2016 Seat Alhambra Battery

Driving
Operating instructions The auxiliary heater exhaust system located
below the
v
ehicle must be kept clear of snow,
mud and other objects. The exhaust gases
must not be obstructed in any way. The ex-
haust gases generated by the auxiliary heater
are removed via an exhaust pipe fitted under-
neath the vehicle.
On heating the vehicle interior, depending on
the outside temperature the warm air is first
directed at the windscreen and then to the
rest of the vehicle interior through the air
vents. If the air vents are turned towards the
windows, for example, the form of air distri-
bution may be affected.
Depending on the outside temperature, the
temperature at which the auxiliary heater
warms the vehicle interior may be somewhat
higher if the heating or air conditioner tem-
perature control is set to maximum before
switching the heating on.
Depending on the engine, vehicles with aux-
iliary heater may be fitted with a second bat-
tery in the luggage compartment that is re-
sponsible for powering the auxiliary heater.
When will the auxiliary heater will not switch
on?
● The auxiliary heater requires about as
much po w

er as the dipped beam headlights.
If the battery charge is low, the auxiliary heat- er will switch off automatically or will not
even swit

ch on. This avoids problems when
starting the engine.
● The heater will switch on just once each
time. The timer wi
ll also have to be switched
back on every time it is required. Note
● Noise w i

ll be heard while the auxiliary
heater is running.
● When the air humidity is high and the out-
side temper
ature low, the heating system
may evaporate condensation from the auxili-
ary heater. In this case, steam may be re-
leased from underneath the vehicle. This is
completely normal and there is no need to
suspect a fault!
● If the auxiliary heater runs several times
over a pr
olonged period, the vehicle battery
may run flat. To re-charge the battery, drive
the vehicle for a long distance. As a general
rule, drive for as much time as the auxiliary
heating was working. Driving
Ad dr
e

ss
Introduction The power steering is not hydraulic but elec-
tromec
h

anical. The advantage of this steer-
ing system is that it disposes of hydraulic
tubes, hydraulic oil, the pump, filter and oth-
er components. The electromechanical sys-
tem saves fuel. While a hydraulic system re-
quires oil pressure to be maintained, electro-
mechanical steering only requires energy
when the steering wheel is turned.
With the power steering system, the assisted
steering function automatically adjusts ac-
cording to the vehicle speed, the steering tor-
que and the wheel turning angle. The power
steering only works when the engine is run-
ning. WARNING
If the power steering is not working then the
st eerin

g wheel is much more difficult to turn
and the vehicle more difficult to control.
● The power steering only works when the
engine is
running.
● Never allow the vehicle to move when the
engine is
switched off.
● Never remove the key from the ignition if
the vehic
le is in motion. The steering may » 183
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
lock and it will not be possible to turn the
st
eerin
g wheel. Warning and indication lamps

It lights up red
Power steering faul-
ty.The steering system should be
checked by a specialised work-
shop as soon as possible.

It lights up yellow
Power steering op-
eration reduced.The steering system should be
checked by a specialised work-
shop as soon as possible.
If, after restarting the engine and
driving for a short distance, the
yellow warning lamp no longer
comes on, it will
not be necessa-
ry to take the vehicle to a speci-
alised workshop.
The vehicle battery
was disconnected
and has been recon-
nected.Drive for a short distance at
15-20 km/h (9-12 mph). 
Flashes red
Fault in the steering
column electronic
lock.
 Do not drive on!
Seek professional advice. 
It flashes yellow
Steering column de-
viation.Gently turn the steering wheel to
and fro.
Steering wheel not
unlocked or locked.Remove the key from the ignition
and then switch the ignition
back on. Check the messages
displayed on the instrument
panel at the same time.
Do not drive on, if
the steering
column remains locked after the
ignition has been switched on.
Seek specialist assistance. 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. WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ›››
in Warning
and indication l amp
s on page 105. Information on the steering
Electronic steering column lock
V
ehic
l

es with Keyless Access: the steering
column locks when the driver's door is
opened and the ignition is switched off.
Therefore, the vehicle should be at a stand-
still and, where applicable, the selector lever
in position P. If the driver door is opened before the igni-
tion is sw

itched off, the steering column elec-
tronic lock is activated via the ignition key or
the sensor built into the door handle.
Steering column mechanical lock
To prevent theft, we recommend you lock the
steering before leaving the vehicle.
Please engage steer-
ing lockUnlocking the steering
Parking the vehicle
››› page 189.Turn the steering wheel
slightly to release the
steering lock.
Remove the key from the
ignition.Insert the key in the igni-
tion lock.
Turn the steering wheel
slightly until you hear the
steering lock.Hold the steering wheel in
this position and switch
on the ignition. Electromechanical power steering
W
ith the po
w

er steering system, the assisted
steering function automatically adjusts ac-
cording to the vehicle speed, the steering tor-
que and the wheel turning angle. The power
steering only works when the engine is run-
ning.
You should remember that you will need con-
siderably more power than normal to steer
the vehicle if the power steering is not work-
ing correctly or not at all.
184

Driving
Opening the driver's door when ex
itin g the
vehicle activates the electronic lock on the
steering column if the ignition is disabled
››› page 183.
Switching the ignition on/off
● Briefly push the start-up button ›››
Fig. 200
without touching the brake or clutch ped-
al ››› .
Emer g
ency

starting function
If no valid key is detected inside the vehicle,
an emergency start-up will be required. The
relevant message will appear in the dash
panel display. This may happen when, for ex-
ample, the vehicle key battery is very low or
flat:
● Immediately after pushing the start-up but-
ton, keep the
vehicle key next to the steering
column ››› Fig. 201.
● The ignition connects and the engine starts
automatic
ally.
Emergency disconnection
If the engine does not stop after briefly press-
ing the start-up button, an emergency dis-
connect will be required:
● Press the starter button twice within 1 sec-
ond or pres
s it once for more than 2 seconds
››› .
● The engine turns off automatically. Engine restart feature
If
no
v

alid key is detected inside the vehicle
after the engine stops, you will only have 5
seconds to restart it. A warning will display
on the dash panel screen.
After this interval, it will not be possible to
start the engine without a valid key inside
the vehicle. WARNING
Any accidental movement of the vehicle could
re s

ult in serious injury.
● When pressing the start-up button, do not
pre
ss the brake or clutch pedal, this way the
engine will start immediately. WARNING
If vehicle keys are used negligently or with-
out due c ar

e, this may cause accidents and
serious injury.
● Never leave any key inside the vehicle
when exitin
g. Otherwise, a child or unauthor-
ised person could lock the vehicle, start the
engine or connect the ignition and, in this
way, operate electronic equipment (e.g. the
windows). Note
In diesel vehicles with the Keyless Access
sys t

em, there may be a delay in the engine
starting if it requires preheating. Starting the engine
Complete operations only in the sequence
given:
Vehicles without
Keyless AccessVehicles with
Keyless Access
1.Press and hold the brake pedal until step 5 is per- formed.
1a.In vehicles with a manual gearbox: press and
hold the clutch down until the engine starts.
2.Put the gearbox lever in neutral or the selector lever in position P or N.
3.
Only in vehicles with
diesel engines: for pre-
heating, turn the key in the ignition lock to po-
sition ››› Fig. 199 2
. A
control lamp lights up
on the dash panel
.

4.
Turn the key in the igni- tion lock to position
››› Fig. 199 3
; do not
press the accelerator.
Press the starter button ››› Fig. 200; do not
press the accelerator. There needs to be a
valid key inside the ve- hicle for the engine to start.
5.Once the engine starts,release the key in the ignition lock.Once the engine starts,release the start-up button.
» 187
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation Vehicles without
Keyless AccessVehicles with
Keyless Access
6.
If the engine does not
start, stop and wait for around 1 minute to try again.If the engine does not
start, stop and wait for around 1 minute to try again. If necessary,
perform an emergency start ››› page 187.
7.Disconnect the electronic parking brake when you
are about to start driving ››› page 189. WARNING
Never leave the vehicle unattended if the en-
gine is ru

nning. The vehicle could move off
suddenly, especially if it is in gear, resulting
in an accident and serious injury. WARNING
Cold start sprays could explode or cause a
sud den inc

rease in the engine speed.
● Never use start boosters. CAUTION
● An attempt t

o start the engine while driving
or starting the engine immediately after turn-
ing it off can cause damage to the engine or
starter motor.
● When the engine is cold, avoid high revs
and heavy ac
celeration and do not make the
engine work hard. ●
Do not p u

sh or tow start the engine. Un-
burnt fuel could damage the catalytic con-
verter. For the sake of the environment
Do not warm the engine at idle speed; start
driv ing immedi

ately if the visibility is OK.
This helps the engine reach operating tem-
perature faster and reduces emissions. Note
● For e x

ample, if the key battery is very worn
or flat, the engine cannot be started with the
starter button. In this case, remove the igni-
tion button from the lock and insert the key.
● Electrical devices with a high power con-
sumption are sw
itched off temporarily when
the engine starts.
● When the engine is started cold, there may
be stron
g vibrations for a few moments for
technical reasons. This is quite normal, and
no cause for concern.
● At temperatures below +5°C (+41°F),
smoke ma
y be given off below the vehicle
when the additional heater is connected. Stopping the engine
Complete operations only in the sequence
giv
en:
Vehicles without
Keyless AccessVehicles with
Keyless Access
1.Bring the vehicle to a full stop ››› .
2.Press and hold the brake pedal until the step 4 is
performed.
3.If the vehicle has an automatic gearbox, place theselector lever in position P.
4.Connect the electronic parking brake ››› page 189.
5.Turn the vehicle key in
the ignition lock to po-
sition ››› Fig. 199 1
.
Briefly press the start-
up button
››› Fig. 200. If
the engine fails to
switch off, perform an
emergency disconnect
››› page 187.
6.If the vehicle is equipped with a manual gearbox,
put it into 1st or reverse. WARNING
Never switch off the engine while the vehicle
is mo

ving. You may lose control of the vehicle
and there is a risk of serious accident.
● The airbags and belt tensioners do not
work when the ignition i
s switched off.
● The brake servo does not work with the en-
gine off. T
o stop, the brake pedal must be
pressed with more force.
● As the power steering does not work if the
engine is
not running, you will need more
strength to steer than normally. 188

Operation
●
Never l e
ave children or disabled people
alone in the car. They could be trapped in the
car in an emergency and will not be able to
get themselves to safety. For example, de-
pending on the time of the year, tempera-
tures inside a locked and closed vehicle can
be extremely high or extremely low resulting
in serious injuries and illness or even death,
particularly for young children. 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. Warning and indication lamps

It lights up red
Together with the
control lamp  on
the button: Elec-
tronic parking brake
on.››› page 191 
It lights up red
Fault in the brake
system
 Stop the vehicle!
Seek professional assistance!
››› page 193.
Brake fluid level in-
adequate.  Do not drive on!
Check brake fluid level
››› page 283.
Together with the
ABS control lamp
: ABS fault.
Contact a specialised workshop.
The vehicle can be braked with-
out ABS. 
It lights up red
Brake pedal not
pressed!Press brake pedal to the floor.

It lights up yellow
Front brake pads
worn.Contact a specialised workshop
immediately. Inspect
all the
brake pads and replace as nec-
essary. 
It lights up yellow
ESC disconnected
by the system.Switching the ignition on and off
If necessary, drive for a short dis-
tance.
Fault in the ESC.Contact a specialised workshop.
Together with the
ABS control lamp
: Fault in the ABS.
Contact a specialised workshop.
The vehicle can be braked with-
out ABS. 
It lights up yellow
The battery has
been reconnected.›››
page 284 
It lights up yellow
ASR manually deac-
tivated.Switch on ASR
››› page 207. ASR
is automatically activated when
the ignition is switched on or off. 
It lights up yellow
Together with the
ESC control lamp :
Fault in the ABS.Contact a specialised workshop.
The vehicle can be braked with-
out ABS.
Together with the
warning lamp  or: ABS fault. 
It lights up yellow
Together with the
warning lamp flashing: electronic
parking brake faul-
ty.Contact a specialised workshop.

It lights up green
Brake pedal not
pressed.
Press the brake pedal to select a
gear range.
Press the brake pedal to discon-
nect the electronic parking brake
››› page 191. 190

Operation
● The c ontr
o
l lamps  on the button and 
on the instrument panel go out.
Automatic release of the electronic parking
brake on starting the engine
The electronic parking brake is automatically
released when the vehicle starts moving, if
the driver door is closed and the driver is
wearing his/her seat belt. In addition, in ve-
hicles with a manual gearbox the clutch ped-
al should also be pressed to the floor before
starting the engine so that the system recog-
nises that the parking brake should be re-
leased.
Emergency braking function
Only use the emergency braking function if
the vehicle cannot be stopped with the brake
pedal ››› !
● Pull button  h
ard to stop the vehicle. The
w arnin

g display will be accompanied by the
corresponding audible warning.
● To stop the braking process, release the
button or pr
ess the accelerator. WARNING
The incorrect use of the electronic parking
brak e m

ay result in serious accident.
● Never use the electronic parking brake to
brake the
vehicle except in an emergency.
The braking distance is considerably longer, because braking is only applied to the rear
wheels. A
lw

ays use the foot brake.
● Never accelerate from the engine compart-
ment with the en
gine running and a gear or a
gear range engaged. The vehicle could move,
even if the parking brake is applied. Note
● In vehic

les with a manual gearbox: when
the clutch pedal is released and the accelera-
tor pressed at the same time, the electronic
parking brake is automatically released.
● If the vehicle battery is flat, it will not be
poss
ible to disconnect the electronic parking
brake. Use the jump-start ›››
 page 51.
● When the electronic parking brake is ap-
plied or rel
eased, noises may be heard.
● If the electronic parking brake has not been
used for a lon
g while, the system sometimes
performs automatic and audible checks while
the vehicle is at a standstill. Parking
When parking your vehicle, all legal require-
ments
shou
l

d be observed.
To park the vehicle
Complete operations only in the sequence
given. ● Park the vehicle on a suitable surface ›››
.●
Pr e
s

s and hold the brake pedal until the ve-
hicle comes to a standstill.
● Connect the electronic parking brake
›››
page 191.
● For an automatic gearbox, move the selec-
tor lev
er to position P.
● Switch off the engine and release the brake
pedal.
● R

emove the key from the ignition.
● If necessary, turn the steering wheel slight-
ly to loc
k the steering.
● With a manual gearbox, engage 1st gear on
flat gr
ound and slopes, or even reverse gear
on hills, and release the clutch pedal.
● Ensure that all passengers leave the vehi-
cle, e
specially children.
● When leaving the vehicle, take all keys with
you.
● Loc

k the vehicle.
Additiona
l information for steep slopes and
hills
Before switching off the engine, rotate the
steering wheel so that if the vehicle should
move, it will be held by the kerb.
● On slopes, turn the front wheels so that
they are ag
ainst the edge of the kerb.
● Uphill, turn the wheels towards the centre
of the r o

ad.
192

Operation
Vehicles with a manual gearbox
● When the vehicle is at a standstill, leave it
in neutr al
and t
ake your foot off the clutch.
The engine switches off.
● Simply depress the clutch pedal to move
off again.
V

ehicles with an automatic gearbox
● When the vehicle is at a standstill, depress
the brake or k
eep it pressed down. The en-
gine switches off.
● The engine will start again as soon as you
rele
ase the brake pedal.
● With the selector lever set to position P, the
engine wi
ll not start until a range of gears is
selected or the accelerator pedal is de-
pressed.
Important conditions for the engine to auto-
matically 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 electrical
ly connected to a trailer.
● A minimum engine temperature has been
reac
hed.
● The steering wheel must not be turned
more than 270 de
grees.
● The vehicle has moved since the last stop. ●
In vehic
les 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
switc
hed on.
● In vehicles with Climatronic: the blower has
not been manual
ly 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 lo
w.
● 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. Conditions requiring the key to restart the
engine
The engine mu

st 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 man-
ually
● Press the  button on the centre console
› ›
›

Fig. 208.
● The button will light up when the Start-Stop
function i
s 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 w ork

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 v

ery high outside temperatures could
damage the vehicle's battery. 210

Operation
●
Never c onnect
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-
c le when p

arked; 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 soc
ket when the engine is stop-
ped, the battery will be discharged.
● For technical reasons, trailers fitted with
rear LED light
s cannot be connected to the
anti-theft alarm system.
● If the vehicle battery is running low, the
electrica
l connection with the trailer is auto-
matically cut.
● With the engine running, the electrical
equipment on the trai
ler will be supplied with
power. Loading the trailer
Trailer weight / drawbar load
The trai
l

er weight is the load that the vehicle
can pull ››› . The drawbar load is the vertical
weight of

the tow hitch on the tow hitch ball
››› page 245.
The figures for trailer weights and drawbar
load weights given on the data plate of the
tow hitch are for values of this model only.
The correct figures for your specific vehicle,
which may be lower than these figures for the
tow hitch, are given in the vehicle documen-
tation. The instructions in the official vehicle
documents take precedence.
For the sake of road safety, SEAT recom-
mends using the maximum allowed drawbar
load. The handling of the combined vehicle
and trailer will be poor if the drawbar load is
too low.
The drawbar load increases the weight on the
rear axle, reducing the vehicle carrying ca-
pacity.
Gross combination weight
This figure refers to the combined weight of
the loaded vehicle and loaded trailer.
Loading the trailer
The combined vehicle and trailer must be
balanced. Use the maximum drawbar load authorised and do not overload the front or
the re
ar of

the trailer:
● Distribute loads in the trailer so that heavy
obj
ects are as near to the axle as possible or
above it.
● Correctly secure the trailer load.
Tyr
e pressure
Inflate the trailer tyres according to the man-
ufacturer's instructions.
Inflate the towing vehicles tyres to the maxi-
mum ››› page 288. WARNING
Exceeding the maximum authorised axle
loa d, dr

awbar load or the gross combination
weight of the towing vehicle and trailer could
cause a serious accident with severe conse-
quences.
● Never exceed the specifications.
● With the actual load on the front and rear
axle
s, the maximum axle load should never
be exceeded. The weight on the front and rear
should never exceed the gross vehicle
weight. WARNING
If the load moves, the stability and safety of
the v ehic

le and trailer combination will be se-
riously affected and this could result in a seri-
ous accident. 242