2018 Seat Alhambra lights

Operation
Note
The correct operation of the vehicle is only
guarant eed when origin
al SEAT keys are
used. Braking and parking
Introduction The assisted braking systems include the an-
ti-loc
k

braking system (ABS), the brake assist
system (BAS), the electronic differential lock
(EDL), the traction control system (ASR) and
the electronic stability control (ESC). WARNING
Driving with worn brake pads or a faulty
brak e sy

stem may lead to serious accident.
● If  lights, alone or accompanied by a
warnin
g message on the instrument panel
display, please go immediately to a special-
ised workshop to check the brake pads and to
replace them if they are worn. WARNING
Careless parking can cause serious injury.
● Never remove the key from the ignition if
the v ehic

le is in motion. The steering lock
may engage and lock the steering wheel mak-
ing the vehicle impossible to control. ●
Alw a

ys park your vehicle so that no part of
the exhaust system can come in contact with
flammable materials (such as wood, leaves,
dried grass, spilled fuel, etc.).
● Always apply the electronic parking brake
when you l
eave your vehicle and when you
park.
● Never leave children or disabled people
alone in the v
ehicle. They could release the
electronic parking brake, activate the selec-
tor lever or gear stick and start the vehicle
moving. This could result in a serious acci-
dent.
● Always take all the keys with you whenever
you le
ave the vehicle. The engine could acci-
dentally be started and electrical equipment
such as the windows could accidentally be
operated resulting in serious injury.
● Never leave children or disabled people
alone in the car
. They could be trapped in the
car in an emergency and will not be able to
get themselves to safety. For example, de-
pending on the time of the year, tempera-
tures inside a locked and closed vehicle can
be extremely high or extremely low resulting
in serious injuries and illness or even death,
particularly for young children. 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
befor
e the wheel

s 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. Control and warning lamps

It lights up red
Together with the control lamp on the
button: Electronic
parking brake on.›››
page 190
Fault in the brake sys-
tem  Stop the vehicle!
Seek professional assistance!
››› page 192.
Brake fluid level inad-
equate.  Do not drive on!
Check brake fluid level
››› page 282.
Together with the ABS
control lamp : ABS
fault.Contact a specialised work-
shop. The vehicle can be
braked without ABS. 
It lights up red
Brake pedal not press-
ed!Press brake pedal to the floor.
188

Driving
It lights up yellow
Front brake pads
worn.Contact a specialised work-
shop immediately. Inspect
all
the brake pads and replace as
necessary. 
It lights up yellow
ESC disconnected by
the system.Switching the ignition on and
off If necessary, drive for a
short distance.
Fault in the ESC.Contact a specialised work-
shop.
Together with the ABS
control lamp : Fault
in the ABS.Contact a specialised work-
shop. The vehicle can be
braked without ABS.
The battery has been
reconnected.››› page 283 
It lights up yellow
ASR manually deacti-
vated.Switch on ASR
››› page 207.
ASR is automatically activated
when the ignition is switched
on or off. 
It lights up yellow
Together with the ESC
control lamp : Fault
in the ABS.Contact a specialised work-
shop. The vehicle can be
braked without ABS.
Together with the
warning lamp  o: ABS fault. 
It lights up yellow
Together with the warning lamp flash-
ing: electronic parking
brake faulty.Contact a specialised work-
shop.

It lights up green
Brake pedal not press-
ed.
Press the brake pedal to select
a gear range.
Press the brake pedal to dis-
connect the electronic parking
brake
››› page 190. 
Flashes red
Electronic parking
brake faulty. At the
same time the
 con-
trol lamp may light up
or the
 control lamp
on the button may
flash.
Contact a specialised work-
shop, as it may not be possi-
ble to park the vehicle in safe-
ty. 
It flashes yellow
ESC or ASR regulating.Take your foot off the accelera-
tor. Adjust your driving style to
the road conditions.
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
Observe the safety warnings ›››
in Control
and warnin g l
amps on page 107. WARNING
Driving with brakes in bad condition could re-
su lt

in a serious accident.
● If the brake warning lamp  does not
turn
off or if it lights up when driving, the brake
fluid level in the reservoir is too low or there
is a fault in the brake system. Obtain profes-
sional assistance immediately ››› page 281,
Checking the brake fluid level.
● If the brake warning lamp  lights up t
o-
gether with the ABS warning lamp , the
ABS regulation could be malfunctioning. As a
result, the rear wheels can lock relatively
easily when braking. If the rear wheels lock
this could result in loss of vehicle control! If
possible, reduce your speed and drive care-
fully to a specialised workshop close by to
check the brake system. During the following
journey, avoid sudden braking and manoeu-
vres.
● If the ABS warning lamp  does not
go out
or if it lights up while driving, the ABS is not
working properly. The vehicle can only be
stopped using normal braking without ABS.
The protection provided by the ABS is not
available. Visit a specialised workshop as
soon as possible.
● If the  lights up
, alone or accompanied by
a warning message on the instrument panel » 189
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
display, please go immediately to a
spec
i
alised workshop to check the brake
pads and to replace them if they are worn. Electronic parking brake
Fig. 200
Detailed view of the centre console:
el ectr
onic

parking brake switch Applying the electronic parking brake
The p
ark
in

g brake can be applied whenever
the vehicle is at a standstill, even when the
ignition is switched off. Always apply the
parking brake when you leave your vehicle
and when you park.
● Pull the  button u
ntil the control lamp 
on the button lights up.
● The parking brake is applied when the 
contro
l lamp lights up on the instrument pan-
el ››› page 188. Disengaging the electronic parking brake
● Switch the ignition on.
● Press the  button. At
the same time,
press the brake pedal hard or gently press
the accelerator pedal with the engine switch-
ed on.
● The control lamps  on the button and

on the instrument panel go off.
Automatic release of the electronic parking
brake on starting the engine
The electronic parking brake is automatically
released when the vehicle starts moving, if
the driver door is closed and the driver is
wearing his/her seat belt. In addition, in ve-
hicles with a manual gearbox the clutch ped-
al should also be pressed to the floor before
starting the engine so that the system recog-
nises that the parking brake should be re-
leased.
Emergency braking function
Only use the emergency braking function if
the vehicle cannot be stopped with the brake
pedal ››› !
● Pull the  butt
on f
or a longer duration to
brake the vehicle hard. The warning display
will be accompanied by the corresponding
audible warning.
● To stop the braking process, release the
button or pr
ess the accelerator. WARNING
The incorrect use of the electronic parking
brak e m

ay result in serious accident.
● Never use the electronic parking brake to
brake the
vehicle except in an emergency.
The braking distance is considerably longer,
because braking is only applied to the rear
wheels. Always use the foot brake.
● Never accelerate from the engine compart-
ment with the en
gine running and a gear or a
gear range engaged. The vehicle could move,
even if the parking brake is applied. Note
● In v ehic

les with a manual gearbox: when
the clutch pedal is released and the accelera-
tor pressed at the same time, the electronic
parking brake is automatically released.
● If the vehicle battery is flat, it will not be
poss
ible to disconnect the electronic parking
brake. Use the jump-start ›››
 page 52.
● When the electronic parking brake is ap-
plied or rel
eased, noises may be heard.
● If the electronic parking brake has not been
used for a lon
g while, the system sometimes
performs automatic and audible checks while
the vehicle is at a standstill. Parking
When parking your vehicle, all legal require-
ments
shou
l

d be observed.
190

Operation
If the vehicle remains parked for considera-
b l
e l
engths of time, is used little, or if the
brakes are not used, there may be corrosion
on the brake discs and a build up of dirt on
the brake pads. If the brakes are not used fre-
quently, or if rust has formed on the discs,
SEAT recommends cleaning the pads and
discs by braking firmly a few times at a mod-
erately high speed. Only do this without en-
dangering vehicles behind you or any other
road users ››› .
F au
lt

s in the brake system
During braking, if you notice that the vehicle
does not react as usual (that the braking dis-
tance has increased suddenly) it may be pos-
sible that there is a fault in the braking sys-
tem. The  warning lamp lights up and a
text message displayed. Take the vehicle to a
specialised workshop immediately and have
the fault repaired. Drive at a moderate speed
and be prepared to use more pressure on the
brake pedal, and allow for longer stopping
distances.
Brake servo
The brake servo only operates when the en-
gine is running and the pressure applied by
the driver on the brake pedal increases.
If the brake servo does not operate or the ve-
hicle must be towed, then the brake pedal
will have to be pressed with more force given that the braking distance will be increased
when the brake ser

vo does not operate ››› .
WARNING
New brake pads do not brake to full efficien-
cy.
● For the fir

st 320 km (200 miles), new brake
pad
s have not yet reached their maximum
braking capacity, and need to be “run in”
first. For this, to compensate for reduced
braking efficiency the brake pedal will have
to be pressed with more force.
● To avoid losing control of the vehicle and
caus
ing serious accidents, always take great
care when driving with new brake pads.
● When running in new brake pads, always
res
pect the safety distances between you and
other vehicles and do not cause situations re-
quiring extreme braking performance. WARNING
When brakes overheat, braking is less effi-
cient and br

aking distances increase.
● When driving on slopes, brakes can be
overlo
aded and overheat quickly.
● Reduce speed or change down a gear when
faced w
ith steep and long slopes. This allows
you to use the engine braking effect and to
reduce the strain on the brake system.
● Non-standard or damaged front spoilers
coul
d restrict the airflow to the brakes and
cause them to overheat. WARNING
Wet, frozen or salt-covered brakes take lon-
ger t o en

gage and this increases braking dis-
tances.
● Test the brakes carefully.
● Dry the brakes, free them of ice and salt by
brakin
g gently several times, when weather,
road and traffic conditions permit. WARNING
Driving without the brake servo may signifi-
cantly inc

rease the braking distance and re-
sult in a severe accident.
● Never allow the vehicle to move forwards
when the engine is
switched off.
● If the brake servo does not operate or the
vehicl
e must be towed, then the brake pedal
will have to be pressed with more force given
that the braking distance will be increased
when the brake servo does not operate. CAUTION
● Never m ak

e the brakes “slip” by pressing
the pedal gently, if it is not really necessary
to brake. Continuously pressing on the brake
pedal will heat the brakes. This could signifi-
cantly reduce braking power, increase brak-
ing distance or even result in the total failure
of the brake system.
● Reduce speed or change down a gear when
faced w
ith steep and long slopes. This allows
you to use the engine braking effect and to 192

Driving
reduce the strain on the brake system. Other-
wi
se, the br
akes may overheat and fail. Only
use the brakes to reduce speed or to stop. Note
When checking the front brake pads, take the
time t o al

so check the rear brake pads. The
thickness of the brake pads should be
checked visually and regularly, by looking
through the openings in the wheel rims or
from underneath the vehicle. If necessary, re-
move the wheels to check them thoroughly.
SEAT recommends taking your car in for tech-
nical service. Gearbox
Intr oduction When reverse gear is engaged and the igni-
tion i
s
sw

itched on the following takes place:
● Reverse lights light up.
● When reversing, the air conditioner auto-
matical
ly changes to air recirculation mode.
● The rear window heater switches on when
the winds
creen wiper is activated.
● Also, the parking sensor system, the opti-
cal p
arking sensor and the camera for the re-
verse assist system are connected. WARNING
Rapid acceleration can cause loss of traction
and skid din

g, especially on slippery ground.
This could cause loss of control of the vehicle
resulting in an accident and considerable
damage.
● Only use the kick-down function or rapid
accel
eration if visibility, weather, road and
traffic conditions so permit. WARNING
Do not allow the brakes to “rub” for a pro-
long ed period of

time, or brake frequently or
for long periods of time. Continuous braking
heats up the brakes. This could significantly
reduce braking power, increase braking dis-
tance or even result in the total failure of the
brake system. Control and warning lamps

It lights up red
Brake pedal not press-
ed!Press brake pedal to the floor.

It lights up green
Brake pedal not press-
ed.To select a range of gears,
press the brake pedal.
Please also see “Electronic
parking brake”
››› page 188. 
Flashes green
The selector lever
locking button has not
engaged. The vehicle
does not start to
move.
Engage the selector lever lock
››› page 195. 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. WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ›››
in Control
and warnin g l
amps on page 107. Manual gear change
Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›

 page 35
In some countries, it is necessary to press the
clutch pedal to the floor to start the engine.
Selecting reverse gear
Engage reverse gear only when the vehicle is
stopped. »
193
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
necessary to drive with the engine at an ex-
c eption
al
ly high speed ››› page 202. WARNING
The recommended gear display is intended as
a guideline only; it shou

ld never replace the
driver's attention to driving carefully.
● Responsibility for selecting the correct gear
for eac
h situation continues to lie with the
driver, for example when overtaking, climb-
ing a hill or towing a trailer. For the sake of the environment
Selecting the most appropriate gear for the
sit uation w

ill help you to save fuel. Note
The recommended gear display is switched
off when the c lut

ch pedal is pressed.Address
Intr oduction The power steering is not hydraulic but elec-
tr
omec
h

anical. The advantage of this steer-
ing system is that it disposes of hydraulic
tubes, hydraulic oil, the pump, filter and oth-
er components. The electromechanical sys-
tem saves fuel. While a hydraulic system re-
quires oil pressure to be maintained, electro- mechanical steering only requires energy
when the steerin

g wheel is turned.
With the power steering system, the assisted
steering function automatically adjusts ac-
cording to the vehicle speed, the steering tor-
que and the wheel turning angle. The power
steering only works when the engine is run-
ning. WARNING
If the power steering is not working then the
st eerin

g wheel is much more difficult to turn
and the vehicle more difficult to control.
● The power steering only works when the
engine is
running.
● Never allow the vehicle to move when the
engine is
switched off.
● Never remove the key from the ignition if
the vehic
le is in motion. The steering may
lock and it will not be possible to turn the
steering wheel. Control and warning lamps

It lights up red
Power steering faulty.The steering system should be
checked by a specialised work-
shop as soon as possible. 
It lights up yellow
Power steering opera-
tion reduced.The steering system should be
checked by a specialised work-
shop as soon as possible.
If, after restarting the engine
and driving for a short dis-
tance, the yellow warning lamp
no longer comes on, it will
not
be necessary to take the vehi-
cle to a specialised workshop.
The vehicle battery
was disconnected and
has been reconnec-
ted.Drive for a short distance at
15-20 km/h (9-12 mph). 
Flashes red
Fault in the steering
column electronic
lock.
 Do not drive on!
Seek professional advice. 
It flashes yellow
Steering column devi-
ation.Gently turn the steering wheel
to and fro.
Steering wheel not
unlocked or locked.Remove the key from the igni-
tion and then switch the igni-
tion back on. Check the mes-
sages displayed on the instru-
ment panel at the same time.
Do not drive on, if
the steering
column remains locked after
the ignition has been switched
on. Seek specialist assistance. 198

Operation
Therefore, unnecessary short journeys
shou l
d be av
oided. Try to combine trips.
The vehicle uses more fuel in winter than in
summer, even when other conditions are the
same.
The engine takes a long time to warm up
when it is idling. Mechanical wear and pollu-
tant emissions are also especially high dur-
ing this initial warm-up phase. It is therefore
best to drive off immediately after starting
the engine. Avoid running the engine at high
speed.
Adjusting type pressures.
Having the correct pressure in your tyres
helps to reduce rolling resistance and, as a
result reduces fuel consumption. Increasing
the tyre pressure slightly (+0.2 bar
[2.9 psi/20 kPa]) can help to save fuel.
If you are prepared to accept a slight reduc-
tion in comfort, the tyres may be filled to the
pressures recommended for a fully-loaded
vehicle. This is also valid when driving alone
without luggage.
When you buy new tyres, make sure they are
optimised for minimum rolling resistance.
Avoid carrying unnecessary loads
The lighter the vehicle, the more economical
and ecological the driving style. For example, an additional weight of 100 kg will increase
fuel c
onsumption up to 0.3 l/100 km.
Remove any unnecessary objects or loads
from the vehicle.
Remove optional equipment and unnecessa-
ry accessories
The more aerodynamic the vehicle, the lower
the fuel consumption. Optional equipment
and accessories (such as roof racks or bike
carriers) reduce the aerodynamic benefits of
the vehicle.
Therefore, we recommend you remove all op-
tional and unnecessary equipment and racks,
especially if you intend to drive at high
speeds.
Other factors which increase fuel consump-
tion (examples):
● Fault in engine management.
● Driving on hills.
● Trailer towing. WARNING
Always adapt your speed and the distance to
the v ehic

les ahead in line with visibility,
weather conditions, the condition of the road
and the traffic situation. Engine management and ex-
h
au
s

t gas purification system
Introduction WARNING
The components of the exhaust system reach
ver y

high temperatures. This could cause a
fire.
● Always park your vehicle so that no part of
the exhau
st system can come in contact with
flammable materials (such as dried grass).
● Do not apply additional underseal or anti-
corro
sion coatings to the exhaust pipes, cata-
lytic converter, heat shields or the diesel par-
ticulate filter. Control lamps

It lights up
fault in the petrol
engine manage-
ment.Take the vehicle to a specialised
workshop as soon as possible
and have the engine checked.

It lights up
Diesel engine glow
plug system.The engine glow plug system has
been activated. The engine can
be started straight away when
the lamp switches off.
202

Driving
Flashes
Fault in the diesel
engine manage-
ment.If the lamp flashes while you are
driving, have the engine checked
by a specialised workshop as
soon as possible.

It lights up
Fault in the emis-
sion control system.Reduce speed and drive carefully
to the nearest specialised work-
shop to have the engine
checked.

Flashes
Combustion fault
which could dam-
age the catalytic
converter.Reduce speed and drive carefully
to the nearest specialised work-
shop to have the engine
checked.

It lights up
Diesel particulate
filter blocked›››
page 204 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
Observe traffic regulations when cleaning the
diesel p

articulate filter while driving. ●
Only c

arry on driving if visibility, weather,
road and traffic conditions so permit.
● Never endanger your safety or that of other
roa
d users. CAUTION
Always pay attention to any lit control lamps
and t o the c orr

esponding descriptions and in-
structions to avoid damage to the vehicle. Note
While the control lamps , ,  or  or
rem ain lit, ther

e may be engine problems,
fuel consumption may increase and the en-
gine may lose power. Catalytic converter
The catalytic converter permits the subse-
quent
tr
e

atment of the exhaust gases thus
reducing contaminating gas emissions. To
ensure a longer working life for the exhaust
system and catalytic converter in a petrol en-
gine:
● Always use unleaded petrol.
● Never run the fuel tank completely dry.
● Do not top up with too much engine oil
›››
page 274.
● Do not tow-start the vehicle; use the starter
cabl
es ›››
 page 52. If you should notice misfiring, uneven run-
ning or los

s of power when the car is moving,
reduce speed immediately. Have the car in-
spected by a specialised workshop. If this
happens, unburnt fuel can enter the exhaust
system and escape into the atmosphere. The
catalytic converter can also be damaged by
overheating. For the sake of the environment
Even when the emission control system is
work in

g perfectly, there may be a smell of
sulphur under certain conditions. This de-
pends on the sulphur content of the fuel be-
ing used. Diesel particulate filter
The diesel particulate filter removes soot par-
tic
u
l

ates from the exhaust gas, retains and
burns them. To assist the combustion proc-
ess, SEAT recommends you avoid frequent
short trips.
● Always use diesel with a low sulphur con-
tent ›

›› page 267.
● Never use petrol or fuel oil.
● Never use biodiesel. However, a blend pre-
pared b
y the diesel manufacturer containing
biodiesel within the limits established by the
EN 590 standard may be used ›››
page 267.
● Never run the fuel tank completely dry. »
203
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety