Seat Alhambra 2011 Owner's Manual

99
Lights and visibility
Automatic dipped beam control 
The autom atic
dipped beam control is merely intended as an aid and is not
able to recognise all driving situations.
When the light switch is in position , the vehicle lights and the instru-
ment panel and switch lighting switch on and off automatically in the fol-
lowing situations ⇒  :
Automatic switching on: Automatic switching off or switch to
da
ytime lightin

g: The photo sensor detects
darknes
s,
for example, when driving through a
tunnel. When adequate lighting is detected.
When driving at more than 140 km/
h for a f
ew sec

onds. When driving at less than 65 km/h
for a f
ew minut
es. The rain sensor detects rain and ac-
tivat
e

s the windscreen wipers. When the windscreen wiper has
been inactiv
e f
or a few minutes. Adaptive headlights (AFS)
The ad
aptiv

e headlights only operate when the dipped beam is on and at
speeds of over 10 km/h. When taking a bend, the adaptive headlights auto-
matically light up the road better.
The adaptive headlights can be switched on and off from the infotainment
system.
Static turning lights
When turning slowly to change direction or going round a tight bend, the
static cornering lights automatically come on. The static cornering lights on-
ly work at speeds of less than 40 km/h.
The static cornering lights may be incorporated into the fog lights or the
front headlights, depending upon the equipment. WARNING
If the road is not well lit and other road users cannot see the vehicle well
enough or at a l

l, accidents may occur.
● The automatic dipped beam control ( ) only sw
itches on the dip-
ped beam when there are no changes in brightness, and not, for example
when it is foggy.
● Never drive with daytime lights if the road is not well lit due to weath-
er or lighting condition
s. Daytime lights do not provide enough light to
illuminate the road properly or be seen by other road users. 
Headlight adjustment Headlight adjustment (Light Assist)
The hea
dlight

adjustment automatically connects and disconnects the main
beam headlights depending on the environmental and traffic conditions
and on the speed, within the limitations of the system ⇒  . This is moni-
tor ed b

y a sensor located on the inside of the windscreen, above the interior
rear vision mirror.
Automatic headlight adjustment (Dynamic Light Assist)
The automatic headlight adjustment (Dynamic Light Assist) can reduce or
avoid dazzle for other road users within the limitations of the system ⇒  .
The sys t

em detects other road users and their distance with respect to the
vehicle and covers a certain area of the headlamps. If dazzling other road
users cannot be avoided, the lights are set automatically to dipped beam.
They are regulated with a camera positioned in the support of the interior
rear vision mirror. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

100
Lights and visibility
The automatic headlight adjustment automatically switches on the main
beam dependin g on the
vehicles travelling in front and in the opposite di-
rection, and of other environmental and traffic conditions from an approxi-
mate speed of 60 km/h (37 mph) and turns them off again at speeds below
approximately 30 km/h (18 mph).
When the dynamic adaptive light system is deactivated ⇒ page 99 or the
headlight adjustment is activated, only the main beam is turned on and off
automatically. This happens depending on the vehicles travelling in front
and in the opposite direction, and on the road lighting.
Switching on and off How it works
Switching
on: – With the ignition on, turn the lights control to the position

and p

ut the turn signal and main beam lever in the
main beam position ⇒ page 96. When the headlight adjust-
ment (automatic also) is activated, the warning lamp lights
up in the instrument panel display .Switching
off: – Switch the ignition off.
– ALTERNA
TIVEL

Y: Turn the light switch to a position other
than  ⇒  page 97.
– ALTERNATIVELY: place the turn signal and main beam lev-
er in the headlight flasher or main beam position
⇒ page 96. The following conditions can cause the headlight adjustment to fail to turn
off the m
ain be

am or fail to do so in time:
● On roads with insufficient lighting with very reflective signs
● If road users are insufficiently lit up, e.g. pedestrians or cyclists
● On closed curves, when the traffic in the opposite direction is partially
hidden, on pronou
nced slopes
● On roads with traffic in the opposite direction and with a central reserva-
tion barrier when the driver c
an see through gaps or over it e.g. lorry drivers
● If the camera is damaged or if the power supply has been cut off
● In the event of fog, snow or heavy rain ●
In the event of
dust or sand storms
● If the windscreen is damaged by the impact from a stone in the camera's
field of
vision
● If the camera's field of vision is misted up, dirty or covered by a sticker,
snow or ic
e. WARNING
The greater comfort that the headlight adjustment provides (automatic
al so) mu

st not cause you to take risks. The system is not a replacement
for driver awareness.
● Always monitor the lights yourself and adjust them depending on the
light, vi
sibility and traffic conditions.
● The headlight adjustment (automatic also) may not correctly detect
all

situations and in certain situations may only provide limited function.
● If the windscreen is damaged or modifications are made to the vehi-
cle lightin
g, this may harm the functioning of the headlight adjustment
(automatic also), for example, if additional headlight are fitted. Note
Main beam and flashed headlights can be turned on and off manually at
any time w

ith the turn signal and main beam lever ⇒ page 96.
Adhesive strips for headlights or adjusting headlights In those countries where vehicles drive on the other side of the road to the
home cou
ntr

y, the asymmetric dipped beam may dazzle drivers of oncom-
ing vehicles. Therefore, when driving abroad, adhesive strips should be at-
tached to the headlights or the headlights should be adjusted accordingly.
The direction of the headlights can be adjusted from the instrument panel,
in the Tourist light submenu of the Settings menu
⇒ page 67.


101
Lights and visibility
For those vehicles in which it is not possible to adjust the headlights from
the menu, adhe s
ive strips are used to cover certain parts of the headlamp
cover or the headlights may be adjusted at a specialised workshop. For fur-
ther information, please refer to a specialised workshop. SEAT recommends
visiting a Technical Service. Note
Use of the Touris
t light option and the adhesives on the headlights is only
allowed if they are to be used for a short period of time. To modify the direc-
tion of the headlights permanently, please take the vehicle to a specialised
workshop. SEAT recommends visiting a Technical Service. 
“Coming home” and “Leaving home” function (guidance
lights)C omin

g HomeThe “Coming home” function should be switched on manually. However the
“Le
av

ing home” function is automatically controlled by a photo sensor. “Coming Home” Necessary operations
To switch sys-
tem on: – Switch off the ignition.
– Briefly fl
a

sh the headlights for approximately one sec-
ond ⇒ page 96.
The “Coming home” lighting comes on when the driver's
door is opened. The delay in switching off the headlights
is counted from when the last door or tailgate is closed. The system
swit
c

hes off: – Automatically at the end of the delay period.
– Autom
atic

ally, if 30 seconds after coming on, a vehicle
door or tailgate remains open.
– If the light switch is turned to position .
– If the ignition is switched on. “Leaving home” Necessary operations
To switch sys-
tem on: – Unlock the vehicle when the light switch is in position

and the phot

o sensor detects darkness. The system
swit
c

hes off: – Automatically, at the end of the delay period.
– When the
v
ehicle is locked.
– When the light switch is turned to position .
– When the ignition is switched on. Lighting around the exterior mirrors
The lighting ar
ou

nd the exterior mirrors illuminates the door area on enter-
ing and leaving the vehicles. It comes on when the vehicle is unlocked,
when the vehicle door is opened and when the “Coming home” or “Leaving
home” function is switched on. If the equipment includes the light sensor,
the lighting around the exterior mirrors only comes when it is dark. Note
● The time tak en f
or the headlights to go off can be changed in the Lights
& Visibility menu and the function can be switched on or off ⇒ page 62.
● When the “Coming home” function is on, if the vehicle door is opened
there is
no audible warning signal to advise that the light is still on. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

102
Lights and visibility
Headlight range control, instrument and switch lighting Fig. 63 Next to the
st
eerin
g wheel: instru-
ment and switch lighting
control 1 and headlight
ran g

e control 2 .
1 Instrument and switch lighting
When the hea dlights

are switched on, the brightness of the instruments
and switch lighting can be regulated to suit your requirements by turning
the switch ⇒ fig. 63 1 .
2 Headlight range control
The hea dlight

range control 2 is modified according to the value of the
hea dlight

beam and the vehicle load status. This offers the driver optimum
visibility and the headlights do not dazzle oncoming drivers ⇒  .
The hea dlights

can only be adjusted when the dipped beam is switched on.
To reset, turn switch 2 :
Value Vehicle load status
a) – Two front occupants, luggage compartment empty
1 All seats occupied, luggage compartment empty Value Vehicle load status
a) 2 All seats occupied, luggage compartment full. With trailer
and minimum sup
por

t load 3 Driver only, luggage compartment full. With trailer and
max
imum s

upport load a)
If the vehicle load does not correspond to those shown in the table, it is possible to select
intermedi ar

y positions.
Dynamic headlight range control
The control 2 is not mounted in vehicles with dynamic headlight range
contr o

l. The headlight range is automatically adjusted according to the ve-
hicle load status when the headlights are switched on. WARNING
Heavy objects in the vehicle may mean that the headlights dazzle and
dis tr

act other drivers. This could result in serious accident.
● Adjust the light beam to the vehicle load status so that it does not
blind other driver
s. 
Interior and reading lights Button /
Swit c

h Function
 Switches interior lights off.
 Switches interior lights on.


103
Lights and visibility Button /
Swit c
h Function
 Switches door contact control on (central position).
The interior lights
c

ome on automatically when the vehicle is
unlocked, a door is opened or the key is removed from the ig-
nition.
The lights go off a few seconds after all the doors are closed,
the vehicle is locked or the ignition is switched on.  Turning the reading light on and off
Storage and luggage compartment lighting
When the glov
e bo

x and the tailgate are opened and closed, a light auto-
matically switches on or off.
Background lighting
The background lighting in the front covering of the ceiling lights up the
controls on the central console from above when the side or dipped lights
are on.
In addition, the lever on the door moulding can also be illuminated. Note
The reading lights go out when the vehicle is locked, or a few minutes after
the key i

s removed from the ignition. This prevents the battery from dis-
charging. Sun blind
Introduction WARNING
Sun visors and sun blinds may reduce visibility when open.
● Always roll or fold sun blinds and visors away when not in use. 
Sun visors Fig. 64 Sun visor.
Options for adjusting driver and front passenger sun visors:
● Lower by unfolding towards the windscreen.
● The sun visor can be pulled out of its mounting and turned towards the
door ⇒ fig. 64 1 .
● Swing the sun visor towards the door, longitudinally backwards. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

104
Lights and visibility
Make-up mirror light
There m a
y be a make-up mirror, with a cover, on the rear of the sun visor.
When the cover is opened 2 a light comes on.
The lamp g oe

s out when the make-up mirror cover is closed or the sun visor
is pushed back up. Note
The light above the sun visor automatically switches off after a few minutes
in cer t

ain conditions. This prevents the battery from discharging. 
Rear side window sun blinds Fig. 65 On the rear
right-h
and w

indow: sun
blind.
The sun blinds for the passenger compartment are fitted in the side panels
of the windo
ws. ●
Pull the sun blind by the handle ⇒ fig. 65 A up to the top.
● Hook both rings of the fastening rod in the spaces provided B . Check
that the s

un blind is securely hooked into the spaces provided when it has
been lowered B .
● To put the sun blind away, unhook it at the top and lower by hand ⇒  .
CAUTION
To prevent damage to the blind or the interior trim, do not lower the sun
blind “quic k

ly”. 

105
Lights and visibility
Windscreen wiper and washer
Introduction Additional information and warnings:
●
Recirculation of air conditioning air ⇒ p age 155
● Working in the engine compartment ⇒ page 275
● C

aring for and cleaning the vehicle exterior ⇒ page 242WARNING
Water from the windscreen washer water bottle may freeze on the wind-
sc r

een if it does not contain enough anti-freeze, reducing forward visibili-
ty.
● In winter, ensure the windscreen washer contains enough anti-freeze.
● In cold conditions, you should not use the wash / wipe system unless
you hav
e warmed the windscreen with the ventilation system. The anti-
freeze could freeze on the windscreen and reduce visibility. WARNING
Worn or dirty wiper blades reduce visibility and increase the risk of acci-
dent and seriou s

injury.
● Always replace damaged or worn blades or blades which do not clean
the winds
creen correctly. CAUTION
In icy conditions, always check that the wiper blades are not frozen to the
gla s

s before using the wipers for the first time. In cold weather, it may help
to leave the vehicle parked with the wipers in service position ⇒ page 107. Control lamp lights up Possible cause Solution
 Windscreen wiper fluid level
too lo
w Top up the windscreen wiper
bottle a
s

soon as possible
⇒ page 109. Several warning and control lamps should light up for a few seconds when
the ignition is
sw

itched. This signals that the lamp is working properly. They
will switch off after a few seconds. CAUTION
Failure to heed the warning lamps and text messages when they appear
ma y

result in faults in the vehicle. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

106
Lights and visibility
Windscreen wiper lever Fig. 66 Using the
wind
s
creen wipers. Fig. 67 Using the rear
windo
w w

ipers. Move the lever to the required position ⇒  :
0
OFF Windscreen wiper off.
1
 Intermittent windscreen wipers wipe.
Us
in

g the control ⇒ fig. 66 A adjust the interval (vehicles
without the r
ain sensor), or the sensitivity of the rain sensor. 2
LOW Slow wipe.
3
HIGH Continuous wipe.
4

x Brief wipe - short wipe. Hold the lever down for more time to
incr
e

ase the wipe frequency. 5
 Automatic wipe for cleaning windscreens with the lever up.
6
 Intermittent wipe for rear window. The rear wiper will wipe the
windo
w ap

proximately every 6 seconds. 7
 Automatic wipe for cleaning rear windows with the lever
pre
s

sed. CAUTION
If the ignition is switched off while the windscreen wipers are on, the wind-
sc r

een wipers carry on wiping at the same level when the ignition is switch-
ed back on. Ice, snow and other obstacles may damage the windscreen wip-
er and the wiper motor. Note
● The windscreen wipers will only function when the ignition is switched
on and the bonnet or t

ailgate are closed.
● The intermittent wiper speed varies according to the vehicle speed. The
fas

ter the vehicle is moving, the more often the windscreen is cleaned.
● The rear wiper is automatically switched on when the windscreen wiper
is c

onnected and the car is in reverse gear. 

107
Lights and visibility
Windscreen wiper functions Windscreen wiper performance in different situations:
If the vehicle is at a stand-
sti
l
l: The activated position provisionally changes
to the pr
ev
ious position. During the automatic wipe: The air conditioning comes on for approxi-
mat
ely

30 seconds in air recirculation mode
to prevent the smell of the windscreen wash-
er fluid entering the inside of the vehicle. For the intermittent wipe: The intervals between wipes vary according
to the s
peed of

the vehicle. The higher the
vehicle speed the shorter the intervals. Heated windscreen washer jets
The heatin
g on

ly thaws the frozen jets, it does not thaw the water in the
washer hoses. The heated windscreen washer jets automatically adjust the
heat depending on the ambient temperature, when the ignition is switched
on.
Headlight wash /wipe system
The headlight washers/wipers clean the headlight lenses.
After the ignition is switched on, the first and every fifth time the wind-
screen washer is switched on, the headlights are also washed. Therefore,
the windscreen wiper lever should be pulled towards the steering wheel
when the dipped beam or main beam are on. Any incrusted dirt (such as in-
sects) should be cleaned regularly (e.g. when refuelling).
To ensure the headlight washers work correctly in winter, any snow which
has got into the bumper jet supports should be cleaned away. If necessary,
remove snow with an anti-icing spray. Note
The wiper will try to wipe away any obstacles that are on the windscreen.
The wiper w i

ll stop moving if the obstacle blocks its path. Remove the ob-
stacle and switch the wiper back on again. 
Windscreen wipers service position Fig. 68 Wipers in service
pos
ition.
The w

iper arms can be raised when the wipers are in service position.
⇒ fig. 68 To p l

ace the windscreen wipers in the service position, proceed as
follows:
● The bonnet must be closed ⇒ page 275.
● Sw

itching the ignition on and off.
● Press the windscreen wiper lever downwards briefly ⇒ fig. 66 4 .
Bef or

e driving, always lower the wiper arms. Using the windscreen wiper
lever, the windscreen wiper arms return to their initial position. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

108
Lights and visibility
Lifting and returning windscreen wiper arms
● Place the wiper arms in the service position ⇒  .
● Only hold the wiper arms at the point where the blade is fixed. CAUTION
● To prevent damage to the bonnet and the wiper arms, only leave them in
the ser v
ice position.
● Before driving, always lower the wiper arms. 
Rain sensor* Fig. 69 Windscreen wip-
er lev
er: a

djusting the
rain sensor A . Fig. 70 Rain sensor sen-
sitiv
e s

urface.
The rain sensor controls the frequency of the windscreen wiper intervals,
depending on the amount
of rain ⇒  . The sensitivity of the rain sensor can
be adju s
ted manually. Manual wipe ⇒ page 106
Move the lever to the required position ⇒ fig. 69: Rain sensor off.
Rain sensor on; automatic wipe if necessary.
Setting sensitivity level of rain sensor
–Set control to the right: highly sensitive.
– Set control to the left: less sensitive.
When the ignition is switched off and then back on, the rain sensor stays on
and starts operating again when the windscreen wipers are in position 1 and the vehicle is travelling at more than 4 km/h (2 mph).
Rain sen
sor modified beh

aviour
Possible causes of faults and mistaken readings on the sensitive surface
⇒ fig. 70 of the rain sensor include: 
0 1
A