2016 Seat Alhambra ECO mode

Air conditioning
heat-sensitive, they may be damaged or
ma
de u
nsuitable for use by the air coming
from the air vents. Note
The air from the vents flows through the vehi-
c le int

erior and out through the outlets below
the rear window. The slots must not be cov-
ered with items of clothing or other objects. Air recirculation
Air recirculation mode prevents the ambient
air fr
om ent
erin

g the interior.
When the outside temperature is very high,
selecting manual air recirculation mode for a
short period refreshes the vehicle interior
more quickly.
For safety reasons, air recirculation mode is
switched off when the  button is press-
ed or the air distributor turned to  ››› .
Sw it
c

hing the recirculation mode on and off
manually on the air conditioning (Electronic
manual air conditioning) 
Switching on: press the button  until the
lamp on the button lights up.
Switching off: press the button  until the
lamp on the button switches off. Switching the recirculation mode on and off
manual

ly on the Climatronic 
Switching on: press the button  until the
lamp on the button lights up.
Switching off: press the button  until the
lamp on the button switches off.
Automatic air recirculation mode 
Fresh air enters the vehicle interior in posi-
tion . If the system detects a high con-
centration of hazardous substances in the
ambient air, air recirculation mode is switch-
ed on automatically. When the level of impur-
ities drops to within a normal range, recircu-
lation mode is switched off.
The system is unable to detect unpleasant
smells.
With the following outside temperatures and
conditions the air recirculation does not
switch on automatically:
● The cooling system is switched on (the AC button is lit up) and the outside temperature
i
s
belo

w +3°C (+38°F).
● The cooling system and the windscreen
wipers
are switched off and the outside tem-
perature is below +10°C (+50°F).
● The cooling system is switched off and the
outside temper
ature is below +15°C (+59°F).
The windscreen wiper is switched on. Switching the automatic air recirculation
mode on and off
Switc

hing on: press the button  until the
right lamp on the button lights up.
Switching off: press the button  until all
the lamps on the button are switched off.
Switching the automatic air recirculation
mode off temporarily
● Press the  button onc
e to temporarily
switch to manual air recirculation mode in
the event of unpleasant smells from outside.
The left indicator lamp turns on.
● After more than two seconds, press the 
button ag
ain to restart automatic air recircu-
lation. The right indicator lamp turns on. WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ›››
in Intro-
duction on pag e 176
.
● If the cooling system is switched off and air
recir
culation mode switched on, the windows
can mist over very quickly, considerably limit-
ing visibility.
● Switch air recirculation mode off when it is
not requir
ed. » 179
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Air conditioning
burn any fuel remaining in the auxiliary heat-
er .
The e
xhaust gases are also extracted from
the system.
Remote control Fig. 198
Auxiliary heater: remote control
Fig. 198Meaning
ONSwitch the auxiliary heater on.
OFFSwitch the auxiliary heater off:
AAerial.
BLight. The auxiliary heater may accidentally switch
on if
a b
utt

on is pressed on the remote con-
trol by mistake. This may also occur outside
the range of the remote control or if the light
flashes. Remote control light
The remote c

ontrol light provides users with
different information at the push of a button:
Battery light
Fig. 198 BMeaning
Lights up green for
around two seconds.The auxiliary heater has been
switched on using the ON but-
ton.
Lights up red for
around two seconds.The auxiliary heater has been
switched off using the OFF but-
ton.
Slowly flashes green
for around two sec-
onds.No on a)
signal has been re-
ceived.
Quickly flashes green
for around two sec-
onds.The auxiliary heater is locked.
Possible causes: the fuel tank
is almost empty, the battery
charge is very low or there is a
fault.
Flashes red for
around two seconds.No off a)
signal has been re-
ceived.
Lights up orange for
around two seconds,
then green or red.The remote control battery is
almost flat. However, the on or
off signal has been received,
respectively.
Lights up orange for
around two seconds,
then flashes green or
red.The remote control battery is
almost flat. The on or off signal
has not been received, respec-
tively.
Battery light
Fig. 198 BMeaning
Flashes orange for
around five seconds.The remote control battery is
flat. The on or off signal has
not been received, respective-
ly.
a)
Within its range, the remote control might not receive the sig-
nal sent by the vehicle receiver. In this case, the remote control
will send an error message whether the auxiliary heater is on or
off. Come closer to the vehicle and press the corresponding but-
ton on the remote control once again.
Replacing the remote control battery
If the light ›››
Fig. 198 B on the remote con-
tr o
l

does not come on when the button is
pressed, the remote control battery should
soon be replaced.
The battery is located beneath a cover on the
back of the remote control. Turn the slot to
the left using a flat, blunt object (e.g. a coin).
When changing the battery, use another bat-
tery of the same model and observe the po-
larity when fitting it ››› .
R an
g

e
The receiver is in the interior of the vehicle.
The remote control, when fitted with new bat-
teries, has a range of several hundred me-
tres. Obstacles between the remote control
and the vehicle, bad weather conditions and
discharged batteries can considerably reduce
the range of the remote control. »
181
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
An optimum range is obtained by keeping
the r emot
e c
ontrol vertical, with the aerial
››› Fig. 198 A pointing upwards. When doing
so , do not
c

over the aerial with your fingers
or with the palm of your hand.
There must be a minimum distance of 2 me-
tres between the remote control and the vehi-
cle. CAUTION
● The ra dio fr

equency remote control con-
tains electronic components. Therefore, avoid
getting it wet and being knocked and protect
it from direct sunlight.
● Use of inappropriate batteries may damage
the remote c
ontrol. For this reason, always re-
place the used battery with another of the
same voltage, size and specifications. For the sake of the environment
● Ple a

se dispose of old batteries so that they
do not harm the environment.
● The remote control battery may contain
perch
lorate. Observe the legal requirements
for their disposal. Programming the auxiliary heater
The heater or ventilation inside the vehicle
c
an be pr
ogr

ammed for a certain period. Before programming, check that the day is
corr

ectly set in the Auxiliary heater -
day of the week menu ››› .
En ab
lin

g the Auxiliary heater menu on
the instrument panel
● From the main menu, select the Auxili-
ary heater submenu and pre

ss the OK button on the windscreen wiper lever.
● OR: pr ess the  or
 arrow buttons on the
mu lti-f
u

nction steering wheel until the Aux-
iliary heater menu is displayed.
Menu op-
tionsDescription
Switching
on
Switching
off
The auxiliary heater can be set to come
on automatically if required. To do so,
select a timer:
– The timer is displayed marked with a
.
– Only one timer can be selected. If a
timer has been selected, Prog. ON
will be displayed on the screen. If no
timer has been selected, the dash
panel display will show Prog. OFF.
– To modify the programmed timer, se-
lect another timer or select the Off
option.
Timer 1
Timer 2
Timer 3
Three different timers (hh.mm) can lat-
er be selected using the On option. If
the auxiliary heater is to be switched
on for just a certain day of the week,
select the day of the week and the
time for the auxiliary heater to come
on.
Menu op-
tionsDescription
DurationThe operating time may vary between
10 and 60 minutes and can be set to
5-minute intervals.
Operating
modeSet to heat or ventilate the vehicle in-
terior when the auxiliary heater is
switched on.
DaySet the current day of the week.
Factory
settingsThe predefined factory values for the
functions of this menu are restored.
BackThis returns to the main menu. Checking programming
If
the
timer h
a

s been switched on after
switching the ignition off, the light on button  will remain lit for around 10 seconds.
WARNING
Never program the independent heating sys-
tem t o be activ

ated and operated in closed,
unventilated areas. The auxiliary heater
fumes contain carbon dioxide, an odourless
and colourless toxic gas. Carbon monoxide
can cause people to lose consciousness. It
can also cause death. 182

Driving
WARNING
The components of the exhaust system reach
ver y
high temperatures. This could cause a
fire and considerable damage.
● Always park your vehicle so that no part of
the exhau
st system can come in contact with
flammable materials (such as wood,
leaves,dried grass, or spilled fuel). CAUTION
● Spec i

al care should be taken when parking
in areas with high kerbs or fixed barriers. Ob-
jects protruding from the ground may dam-
age the bumper or other parts of the vehicle
during manoeuvres. To avoid damage, stop
before the wheels touch the barrier or kerb.
● Special attention is required when driving
through entranc
es, over ramps, kerbs or oth-
er objects. The vehicle underbody, bumpers,
mudguards and running gear, and the engine
and exhaust system could be damaged as
you drive over these objects. Information on the brakes
For the first 200 to 300 km (100 to 200
mi
l
e

s), new brake pads have not yet reached
their maximum braking capacity, and need to
be “run in” first ››› . The slightly reduced
br ak in

g effect can be compensated for by in-
creasing pressure on the brake pedal. While
running in, the full braking distance or emer- gency braking distance is larger
then when
the brake p
ads have been run in. While run-
ning in, avoid full power braking or situations
requiring braking performance. For example,
in heavy traffic.
The rate of wear of the brake pads depends
to a great extent on the conditions in which
the vehicle is used and the way the vehicle is
driven. If the vehicle is used frequently in city
traffic or for short trips or driven sport style,
visit a specialised workshop regularly, more
frequently than advised in the Maintenance
Programme, to have the brake pads checked.
If you drive with wet brakes, for example, af-
ter crossing areas of water, in heavy rainfall
or even after washing the car, the effect of
the brakes is lessened as the brake discs are
wet or even frozen (in winter). At higher
speed, “dry” the brakes as quickly as possi-
ble by braking gently several times. Only do
this without endangering vehicles behind
you or any other road users ››› .
A l a
y

er of salt on the discs and brake pads
will reduce the effectiveness of the brakes
and increase braking distance. If you drive for
a prolonged period on salted roads without
braking then brake carefully several times to
eliminate the layer of salt on the brakes ››› .
If the
v

ehicle remains parked for considera-
ble lengths of time, is used little, or if the
brakes are not used, there may be corrosion
on the brake discs and a build up of dirt onthe brake pads. If the brakes are not used fre-
quently, or if ru

st has formed on the discs,
SEAT recommends cleaning the pads and
discs by braking firmly a few times at a mod-
erately high speed. Only do this without en-
dangering vehicles behind you or any other
road users ››› .
F au
lt

s in the brake system
During braking, if you notice that the vehicle
does not react as usual (that the braking dis-
tance has increased suddenly) it may be pos-
sible that there is a fault in the braking sys-
tem. The  warning lamp lights up and a
text message displayed. Take the vehicle to a
specialised workshop immediately and have
the fault repaired. Drive at a moderate speed
and be prepared to use more pressure on the
brake pedal, and allow for longer stopping
distances.
Brake servo
The brake servo only operates when the en-
gine is running and the pressure applied by
the driver on the brake pedal increases.
If the brake servo does not operate or the ve-
hicle must be towed, then the brake pedal
will have to be pressed with more force given
that the braking distance will be increased
when the brake servo does not operate ››› .
»
193Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
WARNING
New brake pads do not brake to full efficien-
cy.
● For the fir
st 320 km (200 miles), new brake
pad
s have not yet reached their maximum
braking capacity, and need to be “run in”
first. For this, to compensate for reduced
braking efficiency the brake pedal will have
to be pressed with more force.
● To avoid losing control of the vehicle and
caus
ing serious accidents, always take great
care when driving with new brake pads.
● When running in new brake pads, always
res
pect the safety distances between you and
other vehicles and do not cause situations re-
quiring extreme braking performance. WARNING
When brakes overheat, braking is less effi-
cient and br

aking distances increase.
● When driving on slopes, brakes can be
overlo
aded and overheat quickly.
● Reduce speed or change down a gear when
faced w
ith steep and long slopes. This allows
you to use the engine braking effect and to
reduce the strain on the brake system.
● Non-standard or damaged front spoilers
coul
d restrict the airflow to the brakes and
cause them to overheat. WARNING
Wet, frozen or salt-covered brakes take lon-
ger t o en

gage and this increases braking dis-
tances.
● Test the brakes carefully.
● Dry the brakes, free them of ice and salt by
brakin
g gently several times, when weather,
road and traffic conditions permit. WARNING
Driving without the brake servo may signifi-
cantly inc

rease the braking distance and re-
sult in a severe accident.
● Never allow the vehicle to move forwards
when the engine is
switched off.
● If the brake servo does not operate or the
vehicl
e must be towed, then the brake pedal
will have to be pressed with more force given
that the braking distance will be increased
when the brake servo does not operate. CAUTION
● Never m ak

e the brakes “slip” by pressing
the pedal gently, if it is not really necessary
to brake. Continuously pressing on the brake
pedal will heat the brakes. This could signifi-
cantly reduce braking power, increase brak-
ing distance or even result in the total failure
of the brake system.
● Reduce speed or change down a gear when
faced w
ith steep and long slopes. This allows
you to use the engine braking effect and to reduce the strain on the brake system. Other-
wi
se, the br

akes may overheat and fail. Only
use the brakes to reduce speed or to stop. Note
When checking the front brake pads, take the
time t o al

so check the rear brake pads. The
thickness of the brake pads should be
checked visually and regularly, by looking
through the openings in the wheel rims or
from underneath the vehicle. If necessary, re-
move the wheels to check them thoroughly.
SEAT recommends taking your car in for tech-
nical service. Gearbox
Intr oduction When reverse gear is engaged and the igni-
tion i
s
sw

itched on the following takes place:
● Reverse lights light up.
● When reversing, the air conditioner auto-
matical
ly changes to air recirculation mode.
● The rear window heater switches on when
the winds
creen wiper is activated.
● Also, the parking sensor system, the opti-
cal p
arking sensor and the camera for the re-
verse assist system are connected.
194

Operation
● Pu
l
l the right-hand side paddle +›››
Fig. 205 t o
w ards the steering wheel to
step up a gear.
● Pull the left-hand side paddle –
› ››
Fig. 205
t o

wards the steering wheel step down a gear.
If the paddles are not used for a period of
time, the vehicle leaves Tiptronic mode. CAUTION
● When acc el

erating, the gearbox automati-
cally shifts up into the next gear shortly be-
fore the maximum engine speed is reached.
● When reducing speed manually, the gear
box on
ly shifts gear when the engine can no
longer exceed the maximum engine speed. Driving with automatic gearbox
The gearbox changes gear ratios automatical-
ly
a
s

the vehicle moves.
Driving down hills
The steeper the gradient, the lower the gear
you will need. The lowest gears increase the
engine braking work. Never go down hills
with the selector lever in neutral N.
● You should reduce speed accordingly.
● Press the selector lever from position D to
the right int

o the Tiptronic selector gate
››› page 197. ●
Gently p u

ll the selector lever back to
change down a gear.
● OR: reduce using the steering wheel pad-
dle
s ››› Fig. 205 ››› page 197.
Back-up mode
If all the selector lever positions on the in-
strument panel display are shown with a
light-coloured background, this means there
is a fault in the system. The automatic gear-
box will operate in back-up mode. When the
backup programme is activated, it is possible
to drive the vehicle, however, at low speeds
and within a selected range of gears.
For the DSG ®
dual clutch gearbox, in some
cases, this may mean that the reverse gear
does not engage . The gearbox should be
checked by a specialised workshop as soon
as possible.
Protection against overloading the DSG ®
6-
gear automatic gearbox
When the clutch is overloaded, the vehicle
begins to jerk and the selector lever position
indicator begins to flash. To prevent damage
to the clutch, this interrupts the power trans-
mission between the engine and the gear-
box. There is no more traction and it is not
possible to accelerate. If the clutch is opened
automatically due to overloading, press the
brake pedal. Wait a few seconds before start-
ing to move again. Kick-down
The kick

-down system provides maximum ac-
celeration when the gear selector lever is in
the positions D, S or in the Tiptronic position.
When the accelerator pedal is pressed right
down, the automatic gearbox will shift down
to a lower gear, depending on road speed
and engine speed. This takes advantage of
the maximum acceleration of the vehicle
››› .
When the ac c
el

erator is pressed to the floor,
the automatic gearbox shifts to the next gear
only after the engine reaches the specified
maximum engine speed.
Launch-Control Programme
The Launch-Control programme enables max-
imum acceleration while at a standstill.
● Switch off the ASR ›››
page 189.
● Press and hold the brake pedal with your
left
foot.
● Place the selector lever in position S or Tip-
tronic
.
● Press the accelerator with the right foot un-
til the
vehicle reaches an engine speed of ap-
proximately 3200 rpm.
● Lift the left foot off the brake ›››
. The ve-
hic l
e s
tarts with maximum acceleration.
● Turn on the ASR after accelerating!
198

Driving
WARNING
Rapid acceleration can cause loss of traction
and skid din
g, especially on slippery ground.
This could cause loss of control of the vehicle
resulting in an accident and considerable
damage.
● Only use kick-down and rapid acceleration
when weather c
onditions, surface conditions
and traffic conditions permit; accelerate and
drive in a manner that does not endanger
other road users.
● Please remember that the driven wheels
can slip and the
vehicle can skid if the ASR is
turned off, especially on slippery ground.
● Turn on the ASR after accelerating! CAUTION
● If y

ou stop on a hill with a gear range en-
gaged, do not try to prevent the vehicle from
rolling back by pressing on the accelerator.
This could cause overheating and damage the
automatic gearbox.
● Never allow the vehicle to move with the
gear sel
ector lever in N, especially with the
engine turned off. The automatic gearbox will
not be lubricated and could be damaged. Recommended gear display
In some vehicles, the recommended gear for
r
educ
in

g fuel consumption is displayed on
the instrument panel:
DisplayMeaning 
Optimum gear.

Recommendation to change up a gear.

Recommendation to change down a
gear.
Information for “cleaning” the diesel partic-
ul
at

e filter
The exhaust gas system control recognises
when the diesel particulate filter is blocked,
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 excep-
tionally high speed ›››
page 202. WARNING
The recommended gear display is intended as
a guideline only; it shou

ld never replace the
driver's attention to driving carefully.
● Responsibility for selecting the correct gear
for eac
h 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
sit uation w

ill help you to save fuel. Note
The recommended gear display is switched
off when the c lut

ch pedal is pressed. Run-in and economical driving
Ru nnin

g in Please observe the instructions for running-in
new components.
R u

nning-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 m ax

imum speed. »
199
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Driving
Do not wait until the last moment before
c h
an
ging gear. Only use first gear when you
move off and change to second gear quickly.
Avoid the kick-down function in vehicles with
automatic gearbox.
Vehicles with a gear display help to achieve
an economical driving style as the display in-
dicates the best moment to change gear.
Let the vehicle roll
If you take your foot off the accelerator, the
fuel supply is stopped and consumption is
reduced.
Allow the vehicle to roll without accelerating,
for example when approaching a red traffic
light. However, if the vehicle is rolling too
slowly or the distance is too long, the clutch
pedal should be pressed to declutch. The en-
gine will then operate at idle speed.
If the vehicle is going to be at a standstill for
a period of time, switch off the engine; for ex-
ample, while waiting at a level crossing. In
vehicles which have the Start-Stop function
on, the engine switches off automatically
when the vehicle is not moving.
Think ahead and “flow” with the traffic
Frequent acceleration and braking considera-
bly increase fuel consumption. If you think
ahead as you drive and keep a safe distance
from the vehicle in front, it is possible to slow
down by simply lifting your foot off the accel- erator. This eliminates the need for constant
brakin
g and acceleration.
Calm and steady driving
Constancy is more important than speed: The
more you drive at a constant speed, the lower
the fuel consumption.
When driving on the motorway, it is more effi-
cient to drive at a constant and more moder-
ate speed than to be continuously accelerat-
ing and braking. As a general rule, you will
reach your destination just as quickly when
you drive at a constant speed.
The cruise control function helps you to ach-
ieve a constant style of driving.
Moderate use of additional devices
It is important to travel in comfort, but con-
venience systems should be used ecological-
ly.
Some equipment, when connected, increase
fuel consumption considerably, for example:
● Air conditioning cooling system: If the air
conditioning sy
stem is required to cool to
significantly lower temperatures than the true
outside temperature, it will require a large
amount of energy from the engine. Therefore,
we recommend that the selected temperature
for the vehicle is not too different to the out-
side temperature. It is a good idea to air the
vehicle before starting your journey and to drive a short distance with all the windows
open. Only then shou

ld you close all the win-
dows and switch on the air conditioning.
Keep windows closed when travelling at high
speeds. Driving with the windows open in-
creases fuel consumption.
● Switch off the seat heating when the seats
have w
armed up.
● Switch off the heated rear window and the
winds
creen heating when the windows have
demisted and are free of ice.
● Do not leave the auxiliary heater switched
on when the vehic
le is moving ››› page 180.
Avoid short journeys
Fuel consumption is much higher when the
engine is cold, immediately after it has been
started. It takes a few kilometres of driving
for the engine to warm up and to normalise
consumption.
The engine and catalytic converter need to
reach their proper working temperature in or-
der to minimise fuel consumption and emis-
sions. The ambient temperature has a deci-
sive influence.
Therefore, unnecessary short journeys
should be avoided. Try to combine trips.
The vehicle uses more fuel in winter than in
summer, even when other conditions are the
same. »
201
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety