2011 Seat Alhambra Owner's Manual

263
Accessories, parts replacement and modifications
The vehicle should not be lifted using lifting platforms with lift pads con-
tainin g fluid.
When r
aising a vehicle using a platform or jack, a series of precautionary
measures are required. Never raise the vehicle with a lifting platform or jack
unless you have received training in how to do so and know how to lift the
vehicle safely.
Notes on raising the vehicle with a jack ⇒ page 309. WARNING
The improper use of the lifting platform or the jack when raising the vehi-
cl e m

ay result in accidents or serious injury.
● Before raising the vehicle, please observe the manufacturer's instruc-
tions f
or the platform or jack, and the legal requirements, where applica-
ble.
● There should not be anyone inside the vehicle when it is being raised
or once it i
s in the air.
● Only use the jacking points indicated in the figures ⇒ fig. 160
and
⇒ fig. 161 when raising the vehicle. If the vehicle is not lifted at the indi-
cated points, it may fall from the platform while the engine or gearbox is
being dismounted, for example.
● The jacking points should be centrally aligned and firmly positioned
on the platf
orm support plates.
● Never start the engine when the vehicle is raised! The vehicle may fall
from the pl
atform due to the engine vibrations.
● If it is necessary to work underneath the vehicle while it is raised, you
should c
heck that the supporting stands have an adequate load capacity.
● Never climb onto the lifting platform.
● Always make sure that the weight of the vehicle does not exceed the
lifting p
latform load capacity. CAUTION
● Never raise the vehicle at the engine oil sump, the gearbox or the rear or
fr ont

axles.
● Always use an intermediat
e rubber support to prevent damage to the
vehicle underbody. Check that the arms of the lifting platform are able to
move with obstruction.
● The arms should not come into contact with the side running boards or
other parts
of the vehicle. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

264
Checking and refilling levels
Checking and refilling levels
Filling the tank
Introduction The fuel tank flap is on the rear right of the vehicle.
Addition
a
l information and warnings:
● Fuel ⇒ page 267
● Selectiv

e Catalytic Reduction (AdBlue) ⇒ page 271
● W

orking in the engine compartment ⇒ page 275WARNING
Refuelling or handling fuel carelessly can cause an explosion or fire re-
su ltin

g in serious burns and injuries.
● Always make sure that you correctly close the fuel cap to avoid evap-
oration and fuel
spillage.
● Fuels are highly explosive and inflammable substances that can
cause seriou
s burns and injuries.
● Fuel could leak out or be spilt if the engine is not switched off or if the
fill

er fuel nozzle is not fully inserted into the tank filler neck when refuel-
ling. This could lead to a fire, explosion and severe injuries.
● When refuelling, turn off the engine, the auxiliary heating
(⇒ page 163) and t
urn off the ignition for safety reasons.
● Always turn off mobile telephones, radio apparatus and other radio
wave emittin
g equipment before refuelling. Electromagnetic waves could
cause sparks and lead to a fire. WARNING (Continued)
● Nev er enter the vehicle while refuelling. If it is absolutely necessary
t o ent

er the vehicle, close the door and touch a metal surface before
touching the filler nozzle again. This will prevent the generation of static
electricity. Sparks could cause a fire when refuelling.
● Never handle fuel close to open flames, sparks or objects with slow
combu
stion (e.g. cigarettes).
● Avoid static electricity and electro-magnetic radiation when refuel-
ling.
● Ob

serve the safety regulations of the service station.
● Never spill fuel on the vehicle or in the luggage compartment. WARNING
For safety reasons, SEAT does not recommend carrying a spare fuel canis-
ter in the v

ehicle. Fuel could be spilled and catch fire, above all in case of
an accident and this applies to a full container as well as empty contain-
ers. This could lead to explosions, fires and injuries.
● Observe the following if you exceptionally have to carry fuel in a can-
ist

er:
– Never place a fuel container to fill it inside the vehicle or on the ve-
hicle, f
or example, in the luggage compartment or on the tailgate.
Filling in these circumstances could create an electrostatic charge
and spark that could ignite fuel fumes.
– Always place the canister on the ground to fill it.
– Insert the fuel nozzle into the mouth of the canister as far as possi-
ble. 

265
Checking and refilling levels WARNING (Continued)
– If you are using a metal fuel canister, the nozzle must always touch
the c ani
s
ter while it is being filled to avoid static electricity.
– Follow the legal requirements for the use, storage and transport of
spar
e fuel canisters.
– Insure that the fuel container complies with manufacturing stand-
ards, f
or example, ANSI or ASTM F852-86. CAUTION
● Always remove any fuel spilled on the vehicle paintwork immediately to
av oid d

amage to the wheel housing, the tyre and vehicle paintwork.
● Refuelling a petrol engine with diesel or a diesel engine with petrol can
cause seriou
s engine and fuel system damage; the resulting malfunctions
are not covered by the SEAT warranty. If you refuel with the wrong type of
fuel, never start the engine. This applies to even the smallest amount of the
wrong fuel. You should obtain professional assistance. With the engine run-
ning, the composition of the wrong fuel could significantly damage the fuel
system and the engine itself.
● In vehicles with a diesel engine, under no cir
cumstances should you re-
fuel or drive with petrol, kerosene, heating oil or any other type of different
fuel. Other types of fuels could cause serious damage to the engine and to
the fuel supply system and the resulting problems are not covered by the
SEAT warranty. For the sake of the environment
Fuels can contaminate the environment. Collect any spilt service fluids and
allo w a pr

ofessional to dispose of them. Note
There is no emergency mechanism for the manual release of the tank flap. If
nece s

sary, request assistance from specialised personnel. Control lamps and fuel gauge
Fig. 162 On the instru-
ment p
anel: F

uel gauge
for petrol and diesel. lights up Gauge posi-
tion
⇒ fig. 162 Possible cause ⇒  Solution
 Red mark (ar-
row) The fuel tank is almost
empty.
The r
e

serve tank is be-
ing used ⇒ page 363. Refuel as soon as
pos
s
ible ⇒  .
 Fuel tank not closed
corr
ectly

. Stop the vehicle and
clo
se the t
ank flap
properly. 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.
When the control lamp lights up or the auxiliary heater and the auxiliary
heater running off petrol automatically switch off. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

266
Checking and refilling levels WARNING
Driving with insufficient fuel reserve could result in the vehicle breaking
down in tr affic
and a serious accident.
● If the fuel level is too low then the fuel supply to the engine can be-
come irre
gular especially on slopes.
● If the engine “is choked” or stalls due to lack of or irregularity of the
fuel s
upply, the power steering as well as all of the driver assistance sys-
tems including braking assistance will stop working.
● Always refuel when there is only one quarter of the fuel tank left to
avoid runnin
g out of fuel. CAUTION
● Always pay attention to any lit lamps and to the corresponding descrip-
tion s

and instructions to avoid damage to the vehicle.
● Never run the tank completely dry. An irregular fuel supply may lead to
ignition faults
and unburnt fuel could enter the exhaust system. This could
damage the catalytic converter filter or the diesel particulate filter! Note
The arrow next to the fuel pump symbol on the instrument panel ⇒ fig. 162
indic
ates the side of the vehicle on which the tank flap is located. Filling the tank with petrol or diesel Fig. 163 Open tank flap
with t
ank

cap attached to
the holder.
Before refuelling, always turn off the engine, the ignition, mobile tele- phones, aux
iliary heating and keep them off during refuelling.
Unscrewing the tank cap
● The tank flap is at the rear of the vehicle on the right.
● Press the rear of the tank flap to open it.
● Unscrew the tank cap anti-clockwise and insert it in the hole in the tank
flap hing
e ⇒ fig. 163.
Refilling
The correct petrol type for the vehicle is located on a sticker inside the fuel
tank flap ⇒ page 267.
● If the automatic filler nozzle is operated correctly, it will switch itself off
as soon a
s the tank is full ⇒  .
● Do not continue to refuel if it is turned off! Otherwise, this will fill the ex-
pan s

ion chamber and fuel may leak out if the ambient conditions are warm. 

267
Checking and refilling levels
Closing the tank cap
● Screw on the tank cap clockwise until it you hear it click into position.
● Press the tank flap until you hear it click into place. The tank flap must
be flush w ith the body
contour. WARNING
Do not continue refilling once the fuel nozzle has switched itself off. The
fuel t

ank may be filled too much. As a result, fuel may spurt out and spill.
This could lead to a fire, explosion and severe injuries. CAUTION
● Always remove any fuel spilled on the vehicle paintwork immediately to
av oid d

amage to the wheel housing, the tyre and vehicle paintwork. For the sake of the environment
Spilt fuel can contaminate the environment. 
Refilling precautions Information on bulb replacement
⇒ pag
e 326.
Checklist
Never work on the engine or in the engine compartment if you are not famil-
iar with the operations to be carried out, the applicable safety standards
and especially if you do not have the instruments, liquids and tools neces-
sary ⇒ page 275, Working in the engine compartment! Have the work car-
ried out by a Technical Service if you are uncertain. Check the following reg-
ularly, preferably when you refuel:
● Windscreen washer fluid level ⇒ pag
e 105
● Engine oil level ⇒ pag
e 279 ●
Engine coolant level ⇒ p
age 283
● Brake fluid level ⇒ pag
e 183
● Tyre pressure ⇒  pag
e 293
● Vehicle lighting required to guarantee road safety:
Indicator
s
Side lights, dipped headlights and full beam headlights
Rear lights
Brake lights
Rear fog light ⇒ page 97 WARNING
Not following the checklist prepared for your own safety could lead to ac-
cident s

and severe injuries.
● Always follow the check list and perform the necessary operations. 
Fuel Introduction You will find a factory-fitted sticker containing information on the type of
fuel
f

or your vehicle on the inside of the fuel tank flap.
Additional information and warnings:
● ⇒ Bookl et Maintenance Programme
● R

efuelling ⇒ pag e 264
● En

gine and exhaust system management ⇒ page 228
–
–
–
–
–
Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

268
Checking and refilling levels WARNING
Refuelling or handling fuel carelessly can cause an explosion or fire re-
su ltin
g in serious burns and injuries.
● Fuel is a highly explosive, easily flammable substance.
● Observe current safety instructions and local regulations concerning
the handling of
fuel. 
Types of fuel The type of fuel to use when refilling will depend on the vehicle's engine.
You w
i

ll find a factory-fitted sticker containing information on the type of
fuel for your vehicle on the inside of the fuel tank flap.
SEAT recommends the use of sulphur-free or low sulphur fuel to reduce con-
sumption and prevent engine damage. Possible types of
fuel Alternative names Further information
91
a)
RON Normal petrol, normal unlea-
ded petro
l ⇒ page 26895
a)
RON Premium unleaded petrol (95
RON)
98
a)
RON Premium unleaded petrol (98
RON)
Diesel ⇒ page 269
a)
RON = Regulation Octane Number Petrol Petrol types
Vehic
l

es with petrol engines must refuel using unleaded petrol according to
European norm EN 228 ⇒  .
Petr o

l types are categorised according to their octane number (e.g. 91, 95,
98 or 99 RON (RON = “Research Octane Number”). You may use petrol with
a high octane number than the one recommended for your engine. Howev-
er, this has no advantage in terms of fuel consumption and engine power.
SEAT recommends refuelling with a low sulphur content or sulphur-free pet-
rol to reduce petrol consumption for petrol engines.
Petrol additives
The quality of the fuel influences running behaviour, performance and serv-
ice life of the engine. For this reason, you should use good quality petrol
containing a mixture of additives. These additives will help to prevent corro-
sion, keep the fuel system clean and prevent deposits from building up in
the engine.
If good quality petrol with additives is not available or engine problems
arise, the necessary additives must be added when refuelling.
Not all petrol additives have been shown to be effective. The use of unsuita-
ble petrol additives could damage the engine. These additives are available
from qualified workshops, who will inform you of their application. CAUTION
● Only use fuel with an octane rating that is in line with the norm EN 228,
other w

ise significant damage could be caused to the engine and fuel sys-
tem. Furthermore, it could lead to a loss of performance with the conse-
quent engine fault.
● The use of unsuitable petrol additives could damage the engine. 

269
Checking and refilling levels
● If, in exceptional circumstances, petrol with a lower octane rating to that
r ec
ommended is used, only use moderate engine speeds and a light throt-
tle. Avoid using full throttle and overloading the engine. Otherwise you may
damage the engine. Fill up with fuel of a suitable octane rating as soon as
possible.
● Do not refuel if the filler indicates that the fuel contains metal. LRP (lead
repl
acement petrol) fuels also contain high concentrations of metal addi-
tives. This could damage the engine!
● Just one full tank of leaded fuel would seriously impair the efficiency of
the catalytic
converter and could damage it. 
Diesel Diesel fuel
Diesel
f

uel must correspond to European standard EN 590 (In Germany,
EN 590 or DIN 51628).
The use of diesel fuel with a high sulphur percentage requires shorter serv-
ice intervals ⇒ Booklet Maintenance Programme ⇒  . Your qualified work-
shop wi l

l be able to tell you which countries have diesel with a high sulphur
content.
Do not mix fuel additives (thinners, or similar additives) with diesel fuel.
Winter-grade diesel
When using “summer-grade diesel fuel”, difficulties may be experienced at
temperatures below 0°C (+32°F) because the fuel thickens due to wax sepa-
ration. For this reason, “winter-grade diesel fuel” is available in Germany,
for example, during the cold months. It can be used at temperatures as low
as -20°C (-4°F).
In countries with different climatic conditions, other types of diesel fuel are
available that are suitable to local temperatures. SEAT qualified workshops
and filling stations in the country concerned will inform you on the type of
diesel fuels available. A cold diesel engine makes more noise during winter temperatures than
summer temper

atures. Furthermore, the exhaust fumes may turn slightly
bluish while the engine is heating. The quantity of exhaust gases will de-
pend on the outside temperature.
Filter pre-heater
Vehicles with a diesel engine are fitted with a fuel filter pre-heater. This en-
sures that the fuel system remains operational to approx. -24°C (-11.2°F),
provided you use winter-grade diesel which is safe to -15°C (+5°F).
However, if the fuel has waxed to such an extent that the engine will not
start at temperatures of under -24°C (-11.2°F), simply place the vehicle in a
warm garage or workshop for a while to heat up.
Auxiliary heater
Vehicles with a diesel engine may be fitted with an auxiliary heater. The
heater runs off the fuel from the fuel tank. On doing so, smells and steam
may be noticed outside the vehicle for a short period. This is normal and it
is not an indication of a fault in the vehicle.
Whenever there is little fuel in the tank (reserve), the auxiliary heater auto-
matically switches off. WARNING
Never use start boosters. An aerosol start booster could explode or cause
a sud den ri

se in engine speed leading to engine damage and serious in-
jury. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

270
Checking and refilling levels CAUTION
● The vehicle is not pr epared for the use of biodiesel. Under no circum-
stances should this fuel be used. It could damage the fuel system and sub-
sequently lead to engine faults!
● The addition of biodiesel to diesel by the diesel producer according to
Standar
d EN 590 or other equivalent (DIN 51628 in Germany, for example)
is authorised and causes no type of damage to the engine or the fuel
system.
● The diesel engine has been designed for to use diesel fuel exclusively.
Therefor
e, never use petrol, fuel oil or other unsuitable fuels. The composi-
tion of these fuels may significantly damage the fuel system and the en-
gine.
● The use of diesel fuels with a high sulphur percentage could considera-
bly r
educe the service life of the diesel particulate filter. Your qualified work-
shop will be able to tell you which countries have diesel with a high sulphur
content. 
Information on fuel consumption The consumption and emission values indicated do not refer to one specific
vehic
l

e. They are only to be used to compare the values of the different ve-
hicle versions. The fuel consumption and CO 2 emissions of a vehicle not on-
ly depend on the effective use of fuel. They also depend on your driving
style and other non-technical factors.
Calculating fuel consumption
Fuel consumption and emission values are determined according to the cur-
rent version of the 715/2007/EC or 80/1268/EEC regulation and are valid
for the vehicle kerb weight. The specifications do not refer to an individual
vehicle. Two measuring cycles are carried out on a rolling road test bed. The
test criteria are as follows: Urban cycle Measurement of the urban cycle starts with an engine cold
st
ar

t. City driving is then simulated at between 0 and 50 km/
h. Road cycle In the road cycle simulation, the car undergoes frequent ac-
cel
er

ation and braking in all gears, as in normal everyday
driving. The road speed ranges from 0 to 120 km/h. Combined The average combined consumption is calculated with a
weightin
g of

around 37 % for the urban cycle and 63 % for
the road cycle. CO
2 emis-
s ion

s of the
combination The exhaust gases are collected during both driving cycles
to c
alc
ulate carbon dioxide emissions (urban and road). The
gas composition is then analysed to evaluate the CO 2 con-
tent and other emissions. Note
● The kerb weight may vary according to the vehicle equipment. This
c ou

ld raise consumption and the CO 2 emissions slightly.
● In practice, consumption values could be different to the values calcula-
ted ba
sed on the 715/2007/EC or 80/1268/EEC regulations. 