Alfa Romeo 156 2006 Owner handbook (in English)

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR29
fig. 44
A0B0300m
Through the reel, the belt automatically
adapts to the body of the passenger wear-
ing it, allowing freedom of movement.
When the car is parked on a steep slope
the reel mechanism may block; this is nor-
mal. The reel mechanism prevents the web-
bing coming out when it is jerked or if the
car brakes sharply, in a collision or when cor-
nering at high speed.
Never press button (C)
when travelling.
WARNING
The centre seat is fitted with inertial seat
belt with three anchor points and reel like
side seats (fig. 42).
On request, for versions/markets where
applicable, the rear seat can be fitted with
inertial seat belt with three anchor points
and reel for side seats and lap belt with two
anchor points for the centre seat (fig. 44).
In order to ensure that the correct tabs, are
fitted in the correct clips, the tabs of the side
belts and the clip of the central belt (only
abdominal) are incompatible (fig. 43).
fig. 45
A0B0466m
fig. 42
A0B0301m
fig. 43
A0B0467m
To offer the highest level of
protection, the rear seat
belts should be fastened as shown
in fig. 42 and fig. 44.
WARNING

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR30
When the rear seats are not occupied, use
the proper pockets (A-fig. 47) on the
backrest to stow the seat belt clips neatly,
the tab (B) of the central abdominal belt
shall be fitted into (C) (see next paragraph
“Rear abdominal centre housing”).REAR CENTRAL ABDOMINAL
BELT
(fig. 48)
Fasten the belt by inserting the tab (A)
into the clip (B), until a click is heard.
To adjust the belt, run the tape in the
buckle (D) pulling the end (E) to tighten
and part (F) to loosen.
Press button (C) to release the belt.
WARNINGThe belt is adjusted properly
when it fits closely across the hips.
fig. 47
A0B0118m
fig. 48
A0B0003m
Remember that, in the
event of an accident, any
passengers occupying the rear
seats who are not wearing a seat
belt not only subject themselves to
great personal risk but constitute
a danger to the occupants of the
front seats.
WARNING
After tilting, when resetting
the rear seat in straight po-
sition, take care to reposition the
seat belt properly to have it ready
for use.
WARNING
fig. 46
A0B0123m
Make sure the seat back is
correctly hooked on both
sides (not visible red buttons (A) to
prevent seat back being thrown
forwards and injuring passengers
should you brake sharply.
WARNING
Proper backrest coupling is
guaranteed when button
(A-fig. 46) set near each handle (B)
is retracted in the handle.
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

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR33
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR
THE USE OF THE SEAT BELTSAll the occupants of the car are obliged to
respect the local traffic laws regarding the
wearing of seat belts.
Always fasten the seat belts before starting.
fig. 52
A0B0004m
Never disassemble or
tamper with the preten-
sioner components. All interven-
tions must be carried out by qual-
ified and authorised personnel.
Always contact Alfa Romeo Au-
thorized Services.
WARNING
To ensure the highest de-
gree of protection, you are
recommended to keep the seat
backrest in the straightest position
possible, and the belt adhering well
to the chest and pelvis.
Seat belt should always be worn
in both the front and rear positions!
Travelling without seat belt in-
creases the risk of serious injury or
death in the case of accident.
WARNING
The seat belt must not be
twisted and should cling
tightly to the body. The upper part
must pass over the shoulder and di-
agonally across the chest. The
lower part must rest across the
pelvis and not across the stomach
to eliminate the risk of sliding for-
wards (fig. 52). Do not use devices
(clips, stoppers, etc.) which keep
the belts away from the body.
WARNING
Under no circumstances should
the components of the seat
belts and pretensioner be tampered
with or removed. Any operation should
be carried out by qualified and autho-
rised personnel. Always contact an
Alfa Romeo Authorized Service.
WARNING

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR34
Seat belts are also to be worn by expec-
tant mothers: the risk of injury in the case of
accident is greatly reduced for them and the
unborn child if they are wearing a seat belt.
Pregnant women must of course position
the lower part of the belt very low down so
that it passes under the abdomen (fig. 54).
HOW TO KEEP THE SEAT BELTS
ALWAYS IN EFFICIENT
CONDITIONS– Always use the belts with the tape well
taut and never twisted; make sure that it
is free to run without impediments.
– After a serious accident, replace the belt
being worn at that time, even if it does not
appear damaged. Always replace the seat
belts if pretensioners have been activated.
– To clean the belts, wash by hand with
neutral soap, rinse and leave to dry in the
shade. Never use strong detergents, bleach
or dyes or any other chemical substance that
might weaken the fibres.
– Prevent the reels from getting wet: cor-
rect operation of them is only guaranteed
if water does not get inside.
– Replace the seat belt if it shows signif-
icant wear or cut signs.
fig. 53
A0B0007m
fig. 54
A0B0008m
If the seat belt has been
subjected to shock, for ex-
ample during an accident, it must
be completely replaced together
with the attachments and their
screws, and the pretensioning de-
vices, even if visible defects are not
detected as the belt may have lost
its resilience.
WARNING
Do not carry children on
your knee using a single
seat belt for both (fig. 53). Do not
fasten other objects to the body.
WARNING

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR35
CARRYING CHILDREN SAFELYfig. 55
A0B0001m
For the best level of protection in the event
of a crash, all occupants must travel seated
and secured by suitable restraint systems.
This is even more important for children.
According to 2003/20/EC Directive, this
prescription is compulsory for all European
Community countries.
Compared with adults, a child’s head is pro-
portionately larger and heavier than the rest
of the body, while muscles and bone struc-
ture are not completely developed. There-
fore, in order to restraint them correctly in
the event of a crash, different systems are
needed then adult seat belts.
SERIOUS DANGER: Never place cradle child’s seats on the
front passenger seats of cars equipped with passenger air
bag since the air bag activation could cause serious injuries, even mortal.
You are advised to carry children always on the rear seat, as this is the
most protected position in the case of a crash. In any case, child’s seats
must absolutely not be positioned on the front seat of car’s with passen-
ger’s air bag, which during inflation could cause serious injury, even mor-
tal, regardless of the seriousness of the crash that triggered it. Children
may placed on the front seat of cars fitted with passenger’s air bag deac-
tivation. In this case, it is absolutely necessary to check the warning light
Fon the check panel to make sure that deactivation has actually took
place (see paragraph “Front and side air bags” at item ”Front passenger
air bag”). The front passenger seat shall be adjusted in the most backward
position to prevent any contact between the child’s seat and the dashboard.
WARNING

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR36
The results of research on the best pro-
tection for a child are summarised in Euro-
pean Standard ECE-R44, which in addition
to making them compulsory, subdivides re-
straint systems into five groups:
Group 0 0-10 kg in weight
Group 0+ 0-13 kg in weight
Group 1 9-18 kg in weight
Group 2 15-25 kg in weight
Group 3 22-36 kg in weight
As it may be noted, the groups partially
overlap and in fact, in commerce it is pos-
sible to find devices that cover more than
one weight group (fig. 56).
All the restraint devices must bear the ho-
mologation data, together with the control
brand, on a solidly fixed label which must
absolutely not be removed.
Over 1.50 m in height, from the point of
view of restraint systems, children are con-
sidered as adults and wear belts normally.
The Lineaccessori Alfa Romeo includes
seats for each weight group, which are the
recommended choice because they have
been designed and specifically experimented
for Alfa Romeo cars.
GROUP 0 and 0+Babies up to 13 kg must be carried fac-
ing behind (fig. 56) on a cradle seat,
which, supporting the head, does not induce
strain on the neck in the event of sharp de-
celeration.
The cradle is restrained by the car safety
belts, as illustrated, and it should in turn
restrain the child with the belts incorporated
on it.fig. 56
A0B0005m
GROUP 1Starting from 9 kg to 18 kg in weight, chil-
dren may be carried facing forwards with
seats fitted with front cushion (fig. 57),
through which the car seat belt restrains both
child and seat.fig. 57
A0B0006m
Illustrations is indicative
only for assembly. As-
semble the seat according to the
compulsory instructions provided
with it.
WARNING
Illustrations is indicative
only for assembly. As-
semble the seat according to the
compulsory instructions provided
with it.
WARNING

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR37
GROUP 3For children from 22 kg up to 36 kg the
child’s chest is thick enough not to need the
spacer back rest any more.
Fig. 59shows proper child seat posi-
tioning on the rear seat.
Over 1.50 m tall children may wear seat
belts like adults.
GROUP 2Starting from 15 to 25 kg in weight, chil-
dren may be restrained directly by the car
seat belts. Child seats only have the func-
tion of positioning the child correctly in re-
lation to the belts, so that the diagonal part
adheres to the chest and never to the neck
and that the horizontal part adheres to the
child’s pelvis and not to the abdomen
(fig. 58).fig. 58
A0B0002m
fig. 59
A0B0009m
Seats exist which are suit-
able for covering weight
groups 0 and 1 with a rear con-
nection to the car belts and its own
belts to restrain the child. Because
of their mass, they can be danger-
ous if installed incorrectly fastened
to the car belts with a cushion.
Strictly adhere to the assembly in-
structions provided.
WARNING
Illustrations is indicative
only for assembly. As-
semble the seat according to the
compulsory instructions provided
with it.
WARNING
Illustrations is indicative
only for assembly. As-
semble the seat according to the
compulsory instructions provided
with it.
WARNING

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR38
Group 0, 0+Group 1Group 2Group 3 PASSENGER SEAT COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS ON CHILD’S SEAT USEAlfa 156complies with the new EC Directive 2000/3 regulating child’s seat assembling on the different car seats according to the
following table:
Front and rear seat (saloon and Sportwagon versions)
Key:
U= suitable for child restraint systems of the “Universal” category, according to European Standard ECE-R44 for the specified “Groups”
L= suitable for certain child’s restraint systems available at Lineaccessori Alfa Romeo for the specified group
(*)= child’s seats cannot be installed on the rear centre seat with lap belt with two anchor points
U
U
U
U(*)
(*)
(*)
(*) U
U
U
U L
L
L
L until to 13 kg
9 -18 kg
15 - 25 kg
22 - 36 kg
Group Range of weight SEAT
Front passenger Rear side passenger Rear centre passenger Rear centre passenger
seat Seat (inertial seat belt Seat (centre lap belt
with three anchor points) with two anchor points)