2009 Alfa Romeo 8C service

INTRODUCTION
3
IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT
YOU READ THIS MANUAL!
Refuelling
Fuel-powered engines: use only
unleaded fuel with an octane rating
(RON) of not less than 95.
Starting the Engine
Make sure that the electronic parking
brake (EPB) is engaged. Shift the
gearshift lever to neutral (N). Insert
the electronic key in the ignition block
and turn it to MAR. Fully depress the
brake pedal without pressing the
accelerator. Press the START button and
release it as soon as the engine starts.Parking on fl ammable material
During operation, the catalytic muffl er
develops high temperatures. For this
reason, do not park the vehicle on
grass, dry leaves, pine needles or other
fl ammable materials: risk of fi re!
Respecting the environment
The vehicle is equipped with a system
that continuosly monitors the emission-
related components to help ensure
enhanced respect for the environment.
Accessory electrical devices
If you wish to install accessories that
require electric power (which may
gradually discharge the battery),
please contact an Authorised Service
Centre of the Manufacturer’s
Network, where the overall electrical
absorption of the accessories will be
estimated and the vehicle system
checked to verify whether it is capable
of supporting the required load. Code Card
Keep it in a safe place, not in the
vehicle.
Scheduled Maintenance
Proper maintenance will allow you
to preserve the vehicle performance
and safety features over time, ensure
respect for the environment and low
operating costs.
The owner’s manual …
… contains important information,
advice and warnings on proper use and
safe driving, as well as tips to keep
your vehicle in good condition over
time. Pay particular attention to the
following symbols:
- personal safety
- protection of the environment
- proper vehicle condition.

00 800 2532 8200Alfa8Care
INTRODUCTION
5
SERVICE
The information contained in this manual is
limited to those instructions and indications
that are strictly required for the use and good
preservation of the vehicle.
The Owner will certainly obtain greater
satisfaction and the best results from the vehicle
by following these instructions carefully.
We also advise you to have all the maintenance
services and inspections carried out by
the Authorised Service Centres of the
Manufacturer’s Network, where you will fi nd
specialised staff and suitable equipment.
Contact the dedicated Alfa8Care Customer
Number for the location of the Authorised
Service Centres of the Manufacturer’s
Network.“Q-SELECT”
The vehicle may come equipped with a
mechanical gearbox system with dry double-
plate clutch, controlled by an electro-hydraulic
system by means of the paddles on the steering
wheel.
Although the system can be used in “automatic”
mode, “Q-select” should not be considered as an
automatic gearbox. Therefore, for correct use,
carefully follow the instructions in the relative
section of this manual.AUDIO AND IT SYSTEMS
The vehicle is equipped with the following
systems:
- Becker car stereo and CD player with
Bluetooth voice controls and MP3 reader.
- Bose HI-FI system with 8 high-performance
speakers (optional).
- iPod connection (optional).
- 3D pictogram navigation system with route
display (optional).
TOWING THE VEHICLE
The vehicle has not been designed, developed
and homologated to be used as a towing vehicle
for other means (e.g. trailers, caravans, etc.)
and nothing can be loaded on the roof; fi tting
structures such as bars or roof-racks may damage
the vehicle.

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VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION DATA
If you are still unable to restart the engine,
you will have to run an emergency start
procedure and contact an Authorised
Service Centre of the Manufacturer’s
Network.
While driving, with the ignition key in position
MAR:
1) If the CODE
warning light illuminates,
it means that the system is performing a
self-diagnostic cycle. At the fi rst stop you
can test the system: stop the engine by
turning the ignition key to position STOP
and then turn the key back to position.
MAR: the CODE warning light will
illuminate and should turn off in one
second. If the warning light remains on,
repeat the procedure described previously
leaving the key at STOP for more than 30
seconds. If the problem persists, please
contact an Authorised Service Centre of
the Manufacturer’s Network.
2) If the CODE warning light fl ashes, it
means that the vehicle is not protected by
the immobilizer device. Immediately contact
an Authorised Service Centre of the Manufacturer’s Network to have all the
keys stored in the system memory.
WARNING: Strong impacts can damage the
electronic components in the key.
WARNING: Each key supplied has its own
specifi c code, which must be stored in the
memory of the system control unit.

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2
ACTIVE AND PASSIVE SAFETY
PRETENSIONERS
To further enhance the seat belt efficiency,
the vehicle seat belts are equipped with ETD
(Emergency Tensioning Device) pretensioners.
These devices “detect”, by means of a sensor,
that a severe collision is occurring and retract the
seat belts by a few centimetres. This way, they
help ensure that the seat belt properly adheres to
the occupant’s body before its restraining action
starts.
The seat belt locking indicates that the device
has activated; a small amount of smoke may be
visible.
This smoke is not toxic and is not indicative of
fire.
The pretensioners activate in the following cases:
- Head-on and rear collisions of a suffi cient
severity
- In certain roll-overs
The pretensioner only activates when the seat
belt is fastened.
After a pretensioner activation, the seat belt can
be unfastened as usual, by pressing the button
on the buckle.The pretensioner does not require any
maintenance or lubrication. Do not tamper with
or modify the pretensioner, as this will affect its
efficiency. If exceptional natural events (floods,
heavy storms, etc.) have caused the device to be
wet in water and mud, you must replace it.
To help ensure optimal protection from the
pretensioners, wear the seat belt in such a way
that it fits snugly against your chest and pelvis.
CAUTION
The pretensioners can be used
only once and activate only when
the seat belts are fastened. If the
pretensioners have been activated,
go to an Authorised Service Centre of
the Manufacturer’s Network to have
them replaced and disposed of. The
units have a 14 year service life from
the date of manufacture; they must be
replaced when their service life is near
to expiry. WARNING: Operations on the vehicle which
involve blows, vibrations or localised heating
(over 100°C for 6 hours max.) in the area of
the pretensioners may damage or activate them:
vibrations due to uneven road surfaces or small
obstacles, such as impacts with kerbs, do not
affect the units. Contact an Authorised Service
Centre of the Manufacturer’s Network if
service operations must be carried out.
CAUTION
Do not tamper with the
pretensioner components. Any
intervention must be carried out only
by qualified and authorised personnel.
Always contact an Authorised Service
Centre of the Manufacturer’s Network.

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2
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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2
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
Never remove the steering
wheel. If necessary, have this
operation performed at an Authorised
Service Centre of the Manufacturer’s
Network.
In the case of low-severity head on collisions
(in which the restraining action of the seat belts
provides adequate protection), the airbags will
not be activated.
The airbags do not activate in the event of rear
and side collisions, as they do not provide any
supplementary protection.
Therefore, an airbag failure to activate in these
cases is not indicative of a system malfunction. “SMART BAG” SYSTEM
(MULTISTAGE FRONT
AIRBAGS)
The front airbags (driver’s and passenger’s) are
safety devices which activate in the event of a
head-on collision.
They consist of an instantaneously inflating bag
contained in a special housing:
- in the centre of the steering wheel on the
driver side;
- in the dashboard and with a larger size bag
(full size airbag) on the passenger side.
The front airbags (driver’s and passenger’s) are
safety devices designed to protect the occupants
in the event of head-on collisions of medium-high
severity. They act by placing a cushion (airbag)
between the occupant and the steering wheel or
the dashboard.
In the event of a collision, an ECU processes
the deceleration signals and activates, when
necessary, airbag deployment.
The airbag inflates almost instantaneously and
positions itself between the front passengers and
potentially harmful structures of the vehicle. The
airbags deflate immediately afterwards.Both are dual-stage airbags, therefore, their
deployment depends on the impact severity. In
low-severity collisions, the airbag inflates less
than in high-severity collisions.
CAUTION
In the event of a collision,
any occupants not wearing their
seat belt will be thrown forward
and will come into contact with the
airbag before it is fully inflated. This
reduces the protection offered by the
airbag. The front airbags (driver’s and
passenger’s, with passenger seated)
are not a substitute for the seat belts
but work in combination with them.
As a consequence, the seat belts must
always be worn as provided for by
applicable legislation in Europe and in
most non-European countries.

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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.