towing Seat Alhambra 2017 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 13
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 control lamps light up
for a f
ew sec

onds when the ignition is switch-
ed on, signalling that the function is being
verified. They will switch off after a few sec-
onds.
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 128.
● 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 Control
and warnin g l
amps 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. 105
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. 106
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 268.
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 268. 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 control lamps light up
for a f
ew sec

onds when the ignition is switch-
ed on, signalling that the function is being
verified. They will switch off after a few sec-
onds.
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. 122

Operation
It flashes yellow
Steering column de-
viation.Gently turn the steering wheel to
and fro.
Steering wheel not
unlocked or locked.Remove the key from the ignition
and then switch the ignition
back on. Check the messages
displayed on the instrument
panel at the same time.
Do not drive on, if
the steering
column remains locked after the
ignition has been switched on.
Seek specialist assistance. Several warning and control lamps light up
f
or a f
ew sec

onds when the ignition is switch-
ed on, signalling that the function is being
verified. They will switch off after a few sec-
onds. WARNING
Observe the safety warnings ›››
in Control
and warnin g l
amps on page 105. Information on the steering
Steering column electronic lock
V
ehic
l

es with Keyless Access: the steering
column locks when the driver's door is
opened and the ignition is switched off.
Therefore, the vehicle should be at a stand-
still and, where applicable, the selector lever
in position P. If the driver door is opened before the igni-
tion is sw

itched off, the steering column elec-
tronic lock is activated via the ignition key or
the sensor built into the door handle.
Steering column mechanical lock
To prevent theft, we recommend you lock the
steering before leaving the vehicle.
Please engage steer-
ing lockUnlocking the steering
Parking the vehicle
››› page 187.Turn the steering wheel
slightly to release the
steering lock.
Remove the key from the
ignition.Insert the key in the igni-
tion lock.
Turn the steering wheel
slightly until you hear the
steering lock.Hold the steering wheel in
this position and switch
on the ignition. Electromechanical power steering
W
ith the po
w

er steering system, the assisted
steering function automatically adjusts ac-
cording to the vehicle speed, the steering tor-
que and the wheel turning angle. The power
steering only works when the engine is run-
ning.
You should remember that you will need con-
siderably more power than normal to steer
the vehicle if the power steering is not work-
ing correctly or not at all. Counter steering assistance system
The count

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.
182

DrivingDisplayMeaning

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 200. 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. ●
Do not to
w a trailer.
Between 1000 and 1500 kilometres (600 to
1000 miles), gradually increase power until
reaching the maximum speed and high en-
gine speeds.
Running in new tyres and brake pads ● Replacement of wheel rims and new tyres
›››
page 284
● Notes on the brakes ›››
page 190 For the sake of the environment
If the engine is run in gently, the life of the
engine w i

ll be increased and the engine oil
consumption reduced. Environmental compatibility
Environmental protection is a top priority in
the de
s
ign, c

hoice of materials and manufac-
ture of your new SEAT.
Constructive measures to encourage recy-
cling
● Joints and connections designed for easy
dismantlin
g
● Modular construction to facilitate disman-
tling
● Incr

eased use of single-grade materials. »
197
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Operation
Remove optional equipment and unnecessa-
r y
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 the petrol
engine manage-
ment.Take the vehicle to a specialised
workshop as soon as possible
and have the engine checked.

It lights up
Diesel engine glow
plug system.The engine glow plug system has
been activated. The engine can
be started straight away when
the lamp switches off. 
Flashes
Fault in the diesel
engine manage-
ment.If the lamp flashes while you are
driving, have the engine checked
by a specialised workshop as
soon as possible.

It lights up
Fault in the emis-
sion control system.Reduce speed and drive carefully
to the nearest specialised work-
shop to have the engine
checked.

Flashes
Combustion fault
which could dam-
age the catalytic
converter.Reduce speed and drive carefully
to the nearest specialised work-
shop to have the engine
checked.

It lights up
Diesel particulate
filter blocked›››
page 201 Several warning and control lamps light up
f
or a f
ew sec

onds when the ignition is switch-
ed on, signalling that the function is being
verified. They will switch off after a few sec-
onds. WARNING
Observe traffic regulations when cleaning the
diesel p

articulate filter while driving.200

Driver assistance systems
Auto Hold turns off automatically under the
f o
l
lowing conditions:
Manual gearboxAutomatic gearbox
1.If one of the conditions mentioned in table on
page 206 changes.
2.If the engine is “not running regularly” or if there is a malfunction.
3.When changing to idle
speed.If the selector lever is
placed in neutral (N).
4.If the engine is turned
off or stalls.If the engine is switch-
ed off.
5.If the driver accelerates
while pressing the
clutch in.If the vehicle is acceler-
ated.
6. When one of the wheels
has minimal contact
with the ground (e.g. on
uneven ground).WARNING
The Auto Hold technology is limited by the
la w

s of physics. The improved comfort provi-
ded by Auto Hold should never prompt you to
take risks.
● Never leave the vehicle running and with
the Auto Hol
d function switched on.
● Auto Hold cannot always stop the vehicle
uphill
and downhill (e.g. if the ground is slip-
pery or frozen). CAUTION
Before entering an automatic car wash, al-
wa y

s switch the Auto Hold function off, as it
could be damaged when the electronic park-
ing brake automatically engages. Start-Stop Function*
Fig. 207
Detailed view of the centre console:
St ar
t

-Stop function button With the Start-Stop system enabled, the en-
gine i
s
aut

omatically stopped when the vehi-
cle is at a standstill. The engine restarts auto-
matically when required.
The function is enabled automatically when-
ever the ignition is switched on. The instru-
ment panel displays information on the cur-
rent status. Vehicles with a manual gearbox
● When the vehicle is at a standstill, leave it
in neutral 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. »
207
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Driver assistance systemsFunctionNecessary operations
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 215. 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. 211 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. 210 C .
Sc r
een di

splay
The image displayed 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. 210 B and
››
›

Fig. 211 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.
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-
si
s

t)
Introduction 

›› ›

table on page 2
The Park Assist system helps the driver to
find a suitable 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 radio 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. »
211
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Driver assistance systemsOperations in vehicles with the optical parking
system (OPS)
Switching the dis-
play on automati-
cally:Select reverse gear with the igni-
tion switched on or the engine run-
ning. Mode 1 will be displayed.
Switching the dis-
play off manually:
Press a button to select the area on
the radio or the navigation system
››› Booklet Radio or ››› Booklet Navi-
gation system.
OR: press the
 button on the
screen.
OR: after switching off the ignition,
the rear assist image remains on
the screen for a short period.
Press button .
Switching off the
display by disen-
gaging reverse
gear:The OPS display will immediately
be shown.
Switching off the
display by driving
forwards:Drive forwards at more than ap-
prox. 10 km/h (6 mph). Things to note
1) Do not use the rear assist system in the fol-
lowing cases:
– If there is a fault in the dynamic chassis control (DCC).
– If the image displayed is not very clear or reliable (low
visibility or dirty lens).
– If the space behind the vehicle cannot be clearly or
completely recognised.
1) Do not use the rear assist system in the fol-
lowing cases:
– If the vehicle has been overloaded at the rear.
– If the driver is not familiar with the system.
– If the rear lid is open.
– If the position and installation angle of the camera
have been changed, e.g. in a rear-end collision. Have a
specialised workshop check the system.
2) Optical illusions of the camera (examples)
The rear assist camera produces two-dimensional im-
ages. Any cracks in or objects protruding from the
ground or from other vehicles are more difficult to spot
or cannot be seen due to a lack of depth in the image
displayed.
Objects or other vehicles may seem to be closer or fur-
ther away than what they really are:
– On changing from a flat surface to a slope or gradient.
– On changing from a slope or gradient to a flat surface.
– If the vehicle has been overloaded at the rear.
– On approaching protruding objects. These objects
may be outside the angle of vision of the camera when
reversing.
Cleaning the camera lens
K
eep the c
amer

a lens clean and clear of snow
and ice:
● Moisten the lens using a commercially
avail
able, alcohol-based glass cleaning 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. 217
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety

Driver assistance systems
Open the Assistants menu.
●  BSD
●  P arking Assist.
If the
verification box on the control panel is
checked , the functionality will be automat-
ically activated at ignition.
When the blind spot detector is ready to op-
erate, the indications in the external mirrors
will turn on briefly as confirmation.
The control lamp of the instrument panel in-
dicates the system's status.
When the vehicle is restarted, the last adjust-
ment in the system will remain active.
If the blind spot detector was automatically
deactivated, it will only be possible to restart
the system after turning the vehicle off and
restarting it.
Automatic deactivation of the blind spot de-
tector (BSD)
The radar sensors of the blind spot detector
with rear cross traffic alert will be automati-
cally deactivated when, among other rea-
sons, one of the sensors is detected to be
permanently covered. This may be the case if,
for example, there is a layer of snow or ice in
front of one of the sensors.
The relevant text message will appear in the
dash panel display Trailer mode
The Blind spot det

ector and the rear cross
traffic alert will be automatically deactivated
and it will be impossible to activate them if
the tow hitch is electrically connected to a
trailer or other similar object.
As soon as the driver starts to drive with a
trailer connected electrically to the vehicle, a
message will appear on the instrument panel
display indicating that the blind spot detec-
tor and the rear cross traffic alert are deacti-
vated. Once the trailer has been unhitched
from the vehicle, if you want to use the blind
spot detector and the rear cross traffic alert,
you will have to reactivate them in the corre-
sponding menu.
If the towing hitch is not factory equipped,
then the blind spot detector and the rear
cross traffic alert will have to be deactivated
manually when driving with a trailer.
Traffic signal detection
(Sign Assi

st)*
Introduction Sign Assist can help the driver with informa-
tion on s
peed limits
or if

overtaking is pro-
hibited at that moment. The traffic signs and
additional information detected by the sys-
tem is represented in the dash panel display and in the visual presentation of the naviga-
tion syst

em map.
Applicable countries:
Sign Assist is accepted in the following coun-
tries:
Andorra, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Fin-
land, France, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein,
Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway,
Austria, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Swe-
den, Switzerland, Spain, Czech Republic, Uni-
ted Kingdom, Vatican City. WARNING
The traffic signs and instructions shown by
Sign Ass i

st may differ from the current traffic
situation.
● The signs and highway code rules always
take pr
ecedence over the instructions and
display of Sign Assist.
● Adjust your speed and driving style to visi-
bility
, road, traffic and weather conditions.
● The system cannot always detect or cor-
rectly sho
w all the traffic signs. WARNING
The traffic sign detection is not a replacement
for driv er a

wareness.
● Adverse conditions of visibility, darkness,
snow
, rain and fog can cause the system not
to show the traffic signs or to show them er-
roneously. » 227
Technical data
Advice
Operation
Emergencies
Safety