2008 Alfa Romeo 8C Owner handbook (in English)

15
1
VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION DATA
If you are still unable to restart the engine,
you will have to run an emergency start
procedure and contact an Authorised
Service Centre of the Manufacturer’s
Network.
While driving, with the ignition key in position
MAR:
1) If the CODE
warning light illuminates,
it means that the system is performing a
self-diagnostic cycle. At the fi rst stop you
can test the system: stop the engine by
turning the ignition key to position STOP
and then turn the key back to position.
MAR: the CODE warning light will
illuminate and should turn off in one
second. If the warning light remains on,
repeat the procedure described previously
leaving the key at STOP for more than 30
seconds. If the problem persists, please
contact an Authorised Service Centre of
the Manufacturer’s Network.
2) If the CODE warning light fl ashes, it
means that the vehicle is not protected by
the immobilizer device. Immediately contact
an Authorised Service Centre of the Manufacturer’s Network to have all the
keys stored in the system memory.
WARNING: Strong impacts can damage the
electronic components in the key.
WARNING: Each key supplied has its own
specifi c code, which must be stored in the
memory of the system control unit.

2VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION DATA
ACTIVE AND PASSIVE SAFETY
INSTRUMENTS AND CONTROLS
BEFORE YOU DRIVE
USING THE VEHICLE
IN AN EMERGENCY
CAPACITIES AND TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
MAINTENANCE
TABLE OF CONTENTS

2
ACTIVE AND PASSIVE SAFETY
Seat belts .......................................................................................................................... 18
Front airbags ....................................................................................................................... 26
VDC system ........................................................................................................................ 33
ASR system (electronic anti-skid device) .................................................................................. 34
ABS and EBD systems .......................................................................................................... 36
Fuel cut-out inertia switch ..................................................................................................... 38

18
2
A
BDC
SEAT BELTS The vehicle is equipped with seat belts with three
anchorage points and automatic retractor for
optimal freedom of movement.
The seat belts are equipped with electronically-
controlled load limiting devices and
pretensioners.
CAUTION
Before fastening the seat belts
make sure they are correctly fitted into
the guide A on the seat.
FASTENING THE SEAT
BELTS
Extract the lower section of the seat belt from the
outer side of the seat and secure it by holding the
latch
B and pull the seat belt out until the latch is
fully inserted in the buckle
C.
The seat belt is correctly buckled when the lock
clicks in place. Press the button
D to release the
seat belts.
If one or both of the front seat belts are not
fastened or improperly fastened, the warning
light
on the instrument panel comes on.
For the passenger’s seat belt this warning light
is accompanied by a specific message only if a
passenger is seated on the front seat. When the
warning light is on, an acoustic signal is also activated as soon as the vehicle speed exceeds
20 Km/h.
When the warning light is on, an acoustic signal
is also activated as soon as the vehicle speed
exceeds 20 Km/h.
The retractor locking device is activated
whenever the seat belt is pulled out too rapidly
or in case of sudden braking or collision.
If the seat belt locks due to too rapid extraction,
allow it to retract a short distance to disengage
the locking device.
The retractor allows the seat belt to automatically
fit to the passenger’s body, allowing him/her to
move freely.
When the vehicle is parked on a steep slope, the
retractor may lock: this is normal
WARNING: Feed the seat belt back into the
retractor by hand to avoid twisting and snagging.LOAD LIMITING DEVICES
To enhance passive safety, the front seat belt
retractors are equipped with load limiting devices
which control the seat belt reeling out so as to
adjust the force exerted on the shoulders while
the seat belt is in restraining mode.

19
2
ACTIVE AND PASSIVE SAFETY
PRETENSIONERS
To further enhance the seat belt efficiency,
the vehicle seat belts are equipped with ETD
(Emergency Tensioning Device) pretensioners.
These devices “detect”, by means of a sensor,
that a severe collision is occurring and retract the
seat belts by a few centimetres. This way, they
help ensure that the seat belt properly adheres to
the occupant’s body before its restraining action
starts.
The seat belt locking indicates that the device
has activated; a small amount of smoke may be
visible.
This smoke is not toxic and is not indicative of
fire.
The pretensioners activate in the following cases:
- Head-on and rear collisions of a suffi cient
severity
- In certain roll-overs
The pretensioner only activates when the seat
belt is fastened.
After a pretensioner activation, the seat belt can
be unfastened as usual, by pressing the button
on the buckle.The pretensioner does not require any
maintenance or lubrication. Do not tamper with
or modify the pretensioner, as this will affect its
efficiency. If exceptional natural events (floods,
heavy storms, etc.) have caused the device to be
wet in water and mud, you must replace it.
To help ensure optimal protection from the
pretensioners, wear the seat belt in such a way
that it fits snugly against your chest and pelvis.
CAUTION
The pretensioners can be used
only once and activate only when
the seat belts are fastened. If the
pretensioners have been activated,
go to an Authorised Service Centre of
the Manufacturer’s Network to have
them replaced and disposed of. The
units have a 14 year service life from
the date of manufacture; they must be
replaced when their service life is near
to expiry. WARNING: Operations on the vehicle which
involve blows, vibrations or localised heating
(over 100°C for 6 hours max.) in the area of
the pretensioners may damage or activate them:
vibrations due to uneven road surfaces or small
obstacles, such as impacts with kerbs, do not
affect the units. Contact an Authorised Service
Centre of the Manufacturer’s Network if
service operations must be carried out.
CAUTION
Do not tamper with the
pretensioner components. Any
intervention must be carried out only
by qualified and authorised personnel.
Always contact an Authorised Service
Centre of the Manufacturer’s Network.

20
2
GENERAL WARNINGS
REGARDING THE USE OF
THE SEAT BELTS
CAUTION
It is mandatory for the driver
and passengers to properly use the
restraint systems of the vehicle.
CAUTION
To help ensure optimal
protection, you are advised to keep the
seatback in the most upright position
and the seat belt close to your chest
and pelvis. If the seat belt is loose,
in the event of an accident you would
move too far forward and could be injured. Travelling with the seatback
too far reclined could be dangerous:
even if the seat belts are fastened,
they may not work correctly.
The seat belt itself may not be close
enough to your body and, if it is
in front of you, it could cause neck
wounds or other injuries in an accident.
What is more, in an accident, the lower
section of the seat belt could press
against the upper part of your stomach
rather than the pelvic area, causing
serious internal injuries.
CAUTION
Always fasten the seat belts.
Travelling without the seat belts fastened increases the risk of serious
injury in the event of a collision, even
with the airbags. In the event of a
collision, the seat belts reduce the
possibility of the vehicle occupants
being thrown against the parts of the
passenger compartment or out of the
vehicle. The airbags are designed to
work in combination with the seat
belts, not to substitute them.
The front airbags only activate in the
event of head-on collisions of medium
or high severity. They will not be
activated if the vehicle rolls over, or in
the event of rear or low severity head-
on collisions.
CAUTION
Do not fasten your seat belt
using the buckle for the other seat:
in the event of an accident, the lower
portion of the seat belt could press
against the upper part of your stomach
rather than the pelvic area and cause
serious internal injuries.

21
2
ACTIVE AND PASSIVE SAFETY
CAUTION
It is extremely dangerous to
travel with the seat belt positioned
underneath your arm. In the event
of an accident you would be thrown
forward and would very probably
suffer head and neck injuries. What is
more, if the seat belt presses against
your ribs, it could cause serious
internal injuries.
CAUTION
The seat belt itself must not be
twisted; make sure that it is snugly
fitted to the occupants’ bodies. In the
event of an accident, the restraining
force would not be distributed evenly
across the seat belt and would
consequently cause injuries. The upper
portion of the seat belt must pass over
the shoulder and diagonally across the
chest. The lower portion must adhere
to your pelvis, not the stomach, to
avoid that you slide forward in the
event of a collision. Do not use devices (clamps, fasteners
etc.) to hold the seat belts away from
the passengers’ bodies.
CAUTION
Never carry children on a
passenger’s lap using a seat belt to
protect both of them.
CAUTION
If the seat belt has undergone
strong mechanical stress, for
example during a collision, it must be
completely replaced together with its
anchorages, the anchor point screws
and the pretensioner. Even if there are
no visible defects, the seat belt could have lost some of its resistance.
CAUTION
Pregnant women must carefully
observe applicable local legislation
regarding the use of the seat belts.
Always make sure that the lower
portion of the seat belt fits well down
on the hips, below the abdominal
region of the body.
CAUTION
It is extremely dangerous and
moreover prohibited by law to travel
on the luggage shelf behind the seats.
In the event of an accident, persons
travelling in this position are more
exposed to the risk of serious injury.
Passengers must only travel seated in
the vehicle seats, with the seat belts
fastened properly. Always check that
you and your passengers have your
seat belts fastened correctly.

22
2
How to keep seat belts effi cient
1) Always use the seat belts with the belt
completely fl at, not twisted; Make sure
the seat belt can move freely and is not
obstructed by anything.
2) The seat belts must be replaced following
every pretensioner activation and whenever
the belt itself shows visible damages or
abrasions.
3) Wash the seat belts by hand using water
and neutral soap, rinse them and let
them dry in the shade. Do not use strong
detergents, bleaches or colorants and any
other chemical substance that could weaken
the fi bres.
4) Make sure the belt winders do not get wet:
they will operate properly only if they do
not undergo water infi ltration. SAFE TRANSPORT OF
CHILDREN
For optimal protection in the event of a collision,
all occupants must be seated and wearing
appropriate restraint systems. This applies also
to children.
This is mandatory according to Directive
2003/20/EC in all the member states of the
European Union.
Children’s heads are proportionally heavier and
larger than those of adults, while their bones
and muscles are relatively undeveloped. For this
reason, restraint systems different from adult
seat belts must be used.The results of research conducted on the best
child protection are summarised in the European
Regulation ECE-R44 which, in addition to making
restraint systems mandatory, divides them into
five groups:
Group 0 - weights up to 10 kg
Group 0+ - weights up to 13 kg
Group 1 9-18 kg weight
Group 2 15-25 kg weight
Group 3 22-36 kg weight
For the purposes of restraint systems, children
taller than 1.50 m and heavier than 36 kg are
considered equivalent to adults and must wear
the standard seat belts normally.
WARNING: Given the particular shape of the
vehicle seats, only one type of child seat can be
used and is available at the Authorised Service
Centres of the Manufacturer’s Network.