headlights Seat Altea 2012 Owner's Manual

76Cockpit
Lights and visibility menu
From this menu it is it possible to alter the vehicle lighting
settings.
Open Lights and visibility Menu
– Select the option Configuration from the main menu: “Main
menu” and press button OK

A ⇒ page 68 on the windscreen
wiper lever. or
– Press button 
or  on the multifunction steering wheel*
⇒ fig. 46 until the Configuration menu is displayed.
– Select the option Lights & visibil. from the menu and press but-
ton A
on the windscreen wiper lever.
Example of menu use ⇒ page 68
Displayed on the
screenFunction
Coming Home/
Leaving HomeThis option permits the adjustment of the time dur-
ing which the headlights remain lit after the vehicle
is locked, and also permits the function to be con-
nected and disconnected
Indicator conf.The convenience turn signal function can be activa-
ted or deactivated here. With the convenience
mode activated, the turn signal will blink at least
three times when turned on.
Factory settingsThe manufacturer's predefined values for the func-
tions of this menu are restored.
BackThis returns to the Configuration menu
Note
For electronic and vehicle equipment one or more of these menus will be
displayed. 

83
Cockpit
Turn signals  
The indicator lamp flashes when the turn signals are in op-
eration.
Depending on which turn signal is operating, either the left  or right 
turn signal lamp flashes. Both indicator lamps will flash at the same time
when the hazard warning lights are switched on.
If any of both turn signals fails, the indicator lamp will start flashing twice
faster than normal.
For further information on the turn signals, please see ⇒ page 123. 
Engine management* 
This warning lamp monitors the engine management sys-
tem for petrol engines.
The warning lamp  (Electronic Power Control) lights up when the ignition
is switched on to show that the lamp is working properly. It should go out
once the engine is started.
If there is a fault in the electronic engine management system while you are
driving, this warning lamp will light up. Stop the vehicle and seek technical
assistance. Glow plug system / engine fault

The warning lamp lights up to show that the glow plugs are
preheating. It flashes if there is an engine fault.
Warning lamp  is lit
The warning lamp  lights up while the glow plugs are preheating. When
the warning lamp goes off, the engine should be started straight away.
Warning lamp  flashes
If a fault develops in the engine management system while you are driving,
the glow plug lamp will flash . Take the vehicle to an Authorised Service
Centre as soon as possible and have the engine checked. 
Main beam headlights 
This warning lamp lights up when the main beams are on.
The warning lamp  is switched on once main beams are on or once the
headlight flasher is operating.
For further information see ⇒ page 123. 
Soot accumulation in the diesel engine particulate filter *

If the warning lamp  lights up you should help the filter clean itself by
driving in the appropriate manner. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

116Lights and visibility
Lights and visibility
Lights Switching lights on and off 
Fig. 73 Detailed view of
the dash panel: lights,
fog lights and rear fog
light switch
Switching on the side lights
– Turn the light switch ⇒ fig. 73 to position .
Switching on dipped beam headlights
– Turn the light switch to position .
Switching off the lights
– Turn the light switch to position 0. Switching on the fog lights*
–
Pull the switch out of position  or  to the first stop. The
symbol  in the light switch lights up.
Switching on the rear fog lights (vehicles with front fog lights)
– Pull the switch out of position  or  to the second stop ⇒ 
.
A warning lamp lights up in the instrument panel.
Switching on the rear fog lights (vehicles with no front fog lights)
– Pull the light switch from position  to the last stop. A warning
lamp lights up in the instrument panel.
WARNING
Never drive with just the side lights on. Risk of accident. The side lights
are not bright enough to illuminate the road ahead and to ensure that
other road users are able to see you. Always use your dipped beam head-
lights if it is dark or if visibility is poor.
Note
● The dipped beam headlights will only work with the ignition on. The side
lights come on automatically when the ignition is turned off.
● If the lights are left on after the key has been taken out of the ignition
lock, an acoustic warning will sound while the driver door remains open.
This is a reminder to switch the lights off.
● The rear fog light is so bright that it can dazzle drivers behind you. You
should use the rear fog light only when visibility is very poor. 

117
Lights and visibility
● If you are towing a trailer equipped with a rear fog light on a vehicle with
a factory-fitted towing bracket, the rear fog light on the vehicle will automat-
ically be switched off.
● The use of the lighting described here is subject to the relevant statutory
requirements.
● Depending on weather conditions (very cold or wet), the front and rear
lights and the indicators may be temporarily misted. This has no influence
on the useful life of the lighting system. The lights will soon demist when
they are switched on. 
Automatic lighting*
Fig. 74 Automatic light-
ing
Activation
– Rotate the switch to the position “Auto”, this indication will
light up.
Deactivation
– Turn the light switch to 0. Automatic lighting
If automatic headlight control is switched on, dipped beam headlights are
automatically switched on by a photosensor if you drive into a tunnel, for
example.
The rain sensor switches on the dipped beam headlights when the wind-
screen wipers have been operating continuously for a few seconds and it
switches the lights off when the continuous or intermittent wipe is switched
off for some minutes
⇒ page 130.
When the automatic dipped light control is connected but the dipped lights
are off, the warning lamp  lights up on the light control ⇒ fig. 74. If the
automatic control switches on the dipped lights, the instrument and control
lighting is also switched on.
WARNING
● Even if the automatic headlight control is switched on, the dipped
headlights will not be switched on with fog. Therefore, the dipped beam
must be switched on manually.
Note
● For those vehicles with the automatic headlight system, when the key is
removed from the ignition, the acoustic signal will only sound if the light
control is in the position  or  if the vehicle is not fitted with the coming
home function.
● If the daylight driving automatic light function is switched on, the fog
lights or rear fog light cannot be switched on in addition.
● The use of the lighting described here is subject to the relevant statutory
requirements.
● Do not put stickers on the windscreen in front of the sensor. This may
cause disruptions or faults in the automatic lighting system.
● To avoid damage to the tail lights, the lights mounted on the tailgate go
off when the tailgate is opened (depending on the country). 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

118Lights and visibility
Daytime lights*
The daytime light reduces the risk of accidents by increasing
the visibility of the vehicle. The daytime running lights are
enabled automatically when the ignition is switched on. It is
automatically switched off when the side lights are turned
on.
Daytime lights (halogen lamps) 1)
The daytime lights increase road safety in vehicles fitted with halogen
lamps. These include the dipped, side and number plate lights.
The daytime lights are switched on each time the ignition is turned on if the
light setting is in position 0 or . Depending upon the model, a control
lamp  on the light control switch or the lighting up of the instrument pan-
el will indicate that the daytime lighting is on.
It is not possible to switch the daytime lights on or off. Please contact a spe-
cialised workshop if you wish to deactivate the lights.
Daytime lights (bi-xenon lamps)
The daytime lights increase road safety in vehicles fitted with bi-xenon
lamps. The lights are built-in separately to the headlights and are switched
on each time the ignition is turned on if the light setting is in position 0 or
.
Automatic control of the dipped beam in combination with the daytime
lights (bi-xenon headlights)
If the dipped light control and the daytime lighting are activated at the
same time, the dipped lights and the instrument panel lighting will auto-
matically come on as required (e.g. on entering a tunnel) and the daytime
lights will go off. When the automatic dipped light control switches off the dipped lights (e.g. on coming out of the tunnel), the daytime lights come
back on.
Activating the daytime lights
With the ignition switched off, move the turn signal and main beam lever
upwards and back (right turn signal and headlight flash).
Switch on the ignition for 3 seconds while holding this position. The day-
time lights are activated and can be switched on.
Deactivating the daytime lights
With the ignition switched off, move the turn signal and main beam lever
upwards and back (left turn signal and headlight flash) and hold in this po-
sition.
Switch on the ignition for 3 seconds while holding this position. The day-
time lights are deactivated and cannot be switched on.
Activating daytime lights (bi-xenon lamps)
Remove the key from the ignition, move the turn signal lever upwards (right
turn signal) and press it backwards to flash position and hold it in this posi-
tion.
Insert the key and switch the ignition on, holding it in this position for 3
seconds. Then, switch off the ignition. The daytime lights are activated and
can be switched on.
Deactivating daytime lights (bi-xenon lamps)
Remove the key from the ignition, move the turn signal lever upwards (left
turn signal) and press it backwards to flash position and hold it in this posi-
tion.
Insert the key and switch the ignition on, holding it in this position for 3
seconds. Then, switch off the ignition. The daytime lights are deactivated
and cannot be switched on.

1)
It is only available in some countries or as an optional extra

119
Lights and visibility
Note
Please observe any relevant legal requirements which may apply in your
country. 
Coming home / leaving home function*
The Coming Home function is controlled manually. The Leav-
ing Home function is controlled with a photosensor.
If the Coming Home or Leaving Home function is connected, the front side
and dipped lights, the tail lights and the number plate light will light up to
provide assistance.
Coming home function
The Coming Home function is activated by switching off the ignition and
briefly flashing the lights. When the driver door is opened, the Coming
Home lighting comes on. If the driver door is already open when the lights
are flashed briefly, the Coming Home lighting comes on immediately.
When the last door of the vehicle or the tailgate is closed, the Coming Home
function starts and the switching off the headlights is delayed.
The Coming Home lighting switches off in the following cases:
● On completion of the time period established for the delay in switching
off the lights after all the vehicle doors and the tailgate have been closed.
● If, 30 seconds after being connected, any doors or the tailgate remain
open.
● If the light switch is turned to position .
● If the ignition is switched on.
Leaving home function
The Leaving Home function is activated when the vehicle is unlocked if: ●
the light control is in position  and
● the photosensor detects “darkness”.
The Leaving Home lighting switches off in the following cases:
● If the time period for the delay in switching off the headlights has ended
● If the vehicle is locked again.
● If the light switch is turned to position .
● If the ignition is switched on.
Note
The setting for the delay in switching off the headlights in the Coming Home
and Leaving Home function can be changed or the function can be connec-
ted or disconnected in the menu Lights and visibility ⇒ page 76.
● If the ignition key is removed while the lights are on, and the lights are
flashed briefly and the driver door opened, no acoustic signal is heard, as
when the Coming Home function is on, the lights are automatically switched
off after a period of time (except when the light switch is in position  or
. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

120Lights and visibility
Instrument and switch lighting / Headlight range control
Fig. 75 Dash panel: reg-
ulation for instrument
and switch illumination
and headlight range con-
trol
Instrument and switch lighting 1
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 1
.
The instrument lighting (dials and needles), the centre console illumination
and the illumination of the displays are regulated by a photodiode incorpo-
rated in the instrument panel.
The instrument lighting (dials and needles) is switched on when the igni-
tion is on and the vehicle lights are off . The instrument lighting is dimmed
automatically as the daylight starts to fade. It goes out completely when the
ambient light level is very low. This function is intended to remind the driver
to switch on the dipped beam headlights in good time when light condi-
tions become poor.
Headlight range control 2
By using the electrical headlight range control, 2 you can adjust the head-
light range to the load level that is being carried in the vehicle. This way, it is possible to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic more than necessary. At the
same time, by using the correct headlight settings, the driver has the best
possible lighting for the road ahead.
The headlights can only be adjusted when the dipped beam is switched on.
To lower the beam, turn the thumb wheel down
2
from the basic setting
0.
Dynamic headlight range control
Vehicles with gas discharge lamps (“xenon lamps”) are equipped with dy-
namic headlight range control . This means that the headlights will be ad-
justed to suit the load level of the vehicle and “nodding movements” when
pulling off and braking are automatically compensated for.
Vehicles with gas discharge bulbs do not have headlight range control. 
Adaptive headlights* (for driving round bends)
When driving around bends, the headlights will light the
most important areas of the road.
Fig. 76 Cornering light-
ing using adaptive head-
lights 

121
Lights and visibility
Dynamic cornering lights* (AFS)
The dynamic cornering lights only operate if the vehicle is travelling at more
than 10 km/h and the dipped headlights are on. When taking a bend, the
road is illuminated better with directional gas discharge bulbs than with
conventional fixed headlights.
A fault in the system is indicated via the flashing of the control lamp  on
the instrument panel. At the same time, a text message with information or
instructions to perform necessary operations may appear on the instrument
panel display. Take the vehicle to a specialised workshop and have the fault
repaired.
If the control bulb  lights up on the instrument panel but all the bulbs are
operating correctly ⇒ page 268, there may still be a fault in the dynamic
curve lighting system (AFS). Take the vehicle to a specialised workshop and
have the fault repaired.
WARNING
If the “automatic dipped beam control” is switched on, the dipped beam
headlights will not be switched on in fog. They should be switched on
manually using the light switch. The driver is personally responsible for
the correct use of lights in all situations. “Automatic headlight control”
is merely a system to support the driver. Where necessary, switch on the
lights manually using the light switch.

Fog lights with cornering function*
When the turn signal is switched on to turn or on very tight bends, the right
or left fog lamp automatically comes on to function as a cornering light. The
cornering light only operates if the dipped lights are on.
WARNING
If the “automatic dipped beam control” is switched on, the dipped beam
headlights will not be switched on in fog. They should be switched on
manually using the light switch. The driver is personally responsible for
the correct use of lights in all situations. “Automatic headlight control”
is merely a system to support the driver. Where necessary, switch on the
lights manually using the light switch.

Hazard warning lights 
The hazard warning lights are used to draw the attention of
other road users to your vehicle in emergencies.
Fig. 77 Dash panel:
switch for hazard warning
lights
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 ⇒ 
.
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

123
Lights and visibility
Turn signal and main beam headlight lever
The turn signal and main beam lever also operates the park-
ing lights and the headlight flasher.
Fig. 78 Turn signal and
main beam headlight lev-
er
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 1
to indicate right, and
all the way down 2 to indicate left.
Signalling a lane change
– Push the lever up 1
or down 2 to the point where you incur
resistance and then release it. The turn signal will flash several
times. The corresponding warning lamp will also flash. Switching main beam on and off
–
If the dipped lights are on, push the lever forward ⇒ fig. 78 3
to switch on the main beam.
– Push the lever towards the steering wheel ⇒ fig. 78 4
to switch
off the main beam.
Headlight flashers
– Pull the lever towards the steering wheel 4
to operate the
flasher.
Switching on parking lights
– Switch the ignition off and remove the key from the lock.
– Move the lever up or down to turn the right or left-hand parking
lights on, respectively.
WARNING
The main beam can dazzle other drivers. Risk of accident! Never use the
main beam headlights or the headlight 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 instrument panel. The warn-
ing 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 de-
fective, the warning lamp flashes at double speed. If the trailer turn signal
bulbs are damaged, warning lamp  does not light up. Change the bulb.
● 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 instru-
ment panel. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

131
Lights and visibility
Rear window wiper 
The windscreen wiper lever operates the windscreen wiper
and the wash and wipe system for the rear window.
Fig. 88 Windscreen wip-
er and windscreen wash
lever: rear window wiper
Switching on the interval wipe
– Press the lever forwards to position 6
⇒ fig. 88. The wiper will
wipe the window approximately every 6 seconds.
Switching off the interval wipe function
– Pull the lever back from position 6
towards the steering wheel.
The wiper will continue to function for a short period if you
switch off whilst the wipers are in motion.
Switching on the windscreen wiper and washer system
– Press the lever fully forwards to position 7
⇒ fig. 88. The wash
function will start immediately and the wiper will start with a
slight delay. The windscreen wash system will function as long
as you hold the lever in this position. –
Release the lever. The wiper then wipes for approximately 4 sec-
onds, and then in intervals again.
– Release the lever. The washer system stops and the wipers
function.
WARNING
● A worn or dirty wiper blade will obstruct visibility and reduce safety.
● Always note the corresponding warnings on ⇒ page 240.
CAUTION
In icy conditions, always check that the wiper blade is not frozen to the
glass before using the wiper for the first time. If you switch on the wiper
when the wiper blade is frozen to the glass, this could damage both the
wiper blade and the wiper motor.
Note
● The windscreen wiper will only function when the ignition is switched on
and the tailgate is closed.
● In reverse gear, with the windscreen wipers switched on, the rear wind-
screen wiper will make one wipe. 
Headlight washer*
The headlight washers clean the headlight lenses. The headlight washers are activated automatically when the windscreen
washer is used and the windscreen wiper lever is pulled towards the steer-
ing wheel for at least 1.5 seconds – provided the dipped beam headlights
or main beams are switched on. Clean off stubborn dirt (insects, etc.) from
the headlights at regular intervals, for instance when filling the fuel tank. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications