2009 Alfa Romeo 8C child seat

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ACTIVE AND PASSIVE SAFETY
CAUTION
It is extremely dangerous to
travel with the seat belt positioned
underneath your arm. In the event
of an accident you would be thrown
forward and would very probably
suffer head and neck injuries. What is
more, if the seat belt presses against
your ribs, it could cause serious
internal injuries.
CAUTION
The seat belt itself must not be
twisted; make sure that it is snugly
fitted to the occupants’ bodies. In the
event of an accident, the restraining
force would not be distributed evenly
across the seat belt and would
consequently cause injuries. The upper
portion of the seat belt must pass over
the shoulder and diagonally across the
chest. The lower portion must adhere
to your pelvis, not the stomach, to
avoid that you slide forward in the
event of a collision. Do not use devices (clamps, fasteners
etc.) to hold the seat belts away from
the passengers’ bodies.
CAUTION
Never carry children on a
passenger’s lap using a seat belt to
protect both of them.
CAUTION
If the seat belt has undergone
strong mechanical stress, for
example during a collision, it must be
completely replaced together with its
anchorages, the anchor point screws
and the pretensioner. Even if there are
no visible defects, the seat belt could have lost some of its resistance.
CAUTION
Pregnant women must carefully
observe applicable local legislation
regarding the use of the seat belts.
Always make sure that the lower
portion of the seat belt fits well down
on the hips, below the abdominal
region of the body.
CAUTION
It is extremely dangerous and
moreover prohibited by law to travel
on the luggage shelf behind the seats.
In the event of an accident, persons
travelling in this position are more
exposed to the risk of serious injury.
Passengers must only travel seated in
the vehicle seats, with the seat belts
fastened properly. Always check that
you and your passengers have your
seat belts fastened correctly.

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How to keep seat belts effi cient
1) Always use the seat belts with the belt
completely fl at, not twisted; Make sure
the seat belt can move freely and is not
obstructed by anything.
2) The seat belts must be replaced following
every pretensioner activation and whenever
the belt itself shows visible damages or
abrasions.
3) Wash the seat belts by hand using water
and neutral soap, rinse them and let
them dry in the shade. Do not use strong
detergents, bleaches or colorants and any
other chemical substance that could weaken
the fi bres.
4) Make sure the belt winders do not get wet:
they will operate properly only if they do
not undergo water infi ltration. SAFE TRANSPORT OF
CHILDREN
For optimal protection in the event of a collision,
all occupants must be seated and wearing
appropriate restraint systems. This applies also
to children.
This is mandatory according to Directive
2003/20/EC in all the member states of the
European Union.
Children’s heads are proportionally heavier and
larger than those of adults, while their bones
and muscles are relatively undeveloped. For this
reason, restraint systems different from adult
seat belts must be used.The results of research conducted on the best
child protection are summarised in the European
Regulation ECE-R44 which, in addition to making
restraint systems mandatory, divides them into
five groups:
Group 0 - weights up to 10 kg
Group 0+ - weights up to 13 kg
Group 1 9-18 kg weight
Group 2 15-25 kg weight
Group 3 22-36 kg weight
For the purposes of restraint systems, children
taller than 1.50 m and heavier than 36 kg are
considered equivalent to adults and must wear
the standard seat belts normally.
WARNING: Given the particular shape of the
vehicle seats, only one type of child seat can be
used and is available at the Authorised Service
Centres of the Manufacturer’s Network.

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ACTIVE AND PASSIVE SAFETY
CAUTION
If the passenger airbag
system is active, do not sit a child in a
rearward-facing child seat on the front
vehicle seat. The airbag activation in
the event of a collision may cause fatal
injury to the child, regardless of the
collision severity. CAUTION
SERIOUS DANGER
If you need to carry a child in a
rearward-facing child seat on the front
passenger seat, you must deactivate
the front passenger airbag using
the key switch. Make sure that the
airbag has been deactivated, checking
that the LED on the roof above the
words “PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF”
is permanently illuminated (see the
chapter “Passenger airbag manual
deactivation switch”). In addition,
move the passenger seat as far back
as possible in order to prevent the child
seat from touching the dashboard.
GROUPS 0 AND 0+
Children weighing up to 13 kg must be
transported in a rearward-facing booster baby
seat, which provides head support and thereby
avoids neck strain in the case of sudden
decelerations.
The rocker is secured by the vehicle seat belts as
shown in the figure, and must restrain the child
with its own safety harness.

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GROUP 1
Children weighing between 9 and 18 kg may
travel in a forward-facing child seat equipped
with a front cushion, by means of which the
vehicle seat belt secures both the child seat and
the child.
CAUTION
Figures are purely illustrative.
Secure the child seat according to the
instructions provided with the product.CAUTION
Child seats suitable for the
weight groups 0 and 1 with rear
fastening and their own safety harness
are available on the market. Due to
their weight, they may be hazardous if
incorrectly fitted (e.g. if secured using
the vehicle seat belts with a cushion
in between). Follow the instructions
provided with the product.
GROUP 2
Children weighing between 15 and 25 kg may
be restrained directly with the vehicle seat
belts. Child seats have the additional purpose
of positioning the child correctly with respect to
the seat belts, in such a way that the diagonal
portion of the seat belt closely adheres to the
child’s chest and never to the neck, and the
lap portion adheres to the pelvis and not to the
abdominal region.

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A
ACTIVE AND PASSIVE SAFETY
GROUP 3
Children weighing between 22 and 36 kg have
a chest circumference such that the extra seat
cushion is not necessary. The illustration shows
how the child should be positioned on the rear
seat.
Children taller than 1.50 m can use the seat
belts like adults.
CAUTION
Figures are purely illustrative.
Secure the child seat according to the
instructions provided with the product.
Below are the main safety rules to follow
when transporting children:
- When deactivating the front passenger
airbag, always check that the LED
A on the
roof panel above the words “PASSENGER
AIRBAG OFF” illuminates permanently.
- strictly follow the instructions provided
with the child seat. Keep the instructions
in the vehicle together with the documents
and this manual. Only use the child seat
specifi cally designed for this vehicle,
included in the Alfa Romeo accessory line
and available at the Authorised Service
Centres of the Manufacturer’s Network.
- always pull on the seat belt to check that it
has locked in place;- all restraint systems must be used by a
single passenger only; never carry two
children in the same seat;
- always check that the seat belts are not
resting against the child’s neck;
- do not allow the child to sit improperly or
unfasten the seat belt /child seat safety
harness while travelling;
- do not carry children in your arms, even
new born children. Nobody would be able to
hold onto a child in the event of a collision;
- in the event of an accident, replace the
child seat with a new one.

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CAUTION
If the passenger airbag
system is active, do not sit a child in a
rearward-facing child seat on the front
vehicle seat. The airbag activation in
the event of a collision may cause fatal
injury to the child, regardless of the
collision severity.
FRONT AIRBAGSThe vehicle is equipped with 2 airbags (2 front
ones) and electronically controlled pretensioners
for all of the seat belts.
The system components are the following:1) Electronic control unit2) Dual-stage front passenger’s airbag 3) Passenger’s airbag deactivation switch4) Passenger’s front seat belt pretensioner5) Driver’s front seat belt pretensioner
6) Airbag system failure warning light7) Dual-stage front driver’s airbag8) Clock Spring9) Diagnostic socket10)
Left-hand front Crash Zone Sensor
11)
Right-hand front Crash Zone Sensor.
12)
Passenger’s airbag deactivation warning
light
The vehicle is equipped with multistage front
airbags for the driver and the passenger.

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A
PASSENGER’S AIRBAG
MANUAL DEACTIVATION
SWITCH
If you have to carry a child on the front
passenger seat, always deactivate the airbag on
the passenger’s side before installing a rearward-
facing child seat. The device may be deactivated
by operating (with the ignition key) the relative
key switch located on the right-hand side of the
dashboard. The switch is accessible with open
door only.
Vehicles manufactured for the US, Canadian,
Japanese and Australian markets are not
equipped with this device.The key switch has two positions:
1) passenger’s airbag on: (
ON position)
led
A off; carrying children on the front
passenger seat on rearward facing child
seats is strictly prohibited.
2) passenger’s airbag off: (
OFF position)
led
A on; children may travel in the
front passenger seat if they are suitably
protected by specific rearward-facing
restraint systems.
The LED A on the roof remains permanently on
until the passenger airbag is reactivated.
With open door the key can be fitted in or
removed in both positions.
CAUTION
When the passenger side airbag
is deactivated, because a person
considered by the laws in force to be at
risk is travelling and must therefore be
protected by an additional restraining
system, the passenger will not have
the additional protection of the airbag
in the event of a collision.
WARNING: Only deactivate the airbag when
a person at risk is being carried, and always
reactivate it at the end of the journey.
WARNING: The airbag system has a service
life of 14 years. When this expiry date is
approaching, contact an Authorised Service
Centre of the Manufacturer’s Network.

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IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT YOU READ THIS MANUAL! .. 3
Consulting the Manual ...................................... 4
Abbreviations ................................................... 4
Updating ......................................................... 4
Service ........................................................... 5
“Q-Select” ..................................................... 5
Audio and IT systems ........................................ 5
Towing the vehicle ............................................ 5
Symbols ..............................................................6
Danger symbols .............................................. 6
Symbols of prohibitions ..................................... 6
Warning symbols .............................................. 7
Symbols indicating mandatory measures .............. 7
Vehicle identifi cation data ......................... 11
Identi cation plates and labels ..........................12
Chassis marking ............................................. 12
Engine marking .............................................. 12
Paint identifi cation label .................................. 12
Vehicle identifi cation plate ............................... 13
Electronic key ....................................................14
Code Card ..................................................... 14
Alfa Romeo Code System ...................................14
Operation ...................................................... 14Active and passive safety ......................... 17
Seat belts .........................................................18
Fastening the seat belts .................................. 18
Load limiting devices ...................................... 18
Pretensioners ................................................. 19
General warnings regarding the use
of the seat belts .......................................... 20
Safe transport of children ................................ 22
Groups 0 and 0+ ........................................... 23
Group 1 ........................................................ 24
Group 2 ........................................................ 24
Group 3 ........................................................ 25
Front airbags .....................................................26
“Smart bag” system (multistage front airbags) .. 28
Driver’s front airbag ........................................ 29
Passenger’s front airbag .................................. 29
Passenger’s airbag manual deactivation switch ... 30
General warnings .......................................... 31
VDC system .......................................................33
Activation ...................................................... 33
Failure signals ................................................ 33
ASR system (electronic anti-skid device) ..............34
Activation ...................................................... 35
Fault indicators .............................................. 35
MSR function
(engine braking torque adjustment) ............... 35
ABS and EBD systems .........................................36Fuel cut-out inertia switch ...................................38
Resetting the switch ....................................... 38
Instruments and controls .......................... 41
Dashboard .........................................................42
Instrument panel ...............................................45
Recon gurable multifunction display .................46
Information shown on the standard page .......... 46
Control buttons .............................................. 47
Menu .......................................................... 47
TRIP ............................................................. 47
+/- .............................................................. 47
Setup menu .................................................. 48
Trip computer ................................................. 57
TRIP button ................................................... 58
Warning lights and messages .............................60
General warnings ........................................... 60
Indicators and warning lights ............................ 61
Warning lights on the display .......................... 63
Instruments and gauges .....................................66
Tachometer/speedometer ............................... 66
Rev. Counter .................................................. 66
Fuel gauge .................................................... 67
Coolant thermometer ...................................... 67
Engine oil thermometer ................................... 68
Controls ............................................................68
Controls to the left of the steering wheel ........... 69
TABLE OF
CONTENTS