service Seat Leon Sportstourer 2013 Workshop Manual

262Checking and refilling levels
WARNING
Never charge a battery that has frozen: replace battery! Failure to do so
may lead to an explosion.
Note
Use only the terminals in the engine compartment to charge the battery. 
Replacing the battery
The new battery should have the same specifications (am-
perage, load and voltage) as the used battery.
Your vehicle is equipped with an intelligent power management system to
control the distribution of electrical energy ⇒ page 226. The power manage-
ment function ensures that the battery is charged much more efficiently
than on vehicles without a power management system. To maintain this
function after replacing the battery, we recommend that the replacement
battery used is of the same make and type as the original fitted battery. To
make proper use of the power management function after the battery has
been changed, have the battery coded to the power management mode at a
specialised workshop.
CAUTION
● Some vehicles, for example those with the Start-Stop system* are fitted
with a special battery (AGM-type or EFB-type battery). If any other type of
battery is fitted, the Start-Stop function may be considerably reduced and
the vehicle may not stop on repeated occasions.
● Make sure that the vent hose is always attached to the original opening
on the side of the battery. Gases or battery acid can otherwise escape and
possibly cause damage.
● The battery holder and clamps must always be correctly secured. ●
Before starting any work on the battery, always observe the warnings lis-
ted under ⇒  page 260, Important safety warnings for handling a vehicle
battery.
● Do not forget to replace the battery coverings, where applicable. This
helps to protect against excess temperatures. This in turn extends the vehi-
cle service life.
For the sake of the environment
 Batteries contain toxic substances including sulphuric acid and lead. They
must be disposed of appropriately and must not be disposed of with ordi-
nary household waste. Make sure disconnected batteries cannot tip over.
Sulphuric acid could be spilt! 
Windscreen washer reservoir and wiper
blades
Windscreen washer
Fig. 158 Engine com-
partment: Windscreen
washer reservoir top 

263
Checking and refilling levels
The windscreen washer reservoir  contains the cleaning fluid for the wind-
screen, the rear window and the headlight washer system* ⇒ Fig. 158. Res-
ervoir capacity: ⇒ page 323.
To prevent the nozzles from becoming blocked with chalk deposits, fill res-
ervoir with water with a low calcium content (distilled water). Always add
washer fluid to the water (with anti-freeze additive in winter).
CAUTION
● Never put radiator anti-freeze or other additives into the windscreen
washer fluid.
● Never use washer fluid which contains paint thinners or solvents as it
can damage the paintwork. 
Cleaning and changing the wiper blades of the windscreen
and rear window
Fig. 159 Changing the
windscreen wiper blades
Fig. 160 Changing the
rear wiper blade
The windscreen wiper blades are supplied as standard with a layer of graph-
ite. This layer is responsible for ensuring that the wipe is silent. If the graph-
ite layer is damaged, the noise of the water as it is wiped across the wind-
screen will be louder.
Check the condition of the wiper blades regularly. If the wipers scrape
across the glass they should be changed if they are damaged, or cleaned if
they are dirty ⇒ 
.
Damaged wiper blades should be replaced immediately. Wiper blades are
available from specialised workshops.
Raising/lowering windscreen wiper arms
For windscreen wipers, please note: the wiper should be in service position
before being lowering ⇒ page 122. When raising or lowering an arm, it should only be held at the blade fasten-
ing point. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications

265
Wheels and tyres
Wheels and tyres
Wheels
General notes
– When driving with new tyres, be especially careful during the
first 500 km (300 miles).
– If you have to drive over a kerb or similar obstacle, drive very
slowly and as near as possible at a right angle to the obstacle.
– Check from time to time if the tyres are damaged (punctures,
cuts, cracks or dents). Remove any foreign objects embedded in
the treads.
– Damaged wheels and tyres must be replaced immediately.
– Keep grease, oil and fuel off the tyres.
– Replace any missing valve caps as soon as possible.
– Mark the wheels before taking them off so that they rotate in
the same direction when put back.
– When removed, the wheels or tyres should be stored in a cool,
dry and preferably dark place.
New tyres
New tyres do not give maximum grip straight away and should therefore be
“run in” by driving carefully and at moderate speeds for about the first 500
km (300 miles). This will also increase the useful life of the tyres. The tread depth of new tyres may
vary, according to the type and make of
tyre and the tread pattern.
Concealed damage
Damage to tyres and rims is often not readily visible. If you notice unusual
vibration or the car pulling to one side, this may indicate that one of the
tyres is damaged. Reduce speed immediately if there is any reason to sus-
pect that damage may have occurred. Inspect the tyres for damage. If no ex-
ternal damage is visible, drive slowly and carefully to the nearest special-
ised workshop and have the car inspected.
Tyres with directional tread pattern
An arrow on the tyre sidewall indicates the direction of rotation on single
drive tyres. Always note the direction of rotation indicated when mounting
the wheel. This guarantees optimum grip and helps to avoid aquaplaning,
excessive noise and wear.
Retrofitting Accessories
If you wish to change or fit wheels, rims or wheel trims, we recommend that
you consult with a SEAT Official Service centre for advice regarding current
techniques. 
Useful life of tyres
Correct inflation pressures and sensible driving habits will
increase the useful life of your tyres.
– Check tyre pressure at least once a month, and also prior to any
long trip. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications

266Wheels and tyres
–The tyre pressure should only be checked when the tyres are
cold. The slightly raised pressures of warm tyres must not be re-
duced.
– Adjust tyre pressure to the load being carried by the vehicle.
– In vehicles with a tyre pressure indicator, save the pressure of
modified tyres ⇒ page 214, ⇒  page 265.
– Avoid fast cornering and hard acceleration.
– Inspect the tyres for irregular wear from time to time.
The useful life of your tyres depends on the following factors:
Tyre pressure
Tyre pressure values are indicated on the inside of the fuel tank flap.
Insufficient or excessive pressure greatly reduces the useful life of the tyres
and adversely affects vehicle performance and ride. Correct inflation pres-
sures are very important, especially at high speeds.
If you want a more comfortable ride, you can inflate tyres to the pressure
corresponding to the normal vehicle load (up to 3 people) if the vehicle is
carrying a normal load. If the vehicle is going to carry the maximum load,
the tyre pressure should be increased to maximum value indicated.
The tyre pressure must be adjusted according to the load the vehicle is car-
rying. We recommend adhering to the tyre pressure specifications for a max-
imum load.
Do not forget the spare wheel when checking the tyre pressures: Keep the
spare wheel inflated to the highest pressure required for the road wheels.
In the case of a minimised temporary spare wheel (125/70 R16 or 125/70
R18) inflate to a pressure of 4.2 bar as indicated on the tyre pressure label
on the fuel tank flap. Driving style
Fast cornering, heavy acceleration and hard braking (squealing tyres) all in-
crease tyre wear.
Wheel balance
The wheels on new vehicles are balanced. However, certain circumstances
may lead to imbalance (run-out), which is detected as vibrations in the
steering wheel.
Unbalanced wheels should be rebalanced, as they otherwise cause exces-
sive wear on steering, suspension and tyres. A wheel must also be reba-
lanced when a new tyre is fitted or if a tyre is repaired.
Incorrect wheel alignment
Incorrect wheel alignment causes excessive tyre wear, impairing the safety
of the vehicle. If you notice excessive tyre wear, you should check wheel
alignment at a SEAT Official Service.
WARNING
● Always adapt the tyre pressure accordingly when the vehicle load
changes.
● A tyre with low air pressure has to flex a lot more when the vehicle is
heavily loaded or at high speeds, therefore causing overheating to occur.
Under these conditions, the tyre bead may be released or the tyre may
burst. Risk of accident!
For the sake of the environment
Under-inflated tyres will increase fuel consumption. 

268Wheels and tyres
To ensure that the wear is equal on all tyres the wheels should be changed
round from time to time according to the system ⇒ Fig. 162. The useful life
of all the tyres will then be about the same time. 
Replacing wheels and tyres
It is important to use the correct wheels and tyres when re-
placement is necessary.
– All four wheels must be fitted with tyres of the same type, size
(rolling circumference) and preferably the same tread pattern.
– Tyres should be replaced at least in pairs and not individually
(i.e. both front tyres or both rear tyres together).
– Do not use tyres whose effective size exceeds the dimensions
of the factory-approved makes of tyre.
– If you wish to fit the vehicle with rims or tyres that are different
to those installed in manufacture, it is advisable to consult a
SEAT Official Service before purchasing them.
The tyres and wheel rims are an essential part of the vehicle's design. The
tyres and rims approved by SEAT are specially matched to the characteris-
tics of the vehicle and make a major contribution to good roadholding and
safe handling ⇒ 
.
The sizes of the rims and tyres approved for your vehicle are listed in the
vehicle documentation (e.g. EC Certificate of Conformity or COC docu-
ment 1)
). The vehicle documentation varies depending on the country of resi-
dence. A knowledge of tyre designations makes it easier to choose the correct
tyres. The following wording can be read on the sides of the tyre:
205/55 R16 91V
This contains the following information:
205Tyre width in mm55Height/width ratio in %RTyre construction: Radial16Rim diameter in inches91Load rating codeVSpeed index
The manufacturing date is also indicated on the tyre sidewall (possibly only
on the inner side of the wheel): DOT... 2212...
means that the tyre was produced in the 22nd week of 2012.
Please note that with some types of tyre, the actual tyre size can differ from
the nominal size marked on the tyre (for instance 205/55 R 16 91 W), and
there may be significant differences in the contours of the tyres, even
though the tyres are marked with the same nominal size designation.
When replacing the tyres, it is therefore important to make sure that the
actual size of the new tyres does not exceed the dimensions of the factory-
approved makes of tyre.
Failure to observe this requirement can affect the clearance needed for the
tyres. This could result in contact between the tyres and suspension com-
ponents or bodywork causing damage. The brake lines could also be dam-
aged and vehicle safety could be severely impaired ⇒ 
.
1)
COC = certificate of conformity

269
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 279. 
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

270Wheels and tyres
–Also note that winter tyres are no longer effective when the
tread is worn down.
– After fitting the wheels you must always check the tyre pres-
sures. The correct tyre pressures are listed on the sticker on the
inside of the fuel tank flap ⇒ page 265.
In winter road conditions winter tyres will considerably improve vehicle han-
dling. The design of summer tyres (width, rubber compound, tread pattern)
gives less grip on ice and snow. This applies particularly to vehicles equip-
ped with wide section tyres or high speed tyres (code letters H, V or Y on
the sidewall).
Only use winter tyres of the correct type approved for your vehicle. The sizes
of the winter tyres approved for your vehicle are listed in the vehicle docu-
mentation (e.g. EC Certificate of Conformity or COC document 1)
). The vehicle
documentation varies depending on the country of residence. See also
⇒  page 268.
Winter tyres lose a great deal of their properties when the tread is worn
down to a depth of 4 mm.
The performance of winter tyres is also severely impaired by ageing, even if
the tread is still much deeper than 4 mm.
Winter tyres are subject to the following maximum speed limits according to
speed rating code letter: ⇒ 
Speed rating code letter
⇒ page 268Maximum speed limit
Q160 km/h (140 mph)S180 km/h (140 mph)T190 km/h (140 mph)
Speed rating code letter
⇒ page 268Maximum speed limit
H210 km/h (140 mph)
V240 km/h (150 mph)
(note restrictions)
Vehicles capable of exceeding these speeds must have an appropriate
sticker attached so that it is visible to the driver. Suitable stickers are availa-
ble from the SEAT Official Service and specialised workshop. Please note
regulations to this effect in your country.
“All-weather” tyres can also be used instead of winter tyres.
Using winter tyres with V-rating
Please note that the generally applicable 240 km/h (150 mph) speed rating
for winter tyres with the letter V is subject to technical restrictions; the max-
imum permissible speed for your vehicle may be significantly lower . The
maximum speed limit for tyres with a V-rating depends directly on the maxi-
mum axle weights for your car and on the listed weight rating of the tyres
being used.
It is best to contact a SEAT Official Service to check the maximum speed
which is permissible for the V-rated tyres fitted on your car on the basis of
this information.
WARNING
Exceeding the maximum speed permitted for the winter tyres fitted on
your car can cause tyre failure, resulting in a loss of control of the vehicle
– risk of accident. 
1)
COC = certificate of conformity

272Accessories and modifications to the vehicle
Accessories and modifications to the vehicle
Accessories, replacement parts and repairs
Always ask your dealer or specialist retailer for advice be-
fore purchasing accessories and replacement parts.
Your vehicle is designed to offer a high standard of active and passive safe-
ty. For this reason, we recommend that you ask a SEAT Official Service for
advice before fitting accessories or replacement parts. Your SEAT Official
Service has the latest information from the manufacturer and can recom-
mend accessories and replacement parts which are suitable for your re-
quirements. They can also answer any questions you might have regarding
official regulations.
We recommend you to use only SEAT accessories and Genuine SEAT parts ®
.
SEAT has tested these parts and accessories for suitability, reliability and
safety. SEAT Official Services have the necessary experience and facilities to
ensure that the parts are installed correctly and professionally.
Any retro-fitted equipment which has a direct effect on the vehicle and/or
the way it is driven e.g. cruise control system or electronically-controlled
suspension, must bear the e mark (the European Union's authorisation
symbol) and be approved for use in the vehicle in question.
If any additional electrical components are fitted which do not serve to con-
trol the vehicle itself (for instance a refrigerator box, laptop or ventilator fan,
etc.), these must bear the  mark (manufacturer conformity declaration in
the European Union).
WARNING
Accessories, for example telephone holders or cup holders, should never
be fitted on the covers, or within the working range of the airbags. Other-
wise, there is a danger of injury if the airbag is triggered in an accident.
 Technical modifications
Modifications must always be carried out according to our
specifications.
Unauthorised modifications to the electronic components, software, wiring
or data transfer in the vehicle may cause malfunctioning. Due to the way the
electronic components are linked together in networks, other indirect sys-
tems may be affected by the faults. This can seriously impair safety, lead to
excessive wear of components, and also invalidate your vehicle registration
documents.
You will appreciate that your SEAT dealership cannot be held liable for any
damage caused by modifications and/or work performed incorrectly.
We recommend that all work should be performed by a SEAT Official Service
using Genuine SEAT parts
®
.
WARNING
Incorrectly performed modifications or other work on your vehicle can
lead to malfunctions and cause accidents.

Radio transmitters and business equipment
Radio transmitters (fixed installation)
Any retrofit installations of radio transmitters in the vehicle require prior ap-
proval. SEAT generally authorises in-vehicle installations of approved types
of radio transmitters provided that: 

273
Accessories and modifications to the vehicle
● the aerial is installed correctly.
● the aerial is installed on the exterior of the vehicle (and shielded cables
are used together with non-reflective aerial trimming).
● the effective transmitting power does not exceed 10 Watts at the aerial
base.
A SEAT Official Service and specialised workshop will be able to inform you
about options for installing and operating radio transmitters with a higher
transmitting power.
Mobile radio transmitters
Commercial mobile telephones or radio equipment might interfere with the
electronics of your vehicle and cause malfunctions. This may be due to:
● no external aerial
● external aerial incorrectly installed
● transmitting power more than 10 W
You must, therefore, do not operate portable mobile telephones or radio
equipment inside the vehicle without a properly installed external aerial
⇒ 
.
Please note also that the maximum range of the equipment can only be ach-
ieved with an external aerial.
Business equipment
Retrofit installation of business or private equipment in the vehicle is per-
mitted, provided the equipment cannot interfere with the driver's immedi-
ate control of the vehicle and that any such equipment carries the  mark.
Any retrofit equipment that could influence the driver's control of the vehi-
cle must have a type approval for your vehicle and must carry the e mark.
WARNING
Mobile telephones or radio equipment which is operated inside the vehi-
cle without a properly installed external aerial can create excessive mag-
netic fields that could cause a health hazard.
Note
● The posterior fitting of electric and electronic equipment in this vehicle
affects its licence type and could lead to the withdrawal of the vehicle regis-
tration document under certain circumstances.
● Please use the mobile telephone/radio operating instructions. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications

276Emergencies
Note
● If sealing product should leak out, leave it to dry. This way you can pull it
off like a piece of foil.
● Observe the expiry date stated on the sealing compound can. Have the
sealing compound changed by a specialised workshop or SEAT Service.
● Please observe legal requirements when doing so. 
Repairing tyres
Fig. 164 Tyre: top up
Important: have the tyre repair kit ready ⇒ 
page 274.
Filling the tyre
– Before filling the tyre, shake the bottle of sealing product thor-
oughly.
– Screw the enclosed filling hose onto the sealant can as far as it
will go. This will pierce the foil sealing on the can. –
Take the valve cap off the tyre valve and use a screwdriver
⇒ Fig. 164 to unscrew the valve insert.
– Place the valve insert onto a clean surface.
– Remove the sealing plug from the filling hose and insert the
hose into the tyre valve.
– Hold the bottle upside down and insert the contents in the tyre
until the bottle is empty.
– Then disconnect the hose and screw the valve insert back onto
the tyre valve.
Inflating the tyre
– Screw the compressor filling hose (tyre repair kit) onto the tyre
valve and plug the connector into the 12V connection.
– Pump the tyre up to 2.0 to 2.5 bar and monitor the pressure
shown on the pressure gauge.
– If the tyre does not reach this pressure, move the car forwards
or backwards 10 metres to allow the sealing compound to
spread all around the tyre.WARNING
● Please observe the manufacturer's safety notes on the compressor
and the instructions supplied with the tyre sealant can.
● If, after six minutes of trying to inflate the tyre, it is not possible get
up to a pressure of 2.0 bar, this indicates that the tyre is too severely
damaged for repair with the kit. Do not carry on driving!
● If the tyre cannot be repaired with the sealing compound, seek pro-
fessional assistance. 