2010 Seat Alhambra Page 304

Cockpit63
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTe c h n i c a l D a t a
xNever ignore the warning lamps or text messages.
xStop the vehicle safely as soon as possible.
xPark the vehicle away from the traffic, ensuring that there are no easily
inflammable materials under the vehicle which could come into contact
with the exhaust system (e.g. dry grass, fuel).
xA faulty vehicle represents a risk of accident for the driver and for other
road users. If necessary, switch on the hazard warning lamps and put out
the warning triangle to advise other drivers.
xBefore opening the bonnet, switch off the engine and allow it to cool.
xIn any vehicle, the engine compartment is a hazardous area and could
cause severe injury Ÿpage 304.
Caution
Failure to heed the warning lamps and text messages when they appear may
result in faults in the vehicle.
WARNING (continued)

Lights and visibility 124
Windscreen wiper and washer
Introduction
Additional information and warnings:
xRecirculation of air conditioning air Ÿpage 179
xWorking in the engine compartment Ÿpage 304
xCaring for and cleaning the vehicle exterior Ÿpage 269
WARNING
Water from the windscreen washer water bottle may freeze on the wind-
screen if it does not contain enough anti-freeze, reducing forward visibility.
xIn winter, ensure the windscreen washer contains enough anti-freeze.
xIn cold conditions, you should not use the wash / wipe system unless
you have warmed the windscreen with the ventilation system. The anti-
freeze could freeze on the windscreen and reduce visibility.
WARNING
Worn or dirty wiper blades reduce visibility and increase the risk of acci-
dent and serious injury.
xAlways replace damaged or worn blades or blades which do not clean
the windscreen correctly.
Caution
In icy conditions, always check that the wiper blades are not frozen to the
glass before using the wipers for the first time. In cold weather, it may help to
leave the vehicle parked with the wipers in service position Ÿpage 127.
Warning 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.
Caution
Failure to heed the warning lamps and text messages when they appear may
result in faults in the vehicle.
lights upPossible causeSolution
YWindscreen wiper fluid level
too lowTop up the windscreen wiper
bottle as soon as possible
Ÿpage 129.

Lights and visibility127
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTe c h n i c a l D a t a
Windscreen wipers service position
The wiper arms can be raised when the wipers are in service position
Ÿfig. 74. To place the windscreen wipers in the service position, proceed as
follows:
xThe bonnet must be closed Ÿpage 304.
xSwitching the ignition on and off.
xPress the windscreen wiper lever downwards briefly Ÿpage 125, fig. 72
.
Before driving, always lower the wiper arms. Using the windscreen wiper
lever, the windscreen wiper arms return to their initial position.
Lifting and returning windscreen wiper arms
xPlace the wiper arms in the service position Ÿ.
xOnly hold the wiper arms at the point where the blade is fixed.
Caution
xTo prevent damage to the bonnet and the wiper arms, only leave them in
the service position.
xBefore driving, always lower the wiper arms.
Fig. 74 Wipers in service
position.
A4

Lights and visibility129
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTe c h n i c a l D a t a
Note
Clean the sensitive surface of the rain sensor regularly and check the blades
for damage Ÿpage 128, fig. 76 (arrow).
Note
To remove wax and coatings, we recommend a window cleaner containing
alcohol.
Checking and topping up the windscreen washer bottle with
water
Check the water level in the windscreen washer bottle regularly and top up as
required.
xOpen the bonnet ’ Ÿpage 304.
xThe washer bottle is marked with the symbol Y on the lid Ÿfig. 77.
xCheck there is enough water in the bottle.
xTo top up, mix water with a window cleaner recommended by SEAT Ÿ.
Please follow the instructions for use found on the packaging.
xIn cold weather, a special antifreeze should also be added to prevent the
water from freezing Ÿ.
Bottle capacity
The bottle holds approximately 3.0 litres; in vehicles with headlight washer,
it is approximately 7.0 litres.
WARNING
Never mix an unsuitable antifreeze or other similar products with the wind-
screen washer water. A greasy layer may be formed on the windscreen
which will impair visibility.
xUse clean water with a window cleaner recommended by SEAT.
xIf necessary, add a suitable antifreeze to the water bottle.
Caution
xDo not mix cleaning products recommended by SEAT with other products.
This could lead to flocculation and may block the windscreen washer jets.
xWhen topping up service fluids, make absolutely certain that you fill the
fluids into the correct reservoirs. Failure to observe this point will result in
serious malfunctions and engine damage!
Fig. 77 In the engine
compartment: windscreen
washer bottle top.

Vehicle maintenance and cleaning269
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTe c h n i c a l D a t a
Vehicle maintenance and cleaning
Care and cleaning the vehicle exterior
Introduction
Regular maintenance and washing help to maintain the value of the vehicle.
This may also be one of the requirements for acknowledging warranty claims
in the event of bodywork corrosion or paint defects.
Products suitable for the care of your vehicle are available at any Technical
Service.
Additional information and warnings:
xCare and cleaning of the vehicle interior Ÿpage 278
xWorking in the engine compartment Ÿpage 304
xAccessories, parts replacement, repairs and modifications Ÿpage 285
WARNING
Car care products may be toxic and hazardous. If car care products are not
suitable or are used inappropriately, this could result in accident, serious
injury, burns or intoxication.
xCar care products must always be stored in the original container which
should be kept closed.
xObserve information provided by the manufacturer.
xTo prevent confusion, never store car care products in empty food cans,
bottles or other containers.
xKeep all care products out of reach of children.
xHarmful vapours may be produced when using car care products. There-
fore, care products should only be used in well-ventilated spaces or in the
open air.
xNever use fuel, turpentine, engine oil, acetone or any other volatile
liquid to wash, clean or care for the vehicle. These are toxic and highly
flammable.
WARNING
Inappropriate care and cleaning of vehicle components may effect the
vehicle safety equipment, increasing the risk of severe injury.
xVehicle components should only be cleaned and maintained in accord-
ance with the manufacturer's instructions.
xOnly use approved or recommended care products.
Caution
Cleaning products which contain solvents will damage the material.
For the sake of the environment
Only wash the vehicle in areas allocated for this purpose, to prevent dirty
water which may be contaminated by oil, grease or fuel, from entering the
drains. In some districts, washing vehicles outside wash bays is prohibited.
For the sake of the environment
Where possible, always use products which respect the environment.
WARNING (continued)

Vehicle maintenance and cleaning 276
Before applying the product, use a soft cloth to remove dust and dirt from the
rubber seals.
De-icing the door lock cylinder
To de-ice the lock cylinders, SEAT recommend the use of genuine SEAT spray
with lubricating and anti-corrosive properties.
Caution
The use of products containing degreasing agents to de-ice the locks may
rust the lock cylinder.
Protection of vehicle undercarriage
The vehicle underbody is coated to protect it from chemical and mechanical
damage. The protective coat on the undercarriage may wear through use
while driving. Therefore, SEAT recommends that the protective coating on the
undercarriage and on the running gear should be regularly checked, and
repaired if necessary.
WARNING
Additional underseal or anti-corrosion products could catch fire due to the
high temperatures reached by the exhaust gas system and other engine
components.
xDo not apply additional underseal or anti-corrosion products to the
exhaust pipes, catalytic converters, heat shields or other parts of the
vehicle which reach high temperatures.
Cleaning the engine compartment
The engine compartment of any motor vehicle is a potentially hazardous area
Ÿpage 304.
The engine compartment should only be cleaned by qualified personnel. If it
is not correctly cleaned, the anti-corrosion coating and consequently elec-
trical components may be damaged. Moreover, water may filter directly into
the vehicle interior through the water chamber Ÿ.
If the engine compartment is very dirty, always take the vehicle to a qualified
workshop for professional cleaning. SEAT recommends visiting a qualified
workshop.
Water box
The water box is in the engine compartment, between the windscreen and the
engine, and beneath a perforated cover. Air is taken in through the water box
from outside to the vehicle interior via the heating and air conditioning
system.
Leaves and other loose objects should be regularly cleaned away from the
water box either by hand or with a vacuum.
WARNING
When working on the engine or in the engine compartment, there is a risk
of injury, burns, accident or fire.
xBefore starting work, please ensure you are familiar with the required
procedure and the safety precautions Ÿpage 304.
xSEAT recommends you have this work performed by a qualified dealer-
ship.
Caution
If water is manually poured into the water box (for example, using a high pres-
sure cleaning appliance), this could cause significant damage to the vehicle.

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)

Checking and refilling levels 296
Closing the tank cap
xScrew on the tank cap clockwise until it you hear it click into position.
xPress the tank flap until you hear it click into place. The tank flap must be
flush with the body contour.
WARNING
Do not continue refilling once the fuel nozzle has switched itself off. The
fuel tank may be filled too much. As a result, fuel may spurt out and spill.
This could lead to a fire, explosion and severe injuries.
Caution
xAlways remove any fuel spilled on the vehicle paintwork immediately to
avoid damage to the wheel housing, the tyre and vehicle paintwork.
For the sake of the environment
Spilt fuel can contaminate the environment.
Refilling precautions
Information on bulb replacement Ÿpage 360.
Checklist
Never work on the engine or in the engine compartment if you are not familiar
with the operations to be carried out, the applicable safety standards and
especially if you do not have the instruments, liquids and tools necessary
Ÿpage 304, “Working in the engine compartment”! Have the work carried
out by a qualified workshop if you are uncertain. Check the following regu-
larly, preferably when you refuel:
xWindscreen washer fluid level Ÿpage 124
xEngine oil level Ÿpage 309
xEngine coolant level Ÿpage 313
xBrake fluid level Ÿpage 210
xTyre pressure Ÿpage 323
xVehicle lighting required to guarantee road safety:
–Indicators
– Side lights, dipped headlights and full beam headlights
– Rear lights
–Brake lights
– Rear fog light Ÿpage 116
WARNING
Not following the checklist prepared for your own safety could lead to acci-
dents and severe injuries.
xAlways follow the check list and perform the necessary operations.