STARTING THE
ENGINE
Procedure84) 85) 86)
press the brake pedal;
turn the ignition key to AVV and
release it as soon as the engine starts.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
9)
If the engine does not start at the first
attempt, return the ignition key to STOP
before repeating the procedure.
If, when the ignition key is at
MAR-ON, the
instrument panel
warning light stays on together with the
warning light, turn the key to STOP
and then back to MAR-ON; if the
warning light stays on, try the other
keys provided with the vehicle. If it is
still not possible to start the engine,
contact a dedicated Alfa Romeo
Dealership.
Do not leave the ignition key at
MAR-ON when the engine is stopped.
WARMING UP THE
ENGINE JUST AFTER IT
HAS STARTED
Proceduredrive off slowly, letting the engine turn
at medium revs. Do not accelerate
abruptly;
do not demand full performance at
first. It is advisable to wait until the
digital engine coolant temperatureindicator starts moving.
SWITCHING OFF THE
ENGINE
Procedure
Turn the ignition key to STOP while the
engine is idling.
IMPORTANT After a demanding drive,
keep the engine idling for at least a
couple of minutes before stopping it, in
order to permit the temperature inside
the engine compartment to lower.
WARNING
84)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.
85)The brake servo is not active until the
engine is started, so you would need to
apply much more force than usual to the
brake pedal.
86)Do not start the engine by pushing,
towing or driving downhill. These
manoeuvres may damage the catalytic
converter.
IMPORTANT
8)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.9)When the engine is switched off never
leave the ignition device in the MAR
position to prevent useless current
absorption from draining the battery.
10)A quick burst on the accelerator before
stopping the engine serves no practical
purpose; it wastes fuel and is especially
damaging to turbocharged engines.
95
8)10)
PARKING
Always remove the ignition key when
leaving the car.
When parking and leaving the car,
proceed as follows:
engage a gear (first gear if parked
uphill or reverse if facing downhill) and
leave the wheels turned;
stop the engine and engage the
handbrake.
Block the wheels with a wedge or a
stone if the car is parked on a steep
slope.
Wait until the indication of the gear
engaged disappears on the display
before releasing the brake pedal.
87)
IMPORTANT:NEVERleave the car with
the gearbox in neutral.
HANDBRAKE
To engage it, pull lever A
fig. 75 upwards until the car is secured.
When the handbrake is engaged and
the ignition key is at MAR-ON, the
warning light will switch on in the
instrument panel.
To release the handbrake, raise lever A
slightly, hold down button B and lower
the lever. The
warning light in the
instrument panel will switch off.
Four or five clicks are generally enough
when the car is on level ground, while
ten or eleven may be required if the car
is on a steep slope and laden.
88)
IMPORTANT Carry out these
manoeuvres with the brake pedal
pressed.
WARNING
87)Never leave children unattended in the
car. Always remove the key from the
ignition when leaving the car and take it
with you.
88)The car must be locked after a few
clicks of the parking brake: if this is not so,
contact the dedicated Alfa Romeo
Dealership to have it adjusted. Always park
the vehicle safely as indicated by the
Highway Code and as described above.
USING THE
TRANSMISSION
The 4C features the TCT 6-speed twin
dry clutch transmission with steering
wheel controls. This is an advanced
technical solution which combines the
control of a manual gearbox, the
immediacy of a sequential system and
the convenience of being able to select
an automatic selection programme
without the slowdown of a conventional
automatic transmission.
With the key removed from the ignition,
the system will not implement any
action when the buttons on the
transmission control panel on the
central tunnel fig. 76 are pressed,
irrespective of the pressure applied to
the brake pedal. Therefore, the
transmission will remain in the condition
that it was in when the engine was
switched off.
75A0L0066
76A0L0067
96
STARTING AND DRIVING
5 = fifth gear;
6 = sixth gear;
R = reverse.
The car always starts in neutral. When
1st gear is requested, the system
forces the selection ofAUTOmode.
IMPORTANT If 10 seconds elapse with
the ignition key in theMAR-ON
position and the display does not show
the gear engaged, turn the key to the
STOPposition, wait for the display to
switch off and then repeat the
procedure. If the fault persists, contact
a dedicated Alfa Romeo Dealership.
ACOUSTIC SIGNAL
For safety reasons, an acoustic signal is
emitted when the car is parked with the
transmission in neutral (N) (the signal
can be heard when the ignition key is
turned toSTOP).
With the car stationary, the engine
started and (1st) gear or (R) engaged,
the system activates the acoustic signal
and automatically places the
transmission in neutral (N) when:
the accelerator and/or brake pedal
are not operated for at least 3 minutes;
the brake pedal is pressed for longer
than 10 minutes;
the driver's door is opened and the
accelerator pedal or the brake pedal are
not operated for at least one and a half
seconds;
a fault has been detected in the
transmission.
PARKING THE CAR
When parking and leaving the car,
proceed as follows:
engage a gear (1st gear if facing
uphill or reverse if facing downhill) and
leave the wheels turned;
stop the engine and engage the
handbrake.
Block the wheels with a wedge or a
stone if the car is parked on a steep
slope.
Wait until the indication of the gear
engaged disappears on the display
before releasing the brake pedal.
IMPORTANT:NEVERleave the car with
the transmission in neutral.
GENERAL WARNINGSWith car stationary and gear
engaged, always keep the brake pedal
pressed until you decide to set off, then
release the brake and accelerate
gradually.
During prolonged stops with the
engine running, it is advisable to keep
the transmission in neutral (N).
In order to safeguard the efficiency of
the clutch, do not use the accelerator
to keep the car stationary (e.g. when
stopped on an incline). The clutch could
overheat and be damaged: use the
brake pedal or the handbrake and onlyoperate the accelerator pedal when you
decide to set off.
If, with reverse gear (R) engaged,
you have to engage 1st gear or vice
versa, only do this when the car is
completely stationary and with the
brake pedal pressed.
If it is necessary to proceed downhill
with transmission in neutral (N) for
unexpected reasons, bearing in mind
that this practice is highly inadvisable,
remember that when gear engagement
is requested, the system will
automatically engage the best gear to
permit the correct transmission of drive
torque to the wheels, according to the
speed of the car.
When necessary, it is possible to
engage 1st gear, reverse (R) or neutral (
N) with the engine off, the key at
MAR-ON and the brake pressed. In this
case, change gear leaving at least 5
seconds between one gear change and
the next, in order to safeguard the
operation of the hydraulic system, and
the pump in particular.
For uphill departures, it is advisable
to accelerate gradually but fully
immediately after releasing the
handbrake or the brake pedal; this
allows the engine to temporarily
increase the number of revs and tackle
the steepest gradients with more torque
at the wheels.
100
STARTING AND DRIVING
WARNING
89)The Launch control function is only
available in Race mode. Regardless of
what is explicitly indicated in the
description of these modes, the ESC and
ASR systems are deactivated during
operation of the Launch Control function.
This means that vehicle dynamic control is
the sole responsibility of the driver.
Therefore pay the utmost attention when
using the Launch Control. Take into
account traffic and road surface conditions
and during manoeuvres make sure there is
enough room in the area concerned.
SAVING FUEL
Alfa Romeo has designed and built the
vehicle using technologies, materials
and devices able to reduce negative
environmental impact. Here are some
suggestions to further contribute to
environmental protection.
GENERAL
CONSIDERATIONS
Car maintenance
Have checks and adjustments carried
out in accordance with the “Scheduled
Servicing Plan”.
Tyres
Check the tyre pressures at least once
every four weeks: if the pressure is too
low, consumption levels increase as
resistance to rolling is higher.
Climate control system
The use of the climate control system
leads to higher fuel consumption. If the
temperature outside permits, try to use
ventilation only.
DRIVING STYLE
Starting
Do not warm the engine with the car at
a standstill or at idle or high speed:
under these conditions the engine
warms up much more slowly, increasing
consumption and emissions. It is
therefore advisable to move off
immediately, slowly, avoiding high
speeds: in this way the engine will
warm up more quickly.Unnecessary actions
Avoid accelerating when stopped at
traffic lights or before switching off the
engine. This action is absolutely
pointless and only increases
consumption and pollution.
Gear selection
Using a low gear for faster acceleration
increases consumption.
In the same way, improper use of a high
gear increases consumption, emissions
and engine wear.
Max. speed
Fuel consumption increases
considerably with speed. Maintain a
constant speed, avoiding unnecessary
braking and acceleration, which cost in
terms of both fuel consumption and
emissions.
Acceleration
Accelerating violently will greatly affect
consumption and emissions: avoid
frequent and strong accelerations.
CONDITIONS OF USE
Cold starting
Short journeys and frequent cold starts
do not allow the engine to reach
optimum operating temperature.
This results in a significant increase in
consumption levels (from +15 to +30%
on the urban cycle) and emissions.
101
Traffic and road conditions
Rather high consumption levels are
linked to situations with heavy traffic, for
instance when travelling in queues with
frequent use of the lower gears or in
cities with many traffic lights.
Stops in traffic
During prolonged hold-ups (e.g. level
crossings) the engine should be
switched off.SNOW TYRES
Use snow tyres of the same size as the
normal tyres provided with the car: the
dedicated Alfa Romeo Dealership 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. In these
conditions it is recommended to select
the "All Weather" mode of the Alfa DNA
system.
For the type of tyre to be used, inflation
pressures and the specifications of
snow tyres, follow the instructions given
in the "Wheels" paragraph in the
"Technical specifications" chapter.
90)
The performance of these tyres on
low-grip surfaces are reduced
considerably when the tread depth is
below 4 mm. They should be replaced
in this case.
Due to the specific characteristics of
snow tyres, in normal weather
conditions and dry asphalt or on long
motorway journeys, the performance of
these tyres is lower than that of
standard tyres. Their usage should
therefore be restricted in accordance
with their type approval.
IMPORTANT When using snow tyres
with a maximum speed index below the
one that can be reached by the car
(increased by 5%), place a notice in the
passenger compartment, plainly in view,
which states the maximum speedallowed by the snow tyres (as per EC
Directive).
All four tyres should be the same brand
to ensure greater safety when driving
and braking as well as making the car
more responsive. It is inadvisable to
change the rotation direction of tyres.
Refer to the "Raising the car" section in
the "In an emergency" chapter for
further details on how to raise the car
correctly.
WARNING
90)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.
102
STARTING AND DRIVING
IMPORTANT
19)Be careful to position the lift arms
correctly at the points illustrated, in order to
prevent damage to the carbon fibre chassis
and the bodywork components.
20)To avoid damage to the carbon fibre
chassis, the car cannot be raised with
standard hydraulic jacks, only with suitable
lowered hydraulic jacks. Contact a
dedicated Alfa Romeo Dealership.
TOWING THE CAR
21)
The tow hook provided with the car is
located in the tool box in the luggage
compartment.
ATTACHING THE TOW
HOOK
Take tow hook A and tighten it fully onto
the threaded pin fig. 120.
115) 116) 117)
IMPORTANT
21)The tow hook attachment is only
available at the front end of the car.
WARNING
115)Before towing, turn the key to MAR
and then to STOP without extracting it. The
steering column will automatically lock
when the key is removed and the wheels
cannot be steered. Also check that the
transmission is in neutral (N)
116)When towing, remember that the
assistance of the brake servo is absent.
Consequently, more force is required at the
pedal in order to brake. Do not use flexible
cables when towing and avoid jerky
movements. Make sure not to damage
parts in contact with the car while towing.
When towing the vehicle, you must comply
with all specific traffic regulations and
adopt an appropriate driving behaviour. Do
not start the engine while towing the car.
Before tightening the ring, clean the
threaded housing thoroughly. Make sure
that the ring is fully screwed into the
housing before towing the car.
117)The tow hook must be used
exclusively for roadside assistance
operations. You are allowed to tow the
vehicle for short distances using an
appropriate device in accordance with the
highway code (a rigid bar), to move the
vehicle on the road in readiness for towing
or transport via a tow truck. Tow hooks
MUST NOT be used to tow vehicles off the
road or where there are obstacles and/or
for towing operations using cables or other
non-rigid devices. In compliance with the
above conditions, towing must take place
with the two vehicles (one towing, the other
towed) aligned as much as possible along
the same centre line.
120A0L0107
125
BATTERY
Battery A fig. 130 does not require the
electrolyte to be topped up with distilled
water. A periodic check carried out at a
dedicated Alfa Romeo Dealership is,
however, necessary to check efficiency.
REPLACING THE
BATTERY
127) 128) 129) 130)
28)
4)
If necessary, replace the battery with
another original battery with the same
specifications. Follow the battery
manufacturer's instructions for
maintenance.
USEFUL ADVICE FOR
EXTENDING THE LIFE OF
YOUR BATTERY
To avoid draining your battery rapidly
and maintain its efficiency over time,
carefully observe the following
instructions:
when you park the car, ensure that
the doors and tailgate are properly
closed, to prevent roof lights inside the
passenger and luggage compartments
respectively from staying on;
switch off the roof lights; the car is,
however, equipped with a system which
switches the interior lights off
automatically;
do not keep accessories (e.g. radio,
hazard warning lights, etc.) switched on
for a long time when the engine is not
running;
before performing any operation on
the electrical system, disconnect the
negative battery cable.
IMPORTANT After turning the ignition
key to STOP and having closed the
driver side door, wait at least one
minute before disconnecting the
electrical supply from the battery. When
reconnecting the electrical supply to the
battery, make sure that the ignition key
is in the STOP position and the driver
side door is closed.
IMPORTANT If the charge level remains
under 50% for a long time, the batteryis damaged by sulphation, reducing its
capacity and efficiency at start-up.
The battery will also be more at risk of
freezing (this can happen as early as
-10°C). Refer to the “Car inactivity”
paragraph in “Starting and driving” if the
car is left parked for a long time.
If, after purchasing the car, you wish to
install electrical accessories which
require permanent electrical supply
(alarm, etc.) or accessories which
influence the electrical supply
requirements, contact a dedicated Alfa
Romeo Dealership, whose qualified
staff will evaluate the overall electrical
consumption.
WARNING
127)Battery fluid is poisonous and
corrosive. Avoid contact with the skin and
eyes. Keep open flames away from the
battery and do not use objects that might
create sparks: risk of explosion and fire.
128)Using the battery with insufficient fluid
irreparably damages the battery and may
cause an explosion.
129)If the car will be unused for an
extended period of time in extremely cold
weather conditions, remove the battery
and store it in a heated area to prevent it
from freezing.
130)When performing any operation on
the battery or near it, always protect your
eyes with special goggles.
130A0L0138
138
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
Fault Possible solution
... THE ENGINE DOES NOT START OR STOPS
WHEN DRIVING.Check that there is sufficient fuel in the tank; refuel if
necessary.See.................p. 60.
... THE ENGINE DOES NOT START FOLLOWING
AN IMPACT.Check whether the fuel cut-off system has
intervened.See
..................p.33.
170
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS