2011 Seat Alhambra technical data

97
Lights and visibility
The control turn signals are switched on and off from the menu Lights & Visi-
bility on the instrument panel display ⇒ page 62. This function can be dis-
connected at a specialised workshop for those vehicles which do not have
the menu Lights & Visibility .WARNING
Incorrect use of the headlamps may cause accidents and serious injury,
as the m

ain beam may distract or dazzle other drivers. Note
● The turn signal only works when the ignition is switched on. The hazard
w arnin

g lights also work when the ignition is switched off ⇒ page 312.
● If a turn signal on the vehicle or trailer is faulty, the warning lamp flash-
es tw
ice as fast as usual.
● The main beam headligh
ts can only be switched on if the dipped beam
headlights are already on. 
Turning lights on and off Fig. 62 Next to the steering wheel: diagram of some of
the type
s

of light switch.
The legal requirements regarding the use of vehicle lights in each country
mus t

be observed.
In vehicles with tow bar fitted as standard: If the trailer is connected electri-
cally and is fitted with a rear fog light, this is automatically switched off on
the vehicle. Turn the light switch to the required position
⇒ fig. 62:Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

99
Lights and visibility
Automatic dipped beam control 
The autom atic
dipped beam control is merely intended as an aid and is not
able to recognise all driving situations.
When the light switch is in position , the vehicle lights and the instru-
ment panel and switch lighting switch on and off automatically in the fol-
lowing situations ⇒  :
Automatic switching on: Automatic switching off or switch to
da
ytime lightin

g: The photo sensor detects
darknes
s,
for example, when driving through a
tunnel. When adequate lighting is detected.
When driving at more than 140 km/
h for a f
ew sec

onds. When driving at less than 65 km/h
for a f
ew minut
es. The rain sensor detects rain and ac-
tivat
e

s the windscreen wipers. When the windscreen wiper has
been inactiv
e f
or a few minutes. Adaptive headlights (AFS)
The ad
aptiv

e headlights only operate when the dipped beam is on and at
speeds of over 10 km/h. When taking a bend, the adaptive headlights auto-
matically light up the road better.
The adaptive headlights can be switched on and off from the infotainment
system.
Static turning lights
When turning slowly to change direction or going round a tight bend, the
static cornering lights automatically come on. The static cornering lights on-
ly work at speeds of less than 40 km/h.
The static cornering lights may be incorporated into the fog lights or the
front headlights, depending upon the equipment. WARNING
If the road is not well lit and other road users cannot see the vehicle well
enough or at a l

l, accidents may occur.
● The automatic dipped beam control ( ) only sw
itches on the dip-
ped beam when there are no changes in brightness, and not, for example
when it is foggy.
● Never drive with daytime lights if the road is not well lit due to weath-
er or lighting condition
s. Daytime lights do not provide enough light to
illuminate the road properly or be seen by other road users. 
Headlight adjustment Headlight adjustment (Light Assist)
The hea
dlight

adjustment automatically connects and disconnects the main
beam headlights depending on the environmental and traffic conditions
and on the speed, within the limitations of the system ⇒  . This is moni-
tor ed b

y a sensor located on the inside of the windscreen, above the interior
rear vision mirror.
Automatic headlight adjustment (Dynamic Light Assist)
The automatic headlight adjustment (Dynamic Light Assist) can reduce or
avoid dazzle for other road users within the limitations of the system ⇒  .
The sys t

em detects other road users and their distance with respect to the
vehicle and covers a certain area of the headlamps. If dazzling other road
users cannot be avoided, the lights are set automatically to dipped beam.
They are regulated with a camera positioned in the support of the interior
rear vision mirror. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

101
Lights and visibility
For those vehicles in which it is not possible to adjust the headlights from
the menu, adhe s
ive strips are used to cover certain parts of the headlamp
cover or the headlights may be adjusted at a specialised workshop. For fur-
ther information, please refer to a specialised workshop. SEAT recommends
visiting a Technical Service. Note
Use of the Touris
t light option and the adhesives on the headlights is only
allowed if they are to be used for a short period of time. To modify the direc-
tion of the headlights permanently, please take the vehicle to a specialised
workshop. SEAT recommends visiting a Technical Service. 
“Coming home” and “Leaving home” function (guidance
lights)C omin

g HomeThe “Coming home” function should be switched on manually. However the
“Le
av

ing home” function is automatically controlled by a photo sensor. “Coming Home” Necessary operations
To switch sys-
tem on: – Switch off the ignition.
– Briefly fl
a

sh the headlights for approximately one sec-
ond ⇒ page 96.
The “Coming home” lighting comes on when the driver's
door is opened. The delay in switching off the headlights
is counted from when the last door or tailgate is closed. The system
swit
c

hes off: – Automatically at the end of the delay period.
– Autom
atic

ally, if 30 seconds after coming on, a vehicle
door or tailgate remains open.
– If the light switch is turned to position .
– If the ignition is switched on. “Leaving home” Necessary operations
To switch sys-
tem on: – Unlock the vehicle when the light switch is in position

and the phot

o sensor detects darkness. The system
swit
c

hes off: – Automatically, at the end of the delay period.
– When the
v
ehicle is locked.
– When the light switch is turned to position .
– When the ignition is switched on. Lighting around the exterior mirrors
The lighting ar
ou

nd the exterior mirrors illuminates the door area on enter-
ing and leaving the vehicles. It comes on when the vehicle is unlocked,
when the vehicle door is opened and when the “Coming home” or “Leaving
home” function is switched on. If the equipment includes the light sensor,
the lighting around the exterior mirrors only comes when it is dark. Note
● The time tak en f
or the headlights to go off can be changed in the Lights
& Visibility menu and the function can be switched on or off ⇒ page 62.
● When the “Coming home” function is on, if the vehicle door is opened
there is
no audible warning signal to advise that the light is still on. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

103
Lights and visibility Button /
Swit c
h Function
 Switches door contact control on (central position).
The interior lights
c

ome on automatically when the vehicle is
unlocked, a door is opened or the key is removed from the ig-
nition.
The lights go off a few seconds after all the doors are closed,
the vehicle is locked or the ignition is switched on.  Turning the reading light on and off
Storage and luggage compartment lighting
When the glov
e bo

x and the tailgate are opened and closed, a light auto-
matically switches on or off.
Background lighting
The background lighting in the front covering of the ceiling lights up the
controls on the central console from above when the side or dipped lights
are on.
In addition, the lever on the door moulding can also be illuminated. Note
The reading lights go out when the vehicle is locked, or a few minutes after
the key i

s removed from the ignition. This prevents the battery from dis-
charging. Sun blind
Introduction WARNING
Sun visors and sun blinds may reduce visibility when open.
● Always roll or fold sun blinds and visors away when not in use. 
Sun visors Fig. 64 Sun visor.
Options for adjusting driver and front passenger sun visors:
● Lower by unfolding towards the windscreen.
● The sun visor can be pulled out of its mounting and turned towards the
door ⇒ fig. 64 1 .
● Swing the sun visor towards the door, longitudinally backwards. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

105
Lights and visibility
Windscreen wiper and washer
Introduction Additional information and warnings:
●
Recirculation of air conditioning air ⇒ p age 155
● Working in the engine compartment ⇒ page 275
● C

aring for and cleaning the vehicle exterior ⇒ page 242WARNING
Water from the windscreen washer water bottle may freeze on the wind-
sc r

een if it does not contain enough anti-freeze, reducing forward visibili-
ty.
● In winter, ensure the windscreen washer contains enough anti-freeze.
● In cold conditions, you should not use the wash / wipe system unless
you hav
e warmed the windscreen with the ventilation system. The anti-
freeze could freeze on the windscreen and reduce visibility. 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
In icy conditions, always check that the wiper blades are not frozen to the
gla s

s before using the wipers for the first time. In cold weather, it may help
to leave the vehicle parked with the wipers in service position ⇒ page 107. Control lamp lights up Possible cause Solution
 Windscreen wiper fluid level
too lo
w Top up the windscreen wiper
bottle a
s

soon as possible
⇒ page 109. 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. CAUTION
Failure to heed the warning lamps and text messages when they appear
ma y

result in faults in the vehicle. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

107
Lights and visibility
Windscreen wiper functions Windscreen wiper performance in different situations:
If the vehicle is at a stand-
sti
l
l: The activated position provisionally changes
to the pr
ev
ious position. During the automatic wipe: The air conditioning comes on for approxi-
mat
ely

30 seconds in air recirculation mode
to prevent the smell of the windscreen wash-
er fluid entering the inside of the vehicle. For the intermittent wipe: The intervals between wipes vary according
to the s
peed of

the vehicle. The higher the
vehicle speed the shorter the intervals. Heated windscreen washer jets
The heatin
g on

ly thaws the frozen jets, it does not thaw the water in the
washer hoses. The heated windscreen washer jets automatically adjust the
heat depending on the ambient temperature, when the ignition is switched
on.
Headlight wash /wipe system
The headlight washers/wipers clean the headlight lenses.
After the ignition is switched on, the first and every fifth time the wind-
screen washer is switched on, the headlights are also washed. Therefore,
the windscreen wiper lever should be pulled towards the steering wheel
when the dipped beam or main beam are on. Any incrusted dirt (such as in-
sects) should be cleaned regularly (e.g. when refuelling).
To ensure the headlight washers work correctly in winter, any snow which
has got into the bumper jet supports should be cleaned away. If necessary,
remove snow with an anti-icing spray. Note
The wiper will try to wipe away any obstacles that are on the windscreen.
The wiper w i

ll stop moving if the obstacle blocks its path. Remove the ob-
stacle and switch the wiper back on again. 
Windscreen wipers service position Fig. 68 Wipers in service
pos
ition.
The w

iper arms can be raised when the wipers are in service position.
⇒ fig. 68 To p l

ace the windscreen wipers in the service position, proceed as
follows:
● The bonnet must be closed ⇒ page 275.
● Sw

itching the ignition on and off.
● Press the windscreen wiper lever downwards briefly ⇒ fig. 66 4 .
Bef or

e driving, always lower the wiper arms. Using the windscreen wiper
lever, the windscreen wiper arms return to their initial position. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

109
Lights and visibility
● Damaged blades: A film of water on the damaged blades may lengthen
the activ ation time, r
educe the washing intervals or result in a fast and con-
tinuous wipe.
● Insects: insects on the sensor may trigger the windscreen wipers.
● Salt on roads: in winter, salt spread in the roads may cause an extra
long wipe when the w
indscreen is almost dry.
● Dirt: dry dust, wax, coating on glass (Lotus effect) or traces of detergent
(car wa
sh) may reduce the effectiveness of the rain sensor or make it react
more slowly, later or not at all.
● Cracked windscreen: the impact of a stone will trigger a single wipe cy-
cle w
ith the rain sensor on. Next the rain sensor detects the reduction in the
sensitive surface area and adapts accordingly. The behaviour of the sensor
will vary with the size of the damage caused by the stone. WARNING
The rain sensor may not detect enough rain to switch on the wipers.
● If necessary, switch on the wipers manually when water on the wind-
sc r

een obstructs visibility. Note
● Clean the sensitive surface of the rain sensor regularly and check the
b l

ades for damage ⇒ fig. 70 (arrow).
● To remove wax and coatings, we recommend a window cleaner contain-
ing alcoho
l. Checking and topping up the windscreen washer bottle
with wat

er Fig. 71 In the engine
comp
ar

tment: wind-
screen washer bottle top.
Check the water level in the windscreen washer bottle regularly and top up
as r
equired.
● Open the bonnet  ⇒ pag
e 275.
● The washer bottle is marked with the symbol  on the lid ⇒ fig. 71.
● Check there is enough water in the bottle.
● To top up, mix water with a window cleaner recommended by SEAT ⇒  .
Ple a

se follow the instructions for use found on the packaging.
● In cold weather, a special antifreeze should also be added to prevent
the water fr
om freezing ⇒  .
Bottle c ap
acity
The bottle holds approximately 3.0 litres; in vehicles with headlight washer,
it is approximately 7.0 litres. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

111
Lights and visibility
Rear vision mirror Fig. 72 Manual anti-daz-
zl
e f
unction for rear vi-
sion mirror Fig. 73 Automatic anti-
dazz
l

e function for rear
vision mirror
The driver should always adjust the rear vision mirror to permit adequate
vis
ibility through the rear window. Manual anti-dazzle function for rear vision mirror
●
Basic position: point the lever at the bottom of the mirror forwards.
● Pull the lever to the back to select the anti-dazzle function ⇒ fig. 72.
Automatic
anti-dazzle function for interior mirror
Legend for the fig. 73:
warning lamp
Control
Light incidence sensor
This function can be activated and deactivated by pressing the rear vision
mirror switch 2 . When it is activated, the warning lamp lights up
1 .
When the ignition is on, the sen

sor 3 automatically moves the rear vision
mirr or t

o the anti-dazzle position depending upon the incidence of the light
from behind.
The automatic anti-dazzle function is deactivated when reverse gear is en-
gaged or the interior or reading lights are on. Note
If the incidence of the light on the sensor is obstructed or prevented, e.g. by
the su n b

linds, the rear vision mirror with automatic anti-dazzle function will
not operate correctly. 
1 2
3
Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data