The essentials
● Zone B : You can add oil but keep the level
in th at
zone.
● Zone C : Add oil up to zone
B .
T op
pin
g up engine oil
● Unscrew cap from oil filler opening.
● Add oil slowly.
● At the same time, check the level to ensure
you do not a
dd too much.
● When the oil level reaches at least zone B ,
u n
s
crew the engine oil filler cap carefully.
Motor oil specifications
Petrol engines
With LongLife serviceVW 504 00
Without LongLife serviceVW 504 00, VW 502 00
Diesel engines
With LongLife serviceVW 507 00
Without LongLife serviceVW 507 00 Engine oil additives
No type of
a
d
ditive should be mixed with the
engine oil. The deterioration caused by these
additives is not covered by the warranty.
››› in Topping up engine oil on
page 274
››› page 271 Coolant
Fig. 56
Engine compartment: coolant expan-
s ion t
ank
cap. The coolant tank is located in the engine
c
omp
ar
tment ›››
page 271.
When the engine is cold, replace the coolant
when the level is below .
Coolant specifications
The engine cooling system is supplied from
the factory with a specially treated mixture of
water and at least 40 % of the additive G13
(TL-VW 774 J), purple. This mixture gives the
necessary frost protection down to -25°C (-13°F) and protects the light alloy parts of
the engine coo
ling system against corrosion.
It also prevents scaling and considerably rai-
ses the boiling point of the coolant.
To protect the cooling system, the percentage
of additive must always be at least 40 %,
even in warm climates where anti-freeze pro-
tection is not required.
If for weather reasons further protection is
necessary, the proportion of additive may be
increased, but only up to 60 %; otherwise an-
tifreeze protection will diminish and this will
worsen cooling.
When the coolant is topped up, use a mixture
of distilled water and at least 40 % of the
G13 or G12 plus-plus (TL-VW 774 G) additive
(both are purple) to obtain an optimum anti-
corrosion protection ››› in Coolant specifi-
c ation
s on p
age 276. The mixture of G13
with G12 plus (TL-VW 774 F), G12 (red) or
G11 (green-blue) engine coolants will signifi-
cantly reduce anti-corrosion protection and
should therefore be avoided ››› in Coolant
s pec
ific
ations on page 276.
››› in Coolant specifications on
page 276
››› page 274 40
The essentials
Action in the event of a punc-
t ur
e
Wh
at to do first ●
Park the vehicle on a horizontal surface
and in a saf e p
lace as far away from traffic as
possible.
● Apply the handbrake.
● Switch on the hazard warning lights.
● Manual gearbox: select the 1s
t gear.
● Automatic gearbox: Move the sel
ector lever
to position P.
● If you are towing a trailer, unhitch it from
your v
ehicle.
● Keep the vehicle tool kit ready*
›››
page 82.
● Observe the applicable legislation for each
countr
y (reflective vest, warning triangles,
etc.).
● All occupants should leave the vehicle and
wait in a s
afe place (for instance behind the
roadside crash barrier). WARNING
● Alw a
ys observe the above steps and pro-
tect yourself and other road users.
● If you change the wheel on a slope, block
the wheel on the oppo
site side of the car with
a stone or similar to prevent the vehicle from
moving. Repairing a tyre with the anti-punc-
t
ur
e k
it Fig. 63
Standard representation: contents of
the anti-p u
nct
ure kit. The anti-puncture kit is located under the
floor p
anel
in the lug
gage compartment.
Sealing the tyre
● Unscrew the tyre valve cap and insert. Use
the ›››
Fig. 63 1 tool to remove the insert.
Pl ac
e it
on a clean surface.
● Shake the tyre sealant bottle vigorously
›››
Fig. 63 10 .
● Screw the inflator tube ››
›
Fig. 63 3 into
the se al
ant
bottle. The bottle's seal will break
automatically. ●
Remov
e the lid from the filling tube
››› Fig. 63 3 and screw the open end of the
t ube int
o the ty
re valve.
● With the tyre sealant bottle upside down,
fill
the tyre with the contents of the sealant
bottle.
● Remove the bottle from the valve.
● Place the insert back into the tyre valve us-
ing the too
l ››› Fig. 63 1 .
Infl atin
g the ty
re
● Screw the compressor tyre inflator tube
›››
Fig. 63 5 into the tyre valve.
● Check that the air bleed screw is closed
› ›
›
Fig. 63 7 .
● Start the engine and leave it running.
● Insert the connector ››
›
Fig. 63 9 into the
v ehic
l
e's 12-volt socket ›››
page 171.
● Turn the air compressor on with the ON/OFF
switc
h ››› Fig. 63 8 .
● Keep the air compressor running until it
r e
ac
hes 2.0 to 2.5 bar
(29-36 psi/200-250 kPa). A maximum of 8
minutes.
● Disconnect the air compressor.
● If it does not reach the pressure indicated,
uns
crew the tyre inflator tube from the valve.
● Move the vehicle 10m so that the sealant is
dis trib
uted throughout the tyre.44
Safety
The airbag system operation is monitored
el ectr
onic
ally. The airbag control lamp will il-
luminate for a few seconds every time the ig-
nition is switched on (self-diagnosis).
There is a fault in the system if the control
lamp :
● does not light up when the ignition is
switc
hed on,
● turns off after 4 seconds after the ignition
is sw
itched on
● turns off and then lights up again after the
ignition is sw
itched on
● illuminates or flashes while the vehicle is
movin
g.
The airbag system is not triggered if:
● the ignition is switched off
● there is a minor frontal collision
● there is a minor side collision
● there is a rear-end collision
● the vehicle turns over. WARNING
● The seat belt
s and airbags can only provide
maximum protection if the occupants are
seated correctly ››› page 57.
● If a fault has occurred in the airbag system,
have the sy
stem checked immediately by a
specialised workshop. Otherwise there is a danger that during a collision, the system
ma
y
fail to trigger, or not trigger correctly. Airbag activation
The airbags deploy extremely rapidly, within
thous
andths
of a second, to provide addi-
tional protection in the event of an accident.
The airbag system is only ready to function
when the ignition is on.
In special accidents instances, several air-
bags may activate at the same time.
In the event of minor head-on and side colli-
sions, rear-end collisions, overturning or roll-
over of the vehicle, airbags do not activate.
Activation factors
The conditions that lead to the airbag system
activating in each situation cannot be gener-
alised. Some factors play an important role,
such as the properties of the object the vehi-
cle hits (hard/soft), angle of impact, vehicle
speed, etc.
Deceleration trajectory is key for airbag acti-
vation.
The control unit analyses the collision trajec-
tory and activates the respective restraint
system.
If the deceleration rate is below the prede-
fined reference value in the control unit the airbags will not be triggered, even though
the acc
ident
may cause extensive damage to
the car.
The following airbags are triggered in seri-
ous head-on collisions
● Driver airbag.
● Front passenger front airbag
● Knee airbag for the driver.
The fol
lowing airbags are triggered in seri-
ous side-on collisions
● Front side airbag on the side of the acci-
dent.
● Re
ar side airbag on the side of the acci-
dent.
● Cur
tain (head) airbag on the side of the ac-
cident.
In an ac
cident with airbag activation:
● the interior lights switch on (if the interior
light swit
ch is in the courtesy light position);
● the hazard warning lights switch on;
● all doors are unlocked;
● the fuel supply to the engine is cut.
70
Emergencies
The chocks should be placed directly in front
and behind the wheel and on
ly
be used on
firm ground. WARNING
If the folding chocks are assembled or used
incorr ectly
, an accident may occur and seri-
ous injury caused.
● Never use damaged chocks.
● Never use chocks to immobilize the vehicle
on a slope. Changing a wheel*
Intr oduction Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 45
All Alhambra models have TMS (Tyre Mobility
System).
If a tyre needs to be changed the tools neces-
sary are available at spare parts dealers:
● Jack,
● box spanner for wheel bolts,
● tool to remove wheel bolt caps
The tyre
s mounted on the vehicle are anti-
puncture. The wheels should only be
changed when switching from summer to
winter tyres or vice-versa. See ›››
page 290 The vehicle only comes with the necessary
tool
s for changing wheels if factory supplied
with winter tyres. If this is not the case, you
need to go to a specialised workshop to get
the wheels changed.
You should only change the wheels yourself if
the vehicle is parked in a safe place, you are
familiar with the procedure and safety stand-
ards and you have all the necessary tools!
Otherwise, you should seek professional as-
sistance. WARNING
Changing a wheel can be dangerous, espe-
ci a
lly on the hard shoulder. Please observe
the following rules to minimise the risk of in-
jury:
● Stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible.
Park at
a safe distance from surrounding traf-
fic to change a wheel.
● When changing a wheel, keep all passen-
gers, and p
articularly children, a safe dis-
tance away from the work area.
● Turn on the hazard warning lights to warn
other roa
d users.
● Ensure the ground on which you park is flat
and solid. If nec
essary, support the jack on a
wide solid base.
● If you are changing a wheel yourself, you
should be f
amiliar with the required proce-
dure. Otherwise, you should seek professio-
nal assistance. ●
Only u
se suitable tools that are not dam-
aged when changing a wheel.
● Always stop the engine, turn on the elec-
tronic p
arking brake and place the gear selec-
tor lever in position P, for an automatic gear-
box, or engage a gear for a manual gearbox to
reduce the risk of the vehicle moving acciden-
tally.
● Have the tightening torque of the wheel
bolts
checked as soon as possible with a reli-
able torque wrench. WARNING
If the wheel trims are not appropriate or not
fitted c orr
ectly, they could cause major acci-
dents or damage.
● Incorrectly mounted wheel trims may come
off whil
e driving and endanger other road
users.
● Damaged trims must never be mounted on
the wheels.
● Alw
ays ensure that the brake ventilation
and coolin
g is not cut off or blocked. This is
also valid if hubcaps are fitted later. If there
is not enough air, you may require signifi-
cantly longer braking distances. CAUTION
Remove and remount wheel trims taking care
to av oid d
amage to the vehicle.84
Self-help
Changing the windscreen wiper
b l
a
des
Changing the windscreen and rear
window wiper blades Read the additional information carefully
›› ›
page 54.
The windscreen wiper blades are supplied as
standard with a layer of graphite. This layer is
responsible for ensuring that the wipe is si-
lent. If the graphite layer is damaged, the
noise of the water as it is wiped across the
windscreen will be louder.
Check the condition of the wiper blades regu-
larly. If the wipers scrape across the glass
they should be changed if they are damaged,
or cleaned if they are dirty ››› .
Dam ag
ed w
iper blades should be replaced
immediately. These are available from quali-
fied workshops. WARNING
Worn or dirty wiper blades reduce visibility
and incr e
ase the risk of accident and serious
injury.
● Always replace damaged or worn blades or
bla
des which do not clean the windscreen
correctly. CAUTION
● Damag ed or dir
ty windscreen wipers could
scratch the glass.
● If products containing solvents, rough
spong
es or sharp objects are used to clean
the blades, the graphite layer will be dam-
aged.
● Never use fuel, nail varnish remover, paint
thinner or simil
ar products to clean the win-
dows.
● In icy conditions, always check that the
wiper bl
ades are not frozen to the glass be-
fore using the wipers. In cold weather, it may
help to leave the vehicle parked with the wip-
ers in service position ›››
page 54.
● To prevent damage to the bonnet and the
wiper arms, only
leave them in the service
position.
● Before driving, always lower the wiper
arms. Tow-starting and towing
Intr oduction Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 50
When towing, always respect legal require-
ments.
For technical reasons, it is not possible to
tow a vehicle if the battery is flat. If the vehicle comes with the Keyless Access
syst
em, towing is only allowed with the igni-
tion on!
The vehicle battery drains if the vehicle is
towed with the engine switched off and the
ignition connected. Depending on the battery
charge status, the drop in voltage may be so
large, even after just a few minutes, that no
electrical device in the vehicle may work e.g.
the hazard warning lights. In vehicles with
the Keyless Access system, the steering
wheel could lock ››› .
WARNING
A vehicle with a flat battery should never be
to w
ed.
● Never remove the key from the ignition
lock. Otherw
ise, the steering wheel lock
could suddenly lock. The vehicle would not
be controlled and a serious accident could
ensue. WARNING
When towing the vehicle, the handling and
brak in
g efficiency change considerably.
Please observe the following instructions to
minimise the risk of serious accidents and in-
jury:
● As the driver of the vehicle being towed:
– The brake mu
st be depressed must hard-
er as the brake servo does not operate. » 87
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Emergencies
Control lamp It lights up
A vehicle exterior
lighting bulb is not
working.Replace the faulty bulb.
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.
Checking the bulbs of a trailer
For vehicles with the factory fitted towing
bracket, certain trailer lights are also control-
led if the power socket is correctly connected.
A fault on a trailer turn signal is indicated on
the instrument panel by the turn signal blink-
ing twice as fast ( or ) ›››
page 128.
● General fault of all turn signals on one side.
● Fault in one rear light (on some models, al-
so the re gi
stration light).
● Fault in two brake lights. WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ›››
in Control
and warnin g l
amps on page 105. Note
A fault in the LED on the rear lights will not be
indicat ed. Ho
wever, if the fault affects all the
LEDs then this will be indicated by the control
lamp . To replace halogen headlight bulbs
Fig. 105
In the engine compartment: left-
h and s
ide he
adlight lining. A dipped beam
he a
dlights, B daytime driving lights and
C main beam headlights and side lights Fig. 106
Left headlight. There is no need to remove the headlight to
r
ep
l
ace bulbs.
Complete operations only in the sequence
given:
Turn signals (small bulb holder)
1.Open the bonnet ››› page 268.
2.Rotate the bulb holder 1 to the left all the way
and pull it out backwards together with the bulb.
3.Depending on the model, the bulb is removed di-
rectly from the bulb holder or it may need to be ro-
tated and then removed.
4.Replace the faulty bulb with a new identical bulb.
5.Place the bulb holder in the headlight and rotate
to the right all the way.
Dipped beam A and daytime lights B
1.Open the bonnet
››› page 268. 92
Operation
opened and when the “Coming home” or
“L e
av
ing home” function is switched on. If
the equipment includes the light sensor, the
lighting around the exterior mirrors only
comes when it is dark. Note
● The time tak en f
or the headlights to go off
can be changed in the Lights & Visibil- ity menu and the function can be switched
on or off ›››
page 26.
● When the “Coming home” function is on, if
the vehic
le door is opened there is no audible
warning signal to advise that the light is still
on. Hazard warning lights
Fig. 140
In the centre of the dash panel: push
b utt
on f
or hazard warning lights. Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›
page 25 Always fulfil legal requirements for securing a
broken do
wn vehicle. In a number of coun-
tries it is now obligatory, for example, to turn
on the hazard warning lights and use a re-
flective safety vest ››› page 82.
When being towed with the hazard warning
lights on, a change in direction or traffic lane
can be indicated as usual using the turn sig-
nal lever. The hazard lights will be interrup-
ted temporarily.
If your vehicle breaks down:
Park the vehicle a safe distance from
traffic and on suitable ground ››› .
T urn on the h
az
ard warning lights with
the button
› ›
› Fig. 140
.
Connect the electronic parking brake
››› page 187.
Move the selector lever to its intermedi-
ate position or to P ››› page 192.
Stop the engine and remove the key
from the ignition ››› page 182.
Have all occupants leave the vehicle and
move to safety, for example behind a
guard rail.
When leaving the vehicle, take all keys
with you.
Place an emergency warning triangle to
indicate the position of your vehicle to
other road users.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8. Allow the engine to cool and check if a
speci
alist is required.
If the hazard warning lights are not working,
you must use an alternative method of draw-
ing attention to your vehicle. This method
must comply with traffic legislation. WARNING
A faulty vehicle in traffic represents a risk of
acc ident
for the driver and for other road
users.
● Stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible.
Park the
vehicle a safe distance from sur-
rounding traffic to lock all the doors in case of
an emergency. Turn on the hazard warning
lights to warn other road users.
● Never leave children or disabled people
alone in the v
ehicle if the doors are to be
locked. In case of an emergency, passengers
will be trapped inside the vehicle. Individuals
locked in the vehicle can be exposed to very
high or very low temperatures. 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 dried grass or
fuel). 9.
132
Operation
Before pr ogramming, check that the day is
c orr
ectly set in the Auxiliary heater -
day of the week menu ››› .
En ab
lin
g the Auxiliary heater menu on
the instrument panel
● From the main menu, select the Auxili-
ary heater submenu and pre
ss the OK button on the windscreen wiper lever.
● OR: pr ess the or
arrow buttons on the
mu ltif
u
nction steering wheel until the Aux-
iliary heater menu is displayed.
Menu op-
tionsDescription
Switching
on
Switching
off
The auxiliary heater can be set to come
on automatically if required. To do so,
select a timer:
– The timer is displayed marked with a
.
– Only one timer can be selected. If a
timer has been selected, Prog. ON
will be displayed on the screen. If no
timer has been selected, the dash
panel display will show Prog. OFF.
– To modify the programmed timer, se-
lect another timer or select the Off
option.
Timer 1
Timer 2
Timer 3
Three different timers (hh.mm) can lat-
er be selected using the On option. If
the auxiliary heater is to be switched
on for just a certain day of the week,
select the day of the week and the
time for the auxiliary heater to come
on.
Menu op-
tionsDescription
DurationThe operating time may vary between
10 and 60 minutes and can be set to
5-minute intervals.
Operating
modeSet to heat or ventilate the vehicle in-
terior when the auxiliary heater is
switched on.
DaySet the current day of the week.
Factory
settingsThe predefined factory values for the
functions of this menu are restored.
BackThis returns to the main menu. Checking programming
If
the
timer h
a
s been switched on after
switching the ignition off, the light on button will remain lit for around 10 seconds.
WARNING
Never program the independent heating sys-
tem t o be activ
ated and operated in closed,
unventilated areas. The auxiliary heater
fumes contain carbon dioxide, an odourless
and colourless toxic gas. Carbon monoxide
can cause people to lose consciousness. It
can also cause death. Operating instructions
The auxiliary heater exhaust system located
below the
v
ehicle must be kept clear of snow,
mud and other objects. The exhaust gases
must not be obstructed in any way. The ex-
haust gases generated by the auxiliary heater
are removed via an exhaust pipe fitted under-
neath the vehicle.
On heating the vehicle interior, depending on
the outside temperature the warm air is first
directed at the windscreen and then to the
rest of the vehicle interior through the air
vents. If the air vents are turned towards the
windows, for example, the form of air distri-
bution may be affected.
Depending on the outside temperature, the
temperature at which the auxiliary heater
warms the vehicle interior may be somewhat
higher if the heating or air conditioner tem-
perature control is set to maximum before
switching the heating on.
Depending on the engine, vehicles with aux-
iliary heater may be fitted with a second bat-
tery in the luggage compartment that is re-
sponsible for powering the auxiliary heater.
When will the auxiliary heater will not switch
on?
● The auxiliary heater requires about as
much po w
er as the dipped beam headlights.
180