2010 Alfa Romeo Brera/Spider lock

92
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
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OF THE CAR
BOOT CLOSING
Lower the boot pressing the lock until
hearing the locking click.
IMPORTANT Before closing the boot,
check whether you have with you the
ignition key since the tailgate will be
locked automatically.
The addition of objects
(speakers, spoilers, etc.)
on the rear shelf or boot
lid, except those envisaged by
the manufacturer, may prevent
the gas filled struts at the sides
of the boot from working prop-
erly.
When using the boot,
make sure the loads do
not exceed the permitted
weight (see “Technical specifi-
cations” chapter). Also make
sure the items in the boot are
arranged properly to prevent
them being thrown forwards
and injuring passengers should
you brake sharply.
WARNING
Never travel with ob-
jects on the rear shelf
to prevent them being thrown
forwards and injuring passen-
gers in case of accident or
sharp braking.
WARNING
EXTENDING THE BOOT
The double rear seat enables to extend
the boot totally or partially by splitting
one of the two seat section, thus ob-
taining different loading spaces accord-
ing to the number of rear passengers.
When driving at night
with heavy loads in the
boot, check and adjust, if re-
quired, the low beams height
(see paragraph “Headlights”
in this section).
WARNING

94
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
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MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
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INDEX
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CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
Partial extension
Proceed as follows:
❒move seat belt aside; check that the
seat belt is not twisted;
❒lower completely the rear seat head
restraint;
❒raise backrest retaining lever A-
fig. 76and tilt the backrest for-
ward (when raising lever Athe “red
band”Bwill appear).
Make sure the backrest
is properly secured at
both sides (“red bands” B-fig.
76 not visible) to prevent it
moves forward in the event of
sharp braking causing injuries
to passengers.
WARNING
ANCHORING THE LOAD
The boot houses 4 hooks for anchoring
ropes in order to guarantee perfect load
anchoring.
On certain versions, hooks B-fig. 78
can be located on the boot sides.
A0F0131mfig. 78
A heavy load that has
not been secured may
cause serious harm.
WARNING
To return the rear seat
back to its original position
Move aside the seat belts, check that
they are not twisted.
Raise the seat backrests and push them
back until hearing the locking click of
both retainers; the “red band” Baside
the levers Ashall no longer be visible.
The “red band” Bactually indicates that
the backrest is not properly secured.

99
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
ABS SYSTEM
The car is fitted with ABS braking sys-
tem, which prevents the wheels from
locking when braking, makes the most
of road grip and gives the best control
when emergency braking under difficult
road conditions.
System is completed by EBD (Electron-
ic Braking Force Distribution), which dis-
tributes the braking action between front
and rear wheels.
IMPORTANT To have the maximum
efficiency of the braking system, it is
necessary a setting period of about 500
km: during this period it is better to
avoid sharp, repeated and prolonged
brakes.
ABS SYSTEM
INTERVENTION
The driver can tell the ABS system has
come into action because the brake ped-
al pulsates slightly and the system gets
noisier: it means that the car speed
should be altered to fit the type of road
surface.
If the ABS system cuts
in, it is a sign that the
grip between tyre and the
road surface has reached the
limit: you must slow down to
match the speed to the road
grip available.
WARNING
The ABS exploits the
tyre-road grip at the
best, but it cannot improve it;
you should therefore take
every care when driving on
slippery surfaces without tak-
ing unnecessary risks.
WARNING
When the ABS cuts in,
and you feel the brake
pedal pulsating, do not re-
move your foot, but keep it
pressed; in doing so you will
stop in the shortest amount of
space possible under the cur-
rent road conditions.
WARNING

100
SAFETY
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WARNING
LIGHTS AND
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EMERGENCY
CAR
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INDEX
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AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
BRAKE ASSIST
(emergency braking
assistance)
The system, which cannot be cut out,
recognizes emergency braking (on the
ground of the brake pedal operation
speed) and considerably increases the
pressure in the brake circuit.
Brake Assist is deactivated on the ver-
sions equipped with VDC system in the
event of VDC system failure, indicated
by the turning on of warning light
áon
the instrument panel (together with a
message on the display).
FAILURE WARNING LIGHTS
ABS failure
ABS failure is indicated by the turning
on of warning light
>on the instru-
ment panel (together with a message
on the display) (see section “Warning
lights and messages”). In this case the
braking system is still efficient, though
without the aid of the ABS system.
Drive carefully to the closest Alfa Romeo
Authorized Services to have the system
checked.
EBD failure
EBD failure is indicated by the turning
on of warning lights
>+xon the in-
strument panel (together with a mes-
sage on the display) (see section
“Warning lights and messages”).
In this case with sharp braking the rear
wheels might lock too early, with the
possibility of skidding. Drive extremely
carefully to the closest Alfa Romeo Au-
thorized Services to have the system
checked.
VDC SYSTEM
(Vehicle Dynamics
Control)
The VDC system is an electronic system
controlling the car stability in the event
of tyre grip loss.
The VDC system is therefore particular-
ly useful when grip conditions of the
road surfaces changes.
VDC SYSTEM
INTERVENTION
It is indicated by the blinking of the
warning light
áon the instrument pan-
el, to inform the driver that the car is
in critical stability and grip conditions.

113
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAREMERGENCY OPENING
OF THE FUEL FILLER CAP
In case of failure, the fuel filler cap can
be opened by pulling string set on the
right side of the boot fig. 88.
A0F0130mfig. 88
FUEL FILLER CAP
The fuel tank lid can only be opened
with doors unlocked and engine
switched off.
Opening
Open the flap A-fig. 87by means of
front part (see figure), turn cap Banti-
clockwise and extract it. The cap has a
deviceCretaining it to the flap so it can-
not be lost. When refuelling, attach the
cap to the flap, as illustrated.
Closing
Fit cap Bin its housing and turn it clock-
wise until it clicks once or more, then close
the flap A.
IMPORTANTThe sealing of the tank
may cause light pressurising in the tank.
A little breathing off, while slackening
the cap, is absolutely normal.
Do not put naked
flames or lighted ciga-
rettes near the fuel filler hole
as there is danger of fire.
Do not bend too close to the
hole either so as not to
breathe in harmful vapours.
WARNING
A
B
C
A0F0299mfig. 87

116
SAFETY
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LIGHTS AND
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EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
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INDEX
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AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
Never press button C
when travelling.
Through the reel, the belt automatically
adapts to the body of the passenger
wearing it, allowing freedom of move-
ment.When the car is parked on a steep slope
the reel mechanism may block; this is
normal. The reel mechanism prevents
the webbing coming out when it is jerked
or if the car brakes sharply, in a collision
or when cornering at high speed.
The rear seat is fitted with inertial seat
belts with three anchor points and reel.
Rear seat belts shall be worn as shown
infig. 2. To unfasten the seat belts, press button
C. Guide the seat belt with your hand
while it is rewinding, to prevent it from
twisting.
SEAT BELTS
USING THE SEAT BELTS
The belt should be worn keeping the
chest straight and rested against the seat
back.
To fasten seat belts, take the tongue A-
fig. 1and insert it into the buckle B,
until hearing the locking click.
At removal, if it jams, let it rewind for
a short stretch, then pull it out again
without jerking.
WARNING
A0F0083mfig. 1A0F0055mfig. 2

118
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
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INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
Anything that modifies its original con-
ditions invalidates its efficiency. Anything
that modifies its original conditions in-
validates its efficiency. If due to unusu-
al natural events (floods, sea storms,
etc.) the device has been affected by
water and mud, it must necessarily be
replaced.PRETENSIONERS
To increase the efficiency of the seat
belts, the car is fitted with front preten-
sioners. These devices, in the event of
a violent crash, rewind the seat belts a
few centimetres. In this way they en-
sure that the seat belt adheres perfect-
ly to the wearer before the restraining
action begins.
The seat belt locks to indicate that the
device has intervened; the seat belt can-
not be drawn back up even when guid-
ing it manually.
IMPORTANTTo obtain the highest
degree of protection from the action of
the pretensioning device, wear the seat
belt keeping it firmly close to the chest
and pelvis.
Front seat pretensioners activate only
if front seat belts are properly fitted in-
to buckles.
A small amount of smoke may be pro-
duced. This smoke is in no way toxic and
presents no fire hazard.
The pretensioner can
only be used once. Af-
ter a collision that has trig-
gered it, have it replaced at Al-
fa Romeo Authorized Services.
Pretensioner validity is indi-
cated on the label located on
the door. Pretensioners should
be replaced at Alfa Romeo Au-
thorized Services as this date
approaches
WARNING
Operations which lead
to knocks, vibrations or
localised heating (over
100°C for a maximum of 6
hours) in the area around the
pretensioners may cause dam-
age or trigger them. These de-
vices are not affected by vibra-
tions caused by irregularities of
the road surface or low obsta-
cles such as kerbs, etc. Contact
Alfa Romeo Authorized Services
for any assistance.
LOAD LIMITERS
To increase passenger’s safety, the front
seat belt reels contain a load limiter
which allows controlled sag in such a
way as to dose the force acting on the
chest and shoulders during the belt re-
straining action in case of front crash.

138
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
We recommend that
during the initial period
you do not drive to full
car performance (e.g.: excessive
acceleration, long journeys at
top speed, sharp braking, etc.).
Running the engine in
confined areas is ex-
tremely dangerous. The engine
consumes oxygen and pro-
duces carbon monoxide which
is a highly toxic and lethal gas.
WARNING
When the engine is
switched off never leave
the electronic key into the
ignition device to prevent point-
less current absorption from
draining the batter.ENGINE STARTING
The car is fitted with an electronic engine
immobilising system. If the engine fails
to start, see paragraph “Alfa Romeo
CODE system” in section “Dashboard
and controls”.
IMPORTANTTampering with the ig-
nition device can cause unrequired steer-
ing lock.
IMPORTANT Always fit the electron-
ic key completely into the ignition device
to the stop limit.IMPORTANT Never take the elec-
tronic key out of the ignition device while
the car is moving unless you have to car-
ry out an emergency removal (see para-
graph “Removing the electronic key from
the ignition device in an emergency”),
this ensures that the steering column lock
is deactivated while the car is moving
(e.g.: towing the car).