2015 Seat Alhambra towing

OperationDistance from the
vehicle to the ob-
stacleAudible
warn- ing
Displayed in
colour on the
screen: colour
of the segment if an obstacleis recognised
Front: approx. 31 -
120 cm
Behind: approx. 31 -
160 cmBeeping soundYellow
Approximately 0 –
30 cm in front or be-
hind a)Perma-
nent
soundRed
a) The permanent sound starts at a somewhat greater distance
on vehicles with a factory-fitted towing bracket.
With towing bracket
A specific image is displayed on the screen of
vehicles with a factory-fitted towing bracket
and an electrically connected trailer. In this
case, the distances behind the vehicle are
not indicated.
Switching the parking sensor system sound
on and off
If the  button on the radio or navigation
system screen may mute the sound of OPS
warnings. To switch the warnings back on,
press the button again briefly.
When the OPS is switched off and back on
again, muting is cancelled. Error messages
cannot be switched off. WARNING
Do not be distracted from the traffic when
looking at the screen. Park Assist system*
Introduction The Park Assist system helps the driver to
find a suitable place to park, to insert the ve-
hicle into parallel and perpendicular parking
places and to leave parallel parking places.
The Park Assist system is limited to the sys-
tem abilities and requires that the driver is
especially attentive
››› .
The parking sensor system is a component of
the Park Assist system that helps to park the
vehicle.
For vehicles with the optical parking system
(OPS), the radio navigation systems screen
displays the detected zones in front of and
behind the vehicle, indicating - within the
limits of the system - the position of obsta-
cles in relation to the vehicle.
The park assist system cannot be switched
on if the factory-fitted towing bracket is elec-
trically connected to a trailer. WARNING
Despite the assistance provided by the park
assist system, do not run any risks when
parking. The system is not a replacement for
driver awareness.
● Unintentional movements of the vehicle
could cause serious injury.
● Adjust your speed and driving style to visi-
bility, road, traffic and weather conditions.
● The surface of certain objects and items of
clothing and external sound sources may
have a negative affect on the park assist sig-
nals or on the system sensors or may not re-
flect its signals.
● The sensors have blind spots in which ob-
stacles and people are not registered.
● Always observe the area around the vehi-
cle, as the sensors do not always detect
small children, animals or objects. CAUTION
● The park assist system aims exclusively at
other parked vehicles, without taking curbs
or other circumstances into account. Make
sure you do not damage the tyres and wheel
rims when parking. Where necessary, stop
manoeuvring to avoid damaging the vehicle.
● The sensors may not always be able to de-
tect objects such as trailer draw bars, thin
rails, fences, posts and trees, etc. This could
result in damage to your car. 162

Operation1) Do not use the rear assist system in the fol-
lowing cases:
– If the position and installation angle of the camera
have been changed, e.g. in a rear-end collision. Have a
specialised workshop check the system.
2) Optical illusions of the camera (examples)
The rear assist camera produces two-dimensional im-
ages. Any cracks in or objects protruding from the
ground or from other vehicles are more difficult to spot
or cannot be seen due to a lack of depth in the image
displayed.
Objects or other vehicles may seem to be closer or fur-
ther away than what they really are:
– On changing from a flat surface to a slope or gradient.
– On changing from a slope or gradient to a flat surface.
– If the vehicle has been overloaded at the rear.
– On approaching protruding objects. These objects
may be outside the angle of vision of the camera when
reversing. Cleaning the camera lens
Keep the camera lens clean and clear of snow
and ice:
● Moisten the lens using a commercially
available, alcohol-based glass cleaning
agent and clean the lens with a dry cloth
››› .
● Remove snow using a small brush.
● Use de-icing spray to remove any ice ››› . CAUTION
● Never use abrasive cleaners to clean the
camera lens.
● Never remove snow or ice from the camera
lens using warm or hot water. This could
damage the lens. Note
● SEAT recommends that you practise park-
ing with the rear assist system in a quiet lo-
cation or in a car park to become familiar with
the system, including the orientation lines
and their function.
● The orientation lines will not be displayed
on the screen if the rear lid is open or the fac-
tory-fitted towing bracket is electrically con-
nected to a trailer. Parking perpendicular to the road
(mode 1)
Fig. 145
Display: orientation lines for the
parking space behind the vehicle Summary of the orientation points
Meaning of orientation lines displayed on the
screen
››› Fig. 145 . All of the lengths of the
orient ation line

s use a vehicle located on a
horizontal surface as reference.
Red: safety distance, i.e. road area loca-
ted up to 40 cm behind the vehicle.
Green: prolongation of the rear of the ve-
hicle (somewhat enlarged). The area dis-
played green ends around 2 metres be-
hind the vehicle, on the road.
Yellow: prolongation of the rear of the ve-
hicle as the steering wheel turns. The
area displayed yellow ends around 3 me-
tres behind the vehicle, on the road.
1 2
3
168

Towing bracket device
Tyre monitoring indicator Fig. 152
Detailed view of the centre console:
button for the tyre pressure monitoring indi-
cator The tyre monitor indicator compares wheel
revolutions and, with this information, the
tread of each wheel using the ABS sensors. If
the tread of a wheel is changed, the tyre
monitoring indicator will indicate as such on
the instrument panel. The wheel tread
changes when:
● Tyre pressure is insufficient
● Tyre structure is damaged
● The vehicle is unbalanced because of a
load
● If the wheels on an axle are subject to a
heavier load (e.g. when towing a trailer).
● The vehicle is fitted with snow chains
● The wheel on one axle is changed There may be a delay in the reaction of the
tyre monitoring indicator

or it may not in-
dic
ate anything under certain circumstances
(e.g. sports driving, snow-covered or un-
paved roads).
Adaptation of the tyre monitoring indicator
On adjusting tyre pressure or changing one
or more wheels, the ››› Fig. 152
button on the
tyre monitoring indicator must be kept press-
ed down, with the ignition on, until an audi-
ble warning is heard. Do the same, for exam-
ple, when the front and rear wheels are swap-
ped ››› Fig. 174
.
If the wheels are subjected to an excessive
load (towing a trailer, heavy load), the tyre
pressure must be increased to the maximum
recommended pressure ››› page 231. Press
the tyre monitoring indicator button to con-
firm the new pressure value. Note
An incorrect warning may be given when
snow chains are in use because the chains in-
crease the tread of the wheel. Towing bracket device
Driving with a trailer Introduction Always be aware of the legal requirements for
each country to drive with a trailer and to use
a tow hitch.
Your car is intended mainly for transporting
passengers however, it can also be used to
tow a trailer provided that it is fitted with the
necessary equipment. The additional load
has an effect on the useful life, fuel con-
sumption and the vehicle performance and,
in some cases, reduce the service intervals.
Driving with a trailer requires more force from
the vehicle and, thus, more concentration
from the driver.
For wintertime temperatures, fit winter tyres
to the vehicle
and
the trailer.
Dr a

wbar load
The
maximum permitted Drawbar load exer-
ted by the trailer drawbar on the ball joint of
the tow hitch must not exceed 100 kg (ap-
proximately 220 lbs).
Vehicles with the Start-Stop function
With a SEAT factory fitted or retrofitted tow
hitch, the Start-Stop function is automatically »
179
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Operation
deactivated when a trailer is connected. For
tow hitches not installed by SEAT, the Start-
St op f
unction must be deactivated manually
using a button located on the dash panel be-
fore
driving with a trailer and it must remain
off for the entire journey ››› .
WARNING
Never transport people in a trailer: this will
endanger in their life and is against the law. WARNING
The incorrect use of the tow hitch can cause
accidents and injury.
● Only use a tow hitch in perfect condition
and correctly installed.
● Never change or repair a tow hitch.
● To reduce the risk of injury in case of a re-
versing collision, injury to pedestrians and
cyclists when parking, always keep the ball
joint in when a trailer is not being used.
● Never fit a trailer tow hitch “that distrib-
utes the load” or “balances the load”. Your
vehicle has not been designed for this type of
tow hitch. The tow hitch may fail and the
trailer will separate from the vehicle. WARNING
Driving with a trailer and transporting heavy
or large objects can affect vehicle handling
and even cause an accident. ●
Always secure loads correctly with suitable
and undamaged attachment rope or straps.
● Adjust your speed and driving style to visi-
bility, road, traffic and weather conditions.
● Trailers with a high centre of gravity can
overturn more easily than those with a low
centre of gravity.
● Avoid brusque manoeuvres and sudden
braking.
● Always take the following precautions seri-
ously.
● Reduce your speed immediately if you ob-
serve the trailer rocking from side to side.
● Never drive at more than 80 km/h (50 mph)
when towing a trailer (or 100 km/h [60 mph]
in exceptional circumstances). This also ap-
plies in countries where higher speeds are
permitted. Always take the speed limits for
vehicles with and without trailers in each
country into account.
● Never try to stop the “snaking” by increas-
ing speed. WARNING
When driving with a trailer and using a tow
hitch that was not installed by SEAT, the
Start-Stop function must be manually deacti-
vated. Otherwise, this could cause a braking
anomaly that could result in an accident with
serious consequences.
● Always manually deactivate the Start-Stop
function when a trailer is being used on a tow
hitch that has not been installed by SEAT. Note
● Always turn off the anti-theft alarm system
before connecting or disconnecting a trailer
››› page 62. Otherwise, the tilt sensor may er-
r oneou
sly activate the alarm.
● Never use a trailer with a new engine (for
the first 1,000 km) ››› page 189.
● At

SEAT, we recommend folding in the tow
hitch ball when a trailer is not being used. In
case of a rear collision, the damage caused to
the vehicle with the extended tow hitch ball
could be more extensive.
● In some models, a tow hitch is necessary
for towing vehicles. For this reason, you
should store the tow hitch in the vehicle at all
times. Technical requirements
If the car is supplied with a
factory-fitted tow-
in g br

acket it will already have the necessary
technical modifications and meet the statuto-
ry requirements for towing a trailer.
Only use an approved tow hitch for the gross
trailer weight rating. The tow hitch must be
suitable for both the vehicle and trailer and
must be securely fitted to the vehicle chassis.
Only use a tow hitch with a removable ball
joint. Always check and take into account the
tow hitch manufacturer's instructions. Never
fit a trailer tow hitch “that distributes the
load” or “balances the load”.
180

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
Electric tow hitch ball* Fig. 153
Right-hand side of the luggage com-
partment: button to electrically release the
tow hitch ball The rotation radius of the tow hitch ball
should be free of people, animals and ob-
jects
››› .
The towing bracket is located in the bumper.
The electric tow ball is fixed and cannot be
removed.
Releasing and unfolding the tow ball
● Stop the vehicle and apply the electric
parking brake.
● Switch the ignition off.
● Open the rear lid.
● Press the knob briefly ››› Fig. 153 . The tow
b al
l is released electronically and folds out
automatically; the button indicator will blink. ●
Move the ball joint until it inserts and the
button control lamp lights.
● Close the rear lid.
● Before hitching the trailer, remove the dust
guard from the ball.
● The indicator only lights when the boot
hatch is open and when a trailer is not hitch-
ed.
Restoring the tow ball to its originally
position
● Stop the vehicle and apply the electric
parking brake.
● Switch the ignition off.
● Remove the trailer and disconnect the ca-
ble between the vehicle and trailer. If neces-
sary, remove the power socket adapter.
● Place the dust guard over the ball.
● Open the rear lid.
● Press the knob briefly ››› Fig. 153
. The tow
ball is electronically released; the indicator
blinks.
● Push the tow ball into the bumper until it
locks in position and the button indicator
lights.
● Close the rear lid. The control lamp
●
When the control lamp flashes, the tow ball
is

not in its final position, has not engaged or
is damaged ››› .
● When the control lamp remains lit and the
rear lid is open, the tow ball has inserted cor-
rectly into the folded or deployed position.
● When the rear lid is closed, the indicator is
turned off. WARNING
The incorrect use of the tow hitch can cause
accidents and injury.
● Ensure that no person, animal or object
gets in the way of the tow ball.
● Never push the button when there is a tow
hitched or when any kind of carrier or acces-
sory is fitted to the tow hitch ball.
● While the ball is moving, do not interfere
with any tool.
● Do not drive with a trailer if the control
lamp does not light.
● If there is a fault in the electric system or
the trailer tow hitch, visit a specialised work-
shop to have it checked.
● If the diameter of the tow hitch is less than
49 mm, never use this for a trailer. 182

Towing bracket device
CAUTION
● If anything is attached to the tow hitch ball,
do not, under any circumstances press the
button.
● Never direct a high-pressure or steam
cleaning system directly at the tow hitch ball
or trailer power socket. This could cause
damage to seals or remove lubricating
grease. Note
In extremely low temperatures, it is possible
that the tow hitch is not released. In this
case, place the vehicle in a warmer location
(e.g. a garage). Installing a bicycle carrier to the tow
hitch
The maximum load permitted for a bicycle
carrier on the tow hitch ball is
75 kg, with a
m ax
imum distance of 30 cm from the sup-
port. The distance between supports is the
distance between the bicycle carrier centre of
gravity (with the bicycles) and the centre of
point of the tow hitch ball. WARNING
The incorrect use of the tow hitch with a bicy-
cle carrier installed can cause accidents and
injury. ●
Never exceed the load and distances be-
tween supports indicated.
● Never fit the bicycle carrier to the tow hitch
ball neck, underneath the tow hitch given
that the bicycle carrier may be incorrectly fit-
ted due to the shape of the tow hitch and the
model of bicycle carrier.
● Always read and take the manufacturer as-
sembly instructions into account. CAUTION
Exceeding the maximum load and distance
between supports indicated can cause con-
siderable damage to the vehicle.
● Never exceed the specifications. Hitching and connecting the trailer
Fig. 154
Schematic diagram: assignment of
the pins of the trailer's electrical socket.
Key of the Schematic diagram ››› Fig. 154:
PinMeaning
1Left turn signal
2Rear fog light
3Earth, pins 1 to 8
4Right turn signal
5Tail light, right
6Brake lights
7Tail light, left
8Reverse lights
9Permanent live
10Live charge cable
11Unassigned
12Unassigned
13Earth, pins 9 to 13 Trailer power socket
The vehicle is fitted with a 13-pole power
socket for the electrical connection between
the trailer and the vehicle. With the engine
running, electrical devices on the trailer re-
ceive power from the electrical connection
(pin 9 and pin 10 on the trailer power plug).
»
183
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