2005 Alfa Romeo GT belt

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
32
CARRYING CHILDREN
SAFELY
For the best level of protection in the
event of a crash, all occupants must trav-
el 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
proportionately larger and heavier than
the rest of the body, while muscles and
bone structure are not completely devel-
oped. Therefore, in order to restrain them
correctly in the event of a crash, different
systems are needed than adult seat belts.
The results of research on the best pro-
tection for a child are summarised in
European Standard ECE- R44, which in
addition to making them compulsory, sub-
divides restraint systems into five groups:
Group 0 - until 10 kg in weight
Group 0+ - until 13 kg in weight
Group 1 9 - 18 kg in weight
Group 2 15 - 25 kg in weight
Group 3 22 - 36 kg in weightAs it may be noted, the groups overlap
partly and in fact, in commerce it is possible
to find devices that cover more than one
weight group.
All the restraint devices must bear the
homologation data, together with the con-
trol 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 belt normally.
The Lineaccessori Alfa Romeo includes
seats for each weight group, which are the
recommended choice because they have
been designed and specifically experi-
mented for Alfa Romeo cars.
With passenger’s air bag
active, never place child’s
seats with the cradle fac-
ing backwards since the air bag ac-
tivation could cause to the child se-
rious injuries, even mortal, re-
gardless of the seriousness of the
crash that triggered it. You are ad-
vised to carry children always with
proper restraint systems on the
rear seats, as this is the most pro-
tected position in the case of a
crash.SERIOUS DANGER
If it is absolutely
necessary to carry a
child on the front passenger seat
with the cradle child’s seat facing
backwards, the front passenger’s
air bag must be deactivated using
the key switch. In this case it is ab-
solutely necessary to check the
warning light Fon the instru-
ment panel (see paragraph “Pas-
senger’s front air bag”) to make
sure that deactivation has actual-
ly taken place. Moreover, the front
passenger’s seat shall be adjust-
ed in the most backward position
to prevent any contact between
the child’s seat and the dashboard.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
33
GROUP 0 AND 0+ (fig. 43)
Babies up to 13 kg must be carried fac-
ing behind on a cradle seat which, sup-
porting the head, does not induce strain
on the neck in the event of a sharp decel-
eration.
The cradle is restrained by the car safety
belts, as illustrated, and it should in turn
restrain the child with the belts incorporat-
ed on it.
GROUP 1 (fig. 44)
Starting from 9 to 18 kg in weight, chil-
dren may be carried facing forwards with
seats fitted with front cushion, through
which the car seat belt restrains both child
and seat.The illustration is indica-
tive only for assembly.
Assemble the seat accord-
ing to the compulsory instructions
provided with it.
Seats exist which are
suitable for covering
weight groups 0 and 1
with a rear connection to the car
belts and its own belts to
restrain the child. Because of
their mass, they can be danger-
ous if installed incorrectly fas-
tened to the car belts with a
cushion. Strictly adhere to the
assembly instructions provided.
fig. 43
A0A0659b
fig. 44
A0A0660b

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
34
GROUP 2 (fig. 45)
Starting from 15 to 25 kg in weight,
children may be restrained directly by the
car seat belts.
Child seats only have the function of
positioning the child correctly in relation to
the belts, so that the diagonal part
adheres to the chest and never to the neck
and that the horizontal part adheres to the
child’s pelvis and not to the abdomen.
GROUP 3 (fig. 46)
For children from 22 up to 36 kg the
child’s chest is thick enough not to need
the spacer back rest anymore.
The figure shows proper child seat posi-
tioning on the rear seat.
Over 1,50 m in height, children may
wear seat belts like adults.The illustration is indica-
tive only for assembly. As-
semble the seat according
to the compulsory instructions pro-
vided with it.
fig. 45
A0A0661b
fig. 46
A0A0662b

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
36
Below is a summary of the safe-
ty rules to be observed when car-
rying children:
– The recommended position for
installing a child’s seat is on the rear seat,
as it is the most protected in the event of
a crash.
– If the passenger’s air bag is deactivat-
ed,alwayscheck the warning light
F
on the cluster to make sure that it has
actually been deactivated.
– Carefully follow the instructions pro-
vided with the child’s seat, which the sup-
plier is obliged to attach. Keep them in the
car together with the documents and this
booklet. Do not use used seats without
the instructions for use.
– Always pull the tape to check that
belts are buckled.With passenger’s air bag
active, never place child’s
seats with the cradle fac-
ing backwards since the air bag ac-
tivation could cause to the child se-
rious injuries, even mortal, re-
gardless of the seriousness of the
crash that triggered it. You are ad-
vised to carry children always with
proper restraint systems on the
rear seats, as this is the most pro-
tected position in the case of a
crash.– All restraint systems are strictly for one
child only: never use for two children at
the same time.
– Always make sure that the belts do
not rest on the child’s neck.
– During the journey, do not allow the
child to stay in abnormal positions or
release the belts.
– Do not carry children in your arms, not
even small babies. No-one, however
strong, can keep hold od them in a crash.
– In the case of accidents, replace the
child’s seat with a new one.
PRESETTING FOR
MOUNTING THE
“TYPE ISOFIX” CHILD
RESTRAINT SYSTEM
The vehicle is fitted with rear seat
arranged for mounting type Isofix child
restraint system, a European standardised
system for mounting child restraints. Type
Isofix is an additional option that does not
prevent from using traditional child
restraint systems. The type Isofix child’s
seat covers three weight groups: 0, 0+
and 1.
Due to its different anchoring system,
the type Isofix child’s seat shall be
anchored just using the metal brackets
(A-fig. 47) set between rear seat back
and cushion.
fig. 47
A0A0671b

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
37
Mount the child restraint
system only with the car
stationary. The Isofix child
restraint system is properly an-
chored to the mounting brackets
when clicks are heard. In any case,
keep to the installation instructions
that must be provided by the child
restraint system Manufacturer.– push the child restraint system until
hearing the locking clicks;
– check proper locking by moving the
child’s seat with force: the built-in safety
mechanism actually inhibits proper cou-
pling with only one coupling locked.
It is possible to mount both the tradi-
tional restraint system and the type Isofix
one, one on the left and the other on the
right, for example.
Since sizes are different, it is possible to
install max two traditional child’s seats on
the rear seats, or two type Isofix child’s
seats. On the front passenger’s seat it is
possible to mount only traditional child’s
seats.
These child’s seats are recommended
since they have been designed and exper-
imented expressely for this car.
fig. 48
A0A0663b
FITTING THE TYPE ISOFIX
CHILD’S SEAT
Groups 0 and 0+
For children of the 0 and 0+ group
(babies up to 13 Kg), the child’s seat is
facing backwards and the child is restrained
by the child’s seat belts (D-fig. 48).
As the child grows, passing to weight
group 1, the child’s seat shall be fitted fac-
ing forwards.
For proper mounting proceed as follows:
– check whether the release lever (B) is
at rest position (inward);
– find the presetting brackets (A), then
position the child restraint system with the
fastening devices (C) aligned with the
brackets;

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
38
Group 1
For proper mounting proceed as follows:
– check whether the release lever (B-
fig. 49) is at rest position (inward);
– find the presetting brackets (A), then
position the child restraint system with fas-
tening devices (C) aligned with the brack-
ets;
– push the child restraint system until
hearing the locking clicks;
– check proper locking by moving the
child’s seat with force: the built-in safety
mechanism actually inhibits improper cou-
pling with only one coupling locked.FRONT AND SIDE
AIR BAGS
The car is fitted with front air bags for
the driver and for the passenger (side
bags - window bags).
FRONT AIR BAGS
The front air bag (driver’s and passen-
ger’s) has been designed to protect the
occupants in the event of of head-on
crashes of medium-high severity by plac-
ing the cushion between the occupant and
the steering wheel or dashboard.
Front air bags are designed to protect
the car occupants in front crashes and
therefore non-activation in other types of
collisions (side collisions, rear-end shunts,
roll-overs, etc...) is not a system malfunc-
tion.
In the case of a crash, an electronic con-
trol unit, when necessary, triggers inflation
of the cushion.
The cushion inflates instantaneously, set-
ting itself between the body of the front
occupants and the structures that could
cause injury. The cushion then deflates
immediately afterwards. With this configuration, the child is
secured also by the car seat belt and by
the upper belt. To apply car seat belts to
child’s seat refer to the child’s seat hand-
book.
fig. 49
A0A0664b

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
39
Do not apply stickers or
other objects on the steer-
ing wheel and on the pas-
senger’s air bag cover. Do not put
objects on the dashboard on the
passenger’s side (e.g. cell phones)
because they may interfere with
the correct passenger’s air bag
opening and seriously injure the oc-
cupants of the car.
The driver’s and passenger’s front air bag
has been designed to improve the protec-
tion of a person wearing a seat belt.
Its volume at maximum inflation fills
most of the space between the steering
wheel and the driver and between the
dashboard and the passenger.
In the event of minor side crashes (for
which the restraining action of the seat
belts is sufficient), the air bags are not
deployed. Also in this case it is of vital
importance to wear the seat belts since in
case of side crash they guarantee proper
positioning of the occupant. DRIVER’S FRONT AIR BAG
It is formed of a cushion contained in a
special recess that inflates instantaneously
(fig. 50). The front air bag (driver’s and passen-
ger’s) does not replace but is complemen-
tary to the use of belts, which should
always be worn, as specified by law in
Europe and most non-European countries.
In the event of a crash a person that is
not wearing the seat belt moves forwards
and may come into contact with the cush-
ion while it is still opening. Under these
circumstances the protection offered by
the cushion is reduced.
Front air bags may not be triggered in
the following conditions:
– collisions against highly deformable
objects which do not concern the car front
surface (for example the bumper crashing
against the guard rail);
– wedging under other vehicles or pro-
tective barriers (for example under a lorry
or guard rail);
as they do not offer any more protection
than the seat belts and therefore activa-
tion would be inappropriate. Therefore the
failure to be triggered does not mean that
the system is not working properly.
fig. 50
A0A0613b

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
44
STEERING WHEEL
LEVERS
The devices and services controlled by
the levers on the steering wheel can only
be activated with the ignition key at
MAR.
LEFT-HAND LEVER
The left-hand lever controls the outer
lights except for the fog lamps and rear
fog guards.
When the outer lights are switched on,
the various controls on the dashboard are
illuminated.
Only with the ignition key at PARK,
regardless of the position of the knurled
ring, the sidelights and number plate
lights stay on.
Position (1or2-fig. 60) of the lever
causes the turning on only of the side-
lights (front and rear), on the right or left
respectively.
Lights switched off(fig. 55)
When the pointer in the knurled ring is
opposite the symbol O, the outer lights
are switched off. Turning the ignition key to
MAR, the
Fwarning light
(with the passenger’s front
air bag deactivation switch at ON)
turns on and flashes for a few sec-
onds to remind that the passen-
ger’s air bag will be activated in
the event of a crash, then it goes
off.The front air bags are de-
signed to be triggered for
heavier crashes than the
pretensioners. It is therefore nor-
mal for the pretensioners only to
be triggered for crashes within the
two activation thresholds.
Do not hook rigid objects
to the coat hooks and to
the support handles.
The air bag does not re-
place the seat belts, but in-
creases their effectiveness.
Additionally, as the front air bags
are not triggered for head-on-col-
lision at low speed, side crashes,
crashes from behind or overturn-
ing, in these cases the occupants
are protected only by the seat
belts, which must, therefore, al-
ways be fastened. Do not wash the seat
back with pressurised wa-
ter or steam (by hand or at
automatic seat washing stations).