2008 Alfa Romeo Brera/Spider check engine light

19
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
IGNITION
DEVICE
The ignition device is located on the
dashboard and it consists of the fol-
lowing:
❒electronic key reading device A-
fig. 13(set near the steering
wheel);
❒buttonSTART/STOP(set under
the electronic key reading device).
IMPORTANTTo prevent running
down the battery do not leave the elec-
tronic key into the ignition device when
the engine is off.
HOW TO CUT OFF THE
ALARM SYSTEM
To deactivate the alarm system com-
pletely (for instance during prolonged
inactivity of the car) simply lock the car
by rotating the metal insert (provided
inside the electronic key) into the dri-
ver’s door lock.
MINISTERIAL
HOMOLOGATION
In keeping with the laws in force in each
country on the subject of radio fre-
quency, for markets in which the trans-
mitter needs to be marked the certifi-
cation number is given on the compo-
nent. For certain versions/markets, the
code may also be marked on the trans-
mitter and/or on the receiver.
A0F0219mfig. 13
If the ignition device is
tampered with (for ex-
ample during an attempted
break-in) have it checked over
by Alfa Romeo Authorized
Services before travelling
again.
WARNING
When leaving the car
always remove the
electronic key from the ignition
device to prevent any passen-
ger in the car from inadver-
tently activating the controls.
Remember to engage the
handbrake and if the car is fac-
ing uphill, first gear and if the
car is facing downhill, reverse.
Never leave children unat-
tended in the car.
WARNING

20
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
IMPORTANTIf when fitting the elec-
tronic key into the ignition device, sym-
bol
Yis displayed (on certain versions
together with a message) check
whether the electronic key is the prop-
er one and then try to refit it into the
ignition device. If the problem persists
contact Alfa Romeo Authorized Services.
TURNING THE INSTRUMENT
PANEL OFF
With the engine off and brake and clutch
pedal released, press button
START/STOPor take the electronic
key out of the ignition device.
Few seconds after the instrument pan-
el will gradually turn off.
IMPORTANTIf when removing the
electronic key from the ignition device
the instrument panel stays on, contact
Alfa Romeo Authorized Services.
TURNING THE INSTRUMENT
PANEL ON
Proceed as follows:
❒fit the electronic key into the ignition
device;
❒if the electronic key is fitted yet,
press button START/STOPwith-
out pressing the clutch or brake ped-
al.
To safeguard the battery, when leaving
the car with the instrument panel on,
electric and electronic devices will be de-
activated after approx. 1 hour.
IMPORTANT Fit the electronic key in-
to the ignition device completely until
it locks into place.
IMPORTANTIf when fitting the elec-
tronic key into the ignition device the in-
strument panel stays off, contact Alfa
Romeo Authorized Services.
A0F0028mfig. 14
ENGINE STARTING
See paragraph “Engine starting” in sec-
tion “Correct use of the car”.
START/STOP BUTTON
fig. 14
ButtonSTART/STOP, set on the
dashboard, controls car electric systems
and engine starting/stopping.
ButtonSTART/STOPis fitted with
knurled ring and led. When the led and
the instrument panel are on, the engine
can be started.

28
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
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.

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.

Automatic Cruise Control
deactivation
The Cruise Control is temporarily deac-
tivated when the ABS or VDC systems
come into operation (above a max. pre-
set time): in this case the last set speed
will stay memorised, to recall it press
buttonRES.
In the event of Cruise Control or engine
control system failure, the device is de-
activated until removing the electronic
key from the ignition device. In this
event contact Alfa Romeo Authorized
Services.
The device is automatically deactivated
when operating accidentally or incor-
rectly the stalk, the knurled ring Aor
buttonRES: in this event to reactivate
the device: bring the car to the required
speed and then move the stalk upwards
(+) or downwards (–).DEVICE DISENGAGEMENT
The device is disengaged in one of the
following cases:
❒turning the knurled ring A-fig. 50
toO;
❒turning the engine off or removing
the electronic key from the ignition
device;
❒pressing the brake pedal, pressing
the clutch pedal (in these cases the
last stored speed will stay memo-
rised, to resume it press button
RES);
❒pressing the accelerator pedal; in this
case the system is disengaged only
temporarily; device operation will be
resumed automatically when re-
leasing the pedal;
❒with car speed below the preset lim-
it (in these cases the last stored
speed will stay memorised, to re-
sume it press button RES);
74
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
In the event of device
malfunction or failure,
turn the knurled ring A-fig. 50
to O and contact Alfa Romeo
Authorized Services after
checking the protection fuse in-
tegrity.
WARNING
When travelling with
the device on, never
set the gearshift lever to neu-
tral.
WARNING

82
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CARASHTRAY AND CIGAR
LIGHTER
Ashtray
To use the ashtray, lift cover A-fig. 61.
The ashtray can be removed. Pull it up-
wards to removeit.
IMPORTANTDo not use the ashtray
as paper bin: it could set on fire on con-
tact with cigarette stubs.
A0F0140mfig. 61
Cigar lighter
It is located inside the cigar lighter. To
use the cigar lighter, lift cover A-fig.
61.
Press button Bto switch on the cigar
lighter with key fitted into ignition de-
vice.
IMPORTANTAlways check that the
cigar lighter has turned off.
IMPORTANTThe cigar lighter gets
very hot. Handle it with care and make
sure that it is not used by children: dan-
ger of fire and/or burns.
IMPORTANTDo not plug electric ac-
cessories with power exceeding 100W
to the cigar lighter seat.
IMPORTANTPlugs too big could
damage the cigar lighter outlet tabs.
Do not plug electric ac-
cessories with absorp-
tion exceeding the max.
specified value. Prolonged cur-
rent absorption could drain the
battery and impair next engine
start up.
IMPORTANTTo safeguard the light-
ing life of certain internal devices (e.g.:
cigar lighter ring and ashtray), when
switching on the external lights, these
devices will switch on according to the
passenger's compartment brightness:
with enough daylight these devices will
not switch on. On the contrary they will
switch on with poor daylight.

96
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
BONNET
TO OPEN THE BONNET
Proceed as follows:
❒pull lever A-fig. 81until hearing
the releasing click;
❒keep the lever B-fig. 82 pulled
and raise the bonnet
IMPORTANT Bonnet raising is aid-
ed by two gas springs. Do not tamper
with these springs and guide the bonnet
while raising it.
IMPORTANT Before opening the bon-
net, check that windscreen wiper arms
are not lifted from the windscreen or the
wiper is working.A0F0122mfig. 81
A0F0158mfig. 82
Improper bonnet closing is indicated by
symbol
Sand a message on the dis-
play (see section “Warning lights and
messages”).
IMPORTANTAlways check that the
bonnet is closed properly to avoid its
opening while the car is travelling.
Carry out operations
only when the car is
stationary.
WARNING
For safety reasons the
bonnet must be closed
properly to avoid its opening
while the car is travelling.
Therefore, always check it is
properly closed and the catch
engaged. Should you notice
that the catch is not perfectly
engaged when travelling, stop
the car immediately and close
the bonnet.
WARNING
TO CLOSE THE BONNET
Lower the bonnet at approx. 20 cen-
timetres from the engine compartment
and then let it drop, ensuring that it is
fully closed and not just held in position
by the safety catch. If the bonnet does
not close properly, do not push it down
but open it again and repeat the above
procedure.

104
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
SOUND SYSTEM
The car is fitted with sound system with
CD or MP3 CD player (where provided).
As concerns sound system operation, re-
fer to the Supplement attached to this
Owner’s Manual.
EOBD SYSTEM
(optional for
versions/markets
where applicable)
The EOBD system (European On Board
Diagnosis) allows continuous diagnosis
of the components of the car correlat-
ed with emissions.
It also alerts the driver, by turning on the
warning light
Uon the instrument pan-
el (together with the message on the
display) (see section “Warning lights
and messages”), when these compo-
nents are no longer in peak conditions.
The objective is:
❒to keep system efficiency under con-
trol;
❒to warn when a fault causes emis-
sion levels to increase;
❒to warn of the need to replace de-
teriorated components.
The system also has a diagnostic con-
nector that can be interfaced with ap-
propriate tools, which makes it possible
to read the error codes stored in the con-
If when fitting the key
into the ignition device,
the warning light
U
does not turn on or if, while
travelling it turns on glowing
steadily or flashing, contact Al-
fa Romeo Authorized Services
as soon as possible. Warning
light
Uoperation can be
checked by means of special
equipment by traffic agents. Al-
ways comply with the traffic
regulations in force in the coun-
try where you are travelling.
trol unit, together with a series of spe-
cific parameters for engine operation
and diagnosis. This check can also be
carried out by the traffic police.
IMPORTANTAfter eliminating the
inconvenience, to check the system
completely, Alfa Romeo Authorized Ser-
vices are obliged to run a bench test
and, if necessary, road tests which may
also call for a long journey.