headlights Seat Altea XL 2007 Owner's Manual

Cockpit
76First look at the coolant temperature gauge. If the needle is in the normal
range, top up with coolant at the earliest opportunity ⇒ .
WARNING
•
If your vehicle is immobilised for any technical reasons, move it to a
safe distance from traffic. Turn off the engine, turn on the hazard lights and
place the warning triangle.
•
Never open the bonnet if you can see or hear steam or coolant escaping
from the engine compartment. Risk of scalding. Wait until you can no
longer see or hear escaping steam or coolant.
•
The engine compartment of any motor vehicle is a dangerous area!
Before carrying out any work in the engine compartment, switch off the
engine and allow it to cool down. Alwa ys note the corresponding warnings
⇒ page 208.
Rear fog light

This warning lamp lights up when the rear fog light is switched on
. Further
information ⇒page 111.
Tu r n si g nal s
 
The warning lamp flashes when the turn signals are in oper-
ation.Depending on which turn signal is operated, either the left
 or right
 indi-
cator lamp flashes. Both warning lamps will flash at the same time when the
hazard warning lights are switched on.
If one turn signal fails, the warning lamp will start flashing twice as fast. Further information on the turn signals
⇒page 115.
Trailer turn signals

This warning lamp also flashes when the turn signals are
operated while towing a caravan or trailer.The warning lamp
 flashes when the turn signals are operated, provided a
trailer is correctly attached and connected to the vehicle.
The warning lamp will not flash if one of the turn signals on the trailer fails.
Main beam headlights

This warning lamp lights up when the main beams are on.The warning lamp
 lights up when the main beams are on or when the
headlight flasher is operated.
Further information ⇒page 115.
Bulb defect

The warning lamp lights up when a bulb in the vehicle’s exte-
rior lighting is defective.The warning lamp
 lights up when a bulb in the vehicle’s exterior lighting
(e.g. left-hand main beam) is defective.
The following text is displayed in the instrument panel display
12): MAIN
BEAM LEFT DEFECT .
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Lights and visibility111
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Lights and visibilityLightsSwitching lights on and off


Switching on the side lights
– Turn the light switch ⇒ fig. 73 to position

.
Switching on dipped 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 control panel.
Switching on the rear fog lights (vehicles with no front fog lights)
– Pull the switch out of 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 headlights 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,
a buzzer sounds when the driver door is opened. This is a reminder to switch
off the lights.
•
If the coming home* feature is activated, the acoustic signal for the
dipped beam headlights will not sound, it will sound if the position lights are
activated.
Fig. 73 Detail of the dash
panel: Switch for lights,
fog lights and rear fog
light
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Lights and visibility
112•
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.
•
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 car will automatically
be switched off.
•
The use of the lighting described here is subject to the relevant statutory
requirements.
Automatic lightingActivation
– Rotate the switch to the position “Auto”, this indication will light up.When the switch is in this position, as soon as visibility conditions are
reduced, the lights are automaticall y activated. The indication “Auto”,
changes to red. Automatic lighting
If the automatic headlight control is switched on, dipped headlights are auto-
matically switched on by a light-sensitive sensor if you drive into a tunnel, for
example.
The rain function switches on the headlights if the continuous wipe function
is switched on for longer than 5 seconds. The dipped beam headlights are
switched off if the continuous wipe or the intermittent wipe functions are
switched off for longer than 255 seconds.
WARNING
•
If automatic headlight control is switched on, the headlights will not be
switched on in fog or heavy rain. Therefore, the dipped beam must be
switched on.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.
Fig. 74 Automatic
lighting
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Lights and visibility113
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Coming home / leaving home function*
After dark the area around the car is lit up with the aid of the
coming home / leaving home function.Coming home function*
To activate the function
– Put the light switch into the position

or in the “Auto” position
for those vehicles fitted with the automatic lighting function.
– Remove key from ignition switch.
To deactivate the function
– Turn light switch to position 0.
When the system is activated and it is dark, the coming home function will
illuminate the vehicle and its surroundings by switching on the dipped head-
lights, rear lights and nu mber plate lights when the driver’s door is opened.
While one of the doors or the tailgate are open, the dipped headlights, the
rear lights and the registration plate lighting remain on for about 90 seconds.
If, before this time is up, all of the doors and the tailgate are closed, another
40 seconds of lighting is given. However, if all of the doors and the tailgate
are closed after the 90 seconds have passed, the system will be deactivated
and the lights will not come on.
If you wish to reactivate the system, you must start from the beginning.
The lighting time is defined at the time of manufacture.
Leaving home function*
The function is activated when the vehicle is unlocked using the remote
control. In the dark, the leaving home function will light the dipped beam
lights, the rear lights and the registration plate lighting for about 40 seconds. If the light switch is at “0” the leaving home function is deactivated.
Note
•
If the vehicle is used often during the night for short trips using the
coming home function, this will place a heavy demand on the battery. To
avoid this, make longer journeys whenever possible.
•
Observe all relevant statutory requirements when using the lighting
systems described here.
•
For those vehicles fitted with the “Dot Matrix” display, the delay in turning
off the headlights (about 40 seconds) can be adjusted using the “Configura-
tion, lights and visibility” menu.
Instrument and switch lighting / Headlight range control
Fig. 75 Detail of the dash
panel: Regulation for
instrument and switch
illumination and head-
light range control
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Lights and visibility
114Instrument 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 ⇒page 113, fig. 75 .
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.
Those vehicles fitted with xenon gas discharge headlights are fitted with an
automatic headlight range system.
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 “bouncing movements”
when pulling off and braking are automatically compensated for.
Vehicles with gas discharge lamps do not have headlight range regulation.
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.
A1A1
A2
A2A2
Fig. 76 Detail of the dash
panel: Hazard warning
light switch
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Lights and visibility
116
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 ⇒page 115, fig. 77 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.
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 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 switch ed 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 igni tion. 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.
A1
A2
A3
A4
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Lights and visibility
124Headlight washer system
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 steering
wheel for at least 1.5 seconds – provided the dipped headlights or main
beams are switched on. Clean off stubborn dirt (insects, etc.) from the head-
lights at regular intervals, for in stance when filling the fuel tank.
Note
•
To ensure that the headlight washers work properly in winter, keep the
nozzle holders in the bumper free of snow and remove any ice with a de-icer
spray.
•
To remove water, the windscreen wiper s will be activated from time to
time, the headlight wipers will be activated every three cycles.
MirrorsInterior mirror
It is dangerous to drive if you cannot see clearly through the
rear window.Manual anti-dazzle function for interior mirror
In the basic mirror position, the lever at the bottom edge of the mirror should
be at the front. Pull the lever to the back to select the anti-dazzle function.
Automatic anti-dazzle interior mirror*
The automatic anti-dazzle function can be switched on and off
as desired.Switching off anti-dazzle function
– Press button ⇒fig. 88 . Warning lamp goes out.
Switching on anti-dazzle function
– Press button ⇒fig. 88 . Warning lamp is lit.Anti-dazzle function
The anti-dazzle function is activated every time the ignition is switched on.
The green indicator lamp ligh ts up in the mirror housing.
When the anti-dazzle function is acti vated the interior mirror will darken auto-
matically according to the amount of light it receives (for example from the
headlights of a vehicle behind). The anti-dazzle function is cancelled if
reverse gear is engaged.
Fig. 88 Automatic anti-
dazzle interior mirror.
AA
AB
AA
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Driving and the environment
186Adhesive strips for headlightsIf you have to drive a right-hand drive vehicle in a left-hand drive country, or
vice versa, the asymmetric dipped beam headlights will dazzle oncoming
traffic.
To prevent dazzling, you must apply stickers to certain parts of the headlight
lenses. Further information is available from your Authorised Service Centre.
Vehicles with directional headlights should have the turn system discon-
nected beforehand. Contact a specialist workshop for this.Adjusting headlights for driving on the left
On the right hand side headlight, if you are changing from driving on the
right-hand side to the left-hand side ⇒ fig. 146.
On the left hand side headlight, if y ou are changing from driving on the right-
hand side to the left-hand side ⇒fig. 147 .
Fig. 146 Right headlight
Fig. 147 Left headlight
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Driving and the environment187
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Covering headlights for driving on the rightOn the right headlight, if you are changing from driving on the left-hand side
to the right-hand side. On the left headlight, if you are changing from driving on the left-hand side to
the right-hand side.
Covering simple headlights for driving on the right
Fig. 148 Right headlightFig. 149 Left headlight
Fig. 150 Right headlightFig. 151 Left headlight
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Driving and the environment
188On the right headlight, if you are chan ging from driving on the left-hand side
to the right-hand side.
On the left headlight, if you are changing from driving on the left-hand side to
the right-hand side.Covering Bixenon headlights for driving on the left
On the right hand side headlight, if you are changing from driving on the
right-hand side to the left-hand side. ⇒ fig. 152.
On the left hand side headlight, if y ou are changing from driving on the right-
hand side to the left-hand side ⇒fig. 153 .Trailer towingWhat do you need to bear in mind when towing a trailer?Your vehicle may be used to tow a trailer when fitted with the correct equip-
ment.
If the car is supplied with a factory-fitted towing bracket it will already have
the necessary technical modifications and meet the statutory requirements
for towing a trailer. For the after-market fitting of a trailer towing bracket see
⇒ page 203.
Fig. 152 Right headlight
Fig. 153 Left headlight
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