User manual ALFA ROMEO ALFA 159

[. . . ] Your Alfa 159 has been designed to guarantee the safety, comfort and driving pleasure typical of Alfa Romeo. This booklet will help you to get to know the characteristics and operation of your car. The following pages contain all the indications necessary for you to be able to maintain the high standards of performance, quality, safety and respect for the environment which characterize this Alfa 159. The enclosed Warranty Booklet also contains the regulations, the warranty certificate and a guide to the services offered by Alfa Romeo. [. . . ] Window bags have been designed for protecting the head of front and rear occupants in the event of side crash, thanks to the wide cushion inflation surface. In minor side crashes (for which the restraining action of the seat belts is sufficient), the air bags are not deployed. Also in this case it is of vital importance to wear the seat belts since in case of side crash they guarantee proper positioning of the occupant and prevent the occupants to be pitched out of the car in case of violent crashes. 146 INDEX TECHNICAL CAR SPECIFICATIONS MAINTENANCE IN AN EMERGENCY WARNING LIGHTS AND MESSAGES IMPORTANT The triggering of pretensioners, front air bags and side bags is decided in a differentiated manner according to the type of impact. The failure to deploy one or more of them does not mean that the system is not working properly. WARNING WARNING WARNING Never lean head, arms and elbows out of the window. WARNING 147 INDEX Do not cover the backrest of front seats with trims or covers that are not suitable to be used with side bags. WARNING If the car has been stolen or an attempt to steal it has been made, if it has been subjected to vandals or floods, have the air bag system checked by Alfa Romeo Authorized Services. TECHNICAL CAR SPECIFICATIONS MAINTENANCE IN AN EMERGENCY Never rest head, arms and elbows on the door, on the windows and in the window bag unfolding area to prevent possible injuries during the inflation phase. If when fitting the key into the ignition device, the warning light ¬ does not turn on or if it stays on when travelling (on certain versions together with the message on the display) there could be a failure in safety systems; in this event air bags or pretensioners could not trigger in case of impact or, in a minor number of cases, they could trigger accidentally. Contact Alfa Romeo Authorized Services immediately to have the system checked. WARNING Always keep your hands on the steering wheel rim when driving, so that if the air bag is triggered, it can inflate without meeting any obstacles which could cause serious harm to you. Do not drive with the body bent forwards, keep the seat back rest in the erect position and lean your back well against it. WARNING LIGHTS AND MESSAGES CORRECT USE OF THE CAR Never travel with objects on your lap, in front of your chest or with a pipe, pencil, etc. between your lips; injury may result in the event of the air bag being triggered. SAFETY DEVICES DASHBOARD AND CONTROLS GENERAL WARNINGS WARNING DASHBOARD AND CONTROLS WARNING WARNING WARNING 148 INDEX TECHNICAL CAR SPECIFICATIONS MAINTENANCE Remember that with the key fitted into the ignition device and engine off, the air bags may be triggered on a stationary car if it is bumped by another moving car. Therefore, never seat children on the front seat even when the car is stationary. On the other hand remember that if the key is not fitted into the ignition device, no safety system (air bags or pretensioners) is triggered in the event of an impact; in this case, failure to come into action cannot be considered as a sign that the system is not working properly. When the key is fitted into the ignition device, the warning light F (with passenger's front air bags deactivation switch at ON) turns on and flashes for few seconds to remind that passenger's front air bag, knees air bag and side bag will be deployed in a crash, after which it should go off. CORRECT USE OF THE CAR The front air bag is triggered for shocks greater in magnitude than the pretensioners. For impacts between these two thresholds, it is therefore normal that only the pretensioners are triggered. WARNING WARNING LIGHTS AND MESSAGES SAFETY DEVICES WARNING Do not hook rigid objects to the coat hooks and to the support handles. WARNING Never wash seat backrests with pressurised water or steam (by hand or at automatic seat washing stations). IN AN EMERGENCY The air bag does not substitute the seat belts, but only increases their effectiveness. Moreover, since the front air bags do not come into operation in the event of front impact at low speed, side collisions, bumps from behind or overturning, in these circumstances the occupants would only be protected by the seat belts which must therefore always be fastened. ENGINE STARTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164 149 INDEX TECHNICAL CAR SPECIFICATIONS MAINTENANCE IN AN EMERGENCY WARNING CORRECT USE LIGHTS AND OF THE CAR MESSAGES SAFETY DEVICES DASHBOARD AND CONTROLS CORRECT USE OF THE CAR DASHBOARD AND CONTROLS ENGINE STARTING The car is fitted with an electronic engine immobilising system. If the engine fails to start, see paragraph "Alfa Romeo CODE system" in section "Dashboard and controls". IMPORTANT Tampering with the ignition device can cause unrequired steering lock. IMPORTANT Fit completely the electronic key into the ignition device until it locks into place. WARNING LIGHTS AND CORRECT USE MESSAGES OF THE CAR IMPORTANT Never take the electronic key out of the ignition device while the car is moving unless you have to carry out an emergency removal (see paragraph "Removing the electronic key from the ignition device in an emergency"), this ensures that the steering column lock is deactivated while the car is moving (e. g. : towing the car). SAFETY DEVICES When the engine is switched off never leave the electronic key into the ignition device to prevent pointless current absorption from draining the batter. WARNING 150 INDEX TECHNICAL CAR SPECIFICATIONS MAINTENANCE IN AN EMERGENCY We recommend that during the initial period you do not drive to full car performance (e. g. : excessive acceleration, long journeys at top speed, sharp braking, etc. ). Running the engine in confined areas is extremely dangerous. The engine consumes oxygen and produces carbon monoxide which is a highly toxic and lethal gas. Proceed as follows: Ensure that the handbrake is up; Fully press the clutch pedal, without pressing the accelerator; Put the gear lever neutral; Fit the electronic key into the ignition device to stop limit; Briefly press the START/STOP button. With engine off and electronic key inserted in the ignition device, it is possible to operate the automatic ignition briefly pressing the START/STOP button and keeping the clutch pedal pressed. IMPORTANT It is possible to start the engine keeping pressed only the brake pedal. Then press the START/STOP button and release it as soon as the engine starts. Proceed as follows: Ensure that the handbrake is up; Fully press the clutch pedal, without pressing the accelerator; Put the gear lever neutral; fit the electronic key down into the ignition device until it stops. The instrument panel warning light m will turn on; Wait for the warning light m to turn off. The hotter the engine is, the quicker this will happen; Briefly press the START/STOP button as soon as the warning light m turns on. Waiting for too long means making spark plugs heating useless. 151 INDEX TECHNICAL CAR SPECIFICATIONS MAINTENANCE IN AN EMERGENCY WARNING CORRECT USE LIGHTS AND OF THE CAR MESSAGES SAFETY DEVICES DASHBOARD AND CONTROLS STARTING PROCEDURE FOR PETROL VERSIONS The starter automatically operates until the engine starts. STARTING PROCEDURE FOR DIESEL VERSIONS DASHBOARD AND CONTROLS The starter automatically operates until the engine starts. With engine off and electronic key inserted in the ignition device, it is possible to operate the automatic ignition briefly pressing the START/STOP button and keeping the clutch pedal pressed. [. . . ] 190 Radio frequency remote control: ministerial certifications . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Reconfigurable multifunction display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244 321 INDEX TECHNICAL CAR SPECIFICATIONS MAINTENANCE IN AN EMERGENCY WARNING LIGHTS AND MESSAGES CORRECT USE OF THE CAR Parking lights ­ control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257 DASHBOARD AND CONTROLS PROVISIONS FOR THE PROCESSING OF A VEHICLE AT THE END OF ITS LIFE-CYCLE For years now Alfa Romeo has been developing its global commitment towards the safeguarding and protection of the Environment through the continuous improvement of its production processes and the making of increasingly more "eco friendly" products. [. . . ]