2004 Alfa Romeo 156 Owner handbook (in English)

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
127
CLIMATE CONTROL
COMPRESSOR ON/OFF
ENABLE BUTTON
√
(fig. 109)
Pressing button (12)
√
enables the turn-
ing on of the climate control compressor.
This condition is shown by the lighting up of
the led placed on the button itself.
When the climate control compressor is
turned off, the leds on buttons (14)
AUTO
and (12)
√
go off; automatic inside air re-
circulation control is also excluded (both leds
off on button 7
v
) which always stays
off to prevent window misting; in any case,
the automatic operation of inside air recir-
culation can be resumed (though it is not
recommended) by pressing button 7
v
.
fig. 109
A0B0070m

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
128
When the climate control compressor is off,
it is not possible to admit air to the pas-
senger compartment with a temperature be-
low the outside temperature; in this case,
the value flashes on the display concerning
the temperature that cannot be reached
and the left led on button (14
AUTO
-
fig. 110) goes off.
The switching off of the climate control
compressor remains in storage even when
the engine has been stopped. To resume au-
tomatic control for switching on the climate
control compressor, press button (12) √
again, the button led will turn on, or press
button (14)
AUTO
; in which case, the other
manual settings set will be cancelled.
fig. 110
A0B0071m
Operation of the climate
control compressor is nec-
essary for cooling and dehumidify-
ing the air; it is advisable to keep
this function always on, to prevent
window misting problems.
WARNING

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
129
fig. 111
A0B0072m
INSIDE AIR RECIRCULATION
ON/OFF BUTTON
v
(fig. 111)
Inside air recirculation is controlled ac-
cording to three operating logics:
– automatic control, indicated by the turn-
ing on of the right led on the button;
– forced switching on (inside air recircu-
lation always on), indicated by the turning
on of the left led on the button (and by the
right led going off at the same time);
– forced switching off (inside air recircu-
lation always off, with air inlet from the out-
side), indicated by the turning off of both
leds.
These operating conditions are obtained
by pressing in sequence the inside air recir-
culation button (7)
v
.
When inside air recirculation is controlled
automatically by the system, the right led
on the air recirculation button (7)
v
stays on all the time and the left led shows
the air recirculation condition:
ON= air recirculation operating;
OFF= air recirculation off.If inside air recirculation has been switched
on or off manually, the led on button (14)
AUTO
turns off.In automatic operation, inside air recircu-
lation is switched on automatically when the
anti-pollution sensor detects the presence of
polluted air, for instance in cities, queues,
tunnels, and when the windscreen
wash/wiper is operated (with the charac-
teristic smell of spirit).

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
130
With the outside temper-
ature below 2°C the cli-
mate control compressor is unable
to work. It is therefore inadvisable
to use the inside air recirculation
function v
with low outside tem-
perature as windows may mist
over quickly.WARNING
The inside air recirculation
function makes it possible
to reach the required “heating” or
“cooling” conditions faster. It is
however inadvisable to use it on
rainy/cold days as it would con-
siderably increase the possibility of
the windows misting inside, espe-
cially if the climate control system
is off.
WARNING
It is advisable to turn on the
inside air recirculation sys-
tem in queues or tunnels to avoid
admitting polluted air from outside.
The prolonged use of this function
should however be avoided, espe-
cially with several persons on
board, to avoid the possibility of the
windows misting inside.
WARNING
In certain weather condi-
tions (e.g. outside temper-
ature around 0°C) and with auto-
matic air recirculation control on,
mist may form on the windows. In
this case press the inside air re-
circulation button (7)
v
, to
switch off recirculation (leds on
button off) and if necessary in-
crease the flow of air to the wind-
screen.
WARNING

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
131
BUTTON AUTO AUTOMATIC
OPERATION
(fig. 112)
When button (14)
AUTO
is pressed, the
system automatically regulates the amount
and distribution of the air admitted into the
passenger compartment, clearing all the pre-
vious manual settings.
This condition is indicated by the lighting
of both button leds.
When the right led, on button (14)
AUTO
,
is OFF, it indicates that one or several man-
ual operations have been carried out and,
therefore, that automatic control is not com-
plete (except for temperature control, which
is always automatic) indicated by the left
led on.
fig. 112
A0B0073m

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
132
fig. 113
A0B0074m
QUICK FRONT WINDOW
DEMISTING/DEFROSTING
BUTTON
(-
MAX
-DEF
function)
(fig. 113)
Pressing button (10)
-
the climate con-
trol automatically activates timed operation
of all the functions needed to quicken
demisting/defrosting of the windscreen and
front side windows, i.e.:
– it turns on the climate control compres-
sor;
– switches off inside air recirculation, if on
(both leds off);
– sets the maximum air temperature (HI)
on both displays (2) and (5);
– operates the fan at a predefined speed;
– directs the flow of air towards the wind-
screen and front side window vents;
– turns on rearscreen heating and, if pre-
sent, the wing mirror coils.
When the maximum demisting/defrost-
ing function is on, the led on button (10)
-
, the led on the rearscreen heating but-
ton (9)
(
and the led on button (12)
√
come on; at the same time the leds on
button (7)
v
go out.WARNINGIf the engine is not warm
enough, the function will not engage the
predefined fan speed immediately, to limit
the flow to the passenger compartment of
air that is not warm enough to demist the
windows.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
133
When the maximum demisting/defrost-
ing function is on, the only manual opera-
tions possible are manual adjustment of the
fan and switching rearscreen heating off.
Pressing one of the following buttons:
(10)
-
, (7)
v
, (11)
MONO
, (14)
AUTO
or (12)
√
the system switches off
the maximum demisting/defrosting func-
tion, resuming the system operating condi-
tions prior to turning it on, in addition to
activating the last function required, if any.
WING MIRROR AND
REARSCREEN DEFROSTING/
DEMISTING BUTTON
(
(fig. 114)
Pressing button (9)
(
, turns on demist-
ing/defrosting of the rearscreen and, if pre-
sent, the wing mirror coils.
The activation of this function is shown
by the turning on of the led on the button.
This function is timed and switches off au-
tomatically after 20 minutes, or pressing the
button again; the function is also switched
off when the engine is stopped and will not
be switched on again the next time the en-
gine is started.WARNING Rear heated window man-
ual on/off control prevails over automatic
activation decided by the climate control sys-
tem control unit.
fig. 114
A0B0075m

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
134
This function is timed and switches off au-
tomatically after 20 minutes, or pressing the
button again; the function is also switched
off when the engine is stopped and will not
be switched on again the next time the en-
gine is started.
WARNINGThe system turns on
rearscreen heating automatically if the tem-
perature is below 3°C.
WARNINGDo not apply stickers on the
inside of the rearscreen over the heating fil-
aments to avoid damage that might cause
it to stop working properly.
WARNINGWhen reconnecting the neg-
ative battery cable after having disconnected
it, wait for 2 minutes before turning the key
to enable the climate control system to re-
set actuator strokes properly.
POLLEN FILTER This filter has the specific capability of com-
bining the mechanical filtering of the air with
an electrostatic effect so that the outside air
admitted to the passenger compartment is
purified and free from particles such as dust,
pollen, etc.
In addition to the above, it also effectively
reduces the concentration of pollutants.
The filtering action takes place under all
air inlet conditions and it is clearly most ef-
fective with the windows shut.
Have the conditions of the filter checked by
Alfa Romeo Authorized Services at least once
a year, preferably on the onset of summer.If the vehicle is used mainly in polluted
or dusty areas it should be checked and if
necessary replaced, at shorter intervals.
Failure to replace the fil-
ter may considerably re-
duce the effectiveness of
the climate control system up to
blocking the air flow from the out-
lets and vents.