Altea XL - Cruise Control

[thelazyfox]

I recently took my car in for a service and mentioned that the cruise control warning light does not work when cruise control is switched on and was informed on collection that the light does not work on the XL models!

Does anyone know the reason why the XL is not allowed the warning light as I understand it works on the other Seat models?

 

[shaunw]

Doesnt work on the Leon either unless you specify blue tooth option.

Shaun

 

[thelazyfox]

Interesting, but why should a warning light be disabled unless the bluetooth option is fitted? I have since found out that this bluetooth option does quite a lot and that other settings can be changed on the car. I didn't notice any of this in the sales brochure.

I like the car but not impressed with the documentation or lack of warning light.

 

[bobbycfc]

As an XL owner I am in agreement with you - no warnijng light for cruise control, sidelights, headlights, or front foglights!

Why not Seat?

 

[klawit]

Hi XL-owners,

it's still the same reason - no matter if "regular" Altea oder XL - as it's combined with instrumentation, whether you have the large option (dot-matrix display, MFD - multi function display) or just the little or none computer.

- cruise control (CC) is mostly combined with the multi function display (MFD).

If you have the large MFD, then the CC-activation will be indicated in the speedometer.
Still there is a difference within the model years: till my2005, you'll see the indicator light as soon as you generally switch the CC on, despite any activation via dip-switch ... so you'll never really know, whether CC is controlling or not.
With my2006, the indicator will follow true activation, means, as long as CC is actually controlling the gas, the yellow light will flash

=> cruise control (CC)

So don't worry about missing or broken indicator-LED if having the small display option.

greets ... Klaus

 

[Tell]

One of those little cost savings that they didn't make since they never installed it in the first place.... ummm don't think Seat do themselves much good with either real cost savings of knocking stuff off that was standard at one stage [engine cover, the two tier boot etc] and other things that they never wired up on any car. It's like staying at a Spanish hotel where the plumbing isn't finished or you find they didn't put the sofa in the room [Ibis Chesterfield.]

 

[Rallye Dale]

Mine does'nt work either (Std Altea),although it does say in manual it should light up

 

[Tabintab]

Its the same thing with the washer bottle level light. There is a switch fitted to the water bottle, but seat did not bother to wire it up to the dash. Apparently u only get it wired if u select the winter pack option.

 

[klawit]

Sorry guys ... but then, why not complain about the missing sunroof or the alarm or anything else, that is mentioned and described in the manual but because of your personal ordering options does not appear to be fitted ...

SEAT would be better off to print out or - as other manufacureres in elecronic buiseness do for quite a while - give you a link to a MANUAL CONFIGURATOR PAGE, where your technical manual can be printed out according to your ordered model options ... then noone would be irritated about features obviously missing.

The manual even describes the two different displays for the on-board computer (large/small multi funcion display) ... but I can't remember that I've heard complains from anyone about not having both of them ...

As I see it, you're lamenting about a fact, that SEAT has taken precautions to easily connect to surcharge options if the customers pays for them ... so just go ahead and order all the extra options and you will then find them in your car as well as in the blanket manual.

greets ... Klaus

btw. ... I'm just an ordinary customer who has bought his first 2 SEAT models (Altea/Ibiza) two years ago ... but I'm moderating one of the german ALTEA-boards and think I can absolutely form a view on topics like these.

So even the "thumb down" in front of the topic is unjustified ... but will quickly alert others, that there obviously must be problems ... not quite fair, is it?

 

[thelazyfox]

I think a warning light for a function that is fitted, but has been disabled because an option not entirely connected with this function is a justifiable concern.

Clearly I must have misread the brochure or maybe the brochure was not clear or concise as I missed the point where it mentioned that warning lights would be disabled if certain options were not ordered.

I will keep with the thumbsdown as I do believe this is justified, btw the owners manual could do with some clarifying. Maybe that is just me!

 

[klawit]

I think a warning light for a function that is fitted, but has been disabled because an option not entirely connected with this function is a justifiable concern.

Why concerning about a LED, that only comes with a higher option (large MFD, i.e. with CD3/bluetooth or color navi))?
When using the wipers, you don't expect a light to remind you, that the interval is still active, do you?
I don't really miss this warning light (having the small MFD in my Sporty) ... in earlier models (before My06) the light even went on, when just the CC's general on/off switch above was activated, no matter if cruise was set or not ... pretty much more disturbing, I think.

Clearly I must have misread the brochure or maybe the brochure was not clear or concise as I missed the point where it mentioned that warning lights would be disabled if certain options were not ordered.

In the german manual it's mentioned in lots of (*) footnotes, that this feature is optional or depending on the cars setup ... for instance the chapters about CC or the PDC have the (*) mark in the title.
Right below the picture of all the given warning lights in the manual there is a note saying: "Some of those pictured warning- or control-lights belong to certain models or are components of higher equipping".

I will keep with the thumbsdown as I do believe this is justified, btw the owners manual could do with some clarifying. Maybe that is just me!

You're right in this ... I feel and agree.
You'll have to study the manual over and over again to tell ... it's not an ergonomic masterpiece.

greets ... Klaus

 

[charles_altea]

Hi Klaus,

Perhaps the sentiments expressed by most people on this forum (from the UK) are in line with the feeling of living in "rip-off Britain" where in the recent past there is the perception (if not the actual case) that we have paid more for cars than our European neighbours.

For Seat to remove functionality like the cruise control and low washer fluid level warning lights strikes many people as penny pinching, although I appreciate from your postings that they have not singled out the UK market for this treatment.

Seat may try to cover their actions with *'s in the manual, but they ought to have assessed the cost savings this action has produced (if at all) against the dent in the "ownership experience" has produced. The removal of the two tier boot, engine cover and these lights might be enough to prompt a current owner into giving just a warm rather than a glowing recommendation to someone else considering purchasing a Seat.

Charles

 

[klawit]

Hi Charles,

totally agreed ... and nicely expressed.

The feeling you mention is imho the same over here and in some other forums abroad as well ...

We still have a hard time to figure out, why someone has additional equipment and others with the same options ordered don't ... and it's not always depending on the usually obvious modelyear ... regarding the EU-reimported cars, which often have different standard options fitted.

So ... just keep in mind, that - without the encyclopedial knowledge of our boards - life with our cars would sometimes be a lot more relaxed ... and sometimes, it sure enough is the other way round.

greets . . Klaus

 

[PhilOfCas]

accepted, it should perhaps show a light (and other warning lights too), but in the grand scheme of things they're not that important. I use the cruise control hell of a lot, a high percentage of journey's no matter what, especially my 30 odd mile commute (each way), must say i've never ever missed the fact that a light isn't telling me it's switched on, it's a conscious decision switching it on and when it's on you know it's on (or you should bloody do so !!), a light to me isn't worth anything in this instance, as a comparison a full beam warning light is of much much higher value.

Whether it's penny pinching or not, i'm not sure, but i wouldn't get too hung up about a missing 'cruise control on' light, i'd moan/complain about missing physical things though, like the double tier boot etc.

As time goes by with mine (had 2 year 30, 000m) i'm feeling more and more that it's a dam good car, i've said this before and i'll repeat myself, it does pretty much everything i ask it to and the looks of it just grow on me more and more, from some angles it looks just superb . At then end of the day, you want a car to look and drive nicely and this the Altea certainly does do, one satisfied owner here, warning lights or not

 

[Seagull]

I have just bought a Seat Altea 1.9 Stylance (2 weeks ago) and I asked the dealer the same question about the cruise control dashboard warning light not coming on. I was told that it is not meant to be present on my model, apparently the manual covers all models, one of which would have this feature.

 

[J500ANT]

Why do you need a light to tell you that cruise control is on? If you arent on the accelerator and the car is moving its a safe bet the cc is on......

 

[Seagull]

Personally,I don't think you do, its just the manual said a light would come on, so I thought there might be a problem,
cheers

 

[smartypartfast]

I leave the cruise switched on all the time, so it is ready to use whenever needed, so to be honest a warning light would be a distraction.