2011 Seat Alhambra lock

173
Driving WARNING
Cold start sprays could explode or cause a sudden increase in the engine
speed.
● Nev er u
se start boosters. CAUTION
● An attempt to start the engine while driving or starting the engine imme-
di at

ely after turning it off can cause damage to the engine or starter motor.
● When the engine is cold, avoid high revs and heavy acceleration and do
not mak
e the engine work hard.
● Do not push or tow start the engine. Sunburnt fuel could damage the
catalytic
converter. For the sake of the environment
Do not warm the engine at idle speed; start driving immediately if the visi-
bi lity

is OK. This helps the engine reach operating temperature faster and
reduces emissions. Note
● For example, if the key battery is very worn or flat, the engine cannot be
s t

arted with the starter button. In this case, remove the ignition button from
the lock and insert the key.
● Electrical components with a high power consumption are switched off
temporari
ly when the engine starts.
● When the engine is started cold, there may be strong vibrations for a few
moments for t
echnical reasons. This is quite normal, and no cause for con-
cern.
● At temperatures below +5°C (+41°F), smoke may be given off below the
vehicl
e when the additional heater is connected. Stopping the engine Complete operations only in the sequence given:
Step
1. Stopping the vehicle completely
⇒  .
2. Press the brake pedal and keep pressed until step 4 has been
comp
l

eted. 3. In automatic gearboxes, put the selector lever in position
P. 4. Connect the electronic parking brake
⇒ page 183. 5. Turn the key in the ignition lock to position
⇒ fig. 127 0 .
6. With a manual gearbox, put the vehicle in first or reverse gear.
WARNING
Never switch off the engine while the vehicle is moving. You may lose
contr o

l of the vehicle and there is a risk of serious accident.
● The airbags and belt tensioners do not work when the ignition is
switc
hed off.
● The brake servo does not work when the engine is not running. To
stop
, the brake pedal must be pressed with more force.
● As the power steering does not work if the engine is not running, you
wil

l need more strength to steer than normally.
● If the key is removed from the ignition, the steering may lock and it
wil

l not be possible to steer the vehicle. CAUTION
If the engine has been driven at high speed for a prolonged period of time,
it m a

y overheat when turned off. To avoid engine damage, allow the engine
to run for approximately two minutes in neutral before switching it off. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

174
Driving Note
● In vehicles with automatic gearbox, the key can only be removed when
the sel ect
or lever is in position P.
● After stopping the engine, the engine compartment fan may continue
running f
or a few minutes, even when the ignition has been switched off or
the key removed. The radiator fan is automatically switched off. 
Electronic immobiliser The gear lock prevents the engine from being started with an unauthorised
key
and the

vehicle being moved.
The vehicle key has a built-in chip. It automatically deactivates the immobil-
izer when the key is inserted into the ignition lock.
For this reason, the vehicle can only be used with a genuine SEAT key with
the correct code. Coded keys can be obtained from your Authorised Service
Centre ⇒ page 71. If an unauthorised key is used, the message SAFE or Immobiliser active is
displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle cannot be started in this
case Note
The correct operation of the vehicle is only guaranteed when original SEAT
key s

are used. Changing gear
Introduction When reverse gear is engaged and the ignition is switched on the following
tak
e

s place:
● Reverse lights light up.
● When reversing, the air conditioner automatically changes to air recircu-
lation mode.
● The re

ar window heater switches on when the windscreen wiper is acti-
vated.
● A

lso, the parking sensor system, the optical parking sensor and the
camera f
or the reverse assist system are connected.
Additional information and warnings:
● Instruments ⇒ page 57
● Br

aking, stopping and parking ⇒ page 183
● P

arking sensor system ⇒ page 198
● P

ark Assist system ⇒ page 202
● R

everse assist system (Rear Assist) ⇒ page 207
● Air c

onditioning ⇒ page 155
● El

ectronic power control and exhaust gases purification system
⇒ page 228
● Emer

gency locking and unlocking ⇒ page 314 WARNING
Rapid acceleration can cause loss of traction and skidding, especially on
slip per

y ground. This could cause loss of control of the vehicle resulting
in an accident and considerable damage.
● Only use the kickdown or rapid acceleration if visibility, weather, road
and traffic c
onditions so permit. 

175
Driving WARNING
Do not allow the brakes to “rub” for a prolonged period of time, or brake
frequently or f
or long periods of time. Continuous braking heats up the
brakes. This could significantly reduce braking power, increase braking
distance or even result in the total failure of the brake system. CAUTION
● Never make the brakes slip by pressing the pedal gently, if it is not really
nec e

ssary to brake. This will increase wear.
● Reduce speed, move down a gear or select a shorter range of gears be-
fore lon
g steep slopes. This allows you to use the engine braking effect and
to reduce the strain on the brake system. Otherwise, the brakes may over-
heat and fail. Only use the brakes to reduce speed or to stop. 
Warning and control lamps lights up Possible cause Solution
 (red) Brake pedal not pressed! Press brake pedal to the floor.

(green) Brake pedal not pressed. To select a range of gears, press
the brak
e ped

al.
Please also see "Electronic park-
ing brake" ⇒ page 183. flashes Possible cause Solution

(green) The selector lever locking but-
ton h
a

s not engaged. The ve-
hicle does not start to move. Engage the selector lever lock
⇒ pag
e 178. Several warning and control lamps should light up for a few seconds when
the ignition is
sw

itched. This signals that the lamp is working properly. They
will switch off after a few seconds. WARNING
If the warning lamps and messages are ignored, the vehicle may stall in
traffic, or m a

y cause accidents and severe injuries.
● Never ignore the warning lamps or text messages.
● Stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible.
● If the vehicle stops and must be stopped for repairs, always park a
safe di
stance from surrounding traffic, turn on the hazard warning lights,
stop the engine and take all of the safety measures necessary to warn
other road users. CAUTION
Failure to heed the warning lamps and text messages when they appear
ma y

result in faults in the vehicle. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

178
Driving
Automatic gearbox*: Selecting gears Fig. 131 Left-hand drive
vehic
l
es: Automatic gear-
box selector lever with
locking button (arrow). Fig. 132 Right-hand
drive
v

ehicles: Automatic
gearbox selector lever
with locking button (ar-
row).
The gear selection lever has a lock. When changing the selector lever from
position
P to a range of gears, press the brake pedal and press the lock on
the selector lever, located on the front part of the knob, in the direction of the arrow ⇒ fig. 131 or ⇒ 
fig. 132.
To move the gear selector lever from the
position N to D or to R, first press and hold the brake pedal.
When the ignition is on, the current position of the selector lever is shown
on the instrument panel. Selector
lev er po-
s

itions Denomination Meaning ⇒ 
 Parking lock The drive wheels are locked mechanically.
They on
ly

engage when the vehicle is at a
standstill. To change the position of the selec-
tor lever, press the brake pedal and switch on
the ignition.  Reverse gear Reverse gear is engaged.
Only
sel

ect reverse gear when the vehicle is at
a standstill .  Neutral The gear box is in neutral. No movement is
tran
smitt

ed to the wheels and the engine
does not act as a brake.  Standard for-
war d

s driving
position (nor- mal pro-
gramme) The gears are changed (up and down) auto-
matic
al
ly. The gear shifts are determined by
the engine load, your individual driving style
and the speed of the vehicle.  Standard for-
war d

s driving
position
(sports pro- gramme) The shift up to a higher gear is automatically
dela
y
ed and the shift down is faster with re-
spect to the D range of gears, to take full ad-
vantage of the engine power. The gear shifts
are determined by the engine load, your indi-
vidual driving style and the speed of the vehi-
cle. Selector lever locking
The ge
ar sel

ector lever lock prevents, in P or N, a gear selection from being
inadvertently engaged and the vehicle moving off accidentally. 

179
Driving
To release the gear selector lever lock, press and hold the brake pedal with
the ignition on. Pre s
s simultaneously on the selector lever lock.
The selector lever lock is not engaged if the selector lever is moved quickly
through position N (e.g. when shifting from R to D). This makes it possible,
for instance, to rock the vehicle backwards and forwards if it is stuck in
snow or mud. The selector lever lock engages automatically if the brake
pedal is not pressed and the lever is in position N for more than about one
second at a speed of less than 5 km/h (3 mph).
In vehicles with a DSG ®
automatic gearbox, on rare occasions the selector
lever lock may not engage. In this case, the transmission is locked to pre-
vent the vehicle from moving accidentally. The green control light  flashes
and an information text is displayed. Proceed as follows to engage the se-
lector lever lock:
● Press the brake pedal and then release. WARNING
Placing the selector lever in an incorrect position may cause loss of con-
tro l

of the vehicle and a serious accident.
● Do not press the accelerator when engaging a range of gears.
● With the engine running and a range of gears selected, the vehicle
wil

l move off when the brake pedal is released.
● Never select reverse gear or the parking lock while driving. WARNING
Unintentional movements of the vehicle could cause serious injury.
● As a driver, you should never leave your vehicle if the engine is run-
ning and a g e

ar is engaged. If you have to leave your vehicle while the
engine is running, you must apply the electronic parking brake and en-
gage parking lock P. WARNING (Continued)
● Whi le the engine is running and with the D, S or R range of gears se-
l ect

ed, keep the brake pressed to keep the vehicle at a standstill. Trans-
mission is not totally interrupted either when the vehicle is idling or
when the vehicle continues moving forwards.
● Never engage the R or P gear ranges when the vehicle is moving.
● Never leave the vehicle with the gear selector in N. The vehicle may
move do
wnhill regardless of whether the engine is switched on or not. CAUTION
If, when the vehicle is at a standstill, the electronic parking brake is not ap-
plied and the br ak

e pedal is released while in position P, the vehicle may
move a few centimetres forwards or backwards. Note
If, while driving, the selector lever is accidentally placed in position N, lift
y our f

oot off the accelerator. Wait until the engine is running at idle speed
before selecting a new gear ratio. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

182
Driving
Recommended gear indication In some vehicles, the recommended gear for reducing fuel consumption is
dis
p
layed on the instrument panel: Display Meaning
 Optimum gear.
 Recommendation to change up a gear.
 Recommendation to change down a gear.
Information for cleaning the diesel particulate filter
The exh
au

st gas system control recognises when the diesel particulate filter
is blocked, and helps to clean it by recommending a specific gear for driv-
ing. It may therefore be necessary to drive with the engine at an exception-
ally high speed ⇒ page 228. WARNING
The recommended gear display is intended as a guideline only; it should
never r ep

lace the driver's attention to driving carefully.
● Responsibility for selecting the correct gear for each situation contin-
ues t
o lie with the driver, for example when overtaking, climbing a hill or
towing a trailer. For the sake of the environment
Selecting the most appropriate gear for the situation will help you to save
fuel . Note
The recommended gear display is switched off when the clutch pedal is
pre s

sed. 

183
Driving
Braking, stopping and parking
Introduction The assisted braking systems include the anti-lock braking system (ABS),
the br
ak
e assist system (BAS), the electronic differential system (EDS), the
ASR traction control system (TCS) and the ESC electronic stabilisation pro-
gram (ESP).
Additional information and warnings:
● Towing mode ⇒ page 233
● St

art assist systems ⇒ page 194
● Wheel

s and tyres ⇒ page 293
● A

ccessories, parts replacement, repairs and modifications ⇒ page 257WARNING
Driving with worn brake pads or a faulty brake system may lead to seri-
ous ac

cident.
● If  lights, alone or accompanied by a warning message on the in-
strument
panel, please go immediately to a specialist workshop to check
the brake pads and to replace them if they are worn. WARNING
Careless parking can cause serious injury.
● Never remove the key from the ignition if the vehicle is in motion. The
st eerin

g lock may engage and locked the steering wheel making the vehi-
cle impossible to control. WARNING (Continued)
● Always park your vehicle so that no part of the exhaust system can
c ome in c

ontact with flammable materials (such as wood, leaves, spilled
fuel, dried grass, etc).
● Always apply the electronic parking brake when you leave your vehi-
cle and when
you park.
● Never leave children or disabled people alone in the vehicle. They
coul
d release the electronic parking brake, activate the selector lever or
gear stick and start the vehicle moving. This could result in serious acci-
dent.
● Always take all the keys with you whenever you leave the vehicle. The
engine cou
ld accidentally be started and electrical equipment such as
the windows could accidentally be operated resulting in serious injury.
● Never leave children or disabled people alone in the car. They could
be trapped in the c
ar in an emergency and will not be able to get them-
selves to safety. For example, depending on the time of the year, temper-
atures inside a locked and closed vehicle can be extremely high or ex-
tremely low resulting in serious injuries and illness or even death, partic-
ularly for young children. CAUTION
● Special care should be taken when parking in areas with high kerbs or
fi x

ed barriers. Objects protruding from the ground may damage the bumper
or other parts of the vehicle during manoeuvres. To avoid damage, stop be-
fore the wheels touched the barrier or kerb.
● Special attention is required when driving through entrances, over
ramps, k
erbs or other objects. The vehicle underbody, bumpers, mudguards
and running gear, and the engine and exhaust system could be damaged as
you drive over these objects. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

185
Driving WARNING
Driving with brakes in bad condition could result in a serious accident.
● If the brake warning lamp  does not go out, or if it lights up when
driving, the brake fluid level in the reservoir is too low or there is a fault
in the brake system. Obtain professional assistance immediately
⇒ page 191, Brake fluid.
● If the brake warning lamp  lights up t
ogether with the ABS warning
lamp , the regulation function of the ABS could be malfunctioning. As a
result, the rear wheels can lock relatively easily when braking. If the rear
wheels lock this could result in loss of vehicle control! If possible, reduce
your speed and drive carefully to a specialist workshop close by to check
the brake system. During the following journey, avoid sudden braking
and manoeuvres.
● If the ABS warning lamp  does not
go out or if it lights while driv-
ing, the ABS is malfunctioning. The vehicle can only be stopped using
normal braking without ABS. The protection provided by the ABS is not
available. Visit a specialised workshop as soon as possible.
● If  lights, alone or accompanied by a warning message on the in-
strument
panel screen, please go immediately to a specialist workshop
to check the brake pads and to replace them if they are worn. CAUTION
Failure to heed the warning lamps and text messages when they appear
ma y

result in faults in the vehicle. Electronic parking brake Fig. 135 Detailed view of
the centr
e c

onsole: elec-
tronic parking brake
switch
Applying the electronic parking brake
The parkin
g brake can be applied whenever the vehicle is at a standstill,
even when the ignition is switched off. Always apply the parking brake
when you leave your vehicle and when you park.
● Pull button  until the control lamp
 on the button lights
up.
● The parking brake is applied when the control lamp  lights up on the
ins

trument panel ⇒ page 184.
Releasing the electronic parking brake
● Switch the ignition on.
● Press button  . At the same time, press the brake pedal hard or gently
pre s

s the accelerator pedal with the engine switched on.
● The control lamps  on the button and
 on the instrument panel go
out. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data