2017 Seat Alhambra technical data

Checking and refilling levels
Working incorrectly can cause serious
injuries.
● Nev er open the bonnet
if you see steam or
cool
ant escaping from the engine compart-
ment. This may cause serious burns. Always
wait until you cannot see or hear the sound of
steam or coolant coming from the engine
compartment.
● Always allow the engine to cool down be-
fore openin
g the bonnet.
● Contact with hot elements of the engine
and the exhau
st system can cause burns.
● Once the engine has cooled, follow the in-
structions
below before opening the bonnet:
– Turn on the electronic parking brake and
place the gear selector lever in P or the
gearbox lever in neutral.
– Remove the key from the ignition.
– Keep children away from the engine com-
partment and never leave them unsuper-
vised.
● When the engine is warm or hot, the cool-
ing sys
tem is pressurised. Do not unscrew
the cap on the expansion tank when the en-
gine is hot. Otherwise, coolant may spray out
under pressure causing burns and serious in-
jury.
– Carefully and slowly unscrew the cap an-
ticlockwise, gently pressing down on it.
– Always protect your face, hands and arms
from hot coolant and steam using a large,
thick cloth. ●
When refi l

ling liquids, avoid spilling them
on parts of the engine and the exhaust sys-
tem. Spilled liquids could cause a fire. WARNING
The high voltages of the electrical system can
giv e el ectric

shocks as well as causing burns
and serious injury and possibly even death!
● Never cause short circuits in the electrical
syst
em. The battery could explode.
● To minimise the risk of electric shock and
serious c
onsequences while the engine is
running or starting the engine, note the fol-
lowing:
– Never touch the electrical wiring of the
ignition system.
– Never touch electric cables or the gas dis-
charge lamps. WARNING
In the engine compartment, there are rotat-
ing p ar

ts that could cause serious injury.
● Never place your hands on or near the radi-
ator fan.
Touching the rotor blades could seri-
ously harm you. The ventilator works accord-
ing to the engine temperature and could start
suddenly even when the ignition is turned off
and the key is removed.
● If any work has to be performed when the
engine is
started or with the engine running,
there is an additional, potentially fatal, safety
risk from rotating parts, such as the drive belts, alternator, radiator fan, etc., as well as
from the high-
v

oltage ignition system. Al-
ways work with the utmost caution.
– Always make sure that no parts of your
body, jewellery, ties, loose clothing and
long hair can be trapped by the rotating
parts of the engine. Before any work, re-
move ties and jewellery (necklaces, etc),
tie long hair back and tie all items of
loose clothing to your body to make sure
that they cannot be trapped by engine
components.
– Take extreme caution when operating the
accelerator and remain attentive. The ve-
hicle could move, even with the electron-
ic parking brake activated.
● Always make sure you have not left any ob-
jects, s
uch as cleaning cloths and tools, in
the engine compartment. If any object is left
in the engine compartment, this could cause
malfunctions, engine faults and even a fire. WARNING
Refill liquids and certain materials can catch
fire e a

sily in the engine compartment, caus-
ing a fire and serious injury!
● Never smoke.
● Never work close to places exposed to
flames
or sparks.
● Never pour service fluids over the engine.
These fluid ma
y ignite hot engine parts and
cause injuries. » 269
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Checking and refilling levels
●
Aft er c
losing the bonnet, always check that
it is properly secured by the locking mecha-
nism in the lock carrier. The bonnet must be
flush with the surrounding body panels.
● While driving, if you notice that the bonnet
is not
correctly closed then stop immediately
and close it correctly.
● Only open and close the bonnet when there
is no
body within its range. CAUTION
● To av oid d

amage to the bonnet and to the
windscreen wiper arms, only open it when
the windscreen wipers are in place against
the windscreen.
● Before driving, always lower the wiper
arms. Checking fluid levels
Fig. 240
Diagram for the location of the vari-
ou s
el

ements. From time to time, the levels of the different
fluid
s
in the

vehicle must be checked. Never
fill with incorrect fluids, otherwise serious
damage to the engine may be caused.
Coolant fluid deposit
Engine oil dipstick
Oil filler neck
Brake fluid reservoir
Vehicle battery (underneath a cover)
Windscreen washer fluid reservoir
The checking and refilling of service fluids
are carried out on the components men- 1 2
3
4
5
6 tioned above. These operations are descri-
bed in
››
›

page 268.
Overview
Further explanations, instructions and restric-
tions on the technical data are contained as
of ››› page 294
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 engine running, the engine oil
gets
extremely hot and can cause severe skin » 271
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

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

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

Checking and refilling levels
Checking the coolant level and top-
pin g up Fig. 244
In the engine compartment: Marking
on c oo
l
ant expansion tank Fig. 245
In the engine compartment: coolant
e xp
an

sion tank cap If the coolant level is low, the coolant warn-
in
g indic
at

or will light. Preparations
● Park the vehicle on even, flat and firm
ground.
● A

llow the engine to cool ›››
.
● Open the bonnet  › ›
›
page 268.
● The coolant expansion tank is easily recog-
nisab
le because of the symbol  on the cap
››› Fig. 245.
Checking the engine coolant level ● When the engine is cold, check the coolant
level
using the side marking on the expan-
sion tank ››› Fig. 244.
● If the level is below the “MIN” mark, top up
with coo
lant. When the engine is hot it may
be slightly above the marked area.
Topping up the engine coolant level
● Always protect your face, hands and arms
from hot c
oolant and steam using a large,
thick cloth over the coolant expansion tank
cap.
● Remove the cap very carefully ›››
.
● Only refill using new engine c
oo
lant ac-
cording to SEAT specifications ( ››› page 276)
››› .
● The engine coolant level should be be-
tw een the m
ark

s on the coolant expansion
tank ››› Fig. 244. Do not exceed the top level
of the marked area ››› .
● Screw on the cap tightly. ●
If, in the ev
ent

of an emergency, you have
no coolant that is compliant to the required
specifications ( ››› page 276), do not use an-
other type of additive. Instead, top up with
distilled water only ››› . Then re-establish
the c orr
ect

proportion of the mixture with the
correct additive as soon as possible
››› page 276. WARNING
Hot vapours and coolant can cause serious
burn s.
● Nev

er open the coolant expansion tank if
ste
am or coolant is coming from the engine
compartment. Wait until you cannot see or
hear any steam or coolant escaping.
● Always wait until the engine has complete-
ly coo
led before very carefully opening the
expansion tank cap. Contact with hot ele-
ments of the engine can cause skin burns.
● When the engine is warm or hot, the cool-
ing sys
tem is pressurised. Do not unscrew
the cap on the expansion tank when the en-
gine is hot. Otherwise, coolant may spray out
under pressure causing burns and serious in-
jury.
– Carefully and slowly unscrew the cap an-
ti-clockwise, gently pressing down on it.
– Always protect your face, hands and arms
from hot coolant and steam using a large,
thick cloth. » 277
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Checking and refilling levels
Brake fluid level
The l ev
el
of the brake fluid should always be
between the MIN and MAX marks, or above
the MIN mark ››› .
It i
s

not always possible to check the level of
the brake fluid, as in some models the en-
gine components make it difficult to see the
brake fluid reservoir. If you cannot read the
exact brake fluid level, consult a specialist.
The brake fluid level drops slightly when the
vehicle is being used due to wear of the
brake pads and the automatic readjustment
of the brake.
Changing the brake fluid
The brake fluid should be changed in accord-
ance with the instructions given in the Main-
tenance Programme. Have the brake fluid
changed by a specialised workshop. SEAT
recommends taking your car in for technical
service. This means that only brake fluid
complying with the required specifications
will be used. WARNING
If the brake fluid level is low or unsuita-
bl e/o

ld brake fluid is used, the brake system
may fail or braking power may be reduced.
● Check the brake system and the brake fluid
level
regularly! ●
The brak e fluid shou

ld be changed regular-
ly in accordance with the instructions given
in the Maintenance Programme.
● When the brake fluid is used and brakes
are sub
jected to extreme braking forces, bub-
bles of vapour form in the brake system.
These bubbles can significantly reduce brak-
ing power, notably increasing braking dis-
tance, and could result in the total failure of
the brake system.
● Only used brake fluid that conforms to the
VW 501 14 stand
ard, FMVSS 116 DOT 4
standard or even the DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4
standard. Other types of brake fluid could af-
fect brake operation and reduce braking pow-
er. Do not use a brake fluid if the container
does not specify compliance with the
VW 501 14, FMVSS 116 DOT 4 or
DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 standards.
● The replacement brake fluid must be new.
● Always ensure that you use suitable brake
fluid. Do not use a br
ake fluid if the container
does not specify compliance with the
VW 501 14, FMVSS 116 DOT 4 or
DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4 standards. WARNING
Brake fluid is poisonous.
● To reduce the risk of poisoning, do not keep
brak e fluid in drink

s bottles/containers or
similar. Other people could drink from these
recipients even if the contents are clearly
marked. ●
Alw a

ys keep brake fluid in the original con-
tainer; keep it correctly sealed and out of
reach of children. CAUTION
Brake fluid damages the vehicle paintwork.
W ipe off an

y brake fluid from the paintwork
immediately. For the sake of the environment
Brake fluid is an environmental pollutant.
Co l

lect any spilt service fluids and allow a
professional to dispose of them. 279
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Checking and refilling levelsSymbolMeaning

A highly explosive mixture of gases is re-
leased when the battery is under charge.

Keep children away from acid and batter-
ies!
WARNING
Working on the vehicle battery and the elec-
trica l

system can cause corrosion, fire and
electric shocks. Always read and take into ac-
count the following warnings and safety
standards before carrying out any work:
● Before working on the battery, switch off
the engine, the ignition and al
l electrical de-
vices then disconnect the negative connec-
tion on the battery.
● Keep children away from acid and the bat-
tery
itself!
● Wear eye protection.
● Battery acid is very corrosive and caustic. It
can burn sk
in and cause blindness. When
handling the battery, protect yourself from
splashes of acids, above all your hands, arms
and face.
● Do not smoke and never work close to pla-
ces
exposed to flames or sparks.
● Avoid sparks and electrostatic discharges
when workin
g with cables and electrical devi-
ces.
● Never short the battery terminals. ●
Never u se a d

amaged battery. It can ex-
plode. Replace a damaged battery immedi-
ately.
● Replaced damaged or frozen batteries as
soon as po
ssible. A flat battery can also
freeze at temperatures close to 0°C (+32°F).
● For vehicles with the battery in the luggage
compar
tment: Check that the battery gas
ventilation hose is securely attached. CAUTION
● Nev er di s

connect the battery if the ignition
is switched on or if the engine is running.
This could damage the electrical system or
electronic components.
● Do not expose the battery to direct sunlight
over a lon
g period of time, as the intense ul-
traviolet radiation can damage the battery
housing.
● If the car is left standing for long periods,
protect
the battery from extreme cold temper-
ature so that it does not “freeze up” and be-
come damaged. Warning lamp

It lights up
Faulty generator.
Contact a specialised workshop.
Have the electrical system checked.
Disconnect any unnecessary electri-
cal devices. The generator does not
charge the battery while the vehicle
is in motion.
Several warning and control lamps light up
for a f
ew sec

onds when the ignition is switch-
ed on, signalling that the function is being
verified. They will switch off after a few sec-
onds. WARNING
If the warning lamps and messages are ignor-
ed, the v ehic

le may stall in traffic, or may
cause accidents and severe injuries.
● Never ignore the warning lamps or text
mess
ages.
● Stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible. CAUTION
Failure to heed the control lamps and text
mes s

ages when they appear may result in
faults in the vehicle. 281
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Checking and refilling levels
and they must be charged in a controlled en-
v ir
onment
››› . SEAT recommends taking
y our c
ar in f
or technical service.
Replacing a vehicle battery
The battery has been developed to suit the
conditions of its location and has special
safety features. If the battery must be re-
placed, consult a technical service for infor-
mation on electromagnetic compatibility, the
size and maintenance, performance and
safety requirements of the new battery in
your vehicle before you purchase one. SEAT
recommends you have the battery replaced
by a technical service.
Use only maintenance-free genuine batteries
conforming to TL 825 06 and VW 7 50 73
Standards. These standards must be dated
April 2008 or later.
Start-Stop systems ( ››› page 207) are equip-
ped with a special battery. Therefore, it must
only be replaced with a battery of the same
specifications.
Disconnecting the vehicle's battery
If you must disconnect the battery from the
electrical system, please note the following:
● Switch off the ignition and all electrical
equipment. ●
The vehic le must be unlocked before dis-
connecting the battery, otherwise the alarm
will be triggered.
● First disconnect the negative cable and
then the positiv
e ››› .
C onnectin
g the
vehicle's battery
● Before reconnecting the battery, switch off
the engine and all
electrical devices.
● First reconnect the positive cable and then
the negativ
e ››› .
Diff er
ent
control lamps may light up after
connecting the battery and switching the ig-
nition on. They will be turned off after a short
trip at a speed of between 15-20 km/h
(10-12 mph). If the warning indicators remain
lit, please visit a specialised workshop to
have the vehicle checked.
If the battery has been disconnected for a
long time, it is possible that the next service
date is not displayed or calculated correctly
››› page 100. Respect the maximum service
intervals permitted ››› Booklet Maintenance
Programme.
Vehicles with Keyless Access (››› page 115):
if, after connecting the battery, the ignition
cannot be switched on, lock and unlock the
vehicle from outside. Then try to switch on
the ignition again. If the ignition does not
work, seek professional assistance. Automatically disconnecting devices
The intellig

ent vehicle electrical system auto-
matically implements a range of measures to
prevent the battery from discharging when
high demands are made on it:
● the idling speed is increased so that the al-
ternat
or provides more electricity.
● where necessary, the power of the most
power
ful devices is reduced or even com-
pletely disconnected.
● On starting the engine, the power supply
from the 12-v
olt power sockets and the ciga-
rette lighter may be interrupted for a short
time.
The on-board management program cannot
always prevent the battery from running flat.
For example, if the ignition is left on for a
long period with the engine off or if the side
lights or parking lights are left on while the
vehicle is stationary.
Why does the battery run flat?
● When stationary for a long time without
star
ting the engine, particularly if the ignition
is switched on.
● Use of electrical devices with the engine
switc
hed off.
● If the auxiliary heater is running
›››
page 177. »
283
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety