Get Tips and Maintenance -> Cleaning and caring for your vehicle Guide for Seat Leon 4 Door First Generation (1999-2006)

Cleaning and caring for your vehicle 177

Safety First Handling instructions Tips and Maintenance Technical Data

Cleaning and caring for your vehicle

General notes

Regular washing and care help maintain the value of your

vehicle.

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.

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.

After the period when salt is put on the roads it is important to have the

underside of the vehicle washed thoroughly.

Car care products

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

your vehicle. The use of certain products may produce noxious vapours;

these should be used in well ventilated areas.

• 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.

• 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.

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.

For the sake of the environment

• 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.

WARNING (continued)

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Cleaning and caring for your vehicle178

Care of the vehicle exterior

Automatic car washes

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.

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 169, “Braking effect and braking distance”.

WARNING

Moisture, ice and salt on the brakes may affect braking efficiency. Risk of

accident.

Washing by hand

Washing the vehicle

– First soften the dirt with plenty of water and rinse off.

– 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.

– Rinse the sponge or glove as much as possible.

– Special car shampoo should only be used for very stubborn dirt.

– Clean the wheels, sill panels etc. last using a different sponge or

glove.

– Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with water.

– Dry the surface of the vehicle gently using a chamois leather.

–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 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 169, “Braking effect and braking

distance”.

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

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

of accident.

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 scratch

the paintwork or glass on your vehicle.

• 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,

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Cleaning and caring for your vehicle 179

Safety First Handling instructions Tips and Maintenance Technical Data

luggage compartment, or bonnet. This could cause them to freeze. Otherwise

there is a risk of malfunction.

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.

Note

Do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight.

Washing the car with a high pressure cleaner

Be particularly careful when using a high pressure cleaner!

– Always observe the instructions for the high-pressure cleaner,

particularly those concerning the pressure and the spraying

distance.

– Increase the spraying distance for soft materials and painted

bumpers.

– Do not use a high pressure cleaner to remove ice or snow from

windows ⇒ page 180.

– Never use concentrated jet nozzles or so-called “dirt blasters”

⇒ .

– If possible, avoid sudden braking directly after washing the

vehicle. You must “dry” the brakes by applying the brakes care-

fully several times ⇒ page 169.

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.

• 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.

• 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.

Waxing the car

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.

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 177. It is also effective in protecting against minor

scratches.

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.

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Cleaning and caring for your vehicle180

Polishing the paintwork

Polishing brings back gloss to the paintwork.

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.

The car must be waxed after polishing if the polish used does not contain wax

compounds to seal the paint ⇒ page 179, “Waxing the car”.

Caution

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.

Caring for plastic parts

Solvents will damage plastic parts.

If normal washing fails to clean plastic parts, clean them with special solvent-

free plastic cleaning and care products.

Caution

Cleaning products which contain solvents will damage the material.

Cleaning windows and exterior mirrors

Cleaning the windows

– Moisten the windows with commercially available, alcohol based

glass cleaner.

– Dry the windows with a clean chamois leather or a lint-free cloth.

Removing snow

– Use a small brush to remove snow from the windows and mirrors.

Removing ice

–Use a de-icer spray.

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.

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.

Use window cleaner or a silicone remover to clean off rubber, oil, grease and

silicone deposits.

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

• Never use warm or hot water to remove snow and ice from windows and

mirrors. This could cause the glass to crack!

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Cleaning and caring for your vehicle 181

Safety First Handling instructions Tips and Maintenance Technical Data

• The heating element for the rear window is located on the inner side of the

window. To prevent damage, do not put stickers over the heating elements on

the inside of the window.

Cleaning windscreen wiper blades

Clean wiper blades are essential for clear vision.

1. Use a soft cloth to remove dust and dirt from the windscreen

wiper blades

2. Use window cleanser to clean the windscreen wiper blades. Use

a sponge or a cloth to remove stubborn stains

Care of rubber seals

If rubber seals are well looked after, they will not freeze so

quickly.

1. Use a soft cloth to remove dust and dirt from the rubber seals

2. Apply a specialist care product to the rubber seals

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).

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.

Door lock cylinders

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 chrome parts

1. Clean chrome parts with a damp cloth

2. Polish chrome parts with a soft, dry cloth

If this does not provide satisfying results, use a specialist chrome cleaning

product. Chrome cleaning products will remove stains and coatings from the

surface.

Caution

To prevent scratching chrome surfaces:

• Never use an abrasive care product on chrome.

• Do not clean or polish chrome parts in a sandy or dusty environment.

Steel wheels

– Clean steel wheels regularly using a separate sponge.

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.

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Cleaning and caring for your vehicle182

WARNING

• 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.

• 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 169, “Braking effect and braking distance”.

Cleaning alloy wheels

Every two weeks

– Wash salt and brake dust from alloy wheels.

– Use an acid free detergent to clean the wheels.

Every three months

– Apply a hard wax compound to the wheels.

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.

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.

WARNING

• 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.

• 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 169, “Braking effect and braking distance”.

Underbody sealant

The underside of the vehicle is coated to protect it from corro-

sion and damage.

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.

We recommend that repair work and additional anti-corrosion work is carried

out by your Authorised Service Centre.

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.

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Cleaning and caring for your vehicle 183

Safety First Handling instructions Tips and Maintenance Technical Data

Cleaning the engine compartment

Take special care when cleaning the engine compartment.

Anti-corrosion treatment

The engine compartment and the surface of the power unit are given anti-

corrosion treatment at the factory.

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.

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.

WARNING

• When working in the engine compartment, always observe the safety

warnings ⇒ page 193.

• Switch off the engine, apply the parking brake firmly and always

remove the key from the ignition before you open the bonnet.

• Allow the engine to cool before you clean the engine compartment.

• Do not clean the underside of vehicle, wheel arches without protecting

your hands and arms. You may cut yourself on sharp-edged metal parts.

Failure to comply could result in injury.

• Moisture, ice and salt on the brakes may affect braking efficiency. Risk

of accident. If possible, avoid sudden braking immediately after washing

the vehicle.

• Never touch the radiator fan. It is temperature-controlled and could

start automatically, even when the key is removed from the ignition!

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.

Care of the vehicle interior

Cleaning plastic parts and the dash panel

– Use a clean, damp cloth to clean plastic parts and the dash

panel.

– If this does not provide satisfactory results, use a special

solvent-free plastic cleaning product.

WARNING

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.

WARNING (continued)

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Cleaning and caring for your vehicle184

Caution

Cleaning products which contain solvents will damage the material.

Cleaning wooden trim*

– Clean the wooden trim with a clean cloth moistened with water.

– If this does not provide satisfactory results, use a gentle soap

solution.

Caution

Cleaning products which contain solvents will damage the material.

Cleaning cloth seat covers and fabric trim

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.

Cleaning leather*

Normal cleaning

– Moisten a cotton or woollen cloth with water and wipe over the

leather surfaces.

Cleaning stubborn stains

– 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.

– Do not let the water soak through the leather or soak into the

seams.

– Then wipe off with a soft, dry cloth.

Leather care

– The leather should be treated regularly (about twice a year) with

a special leather-care product, which is available from your

Authorised Service Centre.

– Apply these products very sparingly.

– Then wipe off with a soft, dry cloth.

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.

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.

Caution

• Do not use solvents, wax polish, shoe cream, spot removers or similar

products on leather.

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Cleaning and caring for your vehicle 185

Safety First Handling instructions Tips and Maintenance Technical Data

• To avoid damage, stubborn stains should be removed by a qualified

workshop.

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.

Caution

After cleaning, allow seat belts to dry completely before rolling them up.

Otherwise the belt retractors could become damaged.

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Tips and Maintenance -> Cleaning and caring for your vehicle for Your Seat Leon 4 Door First Generation (1999-2006)

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