2005 Alfa Romeo 156 height

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR21
FRONT SEATS
MOVING THE SEATS
BACKWARDS OR FORWARDS Lift lever (A) and push the seat backwards
or forwards: in the driving position the arms
should be slightly flexed and hands should
rest on the rim of the steering wheel.
ADJUSTING THE HEIGHT
OF THE DRIVER’S SEAT To raise the seat, pull the lever (B) tak-
ing it upwards, then continue operating the
lever (up and down) until reaching the re-
quired height, then release the lever. To
lower the seat, push the lever (B) down-
wards, then operate the lever (up and
down) until reaching the height required.
WARNINGAdjustment must only be car-
ried out when seated in the driver’s seat.ADJUSTING THE ANGLE
OF THE BACKREST This can be done by turning the knob (C)
until the desired position is reached.
The sporty seats equipped with lateral air
bags have an electric adjustment; use the
button (D-fig. 21) on the outer part of
the seat to set the seat back in the required
position.
fig. 20
A0B0054m
fig. 19
A0B0028m
Fig. 19: standard equipment;
Fig. 20: sporty seats (where applicable);
Fig. 21: sporty seats and lateral air bags.
Adjustments may be made
solely with the car sta-
tionary.
WARNING
Once you have let go off
the lever, check that the
seat is firmly locked in the runners
by trying to move it back and
forth. If the seat is not locked prop-
erly, in the case of collision t might
move unexpectedly with clearly
dangerous consequences.
WARNING

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR23
ADJUSTING THE HEADRESTS (fig. 24)
To increase the safety of passengers, the
headrests are adjustable in height and, for
versions with Recaro seats they are also ad-
justable in rake.
To adjust the height: move the headrest
up or down, then release it and make sure
that it is locked in one of the pre-established
positions.
For angle adjustment (where applicable):
take hold of the headrest and turn it to the
most suitable position.
WARNINGThe shape of the headrest
may vary depending on the version and/or
market. The example shown is used only to
demonstrate the methods by which it can
be adjusted.
REAR POCKETS (where
required)
(fig. 25)
The front seats are provided with a pocket
in the rear of the seat back.
REAR SEATCENTRE ARMREST
(fig. 26)
(where required)
To use the centre armrest, lower it holding
the grip (A) as illustrated.
fig. 24
A0B0050m
fig. 25
A0B0320m
fig. 27
A0B0565m
fig. 26
A0B0564m
Remember that the head
restraints must be posi-
tioned so that they are supporting
the back of the head and not the
neck. They will only be able to pro-
vide effective protection in the
event of a collision if they are in
this position.
WARNING

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR24
SKI COMPARTMENT (optional for versions/markets
where applicable)
The compartment may be used for carry-
ing long loads.To gain access to this compartment, lower
the armrest, pull the grip (A-fig. 27) of
the lid and lower it onto the armrest
(fig. 28).
The compartment can be extended by re-
moving the armrest: with the armrest low-
ered, press the two small handles (B-
fig. 29) at the base of the armrest inwards
and remove it. Then pull the grip of the lid
and lower it onto the rear seat (fig. 30).
HEADREST The car is fitted with two headrests for the
side seats. On request, for versions/markets
where applicable, a third headrest is avail-
able for the centre seat.
If necessary the headrests can be removed
as follows:
– raise the headrest to the maximum
height (where required);
– press both buttons (Aand B-fig. 31)
and remove the headrests.
fig. 28
A0B0322m
fig. 29
A0B00323m
fig. 30
A0B0324m
fig. 31
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR31
REAR ABDOMINAL CENTRE
BELT HOUSING
(fig. 49)
When the rear centre belt, which is of the
abdominal type, is not in use, hook the
tongue (A) in the special support (B) on
the rear seat back.
fig. 49
A0B0468m
Always hook the belt tip
when it is not used to pre-
vent it from hitting the occupants
in the event of a crash.
WARNING
ADJUSTING THE HEIGHT
OF FRONT AND REAR SIDE
SEAT BELTS
(Sportwagon versions only)The rocker ring of the rear side belts has
three different positions through which belt
height adjustment is possible.
Always adjust the height of belts adapting
them to the size of the person wearing them.
This precaution will improve their effective-
ness, substantially reducing the risk of injury
in the event of a crash.
Correct adjustment is obtained when the
belt passes about half way between the end
of the shoulder and the neck.To adjust the seat belt, raise or lower the
anchoring device grip (A-fig. 50) of the
front (A-fig. 51) or side rear seat belts
(Sportwagon versions only), and move at
the same time the ring (B) to the most suit-
able of the set positions.fig. 50
A0B0029m
fig. 51
A0B0099m

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

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR36
The results of research on the best pro-
tection for a child are summarised in Euro-
pean Standard ECE-R44, which in addition
to making them compulsory, subdivides re-
straint systems into five groups:
Group 0 0-10 kg in weight
Group 0+ 0-13 kg in weight
Group 1 9-18 kg in weight
Group 2 15-25 kg in weight
Group 3 22-36 kg in weight
As it may be noted, the groups partially
overlap and in fact, in commerce it is pos-
sible to find devices that cover more than
one weight group (fig. 56).
All the restraint devices must bear the ho-
mologation data, together with the control
brand, on a solidly fixed label which must
absolutely not be removed.
Over 1.50 m in height, from the point of
view of restraint systems, children are con-
sidered as adults and wear belts normally.
The Lineaccessori Alfa Romeo includes
seats for each weight group, which are the
recommended choice because they have
been designed and specifically experimented
for Alfa Romeo cars.
GROUP 0 and 0+Babies up to 13 kg must be carried fac-
ing behind (fig. 56) on a cradle seat,
which, supporting the head, does not induce
strain on the neck in the event of sharp de-
celeration.
The cradle is restrained by the car safety
belts, as illustrated, and it should in turn
restrain the child with the belts incorporated
on it.fig. 56
A0B0005m
GROUP 1Starting from 9 kg to 18 kg in weight, chil-
dren may be carried facing forwards with
seats fitted with front cushion (fig. 57),
through which the car seat belt restrains both
child and seat.fig. 57
A0B0006m
Illustrations is indicative
only for assembly. As-
semble the seat according to the
compulsory instructions provided
with it.
WARNING
Illustrations is indicative
only for assembly. As-
semble the seat according to the
compulsory instructions provided
with it.
WARNING

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

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
175
COMPENSATION FOR TILT(fig. 169)
If the car is fitted with xenon headlights,
beam aiming is electronic and therefore con-
trol (A) on the mask near the steering col-
umn is not present.
When the vehicle is loaded, the beam from
the headlights is raised due to the back-
wards tilt of the vehicle.
In this case the headlights must be ad-
justed using control (A) located on the plate
at the side of the steering column.This control has four positions corre-
sponding to various vehicle loads given be-
low:
– position 0: 1 or 2 people occupying
front seats, full fuel tank, on-board equip-
ment present;
– position 1: 5 people on-board;
– position 2: 5 people on-board, luggage
compartment full (50 kg approximately);
– position 3: driver and 300 kg in lug-
gage compartment.fig. 169
A0B0240m
Check the positioning of
the headlight beams every
time you change the load to be car-
ried.
WARNING
ADJUSTING THE FRONT
FOGLIGHTS (for versions/markets where
applicable)
To adjust the height of the beam of the
front foglights, act on adjusting screw (A-
fig. 170).fig. 170
A0B0239m
Contact Alfa Romeo Au-
thorized Services to have
the headlights correctly ad-
justed.