tyre pressure Alfa Romeo 159 2008 Owner handbook (in English)

6
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
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

On versions fitted with T.P.M.S. system
(Tyre pressure Monitoring System) (see
paragraph “T.P.M.S. system” in this sec-
tion), after Trip A and Trip B info, the
screen with tyre pressure condition is dis-
played (see fig. 30).
NOTEWhen starting the engine and
for a short time, if you have recalled the
plan view by pressing the TRIP button,
dashes will be displayed instead of
"OK/NO". This is normal since the sys-
tem is checking tyre inflation pressure
values.
45
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
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EMERGENCY
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A0E0053mfig. 30
SEATS
MANUALLY ADJUSTABLE
FRONT SEATS fig. 31
Only make adjustments
when the car is sta-
tionary.
WARNING
Upholstery of your car
has been designed to
withstand wear deriv-
ing from common use of the car.
You are however recommended
to avoid strong and/or contin-
uous scratching with clothing
accessories such as metallic
buckles, studs, Velcro fasten-
ings and the like, since these
items cause circumscribed stress
of the cover fabric that could
lead to yarn breaking, and dam-
age the cover as a consequence.
Moving the seat backwards
or forwards
Lift the lever A(on the inner side of the
seat) and push the seat forwards or
backwards: in the driving position the
arms should rest on the rim of the steer-
ing wheel.
A0E0020mfig. 31

Failure warnings
In the event of malfunctioning, the ASR
system is automatically disconnected
and on versions fitted with “Reconfig-
urable multifunction display” symbol
Vis displayed. In this case contact Al-
fa Romeo Authorized Services as soon
as possible.
114
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MSR system (engine braking
torque control)
It is an integral part of the ASR system
that in case of sudden gear shifting, cuts
in providing torque to the engine thus
preventing excessive driving wheel dri-
ve that, specially in poor grip conditions,
can lead to loss of stability.
For correct operation of
the ASR system, the
tyres must absolutely be of
the same brand and type on all
wheels, in normal conditions of
use, at the proper inflation
pressure values and, above all,
of type, brand and size speci-
fied (see paragraph “Wheels”
in section “Technical Specifica-
tions”).
WARNING

122
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The car can be equipped with the
T.P.M.S. (Tyre Pressure Monitoring Sys-
tem). This system consists of a radio-fre-
quency sensor, installed on each wheel
(on the rim inside the tyre) that sends
pressure information to the control unit.IMPORTANT NOTES
Failure indications will not be stored and
therefore will not be displayed when
turning the engine off and on again. If
failure persists, the control unit will send
warning indications to the instrument
panel only after a few seconds when the
car is moving.
Tyre pressure should be checked with
tyres cold. Should it become necessary
for whatever reason to check pressure
with hot tyres, do not reduce pressure
although it is higher than the prescribed
value but repeat the check when tyres
are cold (see section “Wheels” in sec-
tion “Technical Specifications”).
TYRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM -
T.P.M.S. (where provided)
(optional for versions/
markets where applicable)
The T.P.M.S. does not
exempt the driver from
checking tyre pressure, includ-
ing the space-saver spare
wheel (where provided) at
regular intervals.
WARNING
T.P.M.S. cannot indicate sudden tyre
pressure drops (e.g.: tyre burst). In this
event, brake the car cautiously and
avoid sudden steering.
The T.P.M.S. system requires special
equipment. Consult Alfa Romeo Autho-
rized Services to know what type of ac-
cessories are compatible with the sys-
tem (wheels, wheel caps, etc.). Using
other accessories could cause system
malfunctioning. Due to inflation valve
special characteristics, use only tyre re-
pair sealants approved by Alfa Romeo;
other sealants could cause system mal-
functioning.

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If after repairing a punctured tyre with
the Fix&Go automatic kit and restoring
the initial conditions the flat tyre warn-
ing light continues to stay on, contact
Alfa Romeo Authorized Services.
Tyre pressure could change according to
outside temperature. For this reason the
T.P.M.S. system could temporarily indi-
cate low tyre pressure. In this event
check pressure with cold tyres and re-
store proper inflation values if required. If the car is fitted with T.P.M.S. system,
when changing a tyre, change also the
rubber seal of the valve and the fas-
tening ring of the sensor. Contact Alfa
Romeo Authorized Services.
Strong radio-frequency disturbances
could inhibit proper TPMS system oper-
ation. This condition is indicated by a
dedicated massage on the display. This
indication will go off automatically as
soon as the radio-frequency disturbance
ceases.If the car is fitted with T.P.M.S. system,
tyre and/or rim removal and refitting
operations involve special precautions;
to prevent damages or wrong sensor re-
fitting, contact Alfa Romeo Authorized
Services to have tyre and/or rim
changed.

157
SAFETY
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LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
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EMERGENCY
CAR
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TECHNICAL
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DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
Climate control
The air conditioner is an additional load
which greatly affects the engine leading
to higher consumption. When the tem-
perature outside the car permits it, use
the air vents where possible.
Spoilers
The use of aerodynamic optional extras
which are not certified for the specific
use on the vehicle, may reduce the aero-
dynamic penetration of the vehicle and
increase consumption. Unnecessary loads
Do not travel with too much luggage
stowed in the boot. The weight of the
car (especially when driving in town)
and its trim greatly affects consumption
and stability.
Roof rack/ski rack
Remove the roof rack or the ski rack
from the roof as soon as they are no
longer used. These accessories lower air
penetration and adversely affect con-
sumption levels. When needing to car-
ry particularly voluminous objects, prefer-
ably use a trailer.
Electric devices
Use electric devices only for the amount
of time needed. Rear heated window,
additional headlights, windscreen wipers
and heater fan need a considerable
amount of energy, therefore increasing
the requirement of current increases fu-
el consumption (up to +25% in the ur-
ban cycle).CONTAINING
RUNNING COSTS
Here are some suggestions which may
help you to keep the running costs of
your car down and lower the amount of
toxic emissions released into the at-
mosphere.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
Car maintenance
Have checks and adjustments carried out
in accordance with the “Service sched-
ule”.
Tyres
Check the pressure of the tyres routine-
ly at an interval of no more than 4
weeks: if the pressure is too low, con-
sumption levels increase as resistance
to rolling is higher.

162
SAFETY
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CORRECT USE
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Due to the snow tyre features, under
normal conditions of use or on long mo-
torway journeys, the performance of
these tyres is lower than that of normal
tyres. It is therefore necessary to limit
their use to the purposes for which they
are certified.
IMPORTANTWhen snow tyres are
used with a max speed index below the
one that can be reached by the car (in-
creased by 5%), place a notice in the
passenger compartment, plainly in the
driver’s view which states the max per-
missible speed of the snow tyres (as per
EC Directive).
All four tyres should be the same (brand
and track) to ensure greater safety
when driving and braking and better dri-
veability.
Remember that it is inappropriate to
change the direction of rotation of tyres.SNOW TYRES
Use snow tyres of the same size as the
normal tyres provided with the car.
Alfa Romeo Authorized Services will be
glad to provide advice concerning the
most suitable type of tyre for the cus-
tomer’s requirements.
For the type of tyre to be used, inflation
pressures and the specifications of snow
tyres, follow the instructions given in para-
graph “Wheels” in section “Technical
specifications”.
The winter features of these tyres are re-
duced considerably when the tread
depth is below 4 mm. In this case, they
should be replaced.
The max speed for
snow tyres with “Q”
marking is 160 km/h; 190
km/h for tyres with “T”
marking and 210 km/h for
tyres with H marking. The
Road Traffic Code speed lim-
its must however be always
strictly observed.
WARNING

163
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
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EMERGENCY
CAR
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AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
IMPORTANTSnow chains cannot be
fitted to the space-saver spare wheel.
So, if a front (drive) wheel is punctured
and chains are needed, a rear wheel
should be fitted to the front of the car
and the spare wheel should be fitted to
the rear (adjust tyre pressure to the spec-
ified value as soon as possible). This
way with two normal drive wheels,
snow chains can be fitted to them to
solve an emergency.
Tyres 235/45 R18” can-
not be fitted with snow
chains due to interference
with the fender. Also for 3.2 JTS version,
snow chains shall be fit-
ted on the FRONT axle of
the car.SNOW CHAINS
Use of snow chains should be in compli-
ance with local regulations.
Snow chains should only be applied to
the driving wheels (front wheels).
Check the tension of the chains after the
first few metres have been driven.
Use snow chains with reduced size: for
tyres 205/55 R16” and 215/55
R16” use snow chains with reduced size
with max protrusion beyond the tyre pro-
file of 9 mm.
Use of snow chains may be compulso-
ry also for cars with four-wheel drive.
Traditional snow chains
may not be used on tyres
type 225/50 R17” on-
ly spider type chains can be used.
Keep your speed down
when snow chains are
fitted. Do not exceed
40 km/h. Avoid pot-
holes, steps and pave-
ments and avoid also to drive
for long distances on roads not
covered with snow to prevent
damaging the car and the
roadbed.
WARNING
When snow chains are
fitted, switch the ASR
system off. Press the
ASR/VDC button (see para-
graph “ASR system” in section
“Dashboard and controls”).

164
SAFETY
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AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
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CAR INACTIVITY
If the car is to be left inactive for longer
than a month, the following precautions
should be noted:
❒ park the car in covered, dry and if
possible well-ventilated premises;
❒ engage a gear;
❒check that the handbrake is not en-
gaged;
❒disconnect battery negative terminal
and check the battery charge. This
check is to be repeated every three
months when the car is left inactive.
Recharge if the optical(where pro-
vided) indicator shows a dark colour
without the central green area (see
paragraph “Battery” in “Car main-
tenance” section);
❒clean and protect the painted parts
using protective wax;
❒clean and protect the shiny metal
parts using special compounds read-
ily available;
❒sprinkle talcum powder on the rubber
windscreen and rear window wiper
blades and lift them off the glass;
❒slightly open the windows;
❒cover the car with a cloth or perfo-
rated plastic sheet. Do not use sheets
of non-perforated plastic as they do
not allow moisture on the car body
to evaporate;
❒inflate tyres to +0.5 bar above the
normal specified pressure and check
it at intervals;
❒if you don’t disconnect the battery
from the electric system, check its
charge every month and recharge it
if the optical indicator shows a dark
colour without the central green area;
❒ do not drain the engine cooling sys-
tem.
IMPORTANTIf the car is fitted with
alarm system, switch off the alarm with
the remote control.

165
SAFETY
DEVICES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
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CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
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CONTROLS
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
W W
A A
R R
N N
I I
N N
G G
L L
I I
G G
H H
T T
S S
A A
N N
D D
M M
E E
S S
S S
A A
G G
E E
S S
LOW BRAKE FLUID/HANDBRAKE ON ..................... 167
BRAKE PAD WEAR ............................................. 167
SEAT BELTS NOT FASTENED ................................. 167
AIR BAG FAILURE................................................ 168
PASSANGER’S FRONT AIR BAGS DEACTIVATED ........ 169
ENGINE COOLANT HIGH TEMPERATURE.................. 169
ENGINE OIL HIGH TEMPERATURE .......................... 170
LOW ENGINE OIL PRESSURE/
EXHAUST OIL..................................................... 170
LOW BATTERY CHARGE ....................................... 170
INCOMPLETE DOOR LOCKING ............................... 171
BONNET OPEN ................................................... 171
BOOT OPEN....................................................... 171
INJECTION SYSTEM FAILURE/
EOBD SYSTEM FAILURE....................................... 171
CAR PROTECTION SYSTEM FAILURE/
STEERING LOCK INHIBITION................................. 172
ALARM FAILURE/BREAK-IN ATTEMPT
ELECTRONIC KEY NOT RECOGNIZED ...................... 172
POSSIBLE PRESENCE OF ICE ON THE ROAD............ 173
PRE-HEATING GLOW PLUGS/
PRE-HEATING GLOW PLUG FAILURE ....................... 173
WATER IN DIESEL FUEL FILTER ............................. 174
INERTIAL FUEL CUT-OFF SWITCHED ON ................. 174
ABS SYSTEM FAILURE......................................... 175
EBD SYSTEM FAILURE......................................... 175VDC SYSTEM .................................................... 175
HILL HOLDER FAILURE ........................................ 176
ASR SYSTEM (WHEEL ANTISKID SYSTEM) ............. 176
EXTERNAL LIGHTS FAILURE .................................. 176
BRAKE LIGHTS FAILURE ....................................... 177
REAR FOGLIGHTS ............................................... 177
FRONT FOG LIGHTS ............................................ 177
SIDE/TAILLIGHTS/FOLLOW ME HOME .................. 177
DIPPED BEAM HEADLIGHTS.................................. 177
MAIN BEAM HEADLIGHTS .................................... 177
LEFT-HAND DIRECTION INDICATOR ........................ 177
RIGHT-HAND DIRECTION INDICATOR ...................... 177
LIGHT SENSOR FAILURE........................................ 178
RAIN SENSOR FAILURE......................................... 178
PARKING SENSORS FAILURE ................................ 178
FUEL RESERVE – LIMITED CRUISING RANGE .......... 178
CRUISE CONTROL .............................................. 178
DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER CLOGGED .................. 178
ANTIPINCH SYSTEM FAILURE ............................... 179
WINDSCREEN WASHER FLUID LOW LEVEL ............. 179
SPEED LIMIT EXCEEDED ..................................... 179
T.P.M.S. SYSTEM FAILURE ................................... 179
CHECK TYRE PRESSURE ...................................... 179
LOW INFLATION PRESSURE ................................. 180
TYRE PRESSURE UNSUITABLE FOR SPEED ............. 180