engine Seat Leon 5D 2005 Owner's Guide

Driving149
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Starting
The engine is started when the key is in
this position. Electrical components
with a high power consumption are switched off temporarily.
Each time that the vehicle must be started, the ignition key must be turned to
the position . The repetitive start prevention lock of the ignition prevents
possible damage to the starter motor if the engine is already running.
WARNING
•
Wait for the vehicle to come to a standstill before removing the ignition
key from the lock. The steering lock could be activated immediately - Risk
of accident!
•
Always remove the key from the ignit ion lock when leaving the vehicle,
even if you only intend to be gone for a short period. This is especially
important if you must leave children or disabled people in the vehicle, they
could accidentally start the engine or work electrical equipment such as
the windows possibly resulting in an accident.
•
Unsupervised use of the keys could result in the engine being started
or electrical systems, such as the electric windows, being used. This can
result in serious injury.Caution
The starter motor will only work when the engine is stopped (ignition key
position ).
Electronic immobiliser
The immobiliser prevents unauthorised persons from driving
the vehicle.Inside the key there is a chip that deactivates the electronic immobiliser auto-
matically when the key is inserted into the ignition.
The immobiliser will be activated again automatically as soon as you pull the
key out of the ignition lock.
The engine can only be started using a genuine SEAT key with the correct
code.
Note
The vehicle cannot be operated properly if you do not have a genuine SEAT
key.Starting and stopping the engineStarting petrol engines
The engine can only be started using a genuine SEAT key with
the correct code.– Move the gear lever to the neutral position and depress the clutch pedal fully and hold it in this position, the starter will then
only have to turn the engine.
– Turn the ignition key to position ⇒page 148 to start the engine.
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Driving
150
– Let go of the ignition key as soon as the engine starts; the starter motor must not be allowed to run on with the engine.After starting a very hot engine, you may need to press the accelerator briefly.
When starting from cold, the engine ma y be a little noisy for the first few
seconds 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 off the starter after about
10 seconds and try again after about half a minute. If the engine still does not
start, the fuel pump fuse should be checked ⇒page 224, “Fuses”.
WARNING
•
Never start or run the engine in un ventilated or closed rooms. The
exhaust fumes contain carbon mono xide, an odourless and colourless
poisonous 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 av oid high engine speeds, driving at
full throttle and over-loading the engine. Risk of engine damage.
•
The vehicle should not be pushed or towed for more than approximately
50 metres to start the engine. Fuel could enter the catalytic converter and
damage it.
•
Before attempting to push-start or tow a vehicle to start it, you should first
try to start it using the battery of another vehicle. Note and follow the instruc-
tions ⇒page 240, “Jump-starting”.
For the sake of the environment
Do not warm-up the engine by running th e engine with the vehicle stationary.
You should drive off as soon as you start the engine. This helps the engine
reach operating temperature faster and reduces emissions.Starting diesel engines
The engine can only be started using a genuine SEAT key with
the correct code.– Move the gear lever to the ne utral position and depress the
clutch pedal fully and hold it in this position, the starter will then
only have to turn the engine.
– Turn the ignition key to the starting position.
– Turn the ignition key to position ⇒page 148, fig. 112 . The
indication lamp

will light for engine pre-heating.
– When the warning lamp goes out, turn the key to position to start the engine. Do not press the accelerator.
– Let go of the ignition key as soon as the engine starts, the starter motor must not be allowed to run on with the engine.
When starting from cold, the engine may be a little noisy for the first few
seconds until oil pressure has built up in the hydraulic valve compensators.
This is quite normal, and no cause for concern.
If there are problems to start the engine, see ⇒page 240.
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Driving151
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Glow plug system for the diesel engine
To avoid unnecessary load on the battery, do not use any other major elec-
trical equipment while the
glow plugs are pre-heating.
Start the engine as soon as the glow plug warning lamp ⇒page 80 goes out.
Starting the engine after the fuel tank has been completely run dry
If the fuel tank has been completely ru n dry, it may take longer than normal
(up to one minute) to start the engine af ter refuelling with diesel fuel. This is
because the system must eliminate air first.
WARNING
•
Never start or run the engine in unventilated or closed rooms. The
exhaust fumes contain carbon monoxide, an odourless and colourless
poisonous 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 avo id high engine speeds, driving at
full throttle and over-loading th e engine. Risk of engine damage.
•
The vehicle should not be pushed or towed for more than approximately
50 metres to start the engine. Fuel could enter the catalytic converter and
damage it.
•
Before attempting to push-start or tow a vehicle to start it, you should first
try to start it using the battery of another vehicle. Note and follow the instruc-
tions ⇒ page 240, “Jump-starting”.
For the sake of the environment
Do not warm-up the engine by running th e engine with the vehicle stationary.
You should drive off as soon as you start the engine. This helps the engine
reach operating temperature faster and reduces emissions.Switching off the engine– Stopping the engine.
– Turn the ignition key to position ⇒page 148, fig. 112 .After the engine is switched off the radiator fan may run on for up to 10
minutes, even if the ignition is switched of f. It is also possible that it will turn
itself on once more if the temperature of the coolant increases due to the
elimination of built up heat in the engine compartment or if this is heated due
to prolonged exposure to the heat of the sun.
WARNING
•
Never switch off the engine until the vehicle is stationary.
•
The brake servo works only when the engine is running. You will need
more strength to brake the vehicle when the engine is switched off. As you
cannot brake in the normal manner, there is a greater risk of accidents and
serious injury.
•
The steering lock can engage immediately when the key is removed
from the ignition lock. The vehicle cannot be steered. Risk of accident.
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Driving
152
CautionIf the engine has been driven hard for a long period, the engine could over-
heat when it is switched off. Risk of engine damage. For this reason, you
should idle the engine for approx. 2 m inutes before you switch it off.Manual gearboxDriving a car with a manual gearbox
Selecting the reverse gear
– The vehicle should be stationary with the engine idling. Press the
clutch right down.
– Place the gear lever into neutral gate and push the lever all the way down.
– Slide the gearlever to the left, and then into the reverse position shown on the gear lever.The reverse gear can only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary. When
the engine is running, before engaging this gear wait about 6 seconds with
the clutch pressed in fully in order to protect the gearbox.
The reversing lights come on when the reverse gear is selected and the igni-
tion is on.
Fig. 113 Detail of the
centre console: Shift
diagram of a 5-speed
manual gearbox
Fig. 114 Detail of the
centre console: Shift
diagram of a 6-speed
manual gearbox
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Driving153
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
WARNING
•
When the engine is running, the vehicle will start to move as soon as a
gear is engaged and the clutch released.
•
Never select the reverse gear when the vehicle is in motion. Risk of acci-
dent.Note
•
Do not rest your hand on the gear le ver when driving. The pressure of your
hand could cause premature wear on the selector forks in the gearbox.
•
When changing gear, you should always depress the clutch fully to avoid
unnecessary wear and damage.
•
Do not hold the car “on the clutch” on hills. This causes premature wear
and damage to the clutch.
Automatic gearbox* / DSG automatic
gearbox*Selector lever positionsSelector lever positions indicated on the cover
P Parking position (lever locked).
R Reverse position.
N Neutral position (lever loc ked). This position is similar to the neutral
position for manual gearboxes).
D Drive position (economic driving program).
S Sports driving position.
+/- Tiptronic driving position (this program is similar to the operation of a
manual gearbox).
Fig. 115 Section of
centre console: selector
lever on cars with an auto-
matic gearbox / direct
shift gearbox
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Driving
154Driving programs
The automatic gearbox / direct shift gearbox has two
programmes.Selecting the normal program
– Put the selector lever into position D to drive forwards
– Put the selector lever into position R to reverse. This position is
shared by all programs for reversing.
Selecting the sport program
– Move the lever to position S.If you have selected the normal driving programme D, you will drive in a more
economical driving mode. This program selects a higher gear earlier rather
than remain in a lower gear. If you select the sport programme,
S, the program is designed for a sports
mode, that is, a programme which changes up at higher engine speeds to use
the full power of the engine. This program is not recommended for use on the
motorway or in the city.
Selector lever locking
The selector lever lock prevents gears from being engaged
inadvertently, which would cause the vehicle to move.Releasing the selector lever lock
–Start the vehicle.
– Press and hold the brake pedal, at the same time press the button on selector lever.
Fig. 116 Program selec-
tion
Fig. 117 Deactivating the
lock
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Driving
156
– Do not try to slow the vehicle us ing another forward gear (engine
braking).
Descending gradients
– With the gear engaged, release the brake and accelerate.The steeper the gradient the lower the gear must be for effective engine
braking. For example, if 3rd gear is used on a very steep gradient, the engine
braking is insufficient and vehicle accelerates. So that the engine speed does
not become excessive, the gearbox changes to the next highest gear. Depress
the brake pedal and move the selector lever to the Tiptronic gate to return to
3rd gear.
WARNING
•
The driver should never leave the vehicle while the engine is running or
with any gear selected. If for any reason you must leave the vehicle with the
engine running, apply the handbrake and move the selector lever to posi-
tion P.
•
When the engine is running and the po sitions D, S or R are selected, it
is necessary to hold the vehicle with the foot brake because the vehicle will
creep at a low speed.
•
Never accelerate while changing the po sition of the selector lever (risk
of an accident).
•
The selector lever must never be moved into the positions R or P while
moving (risk of an accident).
•
Before descending a steep gradient, reduce speed and use the Tiptronic
program to select a lower gear.
•
If you must stop on a hill, always hold the vehicle using the footbrake
to avoid rolling back.
•
The footbrake must not be held for a long period of time, not even
lightly; continuous braking will cause overheating of the brakes and a reduction or even a loss of braking power and a significant increase in
braking distances.
•
Never allow the vehicle to coast down a gradient with the selector lever
in positions N or D, even when the engine is not running. For descents, the
use of the Tiptronic program is recommended to keep the speed reduced.Caution
•
Never use the automatic gearbox to hold the vehicle stationary on a hill,
even for short periods, as this may overheat the gearbox and cause damage.
Apply the handbrake or depress the foot brake to hold the vehicle in position.
•
If the vehicle is allowed to roll with the engine stopped but the selector in
position N then the gearbox may be damaged because it will not be
lubricated.WARNING (continued)
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Driving
158Always apply the handbrake firmly. This prevents you driving with the hand-
brake applied ⇒.
The handbrake warning lamp
 lights up when the handbrake is applied
and the ignition switched on. The warning lamp goes out when the hand-
brake is released.
If you drive faster than 6 km/h with the handbrake on, the following
message* will appear in the combi-instrument display: HANDBRAKE ON.
Also, an audible warning is given.
WARNING
•
Never use the handbrake to slow down the vehicle when it is in motion.
The braking distance is considerably longer, as braking is only applied to
the rear wheels. Ri sk of accident!
•
If it is only partially released this will cause overheating of the rear
brakes, which can impair the function of the brake system and could lead
to an accident. This also causes premature wear on the rear brake
pads/linings.Caution
Always apply the handbrake before you leave the vehicle. The first gear
should also be selected.Parking
The handbrake should always be firmly applied when the
vehicle is parked.Always note the following points when parking the vehicle:
– Use the foot brake to stop the vehicle. –Apply the handbrake.
– The first gear should also be selected.
– Switch off the engine and remove the key from the ignition lock.
Turn the steering wheel slightly to engage the steering lock.
– Always take you car keys with you when you leave the vehicle ⇒ .
Additional notes on parking the vehicle on gradients:
Turn the steering wheel so that the vehicle would roll against the kerb if it did
start to roll.•
If the vehicle is facing downhill, turn the front wheels so that they point
towards the kerb .
•
If the vehicle is facing uphill , turn the front wheels so that they point away
from the kerb .
•
Secure the vehicle as normal by applying the handbrake firmly and
selecting first gear.
WARNING
•
Take measures to reduce the risk of injury when you leave your vehicle
unattended.
•
Never park where the hot exhaust system could ignite inflammable
materials, such as dry grass, low bushes, spilt fuel etc.
•
Never allow vehicle occupants to remain in the vehicle when it is
locked. They would be unable to open the vehicle from the inside, and
could become trapped in the vehicle in an emergency. In the event of an
emergency, locked doors will delay assistance to occupants.
•
Never leave children unsupervised in the vehicle. They could set the
vehicle in motion, for example, by releasing the handbrake or the gear
lever / selector lever.
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Intelligent technology165
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Tips and MaintenanceIntelligent technologyBrakesBrake servoThe brake servo amplifies the pressure you apply to the brake pedal. It works
only when the engine is running .
If the brake servo is not functioning due to a malfunction, or if the vehicle has
to be towed, you will have to press the brake pedal considerably harder to
make up for the lack of servo assistance.
WARNING
The braking distance can also be affected by external factors.•
Never let the vehicle coast with the engine switched off. Failure to do so
could result in an accident. The braking distance is increased considerably
as the brake servo does not function.
•
If the brake servo is not functioning, for example if the vehicle is being
towed, you will have to press the brake pedal considerably harder than
normal.
Brake assist system (BAS)*In an emergency, most drivers brake in time, but not with maximum force.
This results in unnecessarily long braking distances. The brake assist system intervenes here, if you press the brake pedal very
quickly, the brake assist system registers an emergency situation. It then very
quickly builds up the full brake pressure so that the ABS can be activated
more quickly and efficiently, thus reducing the braking distance.
Do not reduce the pressure on the br
ake pedal. The brake assist system
switches off automatically as soon as you release the brake.
WARNING
•
The risk of accident is higher if yo u drive too fast, if you do not keep
your distance to the vehicle in front, and when the road surface is slippery
or wet. The increased accident risk cannot be reduced by the brake assist
system.
•
The brake assist system cannot defy the laws of physics. Slippery and
wet roads are dangerous even with the brake assist system! Therefore, it is
essential that you adjust your speed to suit the road and traffic conditions.
Do not let the extra safety features tempt you into taking any risks when
driving.
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Intelligent technology
166Anti-lock brake system and traction control
M-ABS (ABS and TCS)Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
The anti-lock brake system prevents the wheels locking
during braking.The anti-lock brake system (ABS) is an important part of the vehicle's active
safety system.
How the ABS works
If one of the wheels is turns too slowly in relation to the road speed, and is
close to locking, the system will reduce the braking pressure for this wheel.
The driver is made aware of this control process by a pulsating of the brake
pedal and audible noise. This is a deliberate warning to the driver that one or
more of the wheels is tending to lock and the ABS control function has inter-
vened. In this situation it is important to keep the brake pedal fully depressed
so the ABS can regulate the brake application. Do not “pump”.
If you brake hard on a slippery road surface, the best possible control is
retained as the wheels do not lock.
However, ABS will not necessarily guarantee shorter braking distances in all
conditions. The braking distance could even be longer if you brake on gravel
or on fresh snow covering a slippery surface.
WARNING
•
The anti-lock brake system cannot defy the laws of physics. Slippery
and wet roads are dangerous even with ABS! If you notice that the ABS is
working (to counteract locked wheels under braking), you should reduce
speed immediately to suit the road and traffic conditions. Do not let the
extra safety features tempt you into taking any risks when driving.
•
The effectiveness of ABS is also determined by the tyres fitted
⇒ page 209.
•
If the running gear or brakes are mo dified, the effectiveness of the ABS
could be severely limited.
Traction control system (TCS)
The traction control system prevents the drive wheels from
spinning when the car is accelerating.Description and operation of the traction control system during acceleration
(TCS)
TCS reduces engine power to help prevent the drive wheels of front-wheel
drive vehicles losing traction during acceleration. The system works in the
entire speed range in conjunction with ABS. If a malfunction should occur in
the ABS, the TCS will also be out of action.
TCS helps the vehicle to start moving, accelerate and climb a gradient in slip-
pery conditions where this may otherwise be difficult or even impossible.
The TCS is switched on automatically when the engine is started. If necessary,
it may be turned on or off pushing the button on the centre console.
When the TCS is off, the warning lamp is lit. The TCS should normally be left
switched on at all times. Only in exceptional circumstances, when slipping of
the wheels is required, should it be disconnected for example•
With compact temporary spare wheel.
•
When using the snow chains.
•
When driving in deep snow or on loose surfaces
•
When the vehicle is bogged-down, to free it by “rocking.”WARNING (continued)
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