2008 Alfa Romeo Brera/Spider maintenance

ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES
If, after buying the car, you decide to add electrical accessories (that will gradually drain the battery), contact Al-
fa Romeo Authorized Services. They can calculate the overall electrical requirement and check that the car’s elec-
tric system can support the required load.

CODE CARD
Keep the code card in a safe place, not in the car.
SCHEDULED SERVICING
Correct maintenance of the car is essential for ensuring it stays in tip-top condition and safeguards its safety fea-
tures, its environmental friendliness and low running costs for a long time to come.
THE OWNER’S MANUAL CONTAINS…
…information, tips and important warnings regarding the safe, correct driving of your car, and its mainte-
nance. Pay particular attention to the symbols
"(personal safety) #(environmental protection) â(car well-be-
ing).

6
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
D D
A A
S S
H H
B B
O O
A A
R R
D D
A A
N N
D D
C C
O O
N N
T T
R R
O O
L L
S S
CEILING LIGHTS ................................................. 75
CONTROLS ........................................................ 77
INTERIOR FITTINGS............................................. 80
FIXED PANORAMA ROOF ..................................... 84
DOORS ............................................................ 86
POWER WINDOWS ............................................ 88
BOOT ............................................................... 90
BONNET............................................................ 96
ROOF RACK/SKI RACK ....................................... 97
HEADLIGHTS...................................................... 97
ABS SYSTEM .................................................... 99
VDC SYSTEM .................................................... 100
EOBD SYSTEM .................................................. 104
SOUND SYSTEM ................................................ 104
ACCESSORIES PURCHASED BY THE OWNER .......... 105
INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC/ELECTRONIC DEVICES .. 105
PARKING SENSORS ............................................ 106
TYRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (T.P.M.S.) .. 109
AT THE FILLING STATION ..................................... 112
PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT ......................... 114 DASHBOARD...................................................... 7
INSTRUMENT PANEL .......................................... 8
SYMBOLS ........................................................ 9
THE ALFA ROMEO CODE SYSTEM.......................... 9
ELECTRONIC KEY ............................................... 11
ALARM ............................................................ 17
IGNITION DEVICE................................................ 19
INSTRUMENTS ................................................... 22
RECONFIGURABLE MULTIFUNCTION DISPLAY .......... 26
SEATS .............................................................. 41
HEAD RESTRAINTS.............................................. 44
STEERING WHEEL .............................................. 45
REARVIEW MIRRORS .......................................... 46
CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM ................................ 49
MANUAL CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM ................... 51
AUTOMATIC TWO-ZONE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM 54
ADDITIONAL HEATER .......................................... 64
EXTERNAL LIGHTS ............................................. 65
WINDOW WASHING .......................................... 68
CRUISE CONTROL .............................................. 72

7
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
A0F0056mfig. 1
1.Adjustable and swivel side air vents - 2.Front side window demisting/defrosting vents - 3.External lights control lever
-4.Instrument panel - 5.Driver’s air bag and horn - 6.Windscreen wiper control lever - 7.Upper central vent - 8.Ad-
justable and swivel central air vents - 9.Fuel level gauge/engine coolant temperature gauge/engine oil temperature gauge
(petrol versions) or turbocharger pressure gauge (diesel versions) - 10.Passenger’s air bag - 11.Passenger’s knees air
bag (where provided) - 12.Glove box - 13.Sound system - 14.Heating/ventilation/climate controls - 15.Engine
START/STOPbutton - 16.Ignition device - 17.Driver’s knees air bag - 18.Sound system controls on the steering
wheel (where provided) - 19.Cruise Control lever (where provided) - 20.Bonnet opening lever - 21.Dashboard fusebox
lid - 22.Switches for external lights, trip meter reset and headlamp aiming device.

8
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
INSTRUMENT PANEL
A.Speedometer (speed indicator)
B.Warning lights - C.Rev counter -
D.Reconfigurable multifunction display
cmWarning lights on diesel
versions only
On diesel versions the rev counter
end scale value is at 6000 rpm.
Fig. 2A0F0089m

9
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
THE ALFA ROMEO
CODE SYSTEM
To further protect you car from theft, it
has been fitted with an engine immo-
bilising system. This system is auto-
matically activated when the electronic
key is removed.
An electronic device, in fact, is fitted in
each electronic key grip. The device
transmits a radio-frequency signal when
the engine is started through a special
aerial built into the ignition switch on the
dashboard. The modulated signal, which
changes each time the engine is start-
ed, is the “password”, by means of
which the control unit recognises the
electronic key and enables to start the
engine.
SYMBOLS
Special coloured labels have been at-
tached near or actually on some of the
components of your car. These labels
bear symbols that remind you of the pre-
cautions to be taken as regards that par-
ticular component.
The plate summarising the symbols used
fig. 3can be found under the bonnet.
A0F0138mfig. 3

10
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
Message + symbol Y
displaying when driving
If message + symbol
Yare displayed
this means that the system is running
a self-test (for example for a voltage
drop).
If message + symbol
Ycontinue to
stay on the display, contact Alfa Romeo
Authorized Services.
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 eight,
apply solely to Alfa Romeo Authorized
Services taking with you all the keys in
your possession, the CODE card, a per-
sonal identity document and the car’s
possession documents. The codes of the
keys not provided during the new mem-
orising procedure are erased from the
memory. This is to ensure that any lost
or stolen keys can no longer be used
to start the car.
OPERATION
Each time the electronic key is fitted in-
to the ignition switch, the Alfa Romeo
CODE system control unit sends a recog-
nition code to the engine control unit
to deactivate the inhibitor.
The code is sent only if the Alfa Romeo
CODE system control unit has recognised
the code transmitted from the electron-
ic key.
If when fitting the electronic key into the
ignition device or starting engine the
code has not been recognised correct-
ly, a message + symbol will be shown
on the display (see section “Warning
lights and messages”).
In this case, the electronic key should
be removed and refitted; if the lock con-
tinues, possibly try again with the oth-
er keys provided with the car. If it is still
not possible to start the car contact Al-
fa Romeo Authorized Services.
The electronic compo-
nents inside the key may
be damaged if the key is
submitted to sharp knocks.
If 2 seconds after fitting
the electronic key into
the ignition switch the
message + symbol continue to
be displayed, 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 attempt-
ed theft. In this case, contact an
Alfa Romeo Authorized Service
to have the key codes memo-
rised.

11
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CARButtonËshall be used for central open-
ing of doors and fuel cap with alarm de-
activation (where provided).
Button
`shall be used to open the
tailgate.
When unlocking the doors by pressing
button
Ë, if by 2.5 minutes no door or
the boot is opened, the system will au-
tomatically lock the car again.
When unlocking the doors, the driver's
window will slightly open to facilitate
door opening. If the door is not opened,
the window will re-close automatically
3 minutes after. If the door is opened,
the window will re-close when re-closing
the door.
ELECTRONIC KEY fig. 5
The car is delivered with two copies of
the key with remote control.
The electronic key operates the ignition
switch.
Button
Áshall be used for central lock-
ing of doors, tailgate and fuel cap with
alarm activation (where provided).
When doors are locked, door mirrors will
fold (where provided); mirrors will be
brought automatically to driving position
when refitting the ignition key. This func-
tion can be deactivated (see paragraph
“Rearview mirrors”).
ELECTRONIC KEY
CODE CARD
The CODE card fig. 4, delivered with
the keys, contains the mechanical code
Aand the electronic one B.
The code numbers on the CODE card
must be kept in a safe place, not in the
car.
A0F0023mfig. 4A0F0021mfig. 5
If the car changes own-
er, the new owner must
be given the electronic
key and the CODE card.

12
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CARReplacing the battery of the
electronic key
If when pressing button
Ë,Á, or `,
control given is refused or failing, the
battery should be replaced with an
equivalent one that can be purchased at
common stores.
To be sure that the battery is to be re-
placed, try again to press buttons
Ë,
Á, or `with another electronic key.
When closing the tailgate again, pro-
tection sensors are restored and direc-
tion indicators will flash once. IMPORTANT Never expose the elec-
tronic key to direct sunlight: risk of dam-
ages.
IMPORTANTRemote control fre-
quency may be disturbed by radio trans-
missions outside the car (e.g. mobile
phones, hams, etc…). In this event re-
mote control may be failing.
The electronic key fig. 6 is fitted with
a metal insert A, that can be extracted
by pressing button B.
The metal insert operates the following:
❒central door locking/unlocking by
operating the driver’s door lock (with
flat car battery only the driver’s door
will open);
❒windows opening/closing;
❒switch (where provided) for deacti-
vating the passenger’s air bag and
knees air bag (where provided);
❒safe-lock device (where provided);
❒emergency unlocking of electronic
key from ignition switch.
A0F0022mfig. 6
Never leave the elec-
tronic key unattended
to prevent anyone, especially
children, from holding it and
pressing button B-fig. 6 inad-
vertently.
WARNING
A0F0021mfig. 7