technical specifications Alfa Romeo 159 2006 Owner handbook (in English)

75
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HEADLIGHT WASHERS
(where provided) fig. 56
Headlight washers are visible and are fit-
ted with a nozzle for each external light
function. They come into operation au-
tomatically when operating the wind-
screen washer with external lights
turned on.
IMPORTANT Check at regular inter-
vals correct operation and cleanness of
nozzles. IMPORTANT In the event of rain sen-
sor failure, windscreen wiper operation
with right-hand stalk at 1-fig. 54shall
be intermittent. If failure occurs during
automatic operation, the system will
keep the last wiper operating condition.
Operation is however guaranteed al-
though moving the stalk to other posi-
tions.
The rain sensor is able to recognize and
automatically adjust itself in the pres-
ence of the following particular condi-
tions:
❒ impurities on the controlled surface
(salt, dirt, etc.);
❒difference between day and night.
Failure warnings
On certain versions rain sensor failure is
shown by the instrument panel warning
light
u, whereas on other versions a
dedicated message is shown on the dis-
play (see section “Warning lights and
messages”).
Rain sensor shall be de-
activated when washing
the car at automatic car-
wash.
Make sure the rain sen-
sor is deactivated if
there is ice on the wind-
screen.
Make sure the device is
off when cleaning the
windscreen.
WARNING
A0E0046mfig. 56
Streaks of water could
cause unrequired blade
movements.

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CRUISE CONTROL
(where provided)
GENERAL
The speed regulator (CRUISE CON-
TROL), with electronic control, makes
it possible to drive the car at the required
speed, without pressing the accelerator
pedal. This reduces driving fatigue dur-
ing long journeys (specially on high-
ways) because the speed memorised is
automatically maintained.
IMPORTANTThe device can only be
engaged at speeds between 30 and
190 km/h.
A0E0095mfig. 57
DEVICE ENGAGEMENT
Turn knurled ring A-fig. 57toÜ.
The device cannot be engaged in first
speed or reverse. It is recommended to
engage it in 4th or higher speeds. Trav-
elling downhill with the device engaged,
the car speed may increase more than
the memorised one.
When the device is activated the in-
strument panel warning light
Üturns
on (on certain versions together with a
message on the display) (see section
“Warning lights and messages”).
TO MEMORISE SPEED
Proceed as follows:
❒turn the knurled ring A-fig. 57to
Üand press the accelerator pedal to
the required speed;
❒push the stalk upwards (+) or down-
wards (–), then release it: car speed
is memorised and it is therefore pos-
sible to release the accelerator ped-
al.
In the case of need (when overtaking
for instance) acceleration is possible sim-
ply pressing the accelerator pedal: re-
leasing the accelerator pedal, the car will
return to the speed memorised previ-
ously.
TO RESET THE MEMORISED
SPEED
If the device has been disengaged for
example pressing the brake or clutch
pedal, the memorised speed can be re-
set as follows:
❒accelerate gradually until reaching a
speed approaching the one memo-
rised;

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❒pressing the brake pedal, pressing the
clutch pedal (in these cases the last
stored speed will stay memorised, to
resume it press button RES);
❒pressing the accelerator pedal; in this
case the system is disengaged only
temporarily; device operation will be
resumed automatically when releas-
ing the pedal;
❒with car speed below the preset lim-
it (in these cases the last stored
speed will stay memorised, to resume
it press button RES);
Automatic Cruise Control
deactivation
The Cruise Control is temporarily deac-
tivated when the ABS or VDC systems
come into operation (above a max. pre-
set time): in this case the last set speed
will stay memorised, to recall it press
buttonRES.
In the event of Cruise Control or engine
control system failure, the device is de-
activated until removing the electronic
key from the ignition device. In this
event contact Alfa Romeo Authorized
Services.
❒engage the gear selected at the time
of speed memorising (4th or 5th
gear);
❒press the RESbutton (set at stalk
end).
TO INCREASE THE
MEMORISED SPEED
The speed memorised can be increased
in two ways:
❒pressing the accelerator and then
memorising the new speed reached;
or
❒moving the stalk upwards (+).
Each operation of the stalk will corre-
spond to a slight increase in speed
(about 1.5 km/h), while keeping the
stalk upwards will correspond to a con-
tinuous speed increase.
TO REDUCE MEMORISED
SPEED
The speed memorised can be increased
in two ways:
❒disengaging the device and then
memorising the new speed;
or
❒moving the stalk downwards (–) un-
til reaching the new speed which will
be memorised automatically.
Each operation of the stalk will corre-
spond to a slight decrease in speed
(about 1.5 km/h), while keeping the
stalk downwards will correspond to a
continuous speed decrease.
DEVICE DISENGAGEMENT
The device is disengaged in one of the
following cases:
❒turning the knurled ring A-fig. 57
toO;
❒turning the engine off or removing
the electronic key from the ignition
device;

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The device is automatically deactivated
when operating accidentally or incor-
rectly the stalk, the knurled ring Aor
buttonRES: in this event to reactivate
the device: bring the car to the required
speed and then move the stalk upwards
(+) or downwards (–).CEILING LIGHTS
FRONT CEILING LIGHT
fig. 58
Press button:
A: to turn on/off the driver’s courtesy
light;
B: to turn on/off the central light;
C: to turn on/off the passenger’s cour-
tesy light.
Keeping pressed button Bwill turn off
all front ceiling lights and rear ceiling
lights. Turning off is also indicated by the
sound of a buzzer. To turn these lights
on again press briefly button B.
In the event of device
malfunction or failure,
turn the knurled ring A-fig. 57
to O and contact Alfa Romeo
Authorized Services after
checking the protection fuse in-
tegrity.
WARNING
When travelling with
the device on, never
set the gearshift lever to neu-
tral.
WARNING
A0E0225mfig. 58
IMPORTANT Leaving inadvertently a
door open, the front ceiling light and the
puddle lights will turn off automatically
after a few minutes. To turn them on
again, open another door or close and
open again the same door.

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In the following table are summarised the causes that make front/rear ceiling lights turn on/off and their turning on/off
mode:
Cause
Opening one of the front/rear doors
Closing all the doors
Removing the electronic key from the ignition device
Locking the doors
Unlocking the doors
Cutting in of the fuel cut-off switch
Front and rear ceiling lights turning on/off mode
Central front light and rear light turning on for a few minutes.
This timed operation will be reactivated each time a door is opened.
With electronic key removed from ignition device: ceiling lights
will stay on for other 10 seconds. This timed operation
is stopped when refitting the electronic key into the ignition
device
Starting the engine: front central and rear courtesy lights will
turn off
Front central and rear courtesy lights turning on for about
10 seconds
Front central and rear courtesy lights turning off
Front central and rear courtesy lights turning on for about
10 seconds
Front central and rear courtesy lights turning on for a few
minutes. Reactivating the fuel cut-off switch will turn off the
ceiling lights
In all the cases tabulated above, front and rear ceiling lights turning on/off is gradual, for 2 seconds.

DOOR PUDDLE LIGHTS
The door light will turn on when open-
ing the door regardless of the electron-
ic key position. It will stay on for about
3 minutes when the door is open, then
it will go off automatically.
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IMPORTANTLeaving inadvertently a
door open, the ceiling lights will turn off
automatically after a few minutes. To
turn them on again, open another door
or close and open again the same door.
Versions with sunroof
(where provided) fig. 60
Versions with sunroof are fitted with two
rear ceiling lights located above the rears
doors.
Press lens A-fig. 60to turn these
lights on/off.REAR CEILING LIGHT
Versions without sunroof
fig. 59
Press button:
A:to turn on/off the driver’s courtesy
light;
B:to turn on/off the passenger’s cour-
tesy light.
Closing the doors, the ceiling lights will
stay on for a few seconds, then they will
switch off automatically. Ceiling lights
will turn off when fitting the electronic
key into the ignition device.
A0E0094mfig. 59A0E0037mfig. 60

81
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CONTROLS
POWER SUPPLY AND FUEL
CUT-OFF SWITCHES
The car is fitted with a safety switch that
in the event of a crash comes into op-
eration by cutting off fuel and turning
off the engine as a consequence.
Certain versions are equipped with an
additional safety switch that in the event
of a crash comes into operation by cut-
ting off the power supply.
These two safety switches therefore pre-
vent dangerous fuel leaks due to fuel
line cracking, and sparks or electric dis-
charges due to damaging or malfunc-
tioning of the electric components of the
car in the event of a crash.
IMPORTANTAfter a crash, remem-
ber to remove the key from the ignition
device to prevent battery run-down.
If, after a crash, you
smell fuel or see leaks
from the fuel system, do not
reset the switches to avoid
fire risk.
WARNING
If central door locking
has been activated
from inside the car and after a
crash the fuel cut-off switch
cannot activate automatic door
unlocking, it will not be pos-
sible to get into the car. In any
case, door opening from the
outside depends on door con-
ditions after the crash: if a
door is badly damaged it will
be impossible to open it. In this
event try to open one of the
other doors.
WARNING
Door unlocking in the event
of a crash
In the event of a crash that triggers the
fuel cut-off switch, the doors will unlock
automatically to enable getting into the
car and at the same time the passen-
ger’s compartment lights will turn on.
It is however always possible to open
the doors from the passenger’s com-
partment by means of the internal door
handles.
If, after a crash no fuel leaks or dam-
ages to the electric devices (e.g. head-
lights) are found and the car can be
started again, reset the fuel cut-off
switch and the power supply cut-off
switch (where provided). Follow the in-
structions given below.

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Resetting the power supply
cut-off switch
(where provided)The switch is located inside the fuse box
at battery positive terminal.
To reset the power supply cut-off switch,
proceed as follows:
❒press button A-fig. 61to reset the
fuel cut-off switch;
❒open the bonnet;
❒operate the retaining clips A-fig. 62
and remove the protection cover B;
❒press buttonC-fig. 63to reset the
power supply cut-off switch.
A0E0126mfig. 62
Before resetting the
power supply cut-off
switch carefully inspect the car
for fuel leaks or damages to
electric devices (e.g. head-
lights).
WARNING
A0E0071mfig. 63
Resetting the fuel cut-off
switch
Before resetting the fu-
el cut-off switch care-
fully inspect the car for fuel
leaks or damages to electric
devices (e.g. headlights).
WARNING
To reset the fuel cut-off switch, press but-
tonA-fig. 61.
A0E0221mfig. 61

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INTERIOR FITTINGS
CENTRAL ARMREST
The central armrest is located between
the front seats. Inside the armrest are
housed an oddment compartment and
an air-conditioned food box (where pro-
vided) (see next paragraphs).
On certain versions the central armrest
can be adjusted forward or backward by
operating the cover B-fig. 64.
Oddment compartment
To open the oddment compartment,
press button A-fig. 64and raise the
coverB.
A0E0141mfig. 65
Pay attention not to
spill the drinks: the food
box bottom however is
provided with a hole to drain
spilled liquids, if any.
REAR ARMREST
(where provided)
To use the central armrest A-fig. 66
lower it as shown in the figure.
A0E0139mfig. 66
A0E0039mfig. 64
Air-conditioned food box
(where provided)
Access to the food box is gained from
the oddment compartment by lifting tab
A-fig. 65. Turn wheel Bto adjust the
air flow inside the food box.
IMPORTANTFunction of the food
box is to keep the temperature of the
drinks placed inside it; drinks shall be
warmed or cooled as required before be-
ing put inside the food box.

84
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REAR ARMREST WITH
ODDMENT COMPARTMENT
(where provided)
To use the central armrest B-fig. 69,
take it from tab Aand then lower it.
Inside the armrest is fitted an oddment
compartment fig. 71. To open it, press
buttonB-fig. 70and raise the cover
C-fig. 70.
A0E0146mfig. 69
A0E0200mfig. 71
A0E0199mfig. 70
Ski compartment
(where provided)
This compartment can be used for car-
rying long loads.
To have access to this compartment,
lower the armrest, press button A-fig.
72of the lid B, then lower it on the
armrest. Ski compartment
(where provided)
This compartment can be used for car-
rying long loads.
To have access to this compartment,
lower the armrest, pull the lid tab A-
fig. 67, then lower it on the armrest
fig. 68.
A0E0142mfig. 67
A0E0143mfig. 68