2006 Alfa Romeo 156 warning light

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 CAR26
Folding (fig. 35)
– If necessary (for example when the size
of the mirror causes difficulty in narrow
spaces) the door mirror can be folded in to-
wards the car from position (A) to position
(B).Defrosting/demisting (fig. 36)
The electric mirrors can be fitted with heat-
ing coils which are operated together with
rearscreen heating pressing button (A) and
prevent the mirrors from frosting and/or
misting.
WARNINGThis function is timed and
is deactivated after a few minutes.
fig. 36
A0B0399m
fig. 35
A0B0370m
When travelling the door
mirrors must always be in
position (A).
WARNING
As the driver’s door mirror
is curved, it may slightly
alter the perception of distance.
WARNING
DOOR MIRRORSElectrically adjustable (fig. 34)
Select the mirror to be adjusted (right or
left) using switch (A):
– move switch (A) to (B) to adjust the
left door mirror;
– move switch (A) to (D) to adjust the
right door mirror.
Then, reposition the switch (A) in the in-
termediate locking position (C).
WARNINGThe mirror can only be ad-
justed electrically when the ignition key is
in the MARposition.fig. 34
A0B0018m

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR35
CARRYING CHILDREN SAFELYfig. 55
A0B0001m
For the best level of protection in the event
of a crash, all occupants must travel 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 pro-
portionately larger and heavier than the rest
of the body, while muscles and bone struc-
ture are not completely developed. There-
fore, in order to restraint them correctly in
the event of a crash, different systems are
needed then adult seat belts.
SERIOUS DANGER: Never place cradle child’s seats on the
front passenger seats of cars equipped with passenger air
bag since the air bag activation could cause serious injuries, even mortal.
You are advised to carry children always on the rear seat, as this is the
most protected position in the case of a crash. In any case, child’s seats
must absolutely not be positioned on the front seat of car’s with passen-
ger’s air bag, which during inflation could cause serious injury, even mor-
tal, regardless of the seriousness of the crash that triggered it. Children
may placed on the front seat of cars fitted with passenger’s air bag deac-
tivation. In this case, it is absolutely necessary to check the warning light
Fon the check panel to make sure that deactivation has actually took
place (see paragraph “Front and side air bags” at item ”Front passenger
air bag”). The front passenger seat shall be adjusted in the most backward
position to prevent any contact between the child’s seat and the dashboard.
WARNING

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 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 CAR46
WARNINGIf an accident has triggered
the air bag, Alfa Romeo Authorized Services
must be contacted to have the devices ac-
tivated replaced and to have the whole sys-
tem checked.
All operations involving checking, repair-
ing and replacing components concerning
the Air bag must be carried out by Alfa
Romeo Authorized Services.
If the car is to be demolished, Alfa Romeo
Authorized Services should be contacted be-
forehand to have the system deactivated.
If the car changes ownership, the new
owner must be informed of the instructions
for use and of the above warnings and be
given this “Owner’s Manual”.
WARNINGThe triggering of the pre-
tensioners, front air bags and side bags is
decided by the electronic control unit in a
differentiated manner depending on the type
of crash. The failure to trigger one or more
of them does not necessarily indicate a sys-
tem malfunction.
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 retaining systems; un-
der this condition air bags or preten-
sioners could not trigger in the event
of collision or, in a restricted number
of cases, they could trigger acciden-
tally. Stop the car and contact Alfa
Romeo Authorized Services to have
the system checked immediately.WARNING
Do not cover the back rest
of front seats with trims or
covers there are not set for the use
of side bags.
WARNING
Never travel with objects
on your lap, in front of the
chest or with a pipe, pencil, etc. be-
tween your lips. Serious injury may
result in the case of the air bag be-
ing triggered.
WARNING
Always keep your hands
on the steering wheel rim
when driving, so that if the Air bag
is triggered, it can inflate without
meeting any 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.
WARNING
If the car has been stolen
or an attempt to steal it
has been made, if it has been sub-
jected to vandals or floods, have
the Air bag system checked by Alfa
Romeo Authorized Services.
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 CAR47
You are reminded that
when the ignition key is
engaged and in the MAR position,
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 car station-
ary, without the key engaged and
turned, the Air bags are not trig-
gered in the event of an impact; in
this case the failure to trigger the
air bags should not be considered
a system failure.
WARNING
Turning the ignition key to
MAR the
F
warning light
(with the passenger’s front Air bag
deactivation switch at ON) turns
on for about 4 seconds, and then
flashes for another 4 seconds to
remind that the passenger’s Air
bag and corresponding side Air
bags will be activated in the event
of a crash, then it goes off.
WARNING
Do not wash the seat back
with pressurised water or
steam (by hand or at automatic
seat washing stations).
WARNING
The front Air bags are de-
signed to be triggered for
heavier crashes than the preten-
sioners. It is therefore normal for
the pretensioners only to be trig-
gered for crashes within the two
activation thresholds.
WARNING
Do not hook rigid objects to
the coat hooks and to the
support handles.
WARNING
The air bag does not re-
place the seat belts, but in-
creases their effectiveness. Addi-
tionally, as the front air bags are
not triggered for head-on collision
at low speed, side crashes, crashes
from behind or overturning, in
these cases the occupants are pro-
tected only by the seat belts, which
must, therefore, always be fas-
tened.
WARNING