ESP Alfa Romeo 159 2008 Owner handbook (in English)

This booklet describes all the versions of the Alfa 159, so you should only consider the infor-
mation concerning the trim level, engine and version purchased by you.
Dear Customer,
thank you for choosing Alfa Romeo.
Your
Alfa 159has been designed to guarantee the safety, comfort and driving pleasure typical of
Alfa Romeo.
This booklet will help you to get to know the characteristics and operation of your car.
The following pages contain all the indications necessary for you to be able to maintain the high standards of per-
formance, quality, safety and respect for the environment which characterize this
Alfa 159.
The enclosed Warranty Booklet also contains the regulations, the warranty certificate and a guide to the services of-
fered by Alfa Romeo.
Services which are essential and precious because, when you purchase an Alfa Romeo you are not only acquiring a
car, but the tranquillity that comes from knowing that an efficient, willing and widespread organization is at your ser-
vice for any assistance problems you may have.
Have a good trip.

MUST BE READ!
REFUELLING
Petrol engines: only refuel with unleaded petrol with octane rating (RON) not less than 95.
Diesel engines: only refuel with diesel fuel conforming to the European specification EN590. The use of
other products or mixtures may irreparably damage the engine with invalidation of the warranty due to the
damage caused.
K
ENGINE STARTING
Petrol engines: make sure that the handbrake is engaged; set the gearshift lever to neutral; fit the electronic key in-
to the ignition switch to the stop limit; fully depress the clutch or the brake pedal without pressing the accelerator; press
buttonSTART/STOPand release it as soon as the engine has started.
Diesel engines
:make sure that the handbrake is engaged; set the gearshift lever to neutral; fit the electronic key in-
to the ignition switch to the stop limit; wait for the
Yandmwarning lights to go off; fully depress the clutch or or
the brake pedal without pressing the accelerator; press buttonSTART/STOPand release it as soon as the engine has
started.
PARKING ON FLAMMABLE MATERIAL
While working, the catalyst develops a very high temperature. Do not park the car over grass, dry leaves, pine
needles or any other inflammable materials: risk of fire.

RESPECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
A system for continuously monitoring emission system components to ensure greater environmental protec-
tion is fitted in your car.

13
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
IMPORTANT Never expose the elec-
tronic key to direct sunlight: risk of dam-
ages.
IMPORTANTRemote control fre-
quency may be disturbed by radio trans-
missions outside the car (e.g. mobile
phones, hams, etc…). In this event re-
mote control may be failing.
The electronic key fig. 8is fitted with
a metal insert A, that can be extracted
by pressing button B.
The metal insert operates the following:
❒central door locking/unlocking
through the driver's door lock (with
run-down car battery only the driver's
door will open);
❒windows opening/closing;
❒switch (where provided) for deacti-
vating the passenger’s air bag and
knees air bag (where provided);
❒safe-lock device (where provided);
❒emergency unlocking of electronic
key from ignition switch.Replacing the battery of the
electronic key
If when pressing button
Ë,Á, or `,
control given is refused or failing, the
battery should be replaced with an
equivalent one that can be purchased at
common stores.
To be sure that the battery is to be re-
placed, try again to press buttons
Ë,
Á, or `with another electronic key.
When closing the tailgate again, pro-
tection sensors are restored and direc-
tion indicators will flash once.
A0E0022mfig. 8
Never leave the elec-
tronic key unattended
to prevent anyone, especially
children, from holding it and
pressing button B-fig. 8 inad-
vertently.
WARNING
A0E0021mfig. 9

To set the speed limit, proceed as fol-
lows:
❒press button MENUuntil selecting
SPEED BEEP: the display will show
SPEED BEEPand setting condition
(ON= speed limit on/ OFF= speed
limit off);
❒press again button MENU:ON(or
OFF) will flash;
❒press buttons +/–to select ONor
OFF;
❒selectingONwill make the last
speed limit set flashing on the dis-
play;
❒press buttons +/–to adjust the val-
ue.
IMPORTANT The possible setting is be-
tween 30 and 250 km/h (or between
20 and 150 mph) depending on the unit
set previously (see paragraph “Units” de-
scribed later). Every press (pulse) of the
button+/–increases or decreases the
value by 5 units. Keeping the button +/–
pressed obtains automatic fast increase or
decrease. When you are near the required
setting complete adjustment with single
presses.
27
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
Failure/warning buzzer
volume (BUZZ)
With this function the volume of the
buzzer accompanying any failure/warn-
ing indications can be adjusted accord-
ing to 4 levels. The buzzer can be ad-
justed and excluded.
Proceed as follows:
❒press button MENUuntil selecting
BUZZ: the display will show BUZZ
and a figure corresponding to the
buzzer volume level;
❒press again button MENU: the fig-
ure will flash;
❒press buttons +/–to adjust the
buzzer volume.
To mute the buzzer set the volume lev-
el to “0” using buttons +/–. Clock (TIME REG)
This function enables to adjust the clock.
To adjust the clock proceed as follows:
❒press button MENUuntil selecting
TIME REG;
❒press again button MENU:TIME
and clock will flash;
❒press buttons +/–to adjust time.
Clock is always displayed in 24h mode
(24 hours).

32
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
Selecting “Date” and “Clock”:
❒briefly press button MENUto select
the first value to change (e.g. hours/
minutes or year/month/day);
❒operate buttons +or–(by single
press) to select the new setting;
❒briefly press button MENUto store
the new setting and to go to the next
setup menu option, if this is the last
one you will go back to the previously
selected option of the main menu.
ENGINE OIL LEVEL
INDICATION
Fitting the electronic key into the igni-
tion device, the display will show for a
few seconds the engine oil level. At this
stage, to clear this indication and to go
to next screen, press button MENU.
Low oil level will be indicated by a ded-
icated warning message on the display.
IMPORTANT Check the proper en-
gine oil level on the dipstick (see para-
graph “Checking levels” in section “Car
maintenance”).
IMPORTANTProper engine oil level
shall be checked with the car on level
ground.
IMPORTANT To read the correct oil
level after fitting the electronic key, wait
for about 2 seconds before starting the
engine.
IMPORTANT Engine oil level could in-
crease after a long stop. Selecting an option of the main
menu with submenu:❒briefly press button MENUto display
the first submenu option;
❒operate buttons +or–(by single
press) to scroll all submenu options;
❒briefly press button MENUto select
the displayed submenu option and to
enter the corresponding setup menu;
❒operate buttons +or–(by single
press) to select the new setting of this
submenu option;
❒briefly press button MENUto store
the new setting and go back to the
previously selected submenu option.

33
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
Briefly press button MENUto access navigation from the standard screen. To surf the menu press buttons +or–. For safety rea-
sons, when the car is running, it is possible to access only the reduced menu (for setting “Speed limit”). When the car is stationary
access to the whole menu is enabled. With the Radionavigation system it is only possible to adjust/set the following functions: “Speed
Limit”, “Light sensor sensitivity ” (where provided) and “S.B.R. buzzer reactivation” (where provided). The other functions are shown
on the Radionavigation system display, that shall be use to adjust/set them as required.
fig. 26
BEEP VOL.SERVICEQUIT SETUPLIGHT SENS.RESET TRIP B
CLOCK
MODE 12/24
DATE
AUDIO RPT.
INDEP. BOOT
UNLOCK FDA
DOOR LOCK
UNITS KEYS VOL.
LANGUAGESPEED LIMIT
A0E0218g

47
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
Seat controls are the
following:
Multifunction control A:
– front seat height adjustment;
– rear seat height adjustment;
– vertical seat movement;
– longitudinal seat movement;
B:Back rest angle adjustment;
C:Driver’s seat positions store buttons;
D:Lombar adjustment.
IMPORTANTSeat can only be ad-
justed when the electronic key is fitted
into the ignition device and for about 1
minute from removing it or after press-
ing button START/STOP. After open-
ing the door the seat can be adjusted for
about 3 minutes or until closing the
door.Storing driver’s seat/door
mirror positions
ButtonsCallows to store and recall three
different driver’s seat and door mirror po-
sitions. Storing and recalling are only pos-
sible with electronic key fitted into igni-
tion device.
Stored position can only be recalled for
about 3 minutes after opening the doors
and for about 1 minute after removing
the electronic key from the ignition de-
vice.
To store the required seat position, ad-
just it as required then press the button
corresponding to position to store for a
few seconds.
To recall the stored position, press briefly
the corresponding button.
Storing a new position will automatically
clear the one stored previously using the
same button.
FRONT SEATS SPORTS
(where provided)
fig. 33/a
Certain versions are fitted with manu-
ally or electrically adjustable front seats
with sports configuration.
To adjust these seats see the indications
contained in previous paragraphs.
A0E0421mfig. 33/a

59
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
I- Button for activating the MONO function (alignment of set temperatures), cor-
responding to driver’s one;
L- air recirculation on/off button;
M- climate control compressor on/off button;
N- passenger’s compartment temperature sensor TWO-ZONE controls fig. 49
A- air distribution buttons (on driver and
passenger side);
B- temperature adjustment knob on dri-
ver side;
C- automatic operation button (FULL
AUTO);
D- climate control data display;
E- temperature adjustment knob on
passenger side;
F- heated rear window/door mirrors
on/off button;
G- MAX-DEF function button (fast de-
frosting/demisting function for wind-
screen, heated rear window and door
mirrors with heating function);
H- buttons for adjusting the fan speed
and for turning the climate control sys-
tem off (OFF);
fig. 49 - TWO-ZONE configurationA0E0058m

60
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
THREE-ZONE controls fig. 50
Front controls
A- air distribution buttons (driver and pas-
senger side);
B- temperature adjustment knob on driver
side;
C- automatic operation button (FULL AUTO);
D- climate control data display;
E- temperature adjustment knob on passen-
ger side;
F- heated rear window/door mirrors on/off
button;
G- MAX-DEF function button (fast defrost-
ing/demisting function for windscreen, heat-
ed rear window and door mirrors with heating
function);
H- buttons for adjusting the fan speed and
for turning the climate control system off
(OFF);
I- Button for activating the MONO function
(alignment of set temperatures), correspond-
ing to driver’s one;
L- air recirculation on/off button;
M- climate control compressor on/off button;
N- passenger’s compartment temperature
sensor
Rear controls
P- knob for adjusting temperature on rear
passenger side;
Q- button for turning on automatic operation
(FULL AUTO) and for turning off air flow to
rear seats (OFF);
R- air distribution buttons;
S- rear temperature display.
fig. 50 - THREE-ZONE configuration - Front and rear controlsA0E0059m

61
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
AIR TEMPERATURE
ADJUSTMENT KNOBS
Turning the knob knurled rings (B/
E/P), clockwise or counter-clockwise,
respectively raises or lowers the tem-
perature of the air required respective-
ly in the left front zone (knob B) or right
front zone (knob E) or rear zone (knob
P) of the passenger compartment. The
temperatures set are shown on the dis-
playD/S.
Turning the knob knurled rings fully
clockwise or counter-clockwise until they
reach the extreme selections HIorLO,
the maximum heating or cooling func-
tions are respectively engaged.HI function (HIGH)
(maximum heating power)
It is switched on by setting a tempera-
ture of more than 32°C on the display,
and can be switched on independently
from the driver’s or passengers’ side, or
both of them; this setting brings the sys-
tem to the “one-zone” mode and it is
shown by both displays.
This functions can be switched on when
you wish to heat the passenger com-
partment as quickly as possible, by tak-
ing the greatest advantage from the sys-
tem potential.
The function uses the maximum tem-
perature of the heating fluid, whereas
air distribution and fan speed are con-
trolled automatically by the system.
SWITCHING THE CLIMATE
CONTROL SYSTEM ON
The system can be turned on by press-
ing any button (excluding
(,vand
MONO); it is however advisable to set
the required temperatures on the display
and then to press the AUTO button.
The climate control system allows to per-
sonalise required temperatures (driver and
passengers).