2015 Seat Alhambra brake fluid

Advice
risk from rotating parts, such as the drive
belts, alternator, radiator fan, etc., as well as
from the high-voltage ignition system. Al-
ways work with the utmost caution.
– Always make sure that no parts of your
body, jewellery, ties, loose clothing and
long hair can be trapped by the rotating
parts of the engine. Before any work, re-
move ties and jewellery (necklaces, etc),
tie long hair back and tie all items of
loose clothing to your body to make sure
that they cannot be trapped by engine
components.
– Take extreme caution when operating the
accelerator and remain attentive. The ve-
hicle could move, even with the electron-
ic parking brake activated.
● Always make sure you have not left any ob-
jects, such as cleaning cloths and tools, in
the engine compartment. If any object is left
in the engine compartment, this could cause
malfunctions, engine faults and even a fire. WARNING
Refill liquids and certain materials can catch
fire easily in the engine compartment, caus-
ing a fire and serious injury!
● Never smoke.
● Never work close to places exposed to
flames or sparks.
● 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 in-
structions 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 per-
fectly working fire extinguisher close by.
● Never cover the engine with additional in-
sulating materials such as a blanket. Risk of
fire! 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 envi-
ronment. 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 professional to
dispose of them. Opening and closing the bonnet
Fig. 162
In the footwell on the driver side:
Lever for unlocking the bonnet Fig. 163
Release lever to open the bonnet in
the radiator grille Opening the bonnet
The lever to open the bonnet can only be
used if the driver door is open.
216

Checking and refilling levels
● Before opening the bonnet, make sure that
the windscreen wiper arms are in place
against the windscreen ››› .
● Open the driver door.
● Pull the release lever ››› Fig. 162 in the di-
r ection of
the arrow. The bonnet is released
from the lock carrier by a spring mechanism
››› .
● Lift the bonnet using the release lever
››› Fig. 163 (arrow) and open the bonnet fully.
The bonnet i

s held open thanks to the gas
strut.
Closing the bonnet
● To close the bonnet, pull it down to over-
come the gas strut pressure ››› .
● Allow the bonnet to fall into the lock carrier.
Do not press down.
If the bonnet is not correctly closed, open it
once again and close it correctly.
The bonnet is correctly closed when it is flush
with the corresponding parts on the body-
work. WARNING
If the bonnet is not correctly closed, it could
suddenly open while driving leaving the driv-
er without visibility. This could result in a se-
rious accident.
● After closing the bonnet, always check that
it is properly secured by the locking mecha- nism in the lock carrier. The bonnet must be
flush with the surrounding body panels.
●
While driving, if you notice that the bonnet
is not correctly closed then stop immediately
and close it correctly.
● Only open and close the bonnet when there
is nobody within its range. CAUTION
● To avoid damage to the bonnet and to the
windscreen wiper arms, only open it when
the windscreen wipers are in place against
the windscreen.
● Before driving, always lower the wiper
arms. Checking fluid levels
Fig. 164
Diagram for the location of the vari-
ous elements. From time to time, the levels of the different
fluids in the vehicle must be checked. Never
fill with incorrect fluids, otherwise serious
damage to the engine may be caused.
Coolant fluid deposit
Engine oil dipstick
Oil filler neck
Brake fluid reservoir
Vehicle battery (underneath a cover)
Windscreen washer fluid reservoir »
1 2
3
4
5
6
217
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Checking and refilling levels
●
When refilling liquids, avoid spilling them
on parts of the engine and the exhaust sys-
tem. Spilled liquids could cause a fire. Under
specific circumstances, the ethylene glycol
can catch fire. CAUTION
● Only fill with distilled water. Any other type
of water may lead to considerable rusting in
the engine due to its chemical components.
This could consequently damage the engine.
If you have not used distilled water but an-
other type of water to top up the coolant, a
specialised workshop must immediately re-
place all of the fluid in the engine cooling
system.
● Only top up coolant to the top level of the
marked area ››› Fig. 168
. Otherwise the ex-
c e
ss coolant will be forced out of the cooling
system when the engine is hot, causing dam-
age.
● If a lot of liquid coolant has been lost, wait
for the engine to cool down completely before a

dding coolant. Extensive coolant loss is an
indication of leaks in the engine cooling sys-
tem. Have the engine cooling system inspec-
ted immediately by a specialised workshop.
Otherwise engine damage may occur.
● 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! Brake fluid
Checking the brake fluid level Fig. 170
In the engine compartment: brake
fluid reservoir cap In the course of time, the brake fluid absorbs
water from the ambient air. If there is too
much water in the brake fluid, the brake sys-
tem could be damaged. In addition, the boil-
ing point of the brake fluid is significantly
lowered. When the brake fluid contains too
much water and the brakes are subject to
considerable forces, bubbles of water vapour
can form in the system. These bubbles can
significantly reduce braking power, notably
increasing braking distance, and could even
result in the total failure of the brake system.
Ensuring that the brake system is always
functioning correctly is essential for your own
safety and the safety of other road users
››› .Brake fluid specifications
SEAT have developed a special brake fluid
optimised for the brake systems of their vehi-
cles. To ensure the optimum working of the
brake system, SEAT recommends the use of
brake fluid in accordance with the VW 501 14
standard
. If this brake fluid is not available or
another br ak

e fluid is used for different rea-
sons, use a brake fluid that complies with the
United States standard FMVSS 116 DOT 4 or
the German standard DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4
››› .
Brake fluids conforming to the standard
VW 501 14, fulfil the American requirements
of the FMVSS 116 DOT 4 standard and the
German DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 standard.
However, fluids that comply with the US
FMVSS 116 DOT 4 standard or the German
DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 standard do not nec-
essarily comply with the VW 501 14 stand-
ard. Always check the information on the
brake fluid container and ensure that you are
using suitable brake fluid.
A suitable brake fluid can be obtained from
technical service centres.
Brake fluid level
The level of the brake fluid should always be
between the MIN and MAX marks, or above
the MIN mark ››› .
»
225Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Advice
It is not always possible to check the level of
the brake fluid, as in some models the en-
gine components make it difficult to see the
brake fluid reservoir. If you cannot read the
exact brake fluid level, consult a specialist.
The brake fluid level drops slightly when the
vehicle is being used due to wear of the
brake pads and the automatic readjustment
of the brake.
Changing the brake fluid
The brake fluid should be changed in accord-
ance with the instructions given in the Main-
tenance Programme. Have the brake fluid
changed by a specialised workshop. SEAT
recommends taking your car in for technical
service. This means that only brake fluid
complying with the required specifications
will be used. WARNING
If the brake fluid level is low or unsuita-
ble/old brake fluid is used, the brake system
may fail or braking power may be reduced.
● Check the brake system and the brake fluid
level regularly!
● The brake fluid should be changed regular-
ly in accordance with the instructions given
in the Maintenance Programme.
● When the brake fluid is used and brakes
are subjected to extreme braking forces, bub-
bles of vapour form in the brake system. These bubbles can significantly reduce brak-
ing power, notably increasing braking dis-
tance, and could result in the total failure of
the brake system.
●
Only used brake fluid that conforms to the
VW 501 14 standard, FMVSS 116 DOT 4
standard or even the DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4
standard. Other types of brake fluid could af-
fect brake operation and reduce braking pow-
er. Do not use a brake fluid if the container
does not specify compliance with the
VW 501 14, FMVSS 116 DOT 4 or
DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 standards.
● The replacement brake fluid must be new.
● Always ensure that you use suitable brake
fluid. Do not use a brake fluid if the container
does not specify compliance with the
VW 501 14, FMVSS 116 DOT 4 or
DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 standards. WARNING
Brake fluid is poisonous.
● To reduce the risk of poisoning, do not keep
brake fluid in drinks bottles/containers or
similar. Other people could drink from these
recipients even if the contents are clearly
marked.
● Always keep brake fluid in the original con-
tainer; keep it correctly sealed and out of
reach of children. CAUTION
Brake fluid damages the vehicle paintwork.
Wipe off any brake fluid from the paintwork
immediately. For the sake of the environment
Brake fluid is an environmental pollutant.
Collect any spilt service fluids and allow a
professional to dispose of them. Checking and topping up the
windscreen washer reservoir with
water
Fig. 171
In the engine compartment: wind-
screen washer reservoir top Check the level in the windscreen washer
tank regularly and top up as required.
● Open the bonnet  ››› page 214.
226

Wheels and tyres
lighter. This could damage the vehicle's
electrical system.
For the sake of the environment
● Dispose of the battery in an environment-
friendly manner. Batteries contain toxic sub-
stances such as sulphuric acid and lead.
● Battery acid can contaminate the environ-
ment. Collect any spilt service fluids and dis-
pose of them correctly. Wheels and tyres
Wheels Introduction The SEAT Alhambra is equipped as standard
with anti-puncture technology tyres (Conti-
Seal). In the event of a puncture or air leak of
up to 5 mm, the tyre seals the hole with a
protective layer inside the tread.
The inclusion of this technology means that
there is no type of spare wheel included in
the vehicle's equipment.
SEAT recommend that all work on tyres and
wheels is carried out by a specialised work-
shop. These workshops have the necessary
special tools and replacement parts, trained
personnel and facilities for disposing of the
old tyres while respecting the environment.
SEAT recommends taking your car in for tech-
nical service.
WARNING
The vehicle cannot be totally controlled or
braked if the tyres (new or used) are worn or
damaged.
● Incorrect use of wheels and tyres could
make driving more dangerous and result in
serious accidents and damage. ●
All four wheels must be fitted with radial
tyres of the same type, size (rolling circumfer-
ence) and the same tread pattern.
● New tyres do not give maximum grip and
will not have reached their maximum braking
capacity to start with, and therefore need
running in. To prevent accidents and major
damage, extreme caution should be taken for
the first 600 km.
● Check tyre pressures regularly and ensure
they are maintained at the pressures indica-
ted. If the tyre pressure is too low, they could
overheat, resulting in tread detachment or
even burst tyres.
● Never drive on damaged (punctured, cut,
cracked or dented) or worn tyres. Driving on
damaged or worn tyres could result in burst
tyres, serious accidents or damage. Worn or
damaged tyres must be replaced immediate-
ly.
● Never exceed the maximum permitted
speed or loads specified for the type of tyre
fitted on your vehicle.
● The effectiveness of driver and brake assist
systems also depends on the grip of the
tyres.
● If you notice unusual vibration or if the ve-
hicle pulls to one side when driving, stop the
car immediately and check the tyres and
wheels for damage.
● To minimise the risk of losing control of the
vehicle or causing a serious accident, never
undo the bolted joints of beadlock wheels. » 231Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Advice
●
Never mount used tyres or wheels if you are
not sure of their previous history. They may
be damaged, although the damage is not im-
mediately visible.
● Old tyres, even if they have never been
used, may lose air or burst unexpectedly
while driving, resulting in serious accident or
damage. If tyres are over six years old, they
should only be used in an emergency and
with extreme caution. Note
● For technical reasons, it is not generally
possible to use the wheels from other vehi-
cles. In some cases, this may also be true for
the same model of wheel. Please refer to the
vehicle documentation or ask at a technical
service. About your tyres and wheels
Fig. 174
Diagram for changing wheels The tyres of a vehicle are the components
which are subjected to most stress and are
the most underestimated. Tyres are very im-
portant, as the support offered by their nar-
row surface is the only point of contact be-
tween the vehicle and the road.
The service life of tyres is dependent on tyre
pressure, driving style, the care they receive
and the correct fitting.
The tyres and wheel rims are an essential
part of the vehicle's design. The tyres and
rims approved by SEAT are specially matched
to the characteristics of the vehicle and our
critical to good road holding and safe han-
dling.
Avoiding damage to tyres and wheels
● If you have to drive over a kerb or similar
obstacle, drive very slowly and as near as
possible at a right angle to the kerb.
● Inspect the tyres regularly for damage
(punctures, cuts, cracks, dents).
● Remove any foreign bodies found on the
outside of the tyre tread and ensure that they
have not passed through the wall of the tyre
››› page 237 .
● In a d
dition, the instructions for tyre control
systems should always be observed.
● Replace damaged or worn tyres as soon as
possible ››› page 237. ●
Re
gularly check tyres for non-visible dam-
age ››› page 237.
● Never e

xceed the maximum permitted
speed or loads specified for the type of tyre
fitted on your vehicle ››› page 238.
● Do not allow tyres to come into contact with
aggressive substances, grease, oil, fuel or
brake fluid ››› .
● Lost valve caps should be replaced imme-
diately.
Tyres with directional tread pattern
Tyres with directional tread pattern have
been designed to operate best when rotating
in only one direction. An arrow on the tyre
sidewall indicates the direction of rotation on
tyres with directional tread ››› page 238. Al-
ways observe the direction of rotation indica-
ted when mounting the wheel. This guaran-
tees optimum grip and helps to avoid aqua-
planing, excessive noise and wear.
If the tyre is mounted in the opposite direc-
tion of rotation, drive with extreme caution,
as the tyre is no longer being used correctly.
This is of particular importance when the
road surface is wet. Change the tyre as soon
as possible or remount it with the correct di-
rection of rotation.
Interchanging tyres
To ensure that the wear is equal on all tyres
the wheels should be changed round from
232

Wheels and tyres
time to time according to the system
››› Fig. 174 . The useful life of all the tyres will
then be about the s
ame time.
SEAT recommends you take the vehicle to a
specialised workshop to have the tyres
changed.
Tyres that are over 6 years old
Tyres are subject to an ageing process as a
result of physical and chemical processes.
This may affect their performance. Tyres
which are stored for long periods of time
without being used, harden and become
more fragile than tyres which are in constant
use.
SEAT recommends that tyres over six years
old are replaced with new tyres. This also ap-
plies to tyres which appear to be in perfect
condition on the outside and which have a
tread depth within the values stipulated by
the Law ››› .
The date of manufacture, part of the tyre
identification number (TIN), indicates the age
of the tyre ››› page 238 .
St orin

g tyres
Mark tyres when you remove them to indicate
the direction of rotation (left, right, forwards,
backwards). This ensures you will be able to
mount them correctly when you replace
them. When removed, the wheels and/or
tyres should be stored in a cool, dry and pref- erably dark location. Do
not place tyres
mount

ed on the wheel in a vertical position.
Protect tyres not mounted on wheels from
dirt by storing them in suitable bags and
standing them on the ground on their tread. WARNING
Aggressive fluids or substances could result
in visible or invisible damage with the conse-
quent risks.
● Always ensure that tyres do not come into
contact with chemical products, oil, grease,
fuel, brake fluid or other aggressive substan-
ces. WARNING
Old tyres, even if they have never been used,
may lose air or burst unexpectedly while driv-
ing, resulting in serious accident or damage.
● If tyres are over six years old, they should
only be used in an emergency and with ex-
treme caution. For the sake of the environment
Old tyres must be disposed of by qualified
personnel according to the laws in the coun-
try concerned. Wheel rims
The design of wheel bolts is matched to the
rims. If different rims are fitted, the correct
wheel bolts with the right length and correct-
ly shaped bolt heads must be used. This en-
sures that wheels are fitted securely and that
the brake system functions correctly
››› page 246.
F or t

echnical reasons, it is not generally pos-
sible to use the wheels from other vehicles.
In some cases, this may also be true for the
same model of wheel.
The tyres and rims approved by SEAT are spe-
cially matched to the characteristics of the
vehicle and are critical to good road holding
and safe handling.
Note for Italy: A SEAT Service Centre should
be c on

sulted whether different sized wheels
or tyres to those originally fitted by SEAT may
be fitted, as well as the combinations al-
lowed between the front axle (axle 1) and
back axle (axle 2).
Wheel bolts
Wheel bolts must be tightened to the correct
torque ›››
page 246
.
Beadlock wheel rims
Beadlock wheel rims have various compo-
nents. These are joined together by special
bolts using a special procedure. This ensures »
233
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Index
Assistance systems Cruise control system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Electronic differential lock system (EDL andXDS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Assist systems Anti-lock brake system (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Auto Hold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Braking assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Lane Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Lane Assist system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Optical parking system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Park Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Park Assist system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Parking aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Parking sensor system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Rear Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Rear assist system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Sign Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Start-Stop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Start assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Traction control system (ASR) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Traction control when accelerating (ASR) . . . . 155
Tyre monitoring indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Auto Hold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Automatic belt retainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Automatic car wash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195 Switching Auto Hold off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Switching the start assist off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Automatic device disconnection . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Automatic dipped beam control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Automatic gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143 Changing gear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
DSG automatic gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Ignition key removal lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Kickdown system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146 Launch-Control programme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Malfunction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146, 147
Manually unlocking the gear selector lever . . 262
Please also see "Changing gears" . . . . . . . . . 143
See "Automatic gearbox" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
AUX-IN connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Auxiliary heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128, 211 Automatic off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Operating instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Remote control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Remote control range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Remote control: Replacing the battery . . . . . . 129
Switching off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Switching on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Things to note . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128, 131
Auxiliary heater remote control Replacing the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Axle loads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
B BAS See "Brake assist systems" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Battery Discharge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Discharging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
See Vehicle battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Battery acid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Before starting the vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Belt height adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Belt tensioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Service and disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Belt tension limiter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Bicycle carrier
Installing a bicycle carrier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Maximum load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Biodiesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Bonnet Closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Bottle holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137 Brake servo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Electronic parking brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Emergency braking function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Parking brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Brake assist systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Brake assist system (BAS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225 Specification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Brakes Brake assist systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Brake fluid level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Brake pads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Changing the brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Control lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Emergency brake indicator in case of suddenbraking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Running-in brake pads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Brake servo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142, 154
Brake system Malfunction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Brake systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Braking assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155 Brake assist system (BAS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Breakdown Securing the vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Bulb fault See changing bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
288