ignition Alfa Romeo 156 2006 Owner handbook (in English)

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR17
IGNITION DEVICE THE SWITCH
(fig. 12)
The key can be moved to one of four po-
sitions:
– STOP: engine switched off, key can be
removed, engine lock engaged, steering lock
engaged, all services excluded apart from
those powered directly (e.g. hazard warn-
ing lights).
– MAR: drive position. The engine lock
is deactivated and all electrical devices are
powered.
WARNINGNever leave the key in this
position when the engine is stationary.– AV V: unstable position for starting the
engine.
WARNINGIf the engine does not start,
return the ignition key to the STOPposi-
tion and repeat the sequence.
The ignition block is fitted with a safety de-
vice preventing it from being moved to the
AV Vposition when the engine is already
running.
– PARK: engine switched off, key can
be removed, engine lock engaged, steer-
ing lock engaged, sidelights automatically
switched on.
WARNINGTo turn the key to the
PARKposition, button (A) located on the
switch should be pressed first.If the ignition device is
tampered with (for exam-
ple during an attempted
break-in) have it checked over by
Alfa Romeo Authorized Services,
before travelling again.
fig. 12
A0B0610m
When leaving the car al-
ways remove the key from
the ignition to prevent any pas-
senger in the car from inadver-
tently activating the controls.
Never leave children unattended in
the car. Remember to engage the
handbrake and if the car is facing
uphill, first gear and if the car is
facing downhill, reverse.
WARNING

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR18
STEERING LOCKEngaging lock:
– move the ignition key to the STOPor
PARKposition and remove the key lightly
turning the steering wheel to facilitate the
locking action.
Releasing the lock:
– turn the key to the MARposition and
gently rock the steering wheel.
DOORS
– To close the door, turn the key in the op-
posite direction.
Rear doors
– To open the door, only with the inner
knob (A-fig. 14) raised, pull the open-
ing handle (A-fig. 15).
– To close, press the button (A-fig. 14)
also with the door open, then close the door.
OPENING/CLOSING FROM
OUTSIDEFront doors
– To open the driver's door turn the key
clockwise and to open the passengers' door,
optional for versions/markets where ap-
plicable, turn the key anti-clockwise, then
remove the key and press the button (A-
fig. 13).fig. 13
A0B0023m
fig. 14
A0B0369m
Never remove the key
with the car on the move.
The steering wheel would lock au-
tomatically the first time the steer-
ing wheel is turned. This also oc-
curs if the car is towed.
WARNING
It is absolutely forbidden to
carry out whatever after-
market operation involving steering
system or steering column modifi-
cations (e.g.: installation of anti-
theft Device) that could badly affect
performance and safety, cause the
lapse of warranty and also result in
non-compliance of the car with ho-
mologation requirements.
WARNING
Before opening a door, en-
sure that this can be done
safely.
WARNING

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR20
CHILD SAFETY LOCK The rear doors are equipped with a special
device (fig. 18) which prevents the door
being opened from inside.
WARNINGEach device only acts on the
door on which it is installed.
The device can only be engaged with the
doors open, raising or lowering the control
with the ignition key:
position 1(control up) – device engaged
(door locked);
position 2(control down) – device re-
leased (door can be opened from inside).
fig. 18
A0B0027m
By pressing the knob (B-fig. 17) on one
of the rear doors only that particular door
will be locked.
WARNINGFor the front doors it is not
possible to keep the knob (B-fig. 16)
down if the door has not been shut properly.
WARNINGThe centralized locking sys-
tem can be deactivated, thus unlocking all
doors, by lifting the door opening lever on
one of the two front doors.
If the power supply is interrupted (burnt
fuse, battery disconnected, etc.) each door
can be opened manually from both inside
and outside the car.
WARNINGThe intervention of the in-
ertial fuel cut-off switch causes the automatic
door unlock and inhibits door locking for
about 30 seconds. After this time, door lock-
ing control unit operation is restored.
Always use this device
when carrying children.
WARNING
After activating the safety
device check that it is
working correctly by pulling on the
inner lever used to open the door.
WARNING

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR26
Folding (fig. 35)
– If necessary (for example when the size
of the mirror causes difficulty in narrow
spaces) the door mirror can be folded in to-
wards the car from position (A) to position
(B).Defrosting/demisting (fig. 36)
The electric mirrors can be fitted with heat-
ing coils which are operated together with
rearscreen heating pressing button (A) and
prevent the mirrors from frosting and/or
misting.
WARNINGThis function is timed and
is deactivated after a few minutes.
fig. 36
A0B0399m
fig. 35
A0B0370m
When travelling the door
mirrors must always be in
position (A).
WARNING
As the driver’s door mirror
is curved, it may slightly
alter the perception of distance.
WARNING
DOOR MIRRORSElectrically adjustable (fig. 34)
Select the mirror to be adjusted (right or
left) using switch (A):
– move switch (A) to (B) to adjust the
left door mirror;
– move switch (A) to (D) to adjust the
right door mirror.
Then, reposition the switch (A) in the in-
termediate locking position (C).
WARNINGThe mirror can only be ad-
justed electrically when the ignition key is
in the MARposition.fig. 34
A0B0018m

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR27
POWER WINDOWSFRONTWARNINGWith ignition key at STOP
windows can be opened manually for about
max. 2 minutes or until opening one of the
front doors.
Driver’s (fig. 37-39)
The driver’s door panel plate contains the
buttons which, with the ignition key at
MAR, operate the following windows:
A– left front window
B– right front window
C– left rear window (where fitted)
D– right rear window (where fitted)
E– rear door window control inhibitor
(where fitted) (with the inhibitor activated
the button is up, press again to re-enable
the rear buttons).WARNINGThe driver’s power window
is fitted with a “continuous automatic op-
eration” for both lowering and raising the
window device. A brief press on the upper
or lower part of the button will cause the
window to move and continue its stroke au-
tomatically: the window stops in the posi-
tion required by pressing either the upper or
lower part of the button again.
Passenger’s (fig. 38)
Button (A) is used to operate the pas-
senger’s window.
WARNINGThe passenger’s window is
fitted with a device for “continuous auto-
matic operation” only for lowering it. The
device works as described for the driver’s
window.
fig. 37
A0B0031m
fig. 38
A0B0032m
REAR (where required)The rear windows are operated by the han-
dles on the door panels.
On request for versions/markets where
applicable, the rear doors can be fitted with
power windows with split controls on driver’s
door (C and D-fig. 39) and on each rear
door (A-fig. 40).
With the ignition key at MAR, press the
button to lower the window; pull the button
to raise it.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR28
Do not hold the button
down when the window is
fully open or fully closed.
Versions not fitted with power windows
have a window winder (A-fig. 40a) for
working the window by hand.
SEAT BELTSUSING THE SEAT BELTS The belt should be worn keeping the chest
straight and rested against the seat back.
Take hold the tongue (A-fig. 41) and in-
sert 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.
To unfasten the seat belts, press button
(C). Guide the seat belt with your hand
while it is rewinding, to prevent it from twist-
ing.fig. 41
A0B0325m
fig. 40a
A0B0608m
When leaving the car al-
ways remove the ignition
key to prevent passengers (espe-
cially children) from being injured
by the power windows inadver-
tently operated.
WARNING
fig. 40
A0B0034m
fig. 39
A0B0033m
Incorrect use of the power
windows can be dangerous.
Before and during operation of them
always make sure that the passen-
gers are not exposed to the risk of
harm caused either directly by the
windows in motion or by personal
objects drawn or knocked by them.
WARNING

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR44
MANUAL DEACTIVATION OF
PASSENGER’S FRONT AIR BAGShould it be absolutely necessary to carry
a child on the front seat, the passenger’s
front air bag can be deactivated.
Deactivation/reactivation takes place with
ignition key at STOPand operating it in the
special key switch on the right-hand side of
the dashboard (fig. 67). Access to the
switch is only possible with the door open.The key switch (fig. 67) has two posi-
tions:
1) Passenger’s front Air bag active: (ON
position
P) warning light on check panel
off; it is absolutely prohibited to carry chil-
dren on the front seat.
2) Passenger’s front Air bag deactivated:
(OFFposition
F
) warning light
F
on
check panel on; it is possible to carry chil-
dren protected by special restraint systems
on the front seat.
The warning light
F
on the check panel
glows steadily until the passenger’s Air bag
is reactivated.
Deactivation of the front passenger’s air
bag does not prevent operation of the side
Air bags.
With the door open the key can be inserted
and removed in both positions.
SIDE AIR BAGS
(SIDE BAG - WINDOW BAG)The side bag and window bag have the
task of increasing protection of the occu-
pants in the event of a side crash of medium-
high severity.
They are formed of an instantaneously-in-
flating cushion:
– the side bag is housed in the back rest
of the front seats; with this solution it is al-
ways possible to have the cushion in the op-
timum position in relation to the passenger,
regardless of the adjustment of the seat;
– the window bags, which are “curtain”
cushions, are housed in the side roof lining
covered by a special trim, which makes it
possible to extend the cushion downwards.
This solution, designed to protect the head,
makes it possible to offer the highest degree
of protection to the front and rear occupants
in the event of side crash, thanks to the wide
cushion inflation surface.
In the event of a side crash, an electronic
control unit processes the signals leading
from a deceleration sensor and activates,
when necessary, inflation of the bags.
fig. 67
A0B0583m
Use the switch only with
the engine off and the ig-
nition key removed.
WARNING

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR46
WARNINGIf an accident has triggered
the air bag, Alfa Romeo Authorized Services
must be contacted to have the devices ac-
tivated replaced and to have the whole sys-
tem checked.
All operations involving checking, repair-
ing and replacing components concerning
the Air bag must be carried out by Alfa
Romeo Authorized Services.
If the car is to be demolished, Alfa Romeo
Authorized Services should be contacted be-
forehand to have the system deactivated.
If the car changes ownership, the new
owner must be informed of the instructions
for use and of the above warnings and be
given this “Owner’s Manual”.
WARNINGThe triggering of the pre-
tensioners, front air bags and side bags is
decided by the electronic control unit in a
differentiated manner depending on the type
of crash. The failure to trigger one or more
of them does not necessarily indicate a sys-
tem malfunction.
GENERAL CAUTIONS
If the
¬
warning light does
not turn on when turning the
ignition key to MAR or if it stays on
when travelling, this could indicate a
failure in safety retaining systems; un-
der this condition air bags or preten-
sioners could not trigger in the event
of collision or, in a restricted number
of cases, they could trigger acciden-
tally. Stop the car and contact Alfa
Romeo Authorized Services to have
the system checked immediately.WARNING
Do not cover the back rest
of front seats with trims or
covers there are not set for the use
of side bags.
WARNING
Never travel with objects
on your lap, in front of the
chest or with a pipe, pencil, etc. be-
tween your lips. Serious injury may
result in the case of the air bag be-
ing triggered.
WARNING
Always keep your hands
on the steering wheel rim
when driving, so that if the Air bag
is triggered, it can inflate without
meeting any obstacles. Do not
drive with the body bent forwards,
keep the seat back rest in the erect
position and lean your back well
against it.
WARNING
If the car has been stolen
or an attempt to steal it
has been made, if it has been sub-
jected to vandals or floods, have
the Air bag system checked by Alfa
Romeo Authorized Services.
WARNING
Please don’t apply stickers
or other objects to the
steering wheel, to the air-bag
cover on the passenger's side or on
the side roof lining to the uphol-
stery on the roof side. Don’t place
objects on the dashboard passen-
ger’s side (such as mobile phones)
because they could tamper with the
correct opening of the passenger’s
air-bag and than cause serious in-
juries to the vehicle occupants.
WARNING

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR47
You are reminded that
when the ignition key is
engaged and in the MAR position,
the Air bags can be triggered also
on a stationary vehicle, if it is
bumped by another moving vehi-
cle. Therefore, even with the car
stationary, never allow children on
the front seat. You are also re-
minded that with the car station-
ary, without the key engaged and
turned, the Air bags are not trig-
gered in the event of an impact; in
this case the failure to trigger the
air bags should not be considered
a system failure.
WARNING
Turning the ignition key to
MAR the
F
warning light
(with the passenger’s front Air bag
deactivation switch at ON) turns
on for about 4 seconds, and then
flashes for another 4 seconds to
remind that the passenger’s Air
bag and corresponding side Air
bags will be activated in the event
of a crash, then it goes off.
WARNING
Do not wash the seat back
with pressurised water or
steam (by hand or at automatic
seat washing stations).
WARNING
The front Air bags are de-
signed to be triggered for
heavier crashes than the preten-
sioners. It is therefore normal for
the pretensioners only to be trig-
gered for crashes within the two
activation thresholds.
WARNING
Do not hook rigid objects to
the coat hooks and to the
support handles.
WARNING
The air bag does not re-
place the seat belts, but in-
creases their effectiveness. Addi-
tionally, as the front air bags are
not triggered for head-on collision
at low speed, side crashes, crashes
from behind or overturning, in
these cases the occupants are pro-
tected only by the seat belts, which
must, therefore, always be fas-
tened.
WARNING

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR48
fig. 70
A0B0373m
STEERING WHEEL
LEVERSThe devices and services controlled by the
levers on the steering wheel can only be ac-
tivated when the ignition key is in the MAR
position.LEFT-HAND LEVERThe left-hand lever controls the external
lights except the foglamps and the rear fog-
light.
When the external lights are switched on
the various controls located on the dash-
board are illuminated.
The sidelights will come on if the ignition
key is in the PARKposition, regardless of
the position of the knurled ring.Lights switched off (fig. 68)
When the pointer on the knurled ring is op-
posite the symbol O, the external lights are
switched off.
Sidelights (fig. 69)
The sidelights are switched on by turning
the knurled ring from Oto
6.
The
3
warning light on the instrument
panel will come on at the same time.
Dipped-beam headlights (fig. 70)
These are switched on by turning the
knurled ring from
6
to 2
.Main-beam headlights (fig. 71)
When the knurled ring is in the
2
posi-
tion, the headlights can be changed from
dipped-beam to main-beam by pushing the
lever towards the dashboard (stable posi-
tion). The
1
warning light will come on
on the instrument panel.
To return from main-beam to dipped-beam,
once again pull the lever towards the steer-
ing wheel and then release.
fig. 68
A0B0371m
fig. 69
A0B0372m