2007 Alfa Romeo 166 brake

75
Seat belts not fastened
When the ignition key is turned to
MARthe warning light turns on but it
must go out after approx. 15 seconds.
For versions/markets where applicable,
the warning light turns on permanently
when, with the key in the MARposi-
tion, the driver’s seat belt is not fastened
properly. This warning light comes on when the
brake pedal is pressed and the front
brake pads are found to be worn, have
them replaced as soon as possible. When
the ignition key is turned to MARthe
warning light comes on but must go out
after approx. 6 seconds.
IMPORTANT As the vehicle is fitted
with brake pad wear sensors for the front
wheels only, when these are replaced
check the back brake pads at the same
time.dAlfa Romeo CODE system
When the ignition key is turned to MAR
the warning light should come on and then
go out. If the warning lights stays on with
the key in the MARposition, it indicates
a possible failure: see “The Alfa Romeo
CODE system”.
IMPORTANT The turning on contem-
poraneously of warning lights and
indicates a failure of the Alfa Romeo
CODE system.
¢
¢

78
LLeft-hand direction
indicator (intermittent)
This warning light comes on when the
control lever is moved downwards or, to-
gether with the right-hand warning light,
when the hazard warning lights are
switched on. R
Sidelights
This warning light comes on when the
sidelights are switched on.3
Right-hand direction
indicator (intermittent)
This warning light comes on when the
control lever is moved upwards or, togeth-
er with the left-hand warning light, when
the hazard warning lights are switched
on.E
Lights failure
The warning light stays on for about
15 seconds, after the check, when a fail-
ure is detected on one of the following
lights:
– low beam headlights
– high beam headlights
– flashing (only gas discharge headlights)
– side/taillights
– direction indicators
– brake lights (stop lights)
– third stop light
– rear fog guards
– number plate lights.
The warning of a fault may mean one
or more blown bulb, a burnt fuse or cut
off connection.
Turning the key to MARthe warning
light turns on, but it should go out after
about 5 seconds.The turning on of only
the
>warning light with
the engine running normally indi-
cates a fault to the ABS system
only. In this case the braking sys-
tem is still efficient, though with-
out the aid of the anti-lock device.
Under these conditions perfor-
mance of the EBD system may be
reduced. in this case too, you are
advised to go immediately to the
nearest Authorized Alfa Romeo
workshop, driving in such a way
as to avoid sharp braking, to have
the system checked over.
WARNING

95
GEARSHIFT LEVER (fig. 101)
When changing gear always fully de-
press the clutch pedal. Before engaging
reverse gear (R) wait for the car to be
stationary.
To engage reverse gear (R) it is neces-
sary to wait for the car to be stationary,
then raise the ring under the grip (A)
(with the fingers of the same hand hold-
ing the lever). After engaging reverse
gear, release the ring. It is not necessary
to raise the ring on the lever when shift-
ing from reverse to another gear.
fig. 101
A0D0031m
HAND BRAKE (fig. 102)
The hand brake is located between the
two front seats.
To operate the brake when the vehicle
is stationary pull the lever upwards until
the required braking action is obtained.
When the ignition key is in the MAR
position the
xwarning light will come
on on the instrument panel.To release the hand brake:
– Slightly lift the lever (A) and press
the button (B).
– holding the button down lower the
lever: the
xwarning light on the instru-
ment panel will go out.
To prevent the car from moving acciden-
tally, keep the brake pedal pressed when
engaging the handbrake.
The wheels should be
locked after a few clicks
of the hand brake lever.
if this does not occur contact Alfa
Romeo Authorized services to
have the hand brake adjusted.
fig. 102
372PGSm

98
CIGAR LIGHTER (fig. 118)
Press knob (A) in to use the cigar
lighter, with ignition key at ACCor
MAR; after some seconds the knob will
return automatically to its initial position
and the cigar lighter is ready to use.
Remove the tray to empty and clean the
ashtray.COIN/CARD/
OBJECT HOLDERS(
fig. 115)
The coin holder (A) is located on the
central console.
The card holder (B) may contain a card
in the vertical position.
The object holder (C) is located next to
the hand brake.
REAR ODDMENTS
COMPARTMENT
(fig. 116-117)
This is on the parcel shelf and it has a
lid.
To open the lid raise it pulling the han-
dle (A).
To close, simply lower it.
676PGSm
fig. 115fig. 116
P4C00057440PGSm
fig. 117
P4C00057441PGSm583PGSm
fig. 118

114 ABS
The car is fitted with an ABS system
which prevents wheel lock when braking,
better exploits wheel grip and keeps the
vehicle controllable within the limits of
the available grip also during emergency
braking.
The driver can feel that the ABS is oper-
ational by a light pulsing of the brake
pedal, accompanied by noise.
This should not be interpreted as malfunc-
tioning of the brakes, but it is the signal to
the driver that the ABS system is working:
it is the warning that the car is travelling at
the limit of grip and that it is therefore nec-
essary to adapt the speed to the type of
road on which you are travelling.
The ABS system is an additional part of
the basic braking system; in the event of
a fault it is disabled, leaving the braking
system in the same conditions as a car
without ABS.In the event of a failure, though being
unable to rely on the antilock effect,
there is absolutely no adverse effect on
vehicle braking performance in terms of
braking capacity.
If you have never used a car with ABS
before, you are advised to learn how to
use it with a few preliminary trials on a
slippery surface, naturally under safety
conditions and fully adhering to the High-
way Code of the country concerned. You
are also advised to carefully read the fol-
lowing information.
The advantage of the ABS compared
with the conventional system is that it
makes it possible to maintain maximum
vehicle handling performance also in the
case of hard braking under grip limit con-
ditions, avoiding wheel lock.
Do not however expect the braking dis-
tance always to be reduced with the ABS
system: for example, on soft surfaces
such as gravel or fresh snow on slippery
surfaces, the distance might increase.In order to be able to exploit as far as
possible the possibility of the antilock
system in the case of need, it is wise to
follow a few pieces of advice.
The ABS exploits the
available grip in full, but
it cannot increase it; therefore cau-
tion is required on slippery surfac-
es, without running un-necessary
risks.
WARNING

115
Braking on corners always requires the
utmost caution, even with the help of the
ABS.
The most important piece of advice
however, is the following:WARNINGCars fitted with ABS must
only be fitted with wheel rims, tyres and
brake linings of the type and brand ap-
proved by the Manufacturer.
The braking system is completed by the
EBD (Electronic Brake Distributor) which
distributes the braking action through the
ABS control unit and sensors.
Following these instructions you will be
in a condition to obtain peak braking per-
formance at all times.
If the ABS cuts in, it
means that the grip limit
between the tyres and the road
surface has been reached: it is nec-
essary to slow down and adapt
driving to the grip available.
WARNING
In the event of a system
fault, with lighting up of
the
>warning light, have the ve-
hicle checked immediately by Au-
thorized Alfa Romeo Services, driv-
ing slowly to be able to regain full
system performance.
WARNING
When the ABS cuts in and
you feel the pedal pulse,
do not reduce the pressure, but
keep the brake pedal firmly
pressed with no fear; this way you
will stop in the shortest space pos-
sible, compatibly with the condi-
tions of the road surface.
WARNING
The car is fitted with an
electronic brake distrib-
utor (EBD). If the
>andxwarn-
ing lights come on at the same time
when the engine is running, there
is an EBD system fault; in this case,
violent braking may lock the rear
wheels too early, with the possibil-
ity of skidding. Drive extremely
carefully to the nearest Authorized
Alfa Romeo Services to have the
system checked over.
WARNING

116
BRAKE ASSIST (Brake assist in
an emergency)
This system, that cannot be cut out, rec-
ognizes emergency braking on the
ground of the brake pedal operation
speed and allows to speed up the braking
action.
On versions fitted with VDC system,
Brake Assist is deactivated in the event of
VDC system failure (indicated by the
switching on of the relevant warning
light).
The turning on of the>
warning light with the
engine running normally indicates
an ABS system fault. In this case
the braking system preserves its
effectiveness, without however
making use of the antilock device.
Under these circumstances, the EBD
system may fail to give top perfor-
mance. In this case, too, you are
recommended to contact Author-
ized Alfa Romeo Services immedi-
ately driving in such a way as to
avoid abrupt braking, to have the
system checked.
WARNING
If the xlow brake fluid
level warning light comes
on, stop the car immediately and
contact the nearest Authorized Al-
fa Romeo Services. Indeed, any
leak of fluid from the hydraulic
system compromises the effective-
ness of both the conventional
brake system and the system with
antilock system.
WARNING

117
VDC AND ASR
SYSTEMS
(on request for versions/markets
where applicable)
VDC SYSTEM (VEHICLE
DYNAMICS CONTROL):
GENERAL
The VDC is an electronic vehicle stability
control system which, acting on the
torque and braking the wheels in a differ-
entiated manner, helps to bring the car
back to the correct course in the event of
loss of grip.
While travelling the car is subjected to
lateral and longitudinal forces that may
be controlled by the driver up to when
the tyres offer adequate road-holding;
when this falls below the minimum level,
the car starts to deviate from the course
required by the driver.Above all on rough surfaces (such as
cobbles, or due to the presence of water,
ice or soil), changes in speed (when ac-
celerating or braking) and/or course
(bends or the need to avoid obstacles)
can cause the tyres to lose grip.
When the sensors detect the conditions
that would lead to skidding, the VDC sys-
tem acts on the engine and brakes gener-
ating a stabilising torque.
The system performance
levels, in terms of active
safety, should not induce the dri-
ver to run pointless and unjustified
risks. Driving conduct should al-
ways be suited to the conditions of
the road surface, vision and traf-
fic. The responsibility for road safe-
ty is always and anyway the ve-
hicle driver’s concern.
The VDC system helps the driver
to keep control of the car in the
event of loss of tyre grip.
The forces induced by the VDC sys-
tem to control the lack of stability
of the car always and anyway de-
pend on the grip between the tyre
and the road surface.
WARNING