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 CAR55
TO INCREASE THE MEMORISED
SPEEDThe speed memorised can be increased
in two ways:
1)pressing the accelerator and then mem-
orising the new speed reached (turning the
ring (B) for more than three seconds);
or
2)momentaneously turning the ring (B)
to (+): each pulse of the ring will correspond
to a slight increase in speed (about 1.5
km/h) while pressing continuously will cor-
respond to a continuous speed increase. Re-
leasing the ring (B) the new speed will be
memorised automatically.TO REDUCE THE MEMORISED
SPEEDThe speed memorised can be reduced in
two ways:
1)disengaging the device (for instance
pressing the brake pedal) and then memo-
rising the new speed (turning the ring (B)
to (+) for at least three seconds);
2)keeping the ring pressed (B) at (–)
until reaching the new speed which will be
memorised automatically.
RESETTING THE MEMORISED
SPEEDThe memorised speed is automatically re-
set turning off the engine or moving the ring
(A) to OFF.
When travelling with the
cruise control on, do not
move the gearshift lever to neutral.
WARNING
The cruise control may only
be engaged at speeds be-
tween 30 and 190 km/h.
WARNING
It is advisable to engage
the cruise control only
when the conditions of the traffic
or road so permit under completely
safe conditions: i.e.: straight and
dry roads, dual carriageways or
motorways, flowing traffic and
smooth road surface. Do not en-
gage the device in town or in
heavy traffic conditions.
WARNING
If the device is faulty or
not working, turn the ring
(A) to OFF and contact Alfa Romeo
Authorized Services after checking
that the protection fuse is intact.
WARNING
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR65
PROGRAMMED MAINTENANCE
– Displaying the expiry date of the next
car service check (strictly related to the
Programmed Maintenance Schedule)
DISPLAY CONTRAST ADJUSTMENT
– Infocenter display graphics brightness
setting (dimming/brightening) UNITS SELECTION
– Selection of the following units: km or
mi (miles), °C or °F, l/100 km or km/l
WARNING/FAILURE BUZZER VOLUME
SETTING
– Volume setting of warning/failure
buzzer
“WINTER” TYRES SPEED LIMIT
– Switching on/off the relevant function
(ON/OFF)
– Setting the limit speed value among the
available ones (160 km/h, 190 km/h
or 210 km/h)DEFAULT VALUE RESET
– Switching on/off the relevant function
(ON/OFF)
EXIT MENU
– Exiting the menu
WARNINGThe use of polarized glasses
may reduce Infocenter display readability.
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR69
The Programmed Maintenance Schedule includes car maintenance every 20,000 km
(or 12,000 miles) or one year; this is shown automatically, with the ignition key at
MAR
,
starting from 2,000 km (or 1,240 miles) or 30 day from this deadline and it is shown again
every 200 km (or 124 miles) or 3 days. When a programmed maintenance interval
(“coupon”) is near to come, turning the ignition key to
MAR
, will display the message
SCHEDULED SERVICE WITHIN followed by the number of kilometers, days or miles to go before
vehicle maintenance. The PROGRAMMED MAINTENANCE message is displayed in km,
mi or days, according to the approaching service interval. At the very moment the value
of 0 km, 0 miles or 0 days is reached, the display will show, every time the ignition key
is turned to
MAR
, the message SCHEDULED SERVICE EXPIRED, followed by the number
of kilometers, miles or days. In this case, to reset this visual information contact
Authorised Alfa Romeo Services.
continued from previous page
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR83
The Programmed Maintenance Schedule includes vehicle maintenance
every 20,000 km (or 12,000 miles) or one year; this is shown
automatically, with the ignition key at
MAR
, starting from 2,000
km (or 1,240 miles) or 30 day from this deadline and it is shown
again every 200 km (or 124 miles) or 3 days. When a programmed maintenance interval
(“coupon”) is near to come, turning the ignition key to
MAR
, will display the message
SCHEDULED SERVICE WITHIN followed by the number of kilometers, days or miles to go
before vehicle maintenance. The PROGRAMMED MAINTENANCE message is displayed in km,
mi or days, according to the approaching service interval. At the very moment the value of 0
km, 0 miles or 0 days is reached, the display will show, every time the ignition key is turned
to
MAR
, the message SCHEDULED SERVICE EXPIRED, followed by the number of
kilometers, miles or days. In this case, to reset this visual information contact Authorized Alfa
Romeo Services.
WARNINGProducts shown in the SERVICE screen and to be used for scheduled maintenance could be subject to modifications. Refer to
paragraph “Fluids and lubricants” in section “Technical specifications”.
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
183
SOUND SYSTEM(where applicable)
The fixed sound system, with cassette
player (radio with cassette player) or CD
player with parametric sound equalizer (ra-
dio with CD player) has been designed to
suit the specific characteristics of the pas-
senger compartment, with a personalised
design that matches the style of the dash-
board. The sound system instructions for use
are described in the attached supplement.
SOUND SYSTEM
PRESETTING SYSTEM(for versions/markets where
applicable)
The car, if not delivered with sound sys-
tem, is fitted with a glove compartment
(fig. 172) on the instrument panel.
Sound system presetting system includes
the following:
– sound system power cables;
– front and rear speaker power cables;
– aerial power cable;
– sound system housing;
– aerial on car roof (where provided).The sound system shall be installed in the
proper housing occupied by the glove com-
partment that can be removed by pressing
the two retaining tabs in the glove com-
partment: here are the power cables.
If after buying the car you
want to install the sound
system, contact first Alfa
Romeo Authorised Services whose
qualified personnel, in addition to
suggesting the most suitable de-
vices, will evaluate the overall
electric absorption to safeguard the
battery. Excessive loadless ab-
sorption could damage the battery
and lose warranty.fig. 172
A0B742m
CAR MAINTENANCE
268
WARNINGA battery kept at below
50% of its capacity is damaged by sulpha-
tion, the capacity is reduced and starting
is difficult, there is also more possibility of
freezing (this can occur at –10°C). In the
event of a prolonged stop, refer to “Vehi-
cle inactivity”, in the chapter “Getting the
best out of your car”. – Connect the charger cables to the bat-
tery terminals ensuring that the bias is cor-
rect.
– Turn on the charger.
– After charging turn off the charger be-
fore disconnecting it from the battery.
– Reconnect the battery negative termi-
nal (–).
WARNINGIf the car is fitted with an
alarm system, turn off the alarm with the
remote control and deactivate the system
turning the emergency key to “OFF” (see
“Electronic alarm” in “Getting to know your
car” chapter).
Bright white colour
Dark colour without green central area
Dark colour with green central areaTop up electrolyte
Low battery charge
Electrolyte level
and charge sufficientContact Alfa Romeo
Authorized Services
Charge the battery
(advisable to contact Alfa Romeo
Authorized Services)
No action neededCHARGING THE BATTERYWARNINGThe description of the bat-
tery charging procedure is described only for
informative purposes. This operation should
be carried out by Alfa Romeo Authorized Ser-
vices.
Charging should be slow at a low amp rat-
ing for about 24 hours. Charging for a longer
time may damage the battery.
Charge the battery as follows:
– Disconnect the terminal from the bat-
tery negative (–) pole.
WARNINGWhen reconnecting the neg-
ative battery cable after having disconnect-
ed it, wait for 2 minutes before turning the
key to enable the climate control system
to reset actuator strokes properly.
Never attempt to charge a
frozen battery before
thawing it, the danger of explosion
exists. If it has frozen, always
check that the inside elements are
not broken and that the body is not
cracked, with the risk of acid com-
ing out which is poisonous and cor-
rosive.
WARNING