Seat Arona 2018 Owner's Manual

Towing bracket device
Towing bracket device
T o
w
ing bracket device*
Introduction The towing bracket device fitted to your vehi-
cl
e, be it

factory-fitted or a genuine SEAT ac-
cessory, meets all the national technical and
legal requirements for towing.
Your vehicle is fitted with a 13-pin connector
for the electrical connection between the
trailer and the vehicle. If the trailer is equip-
ped with a 7-pin connector you can use the
corresponding adaptor, which is available as
a genuine SEAT accessory.
The maximum authorised towing load is 55
kg. WARNING
● Bef or

e each journey, make sure that the de-
tachable ball joint is properly fitted and se-
cured in its housing.
● If the detachable ball joint is not properly
fitted and secur
ed, do not use it.
● Do not use the towing bracket device for
tow
ing if it is damaged or has missing parts.
● Do not modify or adapt the towing device
connection.
● Never u

nhook the detachable ball joint
when the trail
er is hitched. CAUTION
Handle the detachable ball joint with care in
order t o av

oid damaging the bumper paint-
work. Note
Towing the vehicle with the detachable ball
joint ›

›› page 102. Description
Fig. 222
Towing bracket device support / de-
t ac h

able ball joint / key. Depending on the country or version, the
t
o
w

ing bracket device's detachable ball joint
is located:
● underneath the floor panel of the luggage
compar
tment.
The ball joint is fitted and removed by hand.
The towing device bracket is supplied with a
key.
Key to ››› Fig. 222
13-pin connector
Safety lug
Hook housing
Hook housing cap
Ball protective cover
Detachable ball
Locking lever
Lock cover
Release bolt
Lock
Locking balls
Key Note
Contact an Authorised Service Partner if you
lose y

our key. 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
249
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
Placing in standby position Fig. 223
Step 1. Fig. 224
Step 2. Before assembling it, place the detachable
b
al
l
in the standby position with the follow-
ing two steps. Step 1.
● Turn the key in the direction of arrow 1 un-
ti l
the p

art of the key with the holes reaches
the top position ››› Fig. 223 (arrow).
Step 2.
● Grip the detachable ball below the protec-
tive co
ver.
● Press the release bolt B in the direction of
arr o
w 2 , and at the same time press lever
C in the direction of arrow
3 as far as it will
g o
›
›

› Fig. 224.
The lever will remain blocked in this position. Standby position Fig. 225
Standby position: Position of the lev-
er and the r el
e

ase bolt. Standby position adjusted properly
● Key A
› ›
› Fig. 225
is in the released posi-
tion (the part of the key with the holes is fac-
ing upwards).
● Lever B
› ›
› Fig. 225
is in the bottom posi-
tion.
● The release bolt C
› ›
› Fig. 225
can be
moved.
250

Towing bracket device
Thus adjusted, the detachable ball is ready
f or in
s
tallation. CAUTION
The key cannot be removed or turned in the
st andb

y position. Assembling the detachable ball - Step
1
Fig. 226
Fitting the detachable ball / Release
bo lt
in the dep

loyed position. Fitting the detachable ball
● Remove the hook housing cap 4›››
Fig. 222 down w
ards.
● Set the detachable ball to its standby posi-
tion ›››

page 250.
● Grip the detachable ball from below
›

›› Fig. 226 and insert it into the hook hous- ing following the direction of arrow
1 until it
en g
ag

es audibly ››› .
L ev
er A turns
automatically in the direction
of arr

ow 2 upwards, and the release bolt
B moves outwards (the red and green part will
be
v
i

sible) ››› .
If l
ev
er A does not turn automatically or the
r el
e

ase bolt B does not come out, the de-
t ac
h
able ball should be removed by turning
the lever as far as possible downwards from
the housing cavity, and the detachable ball's
support surfaces and the cavity should then
be cleaned. WARNING
● When attac hin

g the detachable ball, keep
your hands well away from the reach of the
lever's rotation to avoid getting your fingers
caught.
● Never try to pull the lever upwards by force
to turn the k
ey. The detachable ball would not
be secured properly! Assembling the detachable ball - Step
2
Fig. 227
Locking the lock. Fig. 228
Placing the cover over the lock. Do not omit this first step
››
›
page 251, As-
sembling the detachable ball - Step 1 !
● Turn key A in the direction of arrow
1 un-
ti l the p

art of the key with the holes reaches
the bottom position ››› Fig. 227. »
251
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
● Remo
v
e the key in the direction of arrow
2 .
● Place cover B in the lock in the direction
of arr
o

w 3
› ››
Fig. 228
››› .
● Check that the detachable ball is securely
att ac
hed ›

›› page 252, Checking proper at-
tachment. CAUTION
● Aft er r

emoving the key, always place the
cover over the lever's lock. If the lock be-
comes soiled it will be impossible to insert
the key.
● Keep the towing bracket device's housing
cavity
clean at all times. Dirtiness can pre-
vent the detachable ball from being properly
secured!
● If the detachable ball is removed, always
plac
e the cap on the hook's housing. Checking proper attachment
Fig. 229
Detachable ball properly attached. Whenever you go to use the detachable ball,
m
ak
e s

ure that it is properly attached first.
Detachable ball properly attached. ● The detachable ball will not fall out of the
housin
g cavity after a major “knock or jerk”.
● Lever A
› ›
› Fig. 229
is fully raised.
● The release bolt B
› ›
› Fig. 229
is sticking
fully out (the red and green part is visible).
● The key has been removed.
● Cover C
› ›
› Fig. 229
is placed over the lock. WARNING
● When remo v

ing the detachable ball, keep
your hands well away from the reach of the
lever's rotation to avoid getting your fingers
caught. ●
The to w

ing bracket device should only be
used if the detachable ball has been properly
locked! Removing the detachable ball - Step 1
Fig. 230
Removing the lock cover. Fig. 231
Releasing the lock. ●
Remove cover A from the lock in the direc-
tion of arr
o

w 1
› ›
› Fig. 230 .
252

Towing bracket device
● Inser
t
key B into the lock in the direction
of arr
o
w 2
› ››
Fig. 231
.
● T
urn the key in the direction of arrow 3 un-
ti l
the p

art of the key with the holes is facing
upwards. WARNING
Never remove the detachable ball joint when
the trai l

er is hitched. Note
Before you remove the detachable ball, you
are a dv

ised to place the protective cover on
the ball coupling. Removing the detachable ball - Step 2
Fig. 232
Releasing the detachable ball. Do not omit this first step
››
›

page 252, Re-
moving the detachable ball - Step 1 !Releasing the detachable ball
● Grip the detachable ball from below.
● Press the release bolt A in the direction of
arr o
w 1 as far as it will go, and at the same
time pr e
s

s lever B in the direction of arrow
2 as far as it will go.
In thi s
po

sition, the detachable ball is loose
and will fall/drop freely downwards. If this
does not occur when you release it, press it
with the other hand from above.
The detachable ball locks into the standby
position at the same time and is therefore
ready to be reinserted into the hook housing
››› .
● Fit the cap 4
› ›
› Fig. 222
onto its housing. WARNING
Never leave the detachable ball loose in the
lugg ag

e compartment. It could cause damage
in the luggage compartment in the case of
abrupt braking, and even jeopardise passen-
ger safety! CAUTION
● If y

ou hold the lever and do not press down
on it as far as you can, after you remove the
detachable ball, the latter will continue up-
wards and will not lock into the standby posi-
tion. The detachable ball should be placed in
this position before the next assembly. ●
Keep the det ac

hable ball in the standby po-
sition, with the key inserted into the box
while you place it facing downwards with the
side opposite to the one where the key is in-
serted. The key could get damaged!
● When operating the lever, do not apply too
much pre
ssure (for example, do not stand on
it)! Note
Remove any dirt from the detachable ball be-
f or e

you put it away with the vehicle tools. Operation and care
Put the cover on the housing cavity so that
dir
t
c

annot get in.
Before hooking up a trailer, always check the
ball coupling and apply suitable grease if
necessary.
Use the protective cover when putting the de-
tachable ball away to keep the luggage com-
partment clean.
Remove any dirt from the housing cavity sur-
faces and use a suitable cleaning product. CAUTION
The top part of the hook housing is greased.
Mak e s

ure that the grease has not been re-
moved. 253
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
Trailer towing Wh at
do
you need to bear in mind
when towing a trailer? Your vehicle may be used to tow a trailer
when fitted w
ith the c

orrect equipment.
If you wish to retrofit a towing bracket, con-
sult ››› page 257.
Connectors
Your vehicle is fitted with a 13-pin connector
for the electrical connection between the
trailer and the vehicle.
If the trailer has a 7-pin plug you will need to
use an adapter cable. It is available at any
Technical Service.
Trailer weight/drawbar load
Never exceed the authorised trailer weight. If
you do not load the trailer up to the maxi-
mum permitted trailer weight, you can then
climb correspondingly steeper slopes.
The maximum trailer weights listed are only
applicable for altitudes up to 1000 m above
sea level. With increasing altitude the engine
power and therefore the vehicle climbing
ability are impaired because of the reduced
air density. The maximum trailer weight has
to be reduced accordingly. The weight of the
vehicle and trailer combination must be re- duced by 10% for every further 1000 m (or
par
t

thereof). The gross combination weight
is the actual weight of the laden vehicle plus
the actual weight of the laden trailer. When
possible, operate the trailer with the maxi-
mum permitted drawbar load on the ball joint
of the towing bracket, but do not exceed the
specified limit.
The figures for trailer weights and drawbar
loads that are given on the data plate of the
towing bracket are for certification purposes
only. The correct towing bracket figures for
your specific model, which may be lower than
these figures, are given in the vehicle docu-
mentation or on ››› page 291, Technical
specifications.
Distributing the load
Distribute loads in the trailer so that heavy
objects are as near to the axle as possible.
Loads carried in the trailer must be secured
to prevent them moving.
Tyre pressure
The maximum permissible tyre pressure val-
ues are shown on the sticker on the rear part
of the left front door frame. Set the tyre pres-
sure of the trailer tyres in accordance with the
trailer manufacturer's recommendations. Exterior mirrors
Check whether
you can see enough of the
road behind the trailer with the standard rear
vision mirrors. If this is not the case, you
should have additional exterior mirrors fitted.
Both exterior mirrors should be mounted on
hinged extension brackets. Adjust the mirrors
to give sufficient vision to the rear.
Tow rope
Always use a cable between the vehicle and
the trailer ››› page 255.
Trailer rear lights
The trailer's rear lights should comply with
the statutory safety regulations ››› page 255. WARNING
Never transport people in a trailer. This could
re s

ult in fatal accidents. Note
● To w

ing a trailer places additional demands
on the vehicle. We recommend additional
services between the normal inspection inter-
vals if the vehicle is used frequently for tow-
ing a trailer.
● Find out whether special regulations apply
to to
wing a trailer in your country. 254

Towing bracket device
Hitching and connecting the trailer Fig. 233
Schematic diagram: assignment of
the pins of the trailer's electrical socket.
Key of the Schematic diagram ››› Fig. 233:
PinMeaning
1Left turn signal
2Rear fog light
3Earth, pins 1, 2, 4 to 8
4Right turn signal
5Rear light, right
6Brake lights
7Rear light, left
8Reverse lights
9Permanent live
10Cable without positive charge
11Earth, pin 10
Key of the Schematic diagram ››› Fig. 233:
PinMeaning
12Unassigned
13Earth, pin 9 Electrical socket for trailer
The v
ehic

le is fitted with a 13-pole power
socket for the electrical connection between
the trailer and the vehicle. If the system de-
tects that a trailer has been connected elec-
trically, the electrical equipment on the trailer
will receive voltage through this connection.
Pin 9 has a permanent live. This powers, for
example, the trailer's interior lighting. Pin 10
is only powered when the engine is running.
The charge wire (pin 10) charges, for exam-
ple, a caravan battery.
Pin 9 and 10 should not be connected to
each other to avoid discharging or damaging
the vehicle's battery.
The earth wires, pin 3, pin 11 and pin 13,
should never be connected to each other to
avoid overloading the electrical system.
If the trailer has a 7-contact connector , you
will need to use an adapter cable. In this case
the function corresponding to pin 10 will not
be available. Trailer maximum electricity consumption
Brake lights (total)84 Watts
Turn signal, on each side42 Watts
Side lights (total)100 Watts
Rear lights (total)42 Watts
Rear fog light42 Watts
Never exceed the values indicated!
Note
● If the r e

ar lights of the trailer are not cor-
rectly connected, the vehicle electronics may
be damaged.
● If the trailer absorbs excessive electric cur-
rent, the v
ehicle electronics may be dam-
aged.
● Never connect the trailer's electric system
directly t
o the electrical connections of the
tail lights or any other power sources. Only
use the connections intended for providing
electric current to the trailer. Ball coupling of towing bracket de-
v
ic
e* The ball coupling is provided with instruc-
tion
s
on fittin

g and removing the ball cou-
pling of the towing bracket. »
255
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
WARNING
The towing bracket ball coupling must be
st or
ed securely in the luggage compartment
to prevent them being flung through the vehi-
cle and causing injury. Note
● By l

aw, the ball coupling must be removed
if a trailer is not being towed if it obscures
the number plate. Driving with a trailer
Fig. 234
Turn the 13-pin connector. Before driving
●
Grip the 13-pin connector at area A and
r emo
v

e it in the direction of the arrow
››› Fig. 234.
● Remove the protective cover 5
› ››
Fig. 222
up w

ards.
After driving
● Grip the 13-pin connector at area A and
in ser
t

it in the opposite direction to the arrow
››› Fig. 234.
● Fit the protective cover 5
› ›
› Fig. 222
on
the ball coupling.
Safety lug
The safety lug B
› ›
› Fig. 234
is used to hook
up the trailer's retainer cable.
On hooking it up to the safety lug, the retain-
er cable should have slack in all the trailer
positions with respect to the vehicle (sharp
bends, reverse gear, etc.).
Headlights
The front part of the vehicle may be raised
when the trailer is connected and the light
may dazzle the rest of the traffic.
Adapt the height of the headlights using the
headlight range rotary adjuster 1)
. WARNING
● Never u se the s

afety lug to tow!
● Adjust your speed to suit the road and traf-
fic condition
s.
● All work on the electrical system must be
carried out on
ly by specialised workshops.
● Never connect the trailer's electric system
to the electric
al connections of the rear lights
or any other power sources.
● After hooking up the trailer and connecting
the socket, c
heck that all the trailer's rear
lights are working properly. Note
● If ther e i

s any fault in the trailer's lighting,
check the fuses in the instrument panel fuse
box ›››
 page 62.
● The contact between the retainer cable and
the safety
lug may give rise to mechanical
wear in the lug's surface protection. This
wear will not prevent the safety lug from op-
erating properly or cause any fault and is ex-
cluded from the warranty.
● When connecting and disconnecting the
trail
er, the towing vehicle's handbrake
should be applied. 1)
This does not apply for vehicles with bi-xenon
hea dlights.
256

Towing bracket device
Anti-theft alarm When the vehicle is locked, the alarm is trig-
ger
ed when the el
ectrical connection be-
tween vehicle and trailer is interrupted.
Always turn off the anti-theft alarm system
before connecting or disconnecting a trailer
››› page 138.
Conditions for the integration of a trailer in
the anti-theft alarm system.
● The vehicle is factory-equipped with an an-
ti-theft al

arm system and a towing bracket
device.
● The trailer is connected electrically to the
tow
ing vehicle by the trailer connector.
● The electrical system of the vehicle and the
trail
er are prepared for operation.
● The vehicle is locked with the ignition key
and the anti-theft al
arm system is activated.CAUTION
For technical reasons, trailers fitted with rear
LED lights ar

e not integrated in the anti-theft
alarm system. Driving tips
Driving with a trailer always requires extra
c
ar e. W

eight distribution
The weight di
stribution of a loaded trailer
with an unladen vehicle is very unfavourable.
However, if this cannot be avoided, drive ex-
tra slowly to allow for the unbalanced weight
distribution.
Speed
The stability of the vehicle and trailer is re-
duced with increasing speed. For this reason,
it is advisable not to drive at the maximum
permissible speed in an unfavourable road,
weather or wind conditions. This applies es-
pecially when driving downhill.
You should always reduce speed immediately
if the trailer shows the slightest sign of snak-
ing. Never try to stop the “snaking” by in-
creasing speed.
Always brake in due course. If the trailer has
an overrun brake, apply the brakes gently at
first and then, firmly. This will prevent the
jerking that can be caused by locking of trail-
er wheels. Select a low gear in due course
before going down a steep downhill. This en-
ables you to use the engine braking to slow
down the vehicle.
Reheating
At very high temperatures and during pro-
longed slopes, driving in a low gear and high
engine speed, always monitor the coolant
temperature gauge ››› page 120. Electronic stability control*
The ESC* sys
tem helps to stabilise the trailer
in case of skidding or rocking.
Retrofitting a towing bracket* Fig. 235
Attachment points for towing brack-
et . » 257
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
If a towing bracket is to be fitted after the ve-
hic l
e i
s purchased, this must be completed
according to the instructions of the towing
bracket manufacturer.
The attachment points for the towing bracket A are on the lower part of the vehicle.
The di s
t

ance between the centre of the ball
coupling and the ground should never be
lower than the indicated value, even with a
fully loaded vehicle and including the maxi-
mum drawbar load.
Elevation values for securing the towing
bracket:
Elevation values for securing the towing bracket:
B65 mm (minimum)
C350 mm to 420 mm (fully laden vehicle)
D1,033 mm
E322 mm
F338 mm Fitting a towing bracket
●
Driving with a trailer involves an extra effort
f or the
v

ehicle. Therefore, before fitting a
towing bracket, please contact a Technical
Service to check whether your cooling system
needs modification.
● The legal requirements in your country
must
be observed (e.g. the fitting of a sepa-
rate control lamp). ●
Cert
ain vehicle components, e.g. the rear
bumper, must be removed and reinstalled.
The towing bracket securing bolts must be
tightened using a torque wrench, and a pow-
er socket must be connected to the vehicle
electrical system. This requires specialised
knowledge and tools.
● Figures in the illustration show the eleva-
tion value and the att
achment points which
must be considered if you are retrofitting a
towing bracket. WARNING
The towing brackets should be fitted at a spe-
ci a

lised workshop.
● If the towing bracket is incorrectly instal-
led, there i
s a serious danger of accident.
● For your own safety, please observe the tow
brack
et manufacturer's instructions. CAUTION
● If the po w

er socket is incorrectly installed,
this could cause damage to the vehicle elec-
trical system. Note
● SEA T r

ecommends that the towing hooks
be fitted at a specialised workshop. Consult
your SEAT dealer in case additional modifica-
tions to your vehicle are necessary.
● Due to the specific design of the exhaust,
the fitting of a c
onventional towing hook is not recommended for some sportier versions.
Ple
a

se consult your Technical Service.258