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 CAR22
BACKREST ANGLE ELECTRIC
ADJUSTMENT(optional for versions/markets
where applicable)
This can be done by pressing button (D)
located on the outer part of the seat.
LUMBAR ADJUSTMENT
OF THE DRIVER’S SEAT(optional for versions/markets
where applicable)
Adjustment is done by turning the knob
(E) until reaching the most comfortable po-
sition.CENTRE ARMREST (where required)
To use the armrest lower it as illustrated.
Inside the armrest there is an oddment
compartment (B-fig. 22); to use it, raise
the cover (A).
SEAT WARMING
(fig. 23)
(optional for versions/markets
owhere applicable)
The seat warming pad can be switched on
and off using switch (A) on the inner side
of the seat; for sporty seats, press the switch
(F-fig. 21) on the outer side of the seat.
When the warming pad is on, the warning
light (B) on the outer side of the seat turns
on.
fig. 22
A0B0293m
fig. 23
A0B0052m
fig. 21
A0B0053m
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 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 CAR44
MANUAL DEACTIVATION OF
PASSENGER’S FRONT AIR BAGShould it be absolutely necessary to carry
a child on the front seat, the passenger’s
front air bag can be deactivated.
Deactivation/reactivation takes place with
ignition key at STOPand operating it in the
special key switch on the right-hand side of
the dashboard (fig. 67). Access to the
switch is only possible with the door open.The key switch (fig. 67) has two posi-
tions:
1) Passenger’s front Air bag active: (ON
position
P) warning light on check panel
off; it is absolutely prohibited to carry chil-
dren on the front seat.
2) Passenger’s front Air bag deactivated:
(OFFposition
F
) warning light
F
on
check panel on; it is possible to carry chil-
dren protected by special restraint systems
on the front seat.
The warning light
F
on the check panel
glows steadily until the passenger’s Air bag
is reactivated.
Deactivation of the front passenger’s air
bag does not prevent operation of the side
Air bags.
With the door open the key can be inserted
and removed in both positions.
SIDE AIR BAGS
(SIDE BAG - WINDOW BAG)The side bag and window bag have the
task of increasing protection of the occu-
pants in the event of a side crash of medium-
high severity.
They are formed of an instantaneously-in-
flating cushion:
– the side bag is housed in the back rest
of the front seats; with this solution it is al-
ways possible to have the cushion in the op-
timum position in relation to the passenger,
regardless of the adjustment of the seat;
– the window bags, which are “curtain”
cushions, are housed in the side roof lining
covered by a special trim, which makes it
possible to extend the cushion downwards.
This solution, designed to protect the head,
makes it possible to offer the highest degree
of protection to the front and rear occupants
in the event of side crash, thanks to the wide
cushion inflation surface.
In the event of a side crash, an electronic
control unit processes the signals leading
from a deceleration sensor and activates,
when necessary, inflation of the bags.
fig. 67
A0B0583m
Use the switch only with
the engine off and the ig-
nition key removed.
WARNING
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.
IN AN EMERGENCY
240
Remote controlControls lighting/Stop lightsRear control lighting from sidelightsSeat heating/Sunroof/Seat electrical adjustmentAir bag system
ABS systemAlfa Romeo CODE systemClimate control system
Engine cooling radiator fan:
First speed
– T.SPARK and JTS versions
– diesel versions
– 2.5 V6 24V versions
Second speed
– T.SPARK and JTS versions
– diesel versions– 2.5 V6 24V versionsPassenger compartment fan (petrol versions)Passenger compartment fan (diesel versions)
Electronic ignition and injection system Glow plugs and resistances on fuel oil filter (diesel versions)69
71
71
71
71
68
71
71
69
68
68
68
68
68
68
68
68
71
71
71
68
68 10A
10A
10A
30A
10A (*)
60A
10A (*)
7.5A
15A
50A
60A
40A
30A
40A
40A
40A
40A
7.5A
15A
15A
30A
70A 13
3
6
8
2 (*)
9
11 (*)
13
9
6
6
6
7
7
7
1
4
13
14
15
5
8SERVICES FUSE AMPERES FIGURE