2011 Seat Alhambra wheel

114
Seats and storage compartments
Seats and storage compartments
Seat adjustment
Mec h
anical controls on the front seat Fig. 75 Front left seat
contr
o

ls.
The controls are mirrored for the front right-hand seat.
Mech
anically and electrically adjusted controls can be combined on the
seat. fig. 75 Function Necessary operations
1 Moving the head re-
str
aint

backwards or for-
wards. Pull the lever and move the seat for-
war
d
s. The front seat must be engag-
ed when the lever is released! 2 Adjusting the lumbar
sup
por

t*. Turn the lever. fig. 75 Function Necessary operations
3 Adjusting the backrest
angl
e. Turn the wheel.
4 Adjusting the seat
height. Pull the lever up or push down (sev-
eral
time

s if necessary) from its
home position. 

125
Seats and storage compartments WARNING
Travelling with the head restraints removed or improperly adjusted in-
cr e
ases the risk of severe or fatal injuries in the event of accidents and
sudden braking or manoeuvres.
● Always fit and adjust the head restraint properly whenever a person
is oc
cupying a seat.
● Refit any removed head restraints immediately so that passengers
are properly
protected. CAUTION
On removing and fitting the head restraint, make sure the head restraint
does not

hit the interior roof of the vehicle or the backrest of the front seat.
This could damage the interior roof and other parts of the vehicle. 
Centre armrest Fig. 88 Front centre arm-
re
s

t. To lift the central armrest, lift it upwards in the direction of the arrow
⇒ fig. 88
, setting by setting.
To lower the centre armrest, pull it downwards. Then lower the centre arm-
rest. WARNING
The centre armrest may limit the freedom of movement of the driver's
arm and cau se a seriou

s accident.
● Keep the centre armrest compartments closed while the vehicle is in
motion.
● The centre armrest is not designed for children to sit on! Sitting in
this inc
orrect position can cause severe injuries. 
Loading luggage compartment Introduction Always transport heavy loads in the trunk and place the seat backs in a ver-
tical
po

sition. Always use the fastening rings with suitable rope or straps.
Never overload the vehicle. Both the carrying capacity as well as the distri-
bution of the load in the vehicle have effects on the driving behaviour and
braking ability ⇒  .
Addition a

l information and warnings:
● Airbag system ⇒ page 31
● Light

⇒ page 95
● Tr

ansporting ⇒ page 13
● T

owing mode ⇒ page 233
● Wheel

s and tyres ⇒ page 293 Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

139
Seats and storage compartments
Additional information and warnings:
● Light ⇒ page 95
● Tr
ansporting ⇒ page 13
● E

cological driving ⇒ page 225
● Wheel

s and tyres ⇒ page 293
● A

ccessories, parts replacement, repairs and modifications ⇒ page 257WARNING
The risk of an accident is increased by transporting heavy or bulky loads
on the roof , whic

h affects the car's handling by shifting the centre of
gravity and increasing susceptibility to cross winds.
● Always secure loads correctly with suitable and undamaged attach-
ment rope or s
traps.
● Large, heavy, wide and flat loads negatively affect the vehicle aerody-
namics, c
entre of gravity and handling.
● Avoid brusque manoeuvres and sudden braking.
● Adjust your speed and driving style to visibility, road, traffic and
weather c
onditions. CAUTION
● Always remove the roof carrier system from the roof before entering a car
w a

sh.
● The height of your vehicle is changed by the installation of the roof carri-
er and the load sec
ured on it. Compare the vehicle height with the passage
height, for example in underground car parks or entering garage doors.
● The roof antenna, the range of the panoramic sliding roof and the tail-
gate shou
ld not be affected by the roof carrier system and the load being
transported.
● Take extra care not to let the tailgate strike the roof load when opening. For the sake of the environment
The vehicle uses more fuel when the roof carrier system is fitted. 
Securing the base supports and roof carrier system Fig. 101 Attachment
points
f

or the basic sup-
port and the roof carrier
system.
The mounts are the basis of a complete roof carrier system. Special fixtures
mus t

then be added in order to safely transport luggage, bicycles, skis, surf
boards or boats on the roof. All these system components are available
from an Authorised Service Centre.
It will only be possible to install a basic support or roof carrier system if the
vehicle has a roof rail.
Securing the base supports and roof carrier system
Always secure the base supports and roof carrier system correctly.
The roof carrier system must always be installed exactly according to the in-
structions provided. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

140
Seats and storage compartments
The position holes are located on the inner side of the rail ⇒ fig. 101.WARNING
If the base supports and the roof carrier system are incorrectly fitted or
used in an u n
suitable manner, the entire system could break free causing
accident and injury.
● Always take the manufacturer assembly instructions into account.
● Only use base supports and roof carrier systems that are not dam-
aged and are c
orrectly fitted.
● The base support should only be fitted to the points indicated in the
diagram
⇒ fig. 101.
● Secure the base supports and roof carrier system correctly.
● Check the screw fittings and attachments before driving and after a
short di
stance. During each long journey, check the attachments during
every break.
● Always fit the roof carrier system correctly for wheels, skis and surf-
board
s.
● Never change or repair the basic supports or roof carrier system. Note
Read and take into account the instructions included with the roof carrier
sys t

em fitted and keep them in the vehicle. 
Loading the roof carrier system Loads can only be correctly secured when the roof carrier system is correctly
fitted
⇒  .
Max imum authori

sed roof load
The maximum authorised roof load is 100 kg (about 220 lbs). The roof load
includes the roof carrier system and the load being transported ⇒  .Always check the roof carrier system weight and the weight of the load to be
tran
s

ported and, if necessary, weigh them. Never exceed the maximum au-
thorised roof load.
If you are using a roof carrier with a lower weight rating, you cannot trans-
port the maximum roof load. Do not exceed the maximum weight limit for
the roof carrier given in the fitting instructions.
Distributing a load
Uniformly distribute loads and secure them correctly ⇒  .
Check att

achments
After fitting the base supports and the roof carrier system, always check the
attachments after a short trip or at regular intervals. WARNING
Exceeding the maximum authorised roof load can result in accidents
and/or v ehic

le damage.
● Always respect the maximum authorised weight for the roof, the max-
imum authorised weight
on the axles and the total maximum authorised
weight of the vehicle.
● Never exceed the capacity of the roof carrier system even if this is
les

s than the maximum authorised roof load.
● Secure heavy objects towards the front and distribute the load even-
ly. WARNING
Loose and incorrectly secured loads can fall from the roof carrier system
cau s

ing accidents and injury.
● Always use suitable ropes and straps in good condition.
● Always secure loads correctly. 

161
Heating, Ventilation and Air conditioning
Air vents Fig. 124 Air vents in the instrument panel.
Air vents
Never c lo
se the air vents ⇒ fig. 124 A completely to ensure heating, cool-
ing and v

entilation inside the vehicle.
● Turn the thumbwheel in the required direction to open and close the air
vents.
● Chan

ge the air direction using the ventilation grille lever.
There are a
dditional vents in the footwell areas and in the rear of the pas-
senger compartment. CAUTION
Never place food, medicines or other heat-sensitive objects close to the air
vents. F ood, medic

ines and other heat-sensitive objects may be damaged
or made unsuitable for use by the air coming from the air vents. Air recirculation mode Important
Air rec
ir

culation works in two ways:  Manual air recirculation mode.
 Automatic air recirculation mode.
Air recirculation mode  prev
ents
the ambient air from entering the vehicle
interior.
When the outside temperature is very high or very low, selecting manual air
recirculation mode for a short period refreshes or heats the vehicle interior
more quickly.
For safety reasons, air recirculation mode is switched off when the  but-
ton i s

pressed or the air distributor turned to  ⇒  .
Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

165
Heating, Ventilation and Air conditioning
Range
The rec eiv
er is in the interior of the vehicle. The remote control, when fitted
with new batteries, has a range of several hundred metres. Obstacles be-
tween the remote control and the vehicle, bad weather conditions and dis-
charged batteries can considerably reduce the range of the remote control.
An optimum range is obtained by keeping the remote control vertical, with
the aerial A pointing upwards. When doing so, do not cover the aerial with
your fin g

ers or with the palm of your hand.
There must be a minimum distance of two metres between the remote con-
trol and the vehicle. CAUTION
● The radiofrequency remote control contains electronic components.
Ther ef

ore, avoid getting the remote control wet and from being knocked
and protect it from direct sunlight.
● Use of inappropriate batteries may damage the remote control. For this
rea

son, always replace the dead battery with another of the same voltage,
size and specifications. For the sake of the environment
● Please dispose of old batteries so that they do not harm the environ-
ment .
● The r

emote control battery may contain perchlorate. Observe the legal
requirements
for their disposal. 
Programming the auxiliary heater The heater or ventilation inside the vehicle can be programmed for a certain
period. Before programming, check that the day is correctly set in the
Auxi
liary heat-
er - day of the week menu ⇒  .
Enab lin
g the Auxiliary heater menu on the instrument panel
● From the main menu, select the Auxili
ary heater submenu and press the
OK button on the windscreen wiper lever.
● ALTERNATIVELY: pre s
s the  or
 arrow buttons on the multi-function
st eerin
g wheel until the Auxiliary heater menu is displayed. Menu options Description
Switching on
Swit
c

hing off The auxiliary heater can be set to come on automati-
cal
ly

if required. To do so, select a timer:
– The timer is displayed marked with a .
– Only one timer can be selected. If a timer has been
selected, Prog. ON will be displayed on the screen. If
no timer has been selected, the instrument panel
screen will display Prog. OFF.
– To modify the programmed timer, select another tim-
er or select the Off option. Timer 1
Timer 2
Timer 3 Three different timers (hh.mm) can later be selected
us
in

g the On option. If the auxiliary heater is to be
switched on for just a certain day of the week, select
the day of the week and the time for the auxiliary heat-
er to come on. Duration The operating time may vary between 10 and 60 mi-
nute
s

and can be set to 5-minute intervals. Operating mode Set to heat or ventilate the vehicle interior when the
auxi
li

ary heater is switched on. Day Set the current day of the week.
Manufacturer's
setting
s The predefined factory values for the functions of this
menu are r
e

stored. Back This returns to the main menu
Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

167
Driving
Driving SteeringIntroduction The power steering is not hydraulic but electromechanical. The advantage
of thi
s
steering system is that it disposes of hydraulic tubes, hydraulic oil,
the pump, filter and other components. The electromechanical system
saves fuel. While a hydraulic system requires oil pressure to be maintained,
electromechanical steering only requires energy when the steering wheel is
turned.
With the power steering system, the assisted steering function automatical-
ly adjusts according to the vehicle speed, the steering torque and the wheel
turning angle. The power steering only works when the engine is running.
Additional information and warnings:
● Start and stop the engine ⇒ page 170
● V

ehicle battery ⇒ page 288
● T

ow-starting and towing away ⇒ page 340WARNING
If the power steering is not working then the steering wheel is much
more diffic u

lt to turn and the vehicle more difficult to control.
● The power steering only works when the engine is running.
● Never allow the vehicle to move when the engine is switched off.
● Never remove the key from the ignition if the vehicle is in motion. The
steerin
g may lock and it will not be possible to turn the steering wheel. Control and warning lamps lights up Possible cause Solution
 (red) Power steering faulty. The steering system should be
chec
k

ed by a Technical Service
as soon as possible. 
(yel-
lo w) Power steering operation re-
duced. The steering system should be
chec
k

ed by a Technical Service
as soon as possible.
If, after restarting the engine
and driving for a short distance,
the yellow warning light no lon-
ger comes on, it will not be nec-
essary to take the vehicle to a
specialised workshop. The vehicle battery was dis-
connect
ed and h

as been re-
connected. Drive for a short distance at 15 –
20 km/h.
Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

168
Driving flashes Possible cause Solution
 (red) Fault in the steering column
electr
onic
lock. 
Do not drive on!
Seek pr
ofessional advice. 
(yel-
lo w) Steering column deviation. Gently turn the steering wheel to
and fro
. Steering wheel not unlocked
or lock
ed. Remove the key from the igni-
tion and then swit
c

h the ignition
back on. Check the messages
displayed on the instrument
panel at the same time.
Do not drive on, if the steering
column remains locked after the
ignition has been switched on.
You should obtain professional
assistance. 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. Information on the steering Steering column electronic lock
If the driv
er's

door is opened before the ignition is switched off, the steering
column electronic lock is activated via the ignition key or the sensor built
into the door handle.
Mechanical steering lock
To prevent theft, we recommend you lock the steering before leaving the ve-
hicle. Please engage steering lock Unlocking the steering
Parking the vehicle
⇒ page 183. Turn the steering wheel slightly to
rel
e

ase the steering lock. Remove the key from the ignition. Insert the key in the ignition lock.
Turn the steering wheel slightly until
you he
ar the s

teering lock. Hold the steering wheel in this posi-
tion and swit
c
h on the ignition. Electromechanical power steering
With the po
w

er steering system, the assisted steering function automatical-
ly adjusts according to the vehicle speed, the steering torque and the wheel
turning angle. The power steering only works when the engine is running.
You should remember that you will need considerably more power than nor-
mal to steer the vehicle if the power steering is not working correctly or not
at all.
Counter steering assistance system
The counter steering assistance system helps the driver in critical situa-
tions. Additional steering power helps the driver when counter steering. 