2008 Alfa Romeo Brera/Spider ESP

This Owner’s Manual describes all the versions of the Alfa Brera, so you should only consider the
information concerning the trim level, engine and version purchased by you.
Dear Customer,
thank you for choosing Alfa Romeo.
Your
Alfa Brerahas been designed to guarantee the safety, comfort and driving pleasure typical of
Alfa Romeo.
This booklet will help you to get to know the characteristics and operation of your car.
The following pages contain all the indications necessary for you to be able to maintain the high standards of per-
formance, quality, safety and respect for the environment which characterize your
Alfa Brera.
The enclosed Warranty Booklet also contains the regulations, the warranty certificate and a guide to the services of-
fered by Alfa Romeo.
Services which are essential and precious because, when you purchase an Alfa Romeo you are not only acquiring a
car, but the tranquillity that comes from knowing that an efficient, willing and widespread organization is at your ser-
vice for any assistance problems you may have.
Have a good trip.

MUST BE READ!
REFUELLING
Petrol engines:only refuel with unleaded petrol with octane rating (RON) not less than 95.
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
ENGINE STARTING
Petrol engines: make sure that the handbrake is engaged; set the gearshift lever to neutral; fit the electronic key in-
to the ignition switch to the stop limit; fully depress the clutch or the brake pedal without pressing the accelerator; press
buttonSTART/STOPand release it as soon as the engine has started.
Diesel engines:make sure that the handbrake is engaged; set the gearshift lever to neutral; fit the electronic key in-
to the ignition switch to the stop limit; wait for the
mwarning light to go off; fully depress the clutch or the brake ped-
al without pressing the accelerator; press buttonSTART/STOPand 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.

RESPECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
A system for continuously monitoring emission system components to ensure greater environmental protec-
tion is fitted in your car.

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

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SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
IMPORTANTUnder certain conditions
(heavy slopes, for instance), the reading
on the gauge may differ from the actual
amount of fuel in the tank and changes
in level may be indicated late. This con-
dition falls within the regular operating log-
ics of the fuel gauge.The turning on of the warning light u
(together with a message on the dis-
play) indicates that the coolant fluid
temperature is too high; in this case,
stop the engine and contact Alfa Romeo
Authorized Services.
IMPORTANTThe temperature of the
engine coolant may rise towards the
maximum values (red sector) when the
car is driven at low speeds, uphill, fully
laden or during towing, especially if the
ambient temperature is high.
A0F0178mfig. 16
ENGINE COOLANT
TEMPERATURE GAUGE
fig. 16
This shows the temperature of the en-
gine coolant fluid and begins working
when the fluid temperature exceeds ap-
prox. 50°C.
The pointer should normally be towards
the middle of the scale. If the pointer
reaches the red sector, reduce your de-
mand on the engine.

24
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CARENGINE OIL TEMPERATURE
GAUGE
(petrol versions) fig. 17
This shows the temperature of the en-
gine oil and begins working when the
oil temperature exceeds approx. 70°C.
If the pointer reaches the red sector, re-
duce your demand on the engine.
A0F0179mfig. 17
The turning on of the warning light `
when travelling (together with a mes-
sage on the display) indicates that the
oil temperature is too high; in this case,
stop the engine and contact Alfa Romeo
Authorized Services.
IMPORTANTThe temperature of the
engine oil may rise towards the maxi-
mum values (red sector) when the car
is driven at low speeds, uphill, fully
laden or during towing, especially if the
ambient temperature is high.
A0F0180mfig. 18
TURBOCHARGER PRESSURE
GAUGE (diesel versions)
fig. 18
This shows the turbocharger pressure
value.

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SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
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IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
Selecting “Date” and “Clock”:
❒briefly press button MENUto select
the first value to change (e.g. hours
/minutes or year /month /day);
❒operate buttons +or–(by single
press) to select the new setting;
❒briefly press button MENUto store
new setting and go back to the pre-
viously selected option of the main
menu, if this is the last one you will
go back to the previously selected
option of the main menu.
ENGINE OIL
LEVEL INDICATION
Fitting the electronic key into the igni-
tion device, the display will show for a
few seconds the engine oil level. At this
stage, to clear this indication and to go
to next screen, press button MENU.
Low/excessive oil level will be indicat-
ed by a dedicated warning message on
the display.
IMPORTANT Check the proper en-
gine oil level on the dipstick (see para-
graph “Checking levels” in section “Car
maintenance”).
IMPORTANTProper engine oil level
shall be checked with the car on level
ground.
IMPORTANTFor proper oil level in-
dication, after fitting the key, wait for
about 2 seconds before starting the en-
gine.
IMPORTANTEngine oil level could in-
crease after a long stop. Selecting an option of the main
menu with submenu:❒briefly press button MENUto dis-
play the first submenu option;
❒operate buttons +or–(by single
press) to scroll all submenu options;
❒briefly press button MENUto select
the displayed submenu option and
to enter the corresponding setup
menu;
❒ operate buttons +or–(by single
press) to select the new setting of this
submenu option;
❒ briefly press button MENUto store
the new setting and go back to the
previously selected submenu option.

29
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
Briefly press button MENUto access navigation from the standard screen. To surf the menu press buttons +or–. For safety rea-
sons, when the car is running, it is possible to access only the reduced menu (for setting “Speed limit”). When the car is stationary
access to the whole menu is enabled. On cars fitted with radionavigation system, only the following functions can be set: “Speed
limit”, “Daylight sensor” (where provided) e “S.B.R. buzzer reactivation”. The other functions are displayed and can be set/adjust-
ed on the radionavigation system display.
fig. 22
BEEP VOL.SERVICEQUIT SETUPLIGHT SENS.RESET TRIP B
CLOCK
MODE 12/24
DATE
AUDIO RPT.
INDEP. BOOT
UNLOCK FDA
DOOR LOCK
UNITS KEYS VOL.
LANGUAGESPEED LIMIT
A0F0218g

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SAFETY
DEVICES
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EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CARSeat warming
(where provided)
With electronic key fitted into ignition
device, turn ring nut A-fig. 28 to turn
this function on/off.
Seat warming can be adjusted to 3 dif-
ferent levels (0= seat warming off).
A0F0024mfig. 28
Easy Entry
This function, operating regardless of the
ignition key position into the ignition de-
vice, facilitates access to rear seats.
To access the rear seats, pull handle E-
fig. 27and move the seat back for-
wards: the seat will slide forward auto-
matically.
Bringing the seat back to its normal po-
sition will return the seat to its original
position.
If when returning to the original position
it finds an obstacle (e.g.: rear passen-
ger’s knees), the seat will stop, it will
then move forward and then it will lock. Storing driver’s seat/door
mirror positions
ButtonsCallows to store and recall three
different driver’s seat and door mirror po-
sitions. Storing and recalling are only pos-
sible with electronic key fitted into igni-
tion device.
Stored position can only be recalled for
about 3 minutes after opening the doors
and for about 1 minute after removing
the electronic key from the ignition de-
vice.
To store the required seat position, ad-
just it as required then press the button
corresponding to position to store for a
few seconds.
To recall the stored position, press briefly
the corresponding button.
Storing a new position will automatically
clear the one stored previously using the
same button.