open bonnet Seat Leon 5D 2013 Owner's manual

62Instruments and warning/control lamps
CAUTION
● To prevent damage to the engine, the rev counter needle should only re-
main in the red zone for a short period of time.
● When the engine is cold, avoid high revs and heavy acceleration and do
not make the engine work hard.
For the sake of the environment
Changing up a gear in time reduces fuel consumption and noise. 
Displays on screen
Fig. 39 A: bonnet open; B: rear lid open; C: front left door open; D: rear right door
open (5-door vehicles only)
A variety of information can be viewed on the instrument panel display
⇒  Fig. 38 3
depending on the vehicle equipment: ●
Bonnet, rear lid and doors open ⇒ Fig. 39.
● Information and warning texts
● Mileage
● Time
● Navigation instructions
● Outside temperature
● Compass
● Selector lever position ⇒ page 173
● Recommended gear (manual gearbox) ⇒ page 68
● Multifunction display (MFD) and menus with different setting options
⇒ page 73.
● Service interval display ⇒ page 65
● Second speed display ⇒ page 73
● Speed warning function ⇒ page 168
● Start-Stop system status display ⇒ page 169
● Identifying letters on engine (MKB)
Bonnet, rear lid and doors open
When the ignition is switched on or when driving, the bonnet, rear lid or
doors that are open will be indicated on the instrument panel display, and if
it should be the case, this will also be indicated audibly. The display may
vary according to the type of instrument panel fitted. 

63
Instruments and warning/control lamps
IllustrationKey to ⇒ Fig. 39See
A Do not continue driving!
The bonnet is open or is not properly
closed.⇒ page 251
B Do not continue driving!
The rear lid is open or is not properly
closed.⇒ page 100
C, D Do not continue driving!
A vehicle door is open or is not properly
closed.⇒ page 87
Warning and information texts
The system runs a check on certain components and functions when the ig-
nition is switched on and while the vehicle is moving. Faults in the opera-
tion are displayed on the screen using red and yellow symbols and messag-
es on the instrument panel display ( ⇒ page 69) and, in some cases, with
audible warnings. The display may vary according to the type of instrument
panel fitted.
Type of mes-
sageSymbol colourDescription
Priority 1
warning.Red
Symbol flashing or lit; partly combined with
audible warnings.
 Stop the vehicle! It is dangerous ⇒ 
!
Check the function that is faulty and repair it.
If necessary, request assistance from special-
ised personnel.
Priority 2
warning.Yellow
Symbol flashing or lit; partly combined with
audible warnings.
A faulty function, or fluids which are below
the correct levels may cause damage to the
vehicle! ⇒ 
Check the faulty function as soon as possible.
If necessary, request assistance from special-
ised personnel.
Informative
text.–Information relating to different vehicle pro-
cesses.
Mileage
The odometer registers the total distance travelled by the car.
The odometer (trip) shows the distance travelled since the last odometer re- set. The last digit of the trip recorder indicates distances of 100 metres or
one tenths of a mile.
● Briefly press the button ⇒ Fig. 38 4
to reset the trip recorder to 0.
● Keep the button 4 pressed for about 3 seconds and the previous value
will be displayed.
Time
● To set the time, keep the button ⇒ Fig. 38 4
pressed for more than 3
seconds to select the hour or minute display.
● To continue setting the time, press the upper or lower part of the button
4
. Hold button down to scroll through the numbers quickly.
● Press the button 4 again in order to finish setting the time.

Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications

69
Instruments and warning/control lamps
To familiarise yourself with the gear-change indicator, we recommend driv-
ing in the normal way to start with. A gear change will be recommended if
the gear you are in is not the most economical choice.
If no gear-change is recommended, you are already in the most economical
gear.
Vehicles with a manual gearbox
The following display symbols ⇒ Fig. 41 mean:
●  Change to a higher gear: The suggested gear appears to the right of
the current gear when a higher gear is recommended.
●  Change to a lower gear: The suggested gear appears to the left of the
current gear when a lower gear is recommended.
The gear recommendation may occasionally skip a gear (2nd  4th).
Vehicles with an automatic gearbox*
The display is only visible in tiptronic mode ⇒ page 178
The following display symbols mean:
●  Shifting up a gear
●  Shifting down a gear
CAUTION
The gear-change indicator is intended to help save fuel. It is not intended to
recommend the right gear for all driving situations. In certain situations, on-
ly the driver can choose the correct gear (for instance when overtaking, driv-
ing up a steep gradient or towing a trailer).
Note
The display disappears from the instrument panel when you press the
clutch pedal. Control lamps
Control and warning lamps
The control and warning lamps are indicators of warnings, ⇒ , faults ⇒ or certain functions. Some control and warning lamps come on when the ig-
nition is switched on, and switch off when the engine starts running, or
while driving.
Depending on the model, additional text messages may be viewed on the
instrument panel display. These may be purely informative or they may be
advising of the need for action ⇒ page 61, Instruments.
Depending upon the equipment fitted in the vehicle, instead of a warning
lamp, sometimes a symbol may be displayed on the instrument panel.
When certain control and warning lamps are lit, an audible warning is also
heard.
Red symbols
SymbolMeaning ⇒ See
Central warning lamp: additional information
on the instrument panel display–

Symbol on the instrument panel display:
 Do not continue driving!
With the corresponding indication: door(s), rear
lid or bonnet open or not properly closed.⇒ page 87
⇒ page 100
⇒ page 251
Parking brake on.⇒ page 166
⇒ page 224

 Do not continue driving!
The brake fluid level is too low or there is a fault
in the brake system. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications

72Instruments and warning/control lamps
SymbolMeaning ⇒ See
On the instrument panel display:
Start-Stop system active.
⇒ page 169On the instrument panel display:
Start-Stop system not available.
On the instrument panel display:
Engine running.
WARNING
If the warning lamps and messages are ignored, the vehicle may stall in
traffic, or may cause accidents and severe injuries.
● Never ignore the warning lamps or text messages.
● Stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible.
● Park the vehicle away from the traffic, ensuring that there are no easi-
ly inflammable materials under the vehicle which could come into contact
with the exhaust system (e.g. dry grass, fuel).
● A faulty vehicle represents a risk of accident for the driver and for oth-
er road users. If necessary, switch on the hazard warning lamps and put
out the warning triangle to advise other drivers.
● Before opening the bonnet, switch off the engine and allow it to cool.
● In any vehicle, the engine compartment is a hazardous area and could
cause severe injuries ⇒ page 251.
CAUTION
Failure to heed the control lamps and text messages when they appear may
result in faults in the vehicle. 

88Opening and closing
To deactivate the alarm, press the button 
on the remote control key, or
switch on the ignition. After a certain time, the alarm will automatically
switch off.
Switch off the vehicle interior monitoring and tow-away protection if you
wish to prevent the alarm from being triggered accidentally ⇒ page 97.
Turn signals
The turn signals will flash twice when the vehicle is unlocked and once
when the vehicle is locked.
If the signals do not flash, this indicates that one of the doors, the rear lid or
the bonnet is not closed correctly.
Accidental lock-out
The central locking system prevents you from being locked out of the vehi-
cle in the following situations:
● If the driver door is open, the vehicle cannot be locked with the central
locking switch ⇒ page 94.
Lock the vehicle with the remote control key, when all the doors and the rear
lid have been closed. This prevents the accidental locking of the vehicle.
WARNING
Do not leave anyone (especially children) in the vehicle if it is locked from
the outside and the anti-theft security system* is enabled, as the doors
and windows cannot then be opened from the inside. Locked doors could
delay assistance in an emergency, potentially putting lives at risk.
Note
● Never leave any valuable items in the vehicle unattended. Even a locked
vehicle is not a safe.
● If the diode on the driver door sill lights up for about 30 seconds when
the vehicle is locked, the central locking system or anti-theft alarm* is not
working properly. You should have the fault repaired at a SEAT Official Serv-
ice or specialised workshop.
● The vehicle interior monitoring of the anti-theft alarm* system will only
function as intended if the windows and the sunroof* are closed. 

95
Opening and closing
Valid for vehicles: with 5 doors Childproof lock
The childproof lock prevents the rear doors from being
opened from the inside. This system prevents minors from
opening a door accidentally while the vehicle is running.
Fig. 53 Childproof lock
on the left hand side
door
This function is independent of the vehicle electronic opening and
locking systems. It only affects rear doors. It can only be activated
and deactivated manually, as described below:
Activating the childproof lock
– Unlock the vehicle and open the door in which you wish to acti-
vate the childproof lock.
– With the door open, rotate the groove in the door using the igni-
tion key, anticlockwise for the left hand side doors ⇒ Fig. 53
and clockwise for the right hand side doors. Deactivating the childproof lock
–
Unlock the vehicle and open the door whose childproof lock you
want to deactivate.
– With the door open, rotate the groove in the door using the igni-
tion key, anticlockwise for the right hand side doors and clock-
wise for the left hand side doors ⇒ Fig. 53.
Once the childproof lock is activated, the door can only be opened from the
outside. The childproof lock can be activated and deactivated by inserting
the key in the groove when the door is open, as described above. 
Anti-theft alarm system* DescriptionThe anti-theft alarm makes it more difficult to break into the vehicle or steal
it.
The anti-theft alarm is automatically turned on when the vehicle is locked
with the key.
When does the system trigger an alarm?
The anti-theft alarm siren will be triggered for about 30 seconds accompa-
nied by optical warning signals for about five minutes when the vehicle is
locked and the following unauthorised actions are taken:
● Opening a door that is mechanically unlocked using the vehicle key
without switching on the ignition in the next 15 seconds (in certain markets,
such as the Netherlands, there is no 15 second waiting time and the alarm
is activated immediately on opening the door).
● A door is opened.
● The bonnet is opened. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications

124Lights and visibility
● Damaged blades: A film of water on the damaged blades may lengthen
the activation time, reduce the washing intervals or result in a fast and con-
tinuous wipe.
● Insects: insects on the sensor may trigger the windscreen washer.
● Salt on roads: in winter, salt spread in the roads may cause an extra
long wipe when the windscreen is almost dry.
● Dirt: dry dust, wax, coating on glass (Lotus effect) or traces of detergent
(car wash) may reduce the effectiveness of the rain sensor or make it react
more slowly, later or not at all.
● Cracked windscreen: the impact of a stone will trigger a single wipe cy-
cle with the rain sensor on. Next the rain sensor detects the reduction in the
sensitive surface area and adapts accordingly. The behaviour of the sensor
will vary with the size of the damage caused by the stone.
WARNING
The rain sensor may not detect enough rain to switch on the wipers.
● If necessary, switch on the wipers manually when water on the wind-
screen obstructs visibility.
Note
● Clean the sensitive surface of the rain sensor regularly and check the
blades for damage ⇒ Fig. 73 (arrow).
● To remove wax and coatings, we recommend a window cleaner contain-
ing alcohol. Checking and topping up the windscreen washer reservoir
with water
Fig. 74 In the engine
compartment: wind-
screen washer reservoir
top
Check the water level in the windscreen washer reservoir regularly and top
up as required.
● Open the bonnet 
⇒  page 251.
● The washer reservoir is marked with the symbol  on the lid
⇒ Fig. 74.
● Check there is enough water in the reservoir.
● To top up, mix water with a window cleaner recommended by SEAT
⇒ 
.
Please follow the instructions for use found on the packaging.
● In cold weather, a special antifreeze should also be added to prevent
the water from freezing ⇒ 
. 

174Driving
Sport mode (S) must be selected for a sporty driving style. This setting
makes use of the engine's maximum power output. When accelerating the
gear shifts will be noticeable.
The brake pedal must be pressed when moving the selector lever from D/S
to N if the vehicle is stationary or at speeds below 5 km/h ⇒ 
.
Under certain circumstances (e.g. when driving in mountains) it can be ad-
vantageous to switch temporarily to tiptronic mode ⇒ page 178, in order to
manually select gear ratios to suit the driving conditions.
WARNING
● Take care not to accidentally press the accelerator pedal when the ve-
hicle is stopped. The vehicle could otherwise start moving immediately
(in some cases even if the parking brake is engaged) resulting in the risk
of an accident.
● Never move the selector lever to R or P when driving. Failure to do so
could result in an accident.
● With the selector lever in any position (except P) the vehicle must al-
ways be held with the foot brake when the engine is running. This is be-
cause an automatic gearbox still transmits power even when idling, and
the vehicle tends to “creep”. The accelerator pedal must on no account
be pressed inadvertently when a gear is engaged with the vehicle sta-
tionary. The vehicle could otherwise start moving immediately (in some
cases even if the parking brake is engaged) resulting in the risk of an ac-
cident.
● While you are selecting a gear and the vehicle is stopped with the en-
gine running, do not accelerate. Failure to do so could result in an acci-
dent.
WARNING (Continued)
● As a driver you should never leave your vehicle if the engine is run-
ning and a gear is engaged. If you have to leave your vehicle while the
engine is running, you must apply the handbrake and engage the parking
lock (P).
● To avoid accidents, apply the handbrake and put the selector lever in
position P before opening the bonnet and working on the vehicle with
the engine running. Please always observe the important safety warn-
ings ⇒ page 251, Working on components in the engine compartment.
Note
● If the selector lever is moved accidentally to N when driving, release the
accelerator and let the engine speed drop to idling before selecting gear
range D or S again.
● Should the power supply to the selector lever be interrupted in posi-
tion P, the selector lever will be locked. If this should happen the manual
release can be used ⇒ page 182. 

252Checking and refilling levels
WARNING (Continued)
● 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.
CAUTION
When changing or topping up service fluids, make absolutely certain that
you fill the fluids into the correct reservoirs. Using the wrong fluids could
cause serious malfunctions and engine damage!
For the sake of the environment
Inspect the ground underneath your vehicle regularly so that any leaks are
detected at an early stage. If you find spots of oil or other fluids, have your
vehicle inspected at the workshop.
Note
On right-hand drive vehicles* some of the containers/reservoirs mentioned
below are located on the other side of the engine compartment. Opening the bonnet
The bonnet is released from inside the vehicle.
Fig. 153 Release lever in driver footwell and cam below the bonnet
Check that the windscreen wiper arms are not unfolded. Otherwise
the paint may be damaged.
The bonnet can only be unlocked when the driver door is open.
– Pull the lever under the dash panel in the direction of the arrow
1
⇒ Fig. 153.
– Lift the bonnet slightly ⇒ 
.
– Press the release catch under the bonnet upwards ⇒ Fig. 153
2
. This will release the arrester hook under the bonnet.
– Open the bonnet. Release the bonnet stay and secure it in fix-
ture designed for this in the bonnet. 

253
Checking and refilling levels
WARNING
Never open the bonnet if you see steam or drips of coolant being re-
leased from the engine compartment. Failure to comply could result in
burns. Wait until no steam or coolant can be seen before opening the
bonnet.

Closing the bonnet
– Slightly raise the bonnet.
– Release the bonnet stay before pressing it back into its support.
– Carefully close the bonnet.
– Press the bonnet down until it locks into place.
– Make sure that the bonnet catches onto its clasp. Do not press
down too hard ⇒ 
.
WARNING
● For safety reasons the bonnet must always be completely closed
when the vehicle is moving. Therefore, after closing the bonnet, always
check that the locking element is properly engaged. This is the case if
the bonnet is flush with the adjacent body panels.
● Should you notice that the bonnet is not safely secured when the ve-
hicle is moving, stop the vehicle immediately and close the bonnet. Fail-
ure to do so could result in an accident.
 Engine oil
General notes
The engine comes with a special, multi-grade oil that can be used all year
round.
Because the use of high-quality oil is essential for the correct operation of
the engine and its long useful life, when topping up or changing oil, use on-
ly those oils that comply with VW standards.
The specifications (VW standards) set out in the following page should ap-
pear on the container of the service oil; when the container displays the
specific standards for petrol and diesel engines together, it means that the
oil can be used for both types of engines.
We recommend that the oil change, indicated in the Maintenance Pro-
gramme, be performed by a Technical Service or a specialised workshop.
The correct oil specifications for your engine are listed in the ⇒ page 254,
Oil properties.
Service intervals
Service intervals can be flexible (LongLife service) or fixed (dependent on
time/distance travelled).
If the PR code that appears on the back of the “Maintenance Programme”
booklet is PR QI6, this means that your vehicle has the LongLife service pro-
grammed. If it lists the codes QI1, QI2, QI3, QI4 or QI7, the interval service
is dependent on time/distance travelled.
Flexible service intervals (LongLife service intervals*)
Special oils and processes have been developed which, depending on the
characteristics and individual driving profiles, enable the extension of the
oil change service (LongLife service intervals). 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications