2016 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider stop start

gear selector buttons on the center console. Then release
the brake pedal and smoothly press the accelerator pedal.
NOTE:
•The vehicle will not “creep” when the brake pedal is
released, and may in fact roll down on an incline.
Leaving from a stop, the accelerator pedal must be
pressed to transmit driving torque to the wheels.
• When starting on a fairly steep incline, it may be
helpful 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 station-
ary.
• If the brake pedal is not depressed (and the vehicle is
stationary for a period of time), the transmission will
automatically engage NEUTRAL (N). •
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
speed drops 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
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WARNING!(Continued)
road conditions. Failure to follow this WARNING
may result in your loss of vehicle control, collision
and serious injury or death.
With the vehicle in motion, to engage a gear from the
NEUTRAL (N) position, push the 1 button on the trans-
mission control panel (it is not necessary to press the
brake pedal). The transmission will engage the correct
gear according to the vehicles speed.
Acoustic Signal
If the vehicle is stationary with the engine running and
FIRST (1st) gear or REVERSE (R) engaged, the system
activates an acoustic signal and automatically places the
transmission in NEUTRAL (N) when:
• The accelerator and/or brake pedal are not operated
for at least three 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 Vehicle
When parking and leaving the vehicle, proceed as fol-
lows:
1. Make sure that the vehicle has come to a complete
stop.
2. With the brake pedal depressed, put the vehicle into either a forward or reverse gear by pressing 1 or R.
(The vehicle may already be in 1 or R if you were just
driving.)
3. Engage the parking brake.
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4. Turn off and remove the key.
5. Release the brake.
When parking on an incline, turn the front wheels toward
the curb on a downhill slope and away from the curb on
an uphill slope. Always chock the wheels when parking
on steep grades.
General Notes
When the vehicle is stopped and in gear, 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).
When stopped on an incline, always hold the vehicle in
place using the brakes. On steep inclines, Hill Start Assist
(HSA) will temporarily hold the vehicle in position when
the brake pedal is released. If the accelerator pedal is notapplied after a short time, the vehicle will roll back.
Either reapply the brake (to hold the vehicle) or press the
accelerator to climb the hill.
Only shift between FIRST (1st) and REVERSE (R) when
completely stopped, with the brake pedal pressed.
When necessary, it is possible to engage FIRST (1st),
REVERSE (R) or NEUTRAL (N) with the engine off, the
key at MAR-ON and the brake pressed. In this case, wait
at least five 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, accelerate gradually but fully,
immediately after releasing the parking brake or the
brake pedal; this allows the engine speed to increase to
provide more torque at the wheels.
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WARNING!(Continued)
reckless or dangerous manner, which can jeopardize
the user ’s safety or the safety of others. Only a safe,
attentive, and skillful driver can prevent accidents.
Failure to follow this warning may result in serious
injury or death.
To discontinue the strategy, simply interrupt the above
sequence of operations or release the accelerator pedal.
DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES
Acceleration
Rapid acceleration on snow covered, wet, or other slip-
pery surfaces may cause the driving wheels to pull
erratically to the right or left. This phenomenon occurs
when there is a difference in the surface traction under
the rear (driving) wheels.
WARNING!
Rapid acceleration on slippery surfaces is dangerous.
Unequal traction can cause sudden pulling of the rear
wheels. You could lose control of the vehicle and
possibly have a collision. Accelerate slowly and
carefully whenever there is likely to be poor traction
(ice, snow, wet mud, loose sand, etc.).
Traction
When driving on wet or slushy roads, it is possible for a
wedge of water to build up between the tire and road
surface. This is known as hydroplaning and may cause
partial or complete loss of vehicle control and stopping
ability. To reduce this possibility, the following precau-
tions should be observed:
• Slow down during rainstorms or when the roads are
slushy.
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•Slow down if the road has standing water or puddles.
• Replace tires when tread wear indicators first become
visible.
• Keep tires properly inflated.
• Maintain sufficient distance between your vehicle and
the vehicle in front of you to avoid a collision in a
sudden stop.
Your vehicle may be equipped with a Limited Slip
Differential (LSD) that reduces, but does not eliminate,
the amount of wheel slip across a given axle for im-
proved handling.
DRIVING THROUGH WATER
Driving through water more than a few inches/
centimeters deep will require extra caution to ensure
safety and prevent damage to your vehicle.
Flowing/Rising Water
WARNING!
Do not drive on or across a road or path where water
is flowing and/or rising (as in storm run-off). Flow-
ing water can wear away the road or path’s surface
and cause your vehicle to sink into deeper water.
Furthermore, flowing and/or rising water can carry
your vehicle away swiftly. Failure to follow this
warning may result in injuries that are serious or
fatal to you, your passengers, and others around you.
Shallow Standing Water
Although your vehicle is capable of driving through
shallow standing water, consider the following Cautions
and Warnings before doing so.
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WARNING!
•Driving through standing water limits your vehi-
cle’s traction capabilities. Do not exceed 5 mph
(8 km/h) when driving through standing water.
• Driving through standing water limits your vehi-
cle’s braking capabilities, which increases stopping
distances. Therefore, after driving through stand-
ing water, drive slowly and lightly press on the
brake pedal several times to dry the brakes.
• Failure to follow these warnings may result in
injuries that are serious or fatal to you, your pas-
sengers, and others around you.
CAUTION!
• Always check the depth of the standing water
before driving through it. Never drive through
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CAUTION! (Continued)
standing water that is deeper than the bottom of
the tire rims mounted on the vehicle.
• Determine the condition of the road or the path
that is under water and if there are any obstacles in
the way before driving through the standing water.
• Do not exceed 5 mph (8 km/h) when driving
through standing water. This will minimize wave
effects.
• Driving through standing water may cause damage
to your vehicle’s drivetrain components. Always
inspect your vehicle’s fluids (i.e., engine oil, trans-
mission, axle, etc.) for signs of contamination (i.e.,
fluid that is milky or foamy in appearance) after
driving through standing water. Do not continue to
operate the vehicle if any fluid appears contami-
nated, as this may result in further damage. Such
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194 STARTING AND OPERATING

BRAKE SYSTEM
Your vehicle is equipped with dual hydraulic brake
systems. If either of the two hydraulic systems loses
normal capability, the remaining system will still func-
tion. However, there will be some loss of overall braking
effectiveness. You may notice increased pedal travel
during application, greater pedal force required to slow
or stop, and potential activation of the “Brake System
Warning Light”.
In the event power assist is lost for any reason (i.e.,
repeated brake applications with the engine off), the
brakes will still function. However, the effort required to
brake the vehicle will be much greater than that required
with the power system operating.
ESC (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL)
SYSTEM
The ESC system improves the directional control and
stability of the vehicle in various driving conditions.
The ESC system corrects the vehicle understeer and
oversteer, distributing the brake force on the appropriate
wheels. The torque supplied by the engine can also be
reduced in order to maintain control of the vehicle.
WARNING!
•Electronic Stability Control (ESC) cannot prevent
the natural laws of physics from acting on the
vehicle, nor can it increase the traction afforded by
prevailing road conditions. ESC cannot prevent all
collisions, including those resulting from excessive
speed in turns, driving on very slippery surfaces, or
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The system’s pump motor runs during an ABS stop to
provide regulated hydraulic pressure. The pump motor
makes a low humming noise during operation, which is
normal.
The ABS includes an amber ABS Warning Light. When
the light is illuminated, the ABS is not functioning. The
system reverts to standard non-anti-lock brakes. Turning
the ignition Off and On again may reset the ABS if the
fault detected was only momentary.
WARNING!
•When the ABS intervenes and you feel the brake
pedal pulsating, do not reduce the pressure, but
hold it down firmly and confidently; in doing so
you will brake in the shortest distance possible,
depending on the current road conditions.
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WARNING! (Continued)
•For maximum efficiency of the braking system, a
bedding-in period of about 311 miles (500 km) is
required: during this period it is advisable to avoid
sharp, repeated and prolonged braking.
• If the ABS intervenes, this indicates that the grip of
the tires on the road is nearing its limit: you must
slow down to a speed compatible with the avail-
able grip.
• The ABS can’t overrule the natural laws of physics,
and can’t increase the grip available according to
the condition of the road.
• The ABS cannot prevent accidents, including those
due to excessive speed on corners, driving on
low-grip surfaces or aquaplaning.
• The capability of the ABS must never be tested
irresponsibly and dangerously, in such a way as to
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