Seat Exeo ST 2011 Owner's manual

119
Lights and visibility
Instrument lighting
The brightness of the instrument lighting, displays and cen-
tre console lighting can be varied as required.
Fig. 88 Instrument panel
lighting
– Press the +
button to increase the brightness.
– Press the -
button to reduce the brightness.
With the ignition switched on
The lighting of the digital displays will adjust automatically, depending on
the ambient light.
With the vehicle's lights switched on
When the vehicle's lights are switched on, the brightness of the instrument
lighting, displays and centre console lighting can be varied by pressing the +
and - buttons. Headlight range control

When the dipped beam headlights are switched on, the
range of the headlights can be adjusted to suit the load of
the vehicle.
Fig. 89 Headlight range
control
– Briefly press the knob  ⇒ fig. 89 to release it from its set posi-
tion.
– Turn the knob to the required setting.
– Press the knob in again to prevent the setting from being
changed unintentionally.
Settings
The settings roughly correspond to the following load conditions: Two front occupants, luggage compartment empty
All seats occupied, luggage compartment empty 
O
1
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

120Lights and visibility
All seats occupied, luggage compartment loaded
Driver only, luggage compartment loaded
CAUTION
Always adjust the headlights to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic. Make sure
you lower the headlights when the vehicle is more heavily laden. 
Dynamic headlight range control
On vehicles with xenon lamps, the headlights automatically adapt to suit
the load being carried when the ignition is switched on and when the vehi-
cle is moving, depending on the load of the vehicle and the type of driving
(e.g. when accelerating and braking). 
2
3Daytime running lights*
The daytime running lights turn on automatically when the
ignition is switched on.
Fig. 90 Daytime running
lights switch
Activating the function
– Briefly press the knob ⇒ fig. 90 to release it from its set posi-
tion.
– Turn the knob to position 1.
– Press the knob in again to prevent the setting from being
changed unintentionally.
Deactivating the function
– Briefly press the knob ⇒ fig. 90 to release it from its set posi-
tion.
– Turn the knob to position 0. 

121
Lights and visibility
– Press the knob in again to prevent the setting from being
changed unintentionally.
This button activates or deactivates the daytime running lights function.
With the function activated, when the ignition is switched on the daytime
running lights are turned on automatically.
Note
Please observe any relevant legal requirements which may apply in your
country. 
Adaptive headlights* (for driving around bends)
When driving around bends, the headlights will light the
most important areas of the road.
Fig. 91 Adaptive head-
lights when driving
The dynamic cornering light gives better illumination of the curve area and
the side of the road when driving around a bend ⇒ fig. 91. The dynamic cor-nering light is controlled automatically depending on the speed and the
steering wheel angle.
The dipped beam headlights are regulated automatically when you drive
around a bend, depending on how far you turn the steering wheel. The two
main headlights move at different angles to avoid that the front of the vehi-
cle is left completely in the dark.
Note
The system operates from a speed of about 10 km/h. 
Hazard warning lights 
The hazard warning lights are used to draw the attention of
other road users to your vehicle in emergencies.
Fig. 92 Centre console:
Switch for hazard warn-
ing lights
– Press the switch
 ⇒ fig. 92 to switch the hazard warning lights
on or off. 
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122Lights and visibility
All four turn signals flash simultaneously when the hazard warning lights
are switched on. The turn signal indicators   and the hazard warning
light indicator  flash at the same time. The hazard warning lights also
work when the ignition is switched off.
In an accident in which the airbags are triggered, the hazard warning lights
are switched on automatically.
Note
You should switch on the hazard warning lights to warn other road users,
e.g.
● When reaching the tail end of a traffic jam
● If your vehicle breaks down or there is an emergency
● If your vehicle is being towed away or if you are towing another vehicle Turn signal
  and main beam headlight lever 
The turn signal and main beam headlight lever also oper-
ates the parking lights and the headlight flasher.
Fig. 93 Turn signal and
main beam headlight lev-
er
The turn signal and main beam headlight lever has the following
functions:
Turn signals  
– Move the lever all the way up to indicate right or all the way
down to indicate left ⇒ fig. 93.
– Move the lever up or down just as far as the point of resistance
and hold it there: the turn signals flash for as long as you hold
the lever (for instance when changing a lane).
– Move the lever briefly up or down as far as the point of resist-
ance and release it to signal briefly (the turn signals flash three
times). 

123
Lights and visibility
Main beam headlights 
– Press the lever forward 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.
Parking light 
– Switch the ignition off.
– Move the lever up or down to turn on the right or left-hand park-
ing lights respectively.
Notes on these functions
● The turn signals only work when the ignition is switched on. The turn
signal lamp  or  flashes in the instrument panel when the turns signals
⇒ page 65 are working.
● The turn signals are cancelled automatically when the steering wheel is
returned to the straight-ahead position.
● The main beam headlights can only be switched on if the dipped beam
headlights are already on. The main beam headlight indicator lamp  then
comes on in the instrument panel.
● The headlight flasher comes on for as long as you pull the lever, even if
no other lights are switched on. The main beam headlight indicator lamp 
then comes on in the instrument panel.
● When the parking lights are switched on, the headlight and the tail light
on one side of the vehicle light up with reduced intensity. The parking lights
will only work with the ignition off.
CAUTION
Never use the main beam headlights or the headlight flasher if this would
dazzle oncoming traffic. 
Interior lights
Front interior lights and glove compartment light
The front interior light also incorporates the reading lights
for the driver and passenger.
Fig. 94 Detail of headlin-
er: front interior lights
The rocker switch A
⇒ fig. 94 for the front interior light has the fol-
lowing functions:
Door light position
– Move switch A
to the centre position. 
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124Lights and visibility
Interior light switched on
–Move switch A
to position I.
Interior light switched off
– Move switch A
to position O.
Front reading lights 
– Press one of the switches B
to turn the left and right reading
lights on and off.
Glove compartment light
– Open the glove compartment on the front passenger side. The
glove compartment light will come on automatically if the side
lights or headlights are switched on, and will go out again
when the glove compartment is closed.
Footwell* and door lighting
– This is switched on when the doors are opened and off when
they are closed.
If the switch is in the courtesy light position, the interior light comes on au-
tomatically when the vehicle is unlocked or the doors are opened. The light
also comes on when the key is pulled out of the ignition. The light turns off
about 30 seconds after closing the doors. The interior light is switched off
immediately when the vehicle is locked or when the ignition is switched on.
If a door is left open, the light is switched off after about 10 minutes to pre-
vent the battery from running flat.
The brightness of the lights is automatically adjusted by a dimmer when
they are switched on. Ambient lighting*
The ambient lighting illuminates a number of important
controls.
Fig. 95 Detail of headlin-
er: ambient lighting
The lights in the door handles come on automatically when the ignition is
switched on.
The lighting above the windscreen* also comes on when the side lights or
headlights are switched on. The centre console is illuminated from above.
The background lighting cannot be switched off manually. 

125
Lights and visibility
Rear reading lights
Fig. 96 Detail of headlin-
er: rear reading lights
The reading lights are switched on and off with the switches 
.Luggage compartment light
Fig. 97 Detailed view of
the top of the luggage
compartment: luggage
compartment lighting
The light is in the upper part of the luggage compartment.
The light ⇒ fig. 97 switches on automatically when the tailgate is opened.
The luggage compartment light is switched off automatically if the tailgate
is left open for more than 10 minutes. 
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126Lights and visibility
Visibility
Heated rear window 
The rear window heating clears the rear window of conden-
sation.
Fig. 98 Switch for heat-
ed rear window
– Press button 
to switch the rear window heating on or off
⇒ fig. 98.
The heated rear window only works when the ignition is switched on. An in-
dicator lamp on the button lights up when the rear window heater is switch-
ed on.
The heated rear window switches off automatically after about 10 minutes if
the outside temperature is above 0 °C.
Depending on the outside temperature, the exterior mirrors are also heated
while the heated rear window is turned on. The exterior mirror heating is not activated in temperatures above approxi-
mately 20 °C.
For the sake of the environment
Switch off the heated rear window as soon as the rear window has demis-
ted. By saving electrical power you can also save fuel. 
Sun visors
The sun visors can improve visibility and contribute to safe-
ty.
Fig. 99 Sun visor
The sun visors 1
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. 99.
The vanity mirrors in the sun visor have covers. On opening the cover 2
,
the mirror light* located in the headliner is automatically switched on. The 

127
Lights and visibility
light switches itself off when the cover is closed and when the sun visor is
pushed back up. 
Sun blind*
The rear side windows are fitted with sun blinds.
Fig. 100 Sun blind ex-
tended to cover rear side
window
Sun blind (rear side windows)
– Pull out the blind and hook it into the hooks at the top of the
door frame ⇒ fig. 100. Windscreen wipers
Windscreen wipers 
The windscreen wiper lever controls the windscreen wipers
and the automatic wash and wipe.
Fig. 101 Windscreen
wiper lever
The windscreen wiper lever ⇒ fig. 101 has the following settings:
Short wipe
– Move the lever down to position 1
to give the windscreen a
short wipe.
Intermittent wipe  / Rain sensor* (activate)
– Move the lever up to position 2
.
– Move the switch A
up or down to set the wiper intervals. 
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128Lights and visibility
–In vehicles equipped with a rain sensor*, you can move the
switch A
up and down to set the sensitivity of the rain sensor.
Slow wipe
– Move the lever up to position 3
.
Continuous wipe
– Move the lever up to position 4
.
Automatic wash and wipe
– Pull the lever towards the steering wheel, 5
, to activate the
windscreen washer.
– Release the lever. The washer will stop and the wipers will keep
running for approximately 4 seconds.
Deactivating the windscreen wiper
– Pull the lever to basic position 0
.
General notes
The washers and wipers will work only when the ignition is switched on.
If you stop briefly, e.g. at traffic lights, the wiper speed will automatically be
reduced. The rain sensor* will automatically be set to the intermittent wipe
function.
The windscreen washer jets are heated when the ignition is switched on.
The wiper intervals in the intermittent wipe setting are also varied automati-
cally according to the road speed (in addition to the manual delay setting).
When the lights are switched on you should only pull the lever briefly to
wash the windscreen, otherwise the headlight washers* will also be ena-
bled. This will use an unnecessary amount of fluid from the reservoir. Rain sensor
The rain sensor* will only function in the intermittent wipe position. The in-
termittent wipe function is enabled automatically when it starts to rain.
If the windscreen wiper lever was in the intermittent wipe position when the
ignition was off, the rain sensor will not activate until you reach a speed of 6
km/h.
Use switch
A
to set the sensitivity of the rain sensor*.
If you have selected a high sensitivity level for the rain sensor the wind-
screen wipers will react sooner to any moisture on the windscreen.
The wiper intervals in the intermittent wipe setting are also varied automati-
cally according to the road speed (in addition to the sensitivity setting).
WARNING
● For correct visibility and safe driving, the wiper must be in perfect
condition ⇒ page 215. Failure to do so could result in an accident.
● The rain sensor* is only intended to assist the driver. The driver is
still obliged to manually operate the windscreen wipers as required de-
pending on visibility.
● Do not use water-repellent coatings on the windscreen. In bad visibili-
ty conditions such as light rain, low sun or when driving at night, these
coatings can cause increased dazzle, which is a serious safety hazard.
Such coatings can also cause the wiper blades to make noise.
CAUTION
● In the event of frost, check that the wiper blade has not frozen before
activating the windscreen wipers. Should the windscreen wiper system be
enabled when the blade is frozen, this could damage it or even the wind-
screen wiper system motor.
● Make sure you switch off the windscreen wiper system (lever in position
0) before you use an automatic car wash. This will avoid inadvertent trigger-
ing of the wipers and possible damage to the wiper system. 