2015 Seat Alhambra trailer

Transport and practical equipment
Transporting a load Secure all objects in the vehicle
● Distribute the load throughout the vehicle,
on the roof and in a trailer as uniformly as
possible.
● Transport heavy objects as far forward as
possible in the luggage compartment and
lock the seat backs in the vertical position.
● Secure luggage in the luggage compart-
ment with suitable straps on the fastening
rings ››› page 100
.
● Chec k
the headlight adjustment
››› page 74
.
● Use the suitable tyre pressure according to
the load being transported. Read the tire in-
flation information label ›››
page 231.
● For vehicles with a tire pressure indicator,
change the vehicle load status ›››
page 177. CAUTION
Objects on the shelf could chafe against the
wires of the heating element in the heated
rear window and cause damage. Note
Please note the information about loading a
trailer ››› page 179 and the roof carrier sys-
t em ›

›› page 110. Driving with the rear lid open
Driving with the rear lid open creates an addi-
tional risk. Secure all objects and secure the
rear lid correctly and take all measures possi-
ble to reduce toxic gases from entering the
vehicle.
WARNING
Driving with the rear lid unlocked or open
could cause serious injuries.
● Always drive with the rear lid closed.
● Secure all objects in the vehicle. Loose
items could fall out of the vehicle and injure
other road users or damage other vehicles.
● Drive particularly carefully and think
ahead.
● Avoid sudden manoeuvres and braking giv-
en that this could cause an uncontrolled
movement of the open rear lid.
● When transporting objects that protrude
out of the luggage compartment, indicate
them suitably. Observe legal requirements.
● If objects must project out of the luggage
compartment, the rear lid must never be used
to “secure” or “attach” objects.
● If a baggage rack is fitted on the rear lid, it
should be removed before travelling with the
rear lid open. WARNING
Toxic gases may enter the vehicle interior
when the rear lid is open. This could cause
loss of consciousness, carbon monoxide poi-
soning, serious injury and accidents.
● To avoid toxic gases entering the vehicle al-
ways drive with the rear lid closed.
● In exceptional circumstances, if you must
drive with the rear lid open, observe the fol-
lowing to reduce the entry of toxic gases in-
side the vehicle:
– Close all windows and the sliding sun-
roof.
– Turn off the air recirculation for the heat-
ing and air conditioner.
– Open all of the air outlets in the dash
panel.
– Turn the heating fan and heater to the
highest level. CAUTION
An open boot hatch changes the length and
height of the vehicle. Driving a loaded vehicle
For the best handling when driving a loaded
vehicle, note the following:
● Secure all objects ›››
page 99 .
● Ac

celerate gently and carefully. »
99
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Operation
● Avoid sudden braking and manoeuvres.
● Brake early.
● If necessary, read the instructions for driv-
ing with a trailer ››› page 179.
● If necessary, read the instructions for driv-
ing with a roof carrier system ››› page 110. WARNING
A sliding load could considerably affect the
stability and safety of the vehicle resulting in
an accident with serious consequences.
● Secure loads correctly so they do not move.
● When transporting heavy objects, use suit-
able ropes or straps.
● Lock the seat backs in vertical position. Loading luggage compartment
Introduction Always transport heavy loads in the luggage
compartment and place the seat backs in a
vertical position. Always use the fastening
rings with suitable rope or straps. Never over-
load the vehicle. Both the carrying capacity
as well as the distribution of the load in the
vehicle have effects on the driving behaviour
and braking ability
››› . WARNING
When the vehicle is not in use or being
watched, always lock the doors and the rear
lid to reduce the risk of serious injury or
death.
● Do not leave children unwatched, especial-
ly when the boot is open. Children could
climb into the luggage compartment, close
the rear lid from inside and be unable to es-
cape themselves. This could lead to serious
injury or death.
● Never allow children to play in or around
the vehicle.
● Never transport people in the luggage com-
partment. WARNING
Unsecured or incorrectly secured objects can
cause serious injury in case of a sudden ma-
noeuvring or breaking or in case of an acci-
dent. This is especially true when objects are
struck by a detonating airbag and fired
through the vehicle interior. To reduce the
risks, please note the following:
● Secure all objects in the vehicle. Always
place equipment and heavy objects in the
boot.
● Always secure objects with suitable ropes
or straps so that they cannot be pushed in-
side the cabin and move around the areas
around the front or side airbags in the event
of sudden braking or an accident. ●
While driving, always keep object compart-
ments closed.
● Do not place hard, heavy or sharp objects
inside the vehicle interior, in open storage
compartments, the rear shelf or on the dash
panel.
● Remove hard, heavy and sharp objects from
clothes and pockets inside the vehicle and
store securely. WARNING
The transport of heavy object changes vehi-
cle handling and increases braking distance.
Heavy loads that have not been stored or se-
cured correctly could cause loss of control
and result in serious injury.
● Vehicle handling changes when transport-
ing heavy objects due to a change in the cen-
tre of gravity.
● Distribute the load as uniformly and as low
down on the vehicle as possible.
● Store heavy objects in the luggage com-
partment as far from the rear axle as possi-
ble. CAUTION
● Hard objects on the rear shelf could chafe
the wires of the heating element and antenna
of the rear window and cause damage.
● The side window antenna could be dam-
aged due to chafing from objects. 100

Operation
and helps to clean it by recommending a spe-
cific gear for driving. It may therefore be nec-
essary to drive with the engine at an
exceptionally high speed ››› page 151. WARNING
The recommended gear display is intended as
a guideline only; it should never replace the
driver's attention to driving carefully.
● Responsibility for selecting the correct gear
for each situation continues to lie with the
driver, for example when overtaking, climb-
ing a hill or towing a trailer. For the sake of the environment
Selecting the most appropriate gear for the
situation will help you to save fuel. Note
The recommended gear display is switched
off when the clutch pedal is pressed. Run-in and economical driving
Running-in Please observe the instructions for running-in
new components. Running-in the engine
The engine needs to be run-in over the first
1500 km (1000 miles). During its first few
hours of running, the internal friction in the
engine is greater than later on when all the
moving parts have bedded down.
How the vehicle is driven for the first
1500 km (1000 miles) influences the future
engine performance. Throughout the life of
the vehicle, it should be driven at a moderate
speed – especially when the engine is cold –
this will reduce engine wear and increase its
useful life. Never drive at extremely low en-
gine speeds. Always engage a lower gear
when the engine works “irregularly”. For the
first 1000 km or 600 miles, please note:
● Do not use full throttle.
● Do not force the engine above two thirds of
its maximum speed.
● Do not tow a trailer.
Between 1000 and 1500 kilometres (600 to
1000 miles) ,
gradually increase power until
reaching the maximum speed and high en-
gine speeds.
Running in new tyres and brake pads
● Replacement of wheel rims and new tyres
››› page 231
● Notes on the brakes ››› page 141 For the sake of the environment
If the engine is run in gently, the life of the
engine will be increased and the engine oil
consumption reduced. Environmental friendliness
Environmental protection is a top priority in
the design, choice of materials and manufac-
ture of your new SEAT.
Constructive measures to encourage
recycling
● Joints and connections designed for easy
dismantling
● Modular construction to facilitate disman-
tling
● Increased use of single-grade materials.
● Plastic parts and elastomers are marked in
accordance with ISO 1043, ISO 11469 and
ISO 1629.
Choice of materials
● Use of recycled materials.
● Use of compatible plastics in the same part
if its components are not easily separated.
● Use of recycled materials and/or materials
originating from renewable sources.
● Reduction of volatile components, includ-
ing odour, in plastic materials.
148

Driving
they flow around the engine more quickly
and efficiently, particularly in cold starts. The
effect is particularly noticeable in vehicles
frequently used for short journeys.
Always check the engine oil level and ob-
serve service intervals (engine oil change in-
tervals).
When purchasing engine oil, always observe
legal requirements and ensure that the oil is
approved by SEAT.
Avoid carrying unnecessary loads
The lighter the vehicle, the more economical
and ecological the driving style. For example,
an additional weight of 100 kg will increase
fuel consumption up to 0.3 l/100 km.
Remove any unnecessary objects or loads
from the vehicle.
Remove optional equipment and
unnecessary accessories
The more aerodynamic the vehicle, the lower
the fuel consumption. Optional equipment
and accessories (such as roof racks or bike
carriers) reduce the aerodynamic benefits of
the vehicle.
Therefore, we recommend you remove all op-
tional and unnecessary equipment and racks,
especially if you intend to drive at high
speeds. Other factors which increase fuel
consumption (examples):
●
Fault in engine management.
● Driving on hills.
● Trailer towing. WARNING
Always adapt your speed and the distance to
the vehicles ahead in line with visibility,
weather conditions, the condition of the road
and the traffic situation. Engine management and
exhaust gas purification
system
Introduction WARNING
The components of the exhaust system reach
very high temperatures. This could cause a
fire.
● Always park your vehicle so that no part of
the exhaust system can come in contact with
flammable materials (such as dried grass).
● Do not apply additional underseal or anti-
corrosion coatings to the exhaust pipes, cata-
lytic converter, heat shields or the diesel par-
ticulate filter. Control lampsIt lights
upPossible causeSolution 
Fault in engine
management
(Electronic Power
Control).Take the vehicle to a
specialised work-
shop as soon as
possible and have
the engine checked.

Pre-heating a die-
sel engine before
starting the en-
gine.
›››
page 133 
Fault in catalytic
converter.
You should reduce
speed accordingly.
Drive carefully until
you reach the next
specialised work-
shop. Have the en-
gine checked there.

Diesel particulate
filter blocked
Drive for 15 minutes
in 4th gear (manual
gearbox), or in D (au-
tomatic gearbox) at
a minimum speed of
70 km/h (45 mph).
Observe speed lim-
its
›››
.
If the warning lamp
remains lit up, take
the vehicle to a spe-
cialised workshop
››› page 152.
» 151
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Operation
Driver assistance systems
Braking and stability systems Brake assist systems The brake assist systems ESC, ABS, BAS, ASR
and EDL only operate when the ignition is
switched on. They contribute significantly to
increasing active safety.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
ESC reduces the risk of skidding and increa-
ses the vehicle stability by braking individual
wheels under specific driving conditions. ESC
detects critical handling situations, such as
understeer, oversteer and wheelspin on the
driven wheels. The system stabilises the ve-
hicle by braking individual wheels or by re-
ducing the engine torque.
The ESC has limits. It is important to realise
that the ESC is also subject to the laws of
physics. ESC will not be able to deal with all
situations with which drivers may be faced.
For example, if the road surface changes sud-
denly then ESC will not be useful in all cases.
If the vehicle suddenly enters a section cov-
ered by water, mud or snow then ESC will not
provide assistance in the same way as on dry
ground. If the vehicle loses its grip on the
ground and moves on a film of water (“aqua-
planing”), the ESC will not be able to assist the driver to control the vehicle as the loss of
adherence with the road surface will prevent-
ing braking and steering. If the vehicle is
driven through series of bends at high
speed, the ESC will not always be as effec-
tive: the vehicle reaction to aggressive driv-
ing is not the same as at reduced speeds.
When driving with a trailer, ESC does not pro-
vide the same amount of vehicle control as
without a trailer.
Adjust your speed and driving style to road,
traffic and weather conditions. ESC cannot
push the limits of the laws of physics; im-
prove the transmission available or maintain
the vehicle on the road if a lack of driver at-
tention creates an inevitable situation. Other-
wise, ESC assists in maintaining vehicle con-
trol in extreme situations and uses the move-
ments of the steering made by the driver to
maintain the vehicle moving in the desired
direction. If the vehicle is driven at such a
speed that it will leave the road before ESC
can intervene then the system cannot pro-
vide assistance.
The ABS, BAS, ASR and EDL systems are in-
corporated into the ESC. The ESC is always
on. The ESC should only be turned off using
the ASR button
›››
Fig. 134 when traction is
in s
ufficient. Always remember to turn on the
ASR once more when the vehicle has traction
again. Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
ABS can prevent the wheels from locking dur-
ing braking until just before the vehicle stops
thus helping the driver to steer the vehicle
and maintain control. This means that, even
during full braking, the risk of skidding is re-
duced:
● Press and hold the brake pedal fully. Do not
remove your foot from the brake pedal or re-
duce braking force!
● Do not “pump” the brake pedal, or reduce
braking force!
● Maintain vehicle direction when braking
fully.
● When the brake pedal is released or when
the brake force is reduced, ABS is turned off.
ABS control can be observed by vibration of
the brake pedal and noise. You should never
expect

the ABS to reduce the braking dis-
tance under
any circumstances. This distance
will increase when driving on gravel, recent
snow or on icy and slippery ground.
When driving on loose ground, the all-terrain
configuration of the ABS is automatically
turned on. When ABS is activated, the front
wheels may lock briefly. This shortens the
braking distance in off-road situations as the
wheels are prevented from digging into loose
surfaces. All-terrain ABS only intervenes
when driving in a straight line. When the
154

Operation
CAUTION
Before entering an automatic car wash, al-
ways switch the Auto Hold function off, as it
could be damaged when the electronic park-
ing brake automatically engages. Start-Stop Function*
Fig. 136
Detailed view of the centre console:
Start-Stop function button With the Start-Stop system enabled, the en-
gine is automatically stopped when the vehi-
cle is at a standstill. The engine restarts auto-
matically when required.
The function is enabled automatically when-
ever the ignition is switched on. The instru-
ment panel displays information on the cur-
rent status. Vehicles with a manual gearbox
● When the vehicle is at a standstill, leave it
in neutral and take your foot off the clutch.
The engine switches off.
● Simply depress the clutch pedal to move
off again.
Vehicles with an automatic gearbox
● When the vehicle is at a standstill, depress
the brake or keep it pressed down. The en-
gine switches off.
● The engine will start again as soon as you
release the brake pedal.
● With the selector lever set to position P, the
en gine w
ill not start until a range of gears is
selected or the accelerator pedal is de-
pressed.
Important conditions for the engine to
automatically switch off
● The driver seat belt must be buckled.
● The driver door must be closed.
● The bonnet must be closed.
● The factory-fitted towing bracket must not
be electrically connected to a trailer.
● A minimum engine temperature has been
reached.
● The steering wheel must not be turned
more than 270 degrees.
● The vehicle has moved since the last stop. ●
In vehicles with Climatronic: the tempera-
ture inside the vehicle is within the pre-set
temperature range.
● The temperature set is neither very high nor
very low.
● The air conditioning defrost function is not
switched on.
● In vehicles with Climatronic: the blower has
not been manually set to a high speed.
● The power level of the vehicle's battery is
sufficient.
● The vehicle's battery temperature is neither
too high nor too low.
● The vehicle is not on a steep gradient or
slope.
● The front wheels are not overly turned.
● The heated windscreen is not switched on.
● Reverse gear is not engaged.
● The park assist system is not switched on.
Conditions for automatically restarting the
engine
The engine may automatically restart under
the following conditions:
● If the vehicle interior is too hot or too cold.
● If the vehicle moves.
● If the vehicle's battery voltage drops.
158

Driver assistance systems
Conditions requiring the key to restart the
engine
The engine must be started manually under
the following conditions:
● If the driver unbuckles his/her seat belt.
● If the driver door is opened.
● If the bonnet is opened.
● In vehicles with a manual gearbox: if a gear
has been selected.
Switching Start-Stop mode on and off
manually
● Press the  button on the centre console
››› Fig. 136 .
● The b utt
on will light up when the Start-Stop
function is switched off.
The engine will start immediately if the vehi-
cle is in Stop mode when it is switched off
manually. WARNING
The brake servo and the power steering do
not work when the engine is switched off.
● Never allow the vehicle to move when the
engine is switched off. CAUTION
Using the Start-Stop function for a long peri-
od at very high outside temperatures could
damage the vehicle's battery. Note
● In some cases, you may have to restart the
vehicle using the key. Observe the corre-
sponding message on the instrument panel
display.
● If the steering wheel is turned more than
270°, Stop will not function; however, the an-
gle of steering wheel turn does not affect
starting the vehicle. Parking sensor system*
Introduction The parking sensor system assists the driver
when parking. When the vehicle approaches
an obstacle, forwards or backwards, an inter-
mittent audible warning will be heard, higher
or lower depending on the distance. The
shorter the distance, the shorter the intervals
between tones. If the vehicle is too close to
the obstacle, the audible warning becomes
constant.
If you continue to approach an obstacle when
the sound is continuous, this means the sys-
tem can no longer measure the distance.
The sensor system on the bumpers transmit
and receive ultrasound. Using the ultrasound
signal (transmission, reflection from the ob-
stacle and reception), this system continu-ously calculates the distance between the
bumper and the obstacle. WARNING
The parking sensor system and the optical
parking system cannot replace driver aware-
ness.
● 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.
● The surface of certain objects and some
clothing do not reflect the ultrasound signals
from the parking distance system. The sys-
tem cannot detect or incorrectly detects
these objects and people wearing these
types of clothes.
● External sound sources can affect the park-
ing distance aid signals. In this case, under
certain circumstances, people and objects
will not be detected. CAUTION
● The sensors may not always be able to de-
tect objects such as trailer draw bars, thin
rails, fences, posts, trees and open boots,
etc. This could result in damage to your car.
● Although the parking sensor system de-
tects and warns of the presence of an obsta-
cle, the obstacle could disappear from the an-
gle of measurement of the sensors if it is too
high or low and the system would no longer » 159
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

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