2014 Alfa Romeo MiTo tow

PRETENSIONERSThe car is equipped with front seat belt pretensioners, which draw
back the seat belts by several centimetres in the event of a violent
frontal impact. This guarantees the perfect adherence of the seat belts
to the occupants’ bodies before the restraining action begins.
It is evident that the pretensioners have been activated when the belt
withdraws towards the reel.
The car is also equipped with a second pretensioner (in the kick plate
area). Its activation is signalled by the shortening of the metal cable.
A slight discharge of smoke may be produced during the activation of
the pretensioner. This is not harmful and does not indicate the start
of a fire.
IMPORTANT To obtain the highest degree of protection from the action
of the pretensioner, wear the seat belt tight to the chest and pelvis.
The pretensioner does not require any maintenance or lubrication: any
changes to its original conditions will invalidate its efficiency. If, due
to exceptional natural events (floods, sea storms, etc.), the device
has been affected by water and mud, it must be replaced.
The pretensioner may be used only once. Once it has
been activated, contact Alfa Romeo Authorised
Workshops to have it replaced. Consult the plate in the
glove compartment to check the status of the device. Contact Alfa
Romeo Authorised Workshops to have the device replaced as
this date approaches.
Operations which lead to knocks, vibrations or localised
heating (over 100°C for a maximum of 6 hours) in the area
around the pretensioners may cause damage or trigger
them. These devices are not affected by vibrations caused by
irregularities of the road surface or low obstacles such as kerbs, etc.
Contact Alfa Romeo Authorized Services for any assistance necessary.
LOAD LIMITERSTo increase protection, the front seat belt reels contain a load limiter
which controls the force acting on the chest and shoulders during
the belt restraining action in the event of a head-on collision.GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING
THE SEAT BELTSComply with (and ensure that all the other occupants of the car comply
with) the local laws in force regarding the use of seat belts. Always
fasten the seat belts before starting off.
Seat belts must also be worn by pregnant women: the risk of injury in
the event of an accident is reduced for them and the unborn child if
they are wearing a seat belt.
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PROCEDURE FOR DIESEL VERSIONSProceed as follows:
❒engage the handbrake and place the gearbox lever in neutral;
❒turn the ignition key to MAR-ON: the warning lights
and
(or the symbol on the display) on the instrument panel will
switch on;
❒wait for the warning lights (or the symbol on the display) to switch
off;
❒fully depress the clutch pedal, without touching the accelerator;
❒turn the ignition key to AVV;
warning light switches off.
Waiting too long will waste the heating work carried out by the
glow plugs. Release the key as soon as the engine starts.
If the
warning light flashes for about 1 minute after
starting or during prolonged cranking, this indicates a fault
in the glow plug preheating system. Use the car normally
if the engine starts and go to Alfa Romeo Authorized Services as soon
as possible.
It is dangerous to run the engine in enclosed areas. The
engine takes in oxygen and releases carbon dioxide,
carbon monoxide and other toxic gases.It is advisable not to demand maximum performance from
your car (e.g. excessive acceleration, long distances at
maximum rpm, excessively intense braking, etc.) when it is
first used.
When the engine is off, do not leave the ignition key turned
to MAR to prevent unnecessary electrical consumption from
draining the battery.Remember that the brake servo and electromechanical
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.Never start the engine by pushing, towing or driving
downhill. These manoeuvres may damage the catalytic
converter.
WARMING UP THE ENGINE JUST
AFTER IT HAS STARTEDProceed as follows:
❒drive off slowly, letting the engine turn at medium revs and without
accelerating abruptly;
❒do not demand maximum performance for the first few kilometres. It
is advisable to wait until the engine coolant temperature indicator
starts moving.
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Maximum speed
Fuel consumption considerably increases as speed increases. Keep
your speed as even as possible, avoiding unnecessary braking and
acceleration which cause excessive fuel consumption and increased
emissions.
Acceleration
Accelerating violently severely affects consumption and emissions:
acceleration should be gradual and should not exceed the maximum
torque.CONDITIONS OF USECold starting
Short distances and frequent cold start-ups will prevent the engine from
reaching optimal running temperature. This results in a significant
increase in consumption levels (from +15 to +30% on the urban cycle)
and emissions.
Traffic and road conditions
High fuel consumption is caused by heavy traffic, for instance when
travelling in a queue with frequent use of low gears or in large towns
with many traffic lights. Winding mountain roads and rough road
surfaces also adversely affect consumption.
Stops in traffic
During prolonged stops (e.g. level crossings) switch the engine off.
TOWING TRAILERSIMPORTANT
The vehicle must be provided with a type-approved tow hook and
adequate electrical system to tow caravans or trailers. Installation must
be carried out by a specialist.
Fit any specific and/or additional rear view mirrors as specified by the
Highway Code.
Remember that, when towing a trailer, steep hills are harder to climb,
braking distances increase and overtaking takes longer relative to
the overall weight of the trailer.
Engage a low gear when driving downhill, rather than constantly using
the brake.
The weight of the trailer reduces the load capacity of the car by the
same amount. Consider the weight at full load, including accessories
and luggage, to make sure you do not exceed the maximum towable
weight (shown in the registration document).
Respect the speed limits specific to each country for vehicles towing
trailers. In any case do not exceed 100 km/h.
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INSTALLING A TOW HOOKContact Alfa Romeo Authorised Services to install a tow hook.
The ABS with which the car is equipped will not control
the braking system of the trailer. Particular caution is
therefore required on slippery roads.Do not, under any circumstances, modify the vehicle's
braking system to control the trailer breaking system.
The towing breaking system must be completely
independent of the vehicle's hydraulic system.
SNOW TYRESUse snow tyres of the same size as the normal tyres provided with the
car: Alfa Romeo Authorized Services will be able to advise you on
the most appropriate tyre to use.
Only use these tyres in the event of ice or snow on the roads.
For the type of snow tyre to be used, inflation pressures and the
specifications, strictly follow the instructions given in the "Wheels"
paragraph in the "Technical specifications" section.
The winter performance of these tyres is considerably reduced when
the tread thickness is less than 4 mm. Replace them in this case.
Due to their specific features, the performance of snow tyres is much
lower than that of normal types in normal conditions or long motorway
stretches. Their usage should therefore be restricted in accordance
with their type approval.
All four tyres should be the same (brand and track) to ensure greater
safety when driving and braking and good driveability. Remember
that it is inadvisable to change the rotation direction of tyres.
The maximum speed for snow tyres marked “Q” is
160 km/h, while it is 190 km/h for “T” tyres and 210
km/h for "H" tyres. The highway code speed limits
must however always be complied with.
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This starting procedure must be performed by expert
personnel because incorrect actions could cause
electrical discharge of considerable intensity.
Furthermore, battery fluid is poisonous and corrosive: avoid
contact with skin and eyes. Keep naked flames and lighted
cigarettes away from the battery and do not cause sparks.
BUMP STARTINGNever start the engine by pushing, towing or coasting downhill.
REPLACING A WHEELGENERAL INSTRUCTIONSThe car is equipped with the “Fix&Go Automatic Kit”: see the
paragraph “Fix&Go Automatic Kit” for how to use this device.
As an alternative to the “Fix&Go Automatic Kit” the car may be
equipped with a space-saver wheel: see the instructions on the
following pages for changing the tyre.
The spare wheel is specific for your car. Do not use it
on cars of different models. Do not use spare wheels of
different models on your car. The space-saver wheel
must only be used in case of emergency. It must only be used for
the distance necessary to reach a service point and the car speed
must not exceed 80 km/h. The space-saver wheel has an orange
sticker that summarises the main cautions for use and limitations.
Never remove or cover the label. Never apply any hub cap to
the space-saver spare wheel.Alert other drivers that the car is stationary in
compliance with local regulations: hazard warning
lights, warning triangle, etc. Any passengers on board
should leave the car, especially if it is heavily laden. Passengers
should stay away from on-coming traffic while the wheel is
being changed. In case of steep slopes or rough slopes, place
wedges or other materials suitable to stop the vehicle under the
wheels.
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❒rest cable B fig. 122 on the Velcro C to avoid pinching it;
❒screw in locking device A, and finally lower the luggage
compartment mat.
Subwoofer and "Fix&Go Automatic Kit"
Locating the Automatic Fix&Go Kit:
❒open the luggage compartment, pull tab A fig. 114 and lift up the
mat;
❒take the “Fix&Go Automatic Kit” located on the left side of the
luggage compartment ( fig. 124);
❒inflate the wheel (see paragraph entitled “Fix&Go Automatic Kit”).
REFITTING THE WHEELFollowing the procedure described previously, raise the car and
remove the small spare wheel.
Proceed as follows:
❒make sure the contact surfaces between standard wheel and hub are
clean so that the fastening bolts will not come loose;
❒for versions with steel rims: fix the hub cap on the rim,
aligning the crescent hole with the bolt you have fitted, then insert
the other 4 bolts;
❒tighten the retaining bolts using wrench A fig. 118;
❒lower the car and remove the jack;
❒use wrench A fig. 118 to fully tighten the bolts, following the
sequence illustrated in
❒for versions with alloy rims with hub cap: align the pin on
the cap with the housing on the rim.
At the end of operation
❒stow the space-saver spare wheel in the compartment provided in
the boot;
❒insert the jack and the other tools in the container;
❒arrange the container and tools on the space-saver wheel;
❒correctly reposition the boot mat.
fig. 124
A0J0239
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"Fix&Go Automatic" kitThis is located in the luggage compartment.
The kit container also contains a screwdriver and the tow hook.
The kit also contains:
❒a bottle fig. 125 containing sealer and fitted with: filling tube B and
adhesive label C with the wording “max. 80 km/h” to be placed in
a clearly visible position (e.g. on the dashboard) after repairing
the tyre;
❒a compressor D complete with pressure gauge and connectors;
❒an information leaflet fig. 126, providing instructions for using the
kit correctly. This booklet should be given to the persons charged
with handling the tyre treated with this kit;
❒a pair of gloves located in the side compartment of the compressor;
❒adapters for inflating different elements.
IMPORTANT The sealing liquid is suitable for use at temperatures in the
range from –20°C to +50°C. The sealant has an expiry date.
Give the leaflet to the technicians who will be handling
the tyre that was treated using the "Fix&Go Automatic"
kit.In the event of a puncture caused by foreign bodies, the kit
may be used to repair tyres showing damage on the track
or shoulder up to max 4 mm diameter.Holes and damage on the tyre side walls cannot be
repaired. Do not use the tyre quick repair kit if the tyre
is damaged as a result of driving with it deflated.Repairs are not possible in the case of damage to the
wheel rim (bad groove distortion causing air loss).
Do not remove foreign bodies (screws or nails) from
the tyre.
fig. 125
A0J0112
fig. 126
A0J0113
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CHANGING A BULBGENERAL INSTRUCTIONS❒Before changing a bulb check the contacts for oxidation;
❒blown bulbs must be replaced with others of the same type and
power;
❒after replacing a headlight bulb, always check its alignment;
❒when a light is not working, check that the corresponding fuse is
intact before changing a bulb. For the location of fuses, refer to
the paragraph “Replacing fuses” in this section.
Halogen bulbs must be handled holding the metal part
only. Touching the transparent part of the bulb with your
fingers may reduce the intensity of the emitted light and
even reduce the lifespan of the bulb. In case of accidental contact, wipe
the bulb with a cloth moistened with alcohol and let the bulb dry.Modifications or repairs to the electric system that are
not carried out properly or do not take the system
technical specifications into account can cause
malfunctions leading to the risk of fire.Halogen bulbs contain pressurised gas which may
cause small fragments of glass to be projected
outwards if the bulb is broken.
IMPORTANT When the weather is cold or damp or after heavy rain or
washing, the surface of headlights or rear lights, may steam up and/or
form drops of condensation on the inside. This is a natural
phenomenon due to the difference in temperature and humidity
between the inside and the outside of the glass which does not indicate
a fault and does not compromise the normal operation of lighting
devices. The mist disappears quickly when the lights are turned on,
starting from the centre of the diffuser, extending progressively towards
the edges.
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