2011 Seat Alhambra change time

101
Lights and visibility
For those vehicles in which it is not possible to adjust the headlights from
the menu, adhe s
ive strips are used to cover certain parts of the headlamp
cover or the headlights may be adjusted at a specialised workshop. For fur-
ther information, please refer to a specialised workshop. SEAT recommends
visiting a Technical Service. Note
Use of the Touris
t light option and the adhesives on the headlights is only
allowed if they are to be used for a short period of time. To modify the direc-
tion of the headlights permanently, please take the vehicle to a specialised
workshop. SEAT recommends visiting a Technical Service. 
“Coming home” and “Leaving home” function (guidance
lights)C omin

g HomeThe “Coming home” function should be switched on manually. However the
“Le
av

ing home” function is automatically controlled by a photo sensor. “Coming Home” Necessary operations
To switch sys-
tem on: – Switch off the ignition.
– Briefly fl
a

sh the headlights for approximately one sec-
ond ⇒ page 96.
The “Coming home” lighting comes on when the driver's
door is opened. The delay in switching off the headlights
is counted from when the last door or tailgate is closed. The system
swit
c

hes off: – Automatically at the end of the delay period.
– Autom
atic

ally, if 30 seconds after coming on, a vehicle
door or tailgate remains open.
– If the light switch is turned to position .
– If the ignition is switched on. “Leaving home” Necessary operations
To switch sys-
tem on: – Unlock the vehicle when the light switch is in position

and the phot

o sensor detects darkness. The system
swit
c

hes off: – Automatically, at the end of the delay period.
– When the
v
ehicle is locked.
– When the light switch is turned to position .
– When the ignition is switched on. Lighting around the exterior mirrors
The lighting ar
ou

nd the exterior mirrors illuminates the door area on enter-
ing and leaving the vehicles. It comes on when the vehicle is unlocked,
when the vehicle door is opened and when the “Coming home” or “Leaving
home” function is switched on. If the equipment includes the light sensor,
the lighting around the exterior mirrors only comes when it is dark. Note
● The time tak en f
or the headlights to go off can be changed in the Lights
& Visibility menu and the function can be switched on or off ⇒ page 62.
● When the “Coming home” function is on, if the vehicle door is opened
there is
no audible warning signal to advise that the light is still on. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

107
Lights and visibility
Windscreen wiper functions Windscreen wiper performance in different situations:
If the vehicle is at a stand-
sti
l
l: The activated position provisionally changes
to the pr
ev
ious position. During the automatic wipe: The air conditioning comes on for approxi-
mat
ely

30 seconds in air recirculation mode
to prevent the smell of the windscreen wash-
er fluid entering the inside of the vehicle. For the intermittent wipe: The intervals between wipes vary according
to the s
peed of

the vehicle. The higher the
vehicle speed the shorter the intervals. Heated windscreen washer jets
The heatin
g on

ly thaws the frozen jets, it does not thaw the water in the
washer hoses. The heated windscreen washer jets automatically adjust the
heat depending on the ambient temperature, when the ignition is switched
on.
Headlight wash /wipe system
The headlight washers/wipers clean the headlight lenses.
After the ignition is switched on, the first and every fifth time the wind-
screen washer is switched on, the headlights are also washed. Therefore,
the windscreen wiper lever should be pulled towards the steering wheel
when the dipped beam or main beam are on. Any incrusted dirt (such as in-
sects) should be cleaned regularly (e.g. when refuelling).
To ensure the headlight washers work correctly in winter, any snow which
has got into the bumper jet supports should be cleaned away. If necessary,
remove snow with an anti-icing spray. Note
The wiper will try to wipe away any obstacles that are on the windscreen.
The wiper w i

ll stop moving if the obstacle blocks its path. Remove the ob-
stacle and switch the wiper back on again. 
Windscreen wipers service position Fig. 68 Wipers in service
pos
ition.
The w

iper arms can be raised when the wipers are in service position.
⇒ fig. 68 To p l

ace the windscreen wipers in the service position, proceed as
follows:
● The bonnet must be closed ⇒ page 275.
● Sw

itching the ignition on and off.
● Press the windscreen wiper lever downwards briefly ⇒ fig. 66 4 .
Bef or

e driving, always lower the wiper arms. Using the windscreen wiper
lever, the windscreen wiper arms return to their initial position. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

141
Seats and storage compartments
Storage compartments
Introduction Storage compartments must only be used to store light or small objects.
The front
c
entral armrest compartment houses the factory-fitted AUX-IN or
multimedia (MEDIA-IN) connection sockets.
The factory-fitted CD changer is located in the left-hand storage compart-
ment of the luggage compartment.
Additional information and warnings:
● Child seats (accessories) ⇒ page 39
● L

uggage compartment ⇒ page 125
● C

are and cleaning of the vehicle interior ⇒ page 249
● ⇒ 

Bookl et Radio or ⇒ Booklet navigation system WARNING
In the event of sudden braking movements or turns, loose objects may be
thro wn ar

ound the vehicle interior. This could cause serious injuries to
passengers and cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
● Do not transport animals or place hard, heavy or sharp objects inside
the vehic
le in: open storage compartments, instrument panel, storage
tray, items of clothing or bags.
● While driving, always keep object compartments closed. WARNING
Objects falling into the driver's footwell could prevent use of the pedals.
This c

ould lead the driver to lose control of the vehicle, increasing the
risk of a serious accident.
● Make sure the pedals can be used at all times, with no objects rolling
underneath them.
● The floor m

at should always be secured to the floor.
● Never place other mats or rugs on top of the original mat supplied by
the factor
y.
● Make sure that no objects can fall into the driver's footwell while the
vehicl
e is in motion. CAUTION
● Objects on the shelf could chafe against the wires of the heating ele-
ment in the r

ear window and cause damage.
● Do not keep heat-sensitive objects, food or medicines inside the vehi-
cle. He
at and cold could damage them or render them useless.
● Light-transparent objects placed inside the vehicle, such as lenses,
magnify
ing glasses or transparent suction caps on the windows, could con-
centrate the sun's rays and cause damage to the vehicle. Note
The ventilating slits between the heated rear window and the shelf must not
be co v

ered so that used air can escape from the vehicle. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

169
Driving WARNING
The counter steering assistance system combined with ESC (ESP) helps
the driver t o s
teer the vehicle in critical driving conditions. At all times, it
is the driver who steers the vehicle. The counter steering system does
not steer the vehicle. 
Adjusting the steering wheel position Fig. 126 Mechanical
st
eerin

g wheel adjust-
ment.
Adjust the steering wheel before your trip and only when the vehicle is sta-
tionary
.
● Push the lever ⇒ fig. 126 1 downwards.
● Adjust the steering wheel so that you can hold onto the steering wheel
with both h and

s on the outside of the ring at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock
positions and your arms slightly bent.
● Push the lever firmly upwards until it is flush to the steering column
⇒  . WARNING
Incorrect use of the steering wheel adjustment function and an incorrect
adju s

tment of the steering wheel can result in severe or fatal injury.
● After adjusting the steering column, push the lever 1 firmly upwards
to en s

ure the steering wheel does not accidentally change position while
driving.
● Never adjust the steering wheel while the vehicle is in motion. If you
need to adju
st the steering wheel while the vehicle is in motion, stop
safely and make the proper adjustment.
● The adjusted steering wheel should be facing your chest and not your
face so a
s not to hinder the driver's frontal airbag protection in the event
of an accident.
● When driving, always hold the steering wheel with both hands on the
outside of
the ring at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions to reduce inju-
ries when the driver's frontal airbag deploys.
● Never hold the steering wheel at the 12 o'clock position or in any oth-
er manner (e.g. in the c
entre of the steering wheel). In such cases, if the
driver's airbag deploys, you may sustain injuries to your arms, hands and
head. 
Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

180
Driving
Changing gears with Tiptronic* Fig. 133 Selector lever
in Tiptr
onic
position (left-
hand drive vehicles). The
lay-out in right-hand
drive vehicles is symmet-
rically opposed. Fig. 134 Steering wheel
with tw
o p

addle shifts for
Tiptronic.
The Tiptronic system allows you to manually change gears in vehicles with
an automatic
gearbox. When you change to the Tiptronic programme, the
vehicle remains in the currently selected gear. This is possible as long as
the system is not changing gear automatically due to a traffic situation. Using Tiptronic with the selector lever
●
Press the selector lever from position D to the right int
o the Tiptronic se-
lector gate ⇒  in Automatic gearbox*: Selecting gears on page 179.
● Press the lever forwards + or backwards
– to move up or down a gear
⇒ fig. 133.
Us in

g the Tiptronic with the steering wheel paddle shifts
● In D or S, move the s
teering wheel paddle shifts ⇒ fig. 134.
● Pull the right-hand side paddle + OFF ⇒ 
fig. 134 t
owards the steering
wheel to step up a gear.
● Pull the left-hand side paddle – ⇒ fig. 134 to
w
ards the steering wheel
step down a gear.
If the paddles are not used for a period of time, the vehicle leaves Tiptronic
mode. CAUTION
● When acc el
erating, the gearbox automatically shifts up into the next
gear shortly before the maximum engine speed is reached.
● When reducing speed manually, the gear box only shifts gear when the
engine can no lon
ger exceed the maximum engine speed. 
Driving with an automatic gearbox The gearbox changes gear ratios automatically as the vehicle moves.
Drivin
g do

wn hills
The steeper the gradient, the lower the gear you will need. The lowest gears
increase the engine braking work. Never go down hills with the selector lev-
er in neutral N. 

189
Driving Note
When checking the front brake pads, take the time to also check the rear
brak e p
ads. The thickness of the brake pads should be checked visually and
regularly, by looking through the openings in the wheel rims or from under-
neath the vehicle. If necessary, remove the wheels to check them thorough-
ly. SEAT recommends visiting a Technical Service. 
Assisted braking systems The assisted braking systems ESC (ESP), ABS, BAS, ASR (TCS) and EDS only
operat
e when the ignition i

s switched on. They contribute significantly to in-
creasing active safety.
Electronic stability programme ESC (ESP)
ESC (ESP) reduces the risk of skidding and increases the vehicle stability by
braking individual wheels under specific driving conditions. ESC (ESP) de-
tects critical handling situations, such as understeer, oversteer and wheel-
spin on the drive wheels. The system stabilises the vehicle by braking indi-
vidual wheels or by reducing the engine torque.
The ESC (ESP) has limits. It is important to realise that the ESC (ESP) is also
subject to the laws of physics. ESC (ESP) will not be able to deal with all sit-
uations with which drivers may be faced. For example, if the road surface
changes suddenly then ESC (ESP) will not be useful in all cases. If the vehi-
cle suddenly enters a section covered by water, mud or snow then ESC (ESP)
will not provide assistance in the same way as on dry ground. If the vehicle
loses its grip on the ground and moves on a film of water (“aquaplaning”),
the ESC (ESP) will not be able to assist the driver to control the vehicle due
to the loss of adherence with the road surface preventing braking and steer-
ing. If the vehicle is driven through series of bends at high speed, the ESC
(ESP) will not always be as effective: the vehicle reaction to aggressive driv-
ing is not the same as at reduced speeds. When driving with a trailer, ESC
(ESP) does not provide the same amount of vehicle control as without a
trailer. Adjust your speed and driving style to road, traffic and weather conditions.
ESC (E

SP) cannot push the limits of the laws of physics; improve the trans-
mission available or maintain the vehicle on the road if a lack of driver at-
tention creates an inevitable situation. Otherwise, ESC (ESP) assists in
maintaining vehicle control in extreme situations and uses the movements
of the steering made by the driver to maintain the vehicle moving in the de-
sired direction. If the vehicle is driven at such a speed that it will leave the
road before ESC (ESP) can intervene then the system cannot provide assis-
tance.
The ABS, BAS, ASR (TCS) and EDS systems are incorporated into the ESC
(ESP). The ESC (ESP) is always on. The ESC (ESP) should only be turned off
using the ASR (TCS) button ⇒ fig. 136 when traction is insufficient. Always remember to turn on the ASR (TCS) once more when the vehicle has traction
once again.
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
ABS can prevent the wheels from locking during braking until just before
the vehicle stops thus helping the driver to steer the vehicle and maintain
control. This means that, even during full braking, the risk of skidding is re-
duced:
● Press and hold the brake pedal fully. Do not remove your foot from the
brake ped
al or reduce braking force!
● Do not “pump” the brake pedal, or reduce braking force!
● Maintain vehicle direction when braking fully.
● When the brake pedal is released or when the brake force is reduced,
ABS is
turned off.
ABS control can be observed by vibration of the brake pedal and noise. You
should never expect the ABS to reduce the braking distance under any cir-
cumstances. Braking distances will increase when driving on gravel, recent
snow or on icy and slippery ground.
When driving on loose ground, the all-terrain configuration of the ABS is au-
tomatically turned on. When ABS is activated, the front wheels may lock
briefly. This shortens the braking distance in off-road situations as the Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

191
Driving WARNING (Continued)
● Changes to the vehicle suspension or using unapproved wheel/tyre
c omb
inations can affect operation of the ABS, BAS, ASL EDL and ESC
(ESP) and their effectiveness.
● Likewise, the effectiveness of ESC (ESP) depends on the use of suita-
ble ty
res ⇒ page 293. Note
● To ensure that the ESC (ESP) and ASR (TCS) work properly, all four
wheel s

must be fitted with identical tyres. Any differences in the rolling radi-
us of the tyres can cause the system to reduce engine power when this is
not desired.
● If a malfunction should occur in the ABS, the ESC (ESP), ASR (TCS) and
EDS w
ill also be affected.
● Noises may be heard while any of the above systems are operating. 
Turning on and off the ASR (TCS) Fig. 136 Detailed view of
the centr
e c

onsole: but-
ton used to switch ASR
(TCS) on and off (vehicles
with ESC (ESP)). The electronic stabilisation control ESC (ESP) consists of ABS, EDL and ASR
(TCS) and on

ly works when the engine is running.
The ASR (TCS) can be switched off while the engine is running by pressing
the  OFF ⇒ fig. 136 butt
on.
The ASR (TCS) (and similar) is only switched off
when the required traction is not obtained:
● When driving through deep snow or on loose ground (gravel...).
● When freeing a trapped vehicle.
Turn the ASR (TC
S) back on by pressing the button  OFF ⇒ fig. 136.

Brake fluid Fig. 137 In the engine
comp
ar

tment: brake fluid
reservoir, lid
In the course of time, the brake fluid absorbs water from the ambient air. If
there is
too much water contained in the brake fluid, the brake system could
be damaged. In addition, the boiling point of the brake fluid is significantly
lowered. When the brake fluid contains too much water and the brakes are
subject to considerable forces, bubbles of water vapour can form in the sys-
tem. These bubbles of water vapour can significantly reduce braking power, Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

195
Driving
If any of the conditions necessary for the Auto Hold function change while
the v ehic
le stopped, the system is turned off as is the indicator on the but-
ton ⇒ fig. 138. The electronic parking brake engages where necessary to
park the vehicle safely ⇒  .
Condition s

for keeping the vehicle at a standstill with Auto Hold:
● The driver's door must be closed.
● The driver's seat belt must be buckled.
● The engine must be running.
● The ASR (TCS) system must be switched on ⇒ page 183.
Sw

itching Auto Hold on and off manually
Press the AUTO HOLD button ⇒  . The control lamp on the button switches
off when the Aut o Ho

ld function is switched off.
Permanent Auto Hold connection
The Auto Hold function must be switched on every time the engine is star-
ted. However, to switch the Auto Hold function on permanently, the mark
must be switched on in the Settings menu, “Autohold” submenu
⇒ page 62.
Auto Hold works automatically under the following conditions: All points must be fulfilled simultaneously ⇒  :
manual gearbox Automatic gearbox
1. If the vehicle is
stop
ped using the brake pedal on a flat or slope.2. The engine must be running smoothly.
3. On a slope, the 1st gear is engag-
ed uphil
l

or the reverse gear is en-
gaged for a downhill. The clutch
must be held down. A gear for driving is selected from
R, D or S.
Upon accelerating and pressing in
the clut
c

h simultaneously, the
brake releases gradually. Upon accelerating, the brake re-
le
a
ses gradually. Auto Hold turns off automatically under the following conditions:
manual gearbox Automatic gearbox
1. If one of the conditions mentioned in table on page 195 changes.
2. If the engine is not running regularly or if there is a malfunction.
3. When changing to idle speed. If the selector lever is placed in
neutral
(N

). 4. If the engine is turned off or stalls. If the engine is switched off.
5. If the driver accelerates while
pre
s

sing the clutch in. If the vehicle is accelerated.
6. When one of the wheels has mini-
mal
c

ontact with the ground (for
example, on uneven ground). WARNING
The Auto Hold technology is limited by the laws of physics. The improved
comf or

t provided by Auto Hold should never prompt you to take risks.
● Never leave the vehicle running and with the Auto Hold function
switc
hed on.
● Auto Hold cannot always stop the vehicle uphill and downhill (for ex-
ample, if
the ground is slippery or frozen). CAUTION
Before entering an automatic car wash, alwa
ys switch the Auto Hold func-
tion off, as it could be damaged when the electronic parking brake automat-
ically engages. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data