2011 Seat Alhambra warning light

279
Checking and refilling levels CAUTION
● To avoid damage to the bonnet and to the windscreen wiper arms, only
open the bonnet when the w
indscreen wipers are in place against the wind-
screen.
● Before driving, always lower the wiper arms. 
Engine oil Introduction Additional information and warnings:
●
⇒ Book l
et Maintenance Programme
● W

orking in the engine compartment ⇒ page 275
● A

ccessories, parts replacement, repairs and modifications ⇒ page 257WARNING
Incorrectly handling engine oil can cause injury and serious burns.
● Always protect your eyes when handling engine oil.
● Oil is toxic and must be kept out of the reach of children.
● Engine oil must only be kept closed in its original container. The same
app lie

s to use oil until it has been disposed of.
● Never store engine oil in empty food containers or bottles as other
people m
ay accidentally drink it.
● Regular contact with engine oil can be bad for the skin. If you come
into cont
act with engine oil, wash your skin with soap and water.
● With the engine running, the engine oil gets extremely hot and can
cause sev
ere skin burns. Always wait until the engine has fully cooled. For the sake of the environment
Similar to the other service liquids, spilled engine oil can be bad for the en-
vir onment

. Collect any spilt fluids in suitable containers and dispose of in
accordance with legislation and with the utmost respect for the environ-
ment. 
Warning and control lamps lights up Possible cause Solution
 Insufficient engine oil. Switch the engine off. Check the
engine oi
l

level ⇒ page 281. flashes Possible cause Solution
 Engine oil pressure too low. 
Stop the vehicle!
Sw it

ch off the engine. Check the
engine oil level.
- If the warning indicator flashes
although the oil level is correct,
do not continue driving or leave
the engine running. Otherwise,
the engine could be damaged.
You should obtain professional
assistance.  Engine oil sensor faulty. Contact a specialist workshop.
Have the en
gine oi

l sensor
checked. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

284
Checking and refilling levels For the sake of the environment
Coolants and additives can contaminate the environment. Collect any spilt
fluids in s
uitable containers and dispose of in accordance with legislation
and with the utmost respect for the environment. 
Coolant temperature warning lamp and gauge Fig. 170 Engine coolant
temper
at

ure gauge on
the instrument panel: A cold area;
B normal
are a; C warning area.
When driving normally, the needle will remain in the middle area. The tem-
perat ur

e may also rise when the engine is working hard, especially at high
outside temperatures and so the indicator will move quite far to the right-
hand side.
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. lights up Gauge po-
sition
⇒  fig. 170 Possible cause Solution
 Warning
are a C Excessive engine
coo
l

ant tempera-
ture. 
Stop the vehicle!
St op the

vehicle safely as
soon as possible. Switch off
the engine and wait for it to
cool down and for the needle
to return to the normal area.
Check the engine coolant lev-
el ⇒ page 286. Normal
are a B Insufficient engine
coo
l

ant level. Check the engine coolant
when the engine h
a

s cooled
and, if it is low, refill with en-
gine coolant ⇒ page 286.
Although the coolant level is
correct, there is a fault. -- Engine coolant
sys
t

em faulty. 
Do not drive any further.
O bt
ain professional assis-
tance. -- Cold area
A -- Avoid revving the engine too
much or m
ak

ing it work hard
while it has not reached nor-
mal service temperature. flashes Possible cause Solution
 Engine coolant system faulty. You should obtain professio-
nal
a

ssistance. 

286
Checking and refilling levels
Checking the engine coolant level and refilling Fig. 171 In the engine
comp
ar
tment: Marking
on coolant expansion
reservoir. Fig. 172 In the engine
comp
ar

tment: Coolant
expansion tank cap.
If the coolant level is low, the coolant warning indicator will light. Preparations
●
Park the vehicle on even, flat and firm ground.
● Allow the engine to cool ⇒  .
● Open the bonnet  ⇒  p
age 275.
● The coolant expansion reservoir is easily recognisable because of the
symbol 

on the cap ⇒  fig. 172.
Checking the engine coolant level
● When the engine is cold, check the coolant level using the side marking
on the expan
sion reservoir ⇒ fig. 171.
● If the level is below the “MIN” mark, top up with coolant. When the en-
gine is hot
it may be slightly above the marked area.
Topping up the engine coolant level
● Always protect your face, hands and arms from hot coolant and steam
usin
g a large, thick cloth over the coolant expansion tank cap.
● Remove the cap very carefully ⇒  .
● Only refill using new engine coo
lant according to SEAT specifications
(⇒ page 285) ⇒  .
● The engine coolant level should be between the marks on the coolant
exp an

sion tank ⇒ fig. 171. Do not exceed the top level of the marked area
⇒  .
● Screw on the cap tightly.
● If, the event of an emergency, you have no coolant that is compliant to
the requir ed s

pecifications ( ⇒ page 285), never use another type of addi-
tive. Instead, first top up with distilled water ⇒  only. Then re-establish
the corr ect

proportion of the mixture with the correct additive as soon as
possible ⇒ page 285. 

288
Checking and refilling levels
Vehicle battery
Introduction The battery is a component of the vehicle's electrical system.
Never w
ork
on the electrical system without fully understanding the opera-
tions required, the applicable safety standards and without the correct tools
⇒  ! Have the work carried out by a Technical Service if you are uncertain.
SEA T r

ecommends visiting a Technical Service. Negligent work can cause
serious injury.
Location and number of batteries in the vehicle
The battery is located in the engine compartment.
Explanation of the warning indications on the vehicle's battery Symbol Meaning
 Wear eye protection!
 Battery acid is very corrosive and caustic. Always wear
prot
ectiv

e gloves and eye protection!  Fires, sparks, naked lights and smoking are prohibited.
 A highly explosive mixture of gases is released when
the batt
er

y is under charge.  Keep children away from acid and batteries!
Additional information and warnings:
●
⇒ Book l
et Maintenance Programme
● St

arter assist systems (Start-Stop function) ⇒ page 194
● W

orking in the engine compartment ⇒ page 275
● A

ccessories, parts replacement, repairs and modifications ⇒ page 257 WARNING
Working on the vehicle battery and the electrical system can cause corro-
sion, fir e and el

ectric shocks. Always read and take into account the fol-
lowing warnings and safety standards before carrying out any work:
● Before working on the battery, switch off the engine, the ignition and
all

electrical devices then disconnect the negative connection on the bat-
tery.
● Keep children away from acid and the battery itself!
● Wear eye protection.
● Battery acid is very corrosive and caustic. It can burn skin and cause
blindnes
s. When handling the battery, protect yourself from splashes of
acids, above all your hands, arms and face.
● Do not smoke and never work close to places exposed to flames or
spark
s.
● Avoid sparks and electrostatic discharges when working with cables
and electrica
l devices.
● Never short the battery terminals.
● Never use a damaged battery. It can explode. Replace a damaged bat-
tery
immediately.
● Replaced damaged or frozen batteries as soon as possible. A flat bat-
tery
can freeze at temperatures around 0°C (+32°F).
● Vehicles with the battery in the luggage compartment: Ensure that
the batter
y ventilation hose is correctly secured. 

289
Checking and refilling levels CAUTION
● Never disconnect the battery if the ignition is switched on or if the en-
gine i s
running. This could damage the electrical system or electronic com-
ponents.
● Do not expose the battery to direct sunlight over a long period of time,
as the int
ense ultraviolet radiation can damage the battery housing.
● If the car is left standing for long periods, protect the battery from ex-
treme co
ld temperature so that it does not “freeze up” and become dam-
aged. 
Warning lamp lights up Possible cause Solution
 Faulty generator. Contact a specialist workshop.
Have the el
ectric

al system
checked.
Disconnect any unnecessary
electrical consumers. The gener-
ator does not charge the battery
while the vehicle is in motion. 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. 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

290
Checking and refilling levels
Checking the electrolyte level of the vehicle battery Fig. 173 In the engine
comp
ar
tment: Remove
the cover from the vehi-
cle's battery. Fig. 174 In the engine
comp
ar

tment: Unfold the
vehicle's battery hose.
The battery's electrolyte level should be checked regularly in high-mileage
vehicl
es, in hot countries and in older batteries. Other batteries do not re-
quire maintenance. Start-Stop systems (
⇒ page 196) ar
e equipped with a special battery label-
led “AGM”. For technical reasons, it is not possible to check the electrolyte
level of these batteries
Preparations
● Prepare the vehicle for work in the engine compartment ⇒ page 275
● Open the bonnet

 ⇒ p
age 275.
Opening the battery cover
The battery covers are different depending on the engine size of the vehicle:
● In the case of a cover: pres
s the tab ⇒ fig. 173 A in the direction of the
arro w and p
ull the cover upwards.
● In the case of a hose: fol
d the cover to one side to remove ⇒ fig. 174.
Checking the battery electrolyte level
● Make sure there is sufficient lighting to clearly recognise the colours.
Never use open fl
ames or sparklers as a light source.
● Depending on the level of acid, the Magic eye on the top of the battery
wil

l change colour. Colour indicator Necessary operations
light yellow
or col
-
ourless The electrolyte level of the vehicle's battery is too low.
Have the b
att
ery checked and, where applicable, re-
placed by a specialist workshop. Black indication The electrolyte level of the vehicle's battery is correct.
WARNING
Working with the vehicle battery involves a risk of corrosion, explosions
and electric shoc

k.
● Always wear protective gloves and eye protection. 

291
Checking and refilling levels WARNING (Continued)
● Battery acid is very corrosive and caustic. It can burn skin and cause
b lindne
ss. When handling the battery, protect yourself from splashes of
acids, above all your hands, arms and face.
● Never tilt the vehicle battery. Battery acid could spill out of the open-
ings
to release gases and cause corrosion damage.
● Never open the vehicle battery.
● If battery acid splashes on you, immediately rinse your eyes and skin
abund
antly with water for several minutes. Then seek medical care imme-
diately.
● If acid is swallowed by mistake, consult a doctor immediately. 
Charging, replacing and connecting or disconnecting the
batt er

y Charging the battery
The v
ehic

le battery should be charged by a specialist workshop only, as bat-
teries using special technology have been installed and they must be charg-
ed in a controlled environment ⇒  . SEAT recommends visiting a Technical
Serv ic

e.
Replacing a vehicle battery
The battery has been developed to suit the conditions of its location and
has special safety features. If the battery must be replaced, consult a quali-
fied SEAT workshop for information on electromagnetic compatibility, the
size and maintenance, performance and safety requirements of the new bat-
tery in your vehicle before you purchase one. SEAT recommends you have
the battery replaced by a qualified SEAT workshop.
Use only maintenance-free genuine batteries conforming to TL 825 06 and
VW 7 50 73 Standards. These standards must be dated April 2008 or later. Start-Stop systems (
⇒ page 196) ar
e equipped with a special battery. There-
fore, it must only be replaced with a battery of the same specifications.
Disconnecting the vehicle's battery
If you must disconnect the battery from the electrical system, please note
the following:
● Switch off the ignition and all electrical equipment.
● The vehicle must be unlocked before disconnecting the battery, other-
wise the al
arm will be triggered.
● First disconnect the negative cable and then the positive ⇒  .
Connectin g the

vehicle's battery
● Before reconnecting the battery, switch off the engine, the ignition and
electric dev
ices.
● First reconnect the positive cable and then the negative ⇒  .
Differ ent

control lamps may light up after connecting the battery and switch-
ing the ignition on. They will be turned off after a short trip at a speed of
between 15 - 20 km/h (10 - 12 mph). If the warning indicators remain lit,
please visit a specialised workshop to have the vehicle checked.
If the battery has been disconnected for a long time, it is possible that the
next service date is not displayed or calculated correctly ⇒ page 57. Respect
the maximum service intervals permitted ⇒ Booklet Maintenance Pro-
gramme.
Automatic consumer disconnection
The intelligent vehicle electrical system automatically implements a range
of measures to prevent the battery from discharging when high demands
are made on it: Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

292
Checking and refilling levels
● the idling s peed i s increased so that the alternator provides more elec-
tricity.
● where necessary, the power of the most powerful consumers is reduced
or even comp
letely disconnected.
● On starting the engine, the power supply from the 12-volt sockets and
the cigar
ette lighter may be interrupted for a short time.
The on-board management program cannot always prevent the battery from
running flat. For example, if the ignition is left on for a long period with the
engine off or if the side lights or parking lights are left on while the vehicle
is stationary.
Why does the battery run flat?
● When stationary for a long time without starting the engine, particularly
if the ignition is
switched on.
● Use of electrical consumers with the engine switched off.
● If the auxiliary heater is running ⇒ page 163.WARNING
Incorrectly securing the battery or using the wrong battery can cause
short -c

ircuits, fire and serious injuries.
● Always use only maintenance free batteries that do not run flat alone
and whose proper
ties, specifications and size correspond to the stand-
ard battery. The specifications are indicated on the battery case. WARNING
A highly explosive mixture of gases is released when the battery is under
ch ar

ge.
● The batteries should be charged in a well-ventilated room only.
● Never charge a frozen or recently thawed battery. A flat battery can
freeze at
temperatures around 0°C (+32°F). WARNING (Continued)
● Always replace a battery which has frozen.
● B
att

ery cables not correctly connected may cause a short circuit. Re-
connect fir
st the positive cable and then the negative cable. CAUTION
● Never disconnect the battery if the ignition is switched on or if the en-
gine i s

running. This could damage the electrical system or electronic com-
ponents.
● Never plug accessories supply current, such as solar panels or a battery
char
ger, to the 12-volt sockets or the cigarette lighter. This could damage
the vehicle's electrical system. For the sake of the environment
● Dispose of the battery in an environment-friendly manner. Batteries con-
t ain t

oxic substances such as sulphuric acid and lead.
● Battery acid can contaminate the environment. Collect any spilt service
fluids and al
low a dispose of them correctly. 