2012 Alfa Romeo Giulietta technical specifications

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FRONT AIRBAG ON PASSENGER’S SIDE
fig. 107
This is located in a dedicated compartment in the dashboard.
fig. 107A0K0135m
Do not arrange cradle child seats facing backwards
if the front air bag on the passenger’s side is en-
abled. Deployment of the air bag in an accident
could cause fatal injuries to the baby regardless of
the severity of the collision. Always deactivate the
passenger’s air bag when placing a child seat on the front
seat. Also, the passenger seat should be as far back as
possible to avoid contact between the child seat and the
dashboard. Although this is not mandatory by law, the air
bag should be immediately reactivated when children are
no longer carried to ensure better protection for adults.
To deactivate the air bags see “Knowing your
car” chapter, “Menu Items” paragraph.
Deactivating the passenger front air bag and
side bag
Deactivate the passenger front air bag and chest protection side
bags when carrying a chid on the front seat. With the air bags de-
activated, the
“warning light is lit in the instrument panel.

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SIDE AIR BAGS
(SIDE BAG - WINDOW BAG)
The car is fitted with front side bags for driver and passenger for
protecting the chest, and window bags for protecting front and rear
passengers’ heads.
Side bags protect car occupants from side crashes of medium-high
severity, by placing the cushion between the occupant and the in-
ternal parts of the side structure of the car.
Non-activation of side bags in other types of collisions (front colli-
sions, rear shunts, roll-overs, etc...) is not a system malfunction.
fig. 108A0K0081mfig. 109A0K0035m
FRONT SIDE BAGS fig. 108
These are comprised of two types of bags located in the front
back/rests, which protect the chest and pelvis area of passen-
gers in the event of a side impact of medium-high severity.
HEAD PROTECTION SIDE AIR BAGS
(WINDOW BAGS) fig. 109
It is formed by two "curtain" window bags are located behind the
side roof upholstery and are covered by special trimming.
They were designed to protect the head of front and rear passen-
gers in case of side collisions, thanks to the wide cushion inflation
surface.
The air bags are not deployed in the event of impact of low sever-
ity (for which the retaining action of the seat belts is sufficient).
It is therefore always necessary to wear seat belts.
In the event of a side impact, the system provides best protection
if the passenger sits on the seat in a correct position, thus allow-
ing correct window bag deployment.

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WARNINGS
Do not wash the seats with water or pressurised steam (wash by
hand or at automatic seat washing stations).
The front and/or side air bags may activate in the event of sharp
impacts to the underbody of the car (e.g. impact with steps, pave-
ments, potholes or road bumps etc.).
A small amount of dust will be released when the airbags are de-
ployed. This is not harmful and does not indicate a fire. Dust may
irritate your skin and eyes: in this case, wash with mild soap and
water.
All operations on air bags (inspections, repairs and replacement)
must be carried out by Alfa Romeo Authorized Services.
If the car is to be scrapped, contact Alfa Romeo Authorized Ser-
vices to have the air bags deactivated.
Pretensioners and airbags are deployed according to different log-
ics on the basis of the type of collision. Failure to deploy of one
or more of these devices does not therefore indicate a system fault.Do not hook rigid objects to the clothes hangers or
support handles.
Do not rest your head, arms or elbows on the door,
windows or on the window bag area to avoid in-
juries during inflation.
Never lean your head, arms or elbows out of the
window.

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If the warning light ¬does not turn on when the key
is turned to MAR, or if it stays on when travelling (to-
gether with the message on the display on some ver-
sions), there could be a failure in the restraint systems. If
this is the case, the air bags or pretensioners may not be de-
ployed in the event of an accident or, less likely, they may
be deployed accidentally. Do not drive the car and contact
a Alfa Romeo Authorised Service Provider to have the sys-
tem checked immediately.
The expiry dates of the pyrotechnic charge and
clock contact are shown in the plate installed in-
side the glove compartment. Go to an Alfa Romeo
Authorised Service Provider when the time to have them
replaced approaches.
Do not travel with objects on your lap, in front of
your chest, or between your lips (e.g. pipes, pen-
cils, etc.): you may be seriously injured in the event
of a crash with air bag deployment.
If someone tries to steal or damage your car, and
in the event of floods, have the air bag system
checked by an Alfa Romeo Authorised Service
Provider.
With the ignition key inserted and turned to MAR,
the air bags can be deployed also with the car at
a standstill, if it is hit by another vehicle even if the
engine is off. For this reason, children must never sit on
the front seat, even if the car is not moving. Remember
that no safety device (airbag or pretensioner) will be de-
ployed in a crash if the key is inserted and turned to the
STOP position. Failure to deploy in such cases must not
be considered a sign of malfunction.
When the ignition key is turned to MAR, the “
warning light turns on (front airbag on passenger’s
side enabled) and will blinks for a few seconds as
a reminder that the passenger airbag will be deployed
in the event of a crash and then go off.
The front air bags are deployed in the event of
more severe collisions than those required for de-
ploying the pretensioners.
For collisions in the range between the two thresholds, it
is normal for only the pretensioners to be activated.

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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.

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It is advisable not to demand maximum perfor-
mance from your car (e.g. excessive acceleration,
long distances at top rpm, excessively intense brak-
ing, etc.) when it is first used.
Remember that the brake servo and electro-
mechanical power steering are not operational un-
til the engine has been started, therefore much
more effort than usual is required on the brake pedal and
steering wheel.
Never jump start the engine by pushing, towing or
driving downhill. These manoeuvres may damage
the catalytic converter.
When the engine is switched off never leave the
key in the MAR position to prevent useless cur-
rent absorption from draining the battery.
HOW TO WARM UP THE ENGINE
AFTER IT HAS JUST STARTED
Proceed as follows:
❍drive off slowly, letting the engine turn at medium speed. Do
not accelerate abruptly;
❍do not demand maximum performance for the first few kilo-
metres. Wait until the engine coolant temperature indicator
starts moving.
STOPPING THE ENGINE
Turn the ignition key to STOP while the engine is idling.
IMPORTANT After a taxing drive, before turning the engine off you
should allow it to idle to allow the temperature in the engine com-
partment to fall.
A quick burst on the accelerator before turning off
the engine serves absolutely no practical purpose;
it wastes fuel and is especially damaging to tur-
bocharged engines.

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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.

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USING THE GEARBOX
To engage the gears, press the clutch pedal down fully and shift
the gear lever into the required position (a diagram is shown
on the knob fig. 111).
To engage 6th gear, operate the lever by pressing it towards the
right in order to avoid engaging 4th gear by mistake. Similar ac-
tion to pass from sixth to fifth gear.
To engage reverse gear (R) from the neutral position, lift up ring
A-fig. 111 and simultaneously move the lever to the left and then
forwards.
IMPORTANT Reverse may be engaged only when the car is at a
standstill.
fig. 111A0K0082m
Press the clutch pedal fully to change gears cor-
rectly. Therefore, the floor area under the pedals
must be clear: ensure that any rubber mats are flat
and do not interfere with the pedals.
Do not drive with your hand resting on the gear
lever, because this pressure, even if light, can wear
out the inner components of the gearbox over
time.