instrument panel Seat Alhambra 2011 Service Manual

212
Driving
Cruise control system*
Introduction The cruise control system (CCS) is able to maintain the set speed when driv-
ing f
or
wards from approx. 20 km/h (12 mph).
The CCS only slows down by reducing the accelerator but not by braking.
⇒  .
Addition a

l information and warnings:
● Changing gear ⇒ page 174
● A

ccessories, parts replacement, repairs and modifications ⇒ page 257WARNING
Use of the cruise control could cause accidents and severe injuries if it is
not po s

sible to drive at a constant speed maintaining the safety distance.
● Do not use the CCS in heavy traffic, if the distance from the vehicle in
front i
s insufficient, on steep roads, with several bends or in slippery cir-
cumstances (snow, ice, rain or loose gravel), or on flooded roads.
● Never use the CCS when driving off-road or on unpaved roads.
● Always adapt your speed and the distance to the vehicles ahead in
line with v
isibility, weather conditions, the condition of the road and the
traffic situation.
● To avoid unexpected operation of the cruise control system, turn it off
every
time you finish using it.
● It is dangerous to use a set speed which is too high for the prevailing
roa

d, traffic or weather conditions.
● When travelling down hills, the CCS cannot maintain a constant
speed. The
vehicle tends to accelerate under its own weight. Select a
lower gear or use the foot brake to slow the vehicle. Warning and control lamp
Fig. 150 Dash panel display: CCS status indications.
lights up Possible cause Solution
 This cruise control system
maint
ain

s the set speed of
the vehicle. –
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.
Indication on display
There are different versions of the cruise control system. In vehicles with the
multifunction display (MFI), the set speed is displayed on the instrument
panel screen.
Status fig. 150: 

215
Driving
Lane Assist system* Introduction Additional information and warnings:
●
SEAT information system ⇒ pag e 62
● A
ccessories, parts replacement, repairs and modifications ⇒ page 257WARNING
The intelligent technology in the lane assist system cannot change the
limits impo

sed by the laws of physics and by the system itself. Careless
or uncontrolled use of the lane assist system may cause accidents and in-
jury. The system is not a replacement for driver awareness.
● Always adapt your speed and the distance to the vehicles ahead in
line with v
isibility, weather conditions, the condition of the road and the
traffic situation.
● Always keep your hands on the steering wheel so you can turn it at
any time.
● The l

ane assist system does not detect all road markings. In some cir-
cumst
ances, the poor state of the road, structures located on it or certain
objects may be mistakenly recognised as road markings by the lane as-
sist system. In such situations, switch the lane assist system off immedi-
ately.
● Pay attention to the instructions on the instrument panel display and
act acc
ordingly to its requests.
● Always pay attention to the vehicle's surroundings. Note
The lane assist system has been exclusively developed for driving on as-
phalt ed r

oads. Note
If the lane assist system does not work as described in this chapter, do not
use it and c

ontact a specialist workshop. Note
If you observe any system malfunction, have the system checked by a speci-
alised w ork

shop. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

218
Driving
Sign Assist*
Introduction Sign Assist can help the driver with information on speed limits or if over-
tak
in
g is prohibited at that moment. The traffic signs and additional infor-
mation detected by the system is represented in the instrument panel dis-
play and in the visual presentation of the navigation system map.
Applicable countries:
Sign Assist is supported in the following countries:
Andorra, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Liech-
tenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Poland, Por-
tugal, San Marino, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Czech Republic, United
Kingdom, Vatican City.
Additional information and warnings:
● SEAT information system ⇒  pag
e 62
● Navigation system ⇒  Bookl
et Navigation systemWARNING
The traffic signs and instructions shown by Sign Assist may differ from
the curr ent

traffic situation.
● The signs and Highway Code rules always take precedence over the
instruction
s and display of Sign Assist.
● Adjust your speed and driving style to visibility, road, traffic and
weather c
onditions.
● The system cannot always detect or correctly show all the traffic
signs. WARNING
The traffic sign detection is not a replacement for driver awareness.
● Adverse conditions of visibility, darkness, snow, rain and fog can
cau se the sy

stem not to show the traffic signs or to show them errone-
ously. CAUTION
● If old mapping data is used in the navigation system, this may cause the
tr affic

signs to be shown incorrectly.
● In the route points mode (navigation by route points) of the navigation
syst
em, Sign Assist is only partly available. 

219
Driving
Indication on display Fig. 153 Dash panel display: Examples of speed
limits
or o
vertaking prohibitions detected together
with the corresponding additional signs. Display text of Sign Assist
on the ins
trument

panel Cause and solution
Error: Sign Assist System fault.
Have the sy
s

tem checked by a specialist
workshop. Sign Assist: Clean the wind-
sc
r

een! The windscreen is dirty in the area of the
camer
a.
C
lean the windscreen. Sign Assist: only partly availa-
bl
e at

the moment. No data is being transmitted from the navi-
gat
or
.
Connect the navigator and insert the navi-
gation data medium.
ALTERNATIVELY: Sign Assist is not suppor-
ted in the country in which you are driving
at this time. 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. CAUTION
Failure to heed the warning lamps and text messages when they appear
ma y

result in faults in the vehicle. 
Operation mode Sign Assist does not work in all countries. This must be taken into account
when trav
el

ling abroad.
Display of traffic signs
Speed limits or overtaking prohibitions together with the corresponding ad-
ditional signs are shown on the instrument panel display ⇒ fig. 153. De-
pending on the navigation system installed in the vehicle, traffic signs will
be shown as above and also in the navigation system's map display.
When Sign Assist is connected, the vehicle records the traffic signs with a
camera in the base of the interior rear vision mirror. After checking and eval-
uating the information from the camera, the navigation system and the cur-
rent vehicle data, up to three valid traffic signs are displayed in conjunction
with the corresponding additional signs. The traffic sign that is currently val-
id for the driver is shown first, in the left side of the screen. A traffic sign of
only limited validity, eg. 90 km/h is shown second, together with the addi-
tional sign “if the road is wet”. If the vehicle's rain sensor detects rain Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

220
Driving
during travel, the traffic sign valid at this moment will move to the first posi-
tion along the a d
ditional sign “if the road is wet”.
The permanent display on the instrument panel screen is shown as you
pass the real traffic signs. The signs for entering and leaving towns activate
the display of the usual speed limits for that country on roads in populated
areas and national highways, even if the speed is not limited by an actual
traffic sign.
The end of a prohibition or limitation is not displayed. If you exceed the
speed limits shown, a warning will not appear. The system does not detect
areas with little traffic. The current legal provisions apply.
Connection and disconnection
● Connect or disconnect the assist system in the Settings
menu within the
Seat information system ⇒ page 62.
● ALTERNATIVELY: Pres
s the button for the driver assist systems on the
main beam lever.
Trailer
Connect or disconnect the additional display of speed limits and overtaking
prohibitions valid for trailers (trailer mode) in the Settings menu inside with-
in the Seat information system ⇒ page 62. 

223
Driving WARNING (Continued)
● If tyres are inflated at different pressures or a tyre pressure is too low,
a ty r
e may be damaged and burst resulting in a loss of control of the ve-
hicle.
● The driver is responsible for ensuring that all of the vehicle tyres are
correctly
inflated to the right pressure. The recommended tyre pressure
is indicated on the label ⇒ fig. 176.
● The tyre monitoring system can only operate correctly if all of the
tyre
s are inflated to the correct pressure when cold.
● Driving with tyres at the wrong pressure can cause damage to them
and res
ult in an accident. Ensure that the tyre pressures of all the tyres
correspond to the vehicle load.
● Before starting a journey, always inflated tyres to the correct pres-
sure.
● If

tyre pressure is too low then the tyre is subject to greater forces
and it ma
y be heated to such an extent that the tread can rupture and the
tyre will burst.
● With an overloaded vehicle at high speed, the tyres can overheat and
burs
t resulting in a loss of vehicle control.
● Tyre pressures which are too high or too low reduce the useful life of
the tyre, aff
ecting the vehicle's performance.
● If a tyre has not been punctured then it does not have to be changed
immediately; driv
e to the nearest specialist workshop at a moderate
speed and have the tyre checked and inflated to the correct pressure. 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. CAUTION
Failure to heed the warning lamps and text messages when they appear
ma y

result in faults in the vehicle. 
Tyre monitoring indicator Fig. 154 Detailed view of
the centr
e c

onsole: but-
ton for the tyre pressure
monitoring indicator.
The tyre monitor indicator compares wheel revolutions and, with this infor-
mation, the tr e

ad of each wheel using the ABS sensors. If the tread of a
wheel is changed, the tyre monitoring indicator will indicate as such on the
instrument panel. The wheel tread changes when:
● Tyre pressure is insufficient.
● Tyre structure is damaged.
● The vehicle is unbalanced because of a load.
● The wheels on an axle are subject to a heavier load (e.g. when towing a
trail
er). Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

253
Vehicle maintenance and cleaning
Cleaning leather upholstery Only use water and neutral cleaning products to clean imitation leather up-
hol
s
tery. CAUTION
On no account use solvents, wax polish, shoe cream, spot removers or simi-
lar m at

erials on imitation leather. These will stiffen the material, making it
more likely to crack sooner. 
Cleaning storage compartments, drinks holders and
ashtr a

y Cleaning storage compartments and drinks holders
Some st
or

age compartments and drinks holders have a removable rubber
mat.
● Use a clean, damp, lint-free cloth to clean parts.
● If this does not provide satisfactory results, we recommend using a spe-
cial

solvent-free plastic cleaning product.
Cleaning the ashtray
● Extract the ashtray and empty it.
● Clean the ashtray with a dishcloth.
Use a toothpic
k or similar to remove ash from the area where cigarettes are
stubbed out. Care and cleaning of plastic parts, wooden trim and the
instrument

panel ●
Use a clean, damp, lint-free cloth to clean parts.
● Clean plastic parts (inside and outside the vehicle) and the instrument
pane l

with a special solvent-free product for the care and cleaning of plas-
tic, approved by SEAT ⇒  .
● Wash wooden trims with a mi
ld soap and water solution. WARNING
Solvents cause the surfaces of the airbag modules to become porous. If
an airbag i s

accidentally triggered, the detachment of plastic parts could
cause serious injury.
● Never clean the instrument panel and the surfaces of the airbag mod-
ule

s with cleaners containing solvents. 
Cleaning seat belts If the seat belt is very dirty, the belt retractor may not work correctly thus
prev
entin

g the seat belt from operating correctly.
The seat belts should never be removed from the vehicle for cleaning.
● Use a soft brush to remove the worst dirt ⇒  .
● Pull the seat belt right out and leave it out.
● Clean dirty seat belts with a gentle so
ap and water solution.
● Wait until they are completely dry.
● Only allow the seat belt to retract when it is completely dry. Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

260
Accessories, parts replacement and modifications
Retro-fitting of two-way radios An exterior aerial is required for the use of two-way radios in the vehicle.
The retr
o-fittin
g of electrical or electronic appliances in the vehicle is sub-
ject to their approval for use in your vehicle. Under certain circumstances,
this could mean that your vehicle registration documents are no longer val-
id.
SEAT has approved your vehicle for use with two-way radios providing the
following conditions are observed:
● The exterior aerial must be mounted professionally.
● The maximum transmitting power is 10 watts.
An only e
xternal aerial is needed to give the equipment its optimal reach.
Check first with a qualified dealer if you wish to use a two-way radio with a
transmitting power of over 10 watts. The qualified workshops are familiar
with the technical options for installation. SEAT recommends visiting a Tech-
nical Service.
All legal requirements, together with the instructions for the use of two-way
radios must be observed. WARNING
If the two-way radio is not securely fastened in position, it could be sent
flyin g ar

ound the vehicle in the event of sharp braking, sudden manoeu-
vres or accident, causing injury.
● While driving, two-way radios must be securely fastened in position,
outside the r
adius of action of the airbags, or safely stowed away. WARNING
When using a two-way radio without a connection to an exterior aerial,
the max imum permitt

ed levels of electromagnetic radiation may be ex-
ceeded. This is also the case if the aerial has not been correctly installed.
● You should only use a two-way radio inside the vehicle if it has first
been correctly
connected to an exterior aerial. 
Information stored by the control units Your vehicle is fitted at the factory with a series of electronic control units
re
s

ponsible for the engine and gearbox management. In addition, the con-
trol units supervise the performance of the exhaust gas system and the air-
bag systems.
Therefore, while the vehicle is being driven, these electronic control units
are continuously analysing the vehicle data. In the event of faults or devia-
tions from the theoretical values, only this data is stored. Normally, the
warning lamps on the instrument panel light up in the event of faults.
This data can only be read and analysed using special equipment.
The storing of the data allows specialised workshops to detect and repair
faults. Stored data may include:
● Data relating to the engine or the gearbox
● Speed
● Direction of travel
● Braking force
● Detection of seat belt
The vehic
le control units never record conversations held by passengers in
the vehicle. 

261
Accessories, parts replacement and modifications
In vehicles equipped with an emergency call function via the mobile phone
or other app li
ances connected in the vehicle, it is possible to send the vehi-
cle position. If the control unit records an accident with airbag activation,
the system may automatically send a signal. This will depend on the net-
work operator. Normally, transmission is only possible in areas with good
coverage.
Event Data Recorder
The vehicle is not fitted with an event data recorder.
An event data recorder temporarily stores the vehicle information. There-
fore, in the event of accident, it is possible to obtain detailed information
about how the accident occurred. For example, in vehicles with airbag sys-
tems, data relating to speed of impact, seat belt status, seat positions and
airbag activation times may be stored. The volume of data depends on the
manufacturer.
Event data recorders can only be mounted with authorisation from the vehi-
cle owner and, in some countries, they are governed by local legislation.
Reprogramming control units
On the whole, all the data required for the component management is stor-
ed in the control units. The programming of certain convenience functions,
such as the convenience indicators, individual door opening and instruc-
tions on the display can be modified using special equipment at the work-
shop. If this is the case, the information and descriptions given in the in-
structions manual will not match the original functions. Therefore, SEAT rec-
ommends that any modifications are recorded in the section “Other work-
shop notes” in the Maintenance Programme.
The Technical Service must have a record of any modification to the pro-
gramming.
Reading the vehicle fault memory
There is a diagnostics connector in the vehicle interior for reading the vehi-
cle fault memory. The fault memory documents errors and deviations from
the theoretical values of the electronic control units. The diagnostics connector is in the driver's side footwell area, next to the
lever f
or opening the bonnet, below a cover.
The fault memory should only be read and reset by a Technical Service. 
Using a mobile telephone in a vehicle without connection
to an ext
erior aerial Mobile telephones transmit and receive radio waves, both when in use and
when on st
and-b

y. Scientific studies state that radio waves exceeding cer-
tain values may be harmful to the human body. International committees
and authorities have established limits and directives in order to ensure
electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones remains within certain limits
that do not endanger human health. However, there is no available conclu-
sive scientific evidence that cordless phones are completely safe.
Therefore, some experts recommend that use of mobile phone be kept to a
minimum until the results of current research are published.
When a mobile phone not connected to an exterior aerial is used inside the
vehicle, the electromagnetic radiation may be greater than if the mobile
phone were connected to a built-in aerial or to another exterior aerial.
If the vehicle is fitted with a suitable hands-free device, it will comply with
the legislation in many countries which only permits the use of mobile
phones inside vehicles using a hands-free device.
The hands-free system mounted at the factory has been designed for use
with conventional mobile phones and phones with Bluetooth technology.
Mobile phones should be placed on a suitable phone cradle. In addition,
the cradle should always be correctly fitted into the base plate. This ensures
that the mobile phone is securely fastened to the instrument panel and con-
nected to the exterior aerial of the vehicle.
If the mobile phone is connected to an aerial incorporated into the vehicle
or an exterior aerial connected to the vehicle, this will help to reduce the Safety First Operating instructions Practical tips Technical Data

266
Checking and refilling levels WARNING
Driving with insufficient fuel reserve could result in the vehicle breaking
down in tr affic
and a serious accident.
● If the fuel level is too low then the fuel supply to the engine can be-
come irre
gular especially on slopes.
● If the engine “is choked” or stalls due to lack of or irregularity of the
fuel s
upply, the power steering as well as all of the driver assistance sys-
tems including braking assistance will stop working.
● Always refuel when there is only one quarter of the fuel tank left to
avoid runnin
g out of fuel. CAUTION
● Always pay attention to any lit lamps and to the corresponding descrip-
tion s

and instructions to avoid damage to the vehicle.
● Never run the tank completely dry. An irregular fuel supply may lead to
ignition faults
and unburnt fuel could enter the exhaust system. This could
damage the catalytic converter filter or the diesel particulate filter! Note
The arrow next to the fuel pump symbol on the instrument panel ⇒ fig. 162
indic
ates the side of the vehicle on which the tank flap is located. Filling the tank with petrol or diesel Fig. 163 Open tank flap
with t
ank

cap attached to
the holder.
Before refuelling, always turn off the engine, the ignition, mobile tele- phones, aux
iliary heating and keep them off during refuelling.
Unscrewing the tank cap
● The tank flap is at the rear of the vehicle on the right.
● Press the rear of the tank flap to open it.
● Unscrew the tank cap anti-clockwise and insert it in the hole in the tank
flap hing
e ⇒ fig. 163.
Refilling
The correct petrol type for the vehicle is located on a sticker inside the fuel
tank flap ⇒ page 267.
● If the automatic filler nozzle is operated correctly, it will switch itself off
as soon a
s the tank is full ⇒  .
● Do not continue to refuel if it is turned off! Otherwise, this will fill the ex-
pan s

ion chamber and fuel may leak out if the ambient conditions are warm. 