towing Seat Alhambra 2016 User Guide

Self-help
Note the instructions for towing
› ›
›
 page 50.
Fitting the towline anchorage to the rear for
vehicles without factory fitted tow hitch
● Take the towline anchorage from the vehi-
cle t
ool kit in the luggage compartment
››› page 82.
● Press on the upper cover and carefully re-
move it
back. This may require some
strength. Allow the cover to hang.
● Screw in the towline anchorage into its po-
sition antic
lockwise as far as it will go ››› .
U se a s
uit
able tool to firmly tighten the tow-
line anchorage in its location.
● After towing, remove the towline anchorage
by t
urning it clockwise and put the cover
back in place. CAUTION
● The to wline anc

horage must always be
completely and firmly tightened. Otherwise,
it could be released while towing and tow-
starting.
● Vehicles with a factory fitted towing brack-
et, can only
be used for towing with a tow
bar, specially designed to fit on a tow hitch
ball. Otherwise, the tow hitch ball and the ve-
hicle may be damaged. Otherwise, a tow rope
should be used. Towing advice
Towing requires some expertise and experi-
ence, e
s

pecially when using a tow rope. Both
drivers should be familiar with the technique
required for towing. For this reason, inexper-
ienced drivers should abstain.
While driving, avoid excessive traction forces
and jerking. When towing on an unpaved
road, there is always a risk of overloading
and damaging the anchorage points.
If the vehicle is towed, with the hazard warn-
ing lights on and the ignition switched on,
the turn signal may be used to indicate
changes of direction. Simply operate the turn
signal lever as usual. Meanwhile, the hazard
warning lights will go off. When the turn sig-
nal lever is returned to the rest position, the
hazard warning lights will be turned on auto-
matically.
Notes for the driver of the towed vehicle
● Leave the ignition on to avoid locking the
st eerin

g wheel, to release the electronic
parking brake and to activate the turn sig-
nals, the horn as well as the window wipers
and window washers.
● As the power assisted steering does not
work if
the engine is not running, you will
need more strength to steer than normally. ●
The brake mu
st be depressed must harder
as the brake servo does not operate. Avoid
hitting the towing vehicle.
● Note the instructions and information con-
tained in the Ins
truction Manual for the vehi-
cle to be towed.
Notes for the driver of the towing vehicle
● Accelerate gently and carefully. Avoid sud-
den manoeuvr
es.
● Brake well in advance than usual and brake
gently.
● Not

e the instructions and information con-
tained in the Ins
truction Manual for the vehi-
cle to be towed.
Emergency locking and unlock-
ing
Introduction Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›

 page 8,
›››
 page 10,
›››  page 12
The doors, rear lid and panoramic sliding
sunroof can be locked manually and partially
opened, for example if the key or the central
locking is damaged. »
89
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Emergencies
Control lamp It lights up
A vehicle exterior
lighting bulb is not
working.Replace the faulty bulb.
Several warning and indication lamps light
up for a f
ew sec

onds when the ignition is
switched on, signalling that the function is
being verified. They will switch off after a few
seconds.
Checking the bulbs of a trailer
For vehicles with the factory fitted towing
bracket, certain trailer lights are also control-
led if the power socket is correctly connected.
A fault on a trailer turn signal is indicated on
the instrument panel by the turn signal blink-
ing twice as fast (  or ) ›››
page 130.
● General fault of all turn signals on one side.
● Fault in one rear light (on some models, al-
so the re gi

stration light).
● Fault in two brake lights. WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ›››
in Warning
and indication l amp
s on page 105. Note
A fault in the LED on the rear lights will not be
indicat ed. Ho

wever, if the fault affects all the
LEDs then this will be indicated by the control
lamp . To replace halogen headlight bulbs
Fig. 106
In the engine compartment: left-
h and s
ide he

adlight lining. A dipped beam
he a
dlights, B daytime driving lights and
C main beam headlights and side lights Fig. 107
Left headlight. There is no need to remove the headlight to
r
ep
l

ace bulbs.
Complete operations only in the sequence
given:
Turn signals (small bulb holder)
1.Open the bonnet  ››› page 272.
2.Rotate the bulb holder 1 to the left all the way
and pull it out backwards together with the bulb.
3.Depending on the model, the bulb is removed di-
rectly from the bulb holder or it may need to be ro-
tated and then removed.
4.Replace the faulty bulb with a new identical bulb.
5.Place the bulb holder in the headlight and rotate
to the right all the way.
Dipped beam A and daytime lights B
1.Open the bonnet 
››› page 272. 92

Operation
Rear lid Intr oduction Read the additional information carefully
›› ›
 page 10 WARNING
Careless and unsuitable locking, opening and
clo s

ing of the rear lid can cause accidents
and serious injury.
● Open and close the rear lid only when no-
body is
in the way.
● Do not close the rear lid by pushing it down
with y
our hand on the rear window. This
could break and cause injury.
● Ensure the rear lid is locked after closing,
otherwi
se, it may open unexpectedly while
driving. A closed rear lid should be flush with
the corresponding parts of the bodywork.
● Always keep the rear lid closed while driv-
ing to av
oid toxic gases entering the vehicle
interior.
● Do not open the rear lid when there is a
load c
arrier installed. Likewise, the boot
hatch cannot be opened when a load is at-
tached to it, for example bicycles. An open
rear lid could close itself if there is an addi-
tional weight on it. If necessary, press down
on the rear lid and remove the load.
● Close and lock both the rear lid and all the
other doors when
you are not using the vehi- cle. Ensure that nobody remains inside the
vehic
l

e.
● Never allow children to play inside or
around the
vehicle without supervision, espe-
cially if the rear lid is open. Children could
enter the luggage compartment, close the
rear lid and become trapped. Depending on
the time of the year, temperatures inside a
locked and closed vehicle can be extremely
high or extremely low resulting in serious in-
juries and illness or even death, particularly
for young children.
● Never leave children or disabled people
alone in the v
ehicle. If the vehicle key or the
central locking button is used, they may be
locked in the vehicle. WARNING
Unsuitable or careless unlocking and opening
of the r e

ar lid could cause serious injuries.
● If there is a loaded luggage carrier on the
rear lid, it
could be unlocked or open but not
recognised as such. An unlocked or open rear
lid could open unexpectedly while driving. CAUTION
Before opening the rear lid, ensure that there
is s

ufficient free space to open and close it,
for example if you are towing a trailer or in a
garage. Warning lamp

It lights up
The rear lid is open
or not correctly
shut.
 Stop driving immediately!
Open the rear lid and close it
again. Several warning and indication lamps light
up for a f
ew sec

onds when the ignition is
switched on, signalling that the function is
being verified. They will switch off after a few
seconds.
A warning lamp appears on the dash panel
 if the boot hatch is open or not properly
closed.
Depending on the vehicle equipment, a sym-
bol may be displayed on the dash panel
screen instead of the warning lamp. The indi-
cation is also visible when the ignition is
switched off. The indication disappears
around 15 seconds after the vehicle has
been locked. WARNING
If the rear lid is not correctly closed, it could
open une xpect

edly when driving and cause
serious injuries.
● Always stop immediately and close the rear
lid.
● Ensure that the rear lid has been locked in-
to pl
ace by the element on the lock carrier
when you close it. 124

Driving
Counter steering assistance system
The c ou
nt
er steering assistance system helps
the driver in critical situations. Additional
steering power helps the driver when counter
steering. WARNING
The counter steering assistance system com-
bined w ith E

SC helps the driver to steer the
vehicle in critical driving conditions. At all
times, it is the driver who steers the vehicle.
The counter steering system does not steer
the vehicle. Stopping and starting the en-
gine
Intr oduction Immobiliser display
When an in
v
alid k

ey is used or in the event of
a system fault,  or Immobiliser on is
displayed on the instrument panel. The en-
gine cannot be started.
Pushing or towing
For technical reasons, the vehicle must not
be push- or tow-started. Jump starting is pref-
erable. WARNING
Turning off the engine while driving will make
st op

ping the vehicle difficult; this could even
result in the loss of control causing an acci-
dent with serious consequences.
● The assisted braking and steering systems,
the airbag sys
tem, seat belts and certain
safety equipment are only active while the
engine is running.
● The engine should only be switched off
when the vehic
le is at a standstill. WARNING
While the engine is running or starting it
cou l

d help reduce the risk of serious injury.
● Never start or leave the engine running in
poorly v
entilated or closed spaces. Exhaust
gas contains carbon monoxide, a toxic, col-
ourless and odourless gas. Carbon monoxide
can cause people to lose consciousness. It
can also cause death.
● Never leave the vehicle unattended if the
engine is
running. The vehicle could move off
suddenly or something unexpected could
happen resulting in damage and serious in-
jury.
● Never use start boosters. Cold start sprays
coul
d explode or increase the engine speed
unexpectedly. WARNING
The components of the exhaust system reach
ver y

high temperatures. This could cause a
fire and considerable damage.
● Always park your vehicle so that no part of
the exhau
st system can come in contact with
flammable materials (such as wood, leaves,
dried grass, spilled fuel, etc.).
● Do not apply additional underseal or anti-
corro
sion coatings to the exhaust pipes, cata-
lytic converter, heat shields or the diesel par-
ticulate filter. Ignition lock
Fig. 199
Vehicle key positions Read the additional information carefully
› ›
›

 page 23 »
185
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Driving
WARNING
Rapid acceleration can cause loss of traction
and skid din
g, especially on slippery ground.
This could cause loss of control of the vehicle
resulting in an accident and considerable
damage.
● Only use kick-down and rapid acceleration
when weather c
onditions, surface conditions
and traffic conditions permit; accelerate and
drive in a manner that does not endanger
other road users.
● Please remember that the driven wheels
can slip and the
vehicle can skid if the ASR is
turned off, especially on slippery ground.
● Turn on the ASR after accelerating! CAUTION
● If y

ou stop on a hill with a gear range en-
gaged, do not try to prevent the vehicle from
rolling back by pressing on the accelerator.
This could cause overheating and damage the
automatic gearbox.
● Never allow the vehicle to move with the
gear sel
ector lever in N, especially with the
engine turned off. The automatic gearbox will
not be lubricated and could be damaged. Recommended gear display
In some vehicles, the recommended gear for
r
educ
in

g fuel consumption is displayed on
the instrument panel:
DisplayMeaning 
Optimum gear.

Recommendation to change up a gear.

Recommendation to change down a
gear.
Information for “cleaning” the diesel partic-
ul
at

e filter
The exhaust gas system control recognises
when the diesel particulate filter is blocked,
and helps to clean it by recommending a spe-
cific gear for driving. It may therefore be nec-
essary to drive with the engine at an excep-
tionally high speed ›››
page 202. WARNING
The recommended gear display is intended as
a guideline only; it shou

ld never replace the
driver's attention to driving carefully.
● Responsibility for selecting the correct gear
for eac
h situation continues to lie with the
driver, for example when overtaking, climb-
ing a hill or towing a trailer. For the sake of the environment
Selecting the most appropriate gear for the
sit uation w

ill help you to save fuel. Note
The recommended gear display is switched
off when the c lut

ch pedal is pressed. Run-in and economical driving
Ru nnin

g in Please observe the instructions for running-in
new components.
R u

nning-in the engine
The engine needs to be run-in over the first
1500 km (1000 miles). During its first few
hours of running, the internal friction in the
engine is greater than later on when all the
moving parts have bedded down.
How the vehicle is driven for the first
1500 km (1000 miles) influences the future
engine performance. Throughout the life of
the vehicle, it should be driven at a moderate
speed – especially when the engine is cold –
this will reduce engine wear and increase its
useful life. Never drive at extremely low en-
gine speeds. Always engage a lower gear
when the engine works “irregularly”. For the
first 1000 km or 600 miles, please note:
● Do not use full throttle.
● Do not force the engine above two thirds of
its m ax

imum speed. »
199
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
The engine takes a long time to warm up
when it i
s
idling. Mechanical wear and pollu-
tant emissions are also especially high dur-
ing this initial warm-up phase. It is therefore
best to drive off immediately after starting
the engine. Avoid running the engine at high
speed.
Adjusting type pressures.
Having the correct pressure in your tyres
helps to reduce rolling resistance and, as a
result reduces fuel consumption. Increasing
the tyre pressure slightly (+0.2 bar
[2.9 psi/20 kPa]) can help to save fuel.
If you are prepared to accept a slight reduc-
tion in comfort, the tyres may be filled to the
pressures recommended for a fully-loaded
vehicle. This is also valid when driving alone
without luggage.
When you buy new tyres, make sure they are
optimised for minimum rolling resistance.
Avoid carrying unnecessary loads
The lighter the vehicle, the more economical
and ecological the driving style. For example,
an additional weight of 100 kg will increase
fuel consumption up to 0.3 l/100 km.
Remove any unnecessary objects or loads
from the vehicle. Remove optional equipment and unnecessa-
ry ac
cessories
The more aerodynamic the vehicle, the lower
the fuel consumption. Optional equipment
and accessories (such as roof racks or bike
carriers) reduce the aerodynamic benefits of
the vehicle.
Therefore, we recommend you remove all op-
tional and unnecessary equipment and racks,
especially if you intend to drive at high
speeds.
Other factors which increase fuel consump-
tion (examples):
● Fault in engine management.
● Driving on hills.
● Trailer towing. WARNING
Always adapt your speed and the distance to
the v ehic

les ahead in line with visibility,
weather conditions, the condition of the road
and the traffic situation. Engine management and ex-
h
au
s

t gas purification system
Introduction WARNING
The components of the exhaust system reach
ver y

high temperatures. This could cause a
fire.
● Always park your vehicle so that no part of
the exhau
st system can come in contact with
flammable materials (such as dried grass).
● Do not apply additional underseal or anti-
corro
sion coatings to the exhaust pipes, cata-
lytic converter, heat shields or the diesel par-
ticulate filter. Control lamps

It lights up
Fault in engine
management (Elec-
tronic Power Con-
trol).Take the vehicle to a specialised
workshop as soon as possible
and have the engine checked.

It lights up
Pre-heating a diesel
engine before start-
ing the engine.›››
page 185 202

Operation
Vehicles with a manual gearbox
● When the vehicle is at a standstill, leave it
in neutr al
and t
ake your foot off the clutch.
The engine switches off.
● Simply depress the clutch pedal to move
off again.
V

ehicles with an automatic gearbox
● When the vehicle is at a standstill, depress
the brake or k
eep it pressed down. The en-
gine switches off.
● The engine will start again as soon as you
rele
ase the brake pedal.
● With the selector lever set to position P, the
engine wi
ll not start until a range of gears is
selected or the accelerator pedal is de-
pressed.
Important conditions for the engine to auto-
matically switch off
● The driver seat belt must be buckled.
● The driver door must be closed.
● The bonnet must be closed.
● The factory-fitted towing bracket must not
be electrical
ly connected to a trailer.
● A minimum engine temperature has been
reac
hed.
● The steering wheel must not be turned
more than 270 de
grees.
● The vehicle has moved since the last stop. ●
In vehic
les with Climatronic: the tempera-
ture inside the vehicle is within the pre-set
temperature range.
● The temperature set is neither very high nor
very
low.
● The air conditioning defrost function is not
switc
hed on.
● In vehicles with Climatronic: the blower has
not been manual
ly set to a high speed.
● The power level of the vehicle's battery is
sufficient
.
● The vehicle's battery temperature is neither
too high nor too lo
w.
● The vehicle is not on a steep gradient or
slope.
● The front

wheels are not overly turned.
● The heated windscreen is not switched on.
● Reverse gear is not engaged.
● The park assist system is not switched on.
Conditions
for automatically restarting the
engine
The engine may automatically restart under
the following conditions:
● If the vehicle interior is too hot or too cold.
● If the vehicle moves.
● If the vehicle's battery voltage drops. Conditions requiring the key to restart the
engine
The engine mu

st be started manually under
the following conditions:
● If the driver unbuckles his/her seat belt.
● If the driver door is opened.
● If the bonnet is opened.
● In vehicles with a manual gearbox: if a gear
has
been selected.
Switching Start-Stop mode on and off man-
ually
● Press the  button on the centre console
› ›
›

Fig. 208.
● The button will light up when the Start-Stop
function i
s switched off.
The engine will start immediately if the vehi-
cle is in Stop mode when it is switched off
manually. WARNING
The brake servo and the power steering do
not w ork

when the engine is switched off.
● Never allow the vehicle to move when the
engine is
switched off. CAUTION
Using the Start-Stop function for a long peri-
od at v

ery high outside temperatures could
damage the vehicle's battery. 210

Driver assistance systems
Optical parking system* (OPS) Fig. 211
On-screen OPS display: A has de-
t ect
ed an o
bstacle in the collision zone; Bhas detected an obstacle in the segment;
Czone recorded behind the vehicle.
Fig. 212
On-screen OPS display: A has de-
t ect
ed an o

bstacle in the segment; B restric-
t ed ar e
a in front of the vehicle. The optical parking system is an accessory to
the P
ark
in

g distance warning system ›››
page 212 and the park assist system
››
› page 214.
The zone recorded by the sensors in front of
and behind the vehicle is displayed on the
factory-fitted radio or navigation system
screen. Any obstacles are displayed in rela-
tion to the vehicle ››› .
FunctionNecessary operations
Switching the
display on:Switch on the parking distance
warning system
››› page 212 or the
park assist system ››› page 214. The
OPS switches on automatically.
Switching the
display off man-
ually:Press a zone selection button on the
factory-fitted radio or navigation
system
OR: briefly press the function button
 or RVC on the screen.
Switching the
display off man-
ually:
Drive forwards at more than about
10-15 km/h (6-9 mph).
Select the reverse gear on vehicles
with rear assist
››› page 217. The
display changes to the image of the
camera. Zones explored
The
z
one in whic

h obstacles are recognised
runs to a distance of around 120 cm from the
front of the vehicle and up to 60 cm to the
side ›››
Fig. 212 B . Behind the vehicle, the
z one an
aly

sed reaches a distance of up to
160 cm and around 60 cm to the sides
››› Fig. 211 C .Screen display
The im
ag
e di

splayed represents the super-
vised zones in several segments. As the vehi-
cle moves closer to an obstacle, the segment
moves closer to the vehicle displayed
››› Fig. 211 B and
›››
Fig. 212
A . When the
penu ltim
at

e segment is displayed, this
means that the vehicle has reached the colli-
sion zone. Stop the vehicle!
Distance from the
vehicle to the ob-
stacleAudible
warn- ing
Displayed in
colour on the
screen: colour
of the segment if an obstacleis recognised
Front: approx. 31 -120 cm
Behind: approx. 31 -
160 cmBeeping soundYellow
Approximately 0 –
30 cm in front or be-
hind a)Perma-
nent
soundRed
a) The permanent sound starts at a somewhat greater distance
on vehicles with a factory-fitted towing bracket.
With towing bracket
A specific image is displayed on the screen of
vehicles with a factory-fitted towing bracket
and an electrically connected trailer. In this
case, the distances behind the vehicle are
not indicated. »
213
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
Switching the parking sensor system sound
on and off
If the  button on the radio or navigation
sy s
t
em screen may mute the sound of OPS
warnings. To switch the warnings back on,
press the button again briefly.
When the OPS is switched off and back on
again, muting is cancelled. Error messages
cannot be switched off. WARNING
Do not be distracted from the traffic when
lookin g at

the screen. Park Assist system* (Park As-
s
i
s

t)
Introduction The Park Assist system helps the driver to
find a s
uit
ab

le place to park, to insert the ve-
hicle into parallel and perpendicular parking
places and to leave parallel parking places.
The Park Assist system is limited to the sys-
tem abilities and requires that the driver is
especially attentive ››› .
The p ark
in

g sensor system is a component of
the Park Assist system that helps to park the
vehicle. For vehicles with the optical parking system
(OPS), the ra

dio navigation systems screen
displays the detected zones in front of and
behind the vehicle, indicating - within the
limits of the system - the position of obsta-
cles in relation to the vehicle.
The park assist system cannot be switched
on if the factory-fitted towing bracket is elec-
trically connected to a trailer. WARNING
Despite the assistance provided by the park
as s

ist system, do not run any risks when
parking. The system is not a replacement for
driver awareness.
● Unintentional movements of the vehicle
coul
d cause serious injury.
● Adjust your speed and driving style to visi-
bility
, road, traffic and weather conditions.
● The surface of certain objects and items of
clothing and e
xternal sound sources may
have a negative affect on the park assist sig-
nals or on the system sensors or may not re-
flect its signals.
● The sensors have blind spots in which ob-
stac
les and people are not registered.
● Always observe the area around the vehi-
cle, a
s the sensors do not always detect
small children, animals or objects. CAUTION
● The park a

ssist system aims exclusively at
other parked vehicles, without taking curbs
or other circumstances into account. Make
sure you do not damage the tyres and wheel
rims when parking. Where necessary, stop
manoeuvring to avoid damaging the vehicle.
● The sensors may not always be able to de-
tect o
bjects such as trailer draw bars, thin
rails, fences, posts and trees, etc. This could
result in damage to your car.
● Although the parking distance warning sys-
tem detect
s and warns of the presence of an
obstacle, the obstacle could disappear from
the angle of measurement of the sensors if it
is too high or low and the system would no
longer show it. Therefore, it will not warn you
of these objects. Ignoring the warnings of the
parking sensor system could cause consider-
able damage to the vehicle. This is also valid
when using the park assist (e.g. to park be-
hind a truck or motorcycle). Therefore, always
keep a close watch on the area in front of and
behind the vehicle while parking, and inter-
vene promptly if necessary.
● To ensure that the system works properly,
the bumper sensor
s must be kept clean, free
of ice and snow and uncovered.
● The bumper sensors may become damaged
or misa
ligned, for example, when parking.
● When cleaning the sensors with high-pres-
sure or s
team cleaning equipment, spray the
sensors briefly at a distance of no less than
10 cm. 214

Operation
agent and clean the lens with a dry cloth
› ›
›
.
● Remove snow using a small brush.
● Use de-icing spray to remove any ice ››
›
.
CAUTION
● Never u se abr

asive cleaners to clean the
camera lens.
● Never remove snow or ice from the camera
lens
using warm or hot water. This could
damage the lens. Note
● SEA T r

ecommends that you practise park-
ing with the rear assist system in a quiet lo-
cation or in a car park to become familiar with
the system, including the orientation lines
and their function.
● The orientation lines will not be displayed
on the scr
een if the rear lid is open or the fac-
tory-fitted towing bracket is electrically con-
nected to a trailer. Parking perpendicular to the road
(mode 1)
Fig. 217
Display: orientation lines for the
p ark
in

g space behind the vehicle Summary of the orientation points
M
e
anin

g of orientation lines displayed on the
screen ››› Fig. 217. All of the lengths of the
orientation lines use a vehicle located on a
horizontal surface as reference.
Red: safety distance, i.e. road area loca-
ted up to 40 cm behind the vehicle.
Green: prolongation of the rear of the ve-
hicle (somewhat enlarged). The area dis-
played green ends around 2 metres be-
hind the vehicle, on the road.
Yellow: prolongation of the rear of the ve-
hicle as the steering wheel turns. The
area displayed yellow ends around 3 me-
tres behind the vehicle, on the road.
1 2
3 Parking
●
Stop the vehicle in front of a space and se-
l ect
r

everse gear.
● Reverse slowly and turn the steering wheel
so that the
yellow orientation lines guide you
towards the space ››› Fig. 217 3 .
● Align the vehicle straight in the parking
p l
ac

e using the help of the green orientation
lines.
Parking parallel to the road (mode 2) Fig. 218
Display: orientation lines and surfa-
c e
s

for the space behind the vehicle After applying the turn signal, the lines and
s
ur
f

aces not required are deleted.
Summary of the orientation points
Meaning of orientation lines and surfaces
displayed on the screen ››› Fig. 218. All of the
220