2007 Alfa Romeo 166 ESP

93
CONTROLS
OPENING THE LUGGAGE
COMPARTMENT
(fig. 95)
To open the luggage compartment from
inside the car press the button (A) (with
the car stationary) inside the glovebox.
Because of its position, the control can-
not be operated when the glovebox is
key-locked.
IMPORTANT The corresponding
warning light on the check panel lights up
if the luggage compartment is not shut
properly.
HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS
(fig. 96)
These are switched on by pressing but-
ton (A) regardless of the position of the
ignition key.
When the hazard warning lights are
switched on the switch itself begins to
flash together with the direction indicator
on the instrument panel. This function is
switched off by pressing the button again.
IMPORTANT Use the hazard lights in
compliance with local regulations.
FRONT FOGLIGHTS (fig. 97)
These come on when the button (A) is
pressed and when the external lights are
already on.
When the foglights are on the led next
to the button lights up.
Press the button again to switch the
front foglights off.
IMPORTANT The front foglights
should be used in compliance with the lo-
cal traffic laws. The front foglights system
meets EEC/ECE regulations.
534PGSm
fig. 96 fig. 95
574PGSm
fig. 97
1008PGSm

GRAB HANDLES (fig. 121)
Two grab handles are located at front
doors.
Two grab handles (A) are located
above the rear doors fitted with a coat
hook (B).
442PGSm
fig. 122
431PGSm
fig. 123
100
334PGSm
fig. 121
SUN VISORS (fig. 122)
These can be adjusted at the front and
side.
The rear side of each sun visor (A) is
fitted with a small mirror with sliding cov-
er.FRONT ROOF LIGHT (fig. 123)
The roof light comprises two lights with
the corresponding control switch.
With the switches (A) and (B) in the
central position (1), both lights gradually
turn on until reaching their maximum in-
tensity when a door is opened. The light
go off gradually after about 8 seconds
from where the last door is closed.

101
If a door is left open, the lights gradual-
ly go out after about 3 minutes. To turn
them on again, open another door or shut
and re-open the same one. The lights go
out when the ignition key is turned to
MAR(with the doors closed) or engag-
ing central door locking.
Moving switches (A) and (B) to the
left (position 0), the lights stay off (OFF
position).
Moving switch (A) and (B) to the right
(position2), the lights stay on.
With switches (A) and (B) the lights
are turned on individually.
IMPORTANTBefore leaving the car,
make sure that both switches are in the
central position.COURTESY LIGHTS (fig. 124)
Lowering the passenger’s sun visor the
courtesy light on the roof panel can be
seen.
This light makes it possible to use the
courtesy mirror under conditions with dim
light.
Switch the light on and off, with the
start key in MARposition, using switch
(A).
fig. 124
432PGSm
REAR ROOF LIGHTS (fig. 125)
In correspondence with each rear door
there is a light which turns on automati-
cally when a door is opened.
They are timed and work in the same
way as described for the front roof light.
They can be turned on and off by hand
pressing the switch (A).
335PGSm
fig. 125

105
– Using the special key (B-fig. 133)
provided in the tool bag rotate bushing
(C-fig. 133) of the motor to move the
sunroof.
IMPORTANT When the operation has
been ended the key should be turned half
a turn in the opposite direction until a
click is heard before it is removed.LUGGAGE
COMPARTMENT
The boot lid can be opened from outside
the vehicle and from inside the vehicle.
IMPORTANT If the boot is not prop-
erly shut, the corresponding warning light
on the check panel will come on.
OPENING FROM OUTSIDE
(fig. 135)
Turn the badge (A) in the direction
shown by the arrow, insert the key (B)
and turn it anticlockwise.
Opening is facilitated by a servocontrol
which operates the lock.
351PGSm
fig. 134
1010PGSm
fig. 135

111
GAS DISCHARGE HEADLIGHTS
(optional for versions/markets where
applicable)
Gas discharge headlights (xenon) work
with a voltaic arc, in an atmosphere satu-
rated with pressurised xenon gas, instead
of the incandescent filament.
The lighting produced is remarkably
higher than that of the conventional light
in both terms of the quality of the light
(lighter) and of the amplitude and posi-
tion of the lit area.
The advantages offered by better light-
ing are noted (due to less sight fatigue
and better orientation capability of the
driver, thus of travelling safety) especially
in bad weather, fog and/or insufficient
signs, because of the higher lighting
of the side beams which are normally
shaded.
The heavy increase of lighting in the
side beams considerably increases driving
safety because it allows the driver to bet-
ter see other users at the sides of the
road (pedestrians, cyclists and motorcy-
clists).Very high voltage is needed to trigger
the voltaic arc, after which the supply can
be at low voltage.
The headlights reach their maximum in-
tensity after about 15 seconds from
switching on.
The high luminosity produced by this
type of headlight calls for the use of an
automatic system to keep the headlight
beam aiming constant and prevent daz-
zling other vehicles when braking, accel-
erating and carrying loads.
The electromechanical system for auto-
matic constant beam aiming makes the
headlight aiming device superfluous.
Xenon lights are very long-lasting and
failure is unlikely.
If necessary, have the
system checked and any
repairs done only by Authorized Al-
fa Romeo Services.
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

The heart of the VDC system is a sensor
that originates from the field of aeronau-
tics, which detects rotations of the car
around its vertical axis. The centrifugal
forces generated when the car runs on a
bend are detected by a highly sensitive,
lateral acceleration sensor.
The stabilising action of the VDC system
is based on calculations made by the
system’s electronic control unit which
processes the signals received from the
steering wheel rotation, lateral accelera-
tion and individual wheel rotation sen-
sors. These signals allow the control unit
to recognise the manoeuvre the driver in-
tends to do when turning the steering
wheel.
118
VDC SYSTEM OPERATION
The VDC system turns on automatically
when the car is started and cannot be
switched off. It is however possible to cut
off operation of the ASR system pressing
the corresponding button on the centre
console.
The main components of the VDC sys-
tem are:
– an electronic control unit which
processes the signals received from the
various sensors and brings about the
most appropriate strategy;
– a sensor that detects the position of
the steering wheel;
– four sensors that detect the rotation
speed of each wheel;
– a sensor that detects rotation of the
car around the vertical axis;
– a sensor that detects lateral accelera-
tion (centrifugal force).The control unit processes the informa-
tion received from the sensors and is
therefore capable of detecting the posi-
tion of the car and comparing it with the
trajectory the driver would like to follow
instant by instant. In the event of a dis-
crepancy, the control unit chooses and
commands the most suitable action to
bring the car back to the required course
within a fraction of a second: braking one
or more wheels at a different braking
force and, if necessary it reduces the
power transmitted by the engine.
The corrective actions are changed and
controlled continuously until the car re-
turns to the required course.
The action of the VDC system consider-
ably increases the active safety of the ve-
hicle under many critical situations and it
is particularly useful also when the road
surface grip conditions change.

129
ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION
The design and construction of the vehi-
cle have not only been developed with
the traditional aspects of performance
and safety in mind but also take into ac-
count the increasingly pressing problems
tied to protecting the environment.
The choice of materials, techniques and
particular devices are the result of work
which has made it possible to drastically
reduce the harmful effects on the environ-
ment and guarantee respect for the sever-
est international norms.
USE OF NON-TOXIC
MATERIALS
None of the components of the vehicle
contain asbestos. The padding and the cli-
mate control system do not contain CFCs
which are held to be responsible for the
destruction of the ozone layer.
The colouring agents and the corrosion
inhibitors used on the nuts, screws and
bolts do not contain cadmium or chrome
which could pollute the atmosphere or
water tables.
EMISSION REDUCING DEVICES
(Petrol engines)
Catalysts
The exhaust system is fitted with a sys-
tem of catalysts formed of precious metal
alloys housed in a stainless steel contain-
er which withstand high operating tem-
peratures.
The catalysts convert unburned hydro-
carbons, carbon monoxide and nitric ox-
ides in the exhaust gas (even in minimal
quantity, thanks to the electronic ignition
and injection systems) into non polluting
compounds.