2018 Seat Alhambra ignition

Operation
●
Unshiel ded equipment
can cause interfer-
ence on the radio equipment and the vehi-
cle's electrical system.
● Interference can occur on the radio's AM
wave
band if electrical appliances are used
near the rear window aerial. Vehicle power sockets
Fig. 192
Centre console, rear section: 12 volt
soc k
et Fig. 193
Rear centre console: 230 Volt Euro
pow er soc

ket Depending on your vehicle version, you may
h
av
e a 12-

volt power socket and/or a 230
volt power socket.
Maximum power consumption
Power sock-
etMaximum power consumption
12 Volts120 Watts
230 Volts150 Watts (300 Watt peak) The maximum capacity of each power socket
mu
s
t

not be exceeded. The power consump-
tion is indicated on the rating plate of each
appliance.
Where two or more appliances are connected
at the same time, the total rating of all the
connected devices must never exceed 190
Watts ››› .12 volt power socket
The 12
v
o

lt power socket will only work with
the ignition on.
Using electrical appliances with the engine
stopped and the ignition switched on will
drain the battery. Therefore, electrical devi-
ces connected to the power socket can only
be used when the engine is running.
To prevent voltage variations from causing
damage, switch off the electrical consumer
connected to the 12 volt power socket before
switching the ignition on or off and before
starting the engine.
12 volt power sockets can be found in the fol-
lowing locations in the vehicle:
● Compartment in the centre of the centre
conso
le.
● Compartment in the front centre console.
● Storage compartment in the front central
armres
t.
● Rear centre console ›››
Fig. 192.
● At the rear right of the luggage compart-
ment.
230 V

olt Euro power socket*
The power socket only works when the en-
gine is running ››› .
C onn e

cting an electrical appliance: plug the
device into the power socket as far as possi-
ble to unlock the built-in childproof lock. The
174

Operation
CAUTION
Do not smoke when air recirculation is
swit c
hed on in vehicles with an air condition-
er. The smoke taken in could lie on the cool-
ing system vaporiser and on the activated
charcoal cartridge of the dust and pollen fil-
ter, leading to a permanently unpleasant
smell. Note
Climatronic: air recirculation mode switches
on to pr ev

ent exhaust gas from entering the
vehicle interior when it is in reverse and
while the automatic windscreen wipers are
working. Auxiliary heater* (additional
he
at
er)
Intr

oduction The auxiliary heater is powered by fuel from
the
v
ehic

le's fuel tank and can be used while
the vehicle is in motion and at a standstill.
Select the mode required ( heat or fan )
››› page 182 on the dash panel.
In winter, the auxiliary heater can be used in
heat mode before switching on the ignition
to remove any ice, mist or snow from the
windscreen (thin layers only). WARNING
The auxiliary heater fumes contain carbon di-
ox ide, an odourl

ess and colourless toxic gas.
Carbon monoxide can cause people to lose
consciousness. It can also cause death.
● Never switch on the auxiliary heater or
leav
e it running in places that are enclosed or
unventilated.
● Never program the independent heating
syst
em to be activated and operated in
closed, unventilated areas. WARNING
The components of the auxiliary heater ex-
hau s

t system heat up a great deal. 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). CAUTION
Never place food, medicines or other heat-
sens itiv

e objects close to the air vents. Food,
medicines and other heat-sensitive objects
may be damaged or made unsuitable for use
by the air coming from the air vents. Switching the auxiliary heater on and
off
Switching the auxiliary heater on:

Manually using the instant on/off
button.›››
page
176 
Manually using the remote control.›››
page
181
Automatically at the programmed
and enabled on time.››› page
182
Switching the auxiliary heater off: 
Manually using the instant on/off
button for the air conditioner.›››
page
176 
Manually using the remote con-
trol.›››
page
181
Automatically after the program-
med time.››› page
182
Automatically, when the  lamp
(fuel reserve) comes on.››› page
264
Automatically when the battery
power drops to a very low level.››› page
283 Special feature
Af
t
er sw

itching the auxiliary heater off, it con-
tinues to run for a short period to completely
180

Operation
An optimum range is obtained by keeping
the r emot
e c
ontrol vertical, with the aerial
››› Fig. 196 A pointing upwards. When doing
so , do not
c

over the aerial with your fingers
or with the palm of your hand.
There must be a minimum distance of 2 me-
tres between the remote control and the vehi-
cle. CAUTION
● The ra dio fr

equency remote control con-
tains electronic components. Therefore, avoid
getting it wet and being knocked and protect
it from direct sunlight.
● Use of inappropriate batteries may damage
the remote c
ontrol. For this reason, always re-
place the used battery with another of the
same voltage, size and specifications. For the sake of the environment
● Ple a

se dispose of old batteries so that they
do not harm the environment.
● The remote control battery may contain
perch
lorate. Observe the legal requirements
for their disposal. Programming the auxiliary heater
The heater or ventilation inside the vehicle
c
an be pr
ogr

ammed for a certain period. Before programming, check that the day is
corr

ectly set in the Auxiliary heater -
day of the week menu ››› .
En ab
lin

g the Auxiliary heater menu on
the instrument panel
● From the main menu, select the Auxili-
ary heater submenu and pre

ss the OK button on the windscreen wiper lever.
● OR: pr ess the

or
 arrow buttons on the
multifunction steering wheel until the Aux-
iliary heater menu is displayed.
Menu op-
tionsDescription
Switching
on
Switching
off
The auxiliary heater can be set to come
on automatically if required. To do so,
select a timer:
– The timer is displayed marked with a
.
– Only one timer can be selected. If a
timer has been selected, Prog. ON
will be displayed on the screen. If no
timer has been selected, the dash
panel display will show Prog. OFF.
– To modify the programmed timer, se-
lect another timer or select the Off
option.
Timer 1
Timer 2
Timer 3
Three different timers (hh.mm) can lat-
er be selected using the On option. If
the auxiliary heater is to be switched
on for just a certain day of the week,
select the day of the week and the
time for the auxiliary heater to come
on.
Menu op-
tionsDescription
DurationThe operating time may vary between
10 and 60 minutes and can be set to
5-minute intervals.
Operating
modeSet to heat or ventilate the vehicle in-
terior when the auxiliary heater is
switched on.
DaySet the current day of the week.
Factory
settingsThe predefined factory values for the
functions of this menu are restored.
BackThis returns to the main menu. Checking programming
If
the
timer h
a

s been switched on after
switching the ignition off, the light on the 
button will remain lit for around 10 seconds. WARNING
Never program the independent heating sys-
tem t o be activ

ated and operated in closed,
unventilated areas. The auxiliary heater
fumes contain carbon dioxide, an odourless
and colourless toxic gas. Carbon monoxide
can cause people to lose consciousness. It
can also cause death. 182

Operation
WARNING
While the engine is running or starting it
cou l
d help reduce the risk of serious injury.
● Never start or leave the engine running in
poorly v
entilated or closed spaces. Exhaust
gas contains carbon monoxide, a toxic, col-
ourless and odourless gas. Carbon monoxide
can cause people to lose consciousness. It
can also cause death.
● Never leave the vehicle unattended if the
engine is
running. The vehicle could move off
suddenly or something unexpected could
happen resulting in damage and serious in-
jury.
● Never use start boosters. Cold start sprays
coul
d explode or increase the engine speed
unexpectedly. 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, spilled fuel, etc.).
● 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. Ignition lock
Fig. 197
Vehicle key positions Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›

 page 25
Vehicle keys
››› Fig. 197
No key in the ignition lock: The steering lock may
be activated.
1Ignition off, all electrical devices disconnected.
Key can be removed from the vehicle.
2Ignition is switched on. Pre-heating of diesel en-
gine. The steering lock can be unlocked.
3Switch on the engine. Release the key when the
engine has started. When it is released, the key
returns to position 2
. Key not authorised for the vehicle
If
a k
ey

which is not authorised for this vehi-
cle is inserted in the ignition lock, it can be
removed as follows: ●
Automatic ge
arbox: the key cannot be re-
moved from the ignition lock. Press and re-
lease the selector lever locking button. Key
can be removed from the vehicle.
● Manual gearbox: remov
e the key from the
ignition. WARNING
Unsuitable or careless use of the vehicle key
cou l

d result in serious injury.
● Always take all the keys with you whenever
you le
ave the vehicle. If not, the engine could
accidentally be started and electrical equip-
ment such as the windows could accidentally
be operated which may result in serious in-
jury.
● Never leave children or disabled people
alone in the car
. Passengers could be trapped
in the car in an emergency and 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.
● 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. 184

Driving
Note
● If the k ey
is left in the ignition lock with the
engine off for long periods, the vehicle
battery will run flat.
● For automatic gearbox vehicles, the key can
only be r
emoved from the ignition lock if the
gear selector lever is in position P. In this
case, press and release the selector lever
locking button. Starter button
Fig. 198
In the centre console: start-up push
b utt
on f

or the Keyless Access lock and start-
up system. The layout in right-hand drive ve-
hicles is symmetrical. Fig. 199
Emergency ignition in vehicles with
Keyl e

ss Access. The start-up button may only be used if there
i
s
a

valid key in the vehicle.
Opening the driver's door when exiting the
vehicle activates the electronic lock on the
steering column if the ignition is disabled
››› page 198.
Switching the ignition on/off
● Briefly push the start-up button ›››
Fig. 198
without touching the brake or clutch ped-
al ››› .
Emer g
ency

starting function
If no valid key is detected inside the vehicle,
an emergency start-up will be required. The
relevant message will appear in the dash
panel display. This may happen when, for ex-
ample, the vehicle key battery is very low or
flat: ●
Immediately
after pushing the start-up but-
ton, keep the vehicle key next to the steering
column ››› Fig. 199.
● The ignition connects and the engine starts
automatic
ally.
Emergency disconnection
If the engine does not stop after briefly press-
ing the start-up button, an emergency dis-
connect will be required:
● Press the starter button twice within 1 sec-
ond or pres
s it once for more than 2 seconds
››› .
● The engine turns off automatically.
En gine r
e

start feature
If no valid key is detected inside the vehicle
after the engine stops, you will only have 5
seconds to restart it. A warning will display
on the dash panel screen.
After this interval, it will not be possible to
start the engine without a valid key inside
the vehicle. WARNING
Any accidental movement of the vehicle could
re s

ult in serious injury.
● When pressing the start-up button, do not
pre
ss the brake or clutch pedal, this way the
engine will start immediately. » 185
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
WARNING
If vehicle keys are used negligently or with-
out due c ar
e, this may cause accidents and
serious injury.
● Never leave any key inside the vehicle
when exitin
g. Otherwise, a child or unauthor-
ised person could lock the vehicle, start the
engine or connect the ignition and, in this
way, operate electronic equipment (e.g. the
windows). Note
In diesel vehicles with the Keyless Access
sys t

em, there may be a delay in the engine
starting if it requires preheating. Starting the engine
Complete operations only in the sequence
giv
en:
Vehicles without
Keyless AccessVehicles with
Keyless Access
1.Press and hold the brake pedal until step 5 is per- formed.
1a.In vehicles with a manual gearbox: press and
hold the clutch down until the engine starts.
2.Put the gearbox lever in neutral or the selector lever in position P or N.
Vehicles without
Keyless AccessVehicles with
Keyless Access
3.
Only in vehicles with
diesel engines: for pre-
heating, turn the key in the ignition lock to po-
sition ››› Fig. 197 2
. A
control lamp lights up
on the dash panel
.

4.
Turn the key in the igni- tion lock to position
››› Fig. 197 3
; do not
press the accelerator.
Press the starter button ››› Fig. 198; do not
press the accelerator. There needs to be a
valid key inside the ve- hicle for the engine to start.
5.Once the engine starts,release the key in the ignition lock.Once the engine starts,release the start-up button.
6.
If the engine does not
start, stop and wait for around 1 minute to try again.If the engine does not
start, stop and wait for around 1 minute to try again. If necessary,
perform an emergency start ››› page 185.
7.Disconnect the electronic parking brake when you
are about to start driving ››› page 188. WARNING
Never leave the vehicle unattended if the en-
gine is ru

nning. The vehicle could move off
suddenly, especially if it is in gear, resulting
in an accident and serious injury. WARNING
Cold start sprays could explode or cause a
sud den inc

rease in the engine speed.
● Never use start boosters. CAUTION
● An attempt t

o start the engine while driving
or starting the engine immediately after turn-
ing it off can cause damage to the engine or
starter motor.
● When the engine is cold, avoid high revs
and heavy ac
celeration and do not make the
engine work hard.
● Do not push or tow start the engine. Un-
burnt f
uel could damage the catalytic con-
verter. For the sake of the environment
Do not warm the engine at idle speed; start
drivin g immedi

ately if the visibility is OK.
This helps the engine reach operating tem-
perature faster and reduces emissions. Note
● For e x

ample, if the key battery is very worn
or flat, the engine cannot be started with the
starter button. In this case, remove the igni-
tion button from the lock and insert the key.
● Electrical devices with a high power con-
sumption are sw
itched off temporarily when
the engine starts. 186

Driving
●
When the engine i s
started cold, there may
be strong vibrations for a few moments for
technical reasons. This is quite normal, and
no cause for concern.
● At temperatures below +5°C (+41°F),
smoke ma
y be given off below the vehicle
when the additional heater is turned on. Stopping the engine
Complete operations only in the sequence
given:
Vehicles without
Keyless AccessVehicles with
Keyless Access
1.Bring the vehicle to a full stop ››› .
2.Press and hold the brake pedal until the step 4 is
performed.
3.If the vehicle has an automatic gearbox, place theselector lever in position P.
4.Connect the electronic parking brake ››› page 188.
5.Turn the vehicle key in
the ignition lock to po-
sition ››› Fig. 197 1
.
Briefly press the start-
up button
››› Fig. 198. If
the engine fails to
switch off, perform an
emergency disconnect
››› page 185.
6.If the vehicle is equipped with a manual gearbox,
put it into 1st or reverse. WARNING
Never switch off the engine while the vehicle
is mo

ving. You may lose control of the vehicle
and there is a risk of serious accident.
● The airbags and belt tensioners do not
work when the ignition i
s switched off.
● The brake servo does not work with the en-
gine off. T
o stop, the brake pedal must be
pressed with more force.
● As the power steering does not work if the
engine is
not running, you will need more
strength to steer than normally.
● If the key is removed from the ignition, the
steerin
g may lock and it will not be possible
to steer the vehicle. CAUTION
● If the v

ehicle is stopped and the Start-Stop
system* switches off the engine, the ignition
remains switched on. Make sure that the igni-
tion is switched off before leaving the vehi-
cle, otherwise the battery could discharge.
● If the engine has been driven at high speed
for a pro
longed period of time, it may over-
heat when turned off. To avoid engine dam-
age, allow the engine to run for approximate-
ly two minutes in neutral before switching it
off. Note
● In v ehic

les with automatic gearbox, the key
can only be removed when the selector lever
is in position P.
● After stopping the engine, the engine com-
partment
fan may continue running for a few
minutes, even when the ignition has been
switched off or the key removed. The radiator
fan is automatically switched off. Electronic immobiliser
The gear lock prevents the engine from being
s
t
ar

ted with an unauthorised key and the ve-
hicle being moved.
The vehicle key has a chip that automatically
disables the immobilizer when the key is
placed in the ignition lock.
The electronic immobiliser will be activated
again automatically as soon as you pull the
key out of the ignition lock. For vehicles with
the Keyless Access system, the key has to be
outside the vehicle ›››
page 117.
For this reason, the vehicle can only be used
with a genuine SEAT key with the correct
code. Coded keys can be purchased from
your technical service centre ›››
page 112.
If an unauthorised key is used, the message SAFE or Immobiliser active is displayed
on the instrument panel. The vehicle cannot
be started in this case »
187
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

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