2011 Seat Alhambra Owner's Manual

207
Driving
Rear Assist system*
Introduction The camera fitted to the tailgate helps drivers during parking or reversing
manoeu
vr
es. The camera image and certain orientation points generated by
the system are indicated on the factory-fitted radio or navigation system
screen.
Two types of location point (modes) can be selected:
● Mode 1: reverse parking perpendicular to the road (e.g. in a car park).
● Mode 2: r

everse parking parallel to the curb.
The mode can be c
hanged by pressing the button on the radio or navigation
system screen. Only the mode to which the points can be changed will be
displayed.
Additional information and warnings:
● Accessories, parts replacement, repairs and modifications ⇒ page 257WARNING
Use of the camera to calculate the distance from obstacles (people, vehi-
cl e

s, etc.) is inaccurate and may cause accidents and severe injuries.
● The camera lens expands and distorts the field of vision and displays
the obj
ects on the screen in a different, vague manner.
● Some objects may not be displayed or may not be very clear (e.g. very
thin post
s or fences), due to the resolution of the monitor or if the light is
dim.
● The camera has blind spots in which obstacles and people are not
regi
stered.
● Keep the camera lens clean and clear of snow and ice. Do not cover it. WARNING
The intelligent technology in the rear assist system cannot change the
limits impo

sed by the laws of physics and by the system itself. Careless
or uncontrolled use of the rear assist system may result in severe injuries
and accidents. The system is not a replacement for driver awareness.
● Adjust your speed and driving style to visibility, road, traffic and
weather c
onditions.
● Always keep a close eye on the area around the vehicle and always
look to
wards where you are parking. The display shows the path of the
rear end of the vehicle using the current steering angle. The front of the
vehicle turns more in comparison with the rear.
● Do not be distracted from the traffic when looking at the screen.
● Always observe the area around the vehicle, as the cameras do not al-
way
s detect children, animals or objects.
● The system might not show all areas clearly.
● Only use the rear assist system when the tailgate is completely
closed. CAUTION
● The camera only displays 2D images on the screen. Due to the lack of
depth, it might

be difficult or impossible to recognise protruding objects or
cracks in the road.
● The cameras may not always be able to detect objects such as thin rails,
fence
s, posts and trees, etc. This could result in damage to your car. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

208
Driving
User instructions Fig. 146 On the boot lid:
location of
the r
ear assist
camera. Fig. 147 Rear assist dis-
pl
a

y: mode 2 connected.
Function buttons on the screen:  disp
lay the menu;  hide the menu.
 Turning off the reversing camera images
1 2 Display help. The help list explains the surfaces and lines on the cam-
era im
ag

e. Press  to exit help.
Mute the sound.
Adjust the display: brightness, contrast, colour.
Switching on the orientation points for rear parking perpendicular to
the road (mode 1).
Displaying the optical parking system. Function Operations in vehicles with
no optica
l

parking system
(OPS) Operations in vehicles with
the optica
l
parking system
(OPS) Switching the
dis
p

lay on auto-
matically: select reverse gear with the ignition switched on or the
engine ru nnin
g. Mode 1 will be displayed. Switching the
dis
p

lay off man-
ually: Press a button to select the area on the radio or the navi-
gation sy s

tem ⇒ Booklet Radio or ⇒ Booklet Navigation
system. ALTERNATIVELY: Pre
s
s the button  on the screen.
ALTERNATIVELY: Aft
er sw
itching off the ignition, the rear
assist image remains on the screen for a short period. Press button
 .
Switching off
the dis
p

lay by
disengaging re-
verse gear: The image will switch off af-
ter ar
ou
nd 10 seconds. The OPS display will imme-
diat
ely
be shown. Switching off
the dis
p

lay by
driving for-
wards: Drive forwards at more than
appr
o
x. 15 km/h. Drive forwards at more than
appr
o
x. 10 km/h.  3
4
5
6
7

209
Driving
Things to note 1) Do not use the rear assist system in the following cases:
– If there is a fault in the dynamic chassis control (DCC).
– If the image displayed is not very clear or reliable (low visibility or dirty
len
s). – If the space behind the vehicle cannot be clearly or completely recog-
nised.
– If the vehicle has been overloaded at the rear.
– If the driver is not familiar with the system.
– If the tailgate is open.
– If the position and installation angle of the camera have been changed,
e.g. in a r
e
ar-end collision. Have a specialised workshop check the system. 2) Optical illusions of the camera (examples)
The rear assist camera produces two-dimensional images. Any cracks in or
ob
j

ects protruding from the ground or from other vehicles are more diffi-
cult to spot or cannot be seen due to a lack of depth in the image dis-
played. Objects or other vehicles may seem to be closer or further away than what
they r
e

ally are: – On changing from a flat surface to a slope or gradient.
– On changing from a slope or gradient to a flat surface.
– If the vehicle has been overloaded at the rear.
– On approaching protruding objects. These objects may be outside the
angl
e of

vision of the camera when reversing. Cleaning the camera lens
Keep the c
amer

a lens clean and clear of snow and ice:
● Moisten the lens using a commercially available, alcohol-based glass
cle

aning agent and clean the lens with a dry cloth ⇒  .
● Remove snow using a small brush.
● Use de-icing spray to remove any ice ⇒  . CAUTION
● Never use abrasive cleaners to clean the camera lens.
● Nev er r

emove snow or ice from the camera lens using warm or hot water.
This c
ould damage the lens. Note
● SEAT recommends that you practise parking with the rear assist system
in a quiet loc

ation or in a car park to become familiar with the system, in-
cluding the orientation lines and their function.
● The orientation lines will not be displayed on the screen if the tailgate is
open or the factor
y-fitted towing bracket is electrically connected to a trailer. 
Parking perpendicular to the road (mode 1) Fig. 148 Display: orien-
tation line
s

for the park-
ing space behind the ve-
hicle. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

210
Driving
Summary of the orientation points
Me anin
g of orientation lines displayed on the screen ⇒ fig. 148. All of the
lengths of the orientation lines use a vehicle located on a horizontal surface
as reference.
Red Safety distance: road area located up to around 40 cm behind the
vehicle.
Green: prolongation of the rear of the vehicle (somewhat enlarged). The
area displayed green ends around two metres behind the vehicle, on
the road.
Yellow: prolongation of the rear of the vehicle as the steering wheel
turns. The area displayed yellow ends around three metres behind the
vehicle, on the road.
Parking the vehicle
● Stop the vehicle in front of a space and select reverse gear.
● Reverse slowly and turn the steering wheel so that the yellow orientation
lines guide
you towards the space 3 .
● Align the vehicle straight in the parking place using the help of the
green orient ation line

s. 
1 2
3 Parking parallel to the road (mode 2)
Fig. 149 Display: orien-
tation line
s

and surfaces
for the space behind the
vehicle.
After applying the turn signal indicator, the lines and surfaces not required
are delet
ed.
Summary of the orientation points
Meaning of orientation lines and surfaces displayed on the screen
⇒ fig. 149. All of the lengths of the orientation lines use a vehicle located
on a horizontal surface as reference.
Safety distance: road area located up to around 40 cm behind the vehi-
cle.
Vehicle side limit.
Turning point when parking. When the yellow line touches the curb or
another limit of the parking space, the point for changing direction
(magnifying glass) will have been reached.
Free space required to park the vehicle parallel. The surface displayed
must completely fit in the space.
Possible vehicle parked next to the curb. 
1 2
3
4
5

211
Driving
Parking the vehicle
● Stop the vehicle 1 m away parallel to the parking space and select re-
ver se g
ear.
● Switch on mode 2 on the navigation system screen for parallel parking.
● Slowly reverse and turn the steering wheel so that the surface displayed
yello
w on the screen stops in front of any obstacles 5 (e.g. another vehi-
cl e).
● T
urn the steering wheel fully towards the space and reverse slowly.
● When the yellow line 3 touches the side limit of the space, e.g. the bor-
der or curb (m agnif

ying glass), turn the steering wheel fully in the opposite
direction.
● Continue reversing until the vehicle is inside the space, parallel to the
roa

d. Correct the position if necessary. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

212
Driving
Cruise control system*
Introduction The cruise control system (CCS) is able to maintain the set speed when driv-
ing f
or
wards from approx. 20 km/h (12 mph).
The CCS only slows down by reducing the accelerator but not by braking.
⇒  .
Addition a

l information and warnings:
● Changing gear ⇒ page 174
● A

ccessories, parts replacement, repairs and modifications ⇒ page 257WARNING
Use of the cruise control could cause accidents and severe injuries if it is
not po s

sible to drive at a constant speed maintaining the safety distance.
● Do not use the CCS in heavy traffic, if the distance from the vehicle in
front i
s insufficient, on steep roads, with several bends or in slippery cir-
cumstances (snow, ice, rain or loose gravel), or on flooded roads.
● Never use the CCS when driving off-road or on unpaved roads.
● Always adapt your speed and the distance to the vehicles ahead in
line with v
isibility, weather conditions, the condition of the road and the
traffic situation.
● To avoid unexpected operation of the cruise control system, turn it off
every
time you finish using it.
● It is dangerous to use a set speed which is too high for the prevailing
roa

d, traffic or weather conditions.
● When travelling down hills, the CCS cannot maintain a constant
speed. The
vehicle tends to accelerate under its own weight. Select a
lower gear or use the foot brake to slow the vehicle. Warning and control lamp
Fig. 150 Dash panel display: CCS status indications.
lights up Possible cause Solution
 This cruise control system
maint
ain

s the set speed of
the vehicle. –
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.
Indication on display
There are different versions of the cruise control system. In vehicles with the
multifunction display (MFI), the set speed is displayed on the instrument
panel screen.
Status fig. 150: 

213
Driving
CCS temporarily switched off. The set speed is displayed in small fig-
ure s.
S
ystem error. Contact a specialist workshop.
CCS switched on. The speed memory is empty.
The CCS is switched on. The set speed is displayed in large figures. 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. 
A B
C
D Cruise control operation
Fig. 151 On the left of
the st
eerin

g column: con-
trol lever for cruise con-
trol system. Function Control position,
contr
o

l operations
⇒ fig. 151 Action
Switching on the
crui
se c

ontrol sys-
tem. Click
ON 1 The system is switched on. The
sys
t
em does not maintain the
speed because there is still no
speed set. Switching on the
crui
se c

ontrol sys-
tem. SET button
A The current speed is stored and
maint
ained. Temporarily
swit
c

hing off the
cruise control sys-
tem. Press
CANCEL 2 or
eng
ag
e the clutch
or the brake The cruise control system is
swit
c
hed off temporarily. The
speed setting will remain stored. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

214
Driving Function Control position,
contr
o
l operations
⇒ fig. 151 Action
Switching the
speed settin
g
b

ack on. Press
RESUME 1 The stored speed is reached again
and maint
ained. If
no speed has
been set then the vehicle will re-
cord and maintain the actual
speed of the vehicle. Increasing the
st
or

ed speed (dur-
ing CCS setting). Hold down
SPEED + + Short press:
Incre
ases the speed
at intervals of 10 km/h and re-
cords it.
Long press: the vehicle acceler-
ates while the button remains
pressed. Release the button to
store the current speed. Reducing the stor-
ed speed (durin
g
C

CS setting). Press
SPEED – – Short press:
Reduce
s the speed at
intervals of 10 km/h and records
it.
Long press: while this remains
pressed, speed is reduced inter-
rupting the accelerator without
using the brakes. Release the but-
ton to store the current speed. Switching off the
crui
se c

ontrol sys-
tem. Click
OFF 2 The system is switched off. The
st
or
ed speed is deleted. Travelling down hills with the CCS
When trav
el

ling down hills the CCS cannot maintain a constant speed. Slow
the vehicle down using the brake pedal and reduce gears if required.
Automatic off
The cruise control system is switched off automatically or temporarily: ●
If the system detects a fault that could affect the working order of the
CC
S.
● If you increase the stored speed by using the accelerator for a certain
time.
● if the brake or clutch pedal is depressed.
● If you change gears.
● If the airbag is triggered. 