2008 Alfa Romeo 166 power steering

WARNING SYMBOLS
Power steering
Do not exceed the maximum fluid level in the
reservoir. Use only the recommended fluid; see
table “Specifications of fluids and lubricants”.
Brake circuit
Do not exceed the maximum fluid level in the
reservoir. Use only the recommended fluid; see
table “Specifications of fluids and lubricants”. Catalytic converter
Do not park over inflammable materials. See para-
graph “Protecting emission reducing devices”. Belts and pulleys
Moving parts; keep limbs and clothing away.
Jack
See the owner Handbook.
Climate control tubing
Do not open.
Gas under high pressure.
PROHIBITION SYMBOLS
Battery
Keep away from children. Battery
Keep away from naked flames.
Heat shields - belts - pulleys - fan
Do not touch.
AIRBAG
Passenger’s Air bag
Do not install a child’s seat on the front passen-
ger’s seat with operational air bag.
7

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

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.

138
PARKING
When the vehicle is parked, proceed as
follows:
– Switch off the engine.
– Engage the handbrake.
– Engage first gear if parking the car
uphill or reverse if parking the car on a s-
loping road. On cars with automatic gear-
box set the gear lever to P.
– Turn the front wheels so that the vehi-
cle will immediately come to a halt if the
handbrake slips.
NIGHT DRIVING
Night driving involves a greater degree
of concentration, both physical and ner-
vous. Some suggestions concerning night
driving follow:
– Drive with particular care, reducing
speed if necessary especially on unlit
roads.
– Maintain a greater distance from the
vehicle in front than during the day as it
is more difficult to judge the speed of a
vehicle when only the lights can be seen.
– If you become drowsy stop the car
and rest. continuing the journey when
sleepy is dangerous for yourself and for
others.
–Ensure that the headlights are correct-
ly aligned: if they are too low visibility is
reduced and if they are too high they
may cause disturbance to other users.
– use the main-beam outside built-up
areas and only when you are certain that
other drivers are not disturbed by their
use.
– When meeting vehicles coming in the
opposite direction, switch off the main-
beam and drive with the dipped-beam
headlights on.
– Keep the headlights and light units
clean at all times. – Do not coast the vehicle down hill
with the engine switched off as this elimi-
nates the engine braking effect thus re-
quiring a greater effort on the brake ped-
al, on the power steering and consider-
ably more effort on the steering wheel.
– If it is necessary to stop the vehicle
following a malfunction, park off the
road, switch on the hazard warning lights
and set up the warning triangle to alert
other road users of the presence of your
vehicle. At all times comply with the cur-
rent road traffic regulations.To avoid useless con-
sumption of power and
possible draining of the
battery, never leave the ignition
key in the MAR position when
the engine is not running.Ensure that both yourself
and your passengers are
wearing their seat belts. Travelling
without seat belts greatly in-
creases the risks of serious injury
or even death in the event of an
accident.
WARNING
Never leave children un-
attended in the vehicle.
Always remove the key from the
ignition when leaving the vehicle
and take it with you.
WARNING

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.

193
System/Component Fuse no. Ampere Location
Rearscreen heating 1 30A fig. 93
Relay coil T21, T22, T23 (boot box) 3 5A fig. 86
Relay coil T24 (boot box) 5 10A fig. 86
Remote control receiver 15 10A fig. 93
Sound amplifier 20 25A fig. 93
Sound system 4 15A fig. 86
Sound system controls on steering wheel 5 10Afig. 86
Starter motor 1 30A fig. 89
Trailer presetting 12 10A fig. 93
Windscreen heating 7 15A fig. 93
Windscreen wiper 14 25A fig. 86
System/Component Fuse no. Ampere Location
Navigator 18 5A fig. 86
Parking sensors (control unit) 15 10A fig. 93
Power windows (driver's control
LOCK warning light) 15 10A fig. 93
Powered sunroof 10 20A fig. 93
Presetting 4 – fig. 93
11 – fig. 93
Rain sensor 15 10A fig. 93
Rear current socket 16 20A fig. 93
Rear LH power window (ABI control unit) 14 20Afig. 93
Rear RH power window (ABI control unit) 17 20Afig. 93

197 IF THE VEHICLE
IS TO BE LIFTED
USING THE JACK
See paragraph “In the event of a punc-
ture” of this chapter.
You are informed that.
– the jack mass is 2.100 kg;
– the jack requires no adjustment;
– the jack cannot be repaired and in
case of breakage it must be replaced by
another original one.
– no tool other than its cranking lever
may be installed on the jack.
Before beginning to tow
the car, turn the ignition
key to MAR and then to STOP, do
not remove it. Removing the key
automatically engages the steering
lock resulting in the impossibility
to steer the wheels. When towing
remember that without the help of
the servobrake and power steer-
ing, it is necessary to exert more
effort on the brake pedal and for
steering. Do not use flexible cables
for towing and avoid jerks. During
towing operations make sure that
fastening the joint to the car does
not damage the components in
contact with it. When towing the
car it is compulsory to comply with
the specific traffic regulations con-
cerning both the towing device and
behaviour on the road.
WARNING
The car may fall if the
jack is not positioned cor-
rectly. Never use the jack for
higher capacities than the one
stated on its label.
The purpose of the jack is
only for replacing wheels
on the car with which it is provided
or on cars of the same model. It
must never be used for other pur-
poses such as for example raising
cars of other models. In no case
must it be used for repairs under
the car.
WARNING
WARNING

205
thousands of kilometres 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180
Change fuel filter (diesel versions)•••••••••
Change air cleaner cartridge (petrol versions)••••
Change air cleaner cartridge (diesel versions)•••••••••
Check and top up, if required, fluid levels (brakes/hydraulic clutch, power steering,
windscreen washer, battery, engine coolant, etc.)•••••••••
Replacement of timing gear drive belt (*) and Poly-V accessory drive belt•
Replacement of spark plugs (petrol versions)•
Check operation of engine control systems (through diagnostics socket)••••
Check manual gearbox and differential oil level (petrol versions)••
Change engine oil and oil filter •••••••••
Change brake fluid (or every 24 months)•••
Check dust/pollen filter•••••••••
(*)Or every 4 years in harsh conditions (cold climates, stop and go city traffic).
Or every 5 years, regardless of the mileage.