2016 Seat Alhambra check engine light

Care and maintenance
CAUTION
● Never r ai
se the vehicle at the engine oil
sump, the gearbox or the rear or front axles.
● Always use an intermediate rubber support
to prev
ent damage to the vehicle underbody.
Check that the arms of the lifting platform are
able to move with obstruction.
● The arms should not come into contact with
the side runnin
g boards or other parts of the
vehicle. Caring for and cleaning the ve-
hic
l
e int

erior
Introduction Regular maintenance and washing help to
m
aint
ain the

value of the vehicle. This may
also be one of the requirements for acknowl-
edging warranty claims in the event of body-
work corrosion or paint defects.
Products suitable for the care of your vehicle
are available at any technical service. WARNING
Car-care products may be toxic and hazard-
ous. If c

ar care products are not suitable or
are used inappropriately, this could result in
accident, serious injury, burns or intoxica-
tion. ●
Car c ar

e products must always be stored in
the original container which should be kept
closed.
● Observe information provided by the manu-
factur
er.
● To prevent confusion, never store car care
products
in empty food cans, bottles or other
containers.
● Keep all care products out of reach of chil-
dren.
● Harmfu

l vapours may be produced when us-
ing car c
are products. Therefore, care prod-
ucts should only be used in well-ventilated
spaces or in the open air.
● Never use fuel, turpentine, engine oil, ace-
tone or any
other volatile liquid to wash,
clean or care for the vehicle. These are toxic
and highly flammable. WARNING
Inappropriate care and cleaning of vehicle
component s

may effect the vehicle safety
equipment, increasing the risk of severe in-
jury.
● Vehicle components should only be
cle
aned and maintained in accordance with
the manufacturer's instructions.
● Only use approved or recommended care
products. CAUTION
Cleaning products which contain solvents will
dam ag

e the material. For the sake of the environment
● Only w

ash the vehicle in areas allocated for
this purpose, to prevent dirty water which
may be contaminated by oil, grease or fuel,
from entering the drains. In some places,
washing it outside the planned areas is even
banned.
● Where possible, always use products which
res
pect the environment.
● The remains of car care products should not
be dispo
sed of with ordinary household
waste. Observe information provided by the
manufacturer. Washing the vehicle
The longer substances such as insects, bird
dr
op
pin

gs, resinous tree sap, road dirt, in-
dustrial deposits, tar, soot or road salt and
other aggressive materials remain on the ve-
hicle, the more damage they do to the paint-
work. High temperatures (for instance due to
strong sunlight) further intensify the corro-
sive effect. The vehicle undercarriage should
also be thoroughly washed at regular inter-
vals. »
253
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
Protection of vehicle undercarriage The vehicle underbody is coated to protect it
from c
hemic
al and mechanical damage. The
protective coat on the undercarriage may
wear from use while driving. Therefore, SEAT
recommends that the protective coating on
the undercarriage and on the running gear
should be regularly checked, and repaired if
necessary. WARNING
Additional underseal or anti-corrosion prod-
ucts c

ould catch fire due to the high tempera-
tures reached by the exhaust gas system and
other engine components.
● Do not apply additional underseal or anti-
corro
sion products to the exhaust pipes, cat-
alytic converters, heat shields or other parts
of the vehicle which reach high temperatures. Cleaning the engine compartment
The engine compartment of any motor vehi-
c
l
e i

s a potentially hazardous area
››› page 272.
The engine compartment should only be
cleaned by qualified personnel. If it is not
correctly cleaned, the anti-corrosion coating
and consequently electrical components may
be damaged. Moreover, water may filter di- rectly into the vehicle interior through the wa-
ter ch

amber ››› .
If the en
gine c
ompartment is very dirty, al-
ways take the vehicle to a specialised work-
shop for professional cleaning. SEAT recom-
mends taking your car in for technical serv-
ice.
Water box
The water box is in the engine compartment,
between the windscreen and the engine, and
beneath a perforated cover. Air is taken in
through the water box from outside to the ve-
hicle interior via the heating and air condi-
tioner.
Leaves and other loose objects should be
regularly cleaned away from the water box ei-
ther by hand or with a vacuum. WARNING
When working on the engine or in the engine
comp ar

tment, there is a risk of injury, burns,
accident or fire.
● Before starting work, please ensure you are
famili
ar with the required procedure and the
safety precautions ››› page 272.
● SEAT recommends getting a specialised
workshop t
o do these jobs. CAUTION
If water is manually poured into the water box
(e.g. u s

ing a high pressure cleaning appli-
ance), this could cause significant damage to
the vehicle. For the sake of the environment
Only wash the engine compartment in areas
al loc

ated for this purpose, to prevent dirty
water which may be contaminated by oil,
grease or fuel, from entering the drains. In
some places, washing this compartment out-
side the planned areas is even banned. Caring for and cleaning the ve-
hic
l
e int

erior
Introduction The dye used in many modern garments, for
e
x
amp

le dark jeans, is not always sufficiently
colour-fast. Seat upholstery (material and
leather), especially when light-coloured, may
visibly discolour if the dye comes out of
clothing (even when used correctly). This is
not an upholstery defect but indicates that
the dye in the item of clothing is not suffi-
ciently colour-fast.
The longer stains or dirt remain on the vehi-
cle surfaces, especially the fabrics covering
the padded upholstery, the more difficult it
258

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

Checking and refilling levels
WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ››› in Warning
and indication l amp
s on page 105. Information on AdBlue
A message will be displayed on the dash
panel
ar

ound 2,400 km before the next serv-
ice to indicate that AdBlue must be refilled
››› page 271. If you ignore this message and
do not refill, you will be unable to start the
engine afterwards ›››
page 270.
SEAT recommends contacting a specialised
workshop. If not possible, it should be parti-
ally filled with a minimum 5.0 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 association (“"Verband der Au-
tomobilindustrie e. V."”, VDA). Refilling AdBlue
Fig. 237
At the rear left of the luggage com-
p ar
tment: AdBlue t

ank, behind a cover panel Fig. 238
AdBlue tank with filler neck cap and
r efi
l

ling bottle To refill AdBlue, the vehicle must be on flat
gr
ou
nd and not, f

or example, parked on a
kerb or slope. If the vehicle is not on flat
ground then the filling indicator cannot
measure the filling quantity. »
271
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
The checking and refilling of service fluids
ar e c
arried out
on the components men-
tioned above. These operations are descri-
bed in ››› page 272.
Overview
Further explanations, instructions and restric-
tions on the technical data are contained as
of ››› page 298
Engine oil Introduction WARNING
Incorrectly handling engine oil can cause in-
jury and seriou

s burns.
● Always protect your eyes when handling
engine oil
.
● Oil is toxic and must be kept out of the
reac
h 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 en gine ru

nning, 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
en gine oi l

can be bad for the environment.
Collect these liquids in suitable containers
and dispose of them while respecting the en-
vironment. Warning and indication lamps

It lights up
Insufficient en-
gine oil.Switch the ignition off. Check the en-
gine oil level
››› page 277. 
Flashes
Engine oil sen-
sor faulty.Contact a specialised workshop.
Have the engine oil sensor checked.
Meanwhile, check the oil level man-
ually. 
Flashes
Engine oil pres-
sure too low.

Stop the vehicle!
Switch off the engine. Check the en-
gine oil level.
- If the warning lamp flashes al-
though the oil level is correct, do not
continue driving or leave the engine
running. Otherwise, the engine
could be damaged. Seek specialist
assistance. WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ›››
in Warning
and indication l amp
s on page 105. Engine oil specifications
Replacement engine oil must strictly comply
w
ith the s
pec

ifications.
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.
Only use an engine oil that complies to SEAT
standards whenever possible ››› . If you
w i
sh t

o maintain the long-life service dura-
tion, only engine oils approved for this serv-
ice according to the corresponding VW stand-
ard ( ›››
 table on page 40) may be used.
All oils indicated are synthetic multigrade
oils.
276

Checking and refilling levels
Engine coolant Intr oduction WARNING
Engine coolant is toxic!
● Only keep engine coolant in its original
cont ainer
, tightly shut and in a safe place. ●
Never s t

ore engine coolant in empty food
containers or bottles as other people may ac-
cidentally drink it.
● Always keep engine coolant out of reach of
chil
dren.
● Ensure that the proportion of engine cool-
ant ad
ditive corresponds to the lowest out-
side temperature to which the vehicle will be
exposed.
● If the outside temperature is extremely low,
the engine coo
lant could freeze causing the vehicle to stop. As this would also cause the
heatin
g t

o stop working, passengers without
warm clothing could freeze. For the sake of the environment
Coolants and additives can contaminate the
en vir

onment. Collect any spilt fluids in suita-
ble containers and dispose of them in accord-
ance with legislation and with the utmost re-
spect for the environment. Warning lamp and coolant temperature indicator
Fig. 244
Engine coolant temperature gauge
on the ins trument

panel: A cold area;
B normal area;
C warning area When driving normally, the needle will re-
m
ain in the mid
dl

e 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 indication lamps light
up for a few seconds when the ignition is
switched on, signalling that the function is
being verified. They will switch off after a few
seconds. »
279
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

AdviceIt lights upGauge position
››› Fig. 244Possible 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 normal area. Check
the engine coolant level ››› page 281.
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 281.
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. 
Flashes
Engine coolant
system faulty.Seek specialist assistance.
WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ›››
in Warning
and indication l amp
s on page 105. Coolant specifications
Read the additional information carefully
› ››

 page 40 WARNING
If there is not enough anti-freeze in the cool-
ant sy s

tem, the engine may fail leading to se-
rious damage.
● Please make sure that the percentage of
additiv
e 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 cool
ant 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 c oo

lants which are not approved by SEAT. Otherwise, you run the risk of causing
sever
e d

amage to the engine and the engine
cooling system.
● If the fluid in the expansion tank is not pur-
ple b
ut 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
en vir

onment. If any fluids are spilled, they
should be collected and correctly disposed
of, with respect to the environment. 280