2010 Alfa Romeo Brera/Spider Owner handbook (in English)

151
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
W W
A A
R R
N N
I I
N N
G G
L L
I I
G G
H H
T T
S S
A A
N N
D D
M M
E E
S S
S S
A A
G G
E E
S S
LOW BRAKE FLUID/HANDBRAKEON .................... 153
BRAKE PAD WEAR ............................................. 153
SEAT BELTS NOT FASTENED................................. 153
AIR BAG FAILURE............................................... 154
PASSANGER’S FRONT AIR BAGS DEACTIVATED ........ 155
ENGINE COOLANT HIGH TEMPERATURE ................. 155
ENGINE OIL HIGH TEMPERATURE.......................... 156
LOW ENGINE OIL PRESSURE/EXHAUST OIL ........... 156
LOW BATTERY CHARGE....................................... 157
INCOMPLETE DOOR LOCKING .............................. 157
BONNET OPEN.................................................. 157
BOOT OPEN..................................................... 157
INJECTION SYSTEM FAILURE/
EOBD SYSTEM FAILURE...................................... 158
CAR PROTECTION SYSTEM FAILURE/
STEERING LOCK INHIBITION ................................ 159
ALARM FAILURE/BREAK-IN ATTEMPT/
ELECTRONIC KEY NOT RECOGNIZED ...................... 159
POSSIBLE PRESENCE OF ICE ON THE ROAD ........... 160
PRE-HEATING GLOW PLUGS/
PRE-HEATING GLOW PLUG FAILURE....................... 160
WATER IN DIESEL FUEL FILTER ............................. 161
INERTIAL FUEL CUT-OFF SWITCHED ON ................ 161
ABS SYSTEM FAILURE ........................................ 162
EBD SYSTEM FAILURE ........................................ 162
VDC SYSTEM ................................................... 162HILL HOLDER FAILURE ....................................... 163
ASR SYSTEM (WHEEL ANTISKID SYSTEM) ............ 163
EXTERNAL LIGHTS FAILURE ................................. 164
BRAKE LIGHTS FAILURE ...................................... 164
REAR FOGLIGHTS.............................................. 164
FRONT FOG LIGHTS........................................... 164
SIDE/TAILLIGHTS/FOLLOW ME HOME.................. 164
DIPPED BEAM HEADLIGHTS ................................. 164
MAIN BEAM HEADLIGHTS ................................... 165
LEFT-HAND DIRECTION INDICATOR ........................ 165
RIGHT-HAND DIRECTION INDICATOR ...................... 165
LIGHT SENSOR FAILURE....................................... 165
RAIN SENSOR FAILURE........................................ 165
PARKING SENSORS FAILURE................................ 165
FUEL RESERVE - LIMITED CRUISING RANGE............ 165
CRUISE CONTROL............................................. 166
DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER CLOGGED .................. 166
ANTIPINCH SYSTEM FAILURE............................... 167
WINDSCREEN WASHER FLUID LOW LEVEL ............. 167
SPEED LIMIT EXCEEDED...................................... 167
T.P.M.S. SYSTEM FAILURE................................... 167
CHECK TYRE PRESSURE...................................... 167
LOW INFLATION PRESSURE................................. 168
TYRE PRESSURE UNSUITABLE FOR SPEED ............ 168

152
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
Very serious failures
These failures are repeated on the dis-
play indefinitely and stop any previous
indication on the display. These failures
are repeated each time the key is fit-
ted into the ignition device until the
cause of malfunctioning is removed. To
stop this “cycle” press buttonMENU:
in this case the failure symbol stays on
the display at the bottom of the screen
until the cause of malfunctioning is re-
moved.WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
GENERAL WARNINGS
Failure indications shown on the display
are divided into two categories: very se-
rious and less serious failures.
Every failure indication is accompanied
by the turning on of the relevant warn-
ing light (where provided) and by ded-
icated warning messages, if any.
In certain cases, failure indications can
be accompanied by the sound of a
buzzer (adjustable).
These indications are concise and cau-
tionary and are aimed to suggest the
prompt action the driver must adopt
when a car malfunctioning appears.
These indications, however, shall not be
considered as exhaustive and/or as an
alternative to the specifications con-
tained in this “Owner’s Manual”, which
shall always be read through carefully
and thoroughly.
In case of failure indication always refer
to the specifications contained in this
section.Serious failures
These failures are repeated on the dis-
play for about 20 seconds and then they
go off. These failures are repeated each
time the key is fitted into the ignition
device. At the end of the displaying cy-
cle (approx. 20 seconds), or when
pressing button MENU, the failure sym-
bol will stay on the display at the bot-
tom of the screen until the cause of mal-
functioning is removed.

153
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
SEAT BELTS NOT
FASTENED (red)
With car stationary, the warn-
ing light turns on glowing steadily in the
following cases:
❒driver’s seat belt not fastened;
❒passenger’s seat belt not fastened,
heavy objects placed on the passen-
ger’s seat;
❒when unfastening driver’s or passen-
ger’s seat belt.
For the same reasons, with the car mov-
ing, the warning light will turn on flash-
ing and the warning buzzer will sound for
a while.
The warning light will then stay on glow-
ing steadily.
BRAKE PAD WEAR
(amber)
The display will show message
+ symbol when front brake pads are
worn; in this case have them changed
as soon as possible.
IMPORTANTSince the car is fitted
with wear sensors for the front brake
pads, when changing them, check also
the rear brake pads.
d
turns on when travel-
ling, check that the handbrake
is not engaged. If the warning
light stays on with handbrake
disengaged, stop the car im-
mediately and contact Alfa
Romeo Authorized Services.
WARNINGLOW BRAKE FLUID
(red)
HANDBRAKE ON
(red)
Fitting the key into the ignition device
the warning light turns on, but it should
go off after few seconds.
Low brake fluid level
The warning light turns on (with a ded-
icated message on the display) when
the level of the brake fluid in the reser-
voir falls below the minimum level, due
to possible leak in the circuit.
Handbrake on
The warning light turns on when the
handbrake is on.
x

AIR BAG FAILURE
(red)
Fitting the key into the ignition
device the warning light turns on, but
it should go off after few seconds.
The warning light stays on glowing
steadily with the message on the dis-
play to indicate a failure in the air bag
system. The buzzer can be muted temporarily by
the following procedure:❒fasten front seat belts;
❒fit the electronic key into the ignition
device;
❒wait for over 20 seconds but less than
1 minute, then unfasten one of the
front seat belts.
This procedure will be valid until turning
the engine off.
For permanent buzzer deactivation con-
tact Alfa Romeo Authorized Services. The
“seat belt reminder” system can be re-
activated only through the “Setup Menu”
of the display (see paragraph “Recon-
figurable multifunction display“ in section
“Dashboard and controls”).
154
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
¬
If the warning light
¬
does not turn on
when fitting the key into the
ignition device, or if stays on
when travelling (together with
the message on the display),
this could indicate a failure in
safety retaining system; under
this condition air bags or pre-
tensioners could not trigger in
the event of collision or, in a
restricted number of cases,
they could trigger accidental-
ly. Before restarting contact
Alfa Romeo Authorized Ser-
vices.
WARNING
Warning light ¬failure
is indicated by the flash-
ing for more than the normal 4
seconds of the passenger's
front air bag deactivated warn-
ing light
F. In addition, the air
bag system will deactivate au-
tomatically the passenger's
front air bag (front and side
where provided). In this event
warning light
¬could not in-
dicate failure in safety systems.
Before restarting contact Alfa
Romeo Authorized Services im-
mediately to have the system
checked.
WARNING

155
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
PASSENGER’S
FRONT AIR BAGS
DEACTIVATED
(amber)
The warning light (set on the front ceil-
ing light panel) turns on when passen-
ger’s front air bags, passenger’s knees
air bag (for versions/markets, where
provided) and passenger’s front side bag
are deactivated through the relevant key
switch (for versions/markets, where
provided). With passenger’s front air
bags on, fitting the key into the ignition
device the warning light shall turn on
glowing steadily for about 4 seconds,
shall flash for other 4 seconds and then
it shall turn off.
F
–Car heavy duty (e.g.: towing trail-
er uphill or fully laden car): decrease
speed, if the warning light stays on, stop
the car. Wait for 2 or 3 minutes leaving
the engine on and slightly accelerated to
further activate the circulation of the
coolant fluid, then switch the engine off.
IMPORTANTUnder severe use of the
car, keep the engine on and slightly ac-
celerated for few minutes before switch-
ing it off.
Warning light Ffailure
is indicated by warning
light
¬. In addition, the air bag
system will deactivate auto-
matically the passenger's front
air bag (front and side). Before
restarting contact Alfa Romeo
Authorized Services immedi-
ately to have the system
checked.
WARNING
ENGINE COOLANT
HIGH TEMPERATURE
(red)
Fitting the key into the ignition device, the
warning light (set on engine coolant
gauge) turns on but it shall go off after a
few seconds. The warning light turns on
(with a dedicated message on the display)
to indicate engine overheating. If the warn-
ing light comes on, proceed as follows:
–Normal driving conditions: stop
the car, switch off the engine and check
whether the water level in the reservoir
is not below the MINmark. Otherwise
wait for few seconds to allow engine
cooling, then open slowly and carefully
the cap, top up coolant and check
whether its level is falling between MIN
andMAXmarks in the reservoir. Check
visually any leak. If when restarting the
warning light comes on again, contact
Alfa Romeo Authorized Services.
u
With engine hot, do not
remove the cap: risk of
burnt.
WARNING

156
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
ENGINE OIL
HIGH TEMPERATURE
Fitting the key into the ignition
device, the warning light (set on engine
oil temperature gauge) turns on but it
should go off a few seconds later.
Warning light turning on when travelling
(together with the message on the dis-
play) indicates that engine oil is too hot;
switch the engine off and contact Alfa
Romeo Authorized Services.
`
LIGHT STAYS ON:
LOW ENGINE OIL
PRESSURE (red)
FLASHING LIGHT:
EXHAUSTED ENGINE
OIL (only Diesel
versions with DPF –
red)
Fitting the key into the ignition device,
the warning light switches on and should
go out as soon as the engine is started.
1. Low engine oil pressure
The warning light turns on and stays on
constantly (for versions/markets, where
provided) along with the message on
the display when the system detects
that engine oil pressure is low.
v
If warning light `starts
flashing when travelling,
contact Alfa Romeo
Authorized Services.
2.Exhausted engine oil
(only Diesel versions with DPF)
The warning light will flash and a specific
message will appear on the display (for
versions/markets, where provided). The
warning light may flash in the follow-
ing ways, depending on the version:
– for 1 minute every two hours;
– for 3 minute cycles with the warning
light off for intervals of 5 seconds until
oil is changed.
After the initial warning, each time the
engine is started up, the warning light
will continue to flash in the above men-
tioned modes, until the oil is changed.
A specific message will appear on the dis-
play (for versions/markets, where pro-
vided) in addition to the warning light.
If the warning light flashes, this does not
mean that the car is defective but sim-
ply informs the driver that it is now nec-
essary to change the oil as a result of
regular vehicle use.
If the warning light
vturns on when
the vehicle is travelling (on
certain versions together with
the message on the display)
stop the engine immediately
and contact a Alfa Romeo
Authorized Services.
WARNING

157
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
LOW BATTERY
CHARGE (red)
If symbol w+ message are
displayed, contact immediately
Alfa Romeo Authorized Services.
w
INCOMPLETE DOOR
LOCKING (red)
Symbol´+ message on the
display indicate that one of the doors
is not closed.
´
BOOT OPEN
SymbolR(red) + mes
sage on the display indicate
that the boot is open.
BONNET OPEN
(for versions/markets,
where provided)
Symbol
S(red) + message on the
display indicate that the bonnet is open.
S
R
Exhausted engine oil
should be replaced as
soon as possible after the
warning light comes on, never
more than 500 km after the
warning light first comes on.
Failure to change the oil with-
in the first 500 km may result
in severe damage to the en-
gine and will result in forfei-
ture of the warranty.Remem-
ber that when the warning
light flashes, it does not mean
that the level of engine oil is
low, so if the light flashes you
must not top up.
WARNING
Note that engine oil is exhausted faster
under the following circumstances:
– use of the vehicle prevalently for city
driving, requiring more frequent regen-
eration of DPF
– use of the vehicle for short drives, in
which the engine does not have time to
reach its regular operating temperature
– repeated interruption of the regener-
ation process, signalled by the DPF warn-
ing light coming on.

158
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
EOBD system failure
(for versions/markets,
where provided)
Under normal conditions, fitting the elec-
tronic key into the ignition device, the
warning light turns on, but it should go
off when the engine has started. This in-
dicates proper operation of the warn-
ing light.
If the warning light stays on or turns on
when travelling:
– glowing steadily (together with
the message on the display): means a
fault in the supply/ignition system
which could cause high emissions at the
exhaust, possible lack of performance,
poor handling and high consumption lev-
els. In these conditions it is possible to
continue driving without however re-
quiring heavy effort or high speed from
the engine. Prolonged use of the car
with the warning light on may cause
damages. Contact Alfa Romeo Autho-
rized Services as soon as possible.
The warning light goes off if the fault
disappears, but it is however stored by
the system.
If when fitting the key in-
to the ignition device, the
warning light
Udoes
not turn on or if turns on with
fixed light or flashing when the
car is travelling, contact Alfa
Romeo Authorized Services as
soon as possible. Warning light
Uoperation can by checked by
traffic agents by proper equip-
ment therefore, comply with
laws and regulations in force in
the country where you are dri-
ving.
INJECTION SYSTEM
FAILURE (diesel
versions - amber)
EOBD SYSTEM
FAILURE
(petrol versions -
amber)
(for versions/markets,
where provided)
Injection system failure
Fitting the key into the ignition device
the warning light turns on, but it should
go off when the engine has started.
The warning light stays on or it turns on
when travelling to indicate a malfunc-
tion in the injection/exhaust system
with possible lack of performance, poor
driveability and high consumption.
In these conditions it is possible to con-
tinue driving without however requiring
heavy effort or high speed from the en-
gine. In any case, contact Alfa Romeo
Authorized Services as soon as possible.
U
– flashing: indicates the possibility of
damage to the catalyst (see “EOBD sys-
tem” in section “Dashboard and con-
trols”). If the light flashes, it is neces-
sary to release the accelerator pedal to
lower the speed of the engine until the
warning light stops flashing; continue
the journey at moderate speed, trying
to avoid driving conditions that may
cause further flashing and contact Alfa
Romeo Authorized Services as soon as
possible.