2021-2026 Seat Ibiza SUV Cleaning and caring for your vehicle User Manual
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Cleaning and caring for your vehicle for Your Seat Ibiza SUV Fifth Generation (2018-2026)

Cleaning and caring for your vehicle  
153  
Cleaning and caring for your vehicle  
General notes  
WARNING (continued)  
your vehicle. The use of certain products may produce noxious vapours;  
these should be used in well ventilated areas.  
Regular washing and care help maintain the value of your  
vehicle.  
•
Never use fuel, turpentine, engine oil, nail varnish remover or other  
volatile fluids. These are toxic and highly flammable. There is a fire / explo-  
sion risk.  
Regular care  
Regular and expert care helps to maintain the value of the vehicle. This may  
also be one of the requirements for acknowledging warranty claims in the  
event of corrosion or paint defects.  
•
Before you wash your vehicle, or carry out any maintenance, switch off  
the engine, apply the handbrake firmly and remove the key from the igni-  
tion.  
The best way to protect the car against environmental contaminants is to  
wash and wax it frequently. The longer substances such as insects, bird drop-  
pings, resinous tree sap, road dirt, industrial deposits, tar, soot or road salt  
and other aggressive materials remain on the vehicle, the more damage they  
do to the paintwork. High temperatures (for instance in strong sunlight)  
further intensify the corrosive effect.  
Caution  
Never attempt to remove dirt, mud or dust if the surface of the vehicle is dry.  
Never use a dry cloth or sponge for cleaning purposes. This could damage the  
paintwork or glass on your vehicle. Soak dirt, mud or dust with plenty of  
water.  
After the period when salt is put on the roads it is important to have the  
underside of the vehicle washed thoroughly.  
For the sake of the environment  
Car care products  
•
When purchasing car care products, try to select ones which are not  
harmful to the environment.  
Left over car care products should not be disposed of with ordinary house-  
hold waste. Observe the disposal information on the package.  
Car care products are available from your Authorised Service Centre. Keep the  
product instructions until you have used up the product.  
•
WARNING  
•
Car care products can be toxic. For this, they must always be kept  
closed in their original container. Keep out of children's reach. Failure to  
comply could result in poisoning.  
•
Always read and observe the instructions and warnings on the package  
before using car care products. Improper use could damage your health or  
Safety First  
Operating instructions  
Tips and Maintenance  
Technical Data  
154  
Cleaning and caring for your vehicle  
–
Clean the wheels, sill panels etc. last using a different sponge or  
glove.  
Care of the vehicle exterior  
–
–
–
Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with water.  
Automatic car washes  
Dry the surface of the vehicle gently using a chamois leather.  
The paint is so durable that the car can normally be washed without problems  
in an automatic car wash. However, the effect on the paint depends to a large  
extent on the design of the car wash, the brushes used, the filtering of the  
wash water and the type of detergents and wax solutions used, etc.  
If it is cold, dry the rubber seals and the surfaces they touch with  
a cloth to prevent them freezing. Apply silicone spray to the  
rubber seals.  
After the car has been washed, the brakes could respond later than normal  
as the brake discs and brake pads will be wet, or even frozen in winter. You  
must “dry” the brakes by applying the brakes carefully several times  
⇒ page 143, “Braking effect and braking distance”.  
After cleaning the vehicle  
–
If possible, avoid sudden braking directly after washing the  
vehicle. You must “dry” the brakes by applying the brakes care-  
fully several times ⇒ page 143, “Braking effect and braking  
distance”.  
WARNING  
Moisture, ice and salt on the brakes may affect braking efficiency. Risk of  
accident.  
WARNING  
•
The ignition must always be switched off before the vehicle is washed.  
Protect your hands and arms from cuts on sharp metal edges when  
•
Washing by hand  
Washing the vehicle  
cleaning the underbody, the inside of the wheel housings etc. Risk of  
injury.  
•
Moisture, ice and salt on the brakes may affect braking efficiency. Risk  
–
–
First soften the dirt with plenty of water and rinse off.  
of accident.  
Clean the vehicle with a soft sponge, a glove or a brush. Start on  
the roof and work your way down. Use only light pressure.  
Caution  
Never attempt to remove dirt, mud or dust if the surface of the vehicle is  
•
–
–
Rinse the sponge or glove as much as possible.  
dry. Never use a dry cloth or sponge for cleaning purposes. This could scratch  
the paintwork or glass on your vehicle.  
Special car shampoo should only be used for very stubborn dirt.  
•
Washing the vehicle in cold weather: if the vehicle is rinsed with a hose,  
do not direct the water into the lock cylinders or the gaps around the doors,  
Cleaning and caring for your vehicle  
155  
luggage compartment, or bonnet. This could cause them to freeze. Otherwise  
there is a risk of malfunction.  
WARNING  
•
Never wash tyres with a concentrated jet or cylindrical jet (“rotating  
nozzle”). Even at large spraying distances and short cleaning times, visible  
and invisible damage can occur to the tyres. This may be an accident risk.  
For the sake of the environment  
In the interests of environmental protection, the car should be washed only  
in specially provided wash bays. This prevents toxic, oil-laden waste water  
entering the sewerage system. In some districts, washing vehicles anywhere  
else may be prohibited.  
•
Moisture, ice and salt on the brakes may affect braking efficiency. Risk  
of accident.  
Caution  
°
•
•
Do not use water hotter than 60 C. This could damage the car.  
Note  
Do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight.  
To avoid damage to the vehicle, maintain a sufficient distance from sensi-  
tive materials for example: flexible hoses, plastic, sound proofing, etc. This is  
especially important for bumpers painted in the same colour as the vehicle.  
The closer the nozzle is to the surface, the greater the wear on the material.  
Washing the car with a high pressure cleaner  
Be particularly careful when using a high pressure cleaner!  
Waxing the car  
–
Always observe the instructions for the high-pressure cleaner,  
particularly those concerning the pressure and the spraying  
distance.  
Regular waxing protects the paintwork.  
You need to apply wax to your car if water does not form small drops and run  
off the paintwork when it is clean.  
–
–
–
–
Increase the spraying distance for soft materials and painted  
bumpers.  
Good quality hard wax is available from your Authorised Service Centre.  
A good coat of wax helps to protects the paintwork from environmental  
contaminants ⇒ page 153. It is also effective in protecting against minor  
scratches.  
Do not use a high pressure cleaner to remove ice or snow from  
windows ⇒ page 156.  
Never use concentrated jet nozzles or so-called “dirt blasters”  
Even if a wax solution is used regularly in the car wash, it is advisable to  
⇒
.
protect the paint with a coat of hard wax at least twice a year.  
If possible, avoid sudden braking directly after washing the  
vehicle. You must “dry” the brakes by applying the brakes care-  
fully several times ⇒ page 143.  
Safety First  
Operating instructions  
Tips and Maintenance  
Technical Data  
156  
Cleaning and caring for your vehicle  
Polishing the paintwork  
Cleaning windows and exterior mirrors  
Cleaning the windows  
Polishing brings back gloss to the paintwork.  
–
Moisten the windows with commercially available, alcohol based  
glass cleaner.  
Polishing is only necessary if the paint has lost its shine, and the gloss cannot  
be brought back by applying wax. Polish can be obtained from your Author-  
ised Service Centre.  
–
Dry the windows with a clean chamois leather or a lint-free cloth.  
The car must be waxed after polishing if the polish used does not contain wax  
compounds to seal the paint ⇒ page 155, “Waxing the car”.  
Removing snow  
Use a small brush to remove snow from the windows and mirrors.  
–
Caution  
Removing ice  
Use a de-icer spray.  
To prevent damage to the paintwork:  
• Do not use polishes and hard wax on painted parts with a matt finish or  
on plastic parts.  
Do not polish your vehicle in a sandy or dusty environment.  
–
•
Use a clean cloth or chamois leather to dry the windows. Chamois leathers  
which have been used on painted surfaces are not suitable for use on  
windows. They will be soiled with wax deposits which would smear the  
windows.  
Caring for plastic parts  
If possible use a de-icing spray to remove ice. If you use an ice scraper, push  
it in one direction only. Do not move it to and fro.  
Solvents will damage plastic parts.  
Use window cleaner or a silicone remover to clean off rubber, oil, grease and  
silicone deposits.  
If normal washing fails to clean plastic parts, clean them with special solvent-  
free plastic cleaning and care products.  
Wax deposits have to be removed with a special cleaner which is available  
from your Authorised Service Centre. Wax deposits on the windscreen could  
cause the wiper blades to judder. A window cleanser specifically for removing  
wax will stop the blades juddering if added to the windscreen washer fluid.  
Grease removing cleansers will not remove wax deposits.  
Caution  
•
The use of liquid air conditioners directly over the air vents of the vehicle  
may damage the plastic parts if the liquid is accidentally spilled.  
Cleaning products which contain solvents will damage the material.  
•
Caution  
•
Never use warm or hot water to remove snow and ice from windows and  
mirrors. This could cause the glass to crack!  
Cleaning and caring for your vehicle  
157  
•
The heating element for the rear window is located on the inner side of the  
Door lock cylinders  
window. To prevent damage, do not put stickers over the heating elements on  
the inside of the window.  
The door lock cylinders can freeze up in winter.  
To de-ice the lock cylinders you should only use spray with lubricating and  
anti-corrosive properties.  
Cleaning windscreen wiper blades  
Clean wiper blades are essential for clear vision.  
Cleaning chrome parts  
1. Use a soft cloth to remove dust and dirt from the windscreen  
wiper blades.  
1. Clean chrome parts with a damp cloth.  
2. Polish chrome parts with a soft, dry cloth.  
2. Use window cleanser to clean the windscreen wiper blades. Use  
a sponge or a cloth to remove stubborn stains.  
If this does not provide satisfying results, use a specialist chrome cleaning  
product. Chrome cleaning products will remove stains and coatings from the  
surface.  
Care of rubber seals  
If rubber seals are well looked after, they will not freeze so  
quickly.  
Caution  
To prevent scratching chrome surfaces:  
•
•
Never use an abrasive care product on chrome.  
1. Use a soft cloth to remove dust and dirt from the rubber seals.  
2. Apply a specialist care product to the rubber seals.  
Do not clean or polish chrome parts in a sandy or dusty environment.  
The weather strips on the doors, windows, bonnet and rear lid will remain  
pliable and last longer if they are treated with a suitable care product (for  
example silicone spray).  
Steel wheels  
–
Clean steel wheels regularly using a separate sponge.  
Caring for rubber seals will also prevent premature ageing and leaks. The  
doors will be easier to open. If rubber seals are well looked after, they will not  
freeze so quickly in winter.  
Use an industrial cleanser to remove brake dust. Any damage to the paint on  
steel wheels should be repaired before the metal starts to rust.  
Safety First  
Operating instructions  
Tips and Maintenance  
Technical Data  
158  
Cleaning and caring for your vehicle  
WARNING  
WARNING  
•
Never wash tyres with a cylindrical jet. Even at large spraying distances  
•
Never wash tyres with a cylindrical jet. Even at large spraying distances  
and short cleaning times, visible and invisible damage can occur to the  
tyres. This may be an accident risk.  
and short cleaning times, visible and invisible damage can occur to the  
tyres. This may be an accident risk.  
•
Moisture, ice and salt on the brakes may affect braking efficiency. Risk  
•
Moisture, ice and salt on the brakes may affect braking efficiency. Risk  
of accident. If possible, avoid sudden braking immediately after washing  
the vehicle. You must “dry” the brakes by applying the brakes carefully  
several times ⇒ page 143, “Braking effect and braking distance”.  
of accident. If possible, avoid sudden braking immediately after washing  
the vehicle. You must “dry” the brakes by applying the brakes carefully  
several times ⇒ page 143, “Braking effect and braking distance”.  
Cleaning alloy wheels  
Every two weeks  
Underbody sealant  
The underside of the vehicle is coated to protect it from corro-  
sion and damage.  
–
–
Wash salt and brake dust from alloy wheels.  
Use an acid free detergent to clean the wheels.  
The protective coating could be damaged when driving. We recommend that  
the protective coating under the body and on the running gear should be  
checked, and reinstated if necessary, before and after the winter season.  
Every three months  
Apply a hard wax compound to the wheels.  
We recommend that repair work and additional anti-corrosion work is carried  
out by your Authorised Service Centre.  
–
Alloy wheels require regular attention to preserve their appearance. It is  
important to remove road salt and brake dust by washing the wheels at  
regular intervals, otherwise the finish will be impaired.  
WARNING  
Do not apply underseal or anti-corrosion coatings to the exhaust pipes,  
catalytic converter or the heat shields on the exhaust system. The heat of  
the exhaust system or the engine could cause them to ignite! This is a fire  
hazard.  
Always use an acid-free detergent for alloy wheels.  
Car polish or other abrasive agents should not be used. If the protective  
coating is damaged, e.g. by stone impact, the damaged area should be  
repaired immediately.  
Cleaning and caring for your vehicle  
159  
Cleaning the engine compartment  
Take special care when cleaning the engine compartment.  
Anti-corrosion treatment  
WARNING (continued)  
•
Moisture, ice and salt on the brakes may affect braking efficiency. Risk  
of accident. If possible, avoid sudden braking immediately after washing  
the vehicle.  
The engine compartment and the surface of the power unit are given anti-  
corrosion treatment at the factory.  
•
Never touch the radiator fan. It is temperature-controlled and could  
start automatically, even when the key is removed from the ignition!  
Good corrosion protection is particularly important in winter when the car is  
frequently driven on salted roads. To prevent the salt corroding the vehicle,  
the entire engine compartment should be thoroughly cleaned before and  
after the salting period.  
For the sake of the environment  
Fuel, grease and oil deposits could be removed when the engine is washed.  
The polluted water must be cleaned in an oil separator. For this reason,  
engine washing should be carried out only by a qualified workshop or a suit-  
able filling station.  
Your Authorised Service Centre is able to provide the correct cleaning and  
preserving products and has the necessary equipment. For this reason, we  
recommend having this work performed by them.  
The anti-corrosion protection is usually removed if the engine compartment  
is cleaned with grease removing solutions, or if you have the engine cleaned.  
If this job is carried out, you should ensure that all surfaces, seams, joints and  
components in the engine compartment are given anti-corrosion treatment  
afterwards.  
Care of the vehicle interior  
Cleaning plastic parts and the dash panel  
WARNING  
–
–
Use a clean, damp cloth to clean plastic parts and the dash  
panel.  
•
When working in the engine compartment, always observe the safety  
warnings ⇒ page 169.  
Switch off the engine, apply the parking brake firmly and always  
remove the key from the ignition before you open the bonnet.  
If this does not provide satisfactory results, use a special  
•
solvent-free plastic cleaning product.  
•
•
Allow the engine to cool before you clean the engine compartment.  
Do not clean the underside of vehicle, wheel arches without protecting  
WARNING  
your hands and arms. You may cut yourself on sharp-edged metal parts.  
Failure to comply could result in injury.  
Never clean the dash panel and surface of the airbag module with cleansers  
containing solvents. Solvents cause the surface to become porous. If the  
airbag inflates, disintegrating plastic parts can cause substantial injuries.  
Safety First  
Operating instructions  
Tips and Maintenance  
Technical Data  
160  
Cleaning and caring for your vehicle  
Cleaning stubborn stains  
Caution  
–
More stubborn dirt can be removed using a mild soap solution  
(pure liquid soap; two tablespoons diluted in one litre of water)  
and a cloth.  
Cleaning products which contain solvents will damage the material.  
–
–
Do not let the water soak through the leather or soak into the  
seams.  
Cleaning wooden trim*  
–
–
Clean the wooden trim with a clean cloth moistened with water.  
Then wipe off with a soft, dry cloth.  
If this does not provide satisfactory results, use a gentle soap  
Leather care  
solution.  
–
The leather should be treated regularly (about twice a year) with  
a special leather-care product, which is available from your  
Authorised Service Centre.  
Caution  
Cleaning products which contain solvents will damage the material.  
–
–
Apply these products very sparingly.  
Then wipe off with a soft, dry cloth.  
Cleaning cloth seat covers and fabric trim  
SEAT does everything possible to preserve the special qualities of leather, as  
a natural product. Because of the natural properties of the specially selected  
hides employed, the finished leather has a certain sensitivity to grease and  
dirt, etc. so a degree of care is required in everyday use and when looking  
after the leather.  
Cloth seat covers and fabric trim on the doors, headlining etc. can be cleaned  
with a special interior cleanser or with dry foam and a soft brush.  
Dust and grit in the pores and seams can scratch and damage the surface. If  
the vehicle is left standing in the sun for long periods, the leather should be  
protected against direct sunlight to prevent it from fading. However, slight  
colour variations in high-quality natural leather are normal.  
Cleaning leather*  
Normal cleaning  
–
Moisten a cotton or woollen cloth with water and wipe over the  
leather surfaces.  
Caution  
•
Do not use solvents, wax polish, shoe cream, spot removers or similar  
products on leather.  
Cleaning and caring for your vehicle  
161  
•
To avoid damage, stubborn stains should be removed by a qualified  
Caution  
workshop.  
After cleaning, allow seat belts to dry completely before rolling them up.  
Otherwise the belt retractors could become damaged.  
Cleaning seat belts  
A dirty belt may stop the seat belt working properly.  
Keep the seat belts clean and check all seat belts regularly.  
Cleaning seat belts  
–
–
–
–
Carefully pull the dirty seat belt right out and leave it out.  
Clean the dirty seat belts with a gentle soap solution.  
Allow the seat belt fabric to dry.  
Do not roll up the seat belt until it is dry.  
If large stains form on the belts the belt will not retract correctly into the auto-  
matic belt retractor.  
WARNING  
•
Do not use chemical cleaning agents on the seat belts, as this can  
impair the strength of the webbing. Ensure that the belts do not come into  
contact with corrosive fluids.  
•
Check the condition of all seat belts at regular intervals. If you notice  
that the belt webbing, fittings, retractor mechanism or buckle of any of the  
belts is damaged, the belt must be replaced by a specialist workshop.  
•
Do not attempt to repair a damaged seat belt yourself. The seat belts  
must not be removed or modified in any way.  
Safety First  
Operating instructions  
Tips and Maintenance  
Technical Data  

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