2008 Alfa Romeo 166 stop start

142
POWER STEERING
The hydraulic power steering is only ac-
tive when the engine is running. If the en-
gine is switched off greater effort will be
required to turn the wheel.
As the steering system is a mechanical
organ which is closely tied to driving
safety, the vehicle should be stopped and
Alfa Romeo Authorized Services contacted
if an anomaly is detected.
IMPORTANT Keep the steering wheel
turned at the end of its stroke, in both di-
rections, only for the strictly indispensable
time.
WINDOWS
Do not apply stickers or similar adhe-
sives to the windows as these may dis-
tract the driver and block his vision. 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.
ASR FUNCTION (ANTISLIP
REGULATION): GENERAL
The ASR system integrates the VDC sys-
tem controlling the vehicle drive and com-
ing into operation automatically each
time one or both driving wheels skid.When changing the
wiper blades follow the
instructions contained in
the package which is available as
a spare part and read the indica-
tions given in the “Car mainte-
nance “ chapter of this booklet.
WINDSCREEN WIPER BLADES
The windscreen wiper blades should be
checked periodically. Dirty or worn blades
greatly reduce visibility. The windscreen
and windows should be cleaned regularly
and grease, dirt and tar removed. In this
way the life of blades will be extended
considerably.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
Before operating the windscreen wipers,
remove snow or ice from the windscreen
and check that the wiper blade is not
frozen to the windscreen. Use an an-
tifreeze product if necessary.
Do not operate the windscreen wipers
on dry glass.

195
To avoid damaging the
vehicle’s electrical sys-
tem follow the manu-
facturer’s system instructions ac-
companying the jump leads. The
jump leads must be of a suffi-
cient cross-section and long
enough to ensure that the two
vehicles do not touch.
Never use a quick bat-
tery charger to start
the engine in an emer-
gency as this could damage the
electronic systems of your vehi-
cle, particularly the control units
which manage the starting and
supply functions.
The battery terminal
connecting and discon-
necting operations gen-
erate current that may cause
problems to the car’s electronic
systems. Therefore, this opera-
tion should be carried out by
skilled personnel.
At the end of the operation refit the bat-
tery cover.
IMPORTANT If the battery was com-
pletely drained, it may be necessary to
carry out the Alfa Romeo I.C.S. “self-
teaching” operation as follows:
– Let the engine idle to allow the bat-
tery to recharge and make sure it will
start next time.
– Switch the engine off.
– Turn the ignition key to MARand
leave it in this position for 30 seconds to
1 minute, then turn it to STOPfor about
5 to 10 seconds, after which the engine
can be started.
This starting procedure
must be carried out by
qualified personnel as incorrect op-
erations may provoke electrical
discharge of great intensity. The
liquid contained in the battery is
toxic and corrosive. Avoid contact
with skin and eyes.
Keep naked flame, and lighted cig-
arettes away from the battery. Do
not cause sparks.
WARNING

221
CHARGING THE BATTERY
IMPORTANT The description of the
battery charging procedure is described
only for informative purposes. This opera-
tion should be carried out by Authorized
Alfa Romeo Services.
Charging should be slow at a low amp
rating for about 24 hours. Charging for a
longer time may damage the battery.
Charge the battery as follows:
– If the car is fitted with an alarm sys-
tem, turn off the alarm with the remote
control and deactivate the system turning
the emergency key to “OFF” (see “Elec-
tronic alarm” in the chapter “Getting to
know your car”).– Disconnect the terminals of the elec-
tric system from the battery poles.
– Connect the charger cables to the bat-
tery.
– Turn on the charger.
– After charging turn off the charger be-
fore disconnecting it from the battery.
– Re-connect the terminals to the bat-
tery poles correctly.
– Turn the ignition key to MARand
leave it in this position for 30 seconds to
1 minute, then turn to STOPfor about 5
to 10 seconds, after which the engine
can be started.
– Remember to reactivate the alarm
system (if present) turning the emer-
gency switch to “ON”.
The wrong electric and
electronic accessory in-
stallation may cause se-
vere vehicle damages.When doing any work on
the battery or near it, al-
ways wear special protective gog-
gles.
Working with the fluid
level too low damages
the battery irreparably, even
breaking the body and completely
leaking the acid contained.
WARNING
WARNING

222
– Before doing any work on the electric
system, disconnect the battery negative
terminal.
If after purchasing the car, you wish to
install electrical accessories which need a
permanent electrical supply (alarm,
hands-free phone, radio-navigator with
satellite anti-theft function, etc.) contact
Authorised Alfa Romeo Services whose
qualified personnel, in addition to sug-
gesting the most suitable devices from
Lineaccessori will be able to evaluate the
total electrical absorption, checking
whether the car’s electric system is able
to support the load required or whether a
battery with higher capacity is necessary.
In fact, these devices continue to absorb
current with the ignition key off (car
parked, engine off) and may gradually
drain the battery. IMPORTANT A battery kept at below
50% of its capacity is damaged by sul-
phation, the capacity is reduced and start-
ing is difficult, there is also more possibili-
ty of freezing (this can occur at –10°C).
In the event of a prolonged stop, refer to
“Vehicle inactivity”.
USEFUL HINTS TO EXTEND
THE LIFE OF YOUR BATTERY
To avoid quickly draining the battery
and to preserve its operating conditions
over the course of time, carefully follow
the instructions below.
– The terminals must always be tight-
ened.
– As far as possible avoid keeping ser-
vices on for a long time with the engine
stopped (radio, hazard warning lights,
parking lights, etc.).
– When leaving the vehicle parked in a
garage, make sure that the doors, bon-
net, boot and interior lids are properly
shut to prevent lights from staying on.
The fluid contained in the
battery is poisonous and
corrosive. Avoid contact with the
skin or eyes. The battery should be
charged in a ventilated place away
from naked flames or possible
sources of sparks: danger of ex-
plosion and fire.
WARNING
Never attempt to charge
a frozen battery before
thawing it, the danger of explosion
exists. If it has frozen, always
check that the inside elements are
not broken (risk of short circuit)
and that the body is not cracked,
with the risk of acid coming out
which is poisonous and corrosive.
WARNING

265
Radio ........................................122
Radio-frequency remote control ........251
Radio transmitters and cellular
telephones ..............................156
Rain sensor ....................................61
Rear fog guards ..............................94
Rear roof lamps ............................101
Rear seat ........................................35
Rearscreen heating ..........................86
Refuelling......................................236
Relay (replacement) ......................186
Reversing lights..............................178
RPM counter....................................71
Safeguarding the emission
control devices ..........................150
Safeguarding the environment ........129
Safety belts ....................................40
Ski compartment ............................35
Snow chains..................................147Spark plugs ..................................224
Starting device ............................26-27
Stationary vehicle ..........................138
Steering........................................242
Steering column stalks ......................57
Steering lock ..................................27
Steering wheel (adjustment lever) ......36
STR system (Sport Throttle Response) 63
Sun visors ....................................100
Sunroof ........................................103
Supply/ignition ............................238
Technical specifications..........231
Telephone (provision) ....................102
Third stop light (bulb change) ..........180
Top speeds ....................................239
Tow hook ..............................153-154
Towing the car or another vehicle......196
Towing trailers ..............................152
Transmission ................................242Travelling ......................................137
Tyres
- Correct reading ........................248
- Inflation pressure ......................247
- Winter tyres ............................147
Useful accessories ........................156
VDC (system)..............................117
VDC and ASR systems ....................117
Vehicle inactivity ............................155
Vehicle lifting ................................197
Warning lights ..............................73
Weights ........................................237
Wheel rims....................................245
Windscreen wiper ............................61
Wing mirrors ..................................37