With car stationary and key at MAR-ON
(ignition-operated electrical services
activated), the screen displays the gear
engaged and the active operating mode
(automatic =AUTOor manual = no
display).
OPERATING MODES
The transmission can operate in two
operating modes (except when the
"Race" mode is selected):
the first manual type (MANUAL), in
which the driver decides directly when
to change gear;
the second completely automatic (
AUTO), in which the system decides
when to change gear.
When the "Race" mode is selected, the
only allowed operating mode is
MANUAL.
Manual operation (MANUAL)
In this operating mode, the driver is
responsible for choosing the best gear
to engage, depending on the car
operating conditions.Use the “+” steering wheel stalk to
engage a higher gear, or the “–” stalk
to engage a lower gear (see the
following paragraph, "Steering wheel
stalks").
If the request is accepted by the
system, the display shows the new
gear engaged.
If the request is not accepted by the
system, the display shows the gear
engaged before the request and emits
an acoustic signal.
If the gear change request may
adversely affect the correct operation of
the engine and the gearbox, the system
will not allow it. The system will
automatically downshift should the
engine reach the idling speed (e.g.
during deceleration). Using the DNA
system in "Natural" or "All Weather"
mode, it will automatically upshift if the
engine speed requires it.Automatic operation (AUTO)
To activate/deactivate automatic
operation (AUTO) press theA/M
button on the transmission control
panel fig. 76; activation is signalled by
the wordAUTOon the display, next to
the gear engaged fig. 78.
InAUTOmode the system changes
gear depending on the car speed, the
engine rpm and the intensity with which
the accelerator pedal is pressed.
To move the stationary car, 1st gear or
reverse (R) must always be engaged
(with brake pedal depressed).
“Kick Down” function
The system also has the“Kick Down”
function: if necessary (e.g. when
overtaking), the system changes down
one or more gears when the
accelerator pedal is depressed beyond
the point where it becomes stiff (and if
the rpm allow it) in order to provide
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When setting off on a medium-steep
incline, it is advisable to engage the
handbrake.
Engaging 1st gear
Proceed as follows:
press the brake pedal;
press the1button on the
transmission control panel;
release the brake pedal and press
the accelerator pedal.
Engaging reverse (R)
Reverse (R) can only be engaged with
car stationary and brake pedal pressed.
Proceed as follows:
press the brake pedal (car
completely stationary);
press the R button on the
transmission control panel;
release the brake pedal and press
the accelerator pedal. When reverse is
engaged, the system emits an acoustic
signal (for versions/markets, where
provided).
If the brake pedal is not depressed (and
the car is stationary), the display will
show a dedicated message and the
system will automatically engage
neutral (N).
IMPORTANT With the car running, the
request is accepted and executed if the
car speed drops below 3 km/h within 3
seconds from the request: if the request
is not executed, the system will
maintain the gear engaged or, if thespeed of the car drops below 10 km/h,
will put the transmission in neutral (N)
and the manoeuvre will have to be
repeated.
ENGAGING NEUTRAL (N)
With car stationary and ignition key at
MAR-ON (irrespective of the condition
of the engine), neutral (N) can only be
engaged with the brake pedal pressed.
If the car is in motion, neutral (N) can
always be engaged, irrespective of the
pressure applied to the brake and
accelerator pedals.
The display will show the letterN
together with the active operating
mode.
With car in motion, to engage a gear
from the neutral (N) position, press the
1button on the transmission control
panel (it is not necessary to press the
brake pedal): the transmission will
immediately engage the correct gear
according to the car’s speed.
With car stationary and ignition key at
MAR-ON (irrespective of the condition
of the engine), 1st gear can only be
engaged with the brake pedal pressed.
LAUNCH CONTROL
The "Launch Control" strategy permits
high-performance starting.
This strategy can be activated with
vehicle at a standstill, "Race" mode
selected and 1st gear engaged.The sequence of operations to perform
is as follows:
press the brake pedal and hold it
down;
press the accelerator pedal and hold
it down;
press the "–" stalk behind the
steering wheel;
When the brake pedal is released, the
car will start with maximum
acceleration. Keeping the accelerator
pressed, the system will automatically
upshift once the best engine speed has
been achieved for shifting gears.
................................. 0
To abandon the strategy, simply
interrupt the above sequence of
operations or release the accelerator
pedal.
DISPLAYED
INFORMATION
When the key is turned to MAR-ON,
after about 1 second, the display
shows the transmission in neutral
indication (N). When driving, the display
shows the gear engaged and the active
mode (AUTOorMANUAL). The
indications on the display have the
following meanings:
N = neutral;
1 = first gear;
2 = second gear
3 = third gear;
4 = fourth gear;
99
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.
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STARTING AND DRIVING
SNOW CHAINS
Reduced size snow chains with a
maximum projection of 7 mm beyond
the tyre profile can be fitted only on
235/40 R18 rear tyres.
The use of snow chains should be in
compliance with local regulations. Snow
chains can be fitted on the tyres of the
rear wheels (drive wheels) only. 19" rear
tyres cannot be fitted with chains.
Check the tension of the snow chains
after the first few metres have been
driven.
11)
IMPORTANT Snow chains cannot be
fitted to the space-saver wheel (for
versions/markets, where provided).
IMPORTANT
11)Keep your speed down when snow
chains are fitted; do not exceed 50 km/h
(or the equivalent in miles). Avoid potholes,
do not drive over steps or sidewalks and do
not drive long distances over roads without
snow, to avoid damaging both your vehicle
and the road surface.
CAR INACTIVITY
If the vehicle is to be left inactive for
longer than a month, observe the
following precautions:
park the car in covered, dry and if
possible well-ventilated premises and
slightly open the windows;
check that the handbrake is not
engaged;
disconnect the negative battery
terminal and check the battery charge.
Repeat this check once every three
months during storage. For optimum
preservation of the battery charge, it is
advisable to use the charge-holder (for
versions/markets, where provided, or
alternatively, available from
Lineaccessori). For more details on its
operation, refer to the attached
Supplement;
if the battery is not disconnected
from the electrical system, checks its
state of charge every thirty days;
clean and protect the painted parts
using protective wax;
sprinkle talcum powder on the
rubber blade of the windscreen wiper
and lift it off the glass (for the correct
lifting procedure, refer to the
"Windscreen wiper" paragraph in the
"Maintenance and care" chapter);
cover the car with a cloth or
perforated plastic sheet. Do not use
sheets of non-perforated plastic as theydo not allow moisture on the car body
to evaporate;
inflate tyres to +0.5 bar above the
standard prescribed pressure and
check it periodically;
do not drain the engine cooling
system;
every time the car is left inactive for
two weeks or longer, run the air
conditioning system for about 5
minutes, set to outside air and with fan
set to maximum, with the engine idling;
this operation will ensure adequate
lubrication to minimise the possibility of
damage to the compressor when the
system is put back into operation;
ensure that the air intake directly in
front of the windscreen is not
obstructed by leaves or other foreign
bodies; any leaves in the air intake
could reduce the air flow and, if they
enter the reservoir, could prevent water
drainage. In winter months, make sure
that the air intake is not obstructed by
ice, mud or snow.
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.
103
STARTING THE
ENGINE
Contact the dedicated Alfa Romeo
Dealership immediately ifwarning
light stays on constantly on the
instrument panel.
JUMP STARTING
If the battery is flat, start the engine
using an auxiliary battery with the same
capacity or a little higher than the flat
one.
Proceed as follows to start the car:connect the positive terminals (+ sign
near the terminal) of the two batteries
with a jump lead fig. 81;
with a second lead, connect the
negative terminal(−)oftheauxiliary
battery to an earthing point
on the
engine or the gearbox/transmission of
the car to be started;
start the engine; when the engine
has started, remove the leads, reversing
the order above.
If after a few attempts the engine does
not start, do not persist but contact the
dedicated Alfa Romeo Dealership.
IMPORTANT Do not connect the
negative terminals of the two batteries
directly! If the auxiliary battery is
installed on another car, check that
there is no accidental contact between
metallic parts of the two cars.
BUMP STARTING
Never, under any circumstances, jump
start the engine by pushing, towing or
coasting downhill.
IMPORTANT
12)Never use a fast battery-charger to
start the engine as this could damage the
electronic systems of your vehicle,
particularly the ignition and engine fuel
supply control units.
WARNING
91)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.
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105
91)12)
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUSE BOXfig. 114
DEVICE PROTECTEDFUSE AMPERE
Headlight beam switch (for versions/markets, where provided) F09 5
Single tone hornF10 10
12 V socket / cigar lighter F86 15
External mirror defrosters F88 7.5
DASHBOARD FUSE BOXfig. 116
DEVICE PROTECTEDFUSE AMPERE
Central lockingF38 15
Two-way windscreen washer pump F43 20
+30 Driver side electric windows F47 20
+30 Passenger side electric windows F48 20
WARNING
110)If a fuse blows again, contact a dedicated Alfa Romeo Dealership.
111)Never replace a fuse with another with a higher amp rating; DANGER OF FIRE.
112)If a general protective fuse (MAXI-FUSE, MEGA-FUSE, MIDI-FUSE) blows, contact a dedicated Alfa Romeo Dealership.
113)Before replacing a fuse, make sure that the ignition key has been removed and that all the other services are switched off and/or
disengaged.
114)Contact a dedicated Alfa Romeo Dealership if a safety system (airbags, brakes), transmission system (engine, gearbox) or steering
system general protection fuse blows.
122
IN AN EMERGENCY
RECHARGING THE
BATTERY
IMPORTANT The battery recharging
procedure is given as information only.
To carry out this operation contact the
dedicated Alfa Romeo Dealership.
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.
We advise you to use a battery charger
with rated recharging voltage of 12 V
and maximum current 15 A, for a
period from 12–24 hours. Charging for
a longer time may damage the battery.
To recharge, proceed as follows:
disconnect the negative battery
terminal;
connect the charger cables to the
battery terminals, observing the polarity;
turn on the charger;
when it is recharged, turn the
charger off before disconnecting it from
the battery;
reconnect the negative battery
terminal.
RAISING THE CAR
If raising the car is necessary, contact a
dedicated Alfa Romeo Dealership, who
will be equipped with suitable arm or
workshop lifts, in addition to the
specific equipment necessary.
It is however possible to use suitable
lowered hydraulic jacks to raise the car
if necessary.
The car lifting points are marked on the
side skirts with the
symbols (see
points illustrated in fig. 117 ).
The correct support points for raising
the front and rear part of the car are
illustrated in fig. 118and fig. 119.
IMPORTANT When positioning the car
on the arm lift, remember that the
power unit is located at the rear end,
with consequent impact on weight
distribution. Therefore, the shorter arms
must support the rear end, and the
longer arms support the front end.
19) 20)
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124
IN AN EMERGENCY
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.
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SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE