2006 Alfa Romeo GT ECU

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
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
135
With the accelerator pedal pressed to over
60% of its stroke and an engine speed
above 5000 rpm, gearshifting becomes
quicker. In the MANUALoperating mode
there are certain automatic/security devices
which simplify driving:
– At slowing down the clutch is disen-
gaged and the automatic reduction of the
gearbox ratio is carried out to be ready for
the possible gear recovery; on the contrary,
when the vehicle stops the gearbox will au-
tomatically engage the first gear (1);
– requests to change gear that would take
the engine to above maximum speed or be-
low minimum speed are not accepted;AUTOMATIC OPERATION (CITY)
The automatic operating mode CITYis se-
lected pressing button (A-fig. 128), at
the base of the gearshift lever or activating
the Cruise Control system (where fitted).
In addition to the gear, the display shows
the word CITY.
The system decides directly when gearshift-
ing according to the engine running speed
and the driving style.
Releasing the accelerator pedal quickly, the
system does not engage a higher gear in or-
der to maintain an adequate level of engine
brake.
fig. 128
A0A0701b
– if jamming occurs during gear engage-
ment, the system firstly tries to engage the
gear required again and, if it is still not pos-
sible, it automatically engages the imme-
diately higher one to avoid leaving the car
in neutral.
IMPORTANTIt is advisable to wait for
the end of a gear shifting operation before
requesting another one, to avoid multiple
requests in rapid succession.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
146
EMERGENCY OPENING
OF TAILGATE
To succeed in opening the tailgate from the
inside, should the car battery be flat, or be-
cause of a defect of the electric lock of the
tailgate itself, proceed as follows (see “Ex-
tending the luggage compartment” in the
chapter “Getting to know you car”):
– tilt the rear seat cushions;
– tilt the backrests;
– - pull the string to unlock (A-fig. 146)
(the string is in the tailgate imprint on the
right).
TAILGATE CLOSING
To lock, push in correspondence with the
Alfa Romeo badge to lower tailgate, until
you feel the click of the lock.
LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT
LIGHTING
(fig. 145)
When the tailgate is opened the light turns
on automatically (A) in the right-hand side
of the boot. Closing the tailgate, the light
turns off automatically.
IMPORTANTTurning the ignition key to
STOP, opening the tailgate, turning on the
light will only be possible for 15 minutes;
after which the system turns it off to avoid
draining the battery.
fig. 145
A0A0637b
fig. 146
A0A0658b
SECURING THE LOAD (fig. 147)
The loads carried may be secured with
straps hooked to the special rings (A) in the
boot.
The rings also serve for fastening the lug-
gage restrainer, if present (in any case avail-
able c/o Alfa Romeo Authorised Services).
CAUTIONS FOR CARRYING
THE LUGGAGE
Travelling at night with a load in the boot
it is necessary to adjust the height of the low
beam headlights (see next paragraph
“Headlights” in this chapter). For correct use
of the aiming device, also make sure that
the load does not exceed the values given
in the same paragraph.
fig. 147
A0A0638b

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
147fig. 149
A0A0707b
Do this only with the car
stationary.
DANGER-SERIOUS IN-
JURY. When carrying out
checks or maintenance op-
erations in the engine compart-
ment, take special care not to bump
the head on the raised bonnet.
If checks are needed in
the engine compartment,
when it is still hot, do not
approach the fan: it might start
working also with the ignition key
removed. Wait for the engine to
cool down.
BONNET
The bonnet opening lever is under the left
end of the dashboard.
To open:
– pull the lever (A-fig. 148) until the
bonnet clicks open.
– press the safety lever (A-fig. 149)
upwards.
– raise the bonnet.
IMPORTANTBonnet raising is aided by
two gas springs. Do not tamper with these
springs and accompany the bonnet while
raising it.
fig. 148
A0A0135b
Do not load the boot
above the permitted max-
imum (see “Technical spec-
ifications”). Also make sure that
the objects contained in the boot
are well secured to prevent them
from being thrown forward, caus-
ing harm to the passengers.
A heavy load that has not
been secured may cause
serious harm to passen-
gers.
If you want to carry re-
serve fuel in a can, follow
legal regulations, only us-
ing a certified can, suitably fastened
to the load securing eyelets. Even
in this way the risk of fire is in-
creased in the case of an accident.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
159
PROTECTION AGAINST THEFT
The radio is fitted with an antitheft pro-
tection system based on the exchange of in-
formation between the radio and the elec-
tronic control unit (Body Computer) installed
on the car. This system warrants the high-
est level of security and prevents entry of
the secret code every time the radio sup-
ply is disconnected.
After every re-connection an automatic
check procedure is performed during which
the display shows the wording “CAN-
CHECK” for about one second. If the result
of the check is positive, the set starts work-
ing, whereas if the comparison codes are
not the same or if the radio is connected for
the first time to the vehicle electric system,
the device informs the user of the need to
enter the secret code according to the pro-
cedure described in the following paragraph.
During the code entry procedure the dis-
play shows the word “CODE”. The set will
not work until the correct code is entered.
This way the protection system makes the
radio unusable after removal from the dash-
board in the case of theft. On multimedia CDs in ad-
dition to sound tracks also
data tracks are recorded.
Playing one of these CDs may cause
rustling at such a volume as to com-
promise road safety, as well as
causing damage to the final stages
and speakers.
Sound section
– Pause function
– Loudness function (excluding versions
with HI-FI BOSE sound system)
– 7 band graphic equaliser
– Separate bass/treble adjustment
– Right/left and front/rear channel bal-
ancing.
CAUTIONS
If it is very cold inside the car and the CD
player is used a little after turning the heater
on, a film of damp may form on the Com-
pact Disc or on the player optics and the
sound may not be perfect. In this case do
not use the CD player for at least an hour,
so that the condensation dissolves natural-
ly and normal operation is resumed.
Driving on rough roads with heavy vibra-
tions may cause skipping when the CD play-
er is working.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
181
To select tracks continuously,
keep the button pressed.
If playing the track started more than 3
seconds ago, pressing “
▼” (8) the track is
played again from the start. In this case if
wanting to play the previous track, press the
button twice consecutively.
Fast forward/backward
Keep “
˙˙” (7) pressed to move the track
selected forward at high speed and keep
“
¯¯” (4) pressed to move it quickly back-
ward. Fast forward/backward is interrupt-
ed once the button is released.
If the CD name display has been chosen
in the menu, this will be replaced by the
CD time display. After about 2 seconds from
the last time the button is pressed, the CD
name will be displayed again.Pause function
To pause the CD player press the preset
button 3 (15). The display will show “CD-
PAUSE”.
To listen again, press the preset button 3
(15) again.
Scanning pieces on the
CD (Scan function)
With this function it is possible to hear all
the pieces contained on a CD.
Keep the “SRC” button (14) pressed for
over one second to play the first 10 seconds
of each track on the CD. While the track is
playing the display will alternately show, for
2 seconds, the CD function chosen (CD time
or name) and the wording “SCAN”. If the
Scan function is on, Repeat and Mix are
turned off.
The scanning sequence is the following:
– from the track played up to the last one
on the CD
– from the first one on the CD up to the
one played the moment scanning was start-
ed.The Scan function is interrupted in the fol-
lowing cases:
– turning the set off
– pressing the “SRC” button (14) again
to continue listening to the track that was
being played
– pressing “
▲” (6) or “▼” (8) (press-
ing them together the track will be skipped)
– pressing a preset button
– turning Autostore on
– turning PTY on
– changing the sound source
– pressing “AUD” (18)
– if the TA function is on the station se-
lected is broadcasting a traffic bulletin
– pressing “MENU” (9).
If the Scan function is not interrupted, at
the end it will continue playing the track
played before scanning was started.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
184
Display information
When the CD-Changer is working, the dis-
play shows the following information which
means:
“T05”: shows the number of the track on
the CD
“03:42”: shows the time elapsed since
the start of the track (if the corresponding
Menu function is on)
“CD 04”: shows the number of the CD
in the loader.
Chosing the CD
Press “
¯¯” (4) to select the previous CD
and “
˙˙” (7) to select the next CD. If in
the menu the CD time display function was
selected, this will be replaced for about 2
seconds by the CD number.
If the loader does not contain a disc in the
position selected, the display briefly shows
the wording “NO CD”, and the next disc
is played automatically.Select track (forward/backward)
Briefly press “
▲” (6) to play the next
track of the CD chosen and “
▼” (8) to play
the previous track.
To select tracks continuously, keep the but-
ton pressed.
If playing the track started more than 3
seconds ago, pressing “
▼” (8) the track is
played again from the start. In this case if
wanting to play the previous track, press the
button twice consecutively.
Fast forward/backward
Keep “
˙˙” (7) pressed to move the track
selected forward at high speed and keep
“
¯¯” (4) pressed to move it quickly back-
ward. Fast forward/backward is interrupt-
ed once the button is released.
A brief press on the button moves the track
forward or backward by 1 second.
If the CD number display function was se-
lected in the menu, this will be replaced for
about 2 seconds by the CD time display func-
tion.Scanning CD tracks
(Scan function)
With this function it is possible to listen to
all the tracks contained on the CD selected.
Keep the “SRC” (button 14) pressed for
more than one second to play the first 10
seconds of every track on the CD. While
playing, the display will alternately show for
about 2 seconds the CD function chosen (CD
name, time or number) and the word
“SCAN”. If the Scan function is on, the Re-
peat and Mix functions are turned off.
The scanning sequence is the following:
– from the track played up to the last of
the tracks on the CD
– change of CD and scanning all the tracks
(and so on for all the CDs in the changer)
– from the first track up to the one played
until the start of scanning.
The Scan function is interrupted in the fol-
lowing cases:
– turning the set off
– pressing the “SRC” button (14) again
to continue listening to the track that was
being played
– pressing “
▲” (6) or “▼” (8) (press-
ing them together the track will be skipped)