Working in the engine compartment

The engine compartment of your Seat Leon is a complex and potentially dangerous industrial environment. You should only perform checks, maintenance, or repair work inside the engine compartment if you possess a solid understanding of the necessary procedures and general safety measures, alongside adequate professional tools, suitable protective equipment, and the correct operating fluids. Maintenance work performed improperly or inadequately could lead to severe personal injuries or mechanical damage. In such cases, it is strongly advised to have a qualified specialized workshop perform all required tasks. SEAT recommends visiting an authorized SEAT dealership or service partner for professional servicing.

Before undertaking any work in the engine compartment of your Seat Leon, always park the vehicle securely on a flat, level, and firm ground surface, taking all necessary safety precautions beforehand.

WARNING Any sudden or accidental movement of the vehicle during maintenance work can lead to catastrophic accidents and serious injuries.

• Never perform any work underneath the vehicle without having first completely immobilised it to prevent it from rolling or shifting. When working underneath the vehicle while the tires remain resting on the ground, the vehicle must be parked on a level horizontal surface, and the wheels must be securely chocked and locked in place.
• If work must be performed underneath the vehicle chassis, take the crucial additional safety precaution of supporting the car securely using certified, robust support stands.

  The standard vehicle lifting jack is designed exclusively for emergency wheel changes and is entirely unsuitable for supporting the car during prolonged maintenance, which could lead to severe crushing injuries if it slips.

• The automated Start-Stop system must always be switched off manually prior to opening the bonnet or working on the engine.

WARNING The engine compartment of any modern motor vehicle is a hazardous area capable of causing serious personal injuries if safety protocols are ignored!

• When performing any type of technical work under the bonnet of your Seat Leon, always ensure you exercise extreme caution, maintaining constant awareness of general safety measures and personal limitations. Never take unnecessary risks.
• Never attempt to perform work in the engine compartment if you lack solid knowledge of the required mechanical operations. If you are uncertain about any step of the process, seek out a specialized workshop to carry out the necessary tasks. Work performed improperly can result in severe injuries.
• Never open or close the front bonnet if you notice visible steam, smoke, or coolant escaping from the engine bay. Escaping steam or boiling coolant can cause severe, disfiguring scalding and burns. Always wait patiently until all discharging steam or coolant noise and pressure have completely subsided.
• Before attempting to open the bonnet, always allow the engine sufficient time to cool down completely.
• Directly touching hot engine blocks, turbochargers, or exhaust system components will result in immediate, severe skin burns.
• Always turn off the ignition completely and keep the vehicle key in a safe place at a safe distance from your Seat Leon to prevent the ignition from being accidentally switched on and the combustion engine started by mistake while your hands are inside the bay.
• Always keep children far away from the engine compartment and never leave them unattended or unsupervised around an active vehicle.
• When the engine is hot, its closed cooling system operates under high pressure. Never open the coolant expansion tank cap while the engine is hot, as pressurized hot coolant may violently splash out and cause severe burns and scalding injuries.
  • Always let the engine cool, then turn the coolant expansion tank cap slowly and very carefully in an anticlockwise direction while applying slight downward pressure.
  • Always protect your face, eyes, hands, and arms from escaping hot coolant and high-pressure steam by covering the cap with a thick, folded cloth.
• When topping up or refilling operating fluids, take meticulous care to ensure that no fluids spill onto hot engine components, electrical connections, or the exhaust manifold. Spilled automotive fluids can easily ignite, causing a sudden fire hazard.

WARNING The vehicle electrical system operates under high voltage and can deliver dangerous electrical shocks, cause painful burns, serious physical injuries, and even prove fatal!

• Never short circuit any part of the vehicle electrical system.

  Doing so can cause the 12-volt battery to rupture or explode violently.

• To significantly reduce the risk of electric shock and severe personal injury, never touch the high-voltage electrical wiring or ignition system components of your Seat Leon while the engine is actively running or when cranking during starting.

WARNING There are fast-rotating components located inside the engine compartment that present severe hazards capable of causing catastrophic personal injuries.

• Never insert your hand, fingers, or objects into the radiator cooling fan assembly or the surrounding space. The sharp rotor blades can cause severe, deep lacerations. The electric radiator fan is thermally controlled and can switch on automatically and unexpectedly at any time, even when the ignition of your Seat Leon is completely switched off.
• If any urgent work must be performed during engine start-up or while the motor is running, always keep in mind that moving mechanical parts (such as the poly-V drive belts, alternator pulley, and radiator fan) together with the high-voltage ignition system represent a fatal hazard. Always act with extreme vigilance and caution.
  • Ensure that no part of your body, jewelry, neckties, loose clothing, or unsecured long hair can catch or become entangled in rotating parts. Before commencing any technical work inside the engine compartment, remove any rings, necklaces, or ties, tie back long hair securely, and tuck in any loose clothing.
  • Never press or depress the accelerator pedal carelessly or inattentively. Always operate the throttle with extreme care. Your Seat Leon could begin moving unexpectedly even if the electronic parking brake is currently engaged.
• Never leave tools, wiping rags, or other foreign objects unattended inside the engine compartment after finishing work.

WARNING Automotive operating fluids and various materials found in the engine compartment are highly flammable and can easily trigger a dangerous fire resulting in severe injuries!

• Never smoke or allow open flames in the vicinity of the engine compartment.
• Never perform maintenance work close to unprotected flames, welding sparks, or glowing heat sources.
• Whenever you are required to perform maintenance or repair work on the vehicle's onboard 12-volt electrical system, observe the following precautions:
  • Always disconnect the 12-volt battery before starting electrical work.

    Ensure that the vehicle is fully unlocked when disconnecting the 12-volt battery; otherwise, the factory anti-theft alarm system will be triggered immediately.

  • Never perform any work in the immediate vicinity of heating elements, auxiliary water heaters, or unprotected open flames.
• Always keep a certified fire extinguisher close at hand within easy reach.

  Make sure the extinguisher is fully operational and has been inspected in accordance with safety standards.

NOTICE When topping up, refilling, or changing automotive operating fluids, ensure that you pour the correct, manufacturer-approved fluids exclusively into their corresponding filler necks. Using incorrect operating fluids or mixing incompatible substances can lead to severe mechanical malfunctions and permanent engine damage in your Seat Leon.

For the sake of the environment

Operating fluids that leak or overflow from the vehicle pollute and contaminate the surrounding soil and water table. Therefore, check the ground underneath your Seat Leon on a regular basis for any drips or puddles. If you spot stains left by operating fluids, consult a specialized workshop immediately and request that the vehicle be thoroughly inspected. If any operating fluid has leaked out, collect it safely and dispose of it in strict compliance with local environmental regulations.

• Preparing the vehicle for work in the engine compartment
• Opening and closing the bonnet