Alfa Romeo 156 owners manual page 181

text version of content this owner's manual page from owners manual to the vehicle Alfa Romeo 156, year of production 1997 - 2006:

VDC SYSTEM OPERATION The heart of the VDC system is the VDCThe corrective actions are changed and con- control unit which with the data supplied bytrolled continuously until the car returns to The VDC system turns on automatically the sensors installed on the car, calculatesthe required course. when the car is started and cannot be the centrifugal forces generated when the The action of the VDC system considerably switched off. It is however possible to cut off operation of the ASR system pressing thecar is cornering. The yawing sensor detectsincreases the active safety of the vehicle un- corresponding button on the centre console.the rotations of the car around its own ver-der many critical situations and it is partic- tical axis. The centrifugal forces generatedularly useful also when the road surface grip The main components of the VDC systemwhen the car is cornering are detected byconditions change. are: . a highly sensitive lateral acceleration sensor The stabilising action of the VDC system is – an electronic control unit which processes the signals received from the var-based on calculations made by the WARNING ious sensors and brings about the most ap-system’s electronic control unit which For the VDC, ASR and ABS propriate strategy; processes the signals received from the steering wheel rotation, lateral accelerationsystems to work correctly, GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR– a sensor that detects the position of the steering wheel; and individual wheel rotation sensors. Thesethe tyres must be of the same signals allow the control unit to recognise brand and type on all wheels, in the manoeuvre the driver intends to do – four sensors that detect the rotation perfect conditions and above all of speed of each wheel; when turning the steering wheel.the specified type, brand and size. – a sensor that detects rotation of the carThe control unit processes the information around the vertical axis; received from the sensors and is therefore – a sensor that detects lateral accelerationcapable of detecting the position of the carWARNING (centrifugal force). and comparing it with the trajectory the dri-During use of the compact ver would like to follow instant by instant.spare wheel, the VDC sys- In the event of a discrepancy, the control unit chooses and commands the most suit-tem continues working. It should be able action to bring the car back to the re-borne in mind that the spare wheel quired course within a fraction of a second:is smaller than a normal tyre, braking one or more wheels at a different therefore its grip is lower than that braking force and, if necessar y it reduces theof the other tyres of the car. power transmitted by the engine. 180

owners manual Alfa Romeo 156

owners manual Alfa Romeo 156 - year of production: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 - Alfa Romeo 156 owners manual EN