2010 Seat Alhambra wiper blades

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 visibility 128
Rain sensor*
The rain sensor controls the frequency of the windscreen wiper intervals,
depending on the amount of rain Ÿ. The sensitivity of the rain sensor can
be adjusted manually. Manual wipe Ÿpage 125Move the lever to the required position Ÿfig. 75:
Rain sensor off.
Rain sensor on; automatic wipe if necessary.
Setting sensitivity level of rain sensor
Set control to the right: highly sensitive.
Set control to the left: less sensitive.
When the ignition is switched off and then back on, the rain sensor stays on
and starts operating again when the windscreen wipers are in position
and the vehicle is travelling at more than 4 km/h (2 mph).
Rain sensor modified behaviour
Possible causes of faults and mistaken readings on the sensitive surface
Ÿfig. 76 of the rain sensor include:
xDamaged blades: A film of water on the damaged blades may lengthen
the activation time, reduce the washing intervals or result in a fast and contin-
uous wipe.
xInsects: insects on the sensor may trigger the windscreen wipers.
xSalt on roads: in winter, salt spread in the roads may cause an extra long
wipe when the windscreen is almost dry.
xDirt: dry dust, wax, coating on glass (Lotus effect) or traces of detergent
(car wash) may reduce the effectiveness of the rain sensor or make it react
more slowly, later or not at all.
xCracked windscreen: the impact of a stone will trigger a single wipe cycle
with the rain sensor on. Next the rain sensor detects the reduction in the
sensitive surface area and adapts accordingly. The behaviour of the sensor
will vary with the size of the damage caused by the stone.
WARNING
The rain sensor may not detect enough rain to switch on the wipers.
xIf necessary, switch on the wipers manually when water on the wind-
screen obstructs visibility.
Fig. 75 Windscreen wiper
lever: adjusting the rain
sensor .
AA
Fig. 76 Rain sensor
sensitive surface.
A0
A1
AA
A1

Vehicle maintenance and cleaning 270
For the sake of the environment
The remains of car care products should not be disposed of with ordinary
household waste. Observe information provided by the manufacturer.
Washing the vehicle
The longer substances such as insects, bird droppings, resinous tree sap,
road dirt, industrial deposits, tar, soot or road salt and other aggressive mate-
rials remain on the vehicle, the more damage they do to the paintwork. High
temperatures (for instance due to strong sunlight) further intensify the corro-
sive effect. The vehicle undercarriage should also be thoroughly washed at
regular intervals.
Automatic car washes
Always observe the instructions provided at the automatic car wash. The
standard precautionary measures prior to entering the car wash should be
taken to avoid damage to the vehicle (close all windows, fold in exterior
mirrors). If the vehicle is fitted with additional components (spoiler, roof-rack,
aerial...), check with the car wash supervisor whether these can enter the car
wash Ÿ.
The vehicle paintwork is so durable that the car can normally be washed
without problems in an automatic car washing tunnel. However, wear and
damage to the paintwork will depend on the type of car wash used. SEAT
recommends the use of car washed without brushes.
To remove traces of wax on windows and to prevent wiper blades from
scratching, please observe the following Ÿpage 272, “Cleaning windows
and exterior mirrors”.
Washing the car by hand
When washing the car by hand, use plenty of water to soften the dirt first, and
rinse off as well as possible.Then clean the vehicle with a soft sponge, glove or brush using only slight
pressure. Start at the roof and work downwards. Special car shampoo should
only be used for very persistent dirt.
Rinse the sponge or glove thoroughly and often.
Wheels, sills and similar should be cleaned last. Use a second sponge for
this.WARNING
Sharp components on the vehicle may cause injury.
xProtect arms and hands from sharp edges when cleaning the vehicle
undercarriage or the interior of the wheel hubs.
WARNING
After the vehicle has been washed, the braking effect will be reduced (and
the braking distance increased) due to moisture (and ice in winter) on the
brakes.
xDry the brakes and remove ice by braking carefully. Ensure that you are
not endangering other road-users or breaking traffic regulations in the
process.
Caution
xThe temperature of the water must not exceed +60 °C (+140 °F).
xTo avoid damage to the paintwork, do not wash the vehicle in full sun.
xDo not use rough sponges or similar which could damage the surface to
clean away the traces of insects.
xNever wipe the headlights with a dry cloth or sponge, always moisten
first. It is best to use soapy water.

Vehicle maintenance and cleaning 272
xDo not use a high pressure cleaner to remove ice or snow from windows
xWashing the vehicle in low temperatures: When washing the vehicle with
a hose, do not direct water into the lock cylinders or the gaps around the
doors, tailgate, or sunroof. Locks and seals could freeze!
Cleaning windows and exterior mirrors
Cleaning windows and exterior mirrors
Spray windows and exterior windows with a standard window cleaner
containing alcohol.
Dry the windows with a clean chamois leather or a lint-free cloth. The chamois
leathers used on painted surfaces are not suitable for cleaning windows
because they are soiled with wax deposits which could smear the windows.
Use window cleaner or a silicone remover to clean rubber, oil, grease and sili-
cone deposits off Ÿ.
Removing wax deposits
Automatic car washes and certain car care products may leave wax deposits
on the windows. These deposits can only be removed with a special product
or cleaning cloths. Wax deposits on the windscreen could cause the wiper
blades to judder. SEAT recommends you wipe the wax deposits off the wind-
screen with a soft cloth each time after you have washed the vehicle.
A window cleaning detergent which helps to dissolve the wax may be added
to the windscreen washer fluid to prevent the wiper blades from scratching
the windscreen. Please ensure the you add the cleaning product in the correct
proportions. Products for removing grease do not eliminate the wax deposits
Ÿ.
Special cleaning products or window cloths are available at any Technical
Service. To remove wax deposits, SEAT recommends the following products:
xFor the hottest time of the year: the window cleaner for summer use G 052
184 A1 . Proportion 1:100 (1 part detergent, 100 parts water) in the wind-
screen washer bottle.
xAll year round: the window cleaner G 052 164 A2; Proportion 1:2 in wind-
screen washer bottle (1 part concentrate, 2 parts water) in winter, up to
-18 °C (-0.4 °F), or 1:4, during the rest of the year.
xWindow cloths G 052 522 A1 for all windows and exterior mirrors.
Removing snow
Use a small brush to remove snow from the windows and exterior mirrors.
Removing ice
If possible, use a de-icing spray to remove ice. If you use an ice scraper, push
it in one direction only without swinging it. If you pull the scraper backwards,
the dirt may scratch the window.
WARNING
Dirty or misted windows reduce visibility in all directions and increase the
risk of accident and serious injury.
xDo not drive unless you have good visibility through all windows!
xRemove ice and snow from the windows and demist inside and out.
Caution
xNever mix our cleaning products with other products not recommended
by SEAT in the windscreen washer bottle. This could lead to flocculation and
may block the windscreen washer jets.
xDo not use hot or warm water to remove ice or snow from the windows and
exterior mirrors. The glass could crack!
xThe heating element for the rear window is located on the inner side of the
window. Do not stick adhesive labels over the heating elements and never
clean the inside of the rear window with corrosive or acid products or other
similar chemical cleaning products.

Vehicle maintenance and cleaning273
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTe c h n i c a l D a t a
xAerials on the inside of windows may be damaged if knocked or if cleaned
with corrosive or acid cleaning products. Do not stick adhesive labels over the
heating elements and never clean the inside of the rear window with corro-
sive or acid products or other similar chemical cleaning products.
Cleaning and changing windscreen wiper blades
The windscreen wiper blades are supplied as standard with a layer of
graphite. This layer is responsible for ensuring that the wipe is silent. If the
graphite layer is damaged, the noise of the water as it is wiped across the
windscreen will be louder.
Check the condition of the wiper blades regularly. If the wipers scrape across
the glass they should be changed if they are damaged, or cleaned if they are
dirty Ÿ.
Damaged wiper blades should be replaced immediately. Blades are available
from qualified workshops.
Lifting and unfolding the wiper arms
The wiper arm may only be lifted at the point where it is fastened to the blade.
For windscreen wipers, please note: the wiper should be in service position
before unfolding it Ÿpage 124.
Cleaning windscreen wiper blades
xLifting and unfolding the wiper arms.
xUse a soft cloth to remove dust and dirt from the windscreen wiper blades.
Fig. 165 Changing the
front wiper blades
Fig. 166 Changing the
rear wiper blade.

Vehicle maintenance and cleaning 274
xIf the blades are very dirty, a sponge or damp cloth may be used Ÿ.
Changing the front wiper blades
xLifting and unfolding the wiper arms.
xHold down the release button Ÿpage 273, fig. 165 while gently
pulling the blade in the direction of the arrow.
xFit a new wiper blade of the same length and design on to the wiper arm
and hook it into place.
xRest the wiper arms back onto the windscreen.
Changing the rear wiper blade
xLift and unfold the wiper arm.
xPull the wiper blade out of its mounting on the wiper arm Ÿpage 273,
fig. 166 (arrow ).
xHold down the release button Ÿpage 273, fig. 166 while gently
pulling the blade in the direction of the arrow . This may require some
strength.
xInsert a new blade of the same length and type in the wiper arm in the
opposite direction to the arrow Ÿpage 273, fig. 166 and hook into
place. This feature is operational when the knob is in position (arrow ).
xReplace the wiper arm on the rear window.
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
xDamaged or dirty windscreen wipers could scratch the glass.
xIf products containing solvents, rough sponges or sharp objects are used
to clean the blades, the graphite layer will be damaged.
xNever use fuel, nail varnish remover, paint thinner or similar products to
clean the windows.
Caring for and polishing the vehicle paintwork
Waxing
Regular waxing protects the paintwork. It is time to apply a good coat of wax
when water no longer forms droplets and rolls off the clean paintwork.
Even if a wax solution is used regularly in the automatic car wash, SEAT
recommends protecting the paint with a hard wax coating at least twice a
year.
Polishing
Polishing is only necessary if the paint has lost its shine, and the gloss cannot
be brought back by applying wax.
If the polish does not contain wax, a wax product should be applied after
polishing.
Caution
xTo prevent damage, car polish or hard wax should not be used on compo-
nents painted in matt paint, plastic components and the glass headlamp and
tail light covers.
xDo not polish the paintwork if it is dirty, apply polish in dusty or sandy
zones.
A1
AA
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Index395
Emergency braking function . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Parking brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Specification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Brake servo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215, 216
Brake system
Malfunction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Brake systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Brakes
Assisted braking systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Brake fluid level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Brake pads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Changing the brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Emergency brake indicator in case of sudden
braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
Running-in brake pads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Braking assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Braking assist system (BAS) . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Braking assist system (BAS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Breakdown
Securing the vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
Bulb fault
See changing bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
C
Card compartments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Card reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178Care
See "Care of your vehicle" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Vehicle interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Care of your vehicle
Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Caring for paintwork . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Carrier system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Catalytic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Malfunction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
CCS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
CD changer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162, 169
Central locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83, 85
Antitheft alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
KESSY system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Locking and unlocking the vehicle . . . . . . . . 84
Central locking system
After airbag deployment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Opening doors individually . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Centre armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Changing
Windscreen wiper blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Changing a wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
Changing a wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
Preparations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
Raising the vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 342
Wheel bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
Changing bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
Bodywork . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367
Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361Front bumper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 365
Halogen headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361
Initial operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361
Number plate light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 369
Sea changing bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
Tail lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366, 367
Tailgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366
Xenon headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364
Changing gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Automatic gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Engaging gears (manual gearbox) . . . . . . . 204
Manual gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Manually unlocking the gear selection lever . . .
352
Selecting gears (automatic gearbox) . . . . . 205
Warning and control lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Changing gears
Gear recommendation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Tiptronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Changing the battery
of the vehicle key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Changing the wheel
After changing the wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344
Check list . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Preparations for changing a wheel . . . . . . 339
Raising the vehicle with the jack . . . . . . . . 343
Upholstery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Checking
Tyre pressures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Checking the oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310

Index 396
Checklist
Before working in the engine compartment . . .
306
Changing bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361
In case of an emergency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
Refilling precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Seat belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Transporting children in the vehicle . . . . . . 44
Child safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Child safety seat
Securing with seat belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Child seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Integrated child seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
ISOFIX child seat on rear seats . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Mounting child seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Mounting systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
On rear seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
On the front passenger seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Securing using a Top Tether retaining strap 50
Securing using ISOFIX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Securing using LATCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Transporting children in the vehicle . . . . . . 44
Weight categories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Child seats
Disabling the front passenger airbag . . . . . 36
Cigarette lighter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Cleaning
Alcantara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
instrument panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Seat belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282See "Care of your vehicle" . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Windscreen wiper blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Cleaning chrome parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Cleaning the vehicle
Folding exterior mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Climate control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Air recirculation mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Air vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Climatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Climatronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Faults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Indirect ventilation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Things to note . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
User instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Climatic
see "Climate control" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Climatronic
see "Climate control" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Closing
Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Electric sliding door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Electric windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Panorama sliding sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
See "Locking" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Sliding doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Sunshade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Tailgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Coat hooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Cockpit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59Code number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 354
Collection of end-of-life vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Combined weight rating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Coming Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Compartment
Glove compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Compartments
Card compartments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Centre console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Drawers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Folding table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Front central armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Instrument panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Other storage compartments . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Portable waste bin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Rear floor area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Roof console . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Spectacle case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Connectors
Faults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Consumer disconnection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Consumption
How it is determined . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Control lamp
AdBlue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Brake pad wear indication . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Changing gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202