wheel Seat Toledo 2012 Owner's Guide

142Driving
The HHC is activated on gradients of over 5 %, as the driver door is closed.
It only works to start on hills, moving both forwards and in reverse. It is not
activated during start-up down hill. 
Anti-lock system (ABS)
The ABS system prevents the wheels locking during braking. This helps the
driver keep control of the vehicle.
The driver is made aware of ABS assistance by the pulsating of the brake
pedal and a characteristic noise.
Keep the brake pedal pressed down while the ABS is working. The ABS will
switch off when the brake pedal is released. Never brake intermittently
while the ABS is working! 
Traction control system (ASR)
If the wheels start to slide, the ASR adapts the engine speed to the driving
conditions. Particularly in unfavourable conditions, ASR helps starting, ac-
celerating and hill starts.
The  1)
warning lamp in the general instrument panel flashes when the
system is working. Electronic differential lock
If one of the wheels starts to skid, the EDL brakes that wheel, transmitting
the driving force to the other wheels. This increases vehicle stability and im-
proves driving stability.
To prevent the disc brake of the braking wheel from overheating, the EDL
cuts out automatically if subjected to excessive loads. The vehicle will con-
tinue to function normally without EDL. The EDL will switch on again auto-
matically when the brake has cooled down.

Manual gearbox
Fig. 105 Gear shift pat-
tern of a 5 or 6-speed
manual gearbox
When changing gear, always depress the clutch pedal fully and keep it
pressed down to avoid excessive clutch wear.
In order to drive at an optimum RPM, respect the gear change indications
⇒ page 58. 
1)
Valid for vehicles not fitted with the stability control system (ESC).

143
Driving
Engage reverse gear only when the vehicle is stopped. On engaging reverse
gear while the engine is running, first wait a moment with the clutch pedal
pressed down fully to limit gear shift noise.
The reverse lights switch on when the reverse gear is selected and the igni-
tion is on.
WARNING
Never engage reverse gear when moving forwards. Risk of accident!
Note
Do not rest your hand on the gear lever while driving. The pressure of your
hand could lead to premature wear of the gear system. 
Automatic gearbox Introduction
WARNING
● Never press the accelerator when selecting the operating mode of the
automatic gearbox when the vehicle is stationary. Risk of accident!
● Never move the selector lever to positions R or P when driving. Risk of
accident!
● If the vehicle is to be stopped with a gear selected and the engine
idling (e.g. waiting or moving slowly at traffic lights), press down on the
brake pedal because the transmission is not entirely interrupted when
the engine is idling and the vehicle will tend to start moving.
WARNING (Continued)
● Apply the handbrake firmly and put the selector lever in position P
before opening the bonnet and working on the vehicle with the engine
running. Risk of accident! Strictly follow the safety instructions
⇒ page 173, Engine compartment.
● When stopping on a slope (hill), try not to stop the vehicle from mov-
ing by pressing the “accelerator” with a gear selected. This could over-
heat the clutch. If the clutch risks being burnt due to this force, it would
switch off and the vehicle could move backwards. Risk of accident!
● If you have to stop on a hill, press down on the brake pedal to stop
the vehicle from moving.
● The drive wheels could lose traction on a slippery road surface when
the kick-down function is activated. Risk of sliding!
CAUTION
● In DSG automatic gearboxes, the double clutch is protected from over-
loads. If the hill hold control is used, the clutches are subjected to greater
force if the vehicle is at a standstill on a slope or suddenly accelerating on a
slope.
● Should the clutches overheat, the  symbol is shown on the informative
display with a warning message Gear overheated. Stop! Instruction Manual!
An audible warning is also heard. Stop the vehicle in this case, stop the en-
gine and wait until the symbol  has switched off. Danger of damage to the
gearbox! You can continue driving once the symbol is switched off. 
Basic information
The gearbox changes up and down automatically. The gearbox can be set to
Tiptronic mode. The gears can be changed manually in this mode
⇒ page 145. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications

144Driving
The engine can only be started in positions P or N. If, on engaging the steer-
ing lock, switching the ignition on/off or starting the engine, the selector
lever is not in position P or N, the informative display will show Move the
selector lever to position P/N! or  P/N is shown on the general instrument
panel display.
The engine can only be started in position P at temperatures below -10 °C
(14 °F).
Move the selector lever to position P when parking the vehicle on a flat sur-
face. On a slope, the handbrake should be firmly applied before moving the
selector lever to the park position. This reduces the load on the lock mecha-
nism while making it easier to move the selector lever from position P.
If, while the vehicle is moving, the selector lever is accidentally moved to
position N, release the accelerator and wait for the engine to idle before
moving it back into position. 
Starting and driving
Starting
– Press and hold the brake pedal.
– Press and hold the interlock button on the selector lever knob
and move the selector lever to position ⇒ page 144 before re-
leasing the interlock button.
– Release the brake and press the accelerator.
Stopping
– The selector lever does not have to be moved to position N if
the vehicle is stopped for a short period, e.g. at junctions. Ap-
plying the brake is enough. However, the engine must remain
idling. Parking
–
Press the brake pedal.
– Apply the handbrake.
– Press the interlock button, move the selector lever to position P
and release the button. 
Selector lever positions
Fig. 106 Selector lever/Informative display: selector lever positions The current position of the selector lever is shown on the general instru-
ment panel display 1
⇒ Fig. 106.
P
– Parking position
In this position, the driven wheels are mechanically locked.
The parking position can only be selected when the vehicle is stationary.
If you want to move the selector lever from this position, press the interlock
button on the selector lever knob while pressing down on the brake pedal.
If the battery is drained, the selector lever cannot be moved from position P.

152Driving
● Engine at operating temperature
● Vehicle's battery sufficiently charged
● Vehicle not on a very steep slope
● Engine speed below 1200 rpm
● Vehicle's battery temperature is neither too high nor too low
● Sufficient brake system pressure
● Difference between outside temperature and set interior temperature
not too great
● Vehicle speed since last time the engine started was above 3 km/h (2
mph)
● Particulate filter ⇒ page 71 not being cleaned
● Front wheels not overly turned (steering wheel turned less than three
quarters of a turn)
Conditions for engine start up (Start phase)
● Clutch pedal pressed
● Max./min. temperature set
● Windscreen defrost function switched on
● High blower speed
● START-STOP button pressed
Conditions for automatic engine start up without driver involvement
● Vehicle moving at a speed of over 3 km/h (2 mph)
● Difference between outside temperature and interior temperature is too
great
● Vehicle's battery insufficiently charged
● Insufficient brake system pressure
If the driver seat belt is unfastened for more than 30 seconds in Stop phase,
the engine must be started using the ignition key. Please observe the mes-
sages on the general instrument panel display. Warnings on the instrument panel display (valid for vehicles not fitted with
an informative display)
FAULT: START-STOPFault in the START-STOP systemSTART-STOP IMPOSSIBLEEngine cannot be automatically shut
down
START-STOP ACTIVEAutomatic engine shut down (Stop
phase)
SWITCH OFF IGNITIONSwitch ignition off.START MANUALLYStart the engine manually
WARNING
● If the engine is switched off, neither the brake servo or the power
steering will work.
● Do not move the vehicle when the engine is switched off.
CAUTION
Switch off the START-STOP system ⇒  page 159 before driving through a
pool of water on the road.
Note
● The battery temperature may reflect the changes in outside temperature
after several hours. If the vehicle has been stopped outside at temperatures
below zero or in direct sunlight, for example, the battery temperature may
take several hours to reach the values required for the correct operating of
the START-STOP system.
● If the Climatronic system is operating automatically, this could impair
automatic engine shut down in certain conditions. 

161
Driving the vehicle with a trailer
Driving the vehicle with a trailer Driving the vehicle with a trailer
Technical requirements
If your vehicle has a factory-fitted towing bracket or is equipped with a se-
lection of SEAT Original Accessories, it meets all the relevant technical and
legal requirements.
In vehicles with a towing bracket it is possible to remove the ball joint, situ-
ated (together with the special assembly instructions) in the housing for the
spare wheel in the vehicle luggage compartment ⇒ page 198, Vehicle tool
kit*.
Your vehicle is fitted with a 13-pole power socket for the electrical connec-
tion between the trailer and the vehicle. If the trailer you are going to use
has a 7-pin connector, the corresponding adaptor, acquired from the SEAT
Original Accessories Catalogue, can be used.
If a towing bracket is to be retro-fitted to the car, it must be done according
to the instructions of the towing bracket manufacturer.
Note
Any queries that may arise can be directed to an authorised SEAT dealer. 
Trailer weight
Trailer weight
The combined vehicle and trailer must be balanced. To do so use the maxi-
mum permitted towing bracket load. An insufficient weight exerted by the trailer drawbar on the ball joint of the towing bracket will have a negative
impact upon the response of the vehicle-trailer assembly on the road.
Weight distribution
Distribute loads in the trailer so that heavy objects are as near to the axle as
possible. Ensure that the objects do not move.
If the towing vehicle is empty and the trailer loaded then the load distribu-
tion is incorrect. However, if these conditions cannot be avoided, drive very
slowly.
Tyre pressure values
Correct the tyre pressure in your vehicle to “total load” ⇒ 
page 188, Tyre
useful life.
Trailer weight
Never exceed the authorised trailer weight under any circumstances
⇒  page 226, Description of the data.
The trailer weights listed are only applicable for altitudes up to 1000 m
above sea level. Due to a lower air density the engine power decreases de-
pending on the increase in altitude, this also causes the climbing ability to
decrease, which requires a reduction of the weight of the vehicle with a
trailer by 10 % for every 1000 m increase in altitude. The weight of the as-
sembly is calculated by adding the vehicle weight (loaded) to the trailer
weight (loaded). Always drive with special care when towing a trailer.
The towed load and support load information that is displayed on the tow-
ing bracket manufacturers label are only values for the verification of the
device. The correct figures for your specific vehicle, which are usually lower
than these figures, are given in the documentation of your vehicle. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications

162Driving the vehicle with a trailer
WARNING
● Exceeding the maximum established load per axle and the maximum
towing bracket load in addition to the maximum permitted load or the
load of the vehicle + trailer assembly can cause accidents and serious in-
juries.
● A sliding load could considerably affect the stability and safety of the
vehicle + trailer assembly, resulting in accidents and serious injuries.

Towing a trailer
Exterior mirrors
Check whether you can see enough of the road behind the trailer with the
standard rear vision mirrors. If this is not the case, you should have addi-
tional exterior mirrors fitted. Observe the relevant statutory requirements of
the country you are in.
Headlights
Before starting a journey, also check the headlight beam settings with the
trailer hitched up. Adjust the headlight range settings if necessary
⇒ page 96, Range control of main lights .
Driving speed
For your own safety do not drive faster than the maximum permitted speed
indicated on the trailer.
At all times, immediately reduce speed if you detect the slightest swaying
movement of the trailer. Never try to “return the trailer to a straight posi-
tion” by accelerating.
Brakes
Brake in due course! If the trailer has an overrun brake, apply the brakes
gently at first and then, firmly. This will prevent the jerking that can be caused by locking of trailer wheels. Change to a lower gear in good time be-
fore descending a slope in order to take advantage of the engine brake.
The trailer is incorporated into the vehicle anti-theft alarm system.
●
When the vehicle has a factory-fitted anti-theft alarm and a towing
bracket
● When the trailer is electrically connected to the vehicle via the towing
bracket socket
● When the vehicle electrical device and the towing bracket are operation-
al
● When the vehicle is locked and the vehicle anti-theft alarm device is ac-
tivated
Once the electrical connection is interrupted with the vehicle trailer locked,
the alarm sounds.
Always switch off the vehicle anti-theft alarm device before connecting or
disconnecting a trailer. The vehicle anti-theft alarm device could cause the
alarm to sound ⇒ page 88, Anti-theft alarm system.
Engine overheating
In the event that the coolant temperature gauge needle moves to the right
section of the scale or to the red area, immediately reduce speed. If the con-
trol lamp  flashes on the general instrument panel, stop the vehicle and
switch off the engine. Wait several minutes and check the coolant level in
the tank ⇒ page 179.
Please observe the following indications ⇒ page 68, Coolant level and tem-
perature .
The coolant temperature can be reduced by switching on the heating. 

164Care of the vehicle and cleaning
Care of the vehicle and cleaning
Care of the vehicle
Introduction
Regular and suitable care helps to maintain the useful life of your vehicle.
This may also be one of the requirements for upholding any warranty claims
in the event of corrosion or paint defects.
We recommend you use cleaning products from the SEAT Original Accesso-
ries programme available in SEAT dealers. Please follow the instructions for
use on the packaging.
WARNING
● Cleaning products and other materials used for car care can damage
the health if misused.
● Always keep car care materials in a safe place out of the reach of chil-
dren. Risk of poisoning!
● When washing the car during the winter season: Moisture and ice on
the brakes may affect braking efficiency. Risk of accident!
● The ignition must always be switched off when the car is washed.
Risk of accident!
● Do not clean the underside of the car or inside the wheel arches with-
out protecting your hands and arms. You may cut yourself on sharp metal
parts!
● Perfumes and air fresheners inside the vehicle may be harmful to
health at high temperatures in the interior.
CAUTION
● Check the colour stability of your clothing to avoid damaging or visibly
staining the fabric (leather), upholstery and fabric trim.
● Cleaning products containing solvents may damage the material being
cleaned.
● Do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight. Risk of damage to paintwork.
● If washing the vehicle with a hose in winter, do not direct the jet of water
directly at the locks or at the door seals or bonnet. Risk of freezing.
● Do not use insect sponges or abrasive household sponges, etc. on pain-
ted surfaces. Risk of damage to the painted surface.
● Do not put stickers on the inner side of the window in areas where heat-
ing elements or the aerial is located. This could cause damage and, in the
case of the aerial, radio and navigation system reception faults.
● Do not clean the inner side of the window with sharp objects or corro-
sive or acidic cleaning products. Risk of damaging the heating elements or
the aerial.
● Do not attach any fragrance or air freshener to the dash panel. Risk of
damage to the dash panel.
● To avoid damaging the parking aid system sensors, spray them only
briefly at a minimum distance of 10 cm when cleaning the vehicle with a
high-pressure or steam cleaner.
● Do not clean the roof panel with a brush. Risk of damage to the panel
surface!
For the sake of the environment
● The packaging of the product used to care for your vehicle is hazardous
waste. It must be disposed of according to current local law.
● Only wash the car in special wash bays. 

165
Care of the vehicle and cleaning
Note
● Remove stains from fresh ball-pen and other inks, lipstick, shoe cream
and similar stains on the fabric (leather), upholstery and fabric trim as soon
as possible.
● We recommend that you visit an authorised SEAT dealer to clean and
care for the interior of your vehicle, due to the problems that may arise
when cleaning and caring for the interior of your vehicle and to the utensils
and knowledge required. 
Washing the vehicle
The best protection of the vehicle from the harmful influences of the envi-
ronment involves frequent washing and waxing. The frequency with which
the vehicle is washed depends on many different factors, such as:
● Frequency of use
● Type of parking (garage, underneath trees, etc.)
● Time of year
● Weather conditions
● Environmental conditions
The longer substances such as insects, bird droppings, resinous tree sap,
road dirt, industrial deposits, tar, soot or road salt and other aggressive ma-
terials remain on the paintwork, the more damage they do. High tempera-
tures (for instance in strong sunlight) further intensify the corrosive effect.
After the winter season, it is important to have the underside of the vehicle
washed thoroughly. Automatic car washes
Your vehicle can be washed in an automatic car wash.
Before going through a car wash, be sure to take the usual precautions such
as closing the windows, etc.
If the vehicle has special accessories such as spoilers or a roof carrier or
two-way radio aerial, etc., it is advisable to consult the car wash operator
beforehand.
The windscreen wiper rubbers must be degreased after going after the car
wash and waxing.

Washing by hand
When washing the car by hand, use plenty of water to soften the dirt first
and rinse off as well as possible.
Then clean the vehicle with a sponge, glove or brush. Start on the roof and
work down. Use only slight pressure when cleaning the painted surfaces of
the vehicle. A car shampoo should only be used for very persistent dirt.
Rinse the sponge or glove thoroughly and often.
Wheels, sills and underside should be cleaned last. Use a second sponge
for this.
After washing, rinse the vehicle thoroughly and then dry with a chamois. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical TipsTechnical specifications

168Care of the vehicle and cleaning
Note
● Make sure, when washing the vehicle, that the least amount of water
possible enters the lock cylinders.
● We recommend the use of products from the selection of SEAT Original
Accessories to care for the door lock cylinder. 
Wheels
Wheel trims
If you wash the vehicle regularly, you must also thoroughly wash the wheel
trims. Regularly remove any brake abrasion residue and road salt from the
wheels, otherwise the wheel material could be damaged. Repair any dam-
age to the wheel paintwork immediately.
Alloy wheels
After thorough washing, treat the wheels with a protective product for alloy
wheels. Do not use abrasive products to care for the wheels.
WARNING
Moisture, ice and road salt may affect braking efficiency. Risk of acci-
dent!
CAUTION
Heavy dirt on the wheels could lead to their misalignment. This could result
in vibrations being transmitted to the steering wheel that under certain con-
ditions may cause premature steering wear. This dirt must be removed.
Note
We recommend you leave paint damage repairs to a SEAT Authorised Serv-
ice. Underbody sealant
The underside of the vehicle is coated to permanently protect it from chemi-
cal and mechanical agents.
Given that damage to the
protective coating during driving cannot be com-
pletely ruled out, we recommend you check the condition of the protective
coating on the underbody and suspension at regular intervals, preferably
before the start and end of the coldest season of the year.
Authorised SEAT dealers have suitable special products and the necessary
facilities and are aware of the techniques required for their application. We
therefore recommend all touch-up work or additional anti-corrosion meas-
ures be performed by an authorised SEAT dealer.
WARNING
Do not apply underseal or anti-corrosion coatings to the exhaust pipes,
catalytic converter, particulate filter or heat shields on the exhaust sys-
tem. Once the engine has reached operating temperature, these substan-
ces could catch fire. Risk of fire!

Cavity waxing
All cavities on the vehicle exposed to corrosion are permanently factory-pro-
tected by a wax solution .
This wax solution does not need to be checked or touched up. Should wax
run out of the cavities at high ambient temperatures, remove it using a plas-
tic scraper and clean away any stains using lighter fluid. 

170Care of the vehicle and cleaning
CAUTION
● Avoid exposing leather to direct sunlight for long periods so that it does
not lose its colour. If the car is left for a prolonged period outdoors, cover
the leather so that it does not lose its colour.
● Sharp-edged objects on clothing, such as zips, rivets or belts can leave
permanent scratches and rough marks on the surface of the leather.
● Use of the mechanical steering wheel lock can damage the leather sur-
face of the steering wheel.
Note
● Use a suitable impregnating cream with ultra-violet protection at regular
intervals and after cleaning. The cream will nourish and moisturise the
leather, keep it supple and able to breathe. In addition, it will also help to
protect the surface of the leather.
● Clean the leather every 2 to 3 months and remove fresh dirt as necessa-
ry.
● Preserve the colour of the leather. A special coloured cream for leather
will renew the colour of more heavily worn areas as required.
● Leather is a natural material with specific properties. During vehicle use,
parts of the leather covers may change in appearance, such as folds or wrin-
kles, as a result of their use. 
Seat belts
Keep the seat belts clean!
Wash soiled seat belts with mild, soapy water, removing any heavier dirt
with a soft brush.
Check the condition of all seat belts at regular intervals.
Very soiled belts may not retract properly.
WARNING
● The seat belts should never be removed from the vehicle for cleaning.
● Never clean using chemical products, as chemical detergents destroy
the fabric. Ensure that the seat belts do not come into contact with corro-
sive fluids such as acids, etc.
● If you find any damage to the belt webbing, belt fittings, the belt re-
tractor or the buckle, the belt in question must be replaced by an Official
Service.
● Make sure that the inertia reel seat belts are completely dry before
allowing them to retract.
