2
VERY IMPORTANT!
STARTING THE ENGINE
Engines with mechanical transmission:make sure the handbrake is pulled; put the gear lever into neutral; press the
clutch pedal down to the floor without touching the accelerator, then turn the ignition key to AV Vand release it as soon as
the engine starts.
Engines with Selespeed transmission:keep the brake pedal fully depressed; turn the ignition key to AV Vand re-
lease it as soon as the engine has started; the transmission sets to neutral automatically (the display shows position N).
FUEL CAPACITY
Ronly use unleaded petrol with no less than 95 R.O.N.
PARKING ON FLAMMABLE MATERIAL
While working, the catalyst develops a very high temperature. Do not park the car over grass, dry leaves, pine needles or
any other inflammable materials: risk of fire.
K
RESPECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
The vehicle is fitted with a system that allows continuous diagnosis of the components correlated with emissions to ensure bet-
ter respect for the environment.
U
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
15
If the ignition device is
tampered with (for exam-
ple an attempted theft)
have it checked over by Alfa
Romeo Authorised Services before
travelling again.
STEERING LOCK
Engaging:
– move the key to STOPorPARK, then
remove the key and turn the steering wheel
slightly to facilitate the locking action.
Disengaging:
– turn the key to MARgently rocking the
steering wheel from side to side.
DOORS
OPENING/CLOSING FROM
OUTSIDE
To open the driver's door turn the key
clockwise and to open the passengers' door,
optional for versions/markets where ap-
plicable, turn the key anti-clockwise, then
remove the key and press the button (A-
fig. 9).
To close the door, turn the key in the lock
in the opposite direction to the one for open-
ing.
fig. 9
A0A0017m
Before opening a door, al-
ways make sure that it can
be done safely.
WARNING
Never remove the ignition
key with the car on the
move. The steering wheel would
lock automatically the first time the
steering wheel is turned. This al-
so occurs if the car is towed.
WARNING
When leaving the vehicle
always remove the key
from the ignition to prevent any oc-
cupants of the vehicle from acci-
dentally activating the controls.
Never leave children in the vehi-
cle unaccompanied. Remember to
engage the handbrake, and, if the
vehicle is parked on an uphill slope,
to engage first gear. If the vehicle
is facing downhill, engage reverse
gear.
WARNING
It is absolutely forbidden to
carry out whatever after-
market operation involving steering
system or steering column modifi-
cations (e.g.: installation of anti-
theft device) that could badly affect
performance and safety, cause the
lapse of warranty and also result in
non-compliance of the car with ho-
mologation requirements.
WARNING
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
77
Warning
light on dialMessage
on display
WARNING LIGHTS
IMPORTANTThe presence of warning lights depends on the type of equipment with which the car is fitted.
x
LOW BRAKE FLUID AND/OR HANDBRAKE ON
Turning the ignition key to MARthe warning light on the dial turns on, but it should go off after
approx. 4 seconds.
The warning light turns on when the level of the brake fluid in the reservoir falls below the mini-
mum level, due to a possible leak in the circuit and when the handbrake is engaged.
u
HIGH ENGINE COOLANT FLUID TEMPERATURE
Turning the ignition key to MARthe warning light on the dial turns on, but it should go off after
approx. 4 seconds.
The warning light turns on together with the message + symbol on the reconfigurable multifunc-
tion display, when the engine is overheated. If it turns on when travelling, stop the car leaving the
engine on and slightly accelerated to further activate the circulation of the coolant fluid.
If the warning light does not go off within the next 2 or 3 minutes, stop the engine and contact
Alfa Romeo Authorised Services.
If the xwarning light turns on when travelling check that the hand-
brake is not engaged. If the warning light stays on together with the
message + symbol on the reconfigurable multifunction display with the hand-
brake off, stop the car immediately and contact Alfa Romeo Authorised Services.
WARNING
CORRECT USE OF THE CAR
175
STARTING PROCEDURE
IMPORTANTIt is important never to
press the accelerator before the engine has
started.
1) Make sure the handbrake is engaged.
2) Move the gear lever to neutral.
3) Fully depress the clutch pedal, so that
the starter motor is not forced to crank the
gears.
4) Ensure that the electric systems and de-
vices, especially if they absorb high quanti-
ties of energy (e.g. heated rearscreen) are
switched off.
5) Turn the ignition key to the AV Vpo-
sition and release it as soon as the engine
starts.
6) If the engine does not start, return the
key to STOPthen repeat the procedure.
IMPORTANTIf it is difficult to start the
engine do not insist with extended attempts
which may damage the catalyst, but con-
tact Alfa Romeo Authorised Services. The ignition switch is fitted with a safety
device which obliges the driver to return the
key to the STOPposition before repeat-
ing the starting operation if the engine does
not start immediately.
Similarly, when the engine is running, the
device prevents the key being moved from
theMARto the AV Vposition.
STARTING
THE ENGINE
IMPORTANTThe car is fitted with an
electronic engine lock device. If the engine
fails to start, see “The Alfa Romeo CODE sys-
tem”.
C C
O O
R R
R R
E E
C C
T T
U U
S S
E E
O O
F F
T T
H H
E E
C C
A A
R R
We recommend that dur-
ing the initial period you do
not drive to full vehicle
performance (for example exces-
sive acceleration, long journeys at
top speed, hard braking etc.).When the engine is
switched off never leave
the ignition key in the MAR
position to prevent pointless cur-
rent absorption from draining the
battery.
Running the engine in con-
fined areas is extremely
dangerous. The engines consumes
oxygen and produces carbon
monoxide which is a highly toxic
and lethal gas.
WARNING
CORRECT USE OF THE CAR
177
EMERGENCY STARTING
If the Alfa Romeo CODE system does not
recognise the code transmitted by the igni-
tion key (
Y)warning light on the instru-
ment cluster on glowing steadily) emer-
gency starting may be carried out using the
code of the CODE card.
For the correct procedure see the chapter
“In an emergency”.
PARKING
When the vehicle is parked, proceed as fol-
lows:
– Switch off the engine.
– Engage the handbrake.
– Engage first gear if the vehicle is fac-
ing uphill or reverse if the vehicle is facing
downhill.
– Turn the front wheels so that the vehi-
cle will immediately come to a halt if the
handbrake slips. Never bump, tow, or
coast start the vehicle as
this would cause fuel to
flow into the catalyst causing irre-
versible damage.
To avoid useless con-
sumption of power and
possibly draining the bat-
tery, never leave the ignition key
in the MAR position when the en-
gine is not running.
Sharp accelerating before
switching the engine off
should be avoided. A
“kick” on the accelerator serves
no purposes and consumes fuel
pointlessly.
IMPORTANT
If the engine turns off with
the vehicle on the move, the next time it
is started, the Alfa Romeo CODE warning
light may turn on (
Y). In this case, check
that switching off and starting the engine
again with the vehicle stationary, the warn-
ing light stays off. If not, contact Alfa Romeo
Authorised Services.
Remember that the servo-
brake and power steering
are not operational until the engine
has been started, therefore much
more effort than usual is required
on the brake pedal and steering
wheel.
WARNING
Never leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle. Al-
ways remove the ignition key
when leaving the vehicle and take
it with you.
WARNING
CORRECT USE OF THE CAR
186
VEHICLE
INACTIVITY
If the vehicle is to be left inactive for long
periods, the following precautions should be
noted:
– House the vehicle under cover in a dry
and possibly ventilated place.
– Engage a gear.
– Check that the handbrake is not en-
gaged.
– Clean and protect the paintwork by pro-
tective wax.
– Cover the rubber windscreen and
rearscreen wiper blades with talcum powder
and raise them off the glass.
– Open the windows slightly.
– Inflate the tyres to a pressure of 0.5 bars
above normal. If possible rest the tyres on
wooden planks and periodically check the
pressure.
– Do not turn on the electronic alarm sys-
tem. Keep you speed
down when snow
chains are fitted.
Do not exceed 50 km/h. Avoid
potholes, steps and pavements to
prevent damaging the tyres, sus-
pension and steering.
Snow chains should only be applied to the
drive wheels (front).
Before purchasing or using snow chains,
you are recommended to contact Alfa
Romeo Authorised Services.
Check the tension of the chain after the
first few metres have been driven.SNOW CHAINS
Use of snow chains should be in compli-
ance with local regulations.
Use snow chains with reduced size with
maximum protrusion beyond the tyre pro-
file of 12 mm.
Snow chains may not be
used on tyres type 225/45
ZR 17”, 235/35 R18”.
Only spider type chains can be used
on tyres type 215/45 R17” and
215/45 ZR17”. SPIKES SPIDER
COMPACT snow chains (17003
compact model) with 9 arms and 16
mm adjustable length and 17"
wheel cover adapter are available
at Lineaccessori Alfa Romeo. Keep
your speed down when this type of
chains is fitted. Do not exceed 50
km/h with this type of chains,
avoid sudden acceleration and de-
activate the ASR system (the warn-
ing light on the button shall be on).
Remember that snow chains make
braking distance longer.
IN AN EMERGENCY
194fig. 17
A0A0449m
fig. 18
A0A0450m
fig. 19
A0A0451m
After about 10 minutes, stop and check
the tyre pressure once again; remember to
engage the handbrake.
Place the sticker in a posi-
tion where it can be clear-
ly seen by the driver as a notice
that the tyre has been treated with
the quick repairing kit. Drive care-
fully especially in a bend. Do not
overcome 80 km/h. Avoid sudden
acceleration or braking.
WARNING
If the pressure is below
1,3 bars do not drive any
further: the quick repairing kit can-
not guarantee proper hold because
the tyre is too much damaged. Con-
tact Alfa Romeo Authorized Ser-
vices.
Conversely, if at least 1,3 bars are
detected, restore the correct pres-
sure (with the engine running and
the handbrake engaged) and start
driving the car with great care.
WARNING
If, during the pressure
restoring operation, it is
not possible to reach at least 1,8
bars, do not drive any further be-
cause the tyre is too much dam-
aged and the quick repairing kit
cannot guarantee proper hold. Con-
tact Alfa Romeo Authorized Ser-
vices.
WARNING
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VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
222
SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME
20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180Thousands of km
Check tyre conditions/wear and adjust pressure if necessary
Check operation of lighting system (headlights, direction indicators, hazard
warning lights, boot, passenger compartment, glovebox lights, warning lights, etc..)
Check operation of windscreen washer system, adjust spray jets
Check position/wear of windscreen/rearscreen wiper blades
Check operation of front disk brake pad wear indicator
Check wear conditions of rear disk brake pads
Sight check the conditions of: body exterior, underbody protection, stiff pipes and
hoses (exhaust - fuel supply - brakes), rubber parts (boots - sleeves - bushes etc..)
Check for bonnet and boot lock cleanness, lever cleanness and lubrication
Sight check for accessory poly-V drive belt
Check handbrake lever stroke adjustment
Check antievaporation system
Change air cleaner cartridge
Top up fluid levels (engine coolant, brakes, windscreen washer, battery, etc..)
Check and if necessary top up the Selespeed automatic transmission oil level
Sight check for conditions of timing gear drive toothed belt