SEAT COMMON PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS
The supermini SEAT Cordoba based on the Seat Ibiza Mk2, has been around since 1993. When the Volkswagen AG took over production from the Spanish auto maker, it was replaced by the Ibiza ST / Seat Vario built on the same platform as the Mk4 VW Polo and the Skoda Fabia. They are available in coupe, saloon and estate in 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0L petrol and 1.9L diesel engines with either a 5-speed manual or 6-speed tiptronic gearbox, and were in production until 2009. These cars were renown for their good performance, handling and its safety features, but like all cars, they tend to develop common problems after a few years. Pero es un buen coche para comenzar en Mexico y España.
The most common of all engine problems was engine misfiring and in the process turning on the Seat check engine light, or the Seat Ibiza engine warning light, or Seat Altea engine warning light, or the Seat Leon engine warning light, or Seat Arosa engine warning light, or Seat Leon TDI engine warning light, or Seat Cordoba engine warning light. The most likely cause of this problem was the coil pack or the spark plug leads which needs replacement. A telltale sign was excessive shaking when idling. This was very prevalent when coming to a stop street or traffic light or when starting first thing in the morning. Unlike cars of yesteryear that had a single coil and a distributor that supplied a spark to the upcoming spark plug; these cars have its own coil pack for each cylinder. More coils packs just increased the amount of things that could go wrong, and do they go wrong.
Another common problem with the Mk4 was a lack of power which also turns on the Seat Ibiza engine diagnosis warning light or Seat Cordoba engine warning light. The cause of the problem in most cases is the MAF (mass air flow) sensor. A telltale sign is a lack of power at high speeds and or just poor overall acceleration. It is always worthwhile to try and clean it with compressed air but if this didn't solve the problem, replacement is the only option. Once repaired, one would feel an immediate improvement on performance.
Many Seat Cordoba window wipers also just suddenly stops working which sometimes turned out to be the wiper linkage that seized and sometimes turns out to be the wiper motor and sometimes both. Then there is the ever creaking noise sometimes sounding like an exhaust rattle coming from the front suspension when driving over speed bumps or rough surfaces. This turned out to be the anti roll bar bushes which after replacement solved the problem. A problem that plagued the automatic models is the ever noticeable red oil mark on the ground underneath the car. The origin of the leak is either gearbox seal leaking or the selector shaft seal that is leaking. Seal replacement normally stops the leak. Failure to address this problem ends up with the gear lever stuck in park with the PRDN light glowing right red on the dashboard. The gearbox grinds when attempting to put the car into drive but will kick in with an huge thud.
Then there is the breaking distance problem on certain models (Ibiza, Toledo, Cordoba, Leon, Vario and Inca) fitted with ABS, needing a lot more force to be applied to the brake pedal to get the car to stop. The cause of the problem turned out to be tension cracks that develop in the vacuum pipe going to the brake servo near to the connections area. This is in fact a manufacturing fault that can be replaced under recall free of charge. After replacement of the vacuum pipes breaking was back to normal.
Ibiza, Altea Toledo, Leon Toloedo, Cordoba and Alhambra vehicles fitted with a 3 and 4 cylinder pump injector engine with 2 valves per injector is prone to the bolts on the tandem pump cover that breaking off. This was also a manufacturer fault and vehicles were recalled to have the pump checked that was supplied by a certain manufacture.
Seat Ibiza and Seat Toledo and Seat Leon with VINs ranging from VSSZZZ1MZ1B036908 to VSSZZZ1Mz1B044227 seem to have a problem with head airbag unit which would fail to activate under certain collision conditions. Seat Altes,Toledo and Leon with 2 L TDI engine and 6 speed manual VIN ranging from VSSZZZ5PZ4R000048 to VSSZZZ5PZ4R017390 and VSSZZZ5PZ5R000026 to VSSZZZ5PZ5R103620 and VSSZZZ5PZ6R000009 to VSSZZZ5PZ6R001638 have flywheel problems that was also recalled for replacement.
The Seat Cordoba 1.9 TDI also developed starting problem when not driven for a day or two. But will eventually start after several attempts, idling very rough and smoking. In some cases it just drained the battery as well. But once she started it will start every time thereafter until left to stand for a day or two again. This was caused by the diesel pipes sucking in air causing the diesel to flow pack towards the tank. The cause was a leaking diesel filter. A very annoying problem with some Mk4 is the drafts that comes in through door seals. It seemed that these rubber seals tend to collapsed after 5 years. Another thing is the coolant sensors / temperature sensors are generally of a very poor quality on all VW/Audi/Seat/Skoda group cars. They just tend to go faulty all the time. Surprisingly most of these problems are also prevalent in VW Polo range, after all SEAT is just another Mk4 VW Polo that has been badge engineered.
The supermini SEAT Cordoba based on the Seat Ibiza Mk2, has been around since 1993. When the Volkswagen AG took over production from the Spanish auto maker, it was replaced by the Ibiza ST / Seat Vario built on the same platform as the Mk4 VW Polo and the Skoda Fabia. They are available in coupe, saloon and estate in 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0L petrol and 1.9L diesel engines with either a 5-speed manual or 6-speed tiptronic gearbox, and were in production until 2009. These cars were renown for their good performance, handling and its safety features, but like all cars, they tend to develop common problems after a few years. Pero es un buen coche para comenzar en Mexico y España.
The most common of all engine problems was engine misfiring and in the process turning on the Seat check engine light, or the Seat Ibiza engine warning light, or Seat Altea engine warning light, or the Seat Leon engine warning light, or Seat Arosa engine warning light, or Seat Leon TDI engine warning light, or Seat Cordoba engine warning light. The most likely cause of this problem was the coil pack or the spark plug leads which needs replacement. A telltale sign was excessive shaking when idling. This was very prevalent when coming to a stop street or traffic light or when starting first thing in the morning. Unlike cars of yesteryear that had a single coil and a distributor that supplied a spark to the upcoming spark plug; these cars have its own coil pack for each cylinder. More coils packs just increased the amount of things that could go wrong, and do they go wrong.
Another common problem with the Mk4 was a lack of power which also turns on the Seat Ibiza engine diagnosis warning light or Seat Cordoba engine warning light. The cause of the problem in most cases is the MAF (mass air flow) sensor. A telltale sign is a lack of power at high speeds and or just poor overall acceleration. It is always worthwhile to try and clean it with compressed air but if this didn't solve the problem, replacement is the only option. Once repaired, one would feel an immediate improvement on performance.
Many Seat Cordoba window wipers also just suddenly stops working which sometimes turned out to be the wiper linkage that seized and sometimes turns out to be the wiper motor and sometimes both. Then there is the ever creaking noise sometimes sounding like an exhaust rattle coming from the front suspension when driving over speed bumps or rough surfaces. This turned out to be the anti roll bar bushes which after replacement solved the problem. A problem that plagued the automatic models is the ever noticeable red oil mark on the ground underneath the car. The origin of the leak is either gearbox seal leaking or the selector shaft seal that is leaking. Seal replacement normally stops the leak. Failure to address this problem ends up with the gear lever stuck in park with the PRDN light glowing right red on the dashboard. The gearbox grinds when attempting to put the car into drive but will kick in with an huge thud.
Then there is the breaking distance problem on certain models (Ibiza, Toledo, Cordoba, Leon, Vario and Inca) fitted with ABS, needing a lot more force to be applied to the brake pedal to get the car to stop. The cause of the problem turned out to be tension cracks that develop in the vacuum pipe going to the brake servo near to the connections area. This is in fact a manufacturing fault that can be replaced under recall free of charge. After replacement of the vacuum pipes breaking was back to normal.
Ibiza, Altea Toledo, Leon Toloedo, Cordoba and Alhambra vehicles fitted with a 3 and 4 cylinder pump injector engine with 2 valves per injector is prone to the bolts on the tandem pump cover that breaking off. This was also a manufacturer fault and vehicles were recalled to have the pump checked that was supplied by a certain manufacture.
Seat Ibiza and Seat Toledo and Seat Leon with VINs ranging from VSSZZZ1MZ1B036908 to VSSZZZ1Mz1B044227 seem to have a problem with head airbag unit which would fail to activate under certain collision conditions. Seat Altes,Toledo and Leon with 2 L TDI engine and 6 speed manual VIN ranging from VSSZZZ5PZ4R000048 to VSSZZZ5PZ4R017390 and VSSZZZ5PZ5R000026 to VSSZZZ5PZ5R103620 and VSSZZZ5PZ6R000009 to VSSZZZ5PZ6R001638 have flywheel problems that was also recalled for replacement.
The Seat Cordoba 1.9 TDI also developed starting problem when not driven for a day or two. But will eventually start after several attempts, idling very rough and smoking. In some cases it just drained the battery as well. But once she started it will start every time thereafter until left to stand for a day or two again. This was caused by the diesel pipes sucking in air causing the diesel to flow pack towards the tank. The cause was a leaking diesel filter. A very annoying problem with some Mk4 is the drafts that comes in through door seals. It seemed that these rubber seals tend to collapsed after 5 years. Another thing is the coolant sensors / temperature sensors are generally of a very poor quality on all VW/Audi/Seat/Skoda group cars. They just tend to go faulty all the time. Surprisingly most of these problems are also prevalent in VW Polo range, after all SEAT is just another Mk4 VW Polo that has been badge engineered.
