2006 Alfa Romeo 156 belt

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 CAR37
GROUP 3For children from 22 kg up to 36 kg the
child’s chest is thick enough not to need the
spacer back rest any more.
Fig. 59shows proper child seat posi-
tioning on the rear seat.
Over 1.50 m tall children may wear seat
belts like adults.
GROUP 2Starting from 15 to 25 kg in weight, chil-
dren may be restrained directly by the car
seat belts. Child seats only have the func-
tion of positioning the child correctly in re-
lation 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
(fig. 58).fig. 58
A0B0002m
fig. 59
A0B0009m
Seats exist which are suit-
able for covering weight
groups 0 and 1 with a rear con-
nection to the car belts and its own
belts to restrain the child. Because
of their mass, they can be danger-
ous if installed incorrectly fastened
to the car belts with a cushion.
Strictly adhere to the assembly in-
structions provided.
WARNING
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 CAR38
Group 0, 0+Group 1Group 2Group 3 PASSENGER SEAT COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS ON CHILD’S SEAT USEAlfa 156complies with the new EC Directive 2000/3 regulating child’s seat assembling on the different car seats according to the
following table:
Front and rear seat (saloon and Sportwagon versions)
Key:
U= suitable for child restraint systems of the “Universal” category, according to European Standard ECE-R44 for the specified “Groups”
L= suitable for certain child’s restraint systems available at Lineaccessori Alfa Romeo for the specified group
(*)= child’s seats cannot be installed on the rear centre seat with lap belt with two anchor points
U
U
U
U(*)
(*)
(*)
(*) U
U
U
U L
L
L
L until to 13 kg
9 -18 kg
15 - 25 kg
22 - 36 kg
Group Range of weight SEAT
Front passenger Rear side passenger Rear centre passenger Rear centre passenger
seat Seat (inertial seat belt Seat (centre lap belt
with three anchor points) with two anchor points)

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR39
4)Always pull the tape to check that the
belts are buckled.
5)All restraint systems are strictly for one
child only: never use for two children at the
same time.
6)Always make sure that the belts do not
rest on the child’s neck.
7)During the journey, do not allow the
child to stay in abnormal positions or release
the belts.
8)Do not carry children in your arms, not
even small babies. No-one, however strong,
can keep hold of them in a crash.
9)In the case of accidents, replace the
child’s seat with a new one.
PRESETTING FOR INSTALLING
THE “ISOFIX TYPE” CHILD
RESTRAINT SYSTEMThe car is created preset for mounting the
Isofix type child restraint system. Isofix is
a new European standardised system for car-
rying children. Isofix type child restraint sys-
tem is an additional option that does not
prevent from using traditional child restraint
systems. Isofix type child restraint system
covers three weight groups: 0, 0+ and 1.
Due to its different anchoring system, the
Isofix type child’s seat should be anchored
using only the proper brackets provided for
the purpose in the car.
It is possible to mount both the traditional
restraint system and the Isofix type one, one
on the left and the other on the right, for ex-
ample.
Since sizes are different, it is possible to
install max two Isofix type child's seats us-
ing the proper couplings on the rear seat
or three traditional child's seats using the
seat belts. On the front passenger seat it is
possible to mount only traditional child's
seats. Below is a summary of the safety
rules to be observed when carry-
ing children:
1)The recommended position for in-
stalling a child’s seat is on the rear seat, as
it is the most protected in the event of a
crash.
2)If the passenger’s air bag is deactivated
always check that deactivation has taken
place through the special warning light
F
.
3)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.
If a passenger’s air bag is
installed, children should
never travel on the front seat.
WARNING

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR41
For proper installation proceed as follows:
– check whether the release lever (B-
fig. 61) is at rest position (inward)
– find the presetting brackets (A), then
position the child’s seat with the fastening
devices (C) aligned with the brackets
– push the child restraint system until hear-
ing the locking clicks.As the child grows up, passing to weight
group 1the child’s seat should be mounted
facing forwards (running direction).
Installation of the seat for
weight group 1
For proper installation proceed as follows:
– check whether the release lever (B-
fig. 62) is at rest position (inward);
– find the presetting brackets (A), then
position the child’s seat with the fastening
devices (C) aligned with the brackets;
– push the child restraint system until hear-
ing the locking clicks.
If the Isofix type seat is positioned facing
backwards, the passenger’s seat must be
positioned completely back until touching
the child’s seat back. Installation of the seat for
the 0 and 0+ groups
For children of the 0, 0+weight group,
the child’s seat is facing backwards (babies
up to 13 kg) and the child is restrained by
the child’s seat belts (D-fig. 61).
fig. 61
A0B0400m
fig. 62
A0B0401m

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR42
FRONT AND SIDE
AIR BAGS The car is fitted with front Air bags for the
driver (fig. 63), for the passenger
(fig. 64), side bags (fig. 65) and win-
dow bags (fig. 66).
FRONT AIR BAGSDescription and operation
The front air bag (driver’s and passenger’s)
is a safety device that comes into action in
the event of a head-on collision.It is formed of an instantly-inflating cush-
ion contained in a special recess:
– in the centre of the steering wheel for
the driver;
– in the dashboard and with a larger-sized
cushion for the passenger.
The front Air bag (driver’s and passenger’s)
is a device designed to protect the occupants
in the event of head-on collision of medium-
high severity by the interposition of the cush-
ion between the occupant and the steering
wheel or dashboard.
In the event of a crash, the electronic con-
trol unit processes the signals leading from
a deceleration sensor and when necessary,
triggers inflation of the cushion.
The cushion inflates instantly as a protec-
tive barrier between the occupants’ bodies
and the structures which could cause injury.
The cushion deflates immediately after-
wards.
The front air bag (driver’s and passenger’s)
does not replace but is complementary to
the use of belts, which should always be
worn, as specified by law in Europe and
most non-European countries.
fig. 63
A0B0568m
fig. 64
A0B0582m
fig. 65
A0B0278m
fig. 66
A0B0277m

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR43
In the event of a crash a person that is not
wearing the seat belt moves forwards and
may come into contact with the cushion
while it is still opening. Under these cir-
cumstances the protection offered by the
cushion is reduced.
Front air bags are designed to protect car’s
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 malfunction.
In collisions against highly deformable or
mobile objects (road signposts, heaps of ice
or snow, etc.), rear collisions (hit from be-
hind by another vehicle), side collisions,
wedging under other vehicles or protective
barriers (for example under a lorry or guard
rail) cutting in of the air bag is not activated
as it does not offer any more protection than
the seat belts therefore activation would be
inappropriate.
Therefore the failure to be triggered does
not mean that the system is not working
properly.
PASSENGER’S FRONT
AIR BAGThe passenger’s front air bag has been de-
signed to improve the protection of a per-
son wearing a seat belt.
Its volume at maximum inflation fills most
of the space between the dashboard and the
passenger.
SERIOUS DANGER:
The car is fitted
with front passenger’s air bag.
Never place cradle child’s seats on
the front passenger seat of cars
equipped with passenger air bag
since the air bag activation could
cause serious injuries, even mortal.
In the case of need, always deac-
tivate the passenger’s air bag
when a child’s seat is placed on the
front seat. The front passenger
seat shall be adjusted in the most
backward position to prevent any
contact between child’s seat and
dashboard. Even if not ruled by
law, for better protection of adults
you are recommended to reactivate
the air bag immediately as soon as
child transport is no longer neces-
sary.
WARNING
Please don’t apply stickers
or other objects to the
steering wheel, to the air-bag
cover on the passenger's side or on
the side roof lining to the uphol-
stery on the roof side. Don’t place
objects on the dashboard passen-
ger’s side (such as mobile phones)
because they could tamper with the
correct opening of the passenger’s
air-bag and than cause serious in-
juries to the vehicle occupants.
WARNING

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR45
The bags inflate instantaneously, setting
themselves between the body of the front
passengers and the car door. The bags de-
flate immediately afterwards.
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 and prevent the occupant to
be pitched out of the car in case of violent
crashes.
Therefore the side air bags do not replace
but are complementary to the use of belts,
which you are recommended to always
wear, as specified by law in Europe and most
non-European countries.
Operation of the side air bags and window
bags is not disabled by the front air bag de-
activation switch, as described in the previ-
ous paragraphs.WARNINGThe front and/or side air
bags may be activated if the car is subjected
to heavy shocks or accidents that involve the
underbody area, such as for example violent
bumps against steps, pavements or fixed ob-
stacles on the ground, falling into big holes
or bumpy roads.WARNINGThe triggering of air bags re-
leases a small amount of powder. This pow-
der is not harmful and does not indicate a
start of fire; also the surfaces of the de-
ployed bag and the car interior may be cov-
ered with dusty residue: this may irritate the
skin and eyes. In the event of exposure,
wash with neutral soap and water. WARNINGIn 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 un-
folding.
The airbag system has a validity of 14
years for the pyrotechnic charge and 10
years for the coil contact (see the plate lo-
cated on the front left door near the lock).
Contact Alfa Romeo Authorized Services
for replacement as these dates approach.
Never rest head, arms and
elbows on the door, on the
windows and in the window bag
area to prevent possible injuries
during the inflation phase.
WARNING
Never lean head, arms and
elbows out of the window.
WARNING