2017 Seat Alhambra ESP

Advice
●
Top up w ith AdBlue at
the latest 1,000 km
or 600 miles before it runs out.
● Do not allow the AdBlue to run too low. WARNING
AdBlue is an irritant, corrosive liquid that can
c au 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. Control and warning lamps

It lights up red
The engine cannot
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 required ››› page 267. 
It lights up red
together with

The engine cannot
be restarted! AdBlue
system malfunction.Contact a specialised workshop.
Have the system checked there.

It lights up yellow
The AdBlue reserve
is low.
Refill AdBlue over the next kilo-
metres or miles as indicated
››› page 267. SEAT recommends
contacting a specialised work-
shop. 
It lights up yellow
together with

There is a fault in
the AdBlue system
or unsuitable
AdBlue fluid has
been used.
Contact a specialised workshop.
Have the system checked there. Several warning and control 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. WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ›››
in Control
and warnin g l
amps on page 105. Information on AdBlue
A message will be displayed on the dash
p
anel
ar

ound 2,400 km before the next serv-
ice to indicate that AdBlue must be refilled
››› page 267. If you ignore this message and
do not refill, you will be unable to start the
engine afterwards ›››
page 266.
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).
266

Advice
Closing the tank filling neck
● Screw on the tank filler neck cap ››
› Fig. 237
1 clockwise until it is fully inserted.
● Place the cover and turn the shut off anti-
c loc
k

wise to close it.
Operations before driving
● Only switch the ignition on after refilling.
● Keep the ignition sw

itch on for at least 30
seconds
so that the system detects tank re-
filling.
● Wait 30 seconds before starting the en-
gine! WARNING
Only keep AdBlue in its original container,
tightly shut and in a s

afe place.
● Never keep AdBlue in empty food cans, bot-
tles
or other containers to avoid other people
mistaking it for something else.
● Keep the AdBlue out of the reach of small
chil
dren. CAUTION
● Only r

efill using AdBlue expressly approved
by SEAT. The use of any other type of AdBlue
could cause engine damage!
● AdBlue should never be mixed with water
or any other a
dditives. Any type of damage
caused by a mixture will not be covered by
the warranty. ●
Do not a d

d AdBlue to the diesel fuel tank!
Otherwise you may damage the engine.
● Never leave the refill bottle in the vehicle. It
coul
d become permeable due to temperature
changes and bottle damage and the AdBlue
could damage the vehicle interior. For the sake of the environment
Dispose of the refill bottle in an environment-
friendly manner

. Note
Suitable AdBlue refill bottles can be pur-
ch a

sed from a technical service centre. Working in the engine compart-
ment
Intr oduction Before working in the engine compartment,
m
ak
e s

ure that the vehicle is parked on hori-
zontal and firm ground.
The engine compartment of the vehicle is a
hazardous area. Never work on the engine or
in the engine compartment if you are not fa-
miliar with the operations to be carried out,
the applicable safety standards and especial-
ly if you do not have the necessary instru-
ments, liquids and tools ››› ! Have the workcarried out by a specialised workshop if you
ar
e u
nc

ertain. Negligent work can cause seri-
ous injury. WARNING
If the vehicle moves unexpectedly, this could
cau se seriou

s injury.
● Never work under the vehicle if it has not
been immobi
lized. If you must work under-
neath the vehicle with the wheels in contact
with the ground then it should be parked on
flat ground, the wheels should be prevented
from moving and the key should be removed
from the ignition.
● If you have to work underneath the vehicle,
you mus
t use suitable stands additionally to
support the vehicle, there is a risk of acci-
dent!. The jack is not intended for this kind of
work and its failure could lead to severe inju-
ries. WARNING
The engine compartment is a dangerous area
cap ab

le of causing serious injury.
● For all type of work, always take the utmost
precaution
s, work carefully and note the gen-
eral safety standards in force. Never take per-
sonal risks.
● Never work on the engine or in the engine
compar
tment if you are not familiar with the
necessary operations. If you are not sure
about procedures then visit a specialised
workshop to carry out the necessary work. 268

Advice
●
If it i
s necessary to work on the fuel system
or the electrical system, please follow the in-
structions below:
–Always disconnect the vehicle battery.
When disconnecting the battery, ensure
that the vehicle is unlocked otherwise
the anti-theft alarm will be triggered.
– Never work close to heaters, heat sources
or places exposed to flames or sparks.
● Always keep a recently serviced and per-
fectly w
orking fire extinguisher close by.
● Never cover the engine with additional in-
sul
ating materials such as a blanket. Risk of
fire! CAUTION
When refilling or changing service liquids,
ens ur

e that you put the liquids into the right
tank. Making a mistake when refilling could
cause serious malfunctions and damage the
engine! For the sake of the environment
Service fluids leaks are harmful to the envi-
ronment . F

or this reason you should make
regular checks on the ground underneath
your vehicle. Take the vehicle to a specialised
workshop to be checked if you see stains, oil
or other fluids on the ground. Collect any
spilt service fluids and allow a professional to
dispose of them. Opening and closing the bonnet
Fig. 238
In the footwell on the driver side:
L ev
er f

or unlocking the bonnet Fig. 239
Release lever to open the bonnet in
the r a
di

ator grille Opening the bonnet
The l
ev
er t

o open the bonnet can only be
used if the driver door is open. ●
Befor
e opening the bonnet, make sure that
the windscreen wiper arms are in place
against the windscreen ››› .
● Open the driver door.
● Pull the release lever ››
›
Fig. 238 in the di-
rection of the arrow. The bonnet is released
from the lock carrier by a spring mechanism
››› .
● Lift the bonnet using the release lever
› ›
›

Fig. 239 (arrow) and open the bonnet fully.
The bonnet is held open thanks to the gas
strut.
Closing the bonnet
● To close the bonnet, pull it down to over-
come the ga
s strut pressure ››› .
● Allow the bonnet to fall into the lock carrier.
Do not pr
e

ss down.
If the bonnet is not correctly closed, open it
once again and close it correctly.
The bonnet is correctly closed when it is flush
with the corresponding parts on the body-
work. WARNING
If the bonnet is not correctly closed, it could
sud den

ly open while driving leaving the driv-
er without visibility. This could result in a se-
rious accident. 270

Advice
burns. Always wait until the engine has fully
coo
l
ed. 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 control lamps

It lights up
Insufficient en-
gine oil.Switch the ignition off. Check the en-
gine oil level
››› page 273. 
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 Control
and warnin g l
amps 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. Engine oils are being continuously further
developed. T

echnical services are constantly
updated with any modifications. SEAT there-
fore recommends that you have the engine
oil changed by a technical service. CAUTION
● Only u

se engine oils whose specifications
are expressly approved by SEAT. The use of
any other type of oil could cause engine dam-
age! 272

Checking and refilling levels
Checking engine oil level Fig. 241
Marked engine oil dipstick Fig. 242
In the engine compartment: Engine
oi l
fi
ller cap. Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›

 page 39
Preparations ● Park the vehicle on flat ground so that the
engine oil
reading is correct. ●
Stop the engine and w
ait a few minutes for
the oil to drain back into the sump. When the
engine has cooled down, immediately check
the oil level and top up if necessary.
● Open the bonnet  ›››
page 268.
● The engine oil filler neck can be recognised
by the symbo
l  on the cap ››› Fig. 242 and
the dipstick by its coloured handle.
Checking the engine oil level
● Pull out the dipstick and wipe it on a clean
cloth.
● Rep

lace the dipstick, pushing it in as far as
it wi
ll go. If the dipstick has a mark, when you
reintroduce it this mark should slot into the
corresponding groove located on the upper
end of the tube.
● Remove the oil dipstick again and check
the engine oil
level.
● After reading the oil level, replace the dip-
stick
in the tube completely.
Adding oil after checking the level
Only add engine oil in small quantities and in
steps:
● Unscrew the cap from engine oil filler neck
on the cylinder head ›

›› Fig. 242. If you are
not sure where the cap is, request help from
a specialist. ●
Only r
efill using approved SEAT engine oil
in small quantities (no more than 0.5 l)
››› page 272.
● To avoid adding too much oil, each time
you ad
d a quantity, wait until the oil has flow-
ed into the crankcase so that it can be meas-
ured with the dipstick.
● Check the oil level before adding any more
oil. Do not
top up with too much engine oil
››› .
● When the oil level is at least in the
› ›
›

Fig. 241 B zone, insert the dipstick into
the t ube f
u
lly to avoid engine oil escaping
when the engine is running.
● After topping up the oil, ensure that the
cap is
screwed on to the filler neck correctly. WARNING
Oil could catch fire if it comes into contact
with hot en

gine components. This could lead
to a fire, explosion and severe injuries.
● Always ensure that after topping of oil, the
engine oil
filler cap is correctly tightened.
This will avoid engine oil spilling onto hot en-
gine parts when the engine is running. CAUTION
● If the en gine oi

l level is above the area
››› Fig. 241 A do not start the engine. Seek
spec i
alist assistance. Otherwise catalytic
converter and engine damage may occur. » 273
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
●
When refi l
ling or changing service liquids,
ensure that you put the liquids into the right
tank. Making a mistake when refilling could
cause serious malfunctions and damage the
engine! For the sake of the environment
The oil level must never be above area
› ››

Fig. 241 A . Otherwise oil can be drawn in
through the c r
ankcase breather and escape
into the atmosphere via the exhaust system. Engine oil consumption
The consumption of engine oil can be differ-
ent
fr
om one en

gine to another and can vary
during the useful life of the engine.
Depending on driving style and the condi-
tions of use, the consumption of engine oil
can reach 1 litre every 2,000 km (one quarter
of a gallon every 1,200 miles); for new vehi-
cles, this could be higher for the first
5,000 km (3,000 miles). For this reason the
engine oil level must be checked at regular
intervals, preferably when filling the tank and
before a journey.
Topping up engine oil Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›

 page 39 The engine oil must be changed regularly ac-
cordin

g to the specifications of the Mainte-
nance Programme.
Due to the problems linked with disposing of
used oil and the need for suitable tools and
special knowledge, always visit a specialised
workshop to have the engine oil and filter
changed. SEAT recommends taking your car
in for technical service.
Detailed information on the service intervals
is shown in the Maintenance Programme. WARNING
If, in exceptional circumstances, you must
ch an

ge the engine oil yourself, please note
the following:
● Wear eye protection.
● Always wait until the engine has complete-
ly coo
led to avoid being burned.
● Always keep your arms horizontal when un-
scr
ewing the oil drainage bolt so that it does
not run down your arms.
● Use a suitable container large enough to
col
lect all of the used oil in the engine.
● Never collect engine oil in empty food con-
tainers, c
ans, bottles or other containers as
not all people are able to identify engine oil.
● Oil is toxic and must be kept out of the
reac
h of children. CAUTION
No additives should be used with engine oil.
This c

ould result in engine damage. Any dam-
age caused by the use of such additives
would not be covered by the factory warranty. For the sake of the environment
● Bef or

e changing the engine oil, find a suita-
ble location or service for proper disposal.
● Always dispose of engine oil with the ut-
most
respect for the environment. Never dis-
pose of used engine oil in places such as a
garden, woods, drains, roads, paths, rivers
and drainage systems. 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 store engine coolant in empty food
container
s or bottles as other people may ac-
cidentally drink it.
● Always keep engine coolant out of reach of
chil
dren. 274

Checking and refilling levels
●
Ens ur
e that the proportion of engine cool-
ant additive 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
f

or the environment. Warning lamp and coolant temperature indicator
Fig. 243
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 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. »
275
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

AdviceIt lights upGauge position
››› Fig. 243Possible 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 277.
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 277.
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 Control
and warnin g l
amps 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 G13 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. 276