check engine light Seat Ibiza SC 2011 User Guide

138Driving
Starting and stopping the engine
Starting petrol engines
The engine can only be started using a genuine SEAT key
with its correct code.
– Move the gear lever to the neutral position and depress the
clutch pedal thoroughly and hold it in this position for the start-
er to turn the engine on.
– Turn the ignition key to the starting position ⇒ page 136.
– Let go of the ignition key as soon as the engine starts; the start-
er motor must not run on with the engine.
After starting a very hot engine, you may need to slightly press down the ac-
celerator.
When starting a very cold engine, it may be a little noisy for the first few sec-
onds until oil pressure has built up in the hydraulic valve compensators.
This is quite normal, and no cause for concern.
If the engine does not start immediately, switch the starter off after 10 sec-
onds and try again after half a minute. If the engine still does not start, the
fuel pump fuse should be checked ⇒ page 223, Fuses.
WARNING
● Never start or run the engine in unventilated or closed rooms. The ex-
haust fumes contain carbon monoxide, an odourless and colourless poi-
sonous gas. Risk of fatal accidents. Carbon monoxide can cause loss of
consciousness. It can also cause death.
● Never leave the vehicle unattended if the engine is running.
● Never use “cold start sprays”, they could explode or cause the engine
to run at high revs. Risk of injury.
CAUTION
● When the engine is cold, you should avoid high engine speeds, driving
at full throttle and over-loading the engine. Risk of engine damage.
● The vehicle should not be pushed or towed more than 50 metres to start
the engine. Unburnt fuel could enter the catalytic converter and damage it.
● Before attempting to push-start or tow a vehicle in order to start it, you
should first try to start it using the battery of another vehicle. Note and fol-
low the instructions in ⇒ page 240, Jump-starting.
For the sake of the environment
Do not warm-up the engine by running the engine with the vehicle station-
ary. Start off immediately, driving gently. This helps the engine reach oper-
ating temperature faster and reduces emissions. 

169
Driving and the environment
Drive anticipating the traffic situation
A vehicle uses most fuel when accelerating. When you anticipate the situa-
tion, you have to brake less often and, thus, accelerate less. If it is possible,
let the vehicle roll with a gear engaged, for example, if you see a red light
ahead. The braking effect achieved in this way helps to reduce the wear of
brakes and tyres; emissions and fuel consumption are reduced to zero (dis-
connection due to inertia).
Change gear early to save energy
An effective way of saving fuel is to change up quickly through the gears.
Running the engine at high rpm in the lower gears uses an unnecessary
amount of fuel.
Manual gearbox: Change from first to second gear as quickly as possible.
We recommend that, whenever possible, you change to a higher gear upon
reaching 2000 rpm. Follow the “recommended gear” indication that ap-
pears on the instrument panel ⇒ page 56.
Avoid driving at high speed
We advise you not to drive at the top speed permitted by the vehicle. Fuel
consumption, exhaust emissions and noise levels all increase very rapidly
at higher speeds. Driving at moderate speeds will help to save fuel.
Avoid idling
It is worthwhile switching off the engine when waiting in a traffic jam, at lev-
el crossings or at traffic lights with a long red phase. The fuel saved after
only 30 - 40 seconds is greater than the amount of fuel needed to restart
the engine.
The engine takes a long time to warm up when it is idling. Mechanical wear
and pollutant emissions are also especially high during this initial warm-up
phase. It is therefore best to drive off immediately after starting the engine.
Avoid running the engine at high speed.
Periodic maintenance
Periodic maintenance work guarantees that, before beginning a journey,
you will not consume more than the required amount of fuel. A well-serviced engine gives you the benefit of
improved fuel efficiency as well as maxi-
mum reliability and an enhanced resale value.
A badly serviced engine can consume up to 10% more fuel than necessary.
Avoid short journeys
To reduce the consumption and emission of polluting gases, the engine and
the exhaust filtration systems should reach the optimum service tempera-
ture.
With the engine cold, fuel consumption is proportionally higher. The engine
does not warm up and fuel consumption does not normalise until having
driven approximately four kilometres. This is why we recommend avoiding
short trips whenever possible.
Maintain the correct tyre pressures
Bear in mind that keeping the tyres at an adequate pressure saves fuel. If
the tyre pressure is just one bar too low, fuel consumption can increase by
as much as 5%. Due to the greater rolling resistance, under-inflation also
increases tyre wear and impairs handling.
The tyre pressures should always be checked when the tyres are cold.
Do not use winter tyres all year round as they increase fuel consumption by
up to 10%.
Avoid unnecessary weight
Every kilo of extra weight will put up the fuel consumption, so it is worth
checking the luggage compartment occasionally to make sure that no un-
necessary loads are being transported.
A roof rack is often left in place for the sake of convenience, even when it is
no longer needed. At a speed of 100-120 km/h your vehicle will use about
12% more fuel as a result of the extra wind resistance caused by the roof
rack even when it is not in use. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

195
Checking and refilling levels
Opening the bonnet
The bonnet is released from inside the vehicle.
Fig. 122 Bonnet opening
lever
Fig. 123 Bonnet support
rod
Before opening the bonnet ensure that the windscreen wipers are
in rest position. –
To release the bonnet, pull the lever under the dash panel
⇒ fig. 122 in the direction indicated (arrow). The bonnet will be
released by a spring action ⇒ 
.
– Lift the bonnet using the release lever (arrow) and open the
bonnet.
– Release the bonnet stay and secure it in fixture designed for
this in the bonnet.
WARNING
Hot coolant can scald!
● Never open the bonnet if you see steam, smoke or coolant escaping
from the engine compartment.
● Wait until no more steam, smoke or coolant is emitted from the bon-
net, then carefully open the bonnet.
● When working in the engine compartment, always observe the safety
warnings ⇒ page 193.

Closing the bonnet
– Slightly raise the bonnet
– Release the bonnet stay and replace it in its support.
– At a height of about 30 cm let it fall so it is locked.
If the bonnet does not close, do not press downwards. Open it once more
and let it fall as before. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

202Checking and refilling levels
Washer fluid and windscreen wiper blades
Topping up washer fluid 
The water for cleaning the windscreen should always be
mixed with washer fluid.
Fig. 127 In the engine
compartment: Cap of
windscreen washer fluid
reservoir.
The windscreen washer and the headlight washers are supplied with fluid
from the windscreen washer fluid container in the engine compartment. The
container holds approx. 2 litres; in vehicles with headlight washers* it holds
approx. 4.5 litres.
The tank is in the engine compartment.
Plain water is not enough to clean the windscreen and headlights. We rec-
ommend that you always add a product to the windscreen washer fluid. Ap-
proved windscreen cleaning products exist on the market with high deter-
gent and anti-freeze properties, these may be added all-year-round. Please
follow the dilution instructions on the packaging.
WARNING
Any work carried out in the engine compartment or on the engine must
be carried out cautiously.
● When working in the engine compartment, always observe the safety
warnings ⇒ page 193.
CAUTION
● Never put radiator anti-freeze or other additives into the windscreen
washer fluid.
● Always use approved windscreen cleansing products diluted as per in-
structions. If you use other washer fluids or soap solutions, the tiny holes in
the fan-shaped nozzles could become blocked. 

205
Checking and refilling levels
Removing the wiper blade
– Lift the wiper arm away from the glass ⇒ fig. 130.
– Slide the blade adapter in the direction of the arrow and remove
the blade ⇒ fig. 130.
Fitting the wiper blade
– With one hand, hold the top end of the wiper arm.
– Place the blade as shown in the ⇒ fig. 131 and slide the adapt-
er along until it engages.
Check the condition of the wiper blade regularly. Change as required.
If the windscreen wiper scrapes, it should be replaced if damaged, or
cleaned if soiled.
If this is not sufficient, refer to a specialised workshop.
WARNING
Do not drive unless you have good visibility through all windows!
● Clean the windscreen wiper blades and all windows regularly.
● The wiper blades should be changed once or twice a year.
CAUTION
● A damaged or dirty window wiper could scratch the rear window.
● Never use fuel, nail varnish remover, paint thinner or similar products to
clean the window.
● Never move the windscreen wiper by hand. This could cause damage. Brake fluid
Checking the brake fluid level
The brake fluid is checked at the intervals given in the serv-
ice schedule.
Fig. 132 In the engine
compartment: Brake fluid
reservoir cover
– Read off the fluid level at the transparent brake fluid reservoir. It
should always be between the “MIN” and “MAX” marks.
The position of the brake fluid reservoir is shown in the corresponding en-
gine compartment illustration ⇒ page 250. The brake fluid reservoir has a
black and yellow cap.
The brake fluid level drops slightly when the vehicle is being used as the
brake pads are automatically adjusted as they wear.
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. A display on the
instrument panel will warn you if the brake fluid level is too low ⇒ page 61.
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

208Checking and refilling levels
CAUTION
● Never disconnect the battery if the ignition is switched on or if the en-
gine is running. This could damage the electrical system or electronic com-
ponents.
● Do not expose the battery to direct sunlight over a long period of time,
as the intense ultraviolet radiation can damage the battery housing.
● If the vehicle is left standing in cold conditions for a long period, protect
the battery from freezing. If it freezes it will be damaged. 
Checking the electrolyte level
The electrolyte level should be checked regularly in high-
mileage vehicles, in hot countries and in older batteries. – Open the engine bonnet and the battery cover ⇒ 
in Safety in-
structions on working in the engine compartment on page 194
⇒ 
in Warnings on handling the battery on page 207. For vehi-
cles with the battery under the spare wheel, open the tailgate
and lift the floor covering. The battery is located next to the
spare wheel.
– Check the colour display in the "magic eye" on the top of the
battery.
– If there are air bubbles in the window, tap the window gently
until they disperse.
The position of the battery is shown in the corresponding engine compart-
ment diagram ⇒ page 250. The location of the battery in the luggage com-
partment can be seen in ⇒ fig. 175.
The “magic eye” indicator, located on the top of the battery changes colour,
depending on the charge state and electrolyte level of the battery. There are two different colours:
●
Black: correct charge status.
● Transparent/clear yellow: the battery must be replaced. Contact a spe-
cialist workshop. 
Charging and changing the vehicle battery
The battery is maintenance-free and is checked during the
inspection service. All work on the vehicle battery requires
specialist knowledge.
If you often drive short distances or if the vehicle is not driven for long peri-
ods, the battery should be checked by a specialised workshop between the
scheduled services.
If the battery has discharged and you have problems starting the vehicle,
the battery might be damaged. If this happens, we recommend you have
the vehicle battery checked by an Authorised Service Centre where it will be
re-charged or replaced.
Charging the battery
The vehicle battery should be charged by a specialised workshop only, as
batteries using special technology have been installed and they must be
charged in a controlled environment.
Replacing a vehicle battery
The battery has been developed to suit the conditions of its location and
has special safety features.
Genuine SEAT batteries fulfil the maintenance, performance and safety
specifications of your vehicle. 

216If and when
If you have a puncture on one of the front wheels when using snow chains,
fit the compact temporary spare in place of one of the rear wheels. You can
then attach the snow chains to the wheel taken from the rear and use this
wheel to replace the punctured front wheel.
WARNING
● The tyre pressures must be checked and corrected as soon as possi-
ble.
● Do not drive faster than 80 km/h. Higher speeds can cause an acci-
dent.
● Avoid heavy acceleration, hard braking and fast cornering. Risk of ac-
cident.
● Never use two or more compact spare tyres at the same time, risk of
accident.
● No other type of tyre (normal summer or winter tyre) may be fitted on
the compact temporary spare wheel rim.

Tyre repair kit*
The tyre repair kit (for vehicles not including a spare wheel)
is stored under the floor panel in the luggage compartment. In the event of a punctured tyre, your vehicle is equipped with the Tyre Mo-
bility System.
The tyre repair kit consists of a container with sealing compound to repair
the puncture and a compressor to generate the required tyre pressure. The
kit will reliably seal punctures up to a size of about 4 mm caused by the
penetration of a foreign body into the tyre.
Note
● Seek professional assistance if the repair of a tyre puncture is not possi-
ble with the sealing compound. 
Wheel change Preparation work
What you must do before changing a wheel.
– If you have a flat tyre or puncture, park the vehicle as far away
from the flow of traffic as possible. Choose a location that is as
level as possible.
– All passengers should leave the vehicle. They should wait in a
safe area (for instance behind the roadside crash barrier).
– Switch the engine off. Switch the hazard warning lights on and
place the warning triangles in position.
– Apply the handbrake firmly.
– Engage the first gear , or put the selector lever to position P for
those vehicles with an automatic gearbox.
– If you are towing a trailer, unhitch it from your vehicle.
– Take the vehicle tools and the spare wheel out of the luggage
compartment. 

224If and when
Note
● If a newly replaced fuse blows again after a short time, the electrical sys-
tem must be checked by a specialised workshop as soon as possible.
● If you replace a fuse with higher-rating fuse, you could cause damage to
another location in the electrical system.
● Always keep some spare fuses in the vehicle. These are available from
SEAT dealers. 
Fuses on left side of dash panel
Fuses
NumberConsumerAmps1Power steering/Engine operation/Flow meter7,5
2
Diagnostics/Heater/Autoclimate/Climatronic/
Electric anti-dazzle mirror/Navigator/Air condi-
tioning pressure switch/ Climate fan/AFS Control
unit/Coming home relay/Soundaktor/CCS
10
3Petrol engine control unit/Diesel engine control
unit/Relay coils/Engine operation/Bi-turbo fuel
control unit5
4ABS-ESP Control unit/RKA Switch/Gateway con-
trol unit/ESP Relay/Rotation sensor10
5Reverse light/Heating nozzles106Instrument panel57Retro fog light/Start-Stop relays7,5
8Paddle levers on steering wheel for automatic
gearbox2
9Headlight lever/Windscreen wiper switch1010BCM Electronic control unit power supply511Airbag control unit5
NumberConsumerAmps12Automatic gearbox/ LPG system1013Exterior mirror control514Left-hand AFS headlights1515Right-hand AFS headlights1516Vacant 17Number plate light518Clean pump7,519Electronic control unit520Indicators/Brake lights1521Lights control, instrument panel522Heated mirrors5
23Engine injection module/ Rain sensor/ Automat-
ic gear lever/ Main petrol relay7,5
24Luggage compartment light, interior light, glove
compartment light10
25Parking aid526Towing hook 27Headlight control528Lambda probe1029Vacuum pump/LPG power supply15, 20 a)
30Engine solenoid coils/Additional heating relay/
Pressure sensor/AKF Valve15
31Petrol engine operation/Glow plugs/Relay coil/
Electric fan/Secondary water pump relay10
32Engine control unit15, 20,
30 b)
33Clutch switch sensor/Additional heating relay
coil/ Servo sensor5
34Fuel control unit / Vacuum pump1535Vacant


227
If and when
Xenon 1)
/adaptive headlights*
- D1S2)
- LED 3)
- LED 3)
- PY 21W
Fog lights - H11
WARNING
● Take particular care when working on components in the engine com-
partment if the engine is warm - risk of burns!
● Bulbs are highly sensitive to pressure. The glass can break when you
touch the bulb, causing injury.
● The high voltage element of gas discharge bulbs* (xenon light) must
be handled correctly. Otherwise, there is a risk of death.
● When changing bulbs, please take care not to injure yourself on sharp
parts in the headlight housing.
CAUTION
● Remove the ignition key before working on the electric system. If not, a
short circuit could occur.
● Switch off the lights or parking lights before you change a bulb.
Dipped and full beam
Position
DRL (day light)
Turn signals
Fog light/cornering
For the sake of the environment
Please ask your specialist retailer how to dispose of used bulbs in the prop-
er manner.
Note
● Depending on weather conditions (cold or wet), the front lights, the fog
lights, the tail lights and the turn signals may be temporarily misted. This
has no influence on the useful life of the lighting system. By switching on
the lights, the area through which the beam of light is projected will quickly
be demisted. However, the edges may continue to be misted.
● Please check at regular intervals that all lighting (especially the exterior
lighting) on your vehicle is functioning properly. This is not only in the inter-
est of your own safety, but also that of all other road users.
● Before changing a bulb, make sure you have the correct new bulb.
● Do not touch the glass part of the bulb with your bare hands, use a cloth
or paper towel instead. Otherwise, the fingerprints left on the glass will va-
porise as a result of the heat generated by the bulb, they will be deposited
on the reflector and will impair its surface. 
1)
With these types of headlights, the user can replace the indicator bulb. Replacement of the
dipped/main beam bulb must be done by a Technical Service, given that complex elements
must be removed from the vehicle and the automatic control system that incorporates it
must be reset.
2) The Xenon bulbs discharge 2.5 times the light flux and have an average lifespan of 5 times
more than that of halogen bulbs, this means that, except due to unusual circumstances,
there is no need to change the bulbs for the whole life of the vehicle.
3) In the event that there is a fault in the LEDs, the complete headlight must be replaced.
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

Central lock buttonLocking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Unlocking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Central locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Automatic speed dependent locking andunlocking system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Locking system for involuntary unlocking . 79
Selective unlocking system* . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Unlocking system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Cetane number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Changing bulbs interior light and reading light . . . . . . . . . 239
Changing bulbs on tail lights . . . . . . . . . 237, 238
Changing gear see Manual gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Changing gear in tiptronic mode . . . . . . . . . . 149
Changing single headlight bulbs Turn signal bulb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Changing the AFS headlight bulbs Xenon lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Changing the bulbs AFS headlight bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
fog light bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
luggage compartment light . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
number plate light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Side turn signal lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Changing the main headlight bulb turn signal lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Changing the main headlight bulbs turn signal lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Changing the single headlight bulbs Dipped/main beam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Side light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229 Changing windscreen wiper blades . . . . . . . . 203
Chassis number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Checking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Checking battery electrolyte level . . . . . . . . . . 208
Checking engine oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Child safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Child seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Categorisation in groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Group 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Group 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Group 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Groups 0 and 0+ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
ISOFIX system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Securing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Child seats on the front passenger seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Top Tether system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Cigarette lighter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Cleaning alloy wheel rims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Cleaning chrome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Cleaning engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Cleaning steel wheel rims . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Cleaning windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Climatronic automatic mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
General notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
manual mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Cloth seat covers cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Cockpit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Coming Home function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Compartment for on-board documentation . . 117
Control
Exterior mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Control lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Control lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Controls Electric windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Convenience closing Sliding/tilting sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Convenience opening Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Coolant level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Coolant loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Coolant temperature Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Correct adjustment of front head restraints . . . 13
Correct sitting position Front passenger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Incorrect sitting position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Cruise control Control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Cruise control system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Cruise speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 Control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
268 Index