2017 Seat Alhambra brake light

Driving
emergency braking distance is larger then
when the br ak
e p
ads have been run in. While
running in, avoid full power braking or situa-
tions requiring braking performance. For ex-
ample, in heavy traffic.
The rate of wear of the brake pads depends
to a great extent on the conditions in which
the vehicle is used and the way the vehicle is
driven. If the vehicle is used frequently in city
traffic or for short trips or driven sport style,
visit a specialised workshop regularly, more
frequently than advised in the Maintenance
Programme, to have the brake pads checked.
If you drive with wet brakes, for example, af-
ter crossing areas of water, in heavy rainfall
or even after washing the car, the effect of
the brakes is lessened as the brake discs are
wet or even frozen (in winter). At higher
speed, “dry” the brakes as quickly as possi-
ble by braking gently several times. Only do
this without endangering vehicles behind
you or any other road users ››› .
A l a
y

er of salt on the discs and brake pads
will reduce the effectiveness of the brakes
and increase braking distance. If you drive for
a prolonged period on salted roads without
braking then brake carefully several times to
eliminate the layer of salt on the brakes ››› .
If the
v

ehicle remains parked for considera-
ble lengths of time, is used little, or if the
brakes are not used, there may be corrosion
on the brake discs and a build up of dirt onthe brake pads. If the brakes are not used fre-
quently, or if ru

st has formed on the discs,
SEAT recommends cleaning the pads and
discs by braking firmly a few times at a mod-
erately high speed. Only do this without en-
dangering vehicles behind you or any other
road users ››› .
F au
lt

s in the brake system
During braking, if you notice that the vehicle
does not react as usual (that the braking dis-
tance has increased suddenly) it may be pos-
sible that there is a fault in the braking sys-
tem. The  warning lamp lights up and a
text message displayed. Take the vehicle to a
specialised workshop immediately and have
the fault repaired. Drive at a moderate speed
and be prepared to use more pressure on the
brake pedal, and allow for longer stopping
distances.
Brake servo
The brake servo only operates when the en-
gine is running and the pressure applied by
the driver on the brake pedal increases.
If the brake servo does not operate or the ve-
hicle must be towed, then the brake pedal
will have to be pressed with more force given
that the braking distance will be increased
when the brake servo does not operate ››› . WARNING
New brake pads do not brake to full efficien-
cy.
● For the fir

st 320 km (200 miles), new brake
pad
s have not yet reached their maximum
braking capacity, and need to be “run in”
first. For this, to compensate for reduced
braking efficiency the brake pedal will have
to be pressed with more force.
● To avoid losing control of the vehicle and
caus
ing serious accidents, always take great
care when driving with new brake pads.
● When running in new brake pads, always
res
pect the safety distances between you and
other vehicles and do not cause situations re-
quiring extreme braking performance. WARNING
When brakes overheat, braking is less effi-
cient and br

aking distances increase.
● When driving on slopes, brakes can be
overlo
aded and overheat quickly.
● Reduce speed or change down a gear when
faced w
ith steep and long slopes. This allows
you to use the engine braking effect and to
reduce the strain on the brake system.
● Non-standard or damaged front spoilers
coul
d restrict the airflow to the brakes and
cause them to overheat. » 191
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
WARNING
Wet, frozen or salt-covered brakes take lon-
ger t o en
gage and this increases braking dis-
tances.
● Test the brakes carefully.
● Dry the brakes, free them of ice and salt by
brakin
g gently several times, when weather,
road and traffic conditions permit. WARNING
Driving without the brake servo may signifi-
cantly inc

rease the braking distance and re-
sult in a severe accident.
● Never allow the vehicle to move forwards
when the engine is
switched off.
● If the brake servo does not operate or the
vehicl
e must be towed, then the brake pedal
will have to be pressed with more force given
that the braking distance will be increased
when the brake servo does not operate. CAUTION
● Never m ak

e the brakes “slip” by pressing
the pedal gently, if it is not really necessary
to brake. Continuously pressing on the brake
pedal will heat the brakes. This could signifi-
cantly reduce braking power, increase brak-
ing distance or even result in the total failure
of the brake system.
● Reduce speed or change down a gear when
faced w
ith steep and long slopes. This allows
you to use the engine braking effect and to reduce the strain on the brake system. Other-
wi
se, the br

akes may overheat and fail. Only
use the brakes to reduce speed or to stop. Note
When checking the front brake pads, take the
time t o al

so check the rear brake pads. The
thickness of the brake pads should be
checked visually and regularly, by looking
through the openings in the wheel rims or
from underneath the vehicle. If necessary, re-
move the wheels to check them thoroughly.
SEAT recommends taking your car in for tech-
nical service. Gearbox
Intr oduction When reverse gear is engaged and the igni-
tion i
s
sw

itched on the following takes place:
● Reverse lights light up.
● When reversing, the air conditioner auto-
matical
ly changes to air recirculation mode.
● The rear window heater switches on when
the winds
creen wiper is activated.
● Also, the parking sensor system, the opti-
cal p
arking sensor and the camera for the re-
verse assist system are connected. WARNING
Rapid acceleration can cause loss of traction
and skid din

g, especially on slippery ground.
This could cause loss of control of the vehicle
resulting in an accident and considerable
damage.
● Only use the kick-down function or rapid
accel
eration if visibility, weather, road and
traffic conditions so permit. WARNING
Do not allow the brakes to “rub” for a pro-
long ed period of

time, or brake frequently or
for long periods of time. Continuous braking
heats up the brakes. This could significantly
reduce braking power, increase braking dis-
tance or even result in the total failure of the
brake system. Control and warning lamps

It lights up red
Brake pedal not
pressed!Press brake pedal to the floor.

It lights up green
Brake pedal not
pressed.To select a range of gears, press
the brake pedal.
Please also see "Electronic park-
ing brake"
››› page 187. 192

Driving
Flashes green
The selector lever
locking button has
not engaged. The
vehicle does not
start to move.
Engage the selector lever lock
››› page 194. 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
Observe the safety warnings ›››
in Control
and warnin g l
amps on page 105. Manual gear change
Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›

 page 34
In some countries, it is necessary to press the
clutch pedal to the floor to start the engine.
Selecting reverse gear
Engage reverse gear only when the vehicle is
stopped. WARNING
When the engine is running, the vehicle will
st ar

t to move as soon as a gear is engaged and the clutch released. This is also the case
with the el
ectr

onic parking brake on.
● Never engage the reverse gear when a vehi-
cle i
s moving forward. CAUTION
To prevent damage and avoid premature
w ear

, please observe the following:
● While driving, do not leave your hand rest-
ing on the ge
ar stick. The pressure applied by
your hand is transmitted to the gearbox se-
lector forks.
● Always ensure that the vehicle is complete-
ly st
opped before engaging the reverse gear.
● When changing gear, always make sure the
clutc
h pedal is pushed right to the floor.
● Never hold the vehicle “on the clutch” on
hill
s with the engine on. Automatic gearbox*
Fig. 202
Automatic gearbox selector lever
w ith loc
k

ing button (arrow) Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›

 page 34
The selector lever has a lock. When changing
the selector lever from position P to a range
of gears, press the brake pedal and press the
lock on the selector lever, located on the
front part of the knob, in the direction of the
arrow ››› Fig. 202. To move the gear selector
lever from the position N to D or to R, first
press and hold the brake pedal.
When the ignition is on, the current position
of the selector lever is shown on the instru-
ment panel.
 - Parking lock
The driven wheels are mechanically locked. »
193
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
Only change gears when the vehicle is at a
s t
andstill. To change the position of the se-
lector lever, press the brake pedal and switch
on the ignition.
 - Reverse gear
Reverse gear is engaged.
Only put in reverse when the vehicle is at a
standstill. If not it could result in serious
damage.
 - Neutral
The gearbox is in neutral. No movement is
transmitted to the wheels and the engine
does not act as a brake.
 - Standard forwards driving position (nor-
mal programme)
The gears are changed (up and down) auto-
matically. The gear shifts are determined by
the engine load, your individual driving style
and the speed of the vehicle.
 - Standard forwards driving position
(sports programme)
The shift up to a higher gear is automatically
delayed and the shift down is faster with re-
spect to the D range of gears, to take full ad-
vantage of the engine power. The gear shifts
are determined by the engine load, your indi-
vidual driving style and the speed of the ve-
hicle. Selector lever locking
The gear sel
ector lever lock prevents, in P or
N, a gear selection from being inadvertently
engaged and the vehicle moving off acciden-
tally.
To release the gear selector lever lock, press
and hold the brake pedal with the ignition
on. Press simultaneously on the selector lev-
er lock.
The selector lever lock is not engaged if it is
moved quickly through position N (e.g. when
shifting from R to D). This makes it possible,
for instance, to “rock the vehicle backwards
and forwards” if it is stuck in snow or mud.
The selector lever lock engages automatically
if the brake pedal is not pressed and the lev-
er is in position N for more than about one
second at a speed of less than 5 km/h
(3 mph).
In vehicles with a DSG ®
automatic gearbox,
on rare occasions the selector lever lock may
not engage. In this case, the transmission is
locked to prevent the vehicle from moving ac-
cidentally. The green control light  flashes
and an information text is displayed. Proceed
as follows to engage the selector lever lock:
● Press the brake pedal and then release. WARNING
Placing the selector lever in an incorrect posi-
tion ma y

cause loss of control of the vehicle
and a serious accident.
● Do not press the accelerator when engag-
ing a ran
ge of gears.
● With the engine running and a range of
gear
s selected, the vehicle will move off
when the brake pedal is released.
● Never select reverse gear or the parking
lock whi
le driving. WARNING
Unintentional movements of the vehicle
cou l

d cause serious injury.
● As a driver, you should never leave your ve-
hicle if
the engine is running and a gear range
is engaged. If you have to leave your vehicle
while the engine is running, you must apply
the electronic parking brake and engage
parking lock P with the selector lever.
● While the engine is running and with the D,
S or R rang
e of gears selected, keep the brake
pressed to keep the vehicle at a standstill.
Transmission is not totally interrupted either
when the vehicle is idling or when the vehicle
“continues moving forwards”.
● Never engage the R or P gear ranges when
the vehic
le is moving.
● Never leave the vehicle with the gear selec-
tor in N. The
vehicle may move downhill re-
gardless of whether the engine is switched
on or not. 194

Operation
● Gently p
u
ll the selector lever back to
change down a gear.
● OR: reduce using the steering wheel pad-
dle
s ››› Fig. 204 ››› page 195.
Back-up mode
If all the selector lever positions on the in-
strument panel display are shown with a
light-coloured background, this means there
is a fault in the system. The automatic gear-
box will operate in back-up mode. When the
backup programme is activated, it is possible
to drive the vehicle, however, at low speeds
and within a selected range of gears.
For the DSG ®
dual clutch gearbox, in some
cases, this may mean that the reverse gear
does not engage . The gearbox should be
checked by a specialised workshop as soon
as possible.
Protection against overloading the DSG ®
6-
gear automatic gearbox
When the clutch is overloaded, the vehicle
begins to jerk and the selector lever position
indicator begins to flash. To prevent damage
to the clutch, this interrupts the power trans-
mission between the engine and the gear-
box. There is no more traction and it is not
possible to accelerate. If the clutch is opened
automatically due to overloading, press the
brake pedal. Wait a few seconds before start-
ing to move again. Kick-down
The kick

-down system provides maximum ac-
celeration when the gear selector lever is in
the positions D, S or in the Tiptronic position.
When the accelerator pedal is pressed right
down, the automatic gearbox will shift down
to a lower gear, depending on road speed
and engine speed. This takes advantage of
the maximum acceleration of the vehicle
››› .
When the ac c
el

erator is pressed to the floor,
the automatic gearbox shifts to the next gear
only after the engine reaches the specified
maximum engine speed.
Launch-Control Programme
The Launch-Control programme enables max-
imum acceleration while at a standstill.
● Switch off the ASR ›››
page 187.
● Press and hold the brake pedal with your
left
foot.
● Place the selector lever in position S or Tip-
tronic
.
● Press the accelerator with the right foot un-
til the
vehicle reaches an engine speed of ap-
proximately 3200 rpm.
● Lift the left foot off the brake ›››
. The ve-
hic l
e s
tarts with maximum acceleration.
● Turn on the ASR after accelerating! WARNING
Rapid acceleration can cause loss of traction
and skid din

g, especially on slippery ground.
This could cause loss of control of the vehicle
resulting in an accident and considerable
damage.
● Only use kick-down and rapid acceleration
when weather c
onditions, surface conditions
and traffic conditions permit; accelerate and
drive in a manner that does not endanger
other road users.
● Please remember that the driven wheels
can slip and the
vehicle can skid if the ASR is
turned off, especially on slippery ground.
● Turn on the ASR after accelerating! CAUTION
● If y

ou stop on a hill with a gear range en-
gaged, do not try to prevent the vehicle from
rolling back by pressing on the accelerator.
This could cause overheating and damage the
automatic gearbox.
● Never allow the vehicle to move with the
gear sel
ector lever in N, especially with the
engine turned off. The automatic gearbox will
not be lubricated and could be damaged. Recommended gear display
In some vehicles, the recommended gear for
r
educ
in

g fuel consumption is displayed on
the instrument panel:
196

Operation
Auto Hold function* Fig. 206
Detailed view of the centre console:
Aut o Ho
l
d button The control lamp on the button switches on
when the Aut
o Ho
l

d function is on.
When the Auto Hold function is on, this helps
the driver if they must regularly stop the vehi-
cle or if they must stop with the engine run-
ning for prolonged periods, for example, on
hills, before a traffic light or in traffic jams
with continuous stopping and starting.
The Auto Hold function automatically pre-
vents the vehicle from rolling away acciden-
tally when at a standstill, without the driver
having to keep his/her foot on the brake ped-
al.
When the system that detects that the vehi-
cle has stopped, the Auto Hold keeps the ve-
hicle at a standstill. The brake pedal can be
released. If the driver presses the brake pedal briefly or
the accel

erator to start off, the Auto Hold
function releases the brake once more. The
vehicle moves according to the gradient.
If any of the conditions necessary for the Au-
to Hold function change while the vehicle
stopped, the system is turned off as is the in-
dicator on the button ››› Fig. 206. The elec-
tronic parking brake engages where necessa-
ry to park the vehicle safely ››› .
C ondition
s

for keeping the vehicle at a
standstill with Auto Hold:
● The driver door must be closed.
● The driver seat belt must be buckled.
● The engine must be running.
● The ASR system is switched on
›››
page 187.
Automatically engaging and disengaging the
Auto Hold function
If the Auto Hold function was engaged with
the AUTO HOLD button before disengaging the
ignition, the f u
nction w

ill automatically re-
main engaged after the ignition is re-engag-
ed.
If the Auto Hold function was not engaged, it
will automatically remain disengaged after
the ignition is engaged. Permanent Auto Hold connection
The Auto Hol

d function must be switched on
every time the engine is started. However, to
switch the Auto Hold function on permanent-
ly, the mark must be switched on in the Set-
tings menu, “Autohold” submenu
›››  page 26.
Auto Hold works automatically under the fol-
lowing conditions:
All points must be fulfilled simultaneously
››› :
Manual gearboxAutomatic gearbox
1.If the vehicle is kept at a standstill using the brake
pedal on a flat or a slope.
2.The engine must be “running smoothly”.
3.On a slope, the 1st gear
is engaged uphill or the
reverse gear is engaged
for a downhill. The
clutch must be held
down.A gear for driving is se-
lected from R, D or S.
Upon accelerating and
pressing in the clutch
simultaneously, the
brake releases gradual-
ly.Upon accelerating, the
brake releases gradual-
ly. 206

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

Operation
tones. If the vehicle is too close to the obsta-
c l
e, the audib
le warning becomes constant.
Switching the parking distance warning sys-
tem on and off
● Press the  button
›››
Fig. 208
when the
ignition i

s switched on.
● Automatic on: select r
everse gear.
● Automatic off: drive fa
ster than 15 km/h
(9 mph).
The button lights up when the function is
switched on.
Things to note on the parking distance warn-
ing system
● The parking distance warning system
sometimes r
egisters water on the sensors as
an obstacle.
● If the distance does not change, the warn-
ing sign
al will sound less loudly after a few
seconds. If the continuous signal sounds, the
volume will remain constant.
● When the vehicle moves away from the ob-
stac
le, the beeping sound automatically
switches off. On approaching the obstacle
again, the beeping sound will automatically
switch back on.
● If the electronic parking brake is engaged
or the selector l
ever is set to P, no audible
warning will be emitted. ●
Your tec
hnical service centre can adjust the
volume of the warning signals. Note
If the parking distance warning system is
fau lty

, a constant audible warning will be
emitted the first time it is switched on and
the button will flash. Switch the parking dis-
tance warning system off using the button
and take the vehicle to a specialised work-
shop to have the system checked as soon as
possible. Optical parking system* (OPS)
Fig. 210
On-screen OPS display: A has de-
t ect
ed an o

bstacle in the collision zone; B has detected an obstacle in the segment;
C zone recorded behind the vehicle. Fig. 211
On-screen OPS display: A has de-
tect ed an o

bstacle in the segment; B restric-
ted ar e
a in front of the vehicle. The optical parking system is an accessory to
the P
ark
in

g distance warning system
››› page 209 and the park assist system
››› page 211.
The zone recorded by the sensors in front of
and behind the vehicle is displayed on the
factory-fitted radio or navigation system
screen. Any obstacles are displayed in rela-
tion to the vehicle ››› .
FunctionNecessary operations
Switching the
display on:Switch on the parking distance
warning system
››› page 209 or the
park assist system ››› page 211. The
OPS switches on automatically. 210