2012 Seat Alhambra alarm

236Trailer towing
WARNING (Continued)
● Trailers with a high centre of gravity can overturn more easily than
trailers with a low centre of gravity.
● Avoid brusque manoeuvres and sudden braking.
● Always take the following precautions seriously.
● Reduce your speed immediately if you observe the trailer rocking
from side to side.
● Never drive at more than 80 km an hour when towing a trailer (or 100
km an hour in exceptional circumstances). This also applies in countries
where higher speeds are permitted. Always take the speed limits for ve-
hicles with and without trailers in each country into account.
● Never try to stop the “snaking” by increasing speed.
WARNING
When driving with a trailer and using a trailer hitch that was not installed
by SEAT, the Start-Stop function must be manually deactivated. Other-
wise, this could cause a braking anomaly that could result in an accident
with serious consequences.
● Always manually deactivate the Start-Stop function when a trailer is
being used on a trailer hitch that has not been installed by SEAT.
Note
● Always turn off the anti-theft alarm system before connecting or discon-
necting a trailer ⇒ page 78. Otherwise, the tilt sensor may erroneously acti-
vate the alarm.
● Never use a trailer with a new engine (for the first 1000 km or 600 miles)
⇒ page 261. ●
At SEAT, we recommend folding in the trailer hitch ball when a trailer is
not being used. In case of a rear collision, the damage caused to the vehicle
with the extended trailer hitch ball could be more extensive.
● In some models, a trailer hitch is necessary for towing vehicles. For this
reason, you should store the tow hitch in the vehicle at all times. 

240Trailer towing
Trailer electric socket
The electric connection between vehicle and trailer is a 13-pin socket. If the
trailer plug has seven pins, an adapter cable must be used.
Trailer rear lights
Check the trailer rear lights to ensure they work correctly and remain legal.
Ensure that the trailer does not use more than the maximum power
⇒ page 237.
Trailer connected to the anti-theft alarm:
● When a vehicle comes from the factory fitted with an anti-theft alarm
and tow hitch.
● When the trailer is connected to the vehicle using the socket.
● When the vehicle and trailer electrical systems work correctly and are
not damaged.
● When the vehicle is locked using the vehicle key and the anti-theft alarm
is turned on.
When the vehicle is locked, the alarm is triggered when the electrical con-
nection between the vehicle and the trailer is removed.
Always turn off the anti-theft alarm system before connecting or disconnect-
ing a trailer. Otherwise, the tilt sensor may erroneously activate the alarm.
WARNING
Erroneous or unsuitable connection of electric cables may supply energy
to the trailer causing an anomaly in the vehicle electronics that could re-
sult in an accident with serious consequences.
● All work on the electrical system must be carried out only by a speci-
alised workshop.
● Never connect the trailer's electric system to the electrical connec-
tions of the rear lights or any other power sources.
CAUTION
Do not leave the trailer connected to the vehicle when parked; places on its
support wheel or its supports. For example, when changing the load or a
puncture, the vehicle will be pushed up or down. The force acting on the
tow hitch and the trailer could damage the vehicle or the trailer.
Note
● In case of a fault in the vehicle or trailer electrical system or in case of
problems with the anti-theft alarm system, have the system checked by a
specialised workshop.
● If the trailer accessories use energy from the socket when the engine is
stopped, the battery will be discharged.
● For technical reasons, trailers fitted with rear LED lights cannot be con-
nected to the anti-theft alarm system.
● If the vehicle battery is running low, the electrical connection with the
trailer is automatically cut.
● With the engine running, the electrical equipment on the trailer will con-
sume power. 
Loading the trailer
Trailer weight / drawbar load
The trailer weight is the load that the vehicle can pull ⇒ . The drawbar
load is the vertical weight of the trailer hitch on the tow hitch ball
⇒  page 244.
The figures for trailer weights and draw bar weights given on the data plate
of the towing bracket are for values of this model only. The correct figures
for your specific vehicle, which may be lower than these figures for the tow
hitch, are given in the registration documents. The instructions in the offi-
cial vehicle documents take precedence. 

281
Checking and refilling levels
WARNING (Continued)
● Never pour service fluids over the engine. These fluid may ignite hot
engine parts and cause injuries.
● If it is necessary to work on the fuel system or the electrical system,
please follow the instructions below:
–Always disconnect the vehicle battery. When disconnecting the
battery, ensure that the vehicle is unlocked otherwise the anti-theft
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 close by.
CAUTION
When refilling or changing service liquids, ensure that you put the liquids
into the right tank. 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
should make regular checks on the ground underneath your vehicle. Take
the vehicle to a specialised 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
Carry out the operations below in the order indicated before starting work in
the engine compartment ⇒ 
: ●
Park the vehicle on an even and solid surface.
● Press and hold the brake pedal until the vehicle comes to a standstill.
● Connect the electronic parking brake ⇒ page 185.
● Move the selector lever to its intermediate position or to P ⇒ page 176.
● Stop the engine and remove the key from the ignition ⇒ page 172.
● Wait for the engine to cool down.
● Always keep children and other people far from the engine compart-
ment.
● Ensure that the vehicle can not move off unexpectedly.
WARNING
Ignoring this checklist, drawn up for your own safety, could result in seri-
ous injury.
● Always complete the operations given in the checklist and observe
the general rules of safety.

Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTechnical Specifications

295
Checking and refilling levels
WARNING (Continued)
● Battery acid is very corrosive and caustic. It can burn skin and cause
blindness. When handling the battery, protect yourself from splashes of
acids, above all your hands, arms and face.
● Never tilt the vehicle battery. Battery acid could spill out of the open-
ings to release gases and cause corrosion damage.
● Never open the vehicle battery.
● If battery acid splashes on you, immediately rinse your eyes and skin
abundantly with water for several minutes. Then seek medical care imme-
diately.
● If acid is swallowed by mistake, consult a doctor immediately.

Charging, replacing and connecting or disconnecting the
battery
Charging the battery
The vehicle battery should be charged by a specialised workshop only, as
batteries using special technology have been installed and they must be
charged in a controlled environment ⇒ 
. SEAT recommends visiting a
Technical Service.
Replacing a vehicle battery
The battery has been developed to suit the conditions of its location and
has special safety features. If the battery must be replaced, consult a Tech-
nical Service for information on electromagnetic compatibility, the size and
maintenance, performance and safety requirements of the new battery in
your vehicle before you purchase one. SEAT recommends you have the bat-
tery replaced by a Technical Service.
Use only maintenance-free genuine batteries conforming to TL 825 06 and
VW 7 50 73 Standards. These standards must be dated April 2008 or later. Start-Stop systems (
⇒ page 198) are equipped with a special battery. There-
fore, it must only be replaced with a battery of the same specifications.
Disconnecting the vehicle's battery
If you must disconnect the battery from the electrical system, please note
the following:
● Switch off the ignition and all electrical equipment.
● The vehicle must be unlocked before disconnecting the battery, other-
wise the alarm will be triggered.
● First disconnect the negative cable and then the positive ⇒ 
.
Connecting the vehicle's battery
● Before reconnecting the battery, switch off the engine, the ignition and
electric devices.
● First reconnect the positive cable and then the negative ⇒ 
.
Different control lamps may light up after connecting the battery and switch-
ing the ignition on. They will be turned off after a short trip at a speed of
between 15 - 20 km/h (10 - 12 mph). If the warning indicators remain lit,
please visit a specialised workshop to have the vehicle checked.
If the battery has been disconnected for a long time, it is possible that the
next service date is not displayed or calculated correctly ⇒ page 57. Respect
the maximum service intervals permitted ⇒ Booklet Maintenance Pro-
gramme.
Automatic consumer disconnection
The intelligent vehicle electrical system automatically implements a range
of measures to prevent the battery from discharging when high demands
are made on it: 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTechnical Specifications

319
If and when
WARNING
Opening and closing doors carelessly can cause serious injury.
● If the vehicle is locked from outside, the doors and windows cannot
be opened from the inside.
● Never leave children or disabled people alone in the car. They could
be trapped in the car in an emergency and will not be able to get them-
selves to safety.
● Depending on the time of the year, temperatures inside a locked and
closed vehicle can be extremely high or extremely low resulting in seri-
ous injuries and illness or even death, particularly for young children.
WARNING
Getting in the way of the doors and the panoramic sliding roof is danger-
ous and can lead to serious injury.
● Open and close the doors and the panoramic sliding roof only when
nobody is in the way.
CAUTION
When opening and closing in an emergency, carefully disassemble compo-
nents and then reassemble them carefully to avoid damage to the vehicle. Manually locking and unlocking the driver's door
Fig. 190 Driver's door
handle: Hidden lock cyl-
inder.
In general, when the driver's door is locked all other doors are locked. Un-
locking manually only opens the driver's door. Please note the instructions
for the anti-theft alarm ⇒ page 74.
● Unfold the key shaft ⇒ page 71.
● Insert the key shaft into the opening in the cover on the driver's door
handle from below ⇒ fig. 190 (arrow) then remove the cover upwards.
● Insert the key shaft into the lock cylinder to unlock or lock the vehicle.
Unlocking notes:
● The anti-theft alarm will remain active when vehicles are unlocked. How-
ever, the alarm will not yet be triggered ⇒ page 74.
● If the driver's door is opened, the alarm will be triggered.
● Switch the ignition on. When the ignition is switched on, the electronic
immobiliser recognises a valid vehicle key and deactivates the anti-theft
alarm system. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTechnical Specifications

320If and when
Note
The anti-theft alarm is not activated when the vehicle is locked manually us-
ing the key ⇒ page 74. 
Locking the passenger side door and sliding doors
manually
Fig. 191 To the front of
the passenger side door:
Emergency lock, hidden
by a rubber cap.
Fig. 192 Emergency
locking of the vehicle us-
ing the vehicle key.
The passenger side door and the sliding doors can be locked manually. The
anti-theft alarm is not activated in this case.
● Door open.
● Remove the rubber cap to the front of the door. The rubber cap is
marked with a lock symbol  ⇒ fig. 191.
● Unfold the key shaft ⇒ page 71.
● Insert the key shaft horizontally into the opening and moved the colour
lever forwards ⇒ fig. 192.
● Replace the rubber cap and close the door.
● Check if the door is locked.
● Carry out the same operation on the other doors if necessary.
● Have the vehicle checked by a Technical Service.
Note
The doors can be opened and unlocked individually from the inside by pull-
ing the inside door handle. To open, pull the inner door release lever twice
⇒ page 74. 

Index
A
AbroadExtended stay abroad with your vehicle . . 259
Sale of vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
ABS See "Brake assist systems" . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Acoustic warnings Headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Adaptive headlights Dynamic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
AdBlue Control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Minimum quantity for a refill . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Refilling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Tank filling capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Additional equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Additional heater See "Auxiliary heater" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Adjusting passenger exterior mirror . . . . . . . . 112
Adjustment Correct sitting position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Electric front seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Head restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Mechanical front seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Rear seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Seat with position memory . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Steering wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Adjustments Folding the backrest of the front passengerseat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Headlight range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Aerial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Aerial built into the window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
AFS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Airbag system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28, 31 Cleaning instrument panel . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Curtain airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Deactivating the front passenger airbag . . 35
Deactivating using the key switch . . . . . . . . 35
Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Differences between front passenger airbagsystems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Faults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Front airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Knee airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Locking the vehicle after airbag deploy- ment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Repairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Side airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Use of child seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Vehicle care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Air conditioner Faults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162 Air conditioning
see "Climate control" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Air recirculation mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Air vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Alarm system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Alcantara . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
All-wheel drive Snow chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Winter tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Alternator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Ambient lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Anodized surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Anti-theft alarm Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Anti-theft alarm system False alarms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Anti-theft bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Anti-theft locking bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Anti-theft wheel locking bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Anti-tow system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Anti-trap function Electric windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Panorama sliding sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Sunshade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Antifreeze . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Antitheft alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
369
Index

Antitheft alarm systemAnti-tow system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Interior monitoring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Armrests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Ashtray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151, 152
ASR See "Brake assist systems" . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
See "Braking assist" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Turning on and off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Assistance systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214 Cruise control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Electronic differential lock system (EDL andXDS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) . . . . . . . 191
Assist systems Anti-lock brake system (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . 191
Auto Hold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Braking assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Lane Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Lane Assist system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Optical parking system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Park assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Park Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Park Assist system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Parking sensor system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Rear Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Rear assist system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Sign Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Start-Stop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Start assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Traction control system (ASR) . . . . . . . . . . 193
Traction control when accelerating (ASR) . 192
Tyre monitoring indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227 Auto Hold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Automatic belt retainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Automatic car wash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Switching Auto Hold off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Switching the start assist off . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Automatic consumer disconnection . . . . . . . . 295
Automatic dipped beam control . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Automatic gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 Changing gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
DSG automatic gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Ignition key lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Kickdown system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Launch-Control programme . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Malfunction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Manually unlocking the gear selection lev-er . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Please also see "Changing gears" . . . . . . 176
See "Automatic gearbox" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
AUX-IN connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Auxiliary heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165, 273 Automatic off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Operating instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Remote control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Remote control range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Remote control: Replacing the battery . . . 166
Switching off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Switching on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Things to note . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165, 168
Auxiliary heater remote control Replacing the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166 Axle loads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
B
BAS See "Brake assist systems" . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Battery Discharge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Discharging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
See Vehicle battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Battery acid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Before starting out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Belt height adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Belt tension device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Service and disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Belt tension limiter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Bicycle carrier Installing a bicycle carrier . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Maximum load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Biodiesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Bonnet Closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Bottle capacity Windscreen washer water bottle . . . . . . . . 109
Bottle holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185 Brake servo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Electronic parking brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Emergency braking function . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Parking brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
370 Index