2013 Seat Alhambra towing

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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Airbag system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Brief introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Airbag system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Child safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Child seats (accessories) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Integrated child seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Operating instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Cockpit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Instrument panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
SEAT information system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Opening and closing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Vehicle key set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Central locking and locking system . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Sliding doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Rear lid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Electric windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Panoramic sliding sunroof* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Lights and visibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Sun blind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Windscreen wiper and washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Rear vision mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Seats and storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Seat adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Seat functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Head restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Centre armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Loading luggage compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Roof carrier system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Storage compartments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Drink holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Ashtray and cigarette lighter* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Power sockets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Air conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Air conditioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Auxiliary heater* (additional heater) . . . . . . . . . . 164
Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Stopping and starting the engine . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Changing gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Braking, stopping and parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Start assist systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Parking sensor system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199 Park Assist system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Rear Assist system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Cruise control system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Lane Assist system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Sign Assist* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Tiredness detection (recommendation to take a
break) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Tyre monitoring systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Practical tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Driving and the environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Running-in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Ecological driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Engine management and exhaust gas
purification system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Trailer towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Driving with a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Vehicle maintenance and cleaning . . . . . . . . . 245
Care and cleaning the vehicle exterior . . . . . . . . 245
Caring for and cleaning the vehicle interior . . . . 252
Notes for the user . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Accessories, replacement of parts and
modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Accessories, replacement of parts and
modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Checking and refilling levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Filling the tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Selective Catalytic Reduction* (AdBlue) . . . . . . . 274
Working in the engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . 278
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
3
Table of Contents

Engine coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Vehicle battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Wheels and tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Wheel trims* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Changing a wheel* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
If and when . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
In case of emergency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Emergency locking and unlocking . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Vehicle tool kit* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Changing bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Starting assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
Towing and tow starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . 347
Description of specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
Important information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347
Information on fuel consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . 349
Towing a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Technical specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
Checking fluid levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 351
Petrol engine 1.4 110 kW (150 PS) . . . . . . . . . . . 352
Petrol engine 1.4 110 kW (150 PS) Automatic . . 353
Petrol engine 2.0 147 kW (200 PS) Automatic . . 354
Diesel engine 2.0 TDI CR 85 kW (115 PS) . . . . . . 355
Diesel engine 2.0 TDI CR 100 kW (136 PS) . . . . . 357
Diesel engine 2.0 TDI CR 100 kW (136 PS)
Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 358
Diesel engine 2.0 TDI CR 103 kW (140 PS) . . . . . 359
Diesel engine 2.0 TDI CR 103 kW (140 PS)
Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
Diesel engine 2.0 TDI CR 103 kW (140 PS) All-
wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
Diesel engine 2.0 TDI CR 125 kW (170 PS) . . . . . 363 Diesel engine 2.0 TDI CR 125 kW (170 PS)
Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364
Dimensions and capacities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367
4Table of Contents

13
Safe driving
Also valid for the front passenger:
● Move the front passenger seat back as far as possible for optimum pro-
tection should the airbag deploy. 
Transporting objects Introduction
Always transport heavy loads in the luggage compartment and place the
seat backs in a vertical position. Always use the anchors provided with suit-
able rope to secure heavy objects. Never overload the vehicle. Both the car-
rying capacity as well as the distribution of the load in the vehicle have ef-
fects on the driving behaviour and braking ability ⇒ 
.
Additional information and warnings:
● Rear lid ⇒ page 83
● To lower the front passenger seat back ⇒ page 117
● Light ⇒ page 95
● Luggage compartment ⇒ page 126
● Roof carrier ⇒ page 139
● Towing mode ⇒ page 236
● Wheels and tyres ⇒ page 296
WARNING
Unsecured or incorrectly secured objects can cause serious injury in case
of a sudden manoeuvring or breaking or in case of an accident. This is es-
pecially true when objects are struck by a detonating airbag and fired
through the vehicle interior. To reduce the risks, please note the follow-
ing:
● Secure all objects in the vehicle. Always keep equipment and heavy
objects in the luggage compartment.
● Always secure objects with suitable rope or slings so that they cannot
enter the areas around the front or side airbags in case of sudden braking
or an accident.
● Always ensure that objects inside the vehicle cannot move into the
area of the airbags while driving.
● While driving, always keep object compartments closed.
● Remove all objects from the front passenger seat when this is fol-
lowed down. When the seat backrest is folded down, it presses on small
and light objects and these are detected by the weight sensor on the
seat; this sends false information to the airbag control unit.
● While the seat backrest of the front passenger seat is folded, the
front airbag must remain disabled and the PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF 
light on.
● Objects secured in the vehicle should never be placed in such a way
as to make passengers sit in an incorrect position.
● If secured objects occupy a seat then this should not be occupied or
used by anybody. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTechnical Specifications

75
Opening and closing
● Electric windows ⇒ page 88
● Panoramic sliding sunroof ⇒ page 92
● Towing mode ⇒ page 236
● Emergency locking and unlocking ⇒ page 317
WARNING
The incorrect use of the central locking system may cause serious inju-
ries.
● The central locking system will lock all doors. A vehicle locked from
the inside can prevent any non-authorised individual from opening the
doors and accessing the vehicle. Nevertheless, in case of emergency or
accident, locked doors will complicate access to the vehicle interior to
help the passengers.
● Never leave children or disabled people alone in the vehicle. The cen-
tral locking button can be used to lock all the doors from within. There-
fore, passengers will be locked inside the vehicle. Individuals locked in
the vehicle can be exposed to very high or very low temperatures.
● 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.
● Never leave individuals locked in a closed and locked vehicle. In case
of emergency, they may not be able to exit the vehicle by themselves or
get help.

Description of the central locking system
The central locking system allows all doors and the rear lid to be locked and
unlocked centrally.
● From outside, using the vehicle key.
● From inside, by pushing the central locking button ⇒ page 77. In the submenu Convenience in the Configuration menu, or by visiting a spe-
cialised workshop, special functions of the central locking system can be
switched on or off ⇒ page 62.
In case of a vehicle key fault or central locking system fault, all doors can be
locked or unlocked manually.
Locking the vehicle after the airbags have been deployed
If the airbags are deployed due to an accident, the vehicle will be automati-
cally and completely unlocked. Depending on the amount of damage, the
vehicle can be locked following an accident in the following ways:
FunctionNecessary operationsLocking the vehicle
from within:– Turn off the ignition and turn it on again.
– Push the central locking button .Locking the vehicle
from the outside:– Turn off the ignition and turn it on again.
OR: – Remove the key from the ignition.
– Open any door just once.
– Lock the vehicle with the key.

Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTechnical Specifications

84Opening and closing
WARNING (Continued)
● Ensure the rear lid is locked after closing, otherwise, it may open un-
expectedly while driving. A closed rear lid should be flush with the corre-
sponding parts of the bodywork.
● Always keep the rear lid closed while driving to avoid toxic gases en-
tering the vehicle interior.
● Do not open the rear lid when there is a load carrier installed. Like-
wise, the rear lid cannot be opened when a load is attached to it, for ex-
ample bicycles. An open rear lid could close itself if there is an additional
weight on it. If necessary, press down on the rear lid and remove the
load.
● Close and lock both the rear lid and all the other doors when you are
not using the vehicle. Ensure that nobody remains inside the vehicle.
● Never allow children to play inside or around the vehicle without su-
pervision, especially if the rear lid is open. Children could enter the lug-
gage compartment, close the rear lid and become trapped. Depending on
the time of the year, temperatures inside a locked and closed vehicle can
be extremely high or extremely low resulting in serious injuries and ill-
ness or even death, particularly for young children.
● Never leave children or disabled people alone in the vehicle. If the ve-
hicle key or the central locking button is used, they may be locked in the
vehicle.
CAUTION
Before opening the rear lid, ensure that there is sufficient free space to
open and close it, for example if you are towing a trailer or in a garage. Warning lamp
lights upPossible causeSolution
The rear lid is open or not
correctly shut.
Stop driving immediately!
Open the rear lid and close it
again.
Several warning and control lamps should light up for a few seconds when
the ignition is switched on, signalling that the function is being verified.
They will switch off after a few seconds.
A warning lamp appears on the instrument panel  if the rear lid is open or
not properly closed.
Depending on the vehicle equipment, a symbol may be displayed on the
dash panel screen instead of the warning lamp. The indication is also visi-
ble when the ignition is switched off. The indication disappears around 15
seconds after the vehicle has been locked.
WARNING
If the rear lid is not correctly closed, it could open unexpectedly when
driving and cause serious injuries.
● Always stop immediately and close the rear lid.
● Ensure that the rear lid has been locked into place by the element on
the lock carrier when you close it.


126Seats and storage
WARNING
Travelling with the head restraints removed or improperly adjusted in-
creases 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 occupying 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 seat backrest of the front
seat. This could damage the interior roof and other parts of the vehicle. 
Centre armrest
Fig. 88 Front centre arm-
rest 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 cause a serious 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 incorrect position can cause severe injuries.

Loading luggage compartment Introduction
Always transport heavy loads in the luggage compartment and place the
seat backs in a vertical position. Always use the fastening rings with suita-
ble rope or straps. Never overload the vehicle. Both the carrying capacity as
well as the distribution of the load in the vehicle have effects on the driving
behaviour and braking ability ⇒ 
.
Additional information and warnings:
● Airbag system ⇒ page 32
● Light ⇒ page 95
● Transporting ⇒ page 13
● Towing mode ⇒ page 236
● Wheels and tyres ⇒ page 296 

168Driving
Driving
SteeringIntroduction
The power steering is not hydraulic but electromechanical. The advantage
of this 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 171
● Vehicle battery ⇒ page 291
● Tow starting and towing away ⇒ page 343
WARNING
If the power steering is not working then the steering wheel is much
more difficult 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
steering may lock and it will not be possible to turn the steering wheel.
 Control and warning lamps
lights upPossible causeSolution

(red)Power steering faulty.The steering system should be
checked by a specialised work-
shop as soon as possible.

(yellow)
Power steering operation re-
duced.
The steering system should be
checked by a specialised work-
shop as soon as possible.
If, after restarting the engine
and driving for a short distance,
the yellow warning lamp no lon-
ger comes on, it will not be nec-
essary to take the vehicle to a
specialised workshop.
The vehicle battery was dis-
connected and has been re-
connected.Drive for a short distance at 15 –
20 km/h (10 to 12 mph). 

171
Driving
Stopping and starting the engine Introduction
Immobiliser display
When an invalid key is used or in the event of a system fault,  or Immo-
biliser on is displayed on the instrument panel. The engine cannot be star- ted.
Pushing or towing
For technical reasons, the vehicle must not be push- or tow-started. Jump
starting is preferable.
Additional information and warnings:
● Vehicle key set ⇒ page 71
● Changing gear ⇒  page 175
● Braking, stopping and parking ⇒ page 184
● Steering ⇒  page 168
● Start assist systems ⇒ page 195
● Refuelling ⇒  page 267
● Fuel ⇒ page 270
● Emergency locking and unlocking ⇒ page 317
● Jump starting ⇒  page 340
● Tow starting and towing away ⇒ page 343
WARNING
Turning off the engine while driving will make stopping the vehicle diffi-
cult; this could even result in the loss of control causing an accident with
serious consequences.
● The assisted braking and steering systems, the airbag system, seat
belts and certain safety equipment are only active while the engine is
running.
● The engine should only be switched off when the vehicle is at a
standstill.
WARNING
While the engine is running or starting it could help reduce the risk of se-
rious injury.
● Never start or leave the engine running in poorly ventilated or closed
spaces. Exhaust gas contains carbon monoxide, a toxic, colourless and
odourless gas. Carbon monoxide can cause people to lose conscious-
ness. It can also cause death.
● Never leave the vehicle unattended if the engine is running. The vehi-
cle could move off suddenly or something unexpected could happen re-
sulting in damage and serious injury.
● Never use start boosters. Cold start sprays could explode or increase
the engine speed unexpectedly. 
Safety FirstOperating instructionsPractical tipsTechnical Specifications