2011 Seat Alhambra oil level

Table of Contents
Manual structure
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Content . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Safety First . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Safe driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Dear SEAT Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Tips for driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Adjusting the seat position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Transporting objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Seat belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Brief introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Why wear seat belts? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Seat belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Seat belt tensioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Airbag system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Brief introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Airbag system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Child safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Child seats (accessories) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Integrated child seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Operating instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Cockpit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Instrument panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
SEAT information system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Unlocking and locking
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Vehicle key set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Central locking and locking system . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Sliding doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Tailgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Electric windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Panorama sliding sunroof* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Lights and visibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Sun blind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Windscreen wiper and washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Rear vision mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Seats and storage compartments . . . . . . . . . . 114
Seat adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Seat functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Head restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Centre armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Loading luggage compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Roof carrier system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Storage compartments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Cup holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Ashtray and cigarette lighter* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Sockets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Heating, Ventilation and Air conditioning . . . 155
Climate Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Auxiliary heater* (additional heater) . . . . . . . . . . 163
Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Stopping and starting the engine . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Changing gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Braking, stopping and parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Start assist systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Parking sensor system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198 Park Assist system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Rear Assist system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Cruise control system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Lane Assist system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Sign Assist* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Tyre monitoring systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Practical tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Driving and the environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Running-in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Ecological driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Engine management and exhaust gas
purific ation sy
stem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Trailer towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Driving with a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Vehicle maintenance and cleaning . . . . . . . . . 242
Care and cleaning the vehicle exterior . . . . . . . . 242
Caring for and cleaning the vehicle interior . . . . 249
Notes for the user . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Accessories, parts replacement and
modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

257
Accessories, replacement of parts and
modifications
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Checking and refilling levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Filling the tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Selective Catalytic Reduction* (AdBlue) . . . . . . . 271
Working in the engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . 275
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Engine coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Vehicle battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288 3
Table of Contents

9
Safe driving
● For petrol vehicles: Is unleaded petrol available at the right octane rat-
in g?
● F
or diesel engines: Is diesel fuel available with a low sulphur content?
● Are a suitable engine oil ( ⇒ page 279) and other en
gine fluids comply-
ing with SEAT specifications available in the destination country?
● Will the navigation system fitted at the factory operate correctly in the
destin
ation country with the available navigation data?
● Are special tyres required in the destination country? CAUTION
SEAT does not accept liability for any damage to the vehicle due to the use
of a lo w

er quality fuel, an inadequate service or the non-availability of genu-
ine spare parts. 
Driving along flooded roadways To prevent damage to the vehicle when driving through water, for example,
along a flooded r
o

ad, please observe the following:
● Check the depth of the water before entering the flooded zone. The wa-
ter shoul
d never come above the lower edge of the bodywork ⇒  .
● Do not drive faster than a pedestrian.
● Do not stop in the water, use reverse gear or switch off the engine.
● Oncoming traffic will cause waves which raise the level of the water,
mak in

g it difficult to cross the water. WARNING
When driving through water, mud, melted snow, etc., please remember
that due t

o damp or frozen brake discs and shoes in winter, the braking
effect may be delayed, therefore the required braking distance is greater.
● Dry the brakes and remove ice by braking carefully. Ensure that you
are not end
angering other road-users or breaking traffic regulations in
the process.
● After driving through water, avoid sudden sharp manoeuvres. CAUTION
● Driving through flooded areas may severely damage vehicle compo-
nents s

uch as the engine, transmission, running gear or electrical system.
● Never drive through salt water as salt causes corrosion. Always rinse any
parts
of the vehicle which have been in contact with salt water. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

227
Driving and the environment
Other factors which increase fuel consumption (examples):
● Fault in engine management.
● Driving on hills.
● Trailer towing. 
Saving fuel while driving Fig. 155 Fuel consump-
tion in litre
s
per 100 km
at different outside tem-
peratures.
By adopting an economical driving style and anticipating the traffic situa-
tion ahead,
you can easily reduce fuel consumption by 10-15%.
A vehicle uses most fuel when accelerating. By anticipating the traffic situa-
tion ahead, you will brake and therefore accelerate less. Wherever possible,
let the car roll slowly to a stop, for instance when you can see that the next
traffic lights are red.
Avoid short journeys
Fuel consumption is much higher when the engine is cold, immediately af-
ter it has been started. It takes a few kilometres of driving for the engine to
warm up and to normalise consumption. The engine and catalytic converter need to reach their proper
workin
g tem-
perature in order to minimise fuel consumption and emissions. The ambient
temperature has a decisive influence.
fig. 155 shows the difference in consumption for the same journey at +20°C
(+68°F) and at -10°C (+14°F).
Unnecessary short journeys should be avoided. Try to combine trips.
The vehicle uses more fuel in winter than in summer, even when other con-
ditions are the same.
“Warming” the engine is not only forbidden in some countries, but in prac-
tice it is technically superfluous as it is a waste of fuel.
Adjusting type pressures.
Having the correct pressure in your tyres helps to reduce rolling resistance
and, as a result reduces fuel consumption. Increasing the tyre pressure
slightly (+ 0.2 bar / + 3 psi) can help to save fuel.
If you are prepared to accept a slight reduction in comfort, the tyres may be
filled to the pressures recommended for a fully-loaded vehicle. This is also
valid when driving alone without luggage.
When you buy new tyres, make sure they are optimised for minimum rolling
resistance.
Use low friction engine oil
The use of low viscosity totally synthetic oils, known as low friction engine
oil, help to reduce fuel consumption. Low friction engine oils reduce the re-
sistance caused by friction in the engine, they flow around the engine more
quickly and efficiently, particularly in cold starts. The effect is particularly
noticeable in vehicles frequently used for short journeys.
Always check the engine oil level and observe service intervals (engine oil
change intervals).
When purchasing engine oil, always observe legal requirements and ensure
that the oil is approved by SEAT. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

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

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

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. 

275
Checking and refilling levels
Working in the engine compartment Introduction Before working in the engine compartment, make sure that the vehicle is
park
ed on horiz
ontal and firm ground.
The engine compartment of the vehicle is a hazardous area. Never work on
the engine or in the engine compartment if you are not familiar with the op-
erations to be carried out, the applicable safety standards and especially if
you do not have the instruments, liquids and tools necessary ⇒  ! Have
the work c

arried out by a Technical Service if you are uncertain. Negligent
work can cause serious injury.
Additional information and warnings:
● Windscreen wash system ⇒ page 105
● St

art and stop the engine ⇒ page 170
● Br

ake fluid ⇒ page 183
● V

ehicle battery ⇒ page 288
● Chec

ks when filling up ⇒ page 264
● En

gine oil ⇒ page 279
● En

gine coolant ⇒ page 283
● A

ccessories, parts replacement, repairs and modifications ⇒ page 257 WARNING
If the vehicle moves unexpectedly, this could cause serious injury.
● Never work underneath the vehicle if it is not secured against moving.
If y

ou must work underneath the vehicle with the wheels in contact with
the ground then it should be parked on flat ground, the wheels should be
prevented from moving and the key must be removed from the ignition.
● If you have to work underneath the vehicle, you must use suitable
stand
s additionally to support the vehicle, there is a risk of accident!.
The jack is not intended for this kind of work and its failure could lead to
severe injuries. WARNING
The engine compartment is a dangerous area capable of causing serious
injury .
● F

or all type of work, always take the utmost precautions, work care-
ful

ly and note the general safety standards in force. Never take personal
risks.
● Never work on the engine or in the engine compartment if you are not
famili
ar with the necessary operations. If you are not sure about proce-
dures then visit a Technical Service to carry out the necessary work. In-
correct work can cause serious injuries.
● Never open the bonnet if you see steam or coolant escaping from the
engine comp
artment. Hot vapours and coolant can cause serious burns.
Always wait until you cannot see or hear the sound of steam or coolant
coming from the engine compartment.
● Always allow the engine to cool down before opening the bonnet.
● Contact with hot elements of the engine and the exhaust system can
cause b
urns. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

277
Checking and refilling levels WARNING (Continued)
● Nev er pour service fluids over the engine. These fluid may ignite hot
en gine p
arts and cause injuries.
● If it is necessary to work on the fuel system or the electrical system,
ple

ase follow the instructions below:
– Always disconnect the vehicle battery. When disconnecting the
batter
y, ensure that the vehicle is unlocked otherwise the antitheft
alarm will be triggered.
– Never work close to heaters, heat sources or places exposed to
flames
or sparks.
● Always keep a recently serviced and perfectly working fire extin-
guisher clo
se by. CAUTION
When refilling or changing service liquids, ensure that you put the liquids
into the right t

ank. Making a mistake when refilling could cause serious
malfunctions and damage the engine! For the sake of the environment
Service fluids leaks are harmful to the environment. For this reason you
shoul d m

ake regular checks on the ground underneath your vehicle. Take
the vehicle to a specialist workshop to be checked if you see stains, oil or
other fluids on the ground. Collect any spilt service fluids and allow a pro-
fessional to dispose of them. 
Preparing the vehicle for work in the engine compartment Checklist
Carr
y

out the operations below in the order indicated before starting work in
the engine compartment ⇒  : ●
Park the vehicle on an even and solid surface.
● Pre

ss and hold the brake pedal until the vehicle comes to a standstill.
● Connect the electronic parking brake ⇒ page 183.
● Mo

ve the selector lever to its intermediate position or to P ⇒ page 174.
● St

op the engine and remove the key from the ignition ⇒ page 170.
● W

ait for the engine to cool down.
● Always keep children and other people far from the engine compart-
ment.
● Ens

ure that the vehicle can not move off unexpectedly. WARNING
Ignoring this checklist, drawn up for your own safety, could result in seri-
ous injur

y.
● Always complete the operations given in the checklist and observe
the genera
l rules of safety. 
Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data