched on, depending upon the outside temperature.
A2
A3
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Lights and visibility123
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
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Rain sensor*
The rain sensor controls the frequency of the windscreen
wiper intervals, depending on the amount of rain.
Switching on the rain sensor
– Move the windscreen wiper lever into position ⇒fig. 87 .
– Move the control to the left or right to set the sensitivity of the rain sensor. Control to the right: highly sensitive. Control to the
left: less sensitive.The rain sensor is part of the interval wipe function. You will have to switch
the rain sensor back on if you switch off the ignition. This is done by switching
the wiper intermittent function off and back on.
Note
•
Do not put stickers on the windscreen in front of the sensor. This may
cause sensor disruption or faults.
Fig. 86 Rain sensor*Fig. 87 Windscreen wiper
lever
A1
AA
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