2015 Seat Alhambra check engine light

Driving
automatically. The control lamp will not light
up in this case . For the sake of the environment
Even when the emission control system is
working perfectly, there may be a smell of
sulphur under certain conditions. This de-
pends on the sulphur content of the fuel be-
ing used. Driving abroad
In some countries, certain safety regulations
and requirements are in force relating to ex-
haust gas emissions, which differ from the
technical characteristics of the vehicle. Be-
fore travelling abroad, SEAT recommends you
consult a technical service about the legal re-
quirements and the following points:
●
Does the vehicle need technical modifica-
tions for driving abroad, for example, adjust-
ment of the headlamps?
● Does the vehicle have all the tools, diag-
nostics equipment and spare parts required
for inspections and repairs?
● Are there any SEAT dealers in the destina-
tion country?
● For petrol vehicles: Is unleaded petrol avail-
able at the right octane rating?
● For diesel engines: Is diesel fuel available
with a low sulphur content? ●
Are a suitable engine oil ( ››› page 218) and
other engine fluids complying with SEAT
specifications available in the destination
country?
● Will the navigation system fitted at the fac-
tory operate correctly in the destination coun-
try 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 lower quali-
ty fuel, an inadequate service or the non-
availability of genuine spare parts. Driving along flooded roadways
To prevent damage to the vehicle when driv-
ing through water, for example, along a floo-
ded road, please observe the following:
● Check the depth of the water before enter-
ing the flooded zone. The water should 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, making it difficult
to cross the water. WARNING
When driving through water, mud, melted
snow, etc., please remember that due to
damp or frozen brake discs and shoes in win-
ter, the braking effect may be delayed, there-
fore the required braking distance is greater.
● “Dry the brakes and remove ice” by braking
carefully. Ensure that you are not endanger-
ing other road-users or breaking traffic regu-
lations in the process.
● After driving through water, avoid sudden
sharp manoeuvres. CAUTION
● Driving through flooded areas may severely
damage vehicle components such as the en-
gine, transmission, drive train or electrical
system.
● Never drive through salt water as salt cau-
ses corrosion. Always rinse any parts of the
vehicle which have been in contact with salt
water. 153Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Towing bracket device
Bumper mounted tow hitch
Never fit a tow hitch or its attachments to the
bumper. A tow hitch should never interfere
with the bumper performance. Do not modify
the exhaust system and brake system. Regu-
larly check the tow hitch to ensure it is firmly
fitted.
Engine cooling system
Driving with a trailer increases the load on
the engine and cooling system. The cooling
system should always have sufficient coolant
and to be able to cope with the vehicle and
trailer.
Electric trailer brake
If the trailer has its own braking system,
please note the relevant legal requirements.
The trailer braking system should never be
connected to the vehicle braking system.
Trailer cable
Always use a cable between the vehicle and
the trailer ››› page 183 .
T r
ailer rear lights
The rear lights of a trailer must fulfil the cor-
responding standards ››› page 183.
Never connect the trailer's rear lights directly
to the vehicle electric system. In case of any
doubt about the electrical connection of the trailer, ask a specialised workshop. SEAT rec-
ommends visiting a technical service.
Wing mirrors
When the field of vision behind the trailer
cannot be seen using the standard wing mir-
rors of the towing vehicle, additional wing
mirrors are required according to the legal re-
quirements of each country. The wing mirrors
must be fitted before driving and must pro-
vide a sufficient field of vision behind.
Trailer electricity consumption
Never exceed the specifications:
DevicesMaximum power
Side lights and rear lights50 Watts
Turn signal (each side)54 Watts
Brake lights (total)84 Watts
Reversing lights (total)42 Watts
Rear fog light42 Watts
WARNING
If the tow hitch is badly fitted or unsuitable,
the trailer may separate from the vehicle
causing an accident with serious consequen-
ces. CAUTION
● If the rear lights of the trailer are not cor-
rectly connected, the vehicle electronics may
be damaged.
● If the trailer absorbs excessive electric cur-
rent, the vehicle electronics may be dam-
aged.
● Never connect the trailer's electric system
to the electrical connections of the rear lights
or any other power sources. Only use suitable
connections for providing electric current to
the trailer. Note
● Towing a trailer places additional demands
on the vehicle. At SEAT, we recommend addi-
tional services between the normal inspec-
tion intervals if the vehicle is used frequently
for towing a trailer.
● In some countries, an additional fire extin-
guisher is required if the trailer weight is
more than 2500 kg 181
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Operation
If the system detects that a trailer has been
connected electrically, the electrical equip-
ment on the trailer will receive voltage
through this connection (pins 9 and 10). Pin
9 has a permanent live. This powers, for ex-
ample, the trailer's interior lighting. Electrical
devices such as a fridge in a caravan only re-
c eiv
e electrical power if the engine is running
(through pin 10).
The earth wires, pin 3 and pin 13, should not
be connected to each other to avoid over-
loading the electrical system.
If the trailer has a 7-contact connector , you
will need to use an adapter cable. In this case
the function corresponding to pin 10 will not
be available.
Trailer cable
Always secure the trailer cable to the towing
vehicle correctly. Leave a little bit of slack in
the cable for turning. However, ensure that
the cable does not rub off the ground while
driving.
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 maxi-
mum power ›››
page 181. Tr
ailer connected to the anti-theft alarm:
● When a vehicle comes from the factory fit-
ted 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 sys-
tems work correctly and are not damaged.
● When the vehicle is locked using the vehi-
cle key and the anti-theft alarm is turned on.
When the vehicle is locked, the alarm is trig-
gered when the electrical connection be-
tween the vehicle and the trailer is removed.
Always turn off the anti-theft alarm system
before connecting or disconnecting a trailer.
Otherwise, the tilt sensor may erroneously
activate the alarm.
Trailer with rear LED lights
For technical reasons, trailers fitted with rear
LED lights cannot be connected to the anti-
theft alarm system.
When the vehicle is locked, the alarm does
not trigger if the electrical connection with
the trailer is cut if it has rear light with light-
emitting diodes. WARNING
Erroneous or unsuitable connection of elec-
tric cables may supply energy to the trailer
causing an anomaly in the vehicle electronics that could result in an accident with serious
consequences.
●
All work on the electrical system must be
carried out only by a specialised workshop.
● Never connect the trailer's electric system
to the electrical connections of the rear lights
or any other power sources. CAUTION
Do not leave the trailer connected to the vehi-
cle 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 the event of a fault in the vehicle or trail-
er electrical system or in the event of prob-
lems with the anti-theft alarm system, have
the system checked by a specialised work-
shop.
● If the trailer accessories use energy from
the power socket when the engine is stop-
ped, the battery will be discharged.
● For technical reasons, trailers fitted with
rear LED lights cannot be connected to the
anti-theft alarm system.
● If the vehicle battery is running low, the
electrical connection with the trailer is auto-
matically cut. 184

Advice
Check first with a specialised workshop that
understands the technical possibilities of in-
stallation if you wish to use a two-way radio
with a transmitting power of over 10 watts.
SEAT recommends taking your car in for tech-
nical service.
All legal requirements, together with the in-
structions for the use of two-way radios must
be observed. WARNING
If the two-way radio is not securely fastened
in position, it could be sent flying around the
vehicle in the event of sharp braking, sudden
manoeuvres or accident, causing injury.
● While driving, two-way radios must be se-
curely fastened in position, outside the radi-
us of action of the airbags, or safely stowed
away. WARNING
When using a two-way radio without a con-
nection to an exterior aerial, the maximum
permitted levels of electromagnetic radiation
may be exceeded. This is also the case if the
aerial has not been correctly installed.
● You should only use a two-way radio inside
the vehicle if it has first been correctly con-
nected to an exterior aerial. Information stored by the control
units
Your vehicle is fitted at the factory with a ser-
ies of electronic control units responsible for
the engine and gearbox management. In ad-
dition, the control units supervise the per-
formance of the exhaust gas system and the
airbag systems.
Therefore, while the vehicle is being driven,
these electronic control units are continuous-
ly analysing the vehicle data. In the event of
faults or deviations from the theoretical val-
ues, only this data is stored. Normally, the
warning lamps on the instrument panel light
up in the event of faults.
This data can only be read and analysed us-
ing special equipment.
The storing of the data allows specialised
workshops to detect and repair faults. Stored
data may include:
● Data relating to the engine or the gearbox
● Speed
● Direction of travel
● Braking force
● Detection of seat belt
The vehicle control units never record conver-
sations held by passengers in the vehicle.
In vehicles equipped with an emergency call
function via the mobile phone or other appli- ances connected in the vehicle, it is possible
to send the vehicle position. If the control
unit records an accident with airbag activa-
tion, the system may automatically send a
signal. This will depend on the network oper-
ator. Normally, transmission is only possible
in areas with good coverage.
Event Data Recorder
The vehicle is
not
fitted with an event data re-
c or
der.
An event data recorder temporarily stores the
vehicle information. Therefore, in the event of
an accident, it is possible to obtain detailed
information about how the accident occur-
red. For example, in vehicles with airbag sys-
tems, data relating to speed of impact, seat
belt status, seat positions and airbag activa-
tion times may be stored. The volume of data
depends on the manufacturer.
Event data recorders can only be mounted
with authorisation from the vehicle owner
and, in some countries, they are governed by
local legislation.
Reprogramming control units
On the whole, all the data required for the
component management is stored in the con-
trol units. The programming of certain con-
venience functions, such as the turn signals,
individual door opening and instructions on
the display can be modified using special
192

Care and maintenance
CAUTION
● Never raise the vehicle at the engine oil
sump, the gearbox or the rear or front axles.
● Always use an intermediate rubber support
to prevent damage to the vehicle underbody. Check that the arms of the lifting platform are
able to move with obstruction.
● The arms should not come into contact with
the side running boards or other parts of the
vehicle. Care and cleaning the vehicle
exterior
Introduction Regular maintenance and washing help to
maintain the value
of the vehicle. This may
also be one of the requirements for acknowl-
edging warranty claims in the event of body-
work corrosion or paint defects.
Products suitable for the care of your vehicle
are available at any technical service. WARNING
Car-care products may be toxic and hazard-
ous. If car care products are not suitable or
are used inappropriately, this could result in
accident, serious injury, burns or intoxica-
tion. ●
Car care products must always be stored in
the original container which should be kept
closed.
● Observe information provided by the manu-
facturer.
● To prevent confusion, never store car care
products in empty food cans, bottles or other
containers.
● Keep all care products out of reach of chil-
dren.
● Harmful vapours may be produced when us-
ing car care products. Therefore, care prod-
ucts should only be used in well-ventilated
spaces or in the open air.
● Never use fuel, turpentine, engine oil, ace-
tone or any other volatile liquid to wash,
clean or care for the vehicle. These are toxic
and highly flammable. WARNING
Inappropriate care and cleaning of vehicle
components may effect the vehicle safety
equipment, increasing the risk of severe in-
jury.
● Vehicle components should only be
cleaned and maintained in accordance with
the manufacturer's instructions.
● Only use approved or recommended care
products. CAUTION
Cleaning products which contain solvents will
damage the material. For the sake of the environment
● Only wash the vehicle in areas allocated for
this purpose, to prevent dirty water which
may be contaminated by oil, grease or fuel,
from entering the drains. In some places,
washing it outside the planned areas is even
banned.
● Where possible, always use products which
respect the environment.
● The remains of car care products should not
be disposed of with ordinary household
waste. Observe information provided by the
manufacturer. Washing the vehicle
The longer substances such as insects, bird
droppings, resinous tree sap, road dirt, in-
dustrial deposits, tar, soot or road salt and
other aggressive materials remain on the ve-
hicle, the more damage they do to the paint-
work. High temperatures (for instance due to
strong sunlight) further intensify the corro-
sive effect. The vehicle
undercarriage should
also be thoroughly washed at regular inter-
vals. »
195Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Advice
Protection of vehicle undercarriage The vehicle underbody is coated to protect it
from chemical and mechanical damage. The
protective coat on the undercarriage may
wear from use while driving. Therefore, SEAT
recommends that the protective coating on
the undercarriage and on the running gear
should be regularly checked, and repaired if
necessary.
WARNING
Additional underseal or anti-corrosion prod-
ucts could catch fire due to the high tempera-
tures reached by the exhaust gas system and
other engine components.
● Do not apply additional underseal or anti-
corrosion products to the exhaust pipes, cat-
alytic converters, heat shields or other parts
of the vehicle which reach high temperatures. Cleaning the engine compartment
The engine compartment of any motor vehi-
cle is a potentially hazardous area
››› page 214 .
The en gine c
ompartment should only be
cleaned by qualified personnel. If it is not
correctly cleaned, the anti-corrosion coating
and consequently electrical components may
be damaged. Moreover, water may filter di- rectly into the vehicle interior through the wa-
ter chamber
››› .
If the engine compartment is very dirty, al-
ways take the vehicle to a specialised work-
shop for professional cleaning. SEAT recom-
mends taking your car in for technical serv-
ice.
Water box
The water box is in the engine compartment,
between the windscreen and the engine, and
beneath a perforated cover. Air is taken in
through the water box from outside to the ve-
hicle interior via the heating and air condi-
tioner.
Leaves and other loose objects should be
regularly cleaned away from the water box ei-
ther by hand or with a vacuum. WARNING
When working on the engine or in the engine
compartment, there is a risk of injury, burns,
accident or fire.
● Before starting work, please ensure you are
familiar with the required procedure and the
safety precautions ››› page 214.
● SEAT recommends getting a specialised
workshop to do these jobs. CAUTION
If water is manually poured into the water box
(e.g. using a high pressure cleaning appli-
ance), this could cause significant damage to
the vehicle. For the sake of the environment
Only wash the engine compartment in areas
allocated for this purpose, to prevent dirty
water which may be contaminated by oil,
grease or fuel, from entering the drains. In
some places, washing this compartment out-
side the planned areas is even banned. Caring for and cleaning the
vehicle interior
Introduction The dye used in many modern garments, for
example dark jeans, is not always sufficiently
colour-fast. Seat upholstery (material and
leather), especially when light-coloured, may
visibly discolour if the dye comes out of
clothing (even when used correctly). This is
not an upholstery defect but indicates that
the dye in the item of clothing is not suffi-
ciently colour-fast.
The longer stains or dirt remain on the vehi-
cle surfaces, especially the fabrics covering
the padded upholstery, the more difficult it
200

Checking and refilling levels
A cold diesel engine makes more noise dur-
ing winter temperatures than summer tem-
peratures. Furthermore, the exhaust gases
may turn slightly bluish while the engine is
heating. The quantity of exhaust gases will
depend on the outside temperature.
Filter pre-heater
Vehicles with a diesel engine are fitted with a
fuel filter pre-heating system. This ensures
that the fuel system remains operational to
approx. -24 °C (-11.2 °F), provided you use
winter-grade diesel which is safe to -15 °C
(+5.0 °F).
However, if the fuel has waxed to such an ex-
tent that the engine will not start at tempera-
tures of under -24 °C (-11.2 °F), simply place
the vehicle in a warm garage or workshop for
a while to heat up.
Auxiliary heater
Vehicles with a diesel engine may be fitted
with an auxiliary heater. The heater runs off
the fuel from the fuel tank. On doing so,
smells and steam may be noticed outside the
vehicle for a short period. This is normal and
it is not an indication of a fault in the vehicle.
Whenever there is little fuel in the tank (re-
serve), the auxiliary heater automatically
switches off. WARNING
Never use start boosters. An aerosol start
booster could explode or cause a sudden rise
in engine speed leading to engine damage
and serious injury. CAUTION
● The vehicle is not prepared for the use of
biodiesel. Never, under any circumstances re-
fuel with biodiesel. It could damage the fuel
system and subsequently lead to engine
faults!
● The addition of biodiesel to diesel by the
diesel producer according to Standard 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 sys-
tem.
● The diesel engine has been designed for to
use diesel fuel exclusively. Therefore, never
use petrol, fuel oil or other unsuitable fuels.
The composition of these fuels may signifi-
cantly damage the fuel system and the en-
gine.
● The use of diesel fuels with a high sulphur
percentage could considerably reduce the
service life of the diesel particulate filter.
Your technical service centre will be able to
tell you which countries have diesel with a
high sulphur content. Information on fuel consumption
The consumption and emission values indi-
cated do not refer to one specific vehicle.
They are only to be used to compare the val-
ues of the different vehicle versions. The fuel
consumption and CO
2 emissions of a vehicle
not only depend on the effective use of fuel.
They also depend on your driving style and
other non-technical factors.
Calculation of fuel consumption
Fuel consumption and emission values are
determined according to the current version
of the 715/2007/EC or 80/1268/EEC regula-
tion and are valid for the vehicle kerb weight.
The specifications do not
refer to an individu-
al
vehicle. Two measuring cycles are carried
out on a rolling road test bed to calculate fuel
consumption. The test criteria are as follows:
Urban cy-
cleMeasurement of the urban cycle starts
with an engine cold start. City driving is si-
mulated below at between 0 and 50 km/h
(31 mph).
Road cycle
In the road cycle simulation, the car under-
goes frequent acceleration and braking in
all gears, as in normal everyday driving.
The road speed ranges from 0 to
120 km/h (0 and 75 mph).
Combined
The average combined consumption is cal-
culated with a weighting of around 37 %
for the urban cycle and 63 % for the road
cycle.
» 211
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

AdviceCO
2 emis-
sions of
the combi-
nationThe exhaust gases are collected during
both driving cycles to calculate carbon di-
oxide emissions (urban and road). The gas
composition is then analysed to evaluate
the CO 2 content and other emissions. Note
● The kerb weight may vary according to the
vehicle equipment. This could raise consump-
tion and the CO 2 emissions slightly.
● In practice, consumption values could be
different to the values calculated based on
the 715/2007/EC or 80/1268/EEC regula-
tions. Selective catalytic reduction*
(AdBlue)
Introduction The AdBlue fill level must be checked when
the vehicle is being serviced.
WARNING
If the AdBlue fill level is too low, the vehicle
may not restart after switching the ignition
off. The emergency start or jump start will not
be possible either!
● Top up with AdBlue at the latest 1,000 km
or 600 miles before it runs out.
● Do not allow the AdBlue to run too low. WARNING
AdBlue is an irritant, corrosive liquid that can
cause injuries if it touches the skin, eyes or
respiratory organs.
● If AdBlue get in contact with eyes and skin,
rinse for at least 15 minutes with plenty of
water and seek medical help.
● If the AdBlue is swallowed, wash your
mouth with plenty of water for at least 15 mi-
nutes. Do not try to provoke vomiting unless
recommended by a Doctor. Seek medical ad-
vice immediately. CAUTION
AdBlue damages surfaces such as painted ve-
hicle parts, plastic, items of clothing and car-
pets. Spilt AdBlue should be removed as
quickly as possible using a damp cloth and
plenty of cold water.
● If the AdBlue has crystallised, remove with
warm water and a sponge. Control and warning lamps
It lights
upPossible causeSolution 
(red)
The engine cannot
be restarted! The
level of AdBlue is
too low.Stop the vehicle in a
suitable, safe and flat
area then top up with
the minimum quanti-
ty of AdBlue required
››› page 213. 
(red)
with

The engine cannot
be restarted! AdBl-
ue system malfunc-
tion.Contact a specialised
workshop. Have the
system checked
there. 
(yellow)The AdBlue reserve
is low.
Refill AdBlue over the
next kilometres or
miles as indicated
››› page 213. SEAT
recommends contact-
ing a specialised
workshop. 
(yellow)
together with

There is a fault in
the AdBlue system
or unsuitable AdBl-
ue fluid has been
used.Contact a specialised
workshop. Have the
system checked
there. Several warning and control lamps should
light up for a few seconds when the ignition
is switched on, signalling that the function is
212