2004 Alfa Romeo 156 climate control

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
114
Cooling adjustment
Proceed as follows:
– turn off inside air re-circulation (if on);
– turn knob (1) counterclockwise to re-
duce temperature;
– turn knob (4) counterclockwise to re-
duce the fan speed.
LOOKING AFTER THE SYSTEMDuring the winter the climate control sys-
tem must be turned on at least once a
month for about minutes.
Before summer, have the system checked
at Alfa Romeo Authorized Service.
AUTOMATIC
TWO-ZONE CLIMATE
CONTROL SYSTEMTo start the system (fig. 100):
– turn the knob rings to set the required
temperatures (driver’s side – passenger’s
side).
– press the
AUTO
button.
WARNINGThe climate control system
makes it possible to adjust the temperatures
required for the two sides with a maximum
difference of 7°C between the driver’s and
the passenger’s sides.
WARNINGThe climate control com-
pressor works only when the engine is run-
ning and the outside temperature is more
than 2°C.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
115
For more detailed information on the sys-
tem and how to make the best use of it,
read the instructions given in the following
pages.The coolant used for the
climate control system is
R134a which meets cur-
rent regulations and does not harm
the environment in the event of ac-
cidental spillage.
Absolutely avoid the use of other
fluids which are incompatible with
the system components.fig. 100
A0B0382m
GENERALThe car is equipped with a two-zone cli-
mate control system, controlled by an elec-
tronic control unit which makes it possible
to separately adjust the air temperature on
the driver’s side and on the passenger’s side.
To obtain optimum temperature control in
the two areas of the passenger compart-
ment, the system has an outside sensor, a
passenger compartment sensor and a two-
zone sun ray sensor.
On some versions, the system is integrated
with an incipient misting sensor installed be-
hind the internal rearview mirror, which is
able to “monitor” a predefined area of the
windscreen inner surface which can auto-
matically act on the system to prevent or re-
duce misting, through a series of operations
such as: opening air recirculation, enabling
compressor, air flow to the windscreen, fan
speed sufficient for demisting; and, in case
of heavy misting, enabling the
MAX
-DEF
function.
The climate control com-
pressor cannot work when
the outside temperature is less
than 2°C. Therefore, it is recom-
mended that the internal air recir-
culation function
v
is not used
when the outside temperature is
low, as the windows could mist
over rapidly.
WARNING

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
116
The anti-pollution sensor
is placed in the air flow in
front of the combined par-
ticle activated carbon filter and,
therefore, must be protected
against possible compressed air
jets produced by cleaning equip-
ment. Moreover, the water col-
lected from the windscreen wipers
should not come into contact with
the sensor: otherwise, the internal
air recirculation function could be
disabled for long periods.
WARNINGThe demisting procedure is
enabled every time the ignition key is turned
to MAR, or pressing the
AUTO
button.
When this procedure is working it can be
turned off pressing one of the following but-
tons: compressor, air recirculation, air dis-
tribution, air flow. This operation inhibits the
incipient misting sensor signal until the AUTO
button is pressed again or the next time the
ignition key is turned to MAR.
On certain versions, the system is inte-
grated by an anti-pollution sensor that is able
to switch on the inside air recirculation func-
tion automatically, to reduce the unpleasant
smell of polluted air when driving in urban
areas, queues, tunnels, and when the wind-
screen wash/wiper is operated (with the
typical smell of spirits).WARNINGThe function of the anti-pol-
lution sensor is subordinate to safety con-
ditions; therefore disabling the climate con-
trol compressor or at an outside temperature
below 4°C, the sensor is disabled. In any
case, the sensor can be re-enabled press-
ing the recirculation button
v
until taking
it to the automatic mode. To ensure correct opera-
tion of the incipient misting
sensor, stickers (e.g. road
licence holder) must not be applied
in the “control” area between the
sensor and the windscreen. For this
very reason, both the sensor and
the windscreen must always be
kept clean, to avoid accumulation
of dirt or other substances.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
117
The air quality control is also entrusted
to a combined particle and activated carbon
filter.
The climate control system automatically
controls and adjusts the following parame-
ters and functions:
– temperature of the air admitted to the
passenger compartment (for the driver’s and
passenger’s side separately)
– fan speed
– air distribution
– inside air recirculation on/off
– climate control compressor on/off en-
able.The settings of the following functions can
be modified manually:
– fan speed
– air distribution
– inside air recirculation on/off
– climate control compressor on/off en-
able
– window defrosting/demisting.
The control of the functions that have not
been modified manually will always be au-
tomatic and, in any case, the temperature
of the air flowing into the passenger com-
partment is controlled automatically de-
pending on the temperatures set on the dri-
ver’s and passenger’s displays.WARNINGManual selections prevail
over automatic ones and remain in storage
until the user decides to resume automatic
control. The settings selected manually are
stored when the engine is switched off and
resumed the next time the engine is started.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
118
CONTROLS
(fig. 101)
1- Inside temperature adjustment knob
(driver’s side)
2- Inside temperature set display (driver’s
side)
3- Knob for adjusting the fan speed and
switching the system off
4- Fan speed set, air distribution and sys-
tem off display (OFF
)
5- Inside temperature set display (pas-
senger’s side)
6- Inside temperature adjustment knob
(passenger’s side)
7- Inside air recirculation on/off button
v
(manual/automatic)
8- Air distribution selection button
9- Rearscreen heating and wing mirror de-
frosting on/off button
(
10- Maximum defrosting/demisting
on/off button for windscreen and front side
windows, rearscreen heating and wing mir-
ror coils (function
MAX
-DEF
- -
)
11- Button for aligning the temperature
set on the passenger’s side with that on the
driver’s side
MONO
12- Climate control compressor on/off
enable button
√
13- Inside air temperature sensor
14- Button for selecting the system au-
tomatic mode
AUTO
fig. 101
A0B0056m

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
119
HOW TO USE THE AUTOMATIC
TWO-ZONE CLIMATE CONTROL(fig. 101)
WARNINGThe knob rings are not pro-
vided with automatic stopper; therefore,
they are free to rotate in both directions once
they have reached the maximum or mini-
mum values.
The system can be started in different
ways, but it is recommended that the re-
quired temperatures are set on the
displays; then, press (14)
AUTO
button.
Thus, the system will start operating fully
automatic, to reach the set temperatures
in the shortest possible time and keep them.
During the fully automatic operation of the
system, the set temperatures can however
be modified at any time: the system will au-
tomatically modify its own settings to adapt
itself to the new requirements.WARNINGThe temperature difference
between the driver’s and the passenger’s
sides must not be greater than 7°C in order
to be accepted by the system.
The selections made by the system in au-
tomatic mode can be customized by man-
ually acting on the following controls:
– fan speed adjustment knob (3)
– air distribution selection button (8)
– inside air recirculation on/off button (7)
v– climate control compressor on enable
button (12)
√
.
Manually selecting one or more of these
functions turns off the right led on the but-
ton (14)
AUTO
.With one or more functions switched on
manually, the temperature control for the air
admitted to the passenger compartment will
in any case continue to be monitored auto-
matically by the system (left led on button
14
AUTO
on), except with the climate con-
trol compressor off.
In fact, in this condition, the temperature
of the air admitted into the passenger com-
partment cannot be lower than the outside
air temperature; this condition is indicated
by the turning off of the two leds on but-
ton (14) AUTO
and flashing on the display
(2) and/or (5) related with the tempera-
ture rate that cannot be obtained.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
122
LO function
(highest cooling power - fig. 104)
It is switched on by setting a temperature
lower than 16.5°C on the display; this set-
ting is shown by both displays.
This function can be switched on when you
wish to cool the passenger compartment as
quickly as possible, by taking the greatest
advantage from the system potential.
The function cuts off air heating, switches
on both internal air recirculation (to prevent
hot air from entering the compartment) and
the climate control compressor, brings air
distribution to E
and 5
thfan speed.
With the function switched on, however,
all the manual settings can be made.
To switch the function off, you only need
to turn the ring of a knob (1) or (6) of the
temperature set to a value greater than
16.5°C; the opposite display will show
16.5°C.
fig. 104
A0B0065m
By pressing button (14)
AUTO
the display
indicates a temperature of 16.5°C and falls
within an operating condition with automatic
temperature control.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
124
FAN SPEED ADJUSTMENT
KNOB
(fig. 106-107)
Turning the ring of knob (3), clockwise
or counterclockwise will cause the fan speed
- and, therefore, the amount of air flowing
into the passenger compartment - to in-
crease or decrease, respectively; the 16
speeds that can be selected are displayed
by a bar (every 3 clicks), up to a maximum
of 6 illuminated bars:
– max. fan speed = all bars lit;
– min. fan speed = one bar lit.
The fan can be cut off (all bars off) only
if the climate control compressor has been
switched off by pressing button (12)
√
.
To resume automatic fan speed control af-
ter a manual setting has been made, press
button (14)
AUTO
. By fully turning the ring
of knob (3) counterclockwise, the system
will be turned off, with the following situa-
tion: display (2) OFF; display (5) OFF; cen-
tral display (4) OFF and left-hand led avail-
able on internal air recirculation button (7)
v
ON and both led on AUTO button
switch OFF.WARNINGBy pressing the internal air
recirculation button (7)
v
, it is possible
to let external fresh air into the passenger
compartment.
fig. 106
A0B0067m