2018 Seat Alhambra light

Safe driving
Safety
Saf e driv
in
g
Safety first! This chapter contains important information,
tips, s
ug

gestions and warnings that you
should read and consider for both your own
safety and for your passengers' safety. WARNING
● This m

anual contains important informa-
tion about the operation of the vehicle, both
for the driver and the passengers. The other
sections of the on-board documentation also
contain further information that you should
be aware of for your own safety and for the
safety of your passengers.
● Ensure that the on-board documentation is
kept in the
vehicle at all times. This is espe-
cially important when lending or selling the
vehicle to another person. Advice about driving
Intr oduction Depending upon how you expect to use your
v
ehic
l

e, it may a good idea to protect the en-
gine from below. An undercarriage may help to reduce the risk of damage to the lower part
of the v

ehicle and the oil sump when driving
over kerbs, or along dirt tracks or unsurfaced
roads, etc. SEAT recommends you have the
guard fitted by a technical service centre. WARNING
Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs,
medication or n ar

cotics may result in severe
accidents and even loss of life.
● Alcohol, drugs, medication and narcotics
may
significantly alter perception, affect re-
action times and safety while driving, which
could result in the loss of control of the vehi-
cle. Before setting off
For your own safety and the safety of your
p
a
s

sengers, always note the following points
before every trip:
– Make sure that the vehicle's lights and turn
signal

s are working properly.
– Check tyre pressure.
– Ensure that all windows provide a clear and
good v

iew of the surroundings.
– Make sure all luggage is secured
›››
page 152.
– Make sure that no objects can interfere
with the pedal

s. –
Adjust
front seat, head restraint and mir-
rors properly according to your size.
– Ensure that the passengers in the rear
seats alw

ays have the head restraints in
the in-use position ››› page 144.
– Instruct passengers to adjust the head re-
straints

according to their height.
– Protect children with appropriate child
seats and pr

operly applied seat belts
››› page 75.
– Assume the correct sitting position. Instruct
your pa

ssengers also to assume a proper
sitting position ››› page 58.
– Fasten your seat belt securely. Instruct your
pas

sengers also to fasten their seat belts
properly ››› page 65.
What affects driving safety? As a driver, you are responsible for yourself
and
y
our p

assengers. When your concentra-
tion or driving safety is affected by any cir-
cumstance, you endanger yourself as well as
others on the road ››› , for this reason:
– Always pay attention to traffic and do not
g et
di

stracted by passengers or telephone
calls.
– Never drive when your driving ability is im-
paired (e.

g. by medication, alcohol, drugs). »
57
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Safe driving
The correct sitting positions for the driver and
p a
s
sengers are shown below.
If your physical constitution prevents you
from maintaining the correct sitting position,
contact a specialised workshop for help with
any special devices. The seat belt and airbag
can only provide optimum protection if a cor-
rect sitting position is adopted. SEAT recom-
mends taking your car in for technical serv-
ice.
For your own safety and to reduce the risk of
injury in the event of an accident or sudden
braking or manoeuvre, SEAT recommend the
following positions:
Valid for all vehicle occupants:
● Adjust the head restraint so that its upper
edge is
at the same level as the top of your
head, or as close as possible to the same lev-
el as the top of your head and under no cir-
cumstances below eye level. Keep the back
of your neck as close as possible to the head
restraint ››› Fig. 79 and ››› Fig. 80.
● Short people must lower the head restraint
compl
etely, even if your head is below its up-
per edge.
● Tall people must raise the head restraint
compl
etely.
● Adjust the seat backrest to an upright posi-
tion so that
your back rests completely
against it. ●
Alwa
ys keep your feet in the footwell while
the vehicle is in motion.
● Adjust and fasten your seat belt correctly
›››
page 65.
Also valid for the driver:
● Adjust the steering wheel so that there is a
dist
ance of at least 25 cm (10 inches) be-
tween it and your chest ››› Fig. 79 and so that
you can hold the steering wheel with both
hands on the outside of the ring at the 9
o'clock and 3 o'clock positions with your
arms slightly bent.
● The adjusted steering wheel must face your
ches
t and not your face.
● Adjust the driver seat forwards or back-
ward
s so that you are able to press the accel-
erator, brake and clutch pedals to the floor
with your knees slightly angled and the dis-
tance between your knees and the dash pan-
el is at least 10 cm (4 inches) ››› Fig. 79.
● Adjust the height of the driver seat so that
you can e
asily reach the top of the steering
wheel.
● Keep both feet in the footwell so that you
have the
vehicle under control at all times.
Also valid for the front passenger:
● Move the front passenger seat back as far
as po
ssible for optimum protection should
the airbag deploy. Adjusting the steering wheel position Read the additional information carefully
›› ›

 page 18. WARNING
Incorrect use of the steering wheel adjust-
ment f u

nction and an incorrect adjustment of
the steering wheel can result in severe or fa-
tal injury.
● After adjusting the steering column, push
the lever ›

››  Fig. 24
1 firmly upwards to
ens ur
e the steering wheel does not acciden-
tally change position while driving.
● Never adjust the steering wheel while the
vehicl
e is in motion. If you need to adjust the
steering wheel while the vehicle is in motion,
stop safely and make the proper adjustment.
● The adjusted steering wheel should be fac-
ing y
our chest and not your face so as not to
hinder the driver's front airbag protection in
the event of an accident.
● When driving, always hold the steering
wheel with both h
ands on the outside of the
ring at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions
to reduce injuries when the driver's front air-
bag deploys.
● Never hold the steering wheel at the 12
o'clock
position or in any other manner (e.g.
in the centre of the steering wheel). In such
cases, if the driver's airbag deploys, you may
sustain injuries to your arms, hands and
head. 59
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Safety
Danger of injuries due to an incorrect
s ittin
g po
sitionNumber of seats
Dependin
g on the equipment,

your vehicle
has a total of five or seven seats. Each seat is
equipped with a seat belt.
5 seats
Seats in the frontSeats in thesecond rowSeats in the third row
23–
7 seats
Seats in the frontSeats in thesecond rowSeats in the third row
232 If the seat belts are worn incorrectly or not at
al
l, the ri
sk

of severe injuries increases. Seat
belts can provide optimal protection only if
the belt web is properly worn. Being seated
in an incorrect position means the seat belt
cannot offer its full protection. This could re-
sult in severe and even fatal injuries. The risk
of severe or fatal injuries is especially height-
ened when a deploying airbag strikes a vehi-
cle occupant who has assumed an incorrect
sitting position. The driver is responsible for
all passengers in the vehicle, particularly
children. The following list shows just some examples
of incorr

ect sitting positions which can be
dangerous to all vehicle occupants.
Whenever the vehicle is in motion:
● Never stand in the vehicle.
● Never stand on the seats.
● Never kneel on the seats.
● Never tilt your seat backrest too far to the
rear
.
● Never lean against the dash panel.
● Never lie on the rear bench.
● Never sit on the front edge of a seat.
● Never sit sideways.
● Never lean out of a window.
● Never put your feet out of a window.
● Never put your feet on the dash panel.
● Never put your feet on the surface of a seat
or seat b
ackrest.
● Never travel in a footwell.
● Never sit on the armrests.
● Never travel on a seat without wearing the
seat belt
.
● Never carry any person in the luggage com-
partment
. WARNING
An incorrect sitting position in the vehicle
can l e

ad to severe injuries or death in the event of sudden braking or manoeuvres, colli-
sion or ac
c

idents or if the airbag deploys.
● Before the vehicle moves, assume the prop-
er sitting po
sition and maintain it throughout
the trip. This also includes fastening the seat
belt.
● Never transport more people than there are
seats
with a seat belt available in the vehicle.
● Children must always be protected with an
appro
ved child restraint system suited to
their height and weight ››› page 75.
● Always keep your feet in the footwell while
the vehic
le is in motion. Never, for example,
put your feet on the surface of a seat or on
the dash panel and never put them out of a
window. Otherwise the airbag and seat belt
offer insufficient protection and the risk of in-
jury in the event of an accident is increased. WARNING
Before every trip, adjust the seat, the seat
belt and the he a

d restraints and instruct your
passengers to fasten their seat belts proper-
ly.
● Move the front passenger seat back as far
as po
ssible.
● Adjust the driver seat so that there is a dis-
tance of
at least 25 cm (10 inches) between
the centre of your chest and the hub of the
steering wheel. Adjust the driver seat so that
you are able to press the accelerator, brake
and clutch pedals to the floor with your knees
slightly angled and that the distance 60

Seat belts
Warning lamp Fig. 81
Warning lamp on the instrument pan-
el . Fig. 82
Example of seat belt status display for
the r ear se
ats (here, a 7-seat vehicle) on the
instrument panel above, the second row and,
below, the third row of seats. 
Lights up or flashes
Driver's seat belt not
fastened or front pas-
senger seat belt not
fastened if the front
passenger seat is occu-
pied.
Fasten seat belts!
Objects on the front
passenger seat.Remove any objects from the
front passenger seat and
store them safely.
Some control and warning lamps on the in-
strument
p

anel will come on to check certain
functions when the ignition is switched on.
They will switch off after a few seconds.
An audible warning will be heard for a maxi-
mum of 90 seconds if the seat belts are not
fastened as the car drives off and reaches a
speed of more than 25 km/h (15 mph) or if
the seat belts are unfastened while the vehi-
cle is in motion. The seat belt warning lamp
 will also flash.
The warning lamp  does not switch off until
the driver and front passenger fasten their
seat belts while the ignition is switched on.
Seat belt status display for rear seats
The seat belt status display on the instru-
ment panel informs the driver, when the igni-
tion is switched on, whether any passengers
in the rear seats have fastened their seat
belts. The  symbol indicates that the pas- senger in this seat has fastened “his or her”
seat
belt

››› Fig. 82.
The seat belt status is displayed for around
30 seconds when a seat belt in the rear seats
is fastened or unfastened. You can switch off
this display by pressing the 0.0 / SET button.
The se at
belt

status flashes for a maximum of
30 seconds when a seat belt in the rear seats
is unfastened while the vehicle is in motion.
An audible warning will also be heard if the
vehicle is travelling at over 25 km/h
(15 mph).
The rear seat display can be enabled or disa-
bled by a technical service centre.
The protective function of seat belts Fig. 83
Drivers with properly worn seat belts
w i
l

l not be thrown forward in the event of sud-
den braking » 63
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

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

Safety
Airbag safety instructions Fr ont
airb
agsRead the additional information carefully
›› ›

 page 19. WARNING
The airbag is deployed at high speed in frac-
tions of

a second.
● Always keep the deployment areas of the
front airb
ags free.
● Never secure objects to the covers or in the
deployment
area of the airbag modules, e.g.
drink holders or phone supports.
● The deployment space between the front
pas
sengers and the airbags must not in any
case be occupied by other passenger, pets
and objects.
● Never fix any object to the windscreen
above the fr
ont airbag on the front passenger
side.
● Do not alter, cover or stick anything to the
steerin
g wheel hub or the surface of the air-
bag module on the passenger side of the
dash panel. WARNING
Front airbags are deployed in front of the
st eerin

g wheel ›››
 Fig. 25 and the dash
panel ›››
 Fig. 26. ●
When drivin g, a

lways hold the steering
wheel on the outer edge of the ring with both
hands: 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock position.
● Adjust the driver seat so that there is at
lea
st 25 cm distance between your chest and
the hub of the steering wheel. If your physi-
cal constitution prevents you from meeting
these requirements, make sure you contact a
specialised workshop.
● Adjust the front passenger seat so there is
as muc
h distance as possible between the
front passenger and the dash panel. Knee airbag*
Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›

 page 20. WARNING
The airbag is deployed at high speed in frac-
tions of

a second.
● The knee airbag is deployed in front of the
driver's knee
s. Always keep the deployment
areas of the knee airbags free.
● Never not fix objects to the cover or in the
deployment
area of the knee airbag.
● Adjust the driver seat so that there is a dis-
tance of
at least 10 cm (4 inches) between
your knees and the location of the knee air-
bag. If your physical constitution prevents
you from meeting these requirements, make
sure you contact a specialised workshop. Side airbags*
Read the additional information carefully
›› ›

 page 21. WARNING
The airbag is deployed at high speed in frac-
tions of

a second.
● Always keep the deployment areas of the
side airbag
s free.
● Vehicle occupants of the front and outer
rear se
ats must never carry any other people,
pets or objects in the deployment space be-
tween them and the airbags.
● The built-in coat hooks should be used only
for lightweight
clothing. Do not leave any
heavy or sharp-edged objects in the pockets.
● Do not mount accessories on the doors.
● Only used protective covers for the seats
that ar
e approved for the vehicle. Otherwise,
the side airbag would be obstructed when de-
ployed. WARNING
Incorrect handling of the driver's and front
pa s

senger seat could prevent the side airbag
from deploying properly and cause severe in-
juries.
● Never remove the front seats of the vehicle
or modify an
y of their components.72

Airbag system
●
Gre at
forces must not be exerted on the
seat backrest bolsters because the side air-
bags might not deploy correctly, might not
deploy at all or might deploy unexpectedly.
● Any damage to the original seat upholstery
or around the se
ams of the side airbag units
must be repaired immediately by a special-
ised workshop. Curtain airbags*
Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›

 page 21. WARNING
The airbag is deployed at high speed in frac-
tions of

a second.
● Always keep the deployment areas of the
head-pr
otection airbags free.
● Do not fix objects to the cover or in the de-
ployment
area of the curtain airbag.
● Vehicle occupants of the front and outer
rear se
ats must never carry any other people,
pets or objects in the deployment space be-
tween them and the airbags.
● The built-in coat hooks should be used only
for lightweight
clothing. Do not leave any
heavy or sharp-edged objects in the pockets.
● Do not mount accessories on the doors. ●
Do not fit c

urtains to the windows other
than those expressly approved for use in the
vehicle.
● Only turn the sun blinds towards the win-
dows
if there is no object, e.g. pens or garage
remote controls, secured to the sun blind. Deactivating airbags
Contr o

l lamp Fig. 90
Control lamp for disabling the front
p a
s

senger front airbag on the dash panel 
It lights up on the combi-in-
strument
Fault in airbag
system and seat
belt tensioners.Have the system checked immedi-
ately by a specialised workshop.  
It lights up on the dash panel
Fault in the air-
bag system.Have the system checked immedi-
ately by a specialised workshop.
Front passenger
front airbag disa-
bled.Check whether the airbag should
remain disabled
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.
If the front passenger airbag is deactivated,
the lamp      does not re-
main lit, or if it is lit together with the control
lamp  on the instrument panel, there may
be a fault in the airbag system ››› .
WARNING
In the event of a fault in the airbag system,
the airbag m a

y not trigger correctly, may fail
to trigger or may even trigger unexpectedly,
leading to severe or fatal injuries.
● Have the airbag system checked immedi-
ately b
y a specialised workshop.
● Never mount a child seat in the front pas-
senger se
at ››› page 79 or remove the
mounted child seat! The front passenger front
airbag may deploy during an accident in spite
of the fault. » 73
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