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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
41
The key can be inserted and removed in
both positions.
IMPORTANTUse the switch only with
the engine off and the ignition key
removed.
The key-operated switch has two posi-
tions:
– passenger’s front air bag activated
(ONpositionP): warning light
Fon
instrument cluster off; it is absolutely pro-
hibited to carry a child on the front seat.
– passenger’s front air bag deactivated
(OFFposition
F): warning light Fon
instrument cluster on; it is possible to
carry a child protected by special restraint
systems on the front seat.
The warning light
Fon the cluster
stays on permanently until the passen-
ger’s air bag is reactivated.
Deactivation of the passenger’s front air
bag does not inhibit operation of the side
air bag.
SIDE AIR BAGS
(SIDE BAG - WINDOW BAG)
SIDE BAG (
fig. 53)
The side bag is formed of an instanta-
neously-inflating cushion housed in the
back rest of the front seat and protects the
chest of occupants in case of a side crash
of medium-high severity.
WINDOW BAG (fig. 54)
The window bag is formed of two “cur-
tain” cushions housed in the side roof lin-
ing covered by a special trim, which pro-
tects the head of front and rear occupants
in the event of a side crash thanks to the
wide cushion inflation surface.
IMPORTANTIn the event of side
crash, you can obtain the best protection
by the system keeping a correct position
on the seat, thus allowing correct window
bag unfolding.
fig. 53
A0A0614b
fig. 54
A0A0615b
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
43
GENERAL CAUTIONS
If the ¬warning light does
not turn on when turning
the ignition key to MAR or
if it stays on when travelling, this
could indicate a failure in safety re-
taining systems; under this condi-
tion air bags or pretensioners could
not trigger in the event of collision
or, in a restricted number of cas-
es, they could trigger accidentally.
Stop the car and contact Alfa
Romeo Authorised Services.
Do not cover the back rest
of front seats with trims or
covers there are not set for
the use of side bags.Never travel with objects
on your lap, in front of the
chest or with a pipe, pen-
cil, etc. Serious injury may result in
the case of the air bag being trig-
gered.
Always keep your hands
on the steering wheel rim
when driving, so that if the
air bag is triggered, it can inflate
without meeting obstacles. Do not
drive with the body bent forwards,
keep the seat back rest in the erect
position and lean your back well
against it.
If the car has been stolen
or an attempt to steal it
has been made, if it has
been subjected to vandals or
floods, have the air bag system
checked by Alfa Romeo Authorised
Services.
You are reminded that
when the ignition key is
engaged and in the MAR
position, even with the engine off,
the air bags can be triggered also
on a stationary vehicle, if it is
bumped by another moving vehi-
cle. Therefore, even with the car
stationary, never allow children on
the front seat. You are also re-
minded that with the ignition key
engaged in the STOP position, the
safety devices (air bags or preten-
sioners) are not triggered in the
event of an impact; in this case the
failure to trigger the air bags
should not be considered a system
failure.
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
46
“Follow me home” device
(fig. 61)
This function allows the illumination of
the space in front of the car for the length
of time set, and is activated with the igni-
tion key at STOPor removed, pulling the
left-hand lever towards the steering
wheel.
This function is activated pulling the lever
within 2 minutes from when the engine is
turned off. At each single movement of
the lever, the staying on of the dipped
beams and sidelights is extended by 30
seconds up to a maximum of 3.5 min-
utes; the lights switch off automatically
after the time set.
Each time the lever is operated, the
1
warning light on the cluster turns on. Flashing(fig. 59)
The headlights are flashed pulling the
lever towards the steering wheel (instable
position) regardless of the position of the
knurled ring. The
1warning light on the
cluster will come on at the same time.
IMPORTANTOnly the main-beam
lights are flashed. To avoid penalties follow
local regulations.
Direction indicators (fig. 60)
Regardless of the position of the knurled
ring, moving the lever to the stable posi-
tion will:
up, position (1) - engage the right-hand
direction indicators.
down, position (2) - engage the left-
hand direction indicators.One of the warning lights (
RorE) will
come on on the instrument cluster at the
same time.
The lever is returned to its position auto-
matically and the indicators are switched
off when the steering wheel is straight-
ened.
IMPORTANTIf you wish to signal a
rapid change of direction involving only a
minimal movement of the steering wheel,
the lever can be removed up or down
without it clicking (unstable position).
When released, the lever will return to its
home position.
fig. 61
A0A0067b
fig. 60
A0A0068b
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
48
At each start, the rain sensor automati-
cally stabilises at a temperature of about
40°C to eliminate any condensation from
the control surface and prevent the forma-
tion of ice.
The rain sensor is able to detect and
automatically adapt to the presence of the
following particular conditions which
require different sensitivity:
– impurities on the control surface (salt,
dirt, etc.);
– streaks of water caused by worn wiper
blades;
– difference between day and night (the
human eye is more disturbed during the
night by the wet glass surface). Rain sensor(fig. 64)
The rain sensor (A), fitted only on cer-
tain versions, is an electronic device com-
bined with the windscreen wiper which
has the purpose of automatically adjusting
the number of wipes during intermittent
operation to the intensity of the rain.
All the other functions controlled by the
right-hand lever remain unchanged.
The rain sensor is activated automatical-
ly moving the right-hand lever to position
(B-fig. 62) and it has a range of adjust-
ment that gradually varies between wiper
stationary (no wiping) when the wind-
screen is dry, to wiper at first continuous
speed (continuous, slow) with heavy rain.Turning the knurled ring (F-fig. 62) it
is possible to increase the sensitivity of the
rain sensor, obtaining a quicker change
from stationary, when the windscreen is
dry, to first continuous speed (continuous,
slow).
Operating the windscreen washer with
the rain sensor activated (lever at position
B) the normal washing cycle is performed
at the end of which the rain sensor
resumes its normal automatic function.
Turning the ignition key to STOPthe
rain sensor is deactivated and the next
time the engine is started (MAR posi-
tion) it will not be reactivated even if the
lever has remained in position (B). In this
case to activate the rain sensor, simply
move the lever to (A) or (C) and then
back to (B).
When the rain sensor is reactivated in
this way, the wiper performs at least one
stroke, even if the windscreen is dry, to
indicate that reactivation has occurred.
The rain sensor is located behind the
inner rear-view mirror in contact with the
windscreen and inside the area cleaned by
the wiper and it controls an electronic con-
trol unit which in turn controls the wiper
motor.
fig. 64
A0A0331b
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
51
TO REDUCE THE
MEMORISED SPEED
The speed memorised can be reduced in
two ways:
1) disengaging the device (for instance
pressing the brake pedal) and then mem-
orising 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.The device may only be engaged in in
4th, 5th or 6th gear, depending on the
speed of the car. Travelling downhill with
the device engaged the car speed may
increase more than the memorised one,
due to the change in the engine load.
The ring (A) may be left constantly at
ONwithout damaging the device. You
are, however, advised to switch the device
off when not in use, turning the ring to
OFF, to avoid memorising speeds by
accident. It is advisable to engage the cruise con-
trol only when the conditions of the traffic
or roads so permit under completely safe
conditions, i.e.: straight and dry roads,
dual carriage ways or motorways, flowing
traffic and smooth road surface. Do not
engage the device in town or in heavy
traffic conditions.When travelling with the
cruise control on, do not
move the gearshift lever to
neutral and do not move the Sele-
speed selector to N.
Cruise control may only
be engaged at speeds be-
tween 30 and 190 km/h.
If the device is faulty or
not working, turn the ring
(A) to OFF and contact Al-
fa Romeo Authorised Services af-
ter checking that the protection
fuse is intact.
ESETTING THE MEMORISED
SPEED
The memorised speed is automatically
reset turning off the engine or moving the
ring (A) to OFF.
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
52
DASHBOARD
(As concerns right-hand drive versions, see dashboard and instrument panel controls described in the dedicated paragraph at the end of this
manual)
1. Side swivel air vents - 2. Fixed side window air vents - 3. Outer light control lever - 4. Speedometer with mileage recorder and trip recorder and headlamp
aiming display - 5. Fuel level gauge with reserve warning light - 6. Multifunction display - 7. Engine coolant fluid temperature gauge - 8. Rev counter - 9. Tail-
gate release button - 10. Car holder (for versions/markets where applicable) - 11. Radio (for versions/markets where applicable) - 12. Centre swivel air
vents - 13. Fixed upper vent - 14. Glass holder (for versions/markets where applicable) - 15. Fog lamp button - 16. Hazard warning light switch - 17. Rear
fog guard button - 18. Passenger’s front Air bag - 19. Glove-box - 20. Door locking button - 21. Controls for heating, ventilation and climate control - 22. Cig-
ar lighter/ashtray cover - 23. Temperature sensor - 24. Windscreen wiper control lever - 25. Ignition key and switch - 26. Horn - 27. Steering wheel lock-
ing/release lever - 28. Driver’s front Air bag - 29. Set of controls: trip meter reset, headlamp aiming device, trip computer - 30. Bonnet opening lever.
fig. 67
A0A0618b
Page 55 of 307
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
53
A. Fuel level gauge with reserve warning
light - B. Engine coolant fluid temperature
gauge with maximum temperature warn-
ing light - C. Speedometer - D. Odometer
display (mileage recorder, trip recorder with
headlamp position display - E. Reconfigu-
rable multifunction display - F. Rev counter
Petrol version
A. Fuel level gauge with reserve warning
light - B. Engine coolant fluid temperature
gauge with maximum temperature warn-
ing light - C. Speedometer - D. Odometer
display (mileage recorder, trip meter with
headlamp position display) - E. Reconfigu-
rable multifunction display - F. Rev counter
INSTRUMENT PANEL
Petrol versions
fig. 68 - 1.8 T. SPARK - 2.0 JTS
fig. 69 - 2.0 JTS Selespeed
A0A0656b
A0A0655b
Page 56 of 307
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
54
fig. 70 - 3.2 V6
fig. 71 - JTD 16V
Petrol versions
A.Fuel level gauge with reserve warning
light - B.Engine coolant fluid temperature
gauge with maximum temperature warn-
ing light - C.Speedometer - D.Odometer
display (mileage recorder, trip meter with
headlamp position display) - E.Reconfigu-
rable multifunction display - F.Rev counter
Diesel versions
A. Fuel level gauge with reserve warning
light - B. Engine coolant fluid temperature
gauge with maximum temperature warn-
ing light - C. Speedometer - D. Odometer
display (mileage recorder, trip meter with
headlamp position display) - E. Reconfigu-
rable multifunction display - F. Rev counter
A0A0687b
A0A0657b