2008 Alfa Romeo 166 ignition

3 VERY IMPORTANT!
FUEL CAPACITY
Petrol engines:only use unleaded petrol with no less than 95 R.O.N.
Diesel engines:only refuel with diesel fuel conforming to the European specification EN590. The use of other products
or mixtures may irreparably damage the engine with invalidation of the warranty due to the damage caused.
K
STARTING THE ENGINE
Petrol engines:engage the handbrake; set the gearshift lever to neutral; fully depress the clutch without pressing the accel-
erator, then turn the ignition key to AV Vand release it as soon as the engine has started.
JTD engines:engage the handbrake; set the gearshift lever to neutral; fully depress the clutch without pressing the ac-
celerator; turn the ignition key to MARand wait for the
mwarning light to go off, then turn the ignition key to AV V
and release it as soon as the engine has started.
PARKING ON FLAMMABLE MATERIAL
While working, the catalyst develops a very high temperature. Do not park the car over grass, dry leaves, pine needles or
any other inflammable materials: risk of fire.


11
Sit comfortably in your vehicle and carefully read through the fol-
lowing pages.
You will immediately recognize the parts described and rapidly get
to know the controls and devices fitted to your vehicle.STR (SPORT THROTTLE RESPONSE) SYSTEM.................................................63
CONSTANT SPEED REGULATOR (CRUISE CONTROL)
...................................64
PARKING SENSORS
...............................................................................................67
INSTRUMENT PANEL
.............................................................................................68
CLIMATE CONTROL
................................................................................................80
CLIMATE CONTROL UNIT
.....................................................................................83
ADDITIONAL HEATER
............................................................................................91
CONTROLS
................................................................................................................93
INTERNAL FITTINGS
..............................................................................................96
SUNROOF
.................................................................................................................103
LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT
..................................................................................105
BONNET
....................................................................................................................109
HEADLIGHTS
............................................................................................................110
EOBD SYSTEM
........................................................................................................113
ABS
.............................................................................................................................114
VDC AND ASR SYSTEMS
.......................................................................................117
SOUND SYSTEM
......................................................................................................122
REFUELLING
............................................................................................................124
FUEL CUT-OFF SWITCH
........................................................................................127
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
.........................................................................129 DASHBOARD
................................................................................................page 12
ALFA ROMEO I.C.S. SYSTEM: CONTROLS ON STEERING WHEEL
. ..........14
THE ALFA ROMEO CODE SYSTEM
......................................................................16
ELECTRONIC ALARM
..............................................................................................22
REMOTE CONTROL DOOR LOCKING SYSTEM
................................................26
IGNITION DEVICE
...................................................................................................26
DOORS
.......................................................................................................................28
SEATS
.........................................................................................................................31
STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTMENT
.......................................................................36
ADJUSTING THE REAR-VIEW MIRRORS
..........................................................36
POWER WINDOWS
................................................................................................38
SEAT BELTS
...............................................................................................................40
CARRYING CHILDREN SAFELY
............................................................................45
FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS
...............................................................................50
LIGHT SWITCHES & STEERING WHEEL LEVERS
............................................57
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR

13
1Air ducts for side window outlets.
2Side air vents.
3Light switch lever (high beam, flash-
ing, direction indicators and controls
for Cruise Control (automatically
keeping a set speed) (if present).
4Instrument cluster.
5Outlets for windscreen.
6Upper outlet.
7Oddments compartment.
8Centre air vents.
9Passenger’s air bag.
10Manual passenger’s side Air bag
deactivation switch.
11Glove box.
12Boot opening button (in glove box).
13Button for rearscreen defrosting,
door mirrors and resistances at base
of windscreen (if present).
14Button for windscreen/front side
windows and door mirrors
defrosting, rearscreen heating,
resistances at base of windscreen (if
present).15Cigar lighter.
16Alfa Romeo I.C.S. (INTEGRATED
CONTROL SYSTEM): RDS radio,
computer on board (TRIP), climate
control, clock and outside/inside
temperature, GSM phone and
navigation system (if present).
17Buttons for central locking, fuel flap
opening, switching off the ASR
function of the VDC system switching
on the STR system (if present).
18Rear fog guard switch.
19Front fog light switch.
20Hazard warning light switch.
21Inside temperature sensor.
22Windscreen wiper/washer control
lever and rain sensor (if present).
23Ignition switch (ignition device).
24Driver’s air bag and horn.
25Lever for releasing/locking adjustable
steering wheel.
26Instrument lighting adjustment.
27Headlamp aiming device control
(except versions with gas discharge
headlights).28Outside lights switch.
29Bonnet opening lever.
30Front floor air outlets.

16
1035PGSm
fig. 5
THE ALFA ROMEO
CODE SYSTEM
To increase protection against attempted
theft, the car is fitted with an electronic
engine lock system (Alfa Romeo CODE)
certified in accordance with EC Directive
95/56 which is activated automatically
when the key is removed from the igni-
tion.
In fact the grip of each key contains an
electronic device which modulates the ra-
dio frequency signal transmitted when the
engine is started by a special aerial incor-
porated in the ignition switch.
This modulated signal is the “password”
by which the control unit recognises the
key and only in this condition can the en-
gine be started.
THE KEYS
The car is provided with the key (A-
fig. 4) with metal insert with power-as-
sisted opening, remote control for opening
the boot and remote control for unlock-
ing/locking the doors and electronic alarm
(where applicable). The key operates:
– the ignition
– door locks
– boot lock
– glovebox lock
– remote door locking/unlocking sys-
tem
– alarm system (optional for versions/
markets where applicable)
– deactivation of the passenger’s Air
bag.
IMPORTANT In order to ensure the
perfect efficiency of the electronic devices
contained inside the key, avoid exposing
it to direct sunlight.
A0D0143m
fig. 4

17
KEY WITH RADIO
FREQUENCY TRANSMITTER
WITH RE-CLOSABLE METALLIC
INSERT WITH POWER-
ASSISTED OPENING
(fig. 6)
The key is fitted with:
– a metallic insert (A) that can be re-
closed in the key grip
– button (B) for power-assisted open-
ing of the metallic insert
– button (C) for remote opening/clos-
ing of the doors and turning the electronic
alarm on/off (where fitted)
– led (D) (where required) that signals
the sending of the code to the electronic
alarm system receiver
– button (E) for remote boot opening. The CODE card (fig. 5), provided with
the key, bears the key codes (both me-
chanical and electronic code for emer-
gency starting).
The code numbers on the CODE card
must be kept in a safe place, not in the
car.
The driver should always keep the elec-
tronic code given on the CODE card with
him in the event of having to carry out
emergency starting.
If the car changes own-
ership the new owner
must be given all the
keys and the CODE card.
fig. 6
1001PGSm
The metallic insert (A) of the key oper-
ates:
– the ignition
– front door locks
– boot lock
– glove box lock
– passenger’s Air bag deactivation
switch.
To move the metallic insert out of the
key grip, press button (B).

19
KEY BATTERY CHANGE
If pressing the remote control buttons
(AorB-fig. 7), the led (C-fig. 7)
(where required) gives only one brief
flash and the alarm system led (where
fitted) (A-fig. 8) on the dashboard s-
tays on glowing steadily for about 2 min-
utes (after turning off the alarm and with
the ignition switch off), it is necessary to
replace the battery with a new one of the
equivalent type to be found c/o normal
retailers.
To replace the battery, remove the plas-
tic lid (A-fig. 9), insert the new battery
according to the correct polarity and put
the lid back on.For further information contact Autho-
rised Alfa Romeo Services.
OPERATION
Each time the ignition key is turned to
theSTOPposition, the Alfa Romeo
CODE system deactivates the functions of
the engine electronic control unit.Each time the engine is started, turning
the key to the MARposition, the control
unit of the Alfa Romeo CODE system
sends a recognition code to the engine
control unit to deactivate the inhibition of
the functions.
The recognition code, which is crypted
and variable between over 4 billion com-
binations, is only sent if the system con-
trol unit has recognised the code sent to
it by the key, which contains an electronic
transmitter, through an aerial in the igni-
tion switch. Dead batteries consti-
tute a hazard for the
environment and must
be disposed of in the special con-
tainers as specified by the rela-
tive laws.
fig. 7
1011PGSm
fig. 9
1034PGSm
fig. 8
305PGSm

20
This condition is indicated by a brief
flash of the warning light (A-fig.
10) on the check panel.
If the code has not been recognised cor-
rectly, the Alfa Romeo CODE system
warning light (A-fig. 10) stays on
together with the EOBD/fuel supply-igni-
tion system failure warning light (B-fig.
10) .
In this case, you are recommended to re-
turn the key to the STOPposition and
than back to MAR; if the inhibition per-
sists, try again possibly with the other key
provided with the car. If it is still impossible
to start the car, carry out the emergency
starting procedure described herein and
turn to an Alfa Romeo Authorized Service.
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¢IMPORTANTEvery electronic key has
its own code, which must be memorised
by the system control unit. To memorise
new keys, up to a maximum of seven,
apply solely to Alfa Romeo Authorized
Services taking with you all the keys in
your possession, the CODE card, a person-
al identity document and the car’s posses-
sion documents.
The codes of the keys
not provided during the
new memorising proce-
dure are erased from the memo-
ry. This is to ensure that any lost
or stolen keys can no longer be
used to start the car.
IMPORTANTThe Alfa Romeo CODE
warning light comes on when travelling
with the ignition key on MAR:
1) If the warning lamp lights up while
the car is moving, it means that the sys-
tem is running a self-diagnosis (e.g. due to
a voltage drop). The first time you stop y-
ou can test the system as follows: switch
the engine off by turning the ignition keytoSTOP; then turn the key back to
MAR: the warning lamp will light up and
should go out in the space of about one
second. If the warning lamp fails to go
out, leave the key at STOPfor more than
30 seconds and repeat the procedure de-
scribed previously. If the problem persists,
contact your Authorised Alfa Romeo Dealer.
2) If the warning lamp flashes it means
that the car is not protected by the immo-
biliser. Contact your Authorized Alfa
Romeo Code Dealer immediately and get
them to store the codes of all the keys in
the memory.
If after about 2 seconds
with the key in the
MAR position, the Alfa
Romeo CODE warning light turns
on again flashing at appr. half
second intervals, this means that
the code of the keys has not
been memorised, thus the car is
not protected by the Alfa Romeo
CODE system against attempted
theft. In this case, contact an Au-
thorized Alfa Romeo Service to
have the key codes memorised.
fig. 10
A0D0091m

21
IMPORTANTIn the case of fast start-
ing, turning the key directly from STOP
toAV V, the recognition code might not
be transmitted completely, preventing the
engine from starting: try again more
slowly.
IMPORTANTThe system is protected
by two fuses housed in the main fusebox
(see “If a fuse or relay blows” in the
chapter “In an emergency”).
EMERGENCY STARTING
If it is not possible to deactivate the en-
gine inhibitor with the ignition key, Alfa
Romeo Authorized Services can carry out
the emergency procedures using the code
of the CODE card, or, you may do this
yourself, following the procedure de-
scribed below.
IMPORTANTYou are advised to care-
fully read the entire procedure before car-
rying it out.If a mistake is made during the emer-
gency procedure, the ignition key should
be turned to the STOPposition and the
operations must be repeated from the s-
tart (point 1).
1) Read the 5-figure electronic code on
the CODE card.
2) Turn the ignition key to the MAR
position.
3) Fully depress the accelerator pedal
and keep it pressed. The EOBD/fuel sup-
ply-ignition system failure warning light
will come on for eight seconds ap-
proximately and will then go out; now re-
lease the accelerator pedal.
4) The warning light begins to
flash: after it has flashed for the same
number of times as the first digit on the
code of the card, press completely and
hold down the accelerator pedal until the
warning light comes on (for 4 sec-
onds) and then goes out again; now re-
lease the accelerator pedal.
5) The warning light will begin to
flash: after it has flashed for the same
number of times as the second digit on
the code of the CODE card, press com-
pletely and hold down the accelerator
pedal.
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6) Repeat this procedure in the same
way for the other digits on the CODE card
code.
7) After entering the last figure, keep
the accelerator pedal pressed. The warn-
ing light turns on (for four seconds)
and then goes off; now release the accel-
erator pedal.
8) A quick flash of the warning light
(for appr. 4 seconds) confirms that
the operation has taken place correctly.
9) Start the car turning the ignition key
from the MARposition to the AVV po-
sition without returning the key to the
STOPposition.
Conversely, if the warning light
stays on, turn the ignition key to STOP
and repeat the procedure starting from
point 1).
IMPORTANTAfter emergency start-
ing it is advisable to turn to an Alfa
Romeo Authorized Service, because the
procedure described must be repeated
each time the engine is started.
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