ignition Seat Leon 5D 2011 Workshop Manual

130Lights and visibility
Note
● The automatic anti-dazzle function will only work properly if the sun
blind* for the rear window is retracted and there are no other objects pre-
venting light from reaching the rear view mirror.
● If you have to stick any type of sticker on the windscreen, do not do so in
front of the sensors. Doing so could prevent the anti-dazzle function from
working well or even from working at all. 
Exterior mirrors
The exterior mirrors can be adjusted using the rotary knob
in the centre console.
Fig. 86 Controls of exte-
rior mirrors
Basic setting of exterior mirrors
1. Turn knob ⇒ fig. 86 to position L (left exterior mirror ).2. Turn the rotary knob to position the mirror so that you have a
good view to the rear of the vehicle.
3. Turn knob to position R (right exterior mirror ).
4. Swivel the rotary knob to position the mirror so that you have a good view to the rear of the vehicle ⇒ 
.
Heating the exterior mirrors*
– Turn the knob forwards to the central position 1
so that the
heated rear view mirrors warm up and the heated windscreen*
in the wiper blade rest area is activated ⇒ page 126.
– The exterior mirror heating is not activated in temperatures
above approximately 20°C.
Folding in exterior mirrors*
– Turn the control ⇒ fig. 86 to position  to fold in the exterior
mirrors. You should always fold in the exterior mirrors if you are
driving through an automatic car wash. This will help prevent
damage.
Folding exterior mirrors with convenience control*
– The exterior mirror will fold back automatically with conven-
ience closing (with the remote or the key).
– To unfold it again, open the door and switch on the ignition.
Folding exterior mirrors back out to the extended position*
– Turn the knob to another position to fold the exterior mirrors
back out ⇒ 
. 

136Seats and storage compartments
Heated seats* 
The front seat cushions and backrests can be heated electri-
cally.
Fig. 91 Thumb wheel for
the front seat heating
Fig. 92 Front seat heat-
ing with Climatronic Front seat heating for vehicles without Climatronic
–
Turn the appropriate thumb wheel ⇒ fig. 91 to switch on the
seat heating. The seat heating is switched off in the 0 position.
Front seat heating for vehicles with Climatronic
– Press button A
to switch on the seat heating.
– Press once to set seat heating at maximum level (level 3).
– Press twice to set seat heating at medium level (level 2).
– Press three times to set seat heating at minimum level (level 1).
– When the button is pressed four times, the heating goes off and
the LED goes out (level 0).
The seat heating only works when the ignition is switched on. The left
thumb wheel controls the left seat and the right thumb wheel the right seat.
CAUTION
To avoid damaging the heating elements, please do not kneel on the seat or
apply sharp pressure at a single point to the seat cushion and backrest. 

140Seats and storage compartments
Ashtrays*, cigarette lighter* and electrical
sockets
Ashtray*
Fig. 98 Ashtray located
in the front drink holder
Opening and closing the ashtray
– To open the ashtray, lift the cover ⇒ fig. 98.
– To close, push the cover down.
Emptying the ashtray
– Extract the ashtray and empty it.
WARNING
Never put paper in the ashtray. Hot ash could ignite the paper in the ash-
tray and cause a fire.
 Cigarette lighter*
Fig. 99 The cigarette
lighter is located in the
electric socket on the
front of the centre con-
sole
– Press on the cigarette lighter ⇒ fig. 99 to activate it ⇒ 
.
– Wait for the lighter to pop out slightly.
– Pull out the cigarette lighter and light the cigarette on the glow-
ing coil.
WARNING
● Improper use of the cigarette lighter can lead to serious injuries or
start a fire.
● Using the lighter carefully. Carelessness or negligence when using
the cigarette lighter can cause burns, risk of injury.
● The lighter only works when the ignition is turned on or the engine is
running. To avoid the risk of fire, never leave children alone inside the ve-
hicle.


141
Seats and storage compartments
Electrical sockets
Electrical equipment can be connected to any of the 12 volt
sockets.
Fig. 100 Power socket,
front centre console
Electrical accessories may be connected to the 12 volt power point in the
front centre console ⇒ fig. 100 and in the luggage compartment*. The appli-
ances connected to each power point must not exceed a power rating of
120 Watt.
WARNING
The power sockets and the connected accessories will only operate when
the ignition is on or when the engine is running. Improper use of the
sockets or electrical accessories can lead to serious injuries or cause a
fire. To avoid the risk of injury, never leave children alone inside the vehi-
cle.
Note
● The use of electrical appliances with the engine switched off will cause a
battery discharge.
● Before using any electrical accessories, see the instructions in
⇒ page 208. 
Auxiliary audio connection (AUX-IN)*
Fig. 101 Auxiliary audio
connection
– Lift the AUX cover ⇒ fig. 101.
– Insert the plug as far as possible (see Radio manual). 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

159
Driving
● When driving with snow chains.
● When driving in deep snow or on loose surfaces.
● When the vehicle is stuck, to rock it backwards and forwards.
Next, the button should be pressed to reactivate the ASR (TCS).
WARNING
● Do not forget that the Electronic Stability Control ESC (ESP) cannot
defy the laws of physics. This should be kept in mind, particularly on
slippery and wet roads and when towing a trailer.
● Always adapt your driving style to suit the condition of the roads and
the traffic situation. Do not let the extra safety afforded by ESC (ESP)
tempt you into taking any risks when driving.
● Please refer to the corresponding warning notes on ESC (ESP)
⇒ page 182, Intelligent technology.
 Ignition lock
Position of the ignition key
Fig. 117 Ignition key po-
sitions
Ignition switched off, steering lock 0
In this position
⇒ fig. 117 the ignition and the engine are OFF and the steer-
ing may get locked.
For the Steering lock to operate without the ignition key, turn the steering
wheel until it locks with an audible sound. You should always lock the steer-
ing wheel when you leave your vehicle. This will help prevent theft of the
vehicle ⇒ 
.
Switching the ignition or the glow plug system on 1
Turn the ignition key to this position and release it. If the ignition key can-
not be turned or it is difficult to turn from position 0 to position 1, move
the steering wheel from one side to the other until it is released. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

160Driving
Starting 2
The engine is started when the key is in this position. Electrical components
with a high power consumption are switched off temporarily.
Every time the vehicle is started again, the ignition key must be turned to
position 0
. The
repetitive start prevention lock of the ignition prevents
possible damage to the starter motor if the engine is already running.
WARNING
● The ignition key must NOT be removed from the lock until the vehicle
comes to a standstill. Otherwise, the steering could be immediately
blocked- Risk of accident!
● Always remove the key from the ignition when leaving the vehicle,
even for a short period. This is especially important if children or disa-
bled people are left alone in the vehicle. They could accidentally start the
engine or work electrical equipment such as the electric windows, conse-
quently resulting in an accident.
● Unsupervised use of the keys could start the engine or any electrical
system, such as the electric window. This could result in serious injury.
CAUTION
The starter motor will only work when the engine is stopped (ignition key
position 2
). 
Electronic immobiliser
The immobiliser prevents unauthorised persons from driv-
ing the vehicle.
Inside the key there is a chip that deactivates the electronic immobiliser au-
tomatically 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 its correct
code.
Note
A perfect operation of the vehicle is ensured if genuine SEAT keys are used. 
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 159.
– 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. 

161
Driving
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 250, 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 263, 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. Starting diesel 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.
– Turn the ignition key to position ⇒ fig. 117 1
. The indicator
lamp  will light for engine pre-heating.
– When the warning lamp turns off, turn the key to position 2
to
start the engine. Do not press the accelerator.
– Let go of the ignition key as soon as the engine starts, the start-
er motor must not be allowed to run on with the engine.
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 there are problems starting the engine, see the ⇒ page 263.
Glow plug system for the diesel engine
To avoid unnecessary discharging of the battery, do not use any other major
electrical equipment while the glow plugs are pre-heating.
Start the engine as soon as the glow plug warning lamp ⇒ page 83 goes
out.
Starting the engine after the fuel tank has been completely run dry
If the fuel tank has been completely run dry, it may take longer than normal
(up to one minute) to start the engine after refuelling with diesel fuel. This is
because the system must eliminate air first. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications

162Driving
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 263, Jump-starting.
For the sake of the environment
Do not warm-up the engine by running the engine with the vehicle station-
ary. You should drive off as soon as you start the engine. This helps the en-
gine reach operating temperature faster and reduces emissions. 
Switching off the engine
– Stop the vehicle.
– Turn the ignition key to position ⇒ fig. 117 0
.
After switching the engine off, the radiator fan may run on for up to 10 mi-
nutes. It is also possible that the fan turns itself on once more if the coolant temperature increases due to the heat accumulated in the engine compart-
ment or due to its prolonged exposure to solar radiation.
WARNING
● Never switch the engine off until the vehicle is completely stationary.
● The brake servo works only when the engine is running. With the en-
gine switched off, more strength is needed to brake. As normal brake op-
eration cannot be performed, risk of accidents and serious injury may ex-
ist.
● The steering lock can be immediately blocked once the key is re-
moved from the ignition. The vehicle cannot be steered. Risk of accident.
CAUTION
When the engine has been running under a heavy load for a long period,
heat can accumulate in the engine compartment and cause engine damage.
For this reason, you should idle the engine for approx. 2 minutes before you
switch it off. 

165
Driving
● If in an increase in airflow 10
⇒ fig. 113 is required for more than three
presses.
● Temperature setting HI or LO is selected.
● The engine coolant temperature is insufficient.
● The alternator is faulty, for example the V-belt has ruptured.
● If any of the conditions described in the previous section are not fulfil-
led.
WARNING
Never allow the vehicle to move with the engine off for any reason. You
could lose control of your vehicle. This could cause an accident and seri-
ous injury.
● The brake servo does not work with the engine off. You need more
force to stop the vehicle.
● Power steering does not work when the engine is not running. That is
why it is much more difficult to turn the steering wheel.
● Disconnect the Start-Stop system when driving through water (ford-
ing streams, etc.).
Note
● For vehicles with the Start-Stop function and a manual gearbox, when
the engine is started, the clutch must be pressed.
● When the conditions for the Start-Stop function are not fulfilled, the in-
strument panel displays the Start-Stop indicator dimmed.
● If the steering wheel is turned more than 270°, it will not be possible to
start the vehicle again. To start the vehicle, straighten the steering wheel so
that it is turned less than 270°. Activating and deactivating the Start-Stop function
Fig. 119 The Start-Stop
function button.
Every time the ignition is switched on, the Start-Stop function is au-
tomatically switched on.
Manually deactivating the Start-Stop function
– Press the A
⇒ fig. 119 located in the centre console. When the
Start-Stop function is deactivated, the pushbutton indicator
lights.
– If the Start-Stop function is operating then the engine starts im-
mediately.
Switching the Start-Stop function on manually
– Press the A
⇒ fig. 119 located in the centre console. The indi-
cator on the button will go out. 
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173
Driving
Handbrake Using the handbrake
The handbrake should be applied firmly to prevent the vehi-
cle from accidentally rolling away.
Fig. 129 Handbrake be-
tween the front seats
Always apply the handbrake when you leave your vehicle and when
you park.
Applying the handbrake
– Pull the handbrake lever up firmly ⇒ fig. 129.
Releasing the handbrake
– Pull the lever up slightly and press the release knob in the di-
rection of the arrow ⇒ fig. 129 and guide the handbrake lever
down fully ⇒ 
. Always apply the handbrake
as far as it will go in order to prevent you from
driving with the handbrake applied by mistake ⇒ 
.
The handbrake warning lamp  lights up when the handbrake is applied
and the ignition switched on. The warning turns off when the handbrake is
released.
If you drive faster than 6 km/h with the handbrake on, the following mes-
sage* will appear on the instrument panel display: HANDBRAKE ON. You will
also hear an acoustic warning signal.
WARNING
● Never use the handbrake to stop the vehicle when it is in motion. The
braking distance is considerably longer, because braking is only applied
to the rear wheels. Risk of accident!
● If it is only partially released, this will cause rear brakes overheating,
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.
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 brake pedal to stop the vehicle.
– Apply the handbrake. 
Safety FirstOperating InstructionsPractical TipsTechnical Specifications