roof Seat Altea 2011 User Guide

Lights and visibility127
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
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 from discharging.Interior front light, type 2 The switch ⇒fig. 80 is used to select the following positions:
Courtesy light position
o
Rocker switch in flat position (not activated). The interior lights are automat-
ically switched on when the vehicle is unlocked or the key removed from the
ignition. And turn off approx. 20 seconds after closing 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 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 from discharging.
Fig. 80 Interior roof trim:
front interior lights
AA
Altea_EN.book Seite 127 Donnerstag, 2. September 2010 2:00 14

Lights and visibility
128Front reading lights Switching on the reading light

Press the corresponding button ⇒fig. 81 and ⇒fig. 82 to switch on
the reading light. Switching the reading lights off

Press the corresponding button to switch the reading light off.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
o
Turn the control to position . The interior lights are automatically switched
on when the vehicle is unlocked or the key removed from the ignition. 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
Altea_EN.book Seite 128 Donnerstag, 2. September 2010 2:00 14

Lights and visibility129
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
light turns off about 20 seconds after closing 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, 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 from 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 vanity mirrors in the sun visors have covers. When you open the cover ,
a lamp in the roof lights up.
The light* 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 off about 10 minutes following the removal of the igni-
tion key. This prevents the battery from discharging.
A5
Fig. 84 Sun visor on the
driver side
A1
A2
Altea_EN.book Seite 129 Donnerstag, 2. September 2010 2:00 14

Seats and storage compartments
146
WARNING
•The folding trays may not be folded down whilst the vehicle is in motion
and anyone is seated on the second row of seats. There is a risk on injury
during a sudden braking manoeuvre! The tray must therefore be closed and
properly secured whilst the vehicle is in motion.•Never place hot drinks in the cup holders. During normal or sudden
driving manoeuvres, sudden braking or an accident, the hot drink could be
spilled. Danger of scalding.Caution
When driving, do not leave open cans in the cup holders. The drink might be
spilt on braking, for example, and could damage the vehicle.Roof storage compartment*
There are four storage compartments in the roof
– Press the button on the cover to open these compartments ⇒fig. 105 . The cover will then open.
– To close the cover, press it up until it engages.
WARNING
Always keep the storage area cover closed while the vehicle is in motion to
reduce the risk of injury during a sudden braking manoeuvre or in the event
of an accident and to prevent any items from being thrown through the
vehicle interior.
Fig. 105 Roof storage
compartments
Altea_EN.book Seite 146 Donnerstag, 2. September 2010 2:00 14

Seats and storage compartments
148
– Use the fastening rings located on the side of the luggage compartment to attach the retaining net ⇒ page 147, fig. 108.
Note•Do not exceed the maximum authorised weight for the vehicle
⇒ page 291.Other storage areasOther storage areas can be found:•in the centre console,•in the door trims (front and rear),•in the side trims of the luggage compartment,•in the spare wheel recess in the luggage compartment (only on vehicles
with an optional anti-puncture kit*.
The clothes hooks are located on the rear roof handles.WARNING
•Do not store loose objects on the dash panel. These objects could be
flung through the passenger compartment when the vehicle is moving (e.g.
while accelerating, braking or cornering) and distract the driver. Risk of
accident.•Ensure that no objects can fall from the centre console or other storage
areas into the driver footwell while the vehicle is moving. In the event of a
sudden braking manoeuvre, you will not be able to use the brake, clutch or
accelerator. Risk of accident.•Clothing hung on the coat hooks must not restrict the driver’s view.
Risk of accident. The coat hooks are intended only for use with light arti- cles of clothing. Do not leave any hard, sharp or heavy objects in hanging
articles of clothing. During sudden br
aking manoeuvres or accidents, espe-
cially those involving airbag deployment, these objects could injure the
vehicle occupants.
Front drinks holdersIn the centre console, in front of the gear lever, there are two drink holders
⇒ fig. 109.
WARNING
•Never place hot drinks in the drink holders. During normal or sudden
driving manoeuvres, sudden braking or an accident, the hot drink could be
spilled. Danger of scalding.WARNING (continued)
Fig. 109 Front drink
holders
Altea_EN.book Seite 148 Donnerstag, 2. September 2010 2:00 14

Seats and storage compartments157
Safety First
Operating Instructions
Practical Tips
Technical Specifications
Rear shelfRemoving the shelf
– Unhook the loops ⇒fig. 123 from housings – Extract the cover from its slot, in its rest position and pull
outwards. The storage compartment should remain closed.
To remove the storage compartment
– Pull outwards until the compartment is freed from the pivot point ⇒fig. 124 .
WARNING
Do not place heavy or hard objects on the rear shelf, because they will
endanger the vehicle occupants in case of sudden braking.
Caution
•Before closing the tailgate, ensure that the rear shelf is correctly fitted.•An overloaded luggage compartment could mean that the rear shelf is not
correctly seated and it may be bent or damaged.•If the luggage compartment is overloaded, remove the tray.Note
•Ensure that, when placing items of clothing on the luggage compartment
cover, rear visibility is not reduced.•If the vehicle is fitted with a storage compartment*, it should only be used
to store the emergency triangles and light-weight articles.Roof rack*Please observe the following points if you intend to carry loads on the roof:•For safety reasons, only luggage racks and accessories approved by SEAT
should be used.
Fig. 123 Rear shelfFig. 124 Removing
storage compartment
AB
AA
Altea_EN.book Seite 157 Donnerstag, 2. September 2010 2:00 14

Seats and storage compartments
158•It is imperative to precisely follow the fitting instructions included for the
rack, taking special care when fitting the front bar in the holes designed for
this and the rear bar between the marks on the upper part of the rear door
frame while respecting the correct direction of travel indicated in the installa-
tion manual. Not following these instructions may damage the bodywork.•Pay special attention to the tightening torque of the attachment bolts and
check them following a short journey. If necessary, retighten the bolts and
check them at regular intervals.•Distribute the load evenly. A maximum load of 40 kg only is permitted for
each roof rack system support bar, the load must be distributed evenly along
the entire length. However, the maximum load permitted for the entire roof
(including the support system) of 75 kg must not be exceeded nor should the
total weight of the vehicle be exceeded. See the Technical Data section.•When transporting heavy or large objects on the roof, any change in the
normal vehicle behaviour due to a change in the centre of gravity or an
increased wind resistance must be taken into account. For this reason, a suit-
able speed and driving style must be used.•For those vehicles fitted with a sunroof*, ensure that it does not interfere
with the load on the roof rack system when opened.
Altea_EN.book Seite 158 Donnerstag, 2. September 2010 2:00 14

Air conditioning
170comfort for the vehicle occupants and prevents misting of the windows when
the ambient air humidity is high.
If the air conditioning system cannot be switched on this may be caused by
the following reasons:•The engine is not running.•The button is disconnected.•The outside temperature is below +3 °C.•The air conditioning system compressor has been temporarily switched
off because the engine coolant temperature is too high.•The air conditioner fuse is faulty.•Another fault in the vehicle. Have the air conditioner checked by a special-
ised workshop.Caution
•If you suspect that the air conditioner is damaged, switch it off with button to prevent further damage and have it checked by a specialised work-
shop.•Repairs to the air conditioner require specialist knowledge and special
tools. Therefore, we recommend you to take the vehicle to a specialised work-
shop.Note
•If the humidity and temperature outside the vehicle are high, condensa-
tion can drip off the evaporator in the cooling system and so forming a puddle
underneath 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 are not impaired, and to prevent the
windows from misting over.
•The air from the vents flows through the vehicle interior and is extracted
by slots designed for this purpose. Therefore, do not cover these slots with
items of clothing or other objects.•The air conditioner operates most effectively with the windows and the
sliding/tilting sunroof* closed. However, if the temperature inside the vehicle
is excessive because of the sun, the air inside can be cooled faster by opening
the windows for a short time.•Do not smoke while air recirculation mode is on, as smoke drawn into the
air conditioning system leaves a residue on the evaporator, producing a
permanent unpleasant odour.•It is advisable to connect the air conditioning at least once a month, to
lubricate the system gaskets and prevent leaks. If a decrease in the cooling
capacity is detected, an Authorised Service Centre should be consulted to
check the system.
AC
AC
Altea_EN.book Seite 170 Donnerstag, 2. September 2010 2:00 14

Driving and the environment
208Drive anticipating the traffic situation
A vehicle uses most fuel when accelerating. When you anticipate the situa-
tion, you have to brake less often and, thus, accelerate less. If it is possible,
let the vehicle roll with a gear engaged, for example, if you see a red light
ahead. The braking effect achieved in this way helps to reduce the wear of
brakes and tyres; emissions and fuel consumption are reduced to zero
(disconnection due to inertia).
Change gear early to save energy
An effective way of saving fuel is to change up quickly through the gears.
Running the engine at high rpm in the lower gears uses an unnecessary
amount of fuel.
Manual gearbox: Change from first to second gear as quickly as possible. We
recommend that, whenever possible, you change to a higher gear upon
reaching 2000 rpm. Follow the recommended gear indication that appears on
the instrument panel ⇒page 62.
Avoid driving at high speed
We advise you not to drive at the top speed permitted by the vehicle. Fuel
consumption, exhaust emissions and noise levels all increase very rapidly at
higher speeds. Driving at moderate speeds will help to save fuel.
Avoid idling
It is worthwhile switching off the engine when waiting in a traffic jam, at level
crossings or at traffic lights with a long red phase. The fuel saved after only
30 - 40seconds is greater than the amount of fuel needed to restart the
engine.
The engine takes a long time to warm up when it is idling. Mechanical wear
and pollutant emissions are also especially high during this initial warm-up
phase. It is therefore best to drive off immediately after starting the engine.
Avoid running the engine at high speed. Periodic maintenance
Periodic maintenance work guarantees that, before beginning a journey, you
will not consume more than the required amount of fuel. A well-serviced
engine gives you the benefit of
improved fuel efficiency as well as maximum
reliability and an enhanced resale value.
A badly serviced engine can consume up to 10% more fuel than necessary.
Avoid short journeys
To reduce the consumption and emission of polluting gases, the engine and
the exhaust filtration systems should reach the optimum service tempera-
ture .
With the engine cold, fuel consumption is proportionally higher. The engine
does not warm up and fuel consumption does not normalise until having
driven approximately four kilometres. This is why we recommend avoiding
short trips whenever possible.
Maintain the correct tyre pressures
Bear in mind that keeping the tyres at an adequate pressure saves fuel. If the
tyre pressure is just one bar too low, fuel consumption can increase by as
much as 5%. Due to the greater rolling resistance, under-inflation also
increases tyre wear and impairs handling.
The tyre pressures should always be checked when the tyres are cold.
Do not use winter tyres all year round as they increase fuel consumption by
up to 10%.
Avoid unnecessary weight
Every kilo of extra weight will put up the fuel consumption, so it is worth
checking the luggage compartment occasionally to make sure that no unnec-
essary loads are being transported.
A roof rack is often left in place for the sake of convenience, even when it is
no longer needed. At a speed of 100-120km/h your vehicle will use about
12% more fuel as a result of the extra wind resistance caused by the roof rack
even when it is not in use.
Altea_EN.book Seite 208 Donnerstag, 2. September 2010 2:00 14

Vehicle maintenance and cleaning
216Vehicle exterior maintenanceAutomatic car wash tunnel
The vehicle can normally be washed without problem in an
automatic car wash.The vehicle paintwork is so durable that the vehicle can normally be washed
without problems in an automatic car wash tunnel. However, the paintwork
wear depends to a large extent on the kind of the car wash tunnel, the
brushes used, its water filtering and the type of cleaning and preservative
products.
Before going through a vehicle wash, be sure to take the usual precautions
such as closing the windows and sunroof.
If the vehicle has special accessories such as spoilers or a roof rack or two-
way radio aerial, etc., it is advisable to consult the car wash tunnel operator.
After washing, the brakes could take some time to respond as the brake discs
and pads could be wet, or even frozen in winter. Dry the brakes by braking
several times.
WARNING
Water, ice and salt on the brakes can reduce braking efficiency. Risk of acci-
dent.
Caution
If an automatic car wash tunnel is used, before entering the tunnel, put the
aerial down parallel to the roof and do not tighten to avoid damage.
Washing by handVehicle washing
– First soften the dirt and rinse it off with water.
– Clean your vehicle from top to bottom with a soft sponge, a glove or a brush. Use very light pressure.
– Rinse the sponge or glove often with clean water.
– Special car shampoo should only be used for very stubborn dirt.
– Leave the wheels, sill panels etc. until last, using a different sponge or glove.
– Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with water.
– Dry the vehicle surface gently with a chamois leather.
–In cold temperature , dry the rubber seals and their surfaces to
prevent them from freezing. Apply silicone spray to the rubber
seals.
After washing the vehicle
– After washing, avoid sudden and sharp braking. Dry the brakes by braking several times ⇒page 205, “Braking capacity and
braking distance”.
WARNING
•Wash your vehicle with the ignition switched off.•Protect your hands and arms from cuts on sharp metal edges when
cleaning the underbody, the inside of the wheel housings etc. Risk of
injury.
Altea_EN.book Seite 216 Donnerstag, 2. September 2010 2:00 14