2006 Alfa Romeo GT steering

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
14
IGNITION DEVICE
SWITCH(fig. 8)
The key can be turned to one of four
positions:
–STOP: engine switched off, key can
be removed, engine inhibitor engaged,
steering lock engaged, services excluded
apart from those supplied directly (e.g.
hazard warning lights).
–MAR: drive position. The engine lock
is deactivated and all electrical devices are
powered.
fig. 8
A0A0016b
When leaving the vehicle
always remove the key
from the ignition to pre-
vent any occupants of the vehicle
from accidentally activating the
controls. Never leave children in
the vehicle unaccompanied. Re-
member to engage the handbrake
and, if the vehicle is parked on an
uphill slope, to engage the first
gear. If the vehicle is facing down-
hill, engage reverse gear.
If the ignition device is
tampered with (for exam-
ple an attempted theft)
have it checked over by Alfa
Romeo Authorised Services before
travelling again.
IMPORTANTDo not leave the key in
this position when the engine is stopped.
–AV V: unstable position for starting
the engine.
IMPORTANTIf the engine fails to
start move the key back to STOPand
repeat.
The ignition switch has a safety device
which prevents passage to AV Vwhen
the engine is running.
–PARK: engine switched off, key can
be removed, engine lock engaged, steer-
ing lock engaged, sidelights switched on
automatically.
IMPORTANTTo turn the key to the
PARKposition, button (A) on the switch
must be pressed first.

It is absolutely forbidden
to carry out whatever af-
ter-market operation in-
volving steering system or steer-
ing column modifications (e.g.: in-
stallation of anti-theft Device) that
could badly affect performance and
safety, cause the lapse of warran-
ty and also result in non-compli-
ance of the car with homologation
requirements.
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
15
STEERING LOCK
Engaging:
– move the key to STOPorPARK,
then remove the key and turn the steering
wheel slightly to facilitate the locking
action.
Disengaging:
– turn the key to MARgently rocking
the steering wheel from side to side.
Never remove the ignition
key with the car on the
move. The steering wheel
would lock automatically the first
time the steering wheel is turned.
This also occurs if the car is towed.
DOORS
Before opening a door, al-
ways make sure that it can
be done safely.
OPENING/CLOSING
FROM OUTSIDE
Front doors
– To open the driver's door turn the key
clockwise and to open the passengers' door,
optional for versions/markets where applic-
able, turn the key anti-clockwise, then re-
move the key and pull the lever (A-fig. 9).
– To close the door, turn the key in the
lock in the opposite direction to the one
for opening.
fig. 9
A0A0017b
fig. 10
A0A0018b
OPENING/CLOSING
FROM INSIDE
Front doors
– To open the door, pull the handle
(A-fig. 10).
– To close the door, pull it; then to pre-
vent opening from outside, press button
(A-fig. 11) on the dashboard, the deter-
rent led (B) on the actual button lights up
with a yellow light to confirm that locking
has taken place.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
16
FRONT SEATSCENTRAL LOCKING
This allows central locking of the door
locks.
To engage central locking, the doors
must be perfectly shut, otherwise locking
is denied.
IMPORTANTWith central locking
engaged, pulling the inside lever for open-
ing one of the front doors causes the
unlocking of all the doors.
In the event of a power cut off (blown
fuse, battery disconnected, etc.) it is still
possible to work the lock by hand.
fig. 11
A0A0019b
Any adjustments are to
be carried out only with
the vehicle stationary.
LENGTHWISE ADJUSTMENT
(fig. 12)
Raise the lever (A) and push the seat
backwards or forwards; in the driving posi-
tion the arms should be slightly flexed and
the hands should rest on the rim of the
steering wheel.
fig. 12
A0A0602b
After releasing the ad-
justment lever, always
check that the seat is
locked on the runners, trying to
move it to and from. The lack of
this clamping action could cause the
seat to move unexpectedly and
cause loss of vehicle control.
Upholstery of your car has
been designed to withstand
wear deriving from com-
mon use of the car. You are how-
ever recommended to avoid strong
and/or continuous scratching with
clothing accessories such as metal-
lic buckles, studs, Velcro fastenings
and the like, since these items cause
circumscribed stress of the cover
fabric that could lead to yarn break-
ing, and damage the cover as a con-
sequence.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
22
STEERING WHEEL
The driver can adjust the steering wheel
position in rake and height.
To do this, release the lever (A-fig. 27)
pulling it towards the steering wheel.
After moving the steering wheel to the
most suitable position, lock it pushing the
lever fully forwards.
LUGGAGE RETAINER
NET (where fitted)
Present only on certain versions, the
retainer net (fig. 26) is helpful in cor-
rectly arranging the load and/or suitable
for transporting light materials.
fig. 27
A0A0706b
Any adjustment of the
steering wheel position
must be carried out only
with the vehicle stationary.
CENTRAL ARMREST (fig. 25)
To use the armrest (A), present only on
certain versions, lower it as illustrated.
fig. 26
A0A0624b
fig. 25
A0A0611b

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
39
Do not apply stickers or
other objects on the steer-
ing wheel and on the pas-
senger’s air bag cover. Do not put
objects on the dashboard on the
passenger’s side (e.g. cell phones)
because they may interfere with
the correct passenger’s air bag
opening and seriously injure the oc-
cupants of the car.
The driver’s and passenger’s front air bag
has been designed to improve the protec-
tion of a person wearing a seat belt.
Its volume at maximum inflation fills
most of the space between the steering
wheel and the driver and between the
dashboard and the passenger.
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. DRIVER’S FRONT AIR BAG
It is formed of a cushion contained in a
special recess that inflates instantaneously
(fig. 50). The front air bag (driver’s and passen-
ger’s) does not replace but is complemen-
tary to the use of belts, which should
always be worn, as specified by law in
Europe and most non-European countries.
In the event of a crash a person that is
not wearing the seat belt moves forwards
and may come into contact with the cush-
ion while it is still opening. Under these
circumstances the protection offered by
the cushion is reduced.
Front air bags may not be triggered in
the following conditions:
– collisions against highly deformable
objects which do not concern the car front
surface (for example the bumper crashing
against the guard rail);
– wedging under other vehicles or pro-
tective barriers (for example under a lorry
or guard rail);
as they do not offer any more protection
than the seat belts and therefore activa-
tion would be inappropriate. Therefore the
failure to be triggered does not mean that
the system is not working properly.
fig. 50
A0A0613b

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.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
44
STEERING WHEEL
LEVERS
The devices and services controlled by
the levers on the steering wheel can only
be activated with the ignition key at
MAR.
LEFT-HAND LEVER
The left-hand lever controls the outer
lights except for the fog lamps and rear
fog guards.
When the outer lights are switched on,
the various controls on the dashboard are
illuminated.
Only with the ignition key at PARK,
regardless of the position of the knurled
ring, the sidelights and number plate
lights stay on.
Position (1or2-fig. 60) of the lever
causes the turning on only of the side-
lights (front and rear), on the right or left
respectively.
Lights switched off(fig. 55)
When the pointer in the knurled ring is
opposite the symbol O, the outer lights
are switched off. Turning the ignition key to
MAR, the
Fwarning light
(with the passenger’s front
air bag deactivation switch at ON)
turns on and flashes for a few sec-
onds to remind that the passen-
ger’s air bag will be activated in
the event of a crash, then it goes
off.The front air bags are de-
signed to be triggered for
heavier crashes than the
pretensioners. It is therefore nor-
mal for the pretensioners only to
be triggered for crashes within the
two activation thresholds.
Do not hook rigid objects
to the coat hooks and to
the support handles.
The air bag does not re-
place the seat belts, but in-
creases their effectiveness.
Additionally, as the front air bags
are not triggered for head-on-col-
lision at low speed, side crashes,
crashes from behind or overturn-
ing, in these cases the occupants
are protected only by the seat
belts, which must, therefore, al-
ways be fastened. Do not wash the seat
back with pressurised wa-
ter or steam (by hand or at
automatic seat washing stations).