2008 Alfa Romeo Brera/Spider Owner handbook (in English)

56
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
AIR TEMPERATURE
ADJUSTMENT KNOBS
Turning the knob knurled rings (B/E),
clockwise or counter-clockwise, respec-
tively highers or lowers the temperature
of the air required respectively in the left
zone (knob B) or right zone (knob E)
of the passenger compartment. The tem-
peratures set are shown on the display
D.
Turning the knob knurled rings fully
clockwise or counter-clockwise until they
reach the extreme selections HIorLO,
the maximum heating or cooling func-
tions are respectively engaged.HI function (HIGH)
(maximum heating power)
It is switched on by setting a tempera-
ture of more than 32°C on the display,
and can be switched on independently
from the driver’s or passenger’s side,
or both of them; this setting brings the
system to the “one-zone” mode and it
is shown by both displays.
This functions can be switched on when
you wish to heat the passenger com-
partment as quickly as possible, by tak-
ing the greatest advantage from the sys-
tem potential.
The function uses the maximum tem-
perature of the heating fluid, whereas
air distribution and fan speed are con-
trolled automatically by the system.
SWITCHING THE CLIMATE
CONTROL SYSTEM ON
The system can be turned on by press-
ing any button (except
(,vand
MONO); it is however advisable to set
the required temperatures on the display
and then to press the AUTO button.
The climate control system allows to per-
sonalise required temperatures (driver and
passenger).

57
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
LO function (LOW)
(highest cooling power)
It is switched on by setting a tempera-
ture lower than 16°C on the display;
this setting is shown on the display. This
function can be switched on when you
wish to cool the passenger compartment
as quickly as possible, by taking the
greatest advantage from the system po-
tential.
The function cuts off air heating, switch-
es on both internal air recirculation (to
prevent hot air from entering the com-
partment) and the climate control com-
pressor, brings air distribution to
¯/˙
and the fan speed is controlled auto-
matically by the system. With the function switched on, howev-
er, all the manual settings can be made.
To switch the function off, you only need
to turn the ring of knob B/Eof the tem-
perature set to a value greater than
16°C; the opposite display will show
16°C.
Pressing button AUTO, the display will
show a temperature of 16°C and re-
turns to an operating condition with au-
tomatic temperature adjustment. This function should not be ac-
tivated when the engine is cold,
to prevent air not warm enough
from entering the passenger
compartment.
With the function switched on, howev-
er, all the manual settings can be made.
To switch the function off, you only need
to turn the ring of knob (BorE) of the
temperature set to a value lower than
32°C; the opposite display will show
32°C.
Pressing button AUTO, the display will
show a temperature of 32°C and re-
turns to an operating condition with au-
tomatic temperature adjustment.

58
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
FAN SPEED ADJUSTMENT
Press buttons +/–to increase or to de-
crease the fan speed.
The fan speed is shown by the lit bars on
the display:
❒min fan speed = one bar lit;
❒max fan speed = 6 bars lit;
At starting, if climate control system is
operating in automatic mode, the fan
speed is kept at minimum until the en-
gine has started.
With compressor on and engine running,
the fan speed cannot fall below the min.
speed.
The fan can be cut off (all bars off) on-
ly if the climate control compressor has
been switched off by pressing button
√.
To restore automatic fan speed control
after a manual adjustment, press but-
tons AUTO. AUTO will also go off if the system (spe-
cially when compressor is turned off
manually) cannot reach or cannot keep
the required temperature.
Button
√will not turn off AUTO if the
system can keep the required comfort.
It is inadvisable to use
air recirculation on
rainy/cold days as it would
considerably increase the pos-
sibility of windows misting up
inside.
WARNING
AUTOMATIC OPERATION
(AUTO BUTTON)
Pressing button AUTO, the display will
show a temperature of 16°C and re-
turns to an operating condition with au-
tomatic temperature adjustment:
❒fan speed;
❒air distribution in passenger com-
partment;
❒air recirculation;
❒compressor;
and it will cancel all the previous man-
ual adjustments.
Wording FULL will disappear from the
display of the involved area (driver or
front passenger side) when performing
whatever operation (excluding temper-
ature change.

59
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
The MAX-DEF function activates the fol-
lowing operations:
❒rear panel turning off (where pro-
vided);
❒air flow increase;
❒air distribution at DEF;
❒outside air intake;
❒compressor activation;
❒AQS function deactivation (where
provided)
❒rear window heating activation.
When the MAX-DEF function is on, the
only manual operations possible are
manual adjustment of the fan speed and
switching heated rear window off.IMPORTANTIf the engine is not
warm enough, the function will not en-
gage the predefined fan speed imme-
diately, to limit the flow to the passen-
ger compartment of air that is not warm
enough to demist the windows.
Pressing again one of the following but-
tons:
v,√, AUTO, MONO or -the
system switches off the MAX-DEF func-
tion, resuming the system operating
conditions prior to turning it on, in ad-
dition to activating the last function re-
quired, if any.
IMPORTANTDo not activate the
MAX-DEF function with the engine off to
prevent running down the battery.
QUICK FRONT WINDOW
DEMISTING/DEFROSTING
(MAX-DEF function)
Pressing button -the climate control
automatically activates timed operation
of all the functions required to quicken
demisting/defrosting of the windscreen
and front side windows and, on certain
versions, windscreen demisting in the
windscreen wiper area.
The MAX-DEF can be turned on also with
engine off. When this function is on the
circular led around the button will turn
on.

60
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
ALIGNING SET
TEMPERATURES
(MONO function)
Pressing button MONO automatically
aligns the temperature and air distribu-
tion on front and rear passenger area
with that on the driver area.
When this function is on, the circular led
around the button will turn on.
Turn knob Bto set the same tempera-
ture between the two zones.
Separate operation of the temperature
set by the passenger is restored auto-
matically by turning knob Eor by press-
ing again button MONO, the circular led
around the button will turn off.
CLIMATE CONTROL
COMPRESSOR ON/OFF
Press button √to turn the compressor
on: when climate control compressor is
on the circular led around the button will
turn on. Compressor will stay on also af-
ter turning the engine off.
To turn the compressor off press again
button
√.
With compressor off, the system will
check whether outside temperature is
higher or lower/same as the set one:
❒if outside temperature is lower than
the set one, the system will oper-
ate regularly also with compressor
off;
❒if outside temperature is higher than
the set one, the system will not be
able to keep the required condition,
the set temperature values will then
start to flash on the display.
HEATED REAR WINDOW
AND DOOR MIRROR
DEMISTING/DEFROSTING
Press button (to activate the demist-
ing/defrosting function: when this func-
tion is on, the circular led around the but-
ton will turn on.
On certain versions, turning this function
on will also activate windscreen de-
frosting in the windscreen wiper area.
This function is timed and switches off
automatically after few minutes, or by
pressing again the button or by turning
the engine off. It will not be switched
on automatically when restarting the en-
gine.
IMPORTANTDo not apply stickers on
the inside of the rear window over the
heating filaments to avoid damage that
might cause it to stop working properly.

61
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
AIR DISTRIBUTION
SELECTION
Pressing buttons N/O/˙you can
manually choose one of the 7 possible
modes for air distribution inside the com-
partment:
˙Flow of air to the dashboard centre
and side outlets (passenger’s body).
O˙Splitting of the air flow between
the vents to the lower part of the
passenger compartment (warmest
air) and the dashboard centre and
side outlets (coolest air).
OAir flow towards the lower part of the
passenger compartment. This type
of distribution allows heating of the
passenger compartment in the short-
est time.
NSplitting of the air flow between
Owindscreen and front side window
demisting/defrosting vents and the
lower part of the passenger com-
partment. This type of air distribu-
tion allows satisfactory heating of
the passenger compartment while
preventing possible misting of the
windows.
NAir flow to the windscreen and front
side window vents to demist or de-
frost them.
N˙Splitting of the air flow between
the central/side dashboard vents
and windscreen and side window
defrosting/demisting vents. This
type of air distribution allows satis-
factory ventilation of the passenger
compartment while preventing pos-
sible misting of the windows.
N
˙
Splitting of the air flow between
all vents.
O
To restore automatic air distribution con-
trol after a manual selection, press but-
ton AUTO. Temperature detection (compressor off
and outside temperature higher than set
temperature) is activated each time the
electronic key is fitted into the ignition
device.
Operation of the cli-
mate control compres-
sor is necessary for cooling
and dehumidifying the air; it is
advisable to keep this function
always on, to prevent window
misting problems.
WARNING

62
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
AIR RECIRCULATION AND
AQS FUNCTION
(AIR QUALITY SYSTEM)
ON/OFF (where provided)
Inside air recirculation is controlled ac-
cording to the following operating log-
ics:
❒automatic control, indicated by but-
ton led “A”;
❒forced switching on (inside air recir-
culation always on), indicated by the
turning on of the circular led around
the button;
❒forced switching off (air recirculation
always off with air inlet from the out-
side), indicated by the turning off of
the circular led around the button.
With A.Q.S. (Air Quality System - where
provided), the operating logic is se-
quential when pressing button
v.IMPORTANT The inside air recircula-
tion system makes it possible to reach
the required heating or cooling condi-
tions faster. It is however inadvisable to
use it on rainy/cold days as it would
considerably increase the possibility of
the windows misting inside, especially
if the climate control compressor is off.
It is advisable to turn on the inside air
recirculation system in queues or tunnels
to avoid admitting polluted air from out-
side. The prolonged use of this function
should however be avoided, especially
with several persons on board, to avoid
the possibility of the windows misting
inside and to ensure air change.
In certain weather con-
ditions (e.g. outside
temperature around
0°C) and with automatic air re-
circulation control on, mist may
form on the windows. In this
case press button vto
switch off recirculation and if
necessary press button + to in-
crease the flow of air to the
windscreen.
With the outside tem-
perature below -1°C the
climate control compres-
sor is unable to work. It is
therefore inadvisable to use the
inside air recirculation function
with low outside temperature
as windows may mist over
quickly.

63
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
ACTIVATED CARBON
POLLEN FILTER
The car is fitted with activated carbon
pollen filter. The filter has the specific ca-
pability of admitting to the passenger
compartment purified air, free from par-
ticles such as dust, pollen, etc. The fil-
tering action takes place under all air in-
let conditions and it is clearly most ef-
fective with the windows shut.
Have the conditions of the filter checked
by Alfa Romeo Authorized Services at
least once a year, preferably at the on-
set of summer. If the car is used main-
ly in polluted or dusty areas it should be
checked and if necessary replaced at
shorter intervals than specified in the
Service Schedule (see section “Car
Maintenance”). AQS function
(Air Quality System)
(where provided)
The AQS function turns on automatical-
ly air recirculation when it detects the
presence of polluted air (e.g. in queues
and tunnels).
IMPORTANTWith AQS function on,
after a preset time with recirculation on,
the compressor will enable outside air
inlet (for about 1 minute) to change air
inside the passenger compartment, re-
gardless of outside air pollution level.
IMPORTANTThe AQS function is dis-
abled when the outside temperature is
cold to prevent window misting up. To
reactivate this function, press button
v. Led “A” on button vwill
turn on to indicate that the function is
on.
Failure to replace the fil-
ter may considerably re-
duce the effectiveness of
the climate control system up to
blocking the air flow from the
outlets and vents.