cooling Seat Leon 5D 2012 User Guide

141
Air conditioning
There are other additional, non-adjustable air vents in the dash panel 2
, in
the footwell and in the rear area of the interior.
Note
Never place food, medicines or other heat-sensitive objects close to the air
vents. Food, medicine and other heat or cold sensitive objects may be dam-
aged or made unsuitable for use by the air coming from the air vents. 
Air recirculation
Basic points
Air recirculation:
Manual air recirculation (heating and fresh air system, manual
air conditioning).
Air recirculation mode prevents the ambient air from entering the interior.
When the outside temperature is very high, selecting manual air recircula-
tion mode for a short period refreshes the vehicle interior more quickly.
For safety reasons, air recirculation mode is switched off when the button
 is pressed or the air distributor turned to .
Switching on and switching off manual air recirculation with air conditioner
(manual) or with the heating and fresh air systems 
Activate: press the button  until the warning lamp lights up.
Deactivate: press the button  until all warning lamps switch off.
Switching on and off manual air recirculation with Climatronic 
Activate: press the * button until the warning lamp lights up.
Deactivate: press the * button until all warning lamps switch off. Functioning mode of manual air recirculation (air conditioning menu)
With the automatic air recirculation mode activated, the entry of fresh air in-
to the cabin interior is enabled. If the system detects a high concentration
of hazardous substances in the ambient air, air recirculation mode is
switched on automatically. When the level of impurities drops to within a
normal range, recirculation mode is switched off.
The system is unable to detect unpleasant smells.
Air recirculation mode is
not automatically switched on in the following ca-
ses of outside temperatures and conditions:
● The cooling system is switched on (the * button lamp is on) and the am-
bient temperature is below +3 ° C (+38 ° F).
● The cooling system and the windscreen wipers are switched off and the
outside temperature is below +10 °C (+50 °F).
● The cooling system is switched on, the outside temperature is below
+15 °C (+59 °F) and the windscreen wipers are switched on.
Activation/deactivation of automatic air recirculation is done in the air con-
ditioner menu, under Configuration.
WARNING
Stuffy or used air will increase fatigue and reduce driver concentration
possibly resulting in a serious accident.
● Never use recirculation mode for long periods as it does not refresh
the air inside the vehicle.
● If the cooling system is switched off and air recirculation mode
switched on, the windows can mist over very quickly, considerably limit-
ing visibility.
● Switch air recirculation mode off when it is not required. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications

142Air conditioning
CAUTION
Do not smoke when air recirculation is switched on in vehicles with an air
conditioner. The smoke taken in could lie on the cooling system vaporiser
and on the activated charcoal cartridge of the dust and pollen filter, leading
to a permanently unpleasant smell.
Note
Climatronic: Air recirculation mode switches on to prevent exhaust gas from
entering the vehicle interior when it is in reverse and while the automatic
windscreen wash and wipe is working. 

161
Driving
WARNING
● Always adapt your driving style to the traffic conditions.
● Only use the Launch control programme when road and traffic condi-
tions permit, and make sure your manner of driving and accelerating the
vehicle does not inconvenience or endanger other road users.
● Make sure that the ESC remains switched on. Please note that when
the ASR and ESC are deactivated, the wheels may start to spin, causing
the vehicle to lose grip. Risk of accident!
● After engaging gear, the Sport mode of the ESC should be deactivated
again by briefly pressing the 
OFF
button.
Note
● After using the Launch control programme, the temperature in the gear-
box may have increased considerably. In this case, the programme could be
disabled for several minutes. The programme can be used again after the
cooling phase.
● Accelerating with the Launch control programme places a heavy load on
all parts of the vehicle. This can result in increased wear and tear. 
Inertia mode
The inertia mode enables the kinetic energy of the vehicle to be
harnessed enabling certain stretches to be driven without using
the accelerator. This enables fuel to be saved. Use the inertia mode
to let the vehicle roll in advance of, for example, arriving in a town.
Switching on inertia mode
Important: selector lever must be in position D, gradients below
12 %. –
Select Eco mode ⇒  page 171 once in SEAT Drive Mode*.
– Take your foot off the accelerator.
The driver message Inertia will be displayed. At speeds higher
than 20 km/h (12 mph), the gearbox will automatically disengage
and the vehicle will roll freely, without the effect of the engine
brake. While the vehicle rolls, the engine runs at idling speed.
Stopping inertia mode
– Press the brake or the accelerator pedal.
To make use of the braking force and switch off the engine again,
simply press the brake pedal briefly.
Applying both the inertia mode (= prolonged section with less energy) and
the switching off using inertia (= shorter section without the need for fuel)
facilitates improved fuel consumption and emission balance.
WARNING
● If the inertia mode has been switched on, take into account, when ap-
proaching an obstacle and releasing the accelerator pedal, that the vehi-
cle will not decelerate in the usual manner: risk of accident!
● When using inertia mode while travelling down hills, the vehicle can
increase speed: risk of accident!
● If other users drive your vehicle, warn them about inertia mode. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications

196Trailer
Retrofitting a towing bracket*
It is possible to fit a towing bracket to the rear of the vehicle.
Fig. 105 Attachment points for towing bracket
If a towing bracket is to be fitted after the vehicle is purchased, this must be
completed according to the instructions of the towing bracket manufacturer.
The attachment points for the towing bracket A
are on the lower part of the
vehicle.
The distance between the centre of the ball coupling and the ground should
never be lower than the indicated value, even with a fully loaded vehicle
and including the maximum drawbar load.
Elevation values for securing the towing bracket:
65 mm (minimum)
from 350 mm to 420 mm (fully loaded vehicle)
B
C
1040 mm
317 mm
339 mm
Fitting a towing bracket
● Driving with a trailer involves an extra effort for the vehicle. Therefore,
before fitting a towing bracket, please contact a Technical Service to check
whether your cooling system needs modification.
● The legal requirements in your country must be observed (e.g. the fitting
of a separate control lamp).
● Certain vehicle components, e.g. the rear bumper, must be removed and
reinstalled. The towing bracket securing bolts must be tightened using a
torque wrench, and a power socket must be connected to the vehicle electri-
cal system. This requires specialised knowledge and tools.
● Figures in the illustration show the elevation value and the attachment
points which must be considered if you are retrofitting a towing bracket.
WARNING
The towing brackets should be fitted at a specialised workshop.
● If the towing bracket is incorrectly installed, there is a serious danger
of accident.
● For your own safety, please observe the instructions provided by the
manufacturer of the towing bracket.
CAUTION
● If the power socket is incorrectly installed, this could cause damage to
the vehicle electrical system. 
D
EF

209
Checking and refilling levels
Note
Diesel vehicles are fitted with a protective device that prevents the insertion
of the wrong fuel hose 1)
. It is only possible to refuel with Diesel nozzles.
● If the pump nozzle is worn, damaged, or if it is very small, it is possible
that it will not be able to open the protective device. Before trying to insert
the pump nozzle by turning it, try a different pump or request specialist
help.
● If you fill the tank from a reserve fuel canister, the protective device will
not open. One way to resolve this is to pour the fuel in very slowly. 
Bonnet
Working on components 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 ignition off.
● Remove the ignition key.
WARNING (Continued)
● Apply the handbrake.
● If the vehicle has a manual gearbox, place the lever in neutral; if it
has an automatic gearbox, place the selector lever in position P.
● Wait for the engine to cool down.
● Keep children away from the engine compartment.
● Never spill liquids used for vehicle operation on the engine compart-
ment, as these may catch fire (e.g. the antifreeze in coolant).
● Take care not to cause short circuits in the electrical system, especial-
ly when working on the battery.
● If working inside the engine compartment, remember that, even when
the ignition is switched off, the radiator fan may start up automatically,
and therefore there is a risk of injury.
● Do not unscrew the cap on the coolant expansion tank when the en-
gine is hot. The cooling system is under pressure.
● Protect face, hands and arms by covering the cap with a large, thick
rag to protect against escaping coolant and steam.
● If it is necessary to work in the engine compartment while the engine
is running, the rotating components (for example, poly-V belt, alternator,
radiator fan) and the high voltage ignition system are an additional haz-
ard.
● Observe the following additional warnings if work on the fuel system
or the electrical system is necessary:
–Always disconnect the battery from the on-board network.
– Do not smoke.
– Never work near naked flames.
– Always keep an approved fire extinguisher immediately available. 
1)
according to the country
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications

215
Checking and refilling levels
Cooling system Engine coolant specifications
The engine cooling system is supplied from the factory with a specially trea-
ted mixture of water and, at least, 40 % of the additive G 13 (TLVW 774 J).
The engine coolant additive is recognisable by its purple colour. This mix-
ture of water and additive gives the necessary frost protection down to
-25°C (-13 F) and protects the light alloy parts of the cooling system against
corrosion. It also prevents scaling and considerably raises the boiling point
of the coolant.
To protect the engine cooling system, the percentage of additive must al-
ways be at least 40 %, even in warm climates where anti-freeze protection is
not required.
If greater frost protection is required in very cold climates, the proportion of
additive can be increased. However, the percentage of additive should not
exceed 60 %, as this would reduce the frost protection and, in turn, de-
crease the cooling capacity.
When the coolant is topped up, use a mixture of distilled water and, at
least, 40 % of the G 13 or G 12 plus-plus (TL-VW 774 G) additive (both are
purple) to obtain an optimum anticorrosion protection ⇒ 
. The mixture of
G 13 with G 12 plus (TL-VW 774 F), G 12 (red) or G 11 (green-blue) engine
coolants will significantly reduce the anticorrosion protection and should,
therefore be avoided ⇒ 
.
WARNING
If there is not enough anti-freeze in the coolant system, the engine may
fail leading to serious damage.
● Please make sure that the percentage of additive is correct with re-
spect to the lowest expected ambient temperature in the zone in which
the vehicle is to be used.
● When the outside temperature is very low, the coolant could freeze
and the vehicle would be immobilised. In this case, the heating would
not work either and inadequately dressed passengers could die of cold.
CAUTION
The original additives should never be mixed with coolants which are not
approved by SEAT. Otherwise, you run the risk of causing severe damage to
the engine and the engine cooling system.
● If the fluid in the expansion tank is not purple but is, for example,
brown, this indicates that the G 13 additive has been mixed with an inade-
quate coolant. The coolant must be changed as soon as possible if this is
the case! This could result in serious faults and engine damage.
For the sake of the environment
Coolants and additives can contaminate the environment. If any fluids are
spilled, they should be collected and correctly disposed of, with respect to
the environment. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications

216Checking and refilling levels
Topping up coolant
Top up coolant when the level is below the MIN (minimum)
mark.
Fig. 110 Engine com-
partment: Coolant expan-
sion tank cap
Checking coolant level
– Park the vehicle in a horizontal position.
– Switch the ignition off
– Read off the coolant level on coolant expansion tank. When the
engine is cold, the coolant level should be between the marks.
When the engine is hot, it may be slightly above the upper
mark.
Topping up coolant
– Wait for the engine to cool down.
– Cover the coolant expansion tank cap with a cloth and carefully
unscrew it to the left ⇒ 
. –
Top up the coolant only if there is still coolant in the expansion
tank, otherwise you could damage the engine. If there is no
coolant in the expansion tank, do not continue driving. You
should obtain professional assistance ⇒ 
.
– If there is still some coolant in the expansion tank, top up to the
upper mark.
– Top up with coolant to the upper mark until the level becomes
stable.
– Screw the cap back on correctly.
Any loss of coolant fluid normally indicates a leak in the cooling system.
Take the vehicle straight to a specialised workshop to have the cooling sys-
tem examined. If there are no leaks in the engine cooling system, a loss of
coolant can only occur if the coolant boils and is forced out of the system as
a result of overheating.
WARNING
● The cooling system is under pressure. Do not unscrew the cap on the
coolant expansion tank when the engine is hot: risk of burns!
● The antifreeze and coolant fluid can be a health hazard. Therefore,
the antifreeze should be stored in the original container in a safe place
out of reach of children. Failure to comply could result in poisoning.
● If working inside the engine compartment, remember that, even when
the ignition is switched off, the radiator fan may start up automatically,
and therefore there is a risk of injury.
CAUTION
Do not top up the expansion tank with coolant fluid if it is empty! Air could
enter the cooling system. In this case, stop driving. Seek specialist assis-
tance. Otherwise, there is a risk of engine damage. 

227
Wheels and tyres
If you use tyres that are approved by SEAT you can be sure that the actual
tyre dimensions will be correct for your vehicle. If you decide to fit a differ-
ent type of tyre, you must obtain the appropriate manufacturer's certificate
from the tyre retailer to confirm that the tyres are suitable for your vehicle.
Keep this certificate in a safe place.
Your SEAT Official Service will be able to advise you on which tyres may be
fitted to your vehicle.
It is best to have all servicing of wheels and tyres performed by a special-
ised workshop. 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 tyres.
WARNING
● It is very important to ensure that the tyres you have chosen have ad-
equate clearance. When selecting replacement tyres, do not rely entirely
on the nominal tyre size marked on the tyre; with some makes of tyre the
effective tyre size can differ significantly from the nominal dimensions,
even though the tyres have the same size designation. Inadequate tyre
clearance can result in damage to the tyres or the vehicle, causing a seri-
ous safety risk. It may also invalidate the vehicle's registration for use on
public roads.
● Avoid running the vehicle on tyres that are more than 6 years old. If
you have no alternative, you should drive slowly and with extra care at all
times.
● If wheel trims are fitted after the car is purchased, ensure that there
is an adequate flow of air for cooling the brake system.
For the sake of the environment
Old tyres must be disposed of according to the laws in the country con-
cerned.
Note
● Never mount used tyres if you are not sure of their “previous history”.
● For technical reasons, it is not generally possible to use the wheels from
other vehicles. In some cases, this may also be true for the same model of
wheel. 
Wheel bolts
The wheel bolts are designed to suit the rims on your car.
The wheel bolts are matched to the rims. When installing different wheels
(for instance alloy wheels or wheels with winter tyres) it is important to use
the correct wheel bolts with the right length and correctly shaped bolt
heads. This ensures that wheels are fitted securely and that the brake sys-
tem functions correctly.
The wheel bolts must be clean and turn easily.
A special adapter is required to turn the anti-theft wheel bolts*
⇒ page 237. 
Winter tyres
Winter tyres will improve the vehicles handling on snow and
ice.
– Winter tyres must be fitted on all four wheels.
– Only use winter tyres that are approved for your vehicle.
– Please note that the maximum permissible speed for winter
tyres may be lower than for summer tyres. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications

Controls and displays (overview) . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Control Units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Convenience closingPanoramic sliding sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Convenience opening Panoramic sliding sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Convenience opening/closing . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Cooling system Checking the coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Coolant temperature gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Topping up coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Cornering lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Correct adjustment of front seat head re- straints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Correct adjustment of rear seat head restraints In-use and non-use positions . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Correct sitting position front passenger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Incorrect sitting position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
passenger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Cruise control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164 Control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Cruise control system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Curtain airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 D
Danger of fitting a child seat on the front pas- senger seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Data recorder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Daytime driving light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
DEF (instrument panel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Depth of tread . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Diagnostic connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Diesel Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Particulate filter Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Preheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Digital clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Dipped beam headlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Direction of rotation (tyres) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Disabling the airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61, 62
Display/Easy Connect control panel: Cleaning . .202
Disposal Airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Seat belt tensioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Door/rear lid warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Downhill speed control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Drink holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Driver see Correct sitting position . . . . . . . 11, 12, 13
Driver information system CD/radio display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Door/rear lid warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Engine oil temperature display . . . . . . . . . . 77 Operation via the windscreen wiper lever . 73
Outside temperature display . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Driving With a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194, 195
Driving abroad Headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Driving safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Driving through water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Dynamic headlight range control . . . . . . . . . . 114
E
E10 see Ethanol (fuel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Easy Connect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Economic driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Efficiency programme Additional electrical appliances . . . . . . . . . 78
Saving tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Electrical accessories see Power socket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Electric windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Convenience opening/closing . . . . . . . . . 101
Electro-mechanical steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186 Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Electronic differential lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Electronic Self-locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) . . . . . . . . . . 183
Emergencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232 Automatic gearbox Backup programme . . 162
Replacing the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Emergency braking warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
279
Index