2017 Seat Alhambra battery

Driving
If the battery charge is low, the auxiliary heat-
er w i
l
l switch off automatically or will not
even switch 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 lock and it will not be possible to turn the
st
eerin

g wheel. Control and warning 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.» 181
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
be operated which may result in serious in-
jury
.
● Nev
er leave children or disabled people
alone in the car
. Passengers could be trapped
in the car in an emergency and 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.
● Never remove the key from the ignition if
the vehic
le is in motion. The steering may
lock and it will not be possible to turn the
steering wheel. Note
● If the k ey

is left in the ignition lock with the
engine off for long periods, the vehicle bat-
tery will run flat.
● For automatic gearbox vehicles, the key can
only be r
emoved from the ignition lock if the
gear selector lever is in position P. In this
case, press and release the selector lever
locking button. Starter button
Fig. 199
In the centre console: start-up push
b utt
on f

or the Keyless Access lock and start-
up system. The layout in right-hand drive ve-
hicles is symmetrical. Fig. 200
Emergency ignition in vehicles with
K eyl
e

ss Access. The start-up button may only be used if there
i
s a

valid key in the vehicle. Opening the driver's door
when exitin
g the
vehicle activates the electronic lock on the
steering column if the ignition is disabled
››› page 181.
Switching the ignition on/off
● Briefly push the start-up button ›››
Fig. 199
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. 200.
● 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.
184

Operation
●
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 187.
5.Turn the vehicle key in
the ignition lock to po-
sition ››› Fig. 198 1
.
Briefly press the start-
up button
››› Fig. 199. If
the engine fails to
switch off, perform an
emergency disconnect
››› page 184.
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. ●
If the k ey

is removed from the ignition, the
steering may lock and it will not be possible
to steer the vehicle. CAUTION
● If the v

ehicle is stopped and the Start-Stop
system* switches off the engine, the ignition
remains switched on. Make sure that the igni-
tion is switched off before leaving the vehi-
cle, otherwise the battery could discharge.
● If the engine has been driven at high speed
for a pro
longed period of time, it may over-
heat when turned off. To avoid engine dam-
age, allow the engine to run for approximate-
ly two minutes in neutral before switching it
off. Note
● In v ehic

les with automatic gearbox, the key
can only be removed when the selector lever
is in position P.
● After stopping the engine, the engine com-
partment
fan may continue running for a few
minutes, even when the ignition has been
switched off or the key removed. The radiator
fan is automatically switched off. Electronic immobiliser
The gear lock prevents the engine from being
s
t
ar

ted with an unauthorised key and the ve-
hicle being moved.
186

Operation
It lights up red
Fault in the brake
system
 Stop the vehicle!
Seek professional assistance!
››› page 191.
Brake fluid level in-
adequate.  Do not drive on!
Check brake fluid level
››› page 279.
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 280 
It lights up yellow
ASR manually deac-
tivated.Switch on ASR
››› page 205. 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 189. 
Flashes red
Electronic parking
brake faulty. The
control lamp
 may
light up at the same
time or the control
lamp
 may flash
on the button.
Contact a specialised workshop,
as it may not be possible to park
the vehicle in safety. 
It flashes yellow
ESC or ASR regulat-
ing.Take your foot off the accelera-
tor. Adjust your driving style to
the road conditions.
Several warning and control lamps light up
f
or 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
Observe the safety warnings ›››
in Control
and warnin g l
amps on page 105. WARNING
Driving with brakes in bad condition could re-
su lt

in a serious accident.
● If the brake warning lamp  does not
go
out, or if it lights up when driving, the brake
fluid level in the reservoir is too low or there 188

Operation
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 189.
● 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 ascents and
descents
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. WARNING
The components of the exhaust system reach
ver y

high temperatures. This could cause a
fire and considerable damage.
● Always park your vehicle so that no part of
the exhau
st system can come in contact with
flammable materials (such as wood,
leaves,dried grass, or spilled fuel). 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. Information on the brakes
For the first 200 to 300 km (100 to 200
mi
l
e

s), new brake pads have not yet reached
their maximum braking capacity, and need to
be “run in” first ››› . The slightly reduced
br ak in

g effect can be compensated for by in-
creasing pressure on the brake pedal. While
running in, the full braking distance or
190

Operation
● In v
ehic
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. 207.
● 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. Note
● In some ca se

s, you may have to restart the
vehicle using the key. Observe the corre-
sponding message on the instrument panel
display.
● If the steering wheel is turned more than
270°, Stop w
ill not function; however, the an-
gle of steering wheel turn does not affect
starting the vehicle. Parking distance warning sys-
t
em*
Intr oduction The parking distance warning system assists
the driv
er when p
ark

ing. When the vehicle
approaches an obstacle, forwards or back-
wards, an intermittent audible warning will
be heard, higher or lower depending on the
distance. The shorter the distance, the short-
er the intervals between tones. If the vehicle
is too close to the obstacle, the audible warn-
ing becomes constant.
If you continue to approach an obstacle when
the sound is continuous, this means the sys-
tem can no longer measure the distance.
The sensor system on the bumpers transmit
and receive ultrasound. Using the ultrasound
signal (transmission, reflection from the ob-
stacle and reception), this system
208

Towing bracket device
●
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 242.
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 284. 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. » 239
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

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