REFUELLING
Petrol engines: refuel with unleaded petrol with an
octane rating (RON) of 95 or higher only.
Diesel engines: refuel with diesel fuel compliant with
European specification EN590 only. The use of other products or
mixtures may damage the engine beyond repair and consequently
invalidate the warranty, depending on the damage caused.
STARTING THE ENGINE
Petrol engines: make sure that the handbrake is
engaged, set the gearshift lever to neutral, fully depress the
clutch without pressing the accelerator, then turn the ignition key
to AVV and release it as soon as the engine has started.
Diesel engines: turn the ignition key to MAR and wait for the Yandmwarning lights to turn off; turn the key to AVV and release it
as soon as the engine starts.
PARKING ON FLAMMABLE MATERIAL
The catalytic converter reaches high temperatures
during operation. Do not park the car on grass, dry
leaves, pine needles or other flammable material: fire
hazard.
RESPECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
The car is fitted with a system that carries out a
continuous diagnosis of the emission-related components
in order to help protect the environment.
ELECTRIC ACCESSORIES
If after having purchased your car you decide to add
accessories requiring electricity (that may otherwise
cause the battery to gradually lose power), please
contact Alfa Romeo Authorized Services. They can
calculate the overall electric requirement and check that
the car’s electric system can support the required load
CODE CARD(for versions/markets where provided)
Keep this in a safe place, not in the car. We recommend
that you always carry the electronic code provided on
the CODE card with you, in case you need to perform
an emergency start.
SCHEDULED SERVICING
Correct car maintenance is essential to ensure that the
performance, safety features, environmental
friendliness and low running costs stay in tip-top
condition over the years.
THE OWNER HANDBOOK CONTAINS…
... information, tips and important warnings on the
correct use and maintenance of your car over time. Pay
special attention to the symbols
"(personal safety) #(environmental protection) â(car integrity).
READ THIS CAREFULLY
K
6
GETTING
TO KNOW
YOUR CAR
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING AND
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
SPEEDOMETER (SPEED INDICATOR)
This shows the speed of the car.
REV COUNTER
This indicates the engine rpm.
FUEL LEVEL GAUGE
This shows the amount of fuel left in the fuel tank.
0 - tank empty.
1 - tank full
The warning light in the gauge lights up when there are only 8 to
10 litres of fuel remaining in the tank; refuel at the earliest op-
portunity.
ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE INDICATOR
This gauge indicates the temperature of the engine coolant. The
warning light on the indicator lights up to indicate an increase in
coolant temperature; in the event of this happening, switch off the
engine and contact an Alfa Romeo Authorised Service Provider.
INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS
General warnings
The warning lights come on in conjunction with a dedicated mes-
sage and/or a buzzer where appropriate. These indications are
brief and precautionary and as such must not be considered as
exhaustive and/or alternative to the information contained in the
Owner’s Handbook, which you are recommended to read careful-
ly in all cases. Always refer to the information in this chapter in the
event of a failure signal.
Low brake fluid level (red)
When the ignition key is turned to MAR, the warning
light turns on but should go off after a few seconds.
The warning light (or symbol on the display) comes on
when the level of the brake fluid in the reservoir falls below the
minimum level due to possible leaks in the circuit.
A specific message will be shown on the display.
Handbrake on (red)
When the ignition key is turned to MAR, the warning light turns
on but should go off after a few seconds. The warning light (or
symbol on the display) comes on when the handbrake is on. If
the car is moving a buzzer is also triggered.
IMPORTANT If the warning light comes on with the vehicle in mo-
tion, check that the handbrake is not engaged.
x
49
GETTING
TO KNOW
YOUR CAR
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING AND
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
IGNITION SWITCH
The key can be turned to three different positions fig. 21:
❍STOP: engine off, key can be extracted, steering locked. Some
electric devices (e.g. car radio, central door locking system,
alarm, etc.) can work;
❍MAR: driving position. All electric devices can work;
❍ON: starting the engine.
The ignition switch is fitted with an electronic safety system that
requires the ignition key to be turned back to STOP if the engine
will not start, before the starting operation can be repeated.
fig. 21A0K0063m
If the ignition switch is tampered with (e.g.: at-
tempted theft), have it checked over by an Alfa
Romeo Authorised Service Provider as soon as pos-
sible.
Always remove the key when you leave your car
to prevent someone from accidentally operating
the controls. Remember to engage the handbrake.
Engage 1
stgear if the car is parked uphill or reverse if the
car is parked downhill. Never leave children unattended
in the car.
STEERING LOCK
Engagement
When the key is at STOP, remove the key and turn the steering
wheel until it locks.
Disengagement
Move the steering wheel slightly and turn the ignition key to MAR.
It is absolutely forbidden to carry out any after-
market operation involving steering system or
steering column modifications (e.g.: installation of
anti-theft device). This could badly affect performance and
safety, invalidate the warranty and also result in the non-
compliance of the car with approval requirements.
Never remove the key while the car is moving. The
steering wheel should lock automatically as soon
as it is turned. This also applies to when the car is
towed.
151
GETTING
TO KNOW
YOUR CAR
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING AND
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
STARTING AND DRIVING
STARTING PROCEDURE FOR DIESEL VERSIONS
Proceed as follows:
❍engage the handbrake and place the gearbox in neutral;
❍turn the ignition key to the MAR position: warning lights m
andYon the instrument panel will light up;
❍wait for the warning lights to go out;
❍press the clutch pedal down to the floor without touching the
accelerator;
❍turn the ignition key to AVV as soon as warning light mgoes
out. Waiting too long will waste the heating work carried out
by the glow plugs. Release the key as soon as the engine starts.
If warning light mblinks for approximately 1
minute after starting or during prolonged crank-
ing, this indicates a fault in the glow plug pre-heat-
ing system. Use the car normally if the engine starts and
go to Alfa Romeo Authorized Services as soon as possible.
It is dangerous to have the engine running indoors.
The engine takes in oxygen and discharges carbon
dioxide, carbon monoxide and other toxic gases.
STARTING THE ENGINE
STARTING PROCEDURE FOR PETROL VERSIONS
Proceed as follows:
❍engage the handbrake and place the gearbox in neutral;
❍press the clutch pedal down to the floor without touching the
accelerator;
❍turn the ignition key to AVV and let it go the moment the en-
gine starts.
IMPORTANT
❍If the engine does not start on the first attempt, turn the igni-
tion key to STOP before repeating the operation.
❍If, when the ignition key is at MAR, the instrument panel warn-
ing light
Yremains on together with warning light U, turn
the key to STOP and then back to MAR; if the warning light
remains on, try with the other keys provided with the car. If
you are still unable to start the engine contact Alfa Romeo Au-
thorized Services.
❍Never leave the ignition key on MAR when the engine is off.
153
GETTING
TO KNOW
YOUR CAR
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING AND
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
IMPORTANT Carry out these manoeuvres with the brake pedal pressed.
IMPORTANT For cars equipped with a front armrest, lift this up to
ensure that it does not interfere with the action of the handbrake.
fig. 110A0K0073m
The car should be locked after a few notches: if this
is not so, contact Alfa Romeo Authorized Services to
have the handbrake adjusted.
PARKING THE CAR
Switch off the engine and pull up the handbrake. Engage a gear
(1stif the car is facing uphill or reverse if it is facing downhill) and
leave the wheels steered to one side.
If the car is parked on a steep slope block the wheels with a wedge
or stone. Always remove the ignition key when leaving the car.
HANDBRAKE fig. 110
To engage the handbrake pull lever A upwards until the car is se-
cured. To disengage slightly raise lever A, press and hold down but-
ton B and lower the lever.
159
GETTING
TO KNOW
YOUR CAR
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING AND
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
Keep your speed down when snow chains are fit-
ted - do not exceed 50 km/h. Avoid potholes, steps
and pavements and also avoid driving for long dis-
tances on roads not covered with snow to avoid damag-
ing the car and the road surface.
SNOW CHAINS
The use of snow chains should be in compliance with local regu-
lations. Snow chains may be fitted only to the front wheel tyres
(drive wheels).
Check the tension of the chains after the first few metres have been
driven.
Use reduced bulk snow chains:
– All versions: for 195/55 R16”, 205/55 R16” and 225/45
R17” size tyres use low-clearance snow chains with a maximum
protrusion beyond the tyre profile of 9 mm.
IMPORTANT The space-saver wheel cannot be fitted with snow
chains. If a front (drive) wheel is punctured and snow chains must
be used, you must remove a normal wheel from the rear and re-
place this one with the space-saver wheel. In this way, with two
normal drive wheels, it is possible to use snow chains.
STORING THE CAR
If the car is to be left inactive for longer than a month, the following
precautions should be noted:
❍park the car in a dry, covered and, if possible, ventilated area;
engage a gear and check that the handbrake is not engaged;
❍disconnect the negative battery terminal and check battery
charge. Repeat this check once every three months during stor-
age;
❍clean and protect painted areas using protective wax;
❍clean and protect the shiny metal areas using special com-
mercially-available products;
❍sprinkle talcum powder on the rubber windscreen and rear win-
dow wiper blades and lift them off the glass;
❍slightly open the windows;
❍cover the car with a fabric or perforated plastic sheet. Do not
use compact plastic sheets which do not allow humidity to evap-
orate from the surface of the car.
❍inflate tyres to a pressure of +0.5 bar above the normal spec-
ified pressure and check the pressure at regular intervals;
❍if you have not disconnected the battery, check the battery
charge every thirty days;
❍do not drain the engine cooling system.
164
GETTING
TO KNOW
YOUR CAR
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING AND
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
Replace the wheel as follows:
❍stop the car in a position so that it is not a danger for on-com-
ing traffic and where you can replace the wheel safely. The
ground must be flat and solid;
❍switch off the engine, pull up the handbrake and engage 1st
gear or reverse; put on the high visibility jacket (required by
law) before leaving the car;
❍open the boot, pull tab A-fig. 113 and lift up the mat;
❍using the wrench A - fig. 114 positioned in the tool box, loosen
the locking device, take the tool box B and place it close to the
wheel to be replaced, then take the space/saver wheel C;
fig. 115A0K0038m
❍take tool A-fig. 115 and loosen the fastening bolts by ap-
proximately one turn. For versions with alloy rims, shake the
car to facilitate detachment of the rim from the wheel hub.
fig. 114A0K0124m
fig. 113A0K0168m
171
GETTING
TO KNOW
YOUR CAR
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING AND
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
INFLATION PROCEDURE
Wear the gloves included in the kit.
Proceed as follows:
❍apply the handbrake, loosen the cap from the tyre inflation
valve, extract the flexible tube A-fig. 125 and screw ring nut
B onto the tyre inflation valve;
❍make sure that switch A-fig. 126 for the compressor is in po-
sition 0 (off), start the engine, insert the plug into the luggage
compartment current socket (see fig. 126a) or cigar lighter on
central tunnel (see fig. 127) and switch on the compressor
by bringing switch A-fig. 126 to position I (on);
fig. 125A0K0127mfig. 126aA0K0152m
fig. 126A0K0021m