Seat Altea XL 2010 Owner's Manual
Manufacturer: SEAT, Model Year: 2010, Model line: Altea XL, Model: Seat Altea XL 2010Pages: 312, PDF Size: 8.41 MB
Page 121 of 312

Lights and visibility119
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Technical Data
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.
7.  Always take the vehicle key with you when you leave the vehicle.You should switch on the hazard warning lights to warn other road users, for 
instance when:•reaching the tail end of a traffic jam,•there is an emergency•your vehicle breaks down due to a technical fault,•you are towing another vehicle or your vehicle is being towed.
All turn signals flash simultaneously when the hazard warning lights are 
switched on. That is that the two turn signal indicator lamps 
  and the 
indicator lamp in the switch 
 will flash at the same time. The hazard 
warning lights also work when the ignition is switched off.
Emergency braking function
When the vehicle detects sudden braking, the hazard warning lights auto-
matically come on to warn vehicles behind. The hazard warning lights go off 
when the vehicle accelerates or the hazard warning light switch is pressed.
WARNING
•The risk of an accident increases if your vehicle breaks down. Always 
use the hazard warning lights and a warning triangle to draw the attention 
of other road users to your stationary vehicle.•Never park where the catalytic converter could come into contact with 
inflammable materials under the vehicle, for example dry grass or spilt 
petrol. This could start a fire!Note
•The battery will run down if the hazard warning lights are left on for a long 
time, even if the ignition is switched off.•The use of the hazard warning lights described here is subject to the rele-
vant statutory requirements.
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Lights and visibility
120Indicator and main beam headlight lever
The turn signal and main beam lever also operates the 
parking lights and the headlight flasher.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    to indicate right , and 
all the way down   to indicate left .
Signalling a lane change
– Push the lever up   or down   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
– Turn the light switch to position 
.
–Press the lever forward  ⇒fig. 78    to switch on the main 
beams.
– Pull the lever back towards you to switch the main beam head- lights off again.
Headlight flashers
– Pull the lever towards the steering wheel   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 on the dash panel. 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. Change the bulb.
Fig. 78  Indicator and 
main beam headlight 
lever
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A2A1
A2
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Lights and visibility121
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Technical Data
•The main beam headlights  can only be switched on if the dipped beam 
headlights are already on. The warning lamp 
 then lights up on the dash 
panel.
•The  headlight flasher comes on for as long as you pull the lever – even if 
no other lights are switched on. The warning lamp 
 then lights up on the 
dash panel.
•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 ignition. 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.
Interior lightsFront interior light type 1The switch    ⇒fig. 79 is used to select the following positions:
Courtesy light position 
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 lock And turn off approx. 20 seconds after closing the doors. The inte-
rior 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. 79.
Fig. 79  Interior roof trim: 
front interior lights
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Lights and visibility
122
NoteIf 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.Front interior light type 2The switch   ⇒fig. 80  is used to select the following positions:
Courtesy light position 
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 lock And turn off approx. 20 seconds after closing the doors. The inte-
rior 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
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Lights and visibility123
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Technical Data
Front 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 
Turn the control to position  . The interior lights are automatically switched 
on when the vehicle is unlocked or the key removed from the ignition lock 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
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Lights and visibility
124light 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 make-up mirrors in the sun visors have covers. When you open the cover  , a lamp in the roof lights up.
The lamp* 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 mi nutes following the removal of the igni-
tion key. This prevents the battery from discharging.Sun visor*
The windows on the rear doors are fitted with a sun visor
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Fig. 84  Sun visor on the 
driver side
A1A2
Fig. 85  Rear door sun 
visor
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Lights and visibility125
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Technical Data
Sun visors on the rear side windows*
– Pull out the visor and hook it onto the hooks at the top of the door 
frame  ⇒page 124, fig. 85 .Windscreen wipersFront windscreen wipers 
 
The windscreen wiper lever controls the windscreen wipers 
and the automatic wash and wipe.
The windscreen wiper lever  ⇒fig. 86  has the following positions:
Switching off the wipers
– Move the lever to position  . Intermittent wipe 
– Move the lever up to position  .
– Move the control   to the left or right to set the length of the 
intervals. Control to the left: long intervals; control to the right: 
short intervals. Four wiper interval stages can be set using switch .
Slow wipe
– Move the lever up to position  .
Continuous wipe
– Move the lever up to position  .
Brief wipe
– Move the lever down to position   to give the windscreen a  brief 
wipe. The wiper will start to move faster if you keep the lever 
pressed down for longer than 2 seconds.
Wash and wipe automatic system 
– Pull the lever towards the steering wheel - Position  . The wash  function will start immediately and the wipers will start with a 
slight delay. The wash and wipe r systems will function at the 
same time at speeds of over 120 km/h.
– Release the lever. The wipers will keep running for approximately  four seconds.Optional heated windscreen in the wiper blade* area (page
In some countries and with some versions, there is the possibility of heating 
the windscreen in the area of the windscreen wiper blades in order to aid de-
Fig. 86  Windscreen wiper 
and windscreen wash 
lever
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A1
AA
AA
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Lights and visibility
126icing in the zone. The function is switched on by pressing the rear heating 
window key 
.
WARNING
•Worn and dirty wiper blades obstruct visibility and reduce safety levels.•In cold conditions, you should not use the wash / wipe system unless 
you have warmed the windscreen with the heating and ventilation system. 
The washer fluid could otherwise freeze on the windscreen and obscure 
your view of the road.•Always note the corresponding warnings on ⇒ page 237, “Changing 
windscreen wiper blades”.Caution
In icy conditions, always check that the wiper blades are not frozen to the 
glass before using the wipers for the first time. If you switch on the wipers 
when the wiper blades are frozen to the windscreen, you could damage both 
the wiper blades and the wiper motor.
Note
•The windscreen wipers will only work when the ignition is switched on.•In certain versions of vehicles with alarms, the windscreen wiper will only 
work when the ignition is on and the bonnet closed.•When in use, the wipers do not go as far as the rest position. When the 
lever is moved to position 0, they are totally hidden.•The next speed down will automatically be selected if speed  ⇒page 125, 
fig. 86    or   is selected when the vehicle stops. The set speed will be 
resumed when the vehicle starts again•The windscreen will be wiped again after approximately five seconds once 
the “automatic wipe/wash system” has been operated, provided the vehicle 
is in transit (drip function). If you activate the wipers less than three seconds 
after the drip function, a new wash sequence will begin without the last wipe.  For the “drip” function to work again, 
you have to turn the ignition off and 
then on again.
•When the “intermittent wipe function” is on, the intervals are directly 
proportional to the speed. This way, the higher the vehicle speed the shorter 
the intervals.•The wiper will try to wipe away any obstacles that are on the windscreen. 
The wiper will stop moving if the obstacle blocks its path. Remove the 
obstacle and switch the wiper back on again.•Before removing any objects that may be trapped in the side areas of the 
windscreen, always move the wiper arms to the service position (horizontal).•The heat output of the heated jets is controlled automatically when the 
ignition is switched on, depending upon the outside temperature.
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Lights and visibility127
Safety First
Operating instructions
Practical tips
Technical Data
Rain sensor*
The rain sensor controls the frequency of the windscreen 
wiper intervals, depending on the amount of rain.
Switching on the rain sensor
– Move the windscreen wipe r lever into position   ⇒fig. 88 .
– Move the control   to the left or right to set the sensitivity of the  rain sensor. Control to the right: highly sensitive. Control to the 
left: less sensitive.The rain sensor is part of the interval wipe function. You will have to switch 
t h e  r a i n  s e n s o r  b a ck  o n  i f  y o u  s w i tch  o f f  t h e  i g n i t i o n .  T h i s  is  d o n e  b y  s wi t ch i n g  
the wiper intermittent function off and back on.
Note
•Do not put stickers on the windscreen in front of the sensor. This may 
cause sensor disruption or faults.
Fig. 87  Rain sensor*Fig. 88  Windscreen wiper 
lever
A1
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Lights and visibility
128Rear window wiper 
 
The windscreen wiper lever operates the windscreen wiper 
and the wash and wipe system for the rear window.
Switching on the interval wipe
– Press the lever forwards to position    ⇒fig. 89 . The wiper will 
wipe the window approximately every 6 seconds.
Switching off the interval wipe function
– Pull the lever back from position   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   ⇒
fig. 89. The wash 
function will start immediately and the wiper will start with a 
s l i g h t  d e l a y.  T h e  w i n d s c r e e n  w a s h  s y s t e m  w i l l  f u n c t i o n  a s  l o n g  a s  
you hold the lever in this position.
– Release the lever. The wiper then wipes for approximately 4  seconds, and then  in intervals again.
– Release the lever. The washer sy stem stops and the wipers func-
tion.
WARNING
•A worn or dirty wiper blade will obstruct visibility and reduce safety.•Always note the corresponding warnings on  ⇒page 237, “Changing 
windscreen wiper blades”.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.
Fig. 89  Windscreen wiper 
and windscreen wash 
lever: rear window wiper
A6
A6
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