steering Seat Alhambra 2008 Owner's Guide

Seats and stowage121
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Seats and stowageThe importance of correct seat adjustmentProper seat adjustment optimises the level of protection
offered by seat belts and airbags.The driver seat, front passenger seat, and seats in the passenger compart-
ment, can be adjusted in many ways to suit the physical requirements of the
vehicle occupants. The correct seat position is very important for:•
fast and easy operation of all controls on the instrument panel,
•
relaxed posture that does not cause drowsiness,
•
safe driving,
•
optimum protection from the seat belts and airbag system ⇒page 7.
Vehicle seats
Your vehicle has a total of five or seven
24) seats.
•
First row of seats: two seats
•
Second row of seats: three seats
•
Third row of seats
24): two seats
Each seat is equipped with a three-point seat belt.
WARNING
If the driver and passengers assume improper sitting positions, they may
sustain critical injuries.•
Never transport more people than there are seats available in the
vehicle.
•
Every occupant in the vehicle must properly fasten and wear the seat
belt belonging to his or her seat. Children must be protected with an appro-
priate child restraint system. Section “Child Safety”
•
The seats and all head restraints must always be adjusted to body size
and the seat belt must always be properly adjusted to provide you and your
passengers with optimum protection.
•
Always keep your feet in the footwell when the vehicle is moving; never
rest them on the dash panel, out of the window or on the seat. This also
applies to passengers. An incorrect sitting position exposes you to an
increased risk of injury in the event of a braking manoeuvre or an accident.
If the airbag is triggered, you could sustain fatal injuries due to an improper
sitting position.
•
It is important for the driver and front passenger to maintain a distance
of at least 25 cm from the steering wheel or dash panel. Failure to respect
the minimum distance means that the airbag will not protect you. Risk of
fatal injury. The distance between the driver and the steering wheel or
between the front passenger and the dash panel should always be as great
as possible.
•
Adjust the driver or front passenger seat only when the vehicle is
stationary. Otherwise your seat could move unexpectedly while the vehicle
is moving. This could increase the risk of an accident and therefore injury.
In addition, while adjusting your seat, you will assume an incorrect sitting
position. Risk of fatal accidents.
•
Special guidelines apply to installing a child seat on the front
passenger seat. When installing a child seat, observe the warning note in
“Child safety”.
•
The seats in the third row of seats may, for safety reasons, only be used
if the luggage compartment cover has been removed.
24)Optional equipment
WARNING (continued)
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Seats and stowage
124Front seatsAdjusting front seats The control elements ⇒fig. 86 are mirrored for the front right-hand
seat.
Adjusting the seat forwards and backwards
– Pull up the lever and move the seat forwards or backwards ⇒ .
– Then release the grip and move the seat further until the catch engages.
Adjusting the backrest angle
– Take your weight off the backrest and turn the hand wheel. Adjusting the lumbar support
25)
– Take your weight off the backrest and turn the hand wheel.
Turning the seat
25)
– Adjust the seat surface to its lowest position and push the seat back as far as it will go.
–On the driver's seat , adjust the backrest fully forward so that it
will not hit the steering wheel when turning the seat round.
– Lift the lever and turn the seat round ⇒.
Adjusting the seat height
– Pull the lever up or push down (several times if necessary) from its home position. This adjusts the seat height in stages. ⇒
Adjusting the armrest
25)
– Turn the thumb wheel underneath the arm rest to adjust it to the size of the occupant.The curvature of the cushioned area is determined by the settings made in
the lumbar region. This supports the natural curvature of the spine very effec-
tively.
WARNING
•
Never adjust the driver or front passenger seat while the vehicle is in
motion. While adjusting your seat, you will assume an incorrect sitting
position. Risk of injury. Adjust the driver or front passenger seat only when
the vehicle is stationary.
Fig. 86 Front left seat
controls
A1
A1
A2
25)Optional equipmentA3A4
A4
A5A6
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Driving
160DrivingAddressAdjusting the steering wheel position
The height and reach of the steering wheel can be freely
adjusted to suit the driver.
– Adjust the driver seat to the correct position.
– Push the lever under the steering column ⇒fig. 123 down
⇒ .
– Adjust the steering wheel in this way until the correct position is set ⇒fig. 124 .
– Then push the lever up again firmly ⇒.
WARNING
•
Incorrect use of the steering column adjustment function and an incor-
rect seating position can result in serious injury.
•
To avoid accidents, the steering column should be adjusted only when
the vehicle is stationary. Risk of accident.
Fig. 123 Adjusting the
steering wheel position
Fig. 124 Proper sitting
position for driver
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Driving161
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
•
Adjust the driver seat or steering wheel so that there is a distance of at
least 25 cm between the steering wheel and your breast bone ⇒page 160,
fig. 124 . If you fail to observe the minimum distance, the airbag will not
protect you. Risk of fatal injury.
•
If your physical constitution prevents you from maintaining the
minimum distance of 25 cm, contact an Authorised Service Centre. The
Authorised Service Centre will help you decide if special specific modifica-
tions are necessary.
•
If you adjust the steering wheel so that it points towards your face, the
driver airbag will not protect you properly in the event of an accident. Make
sure that the steering wheel points towards your chest.
•
When driving, always hold the steering wheel with both hands on the
outside of the ring at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions. 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, or on the inside of the rim). In such cases,
you could receive severe injuries to the arms, hands and head.
SafetyElectronic stabilisation programme (ESP)
ESP helps make driving safer in certain situations.The Electronic Stabilisation Programme (ESP) contains the electronic differ-
ential lock (EDL) and the traction control system (TCS). The ESP works
together with the anti-locking brake system (ABS). Both warning lamps will
light up if the ESP or ABS systems are faulty.
The ESP is started automatically when the engine is started.
In specific circumstances where you require less traction, you can switch off
the ESP by pressing button ⇒fig. 125 .
For example:•
when driving with snow chains,
•
when driving in deep snow or on loose surfaces,
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 125 Detailed view of
dash panel ESP button

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Driving
162•
when rocking the vehicle backwards and forwards to free it from mud, for
example.
You should press the button to switch the ESP back on when you no longer
need wheel spin.
The TCS and EDL are also switched off if the ESP is switched off. This means
that this technology is not available for as long as the ESP remains switched
off.
When does the inscription OFF light up on the button?
•
It will light up continuously if there is a malfunction in the ESP.
•
It will light up continuously if the ESP is switched off.
WARNING
•
The electronic stabilisation programme (ESP) cannot defy the laws of
physics. This should be kept in mind, particularly on slippery and wet
roads and when towing a trailer.
•
Always adapt your driving style to suit the condition of the roads and
the traffic situation. Do not let the extra safety afforded by ESP tempt you
into taking any risks when driving, this can cause accidents.
•
Please refer to the corresponding warning notes on ESP.
Ignition lockPosition of the ignition keyIgnition switched off, steering lock
In position ⇒ fig. 126 the ignition is switched off, and the steering wheel
lock can be engaged.
To engage the steering wheel lock , take out the key and turn the wheel
slightly until you hear the pin engage. You should always lock the steering
wheel when you leave your vehicle. This makes vehicle theft more difficult
⇒ .
Switching on the ignition or glow plug system
Turn the ignition key to this position and let go of the key. If the key cannot be
turned or is difficult to turn from position to position , move the
steering wheel (to take the load off the steering lock mechanism) until the key
turns freely.
ESP
Fig. 126 Ignition key
positions
A1
A1
A2
A1
A2
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Driving163
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Starting
The engine is started when the key is in this position. Electrical components
with a high power consumption are switched off temporarily.
Each time that the vehicle must be started, the ignition key must be turned to
the position . The repetitive start prevention lock
of the ignition prevents
possible damage to the starter motor if the engine is already running.
WARNING
•
Wait for the vehicle to come to a standstill before removing the ignition
key from the lock. The steering lock could be activated immediately - Risk
of accident!
•
Always remove the key from the ignition lock when leaving the vehicle,
even if you only intend to be gone for a short period. This is especially
important if you must leave children or disabled people in the vehicle, they
could accidentally start the engine or work electrical equipment such as
the windows possibly resulting in an accident.
•
Unsupervised use of the keys could result in the engine being started
or electrical systems, such as the electric windows, being used. This can
result in serious injury.Caution
The starter must not be used unless the vehicle is at a standstill (key position ). If the starter is used as soon as the engine is switched off, the starter or
the engine could be damaged.
Safety interlock for ignition key
The ignition key can only be taken out of the ignition lock if the
selector lever is in position P.After switching off the ignition, you can remove the ignition key only if the
automatic gearbox gear selector lever ⇒ page 168 is in position P. The
selector lever is blocked after the ignition key has been removed.Electronic immobiliser
The immobiliser prevents unauthorised persons from driving
the vehicle.Inside the key there is a chip that deactivates the electronic immobiliser auto-
matically when the key is inserted into the ignition.
The electronic immobiliser is automatically activated when you take the key
out of the ignition lock.
The engine can only be started using a genuine SEAT key with the correct
code.
Note
The vehicle cannot be operated properly if you do not have a genuine SEAT
key.
A3A1
A3
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Driving
166After the engine is switched off the radiator fan may run on for up to 10
minutes, even if the ignition is switched off. The radiator fan can start auto-
matically if the hot engine causes the coolant temperature to rise, or if the sun
heats the engine compartment.
WARNING
•
Never switch off the engine until the vehicle is stationary.
•
The brake servo and the power assisted steering work only when the
engine is running. You need more strength to steer and brake the vehicle
when the engine is switched off. As you cannot steer and brake in the
normal manner, there is a greater risk of accidents and serious injury.
•
The steering lock can engage immediately when the key is removed
from the ignition lock. The vehicle cannot be steered. Risk of accident.Caution
If the engine has been driven hard for a long period, the engine could over-
heat when it is switched off. Risk of engine damage. For this reason, you
should idle the engine for approx. 2 minutes before you switch it off.
Manual gearboxManual gearboxSelecting the reverse gear
– The vehicle should be stationary with the engine idling. Press the clutch right down.
–Put the gearlever ⇒fig. 127 in the middle (neutral).
– Press the gearstick down and then to the left and forwards into the reverse position shown on the gearstick.The reverse gear can only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary. When
the engine is running, before engaging this gear wait about 6 seconds with
the clutch pressed in fully in order to protect the gearbox.
When reverse gear is engaged and the ignition is switched on the following
takes place:
Fig. 127 Manual gearbox
with shift diagram
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Driving171
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
N - neutral (idling)
If this position is selected, the gearbox is in neutral. Power is not transmitted
to the wheels and the engine does not have a braking function.
Never use the
N position to drive down a hill. The engine does not function as
a brake and the brakes are subjected to excessive stain.
You could damage the automatic gearbox if you drive down hills with the
selector lever in position N and the engine switched off.
D - Drive (forwards)
In this position the gearbox automatically changes automatically to a longer
or shorter gear, according to the driving style and speed. The braking effect
of the engine when driving downhill is very limited when the selector is in this
position. The display also shows which gear has been selected in addition to
position D.
If position N has been selected and you wish to select D, you must press the
foot brake if the vehicle is stationary, or travelling at under 5 km/h (approx.
3mph) ⇒.
WARNING
•
Never move the selector lever to R or P when driving. Risk of accident!
•
Never drive the vehicle with the engine and the ignition switched off.
You could loose control of the vehicle. The brake servo only functions when
the engine is running as does the elector-mechanical steering system. You
need more strength to steer and brake the vehicle when the engine and the
ignition are switched off. As you cannot steer and brake in the normal
manner, there is a greater risk of accidents and serious injury.Caution
If you allow the car to roll with the selector lever in position N with the engine
switched off, the automatic gearbox will be damaged as it will not be lubri-
cated.
Note
If the lever is moved accidentally to N when driving, take your foot off the
accelerator and let the engine speed drop to idling before selecting D
again.
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Driving
174
– Switch off the engine and remove the key from the ignition lock. Turn the steering wheel slightly to engage the steering lock.
– Always take you car keys with you when you leave the vehicle ⇒ .Additional notes on parking the vehicle on gradients:
Turn the steering wheel so that the vehicle would roll against the kerb if it did
start to roll.•
If the vehicle is facing downhill , turn the front wheels so that they point
towards the kerb .
•
If the vehicle is facing uphill , turn the front wheels so that they point away
from the kerb .
WARNING
Take measures to reduce the risk of injury when you leave your vehicle
unattended.•
Never park where the hot exhaust system could ignite inflammable
materials, such as dry grass, low bushes, spilt fuel etc.
•
Never allow vehicle occupants to remain in the vehicle when it is
locked. They would be unable to open the vehicle from the inside, and
could become trapped in the vehicle in an emergency. In the event of an
emergency, locked doors will delay assistance to occupants.
•
Never leave children unsupervised in the vehicle. They could set the
vehicle in motion, for example, by releasing the handbrake or the gear
lever / selector lever.
•
Depending on weather conditions, it may become extremely hot or cold
inside the vehicle. This can be fatal.
Parking distance warning system*Description
The parking distance warning system is a parking aid which
draws your attention to obstacles in front or behind the
vehicle.The parking distance warning system assists the driver when parking. If the
rear of the vehicle is approaching an obstacle, an intermittent sound signal is
emitted. The shorter the distance, the shorter the intervals between tones. If
the vehicle is too close to the obstacle, the sound signal becomes constant.
The distance to an obstacle at the front is indicated via a high tone and via a
low tone at the rear. The shorter the distance, the shorter the intervals
between tones. If the vehicle is too close to the obstacle, the sound signal
becomes constant.
The obstacle may no longer be detected if the vehicle gets even closer to it!
The warning signal will stop when•
the vehicle moves away from the obstacle
•
the outer sensors measure a constant distance for approximately 3
seconds.
The signal will not be switched off once the vehicle has reached the perma-
nent tone area.
Registering the obstacle
•
Exterior front and rear sensors: from approx 80 cm
•
Front central sensors: from approx 120 cm
•
Rear central sensors: from approx 160 cm
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Driving177
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Lever for cruise control
The CCS can be operated using the controls on the turn signal
lever or on the multi-function steering wheel.
Switching on the system
– Move the control ⇒fig. 133 to the left to ON. The
 symbol
lights up in the combi-instrument when the cruise control system
is switched on.
Switching off system
– Move the control ⇒fig. 133 to the right to OFF or press the
key ⇒fig. 134 once.
Setting speed
– Press the lower part SET of the rocker switch ⇒fig. 133 once
briefly when you have reached the speed you wish to set
⇒ fig. 134 . This speed is then stored and maintained.
Increasing the stored speed
– To reach the desired speed hold down the upper part of the rocker button ⇒fig. 133 or button ⇒fig. 134 .
Reducing the set speed
– To reach the desired speed hold down the lower part of the rocker button ⇒fig. 133
or button
⇒fig. 134
. The
speed falls as the vehicle is no longer accelerating, not due to
sharp braking.
If you increase speed by using the accelerator, the previously programmed
speed will be resumed when the accelerator pedal is released. This will not be
the case, however, if the vehicle speed is more than 10 km/h higher than the
stored speed for longer than 5 minutes. The speed will have to be stored
again.
Fig. 133 Turn signal and
main beam headlight
lever control and
rocker switch for
cruise control
AAAB
Fig. 134 Multifunction
steering wheel: CCS
controls
ABAA

AB
 - +
AB
 +
 -
AB
 -
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