WARNING!(Continued)
•When your child restraint is not in use, secure it in
the vehicle with the seat belt or LATCH anchor-
ages, or remove it from the vehicle. Do not leave it
loose in the vehicle. In a sudden stop or accident, it
could strike the occupants or seatbacks and cause
serious personal injury.
Children Too Large For Booster Seats
Children who are large enough to wear the shoulder belt
comfortably, and whose legs are long enough to bend
over the front of the seat when their back is against the
seatback, should use the seat belt in a rear seat. Use this
simple 5-step test to decide whether the child can use the
vehicle’s seat belt alone:1. Can the child sit all the way back against the back of
the vehicle seat?
2. Do the child’s knees bend comfortably over the front
of the vehicle seat – while they are still sitting all the
way back?
3. Does the shoulder belt cross the child’s shoulder
between their neck and arm?
4. Is the lap part of the belt as low as possible, touching
the child’s thighs and not their stomach?
5. Can the child stay seated like this for the whole trip?
62 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DESCRIPTIONS
1. Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale Light — If Equipped
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold and
inflated to the inflation pressure recommended
by the vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle
placard or tire inflation pressure label. (If your vehicle
has tires of a different size than the size indicated on the
vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label, you should
determine the proper tire inflation pressure for those
tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been
equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pressure telltale when
one or more of your tires is significantly under-inflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illumi-
nates, you should stop and check your tires as soon as
possible, and inflate them to the proper pressure. Drivingon a significantly under-inflated tire causes the tire to
overheat and can lead to tire failure. Under-inflation also
reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect
the vehicle’s handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for proper
tire maintenance, and it is the driver ’s responsibility to
maintain correct tire pressure, even if under-inflation has
not reached the level to trigger illumination of the TPMS
low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS
malfunction indicator to indicate when the system is not
operating properly. The TPMS malfunction indicator is
combined with the low tire pressure telltale. When the
system detects a malfunction, the telltale will flash for
approximately one minute and then remain continuously
illuminated. This sequence will continue upon subse-
quent vehicle start-ups as long as the malfunction exists.
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated, the sys-
tem may not be able to detect or signal low tire pressure
112 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
belt is buckled. After the sequence completes, the Seat
Belt Reminder Light remains illuminated until the driv-
er ’s seat belt is buckled. The driver should instruct all
other occupants to buckle their seat belts. Refer to
“Occupant Restraints” in “Things To Know Before Start-
ing Your Vehicle” for further information.
15. Air Bag Warning Light
This light will turn on for four to eight seconds
as a bulb check when the ignition switch is first
turned to ON/RUN. If the light is either not on
during starting, stays on, or turns on while
driving, have the system inspected at an authorized
dealer as soon as possible. Refer to “Occupant Restraints”
in “Things To Know Before Starting Your Vehicle” for
further information.16. Passenger Air Bag Warning Light
This light should come and remain on for four
to eight seconds as a bulb check when the
ignition is first turned to the START or ON/
RUN position. If the light stays on, or comes on
while driving it may indicate a problem with a passenger
air bag system, if the light flickers it may indicate an air
bag warning bag failure. Have an authorized dealer
service the air bag system immediately.
17. Oil Pressure Warning Light
This telltale indicates low engine oil pressure. If
the light turns on while driving, stop the vehicle and shut
off the engine as soon as possible. A chime will sound
when this light turns on.
Do not operate the vehicle until the cause is corrected.
This light does not show how much oil is in the engine.
The engine oil level must be checked under the hood.
4
UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 117
18. Fuel Door Reminder
The arrow in this symbol is a reminder that the
Fuel Filler Door is located on the right side of
the vehicle.
19. Trip Odometer
This area of the cluster displays the total distance trav-
eled since the last Trip reset.
20. Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) Light
This light informs you of a problem with the
Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) system. The
light will come on when the ignition is first
turned ON and remain on briefly as a bulb
check. If the light does not come on during starting, have
the system checked by an authorized dealer.
If a problem is detected, the light will come on while the
engine is running. Cycle the ignition key when the
vehicle has completely stopped and the gear selector isplaced in the 1st position. The light should turn off.
If the light remains lit with the engine running, your
vehicle will usually be drivable. However, see an autho-
rized dealer for service as soon as possible. If the light is
flashing when the engine is running, immediate service is
required. You may experience reduced performance, an
elevated/rough idle or engine stall and your vehicle may
require towing.
21. Speedometer
Indicates vehicle speed.
22. “Alfa DNA” Driving Mode Indicator
This area of the cluster displays which driving mode the
vehicle is currently in. A letter (d, n, or a) corresponding
to the active driving mode (dynamic or race, natural, all
weather) and a dedicated message is shown on the
display.
118 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
then the odometer must be set at zero, and a sticker must
be placed in the door jamb stating what the mileage was
before the repair or service. It is a good idea for you to
make a record of the odometer reading before the repair/
service, so that you can be sure that it is properly reset, or
that the door jamb sticker is accurate if the odometer
must be reset at zero.
25. Transmission Fault Indicator
This light will illuminate (together with a mes-
sage in the EVIC and a buzzer) to indicate a
transmission fault. Contact your authorized
dealer if the message remains after restarting
the engine.
26. Door Mirror Defrost Indicator
This indicator will illuminate when the Door
Mirror Defrost button on the instrument panel
is pushed to the ON position.27. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Activation/
Malfunction Indicator Light
If the “ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator
Light” comes on continuously with the engine
running, a malfunction has been detected in
the ESC system. If this light remains on after
several ignition cycles, and the vehicle has been driven
several miles (kilometers) at speeds greater than 30 mph
(48 km/h), see your authorized dealer as soon as possible
to have the problem diagnosed and corrected.
NOTE:
•Each time the ignition is turned to ON/RUN, the
ESC system will be ON, even if it was turned off
previously.
•The ESC system will make buzzing or clicking
sounds when it is active. This is normal; the sounds
will stop when ESC becomes inactive following the
maneuver that caused the ESC activation.
120 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
When the 1, N or R buttons are pressed (or+steering
wheel stalk is operated) without pressing the brake
pedal, no gear change request is implemented by the
system.
NOTE:REVERSE (R) cannot be engaged by pressing the
-stalk on the steering wheel.
Normal Starting
NOTE:Normal starting of either a cold or a warm
engine is obtained without pumping or pressing the
accelerator pedal.
Turn the ignition switch to the AVV/ACC (START)
position and release it when the engine starts. If the
engine fails to start within 10 seconds, turn the ignition
switch to the STOP (OFF/LOCK) position, wait 10 to 15
seconds, then repeat the “Normal Starting” procedure.
Cold Weather Operation
Your engine is designed to operate at temperatures as
low as 0°F (-18°C).
NOTE:Use of the recommended SAE 5W-40 Synthetic oil
and adhering to the prescribed oil change intervals is
important to prevent engine damage and ensure satisfac-
tory starting in cold conditions.
If Engine Fails To Start
WARNING!
Never pour fuel or other flammable liquids into the
throttle body air inlet opening in an attempt to start
the vehicle. This could result in a flash fire causing
serious personal injury.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 155
To activate/deactivate MANUAL mode, press the A/M
button on the center console when the transmission is in
any forward gear.
Use the “+” shift paddle to engage a higher gear, or the
“–” paddle to engage a lower gear.
If a requested gear shift is not allowed (typically, because
it would cause engine overspeed or lugging), an audible
signal will sound and the transmission will remain in the
existing gear.
The transmission will automatically downshift during
closed-throttle decelerations, to prevent engine lugging.
When coming to a stop, the transmission will automati-
cally select FIRST (1st) gear. The driver must manually
upshift the transmission (by tapping the + shift paddle)
as the vehicle accelerates.NOTE:To provide better comfort, the transmission will
up-shift to the next available gear if the engine speed
limit is reached. This feature is only available in NATU-
RAL and ALL WEATHER Modes.
AUTO Mode
In AUTO mode the transmission shifts gears automati-
cally depending on vehicle speed, engine RPM, and
accelerator pedal position.
AUTO is the default operating mode at startup. When in
AUTO mode,AUTOappears in the instrument cluster,
adjacent to the current gear display.
To toggle between AUTO and MANUAL modes, press
the A/M button on the center console.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 159
Accelerating From A Stop
FIRST (1st) and REVERSE (R) can only be engaged (at a
stop) by pressing “1” or “R” when the brake pedal is
pressed.
To drive, press the brake pedal, and select 1 (One) or R
(Reverse) by pressing “1” or “R” using the transmission
gear selector buttons on the center console. Then release
the brake pedal and smoothly press the accelerator pedal.
NOTE:When starting on a fairly steep incline, it may be
advisable to engage the parking brake.
The vehicle can only be launched (from a stop) in FIRST
(1st) or REVERSE (R). SECOND (2nd) gear (or higher)
cannot be engaged when the vehicle is stationary.
FIRST (1st) and REVERSE (R) gears can only be engaged
at vehicle speeds below 2 mph (3 km/h). At speeds
below 6 mph (10 km/h), attempts to shift from 1st to R
(or R to 1st) will only be allowed if the vehicle speeddrops below the 2 mph (3 km/h) threshold within three
seconds of the request; otherwise, the transmission will
shift to NEUTRAL (N). The driver should then repeat the
request for 1st or R once the vehicle has come to a stop.
Shift Paddles
In MANUAL mode, the steering wheel mounted shift
paddles (labeled + and -) control the transmission shift-
ing.
Tapping the (+) paddle will upshift the transmission to
the next higher gear, while tapping the (-) paddle will
downshift to the next lower gear. The current gear is
displayed in the instrument cluster. If a requested shift
would cause engine lugging or overspeed, that request
will be ignored.
In AUTO mode, tapping a shift paddle will temporarily
place the transmission in MANUAL mode, and execute
the requested upshift or downshift (if allowable). The
160 STARTING AND OPERATING