key Alfa Romeo 159 2008 Owner handbook (in English)

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.

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SAFETY
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WARNING
LIGHTS AND
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DASHBOARD
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D D
A A
S S
H H
B B
O O
A A
R R
D D
A A
N N
D D
C C
O O
N N
T T
R R
O O
L L
S S
CRUISE CONTROL .............................................. 76
CEILING LIGHTS ................................................. 78
CONTROLS ........................................................ 81
INTERIOR FITTINGS............................................. 83
SUNROOF ......................................................... 93
DOORS ............................................................ 96
POWER WINDOWS ............................................ 99
BOOT ............................................................... 101
BONNET............................................................ 105
ROOF RACK/SKI RACK ....................................... 106
HEADLIGHTS...................................................... 106
ABS SYSTEM .................................................... 108
VDC SYSTEM .................................................... 110
EOBD SYSTEM .................................................. 115
SOUND SYSTEM PRESETTING .............................. 116
ACCESSORIES PURCHASED BY THE OWNER .......... 117
INSTALLATION OF ELECTRIC/ELECTRONIC DEVICES .. 117
PARKING SENSORS ............................................ 118
TYRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM
(T.P.M.S.) ......................................................... 122
AT THE FILLING STATION ..................................... 125
PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT ......................... 127 DASHBOARD...................................................... 7
INSTRUMENT PANEL .......................................... 8
SYMBOLS ........................................................ 10
ALFA ROMEO CODE SYSTEM ................................ 10
ELECTRONIC KEY ............................................... 12
ALARM ............................................................ 17
IGNITION DEVICE................................................ 19
INSTRUMENTS ................................................... 21
MULTIFUNCTION DISPLAY .................................... 25
RECONFIGURABLE MULTIFUNCTION DISPLAY .......... 30
SEATS .............................................................. 45
HEAD RESTRAINTS.............................................. 48
STEERING WHEEL .............................................. 49
REARVIEW MIRRORS .......................................... 50
CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM ................................ 53
MANUAL CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM ................... 55
AUTOMATIC TWO-/THREE-ZONE
CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM ................................ 58
ADDITIONAL HEATER .......................................... 69
EXTERNAL LIGHTS .............................................. 70
WINDOW WASHING .......................................... 73

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SAFETY
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WARNING
LIGHTS AND
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TECHNICAL
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INDEX
CORRECT USE
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DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
ALFA ROMEO
CODE SYSTEM
To further protect you car from theft, it
has been fitted with an engine immo-
bilising system. This system is auto-
matically activated when the electronic
key is removed.
An electronic device, in fact, is fitted in
each electronic key grip. The device
transmits a radio-frequency signal when
the engine is started through a special
aerial built into the ignition switch on the
dashboard. The modulated signal, which
changes each time the engine is start-
ed, is the “password”, by means of
which the control unit recognises the
electronic key and enables to start the
engine.
SYMBOLS
Special coloured labels have been at-
tached near or actually on some of the
components of your car. These labels
bear symbols that remind you of the pre-
cautions to be taken as regards that par-
ticular component.
The plate summarising the symbols used
fig. 5can be found under the bonnet.
A0E0138mfig. 5

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SAFETY
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WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
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CORRECT USE
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Warning light Ycoming on
when driving
If the warning light
Yturns on this
means that the system is running a self-
test (for example for a voltage drop).
If the warning light
Ystays on, contact
Alfa Romeo Authorized Services.
IMPORTANTEvery electronic key has
its own code, which must be memorised
by the system control unit. To memorise
new keys, up to a maximum of eight,
apply solely to Alfa Romeo Authorized
Services taking with you all the keys in
your possession, the CODE card, a per-
sonal identity document and the car’s
possession documents. The codes of the
keys not provided during the new mem-
orising procedure are erased from the
memory. This is to ensure that any lost
or stolen keys can no longer be used
to start the car.
OPERATION
Each time the electronic key is fitted in-
to the ignition switch, the Alfa Romeo
CODE system control unit sends a recog-
nition code to the engine control unit
to deactivate the inhibitor.
The code is sent only if the Alfa Romeo
CODE system control unit has recognised
the code transmitted from the electron-
ic key.
If the code has not been recognised cor-
rectly, the warning light
Yturns on (on
certain versions a dedicated message
is displayed) (see section “Warning
lights and messages”).
In this case, the electronic key should
be removed from the ignition device and
then refitted; if the lock continues, pos-
sibly try again with the other keys pro-
vided with the car. If it is still not possi-
ble to start the car contact Alfa Romeo
Authorized Services
The electronic compo-
nents inside the key may
be damaged if the key is
submitted to sharp knocks.
If 2 seconds after fitting
the electronic key into
the ignition switch, the
warning light
Ycomes on again
flashing (on certain versions a
dedicated message is dis-
played), this means that the
code of the keys has not been
memorised, thus the car is not
protected by the Alfa Romeo
CODE system against attempt-
ed theft. In this case, contact an
Alfa Romeo Authorized Service
to have the key codes memo-
rised.

ButtonËshall be used for central open-
ing of doors and fuel cap with alarm de-
activation (where provided).
Button
`shall be used to open the
tailgate.
When unlocking the doors by pressing
button
Ë, if by 2.5 minutes no door or
the boot is opened, the system will au-
tomatically lock the car again.
ELECTRONIC KEY fig. 7
The car is delivered with two copies of
the key with remote control.
The electronic key operates the ignition
switch.
Button
Áshall be used for central lock-
ing of doors, tailgate and fuel cap with
alarm activation (where provided).
ELECTRONIC KEY
CODE CARD
The CODE card fig. 6delivered with the
keys, contains the mechanical codeA
and the electronic one B.
The code numbers on the CODE card
must be kept in a safe place, not in the
car.
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A0E0023mfig. 6
If the car changes own-
er, the new owner must
be given the electronic
key and the CODE card.
A0E0021mfig. 7

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SAFETY
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INDEX
DASHBOARD
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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 change the battery fig. 10proceed
as follows:
❒take out the metal insert Aby press-
ing button B;
❒remove the snap-fitted case B-
fig. 11(red) by levering with the
metal insert Aof the electronic key
in the point shown in the figure;
❒remove the battery D-fig. 10from
the case taking note of the bias (in
the figure the positive pole is facing
downwards);
❒put the new battery into the case
with the correct bias;
❒put the case down into its seat and
refit the metal insert.
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SAFETY
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WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
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DASHBOARD
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A0E0035mfig. 10A0E0242mfig. 11
Used batteries are
harmful to the environ-
ment. They should be
disposed of as specified by law
in the special containers pro-
vided, or take them to Alfa
Romeo Authorized Services
which will deal with their dis-
posal.
IMPORTANTNever touch the electric
contacts of the key and prevent fluid or
dust infiltration inside it.
SAFE LOCK DEVICE
(where provided)
This safety system inhibits the operation
of the car door handles.
The safe lock device represents top pro-
tection against break in attempts. Acti-
vate it each time you park the car.
Once the safe lock de-
vice has been actuated,
doors cannot be opened from
inside the car in any way
whatsoever. For this reason,
make sure there are no per-
sons left inside the car.
WARNING

15
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
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EMERGENCY
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TECHNICAL
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INDEX
CORRECT USE
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DASHBOARD
AND
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If the key battery is
flat, the safe lock de-
vice can only be deactivated by
unlocking the doors by turning
the metal insert of the key in-
to the driver’s door lock or by
fitting the key into the ignition
device.
WARNING
If the car battery is
down, the safe lock de-
vice can be activated only us-
ing the metal insert of the
electronic key on the driver’s
door revolving plug: in this
case the safe lock device is ac-
tive on front passenger’s door
and rear doors.
WARNING
Device activation is signalled by three
flashes of the led on the driver’s door
panel and, only if activated by pressing
the electronic key button
Á, of direction
indicators.
Should one of the doors be not perfect-
ly closed, the safe lock device is not ac-
tivated, thus preventing that a person
getting into the car from the open door
remains blocked inside the passenger’s
compartment when he/she closes the
door.
Device deactivation
The device is deactivated automatically
on every door in the following cases:
❒when unlocking the doors;
❒when unlocking only the driver’s door
(where possible);
❒when fitting the electronic key into
the ignition switch. Device activation
The device is automatically activated on
every door in the following cases:
❒turning twice the metal insert of the
electronic key into the driver door to
locking position;
❒pressing twice the electronic key but-
ton
Á.
A0E0021mfig. 12

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SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
The main functions that can be activated with the electronic key or with the emergency metals insert are the following:
(*) On certain versions it is possible to set the option “Unlocking front door only” through the “Setup Menu” (see paragraph “Reconfigurable multifunction
display” in this section). In this case pressing button
Áand turning the metal insert of the electronic key counter-clockwise will unlock the driver’s door
only. To unlock all the doors, press twice button
Ëwithin 1 second or turn twice the metal insert of the electronic key counter-clockwise.
IMPORTANTWindow and sunroof opening operations are a consequence of a door unlocking control. Window and sunroof closing operations are a con-
sequence of a door locking control.
Electronic
key
Emergency
metal
insert
Direction
indicators
flashing
Led on
driver’s door
Doors,
tailgate
and fuel cap
unlocking
Brief press on
button
Ë(*)
Electronic key
rotation
clockwise (*)
2 flashings
Deterrence
led offDoors,
tailgate
and fuel cap
locking
Brief press on
buttonÁ
Electronic key
rotation
counter-clockwise
1 flashing
Turning on fixed
for 3 seconds,
followed by
deterrence led
flashingWindow
and sunroof
opening
(where
provided)
Prolonged
pressing
(over 2 seconds)
on button
Ë
Electronic key
rotation
for over
2 seconds
clockwise
2 flashings
Deterrence led offWindow
and sunroof
closing
(where
provided)
–
Electronic key
rotation
for over
2 seconds
counter-clockwise
1 flashing
Turning on fixed
for about
3 seconds,
followed by
deterrence led
flashingSafe lock
(where
provided)
Double pressing
(within 1 second)
on button
Á
Double electronic
key rotation
within 1
second
counter-clockwise
3 flashings
Double
flashing,
followed by
deterrence led
flashingTailgate
opening
Brief press on
button
`
–
2 flashings
–

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SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
Depending on the markets, the trigger-
ing of the alarm will activate the siren
and the hazard warning lights (for about
26 seconds). The methods of operation
and the number of cycles may vary de-
pending on the versions/markets.
A maximum number of sound/sight cy-
cles is however envisaged. Once the
alarm cycle is over, the system will re-
store its normal operation.
IMPORTANTCentral door unlocking
by the emergency electronic key will not
deactivate the alarm, therefore with
alarm on the siren will activate when
opening one of the doors or the boot.
To deactivate the siren see paragraph
“How to deactivate the alarm”.
IMPORTANTThe engine immobiliser
function is guaranteed by the Alfa
Romeo CODE system, which is auto-
matically activated when the electronic
key is removed from the ignition device.
HOW TO ACTIVATE
THE ALARM
With the doors, bonnet and boot shut
and electronic key removed from igni-
tion switch, point the electronic key in
the direction of the car, then press and
release the button
Á.
With the exception of certain markets,
the system sounds a “beep” and the
doors are locked.
Engagement of the alarm is preceded
by a self-diagnostic test characterised by
a different flashing of the round led lo-
cated around the door lock/unlock but-
ton (see fig. 13): if a fault is detect-
ed the system sounds a further warning
“beep”.
ALARM
(where provided)
WHEN THE ALARM
IS TRIGGERED
The alarm comes into action in the fol-
lowing cases:
❒unlawful opening of doors, bonnet
and boot (perimetral protection);
❒attempt to start the engine with
unauthorised electronic key;
❒ battery cable cutting;
❒ presence of moving bodies in the pas-
senger’s compartment (volumetric
protection);
❒abnormal raising/sloping of the car
(for versions/markets where applic-
able);
Volumetric and anti-raising protections
can be cut off by operating the front ceil-
ing light controls(see paragraph “Volu-
metric protection/Anti-raising sensor”
on the following pages).
A0E0025mfig. 13