GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
99
FAN SPEED
ADJUSTMENT KNOB
(fig. 82-83)
Turning the ring of knob (4), clockwise
or counter-clockwise, increases or decreas-
es the speed of the fan, thus the amount
of air admitted to the passenger compart-
ment; the 16 selectable speeds are shown
on a bar (in steps of 3) up to a maximum
of 6 bars lit:
- maximum fan speed = all bars lit;
- minimum fan speed = one bar lit.
The fan can be cut off (all bars off) only
if the climate control compressor has been
switched off pressing button (14)
√. To
restore automatic fan speed control, after a
manual adjustment, press button (13)
AUTO. Completely turning the ring of knob
(4) counter-clockwise switches the system
off, with the following situation: display (1)
off; display (5) off; centre display (3) with
lit display
OFFand left led on inside air re-cir-
culation button (8)
von.
IMPORTANTPressing the inside air re-
circulation button (8)
vit is possible to
obtain the inlet of untreated outside air to
the passenger compartment.
To turn the system on again, simply turn
the ring of knob (4) clockwise, or press any
one button, except the inside air re-circula-tion (8) and rearscreen heating (9) but-
tons; this operation restores all the operating
conditions stored previously.IMPORTANTOn leaving the
OFFcondi-
tion, inside air re-circulation
vreturns to
the condition prior to switching off.
A0A0205m
A0A0206mfig. 82
fig. 83
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
101
press button (13)AUTO; in which case,
however, the other manual settings set will
be cancelled.
CLIMATE CONTROL
COMPRESSOR ON/OFF ENABLE
BUTTON
√(fig. 85)
Pressing button (14)
√enables the turn-
ing on of the climate control compressor.
This condition is shown by the lighting up of
the led on the button itself.
When the climate control compressor is
turned off, the leds on buttons (13)
AUTO
and (14)√go off; automatic inside air re-
circulation control is also excluded (both leds
off on button 8
v) which always stays
off to prevent misting the windows; even
if unadvisable, it is still possible to restore
automatic operation of inside air re-circula-
tion pressing button (8)
v.
With the climate control compressor off, it
is not possible to admit air to the passenger
compartment with a temperature below
the outside temperature; in this case, the
value flashes on the display concerning the
temperature that cannot be reached and the
left led on button (13
AUTO- fig. 86)
goes off.
The switching off of the climate control
compressor remains in storage even when
the engine has been stopped. To restore au-
tomatic control for switching on the climate
control compressor, press button (14)
√again, the led on the button turns on, or
A0A0210m
A0A0211mfig. 85
fig. 86
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
102
INSIDE AIR RE-CIRCULATION
ON/OFF BUTTON
v(fig. 87)
Inside air re-circulation is controlled ac-
cording to three operating logics
- automatic control, indicated by the turn-
ing on of the right led on the button;
- forced engagement (inside air re-circula-
tion always on), indicated by the turning on
of the left led on the button (and by the right
led going off at the same time);
- forced switching off (inside air re-circula-
tion always off with air inlet from outside),
indicated by the turning off of both leds.
These operating conditions are obtained
pressing in sequence the inside air re-circu-
lation button (8)
v.
When inside air re-circulation is controlled
automatically by the system, the right ledon the air re-circulation button (8)
v
stays on all the time and the left led shows
the air re-circulation condition:
on= air re-circulation operating;
off= air re-circulation off.
If inside air re-circulation has been turned
on or off manually, the led on button (13)
AUTOturns off.
In automatic operation, inside air re-circu-
lation is turned on automatically when the an-
tipollution sensor detects the presence of pol-
luted air, for example in cities, queues, tun-
nels and operation of the windscreen wash-
er (with the characteristic smell of spirit).
A0A0212m
fig. 87
With the outside temper-
ature below 4°C the cli-
mate control compressor is unable
to work. It is therefore unadvis-
able to use the inside air re-circu-
lation feature
vwith low out-
side temperature as the windows
may quickly mist over.
WARNING
Operation of the climate con-
trol compressor is necessary
for cooling and dehumidifying the air;
it is advisable to keep this function
always on, to prevent window mist-
ing problems.
WARNING
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
103
AUTOMATIC OPERATION AUTO
BUTTON
(fig. 88)
Pressing the (13)
AUTObutton the sys-
tem automatically adjusts the amount and
distribution of the air admitted to the pas-
senger compartment, cancelling all the pre-
vious manual adjustments.
This condition is indicated by the lighting
up of both leds on the button itself.
When the right led, on button (13)
AU-
TO, is off, this means that one or more man-
ual operations have been carried out and
therefore automatic control is not complete
(except temperature control which is always
automatic) indicated by the left led on, or
that the system is in the
OFFcondition.
A0A0209m
fig. 88
The inside air re-circulation
system makes it possible
to reach the required “heating” or
“cooling” conditions faster. It is
however inadvisable to use it on
rainy/cold days as it would con-
siderably increase the possibility of
the windows misting inside, espe-
cially if the climate control system
is off.
WARNING
In certain weather condi-
tions (e.g.: outside tem-
perature around 0°C) and with au-
tomatic air re-circulation control on,
mist may form on the windows. In
this case press the inside air re-cir-
culation button (8)
v, to switch
off re-circulation (leds on button
off) and if necessary increase the
flow of air to the windscreen.
WARNING
It is advisable to turn on
the inside air re-circulation
system in queues or tunnels to
avoid admitting polluted air from
outside. The prolonged use of this
function should however be avoid-
ed, especially with several persons
on board, to avoid the possibility of
the windows misting inside.
WARNING
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
104
QUICK FRONT WINDOW
DEMISTING/DEFROSTING
BUTTON
(-MAX-DEFfunction)(fig. 89)
Pressing button (7)
-the climate con-
trol automatically activates timed operation
of all the functions needed to quicken
demisting/defrosting of the windscreen and
front side windows, i.e.:
- it turns on the climate control compres-
sor;
- switches off inside air re-circulation, if on
(both leds off);
- sets the maximum air temperature (HI)
on both displays (1) and (5);
- operates the fan at a predefined speed;
- directs the flow of air towards the wind-
screen and front side window vents;
- turns on rearscreen heating and, if pre-
sent, the wing mirror coils.
When the maximum demisting/defrosting
feature is on, the led on button (7)
-, the
led on the rearscreen heating button (9)
(and the led on button (14)√turn on;
at the same time the leds on button (8)
vgo off.IMPORTANTIf the engine is not warm
enough, the function will not engage the
predefined fan speed immediately, to limit
the flow to the passenger compartment of
air that is not warm enough to demist the
windows.
When the maximum demisting/defrost-
ing function is on, the only manual opera-
tions possible are manual adjustment of the
fan and switching rearscreen heating off.Pressing one of the following buttons
again: (7)
-, (8)v, (12)MONO,
(13)
AUTOor (14)√the system switch-
es off the maximum demisting/defrosting
function, restoring the operating conditions
of the system prior to turning it on, in ad-
dition to activating the last function required,
if any.
A0A0213m
fig. 89
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
105
WING MIRROR
AND REARSCREEN
DEFROSTING/DEMISTING
BUTTON
((fig. 90)
Pressing button (9)
(turns on demist-
ing/defrosting of the rearscreen and, if pre-
sent, the wing mirror coils.
The turning on of this function is shown by
the turning on of the led on the button.
This function is timed and switches off au-
tomatically after 20 minutes, or pressing the
button again; the function is also switched
off when the engine is stopped and will not
be switched on again the next time the en-
gine is started.
IMPORTANTThe system turns on
rearscreen heating automatically if the tem-
perature is below 3
°C.
IMPORTANTDo not apply stickers on
the inside of the rearscreen over the heat-
ing filaments to avoid damage that might
cause it to stop working properly.
POLLEN FILTER
Have the conditions of the filter checked
by Alfa Romeo Authorised Services at least
once a year, preferably at the onset of sum-
mer.
If the vehicle is used mainly in dusty or pol-
luted areas it should be checked and if nec-
essary replaced, at shorter intervals.
A0A0214m
The filter has the specific capability of com-
bining the mechanical filtering of the air with
an electrostatic effect so that the outside air
admitted to the passenger compartment is
purified and free of particles such as dust,
pollen, etc.
In addition to the above, it also effective-
ly reduces the concentration of pullutants.
The filtering action takes place under all
air inlet conditions and it is clearly most ef-
fective with the windows shut.The failure to replace the
filter may considerably re-
duce the effectiveness of
the climate control system up to
blocking the air flow from the out-
lets and vents.
fig. 90
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
132fig. 135
A0A0199m
For correct adjustment, bear in mind the
following conditions:
– position 0: one or two people occupy-
ing the front seats
– position 1: five people;
– position 2: five people + load in the
boot;
– position 3: driver + maximum permis-
sible load all stowed in lug-
gage compartmentCOMPENSATION FOR TILT
(fig. 134)(excluding versions
with Xenon headlights)
When the vehicle is loaded, the beam from
the headlights is raised due to the back-
wards tilt of the vehicle.
In this case the headlights must be ad-
justed correctly.
To do this, use the rocker button (A), on
the plate at the side of the steering column:
– press the arrow on the button (
A), this
will increase by one position (eg.: 0
➟1
➟ 2➟3);
– press the arrow on the button (
S), this
will lower by one position (eg.: 3
➟2➟
1➟0);
The display (B), in the tachometer shows
the positions while adjustment is being
made.
fig. 134
A0A0467m
HEADLIGHTS
The adjustment of the headlights is vital to
your safety and comfort and to that of oth-
er road users.
The adjustment of the headlights is also
governed by precise regulations.
Contact Alfa Romeo Authorised Services to
have the headlights correctly adjusted.
IMPORTANTOn the inside surface of
the headlight there could appear a slight
coat of fogging; this does not show a defect,
since it is a natural occurrence due to low
temperature and to the degree of humidity
in the air; it will soon disappear as soon as
the lights are turned on. The presence of
drops inside the headlight shows water seep-
age, refer to the Alfa Romeo Dealership.
Check beam aiming every
time the load carried
changes.
WARNING
CORRECT USE OF THE CAR
181
DRIVING ON SNOW AND ICE
Here are a few suggestions for driving in
these conditions:
– Drive very slowly.
– On a snowy road, fit winter tyres or
snow chains; see the related paragraphs in
this chapter.
– Use engine braking where possible and
avoid abrupt braking.
– Braking with a car without ABS, avoid
locking the wheels, modulating the pressure
on the brake pedal.
– Avoid abrupt acceleration and changes
of direction.
– During cold weather even apparently dry
roads may be covered with occasional patch-
es of ice. Pay great attention therefore when
driving on roads which are in the shade, or
where rocks or trees line the road and on
which ice may persist.
– Keep further back from the vehicle in
front.
DRIVING WITH ABS
The ABS is a part of the braking system
which essentially offers 2 advantages:
1) it prevents locking, thus skidding, of the
wheels during emergency braking and es-
pecially under conditions with poor grip;
2) it allows braking and steering at the
same time, to avoid any sudden obstacles
or to direct the car as required when brak-
ing, compatibly with the physical limits of
lateral grip of the tyre.
To make the most of the ABS:
– In emergency braking or when grip is
low, a slight pulsing can be felt on the brake
pedal: this means that the ABS has come in-
to action. Do not release the pedal, but con-
tinue pressing it to give continuity to the
braking action.
– The ABS prevents the wheels from lock-
ing but it does not increase the physical lim-
its of grip between the asphalt and the road.
Therefore, also with a car fitted with ABS,
keep within a safety distance from the ve-
hicle in front and limit speed when ap-
proaching bends.
The ABS serves to increase vehicle con-
trollability not to go faster.
REDUCING RUNNING
COSTS AND
ENVIRONMENT
POLLUTION
By following a few simple guidelines, it
is possible to save vehicle running costs and
reduce harmful emissions.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
Vehicle maintenance
The conditions of the vehicle represent an
important factor which affects fuel con-
sumption as well as travelling tranquillity
and the life of the vehicle. For this reason,
it is wise to take care of its maintenance
have the checks and adjustments carried out
in accordance with the “Scheduled Mainte-
nance Programme” (see... spark plugs, air
cleaner, timing).