2018 Seat Alhambra run flat

Driving
To park the vehicle
C omp
l
ete operations only in the sequence
given.
● Park the vehicle on a suitable surface ›››
.
● Press and hold the brake pedal until the ve-
hic l
e c

omes to a standstill.
● Connect the electronic parking brake
›››
page 190.
● 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, t
urn the front wheels so that
they are against the edge of the kerb.
● Uphill, turn the wheels towards the centre
of the ro
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” firs

t ››› . 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 emer-
gency braking distance is larger then when
the brake pads have been run in. While run-
ning in, avoid full power braking or situations
requiring braking performance. For example,
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 ››› .
»
191
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Driver assistance systems
Permanent Auto Hold connection
The Aut o Ho
l
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 27.
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. Auto Hold turns off automatically under the
f
o
l

lowing conditions:
Manual gearboxAutomatic gearbox
1.If one of the conditions mentioned in table on
page 209 changes.
2.If the engine is “not running regularly” or if there is a malfunction.
3.When changing to idle
speed.If the selector lever is
placed in neutral (N).
4.If the engine is turned
off or stalls.If the engine is switch-
ed off.
5.If the driver accelerates
while pressing the
clutch in.If the vehicle is acceler-
ated.
6. When one of the wheels
has minimal contact
with the ground (e.g. on
uneven ground). WARNING
The Auto Hold technology is limited by the
la w

s of physics. The improved comfort provi-
ded by Auto Hold should never prompt you to
take risks.
● Never leave the vehicle running and with
the Auto Hol
d function switched on.
● Auto Hold cannot always stop the vehicle
uphill
and downhill (e.g. if the ground is slip-
pery or frozen). CAUTION
Before entering an automatic car wash, al-
wa y

s switch the Auto Hold function off, as it
could be damaged when the electronic park-
ing brake automatically engages. Start-Stop Function*
Fig. 206
Detailed view of the centre console:
St ar
t

-Stop function button With the Start-Stop system enabled, the en-
gine i
s
aut

omatically stopped when the vehi-
cle is at a standstill. The engine restarts auto-
matically when required.
The function is enabled automatically when-
ever the ignition is switched on. The instru-
ment panel displays information on the cur-
rent status. »
209
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Driver assistance systems
Display help. The help list explains the
s ur
f
aces and lines on the camera image.
Press  to exit help.
Mute the sound.
Adjust the display: brightness, contrast,
colour.
Switching on the orientation points for
rear parking perpendicular to the road
(mode 1).
Displaying the optical parking system.
Operations in vehicles with no optical parking
system (OPS)
Switching the dis-
play on automati-
cally:Select reverse gear with the igni-
tion switched on or the engine run-
ning. Mode 1 will be displayed.
Switching the dis-
play off manually:
Press a button to select the area on
the radio or the navigation system
››› Booklet Radio or ››› Booklet Navi-
gation system.
OR: press the
 button on the
screen.
OR: after switching off the ignition,
the rear assist image remains on
the screen for a short period.
Switching off the
display by disen-
gaging reverse
gear:The image will switch off after
around 10 seconds.
Switching off the
display by driving
forwards:Drive forwards at more than ap-
prox. 15 km/h (9 mph). 3
4
5
6
7
Operations in vehicles with the optical parking
system (OPS)
Switching the dis-
play on automati-
cally:Select reverse gear with the igni-
tion switched on or the engine run-
ning. Mode 1 will be displayed.
Switching the dis-
play off manually:
Press a button to select the area on
the radio or the navigation system
››› Booklet Radio or ››› Booklet Navi-
gation system.
OR: press the
 button on the
screen.
OR: after switching off the ignition,
the rear assist image remains on
the screen for a short period.
Press the  button.
Switching off the
display by disen-
gaging reverse
gear:The OPS display will immediately
be shown.
Switching off the
display by driving
forwards:Drive forwards at more than ap-
prox. 10 km/h (6 mph). Things to note
1) Do not use the rear assist system in the fol-
lowing cases:
– If there is a fault in the dynamic chassis control (DCC).
– If the image displayed is not very clear or reliable (low
visibility or dirty lens).
– If the space behind the vehicle cannot be clearly or
completely recognised.
1) Do not use the rear assist system in the fol-
lowing cases:
– If the vehicle has been overloaded at the rear.
– If the driver is not familiar with the system.
– If the rear lid is open.
– If the position and installation angle of the camera
have been changed, e.g. in a rear-end collision. Have a
specialised workshop check the system.
2) Optical illusions of the camera (examples)
The rear assist camera produces two-dimensional im-
ages. Any cracks in or objects protruding from the
ground or from other vehicles are more difficult to spot
or cannot be seen due to a lack of depth in the image
displayed.
Objects or other vehicles may seem to be closer or fur-
ther away than what they really are:
– On changing from a flat surface to a slope or gradient.
– On changing from a slope or gradient to a flat surface.
– If the vehicle has been overloaded at the rear.
– On approaching protruding objects. These objects
may be outside the angle of vision of the camera when
reversing.
Cleaning the camera lens
K
eep the c
amer

a lens clean and clear of snow
and ice:
● Moisten the lens using a commercially
avail
able, alcohol-based glass cleaning »
219
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
●
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 245.
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 287. 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. 242

Checking and refilling levels
●
Top up w ith AdBlue at
the latest 1,000 km
or 600 miles before it runs out.
● Do not allow the AdBlue to run too low. WARNING
AdBlue is an irritant, corrosive liquid that can
c au se injurie

s if it touches the skin, eyes or
respiratory organs.
● If AdBlue get in contact with eyes and skin,
rinse for at
least 15 minutes with plenty of
water and seek medical help.
● If the AdBlue is swallowed, wash your
mouth with pl
enty of water for at least 15 mi-
nutes. Do not try to provoke vomiting unless
recommended by a Doctor. Seek medical ad-
vice immediately. CAUTION
AdBlue damages surfaces such as painted ve-
hicl e p

arts, plastic, items of clothing and car-
pets. Spilt AdBlue should be removed as
quickly as possible using a damp cloth and
plenty of cold water.
● If the AdBlue has crystallised, remove with
warm wat
er and a sponge. Control and warning lamps

It lights up red
The engine cannot
be restarted! The
level of AdBlue is
too low.Stop the vehicle in a suitable,
safe and flat area then top up
with the minimum quantity of
AdBlue required ››› page 270. 
It lights up redtogether with

The engine cannot
be restarted! AdBlue
system malfunction.Contact a specialised workshop.
Have the system checked there.

It lights up yellow
The AdBlue reserve
is low.
Refill AdBlue over the next kilo-
metres or miles as indicated
››› page 270. SEAT recommends
contacting a specialised work-
shop. 
It lights up yellowtogether with

There is a fault in
the AdBlue system
or unsuitable
AdBlue fluid has
been used.
Contact a specialised workshop.
Have the system checked there. Several warning and control lamps should
light
up f
or a f

ew seconds when the ignition
is switched on, signalling that the function is
being verified. They will switch off after a few
seconds. WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ›››
in Control
and warnin g l
amps on page 107. Information on AdBlue
A message will be displayed on the dash
p
anel
ar

ound 2,400 km before the next serv-
ice to indicate that AdBlue must be refilled
››› page 270. If you ignore this message and
do not refill, you will be unable to start the
engine afterwards ›››
page 269.
SEAT recommends contacting a specialised
workshop. If not possible, it should be parti-
ally filled with a minimum 5.0 litres of
AdBlue. Only refill using AdBlue expressly
approved by SEAT.
When the  and  warning lamps light up
simultaneously, there is a fault. SEAT recom-
mends visiting the closest specialised work-
shop.
AdBlue ®
is a registered trademark in the US,
Germany, the European Union and other »
269
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
Checking engine oil level Fig. 242
Marked engine oil dipstick Fig. 243
In the engine compartment: Engine
oi l
fi
ller cap. Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›

 page 40
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 271.
● The engine oil filler neck can be recognised
by the symbo
l  on the cap ››› Fig. 243 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. 243. 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 275.
● 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. 242 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. 242 A do not start the engine. Seek
spec i
alist assistance. Otherwise catalytic
converter and engine damage may occur. 276

Advice
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 use a damaged battery. It can ex-
plode. Rep
lace a damaged battery immedi-
ately. ●
Rep l

aced damaged or frozen batteries as
soon as possible. 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
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
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. 284

Advice
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 209) 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 102. Respect the maximum service
intervals permitted ››› Booklet Maintenance
Programme.
Vehicles with Keyless Access (››› page 117):
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 180.
286