airbag Seat Altea 2015 Owner's Guide

Opening and closing
Automatic locking system for
involuntary unlocking* It is an anti-theft system and prevents the un-
intentional unlocking of the vehicle.
If the vehicle is unlocked and none of the
doors (including the boot) are opened within
30 seconds, it re-locks automatically. This
function prevents the vehicle from remaining
unlocked if the unlock button is pressed by
mistake.
Emergency unlocking system If the airbags are triggered during an acci-
dent, the vehicle is unlocked, except for the
luggage compartment. It is possible to lock
the vehicle from inside with the central lock-
ing, after turning the ignition off and back on
again.
If the doors must be locked from the outside,
see “Emergency locking of the doors”.
Unlocking and locking - Manual
personalisation Activating selective unlocking
With the driver door open, turn the key to un-
lock for approx. 3 seconds. Deactivating selective unlocking
With the driver door open, turn the key to
lock for approx. 3 seconds.
The turn signal lamps flash to confirm activa-
tion or deactivation.
Activation of automatic locking
Press the lock button
 on the central lock-
ing button for 3 seconds.
Deactivation of automatic locking
Press the unlock button  on the central
locking button for 3 seconds.
The lock button lamp flashes to confirm acti-
vation or deactivation.
Central lock button Fig. 47
Detailed view of the centre console:
central locking button. The central lock button allows you to lock and
unlock the vehicle from the inside.
Locking the vehicle
– Press the button 
››› .
Unlocking the doors
– Press button  .
The central lock button also works with the
ignition switched off, except when the “safe”
system is activated.
Please note the following if you lock your ve-
hicle with the central lock button: ● Locking the doors and rear lid prevents ac-
cess from the outside (for safety reasons, e.g.
when s t
opped at a traffic light).
● The driver door and/or front passenger
door cannot be locked if any of the vehicle
doors (except the boot) are open. This avoids
the user from forgetting his key inside the ve-
hicle.
● Repeated operation of the central locking
will deactivate the central lock button for 30
seconds. Once this time has passed, the but-
ton if operative again.
● There is a danger of leaving the key inside
the vehicle if the vehicle is locked by the cen-
tral locking button when the driver door is
closed and any of the rear doors open. On
closing any of the rear doors, the vehicle
locks and the keys remain inside it. »
65
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Operation
the rear of the vehicle. The right exterior
mirror will be adjusted at the same time
(sy nc
hronised). WARNING
● Convex or spherical mirrors increase the
field of vision however the objects appear
smaller and further away. If you use these
mirrors to estimate the distance to vehicles
behind you when changing lane, you could
make a mistake. Risk of accident.
● If possible, use the rear vision mirror to es-
timate distances to vehicles behind you.
● Make sure that you do not get your finger
trapped between the mirror and the mirror
base when folding back the mirrors. Risk of
injury! For the sake of the environment
The exterior mirror heating should be switch-
ed off when it is no longer needed. Other-
wise, it is an unnecessary fuel waste. Note
● If the electrical adjustment ever fails to op-
erate, the mirrors can be adjusted by hand by
lightly pressing the edge of the mirror glass.
● In vehicles with electric exterior mirrors,
the following points should be observed: if, due to an external force (e.g. being knocked
while manoeuvring), the adjustment of the
mirror housing is altered, the mirror will have
to be fully folded electrically. Do not readjust the rear vision mirror housing by hand, as
this will interfere with the mirror adjuster
function.
● The rear vision mirrors can be adjusted sep-
arately or simultaneously, as described
above.
● The folding function on the exterior mirrors
is not active at speeds over 40 km/h
(25 mph). Seats and head restraints
Adjusting the seat and head
restraints
The importance of correct seat
adjustment Proper seat adjustment optimises the level of
protection offered by seat belts and airbags.
Your vehicle has
five
seats, two in the front
and thr ee in the r

ear. Each seat is equipped
with a three-point seat belt.
The driver seat and the front passenger seat
can be adjusted in many ways to suit the
physical requirements of the vehicle occu-
pants. The correct seat position is very impor-
tant for:
● a fast and easy operation of all controls on
the instrument panel,
● a relaxed posture which does not cause
drowsiness,
● a safe driving ›››
page 5,
● ensuring that the seat belts and airbag sys-
tem provide maximum protection ›››
page 11. WARNING
● If the driver and passengers assume im-
proper sitting positions, they may sustain
critical injuries. 88

Seats and head restraints
●
Never transport more than the permitted
amount of people in your vehicle.
● Every vehicle occupant must properly fas-
ten and wear the seat belt belonging to his or
her seat. Children must be protected with an
appropriate child restraint system ››› page 24,
Transporting children safety.
● The front seats and all head restraints must
always be adjusted to body size and the seat
belt must always be properly adjusted to pro-
vide you and your passengers with optimum
protection.
● Always keep your feet on the footwell when
the vehicle is moving; never rest them on the
dash panel, out of the window or on the seat.
This is also applied to passengers. An incor-
rect sitting position exposes you to an in-
creased risk of injury in case of a sudden
braking or an accident. If the airbag is trig-
gered, you could sustain severe injuries due
to an incorrect sitting position.
● It is important for the driver and front pas-
senger to keep a distance of at least 25 cm
from the steering wheel and dash panel. Fail-
ure to respect the minimum distance means
that the airbag will not protect you. Risk of
fatal injury. The distance between the driver
and the steering wheel or between the front
passenger and the dash panel should always
be as great as possible.
● Adjust the driver or front passenger seat
only when the vehicle is stationary. This also
applies to the forwards/backwards adjust-
ment of the rear seats. Otherwise, your seat
could move unexpectedly while the vehicle is moving. This could increase the risk of an ac-
cident and therefore, injury. In addition,
while adjusting your seat, you will assume an
incorrect sitting position. Risk of fatal acci-
dents.
●
Special guidelines apply to installing a
child seat on the front passenger seat. When
installing a child seat, please observe the
warnings described in ››› page 24, Transport-
ing children safety. Adjustment of the front seats
Fig. 74
Front left seat controls The control elements in
››› Fig. 74 are mir-
r or
ed for the front right-hand seat.
1 Adjusting the seat forwards and
backwards
– Pull up the grip and move the seat forwards
or backwards. –
Then release the grip 1 and move the seat
further until the catch engages.
2 Adjusting the seat height*
– Pull the lever up or push down (several
times if necessary) from its home position.
This adjusts the seat height in stages.
3 Adjusting the backrest angle
– Take your weight off the backrest and turn
the hand wheel.
4 Adjusting the lumbar support*
– Take your weight off the backrest and turn
the hand wheel to adjust the lumbar sup-
port.
As you make the adjustments, the curvature
of the cushioned area of the lumbar region
becomes more or less acute. In this way, it
adapts to the natural curvature of the spine. WARNING
● Never adjust the driver or front passenger
seat while the vehicle is in motion. While ad-
justing your seat, you will assume an incor-
rect sitting position. Risk of fatal accidents.
Adjust the driver or front passenger seat only
when the vehicle is stationary.
● To reduce the risk of injury to the driver and
front passenger in case of a sudden braking
or an accident, never drive with the backrest
tilted towards the rear. The maximum » 89
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Operation
● in the side trims of the luggage compart-
ment,
● in the spare wheel recess in the luggage
compartment (only on vehicles with an op-
tional anti-puncture kit*.
The clothes hooks are located on the rear
roof handles. WARNING
● Do not store loose objects on the dash pan-
el. 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.
● Ensure that no objects can fall from the
centre console or other storage compart-
ments into the driver footwell while the vehi-
cle is moving. In the event of a sudden brak-
ing manoeuvre, you will not be able to use
the brake, clutch or accelerator. Risk of acci-
dent.
● 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 articles of clothing. Do not leave any
hard, sharp or heavy objects in hanging arti-
cles of clothing. During sudden braking ma-
noeuvres or accidents, especially those in-
volving airbag deployment, these objects
could injure the vehicle occupants. Multi-purpose mobile storage
compartment*
General information Fig. 91
Mobile storage compartment. Open-
ing. Fig. 92
Mobile storage compartment. Func-
tions. This storage compartment may only be
placed in the central area of the rear seat.
Opening
– Lift the cover B , in area
A
››› Fig. 91 .
C lo
sing
– Push the cover down, until it clips into
place.
Uses of the mobile storage compartment
● The front open glove compartment may be
used to store small objects that will not dam-
age passengers in the event that the objects
are flung around the interior of the vehicle.
● The cup holders are used for holding drink
cans or cups.
● The elastic belt on the side may be used for
keeping papers and magazines.
● The tables may be used as a support for
writing.
To use the table C
››› Fig. 92 , it must be re-
mo v

ed from its compartment in the side of
the mobile storage compartment and fitted
into slot D
››› Fig. 92 on the front section of
the mo b

ile storage compartment.
The table in the right-hand compartment is
fitted into the left-hand slot of the front of the
mobile storage compartment and the table in
the left-hand compartment is fitted in the
right-hand slot.
96

Transport and practical equipment
Fastening rings* There can be four fastening rings in the lug-
gage compartment for fastening luggage and
other objects.
–
Always use suitable and undamaged straps
to secure luggage and other objects to the fastening rings ››› in Loading the lug-
gage compartment on page 101.
– Pull up the fastening rings to attach the
straps.
During a collision or an accident, even small
and light objects can build up so much ener-
gy that they can cause very severe injuries.
The amount of “energy” depends on the
speed of the vehicle and the weight of the
object. The most significant factor, however,
is the speed of the vehicle.
Example: An object weighing 4.5 kg is lying
unsecured in the vehicle. During a frontal col-
lision at a speed of 50 km/h (30 mph), this
object generates a force corresponding to 20
times its weight. This means that the effec-
tive weight of the object increases to about
90 kg. Imagine the injuries that may result
from said “object” if it hits any passenger
when flying through the passenger compart-
ment. This increased risk of injury will be fur-
ther increased if a loose object is struck by
an inflating airbag. WARNING
● If pieces of baggage or other objects are se-
cured to the fastening rings with inappropri-
ate or damaged retaining cords, injuries
could result in the event of braking manoeu-
vres or accidents.
● Never secure a child seat on the fastening
rings. Cargo separation net*
3 Applies to the model: ALTEA XL/ALTEA FREETRACK
Fig. 107
Separation net. Fig. 108
Fastening rings for the separation
net. The separation net prevents loose objects in
the boot from being thrown forward into the
passenger compartment (e.g. when braking
suddenly).
– Pull the net from underneath between the
backrest and the folding tray and fit it to
the slots in the roof, first the right then the
left ››› Fig. 107 .
– Hook the belts
into the front fastening
rings to tense the net ››› Fig. 108
.
103
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Care and maintenance
Advice
Care and maintenance
Accessories and technical
modifications Accessories, modifications and spare
parts Your vehicle is designed to offer a high
standard of active and passive safety.
Before purchasing accessories and parts,
and before making technical changes to your
vehicle, we recommend that you consult your
Technical Service.
SEAT dealerships will be happy to provide
you with the latest information about the
use, legal requirements and recommenda-
tions from the manufacturer regarding acces-
sories and spare parts.
We recommend you use only
SEAT Approved
Accessories ®
and SEAT Approved Spare
P ar
ts ®
. This way, SEAT can guarantee that
the product in question is suitable, reliable
and safe. SEAT Technical Services have the
necessary experience and facilities to ensure
that parts are correctly and professionally in-
stalled. Despite a continuous observation of the mar-
ket, SEAT is not able to assess the reliability,
safety and suitability of parts that
SEAT has
not approved . For this reason, SEAT cannot
assume responsibility for any non-genuine
parts used, even if these parts have been ap-
proved by an official testing agency or are
covered by an official approval certificate.
Any retro-fitted equipment which has a direct
effect

on the vehicle and/or the way it is driv-
en, such as a cruise control system or elec-
tronically-controlled suspension), must be
SEAT-approved for use in your vehicle and
bear the
e mark (the European Union's au-
thorisation symbol).
If any additional electrical devices are fitted
which do not serve to control the vehicle it-
self (e.g. refrigerator box, laptop or ventilator
fan), these must bear the CE mark (European
Union manufacturer conformity declaration). WARNING
Accessories, for example telephone holders
or cup holders, should never be fitted on the
covers or within the working range of the air-
bags. Otherwise, there is a danger of injury if
the airbag is triggered in an accident. Technical modifications
Modifications must always be carried out ac-
cording to our specifications.Unauthorised modifications to the electronic
components or software in the vehicle may
cause malfunctions. Due to the way the elec-
tronic components are linked together in net-
works, other indirect systems may be affec-
ted by the faults. This can seriously impair
safety, lead to excessive wear of compo-
nents, and also invalidate your vehicle regis-
tration documents.
SEAT Technical Services cannot be held liable
for any damage caused by modifications
and/or work incorrectly performed.
For this reason, we recommend having all
work performed by a SEAT Technical Service
using
SEAT®
O riginal Spare Parts. WARNING
Any type of work or modification performed
incorrectly on your vehicle can lead to mal-
functions and can cause accidents. Roof aerial*
The vehicle may be fitted with a foldable*
and anti-theft* aerial that may be positioned
parallel to the roof.
To fold down
Unscrew the rod, position parallel to the roof
and tighten once again.
»
147
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Advice
To return to working position
Continue in the reverse order to the previous
instruction. CAUTION
If an automatic car wash tunnel is used, be-
fore entering the tunnel, put the aerial down
parallel to the roof and do not tighten to
avoid damage. Mobile phones and two-way radios
First consult your Technical Service if you
wish to use a mobile telephone or a two-way
radio with a transmitting power output in ex-
cess of 10 watts. Here you will receive infor-
mation concerning the technical possibilities
for retrofitting this equipment.
Mobile telephones and two-way radios
should be only fitted by a specialised work-
shop, for example a SEAT dealership.
WARNING
● Always concentrate primarily on driving. If
you are distracted while driving you could
have an accident.
● Never attach the telephone mountings to
the surfaces covering the airbag units or
within the range of the airbags. There is a
high danger of injury if the airbag is trig-
gered. Note
Please observe the operating instructions of
your mobile telephone/two-way radio. Care and cleaning
General information Vehicle maintenance
Regular care and washing help to maintain
the value
of the vehicle. This may also be one
of the requirements for acknowledging war-
ranty claims in the event of bodywork corro-
sion or paint defects.
The best way to protect your vehicle against
the harmful effects of the environment is
through correct maintenance and frequent
washing. The longer substances such as in-
sect remains, bird droppings, resinous tree
sap, road dirt, industrial deposits, tar, soot or
road salt and other aggressive materials re-
main on the vehicle, the more damage they
do to the paintwork. High temperatures, for
instance in strong sunlight, further intensify
the corrosive effect.
After winter, a period when salt is put on the
roads, it is important to have the underside
of the vehicle washed thoroughly. Products for vehicle maintenance
Car-care products are available in your Tech-
nical Services. Keep the product instructions
until you have used them up. WARNING
● Car-care products can be toxic. Because of
this, they must always be kept closed in their
original container. Keep them out of the reach
of children. Failure to comply could result in
poisoning.
● Always read and observe the instructions
and warnings on the package before using
car-care products. Improper use could cause
health problems or damage the vehicle. The
use of certain products may produce noxious
vapours; they should be used in well ventila-
ted areas.
● Never use fuel, turpentine, engine oil, nail
varnish remover or other volatile fluids.
These are toxic and highly flammable. Risk of
fire and explosion.
● Before washing your vehicle, or carrying
out any maintenance, switch the engine off,
apply the handbrake firmly and remove the
key from the ignition. CAUTION
Never attempt to remove dirt, mud or dust if
the surface of the vehicle is dry. Never use a
dry cloth or sponge for cleaning purposes.
This could damage the paintwork or the win-
dows of your vehicle. Soak dirt, mud or dust
with plenty of water. 148

Advice
using them in the wrong way, may cause acci-
dents, serious injury, burns or intoxication.
●
Keep your car-care products in their origi-
nal containers.
● Read the instructions.
● Never keep car-care products in empty food
containers, bottles or other similar contain-
ers. Other people may confuse them.
● Keep all car-care products out of the reach
of children.
● Some products may give off harmful va-
pours during use. Therefore, they should be
used outdoors in well-ventilated places.
● Never use fuel, turpentine, engine oil, nail-
varnish remover or any other volatile product
for washing, maintenance or cleaning. These
are toxic and highly flammable. WARNING
Unsuitable maintenance and cleaning of vehi-
cle components may impair proper operation
of safety equipment and cause serious injury.
● Maintain and clean vehicle components ac-
cording to the manufacturer's instructions.
● Only use approved or recommended clean-
ing products. CAUTION
● Cleaning products which contain solvents
have a corrosive effect and may damage the
material irreparably. ●
Stains and dirt containing aggressive sub-
stances or solvents attack the material and
may damage it irreparably, even when they
are cleaned quickly.
● Dirt and stains should not be allowed to dry
and should be cleaned as quickly as possible.
● In the case of stubborn stains, take the ve-
hicle to a specialised workshop to avoid dam-
age. Treating your upholstery
To treat and maintain your seat upholstery,
keep the following in mind
››› :
Before entering the vehicle, close any Velcro
fasteners that might snag on the upholstery
or trim fabric. Any open Velcro fasteners may
damage the trim or upholstery fabrics.
To prevent damage, avoid direct contact be-
tween sharp decorative objects and the up-
holstery and trim fabrics. Decorative objects
include zips, rivets and rhinestones on cloth-
ing and belts.
From time to time, clean the dust that gath-
ers in the perforations, folds and seams so
that the surfaces of the seats are not dam-
aged by its abrasive effect.
Make sure clothes are colour-fast to avoid
them running and staining the upholstery.
This is especially important if the upholstery
is light in colour. CAUTION
If you ignore this checklist, which is impor-
tant for maintaining your seat upholstery, the
fabric may be damaged or stained.
● Consult the checklist and carry out the op-
erations it describes. Note
SEAT recommends you take the vehicle to a
specialised workshop to treat any stains on
the upholstery caused by the discolouration
of clothing. How to clean the upholstery, trim
fabrics and Alcantara
® Cleaning the fabric on heated seats and
electrically adjustable seats or seats with
airbag components
There may be important airbag components
and electrical connections inside the driver
seat, passenger seat and possibly the outer
rear seats. If these seats and seat backrests
are damaged, or are cleaned and are treated
incorrectly, or if they get wet, the vehicle
electric system may be destroyed and the air-
bag system damaged
››› .
Electric and heated seats contain compo-
nents and electrical connections that may be
damaged if the seats are cleaned or incor-
rectly treated ››› . Similarly, damage may be
154

Care and maintenance
caused at other points in the vehicle's electri-
cal system.
For this reason, bear the following indica-
tions in mind for cleaning:
● Do not use high-pressure or steam cleaning
equipment or cold aerosols.
● Do not use cream detergents or detergent-
based solutions for delicate garments.
● Prevent the fabric from getting wet at all
times.
● Only use cleaning products approved by
SEAT.
● If in doubt, take the vehicle to a professio-
nal cleaning company.
Cleaning the fabric on unheated seats, non-
electrically adjustable seats and seats
without airbag components
● Before using any cleaning products, con-
sult and keep in mind the instructions of use,
indications and warnings on the container.
● Use a vacuum cleaner (with the brush at-
tachment) on the trim and seat fabrics, the
Alcantara ®
upholstery of the seats and the
carpet.
● Do not use high-pressure or steam cleaning
equipment or cold aerosols.
● For general cleaning, use a soft sponge or
an ordinary lint-free microfibre cloth ››› .●
Clean Alcantara ®
surfaces with a slightly
damp cotton or woollen cloth, or a standard
lint-free microfibre cloth ››› .
If the dirt on the trim and upholstery fabrics
is only superficial, you can use a standard
foam cleaner.
If the upholstery and trim are very dirty, be-
fore cleaning them we recommend you find
out about the most suitable cleaning options
from a professional cleaning company. If nec-
essary, cleaning should be done by a special-
ised firm.
Stain removal
When removing stains, it may be necessary
to clean the whole surface and not just the
stain itself. Especially if the surface has been
dirtied through normal use. If you only clean
the stained area, that part may then look
lighter than the rest. If in doubt, take the ve-
hicle to a professional cleaning company. WARNING
If there is a fault in the airbag system, it is
likely that the airbag will not deploy correct-
ly, not deploy at all, or do so unexpectedly,
which could cause serious or fatal injuries.
● Have the system checked immediately by a
specialised workshop. CAUTION
If the upholstery on electrically operated
seats or seats with airbag components gets
soaked, the vehicle's electric system and cer-
tain other components may be damaged.
● If the seat gets soaked, take the vehicle im-
mediately to a specialised workshop to be
dried and for the system components to be
inspected.
● Do not use steam cleaning equipment as
the dirt becomes more encrusted and fixed in
the material.
● High-pressure cleaning equipment and cold
aerosols may damage the upholstery. CAUTION
● Brushes should only be used to clean the
mats and floor mat! Other fabrics may be
damaged if cleaned with a brush.
● If cream detergents or detergents for deli-
cate garments are applied with a damp cloth
or sponge, they may, for example, leave rings
when dry because of the surfactant compo-
nents they contain. Generally, such rings are
very difficult or almost impossible to remove. CAUTION
● Do not let water soak into Alcantara ®
car-
pet under any circumstances.
● Do not use leather cleaning products, sol-
vents, wax polish, shoe cream, stain remov-
ers or similar products on Alcantara ®
. » 155Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Advice
●
Never use brushes for cleaning damp mate-
rial as they could damage the surface. Cleaning and maintenance of natural
leather upholstery
Consult a professional cleaning workshop if
you have any doubts on cleaning and main-
taining the leather equipment in your vehicle.
Maintenance and treatment
Nappa natural leather is delicate because it
has no additional protective layer.
● After cleaning, regularly apply a condition-
er with sun-screen and impregnating action.
These products nourish the leather, soften it
and make it more breathable, as well as re-
hydrating it. They also provide it with a pro-
tective film.
● Clean the leather every two or three months
and remove stains as they appear.
● Treat the leather regularly (about twice a
year) with a suitable maintenance product.
● Apply as few cleaning and maintenance
products as possible, always using a dry, lint-
free cotton or woollen cloth. Do not apply
cleaning and maintenance products directly
to the leather. ●
Remove recent ball-point pen and ink
stains, lipstick, shoe cream and similar
stains as soon as possible.
● Maintain the colour of the leather. To do
this, use a special cream especially coloured
for leather to achieve the same overall colour,
if necessary.
● Afterwards, go over it with a soft cloth.
Cleaning the vehicle
SEAT recommends using a slightly damp cot-
ton or woollen cloth for general cleaning pur-
poses.
Generally, the leather should never be
soaked at any point, nor should water pene-
trate the seams.
Before cleaning the leather upholstery, bear
in mind the f o
llowing recommendations
››› page 154, Cleaning the fabric on heated
seats and electrically adjustable seats or
seats with airbag components . CAUTION
● On no account use solvents, wax polish,
shoe cream, stain removers or similar materi-
als on leather.
● If the stain remains on the leather for long,
it will soak in and be impossible to remove.
● In the event of spilt liquids, dry immediate-
ly with an absorbent cloth to prevent the liq-
uid penetrating through the leather or seams. ●
If the vehicle is left standing in the sun for
long periods, the leather should be protected
against direct sunlight to prevent it from fad-
ing. Note
The leather will usually change colour slight-
ly with use. Cleaning synthetic leather upholstery
Before cleaning synthetic leather upholstery,
bear in mind the following recommendations
››› page 154, Cleaning the fabric on heated
seats and electrically adjustable seats or
seats with airbag components
Only use water and neutral cleaning products
to clean synthetic leather upholstery. CAUTION
Do not use solvents, floor wax, shoe cream,
stain removers or similar products on syn-
thetic leather. These will stiffen the material,
causing it to crack prematurely. Cleaning plastic parts and the
instrument panel
–
Use a clean, damp cloth to clean plastic
parts and the dash panel.
156