2016 Seat Alhambra Owner's Manual

Care and maintenance
Notes for the user Label s
and p
latesSome parts in the engine compartment come
from the f
act

ory with certificates of safety, la-
bels or plates containing important informa-
tion regarding the operation of the vehicle,
for example, on the fuel tank flap, 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,
label s

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 Cana

dian standard, ICES-002.
Using your vehicle in other countries
and continents The vehicle is manufactured at the factory for
use in a p
ar

ticular 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
● SEA T doe

s 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. ●
SEA T doe

s 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 and antenna reception
The aerial of radio and navigation systems
fitted at
the f

actory may be mounted in differ-
ent parts of the vehicle:
● On the inside of the rear window, next to
the re ar w

indow 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 knoc

ked 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 products. » 263
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
Note
If electrical equipment is used near an aerial
bui lt
-into the window, you may observe inter-
ference in the reception of AM stations. Notes on SEAT repairs
WARNING
Repairs or modifications which are not per-
formed c orr

ectly may result in damage or er-
rors in the vehicle operation, affecting the ef-
fectiveness of the driver assist and airbag
systems. This could result in serious acci-
dent.
● Have any repairs or modifications carried
out at a s
pecialised workshop. Collection and scrapping of end-of-life
v
ehic
l

es Collection of end-of-life vehicles
An e
xt
en

sive network of used car reception
centres already exists in much of Europe. Af-
ter the vehicle has been delivered, you will
receive a certificate of destruction describing
the environmentally friendly scrapping of the
vehicle in accordance with applicable legisla-
tion. We will collect the used vehicle free of
char

ge, provided it complies with all national
legislation.
Please see your technical service for further
information about the collection and scrap-
ping of end-of-life vehicles.
Scrapping
The relevant safety requirements must be ob-
served when the vehicle or components of
the airbag or belt tensioner systems are
scrapped. These requirements are known to
specialised workshops. Checking and refilling levels
Fi l
lin
g the tank
Introduction The fuel tank flap is on the rear right of the
vehic
l

e. WARNING
Refuelling or handling fuel carelessly can
cau se an e

xplosion or fire resulting in serious
burns and injuries.
● Always make sure that you correctly close
the fuel c
ap to avoid evaporation and fuel
spillage.
● Fuels are highly explosive and inflammable
subs
tances that can cause serious burns and
injuries.
● Fuel could leak out or be spilt if the engine
is not
switched off or if the filler fuel nozzle is
not fully inserted into the tank filler neck
when refuelling. This could lead to a fire, ex-
plosion and severe injuries.
● When refuelling, turn off the engine, the
auxili
ary heating ( ››› page 180) and turn off
the ignition for safety reasons.
● Always turn off mobile telephones, radio
appar
atus and other radio wave emitting
equipment before refuelling. Electromagnetic
waves could cause sparks and lead to a fire. 264

Checking and refilling levels
●
Never ent er the
vehicle while refuelling. If it
is absolutely necessary to enter, close the
door and touch a metal surface before touch-
ing the filler nozzle again. This will prevent
the generation of static electricity. Sparks
could cause a fire when refuelling.
● Never handle fuel close to flames, sparks or
obj
ects with slow combustion (e.g. ciga-
rettes).
● Avoid static electricity and electro-magnet-
ic ra
diation when refuelling.
● Observe the safety regulations of the serv-
ice st
ation.
● Never spill fuel on the vehicle or in the lug-
gage c
ompartment. WARNING
For safety reasons, SEAT does not recommend
carr y

ing a spare fuel canister in the vehicle.
Fuel could be spilled and catch fire, above all
in case of an accident and this applies to a
full container as well as empty containers.
This could lead to explosions, fires and inju-
ries.
● Observe the following if you exceptionally
have t
o carry fuel in a canister:
– Never place a fuel container to fill it in-
side the vehicle or on the vehicle, for ex-
ample, in the boot or on the hatch. Filling
in these circumstances could create an
electrostatic charge and spark that could
ignite fuel fumes. –
Alw a

ys place the canister on the ground
to fill it.
– Insert the fuel nozzle into the neck of the
canister as far as possible.
– If you are using a metal fuel canister, the
nozzle must always touch the canister
while it is being filled to avoid static elec-
tricity.
– Follow the legal requirements for the use,
storage and transport of spare fuel canis-
ters.
– Insure that the fuel container complies
with manufacturing standards, for exam-
ple, ANSI or ASTM F852-86. CAUTION
● Alw a

ys remove any fuel spilled on the vehi-
cle paintwork immediately to avoid damage
to the wheel housing, the tyre and vehicle
paintwork.
● Refuelling a petrol engine with diesel or a
diesel en
gine with petrol can cause serious
engine and fuel system damage; the resulting
malfunctions are not covered by the SEAT
warranty. If you refuel with the wrong type of
fuel, never start the engine. This applies to
even the smallest amount of the wrong fuel.
Seek specialist assistance. With the engine
running, the composition of the wrong fuel
could significantly damage the fuel system
and the engine itself.
● In vehicles with a diesel engine, under no
circ
umstances should you refuel or drive with petrol, kerosene, heating oil or any other
type of
diff

erent fuel. Other types of fuels
could cause serious damage to the engine
and to the fuel supply system and the result-
ing problems are not covered by the SEAT
warranty. For the sake of the environment
Fuels can contaminate the environment. Col-
l ect an

y spilt service fluids and allow a pro-
fessional to dispose of them. Note
There is no emergency mechanism for the
manua l

release of the fuel tank flap. If neces-
sary, request assistance from specialised per-
sonnel. 265
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
Control lamps and fuel gauge Fig. 235
On the instrument panel: Fuel gauge
f or petr
o
l and diesel 
It lights up
Gauge posi-
tion
››› Fig. 235Possible cause
››› Solution
Red mark (ar- row)
The fuel tank is al-
most empty.
The reserve tank is
being used
››› page 39.
Refuel as soon as
possible ››› . 
It lights up
Fuel tank not
closed cor-
rectly.Stop the vehicle and close the tank
flap properly.
Several warning and indication lamps light
up f
or a f
ew sec

onds when the ignition is
switched on, signalling that the function is being verified. They will switch off after a few
seconds.
When the c

ontrol lamp lights up  or  the
auxiliary heating and heater running off pet-
rol automatically switch off. WARNING
Driving with insufficient fuel reserve could re-
su lt

in the vehicle breaking down in traffic
and a serious accident.
● If the fuel level is too low then the fuel sup-
ply t
o the engine can become irregular espe-
cially on slopes.
● If the engine “is choked” or stalls due to
lack
of or irregularity of the fuel supply, the
power steering as well as all of the driver as-
sistance systems including braking assis-
tance will stop working.
● Always refuel when there is only one quar-
ter of the f
uel tank left to avoid running out of
fuel. CAUTION
● Alw a

ys pay attention to any lit control
lamps and to the corresponding descriptions
and instructions to avoid damage to the vehi-
cle.
● Never run the fuel tank completely dry. An
irregu
lar fuel supply may lead to ignition
faults and unburnt fuel could enter the ex-
haust system. This could damage the catalyt-
ic converter filter or the diesel particulate fil-
ter! Note
The arrow next to the fuel pump symbol on
the ins trument

panel ››› Fig. 235 indicates the
side of the vehicle on which the fuel tank flap
is located. Refuelling
Fig. 236
Open fuel tank flap with tank cap in
the ho l
der Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›

 page 39
Refuelling
The correct petrol type for the vehicle is loca-
ted on a sticker inside the fuel tank flap
››› page 267.
● If the automatic filler nozzle is operated
correctly
, it will switch itself off as soon as
the tank is full ››› .
266

Checking and refilling levels
● Do not c
ontinue t
o refuel if it is turned off!
Otherwise, this will fill the expansion cham-
ber and fuel may leak out if the ambient con-
ditions are warm. WARNING
Do not continue refilling once the fuel nozzle
ha s

switched itself off. The fuel tank may be
filled too much. As a result, fuel may spurt
out and spill. This could lead to a fire, explo-
sion and severe injuries. CAUTION
● Alw a

ys remove any fuel spilled on the vehi-
cle paintwork immediately to avoid damage
to the wheel housing, the tyre and vehicle
paintwork. For the sake of the environment
Spilt fuel can contaminate the environment. Fuel
Intr oduction You will find a factory-fitted sticker containing
inf
orm
ation on the type of

fuel for your vehi-
cle on the inside of the fuel tank flap. WARNING
Refuelling or handling fuel carelessly can
cau se an e

xplosion or fire resulting in serious
burns and injuries.
● Fuel is a highly explosive, easily flammable
subs
tance.
● Observe current safety instructions and lo-
cal
regulations concerning the handling of
fuel. Types of fuel
The type of fuel to use when refilling will de-
pend on the
v
ehic

le's engine. You will find a
factory-fitted sticker containing information
on the type of fuel for your vehicle on the in-
side of the fuel tank flap.
SEAT recommends the use of sulphur-free or
low sulphur fuel to reduce consumption and
prevent engine damage.
Possible types of fuel
91 a)
RONNormal petrol, normal unleaded
petrol ››› page 267
95 a)
RONPremium unleaded petrol (95 RON)
››› page 267
98 a)
RONPremium unleaded petrol 98
››› page 267
Possible types of fuel
Diesel››› page 268
a)
RON = Regulation Octane Number
Petrol Petrol types
Vehic
l

es with petrol engines must refuel us-
ing unleaded petrol according to European
norm EN 228 ››› .
P etr
o

l 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. »
267
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
If good-quality petrol with metal-free addi-
tiv e
s
is not available or engine problems
arise, the necessary additives must be added
when refuelling ››› .
Not al
l

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 ››› .
S EA
T r

ecommends “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 r ef

uel 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, otherw
ise 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
damag
e the engine. ●
If, in e x

ceptional 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
Die
sel
f

uel 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 ››› .
Y our t
ec

hnical 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 ex

ample, 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.
A cold diesel engine makes more noise dur-
ing winter temperatures than summer tem-
peratures. Furthermore, the exhaust gases
may turn slightly bluish while the engine is
heating. The quantity of exhaust gases will
depend on the outside temperature.
Filter pre-heater
Vehicles with a diesel engine are fitted with a
fuel filter pre-heating system. This ensures
that the fuel system remains operational to
approx. -24°C (-11.2 ºF), provided you use
winter-grade diesel which is safe to -15°C
(+5.0°F).
However, if the fuel has waxed to such an ex-
tent that the engine will not start at tempera-
tures of under -24°C (-11.2°F), simply place
the vehicle in a warm garage or workshop for
a while to heat up.
268

Checking and refilling levels
Auxiliary heater
V ehic
l
es with a diesel engine may be fitted
with an auxiliary heater. The heater runs off
the fuel from the fuel tank. On doing so,
smells and steam may be noticed outside the
vehicle for a short period. This is normal and
it is not an indication of a fault in the vehicle.
Whenever there is little fuel in the tank (re-
serve), the auxiliary heater automatically
switches off. WARNING
Never use start boosters. An aerosol start
boos t

er could explode or cause a sudden rise
in engine speed leading to engine damage
and serious injury. CAUTION
● The v ehic

le is not prepared for the use of
biodiesel. Never, under any circumstances re-
fuel with biodiesel. It could damage the fuel
system and subsequently lead to engine
faults!
● The addition of biodiesel to diesel by the
diesel pr
oducer according to Standard EN 590
or other equivalent (DIN 51628 in Germany,
for example) is authorised and causes no
type of damage to the engine or the fuel sys-
tem.
● The diesel engine has been designed for to
use diesel
fuel exclusively. Therefore, never
use petrol, fuel oil or other unsuitable fuels. The composition of these fuels may signifi-
cantly
d

amage the fuel system and the en-
gine.
● The use of diesel fuels with a high sulphur
percent
age could considerably reduce the
service life of the diesel particulate filter.
Your technical service centre will be able to
tell you which countries have diesel with a
high sulphur content. Information on fuel consumption
The consumption and emission values indi-
c
at
ed do not

refer to one specific vehicle.
They are only to be used to compare the val-
ues of the different vehicle versions. The fuel
consumption and CO 2 emissions of a vehicle
not only depend on the effective use of fuel.
They also depend on your driving style and
other non-technical factors.
Calculation of fuel consumption
Fuel consumption and emission values are
determined according to the current version
of the 715/2007/EC or 80/1268/EEC regula-
tion and are valid for the vehicle kerb weight.
The specifications do not refer to an individu-
al vehicle. Two measuring cycles are carried
out on a rolling road test bed to calculate fuel
consumption. The test criteria are as follows:
Urban cycle
Measurement of the urban cycle
starts with an engine cold start. City
driving is simulated below at be-
tween 0 and 50 km/h (31 mph).
Road cycle
In the road cycle simulation, the car
undergoes frequent acceleration and
braking in all gears, as in normal ev-
eryday driving. The road speed rang-
es from 0 to 120 km/h (0 to 75 mph).
Combined
The average combined consumption
is calculated with a weighting of
around 37 % for the urban cycle and
63 % for the road cycle.
CO 2 emissions
of the combina-
tion
The exhaust gases are collected dur-
ing both driving cycles to calculate
carbon dioxide emissions (urban and
road). The gas composition is then
analysed to evaluate the CO 2 content
and other emissions. Note
● The kerb w eight

may vary according to the
vehicle equipment. This could raise consump-
tion and the CO 2 emissions slightly.
● In practice, consumption values could be
different
to the values calculated based on
the 715/2007/EC or 80/1268/EEC regula-
tions. 269
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
Selective catalytic reduction*
(AdBlue) Intr oduction In vehicles with “Selective Catalytic Reduc-
tion”, a spec
i
al 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.
The AdBlue fill level must be checked when
the vehicle is being serviced. WARNING
If the AdBlue fill level is too low, the vehicle
ma y

not restart after switching the ignition
off. The emergency start or jump start will not
be possible either!
● Top up with AdBlue at the latest 1,000 km
or 600 mile
s before it runs out.
● Do not allow the AdBlue to run too low. WARNING
AdBlue is an irritant, corrosive liquid that can
cau se injurie

s if it touches the skin, eyes or
respiratory organs.
● If AdBlue get in contact with eyes and skin,
rinse for at
least 15 minutes with plenty of
water and seek medical help.
● If the AdBlue is swallowed, wash your
mouth with pl
enty of water for at least 15 mi-
nutes. Do not try to provoke vomiting unless
recommended by a Doctor. Seek medical ad-
vice immediately. CAUTION
AdBlue damages surfaces such as painted ve-
hicl e p

arts, plastic, items of clothing and car-
pets. Spilt AdBlue should be removed as
quickly as possible using a damp cloth and
plenty of cold water.
● If the AdBlue has crystallised, remove with
warm wat
er and a sponge. Warning and indication lamps

It lights up red
The engine can-
not be restarted!
The level of
AdBlue is too
low.Stop the vehicle in a suitable, safe
and flat area then top up with the
minimum quantity of AdBlue re-
quired
››› page 271. 
It lights up red
together with

The engine can-
not be restarted!
AdBlue system
malfunction.Contact a specialised workshop.
Have the system checked there.

It lights up yellow
The AdBlue re-
serve is low.Refill AdBlue over the next kilome-
tres or miles as indicated
››› page 271. SEAT recommends
contacting a specialised workshop. 
It lights up yellow
together with

There is a fault
in the AdBlue
system or un-
suitable AdBlue
fluid has been
used.
Contact a specialised workshop.
Have the system checked there.
Several warning and indication lamps should
light
up f
or a f

ew seconds when the ignition
is switched on, signalling that the function is
being verified. They will switch off after a few
seconds.
270