2011 Seat Alhambra brake

177
Driving
Manual gearbox: Engaging gears Fig. 130 Gear shift pat-
tern of
a 6-
speed manual
gearbox.
The position of each of the gears is shown on the gear stick ⇒ fig. 130.
● Keep the clutch pedal pushed all the way down.
● Move the gear stick to the required position.
In some countrie
s, it is necessary to press the clutch pedal to the floor to
start the engine.
Selecting reverse gear
● With the vehicle at a standstill, press the clutch pedal to the floor and
keep pre
ssed.
● Push the gear lever down.
● Move the gear stick to the left and then forwards to reverse gear R . WARNING
When the engine is running, the vehicle will start to move as soon as a
ge ar i

s engaged and the clutch released. This is also the case with the
electronic parking brake on.
● Never engage the reverse gear when a vehicle is moving forward. CAUTION
To prevent damage and avoid premature wear, please observe the follow-
ing:
● Whi l

e driving, do not leave your hand resting on the gear stick. The pres-
sure ap
plied by your hand is transmitted to the gearbox selector forks.
● Always ensure that the vehicle is completely stopped before engaging
the rever
se gear.
● When changing gear, always make sure the clutch pedal is pushed right
to the floor.
● Nev

er hold the vehicle on the clutch on hills. 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

181
Driving
● You should reduce speed accordingly.
● Pre
ss the selector lever from position D to the right int
o the Tiptronic se-
lector gate ⇒ page 180.
● Gently pull the selector lever back to change down a gear.
● ALTERNATIVELY: Reduce u
sing the steering wheel paddles ⇒ page 180.
Emergency program
If all the selector lever positions on the instrument panel display are shown
with a light-coloured background, this means there is a fault in the system.
The automatic gearbox will operate in emergency programme mode. When
the emergency program is activated, it is possible to drive the vehicle how-
ever, at low speeds and within a selected range of gears.
For the DSG ®
dual clutch gearbox, in some cases, this may mean that re-
verse gear does not engage . The gearbox should be checked by a Technical
Service as soon as possible.
Overload protection for the 6-speed DSG gearbox ®
When the clutch is overloaded, the vehicle begins to jerk and the selector
lever position indicator begins to flash. To prevent damage to the clutch,
this interrupts the power transmission between the engine and the gearbox.
There is no more traction and it is not possible to accelerate. If the clutch is
opened automatically due to overloading, press the brake pedal. Wait a few
seconds before starting to move again.
Kick-down
The kick-down system provides maximum acceleration when the gear selec-
tor lever is in the positions D, S or in the Tiptronic position.
When the accelerator pedal is pressed right down, the automatic gearbox
will shift down to a lower gear, depending on road speed and engine speed.
This takes advantage of the maximum acceleration of the vehicle ⇒  .
When the acc el

erator is pressed to the floor, the automatic gearbox shifts to
the next gear only after the engine reaches the specified maximum engine
speed. Launch-Control Programme
The Launch-C

ontrol programme enables maximum acceleration while at a
standstill.
● Deactivate the ASR (TCS) ⇒ page 183.
● Pr

ess and hold the brake pedal with your left foot.
● Place the selector lever in position S or Tiptronic
.
● Press the accelerator with the right foot until the vehicle reaches an en-
gine speed of ap
proximately 3200 rpm.
● Lift the left foot off the brake ⇒  . The vehicle starts with maximum ac-
cel er

ation.
● Turn on the ASR (TCS) after accelerating! 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 kick-down and rapid acceleration when weather conditions,
surf
ace conditions and traffic conditions permit; accelerate and drive in a
manner that does not endanger other road users.
● Please remember that the drive wheels can slip and the vehicle can
skid if the ASR (T
CS) is turned off, especially on slippery ground.
● Turn on the ASR (TCS) after accelerating. CAUTION
● If you stop on a hill with a gear ratio engaged, do not try to prevent the
v ehic

le from rolling back by pressing on the accelerator. This could cause
overheating and damage the automatic gearbox.
● Never allow the vehicle to move with the gear selector lever in N, espe-
c

ially with the engine turned off. The automatic gearbox will not be lubrica-
ted and could be damaged. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

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

184
Driving
Warning and control lamps lights up Possible cause ⇒  Solution
 (red) Together with the control
lamp
 on the b
utton: Elec-
tronic parking brake on. ⇒ page 185
Fault in the brake system 
Stop the vehicle!
Seek pr

ofessional assistance!
⇒ page 187. Brake fluid level inadequate. 
Do not drive on!
Chec k

brake fluid level
⇒ page 192. Together with the ABS con-
tro
l

lamp : ABS fault. Contact a specialist workshop.
The v
ehic
le can be braked with-
out ABS.  (red) Brake pedal not pressed! Press brake pedal to the floor.
 (yel-
lo w) Front brake pads worn. Contact a specialist workshop
immediat
ely

. Inspect all the
brake pads and replace as nec-
essary. 
(yel-
lo w) ESC (ESP) disconnected by
sys
t

em. Switching the ignition on and
off If
nec
essary, drive for a short
distance. Fault in ESC (ESP). Contact a specialist workshop.
Together with the ABS con-
tro
l

lamp : Fault in ABS. Contact a specialist workshop.
The v
ehic
le can be braked with-
out ABS. The battery has been recon-
nected.
⇒ page 288

(yellow) ASR (TCS) manually deactiva-
ted. Turn on the ASR (TCS)
⇒ pag
e 191. ASR (T

CS) is auto-
matically activated when the ig-
nition is switched on or off. lights up Possible cause ⇒  Solution
 (yel-
lo w) Together with the ESC (ESP)
contr
o

l lamp : Fault in ABS. Contact a specialist workshop.
The v
ehic
le can be braked with-
out ABS. Together with the warning
lamp


or : ABS fault.  (yel-
lo w) Together with the warning
lamp


flashing: Electronic
parking brake faulty. Contact a specialist workshop.

(green) Brake pedal not pressed. Press the brake pedal to select
a ge
ar r

atio. Press the brake pedal to discon-
nect the el
ectr

onic parking
brake ⇒ page 185. flashes Possible cause ⇒  Solution

(red) Electronic parking brake faul-
ty.
The c

ontrol lamp  may
light up at the same time or
the control lamp  may flash
on the button. Contact a specialised work-
shop, a
s
it may not be possible
to park the vehicle in safety.  (yel-
lo w) ESC (ESP) or ASR (TCS) regu-
lat
or

. Take your foot off the accelera-
tor
. Adju
st your driving style to
the road conditions. 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. 

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

186
Driving
Automatic release of the electronic parking brake on starting the engine
The electr onic
parking brake is automatically released when the vehicle
starts moving, if the driver's door is closed and the driver is wearing his/her
seat belt. In vehicles with a manual gearbox the clutch pedal should also be
pressed to the floor before starting the engine so that the system recogni-
ses that the parking brake should be released.
Emergency braking function
Only use the emergency braking function if the vehicle cannot be stopped
with the brake pedal ⇒  !
● Pull button  hard to stop the vehicle. The warning display will be ac-
c omp

anied by the corresponding warning chime.
● To stop the braking process, release the button or press the accelerator. WARNING
The incorrect use of the electronic parking brake may result in serious ac-
cident .
● Nev

er use the electronic parking brake to brake the vehicle except in
an emergency
. The braking distance is considerably longer, because
braking is only applied to the rear wheels. Always use the foot brake.
● Never accelerate from the engine compartment with the engine run-
ning and a ge
ar or a gear range engaged. The vehicle could move, even if
the parking brake is applied. Note
● In vehicles with a manual gearbox: When the clutch pedal is released
and the ac c

elerator pressed at the same time, the electronic parking brake
is automatically released.
● If the vehicle battery is flat, it will not be possible to disconnect the elec-
tronic p
arking brake. Use the jump-start ⇒ page 337. ●
When the electronic
parking brake is applied or released, noises may be
heard.
● If the electronic parking brake has not been used for a long while, the
syst
em sometimes performs automatic and audible checks while the vehi-
cle is at a standstill. 
Parking When parking your vehicle, all legal requirements should be observed.
To p
ark

the vehicle
Complete operations only in the sequence given.
● Park the vehicle on a suitable surface ⇒  .
● Press and hold the brake pedal until the vehicle comes to a standstill.
● Connect the electronic parking brake ⇒ page 185.
● F

or an automatic gearbox, move the selector lever to position P.
● Switch off the engine and release the brake pedal.
● Remove the key from the ignition.
● If necessary, turn the steering wheel slightly to lock the steering.
● With a manual gearbox, engage the 1st gear on flat ground and slopes,
or even the rev
erse gear on hills, and release the clutch pedal.
● Ensure that all passengers leave the vehicle, especially children.
● When leaving the vehicle, take all keys with you.
● Lock the vehicle.
Additiona
l information for steep slopes and hills
Before switching off the engine, rotate the steering wheel so that if the vehi-
cle should move then it will be held by the kerb. 