2010 Seat Alhambra ABS

Driving247
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTe c h n i c a l D a t a
Elements of the tyre monitoring indicatorControl lamp
Several warning and control lamps should light up for a few seconds when
the ignition is switched. This signals that the lamp is working properly. They
will switch off after a few seconds.
WARNING
When the tyres are inflated at different pressures or at a pressure that is
too low then a tyre may the damaged resulting in a loss of control of the
vehicle and a serious or mortal accident.
xIf the indicator ~ lights, stop immediately and check the tyres.
xIf the tyres are inflated at different pressures or if a tyre pressure is too
low, this will increase tyre wear, negatively affecting vehicle stability and
increasing braking distances.
Tyre monitoring indicator with button.
See Ÿpage 248.
b Warning lamp ~ on the instrument panel.
b button on the centre console.
b Monitoring the tread of all tyres using ABS sensors (indirect measure-
ment).
b Adjustable medium and full-load tyre pressures.
b Button to update the system when the tyre pressure is changed.
~ SET
Lights
up or
flashes
Possible cause ŸSolution
~
The tyre pressure of a wheel
has dropped considerably in
relation to the pressure set by
the driver Ÿpage 248.
› Stop the vehicle! Reduce your
speed immediately! Stop the
vehicle safely as soon as possi-
ble. Avoid sudden manoeuvres
and braking!
Check all tyres and pressures.
Replace any damaged tyres.
~System malfunction.
Consult a specialist workshop if
the tyre pressure is correct and
the lamp remains lit after switch-
ing the ignition off and back on
again. Have the system checked
there.

Driving 248
xIf tyres are inflated at different pressures or a tyre pressure is too low,
a tyre may be damaged and burst resulting in a loss of control of the
vehicle.
xThe driver is responsible for ensuring that all of the vehicle tyres are
correctly inflated to the right pressure. The recommended tyre pressure is
indicated on the label Ÿpage 328, fig. 183.
xThe tyre monitoring system can only operate correctly if all of the tyres
are inflated to the correct pressure when cold.
xDriving with tyres at the wrong pressure can cause damage to them and
result in an accident. Ensure that the tyre pressures of all the tyres corre-
spond to the vehicle load.
xBefore starting a journey, always inflated tyres to the correct pressure.
xIf tyre pressure is too low then the tyre is subject to greater forces and
it may be heated to such an extent that the tread can rupture and the tyre
will burst.
xWith an overloaded vehicle at high speed, the tyres can overheat and
burst resulting in a loss of vehicle control.
xTyre pressures which are too high or too low reduce the useful life of the
tyre, affecting the vehicle's performance.
xIf a tyre has not been punctured then it does not have to be changed
immediately; drive to the nearest specialist workshop at a moderate speed
and have the tyre checked and inflated to the correct pressure.
WARNING
If the warning lamps and messages are ignored, the vehicle may stall in
traffic, or may cause accidents and severe injuries.
xNever ignore the warning lamps or text messages.
xStop the vehicle safely as soon as possible.
Caution
Failure to heed the warning lamps and text messages when they appear may
result in faults in the vehicle.
Tyre monitoring indicator
The tyre monitor indicator compares wheel revolutions and, with this informa-
tion, the tread of each wheel using the ABS sensors. If the tread of a wheel is
changed, the tyre monitoring indicator will indicate as such on the instrument
panel. The wheel tread changes when:
xTyre pressure is insufficient.
xTyre structure is damaged.
xThe vehicle is unbalanced because of a load.
xThe wheels on an axle are subject to a heavier load (e.g. when towing a
trailer).
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 161 Detailed view of
the centre console: button
for the tyre pressure
monitoring indicator.

Trailer towing261
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTe c h n i c a l D a t a
xIf the trailer absorbs excessive electric current, the vehicle electronics
may be damaged.
xNever connect the trailer's electric system to the electrical connections of
the rear lights or any other power sources. Only use suitable connections for
providing electric current to the trailer.
Note
Towing a trailer places additional demands on the vehicle. At SEAT, we recom-
mend additional services between the normal inspection intervals if the
vehicle is used frequently for towing a trailer.
Note
In some countries, an additional fire extinguisher is required if the trailer
weight is more than 2500 kg
Electric tow hitch ball
The rotation radius of the tow hitch ball should be free of people, animals and
objects Ÿ.
The tow hitch is located in the bumper. The electric tow ball is fixed and
cannot be removed.
Releasing and unfolding the tow ball
xStop the vehicle and apply the electric parking brake.
xSwitch the engine off.
xOpen the tailgate.
xPress the knob briefly Ÿfig. 163. The tow ball is released electronically
and folds out automatically; the button indicator will blink.
xMove the ball joint until it inserts and the button indicator lights.
xClose the tailgate.
xBefore hitching the trailer, remove the dust guard from the ball.
xThe indicator only lights when the tailgate is open and when a trailer is
not hitched.
Restoring the tow ball to its originally position
xStop the vehicle and apply the electric parking brake.
xSwitch the engine off.
xRemove the trailer and disconnect the cable between the vehicle and
trailer. If necessary, remove the socket adapter.
xPlace the dust guard over the ball.
xOpen the tailgate.
xPress the knob briefly Ÿfig. 163. The tow ball is electronically released;
the indicator blinks.
xPush the tow ball into the bumper until it locks in position and the button
indicator lights.
xClose the tailgate.
Fig. 163 Right-hand side
of the luggage compart-
ment: button to electri-
cally release the tow hitch
ball.

Trailer towing265
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTe c h n i c a l D a t a
xAs of the combined vehicle and trailer mass, braking distances will be
greater.
xSelect a low gear before driving down a steep hill to use the engine
braking effect to slow down the vehicle. Otherwise, the braking system could
overheat and fail.
xThe vehicle centre of gravity and handling change because of the trailer
load and because of the increased combined mass of the vehicle and trailer.
xIf the towing vehicle is empty and the trailer loaded then the load distri-
bution is incorrect. If you must travel in these conditions, drive carefully and
reduce your speed accordingly.
Hill starts with a trailer
Depending on the hill and the gross combined weight, it is possible that the
combined vehicle and trailer move backwards slightly when starting.
For a hill start with a trailer, proceed as follows:
xPress and hold the brake pedal.
xPress the button once to turn off the electric parking brake
Ÿpage 210.
xPress and hold the button to hold the vehicle and trailer combination
using the parking brake.
xWith a manual gearbox: press the clutch pedal to the floor.
xEngage first gear or the gear range D Ÿpage 201, “Changing gear”.
xRelease the brake pedal.
xMove off slowly. To do this, gently release the clutch pedal (for manual
gearbox).
xRelease the button only when the engine provides sufficient power to
move the vehicle and trailer combination.
WARNING
Jerking the trailer in an unsuitable manner could cause loss of vehicle
control with the subsequent serious consequences.
xDriving with a trailer and transporting heavy or a large objects will
change the vehicle handling and braking distances.
xAnticipate traffic and be extremely cautious. Brake early.
xAdjust your speed and driving style to visibility, road, traffic and
weather conditions. Reduce your speed, especially on steep hills.
xAccelerate gently and carefully. Avoid brusque manoeuvres and sudden
braking.
xAlways take the following precautions seriously. Reduce your speed
immediately if you observe the trailer rocking from side to side.
xNever try to stop the “snaking” by increasing speed.
xAlways take the speed limits for vehicles with and without trailers in
each country into account.
Stabilising the vehicle and trailer combination
Stabilisation of the vehicle and trailer combination is an extension of the
electronic stability programme (ESP) and helps, with the assistance of the
trajectory control, to reduce trailer “snaking”.
Stabilisation of the vehicle and trailer combination is active when the ESP
«
indicator on the dashboard remains lit for about two seconds more than the
ABS indicator.
Requirements for stabilising the vehicle/trailer combination
xAn original tow hitch is fitted by the manufacturer or a compatible model
is retrofitted.
xThe ESP is on. The warning indicator in the control panel « is not lit.
xThe trailer is connected to the vehicle using the socket.
xThe vehicle is driven faster than 60 km/h.
G
G
G
WARNING (continued)

Vehicle maintenance and cleaning279
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTe c h n i c a l D a t a
xAlways check that the dyes used in clothing are fast to prevent them from
staining the upholstery. This is particularly true for clear-coloured upholstery.
Caution
Failure to observe the instructions in the check list for caring for your uphol-
stery could result in damage or discolouration of the upholstery and covers.
xAlways follow the check list and perform the necessary operations.
Note
SEAT recommends you take the vehicle to a qualified workshop to treat any
stains on the upholstery caused by the discolouration of clothing.
Cleaning upholstery, textile covers and Alcantara® material
Normal cleaning
xBefore applying cleaning products, please read the instructions for
handling and the warnings shown on the container.
xThe upholstery, textile covers, Alcantara® material and mats should be
regularly vacuumed (with vacuum brush).
xWe recommend that you use a soft sponge or lint-free, micro-fibre cloth
for normal cleaning Ÿ.
xClean Alcantara® surfaces with a damp lint-free cotton, wool or micro-
fibre cloth used for normal cleaning Ÿ.
General superficial dirt on upholstery and textile covers can be cleaned with
a normal foam cleaning product.
If the upholstery and the material trims are very dirty, we recommend you
have them cleaned by a specialist cleaning form.Cleaning stains
It may be necessary to clean the whole surface and not only the stain itself.
Especially if the surface has been dirtied through normal use. Otherwise, the
stained area may become lighter than the rest of the surface after treatment.Caution
Brushes should only be used to clean the mats and floor mat! Other surfaces
may be damaged if a brush is used.
Caution
Do not use steam cleaning equipment, as the dirt becomes more incrusted in
the material when steam is applied.
Type of stainCleaning the vehicle
Water-based stains,
e.g. coffee or fruit
juice.„ Use a sponge and wipe with a solution of water
and wool wash.
„ Dry the area gently with a soft dry cloth.
Persistent stains,
e.g. chocolate or
make-up.„ Apply cleaning paste a) directly to the stain and
treat.
„ Next, rinse with clean water using a sponge or
damp cloth to remove the cleaning product deposits.
„ Carefully dry the area with an absorbent dry cloth.
a)Bile soap can be used as a cleaning paste.
Grease-based
stains, e.g. oil or lip-
stick.„ Apply a neutral soap or cleaning pastea) and treat
the stain.
„ Apply absorbent material to loose colorants or par-
ticles of grease.
„ Then rinse the area with clean water. Take care not
to soak the upholstery.

Vehicle maintenance and cleaning 280
Caution
xAlcantara® upholsteries should never be soaked.
xDo not use leather cleaning products, solvents, wax polish, shoe cream,
spot removers or similar products on Alcantara®.
xNever use brushes for cleaning damp material as they could damage the
surface.
xDo not use steam cleaning equipment, as the dirt becomes more
incrusted in the material when steam is applied.
Cleaning and care of real leather upholstery
In the event of query regarding the care or cleaning of the leather in your
vehicle, please ask a Technical Service or specialised workshop.
Cleaning and care
Untreated Nappa is delicate as it is not covered with a layer of colour.
xUse a suitable impregnating cream with ultra-violet protection at regular
intervals and after cleaning. This cream will nourish and moisturise the
leather, keep it supple and able to breathe. It will also form a protective film.
xClean the leather every two to three months and remove fresh dirt as
necessary.
xLeather should be treated every six months with a suitable leather care
product Ÿ.
xWhen using care and cleaning products, only apply the minimum
required quantities.
xRemove stains from fresh ball-pen and other inks, lipstick, shoe cream
and similar stains as soon as possible.
xCaring for coloured leather. A special coloured cream will renew the colour
of the leather when required and will eliminate differences in colour.
xThen wipe off with a soft, dry cloth.
Cleaning the vehicle
SEAT recommends the use of a damp cotton or wool cloth for general
cleaning.
Do not let the water soak through the leather or soak into the seams.
Caution
xOn no account use solvents, wax polish, shoe cream, spot removers or
similar materials.
Type of stainCleaning the vehicle
More stubborn dirt„ Apply a mild soap and water solution a) using a
cloth. (Squeeze out the cloth well before applica-
tion).
„ Carefully dry the area with an absorbent dry cloth.
a)Mild soap and water solution: two table spoons of neutral soap per litre of water.
Water-based stains,
e.g. coffee, tea, fruit
juice, blood, etc.„ Remove fresh stains with an absorbent cloth.
„ Use a suitable cleaning product to treat dried-in
stains Ÿ.
Grease-based
stains, e.g. oil or lip-
stick, etc.„ Remove fresh stains with an absorbent cloth.
„ Use a suitable cleaning product if the stain has not
yet penetrated the surface Ÿ.
„ Treat dry stains with a grease-removal spray Ÿ.
Dry difficult stains,
e.g. ink, felt-tip pen,
nail varnish, pig-
ment dispersions or
shoe polish.„ Carefully dry the area with an absorbent dry cloth.
„ Clean using a special stain remover suitable for
use on leather.

Vehicle maintenance and cleaning281
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTe c h n i c a l D a t a
xIn the event of spilt liquids, dry immediately with an absorbent cloth to
prevent the liquid penetrating through the leather.
Caution
If the car is left standing in the sun for long periods, the leather should be
protected against direct sunlight to prevent it from fading.
Note
However, slight colour variations will arise in normal use.
Cleaning leather upholstery
Only use water and neutral cleaning products to clean imitation leather
upholstery.
Caution
On no account use solvents, wax polish, shoe cream, spot removers or similar
materials on imitation leather. These will stiffen the material, making it more
likely to crack sooner.
Cleaning storage compartments, drinks holders and ashtray
Cleaning storage compartments and drinks holders
Some storage compartments and drinks holders have a removable rubber
mat.
xUse a clean, damp, lint-free cloth to clean parts.
xIf this does not provide satisfactory results, we recommend using a
special solvent-free plastic cleaning product.
Cleaning the ashtray
xExtract the ashtray and empty it.
xClean the ashtray with a dishcloth.
Use a toothpick or similar to remove ash from the area where cigarettes are
stubbed out.
Care and cleaning of plastic parts, wooden trim and the
instrument panel
xUse a clean, damp, lint-free cloth to clean parts.
xClean plastic parts (inside and outside the vehicle) and the instrument
panel with a special solvent-free product for the care and cleaning of plastic,
approved by SEAT Ÿ.
xWash wooden trims with a mild soap and water solution.
WARNING
Solvents cause the surfaces of the airbag modules to become porous. If an
airbag is accidentally triggered, the detachment of plastic parts could
cause serious injury.
xNever clean the instrument panel and the surfaces of the airbag
modules with cleaners containing solvents.

Checking and refilling levels293
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTe c h n i c a l D a t a
Checking and refilling levels
Filling the tank
Introduction
The fuel tank flap is on the rear right of the vehicle.
Additional information and warnings:
xFuel Ÿpage 297
xSelective Catalytic Reduction (AdBlue) Ÿpage 300
xWorking in the engine compartment Ÿpage 304
WARNING
Refuelling or handling fuel carelessly can cause an explosion or fire
resulting in serious burns and injuries.
xAlways make sure that you correctly close the fuel cap to avoid evapo-
ration and fuel spillage.
xFuels are highly explosive and inflammable substances that can cause
serious burns and injuries.
xFuel could leak out or be spilt if the engine is not switched off or if the
filler fuel nozzle is not fully inserted into the tank filler neck when refuel-
ling. This could lead to a fire, explosion and severe injuries.
xWhen refuelling, turn off the engine, the auxiliary heating
(Ÿpage 187) and turn off the ignition for safety reasons.
xAlways turn off mobile telephones, radio apparatus and other radio
wave emitting equipment before refuelling. Electromagnetic waves could
cause sparks and lead to a fire.
xNever enter the vehicle while refuelling. If it is absolutely necessary to
enter the vehicle, close the door and touch a metal surface before touching
the filler nozzle again. This will prevent the generation of static electricity.
Sparks could cause a fire when refuelling.
xNever handle fuel close to open flames, sparks or objects with slow
combustion (e.g. cigarettes).
xAvoid static electricity and electro-magnetic radiation when refuelling.
xObserve the safety regulations of the service station.
xNever spill fuel on the vehicle or in the luggage compartment.
WARNING
For safety reasons, SEAT does not recommend carrying a spare fuel canister
in the vehicle. Fuel could be spilled and catch fire, above all in case of an
accident and this applies to a full container as well as empty containers.
This could lead to explosions, fires and injuries.
xObserve the following if you exceptionally have to carry fuel in a
canister:
Never place a fuel container to fill it inside the vehicle or on the
vehicle, for example, in the luggage compartment or on the tailgate.
Filling in these circumstances could create an electrostatic charge and
spark that could ignite fuel fumes.
Always place the canister on the ground to fill it.
Insert the fuel nozzle into the mouth of the canister as far as
possible.
If you are using a metal fuel canister, the nozzle must always touch
the canister while it is being filled to avoid static electricity.
WARNING (continued)