ECO mode Alfa Romeo 166 2008 Owner handbook (in English)

Any queries concerning servicing should be forwarded to the showroom from which the vehicle was purchased,
the subsidiary company or to our branch offices or associated companies.
WARRANTY BOOKLET
The
Warranty Booklet is delivered together with every new vehicle and contains the regulations tied to the services
given by Alfa Romeo Services and to the warranty conditions.
Correctly carrying out the scheduled services specified by the manufacturer is the best way to maintain the per-
formance, safety characteristics and low running costs of your vehicle. It is also necessary to maintain warranty
cover.
“Service” guide
This contains the Alfa Romeo Authorized Services. The services can be recognized by the presence of the Alfa
Romeo badge and logo.
The Alfa Romeo organization in Italy can be found in the telephone book under the letter “A” Alfa Romeo.
Not all the models described in this booklet are available in all countries. Only some of the fittings described in this booklet are
fitted as standard to the vehicle. The list of available accessories should be requested from Alfa Romeo Dealers.
2

23
ACTIVATING THE ALARM
When the doors and boot/bonnet lids
are closed and the ignition key is in the
STOPposition (key removed), point the
remote control towards the car and press
the button on the ignition key.
With the exception of some markets the
system sounds a “BEEP”, the hazard
warning lights turn on for appr. three sec-
onds and the door lock is engaged.
Engagement of the alarm is preceded
by a self-diagnosis characterised by a
change in the frequency at which the led
(A-fig. 12) flashes. If an anomaly is
detected the system gives off a further
“BEEP”.Surveillance
When the system has been turned on,
the led (A-fig. 12) on the dashboard
will flash to indicate that the system is in
the surveillance mode.
The led (A) inside the car flashes
throughout the whole time the vehicle is
under surveillance.
IMPORTANT Operation of the elec-
tronic alarm is adapted at the origin to
the regulations of the different countries.
Self-diagnosis and monitoring of
doors and bonnet/boot
If, after the alarm has been activated, a
second acoustic signal is heard, check
that all the doors and bonnet/boot are
closed properly and engage the system
once again.
On the other hand, if a door or bon-
net/boot lid is not correctly closed it will
not be controlled by the system.
If the control signal is repeated when
the doors and bonnet/boot are closed
properly this means that the self-diagno-
sis function has detected a system operat-
ing fault, in which case it is necessary
contact Alfa Romeo Authorized Services.
DEACTIVATING THE ALARM
To deactivate the alarm press the button
on the remote control. The system per-
forms the following (with the exception
of some markets):
– the direction indicators turn on twice
briefly
– two beeps are sounded briefly by the
siren
– the doors are released.
IMPORTANT If the led in the car s-
tays on when the system has been deac-
tivated, (maximum of 2 minutes or until
the ignition key is moved to MAR) the
following should be borne in mind:
– if the led stays on permanently, it
means that the remote control batteries
are flat and need replacing;
– if the led continues to flash, but at
different intervals than normal, it means
that attempts to steal the car have been
made, counting the number of flashes it
is also possible to identify the type of at-
tempt:
1 flash: right front door
2 flashes: left front door
fig. 12
305PGSm

79
Main-beam headlights
This warning light comes on when the
main-beam is switched on.
Cruise Control
(on request for versions/
markets where applicable)
The warning light turns on, with the
control switch in the ONposition, when
the device starts to act on the engine.
1VDC System (Vehicle
Dynamics Control)
(on request for versions/
markets where applicable)
Turning the ignition key to MAR, the
warning light on the instrument cluster
lights up and must go out after about 4
seconds.
If the warning light does not go out or s-
tays on when travelling, contact Autho-
rised Alfa Romeo Services. Although the
absence of the VDC function does not af-
fect the car safety, it is however recom-
mended to drive at moderate speed.
Flashing of the warning light when travel-
ling means that the VDC system has cut in.
áPassenger’s Air bag
deactivated
This warning light turns on when the
passenger’s Air bag is deactivated.
Warning light Findi-
cates also warning light
¬failure. This is indicated by in-
termittent flashing, over 4 sec-
onds, of warning light F. In this
event, warning light ¬could be
not up to indicate restraint system
failures, if any. Stop the car and
contact Authorized Alfa Romeo
Services have the system checked.
WARNING

85
Fan speed adjustment button
Pressing this rocker button up or down
respectively increases or lowers the fan
speed (thus the amount of air admitted
to the passenger compartment), while
maintaining the objective of the equiva-
lent temperature required.
Automatic operation
button
Pressing the AUTObutton the system
automatically adjusts the amount and dis-
tribution of air admitted to the passenger
compartment.
Compressor off/on
button
Pressing the ECONbutton turns the cli-
mate control compressor on/off.
IMPORTANT With the compressor off
it is not possible to admit air to the pas-
senger compartment at a temperature be-
low the outside temperature, in particular
environment conditions, the windows
may quickly steam.Climate control off/on
button
Pressing the OFFbutton turns the cli-
mate control on/off (including ventilation
only.
IMPORTANT With the climate control
off and in particular environment condi-
tions, the windows may steam quickly.
Passenger compartment
air distribution button
Pressing the MODErocker button to-
wards the left or right manually selects
air distribution in the passenger compart-
ment, while maintaining the objective of
the equivalent temperature required.

88
Pressing the button turns
the compressor on/off. With the com-
pressor off, the air admitted to the pas-
senger compartment can not be cooled or
dehumidified and recirculation is switched
off automatically to avoid misting the
windows: when wanting to activate recir-
culation in the condition, press the corre-
sponding button.
Pressing the button again
with the compressor off, will restore the
operating conditions of before the com-
pressor was turned off.
Pressing the button turns
off/back on the climate control, in the
former case air is no longer admitted to
the passenger compartment which is thus
isolated from outside, in the latter, the
previous operating mode is restored.Pressing the button selects
the possible air distributions to the pas-
senger compartment:
Flow of air towards the windscreen
and front side windows
Distribution of the flow between
the windscreen /front side windows and
lower part of the passenger compartment
Flow of air to the lower part of the
passenger compartment and secondary
flow of air towards the windscreen and
front side windows
Distribution of the flow between
the upper centre, centre, side and rear
outlets and the lower part of the passen-
ger compartment
Flow of air towards the centre up-
per vent, centre and side dashboard out-
lets and rear outlets.If the system was in the FULL AUTO
mode, pressing the button
passes to the simple automatism condi-
tion: i.e. the system chooses the fan
speed and mixing to obtain the equiva-
lent temperature required, but will not
change the distribution selected manually.
Pressing the recirculation button
, the system automatically reac-
tivates the compressor if it was deactivat-
ed manually; to maintain recirculation
with the compressor of, it is necessary to
press the button to deacti-
vate the compressor.

139
DRIVING UNDER ADVERSE
WEATHER CONDITIONS
Rain and fog can be extremely danger-
ous if the style of driving is not adapted
to suit these conditions. Some sugges-
tions are given below:
– if the road is wet, the friction be-
tween wheel and asphalt is greatly re-
duced thus increasing the stopping dis-
tance and decreasing road holding when
cornering.
Reduce speed and keep further back
from the vehicle in front.
– Heavy rain and fog reduce visibility.
Headlights should be switched on as the
road traffic laws and common sense dic-
tate, above all to render yourself visible
to others.
– Do not drive over puddles or flooded
roads at high speed as the aquaplaning
phenomenon may cause you to loose
control over the vehicle.
– If visibility is already reduced prevent
it from worsening by ensuring that the
windows do not steam up. Use the heat-
ing-ventilation controls as indicated in the
chapter “Know your vehicle”.– Check the condition of the windscreen
wiper blades.
– If fog is very thick avoid travelling
where possible. If travelling cannot be
avoided drive with extreme care and
moderate your speed. Avoid overtaking.
– If the vehicle is forced to stop owing
to a malfunction or zero visibility condi-
tions, pull off the road, switch on the haz-
ard warning lights and if possible, the
dipped-beam headlights.
MOUNTAIN DRIVING
Mountain driving requires a greater de-
gree of concentration. Some practical
hints follow:
– Before driving off check the level of
fluids (engine oil, brakes, coolant) and
the state of the tyres.
– When travelling down hill use the en-
gine braking by engaging lower gears to
prevent the brakes from overheating.
– Never coast downhill with the engine
off or in neutral and especially not with
the ignition key removed.
– Drive at a moderate speed and avoid
cutting corners.– Remember that overtaking uphill is
slower and therefore requires a greater
length of clear road. If you are being
overtaken on a hill move over to enable
the other vehicle to pass in safety.
WINTER DRIVING
If the temperature falls below 0°C or in
the presence of snow or ice the following
recommendations should be followed:
– Before driving off check that the
windscreen wipers are not frozen to the
windscreen.
– Remove the snow from the air intake
(grille) at the base of the windscreen.
– Do not stop long on deep snow with
the engine running: the snow might di-
vert the exhaust gas carbon monoxide in-
to the passenger compartment.
– Ensure that brakes and tyres are in
perfect working order.
–Ensure that the detergent liquid locat-
ed in the windscreen/headlight washers
has been topped up with anti-freeze and
anti-scale additives.
– Use engine braking where possible
and avoid abrupt braking.

148ECONOMY AND
ENVIRONMENT-
FRIENDLY DRIVING
How you use and how you drive your
vehicle directly influence fuel consump-
tion and environmental impact.
By following a few simple guidelines
and without incising on the “liveliness”
of the vehicle, it is possible to avoid dam-
aging the environment and often, at the
same time, to limit fuel consumption.
The following helpful suggestions will al-
low you to save in running costs and re-
duce harmful emissions.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
Vehicle maintenance
The conditions of the vehicle are an im-
portant factor which affects fuel consump-
tion as well as driving tranquillity and the
life of the car itself. For this reason, care
should be given to maintenance, having
the checks and adjustments given in the
scheduled maintenance programme car-
ried out (see ... spark plugs, idle speed,
air/fuel oil filter, timing).
Tyres
Check the tyre pressure at least every 4
weeks: if the pressure is too low, consump-
tion increases as resistance to rolling is
higher. It should also be underlined that in
these conditions, tyre wear increases re-
sulting in poor handling and lower safety. Drive at a moderate
speed when snow chains
have been fitted to the
wheels. Avoid potholes, steps and
pavements, and do not drive for
long stretches on snow-free roads,
otherwise you risk damaging the
tyres, suspension and steering.
Snow chains can be fit-
ted only on wheels with
6.5J x 16” rims and
215/55 R16 tyres or 7.5J x 17”
rims and 225/45 R17 tyres.
(*) Pour versions/marchè lorsqu’il
est prèvu pneus 205/55 R16.