height adjustment Alfa Romeo 156 2004 Owner handbook (in English)

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR21
FRONT SEATS
MOVING THE SEATS
BACKWARDS OR FORWARDS Lift lever (A) and push the seat backwards
or forwards: in the driving position the arms
should be slightly flexed and hands should
rest on the rim of the steering wheel.
ADJUSTING THE HEIGHT
OF THE DRIVER’S SEAT To raise the seat, pull the lever (B) tak-
ing it upwards, then continue operating the
lever (up and down) until reaching the re-
quired height, then release the lever. To
lower the seat, push the lever (B) down-
wards, then operate the lever (up and
down) until reaching the height required.
WARNINGAdjustment must only be car-
ried out when seated in the driver’s seat.ADJUSTING THE ANGLE
OF THE BACKREST This can be done by turning the knob (C)
until the desired position is reached.
The sporty seats equipped with lateral air
bags have an electric adjustment; use the
button (D-fig. 21) on the outer part of
the seat to set the seat back in the required
position.
fig. 20
A0B0054m
fig. 19
A0B0028m
Fig. 19: standard equipment;
Fig. 20: sporty seats (where applicable);
Fig. 21: sporty seats and lateral air bags.
Adjustments may be made
solely with the car sta-
tionary.
WARNING
Once you have let go off
the lever, check that the
seat is firmly locked in the runners
by trying to move it back and
forth. If the seat is not locked prop-
erly, in the case of collision t might
move unexpectedly with clearly
dangerous consequences.
WARNING

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR23
ADJUSTING THE HEADRESTS (fig. 24)
To increase the safety of passengers, the
headrests are adjustable in height and, for
versions with Recaro seats they are also ad-
justable in rake.
To adjust the height: move the headrest
up or down, then release it and make sure
that it is locked in one of the pre-established
positions.
For angle adjustment (where applicable):
take hold of the headrest and turn it to the
most suitable position.
WARNINGThe shape of the headrest
may vary depending on the version and/or
market. The example shown is used only to
demonstrate the methods by which it can
be adjusted.
REAR POCKETS (where
required)
(fig. 25)
The front seats are provided with a pocket
in the rear of the seat back.
REAR SEATCENTRE ARMREST
(fig. 26)
(where required)
To use the centre armrest, lower it holding
the grip (A) as illustrated.
fig. 24
A0B0050m
fig. 25
A0B0320m
fig. 27
A0B0565m
fig. 26
A0B0564m
Remember that the head
restraints must be posi-
tioned so that they are supporting
the back of the head and not the
neck. They will only be able to pro-
vide effective protection in the
event of a collision if they are in
this position.
WARNING

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR31
REAR ABDOMINAL CENTRE
BELT HOUSING
(fig. 49)
When the rear centre belt, which is of the
abdominal type, is not in use, hook the
tongue (A) in the special support (B) on
the rear seat back.
fig. 49
A0B0468m
Always hook the belt tip
when it is not used to pre-
vent it from hitting the occupants
in the event of a crash.
WARNING
ADJUSTING THE HEIGHT
OF FRONT AND REAR SIDE
SEAT BELTS
(Sportwagon versions only)The rocker ring of the rear side belts has
three different positions through which belt
height adjustment is possible.
Always adjust the height of belts adapting
them to the size of the person wearing them.
This precaution will improve their effective-
ness, substantially reducing the risk of injury
in the event of a crash.
Correct adjustment is obtained when the
belt passes about half way between the end
of the shoulder and the neck.To adjust the seat belt, raise or lower the
anchoring device grip (A-fig. 50) of the
front (A-fig. 51) or side rear seat belts
(Sportwagon versions only), and move at
the same time the ring (B) to the most suit-
able of the set positions.fig. 50
A0B0029m
fig. 51
A0B0099m

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR32
PRE-TENSIONING DEVICESTo increase the efficiency of the front seat
belts, Alfa 156 is fitted with pre-tension-
ing devices.
These devices “feel” that the car is being
subject to a violent impact by way of a sen-
sor rewind the seat belts a few centimetres.
In this way they ensure that the seat belt
adheres to the wearer before the restraining
action begins.
The seat belt locks to indicate that the de-
vice has intervened; the seat belt cannot be
drawn back up even when guiding it man-
ually.
WARNINGThe pretensioner will give
maximum protection when the seat belt ad-
heres snugly to wearer’s chest and hips.
Front seat pretensioners activate only if
front seat belts are properly fitted into buck-
les. A small amount of smoke may be pro-
duced. This smoke is in no way toxic and
presents no fire hazard.
The emergency tensioning retractor needs
no maintenance or lubrication. Any modifi-
cation to its original features will nullify the
retractor’s effectiveness. If, due to unusual
natural events (floods, high waves, etc.),
the device has been affected by water and
mud, it must be replaced.Operations involving
banging, vibrations or
heating (above 100°C for
a maximum of 6 hours) in the area
of the pretensioners may damage
or trigger off the device. Vibrations
from rough road surfaces or acci-
dental jolting caused by mounting
pavements etc. do not have any ef-
fect on the pretensioner. If, how-
ever, you need assistance, go to
Alfa Romeo Authorized Services.
The pretensioner can only
be used once. After a col-
lision that has triggered it, have it
replaced at Alfa Romeo Authorized
Service. The validity of the device
is written on the plate located on
the front left door near the lock.
Contact Alfa Romeo Authorized
Services to have pretensioner re-
placed as this date approaches.
WARNING
After adjustment, always
check that the slider (B) is
anchored in one of the positions
provided. To do this, with the but-
ton (A-fig. 50) or (A-fig. 51) re-
leased, exert a further pressure to
allow the anchor device to catch if
release did not take place at one of
the preset positions.
WARNING
Make the height adjust-
ment when the car is sta-
tionary.
WARNING

ALPHABETICAL INDEX
332
Roof bars/ski racks ...................... 292
Roof rack provision ....................... 174
Rubber hoses .............................. 272Safe driving ............................... 192
– before driving off ................... 192
– driving in the fog ................... 194
– driving in the rain ................... 194
– driving on snow and ice .......... 195
– driving with ABS .................... 195
– mountain driving .................... 194
– night driving .......................... 193
– when travelling ...................... 192
Safeguarding the environment ...... 187
Scheduled maintenance
programme .............................. 249
Seat belts ................................... 28
– carrying children safely ........... 35
– front and rear side belt
height adjustment .................. 31
– general instructions ................ 33
– maintenance ......................... 34
– pretensioners......................... 32
– rear central abdominal belt ..... 30
– use ...................................... 28
Seats (front and rear) ............ 21-23
Selespeed gearbox ....................... 141– automatic operation (CITY) ..... 150
– checking the oil level .............. 259
– failure signalling .................... 150
– moving off ............................ 146
– operation with the engine off ... 143
– parking the vehicle ................. 151
– semiautomatic operation
(MANUAL) ............................ 148
– signalling with the buzzer........ 151
– starting the engine ................. 145
– stopping the car ..................... 148
– system activation ................... 142
– towing the vehicle .................. 151
– turning the engine off ............. 145
– warnings .............................. 146
Side lights
– changing front bulbs ............... 226
– changing rear bulbs ............... 228
– switching on.......................... 48
Ski compartment ......................... 24
Snow chains................................ 202
Sound system ...................... 183-293
Sound system presetting
system ............................. 183
Spark plugs (technical data) .......... 305
Speedometer............................... 63
Spray jets – windscreen/rearscreen/
headlight .............................. 274
Starting the engine....................... 189
– emergency starting .......... 191-205
– ignition switch ....................... 17
– procedure for JTD versions ....... 190
– procedure for petrol versions .... 189
– switching off the engine .......... 190
– warming the engine ............... 190
Starting with an auxiliary battery ... 242
Steering system
– specifications ......................... 305
– steering wheel adjustments .... 25
Steering lock .............................. 18
Steering wheel
– adjustment............................ 25
Steering wheel levers ................... 48
Stop lights
– changing bulbs ...................... 228
Sunroof ...................................... 167
– emergency operation ............. 169
– sliding forwards/backwards..... 168
– raising to the quarterlight
position ............................... 168
Sun visors .................................. 166
Symbols .................................... 5-6

RIGHT HAND DRIVE VERSION
346
SEATSFRONT SEATS (fig. 5)
Adjusting the height
of the driver’s seat
To raise the seat, pull the lever (B) tak-
ing it upwards, then continue operating the
lever (up and down) until reaching the re-
quired height.
To lower the seat, push the lever (B)
downwards, then operate the lever (up and
down) until reaching the height required.
WARNINGAdjustment must only be car-
ried out when seated in the driver’s seat.Adjusting the angle
of the backrest
This can be done by turning the knob (C)
until the desired position is reached.
Lumbar adjustment
of the driver’s seat
(for versions/markets where applicable)
Adjustment is done by turning the knob
(D) until reaching the most comfortable po-
sition. Moving the seat backwards
or forwards
Lift lever (A) and push the seat backwards
or forwards. Once you have let go of the
lever, check that the seat is firmly locked
in the runners by trying to move it back and
forth.
If the seat is not locked properly, in the
case of collision it might move unexpect-
edly with clearly dangerous consequences.fig. 5
A0B0419m
Adjustments may be made
solely with the car sta-
tionary.
WARNING