
102
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
HILL HOLDER SYSTEM
This system is an integral part of the VDC
system and it is provided to facilitate
starting on slopes:
❒uphill: car at a standstill on a road
with a gradient higher than 6%, en-
gine running, clutch and brake ped-
al depressed, gearbox to neutral or
engaged gear other than reverse;
❒downhill: car at a standstill on a road
with a gradient higher than 6%, en-
gine running, clutch and brake ped-
al depressed and reverse gear en-
gaged.
At pickup the VDC system control unit
will keep brake force on wheels until
reaching the torque suitable for starting,
or in any case for about 1 second in or-
der to pass easily from the brake pedal
to the accelerator pedal.
This time elapsing without starting, the
system will deactivate automatically by
releasing gradually the brake force.
At releasing, the typical brake disen-
gagement noise indicating that the car
is going to move will be heard.Failure warnings
System failure is indicated by the dedi-
cated message on the display (see sec-
tion “Warning lights and messages”).
IMPORTANT The Hill Holder system
is not a parking brake. Never get out
of the car without engaging the hand-
brake, switching the engine off and en-
gaging the first gear.
ASR SYSTEM
(AntiSlip Regulation)
This system is an integral part of the VDC
system, it controls car drive and cuts in
automatically every time one or both dri-
ving wheels slip.
According to slipping conditions, two dif-
ferent control systems are activated:
❒if slipping involves both driving
wheels, the ASR function intervenes
reducing the power transmitted by
the engine;
❒if slipping involves only one driving
wheel, the ASR system cuts in au-
tomatically braking the wheel that is
slipping.
The action of the ASR is particularly help-
ful in the following circumstances:
❒slipping of the inner wheel due to
the effect of dynamic load changes
or excessive acceleration;
❒too much power transmitted to the
wheels also in relation to the condi-
tions of the road surface;

120
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
HOW TO KEEP THE SEAT
BELTS ALWAYS IN
EFFICIENT CONDITIONS
❒Always use the belt with the tape taut
and never twisted; make sure that it
is free to run without impediments;
❒after a serious accident, replace the
belt being worn at that time, even if
it does not appear damaged. Always
replace the seat belts if pretension-
ers have been activated;
❒to clean the belts, wash by hand
with neutral soap, rinse and leave to
dry in the shade. Never use strong
detergents, bleach or dyes or other
chemical substance that might weak-
en the fibres;
❒prevent the reels from getting wet:
their correct operation is only guar-
anteed if water does not get inside;
❒replace the seat belt when showing
significant wear or cut signs. IMPORTANT Never travel with a child
sitting on the passenger’s lap with a sin-
gle belt to protect them bothfig. 6. Do
not fasten other objects to the body.
A0F0105mfig. 6
Under no circumstances
should the components
of the seat belts and preten-
sioners be tampered with or
removed. Any operation
should be carried out by qual-
ified and authorised personnel.
Always contact Alfa Romeo
Authorized Services.
WARNING
If the belt has been
subjected to heavy
stress, for example after an
accident, it should be changed
completely together with the
anchors, anchor fastening
screws and the pretensioners.
In fact, even if the belt has no
visible defects, it could have
lost its resilience.
WARNING

144
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CARIMPORTANTThe car can only be put
into reverse gear when it has stopped
moving completely. With the engine run-
ning, before engaging the reverse, wait
at least 3 seconds with the clutch ped-
al fully down to prevent damage and
grating of the gears.
A0F0151mfig. 3
To change gears prop-
erly you must push the
clutch pedal fully down. It is
therefore essential that there
is nothing under the pedals:
make sure mats are lying flat
and do not get in the way of
the pedals.
WARNING
Do not drive with your
hand resting on the gear
lever as the force ex-
erted, even if slight, could lead
to premature wear on the gear-
box internal components over
time. The clutch pedal must be
used for gear shift only. Never
drive with the foot resting,
even if slightly, on the clutch
pedal. For versions/markets
where applicable the clutch ped-
al control electronics can inter-
vene interpreting the wrong dri-
ve style as a fault.
USING
THE GEARBOX
The car is fitted with 6-gear manual
gearbox. Gear positions are shown on
the gearshift lever knob.
Always press down the clutch pedal
when shifting gears. To engage the 6
th
gear, move the gearshift lever pressing
slightly rightwards to prevent engaging
the 4
thgear accidentally.
To engage reverse Rfrom neutral, raise
ringA-fig. 3under the knob and at
the same time move the gearshift lever
leftwards and then forward. After en-
gaging reverse release the ring. To shift
from reverse to another gear it is not
necessary to raise the ring.

156
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
ENGINE OIL
HIGH TEMPERATURE
Fitting the key into the ignition
device, the warning light (set on engine
oil temperature gauge) turns on but it
should go off a few seconds later.
Warning light turning on when travelling
(together with the message on the dis-
play) indicates that engine oil is too hot;
switch the engine off and contact Alfa
Romeo Authorized Services.
`
LIGHT STAYS ON:
LOW ENGINE OIL
PRESSURE (red)
FLASHING LIGHT:
EXHAUSTED ENGINE
OIL (only Diesel
versions with DPF –
red)
Fitting the key into the ignition device,
the warning light switches on and should
go out as soon as the engine is started.
1. Low engine oil pressure
The warning light turns on and stays on
constantly (for versions/markets, where
provided) along with the message on
the display when the system detects
that engine oil pressure is low.
v
If warning light `starts
flashing when travelling,
contact Alfa Romeo
Authorized Services.
2.Exhausted engine oil
(only Diesel versions with DPF)
The warning light will flash and a specific
message will appear on the display (for
versions/markets, where provided). The
warning light may flash in the follow-
ing ways, depending on the version:
– for 1 minute every two hours;
– for 3 minute cycles with the warning
light off for intervals of 5 seconds until
oil is changed.
After the initial warning, each time the
engine is started up, the warning light
will continue to flash in the above men-
tioned modes, until the oil is changed.
A specific message will appear on the dis-
play (for versions/markets, where pro-
vided) in addition to the warning light.
If the warning light flashes, this does not
mean that the car is defective but sim-
ply informs the driver that it is now nec-
essary to change the oil as a result of
regular vehicle use.
If the warning light
vturns on when
the vehicle is travelling (on
certain versions together with
the message on the display)
stop the engine immediately
and contact a Alfa Romeo
Authorized Services.
WARNING

157
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
LOW BATTERY
CHARGE (red)
If symbol w+ message are
displayed, contact immediately
Alfa Romeo Authorized Services.
w
INCOMPLETE DOOR
LOCKING (red)
Symbol´+ message on the
display indicate that one of the doors
is not closed.
´
BOOT OPEN
SymbolR(red) + mes
sage on the display indicate
that the boot is open.
BONNET OPEN
(for versions/markets,
where provided)
Symbol
S(red) + message on the
display indicate that the bonnet is open.
S
R
Exhausted engine oil
should be replaced as
soon as possible after the
warning light comes on, never
more than 500 km after the
warning light first comes on.
Failure to change the oil with-
in the first 500 km may result
in severe damage to the en-
gine and will result in forfei-
ture of the warranty.Remem-
ber that when the warning
light flashes, it does not mean
that the level of engine oil is
low, so if the light flashes you
must not top up.
WARNING
Note that engine oil is exhausted faster
under the following circumstances:
– use of the vehicle prevalently for city
driving, requiring more frequent regen-
eration of DPF
– use of the vehicle for short drives, in
which the engine does not have time to
reach its regular operating temperature
– repeated interruption of the regener-
ation process, signalled by the DPF warn-
ing light coming on.

162
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
EBD SYSTEM
FAILURE (red)
(amber)
With the engine running the
turning on at the same time
of warning lights
>andx
(together with the message on the dis-
play) indicates that the EBD system is
inefficient; in this case heavy braking
may cause the rear wheels to lock be-
fore time, with the possibility of skid-
ding.
Drive with the utmost care to the near-
est Alfa Romeo Authorized Service to
have the system checked.
VDC SYSTEM
(amber)
(for versions/markets,
where provided)
Fitting the key into the ignition device
the warning light turns on, but it should
go off after few seconds.
The warning light flashes when the VDC
cuts in, to alert the driver that the sys-
tem is adapting to the road surface grip
conditions.
VDC deactivation
When the VDC is deactivated manually
(pressing the ASR/VDC button for 2 sec-
onds) (see paragraph “VDC system” in
section “Dashboard and controls”) the
display will show the dedicated mes-
sage.
VDC system failure
In the event of a failure the VDC system
is deactivated automatically and warn-
ing light
áturns on glowing steadily
(together with a message on the dis-
play). In this case contact Alfa Romeo
Authorized Services as soon as possible.
ABS SYSTEM
FAILURE (amber)
Fitting the key into the ignition
device the warning light turns on, but
it should go off after few seconds.
The warning light turns on (with a ded-
icated message on the display) when
the system is inefficient. In this case the
braking system keeps its effectiveness
unchanged, but without the potential of-
fered by the ABS system. Drive careful-
ly and contact Alfa Romeo Authorized
Services as soon as possible.
>
>
xá

174
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
❒Loosen the fastening bolts and then
remove the wheel;
❒Make sure the contact surfaces be-
tween space-saver spare wheel and
hub are clean so that the fastening
bolts will not come loose;
❒for versions fitted with space-saver
spare wheel, loosen fastener A-
fig. 5, take the tool container B,
and bring it near the wheel to be
changed, then take out the space-
saver spare wheel;
❒Loosen the bolts of the wheel to be
replaced by about one turn with the
wrench provided A-fig. 5a; shake
the car to facilitate rim removal from
the wheel hub;
❒Operate the device F-fig. 6to ex-
tend the jack until the top of the jack
Gfits correctly into catch H;
❒The jack shall be fitted as shown in
fig. 6;
A0F0208mfig. 6
A0F0195mfig. 6
❒Warn anybody nearby that the car is
about to be lifted. They must stay
clear and not touch the car until it
is back on the ground;
❒Fit the handle L-fig. 7to operate
the jack and lift the car until the
wheel to be changed is several cen-
timetres off the ground;
A0F0206mfig. 5aA0F0019mfig. 5

210
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
SCHEDULED
SERVICING
Correct maintenance is essential for en-
suring long car life under the best condi-
tions.
This is why Alfa Romeo has programmed
a series of checks and maintenance op-
erations every 35,000 km (or 21,000
mi).
IMPORTANTThe actual engine oil and
filter change frequency depends on the
conditions of use of the car and is sig-
nalled by means of a warning light or
message (where provided) on the in-
strument panel.
IMPORTANTAt 2000 km from the
scheduled service, the display will show
a dedicated message. It is however important to remember that
scheduled servicing does not completely
cover all the car’s requirements: also in
the initial period before 35,000 km (or
21,000 mi) service coupon and later, be-
tween one coupon and another, ordinary
care is still required such as for example
routine check and topping up the level of
fluids, tyre pressure check, etc...
IMPORTANTThe Programmed Main-
tenance coupons are specified by the
Manufacturer. The failure to have them
carried out may invalidate the warranty.
Scheduled Servicing is performed by all
Alfa Romeo Authorized Services, at pre-
established times.
If during whatever service operation, in
addition to the ones programmed, the
need arises for further replacements or
repairs, these may be carried out only
with the explicit agreement of the Cus-
tomer.IMPORTANTYou are advised to con-
tact Alfa Romeo Authorized Services in
the event of any minor operating faults,
without waiting for the next service
coupon.
If your car is used frequently for towing,
the interval between one service coupon
and the other must be reduced.