service Seat Alhambra 2008 Workshop Manual

Checking and refilling levels225
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
For the sake of the environment
Batteries contain toxic substances such as sulphuric acid and lead. They
must be disposed of appropriately and must not be disposed of with ordinary
household waste.WheelsGeneral notesAvoiding damage
– If you have to drive over a kerb or similar obstacle, drive very
slowly and as near as possible at a right angle to the kerb.
– Keep grease, oil and fuel off the tyres.
– Inspect the tyres regularly for damage (cuts, cracks or blisters, etc.). Remove any foreign objects embedded in the treads.
Storing tyres
– Mark tyres when you remove them to indicate the direction of rotation. This ensures you will be able to install them correctly
when you replace them.
– When removed, the wheels and/or tyres should be stored in a cool, dry and preferably dark location.
– Store tyres in a vertical position if they are not fitted on wheel rims.
New tyres
New tyres have to be run in ⇒page 185.
The tread depth of new tyres may vary, according to the type and make of tyre
and the tread pattern.
Concealed damage
Damage to tyres and rims is often not readily visible. If you notice unusual
vibrations or the car pulling to one side, this may indicate that one of the tyres
is damaged. The tyres should be checked immediately by an Authorised
Service Centre.
Tyres with directional tread pattern
An arrow on the tyre sidewall indicates the direction of rotation on tyres with
directional tread. Always observe the direction of rotation indicated when
fitting the wheel. This guarantees optimum grip and helps to avoid aqua-
planing, excessive noise and wear.
WARNING
•
New tyres do not have maximum grip in the first 500 km. Drive particu-
larly carefully to avoid risk of accident.
•
Never drive with damaged tyres. This may cause an accident.
•
If you notice unusual vibration or if the vehicle pulls to one side when
driving, stop the vehicle immediately and check the tyres for damage.
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Checking and refilling levels
226Checking tyre pressure
The correct tyre pressure can be seen on the sticker on the
inside of the tank flap.1. Read the required tyre inflation pressure from the sticker. The
values refer to Summer tyres. For Winter tyres, you must add 0.2
bar to the values given on the sticker.
2. The tyre pressures should only be checked when the tyres are cold. The slightly raised pressures of warm tyres must not be
reduced.
3. Adjust the tyre pressure to the load you are carrying.Tyre pressure
The correct tyre pressure is especially important at high speeds. The pressure
should therefore be checked at least once a month and before starting a
journey.
WARNING
A tyre can easily burst if the pressu re is too low, causing an accident!•
At continuously high speeds, a tyre with insufficient pressure flexes
more. In this way it becomes too hot, and this can cause tread separation
and tyre blow-out. Always observe the recommended tyre pressures.
•
If the tyre pressure is too low or too high, the tyres will wear prema-
turely and the vehicle will not handle well. Risk of accident!For the sake of the environment
Under-inflated tyres will increase fuel consumption.
Tyre service life
The service life of tyres is dependent on tyre pressure, driving
style and fitting.
Fig. 149 Tyre tread wear
indicatorsFig. 150 Changing
wheels
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Checking and refilling levels227
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Wear indicators
The original tyres on your vehicle have 1.6 mm high “tread wear indicators”
⇒
page 226, fig. 149 , running across the tread. Depending on the make,
there will be six to eight of them evenly spaced around the tyre. Markings on
the tyre sidewall (for instance the letters “TWI” or other symbols) indicate the
positions of the tread wear indicators. The minimum tread depth required by
law is 1.6 mm (measured in the tread grooves next to the tread wear indica-
tors). Worn tyres must be replaced. Different figures may apply in export
countries ⇒.
Tyre pressure
Incorrect tyre pressure causes premature wear and could cause tyre blow-out.
For this reason, the tyre pressure should be checked at least once per month
⇒ page 226.
Driving style
Fast cornering, heavy acceleration and hard braking all increase tyre wear.
Changing wheels around
If the front tyres are worn considerably more than the rear ones it is advisable
to change them around as shown ⇒page 226, fig. 150 . All the tyres will then
last for about the same time.
Wheel balance
The wheels on new vehicles are balanced. However, various factors encoun-
tered in normal driving can cause them to become unbalanced, which results
in steering vibration.
Unbalanced wheels should be rebalanced, as they otherwise cause excessive
wear on steering, suspension and tyres. A wheel must also be rebalanced
when a new tyre is fitted.
Incorrect wheel alignment
Incorrect wheel alignment causes excessive tyre wear, impairing the safety of
the vehicle. If tyres show excessive wear, you should have the wheel align-
ment checked by an Authorised Service Centre.
WARNING
There is a serious danger of accidents if a tyre bursts during driving!•
The tyres must be replaced at the latest when the tread is worn down to
the tread wear indicators. Failure to do so could result in an accident. Worn
tyres do not grip well at high speeds on wet roads. There is also a greater
risk of “aquaplaning”.
•
At continuously high speeds, a tyre with insufficient pressure flexes
more. This causes it to overheat. This can cause tread separation and tyre
blow-out. Risk of accident. Always observe the recommended tyre pres-
sures.
•
If tyres show excessive wear, you should have the running gear checked
by an Authorised Service Centre.
•
Keep chemicals such as oil, fuel and brake fluid away from tyres.
•
Damaged wheels and tyres must be replaced immediately!For the sake of the environment
Under-inflated tyres will increase fuel consumption.New tyres and wheels
New tyres and wheels have to be run-in.The tyres and wheel rims are an essential part of the vehicle's design. The
tyres and rims approved by SEAT are specially matched to the characteristics
of the vehicle and make a major contribution to good road holding and safe
handling ⇒.
Tyres should be replaced at least in pairs and not individually (i.e. both front
tyres or both rear tyres together). A knowledge of tyre designations makes it
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Checking and refilling levels
228easier to choose the correct tyres. Radial tyres have the tyre designations
marked on the sidewall, for example:
195/65 R15 91T
This contains the following information:
195 Tyre width in mm
65 Height/width ratio in %
R Tyre construction: Radial
15 Rim diameter in inches
91 Load rating code
T Speed rating
The tyres could also have the following information:•
A direction of rotation symbol
•
“Reinforced” denotes heavy-duty tyres.
The manufacturing date is also indicated on the tyre sidewall (possibly only
on the inner side of the wheel).
“DOT... 1105...” means, for example, that the tyre was produced in the 11th
week of 2005.
We recommend that work on tyres and wheels is carried out by an Authorised
Service Centre. They are familiar with the procedure and have the necessary
special tools and spare parts as well as the proper facilities for disposing of
the old tyres.
Any Authorised Service Centre has full information on the technical require-
ments when installing or changing tyres, wheels or wheel trims.
WARNING
•
We recommend that you use only wheels and tyres which have been
approved by SEAT for your model. Failure to do so could impair vehicle
handling. Risk of accident.
•
Avoid running the vehicle on tyres that are more than six years old. If
you have no alternative, you should drive slowly and with extra care at all
times.
•
Never use old tyres or those with an unknown “history of use”.
•
If wheel trims are retrofitted, you must ensure that the flow of air to the
brakes is not restricted. This could cause them to overheat.
•
All four wheels must be fitted with radial tyres of the same type, size
(rolling circumference) and the same tread pattern.For the sake of the environment
Old tyres must be disposed of according to the laws in the country concerned.
Note
•
For technical reasons, it is not generally possible to use the wheels from
other vehicles. This can also apply to wheels of the same model. The use of
wheels or tyres which have not been approved by SEAT for use with your
model may invalidate the vehicle's type approval for use on public roads.
•
If the spare tyre is not the same as the tyres that are mounted on the
vehicle - for example with winter tyres - you should only use the spare tyre for
a short period of time and drive with extra care. Refit the normal road wheel
as soon as possible.
Wheel bolts
Wheel bolts must be tightened to the correct torque.The design of wheel bolts is matched to the rims. If different wheel rims are
fitted, the correct wheel bolts with the right length and correctly shaped bolt
WARNING (continued)
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Checking and refilling levels229
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
heads must be used. This ensures that wheels are fitted securely and that the
brake system functions correctly.
In certain circumstances, you may not use wheel bolts from a different car -
even if it is the same model
⇒page 202.
WARNING
If the wheel bolts are not tightened correctly, the wheel could become
loose while driving. Risk of accident.•
The wheel bolts must be clean and turn easily. Never apply grease or oil
to them.
•
Use only wheel bolts which belong to the wheel.
•
If the prescribed torque of the wheel bolts is too low, they could loosen
whilst the vehicle is in motion. Risk of accident! If the tightening torque is
too high, the wheel bolts and threads could be damaged.Caution
The prescribed torque for wheel bolts for steel and alloy wheels is 120 Nm.Winter tyres
Winter tyres will improve the vehicles handling on snow and
ice.In winter conditions winter tyres will considerably improve the vehicles
handling. The design of summer tyres (width, rubber compound, tread
pattern) gives less grip on ice and snow.
Winter tyres must be inflated to a pressure 0.2 bar higher than the pressures
specified for summer tyres (see sticker on tank flap).
Winter tyres must be fitted on all four wheels. Information on permitted
winter tyre sizes can be found in the vehicle's regis-
tration documents. Use only radial winter tyres. All tyre sizes listed in the
vehicle documentation also apply to winter tyres.
Winter tyres lose their effectiveness when the tread is worn down to a depth
of 4 mm.
The speed rating code ⇒page 227, “New tyres and wheels” determines the
following speed limits : ⇒
Q max. 160 km/h
S max. 180 km/h
T max. 190 km/h
H max. 210 km/h
In some countries, vehicles which can exceed the speed rating of the fitted
tyre must have an appropriate sticker in the driver's field of view. These
stickers are available from your Authorised Service Centre. The legal require-
ments of each country must be followed.
Do not have winter tyres fitted for unnecessarily long periods. Vehicles with
summer tyres handle better when the roads are free of snow and ice.
If you have a flat tyre, please refer to the notes on the spare wheel
⇒ page 227, “New tyres and wheels”.
WARNING
The maximum speed for the winter tyres must not be exceeded. Otherwise,
this could lead to tyre damage and thus, an accident risk.
For the sake of the environment
Fit your summer tyres in good time. They are quieter, do not wear so quickly
and reduce fuel consumption.
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Checking and refilling levels
230Snow chainsSnow chains may be fitted only to the front wheels, and only to certain tyre
sizes ⇒page 260.
Snow chains must have fine-pitch links which do not protrude more that 15
mm, including tension device.
Remove wheel hub covers and trim rings before fitting snow chains. For safety
reasons cover caps, available in any Authorised Service Centre, must then be
fitted over the wheel bolts.
WARNING
Observe the fitting instructions provided by the snow chain manufacturer.
Caution
You must remove the snow chains to drive on roads which are free of snow.
Otherwise they will impair handling, damage the tyres and wear out very
quickly.
Note
In some countries, the speed limit for using snow chains is 50 km/h. The legal
requirements of the country should be followed.
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If and when245
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Changing a lightBulbs, changing
Bulbs should be changed by a professional mechanic only.Technical knowledge is required to change bulbs. This is because, in certain
cases, access can be gained only by removing other vehicle components.
This applies in particular to bulbs which can be accessed only from the
engine compartment.
We recommend bulbs are changed by a qualified dealership or, if this is not
possible, by a qualified person.
However, if you wish to change the bulb, please observe the following:
Before changing a bulb, you must switch off the light (light switch in O posi-
tion), and the turn signal lever must be in the neutral position.
Always replace damaged bulbs with identical bulbs with the same designa-
tion. The type is inscribed on the bulb, either on the glass or on the base.
You should store spare light bulbs in the vehicle for safety-relevant lights.
Bulbs can be obtained from SEAT Service Centres.
WARNING
•
The high voltage element of gas discharge lamps must be handled
correctly. Failure to comply could result in fatal injuries.
•
H7* bulbs are pressurised and could explode when they are being
changed. Risk of injury.
•
In vehicles fitted with gas discharge lamps *, there is a mortal danger if
the high voltage section of the lamp is incorrectly handled.
•
When working in the engine compartment, always observe the safety
warnings ⇒page 209.
Side indicator lamps– Slide the turn signal forwards ⇒fig. 163 and remove .
– Remove the lamp holder and separate.
Fig. 163 Side indicatorFig. 164 Side indicator
A1
A2
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General notes on the technical data261
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
Te c h n i c a l D a t a
Snow chains
Snow chains may be fitted only to the
front wheels.
Consult the chapter “wheels” of this manual.
Wheel bolts
After the wheels have been changed, the tightening torque of the wheel bolts
s h ou l d b e ch e cke d as s oo n as p o ssi bl e wit h a to rq u e w re n ch ⇒. The tight-
ening torque for steel and alloy wheels is 120 Nm.
WARNING
•
Check the tyre pressure at least once per month. Correct tyre pressure
is very important. If the tyre pressure is too high or too low, there is an
increased danger of accidents, particularly at high speeds.
•
If the torque of the wheel bolts is too low, they could loosen whilst the
vehicle is in motion. Risk of accident! If the tightening torque is too high,
the wheel bolts and threads could be damaged.Note
We recommend that you ask your Authorised Service Centre for information
about appropriate wheel, tyre and snow chain size.
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Technical Data
262Te c h n i c a l D a t aChecking fluid levelsFrom time to time, the levels of the different fluids in the
vehicle must be checked. Never fill with incorrect fluids, to do
so may cause serious damage to the engine.
Engine oil dipstick
Oil filler neck
Brake fluid reservoir
Vehicle battery (underneath a cover)
Coolant temperature deposit
Windscreen washer fluid reservoir
The checking and replenishment of the service fluids are carried out on the
components mentioned above. These operations are described in the
⇒ page 209. Overview
Further explanations, instructions and restrictions on the technical data are
contained as of
⇒page 257.
Fig. 177 Diagram for the
location of the various
elements
A1A2A3A4A5A6
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Index289
Retrofitting a towing bracket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Rev counter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Reverse gear
Automatic gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Manual gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Risk of front passenger seat airbag for a rear facing child seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
RME fuel (biodiesel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Roll-back function Sliding/tilting roof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Roof aerial* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Roof carrier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148, 149 saving fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Roof load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Rubber seals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Running in Brake pads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Running in tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185SSafe driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Safety equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Safety instructions Coolant temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Safety notes
Belt tension devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Curtain airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Disabling front and side passenger airbag . 44
Front airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Side airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Using child seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Using seat belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Saving fuel roof carrier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Sealant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Seals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Seat adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 Front seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Seat belt position Pregnant women . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Seat belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Seat belt warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Seat belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Detachable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Incorrectly fastened . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Not worn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
one buckle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Warning lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
With two buckles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Seat belts protect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Seat heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Seat layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Folding backrest forwards . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Lifting seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Removing and fitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Securing load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Selector lever lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Service interval display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Shoes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Side airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Side lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Sitting position Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Front passenger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Incorrect sitting position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Passengers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Sitting position, occupants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Sliding/tilting sun roof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Snow chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230, 261 Four-wheel drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Sockets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Spare wheel Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Starting a petrol engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
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