2006 Alfa Romeo 166 warning

43
Operations which lead to
knocks, vibrations or lo-
calised heating (over
100°C for a maximum of 6 hours)
in the area around the pretension-
ers may cause damage or trigger
them. These devices are not af-
fected by vibrations caused by ir-
regularities of the road surface or
low obstacles such as kerbs, etc.
Contact a Alfa Romeo Authorized
Services for any assistance.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR
USING THE SEAT BELTS
The driver must comply with (and have
the vehicle occupants follow) all the local
legal regulations concerning the use of
seat belts.
Always fasten the seat belts before s-
tarting.
For maximum safety,
keep the back of your
seat upright, lean back into it and
make sure the seat belt fits closely
across your chest and hips.
Make sure that the seat belts of
the front and rear passengers are
fastened at all times! You increase
the risk of serious injury or death
in a collision if you travel with the
belts unfastened.
WARNING
The belt should not be
twisted, make sure that it
is taut and adheres to the passen-
ger’s body. The upper part should
pass over the shoulder and cross
the chest diagonally. The lower part
should adhere to the pelvis and to
the abdomen of the passenger, (fig.
53). Do not use any objects (pegs,
stoppers, etc.) to keep the belts
away from the body.
WARNING
Under no circumstances
should the components of
the seat belts and pretensioner be
tampered with or removed. Any
operation should be carried out by
qualified and authorised personnel.
Always contact Alfa Romeo Au-
thorized Services. If the belt has
been subjected to heavy stress, for
example after an accident, it
should be changed completely to-
gether with the anchors, anchor
fastening screws and the preten-
sioners. In fact, even if the belt has
no visible defects, it could have
lost its resilience.
WARNING
593PGSm
fig. 53

44
Seat belts are also to be worn by expec-
tant mothers: the risk of injury in the case
of accident is greatly reduced for them
and the unborn child if they are wearing
a seat belt.
Of course they must position the lower
part of the belt very low down so that it
passes under the abdomen (fig. 55).HOW TO KEEP THE SEAT BELTS
ALWAYS IN EFFICIENT
CONDITIONS
1)Always use the belt with the tape
taut and never twisted; make sure that it
is free to run without impediments.
2)After a serious accident, replace the
belt being worn at that time, even if it
does not appear damaged. Always re-
place the seat belts if pretensioners have
been activated.
3)To clean the belts, wash by hand
with neutral soap, rinse and leave to dry
in the shade. Never use strong deter-
gents, bleach or dyes or other chemical
substance that might weaken the fibres.
4)Prevent the reels from getting wet:
their correct operation is only guaranteed
if water does not get inside.
5)Replace the seat belt when showing
significant wear or cut signs.
Never travel with a child
sitting on the passen-
ger’s lap with a single belt to pro-
tect them both (fig. 54). Do not
fasten other objects to the body.
WARNING
595PGSm
fig. 54
594PGSm
fig. 55

45
CARRYING CHILDREN SAFELYFor optimal protection in the event of a
crash, all passengers must be seated and
wearing adequate restraint systems.
This is even more warning for children.
According to 2003/20/EC Directive,
this prescription is compulsory for all Euro-
pean Community countries.
Compared with adults, their head is pro-
portionally larger and heavier than the
rest of the body, while the muscles and
bone structure are not completely devel-
oped. Therefore, correct restraint systems
are necessary, other then adult seat belts.
fig. 56
003STZm
SERIOUS DANGER: Never place cradle child’s seats on the
front passenger seat of cars fitted 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, children's seats must
absolutely not be fitted on the front seat of car’s with passenger’s air bag,
which during inflation could cause serious injury, even mortal, regardless
of the seriousness of the crash that triggered it.
Children may be placed on the front seat of cars fitted with passenger’s
air bag deactivation. In this case, it is absolutely necessary to check the
warning light
Fon the cluster to make sure that deactivation has ac-
tually taken place (see paragraph “Front and side air bags” at item “Pas-
senger’s front air bag”). The front passenger seat shall be adjusted in the
most backward position to prevent any contact between child’s seat and
dashboard.
AIRBAGWARNING

46
The results of research on the best child
restraint systems are contained in the Eu-
ropean Standard ECE-R44. This Standard
enforces the use of restraint systems clas-
sified in 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 overlap
partly and in fact, in commerce it is possi-
ble to find devices that cover more than
one weight group (fig. 56).
All restraint devices must bear the certi-
fication data, together with the control
brand, on a solidly fixed label which must
absolutely never be removed. Over
481.50 m in height, from the point of
view of restraint systems, children are
considered as adults and wear the seat
belts normally.Lineaccessori Alfa Romeo offers seats
for each weight group, which are the rec-
ommended choice, as they have been de-
signed and experimented specifically for
Alfa Romeo cars.
GROUP 0 and 0+
Babies up to 13 kg must be carried fac-
ing backwards on a cradle seat, which,
supporting the head, does not induce
stress on the neck in the event of sharp
deceleration. The cradle is restrained by
the car seat belts, as shown in (fig. 57)
and in turn it must restrain the child with
its own belts.GROUP 1
Starting from 9 kg to 18 kg in weight,
children may be carried facing forwards,
with seats fitted with front cushion
(fig. 58), through which the car seat
belt restrains both child and seat.
004STZm
fig. 57 fig. 58
005STZm
Illustration is indicative
for assembly only. As-
semble the seat according to the
compulsory instructions provided
with it. Child’s seat shall not be
assembled on the rear central seat.
WARNING

47
GROUP 2
Starting from 15 kg to 25 kg in weight,
children may be restrained directly by the
car belts. The only function of the seat is to
position the child correctly in relation to the
belts, so that the diagonal part adheres to
the chest and not to the neck and that the
horizontal part clings to the child’s pelvis
and not the abdomen (fig. 59).GROUP 3
For children from 22 kg up to 36 kg the
size of the child’s chest no longer requires
a support to space the child’s back from
the seat back.
(Fig. 60) shows proper child seat posi-
tioning on the rear seat.
Children taller than 1.50 m can wear
seat belts like adults.
006STZm007STZm
fig. 59 fig. 60
Seats exist which are
suitable for covering
weight groups 0 and 1 with a rear
connection to the vehicle belts and
their own belts to restrain the
child. Due to their size, they can be
dangerous if installed incorrectly
fastened to the car belts with a
cushion. Carefully follow the in-
structions for installation provided
with the seat.
WARNING
Illustration is indicative
for assembly only. As-
semble the seat according to the
compulsory instructions provided
with it. Child’s seat shall not be
assembled on the rear central seat.
WARNING
Illustration is indicative
for assembly only. As-
semble the seat according to the
compulsory instructions provided
with it. Child’s seat shall not be
assembled on the rear central seat.
WARNING

48
Below is a summary of the
rules of safety to be followed
for carrying children:
1)The recommended position for in-
stalling children’s seat is on the rear seat,
as it is the most protected in the case of
a crash.2)If the passenger’s air bag is deacti-
vated always check the warning light
Fon the cluster to make sure that it
has actually been deactivated.
3)Attain to the instructions for fasten-
ing the specific child restraint system
which you are using. These instructions
must be provided by the manufacturer.
Keep the child restraint system installa-
tion instructions with the car documents
and this Handbook. Never use a child re-
straint system without installation instruc-
tions.
4)Always check the seat belt is well
fastened by pulling the webbing.
5)Only one child is to be strapped to
each retaining system.
6)Always check the seat belts do not
fit around the child’s throat.
7)While travelling, do not let the child
sit incorrectly or release the belts.
8)Passengers should never carry chil-
dren on their laps. No-one, however
strong they are, can hold a child in the
event of a crash.
9)In case of an accident, replace the
seat with a new one.
In cars fitted with pas-
senger air bag never
place child’s restraint systems on
the front seat since children shall
never be seated on the front pas-
senger seat.
WARNING
Illustration is indicative
for assembly only. As-
semble the seat according to the
compulsory instructions provided
with it. Child’s seat shall not be
assembled on the rear central seat.
WARNING

52
PASSENGER’S FRONT AIR BAG
The passenger’s front air bag has been
designed to improve the protection of a
person wearing a seat belt.
It volume at maximum inflation fills
most of the space between the dash-
board and the passenger.
MANUAL DEACTIVATION OF
PASSENGER’S FRONT AIR BAG
Should it be absolutely necessary to car-
ry a child on the front seat, the passen-
ger’s front Air bag can be deactivated.
Deactivation takes place operating the
special key switch on the right of the
dashboard (fig. 65) using the car’s igni-
tion switch. Access to the switch is only
possible with the door open.
SERIOUS DANGER: The
car is fitted with an Air
bag on the passenger's side. Never
place cradle child’s seats on the
front passenger seat of cars fitted
with passenger air bag since the
air bag activation could cause se-
rious injuries, even mortal. In the
case of need, always deactivate
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 back-
ward position to prevent any con-
tact between child’s seat and
dashboard. Even if not compulsory
by law, you are recommended to
reactivate the Air bag immediately
as soon as child transport is no
longer necessary.
WARNING
380PGSm
fig. 65

53
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. 65).
You can reach the switch only if the
door is opened.The key switch (fig. 65) has two posi-
tions:
1)Passenger’s front Air bag active
(ONposition
P) warning light on clus-
ter off; it is absolutely prohibited to carry
children on the front seat.
2)Passenger’s front Air bag deactivat-
ed (OFFposition
F) warning light on
cluster on; it is possible to carry children
protected by special restraint systems on
the front seat.
The
Fwarning light on the instru-
ment cluster glows steadily until the pas-
senger’s Air bag is reactivated.
Deactivation of the front passenger’s Air
bag does not inhibit operation of the side
Air bag.
With the door open the key can be in-
serted and removed in both positions.Operate the switch only
when the engine is not
running and the ignition key is re-
moved.
WARNING
Warning light Findi-
cates also warning light
¬failure. This is indicated by in-
termittent flashing, over 4 sec-
onds, of warning light
F. In this
event, warning light
¬could be
not up to indicate restraint system
failures, if any. Stop the car and
contact Alfa Romeo Authorized
Services to have the system
checked.
WARNING