Frequently Asked Ques-
tion
sBefore driving
How do you adjust the seat?
››› page 15
How do you adjust the steering wheel? ››› page 18
How do you adjust the exterior mirrors? ››› page 18
How do you turn on the exterior lights? ››› page 25
How does the automatic gearbox selector lever work?
››› page 36
How do you refuel? ››› page 40
How do you activate the windscreen wipers and wind-
screen washer system? ››› page 27
Emergency situations
A warning lamp lights up or flashes. What does this
mean? ››› page 34
Where are the first-aid kit and the warning triangle in
the vehicle? ››› page 83
How do you open the bonnet? ››› page 13
How do you perform a jump start? ››› page 52
Where is the vehicle tool kit located? ››› page 46
How do you repair a tyre with the anti-puncture kit?
››› page 45
How do you change a wheel? ››› page 46
How do you change a fuse? ››› page 43
How do you change a light? ››› page 92
How do you tow a vehicle? ››› page 51
Useful tips
How do you set the time? ››› page 103
When should the vehicle inspection should be per-
formed? ››› page 105
What functions do the buttons/thumbwheels on the
steering wheel perform? ››› page 108
How do you remove the luggage compartment cover?
››› page 170
How do you drive in an economical and environmental-
ly-friendly way? ››› page 200
How do you check and top up the engine oil?
››› page 40
How do you check and top up the engine coolant?
››› page 41
How do you top up the windscreen washer fluid?
››› page 42
How do you check and top up the brake fluid?
››› page 42
How do you check and adjust tyre pressure values?
››› page 291
Vehicle washing tips ››› page 253
Functions of interest
How does the START-STOP system work? ››› page 209
What parking assistants are available? ››› page 211,
››› page 214
How does the rear assist work? ››› page 217
How does the lane departure warning system work?
››› page 222
How does tyre pressure monitoring work? ››› page 234
How do you open the vehicle without a key (Keyless Ac-
cess)? ››› page 117
Interior lighting and ambient light ››› page 136
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 277
››› page 274 Coolant
Fig. 55
Engine compartment: coolant expan-
s ion t
ank
cap. The coolant tank is located in the engine
c
omp
ar
tment ›››
page 274.
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 279. 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 279.
››› in Coolant specifications on
page 279
››› page 277 41
The essentials
Action in the event of a punc-
t ur
e
Wh
at to do first The SEAT Alhambra is equipped as standard
with anti-p
u
ncture technology tyres (Conti-
Seal). In the event of a puncture or air leak of
up to 5 mm, the tyre seals the hole with a
protective layer inside the tread.
The inclusion of this technology means that
there is no type of spare wheel included in
the vehicle's equipment.
● 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 83.
● Observe the applicable legislation for each
countr
y (reflective vest, warning triangles,
etc.). ●
All
occupants should leave the vehicle and
wait in a safe 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. 62
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. 62 1 tool to remove the insert.
Pl ac
e it
on a clean surface.
● Shake the tyre sealant bottle vigorously
›››
Fig. 62 10 .
● Screw the inflator tube ››
›
Fig. 62 3 into
the se al
ant
bottle. The bottle's seal will break
automatically.
● Remove the lid from the filling tube
›››
Fig. 62 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. 62 1 .
Infl atin
g the ty
re
● Screw the compressor tyre inflator tube
›››
Fig. 62 5 into the tyre valve.
● Check that the air bleed screw is closed
› ›
›
Fig. 62 7 .
● Start the engine and leave it running.
● Insert the connector ››
›
Fig. 62 9 into the
v ehic
l
e's 12-volt socket ›››
page 174.
● Turn the air compressor on with the ON/OFF
swit c
h ››› Fig. 62 8 .
» 45
Airbag system
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 58.
● 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.
71
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Self-help
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 46
Not all Alhambra models have the 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 293 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. 85
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Emergencies
Changing the windscreen wiper
b l
a
des
Changing the windscreen and rear
window wiper blades Read the additional information carefully
›› ›
page 55.
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 windscreen wiper blades reduce
vi s
ibility and increase the risk of accident
and serious injury.
● Always replace damaged or worn wind-
scr
een wiper blades or blades that no longer
clean the windscreen properly. 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 55.
● 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 51
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. 88
Fuses and bulbs
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.
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 130.
● General fault of all turn signals on one side.
● Fault in one rear light (on some models, al-
so the regi
stration light).
● Fault in two brake lights. WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ›››
in Control
and warnin g l
amps on page 107. 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. 104
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. 105
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 271.
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 271.
2.Remove the rubber cover on the rear of the head-
light.
3.Rotate the bulb holder to the left all the way and
pull it out backwards together with the bulb.
4.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.
5.Replace the faulty bulb with a new identical bulb.
6.Place the bulb holder in the headlight and rotate
to the right all the way.
7.Insert the rubber cover.» 93
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety
Lights and visibility
Allow the engine to cool and check if a
s pec
i
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.
Note
● The v ehic
le battery will discharge and run
down if the hazard warning lights remain on
for too long (even with the ignition turned
off).
● In some vehicles, the brake lights will flash
when brakin
g abruptly at speeds of approxi-
mately 80 km/h (50 mph) to warn vehicles
travelling behind. If braking continues, the
hazard warning lights system will automati-
cally be turned on at a speed of less than ap-
proximately 10 km/h (6 mph). The brake
lights remain lit. Upon accelerating, the haz-
ard warning lights will be automatically
turned off. Adhesive strips for headlights or ad-
ju
s
tin
g headlights In those countries where vehicles drive on
the other s
ide of
the r
oad to the home coun-
try, the asymmetric dipped beam may dazzle
drivers of oncoming vehicles. Therefore,
when driving abroad, adhesive strips should
be attached to the headlights or the head-
lights should be adjusted accordingly.
The direction of the headlights can be adjus-
ted from the instrument panel, in the Tou-
rist light submenu of the Configura-
tion menu ›››
page 31.
For those vehicles in which it is not possible
to adjust the headlights from the menu, ad- hesive strips are used to cover certain parts
of the hea
dlamp cover or the headlights may
be adjusted at a specialised workshop. For
further information, please refer to a special-
ised workshop. SEAT recommends visiting a
technical service. Note
Use of the Tourist light option and the
adhe s
ives on the headlights is only allowed if
they are to be used for a short period of time.
To modify the direction of the headlights per-
manently, please take the vehicle to a speci-
alised workshop. SEAT recommends visiting a
technical service centre. Headlight range control, lighting of
the in
s
trument
panel and controls Fig. 140
Next to the steering wheel: instru-
ment and sw it
ch lighting control 1 and
he a
dlight
range control 2 »
135
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety