Page 28 of 357

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR26
Folding (fig. 35)
– If necessary (for example when the size
of the mirror causes difficulty in narrow
spaces) the door mirror can be folded in to-
wards the car from position (A) to position
(B).Defrosting/demisting (fig. 36)
The electric mirrors can be fitted with heat-
ing coils which are operated together with
rearscreen heating pressing button (A) and
prevent the mirrors from frosting and/or
misting.
WARNINGThis function is timed and
is deactivated after a few minutes.
fig. 36
A0B0399m
fig. 35
A0B0370m
When travelling the door
mirrors must always be in
position (A).
WARNING
As the driver’s door mirror
is curved, it may slightly
alter the perception of distance.
WARNING
DOOR MIRRORSElectrically adjustable (fig. 34)
Select the mirror to be adjusted (right or
left) using switch (A):
– move switch (A) to (B) to adjust the
left door mirror;
– move switch (A) to (D) to adjust the
right door mirror.
Then, reposition the switch (A) in the in-
termediate locking position (C).
WARNINGThe mirror can only be ad-
justed electrically when the ignition key is
in the MARposition.fig. 34
A0B0018m
Page 34 of 357

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR32
PRE-TENSIONING DEVICESTo increase the efficiency of the front seat
belts, Alfa 156 is fitted with pre-tension-
ing devices.
These devices “feel” that the car is being
subject to a violent impact by way of a sen-
sor rewind the seat belts a few centimetres.
In this way they ensure that the seat belt
adheres to the wearer before the restraining
action begins.
The seat belt locks to indicate that the de-
vice has intervened; the seat belt cannot be
drawn back up even when guiding it man-
ually.
WARNINGThe pretensioner will give
maximum protection when the seat belt ad-
heres snugly to wearer’s chest and hips.
Front seat pretensioners activate only if
front seat belts are properly fitted into buck-
les. A small amount of smoke may be pro-
duced. This smoke is in no way toxic and
presents no fire hazard.
The emergency tensioning retractor needs
no maintenance or lubrication. Any modifi-
cation to its original features will nullify the
retractor’s effectiveness. If, due to unusual
natural events (floods, high waves, etc.),
the device has been affected by water and
mud, it must be replaced.Operations involving
banging, vibrations or
heating (above 100°C for
a maximum of 6 hours) in the area
of the pretensioners may damage
or trigger off the device. Vibrations
from rough road surfaces or acci-
dental jolting caused by mounting
pavements etc. do not have any ef-
fect on the pretensioner. If, how-
ever, you need assistance, go to
Alfa Romeo Authorized Services.
The pretensioner can only
be used once. After a col-
lision that has triggered it, have it
replaced at Alfa Romeo Authorized
Service. The validity of the device
is written on the plate located on
the front left door near the lock.
Contact Alfa Romeo Authorized
Services to have pretensioner re-
placed as this date approaches.
WARNING
After adjustment, always
check that the slider (B) is
anchored in one of the positions
provided. To do this, with the but-
ton (A-fig. 50) or (A-fig. 51) re-
leased, exert a further pressure to
allow the anchor device to catch if
release did not take place at one of
the preset positions.
WARNING
Make the height adjust-
ment when the car is sta-
tionary.
WARNING
Page 58 of 357
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR56
DASHBOARD1.Side air outlets - 2.Defrosting/demisting vents for side windows - 3.Upper side vents - 4.Radio controls on the steering wheel (where
applicable) - 5.Outside lights control lever - 6.Speedometer (mileage recorder) - 7.Check panel - 8.Rev counter - 9.Windscreen wiper
control lever - 10.Fuel level gauge - 11.Centre air vents - 12.Infocenter Display - 13.Clock - 14.Engine coolant temperature gauge -
15.Sound system (where required) - 16.Passenger’s Air bag - 17.Glove box - 18.Controls for heating, ventilation and climate control -
19.Ashtray and cigar lighter - 20.Hazard warning lights switch - 21.Ignition switch - 22.Steering wheel lock/release lever - 23.Driver’s
Air bag and horns - 24.Cruise Control control lever (if provided) - 25.Bonnet opening lever - 26.Set of controls: instrument panel lighting
adjustment, trip meter reset and headlamp aiming device.fig. 80
A0B0570m
Page 112 of 357
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
110
REAR SWIVEL OUTLET
ADJUSTMENTFig. 98: front seats (on dashboard ends)
Fig. 99: rear seat (on the console be-
tween seats)
MANUAL CLIMATE
CONTROL SYSTEM (fig. 99a - where applicable)CONTROLS1 Air temperature adjustment knob (mix-
ing warm / cold air)
2Climate control compressor on / off but-
ton
3Inside air re-circulation on / off button
4Fan knob
5Maximum defrosting / demisting on /
off button for windscreen and front side win-
dows and wing mirror coils
6Rearscreen heating and wing mirror de-
frosting on / off button.
7Air distribution knob.
fig. 98
A0B0038m
fig. 99
A0B0289m
Air flow can be adjusted by means of vanes
(A) with press-on opening and closing.
Air flow can be directed by rotating the out-
let by means of the vanes.
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
111
HEATINGTo obtain the temperature required, pro-
ceed as follows:
– turn knob (1) as far as it will go clock-
wise
– turn knob (4) clockwise to the required
speed;
– urn knob (7) to set air distribution as
follows:Q
Z
to warm feet and to demist the
windscreen
ZE
to warm feet and to keep the face
cool (bilevel function)
Z
to direct warm air to the front and
rear lower parts of the passenger compart-
ment.
E
for summer ventilation
Q
to defrost/demist the windscreen
– turn off inside air re-circulation (if on).
fig. 99a
A0B0598m
QUICK FRONT WINDOW
DEMISTING / DEFROSTING
(MAX-DEF FUNCTION)Press button (5)
-
to quicken demisting
/ defrosting of the windscreen and front side
windows (MAX-DEFfunction).
Max. quick demisting / defrosting func-
tion will be activated.When this function is on the relevant but-
ton led will come on.
To turn this function off, press button (5)
-
again (the button led will go off) or turn
whatever knob or press any manual climate
control system button.
After demisting/defrosting, turn the
MAX-DEF function off to maintain the op-
timum conditions of vision.
Page 114 of 357

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
112
Preventive demisting procedure
In cases of heavy damp and/or rain
and/or big differences in temperature be-
tween inside the car and outside, it is ad-
visable to proceed as follows to demist the
windows:
– turn off inside air re-circulation (if on)
– turn knob (1) as far as it will go clock-
wise
– turn knob (4) clockwise to an inter-
mediate speed
– turn knob (7) to
Q
or
ZQ
if the win-
dows do not mist up.
Climate control system is very useful to
speed up demisting. Set controls to demist-
ing function as described previously and
switch the climate control system on by
pressing button (2)
√
REARSCREEN AND WING
MIRROR (where applicable)
DEMISTING / DEFROSTINGPress button (6)
(
) to demist /defrost
the rearscreen and wing mirrors (where ap-
plicable).
When this function is on the relevant but-
ton led will come on.
To turn this function off, press the button
again, the button led will go off.
WARNINGDo not apply stickers on the
inside of the rearscreen over the heating fil-
aments to avoid damaging it.
FAN SPEED ADJUSTMENTTo ventilate the passenger's compartment
properly, proceed as follows:
– open completely the central and side
vents;
– turn knob (4) to the required speed;
– turn knob (7) to
E;
– - turn off inside air re-circulation (if on).
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
113
SWITCHING THE INSIDE AIR
RE-CIRCULATION FUNCTION
ONPress button (3)
v
to turn the inside air
re-circulation function on.
When this function is on the relevant but-
ton led will come on.
It is advisable to turn on the inside air re-
circulation function in queues or tunnels to
avoid admitting polluted air from outside.
The prolonged use of this function should
however be avoided, especially with several
persons on board, to avoid the possibility of
the windows misting inside.WARNINGThe inside air re-circulation
function makes it possible to reach the re-
quired "heating" or "cooling" conditions
faster.
It is however inadvisable to use it on
rainy/cold days as it would considerably in-
crease the possibility of the windows mist-
ing inside, especially if the climate control
system is off.
CLIMATE CONTROL (COOLING) Proceed as follows:
– turn knob (1) as far as it will go coun-
terclockwise (blue led next to TEMPlit);
– turn knob (4) to the required speed;
– turn knob (7) to
E;
-– press buttons (2) √
and (3)
v
the
relevant leds will go on.
Page 120 of 357
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