brake fluid Seat Exeo 2012 User Guide

195
Driving and the environment
WARNING (Continued)
● On steep slopes, if brakes are excessively used, they will overheat.
Before driving down a long steep slope, it is advisable to reduce speed
and change down into a lower gear or range (depending on the type of
transmission). This makes use of engine braking and relieves the brakes.
● Never let the brakes “drag” by applying light pressure. Continuous
braking will cause the brakes to overheat and the braking distance will
increase. Apply and then release the brakes alternately.
● Never let the vehicle run with the engine switched off. The braking
distance is increased considerably when the brake servo is not active.
● If the brake fluid loses its viscosity and is subjected to heavy use, va-
pour bubbles can form in the brake system. This reduces the efficiency of
the brakes.
● Non-standard or damaged front spoilers could restrict the airflow to
the brakes and cause them to overheat. Before purchasing accessories
please observe the relevant instructions ⇒ page 221, Technical modifi-
cations.
● If a brake circuit fails, the braking distance will be increased consider-
ably. Contact a specialised workshop immediately and avoid unnecessa-
ry journeys.

Exhaust gas purification system Catalytic converter*
To maintain the useful life of the catalytic converter
– Use only unleaded petrol with petrol engines, as lead damages
the catalytic converter.
– Do not let the fuel get too low in the tank. –
For engine oil changes, do not replenish with too much engine
oil ⇒ page 230.
– Never tow the vehicle to start it, use jump leads if necessary
⇒ page 285.
If you notice misfiring, uneven running or loss of power when the vehicle is
moving, reduce speed immediately and have the vehicle inspected at the
nearest specialised workshop. In general, the exhaust gas warning lamp
will light up when any of the described symptoms occur ⇒ page 66. If this
happens, unburnt fuel can enter the exhaust system and escape into the en-
vironment. The catalytic converter can also be damaged by overheating.
WARNING
The catalytic converter reaches very high temperatures! There is a risk of
fire.
● Never park where the catalytic converter could come into contact with
dry grass or flammable materials under the vehicle.
● Do not apply additional underseal or anti-corrosion coatings to the
exhaust pipes, catalytic converter or the heat shields on the exhaust sys-
tem. These materials could catch fire when the vehicle is being driven.
CAUTION
Never run the fuel tank completely dry because the irregularity of the fuel
supply may cause ignition problems. This allows unburnt fuel to enter the
exhaust system, which could cause overheating and damage the catalytic
converter.
For the sake of the environment
Even when the emission control system is working perfectly, there may be a
smell of sulphur from the exhaust gas under some conditions. This depends
on the sulphur content of the fuel used. Quite often the problem can be
solved by changing to another brand of fuel. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

209
Vehicle maintenance and cleaning
Vehicle maintenance and cleaning General notes
Regular washing and care help maintain the value of your
vehicle.Vehicle maintenance
Regular care and washing help to maintain the value of the vehicle. This
may also be one of the requirements for acknowledging warranty claims in
the event of bodywork corrosion or paint defects.
The best way to protect your vehicle against the harmful effects of the envi-
ronment is through correct maintenance and frequent washing. The longer
substances such as insect remains, bird droppings, resinous tree sap, road
dirt, industrial deposits, tar, soot or road salt and other aggressive materi-
als remain on the vehicle, the more damage they do to the paintwork. High
temperatures (for instance in strong sunlight) further intensify the corrosive
effect.
After winter, a period when salt is put on the roads, it is important to have
the underside of the vehicle washed thoroughly.
Products for vehicle maintenance
Car care products are available in your Technical Services. Keep the product
instructions until you have used them up.
WARNING
● Car care products can be toxic. Because of this, they must always be
kept closed in their original container. Keep them out of the reach of chil-
dren. Failure to comply could result in poisoning.
● Always read and observe the instructions and warnings on the pack-
age before using vehicle care products. Improper use could cause health
problems or damage the vehicle. The use of certain products may pro-
duce noxious vapours; they should be used in well ventilated areas.
● Never use fuel, turpentine, engine oil, nail varnish remover or other
volatile fluids. These are toxic and highly flammable. Risk of fire and ex-
plosion.
● Before washing your vehicle, or carrying out any maintenance, switch
the engine off, apply the handbrake firmly and remove the key from the
ignition.
CAUTION
Never attempt to remove dirt, mud or dust if the surface of the vehicle is dry.
Never use a dry cloth or sponge for cleaning purposes. This could damage
the paintwork or the windows of your vehicle. Soak dirt, mud or dust with
plenty of water.
For the sake of the environment
● When purchasing products for your vehicle maintenance, select the
ones which are not harmful to the environment.
● The waste from car care products should not be disposed of with ordina-
ry household waste. Observe the disposal information on the package. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

227
Checking and refilling levels
Opening the bonnet
Fig. 168 Release catch
under the bonnet
Before opening the bonnet make sure that the windscreen wiper
arms are not lifted away from the glass. Otherwise the paint may
be damaged.
– Lift the bonnet slightly ⇒ 
.
– Press the release catch under the bonnet upwards ⇒ Fig. 168.
This will release the arrester hook under the bonnet.
– Open the bonnet.
The bonnet is held in position by a gas-filled strut.
WARNING
Never open the bonnet if you see steam or drips of coolant being re-
leased from the engine compartment. Failure to comply could result in
burns. Wait until no steam or coolant can be seen before opening the
bonnet.
 Work in the engine compartment
Extra caution is necessary when working on components in
the engine compartment.
Always be aware of the danger of injury and scalding as well as the risk of
accident or even fire when working in the engine compartment (e.g. when
checking and refilling fluids). Always observe the warnings listed below
and follow all general safety precautions. The engine compartment of the
vehicle is a potentially hazardous area ⇒ 
WARNING
● Switch the engine off.
● Remove the ignition key.
● Apply the handbrake firmly.
● If your vehicle is equipped with a manual gearbox, place the gear lev-
er in neutral. If you are driving an automatic vehicle, place the selector
lever in position P.
● Wait for the engine to cool down.
● Children should not be allowed to approach the engine compartment.
● Never spill liquids used for vehicle operation on the engine compart-
ment, as these may catch fire (e.g. coolant).
● Take care not to cause short circuits in the electrical system, especial-
ly when working on the battery.
● Never touch the radiator fan while the engine is hot, as the fan could
start up suddenly.
● Never open the expansion tank when the engine is hot. The cooling
system is under pressure.
● Protect face, hands and arms from any hot steam or hot coolant fluid
released by covering the cap with a large, thick rag when opening the ex-
pansion tank. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

236Checking and refilling levels
WARNING
Do not drive unless you have good visibility through all windows!
● The ignition must not be switched on while the front wiper arms are
in a raised position. The wipers would return to their park position and
damage the paintwork on the bonnet.
● To prevent smearing on the windscreen, the wiper blades should be
cleaned regularly using a window cleaner solution. If the wiper blades
are very dirty (e.g. insects etc.), they should be cleaned using a sponge
or cloth. Failure to do so could result in an accident.
● For safety reasons, the wiper blades should be changed once or twice
a year.
CAUTION
● Damaged or dirty windscreen wipers could scratch the windscreen.
● Never use fuel, nail varnish remover, paint thinner or similar products to
clean the windows. This could damage the windscreen wiper blades.
● Never move the windscreen wiper or windscreen wiper arm manually.
This could cause damage.
● Do not pull the windscreen wipers forward unless they are in the service
position. Otherwise the bonnet could be damaged. Brake fluid
Checking the brake fluid level
The brake fluid level can be checked visually.
Fig. 175 Engine com-
partment: markings on
brake fluid reservoir
The brake fluid level must be between the “Min” and “Max” ⇒ Fig. 175
markings.
The fluid level may drop slightly after a period of time due to the automatic
compensation for brake pad wear. This is quite normal.
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. If the fluid level in
the reservoir is too low, this will be indicated by the brake warning lamp
⇒  page 71 and
⇒ page 78. If this should happen,
take the vehicle to a spe-
cialised workshop immediately and have the brake system inspected. 

237
Checking and refilling levels
Topping up and changing the brake fluid
It is best to have the brake fluid changed by a professional. Brake fluid absorbs moisture. Therefore, in the course of time it will absorb
water from the air. If the water content in the brake fluid is too high, the
brake system could corrode. In addition, the boiling point of the brake fluid
will be considerably reduced. This could adversely affect the braking ability
in certain circumstances.
For this reason the brake fluid must be changed periodically.
Your vehicle's Service Plan will tell you when the brake fluid has to be re-
newed.
We recommend you have the brake fluid changed as part of a regular In-
spection Service at a Technical Service. They are familiar with the procedure
and have the necessary special tools and spare parts as well as the proper
facilities for disposing of the old fluid.
Be sure to always use the correct brake fluid. Only use brake fluid that ex-
pressly meets VW 501 14 standards.
You can buy VW 501 14 standard brake fluid in a SEAT dealership or SEAT
Official Service. 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 operation of the brake system and reduce its effectiveness. Never use
a brake fluid if the container 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 must always be kept closed in its original container. Keep
out of the reach of children. Failure to comply could result in poisoning.
● If the brake fluid is left in the system for too long and the brakes are
subjected to heavy use, vapour bubbles may form in the brake system.
This would seriously affect the efficiency of the brakes and the safety of
the vehicle, leading to the risk of accident.
CAUTION
Please note that brake fluid will attack the paintwork on contact.
For the sake of the environment
The brake pads and fluid must be collected and disposed of according the
applicable regulations. The SEAT Technical Service network has the neces-
sary equipment and qualified personnel for collecting and disposing of this
waste material. 
Vehicle battery General notes
All work on batteries requires specialist knowledge.
The battery is virtually maintenance-free and is checked in the Inspection
Services.
We recommend replacing the battery after 5 years. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

246Wheels and tyres
Wheel balance
The wheels on new vehicles are balanced. However, various factors encoun-
tered in normal driving can cause them to become unbalanced, which re-
sults in steering vibration.
Unbalanced wheels should be rebalanced, as they otherwise cause exces-
sive wear on steering, suspension and tyres. A wheel must also be reba-
lanced when a new tyre is fitted.
Incorrect wheel alignment
Incorrect wheel alignment causes excessive tyre wear, impairing the safety
of the vehicle. If tyres show excessive wear, you should have the wheel
alignment checked by a Technical Service.
WARNING
There is a serious danger of accidents if a tyre bursts during driving!
● The tyres must be replaced at the latest when the tread wear indica-
tors are worn ⇒ page 245. Failure to do so could result in an accident.
Worn tyres do not grip well at high speeds on wet roads. There is also a
greater risk of aquaplaning.
● At continuously high speeds, a tyre with insufficient pressure flexes
more. This causes it to overheat. This can cause tread separation and tyre
blow-out. Risk of accident. Always observe the recommended tyre pres-
sures.
● If tyres show excessive wear, you should have the running gear
checked by a Technical Service.
● Keep chemicals such as oil, fuel and brake fluid away from tyres.
● Damaged wheels and tyres must be replaced immediately!
For the sake of the environment
Under-inflated tyres will increase fuel consumption. Run-flat tyres*
Run-flat tyres allow you to continue driving even with a
punctured tyre, in the majority of cases.
In vehicles that are factory-fitted with run-flat tyres 1)
the loss of tyre
pressure is indicated on the instrument panel.
Driving with run-flat tyres (emergency running)
– Leave the ESC/ASR on (Electronic Stability Control), or switch it
on ⇒  page 69.
– Continue driving carefully and slowly (80 km/h maximum).
– Avoid sudden manoeuvres and sharp turns.
– Avoid driving over obstacles (for example kerbs) or potholes.
– Pay attention if the ESC/ASR activates often, if smoke comes
from the tyres or there is a smell of rubber, if the vehicle vi-
brates or there are clattering noises. If any of these occur, stop
the vehicle.
The run-flat tyres have a tag on the side of the tyre, with the description:
“DSST”, “Eufonia”, “RFT”, “ROF”, “RSC”, “SSR” or “ZP”.
The sides of this type of tyre are reinforced. When the tyres lose air they are
supported on the sides (emergency driving).
The loss of pressure in the tyre is shown on the instrument panel. You can
then drive a maximum of 80 km and if the circumstances are favourable (for
example, low load), even more. 
1)
Depending upon version and country.

296Technical specifications
Technical specifications
Engine specifications Checking fluid levels
From time to time, the levels of the different fluids in the ve-
hicle must be checked. Never fill with incorrect fluids, other-
wise serious damage to the engine may be caused.
Fig. 233 Diagram for the location of the various elements Vehicle battery
Engine oil filler cap
Brake fluid reservoir
Engine oil dipstick
1
234
Coolant expansion tank
Windscreen washer fluid container
Hydraulic fluid reservoir for power steering
The checking and refilling of service fluids are carried out on the compo-
nents mentioned above. These operations are described in the ⇒ page 227.
Overview
You will find further explanations, instructions and restrictions on the tech-
nical specifications as of ⇒ page 292.
Note
The layout of parts may vary depending on the engine. 
567

Bonnet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226Closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Releasing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Brake light Failure control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Brake pads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194 Brake assist system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Worn brake pads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Brake servo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Brake system Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Brake servo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Malfunction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Braking distance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Bulb change general notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
C
Car care Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Catalytic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
CCS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Central locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99 Manual locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Sunroof: opening and closing . . . . . . . . . . 113
Central locking system Anti-theft security system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Locking and unlocking the vehicle from in-
side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Opening and closing the windows . . . . . . 111
Rear lid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Security central locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Switch on the driver door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Unlocking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Cetane number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Changing tail light bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Changing the main headlight bulb Main headlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Changing the main headlight bulbs Dipped beam headlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Changing the tail lights Luggage compartment lights . . . . . . . . . . 284
Changing windscreen wiper blades . . . . . . . . 235
Chassis number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Checklist Seat upholstery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Childproof lock Rear doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Child safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Child safety seat ISOFIX system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Child seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Categorisation in groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Group 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Group 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Group 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Groups 0 and 0+ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Securing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Child seats
on the front passenger seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Cigarette lighter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Cleaning alloy wheel rims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Cleaning chrome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Cleaning engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Cleaning steel wheel rims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Cleaning windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Clock, setting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Coat hooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Cockpit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Compartments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152 In the door trim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
In the front seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Coolant Checking the level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Coolant fluid Topping up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Cooling system Coolant temperature gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Malfunction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Correct adjustment of front seat head re- straints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Correct adjustment of rear seat head restraints In-use and non-use positions . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Correct sitting position Front passenger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Incorrect sitting position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Cruise control system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 Adjust the stored speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Deactivating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
306 Index

Engine management (EPC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Exhaust emission control system . . . . . . . . 66
Handbrake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Red symbols in central display . . . . . . . . . . 78
Seat belt warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Yellow symbols on central display . . . . . . . 80
Warning lamps - overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Washer fluid level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Washing by hand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Washing the vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Washing with high pressure cleaners . . . . . . . 211
Wear indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Wearing suitable shoes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Wheel bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295 Tightening torque . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241, 295 Changing a wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Why assume the correct sitting position? . . . . . 28
Why should head restraints be correctly adjus- ted? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Why wear seat belts? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18, 19, 28
Windows Defrosting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Windscreen washer system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Windscreen wiper blades Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Windscreen wipers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 Changing blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Rain sensor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Washer jets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Winter Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237 Winter conditions
Defrost function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Winter driving Diesel engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Winter operation Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Winter tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Wiper and washer system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Wooden trim cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
313
Index