2018 Seat Alhambra service

Checking and refilling levels
●
Never ent er the
vehicle while refuelling. If it
is absolutely necessary to enter, close the
door and touch a metal surface before touch-
ing the filler nozzle again. This will prevent
the generation of static electricity. Sparks
could cause a fire when refuelling.
● Never handle fuel close to flames, sparks or
obj
ects with slow combustion (e.g. ciga-
rettes).
● Avoid static electricity and electro-magnet-
ic ra
diation when refuelling.
● Observe the safety regulations of the serv-
ice st
ation.
● Never spill fuel on the vehicle or in the lug-
gage c
ompartment. WARNING
For safety reasons, SEAT does not recommend
carr y

ing a spare fuel canister in the vehicle.
Fuel could be spilled and catch fire, above all
in case of an accident and this applies to a
full container as well as empty containers.
This could lead to explosions, fires and inju-
ries.
● Observe the following if you exceptionally
have t
o carry fuel in a canister:
– Never place a fuel container to fill it in-
side the vehicle or on the vehicle, for ex-
ample, in the boot or on the hatch. Filling
in these circumstances could create an
electrostatic charge and spark that could
ignite fuel fumes. –
Alw a

ys place the canister on the ground
to fill it.
– Insert the fuel nozzle into the neck of the
canister as far as possible.
– If you are using a metal fuel canister, the
nozzle must always touch the canister
while it is being filled to avoid static elec-
tricity.
– Follow the legal requirements for the use,
storage and transport of spare fuel canis-
ters.
– Insure that the fuel container complies
with manufacturing standards, for exam-
ple, ANSI or ASTM F852-86. CAUTION
● Alw a

ys remove any fuel spilled on the vehi-
cle paintwork immediately to avoid damage
to the wheel housing, the tyre and vehicle
paintwork.
● Refuelling a petrol engine with diesel or a
diesel en
gine with petrol can cause serious
engine and fuel system damage; the resulting
malfunctions are not covered by the SEAT
warranty. If you refuel with the wrong type of
fuel, never start the engine. This applies to
even the smallest amount of the wrong fuel.
Seek specialist assistance. With the engine
running, the composition of the wrong fuel
could significantly damage the fuel system
and the engine itself.
● In vehicles with a diesel engine, under no
circ
umstances should you refuel or drive with petrol, kerosene, heating oil or any other
type of
diff

erent fuel. Other types of fuels
could cause serious damage to the engine
and to the fuel supply system and the result-
ing problems are not covered by the SEAT
warranty. For the sake of the environment
Fuels can contaminate the environment. Col-
l ect an

y spilt service fluids and allow a pro-
fessional to dispose of them. Note
There is no emergency mechanism for the
manua l

release of the fuel tank flap. If neces-
sary, request assistance from specialised per-
sonnel. 265
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Checking and refilling levels
● Do not c
ontinue t
o refuel if it is turned off!
Otherwise, this will fill the expansion cham-
ber and fuel may leak out if the ambient con-
ditions are warm. WARNING
Do not continue refilling once the fuel nozzle
ha s

switched itself off. The fuel tank may be
filled too much. As a result, fuel may spurt
out and spill. This could lead to a fire, explo-
sion and severe injuries. CAUTION
● Alw a

ys remove any fuel spilled on the vehi-
cle paintwork immediately to avoid damage
to the wheel housing, the tyre and vehicle
paintwork. For the sake of the environment
Spilt fuel can contaminate the environment. Fuel
Ty pe

s of petrol The correct grade of petrol is listed inside the
f
uel
t

ank flap.
The vehicle is equipped with a catalytic con-
verter and must only be run on unleaded pet-
rol. The petrol must comply with European
Standard EN 228 or German standard DIN 51626-1 and must be
unl
eaded. You can re-
fuel with a maximum ethanol proportion of
10 % (E10). The types of petrol are differenti-
ated by their octane rating (RON).
The following titles appear on the corre-
sponding adhesive on the fuel tank flap:
Super unleaded 95 octane or normal 91 oc-
tane unleaded petrol
We recommend you use super 95 octane pet-
rol. If this is not available: normal 91 octane
petrol, with a slight decrease in power.
Super unleaded petrol with a minimum of 95
octanes
You should use super petrol with a minimum
of 95 octanes.
If super is not available, in an emergency you
may refuel with normal 91 octane petrol. In
this case only use moderate engine speeds
and a light throttle. Refuel with super as soon
as possible.
Super unleaded 98 octane or super 95 oc-
tane unleaded petrol
We recommend you use super plus 98 octane
petrol. If this is not available: super 95 oc-
tane petrol, with a slight decrease in power.
If super is not available, in an emergency you
may refuel with normal 91 octane petrol. In
this case only use moderate engine speeds and a light throttle. Refuel with super as soon
as po
ssible.
Petrol additives
The quality of the fuel influences the behav-
iour, power and service life of the engine.
This is why the petrol you use should carry
suitable additives already included by the
petrol industry, free of metals. These addi-
tives will help to prevent corrosion, keep the
fuel system clean and prevent deposits from
building up in the engine.
If good-quality petrol with metal-free addi-
tives is not available or engine problems
arise, the necessary additives must be added
when refuelling ››› .
Not al
l

petrol additives have been shown to
be effective. The use of unsuitable petrol ad-
ditives may cause significant damage to the
engine and the catalytic converter. Metal ad-
ditives should never be used. Metal additives
may also be contained in petrol additives for
improving anti-detonation ratings or octane
ratings ››› .
S EA
T r

ecommends “genuine Volkswagen
Group Fuel Additives for petrol engines”.
These additives can be bought at SEAT deal-
ers, where information on how to use them
can also be obtained. »
267
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
CAUTION
● Do not r ef
uel if the filler indicates that the
fuel contains metal. LRP ( lead replacement
petrol) fuels contain high concentrations of
metal additives. Using them may damage the
engine!
● Never refuel with fuels containing a large
proportion of
ethanol (for example, E50, E85).
This could damage the fuel system.
● Just filling one full tank of leaded fuel or
fuel c
ontaining other metal additives would
seriously impair the efficiency of the catalytic
converter.
● Only use fuel additives that have been ap-
prov
ed by SEAT. Octane boosting or anti-
knock additives may contain metal additives
that could seriously damage the engine or
the catalytic converter. These additives must
not be used.
● High engine speed and full throttle can
damag
e the engine when using petrol with an
octane rating lower than the correct grade for
the engine. Note
● You m a

y use petrol with a high octane num-
ber than the one recommended for your en-
gine.
● In those countries where unleaded petrol is
not avai
lable, you may refuel with a fuel with
a low lead content. Diesel fuel
Please note the information on the inside of
the fuel
t

ank flap.
We recommend the use of diesel fuel which
complies to European standard EN 590. If
diesel fuel which meets European standard
EN 590 is not available, the Cetane number
(CZ) must, at minimum, be 51. If the engine
is equipped with a particulate filter, the sul-
phur content of the fuel must be below 50
parts per million.
Winter-grade diesel
Summer fuel becomes thicker in winter and it
is more difficult to start the engine. For this
reason, petrol stations in some countries al-
so offer winter diesel with improved fluidity
when cold (winter-grade diesel). CAUTION
● The v ehic

le is not designed for the use of
FAME fuel (biodiesel). The fuel system would
be damaged if you used biodiesel.
● Do not mix fuel additives, the so-called
“thinners”, petro
l or similar additives with
diesel fuel.
● If poor-quality diesel fuel is used, it may be
neces
sary to drain the fuel filter more fre-
quently than is specified in the Maintenance
Programme. We recommend having this done
by a specialised workshop. If water is allowed to collect in the filter, this can cause engine
perf
orm

ance problems. Selective catalytic reduction*
(AdBlue)
Introduction In vehicles with “Selective Catalytic Reduc-
tion”, a spec
i

al urea solution (AdBlue) is in-
jected into the exhaust gas system in front of
the catalytic converter to reduce nitrogen ox-
ide emissions.
The consumption of AdBlue depends on indi-
vidual driving style, the temperature at which
the system operates and the outside temper-
ature where the vehicle is driven.
AdBlue is kept in an independent tank in the
vehicle and should be refilled at an official
supplier. The AdBlue tank holds approxi-
mately 17 litres.
The AdBlue fill level must be checked when
the vehicle is being serviced. WARNING
If the AdBlue fill level is too low, the vehicle
ma y

not restart after switching the ignition
off. The emergency start or jump start will not
be possible either! 268

Checking and refilling levels
Closing the tank filling neck
● Screw on the tank filler neck cap ››
› Fig. 238
1 clockwise until it is fully inserted.
● Place the cover and turn the shut off anti-
c loc
k

wise to close it.
Operations before driving
● Only switch the ignition on after refilling.
● Keep the ignition sw

itch on for at least 30
seconds
so that the system detects tank re-
filling.
● Wait 30 seconds before starting the en-
gine! WARNING
Only keep AdBlue in its original container,
tightly shut and in a s

afe place.
● Never keep AdBlue in empty food cans, bot-
tles
or other containers to avoid other people
mistaking it for something else.
● Keep the AdBlue out of the reach of small
chil
dren. CAUTION
● Only r

efill using AdBlue expressly approved
by SEAT. The use of any other type of AdBlue
could cause engine damage!
● AdBlue should never be mixed with water
or any other a
dditives. Any type of damage
caused by a mixture will not be covered by
the warranty. ●
Do not a d

d AdBlue to the diesel fuel tank!
Otherwise you may damage the engine.
● Never leave the refill bottle in the vehicle. It
coul
d become permeable due to temperature
changes and bottle damage and the AdBlue
could damage the vehicle interior. For the sake of the environment
Dispose of the refill bottle in an environment-
friendly manner

. Note
Suitable AdBlue refill bottles can be pur-
ch a

sed from a technical service centre. Working in the engine compart-
ment
Intr oduction Before working in the engine compartment,
m
ak
e s

ure that the vehicle is parked on hori-
zontal and firm ground.
The engine compartment of the vehicle is a
hazardous area. Never work on the engine or
in the engine compartment if you are not fa-
miliar with the operations to be carried out,
the applicable safety standards and especial-
ly if you do not have the necessary instru-
ments, liquids and tools ››› ! Have the workcarried out by a specialised workshop if you
ar
e u
nc

ertain. Negligent work can cause seri-
ous injury. WARNING
If the vehicle moves unexpectedly, this could
cau se seriou

s injury.
● Never work under the vehicle if it has not
been immobi
lized. If you must work under-
neath the vehicle with the wheels in contact
with the ground then it should be parked on
flat ground, the wheels should be prevented
from moving and the key should be removed
from the ignition.
● If you have to work underneath the vehicle,
you mus
t use suitable stands additionally to
support the vehicle, there is a risk of acci-
dent!. The jack is not intended for this kind of
work and its failure could lead to severe inju-
ries. WARNING
The engine compartment is a dangerous area
cap ab

le of causing serious injury.
● For all type of work, always take the utmost
precaution
s, work carefully and note the gen-
eral safety standards in force. Never take per-
sonal risks.
● Never work on the engine or in the engine
compar
tment if you are not familiar with the
necessary operations. If you are not sure
about procedures then visit a specialised
workshop to carry out the necessary work. » 271
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
Working incorrectly can cause serious
injuries.
● Nev er open the bonnet
if you see steam or
cool
ant escaping from the engine compart-
ment. This may cause serious burns. Always
wait until you cannot see or hear the sound of
steam or coolant coming from the engine
compartment.
● Always allow the engine to cool down be-
fore openin
g the bonnet.
● Contact with hot elements of the engine
and the exhau
st system can cause burns.
● Once the engine has cooled, follow the in-
structions
below before opening the bonnet:
– Turn on the electronic parking brake and
place the gear selector lever in P or the
gearbox lever in neutral.
– Remove the key from the ignition.
– Keep children away from the engine com-
partment and never leave them unsuper-
vised.
● When the engine is warm or hot, the cool-
ing sys
tem is pressurised. Do not unscrew
the cap on the expansion tank when the en-
gine is hot. Otherwise, coolant may spray out
under pressure causing burns and serious in-
jury.
– Carefully and slowly unscrew the cap an-
ticlockwise, gently pressing down on it.
– Always protect your face, hands and arms
from hot coolant and steam using a large,
thick cloth. ●
When refi l

ling liquids, avoid spilling them
on parts of the engine and the exhaust sys-
tem. Spilled liquids could cause a fire. WARNING
The high voltages of the electrical system can
giv e el ectric

shocks as well as causing burns
and serious injury and possibly even death!
● Never cause short circuits in the electrical
syst
em. The battery could explode.
● To minimise the risk of electric shock and
serious c
onsequences while the engine is
running or starting the engine, note the fol-
lowing:
– Never touch the electrical wiring of the
ignition system.
– Never touch electric cables or the gas dis-
charge lamps. WARNING
In the engine compartment, there are rotat-
ing p ar

ts that could cause serious injury.
● Never place your hands on or near the radi-
ator fan.
Touching the rotor blades could seri-
ously harm you. The ventilator works accord-
ing to the engine temperature and could start
suddenly even when the ignition is turned off
and the key is removed.
● If any work has to be performed when the
engine is
started or with the engine running,
there is an additional, potentially fatal, safety
risk from rotating parts, such as the drive belts, alternator, radiator fan, etc., as well as
from the high-
v

oltage ignition system. Al-
ways work with the utmost caution.
– Always make sure that no parts of your
body, jewellery, ties, loose clothing and
long hair can be trapped by the rotating
parts of the engine. Before any work, re-
move ties and jewellery (necklaces, etc),
tie long hair back and tie all items of
loose clothing to your body to make sure
that they cannot be trapped by engine
components.
– Take extreme caution when operating the
accelerator and remain attentive. The ve-
hicle could move, even with the electron-
ic parking brake activated.
● Always make sure you have not left any ob-
jects, s
uch as cleaning cloths and tools, in
the engine compartment. If any object is left
in the engine compartment, this could cause
malfunctions, engine faults and even a fire. WARNING
Refill liquids and certain materials can catch
fire e a

sily in the engine compartment, caus-
ing a fire and serious injury!
● Never smoke.
● Never work close to places exposed to
flames
or sparks.
● Never pour service fluids over the engine.
These fluid ma
y ignite hot engine parts and
cause injuries. 272

Checking and refilling levels
●
If it i
s necessary to work on the fuel system
or the electrical system, please follow the in-
structions below:
–Always disconnect the vehicle battery.
When disconnecting the battery, ensure
that the vehicle is unlocked otherwise
the anti-theft alarm will be triggered.
– Never work close to heaters, heat sources
or places exposed to flames or sparks.
● Always keep a recently serviced and per-
fectly w
orking fire extinguisher close by.
● Never cover the engine with additional in-
sul
ating materials such as a blanket. Risk of
fire! CAUTION
When refilling or changing service liquids,
ens ur

e that you put the liquids into the right
tank. Making a mistake when refilling could
cause serious malfunctions and damage the
engine! For the sake of the environment
Service fluids leaks are harmful to the envi-
ronment . F

or this reason you should make
regular checks on the ground underneath
your vehicle. Take the vehicle to a specialised
workshop to be checked if you see stains, oil
or other fluids on the ground. Collect any
spilt service fluids and allow a professional to
dispose of them. Opening and closing the bonnet
Fig. 239
In the footwell on the driver side:
L ev
er f

or unlocking the bonnet Fig. 240
Release lever to open the bonnet in
the r a
di

ator grille Opening the bonnet
The l
ev
er t

o open the bonnet can only be
used if the driver door is open. ●
Befor
e opening the bonnet, make sure that
the windscreen wiper arms are in place
against the windscreen ››› .
● Open the driver door.
● Pull the release lever ››
›
Fig. 239 in the di-
rection of the arrow. The bonnet is released
from the lock carrier by a spring mechanism
››› .
● Lift the bonnet using the release lever
› ›
›

Fig. 240 (arrow) and open the bonnet fully.
The bonnet is held open thanks to the gas
strut.
Closing the bonnet
● To close the bonnet, pull it down to over-
come the ga
s strut pressure ››› .
● Allow the bonnet to fall into the lock carrier.
Do not pr
e

ss down.
If the bonnet is not correctly closed, open it
once again and close it correctly.
The bonnet is correctly closed when it is flush
with the corresponding parts on the body-
work. WARNING
If the bonnet is not correctly closed, it could
sud den

ly open while driving leaving the driv-
er without visibility. This could result in a se-
rious accident. » 273
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Advice
●
Aft er c
losing the bonnet, always check that
it is properly secured by the locking mecha-
nism in the lock carrier. The bonnet must be
flush with the surrounding body panels.
● While driving, if you notice that the bonnet
is not
correctly closed then stop immediately
and close it correctly.
● Only open and close the bonnet when there
is no
body within its range. CAUTION
● To av oid d

amage to the bonnet and to the
windscreen wiper arms, only open it when
the windscreen wipers are in place against
the windscreen.
● Before driving, always lower the wiper
arms. Checking fluid levels
Fig. 241
Diagram for the location of the vari-
ou s
el

ements. From time to time, the levels of the different
fluid
s
in the

vehicle must be checked. Never
fill with incorrect fluids, otherwise serious
damage to the engine may be caused.
Coolant fluid deposit
Engine oil dipstick
Oil filler neck
Brake fluid reservoir
Vehicle battery (underneath a cover)
Windscreen washer fluid reservoir
The checking and refilling of service fluids
are carried out on the components men- 1 2
3
4
5
6 tioned above. These operations are descri-
bed in
››
›

page 271.
Overview
Further explanations, instructions and restric-
tions on the technical data are contained as
of ››› page 297
Engine oil Introduction WARNING
Incorrectly handling engine oil can cause in-
jury and seriou

s burns.
● Always protect your eyes when handling
engine oil
.
● Oil is toxic and must be kept out of the
reac
h of children.
● Engine oil should only be kept in its origi-
nal
packaging; the same goes for used oil un-
til it is disposed of.
● Never store engine oil in empty food con-
tainers
or bottles as other people may acci-
dentally drink it.
● Regular contact with engine oil can be bad
for the skin. If
you come into contact with en-
gine oil, wash your skin with soap and water.
● With the engine running, the engine oil
gets
extremely hot and can cause severe skin 274

Checking and refilling levels
burns. Always wait until the engine has fully
coo
l
ed. For the sake of the environment
Similar to the other service liquids, spilled
en gine oi l

can be bad for the environment.
Collect these liquids in suitable containers
and dispose of them while respecting the en-
vironment. Warning and control lamps

It lights up
Insufficient en-
gine oil.Switch the ignition off. Check the en-
gine oil level
››› page 276. 
Flashes
Engine oil sen-
sor faulty.Contact a specialised workshop.
Have the engine oil sensor checked.
Meanwhile, check the oil level man-
ually. 
Flashes
Engine oil pres-
sure too low.

Stop the vehicle!
Switch off the engine. Check the en-
gine oil level.
- If the warning lamp flashes al-
though the oil level is correct, do not
continue driving or leave the engine
running. Otherwise, the engine
could be damaged. Seek specialist
assistance. WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ›››
in Control
and warnin g l
amps on page 107. Engine oil specifications
Replacement engine oil must strictly comply
w
ith the s
pec

ifications.
The correct oil must be used to ensure the
correct operation and long service life of the
engine. The engine comes with a high-quality
multigrade oil that can generally be used all
year round.
Only use an engine oil that complies to SEAT
standards whenever possible ››› . If you
w i
sh t

o maintain the long-life service dura-
tion, only engine oils approved for this serv-
ice according to the corresponding VW stand-
ard ( ›››
 table on page 41) may be used.
All oils indicated are synthetic multigrade
oils. Engine oils are being continuously further
developed. T

echnical services are constantly
updated with any modifications. SEAT there-
fore recommends that you have the engine
oil changed by a technical service. CAUTION
● Only u

se engine oils whose specifications
are expressly approved by SEAT. The use of
any other type of oil could cause engine dam-
age! 275
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety