heating Seat Altea XL 2012 User Guide

154Seats and storage compartments
CAUTION
Hard objects on the shelf could chafe against the wires of the heating ele-
ment in the rear window and cause damage.
Note
The ventilation slots in front of the rear side windows must not be covered
as this would prevent stale air being extracted from the vehicle. 
Retractable rear shelf
Fig. 124 Using the rear
shelf
Fig. 125 Removing the
rear shelf
Using the rear shelf
– Use the handle A
to pull the shelf back until you hear a “click”
⇒ fig. 124.
– Press the area marked “PRESS”, and the cover is retrieved auto-
matically.
To remove the rear shelf
– Press the side pin in the direction of the arrow, lift the cover and
remove it ⇒ fig. 125.
– Installation is done in the reverse order.
WARNING
Do not place heavy or hard objects on the rear shelf, because they will
endanger the vehicle occupants in case of sudden braking. 

157
Air conditioning
Air conditioning Heating
Operating instructions
Fig. 128 Heating controls on the dash panel
– Using the controls ⇒ fig. 128 1
and 4 and the control 5 you
can set the temperature, air distribution and the blower speed.
– To switch a function on or off, press the appropriate button 2
or 3. When the function is activated, the display window in the
lower left of the button is lit.
Temperature
With the regulator 1
the heating level is determined. The required temper-
ature inside the vehicle cannot be lower than the ambient temperature.
Maximum heat output, which is needed to defrost the windows quickly, is
only available when the engine has reached its operating temperature. Heated rear window 
This function
2
will be switched off automatically approximately
20 mi-
nutes after being switched on. It can also be switched off beforehand by
pushing the button
Air recirculation mode 
Air recirculation mode 3
prevents strong odours in the outside air from en-
tering the vehicle interior, for example when passing through a tunnel or in
queuing traffic ⇒ 
.
With low outside temperatures, the air recirculation increases the effective-
ness of the heating system by heating the air inside the vehicle rather than
the air from outside. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

158Air conditioning
Air distribution
Control 4
for setting the flow of air in the required direction.
 – Air distribution towards the windscreen. If the windscreen air output is
on and the air recirculation mode is pressed, this remains active. When the
recirculation mode is on, if the air distribution towards the windscreen
mode is selected, the recirculation mode is deactivated. For safety reasons,
the air recirculation mode should not be connected.
 – Air distribution to the upper body
 – Air distribution to footwell
 – Air distribution to the windscreen and the footwell
Blower
The air flow can be set at four speeds with the control 5
. The air flow
should always be set at the lowest speed when driving slowly.
WARNING
● For road safety all windows must be clear of ice, snow, and condensa-
tion. This is essential to ensure good visibility. Please familiarise your-
self with the correct operation of the heating and ventilation system, in-
cluding the anti-fog/defrost functions for the windscreens.
● In air recirculation mode, no cold air from the outside enters the vehi-
cle interior. The windows can quickly fog over if the heating is switched
off. Therefore, never leave the air recirculation mode switched on for a
long time (risk of accident).
Note
Please observe the general notes ⇒ page 167. 

159
Air conditioning
Climatic* Controls
Fig. 129 On the dash panel: Climatic controls
The climatic or semi-automatic air conditioning system only works
when the engine is running and the blower is switched on.
– Use the knobs ⇒ fig. 129 1
and 5 and control 6 to set the
temperature, air distribution and blower speed.
– To switch a function on or off, press the appropriate button 2
,
3 or 4. When the function is activated, the display window in
the lower corner of the button is lit.
Temperature selector ⇒  page 160
AC
button – Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system on/off
⇒  page 160
12
 button – Heated rear window The heating will be switched off auto-
matically approximately 20 minutes after switching on. It can also be
switched off beforehand by pushing the button.
Button 
– Air recirculation mode ⇒ page 161
Air distribution control ⇒ page 160
Blower switch. There are four speed settings for the air flow. The air
flow should always be set at the lowest speed when driving slowly.
WARNING
For road safety all windows must be clear of ice, snow, and condensation.
This is essential to ensure good visibility. Please familiarise yourself with
the correct operation of the heating and ventilation system, including the
anti-fog/defrost functions for the windscreens. 
3
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160Air conditioning
Note
Please observe the general notes ⇒ page 167. 
Heating and cooling the interior
Fig. 130 On the dash panel: Climatic controls
Interior heating
– Turn the temperature selector ⇒ fig. 130 1
clockwise to select
the required temperature.
– Turn the blower switch to one of the settings 1-4.
– Set the air distribution control to the air flow configuration de-
sired: 
(towards the windscreen),  (towards the chest), (towards the footwell) and  (towards the windscreen and
footwell areas). Interior cooling
–
Switch on the air conditioner using the button ⇒ fig. 129 AC
.
– Turn the temperature selector anti-clockwise until the desired
cooling output is reached.
– Turn the blower switch to one of the settings 1-4.
– Use the air distribution control to guide the flow of air in the re-
quired direction: 
(to the windscreen),  (to the upper
body),  (to the footwell) and  (to the windscreen and to the
footwell). 

161
Air conditioning
Heating
Maximum heat output, which is needed to defrost the windows quickly, is
only available when the engine has reached its operating temperature.
Air conditioner
When the air conditioning system is switched on, not only the temperature,
but also the air humidity in the vehicle interior is reduced. This improves
comfort for the vehicle occupants and prevents misting of the windows
when the ambient air humidity is high.
If the air conditioning system cannot be switched on this may be caused by
the following reasons: ●
The engine is not running.
● The blower is switched off.
● The outside temperature is below +3 °C.
● The air conditioning system compressor has been temporarily switched
off because the engine coolant temperature is too high.
● The air conditioner fuse is faulty.
● Another fault in the vehicle. Have the air conditioner checked by a speci-
alised workshop. 
Air recirculation mode 
Air recirculation mode prevents fumes or unpleasant smells from coming from the outside.
Fig. 131 On the dash panel: Climatic controls

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162Air conditioning
Air recirculation mode ⇒ fig. 131 
prevents strong odours in the outside
air from entering the vehicle interior, for example when passing through a
tunnel or in queuing traffic.
With low temperatures outside, the air recirculation increases the effective-
ness of the heating system by warming the air inside the vehicle rather than
the cold air from outside.
With high outside temperatures, the air recirculation increases the effective-
ness of the air conditioning system by cooling the air inside the vehicle
rather than the ambient air.
If the windscreen air output is on and the air recirculation mode is pressed,
this remains active. When the recirculation mode is on, if the air distribution towards the windscreen mode is selected, the recirculation mode is deacti-
vated. For safety reasons, the air recirculation mode should not be connec-
ted.
WARNING
In air recirculation mode, no cold air from the outside enters the vehicle
interior. If the air conditioning system is switched off, the windows can
quickly mist over. Therefore, never leave the air recirculation mode
switched on for a long time (risk of accident).


163
Air conditioning
2C-Climatronic*
Controls
The controls allow separate adjustment of air conditioner settings for the left and right.
Fig. 132 On the dash panel: 2C Climatronic controls
The air conditioner controls the temperature when the engine is
running and the blower is switched on.
– Turn the temperature control knobs ⇒ fig. 132 to adjust the
temperature on the left hand side or the right hand side respec-
tively.
– The functions will be switched on when its buttons are pressed.
When these functions are activated, they are indicated on the
radio display. In addition, all these functions are lit with LEDs.
Press the button again to switch off the function.
The temperature can be adjusted separately for the left and right sides of
the vehicle interior. Button

– defrost function for the windscreen. The air drawn in from
outside the vehicle is directed at the windscreen. The air recirculation
mode, if switched on, will be switched off as soon as the defrost func-
tion is switched on. At temperatures over 3 °C, the air conditioning sys-
tem will be switched on automatically in order to dehumidify the air.
The button is lit in yellow and the symbol appears on the radio or navi-
gator display.

button – Upward air distribution
 button – Central air distribution
 button – Downward air distribution
 button – Manual air recirculation mode
 button – Heated rear window The heating will be switched off auto-
matically approximately 20 minutes after switching on. However, it may 
1
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164Air conditioning
be turned off by pushing the button. The button lights up yellow and
the symbol appears in the display.AUTO
button – Automatic temperature, ventilation and air distribution
control ⇒ page 165
DUAL
button - Dual zone synchroniser
OFF button – Switches the 2C-Climatronic on and off ⇒ page 166
Blower control ⇒ page 166
AC
button – Switches heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system
on
WARNING
For road safety all windows must be clear of ice, snow, and condensation.
This is essential to ensure good visibility. Please familiarise yourself with
the correct operation of the heating and ventilation system, including the
anti-fog/defrost functions for the windscreens.
Note
Please observe the general notes ⇒ page 167. 
7
891011
Viewing Climatronic information
Information about the Climatronic system can be displayed
on the radio or radio and navigation screen mounted at fac-
tory.
Fig. 133 Navigation dis-
play with information
about the Climatronic
Fig. 134 Radio display
with information about
Climatronic


166Air conditioning
Manual mode
In manual mode you can adjust the air temperature, air flow and distribution as required.
Fig. 135 On the dash panel: 2C Climatronic controls.
Switching on manual mode
– To enter manual mode, press one of the buttons ⇒ fig. 135 1
to 5 or press the air flow control 10. The selected function is
shown on the radio or navigator display.
Temperature
There are separate temperature selectors for the left and right sides of the
vehicle interior. The selected temperature is displayed above the selector.
The inside temperature can be set between +18 °C (64 °F) and +26 °C
(80 °F). These are approximate temperatures and the actual temperature
may be slightly higher or lower depending on the ambient conditions.
If a temperature below 18 °C (64 °F) is selected, the display switches to LO
In this setting the system runs at maximum cooling output and the tempera-
ture is not regulated. If a temperature above 26 °C (80 °F) is selected, the display switches to
HI
In this setting the system runs at maximum heating output and the temper-
ature is not regulated.
Blower
The air flow may be adjusted freely using the control 10
. Always have the
blower running at a low setting to ensure a constant flow of fresh air into
the vehicle. Pushing the button  to the minimum -1, turns the Climatronic
off.
Air distribution
The air distribution is adjusted using the buttons 
,  and . It is also
possible to open and close some of the air vents separately.
Switching the air conditioning on and off
When the AC
button is on (LED lit), the air conditioning system is on.
