2015 Seat Alhambra check engine light

Checking and refilling levels
being verified. They will switch off after a few
seconds. WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ››› in Control
and warning lamps on page 47. Information on AdBlue
In vehicles with "Selective Catalytic Reduc-
tion", a special urea solution (AdBlue) is in-
jected into the exhaust gas system in front of
the catalytic converter to reduce nitrogen ox-
ide emissions.
The consumption of AdBlue depends on indi-
vidual driving style, the temperature at which
the system operates and the outside temper-
ature where the vehicle is driven.
AdBlue is kept in an independent tank in the
vehicle and should be refilled at an official
supplier. The AdBlue tank holds about 17 li-
tres.
A message will be displayed on the dash
panel around 2,400 km before the next serv-
ice to indicate that AdBlue must be refilled
››› page 213 . If you ignore this message and
do not r
efill, you will be unable to start the
engine afterwards ›››
page 212.
SEAT recommends contacting a specialised
workshop. If not possible, it should be parti-
ally filled with a minimum 10 litres of AdBlue. Only refill using AdBlue expressly approved
by SEAT.
When the indicators
 and 
light simulta-
neously, there is a fault. SEAT recommends
visiting the closest specialised workshop.
AdBlue ®
is a registered trademark in the US,
Germany, the European Union and other
countries belonging to the German automo-
bile industry ("Verband der Automobilindus-
trie e. V.", VDA).
Refilling AdBlue Fig. 160
At the rear left of the luggage com-
partment: AdBlue tank, behind a cover panel Fig. 161
AdBlue tank with filler neck cap and
refilling bottle To refill AdBlue, the vehicle must be on flat
ground and not, for example, parked on a
kerb or slope. If the vehicle is not on flat
ground then the filling indicator cannot
measure the filling quantity.
»
213
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Advice
The checking and refilling of service fluids
are carried out on the components men-
tioned above. These operations are descri-
bed in ››› page 214 .
Ov er
view
Further explanations, instructions and restric-
tions on the technical data are contained as
of ››› page 274
Engine oil Introduction WARNING
Incorrectly handling engine oil can cause in-
jury and serious burns.
● Always protect your eyes when handling
engine oil.
● Oil is toxic and must be kept out of the
reach of children.
● Engine oil should only be kept in its origi-
nal packaging; the same goes for used oil un-
til it is disposed of.
● Never store engine oil in empty food con-
tainers or bottles as other people may acci-
dentally drink it.
● Regular contact with engine oil can be bad
for the skin. If you come into contact with en-
gine oil, wash your skin with soap and water. ●
With the engine running, the engine oil
gets extremely hot and can cause severe skin
burns. Always wait until the engine has fully
cooled. For the sake of the environment
Similar to the other service liquids, spilled
engine oil can be bad for the environment.
Collect these liquids in suitable containers
and dispose of them while respecting the en-
vironment. Warning and control lamps
It lights
upPossible causeSolution 
Insufficient engine
oil.Switch the ignition
off. Check the en-
gine oil level
››› page 219.
FlashesPossible causeSolution 
Engine oil pres-
sure too low. 
Stop the vehicle!
Switch off the en-
gine. Check the en-
gine oil level.
- If the warning lamp
flashes although the
oil level is correct,
do not continue driv-
ing or leave the en-
gine running. Other-
wise, the engine
could be damaged.
Seek specialist as-
sistance. 
Engine oil sensor
faulty.Contact a special-
ised workshop. Have
the engine oil sensor
checked.
WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ››› in Control
and warning lamps on page 47. Engine oil specifications
Replacement engine oil must strictly comply
with the specifications.
The correct oil must be used to ensure the
correct operation and long service life of the
engine. The engine comes with a high-quality
multigrade oil that can generally be used all
year round.
218

Advice
Coolant temperature warning lamp and gauge Fig. 167
Engine coolant temperature gauge
on the instrument panel: A cold area;
B normal area;
C warning area When driving normally, the needle will re-
main in the middle area. The temperature
may also rise when the engine is working
hard, especially at high outside temperatures
and so the indicator will move quite far to the
right-hand side.
Several warning and control lamps light up
for a few seconds when the ignition is switch-
ed on, signalling that the function is being
verified. They will switch off after a few sec-
onds.It lights upGauge position
››› Fig. 167Possible causeSolution 
Warning area
CExcessive engine coolant temperature. 
Stop the vehicle!
Stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible. Switch off the engine
and wait for it to cool down and for the needle to return to the nor-
mal area. Check the engine coolant level ››› page 224.
Normal area BInsufficient engine coolant level.Check the engine coolant when the engine has cooled and, if it is
low, refill with engine coolant
››› page 224.
Although the coolant level is correct, there is a fault.
--Engine coolant system faulty.  Do not drive any further.
Obtain professional assistance.
--Cold area A--Avoid revving the engine too much or making it work hard while it
has not reached normal service temperature.222

Checking and refilling levelsFlashesPossible causeSolution

Engine coolant sys-
tem faulty.Seek specialist as-
sistance.
WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ››› in Control
and warning lamps on page 47. Engine coolant specifications
The engine cooling system is supplied from
the factory with a specially treated mixture of
water and, at least, 40 % of the additive
G 13
(TLVW 774 J). The engine coolant additive is
recognisable by its purple colour. This mix-
ture of water and additive gives the necessa-
ry frost protection down to -25°C (-13 F) and
protects the light alloy parts of the cooling
system against corrosion. It also prevents
scaling and considerably raises the boiling
point of the coolant.
To protect the engine cooling system, the
percentage of additive must always be at
l e

ast 40 %, even in warm climates where an-
ti-freeze protection is not required.
If greater frost protection is required in very
cold climates, the proportion of additive can
be increased. However, the percentage of ad-
ditive should not exceed 60%, as this would
reduce the frost protection and, in turn, de-
crease the cooling capacity. When the coolant is topped up, use a mixture
of
distilled water and, at least, 40 % of the G
13 or G 12 plu

s-plus (TL-VW 774 G) additive
(both are purple) to obtain an optimum anti-
corrosion protection ››› . The mixture of G
13 with G 12 plus (TL-VW 774 F), G 12 (red) or
G 11 (green-blue) engine coolants will signifi-
cantly reduce the anticorrosion protection
and should, therefore be avoided ››› .
WARNING
If there is not enough anti-freeze in the cool-
ant system, the engine may fail leading to se-
rious damage.
● Please make sure that the percentage of
additive is correct with respect to the lowest
expected ambient temperature in the zone in
which the vehicle is to be used.
● When the outside temperature is very low,
the coolant could freeze and the vehicle
would be immobilised. In this case, the heat-
ing would not work either and inadequately
dressed passengers could die of cold. CAUTION
The original additives should never be mixed
with coolants which are not approved by
SEAT. Otherwise, you run the risk of causing
severe damage to the engine and the engine
cooling system. ● If the fluid in the expansion tank is not pur-
ple but is, for example, brown, this indicates
that the G 13 additive has been mixed with an inadequate coolant. The coolant must be
changed as soon as possible if this is the
case! This could result in serious faults and
engine damage.
For the sake of the environment
Coolants and additives can contaminate the
environment. If any fluids are spilled, they
should be collected and correctly disposed
of, with respect to the environment. 223
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Advice
Checking the engine coolant level and
refilling Fig. 168
In the engine compartment: Marking
on coolant expansion tank Fig. 169
In the engine compartment: Coolant
expansion tank cap If the coolant level is low, the coolant warn-
ing indicator will light. Preparations
● Park the vehicle on even, flat and firm
ground.
● Allow the engine to cool ››› .
● Open the bonnet  ››› page 214.
● The coolant expansion tank is easily recog-
nisable because of the symbol  on the cap
› ›
› Fig. 169.
Check
ing the engine coolant level
● When the engine is cold, check the coolant
level using the side marking on the expan-
sion tank ››› Fig. 168.
● If the l

evel is below the “MIN” mark, top up
with coolant. When the engine is hot it may
be slightly above the marked area.
Topping up the engine coolant level
● Always protect your face, hands and arms
from hot coolant and steam using a large,
thick cloth over the coolant expansion tank
cap.
● Remove the cap very carefully ››› .
● Only refill using new engine coolant ac-
c or

ding to SEAT specifications ( ››› page 223)
››› .
● The engine coolant level should be be-
tween the marks on the coolant expansion
tank ››› Fig. 168 .
Do not exceed the top level
of

the marked area ››› .
● Screw on the cap tightly. ●
If, in the event of an emergency, you have
no coolant that is compliant to the required
specifications ( ››› page 223 ), do not use an-
other type of a

dditive. Instead, top up with
distilled water only ››› . Then re-establish
the correct proportion of the mixture with the
correct additive as soon as possible
››› page 223 . WARNING
Hot vapours and coolant can cause serious
burns.
● Never open the coolant expansion tank if
steam or coolant is coming from the engine
compartment. Wait until you cannot see or
hear any steam or coolant escaping.
● Always wait until the engine has complete-
ly cooled before very carefully opening the
expansion tank cap. Contact with hot ele-
ments of the engine can cause skin burns.
● When the engine is warm or hot, the cool-
ing system is pressurised. Do not unscrew
the cap on the expansion tank when the en-
gine is hot. Otherwise, coolant may spray out
under pressure causing burns and serious in-
jury.
– Carefully and slowly unscrew the cap an-
ti-clockwise, gently pressing down on it.
– Always protect your face, hands and arms
from hot coolant and steam using a large,
thick cloth. 224

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

Checking and refilling levels
● The washer reservoir is marked with the
symbol  on the lid
›
›› Fig. 171.
● Check there is enough water in the reser-
voir.
● To top up, mix water with a window cleaner
recommended by SEAT ››› . Please follow
the instructions for use found on the packag-
ing.
● In cold weather, a special antifreeze should
also be added to prevent the water from
freezing ››› .
Reservoir capacity
The capacity of the tank is approximately 3 li-
tres; in vehicles with a headlight washer sys-
tem, it is approximately 7 litres. WARNING
Never mix an unsuitable antifreeze or other
similar additives with the windscreen washer
water. A greasy layer may be formed on the
windscreen which will impair visibility.
● Use clean water with a window cleaner rec-
ommended by SEAT.
● If necessary, add a suitable antifreeze to
the water in the reservoir. CAUTION
● Do not mix cleaning products recommen-
ded by SEAT with other products. This could
lead to flocculation and may block the wind-
screen washer jets. ●
When topping up service fluids, make abso-
lutely certain that you fill the fluids into the
correct reservoirs. Using the wrong fluids
could cause serious malfunctions and engine
damage! Vehicle battery
Introduction The battery is a component of the vehicle's
electrical system.
Never work on the electrical system without
fully understanding the operations required,
the applicable safety standards and without
the correct tools
››› ! If required, have any
work carried out by a specialised workshop.
SEAT recommends taking your car in for tech-
nical service. Negligent work can cause seri-
ous injury.
Location and number of batteries in the
vehicle
The battery is located in the engine compart-
ment.
Explanation of the warning indications on
the vehicle's battery
SymbolMeaning 
Wear eye protection!
SymbolMeaning 
Battery acid is very corrosive and caustic.
Always wear protective gloves and eye
protection!

Fires, sparks, open flames and smoking
are prohibited.

A highly explosive mixture of gases is re-
leased when the battery is under charge.

Keep children away from acid and batter-
ies!
WARNING
Working on the vehicle battery and the elec-
trical system can cause corrosion, fire and
electric shocks. Always read and take into ac-
count the following warnings and safety
standards before carrying out any work:
● Before working on the battery, switch off
the engine, the ignition and all electrical de-
vices then disconnect the negative connec-
tion on the battery.
● Keep children away from acid and the bat-
tery itself!
● Wear eye protection.
● Battery acid is very corrosive and caustic. It
can burn skin and cause blindness. When
handling the battery, protect yourself from
splashes of acids, above all your hands, arms
and face.
● Do not smoke and never work close to pla-
ces exposed to flames or sparks. » 227
Technical specifications
Advice
Operation
Safety

Advice
●
Avoid sparks and electrostatic discharges
when working with cables and electrical devi-
ces.
● Never short the battery terminals.
● Never use a damaged battery. It can ex-
plode. Replace a damaged battery immedi-
ately.
● Replaced damaged or frozen batteries as
soon as possible. A flat battery can also
freeze at temperatures close to 0 °C (+32 °F).
● For vehicles with the battery in the luggage
compartment: Check that the battery gas
ventilation hose is securely attached. CAUTION
● Never disconnect the battery if the ignition
is switched on or if the engine is running.
This could damage the electrical system or
electronic components.
● Do not expose the battery to direct sunlight
over a long period of time, as the intense ul-
traviolet radiation can damage the battery
housing.
● If the car is left standing for long periods,
protect the battery from extreme cold temper-
ature so that it does not “freeze up” and be-
come damaged. Warning lampIt
lights upPossible causeSolution 
Faulty generator.
Contact a specialised
workshop. Have the
electrical system
checked.
Disconnect any unneces-
sary electrical devices.
The generator does not
charge the battery while
the vehicle is in motion.
Several warning and control lamps light up
for a few seconds when the ignition is switch-
ed on, signalling that the function is being
verified. They will switch off after a few sec-
onds.
WARNING
If the warning lamps and messages are ignor-
ed, the vehicle may stall in traffic, or may
cause accidents and severe injuries.
● Never ignore the warning lamps or text
messages.
● Stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible. CAUTION
Failure to heed the control lamps and text
messages when they appear may result in
faults in the vehicle. Checking the electrolyte level of the
vehicle battery
Fig. 172
In the engine compartment: Remove
the cover from the vehicle's battery. Fig. 173
In the engine compartment: unfold
the vehicle's battery hose. The battery's electrolyte level should be
checked regularly in high-mileage vehicles,
in hot countries and in older batteries. Other
batteries do not require maintenance.
228