stop start Alfa Romeo 156 2007 Owner handbook (in English)

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
133
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:
(10)
-
, (7)
v
, (11)
MONO
, (14)
AUTO
or (12)
√
the system switches off
the maximum demisting/defrosting func-
tion, resuming the system operating condi-
tions prior to turning it on, in addition to
activating the last function required, if any.
WING MIRROR AND
REARSCREEN DEFROSTING/
DEMISTING BUTTON
(
(fig. 114)
Pressing button (9)
(
, turns on demist-
ing/defrosting of the rearscreen and, if pre-
sent, the wing mirror coils.
The activation 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.WARNING Rear heated window man-
ual on/off control prevails over automatic
activation decided by the climate control sys-
tem control unit.
fig. 114
A0B0075m

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
134
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.
WARNINGThe system turns on
rearscreen heating automatically if the tem-
perature is below 3°C.
WARNINGDo not apply stickers on the
inside of the rearscreen over the heating fil-
aments to avoid damage that might cause
it to stop working properly.
WARNINGWhen reconnecting the neg-
ative battery cable after having disconnected
it, wait for 2 minutes before turning the key
to enable the climate control system to re-
set actuator strokes properly.
POLLEN FILTER This 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 from particles such as dust,
pollen, etc.
In addition to the above, it also effectively
reduces the concentration of pollutants.
The filtering action takes place under all
air inlet conditions and it is clearly most ef-
fective with the windows shut.
Have the conditions of the filter checked by
Alfa Romeo Authorized Services at least once
a year, preferably on the onset of summer.If the vehicle is used mainly in polluted
or dusty areas it should be checked and if
necessary replaced, at shorter intervals.
Failure to replace the fil-
ter may considerably re-
duce the effectiveness of
the climate control system up to
blocking the air flow from the out-
lets and vents.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
136
DASHBOARD LIGHTING
ADJUSTMENT
(fig. 118)
When the outside lights are on, the dash-
board lighting is adjusted by pressing button
(A).
Each press of the button (A) cyclically se-
lects one of the three lighting levels pro-
vided: low-medium-high.
FRONT FOGLIGHTS
(fig. 117)
(where required)
These come on when button (A) is
pressed and when the external lights are al-
ready on.
The warning light
5
will light up on the
instrument panel.
By turning the ignition key to STOP, the
fog lights are turned off automatically and
do not come on the next time the engine
is started without pressing button (A).
Press the button (A) again to switch the
front foglights off.
WARNINGThe front foglights should be
used in compliance with the local traffic
laws.
REAR FOG GUARDS
(fig. 117)
These are turned on, with the dipped beam
headlamps or fog lights on, by pressing but-
ton (B).
At the same time, warning light
4
on the
instrument cluster lights up.
By turning the ignition key to STOP, the
fog guards are automatically turned off and
they do not come on the next time the en-
gine is started unless button (B) is pressed.
Press button (B) to turn them off.
WARNINGAlways use the rear fog
guards in accordance with local regulations
in force.
fig. 117
A0B0740m
fig. 118
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
137
Inspect the care carefully to make sure that
there are no fuel leaks, for instance in the
engine compartment, under the vehicle or
near the tank area.
If no leaks are found and the vehicle can
be restarted again, press button (A) to ac-
tivate the fuel supply system.
After a collision, remember to turn the ig-
nition key to STOP so as not to run the bat-
tery down.
INERTIAL FUEL CUT-OFF
SWITCH
(fig. 119)
This is an automatic safety switch which is
triggered in the event of crash to interrupt
the flow of fuel.
The intervention of the inertial switch is in-
dicated by a message + symbol on the In-
focenter display (see “Infocenter Display”
in this chapter) and by the door unlocking.
fig. 119
A0B0574m
fig. 120
A0B0044m
OPENING THE FUEL FLAP(fig. 120)
The fuel flap is released from inside the car
raising the front part of the lever (A).
If a smell of fuel is noted
following an accident, or
the fuel system is leaking, to avoid
the risk of fire do not reset the
switch.
WARNING

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
143
SYSTEM ACTIVATIONWARNINGOpening the driver’s door,
the Selespeed starts the hydraulic part of
the system to prepare it for the engine to be
started. This function (noted by the turning
of the electric pump) is deactivated after 10
openings/closings of the door that are not
followed by actual system activation using
the ignition key.
Turning the ignition key to MAR, all the
segments of the display (A-fig. 126), the
gearbox failure warning light (B-fig. 126)
and the word CITYlight up. After about one
second, the display indicates the gear en-
gaged (N, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, R); from this mo-
ment, the Selespeed system accepts
gearshift commands.
WARNINGIf after 10 seconds the dis-
play segment do not display the gear en-
gaged or the failure warning light stays on,
turn the ignition key to STOPand wait for
the display to go off, then repeat the sys-
tem activation procedure. If the fault per-
sists, contact Alfa Romeo Authorized Ser-
vices
OPERATION WITH THE
ENGINE OFFWARNINGBefore operating the gear-
shift control lever, always check the gear en-
gaged on the display (N, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, R).
When the engine is off and the vehicle is
stationary, it is possible to engage all the
gears.
With the vehicle stationary and with the
brake pedal pressed, requests to shift gear
are accepted onlyif they are carried out
through the control lever on the central con-
sole.To request gearshifting, in addition to keep-
ing the brake pedal pressed it is necessary to:
– to increase gear (+) (fig. 127) push
the lever “forwards” (if the car is in first gear
this shifts to second, if it is in second gear
it goes to third and so on up to fifth). If the
system is in neutral (N) or reverse (R) the
forward movement on the lever causes en-
gagement of first gear (1).
– to shift down (–) (fig. 127) push the
lever backwards (if the car is in fifth gear
it moves to fourth, if fourth gear is engaged
it shifts to third and so on down to first).
fig. 127
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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
144
WARNINGOnce a gear has been shifted
it is necessary to release the gearshift con-
trol lever immediately after making the re-
quest. A prolonged action (over 10 seconds)
causes automatic shifting to CITY; previous
conditions are restored when releasing the
lever.
WARNINGIf wanting to leave the car
parked on a sloping road with a gear en-
gaged to keep it braked, it is necessary to
check that the Infocenter display shows the
new gear engaged and then wait for 1 to
2 seconds before releasing the brake pedal
to allow complete clutch engagement.
fig. 129
A0B0274m
To put the gearbox in neutral (N), start-
ing from the condition with the vehicle sta-
tionary and the brake pedal pressed, it is
necessary to move the gearshift control lever
to the right (fig. 128).From any gear (N, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) and
with the vehicle practically at a standstill,
it is possible to request engagement of re-
verse gear, pushing the lever to the right and
then backwards (fig. 129). If the vehi-
cle is on the move, the request is not ac-
cepted; wait for the car to stop and then
request reverse gear engagement againfig. 128
A0B0273m

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
145
STARTING THE ENGINEThe engine can be started with the gear
engaged or in neutral (N), provided that the
brake pedal is pressed down.
WARNINGKeep the brake pedal
pressed during the starting operation. As the
brake pedal stiffens if it is pressed repeat-
edly with the engine off, in this situation, to
allow the engine to be started, it is neces-
sary to increase the pressure exerted on the
pedal itself.
After starting, the gearbox automatically
sets to neutral, the display shows the let-
ter (N) and the system selects the operat-
ing mode stored before switching off.
TURNING THE ENGINE OFF
AND SYSTEM DEACTIVATIONTurning the ignition key to STOPthe en-
gine switches off but the Selespeed system
still remains active, waiting for the vehicle
to stop completely. After about 2 - 4 seconds
from when the key has been turned to the
STOPposition, the hydraulic part is deac-
tivated and immediately afterwards the dis-
play on the rev counteralso goes out ; the
Selespeed system is only deactivated at this
point.
The gear selected before turning the en-
gine off remains engaged.
If the engine stops with the gearbox in
neutral (N), the buzzer draws the attention
of the driver so that the vehicle can be put
in safety conditions engaging the first gear
(1) or reverse (R). In this case, it is nec-
essary to turn the ignition key to MARand
with the brake pedal pressed, engage first
gear (1) or reverse (R).
If the engine fails to start
with the gear engaged, the
driver is alerted of the potentially
dangerous situation due to the fact
that the gearbox has automatically
set to neutral by the buzzer and
the display on the rev counter.
WARNING
NEVER leave the car with
the gearbox in neutral (N).
WARNING
Never remove the key
when the car is on the
move, because in addition to the
fact that the Selespeed system
would not work properly until
stopping the car, the steering
wheel would automatically lock at
the first turn.
WARNING
It is absolutely necessary
to turn off the engine con-
sequently deactivating the Sele-
speed system keeping the brake
pedal pressed: release the pedal
ONLY when the display on the rev
counter goes off.
WARNING

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
146
WARNINGS– With the vehicle stationary and a gear
engaged, always keep the brake pedal
pressed until you decide to move off;
– in prolonged stops with the engine run-
ning it is advisable to keep the gearbox is
neutral;
– when the car is parked on a slope, do
not use the pick-up manoeuvre to keep the
vehicle stopped; use the brake pedal and
work on the accelerator pedal only when
you decide to move off;
– use second gear onlywhen necessary
to obtain better control of pick-up in low
speed manoeuvres;
– if, with reverse gear engaged, you need
to engage first gear or vice versa, shift gear
only when the car is completely stationary
and with the brake pedal pressed. This should not be considered as a fault as
it is part of the operating logic. For the same
reason, in the event of sticking on reverse,
the system commands partial clutch closing
to allow engagement of the gear; in this
case engagement of reverse gear (R) will
be less comfortable.
Moving off of the vehicle is obtained:
1) releasing the brake pedal;
2) gradually operating the accelerator
pedal.
The vehicle pick-up torque is higher the
more the accelerator pedal is pressed.
MOVING OFFWith the engine running and the vehicle
stationary, the gears that can be engaged
for moving off are only first (1), second (2)
or reverse (R).
To engage them it is possible to use the
control lever on the centre console, with the
brake pedal pressed, as the levers on the
steering wheel allow gear engagement only
over 0.5 km/h.
WARNINGReverse gear (R) can be en-
gaged from each of the following other ra-
tios: neutral (N), first gear (1) or second
gear (2). If the car is on the move, the re-
quest is not accepted; it is necessary to wait
for the car to be completely stopped and
then request reverse (R) again.
The driver is informed of the reverse gear
engaged condition by the intermittent sound
of the buzzer as well as by the display on
the rev counter.
WARNINGIf while shifting from reverse
(R)/first gear (1) to neutral (N)/first gear
(1) sticking occurs on the first gear, the sys-
tem automatically engages second gear
(2).
After a request to shift
gear with the vehicle sta-
tionary, before pressing the accel-
erator pedal to make the car start,
the driver must always check that
the gear engaged shown on the
display is the one required.
WARNING

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
147
STOPPING THE CARTo stop the vehicle, simply release the ac-
celerator pedal and, if necessary, operate
the brake pedal.
Regardless of the gear engaged and of the
operating mode activated (MANUALor
CITY), the system automatically disen-
gages the clutch and downshifts gear.
If you intend to move off again without
having completely stopped the car, this way
the most suitable gear ratio for re-acceler-
ating will be available.
Stopping the vehicle, the system auto-
matically engages first gear (1). Though strongly inadvisable, if due to un-
foreseen circumstances when driving down-
hill the car is allowed to travel with the gear-
box in neutral (N), when the engagement
of a gear is requested, the system auto-
matically engages the best gear to allow
transmission of the torque to the wheels in
relation to the speed of the car.
Downhill with the gear engaged and the
accelerator released (if the vehicle is trav-
elling), if a certain pre-established speed is
exceeded, the system automatically en-
gages the clutch to provide adequate engine
braking.
Due to safety reasons, the Selespeed sys-
tem activates the buzzer when:
– clutch overheating occurs during vehicle
starting; in this case, it is necessary to
“force” moving off avoiding hesitations or
to release the accelerator and use the brake
pedal to park the vehicle if the car is on a
slope;
– the car moves in the opposite direction
to the gear engaged, (e.g.: vehicle moving
forward with reverse engaged); in this sit-
uation it is necessary to stop the vehicle and
keeping the brake pedal pressed, engage
the gear correctly.Still for safety reasons, when the vehicle
is stationary, with the engine started and
gear (1), (2) or (R) engaged, the system
activates the buzzer and shifts to neutral
(N) automatically when:
– there is no action on the accelerator
and/or brake pedal for at least 3 minutes;
– the brake pedal is pressed for over 10
minutes;
– the driver’s door is opened and the ac-
celerator and brake pedal are not pressed
for at least 1 second.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
151
SIGNALLING WITH THE BUZZERThe buzzer is activated when:
– reverse gear (R) is engaged;
– the vehicle is parked with the gearbox
at neutral (N); this can be seen turning the
ignition key to STOP;
– clutch overheating takes place during
pick-up;
– the car moves in the opposite direction
to the gear engaged (e.g.: the car tends to
do downhill with reverse gear engaged);
– in the event of gearbox failure;
– the system has automatically engaged
neutral (N) after:•
there is no action on the accelerator
and/or brake pedal for at least 3 min-
utes;
•
the brake pedal is pressed for over 10
minutes;
•
the driver’s door is opened and the ac-
celerator and brake pedal are not
pressed for at least 1 second;
•
detection of a gearbox fault.
PARKING THE VEHICLETo park the car safely it is absolutely
necessaryto engage first gear (1) or re-
verse (R) and, when on a sloping road, also
engage the hand-brake.
Turning the engine off with the car facing
uphill and a gear engaged, it is absolutely
necessaryto wait for the display on the
rev counter to go off before releasing the
brake pedal, so that the clutch has innested
completely.
If the gearbox is in neutral (N) and you
want to engage a parking gear, it is neces-
sary to activate the system and engage the
gear (1) or reverse (R) with your foot on
the brake pedal.
TOWING THE VEHICLEWARNINGFor towing the vehicle, ad-
here to local regulations. Make sure that the
gearbox is in neutral (N) (checking that the
car moves when pushed) and proceed as for
towing a normal car with mechanical gear-
box following the instructions given in the
chapter “In an emergency”.
Should it be impossible to set to neutral,
do not tow the vehicle; contact Alfa Romeo
Authorised Services.
Do not start the engine
when towing the vehicle.
WARNING