brake light Seat Altea 2015 Owner's Guide

Advice
●
Washing the vehicle in low temperatures:
when washing the vehicle with a hose, do not
direct water into the lock cylinders or the
gaps around the doors, rear lid, or sunroof.
Risk of freezing. For the sake of the environment
To protect the environment, the vehicle
should be washed only in specially provided
wash bays, to prevent toxic, oil-laden waste
water from entering the sewer system. In
some places, washing vehicles outside wash
bays is prohibited. Note
Do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight. Washing the vehicle with a high
pressure cleaner
Be particularly careful when using a high
pressure cleaner!
– Always observe the instructions for the
high-pressure cleaner, particularly those
concerning the pressure and the spraying
di s
tance.
– Increase the spraying distance for soft ma-
terials and painted bumpers. –
Do not use a high pressure cleaner to re-
move ice or snow from windows
››› page 151.
– Never u

se concentrated jet nozzles (“rotat-
ing jets”) ››› .
– After washing, avoid sudden and sharp
braking. “Dry” the brakes by braking sever-
al times ››› page 123 . WARNING
● Never wash tyres with a concentrated jet
(“rotating nozzle”). Even at large spraying
distances and short cleaning times, damage
can occur to the tyres. This may cause an ac-
cident.
● Water, ice and salt on the brake system can
reduce braking effectiveness. Risk of acci-
dent. CAUTION
● Do not use water hotter than +60 °C
(+140 °F). This could damage the vehicle.
● To avoid damage to the vehicle, keep a suf-
ficient distance from sensitive materials such
as flexible hoses, plastic, soundproofing ma-
terial, etc. This also applies to bumpers pain-
ted in the colour of the bodywork. The closer
the nozzle is to the surface, the greater the
wear on the material. Vehicle paint maintenance
Regular waxing protects the paintwork.
You need to apply wax to your vehicle if water
does not form small drops and run off the
paintwork when it is
clean.
Good quality har

d wax products are available
at your Technical Service.
Regular wax applications help to protects the
paintwork from environmental contaminants.
››› page 148. It also protects against minor
sc

ratches.
Even if a wax solution is used regularly in the
vehicle washing tunnel, it is advisable to pro-
tect the paint with a hard wax coating at least
twice a year.
Polishing the paintwork Polishing is only necessary if the paint has
lost its shine, and the gloss cannot be
brought back by applying wax. Polishing
products can be purchased in your Technical
Service.
The vehicle must be waxed after polishing if
the polish used does not contain wax com-
pounds to seal the paint
›››
page 150, Vehicle
paint maintenance .
150

Care and maintenance
running gear, and retouch it if necessary,
before and after the winter season.
We recommend that you go to your Technical
Service to carry out repair work and addition-
al anti-corrosion work. WARNING
Do not apply underseal or anti-corrosion
coatings to the exhaust pipes, catalytic con-
verter or the heat shields on the exhaust sys-
tem. The heat of the exhaust system or the
engine could cause them to ignite. Risk of
fire. Cleaning the engine compartment
Take special care when cleaning the engine
compartment.
Anti-corrosion treatment
The engine compartment and the surface of
the power unit are given anti-corrosion treat-
ment at the factory.
Good corrosion protection is particularly im-
portant in winter when the vehicle is fre-
quently driven on salted roads. To prevent
the salt corroding the vehicle, the entire en-
gine compartment should be thoroughly
cleaned before and after winter.
Technical Services
have the proper products
for cleaning and preservation as well as the necessary workshop equipment. For this rea-
son, we recommend having this work per-
formed by them.
The anti-corrosion protection is usually re-
moved if the engine compartment is cleaned
with grease removing solutions, or if you
have the engine cleaned. On commissioning
this work, ensure that all surfaces, seams,
joints and components in the engine com-
partment are given anti-corrosion treatment.
WARNING
● When working in the engine compartment,
always observe the safety warnings
››› page 163.
● Bef
ore opening the bonnet, switch the en-
gine off, apply the handbrake firmly and al-
ways remove the key from the ignition.
● Allow the engine to cool before you clean
the engine compartment.
● Do not clean, for example, the vehicle un-
derbody, wheel arches or wheel trims without
protecting your hands and arms. You may cut
yourself on sharp-edged metal parts. Failure
to comply could result in injury.
● Moisture, ice and salt on the brake system
may affect braking effectiveness. Risk of acci-
dent. Directly after washing, avoid sudden
and sharp braking.
● Never touch the radiator fan. It is tempera-
ture-controlled and could start automatically,
even when the key is removed from the igni-
tion! For the sake of the environment
Fuel, grease and oil deposits can be removed
when the engine is washed. The polluted wa-
ter must be cleaned in an oil separator. For
this reason, engine washing should be car-
ried out only by a specialised workshop or a
petrol station. Caring for the vehicle interior
Introduction The dye used in many modern garments, for
example dark jeans, is not always sufficiently
colour-fast. Seat upholstery (material and
leather), especially when light-coloured, may
visibly discolour if the dye comes out of
clothing (even when used correctly). This is
not an upholstery defect but indicates that
the dye in the item of clothing is not suffi-
ciently colour-fast.
The longer stains or dirt remain on the vehi-
cle surfaces, especially the fabrics covering
the padded upholstery, the more difficult it
becomes to clean and maintain them. If
stains and dirt are left for a long time, it may
be that they are impossible to remove.
WARNING
Car-care products may be toxic and hazard-
ous. Using unsuitable car-care products or, » 153
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Advice
Brake fluid Checking the brake fluid level Fig. 151
Engine compartment: brake fluid
reservoir cap –
Read off the fluid level at the transparent
brake fluid reservoir. It should always be
between the “MIN” and “MAX” marks.
The position of the brake fluid reservoir is
shown in the corresponding engine compart-
ment illustration ››› page 166. The brake fluid
reservoir has a black and yellow cap.
The brake fluid level drops slightly when the
vehicle is being used as the brake pads are
automatically adjusted as they wear.
However, if the level goes down noticeably in
a short time, or drops below the “MIN” mark,
there may be a leak in the brake system. A
display on the instrument panel will warn you
if the brake fluid level is too low ››› page 35. WARNING
Before opening the bonnet to check the brake
fluid level, read and observe the warnings
››› page 163. Changing the brake fluid
The Maintenance Programme indicates brake
fluid change intervals.
We recommend that you have the brake fluid
changed by a Technical Service.
Before opening the bonnet, please read and
follow the warnings
››› in Safety instruc-
tions on working in the engine compartment
on page 163 in section “Safety notes for
w ork
ing in the engine compartment”.
In the course of time, brake fluid becomes
hygroscopic and absorbs water from the am-
bient air. If the water content in the brake flu-
id is too high, the brake system could cor-
rode. This also considerably reduces the boil-
ing point of the brake fluid. Heavy use of the
brakes may then cause a vapour lock which
could impair the braking effect.
Be sure to always use the correct brake fluid.
Only use brake fluid that expressly meets the
VW 501 14 standard.
You can buy VW 501 14 standard brake fluid
at a SEAT dealership or a SEAT Official Serv-
ice. If none is available, use only high-quality brake fluid that meets DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4
standards, or USA Standards FMVSS 116 DOT
4.
Using any other kind of brake fluid or one
that is not of a high quality may affect opera-
tion of the brake system and reduce its effec-
tiveness. Never use a brake fluid if the con-
tainer does not state that it complies with VW
501 14, DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 standards, or
USA standards FMVSS 116 DOT 4.
WARNING
Brake fluid is poisonous. Old brake fluid im-
pairs the braking effect.
● Before opening the bonnet to check the
brake fluid level, read and observe the warn-
ings ››› page 163.
● Br ak
e fluid should be stored in the closed
original container in a safe place out of reach
of children. There is a toxic risk.
● Perform the brake fluid change according to
the Maintenance Programme. Heavy use of
the brakes may cause a vapour lock if the
brake fluid is left in the brake system for too
long. This would seriously affect the effec-
tiveness of the brakes and the safety of the
vehicle. This may cause an accident. CAUTION
Brake fluid damages the vehicle paintwork.
Wipe off any brake fluid from the paintwork
immediately. 172

Checking and refilling levels
For the sake of the environment
The brake pads and brake fluid must be col-
lected and disposed of according the applica-
ble regulations. The SEAT Technical Service
network has the necessary equipment and
qualified personnel for collecting and dispos-
ing of this waste material. Vehicle battery
Warnings on handling the battery Wear eye protection

Battery acid is extremely corrosive. Wear pro-
tective gloves and eye protection!

Fires, sparks, open flames and smoking are
prohibited!

A highly explosive mixture of gases is released
when the battery is under charge.

Keep children away from acid and batteries!
WARNING
Always be aware of the danger of injury and
chemical burns as well as the risk of accident
or fire when working on the battery and the
electrical system:
● Wear eye protection. Protect your eyes,
skin and clothing from acid and particles con-
taining lead. ●
Battery acid is extremely corrosive. Wear
protective gloves and eye protection. Do not
tilt the batteries. This could spill acid through
the vents. Rinse battery acid from eyes imme-
diately for several minutes with clear water.
Then seek medical care immediately. Neutral-
ise any acid splashes on the skin or clothing
with a soapy solution, and rinse off with plen-
ty of water. If acid is swallowed by mistake,
consult a doctor immediately.
● Fires, sparks, open flames and smoking are
prohibited. When handling cables and electri-
cal equipment, avoid causing sparks and
electrostatic charge. Never short the battery
terminals. High-energy sparks can cause in-
jury.
● A highly explosive mixture of gases is re-
leased when the battery is under charge. The
batteries should be charged in a well-ventila-
ted room only.
● Keep children away from acid and batteries.
● Before working on the electrical system,
you must switch off the engine, the ignition
and all electrical devices. The negative cable
on the battery must be disconnected. When a
light bulb is changed, you need only switch
off the light.
● Deactivate the anti-theft alarm by unlock-
ing the vehicle before you disconnect the bat-
tery! The alarm will otherwise be triggered.
● When disconnecting the battery from the
vehicle on-board network, disconnect first
the negative cable and then the positive ca-
ble. ●
Switch off all electrical devices before re-
connecting the battery. Reconnect first the
positive cable and then the negative cable.
Never reverse the polarity of the connections.
This could cause an electrical fire.
● Never charge a frozen battery, or one which
has thawed. This could result in explosions
and chemical burns. Always replace a battery
which has frozen. A flat battery can also
freeze at temperatures close to 0 °C (+32 °F).
● Ensure that the vent hose is always connec-
ted to the battery.
● Never use a defective battery. This could
cause an explosion. Replace a damaged bat-
tery immediately. CAUTION
● Never disconnect the battery if the ignition
is switched on or if the engine is running.
This could damage the electrical system or
electronic components.
● Do not expose the battery to direct sunlight
over a long period of time, as the intense ul-
traviolet radiation can damage the battery
housing.
● If the vehicle is left standing in cold condi-
tions for a long period, protect the battery
from “freezing”. If it freezes it will be dam-
aged. 173
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Emergencies
– Switch off the engine. Switch on the hazard
warning lights.
– Apply the handbrake firmly.
– En g
age the first gear , or put
the selector
lever to position P for those vehicles with
an automatic gearbox.
– If you are towing a trailer, unhitch it from
your vehicle.
– Take the vehicle tools and the spare wheel
out of

the luggage compartment. WARNING
Put the hazard warning lights on and place
the warning triangle in position. This is for
your own safety and also warns other road
users. CAUTION
If you have to change the tyre on a gradient,
block the wheel opposite the wheel being
changed by placing a stone or similar object
under it to prevent the vehicle from rolling
away. Note
Please observe related legal requirements. Changing a wheel
Change the wheel as described below: –
Remove the wheel cover
. A
l
so refer to
››› Fig. 155.
– Slac
ken the wheel bolts .
– Rai

se the vehicle with the jack at the corre-
spondin
g area.
– Remove the wheel and put
on the spare
one.
– Lower the vehicle.
– Tighten the wheel

bolts firmly with the box
sp

anner.
– Replace the hub cap.
Aft

er changing a wheel –
Put the tools back in their storage location.
– Place the wheel with the defective tyre in
the luggage compartment and secure it.
– Check the tyre pressure of the newly fitted
tyre as soon as possible.
– Have the tightening torque of the wheel
bolts checked as soon as possible with a
torque wrench. The prescribed torque must
be 120 Nm. Note
● If you notice that the wheel bolts are corro-
ded and difficult to turn when changing a wheel, they must be replaced before having
the wheel bolt tightening torque checked.
● For safety reasons, drive at moderate
speeds until the wheel bolt tightening torque
has been checked. Wheel trims
Fig. 155
Changing a wheel: remove the wheel
trim. The wheel trims must be removed to gain ac-
cess to the wheel bolts.
Removing
– Insert the extraction hook from the tools in-
to the designated ring, located in one of
the bolt hole covers of the wheel cover
››› Fig. 155 .
»
183
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Emergencies
After inserting the sealant residue in the tyre,
you must again check the tyre pressure about
10 minutes after starting the engine.
You should only use the tire mobility set if
the vehicle is parked in a safe place, you are
familiar with the procedure and you have the
necessary tire mobility set! Otherwise, you
should seek professional assistance.
The tyre sealant must not be used in the
following cases:
● If the wheel rim has been damaged.
● In outside temperatures below -20 °C
(-4 °F).
● In the event of cuts or perforations in the
tyre greater than 4 mm.
● If you have been driving with very low pres-
sure or a completely flat tyre.
● If the sealant bottle has passed its use by
date. WARNING
Using the tyre mobility system can be dan-
gerous, especially when filling the tyre at the
roadside. Please observe the following rules
to minimise the risk of injury:
● Stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible.
Park it at a safe distance from surrounding
traffic to fill the tyre.
● Ensure the ground on which you park is flat
and solid. ●
All passengers and particularly children
must keep a safe distance from the work area.
● Turn on the hazard warning lights to warn
other road users.
● Use the tyre mobility system only if you are
familiar with the necessary procedures. Oth-
erwise, you should seek professional assis-
tance.
● The tyre mobility set is intended for tempo-
rary emergency use only until you can reach
the nearest specialised workshop.
● Replace the repaired tyre with the tire mo-
bility set as soon as possible.
● The sealant is a health hazard and must be
cleaned immediately if it comes into contact
with the skin.
● Always keep the tire mobility set out of the
reach of small children.
● Never use an equivalent jack, even if it has
been approved for your vehicle.
● Always stop the engine, apply the hand-
brake lever firmly and engage gear if using a
manual gearbox, in order to reduce the risk of
vehicle involuntary movement. WARNING
A tyre filled with sealant does not have the
same performance properties as a conven-
tional tyre.
● Never drive faster than 80 km/h (50 mph).
● Avoid heavy acceleration, hard braking and
fast cornering. ●
Drive only during 10 minutes at a maximum
speed of 80 km/h (50 mph) and subsequently
check the tyre. For the sake of the environment
Dispose of used or expired sealant observing
any legal requirements. Note
● A new bottle of sealant can be purchased at
SEAT dealerships.
● Take into account the separate instruction
manual from the tyre mobility set* manufac-
turer. Contents of the tyre mobility system*
Fig. 162
Standard representation: contents of
the tyre mobility system. » 187Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Emergencies
after the battery has thawed, battery acid
could leak and cause chemical burns. If a bat-
tery freezes, it should be replaced.
●
Keep sparks, flames and lighted cigarettes
away from batteries, danger of explosion.
Failure to comply could result in an explo-
sion.
● Observe the instructions provided by the
manufacturer of the jump leads.
● Do not connect the negative cable from the
other vehicle directly to the negative terminal
of the flat battery. The gas emitted from the
battery could be ignited by sparks. Danger of
explosion.
● Do not attach the negative cable from the
other vehicle to parts of the fuel system or to
the brake line.
● The non-insulated parts of the battery
clamps must not be allowed to touch. The
jump lead attached to the positive battery
terminal must not touch metal parts of the ve-
hicle, this can cause a short circuit.
● Position the leads in such a way that they
cannot come into contact with any moving
parts in the engine compartment.
● Do not lean on the batteries. This could re-
sult in chemical burns. Note
The vehicles must not touch each other, oth-
erwise electricity could flow as soon as the
positive terminals are connected. Towing and tow-starting
Tow-starting We recommend that you do
not tow-start your
v ehic
le. Jump-starting is preferable
››› page 189.
How

ever, if your vehicle has to be tow-
started:
– Engage 2 nd
or 3 rd
gear.
– Keep the clutch pressed down.
– Switch the ignition on.
– Once both vehicles are moving, release the
clutch.
– As soon as the engine starts, press the
clutch and move the gear lever into neutral.
This helps to prevent driving into the tow-
ing vehicle. WARNING
The risk of accidents is high when tow-start-
ing. The vehicle being towed can easily col-
lide with the towing vehicle. CAUTION
When tow-starting, fuel could enter the cata-
lytic converter and damage it. General notes
Please observe the following points if you
use a tow rope:
Notes for the driver of the towing vehicle
– Drive slowly at first until the tow rope is
taut. Then accelerate gradually.
– Begin and change gears cautiously. If you
are driving an automatic vehicle, accelerate
gently.
– Remember that the brake servo and power
steering are not working in the vehicle you
are towing. Brake sooner than normal and
pressing the pedal gently.
Notes for the driver of the towed vehicle
– Ensure that the tow rope remains taut at all
times when towing.
Tow rope or tow bar
It is easier and safer for the vehicle to be tow-
ed using a tow bar. You should only use a
tow-rope if you do not have a tow-bar.
A tow rope should be slightly elastic to re-
duce the loading on both vehicles. It is advis-
able to use a tow rope made of synthetic fi-
bre or similarly elastic material.
Attach the tow rope or the tow bar only to the
towline anchorages provided or a towing
bracket. »
191Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Advice
Driving style
Towing requires some experience, especially
when using a tow rope. Both drivers should
be familiar with the technique required for
towing. Inexperienced drivers should not at-
tempt to tow.
Do not pull too hard with the towing vehicle
and take care to avoid jerking the tow rope.
When towing on an unpaved road, there is al-
ways a risk of overloading and damaging the
anchorage points.
The ignition of the vehicle being towed must
be switched on to prevent the steering wheel
from locking and also to allow the use of the
turn signals, horn, windscreen wipers and
washers.
The brake servo only works when the engine
is running. When not running, you must ap-
ply considerably more pressure to the brake
pedal.
As the power assisted steering does not work
if the engine is not running, you will need
more strength to steer than you normally
would.
● The vehicle must not be towed faster than
50 km/h (31 mph).
Towing vehicles with an automatic gearbox
● Put the selector lever into position “N”.
● Do not drive faster than 50 km/h (31 mph). ●
Do not tow further than 50 km.
● If a breakdown vehicle is used, the vehicle
must be towed with the front wheels raised. Note
● Observe legal requirements when towing or
tow-starting.
● Switch on the hazard warning lights of both
vehicles. However, observe any regulations
to the contrary.
● For technical reasons, vehicles with an au-
tomatic gearbox must not be tow-started.
● If there is no lubricant in the gearbox as the
result of a fault, you must raise the driven
wheels while the vehicle is being towed.
● If the vehicle has to be towed more than
50 km, the front wheels should be raised dur-
ing towing, and towing should be carried out
by a qualified person.
● The steering wheel is locked when the vehi-
cle has no electrical power. The vehicle must
then be towed with the front wheels raised.
Towing should be carried out by a qualified
person.
● The towline anchorage should always be
kept in the vehicle. Please refer to the notes
on ››› page 191, Tow-starting. Towline anchorages
Fig. 165
Fitting the front towline anchorage
to the front right section of the vehicle. Fig. 166
Fitting the towline anchorage to the
rear of the vehicle. Front towline anchorage
– Take the towline anchorage from the on-
board tool set.
– Remove the cover by pressing down on its
left-hand side.
192

Advice
Side lights/ brake lights 3 Applies to the model: ALTEA
Fig. 184
Side lights and brake lights. Fig. 185
Side lights and brake lights. –
Open the rear lid.
– Remove the bolts ››› Fig. 184 A .
– Remove the cover of the luggage compart-
ment lateral panel. –
Unscrew the plastic fitting ››› Fig. 185 B securing the tail light. Inserting a screw-
driver under the plastic fitting may help to
loosen it.
– Partially remove the tail light from its cas-
ing taking care not to pull on the cable.
– Remove the bulb holder connector.
– Unscrew the bolts ››› Fig. 186 C from the
bulb holder and pull on this.
– Press on the bulb and rotate to the left then
fit the replacement.
– To refit follow the steps in reverse order,
taking special care when fitting the bulb
holder. The metal contacts of the bulb hold-
er ends should be correctly fitted with re-
spect to the rear light contacts. Turn signal light 3 Applies to the model: ALTEA
Fig. 186
Turn signal light. Fig. 187
Turn signal light. –
Remove the lamp from its housing
››› page 202.
– Unscrew the bolts ››› Fig. 186 C from the
bulb holder and pull on this.
202

Fuses and bulbs
– Pull out the turn signal bulb holder using a
screw driver in the direction of the arrow
››› Fig. 187 .
– Fit the r
eplacement bulb by pressing it
down and rotating to the left.
– Installation involves all of the above steps
in reverse sequence.
Reverse light/rear fog light 3 Applies to the model: ALTEA
Fig. 188
Lamp on interior side of bumper. –
Rotate the bulb holder to the left and re-
move it in the direction of the arrow
››› Fig. 188.
– Replace the bulb by pressing on it and ro-
tating at the same time to the left Turn signal, side and brake lights on
the body 3 Applies to the model: ALTEA XL/ALTEA FREETRACK
Fig. 189
Lights on the vehicle body. Fig. 190
Lights on the vehicle body. –
Open the cover of the luggage compart-
ment side panel ››› Fig. 189 .
– Turn the b

ulb holder to the left ››› Fig. 190. –
Remove the blown bulb and change it for a
new one.
– To refit follow the steps in reverse order,
taking special care when fitting the bulb
holder.
203
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety