2016 Alfa Romeo 4C warning light

Warning lights on
displayWhat it means What to do
LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT OPEN
The symbol and the corresponding message are shown
on the display.
POSSIBLE ICE ON ROAD
The symbol and corresponding message appear on the
display when the outside temperature is below or equal
to 3°C.
IMPORTANT In the event of outside temperature sensor
failure, the digits that indicate the value are replaced by
dashes.
BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE
The symbol and corresponding message appear on the
display if a fault is detected in the brake lights.The fault may be caused by a blown bulb, a blown
protection fuse or an interruption of the electrical
connection.
PARKING SENSOR FAILURE
The symbol and corresponding message appear on the
display if there is a parking sensor failure.
DISPLAY OF SELECTED DRIVING MODE (“Alfa DNA”
system)
A letter (d, n, or a) corresponding to the active driving
mode (dynamic or race, normal, all weather) and a
dedicated message are shown on the display.
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IMPORTANT
6)If thewarning light switches on when driving, stop the engine immediately and contact a dedicated Alfa Romeo Dealership.
WARNING
62)Deteriorated engine oil should be replaced as soon as possible after the digital warning light comes on, and never more than 500 km after
it first switches on. Failure to observe the above may result in severe damage to the engine and invalidate the warranty. Remember that when
the digital warning light comes on, it does not mean that the level of engine oil is low, so if it flashes you must not top up the engine oil.
63)If the warning light flashes with the car in motion, contact the dedicated Alfa Romeo Dealership.
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KNOWING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL

sitting on the passenger's lap and a
single belt to protect them both fig. 68.
In general, do not place any objects
between the person and the belt.
66)
67)
SEAT BELTS
MAINTENANCE
Always use the seat belts well
stretched and never twisted; make sure
that they are free to run without
obstructions;
replace the belt after an accident of a
certain severity even if it does not
appear to be damaged. Always replace
the belt if the pretensioners were
deployed;
hand wash the seat belts with water
and neutral soap, rinse and leave to dry
in the shade. Never use strong
detergents, bleach, paints or any other
substance which could damage the belt
fibres;
prevent the retractors from getting
wet: their correct operation is only
guaranteed if water does not get inside;
replace the seat belt when there is
wear or cuts.
WARNING
64)Never press button C fig. 0 when
travelling.
65)For maximum safety, keep the backrest
upright, lean back into it and make sure the
seat belt fits closely across your chest and
pelvis. Always fasten the seat belts!
Travelling without wearing seat belts will
increase the risk of serious injury and even
death in the event of an accident.
66)Removing or tampering with seat belt
and pretensioner components is strictly
prohibited. Any intervention on these
components must be performed by
qualified and authorised technicians.
Always contact a dedicated Alfa Romeo
Dealership.
67)If the belt has been subjected to a high
level of stress, for example after an
accident, it must be completely replaced
together with the attachments, attachment
fixing screws and the pretensioner. In fact,
even if the belt has no visible defects, it
could have lost its resilience.
SBR SYSTEM (Seat
Belt Reminder)
This system comprises an acoustic
warning which, in conjunction with the
warning light flashing on the
instrument panel, advises the driver if
their seat belt has not been fastened.
Contact the dedicated Alfa Romeo
Dealership to deactivate this acoustic
warning permanently.
The acoustic warning can be
reactivated at any time through the
Setup Menu (see "Menu Options"
paragraph in “Knowing the instrument
panel” section).
If the driver side seat belt is not
fastened, when 20 km/h is exceeded or
when travelling at a speed from 10 to
20 km/h for longer than 5 seconds, an
acoustic signal sequence will be started
(continuous acoustic signal for the first
6 seconds followed by 90 seconds of
intermittent beeping) and the
warning light will flash.
The warning light will stay on constantly
at the end of the cycle until the engine
is stopped. The acoustic signal is
interrupted immediately when the seat
belt is fastened.
If the seat belt is unfastened again
when driving the car, the acoustic signal
and the flashing warning light resume
as described previously.
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PRETENSIONERS
The car is equipped with seat belt
pretensioners, which draw back the
seat belts by several centimetres in the
event of a strong frontal impact. This
guarantees the perfect adherence of
the seat belts to the occupant's bodies
before the retention action begins.
It is evident that the pretensioners have
operated when the belt withdraws
toward the retractor.
This 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 which is not in harmful and
does not involve any fire hazard.
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
unusual natural events (floods, sea
storms, etc.), the device has been
affected by water and/or mud, contact
the dedicated Alfa Romeo Dealership to
have it replaced.
LOAD LIMITERS
To increase protection, the seat belt
retractors contain a device which
controls the force acting on the chest
and shoulders during the belt
restraining action in the event of an
accident.
WARNING
68)The pretensioner may be used only
once. After its activation, contact an Alfa
Romeo Dealership to have it replaced.
69)Removing or tampering with seat belt
and pretensioner components is strictly
prohibited. Any intervention on these
components must be performed by
qualified and authorised technicians.
Always contact a dedicated Alfa Romeo
Dealership.
IMPORTANT
7)Operations which lead to impacts,
vibrations or localised heating (over 100°C
for a maximum of six hours) in the area
around the pretensioner may cause
damage or make it deploy. Contact the
dedicated Alfa Romeo Dealership if there is
the need to operate on those components.
CARRYING
CHILDREN SAFELY
Alfa Romeo 4C is a sporty car that can
be driven in town every day, provided
its driver and passengers fasten their
seat belts. Carrying a child on the
passenger's seat is also allowed,
provided the child weighs more than
9 kg and a suitable child restraint
system is used.
Children must be suitably restrained
inside the vehicle according to their
weight. Several child restraint system
types are available; always choose the
one most suitable for the child:
70)
When over 1.50 m in height, from the
point of view of restraint systems,
children are considered as adults and
have to wear the standard seat belts.
All child restraint devices must bear the
certification data, together with the
control mark, on a label solidly fixed to
the seat which must never be removed.
Child restraint systems are available
from Lineaccessori Alfa Romeo. These
products have been designed and
tested specifically for Alfa Romeo
vehicles.
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SAFETY
68)69)
7)

WARNING
72)Do not apply stickers or other objects
to the steering wheel or the passenger side
airbag cover. Do not place objects on the
passenger side of the dashboard because
these could interfere with the correct
opening of the passenger airbag and
cause injury to occupants.
73)Always drive keeping your hands on
the steering wheel rim so the airbag can
inflate freely if necessary. Do not drive with
your body bent forward. Keep your back
straight against the backrest.
74)Instructions for deactivating the front
passenger airbag can be found in the
"Menu Options" paragraph of the
"Knowing the instrument panel" chapter.
Please note that under these conditions
the airbag will NOT deploy when required
(accident).
75)Do not rest your head, arms or elbows
on the door to prevent injury during airbag
deployment.
76)Never lean your head, arms or elbows
out of the window.
77)If the
warning light does not switch
on when the key is turned to MAR, or stays
on while driving (on some versions together
with a message on the display) there may
be a fault in the restraint systems. In this
case, airbags or pretensioners may not be
activated in the case of an accident or (in a
lesser number of cases) they may be
activated incorrectly. Before proceeding,
contact a dedicated Alfa Romeo Dealership
to have the system checked immediately.78)Do not travel carrying objects on your
lap, in front of your chest or between your
lips (pipe, pencils, etc.): they could cause
severe injury if the airbag is deployed.
79)If the car has been subject to theft,
attempted theft, vandalism, or flooding,
have the airbag system inspected at a
dedicated Alfa Romeo Dealership.
80)The airbags may also be deployed
when the car is not moving, if the key is
inserted and turned to MAR even when the
engine is off, if the car is hit by another
moving vehicle. Also remember that no
safety device (airbags or pretensioners) will
activate in the event of impact when the
key is at STOP. Non-deployment of these
devices under these circumstances does
not therefore indicate a system
malfunction.
81)When the ignition key is turned to
MAR, the
warning light comes on
constantly for the first 4 seconds. Then, if
the warning light remains on, this means
the passenger's protection has been
deactivated; if the warning light switches
off, instead, the passenger's protection is
enabled.
82)The front airbag is designed to be
deployed for impacts of a greater intensity
than for the pretensioners. For impacts
whose intensity falls between the two
levels, normally, only the pretensioners will
be activated.
83)The airbag does not replace seat belts
but increases their efficiency. Because front
airbags are not deployed for low-speed
frontal impacts, side collisions, rear shunts
or rollovers, occupants are protected only
by their seat belts, which must always be
fastened.
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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.
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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.
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STARTING AND DRIVING

suitable power and torque for the
acceleration requested by the driver.
When implementing the "Kick Down"
function, the system ensures varying
transmission management in
accordance with the selected DNA
mode.
LEVERS ON THE
STEERING WHEEL
These enable sequential gear shifting
fig. 79.
– steering wheel stalk "+(pulling stalk
towards driver, see fig. 80 ): engage
higher gear;
– steering wheel stalk "–(pulling stalk
towards driver, see fig. 80 ): engage
lower gear.The engagement of a lower (or higher)
gear is only permitted if the engine rpm
allow it.
STARTING THE CAR
To start the engine press the brake
pedal: the system engages neutral (N)
automatically.
After the starting procedure, 1st gear (
1) or reverse (R) can be engaged.
Irrespective of the mode selected (
AUTO/MANUAL), to engage 1st gear
or reverse (R), it is necessary to press
the brake pedal and press the1button
on the transmission control panel (or
the "+" steering wheel stalk) to engage
1st gear or theRbutton to engage
reverse.
When 1st gear is engaged, the system
sets itself toAUTOmode.
Neutral (N) can be engaged again by
pressing theNbutton with the brake
pedal pressed.When the1,NorRbuttons are
pressed (or "+" steering wheel stalk is
operated) without pressing the brake
pedal, no gear change request is
implemented by the system.
IMPORTANT Reverse cannot be
engaged by pressing the "-" stalk on
the steering wheel.
Important information
If starting is requested with a
transmission failure (see "Warning lights
and messages" paragraph), carry out
the “Delayed start-up” procedure: when
the key is turned to AVV for at least 7
seconds with brake pedal pressed, the
engine will be started. The system will
remain in “recovery” condition.
If the engine does not start, contact a
dedicated Alfa Romeo Dealership.
When the driver's door is opened, the
system activates the hydraulic
components so that they are prepared
for the subsequent engine starting.
MOVING THE CAR
The car can set off both in 1st gear and
reverse (R).
Notes (concerning car start-up)
The gears can only be engaged by
pressing the brake pedal. If the brake
pedal is not depressed, the display will
show a dedicated message.
It is not possible to set off in a higher
gear than 1st: if this is attempted, the
display shows a dedicated message.
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STARTING AND DRIVING