A question about the Leon's MFD/MDF (display).

[TarekElsakka]

I just recently purchased a Seat Leon and I have two questions:

1) I was playing with the settings and found that I can display the current speed digitally, but unfortunately it displays the current speed in MPH but we use KMH. Is there a way to change that? It's weird because the gauges and everything else is in KMH.


2) Every time I park the car and shut it down, a message is displayed on the MDF that I cannot understand. Unfortunately, I haven't picked up the manual yet and I have no idea what that message means. Can someone please explain?

Unfortunately I am not able to post pictures yet because I have less than 15 posts, but this is what the message says: "Check deadlock! Owner's manual!"

Thank you very much.

 

[Dr-LCR]

I just recently purchased a Seat Leon and I have two questions:

1) I was playing with the settings and found that I can display the current speed digitally, but unfortunately it displays the current speed in MPH but we use KMH. Is there a way to change that? It's weird because the gauges and everything else is in KMH.


2) Every time I park the car and shut it down, a message is displayed on the MDF that I cannot understand. Unfortunately, I haven't picked up the manual yet and I have no idea what that message means. Can someone please explain?

Unfortunately I am not able to post pictures yet because I have less than 15 posts, but this is what the message says: "Check deadlock! Owner's manual!"

Thank you very much.

Well, according to my owner's manual, displaying the current speed digitally is an option, but only in an alternative unit of measurement, i.e. if the analog gauge shows it in Kms you will have it displayed digitally in miles. I have this option activated in my Leon too.

As to this bizarre warning message ("Check deadlock! Owner's manual!") I can tell you nothing at all...

 

[TarekElsakka]

Well, according to my owner's manual, displaying the current speed digitally is an option, but only in an alternative unit of measurement, i.e. if the analog gauge shows it in Kms you will have it displayed digitally in miles. I have this option activated in my Leon too.

As to this bizarre warning message ("Check deadlock! Owner's manual!") I can tell you nothing at all...

Thank you very much for your reply, sir. I made some research and discovered that the deadlock warning is a very common thing in Skoda, Audi, Volkswagen, and Seat cars with a MFD display. It just means that when you get out of the car and click on the key's Lock button once, it deadlocks the car, meaning no one can enter OR get out of the car. However, if you press on the Lock key twice, then no one will be able to enter, however, whoever may be inside can actually get out.

It's a very nice and cool feature to have. And ugh.. it sucks that it cannot display the current speed in kilometers per hour. Do you think the speed is accurate, though? I mean the speed limit here is mostly 55 mph, which I was why I was driving on that speed. I wouldn't want to be driving on 60, for instance, while it's displaying 55. The gauge thing is pretty confusing, too, as it doesn't have the 90, but the 80 and then 100 instead. And it's hard to keep track of exactly which dot it is at while driving, you know? That's why I wanted the speed to be digitally displayed in the first place, if you know what I mean.

 

[ChrisSK]

The UK Seats are the other way round in that it will only show KPH and I wish I could change it to MPH but it can not been done by the user. It can be changed by VAGCOM I believe but I know nothing about that. I think this is a legal thing so the cars are able to show current speed one way or the other no matter where you are in the world.

Same here with the “deadlocks” message. I have seen this reported elsewhere in these forums and I think the consensus there was, it’s a quirk so take no notice of it. I take no notice of mine now but it is a bit annoying.

 

[TarekElsakka]

Yeah.. I'm guessing it's not important either since several people gave the exact same explanation I provided above.

Do you think the alternative digital speed is accurate?

 

[Dr-LCR]

Thank you very much for your reply, sir. I made some research and discovered that the deadlock warning is a very common thing in Skoda, Audi, Volkswagen, and Seat cars with a MFD display. It just means that when you get out of the car and click on the key's Lock button once, it deadlocks the car, meaning no one can enter OR get out of the car. However, if you press on the Lock key twice, then no one will be able to enter, however, whoever may be inside can actually get out.

It's a very nice and cool feature to have. And ugh.. it sucks that it cannot display the current speed in kilometers per hour. Do you think the speed is accurate, though? I mean the speed limit here is mostly 55 mph, which I was why I was driving on that speed. I wouldn't want to be driving on 60, for instance, while it's displaying 55. The gauge thing is pretty confusing, too, as it doesn't have the 90, but the 80 and then 100 instead. And it's hard to keep track of exactly which dot it is at while driving, you know? That's why I wanted the speed to be digitally displayed in the first place, if you know what I mean.

Well, I'll try that feature in my car, to see what happens!

As to the accuracy of the analog speed gauge, I can tell you that: I have a display device called "LiquidCube" (Race Diagnostics) which has the possibility to show you the car's speed digitally, taken directly from the car's ECU. From there I saw that going at 100 Kms/hour by the analog gauge of the cockpit means going somewhere around 94-95 in reality, i.e. there is a deliberate "optimism error" implemented in the cockpit's gauge. So, rest in peace as to speed limit violations...

 

[TarekElsakka]

Well, I'll try that feature in my car, to see what happens!

As to the accuracy of the analog speed gauge, I can tell you that: I have a display device called "LiquidCube" (Race Diagnostics) which has the possibility to show you the car's speed digitally, taken directly from the car's ECU. From there I saw that going at 100 Kms/hour by the analog gauge of the cockpit means going somewhere around 94-95 in reality, i.e. there is a deliberate "optimism error" implemented in the cockpit's gauge. So, rest in peace as to speed limit violations...

Ah, that's great. Thank you. I did hear that the analog speed gauge always showed a higher speed than the car is actually traveling, and I remember people using their navigation devices to keep track of that - I don't have a navigation device in the car, though. Where did you get the "LiquidCube", how much does it cost, and is it easily to install?

 

[kazand]

Hi I have seen on this site that it i possible to change the MFD display via VAG-COM to display the speed in MPH so assume it would be possible to change yours from MPH to KPH
I worked in Cairo a while ago and I reckon it'd be difficult to get above 20KPH and the condtion of some of the cars.......

 

[TarekElsakka]

Hi I have seen on this site that it i possible to change the MFD display via VAG-COM to display the speed in MPH so assume it would be possible to change yours from MPH to KPH
I worked in Cairo a while ago and I reckon it'd be difficult to get above 20KPH and the condtion of some of the cars.......

Hahaha.. if that weren't true, I'd be mad at you.

Anyway, what's with the VAG-COM thing? How is it done? Does it require special tools or skills? Changing it to KMH would be awesome.

 

[kazand]

Hahaha.. if that weren't true, I'd be mad at you.

Anyway, what's with the VAG-COM thing? How is it done? Does it require special tools or skills? Changing it to KMH would be awesome.

VAG COM is the software program that can be used to alter various options within the "brain" of the car. It requires someone with a laptop with VAG COM on it, a special lead to connect to the car via the diagnostics port and knowledge of how it all works.(not me a spanners my limit!) do a search on here for VAG COM it'll tell you more than I can my friend and good luck !

 

[TarekElsakka]

VAG COM is the software program that can be used to alter various options within the "brain" of the car. It requires someone with a laptop with VAG COM on it, a special lead to connect to the car via the diagnostics port and knowledge of how it all works.(not me a spanners my limit!) do a search on here for VAG COM it'll tell you more than I can my friend and good luck !

Thank you very much for your help, mate. I'm going to do some research here and hopefully find out more about it. It seems to be very interesting, though, as I've seen it mentioned in several articles, threads, and on several forums before.

 

[Dr-LCR]

Ah, that's great. Thank you. I did hear that the analog speed gauge always showed a higher speed than the car is actually traveling, and I remember people using their navigation devices to keep track of that - I don't have a navigation device in the car, though. Where did you get the "LiquidCube", how much does it cost, and is it easily to install?

Well, about prices go and visit their site (http://www.racediagnostics.com). I ordered it from there. It is easy to install, it must be plugged to the diagnostics port of the car. Attention: you have to look at the diagnostics port as the Liquid Cube gauge comes with a right-angle plug and in some cars (mine is included) there is no headroom to the right of the port. In that case, if you order it, you have to ask for a straight to right-angle connector cable, which will play the role of the bridge between the standard right-angle plug of the gauge and the diagnostics port (it comes for free).

Anyway, the liquid Cube device is good, although some parameters are not available for all models.

 

[TarekElsakka]

Well, about prices go and visit their site (http://www.racediagnostics.com). I ordered it from there. It is easy to install, it must be plugged to the diagnostics port of the car. Attention: you have to look at the diagnostics port as the Liquid Cube gauge comes with a right-angle plug and in some cars (mine is included) there is no headroom to the right of the port. In that case, if you order it, you have to ask for a straight to right-angle connector cable, which will play the role of the bridge between the standard right-angle plug of the gauge and the diagnostics port (it comes for free).

Anyway, the liquid Cube device is good, although some parameters are not available for all models.

I saw the Liquid Cube, and yes, it's pretty good. There is, however, one called Liquid Leon which is specifically for the Leon. I was wondering if that would be better than the Cube for the car?

 

[Dr-LCR]

I saw the Liquid Cube, and yes, it's pretty good. There is, however, one called Liquid Leon which is specifically for the Leon. I was wondering if that would be better than the Cube for the car?

Well, I completely ignore the existence of this alternative. To be honest after almost one year of use of Liquid Cube, I have mixed feelings: it works for most (but not all) parameters, sometimes it gets stuck and for some of them you can't be sure whether they are real or estimated values. VagCom seems to be a more reliable system for ECU readings (and a lot more): you know exactly from which block the software is reading each time, but it is not a convenient display system, as it needs a laptop and software and is intended for serious use by drivers who have remapped their car and they need to refine remapping parameters according to how the engine behaves.

 

[Dr-LCR]

One more thing, there can be software updates for the Liquid Cube, but unfortunately one needs to send the device back to UK in order to have it updated.