GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
106
CONTROLS
TAILGATE OPENING (fig. 112)
Electric tailgate release is only allowed with
the ignition key in the ignition switch at
MARcar stationary, at STOPorPARK
for 3 minutes without opening/closing a
door. To release the tailgate, press button
(A) on the central console panel.
HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS
(fig. 112)
They are switched on by pressing button
(C), on the central console panel, regard-
less of the position of the ignition key.
When the hazard lights are switched on,
the switch itself begins to flash together with
the direction indicators and warning lights
on the instrument panel. This function is
switched off by pressing the button again. Use of the hazard lights is
ruled by the Highway Code
of the country in which the
car is used. Observe regulations.
FOG LIGHTS (fig. 112)
These are turned on pressing button (B),
on the centre console panel, when the out-
er lights are already on, at the same time
the led on the button itself turns on.
Press button (B) again to switch off.
IMPORTANTThe front foglights should
be used in compliance with the local traffic
laws.
fig. 112
A0A0091b
REAR FOG GUARDS (fig. 112)
These are turned on, with the dipped beam
headlights or fog lights on, pressing button
(D) on the centre console panel, at the
same time the warning light on the button
itself turns on.
Turning the ignition key to STOPthe fog
guards are automatically turned off and they
do not come on the next time the engine
is started unless button (D) is pressed. To
turn them off press button (D).
IMPORTANTAlways use the rear fog
guards in compliance with local regulations.
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
107
If no leaks are found the car can be restart-
ed. Press button (A) to activate the fuel sup-
ply system again.
fig. 113
A0A0092b
If a smell of fuel is noted
following an accident, or
the fuel system is leaking,
to avoid the risk of fire do not re-
set the switch. DOOR LOCKING SYSTEM
(fig. 112)
To lock the doors simultaneously, press but-
ton (E), on the centre console panel, re-
gardless of the position of the ignition key.
The deterrent led turns on as follows:
– with the ignition key at MARglowing
steadily with a yellow light;
– with the ignition key at STOPflash-
ing with a red light (deterrence condition).
INERTIAL FUEL CUT-OFF
SWITCH
(fig. 113)
This is an automatic safety switch, to be
found on the floor next to the driver’s door
pillar, which is triggered in the event of a
crash of a certain magnitude to interrupt the
flow of fuel.
The cutting in of the inertial switch is shown
on the display of the instrument cluster.
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
111
SYSTEM ACTIVATION
IMPORTANTOpening the driver’s door,
the Selespeed starts the hydraulic part of
the system to prepare it for the engine to be
started.
Turning the ignition key to MAR, all the
segments of the display (fig. 119), the
gearbox warning light (fig. 120) and the
wordCITYturn on. After about one second,
the display indicates the gear engaged (N,
1,2,3,4,5,R).
IMPORTANTIf after 10 seconds the dis-
play segment do not display the gear en-
gaged or the warning light stays on, turn the
ignition key to STOPand wait for the dis-
play to go off, then repeat the system acti-
vation procedure. If the fault persists, con-
tact Alfa Romeo Authorized Services. With gearshift to CITYgears can be shift-
ed manually using both the gearshift lever
or the steering wheel controls. Gearshift
stays in CITY.
The gear selected (fig. 119) is always
displayed regardless of the mode being se-
lected selected .
N= neutral;
1= first gear;
2= second gear;
3= third gear;
4= fourth gear;
5= fifth gear;
R= reverse. InCITYorSPORT, the selected mode is
also displayed.
IMPORTANT SPORTmode can only
be activated after deactivating the CITY
mode.
A warning light, a message (fig. 120)
and a buzzer draw the attention of the dri-
ver in the event of a fault at Selespeed trans-
mission.
The Selespeed considerably simplifies use
of the car, reducing the fatigue of city dri-
ving or when frequent gearshifting is re-
quired, at the same time offering brilliant
performance.
fig. 120
A0A9081g
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
112
If the car is on the move, the request is
not accepted; wait for the car to stop and
then request reverse gear engagement
again.
IMPORTANTOnce a gear has been
changed it is necessary to immediately re-
lease the gearshift control lever after mak-
ing the request. A manoeuvre prolonged
(over 10 seconds) makes the system au-
tomatically switch to CITYmode; every-
thing stops releasing the gearshift lever.
IMPORTANTIf wanting to leave the car
parked on a sloping road with a gear en-
gaged to keep it braked, it is necessary to
check that the display shows the new gear
engaged and then wait for 1 to 2 seconds
before releasing the brake pedal to allow
complete clutch engagement.
fig. 123
A0A0700b
OPERATION WITH ENGINE OFF
IMPORTANTBefore using the gearshift
control lever, always check the gear en-
gaged on the display (N,1,2,3,4,5,
R).
With the engine off and the car station-
ary it is possible to engage all the gears.
With the car stationary and with the brake
pedal pressed, requests to shift gears are
both accepted through the control lever on
the central console or through the steering
wheel levers.
To request gearshifting, in addition to keep-
ing the brake pedal pressed:
– to shift upwards (+) (fig. 121) push
the lever “forwards” (if the car is in first gear
it shifts to second, if in second it shifts to
third and so on up to fifth). If the system
is in neutral (N) or reverse (R) moving thelever forwards causes the engagement of
first gear (1).
– to shift downwards (–) (fig. 121)
push the lever backwards (if the car is in
fifth gear it shifts to fourth, if in fourth it
shifts to third and so on down to first gear).
To allow setting the transmission to neu-
tral (N), starting from the condition with
the car stationary and brake pedal pressed,
move the gearshift lever to the right (fig.
122).
From any gear (N,1,2,3,4,5) and
with the car practically at a standstill, it is
possible to request engagement of reverse
gear, pushing the lever to the right and then
backwards (fig. 123).
fig. 121
A0A0698b
fig. 122
A0A0699b
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
113
Never remove the ignition
key when the car is mov-
ing. In addition to the fact
that the Selespeed system would
not work properly up to stopping
the car, the steering wheel would
lock automatically the first time it
is turned.
STARTING THE ENGINE
The engine can be started with the gear
engaged or in neutral (N), provided that the
brake pedal is pressed down.
IMPORTANTKeep the pedal fully de-
pressed during starting. Since the brake ped-
al becomes hard if it is pressed repeatedly
with the engine off, in this situation it is nec-
essary to increase the pressure on the ped-
al itself to start the engine.
After starting, the gearbox sets to neutral
automatically, the display shows the letter
(N) and the system selects the operating
mode memorised before switching off.
If the engine fails to start
with the gear engaged, the
driver is alerted of the po-
tentially dangerous situation due
to the fact that the gearbox has
automatically set to neutral by the
buzzer and the display.
SWITCHING OFF THE ENGINE
AND SYSTEM DEACTIVATION
Turning the ignition key to STOPthe en-
gine switches off: the gear selected before
turning the engine off remains engaged.
If the engine stops with the gearbox in
neutral (N), the buzzer and the blinking
of (N) draw the attention of the driver so
that the car can be put in safety conditions
engaging the first gear (1) or reverse (R).
In this case, it is necessary to turn the igni-
tion key to MARand with the brake ped-
al pressed, engage first gear (1) or reverse
(R).
NEVER leave the car with
the gears in neutral (N).
It is absolutely necessary
to turn off the engine con-
sequently deactivating the
Selespeed system keeping the brake
pedal pressed: release the pedal
ONLY when the display goes off.
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
114
The driver is informed of the reverse gear
engaged condition by the intermittent sound
of the buzzer as well as by the display.
IMPORTANTIf while shifting from re-
verse (R)/first gear (1) or neutral (N)/
first gear (1) sticking occurs on the first
gear, the system automatically engages sec-
ond gear (2).
This should not be considered a failure be-
cause it is part of the operating logic. For
the same reason, if sticking occurs on re-
verse gear, the system controls partial clutch
closing so that the gear can be engaged;
in this case the engagement of reverse gear
(R) will not be as smooth as usual. After a request to shift
gear with the car station-
ary, before pressing the ac-
celerator pedal to make the car
start, the driver must always check
that the gear engaged shown on
the display is the one required. MOVING OFF THE CAR
With the engine running and the car sta-
tionary, the gears that can be engaged for
moving off are only first (1), second (2) or
reverse (R).
To engage them it is possible to use the
control lever on the centre console, with the
brake pedal pressed, as the steering wheel
levers allow gear engagement only over 0.5
km/h.
IMPORTANTReverse gear (R) can be
engaged from each of the following other
ratios: neutral (N), first gear (1) or second
gear (2). If the car is on the move, the re-
quest is not accepted; it is necessary to wait
for the car to be completely stopped and
then request reverse (R) again. Moving off the car is obtained:
1) releasing the brake pedal;
2) gradually pressing the accelerator ped-
al.
The more the accelerator pedal is pressed
the higher the car pick-up torque will be.
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
115
Though strongly inadvisable, if due to un-
foreseen circumstances when driving down-
hill the car is allowed to travel with the gear-
box in neutral (N), when the engagement
of a gear is requested, the system auto-
matically engages the best gear to allow
transmission of the torque to the wheels in
relation to the speed of the car.
When travelling downhill with a gear en-
gaged and the accelerator released (if the
car is moving), beyond a pre-established
speed, the system engages the clutch au-
tomatically to give the car adequate engine
braking.
For safety reasons the Selespeed system
activates the buzzer when: clutch over-
heating occurs during car starting; in this
case, it is necessary to “force” moving off
avoiding hesitations or to release the accel-
erator and use the brake pedal to park the
car if the car is on a slope.Still due to safety reasons, with the car sta-
tionary, the engine running and gear (1),
(2) or (R) engaged, the system activates
the buzzer and automatically shifts to neu-
tral (N) when:
– no action is made on the accelerator
and/or brake pedals for at least 3 minutes;
– the brake is pressed for over 10 min-
utes;
– the driver’s door is opened and the ac-
celerator and brake pedal are not pressed
for at least 1.5 seconds. IMPORTANT NOTES
– With the car stopped and a gear en-
gaged always keep the brake pedal pressed
until deciding to move off;
– during prolonged halts with the engine
running it is advisable to keep the gearbox
in neutral;
– when the car is parked facing uphill, do
not use the moving off manoeuvre to keep
the car still; use the brake pedal and press
the accelerator pedal only when deciding to
move off;
– use second gear only when more con-
trol is needed for moving off manoeuvres at
low speed;
– if, with reverse gear engaged, you need
to engage first gear or vice versa, shift gear
only when the car is completely stationary
and with the brake pedal pressed.
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
120
PARKING THE CAR
To park the car safely it is absolutely nec-
essary to engage first gear (1) or reverse
(R) and also the handbrake if the road is
on a slope.
Turning the engine off with the car facing
uphill and a gear engaged, it is absolutely
necessary to wait for the gear display to go
off before releasing the brake pedal, so that
the clutch is fully disengaged.
If the gearbox is in neutral (N) and want-
ing to engage a parking gear, the system
should be activated and with the foot on the
brake pedal it is necessary to engage (1)
or (R).
TOWING THE CAR
IMPORTANTFor towing the car, adhere
to local regulations. Make sure that the gear-
box is in neutral (N) (checking that the car
moves when pushed) and proceed as for
towing a normal car with mechanical gear-
box following the instructions given in sec-
tion “In an emergency”.
If setting to neutral is not possible, do not
tow the car and contact Alfa Romeo Autho-
rized Services.
While towing the car do
not start the engine.
BUZZER WARNINGS
The buzzer is activated when:
– reverse gear is engaged (R);
– the car is parked with the gearbox in
neutral (N); signal that can be noted turn-
ing the ignition key to STOP;
– clutch overheating occurs when moving
off;
– the system has shifted automatically
to neutral (N) when:
there is no action on the accelerator
and/or brake pedal for at least 3 minutes;
or the brake is pressed for over 10 min-
utes;
or the driver’s door is opened and no ac-
tion is made on the accelerator and brake
for at least 1.5 seconds;
or detection of a gearbox fault;
– gearbox fault.