21
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
ed) (or as an alternative, on certain ver-
sions, a symbol and a message are dis-
played). In this event contact Alfa
Romeo Authorized Services.
IMPORTANTIf after trying to turn on
the instrument panel and/or to start the
engine, the instrument panel warning
light
>(where provided) (or as an al-
ternative, on certain versions the mes-
sage "Vehicle protection system not
available" is displayed), repeat the op-
eration moving the steering wheel in or-
der to release the steering lock. The dis-
played warning message will not impair
steering lock operation.
INSTRUMENTS
REV. COUNTER
Rev counter shows engine rpm. The red
zone at the scale bottom indicates that
the engine is running at excessive rpm
dangerous for mechanical components.
Do not drive with the pointer in this area.
IMPORTANTThe electronic injection
control system gradually shuts off the
flow of fuel when the engine is “over-
revving” (rev counter pointer in the red
area) resulting in a gradual loss of en-
gine power, in order to bring engine rpm
below to the safety limit.
The rev counter may, when the engine
is idling, indicate gradual or sudden in-
crease of engine revs as the case may
be; such behaviour is normal and must
not be interpreted as a faulty condition
as it occurs during normal operation, for
instance when climate control or electric
fan are switched on. In particular, slow
revs variation helps keep the battery
charged.
STEERING COLUMN LOCK
Engaging
The steering column lock will engage
5 seconds after removing the electron-
ic key from the ignition device and if the
following conditions are present:
❒engine off;
❒instrument panel off with car at a
standstill;
❒electronic key removed from ignition
device.
Disengaging
The steering column lock will disengage
after fitting the electronic key into the
ignition device.
IMPORTANTSwitching the engine off
when the car is running will not engage
the steering column lock till next switch-
ing off with car stopped. In this event
warning light
>(where provided) on the
instrument panel will come on (or as an
alternative, on certain versions, a sym-
bol and a message are displayed).
IMPORTANTSteering column lock
failure is indicated by the instrument
panel warning light
>(where provid-
It is absolutely forbid-
den to carry out what-
ever after-market operation
involving steering system or
steering column modifications
(e.g.: installation of anti-theft
device) that could badly affect
performance and safety, cause
the lapse of warranty and al-
so result in non-compliance of
the car with homologation re-
quirements.
WARNING
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57
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CLIMATE CONTROL
(fast cooling)
IMPORTANTThe compressor √can
be enabled only if the ventilation is en-
abled.
Proceed as follows:
❒turn knob Acompletely leftwards;
❒turn knob Cto top speed;
❒turn knob BtoO;
❒press buttons √andv(buttons
leds on).
How to keep the required
cooling
Proceed as follows:
❒turn air recirculation off (if on).
❒turn knob Ato the required temper-
ature;
❒turn the knurled ring Cto the required
fan speed.
LOOKING AFTER THE
SYSTEM
During the winter, the climate control
system
√must be turned on at least
once a month for about ten minutes.
Before summer, have the system
checked at Alfa Romeo Authorized Ser-
vices.
RECIRCULATION
To turn this function on press button
v: the button led will turn on.
This function is particularly useful when
the outside air is heavily polluted (in a
traffic jam, tunnel, etc.) However, it is
better not to use it for long periods, es-
pecially if there are several people in the
car to prevent window misting up.
Do not use the air recirculation function
on rainy/cold days as it would consid-
erably increase the possibility of the win-
dows misting inside.
IMPORTANTThe inside air recircula-
tion system makes it possible to reach
the required (“heating” or “cooling”)
conditions faster.
After connecting/dis-
connecting the battery,
wait for 3 minutes at
least before fitting the electronic
key into the ignition device in
order to allow the climate con-
trol system control unit to reset
the positions of the electric ac-
tuators that adjust air temper-
ature and distribution.
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62
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
LO (LOW) function
(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/E/Pof the
temperature set to a value higher than
16°C; the opposite display and the rear
display (where provided) 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/P) of
the temperature set to a value lower
than 32°C; the opposite display and the
rear display (where provided) 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.
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64
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
The MAX-DEF function activates the fol-
lowing operations:
❒rear panel turning off;
❒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, or -the system
switches off the MAX-DEF function, re-
suming the system operating conditions
prior to turning it on, in addition to ac-
tivating the last function required, if any.
IMPORTANT Don’t turn the MAX-DEF
function on with engine off to prevent
draining 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, electric 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.
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65
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
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 operate
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.Temperature detection (compressor off
and outside temperature higher than set
temperature) is activated each time the
electronic key is fitted into the ignition
device.
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.
IMPORTANT Do 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.
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
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68
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
POLLEN FILTER/ ACTIVATED
CARBON POLLEN FILTER
According to versions, the car can be fit-
ted with pollen filter or activated carbon
pollen filter (where provided). The filter
has the specific capability of admitting to
the passenger compartment purified air,
free from particles such as dust, pollen,
etc. The filtering action takes place un-
der all air inlet conditions and it is clear-
ly most effective 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 mainly 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.
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83
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
INTERIOR FITTINGS
CENTRAL ARMREST
The central armrest is located between
the front seats. Inside the armrest are
housed an oddment compartment and
an air-conditioned food box (where pro-
vided) (see next paragraphs).
On certain versions the central armrest
can be adjusted forward or backward by
operating the cover B-fig. 64.
Oddment compartment
To open the oddment compartment,
press button A-fig. 64and raise the
coverB.
A0E0141mfig. 65
Pay attention not to
spill the drinks: the food
box bottom however is
provided with a hole to drain
spilled liquids, if any.
REAR ARMREST
(where provided)
To use the central armrest A-fig. 66
lower it as shown in the figure.
A0E0139mfig. 66
A0E0039mfig. 64
Air-conditioned food box
(where provided)
Access to the food box is gained from
the oddment compartment by lifting tab
A-fig. 65. Turn wheel Bto adjust the
air flow inside the food box.
IMPORTANTFunction of the food
box is to keep the temperature of the
drinks placed inside it; drinks shall be
warmed or cooled as required before be-
ing put inside the food box.
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SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
If after repairing a punctured tyre with
the Fix&Go automatic kit and restoring
the initial conditions the flat tyre warn-
ing light continues to stay on, contact
Alfa Romeo Authorized Services.
Tyre pressure could change according to
outside temperature. For this reason the
T.P.M.S. system could temporarily indi-
cate low tyre pressure. In this event
check pressure with cold tyres and re-
store proper inflation values if required. If the car is fitted with T.P.M.S. system,
when changing a tyre, change also the
rubber seal of the valve and the fas-
tening ring of the sensor. Contact Alfa
Romeo Authorized Services.
Strong radio-frequency disturbances
could inhibit proper TPMS system oper-
ation. This condition is indicated by a
dedicated massage on the display. This
indication will go off automatically as
soon as the radio-frequency disturbance
ceases.If the car is fitted with T.P.M.S. system,
tyre and/or rim removal and refitting
operations involve special precautions;
to prevent damages or wrong sensor re-
fitting, contact Alfa Romeo Authorized
Services to have tyre and/or rim
changed.
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