engine Seat Alhambra 2011 Owner's Guide

170
Driving
Stopping and starting the engine
Introduction Immobiliser display
When an inv
alid k
ey is used or in the event of a system fault,  or Immo-
biliser on is displayed on the instrument panel. The engine cannot be star- ted.
Pushing or towing
For technical reasons, the vehicle must not be push- or tow-started. Jump
starting is preferable.
Additional information and warnings:
● Vehicle key set ⇒ pag
e 71
● Changing gear ⇒  pag
e 174
● Braking, stopping and parking ⇒ page 183
● St

eering ⇒  pag
e 167
● Start assist systems ⇒ pag
e 194
● Refuelling ⇒  pag
e 264
● Fuel ⇒ page 267
● Emer

gency locking and unlocking ⇒ page 314
● Jump s

tarting ⇒  pag
e 337
● Tow-starting and towing away ⇒ pag
e 340 WARNING
Turning off the engine while driving will make stopping the vehicle diffi-
cu lt; thi

s could even result in the loss of control causing an accident with
serious consequences.
● The assisted braking and steering systems, the airbag system, safety
belts and c
ertain safety equipment are only active while the engine is
running.
● The engine should only be switched off when the vehicle is at a
stand
still. WARNING
While the engine is running or starting it could help reduce the risk of se-
rious injur

y.
● Never start or leave the engine running in poorly ventilated or closed
spac
es. Exhaust gas contains carbon monoxide, a toxic, colourless and
odourless gas. Carbon monoxide can cause people to lose conscious-
ness. It can also cause death.
● Never leave the vehicle unattended if the engine is running. The vehi-
cle c
ould move off suddenly or something unexpected could happen re-
sulting in damage and serious injury.
● Never use start boosters. Cold start sprays could explode or increase
the engine speed u
nexpectedly. 

171
Driving WARNING
The components of the exhaust system reach very high temperatures.
This c
ould cause a fire and considerable damage.
● Always park your vehicle so that no part of the exhaust system can
come in cont
act with flammable materials (such as wood, leaves, spilled
fuel, dried grass, etc).
● Do not apply additional underseal or anti-corrosion coatings to the
exhau
st pipes, catalytic converter, heat shields or the diesel particulate
filter. 
Ignition lock Fig. 127 Vehicle key positions
Car keys
⇒ fig. 127 No key in the ignition lock: The steering lock may be activated.
0
Ignition off, all electrical components disconnected. Key can be re-
mov
ed fr

om the vehicle. Car keys
⇒ fig. 127 1
Ignition is switched on. Pre-heating of diesel engine. The steering
lock
c

an be unlocked. 2
Switch on the engine. Release the key when the engine has star-
ted.
When it

is released, the key returns to position 1 .
Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

172
Driving
Key not authorised for the vehicle
If a k ey
which is not authorised for this vehicle is inserted in the ignition
lock, it can be removed as follows:
● Automatic gearbox: the key cannot be removed from the ignition lock.
Pres
s and release the selector lever locking button. Key can be removed
from the vehicle.
● Manual gearbox: Remove the key from the ignition. WARNING
Unsuitable or careless use of the vehicle key could result in serious in-
jury .
● A

lways take all the keys with you whenever you leave the vehicle. The
engine cou
ld accidentally 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 c
ar in an emergency and will not be able to get them-
selves to safety. For example, depending on the time of the year, temper-
atures inside a locked and closed vehicle can be extremely high or ex-
tremely low resulting in serious injuries and illness or even death, partic-
ularly for young children.
● Never remove the key from the ignition if the vehicle is in motion. The
steerin
g may lock and it will not be possible to turn the steering wheel. Note
● If the key is left in the ignition lock with the engine off for long periods,
the v

ehicle battery will run flat.
● For automatic gearbox vehicles the key
can only be removed from the ig-
nition lock if the gear selector lever is in position P. In this case, press and
release the selector lever locking button. Starting the engine Complete operations only in the sequence given:
Step
1. Press the brake pedal and keep pressed until step 5 has been
comp
l

eted. 1 a. In vehicles with a manual gearbox:
Pres
s the clutch pedal all
the way and keep pressed until the engine starts. 2. Put the gearstick in neutral or the selector lever in position
P
or N. 3. Only in vehicles with diesel engine:
To prehe
at, turn the key
in the ignition lock to position ⇒ fig. 127 1 . A warning lamp
lights up in the c ontr
ol panel . 4. Turn the key in the ignition lock to position
⇒ fig. 127 2 ; do
not pr e

ss the accelerator. 5. When the engine has started, release the key in the ignition
lock.
6. If the engine does not start, stop the process and try again af-
ter one minut
e. 7. Disconnect the electronic parking brake when you wish to
st
ar

t driving ⇒ page 183. WARNING
Never leave the vehicle unattended if the engine is running. The vehicle
cou l

d move off suddenly, especially if it is in gear, resulting in an acci-
dent and serious injury. 

173
Driving WARNING
Cold start sprays could explode or cause a sudden increase in the engine
speed.
● Nev er u
se start boosters. CAUTION
● An attempt to start the engine while driving or starting the engine imme-
di at

ely after turning it off can cause damage to the engine or starter motor.
● When the engine is cold, avoid high revs and heavy acceleration and do
not mak
e the engine work hard.
● Do not push or tow start the engine. Sunburnt fuel could damage the
catalytic
converter. For the sake of the environment
Do not warm the engine at idle speed; start driving immediately if the visi-
bi lity

is OK. This helps the engine reach operating temperature faster and
reduces emissions. Note
● For example, if the key battery is very worn or flat, the engine cannot be
s t

arted with the starter button. In this case, remove the ignition button from
the lock and insert the key.
● Electrical components with a high power consumption are switched off
temporari
ly when the engine starts.
● When the engine is started cold, there may be strong vibrations for a few
moments for t
echnical reasons. This is quite normal, and no cause for con-
cern.
● At temperatures below +5°C (+41°F), smoke may be given off below the
vehicl
e when the additional heater is connected. Stopping the engine Complete operations only in the sequence given:
Step
1. Stopping the vehicle completely
⇒  .
2. Press the brake pedal and keep pressed until step 4 has been
comp
l

eted. 3. In automatic gearboxes, put the selector lever in position
P. 4. Connect the electronic parking brake
⇒ page 183. 5. Turn the key in the ignition lock to position
⇒ fig. 127 0 .
6. With a manual gearbox, put the vehicle in first or reverse gear.
WARNING
Never switch off the engine while the vehicle is moving. You may lose
contr o

l of the vehicle and there is a risk of serious accident.
● The airbags and belt tensioners do not work when the ignition is
switc
hed off.
● The brake servo does not work when the engine is not running. To
stop
, the brake pedal must be pressed with more force.
● As the power steering does not work if the engine is not running, you
wil

l need more strength to steer than normally.
● If the key is removed from the ignition, the steering may lock and it
wil

l not be possible to steer the vehicle. CAUTION
If the engine has been driven at high speed for a prolonged period of time,
it m a

y overheat when turned off. To avoid engine damage, allow the engine
to run for approximately two minutes in neutral before switching it off. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

174
Driving Note
● In vehicles with automatic gearbox, the key can only be removed when
the sel ect
or lever is in position P.
● After stopping the engine, the engine compartment fan may continue
running f
or 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 started with an unauthorised
key
and the

vehicle being moved.
The vehicle key has a built-in chip. It automatically deactivates the immobil-
izer when the key is inserted into the ignition lock.
For this reason, the vehicle can only be used with a genuine SEAT key with
the correct code. Coded keys can be obtained from your Authorised Service
Centre ⇒ page 71. 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 Note
The correct operation of the vehicle is only guaranteed when original SEAT
key s

are used. Changing gear
Introduction When reverse gear is engaged and the ignition is switched on the following
tak
e

s place:
● Reverse lights light up.
● When reversing, the air conditioner automatically changes to air recircu-
lation mode.
● The re

ar window heater switches on when the windscreen wiper is acti-
vated.
● A

lso, the parking sensor system, the optical parking sensor and the
camera f
or the reverse assist system are connected.
Additional information and warnings:
● Instruments ⇒ page 57
● Br

aking, stopping and parking ⇒ page 183
● P

arking sensor system ⇒ page 198
● P

ark Assist system ⇒ page 202
● R

everse assist system (Rear Assist) ⇒ page 207
● Air c

onditioning ⇒ page 155
● El

ectronic power control and exhaust gases purification system
⇒ page 228
● Emer

gency locking and unlocking ⇒ page 314 WARNING
Rapid acceleration can cause loss of traction and skidding, especially on
slip per

y ground. This could cause loss of control of the vehicle resulting
in an accident and considerable damage.
● Only use the kickdown or rapid acceleration if visibility, weather, road
and traffic c
onditions so permit. 

175
Driving WARNING
Do not allow the brakes to “rub” for a prolonged period of time, or brake
frequently or f
or long periods of time. Continuous braking heats up the
brakes. This could significantly reduce braking power, increase braking
distance or even result in the total failure of the brake system. CAUTION
● Never make the brakes slip by pressing the pedal gently, if it is not really
nec e

ssary to brake. This will increase wear.
● Reduce speed, move down a gear or select a shorter range of gears be-
fore lon
g steep slopes. This allows you to use the engine braking effect and
to reduce the strain on the brake system. Otherwise, the brakes may over-
heat and fail. Only use the brakes to reduce speed or to stop. 
Warning and control lamps lights up Possible cause Solution
 (red) Brake pedal not pressed! Press brake pedal to the floor.

(green) Brake pedal not pressed. To select a range of gears, press
the brak
e ped

al.
Please also see "Electronic park-
ing brake" ⇒ page 183. flashes Possible cause Solution

(green) The selector lever locking but-
ton h
a

s not engaged. The ve-
hicle does not start to move. Engage the selector lever lock
⇒ pag
e 178. 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. WARNING
If the warning lamps and messages are ignored, the vehicle may stall in
traffic, or m a

y cause accidents and severe injuries.
● Never ignore the warning lamps or text messages.
● Stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible.
● If the vehicle stops and must be stopped for repairs, always park a
safe di
stance from surrounding traffic, turn on the hazard warning lights,
stop the engine and take all of the safety measures necessary to warn
other road users. 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

177
Driving
Manual gearbox: Engaging gears Fig. 130 Gear shift pat-
tern of
a 6-
speed manual
gearbox.
The position of each of the gears is shown on the gear stick ⇒ fig. 130.
● Keep the clutch pedal pushed all the way down.
● Move the gear stick to the required position.
In some countrie
s, it is necessary to press the clutch pedal to the floor to
start the engine.
Selecting reverse gear
● With the vehicle at a standstill, press the clutch pedal to the floor and
keep pre
ssed.
● Push the gear lever down.
● Move the gear stick to the left and then forwards to reverse gear R . WARNING
When the engine is running, the vehicle will start to move as soon as a
ge ar i

s engaged and the clutch released. This is also the case with the
electronic parking brake on.
● Never engage the reverse gear when a vehicle is moving forward. CAUTION
To prevent damage and avoid premature wear, please observe the follow-
ing:
● Whi l

e driving, do not leave your hand resting on the gear stick. The pres-
sure ap
plied by your hand is transmitted to the gearbox selector forks.
● Always ensure that the vehicle is completely stopped before engaging
the rever
se gear.
● When changing gear, always make sure the clutch pedal is pushed right
to the floor.
● Nev

er hold the vehicle on the clutch on hills. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

178
Driving
Automatic gearbox*: Selecting gears Fig. 131 Left-hand drive
vehic
l
es: Automatic gear-
box selector lever with
locking button (arrow). Fig. 132 Right-hand
drive
v

ehicles: Automatic
gearbox selector lever
with locking button (ar-
row).
The gear selection lever has a lock. When changing the selector lever from
position
P to a range of gears, press the brake pedal and press the lock on
the selector lever, located on the front part of the knob, in the direction of the arrow ⇒ fig. 131 or ⇒ 
fig. 132.
To move the gear selector lever from the
position N to D or to R, first press and hold the brake pedal.
When the ignition is on, the current position of the selector lever is shown
on the instrument panel. Selector
lev er po-
s

itions Denomination Meaning ⇒ 
 Parking lock The drive wheels are locked mechanically.
They on
ly

engage when the vehicle is at a
standstill. To change the position of the selec-
tor lever, press the brake pedal and switch on
the ignition.  Reverse gear Reverse gear is engaged.
Only
sel

ect reverse gear when the vehicle is at
a standstill .  Neutral The gear box is in neutral. No movement is
tran
smitt

ed to the wheels and the engine
does not act as a brake.  Standard for-
war d

s driving
position (nor- mal pro-
gramme) The gears are changed (up and down) auto-
matic
al
ly. The gear shifts are determined by
the engine load, your individual driving style
and the speed of the vehicle.  Standard for-
war d

s driving
position
(sports pro- gramme) The shift up to a higher gear is automatically
dela
y
ed and the shift down is faster with re-
spect to the D range of gears, to take full ad-
vantage of the engine power. The gear shifts
are determined by the engine load, your indi-
vidual driving style and the speed of the vehi-
cle. Selector lever locking
The ge
ar sel

ector lever lock prevents, in P or N, a gear selection from being
inadvertently engaged and the vehicle moving off accidentally. 

179
Driving
To release the gear selector lever lock, press and hold the brake pedal with
the ignition on. Pre s
s simultaneously on the selector lever lock.
The selector lever lock is not engaged if the selector lever is moved quickly
through position N (e.g. when shifting from R to D). This makes it possible,
for instance, to rock the vehicle backwards and forwards if it is stuck in
snow or mud. The selector lever lock engages automatically if the brake
pedal is not pressed and the lever is in position N for more than about one
second at a speed of less than 5 km/h (3 mph).
In vehicles with a DSG ®
automatic gearbox, on rare occasions the selector
lever lock may not engage. In this case, the transmission is locked to pre-
vent the vehicle from moving accidentally. The green control light  flashes
and an information text is displayed. Proceed as follows to engage the se-
lector lever lock:
● Press the brake pedal and then release. WARNING
Placing the selector lever in an incorrect position may cause loss of con-
tro l

of the vehicle and a serious accident.
● Do not press the accelerator when engaging a range of gears.
● With the engine running and a range of gears selected, the vehicle
wil

l move off when the brake pedal is released.
● Never select reverse gear or the parking lock while driving. WARNING
Unintentional movements of the vehicle could cause serious injury.
● As a driver, you should never leave your vehicle if the engine is run-
ning and a g e

ar is engaged. If you have to leave your vehicle while the
engine is running, you must apply the electronic parking brake and en-
gage parking lock P. WARNING (Continued)
● Whi le the engine is running and with the D, S or R range of gears se-
l ect

ed, keep the brake pressed to keep the vehicle at a standstill. Trans-
mission is not totally interrupted either when the vehicle is idling or
when the vehicle continues moving forwards.
● Never engage the R or P gear ranges when the vehicle is moving.
● Never leave the vehicle with the gear selector in N. The vehicle may
move do
wnhill regardless of whether the engine is switched on or not. CAUTION
If, when the vehicle is at a standstill, the electronic parking brake is not ap-
plied and the br ak

e pedal is released while in position P, the vehicle may
move a few centimetres forwards or backwards. Note
If, while driving, the selector lever is accidentally placed in position N, lift
y our f

oot off the accelerator. Wait until the engine is running at idle speed
before selecting a new gear ratio. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

180
Driving
Changing gears with Tiptronic* Fig. 133 Selector lever
in Tiptr
onic
position (left-
hand drive vehicles). The
lay-out in right-hand
drive vehicles is symmet-
rically opposed. Fig. 134 Steering wheel
with tw
o p

addle shifts for
Tiptronic.
The Tiptronic system allows you to manually change gears in vehicles with
an automatic
gearbox. When you change to the Tiptronic programme, the
vehicle remains in the currently selected gear. This is possible as long as
the system is not changing gear automatically due to a traffic situation. Using Tiptronic with the selector lever
●
Press the selector lever from position D to the right int
o the Tiptronic se-
lector gate ⇒  in Automatic gearbox*: Selecting gears on page 179.
● Press the lever forwards + or backwards
– to move up or down a gear
⇒ fig. 133.
Us in

g the Tiptronic with the steering wheel paddle shifts
● In D or S, move the s
teering wheel paddle shifts ⇒ fig. 134.
● Pull the right-hand side paddle + OFF ⇒ 
fig. 134 t
owards the steering
wheel to step up a gear.
● Pull the left-hand side paddle – ⇒ fig. 134 to
w
ards the steering wheel
step down a gear.
If the paddles are not used for a period of time, the vehicle leaves Tiptronic
mode. CAUTION
● When acc el
erating, the gearbox automatically shifts up into the next
gear shortly before the maximum engine speed is reached.
● When reducing speed manually, the gear box only shifts gear when the
engine can no lon
ger exceed the maximum engine speed. 
Driving with an automatic gearbox The gearbox changes gear ratios automatically as the vehicle moves.
Drivin
g do

wn hills
The steeper the gradient, the lower the gear you will need. The lowest gears
increase the engine braking work. Never go down hills with the selector lev-
er in neutral N. 