Alfa Romeo 159 2005 Owner handbook (in English)

129
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
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EMERGENCY
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MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
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CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
IMPORTANT The belt should not be
twisted. The upper part should pass over
the shoulder and cross the chest diago-
nally. The lower part should adhere to
the pelvis fig. 5and not the abdomen
of the passenger. Do not use any objects
(pegs, stoppers, etc.) to keep the belts
away from the body.GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
FOR USING
THE SEAT BELTS
The driver must comply with (and have
the vehicle occupants follow) all the lo-
cal legal regulations concerning the use
of seat belts.
Always fasten the seat belts before start-
ing.
Seat belts are also to be worn by ex-
pectant 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. Of course they must
position the lower part of the belt very
low down so that it passes under the ab-
domenfig. 4.
A0E0104mfig. 4A0E0103mfig. 5
For maximum protec-
tion keep the back of
your seat upright, lean back in-
to it and make sure the seat
belt fits closely across your
chest and hips. Make sure that
the seat belts of the front and
rear passengers are fastened
at all times! You increase the
risk of serious injury or death
in a collision if you travel with
the belts unfastened.
WARNING

130
WARNING
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EMERGENCY
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CORRECT USE
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DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
HOW TO KEEP THE SEAT
BELTS ALWAYS IN
EFFICIENT CONDITIONS
❒Always use the belt with the tape 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 de-
tergents, bleach or dyes or other
chemical substance that might weak-
en the fibres;
❒prevent the reels from getting wet:
their correct operation is only guar-
anteed if water does not get inside;
❒replace the seat belt when showing
significant wear or cut signs. IMPORTANT Never travel with a child
sitting on the passenger’s lap with a sin-
gle belt to protect them bothfig. 6. Do
not fasten other objects to the body.
A0E0105mfig. 6
Under no circumstances
should the components
of the seat belts and preten-
sioners be tampered with or
removed. Any operation
should be carried out by qual-
ified and authorised personnel.
Always contact Alfa Romeo
Authorized Services.
WARNING
If the belt has been
subjected to heavy
stress, for example after an
accident, it should be changed
completely together with the
anchors, anchor fastening
screws and the pretensioners.
In fact, even if the belt has no
visible defects, it could have
lost its resilience.
WARNING

131
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
The results of research on the best child
restraint systems are contained in the
European Standard ECE-R44. This Stan-
dard enforces the use of restraint sys-
tems classified in five groups:
Group 0 - 0-10 kg in weight
Group 0+ - 0-13 kg in weight
Group 2 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 overlap
partly and in fact, in commerce it is pos-
sible to find devices that cover more
than one weight group.
All restraint devices must bear the cer-
tification data, together with the control
brand, on a solidly fixed label which
must absolutely never be removed.
Over 1.50 m in height, from the point
of view of restraint systems, children are
considered as adults and wear the seat
belts normally.Lineaccessori Alfa Romeo offers seats for
each weight group, which are the rec-
ommended choice, as they have been
designed and experimented specifical-
ly for Alfa Romeo cars.CARRYING
CHILDREN SAFELY
For optimal protection in the event of
a crash, all passengers must be seated
and wearing adequate restraint systems.
This is even more important for children.
This prescription is compulsory in all EC
countries according to EC Directive
2003/20/EC.
Compared with adults, a child’s head is
proportionately larger and heavier than
the rest of the body, while muscles and
bone structure are not completely de-
veloped. Therefore, in order to restraint
them correctly in the event of a crash,
different systems are needed than adult
seat belts.
With passenger’s air
bag active, never place
child’s seats with the cradle
facing backwards since the air
bag activation could cause to
the child serious injuries, even
mortal, regardless of the seri-
ousness of the crash that trig-
gered it. You are advised to
carry children always with
proper restraint systems on
the rear seats, as this is the
most protected position in the
case of a crash.
WARNING

132
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
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TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
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CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
GROUP 0 and 0+
Babies up to 13 kg must be carried fac-
ing backwards fig. 7on a cradle seat,
which, supporting the head, does not in-
duce stress on the neck in the event of
sharp deceleration.
The cradle is restrained by the car seat
belts and in turn it must restrain the child
with its own belts.
SERIOUS DANGER If it
is absolutely necessary
to carry a child on the
front passenger seat
with the cradle child’s
seat facing backwards, the
front passenger’s air bags
(front air bag, knees air bag,
where provided, and side bag
on seat), must be deactivated
using the key switch. In this
case it is absolutely necessary
to check the warning light
F
on the front ceiling light pan-
el (see paragraph “Passen-
ger’s front air bag”) to make
sure that deactivation has ac-
tually taken place. Moreover,
the front passenger’s seat
shall be adjusted in the most
backward position to prevent
any contact between the
child’s seat and the dashboard.
WARNING
A0E0106mfig. 7
The figure is only an ex-
ample for mounting. At-
tain to the instructions for fas-
tening which must be enclosed
with the specific child restrain-
ing system you are using.
WARNING
A0E0106mfig. 8
GROUP 1
Starting from 9 kg to 18 kg in weight,
children may be carried facing forwards,
with seat fitted with front cushion fig.
8, through which the car seat belt re-
strains both child and seat.

133
WARNING
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DASHBOARD
AND
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SAFETY
DEVICES
GROUP 2
Starting from 15 kg to 25 kg in weight,
children may be restrained directly by
the car belts. The only function of the
seat is to position the child correctly in
relation to the belts, so that the diago-
nal part adheres to the chest and not
to the neck and that the horizontal part
clings to the child’s pelvis and not the
abdomenfig. 9.
GROUP 3
For children from 22 kg to 36 kg the
size of the child’s chest no longer re-
quires a support to space the child’s back
from the seat back.Fig. 10shows
proper child seat positioning on the rear
seat.
Children taller than 1.50 m can wear
seat belts like adults.
Seats exist which are
suitable for covering
weight groups 0 and 1 with a
rear connection to the car belts
and their own belts to restrain
the child. Due to their size, they
can be dangerous if installed in-
correctly fastened to the car
belts with a cushion. Carefully
follow the instructions for in-
stallation provided with the
seat.
WARNING
A0E0108mfig. 9A0E0109mfig. 10
The illustrations are in-
dicative only for as-
sembly. Assemble the seat ac-
cording to the compulsory in-
structions provided with it.
WARNING

134
WARNING
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CORRECT USE
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DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
SEAT
Group Range Front Rear
of weight
Seat with Seat with Rear seat side Rear seat central
6 positions 8 positions
Group 0, 0+ up to 13 kg U (*) U (*) U U
Group 1 9-18 kg U (*) U (*) U U
Group 2 15-25 kg U (*) U (*) U U
Group 3 22-36 kg U (*) U (*) U U
Key:
U= suitable for child restraint systems of the “Universal” category, according to European Standard EEC-R44 for the specified “Groups”.
(*) = on cars not fitted with passenger’s seat adjustable in height, the seat back shall be positioned perfectly upright. On cars fitted with
passenger’s seat adjustable in height, the seat shall be raised as much as possible.
PASSENGER SEAT COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS ON CHILD’S SEAT USE
Your car complies with the new European Directive 2000/3/EC regulating child’s seat assembling on the different car seats
according to the following tables:
Front and rear seat (fixed and double seat)

135
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
❒always check the seat belt is well fas-
tened by pulling the webbing;
❒only one child is to be strapped to
each retaining system;
❒always check the seat belts do not fit
around the child’s throat;
❒while travelling, do not let the child
sit incorrectly or release the belts;
❒passengers should never carry chil-
dren on their laps. No-one, however
strong they are, can hold a child in
the event of a crash;
❒in case of an accident, replace the
seat with a new one.
Below is a summary of the rules of
safety to be followed for carrying
children:
❒the recommended position for in-
stalling child’s seat is on the rear seat,
as it is the most protected in the case
of a crash;
❒if the passenger’s air bag is deacti-
vatedalwayscheck that the warn-
ing light
Fon the front ceiling light
panel is glowing steadily to indicate
that the air bag has been deactivat-
ed;
❒attain to the instructions for fasten-
ing the specific child restraint system
which you are using. These instruc-
tions must be provided by the man-
ufacturer. Keep the child restraint sys-
tem installation instructions with the
car documents and this Handbook.
Never use a child restraint system
without installation instructions;
With passenger’s air
bag active, never place
child’s seats with the cradle
facing backwards since the air
bag activation could cause to
the child serious injuries, even
mortal, regardless of the seri-
ousness of the crash that trig-
gered it. You are advised to
carry children always with
proper restraint systems on
the rear seats, as this is the
most protected position in the
case of a crash.
WARNING

136
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
Mount the child re-
straint system only
with the car stationary. The
Universal Isofix child restraint
system is properly anchored to
the mounting brackets when
clicks are heard. In any case,
keep to the installation in-
structions that must be pro-
vided by the child restraint
system Manufacturer.
WARNING
A0E0174mfig. 11
PRESETTING FOR
MOUNTING THE
“UNIVERSAL
ISOFIX” CHILD
RESTRAINT SYSTEM
This car is preset for mounting the Uni-
versal Isofix child restraint system, a
new European standardised system for
carrying children safely.
The Universal Isofix child’s seat covers
weight group: 1.
Due to its different anchoring system,
the Universal Isofix child's seat shall be
anchored to the proper metal brackets
A-fig. 11, set between rear seat back
and cushion. The upper belt (provided
with the child's seat) shall be then se-
cured to fasteners B-fig. 12set on rear
seat backrest behind the head restraints.It is possible to mount both the tradi-
tional restraint system and the Univer-
sal Isofix one, one on the left and the
other on the right respectively.
Remember that in case of Universal
Isofix child’s seat, you can only use all
those seats approved with the marking
Universal Isofix.A0E0190mfig. 12

137
WARNING
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CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
FITTING THE UNIVERSAL
ISOFIX CHILD’S SEAT
Group 1
For proper mounting proceed as follows:
❒find the presetting brackets, then po-
sition the child restraint system with
the fastening devices aligned with the
brackets;
❒ push the child restraint system until
hearing locking clicks;
❒secure the upper belt (provided with
the child’s seat) to the fastener B-
fig. 12set on the rear seat back;
❒check proper locking by moving the
child’s seat with force.
For any further installation/use detail,
refer to the “Instructions Manual” that
must be provided by the child restraint
system Manufacturer.
FRONT AIR BAGS
The car is fitted with front multistage air
bags (“Smart bags”) for the driver and
the passenger and with knees air bag
for the driver and for the passenger
(where provided).
“SMART BAG” SYSTEM
(FRONT MULTISTAGE AIR
BAGS)
The front air bags (driver and passen-
ger) and knees air bags (driver and pas-
senger) have been designed to protect
the occupants in the event of head-on
crashes of medium-high severity, by plac-
ing cushions between the occupant and
the steering wheel or dashboard.
In case of crash, an electronic control
unit, when required, triggers the infla-
tion of the cushions that inflate, as a pro-
tection, between the body of the front
occupants and the structure that could
cause injuries. Immediately after, the
cushions deflate.The front air bags (driver and passen-
ger) and knees air bags (driver and pas-
senger) are not a replacement of but
complementary to the use of belts,
which should always be worn, as spec-
ified by law in Europe and most non Eu-
ropean countries.
In case of crash, a person not wearing
the seat belt moves forward and may
come into contact with the cushion while
it is still inflating. Under this circum-
stance the protection offered by the air
bag is reduced.

138
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
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EMERGENCY
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TECHNICAL
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CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
DRIVER’S FRONT AIR BAG
It consists of an instant-inflating cushion
contained in a special recess in the cen-
tre of the steering wheelfig. 14. Front air bags may not be activated in
the following situations:
❒front collisions against highly de-
formable objects not affecting the car
front surface (e.g. bumper collision
against guard rail, etc.);
❒in case of wedging under other ve-
hicles or protective barriers (for ex-
ample under a truck or guard rail);
❒the air bag is not triggered as it offers
no additional protection compared with
the seat belts, consequently it would
be pointless. Therefore, failure to come
into action in the above circumstance
does not mean that the system is not
working properly.
Do not apply stickers
or other objects to the
steering wheel or to the air
bag cover on the passenger’s
side or on the side roof lining.
Never put objects (e.g. mobile
phones) on the dashboard on
passenger side since they
could interfere with proper
passenger air bag inflation and
also cause serious injury.
WARNING
A0E0077mfig. 14