Alfa Romeo Brera/Spider 2008 Owner handbook (in English)

70
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
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INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
Rain sensor shall be de-
activated when washing
the car at automatic car-
wash.
Make sure the rain sen-
sor is deactivated if
there is ice on the wind-
screen.
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. 47. 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.IMPORTANTIn the event of rain sen-
sor failure, windscreen wiper operation
with right-hand stalk at 1-fig. 47is in-
termittent. If failure takes place during
automatic operation, the system will
keep the last wiper operating condition.
Moving the stalk to other positions, op-
eration is however guaranteed.
The rain sensor is able to recognize and
automatically adjust itself in the pres-
ence of the following particular condi-
tions:
❒impurities on the controlled surface
(salt, dirt, etc.);
❒difference between day and night.Failure warnings
Sensor failure is indicated by a dedicat-
ed message on the display (see section
“Warning lights and messages”).

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SAFETY
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CORRECT USE
OF THE CARHEADLIGHT WASHERS
(where provided) fig. 49
Headlight washers are visible and are fit-
ted with a nozzle for each external light
function. They come into operation au-
tomatically when operating the wind-
screen washer with external lights
turned on.
IMPORTANT Check at regular inter-
vals correct operation and cleanness of
nozzles.
Make sure the device is
off when cleaning the
windscreen.
WARNING
A0F0046mfig. 49
Streaks of water could
cause non-required blade
movements.Rear window washer/wiper
Pulling the stalk towards the steering
wheel (unstable position) operates the
rear window washer and wiper. Release
the stalk to stop operation.
Turning the knurled ring B-fig. 47from
ON/OFFto
&obtains rear window
wiper intermittent operation.

72
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LIGHTS AND
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CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
CRUISE CONTROL
(where provided)
GENERAL
The speed regulator (CRUISE CON-
TROL), with electronic control, makes
it possible to drive the car at the required
speed, without pressing the accelerator
pedal. This reduces driving fatigue dur-
ing long journeys (specially on high-
ways) because the speed memorised is
automatically maintained.
IMPORTANTThe device can only be
engaged at speeds between 40 and
190 km/h.
A0F0095mfig. 50
DEVICE ENGAGEMENT
Turn knurled ring A-fig. 50toÜ.
The device cannot be engaged in first
speed or reverse. It is recommended to
engage it in 4th or higher speeds. Trav-
elling downhill with the device engaged,
the car speed may increase more than
the memorised one.
When the device is activated the in-
strument panel warning light
Üturns
on (on certain versions together with a
message on the display) (see section
“Warning lights and messages”).
TO MEMORISE SPEED
Proceed as follows:
❒turn the knurled ring A-fig. 50
to
Üand press the accelerator ped-
al to the required speed;
❒push the stalk upwards (+) or down-
wards (–), then release it: car speed
is memorised and it is therefore pos-
sible to release the accelerator ped-
al.
In the case of need (when overtaking
for instance) acceleration is possible sim-
ply pressing the accelerator pedal: re-
leasing the accelerator pedal, the car will
return to the speed memorised previ-
ously.

TO INCREASE THE
MEMORISED SPEED
The speed memorised can be increased
in two ways:
❒pressing the accelerator and then
memorising the new speed reached;
or
❒moving the stalk upwards (+).
Each operation of the stalk will corre-
spond to a slight increase in speed
(about 1.5 km/h), while keeping the
stalk upwards will correspond to a con-
tinuous speed increase.
TO REDUCE MEMORISED
SPEED
The speed memorised can be increased
in two ways:
❒disengaging the device and then
memorising the new speed;
or
❒moving the stalk downwards (–) un-
til reaching the new speed which will
be memorised automatically.
Each operation of the stalk will corre-
spond to a slight decrease in speed
(about 1.5 km/h), while keeping the
stalk downwards will correspond to a
continuous speed decrease.
TO RESET THE MEMORISED
SPEED
If the device has been disengaged for
example pressing the brake or clutch
pedal, the memorised speed can be re-
set as follows:
❒accelerate gradually until reaching a
speed approaching the one memo-
rised;
❒engage the gear selected at the time
of speed memorising (4th or high-
er gear);
❒press button RES(set at stalk end).
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INDEX
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CORRECT USE
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Automatic Cruise Control
deactivation
The Cruise Control is temporarily deac-
tivated when the ABS or VDC systems
come into operation (above a max. pre-
set time): in this case the last set speed
will stay memorised, to recall it press
buttonRES.
In the event of Cruise Control or engine
control system failure, the device is de-
activated until removing the electronic
key from the ignition device. In this
event contact Alfa Romeo Authorized
Services.
The device is automatically deactivated
when operating accidentally or incor-
rectly the stalk, the knurled ring Aor
buttonRES: in this event to reactivate
the device: bring the car to the required
speed and then move the stalk upwards
(+) or downwards (–).DEVICE DISENGAGEMENT
The device is disengaged in one of the
following cases:
❒turning the knurled ring A-fig. 50
toO;
❒turning the engine off or removing
the electronic key from the ignition
device;
❒pressing the brake pedal, pressing
the clutch pedal (in these cases the
last stored speed will stay memo-
rised, to resume it press button
RES);
❒pressing the accelerator pedal; in this
case the system is disengaged only
temporarily; device operation will be
resumed automatically when re-
leasing the pedal;
❒with car speed below the preset lim-
it (in these cases the last stored
speed will stay memorised, to re-
sume it press button RES);
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SAFETY
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WARNING
LIGHTS AND
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IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
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INDEX
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In the event of device
malfunction or failure,
turn the knurled ring A-fig. 50
to O and contact Alfa Romeo
Authorized Services after
checking the protection fuse in-
tegrity.
WARNING
When travelling with
the device on, never
set the gearshift lever to neu-
tral.
WARNING

75
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
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IN AN
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OF THE CAR
CEILING LIGHTS
FRONT CEILING LIGHT
fig. 51
Press button:
A: to turn on/off the left courtesy light;
B: to turn on/off the central light;
C: to turn on/off the right courtesy
light.
Keeping pressed button Bwill turn off
all ceiling lights. Turning off is also indi-
cated by the sound of a buzzer. To turn
these lights on again press briefly but-
tonB.
A0F0225mfig. 51
IMPORTANT Leaving inadvertently a
door open, the ceiling lights and the pud-
dle lights will turn off automatically af-
ter a few minutes. To turn them on
again, open another door or close and
open again the same door.PUDDLE LIGHT
The door light A-fig. 52, turns on
when opening the door regardless of the
electronic key position.
With the door open it will stay on for
about 3 minutes, then it turns off auto-
matically.
A0F0075mfig. 52

76
SAFETY
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WARNING
LIGHTS AND
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INDEX
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CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
In the following table are summarised the causes that make front/rear ceiling lights turn on/off and their turning on/off
mode:
Cause
Opening one of the doors
Closing all the doors
Removing the electronic key from the ignition device
Locking the doors
Unlocking the doors
Cutting in of the fuel cut-off switch
Ceiling lights turning on/off mode
Light turning on for a few minutes. This timed operation will be
reactivated each time a door is opened
With electronic key removed from ignition device:
ceiling lights will stay on for other 10 seconds.
This timed operation is stopped when refitting
the electronic key into the ignition device
Starting the engine: light will turn off
Light turning on for about 10 seconds
Light turning off
Light turning on for about 10 seconds
Light turning on for a few minutes. Reactivating the
fuel cut-off switch will turn off the ceiling light.
In all the cases tabulated above, lights turning on/off is gradual, for 2 seconds.

77
SAFETY
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LIGHTS AND
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OF THE CAR
CONTROLS
POWER SUPPLY AND FUEL
CUT-OFF SWITCHES
The car is fitted with a safety switch that
in the event of a crash comes into op-
eration by cutting off fuel and turning
off the engine as a consequence.
Certain versions are equipped with an
additional safety switch that in the event
of a crash comes into operation by cut-
ting off the power supply.
If, after a crash, you
smell fuel or see leaks
from the fuel system, do not
reset the switches to avoid
fire risk.
WARNINGThese two safety switches therefore pre-
vent dangerous fuel leaks due to fuel
line cracking, and sparks or electric dis-
charges due to damaging or malfunc-
tioning of the electric components of the
car in the event of a crash.
IMPORTANTAfter a crash, remem-
ber to remove the key from the ignition
device to prevent battery run-down.

78
SAFETY
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WARNING
LIGHTS AND
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EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
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SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
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AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
If central door locking
has been activated
from inside the car and after a
crash the fuel cut-off switch
cannot activate automatic door
unlocking, it will not be pos-
sible to get into the car. In any
case, door opening from the
outside depends on door con-
ditions after the crash: if a
door is badly damaged it will
be impossible to open it. In this
event try to open one of the
other doors.
WARNINGDoor unlocking in the event of
a crash
In the event of a crash that triggers the
fuel cut-off switch, the doors will unlock
automatically to enable getting into the
car and at the same time the passen-
ger’s compartment light will turn on. It
is however always possible to open the
doors from the passenger’s compart-
ment by means of the internal door han-
dles. If, after a crash no fuel leaks or
damages to the electric devices (e.g.
headlights) are found and the car can
be started again, reset the fuel cut-off
switch and the power supply cut-off
switch (where provided). Follow the in-
structions given below.Resetting the fuel cut-off
switch
Before resetting the fu-
el cut-off switch care-
fully inspect the car for fuel
leaks or damages to electric
devices (e.g. headlights).
WARNING
To reset the fuel cut-off switch, press but-
tonA-fig. 53.
A0F0221mfig. 53

79
SAFETY
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AND
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CORRECT USE
OF THE CARResetting the power supply
cut-off switch
(where provided)The switch is located inside the fuse box
at battery positive terminal.
To reset the power supply cut-off switch,
proceed as follows:
❒press button A-fig. 53to reset the
fuel cut-off switch;
❒open the bonnet;
A0F0126mfig. 54
Before resetting the
power supply cut-off
switch carefully inspect the car
for fuel leaks or damages to
electric devices (e.g. head-
lights).
WARNING
A0F0071mfig. 55
❒operate the retaining clips A-fig.
54and remove the protection cov-
erB;
❒press buttonC-fig. 55to reset the
power supply.