2011 Seat Alhambra warning

243
Vehicle maintenance and cleaning
Washing the vehicle The longer substances such as insects, bird droppings, resinous tree sap,
ro
a
d dirt, industrial deposits, tar, soot or road salt and other aggressive ma-
terials remain on the vehicle, the more damage they do to the paintwork.
High temperatures (for instance due to strong sunlight) further intensify the
corrosive effect. The vehicle undercarriage should also be thoroughly wash-
ed 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 mir-
rors). 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 ⇒  .
The v ehic

le 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 ⇒ page 245, 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.
● Protect arms and hands from sharp edges when cleaning the vehicle
under c

arriage or the interior of the wheel hubs. WARNING
After the vehicle has been washed, the braking effect will be reduced
(and the brakin
g distance increased) due to moisture (and ice in winter)
on the brakes.
● Dry the brakes and remove ice by braking carefully. Ensure that you
are not end
angering other road-users or breaking traffic regulations in
the process. CAUTION
● The temperature of the water must not exceed +60°C (+140°F).
● To av

oid damage to the paintwork, do not wash the vehicle in full sun.
● Do not use rough sponges or similar which could damage the surface to
cle

an away the traces of insects.
● Never wipe the headlights with a dry cloth or sponge, always moisten
first
. It is best to use soapy water.
● Washing 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! CAUTION
To prevent damage to the vehicle, please observe the following before en-
terin g

an automatic car wash :
● Compare the distance between the vehicle wheels and the distance be-
tween the guide-rai
ls of the car wash to prevent damage to the wheels and
tyres! Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

244
Vehicle maintenance and cleaning
● Switch off the rain sensor and the Auto Hold function before entering a
c ar w
ash.
● Compare the height and width of your vehicle with the available height
and width when enterin
g and driving through the car wash.
● Fold in exterior mirrors Electrically retractable exterior mirrors must NOT
be fol
ded in or out by hand. Always use the electrical power control.
● To avoid damaging the bonnet paintwork, rest the wipers on the wind-
scr

een after drying them. Do not let them fall!
● Lock the tailgate to prevent it from opening unexpectedly while inside
the car wa
sh. 
Washing the vehicle with high pressure cleaning
equipment When cleaning the vehicle with a high-pressure cleaner, always follow the
operatin
g in

structions for the equipment. Pay special attention to the re-
quired pressure of the jet and the distance between the jet and the vehicle
⇒  .
Keep a s uit

able distance from soft materials, such as rubber hoses or insu-
lating material, and from the parking distance warning system sensors. The
parking distance sensors are fitted in the rear bumpers and, where applica-
ble, in the front bumpers ⇒  .
Do not u se a no

zzle that sprays the water out in a direct stream or one that
has a rotating jet for forcing off dirt ⇒  . WARNING
The incorrect use of high pressure cleaning equipment could result in
permanent d

amage, visible or invisible, to the tyres or other materials.
This could result in serious accident.
● Ensure there is a suitable distance between the nozzle and the tyres.
● Never wash tyres with a concentrated jet or so-called “dirt blasters”.
Even at
large spraying distances and short cleaning times, you may dam-
age the tyres. WARNING
After the vehicle has been washed, the braking effect will be reduced
(and the brakin
g distance increased) due to moisture (and ice in winter)
on the brakes.
● Dry the brakes and remove ice by braking carefully. Ensure that you
are not end
angering other road-users or breaking traffic regulations in
the process. CAUTION
● The temperature of the water must not be above +60°C (+140°F).
● To av

oid damage to the paintwork, do not wash the vehicle in full sun.
● The sensors on the bumpers should be kept clean and free of ice at all
times t
o ensure the parking distance warning system and the parking aid
system operate correctly. When cleaning with pressure hoses and steam
cleaners, the sensors should be sprayed only briefly. A distance of 10 cm
between the sensors and the steam / hose nozzle must be observed.
● Do not use a high pressure cleaner to remove ice or snow from windows
● Washing 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! 

245
Vehicle maintenance and cleaning
Cleaning windows and exterior mirrors Cleaning windows and exterior mirrors
Spr
a
y windows and exterior windows with a standard window cleaner con-
taining alcohol.
Dry the windows with a clean chamois leather or a lint-free cloth. The cha-
mois leathers used on painted surfaces are not suitable for cleaning win-
dows because they are soiled with wax deposits which could smear the win-
dows.
Use window cleaner or a silicone remover to clean rubber, oil, grease and
silicone deposits off ⇒  .
Remo v

ing 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 cor-
rect proportions. Products for removing grease do not eliminate the wax de-
posits ⇒  .
Spec i

al cleaning products or window cloths are available at any Technical
Service. To remove wax deposits, SEAT recommends the following products:
● For the hottest time of the year: the window cleaner for summer
use G 052 184 A1. Propor
tion 1:100 (1 part detergent, 100 parts water) in
the windscreen washer bottle.
● All year round: the window cleaner G 052 164 A2; proportion 1:2 in
winds
creen 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.
● Window cloths G 052 522 A1 for all windows and exterior mirrors. Removing snow
Use a smal

l 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.
● Do not drive unless you have good visibility through all windows!
● Remove ice and snow from the windows and demist inside and out. CAUTION
● Never mix our cleaning products with other products not recommended
b y

SEAT in the windscreen washer bottle. This could lead to flocculation and
may block the windscreen washer jets.
● Do not use hot or warm water to remove ice or snow from the windows
and exterior mirr
ors. The glass could crack!
● The 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.
● Aerials on the inside of windows may be damaged if knocked or if
cle

aned with corrosive or acid cleaning products. Do not stick adhesive la-
bels over the heating elements and never clean the inside of the rear win-
dow with corrosive or acid products or other similar chemical cleaning prod-
ucts. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

247
Vehicle maintenance and cleaning
● Insert a new blade of the same l ength and type in the wiper arm in the
opposite direction to the arrow B and hook into place. This feature is op-
eration al
when the knob is in position (arrow A ).
● Replace the wiper arm on the rear window. WARNING
Worn or dirty wiper blades reduce visibility and increase the risk of acci-
dent and seriou s

injury.
● Always replace damaged or worn blades or blades which do not clean
the winds
creen correctly. CAUTION
● Damaged or dirty windscreen wipers could scratch the glass.
● If pr

oducts containing solvents, rough sponges or sharp objects are
used to c
lean the blades, the graphite layer will be damaged.
● Never use fuel, nail varnish remover, paint thinner or similar products to
cle

an the windows. 
Caring for and polishing the vehicle paintwork Waxing
Re
gu

lar 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 rec-
ommends 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 can-
not be brought back by applying wax. If the polish does not contain wax, a wax product should be applied after
polishin

g. CAUTION
● To prevent damage, car polish or hard wax should not be used on com-
ponents p

ainted in matt paint, plastic components and the glass headlamp
and tail light covers.
● Do not polish the paintwork if it is dirty, apply polish in dusty or sandy
zones. 
C

leaning chrome parts Clean chrome parts with a damp cloth. SEAT recommends the use of a
chr
ome c

are product to clean stains and dirt from chrome surfaces. Use a
soft dry cloth to polish chrome parts. CAUTION
To prevent scratching chrome surfaces:
● Do not use abrasive products.
● Do not clean or polish chrome parts in a sandy or dusty environment.
● Do not polish dirty surfaces. 
Caring for and cleaning anodized surfaces It is not easy to detect the difference between aluminium and an anodized
sur
f

ace, for example, a radiator grille. However, anodized surfaces must not
be treated in the same way as aluminium surfaces. Never use rough spong-
es or cloths to wipe away insect remains. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

249
Vehicle maintenance and cleaning WARNING
Additional underseal or anti-corrosion products could catch fire due to
the high temper at
ures reached by the exhaust gas system and other en-
gine components.
● Do not apply additional underseal or anti-corrosion products to the
exhau
st pipes, catalytic converters, heat shields or other parts of the ve-
hicle which reach high temperatures. 
Cleaning the engine compartment The engine compartment of any motor vehicle is a potentially hazardous
are
a

⇒ page 275.
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 ⇒  .
If the en gine c

ompartment is very dirty, always take the vehicle to a Techni-
cal Service for professional cleaning. SEAT recommends visiting a Technical
Service.
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 wa-
ter box from outside to the vehicle interior via the heating and air condition-
ing 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.
● Before starting work, please ensure you are familiar with the required
procedur
e and the safety precautions ⇒ page 275.
● SEAT recommends you have this work performed by a qualified deal-
ership. CAUTION
If water is manually poured into the water box (for example, using a high
pre s

sure cleaning appliance), this could cause significant damage to the ve-
hicle. For the sake of the environment
Only wash the engine compartment in areas allocated for this purpose, to
prev ent

dirty water which may be contaminated by oil, grease or fuel, from
entering the drains. In some districts, the engine compartment may not be
washed outside the wash bays provided for this purpose. 
Caring for and cleaning the vehicle interior Introduction The dye from many items of modern clothing (e.g. dark jeans) is not always
solid enough.
Se

at upholstery (material and leather), especially when light-
coloured, may visibly discolour if the dye comes out of clothing (even when
used correctly). This is not an upholstery defect but indicates that the dye in
the item of clothing is not solid enough. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

250
Vehicle maintenance and cleaning
Additional information and warnings:
● Caring for and cleaning the vehicle exterior ⇒ page 242
● A
ccessories, parts replacement, repairs and modifications ⇒ page 257WARNING
Car care products may be toxic and hazardous. If car care products are
not s uit

able or are used inappropriately, this could result in accident, se-
rious injury, burns or intoxication.
● Car care products must always be stored in the original container
which shoul
d be kept closed.
● Observe information provided by the manufacturer.
● To prevent confusion, never store car care products in empty food
cans, bottl
es or other containers.
● Keep all care products out of reach of children.
● Harmful vapours may be produced when using car care products.
Therefor
e, care products should only be used in well-ventilated spaces or
in the open air.
● Never use fuel, turpentine, engine oil, acetone or any other volatile
liquid to w
ash, clean or care for the vehicle. These are toxic and highly
flammable. WARNING
Inappropriate care and cleaning of vehicle components may effect the ve-
hicl e s

afety equipment, increasing the risk of severe injury.
● Vehicle components should only be cleaned and maintained in ac-
cord
ance with the manufacturer's instructions.
● Only use approved or recommended care products. CAUTION
● Cleaning products which contain solvents will damage the material.
● To av

oid damage, stubborn stains should be removed by a specialist
cle

aning company. Note
Suitable car care products are available from your Technical Service. 
Treating your upholstery Check list
For inf
orm

ation on how to treat and care for the vehicle upholstery, please
bear the following in mind ⇒  :
● Before entering the vehicle, fasten all Velcro fastenings which could
come int o c

ontact with upholstery and coverings. If the Velcro fastenings on
upholstery and material covers are not securely fastened, this could dam-
age them.
● To prevent damage, do not allow the upholstery or covers to come into
contact
with sharp or decorative objects. Decorative objects such as zips,
rivets and rhinestones on clothing and belts.
● Dust and grit in the pores and seams should be removed regularly to
prevent
them scratching and damaging the surface.
● Always check that the dyes used in clothing are fast to prevent them
from st
aining the upholstery. This is particularly true for clear-coloured up-
holstery. 

253
Vehicle maintenance and cleaning
Cleaning leather upholstery Only use water and neutral cleaning products to clean imitation leather up-
hol
s
tery. CAUTION
On no account use solvents, wax polish, shoe cream, spot removers or simi-
lar m at

erials on imitation leather. These will stiffen the material, making it
more likely to crack sooner. 
Cleaning storage compartments, drinks holders and
ashtr a

y Cleaning storage compartments and drinks holders
Some st
or

age compartments and drinks holders have a removable rubber
mat.
● Use a clean, damp, lint-free cloth to clean parts.
● If this does not provide satisfactory results, we recommend using a spe-
cial

solvent-free plastic cleaning product.
Cleaning the ashtray
● Extract the ashtray and empty it.
● Clean the ashtray with a dishcloth.
Use a toothpic
k or similar to remove ash from the area where cigarettes are
stubbed out. Care and cleaning of plastic parts, wooden trim and the
instrument

panel ●
Use a clean, damp, lint-free cloth to clean parts.
● Clean plastic parts (inside and outside the vehicle) and the instrument
pane l

with a special solvent-free product for the care and cleaning of plas-
tic, approved by SEAT ⇒  .
● Wash wooden trims with a mi
ld soap and water solution. WARNING
Solvents cause the surfaces of the airbag modules to become porous. If
an airbag i s

accidentally triggered, the detachment of plastic parts could
cause serious injury.
● Never clean the instrument panel and the surfaces of the airbag mod-
ule

s with cleaners containing solvents. 
Cleaning seat belts If the seat belt is very dirty, the belt retractor may not work correctly thus
prev
entin

g the seat belt from operating correctly.
The seat belts should never be removed from the vehicle for cleaning.
● Use a soft brush to remove the worst dirt ⇒  .
● Pull the seat belt right out and leave it out.
● Clean dirty seat belts with a gentle so
ap and water solution.
● Wait until they are completely dry.
● Only allow the seat belt to retract when it is completely dry. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

254
Vehicle maintenance and cleaning WARNING
Check the condition of all the seat belts at regular intervals. If the web-
bin g or other p
arts of the belt are damaged, the vehicle should be taken
to a Technical Service immediately and the belts should be replaced. It is
extremely dangerous to drive using damaged seat belts and could result
in serious injury or loss of life.
● Seat belts and their components must never be cleaned with chemi-
cal

products, nor should they be allowed to come into contact with corro-
sive liquids, solvents or sharp objects. This could affect the strength of
the seat belt webbing.
● Seat belts should be completely dry before retracting. Damp could
damag
e the belt retractor so that it is does not operate correctly.
● Do not allow liquids or foreign bodies to enter the buckle fastenings.
This c
ould damage the buckles and seat belts.
● Never attempt to repair, modify or remove a seat belt yourself.
● Always have damaged seatbelts replaced immediately by seat belts
appro
ved for the vehicle in question by SEAT. Seat belts which have been
worn in an accident and stretched must be replaced by a Technical Serv-
ice. Renewal may be necessary even if there is no apparent damage. The
belt anchorage should also be checked. 