2005 Alfa Romeo 156 ECU

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR35
CARRYING CHILDREN SAFELYfig. 55
A0B0001m
For the best level of protection in the event
of a crash, all occupants must travel seated
and secured by suitable restraint systems.
This is even more important for children.
According to 2003/20/EC Directive, this
prescription is compulsory for all European
Community countries.
Compared with adults, a child’s head is pro-
portionately larger and heavier than the rest
of the body, while muscles and bone struc-
ture are not completely developed. There-
fore, in order to restraint them correctly in
the event of a crash, different systems are
needed then adult seat belts.
SERIOUS DANGER: Never place cradle child’s seats on the
front passenger seats of cars equipped with passenger air
bag since the air bag activation could cause serious injuries, even mortal.
You are advised to carry children always on the rear seat, as this is the
most protected position in the case of a crash. In any case, child’s seats
must absolutely not be positioned on the front seat of car’s with passen-
ger’s air bag, which during inflation could cause serious injury, even mor-
tal, regardless of the seriousness of the crash that triggered it. Children
may placed on the front seat of cars fitted with passenger’s air bag deac-
tivation. In this case, it is absolutely necessary to check the warning light
Fon the check panel to make sure that deactivation has actually took
place (see paragraph “Front and side air bags” at item ”Front passenger
air bag”). The front passenger seat shall be adjusted in the most backward
position to prevent any contact between the child’s seat and the dashboard.
WARNING

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
171
CLOSING THE BOOTTo close the boot, lower it and press down
above the locking mechanism until it is
heard to click into place.
BOOT LIGHTING
(fig. 163)
Opening the boot, the light (A) in the up-
per part of the boot turns on automatically.
The light goes out closing the boot or af-
ter a few minutes (about 15) if the boot is
left open. In this case, to turn it on again
close the boot, then open it again.
fig. 163
A0B0000m
fig. 165
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fig. 164
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SECURING THE LOAD(fig. 164-165)
The load carried may be blocked with
straps hooked to the special rings in the boot
corners.
The rings also serve to secure the luggage
retaining net (available upon request, for
versions/markets where applicable) c/o
Alfa Romeo Authorized Services.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
172
BONNETThe lever used to open the bonnet is lo-
cated under the left end of the dashboard.
To open:
– Pull the lever (A-fig. 166) until the
bonnet clicks open.
CAUTIONS FOR CARRYING
LUGGAGETravelling at night with a load in the boot
it is necessary to adjust the height of the low
beam headlights (see next paragraph
“Headlights” in this chapter). For correct use
of the aiming device, also make sure that
the load does not exceed the values given
in the same paragraph.
fig. 166
A0B0049m
Do not load the luggage
compartment above the
permitted maximum (see “Tech-
nical specifications”). Also make
sure that the objects contained in
the boot are well secured to pre-
vent them from being thrown for-
ward causing harm to the passen-
gers in the event of sharp braking.
WARNING
A heavy load that has not
been secured may cause
serious harm to passengers in the
event of an accident.
WARNING
When wanting to carry a
spare can of petrol, this
must be done in compliance with
the law, only using a certified can,
appropriately fastened to the load
restraint eyelets. Even so, the risk
of fire is increased.
WARNING
Only with the car sta-
tionary.
WARNING

IN AN EMERGENCY
211
– Fully tighten the bolts in the sequence
shown in fig. 8, without refitting the cap.REFITTING A NORMAL WHEEL– Following the procedure described pre-
viously, raise the car and remove the spare
wheel.
For versions with steel rims:
– Fit a normal wheel bearing in mind that
the pin (B-fig.7) must match one of the
holes (A-fig.7).
– Make sure that the contact surfaces of
the compact spare wheel with the hub are
clean and free of impurities which may lat-
ter cause the fastening bolts to slacken.– Screw the fastening bolts.
– Tighten the bolts following the order pre-
viously described for the compact spare
wheel fig. 7.
– Place the cap near the wheel so that the
inflating valve can come out through the
countersunk hole. Press the wheel circum-
ference starting from the area next to the
valve countersunk hole until it is complete-
ly inserted.
For cars with alloy rims:
– Tighten the pin (A-fig. 9) in one of
the fastening bolt holes.
– Fit the wheel on the pin and fasten it
with four bolts.
– Remove the centering pin (A-fig. 9)
and tighten the last bolt.
– Lower the car and remove the jack; then
tighten the bolts as described previously for
the spare wheel (fig. 7).
WARNINGIncorrect fitting might cause
the wheel cap to come off when the car is
on the move.After refitting the wheel:
– stow the spare wheel in the space pro-
vided in the luggage compartment;
– insert the jack in its container forcing it
lightly to prevent it from vibrating during
travelling;
– place the tools used in the housings pro-
vided on the support;
– place the tool container on the spare
wheel and secure everything with the clamp-
ing device (A-fig. 2).fig. 8
A0B0227m
fig. 9
A0B0228m

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
300
fig. 3
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BODYWORK PAINT
IDENTIFICATION LABELOn the Saloon versions, the plate is ap-
plied in the internal part of the luggage com-
partment (3-fig. 1), while on the Sport-
wagon versions it is applied on the right-
hand internal edge of the tailgate (3-
fig. 2). The plate carries the following da-
ta (fig. 3):
A.Paint manufacturer
B.Name of colour
C.Colour code
D.Colour code for touching up and re-
spraying.
IDENTIFICATION LABELThis is located in the engine bay on the
front crossmember (fig. 4).
It carries the following identification data:
A.Space for details of national ho-
mologation
B.Space for punching the consecutive
chassis number
C.Space available for maximum
weights authorised by various national lawsD.Space for version and any supple-
mentary indications to those specified
E.Space for smoke index (diesel ver-
sions only)
F.Space for punching manufacturer’s
name.fig. 4
A0B0076m

ALPHABETICAL INDEX
326
A A
L L
P P
H H
A A
B B
E E
T T
I I
C C
A A
L L

I I
N N
D D
E E
X X
A
BS (wheel anti-lock system)
– operation and warnings........... 177
Accessories purchased by
the owner ................................ 166
Additional heater ......................... 135
Additional operations
(car maintenance) ..................... 251
Additional stop light (3rd stop) 230-297
Air bags, front and side ................ 42
– deactivating passenger’s
air bag ................................ 44
– front air bags ........................ 42
– general cautions ................... 46
– passenger side front air bag .... 43
– side air bags
(side bag - window bag) ........ 44
Air cleaner................................... 265
Air recirculation ........................... 129
Air vents .............................. 108-109
Alfa 156 Sportwagon........... 278
Alfa Romeo CODE system .............. 6
– operation .............................. 9
Annual inspection programme
(car maintenance) ..................... 251Armrests
– centre ............................ 23-280
– front .............................. 22
– rear ............................... 23-280
Ashtray
– front .................................... 164
– rear .................................... 164
ASR system ................................. 181
Battery
– advice for prolonging life ........ 269
– charging ........................ 242-268
– checking the charge ............... 267
– maintenance ......................... 266
– replacement ......................... 269
– starting with an auxiliary
battery ................................ 242
Body
– cleaning ............................... 274
– marking................................ 299
– versions ................................ 301
Bodywork paint identification label . 300
Bonnet ....................................... 172
Boot
– capacity ......................... 317-309– current socket ....................... 285
– extension ............................. 289
– lighting ......................... 171-284
– luggage cover ....................... 287
– object retainer net .................. 285
– oddment compartments .......... 285
– opening from inside .. 131-170-282
– opening lever ....................... 135
– opening with remote
control ........................ 8-170-282
– passenger compartment
separation net (lower) ............ 288
– passenger compartment
separation net (upper)............ 288
– securing the load ............ 171-283
– tailgate closing ............... 171-283
– warnings for carrying
luggage.......................... 172-284
Brake and clutch fluid
– checking level and topping up .. 263
Brakes
– checking fluid level
and topping up ..................... 263
– handbrake ........................... 138
– specifications ......................... 305

ALPHABETICAL INDEX
330
– display rheostat light
adjustment............................ 63
– exit menu ............................. 86
– General Trip - Trip B ................ 87
– initial check........................... 68
– language selection ................. 78
– menu ................................... 67
– programmed maintenance
(Service) .............................. 82
– speed limit ............................ 73
– Trip B on/off ......................... 75
– units selection ....................... 79
– warning/failure buzzer
volume setting....................... 80
– “winter” tyres speed limit ....... 81
Instrument cluster ........................ 56
Intelligent washing function
(windscreen) ............................ 51
Interiors (cleaning) ...................... 277
Interior lighting
– boot lighting ......................... 171
– dashboard............................. 136
– front .................................... 162
– rear ..................................... 163
Internal fittings ...................... 161-292
Internal rear-view mirror ............... 25
Isofix (child’s seat)....................... 39
Jack
– use ............................... 209
– warnings ....................... 207-208K
eys......................................... 6
– remote control ....................... 7
– remote door locking/unlocking 16
– replacing remote control
battery ................................. 10
– request for additional keys
with remote control ................ 12
Lifting points .............................. 245
Lights (controls) .......................... 48
Luggage compartment
– capacity ......................... 317-318
– current socket........................ 285
– extension.............................. 289
– lighting .......................... 171-284
– luggage cover........................ 287
– luggage retainer net ............... 285
– oddment compartments .......... 285
– opening from inside .. 135-170-282
– opening lever ........................ 135
– opening with remote
control ..................... 8-170-282– passenger compartment
separation net (lower) ............ 288
– passenger compartment
separation net (upper)............ 288
– reversible net ........................ 283
– securing the load ............ 171-283
– tailgate closing ............... 171-283
– warnings for carrying
luggage.......................... 172-284
Luggage compartment light
– bulb replacement ............. 233-297
M
ain beam headlights
– changing bulbs ..................... 226
– switching on ......................... 48
Maintenance
– additional operations .............. 251
– annual inspection programme . 251
– checking fluid levels ............... 254
– general information ................ 248
– scheduled maintenance ........... 248
– scheduled maintenance
programme ........................... 249
– warnings .............................. 248
Manual climate control system ....... 11
Mechanical gearbox
– lever .................................... 139

RIGHT HAND DRIVE VERSION
351
SELESPEED GEARBOXBelow you will find the more significant
particulars of right-hand drive versions.
WARNINGAs the differences are only
formal, due to the specular position of the
controls, as far as functioning is concerned,
please refer to the descriptions given for left-
hand drive versions.
Fig. 15shows the gearshift lever with
the lay-out of the movements needed to se-
lect the different gears.Fig. 16shows the steering wheel fitted
with two buttons on the spokes for shifting
the gear engaged up/down.
Fig. 17shows the position of button A
for selecting the automatic CITYmode.fig. 15
A0B0410m
fig. 17
A0B0412m
fig. 16
A0B0411m
SERIOUS DANGER:
with a car fitted
with an Air bag on the passenger’s
side, do not place a child’s seat on
the front seat facing backwards.
In the case of need, always deac-
tivate the passenger’s Air bag (if
fitted) when a child’s seat is placed
on the front seat. Even if it is not
compulsory by law, for better pro-
tection of adults, you are recom-
mended to activate the Air bag im-
mediately as soon as child
transport is no longer necessary.
WARNING