2015 Seat Alhambra maintenance

Care and maintenance
equipment at the workshop. If this is the
case, the information and descriptions given
in the Instruction Manual will not match the
original functions. Therefore, SEAT recom-
mends that any modifications be recorded in
the section “Other workshop notes” in the
Maintenance Programme.
The technical service centre must have a re-
cord of any modification to the programming.
Reading the vehicle fault memory
There is a diagnostics connector in the vehi-
cle interior for reading the vehicle fault mem-
ory. The fault memory documents errors and
deviations from the theoretical values of the
electronic control units.
The diagnostics connector is in the driver
side footwell area, next to the lever for open-
ing the bonnet, below a cover.
The fault memory should only be read and re-
set by a specialised workshop.
Using a mobile telephone in a vehicle
without connection to an exterior
aerial Mobile telephones transmit and receive radio
waves, both when in use and when on stand-
by. Scientific studies state that radio waves
exceeding certain values may be harmful to
the human body. International committees and authorities have established limits and
directives in order to ensure electromagnetic
radiation from mobile phones remains within
certain limits that do not endanger health.
Nevertheless, there is no conclusive scientif-
ic evidence that wireless telephones are to-
tally safe.
Therefore, some experts recommend that use
of mobile phone be kept to a minimum until
the results of current research are published.
When a mobile phone not connected to an
exterior aerial is used inside the vehicle, the
electromagnetic radiation may be greater
than if the mobile phone were connected to a
built-in aerial or to another exterior aerial.
If the vehicle is fitted with a suitable hands-
free device, it will comply with the legislation
in many countries which only permits the use
of mobile phones inside vehicles using a
hands-free device.
The hands-free system mounted at the facto-
ry has been designed for use with conven-
tional mobile phones and phones with Blue-
tooth technology. Mobile phones should be
placed on a suitable phone cradle. In addi-
tion, the cradle should always be correctly fit-
ted into the base plate. This ensures that the
mobile phone is securely attached to the
dash panel, it is always within reach of the
driver and is connected to the vehicle exterior
aerial.
If the mobile phone is connected to an aerial
incorporated into the vehicle or an exterior
aerial connected to the vehicle, it will help re-
duce the electromagnetic radiation transmit-
ted and the risk to human health. It will also
improve the quality of the connection.
If the phone is used inside the vehicle with-
out the hands-free system, it will not be se-
curely fastened and will not be connected to
the exterior aerial of the vehicle telephone.
Nor will the telephone charge if it is not on
the support. In addition, some calls may
break off and the quality of the connection
will be affected.
Mobile phones should only be used inside
the vehicle if they are connected to a hands-
free system with an exterior aerial.
WARNING
If the mobile phone 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, mobile phones must be se-
curely fastened in position, outside the radi-
us of action of the airbags, or safely stowed
away. WARNING
When using a mobile phone without a con-
nection to an exterior aerial, the maximum
permitted levels of electromagnetic radiation » 193Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

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

Care and maintenance
Washing the vehicle with high
pressure cleaning equipment When cleaning the vehicle with a high-pres-
sure cleaner, always follow the operating in-
structions for the equipment. Pay special at-
tention to the required pressure of the jet
and the distance
between the jet and the ve-
hic
le ››› .
Keep a suitable distance from soft materials,
such as rubber hoses or insulating material,
and from the parking distance warning sys-
tem sensors. The parking distance sensors
are fitted in the rear bumpers and, where ap-
plicable, in the front bumpers ››› .
Do not use a nozzle that sprays the water out
in a direct stream
or one th
at
has a rotating
jet for forcing off dirt ››› .
WARNING
The incorrect use of high pressure cleaning
equipment could result in permanent dam-
age, visible or invisible, to the tyres or other
materials. This could result in a serious acci-
dent.
● Ensure there is a suitable distance between
the nozzle and the tyres.
● Never wash tyres with a concentrated jet or
so-called “dirt blasters”. Even at large spray-
ing distances and short cleaning times, you
may damage the tyres. WARNING
After the vehicle has been washed, the brak-
ing effect will be reduced (and the braking
distance increased) due to moisture (and ice
in winter) on the brakes.
● “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. CAUTION
● The temperature of the water must not be
above +60 °C (+140 °F).
● To avoid damage to the paintwork, do not
wash the vehicle in full sun.
● The sensors on the bumpers should be kept
clean and free of ice at all times to ensure the parking distance warning system and the
parking aid system operate correctly. When
cleaning with pressure hoses and steam
cleaners, the sensors should be sprayed only
briefly. A distance of 10 cm between the sen-
sors and the steam / hose nozzle must be ob-
served.
● Do not use a high pressure cleaner to re-
move ice or snow from windows
● Washing the vehicle in low temperatures:
When washing the vehicle with a hose, do
not direct water into the lock cylinders or the
gaps around the doors or roof. Locks and
seals could freeze! Cleaning windows and exterior
mirrors
Cleaning windows and exterior mirrors
Spray windows and exterior windows with a
standard window cleaner containing alcohol.
Dry the windows with a clean chamois leath-
er or a lint-free cloth. The chamois leathers
used on painted surfaces are not suitable for
cleaning windows because they are soiled
with wax deposits which could smear the
windows.
Use window cleaner or a silicone remover to
clean rubber, oil, grease and silicone depos-
its off
››› .
Removing wax deposits
Automatic car washes and certain car care
products may leave wax deposits on the win-
dows. These deposits can only be removed
with a special product or cleaning cloths.
Wax deposits on the windscreen could cause
the wiper blades to judder. SEAT recom-
mends you wipe the wax deposits off the
windscreen with a soft cloth each time after
you have washed the vehicle.
A window cleaning detergent which helps to
dissolve the wax may be added to the wind-
screen washer fluid to prevent the wiper
blades from scratching the windscreen.
Please ensure you add the cleaning product
in the correct proportions. Products for »
197
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Care and maintenance
Cleaning chrome parts Clean chrome parts with a damp cloth. SEAT
recommends the use of a chrome care prod-
uct to clean stains and dirt from chrome sur-
faces. Use a soft dry cloth to polish chrome
parts.
CAUTION
To prevent scratching chrome surfaces:
● Do not use abrasive products.
● Do not clean or polish chrome parts in a
sandy or dusty environment.
● Do not polish dirty surfaces. Caring for and cleaning anodized
surfaces
It is not easy to detect the difference between
aluminium and an anodized surface, for ex-
ample, a radiator grille. However, anodized
surfaces must not be treated in the same way
as aluminium surfaces. Never use rough
sponges or cloths to wipe away insect re-
mains.
● Use a clean, damp, lint-free cloth to clean
anodized surfaces.
● If there is a lot of dirt, use a special clean-
ing product which does not contain solvents. CAUTION
To prevent damage to the anodized surfaces: ● Do not use products containing solvents.
● Do not use polish or hard wax.
● Do not use abrasive products.
● Do not polish anodized surfaces in sandy or
dusty environments.
● Do not polish dirty surfaces. Cleaning wheels
Cleaning steel wheels
Use an industrial cleaner to remove brake
dust. Therefore, clean wheels regularly with a
separate sponge.
Any damage to the paint on steel wheels
should be touched up before the metal starts
to rust.
Caring for and cleaning alloy wheels
Remove road salt and brake dust by washing
the wheels approximately
once a fortnight.
Use an acid free detergent to clean the wheel
rims. SEAT recommends treating the wheels
thoroughly with a wax compound about once
every three months.
It is important to remove road salt and brake
dust by washing the wheels at regular inter-
vals, otherwise the finish will be impaired. Always use an acid-free detergent for alloy
wheel rims. Car polish or other abrasive
agents should not be used for maintaining
the rims.
If the protective coating on the paint has
been damaged (e.g. hit by a stone), it should
be repaired immediately.
Caring for rubber seals The rubber seals on doors, windows, etc., re-
main flexible, provide a better seal and last
longer if they are regularly treated with a
product specifically designed for use on rub-
ber.
Before applying the product, use a soft cloth
to remove dust and dirt from the rubber
seals.
De-icing the door lock cylinder To de-ice the lock cylinders, SEAT recommend
the use of genuine SEAT spray with lubricat-
ing and anti-corrosive properties.
CAUTION
The use of products containing degreasing
agents to de-ice the locks may rust the lock
cylinder. 199Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Care and maintenance
becomes to clean and maintain them. If
stains and dirt are left for a long time, it may
be that they are impossible to remove. WARNING
Car-care products may be toxic and hazard-
ous. Using unsuitable car-care products or,
using them in the wrong way, may cause acci-
dents, serious injury, burns or intoxication.
● Keep your car-care products in their origi-
nal containers.
● Read the instructions.
● Never keep car-care products in empty food
containers, bottles or other similar contain-
ers. Other people may confuse them.
● Keep all car-care products out of the reach
of children.
● Some products may give off harmful va-
pours during use. Therefore, they should be
used outdoors in well-ventilated places.
● Never use fuel, turpentine, engine oil, nail-
varnish remover or any other volatile product
for washing, maintenance or cleaning. These
are toxic and highly flammable. WARNING
Unsuitable maintenance and cleaning of vehi-
cle components may impair proper operation
of safety equipment and cause serious injury.
● Maintain and clean vehicle components ac-
cording to the manufacturer's instructions. ●
Only use approved or recommended clean-
ing products. CAUTION
● Cleaning products which contain solvents
have a corrosive effect and may damage the
material irreparably.
● Stains and dirt containing aggressive sub-
stances or solvents attack the material and
may damage it irreparably, even when they
are cleaned quickly.
● Dirt and stains should not be allowed to dry
and should be cleaned as quickly as possible.
● In the case of stubborn stains, take the ve-
hicle to a specialised workshop to avoid dam-
age. Treating your upholstery
To treat and maintain your seat upholstery,
keep the following in mind
››› :
● Before entering the vehicle, close any Vel-
cro fasteners that might snag on the uphols-
tery or trim fabric. Any open Velcro fasteners
may damage the trim or upholstery fabrics.
● To prevent damage, avoid direct contact
between sharp decorative objects and the
upholstery and trim fabrics. Decorative ob-
jects include zips, rivets and rhinestones on
clothing and belts. ●
From time to time, clean the dust that gath-
ers in the perforations, folds and seams so
that the surfaces of the seats are not dam-
aged by its abrasive effect.
● Make sure clothes are colour-fast to avoid
them running and staining the upholstery.
This is especially important if the upholstery
is light in colour. CAUTION
If you ignore this advice, which is important
for maintaining your seat upholstery, the fab-
ric may be damaged or stained. Note
SEAT recommends you take the vehicle to a
specialised workshop to treat any stains on
the upholstery caused by the discolouration
of clothing. How to clean the upholstery, trim
fabrics and Alcantara
® Cleaning the fabric on heated seats and
electrically adjustable seats or seats with
airbag components
It is possible that there are important airbag
components and electrical connections in-
side the driver seat, passenger seat and pos-
sibly the outer rear seats. If these seats and
seat backrests are damaged, or are cleaned
»
201Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Care and maintenance
CAUTION
● Do not let water soak into Alcantara ®
under
any circumstances.
● Do not use leather cleaning products, sol-
vents, wax polish, shoe cream, stain remov-
ers or similar products on Alcantara ®
.
● Never use brushes for cleaning damp mate-
rial as they could damage the surface. Cleaning and maintenance of natural
leather upholstery
Consult a professional cleaning workshop if
you have any doubts on cleaning and main-
taining the leather equipment in your vehicle.
Maintenance and treatment
Nappa natural leather is delicate because it
has no additional protective layer.
● After cleaning, regularly apply a condition-
er with sun-screen and impregnating action.
These products nourish the leather, soften it
and make it more breathable, as well as re-
hydrating it. They also provide it with a pro-
tective film.
● Clean the leather every 2 or 3 months and
remove stains as they appear.
● Treat the leather every 6 months with a
suitable maintenance product. ●
Apply as few cleaning and maintenance
products as possible, always using a dry, lint-
free cotton or woollen cloth. Do not apply
cleaning and maintenance products directly
to the leather.
● Remove recent ball-point pen and ink
stains, lipstick, shoe cream and similar
stains as soon as possible.
● Maintain the colour of the leather. To do
this, use a special cream especially coloured
for leather to achieve the same overall colour,
if necessary.
● Afterwards, go over it with a soft cloth.
Cleaning the vehicle
SEAT recommends using a slightly damp cot-
ton or woollen cloth for general cleaning pur-
poses.
Generally, the leather should never be
soaked at any point, nor should water pene-
trate the seams.
Before cleaning the leather upholstery, bear
in mind the f o
llowing recommendations
››› page 201, Cleaning the fabric on heated
seats and electrically adjustable seats or
seats with airbag components . CAUTION
● On no account use solvents, wax polish,
shoe cream, stain removers or similar materi-
als on leather. ●
If the stain remains on the leather for long,
it will soak in and be impossible to remove.
● In the event of spilt liquids, dry immediate-
ly with an absorbent cloth to prevent the liq-
uid penetrating through the leather or seams.
● If the vehicle is left standing in the sun for
long periods, the leather should be protected
against direct sunlight to prevent it from fad-
ing. Note
The leather will usually change colour slight-
ly with use. Cleaning synthetic leather upholstery
Before cleaning synthetic leather upholstery,
bear in mind the following recommendations
››› page 201, Cleaning the fabric on heated
seats and electrically adjustable seats or
seats with airbag components
Only use water and neutral cleaning products
to clean synthetic leather upholstery. CAUTION
Do not use solvents, floor wax, shoe cream,
stain removers or similar products on syn-
thetic leather. These will stiffen the material,
causing it to crack prematurely. 203
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Care and maintenance
Notes for the user Labels and plates Some parts in the engine compartment come
from the factory with certificates of safety, la-
bels or plates containing important informa-
tion regarding the operation of the vehicle,
for example, on the petrol cap, on the pas-
senger's sun visor, on the driver door strut, or
on the floor of the boot.
● Never remove these certificates of safety,
labels or plates, and ensure they are kept in
good condition and are legible.
● If a vehicle part, bearing a certificate of
safety, label or plate, is replaced, the special-
ised workshop should attach the information
back in the same place.
Certificate of safety
A certificate of safety on the door strut states
that all the safety standards and regulations
established by the national traffic authorities
responsible for road safety were met at the
time of manufacture. It may also give the
month and year of manufacture, together
with the chassis number.
Warning of high voltage label*
There is a label close to the bonnet lock
which warns of high voltage in the vehicle's
electrical system. The vehicle ignition system complies with several standards, including
the Canadian standard, ICES-002.
Using your vehicle in other countries
and continents The vehicle is manufactured at the factory for
use in a particular country in accordance with
the national legislation in force at the time of
manufacture.
If the vehicle is sold in another country or
used in another country for an extended peri-
od of time, the applicable legislation of that
country should be observed.
It may be necessary to fit or remove certain
pieces of equipment or to deactivate certain
functions. Service work may also be affected.
This is particularly true if the vehicle is used
in a different climate for an extended period
of time.
As there are different types of frequency
bands around the world, you may find that
the radio or navigation system supplied at
the factory does not work in another country.
CAUTION
● SEAT does not accept liability for any dam-
age to the vehicle due to the use of a lower
quality fuel, an inadequate service or the
non-availability of genuine spare parts. ●
SEAT does not accept liability if the vehicle
does not comply in part or in full with the le-
gal requirements of other countries or conti-
nents. Radio reception and the aerial
The aerial of radio and navigation systems
fitted at the factory may be mounted in differ-
ent parts of the vehicle:
● On the inside of the rear window, next to
the rear window heating,
● on the inside of the rear side windows,
● on the inside of the windscreen,
● on the roof of the vehicle.
Aerials mounted on the inside of a window
can be recognised by the fine wires. CAUTION
Aerials on the inside of windows may be dam-
aged if knocked or if cleaned with corrosive or
acid cleaning products. Do not stick adhesive
labels over the heating elements and never
clean the inside of the rear window with cor-
rosive or acid products or other similar chem-
ical cleaning products. » 205Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Advice
Petrol types are categorised according to
their octane number (e.g. 91, 95, 98 or 99
RON (RON = “Research Octane Number”).
You may use petrol with a high octane num-
ber than the one recommended for your en-
gine. However, this has no advantage in
terms of fuel consumption and engine power.
SEAT recommends refuelling with a low sul-
phur content or sulphur-free petrol to reduce
fuel consumption for petrol engines.
Petrol additives
The quality of the fuel influences the behav-
iour, power and service life of the engine.
This is why the petrol you use should carry
suitable additives already included by the
petrol industry, free of metals. These addi-
tives will help to prevent corrosion, keep the
fuel system clean and prevent deposits from
building up in the engine.
If good-quality petrol with metal-free addi-
tives is not available or engine problems
arise, the necessary additives must be added
when refuelling ››› .
Not all petrol additives have been shown to
be effective. The use of unsuitable petrol ad-
ditives may cause significant damage to the
engine and the catalytic converter. Metal ad-
ditives should never be used. Metal additives
may also be contained in petrol additives for
improving anti-detonation ratings or octane
ratings ››› . SEAT recommends “genuine Volkswagen
Group Fuel Additives for petrol engines”.
These additives can be bought at SEAT deal-
ers, where information on how to use them
can also be obtained.
CAUTION
● Do not refuel if the filler indicates that the
fuel contains metal. LRP (lead replacement
petrol) fuels contain high concentrations of
metal additives. Using them may damage the
engine!
● Only use fuel with an octane rating that is
in line with the norm EN 228, otherwise sig-
nificant damage could be caused to the en-
gine and fuel system. Furthermore, it could
lead to a loss of performance with the conse-
quent engine fault.
● The use of unsuitable petrol additives could
damage the engine.
● If, in exceptional circumstances, petrol with
a lower octane rating to that recommended is
used, only use moderate engine speeds and a
light throttle. Avoid using full throttle and
overloading the engine. Otherwise you may
damage the engine. Fill up with fuel of a suit-
able octane rating as soon as possible.
● Just one full tank of leaded fuel would seri-
ously impair the efficiency of the catalytic
converter and could damage it. Diesel
Diesel fuel
Diesel fuel must correspond to European
standard EN 590 (In Germany, EN 590 or
DIN 51628).
The use of diesel fuel with a high sulphur
percentage requires shorter service intervals
››› Booklet Maintenance Programme ››› .
Your technical service centre will be able to
tell you which countries have diesel with a
high sulphur content.
Do not mix fuel additives (thinners, or similar
additives) with diesel fuel.
Winter-grade diesel
When using “summer-grade diesel fuel”, dif-
ficulties may be experienced at temperatures
below 0 °C (+32 °F) because the fuel thickens
due to wax separation. For this reason, “win-
ter-grade diesel fuel” is available in Germany,
for example, during the cold months. It can
be used at temperatures as low as -20 °C
(-4 °F).
In countries with different climatic condi-
tions, other types of diesel fuel are available
that are suitable to local temperatures. Tech-
nical service centres and filling stations in
the country concerned will inform you on the
types of diesel fuels available.
210