2012 Alfa Romeo MiTo clutch

REFUELLING
Petrol engines: only use unleaded petrol with an octane
value (RON) of no lower than 95.
Diesel engines: only use diesel fuel compliant with European
specification EN590. The use of other products or mixtures may
damage the engine beyond repair and consequently invalidate the
warranty.
STARTING THE ENGINE
Petrol engines: make sure that the handbrake is
engaged; set the gearshift lever to neutral; fully depress the
clutch pedal 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
warning lights to go out; Ythenmturn the ignition key to AVV
and release it as soon as the engine has started.
PARKING ON FLAMMABLE MATERIAL
The catalytic converter reaches high temperatures
during operation. Do not park on grass, dry leaves,
pine needles or other flammable material: fire risk.
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.
ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES
If after having purchased your car you decide to add
accessories requiring electrical power (that may
otherwise cause the battery to gradually lose power),
please consult an Alfa Romeo Authorised Service. They
can calculate the overall electrical requirement and
check that the car’s electrical 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.
PROGRAMMED MAINTENANCE
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…
... important information, tips and warnings on the
correct use and maintenance of your car over time as
well as safe driving. Particular attention should be paid
to information marked with the following symbols:
"(personal safety) #(environmental protection) â(car
integrity).
READ THIS CAREFULLY!
K



82GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
INCREASING THE MEMORISED SPEED
Press the accelerator and store the new speed or move the lever
upwards (+). Each movement of the lever will correspond to a
slight reduction in speed (about 1 km/h), while keeping the lever
held downwards will reduce the speed continuously.
REDUCING THE MEMORISED SPEED
Deactivate the device and store the new speed or move the lever
downwards (–) until the new speed is reached. It will then auto-
matically be memorised. Each movement of the lever will corre-
spond to a slight reduction in speed (about 1 km/h), while keep-
ing the lever held downwards will correspond to a continuous speed
reduction.
DISENGAGING THE DEVICE
To disengage the device:
❍turn selector wheel A-fig. 36 to OFF;
❍switch off the engine;
❍press the brake pedal, the clutch or the accelerator; in this
last case the system is not effectively disengaged but the sys-
tem gives priority to the acceleration request. The device still
remains active, without the need to press the RES button to re-
turn to the previous condition once acceleration is concluded. When travelling downhill with the device engaged, the car may
slightly exceed the preset speed. When the device is activated
the
Üwarning light comes on, together with the relevant mes-
sage on the instrument panel (for versions/markets, where pro-
vided).
MEMORISING VEHICLE SPEED
Proceed as follows:
❍turn selector wheel A-fig. 36 to ON and press the accelerator
until the vehicle reaches the desired speed;
❍push the lever up (+) for at least one second and release it:
the car speed will be stored. The accelerator pedal may be re-
leased.
If needed (e.g. for overtaking), press the accelerator pedal to ac-
celerate: the car will return to the previously set speed when the
pedal is released.
RESTORING STORED SPEED
If the device has been disengaged - for example by pressing the
brake or clutch pedal - the memorised speed can be reset as fol-
lows:
❍accelerate gradually until reaching a speed approaching the one
memorised;
❍engage the gear selected at the time of speed memorising;
❍press button B-fig. 36 (RES).

108GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
VDC SYSTEM
(Vehicle Dynamics Control)
This is an electronic system that controls car stability in the event
of tyre grip loss.
The VDC system also includes the following systems:
❍Hill Holder
❍ASR
❍Brake Assist
❍MSR
❍CBC
❍“ELECTRONIC Q2” (“E-Q2”)
❍DST
SYSTEM INTERVENTION
This is indicated by the áwarning light flashing in the instru-
ment panel: this indicates that the vehicle is in critical stability
and tyre grip conditions.
SYSTEM ACTIVATION
The VDC system switches on automatically each time the engine
is started and cannot be switched off.
HILL HOLDER SYSTEM
This system is an integral part of the VDC system and it is provided
to facilitate starting on slopes.
It is activated automatically in the following instances:
❍uphill: car at a standstill on a road with a gradient higher than
5%, engine running, clutch and brake pedal pressed, gearbox
to neutral or engaged gear other than reverse;
❍downhill: car at a standstill on a road with a gradient higher
than 5%, engine running, clutch and brake pedal pressed and
reverse gear engaged.
At take-off the VDC system control unit will keep brake force on
the wheels until reaching the torque suitable for starting, or in
any case for 1 second in order to move easily from the brake ped-
al to the accelerator pedal.
If the vehicle has not departed after this time, the system will de-
activate automatically by gradually releasing the brake force. A
sound may be heard during this stage: this indicates that the ve-
hicle is about to move off.
IMPORTANT the Hill Holder system should not be used as a hand-
brake. Do not leave the vehicle without having engaged the hand-
brake, switched off the engine and engaged a gear.

114GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
NoteThe engine automatic stop is allowed only after having run
at about 10 km/h, to prevent repeated engine stops when driving
at a very slow speed. The engine stopping is signalled by display-
ing the
Usymbol in fig. 71.
Engine re-starting mode
To restart the engine, press the clutch pedal.
SYSTEM MANUAL ACTIVATION/DEACTIVATION
To activate/deactivate the system, press the button fig. 72 on
the trim next to the steering wheel. When the system is deacti-
vated, the
Uwarning light in the instrument panel switches on.
For versions/markets, where fitted, a message plus a symbol on
the display may appear in the event of activation/deactivation of
the system.
START&STOP SYSTEM
(for versions/markets, where provided)
The Start&Stop system stops the engine automatically when the
vehicle stops and starts it again when the driver wants to resume
driving. In this way, the vehicle efficiency is increased, by reduc-
ing consumption, dangerous gas emissions and sound pollution.
The system is active every time the engine is started.
OPERATING MODE
Engine stopping mode
With stopped vehicle, the engine stops with gearbox in neutral and
released clutch pedal.
fig. 71A0J0279mfig. 72A0J0247m

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR115
1
ENGINE FAILED STOPPING CONDITIONS
When the system is operating, due to comfort, emission control
and safety reasons, the engine could not stop in some conditions,
among which:
❍still cold engine;
❍especially cold outside temperature;
❍insufficiently charged battery;
❍operating heated rear window;
❍windscreen-wiper operating at max. speed;
❍particulate filter (DPF) regeneration in progress (only for Diesel
engines);
❍open driver's door;
❍unfastened driver's seat belt;
❍engaged reverse (for example during parking manoeuvres);
❍for versions equipped with dual zone automatic climate control
(for versions/markets, where provided), if an adequate level
of thermal comfort has not been reached or MAX-DEF func-
tion activation;
❍during the first utilization period, for the system initialisation.
In these cases, the display shows a message and - for those ver-
sions/markets where it has been fitted - the
Usymbol on the
display flashes.
ENGINE RESTARTING CONDITIONS
Due to comfort, emission control and safety reasons, the engine
can be restarted automatically without any intervention by the
driver, under special conditions, such as:
❍insufficiently charged battery;
❍windscreen-wiper operating at max. speed;
❍low vacuum in the braking system (for example after repeat-
ed actions on the brake pedal);
❍moving vehicle (for example while driving downhills);
❍engine stopping by Start&Stop system for over 3 minutes;
❍for versions equipped with dual zone automatic climate control
(for versions/markets where provided), to enable suitable ther-
mal comfort or MAX-DEF function activation.
With engaged gear, the engine automatic restarting is possible
only by fully pressing the clutch pedal. The driver is informed by
the displaying of a message and - for versions/markets where it
has been fitted - by the flashing of the
Usymbol on the display.
Notes
If the clutch is not pressed, after 3 minutes from the engine stop-
ping, the engine can be restarted only by the ignition key.
In case of undesired engine stopping conditions, for example as a
result of sudden clutch pedal release with engaged gear, if the
Start&Stop system is active, the engine can be restarted by fully
pressing the clutch pedal or placing the gearbox in neutral.
If temperature comfort is to be preferred, deac-
tivate the Start&Stop system to make the climate
control system work continuously

154STARTING UP AND DRIVING
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 NOTES
❍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 on MAR, the Ywarning light (or
symbol in the display) remains lit together with the
Uwarning
light, turn the key to STOP and then back to MAR; if the warn-
ing light remains on, try using the other keys provided with the
car. If you are still unable to start the engine carry out the emer-
gency starting procedure (see “Emergency Start-up” in chap-
ter 4) and contact an Alfa Romeo Authorised Service Provider.
❍Never leave the ignition key on MAR when the engine is off.
PROCEDURE FOR DIESEL VERSIONS
Proceed as follows:
❍engage the handbrake and place the gearbox in neutral;
❍turn the ignition key to MAR: the mandYwarning lights
(or symbol in the display) will come on;
❍wait for the warning light (or symbol in the display) to go
out;
❍press the clutch pedal down to the floor without touching the
accelerator;
❍turn the ignition key to AVV as soon as the mwarning light
goes out. Waiting too long will waste the work done by the
glow plugs. Release the key as soon as the engine starts.
If warning light mblinks for 60 seconds after
starting or during prolonged cranking, this indi-
cates a fault in the glow plug pre-heating system.
Use the car normally if the engine starts and contact an
Alfa Romeo Authorised Services provider as soon as pos-
sible.
Is is dangerous to let the engine run in enclosed
spaces. The engine depletes oxygen and discharges
carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and other toxic
gases.

STARTING UP AND DRIVING157
3
USING THE GEARBOX
To engage the gears, press the clutch pedal fully and shift the
gear lever into one of the required positions (the diagram for en-
gaging the gears is shown on the knob (fig. 2, fig. 3 and fig. 4).
In models with 6 gears, to engage 6
thgear, move the gearstick
to the right to avoid changing into 4thby mistake. The same goes
for changing from 6thto 5th.
To engage reverse (R) from neutral, lift ring A up (fig. 2, fig. 3,
fig. 4) from beneath the knob and at the same time:
❍shift the gearstick to the left then forward on 1.4 Turbo Petrol
155HP, 1.4 Turbo Multi Air 170HP Quadrifoglio Verde and
1.6 JTD
Mversions;
❍shift the gearstick to the right then back on 1.4 Petrol,
1.4 Turbo Petrol 120HP, 1.4 Multi Air, 1.4 Turbo Multi Air and
1.3 JTD
M-2versions.
fig. 2 1.4 Petrol, 1.4 Multi Air versionsA0J0265mfig. 4 1.4 Turbo Benzina 120HP,
1.4 Turbo Multi Air, 1.3 JTDM-2versions
A0J0267m
fig. 3 1.4 Turbo Benzina 155HP,
1.4 Turbo Multi Air 170HP Quadrifoglio Verde, 1.6 JTDMversions
A0J0266m

158STARTING UP AND DRIVING
SAVING FUEL
Here are some suggestions which may help you to save fuel and
lower the amount of toxic emissions released into the atmosphere.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
Car maintenance
Have checks and adjustments carried out in accordance with the
“Scheduled servicing plan”.
Tyres
Check tyre pressure regularly, at least once every four weeks: ex-
cessively low pressure will increase fuel consumption because rolling
resistance will be higher.
Unnecessar y loads
Do not travel with an overloaded boot. The weight of the car and
its ride setting greatly affect fuel consumption and stability.
Press the clutch pedal fully to change gears cor-
rectly. For this reason, there must be no obstacles
on the floor under the pedals: ensure that any rub-
ber mats are correctly positioned, 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 gearbox internal components over time.
IMPORTANT Reverse may only be engaged when the car is at a
standstill. With the engine on, wait at least 3 seconds with the
clutch pressed down before engaging reverse gear to prevent it
from scraping.