tow Alfa Romeo 159 2006 Owner handbook (in English)

22
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CARIMPORTANTThe pointer can reach
the red area also for a sum of un-
favourable conditions, i.e.: slow speed,
uphill, fully laden or towing a trailer with
hot outside temperature.
IMPORTANTRefuelling shall always
be performed with engine off. Failing to
observe this precaution could cause the
gauge to provide wrong indications.
Should this occur, to restore proper in-
dication just have next refuelling with
the engine off. Otherwise contact Alfa
Romeo Authorized Services.
ENGINE COOLANT
TEMPERATURE GAUGE fig. 17
This shows the temperature of the en-
gine coolant fluid and begins working
when the fluid temperature exceeds ap-
prox. 50°C.
The pointer should normally be towards
the middle of the scale. If the pointer
reaches the red sector, reduce your de-
mand on the engine.
The turning on of the warning light
u
(on certain versions together with a
message on the display) indicates that
the coolant fluid temperature is too high;
in this case, stop the engine and contact
Alfa Romeo Authorized Services .
IMPORTANT The pointer can reach
the red area also for a sum of un-
favourable conditions, i.e.: slow speed,
uphill, fully laden or towing a trailer with
hot outside temperature.
FUEL GAUGE fig. 16
This shows the amount of fuel left in the
fuel tank.
The warning light on the fuel level gauge
turns on when about 10 litres fuel are
left in the tank. On certain versions. the
display will show a warning message
when the cruising range is less than 50
km (or 31 mi).
If warning light
Kstarts
flashing when travelling
contact immediately Al-
fa Romeo Authorized Services.
A0E00177mfig. 16A0E0178mfig. 17

23
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CARIMPORTANTThe pointer can reach
the red area also for a sum of un-
favourable conditions, i.e.: slow speed,
uphill, fully laden or towing a trailer with
hot outside temperature.
TURBOCHARGER PRESSURE
GAUGE (diesel versions)
fig. 19
This shows the turbocharger pressure
value.
TRIP METER RESET fig. 20
To reset the trip meter, keep button A
pressed for a few seconds.
MANUAL INSTRUMENT
PANEL LIGHT DIMMER
With this function it is possible to adjust
on 8 levels the light intensity of the indi-
cations given on the instrument panel dis-
play, sound system display (where pro-
vided), climate control system display, ra-
dionavigation system display (where pro-
vided), and instrument panel gauges (fu-
el level gauge, engine oil temperature
gauge (petrol versions) or supercharger
pressure gauge (diesel versions) and en-
gine coolant temperature gauge).
To increase light intensity press briefly
button+on the left-hand stalk, to re-
duce it press button –: the display will
show an indication and a figure corre-
sponding to the current light intensity
level. This screen will be displayed for
a few seconds and then it will go off.
ENGINE OIL
TEMPERATURE GAUGE
(petrol versions) fig. 18
This shows the temperature of the en-
gine oil and begins working when the
oil temperature exceeds approx. 70°C.
If the pointer reaches the red sector, re-
duce your demand on the engine.
The turning on of the warning light
`
when travelling (on certain versions to-
gether with a message on the display)
indicates that the oil temperature is too
high; in this case, stop the engine and
contact Alfa Romeo Authorized Services.
A0E0179mfig. 18A0E0180mfig. 19A0E0072mfig. 20

55
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
AIR DISTRIBUTION
SELECTION
O: air flow to driver’s/passenger’s
body;
M: air flow to driver’s/passenger’s
body and lower part of the passenger
compartment;
N: air flow towards the front and rear
lower part of the passenger compartment;
Q: air flow towards the lower part of
the passenger compartment and wind-
screen;
ü: air flow towards the windscreen
MANUAL CLIMATE
CONTROL SYSTEM
(where provided)
CONTROLS fig. 47
A- Air temperature knob (mixing warm
and cold air);
B- Air distribution knob;
C- Fan speed knob;
D- Heated rear window and door mir-
rors defrosting on/off button;
E- Windscreen, front side windows and
door mirrors max. demisting/defrosting
on/off button;
F- Air recirculation on/off button;
G- Compressor on/off button.
fig. 47A0E0011m

66
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
AIR DISTRIBUTION
SELECTION
Front seat Two-zone/
Three-zone configuration
Pressing buttons (front controls)
N/O/˙you can manually choose
one of the 7 possible modes for air dis-
tribution inside the compartment:
˙Flow of air to the dashboard centre
and side outlets (passenger’s body).
O˙Splitting of the air flow between
the vents to the lower part of the
passenger compartment (warmest
air) and the dashboard centre and
side outlets and the rear outlet
(coolest air).
OAir flow towards the front and rear
lower part of the passenger com-
partment. This type of distribution al-
lows heating of the passenger com-
partment in the shortest time by
proper setting of the temperature.
NSplitting of the air flow between
Owindscreen and front side window
demisting/defrosting vents and the
lower part of the passenger com-
partment. This type of air distribu-
tion allows satisfactory heating of
the passenger compartment while
preventing possible misting of the
windows.
NAir flow to the windscreen and front
side window vents to demist or de-
frost them.
N˙Splitting of the air flow between
the central/side dashboard vents,
rear vents and windscreen and
side window defrosting/demisting
vents. This type of air distribution
allows satisfactory ventilation of
the passenger compartment while
preventing possible misting of the
windows. With compressor off, the system will
check whether outside temperature is
higher or lower/same as the set one:
❒if outside temperature is lower than
the set one, the system will operate
regularly also with compressor off;
❒if outside temperature is higher than
the set one, the system will not be
able to keep the required condition,
the set temperature values will then
start to flash on the display.
Temperature detection (compressor off
and outside temperature higher than set
temperature) is activated each time the
electronic key is fitted into the ignition
device.
Operation of the cli-
mate control compres-
sor is necessary for cooling
and dehumidifying the air; it is
advisable to keep this function
always on, to prevent window
misting problems.
WARNING

67
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
N˙Splitting of the air flow between
Oall vents.
Rear seat Three-zone
configuration controls
Pressing buttons
N/O(rear controls)
you can manually choose one of the 3
possible modes for air distribution to the
rear side of passenger's compartment
NAir flow to the vents on the central
console (passengers’ body).
OAir flow towards the rear lower part
of the passenger compartment. This
type of distribution allows heating of the
passenger compartment in the shortest
time by proper setting of the tempera-
ture.
NSplitting of the air flow between
Othe vents to the lower part of the
passenger compartment (warmest air)
and the rear vents (coolest air).
To restore automatic air distribution con-
trol after a manual selection, press but-
tons AUTO (front controls) or AUTO (rear
controls).
AIR RECIRCULATION AND
AQS FUNCTION (AIR
QUALITY SYSTEM)
ON/OFF (where provided)
Inside air recirculation is controlled ac-
cording to the following operating log-
ics:
❒automatic control, indicated by but-
ton led “A”;
❒forced switching on (inside air recir-
culation always on), indicated by the
turning on of the circular led around
the button;
❒forced switching off (air recirculation
always off with air inlet from the out-
side), indicated by the turning off of
the circular led around the button.
With A.Q.S. (air quality sensor - where
provided), the operating logics becomes
sequential by pressing button
v.IMPORTANTThe inside air recircula-
tion system makes it possible to reach
the required heating or cooling condi-
tions faster. It is however inadvisable to
use it on rainy/cold days as it would
considerably increase the possibility of
the windows misting inside, especially
if the climate control compressor is off.
It is advisable to turn on the inside air
recirculation system in queues or tunnels
to avoid admitting polluted air from out-
side. The prolonged use of this function
should however be avoided, especially
with several persons on board, to avoid
the possibility of the windows misting
inside and to guarantee the required
fresh air inlet.

70
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
EXTERNAL LIGHTS
LEFT-HAND STALK fig. 51
The left-hand stalk control almost all ex-
ternal lights.
The external lights can only be switched
on with electronic key fitted into ignition
device.
Lights switched off
Knurled ring at O.
Sidelights
Turn the knurled ring Ato
6. The warn-
ing light
3on the instrument panel
will turn on.
Dipped beam headlamps
Turn the knurled ring Ato
2. The warn-
ing light
2on the instrument panel will
turn on.Main beam headlamps
With knurled ring Aat
2pull the stalk
towards the steering wheel (2ndunsta-
ble position). Warning light
1on the
instrument panel will turn on.
To turn the main beams off, pull again
the stalk towards the steering wheel (2
nd
unstable position).
Flashing the main beams
Pull the stalk towards the steering wheel
(1
stunstable position) regardless of the
position of the knurled ring A. Warn-
ing light
1on the instrument panel
will turn on. Direction indicators
Push the stalk to (stable) position:
❒up: to turn the right-hand direction
indicator on;
❒down: to turn the left-hand direction
indicator on.
Warning light
Îor¥will come on flash-
ing on the instrument cluster at the
same time.
Indicators are switched off automatical-
ly when the steering wheel is straight-
ened.
If you want to show that you are about
to change lane, move the left-hand stalk
to unstable position. The required direc-
tion indicator will flash 3 times and then
it will turn off automatically.A0E0064mfig. 51

71
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
“FOLLOW ME HOME”
DEVICE
This function allows the illumination of
the space in front of the car for a pre-
set period of time.
Activation
Pull the stalk towards the steering wheel
within 2 minutes from when the engine
is turned off.
At each single movement of the stalk,
the staying on of the lights is extended
by 30 seconds up to a maximum of 3.5
minutes; then the lights are switched off
automatically.
Each time the stalk is operated, the
3
warning light turns on together with the
message on the display (see section
“Warning lights and messages”).
Deactivation
Keep the stalk pulled towards the steer-
ing wheel for more than 2 seconds.
AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS
SENSOR (daylight sensor)
(where provided)
It detects the changes of the external
light intensity of the car according to the
light sensitivity set: the greater the sen-
sitivity is, the smaller the amount of ex-
ternal light necessary to control the
switching-on of the external headlights
will be.
On certain versions, the daylight sen-
sor sensitivity can be adjusted through
the “Setup Menu” of the display (see
section “Reconfigurable multifunction
display” in this section).
Activation
Turn the knurled ring A-fig. 51to
2A:
in this way, the automatic activation of
the side/taillights and dipped beam
headlights is simultaneously enabled ac-
cording to outside brightness.
With lights switched on automatically
and in the presence of a switching off
control by the sensor, the main beams
will be switched off first and a few sec-
onds after also the sidelights.Deactivation
As a result of the sensor control, the
dipped beam headlights will switch off
and, after a few seconds, sidelights will
switch off too. The sensor is not able
to detect the fog presence, under this
condition lights shall therefore be
switched on manually.
Failure warnings
On certain versions headlight sensor fail-
ure is shown by the instrument panel
warning light
1, whereas on other ver-
sions a dedicated message is shown on
the display (see section “Warning lights
and messages”).

74
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
Turning the knurled ringA-fig. 54it
is possible to increase the sensitivity of
the rain sensor, obtaining a quicker
change from stationary (no wiping)
when the windscreen is dry, to first con-
tinuous speed (continuous, slow). A fur-
ther stroke will confirm operation.
Operating the windscreen washer with
the rain sensor activated (stalk at posi-
tion1-fig. 54) the normal washing
cycle is performed at the end of which
the rain sensor resumes its normal au-
tomatic function.
Removing the electronic key from the
ignition device, the rain sensor is deac-
tivated and the next time the engine is
started it will not be reactivated even if
the stalk has remained in position 1-
fig. 54. In this case to activate the rain
sensor, simply move the stalk to 0or2
and then back to 1.
When the rain sensor is reactivated in
this way, the wiper performs one stroke,
even if the windscreen is dry, to indicate
that reactivation has occurred. “Smart washing” function
Pulling the lever towards the steering
wheel (unstable position) operates the
windscreen washer.
Keeping the stalk pulled with just one
movement it is possible to operate the
washer jet and the wiper at the same
time; the wiper actually comes into op-
eration automatically when the stalk is
pulled for more than half a second.
The wiper stops working 3 strokes after
releasing the stalk; a further stroke af-
ter about 6 seconds will complete the
wiping operation.
RAIN SENSOR
(where provided)
The rain sensor A-fig. 55, located be-
hind the driving mirror, is an electronic de-
vice combined with the windscreen wiper
which has the purpose of automatically
adjusting the number of wipes to intensi-
ty of the rain. All the other functions con-
trolled by the right-hand stalk remain un-
changed.
The rain sensor is activated automati-
cally moving the right-hand stalk to po-
sition1-fig. 54and it has a range of
adjustment that gradually varies be-
tween wiper stationary (no wiping)
when the windscreen is dry, to wiper
at second speed (continuous, medium
wiping) with heavy rain.
A0E0227mfig. 55

121
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
If a failure is indicated, stop the car, turn
the engine off and then clean the sen-
sors. Make sure to be far from possible
ultrasound sources (e.g.: truck pneu-
matic brakes or pneumatic hammers).
If failure cause has been eliminated the
system will resume regular operation
and warning
tand the corresponding
warning message will turn off.
If the warning light stays on, contact Al-
fa Romeo Authorized Services to have
the system inspected, although the sys-
tem keeps on working. If the failure de-
tected does not impair system operation,
the system keeps on working and fail-
ure is stored in order to be then detect-
ed by Alfa Romeo Authorized Services
at next inspection.
GENERAL WARNINGS
When parking, take the utmost care to
obstacles that may be set above or un-
der the sensors. Objects set close to the
car front or rear part, under certain cir-
cumstances are not detected and could
therefore cause damages to the car or
be damaged.
Indications sent by the sensors can be
altered by dirt, snow or ice deposited on
the sensors or by ultrasound systems
(e.g.: truck pneumatic brakes or pneu-
matic hammers) set nearby the car.
TOWING TRAILERS
Rear sensors are reactivated automati-
cally when removing the trailer cable
plug.
FAILURE INDICATIONS
The system control unit checks every
system component each time the key is
fitted into the ignition device. Sensors
and relevant electrical connections are
then constantly monitored during sys-
tem operation.
Sensor failure is indicated by turning on
of warning light
t(where provided)
on the instrument panel (on certain ver-
sions together with the message on the
display) (see section “Warning lights
and messages”).
Rear sensors operation
is deactivated automat-
ically when the trailer
electric cable plug is fitted into
the car tow hook socket.

151
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
C C
O O
R R
R R
E E
C C
T T
U U
S S
E E
O O
F F
T T
H H
E E
C C
A A
R R
ENGINE STARTING .............................................. 152
PARKING ........................................................... 155
USING THE GEARBOX ......................................... 156
CONTAINING RUNNING COSTS ............................. 157
TOWING TRAILERS.............................................. 159
SNOW TYRES .................................................... 162
SNOW CHAINS .................................................. 163
CAR INACTIVITY ................................................ 164