
if the seat belt is fastenedthe
corresponding icon will be green;
if the seat belt is unfastenedthe
corresponding icon will be red.
If a rear seat belt is unfastened, an
acoustic warning (3 "beeps") will be
activated along with the relevant icon
lighting up in the display.
Furthermore the icons will light up again
for 30 seconds each time one of the rear
doors is closed.
The visual indication (flashing red) will
start and stop independently for each
warning light if several seat belts are
unfastened.
The icon will turn green after the
corresponding seat belt has been
fastened.
The rear seat icons will go out, regardless
of the state of the belt (red icon or green
icon), approximately 30 seconds after
the last signal.
IMPORTANT NOTES
As far as the rear seats are concerned,
the SBR system will only indicate
whether the seat belts are unfastened
(red icon) or fastened (green icon), not
the presence of any passengers.
The warning lights/icons all stay off if all
seat belts (front and rear) are fastened
when the ignition device is set to ON.
For the rear seats, the icons will activatea few seconds after the ignition device
has been turned to ON, regardless of the
status of the seat belts (even if the seat
belts are all fastened).
All the warning lights/icons will come on
when at least one belt changes from
fastened to unfastened status or vice
versa.
PRETENSIONERS
The vehicle is equipped with front and
rear lateral 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
been activated when the belt withdraws
toward the retractor.
This car is also equipped with a second
pretensioner on the front seat belts
(fitted 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 harmful and
does not involve any fire hazard.
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 an
Alfa Romeo Dealership to have it
replaced.
IMPORTANT To obtain the highest
degree of protection from the action of
81

Passenger side front airbag
This consists of an instantly inflating bag
contained in a special recess in the
dashboard fig. 94; this bag has a larger
volume than that of the driver's.
Passenger side front airbag and child
restraint systems
Rearward facing child restraint systems
mustNEVERbe fitted on the front seat
with an active passenger side airbagsince in the event of an impact the airbag
activation may cause fatal injuries to the
transported child.
ALWAYScomply with the instructions on
the label stuck on the passenger side sun
visor fig. 95, and shown in table fig. 98.
Deactivating/activating the passenger
airbags: front airbag and side bag
(where provided)
For deactivating the passenger front and
side airbags, on the Connect system,
select the following functions in
sequence from the main menu, which can
be opened by pressing the MENU button:
"Settings", "Safety", "Passenger airbag"
which can be selected by turning and
pressing the Rotary Pad fig. 96. The
system will detect the activation/
deactivation state of the airbags and
confirm change of state. Press the Rotary
Pad to continue.The OFF and ON state LEDs are provided
on the front ceiling light. Moving the
ignition device to AVV, the two LEDs
switch on for a few seconds. If not,
contact a Alfa Romeo Dealership. During
the first seconds, the activation of the
LEDs does not actually show the
passenger protection status, but only
checks its correct operation.
After a test of a few seconds, the LEDs
will indicate the status of the passenger
airbag protection.
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96
SAFETY

89)Do not affix rigid objects to the garment
hooks or support handles.
90)Do not rest your head, arms or elbows on
the door, windows or the area in which the
Window bag is located to avoid possible
injury during airbag inflation.
91)Never lean your head, arms or elbows
out of the window.
92)If, when the ignition device is turned to
ON, the
warning light does not switch on
or stays on whilst driving, a fault may have
occurred in the restraint systems. In this
case the airbags or pretensioners may not
be deployed in an impact or, in a lower
number of cases, they may be deployed
accidentally. Before continuing, contact an
Alfa Romeo Dealership immediately to have
the system checked.
93)In case of a LED
OFFfailure (located
on the front courtesy light), thewarning
light appears on the instrument panel.
94)On cars with side bags, do not cover the
front seat backrests with extra covers.
95)Do not travel carrying objects in your
lap, in front of your chest or between your
lips (pipe, pencils, etc.): they could cause
severe injury if the airbag is deployed.
96)If the car has been subject to theft,
attempted theft, vandalism, or flooding,
have the airbag system inspected at an Alfa
Romeo Dealership.
97)Malfunction of the airbag failure
warning light is indicated by the activation
of an airbag failure icon and a dedicated
message on the instrument panel display.
The pyrotechnic charges are not disabled.
Before continuing, contact an Alfa Romeo
Dealership immediately to have the system
checked.98)The airbag deployment threshold is
higher than that of the pretensioners. For
collisions in the range between the two
thresholds, it is normal for only the
pretensioners to be activated.
99)The airbag does not replace seat belts
but increases their efficiency. Because front
airbags are not deployed for low-speed
crashes, side collisions, rear-end shunts or
rollovers, occupants are protected, in
addition to any side bags, only by their seat
belts, which must therefore always be
fastened.
100
SAFETY

STARTING THE ENGINE
STARTING THE ENGINE
Before starting the engine, adjust the
seat, the interior rear view mirrors, the
door mirrors and fasten the seat belt
correctly.
Never press the accelerator pedal for
starting the engine.
If necessary, messages indicating the
starting procedure can be shown on the
display.
100) 101) 102)
30) 31) 32)
Versions with manual gearbox
Proceed as follows:
engage the parking brake and set the
gear in neutral, on diesel versions turn the
ignition switch to ON, the
symbol will
appear on the instrument panel: wait until
it goes off;
fully depress the clutch pedal, without
touching the accelerator;
briefly press the ignition button;
if the engine doesn't start within a few
seconds, you need to repeat the procedure.
if the problem persists, contact an Alfa
Romeo Dealership.Versions with automatic transmission
Proceed as follows:
engage the electric parking brake and
set the gear lever to P (Park) or N
(Neutral),
fully depress the brake pedal without
touching the accelerator;
briefly press the ignition button;
if the engine doesn't start within a few
seconds, you need to repeat the procedure.
if the problem persists, contact an Alfa
Romeo Dealership.
ENGINE STARTING FAILURE
Starting the engine with electronic key
battery (Keyless Start) run down or flat
If the ignition device does not respond
when the relevant button is pressed the
electronic key battery might be run down
or flat. Therefore, the system does not
detect the presence of the electronic key
on board the vehicle and displays a
dedicated message.
STOPPING THE ENGINE
33)
To stop the engine, proceed as follows:
park the vehicle in a position that is not
dangerous for oncoming traffic;
engage a gear (versions with manual
gearbox) or select P (Park) mode
(versions with automatic transmission);
with engine idling, press the start
button.Vehicles with electronic key (Keyless
Start)
If the vehicle speed is above 5 mph
(8 km/h), it is still possible to switch off
the engine by selecting an operating
mode other than P (Park). To switch off
the engine in this situation, hold down the
ignition device button for a while or press
it 3 times in a row within a few seconds.
WARNING
100)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.
101)The electro-hydraulic braking system
is not active until the engine starts running.
So, the brake pedal travel will be longer than
normal. This does not indicate a fault.
102)Do not start the engine by pushing,
towing or driving downhill. These
manoeuvres may damage the catalytic
converter.
IMPORTANT
30)We recommend that during the initial
period, or during the first 1600 km
(1000 miles), you do not drive to full car
performance (e.g. excessive acceleration,
long journeys at top speed, sharp braking,
etc.).
102
STARTING AND DRIVING

31)When the engine stopped never leave
the ignition device in the ON position to
prevent useless current draw from draining
the battery.
32)Warning light
will flash after starting
or during prolonged cranking to indicate a
fault with the glow plug heating system. If
the engine starts, the vehicle can be regularly
used, but an Alfa Romeo Dealership must be
contacted as soon as possible.
33)A quick burst on the accelerator before
turning off the engine serves absolutely no
practical purpose; it wastes fuel and is
damaging for the engine.
ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE
The vehicle is equipped with electric
parking brake to guarantee better use
and optimal performance compared to a
manually operated parking brake.
The electric parking brake features a
switch, located on the central tunnel
fig. 101, a motor with caliper for each
rear wheel and an electronic control
module.
The electric parking brake can be
engaged in two ways:
manually, by pulling the switch on the
central tunnel;
automaticallyin "Safe Hold" or "Auto
Park Brake" conditions.
IMPORTANT Normally, the electric
parking brake is engaged automatically
when the engine is stopped. This function
can be deactivated/activated on theConnect system by selecting the
following items in sequence on the main
menu: "Settings", "Driver assistance" and
"Automatic parking brake".
IMPORTANT Always engage the electric
parking brake before leaving the vehicle.
IMPORTANT In addition to parking the
vehicle with the parking brake always
engaged, the wheel steered, chocks or
stones positioned in front of the wheels
(when on a steep slope), you must always
engage:
Manual transmission:
Engage 1stgear if the car is parked
uphill or reverse gear if the car is parked
downhill.
Automatic transmission:
engage P (Park) mode.
IMPORTANT Should the vehicle battery
be faulty, to unlock the electric parking
brake the battery must be replaced.
Engaging the parking brake manually
103) 104) 105)
Briefly pull the switch located on the
central tunnel to manually engage the
electric parking brake when the vehicle is
stationary.
Noise may be heard from the rear of the
vehicle when engaging the electric
parking brake.
A slight movement of the brake pedal
10107046S0001EM
103

may be detected when engaging the
electric parking brake with the brake
pedal pressed.
With the electric parking brake engaged,
the warning light
on the instrument
panel and the LED on the switch
fig. 101 turn on.
IMPORTANTWith the Electronic Parking
Brake failure warning light on, some
functions of the electric parking brake are
deactivated. In this case the driver is
responsible for brake activation and vehicle
parking in complete safety conditions.
If, under exceptional circumstances, the
use of the brake is required with the
vehicle in motion, keep the switch on the
central tunnel pulled as long as the brake
action is necessary.
The
warning light may switch on with
the hydraulic system temporarily
unavailable; in this case braking is
controlled by the motors.
The brake lights (stop) will also
automatically switch on in the same way
as for normal braking with the use of the
brake pedal.
Release the switch on the central tunnel
to stop the braking action with the
vehicle in motion.
If, through this procedure, the vehicle is
braked until a speed below 2 mph (3 km/h)is reached and the switch is kept pulled, the
parking brake will definitively engage.
IMPORTANTDriving the vehicle with the
electric parking brake engaged, or using it
several times to slow down the vehicle, may
cause severe damage to the braking system.
Disengaging the electric parking brake
manually
In order to manually release the parking
brake, the ignition device should be at ON
position. Moreover, you need to press the
brake pedal, then press the switch on the
central tunnel briefly.
Noise may be heard from the rear of the
vehicle and a slight movement of the
brake pedal may be detected during
disengagement.
After disengaging the electric parking
brake, the
warning light on the
instrument panel and the LED on the
fig. 101 switch turn off.
If the
warning light on the instrument
panel remains on with the electric parking
brake disengaged, this indicates a fault:
in this case contact an Alfa Romeo
Dealership.
IMPORTANT Never use gear position P
(Park) instead of the electric parking
brake. Always engage the electric
parking brake when parking the vehicle to
prevent injury or damage caused by the
unexpected movement of the vehicle.ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE OPERATING
MODES
The electric parking brake may operate
as follows:
"Dynamic operating mode": this mode
is activated by pulling the switch
repeatedly whilst driving;
"Static engagement and release
mode": with the vehicle stationary, the
electric parking brake can be activated
by pulling the switch on the central tunnel
once. On the other hand, press the switch
and the brake pedal at the same time to
disengage the brake;
"Drive Away Release": (where
provided) the electric parking brake will
automatically disengage with the driver
side seat belt fastened and the detection
of an action performed by the driver to
move the vehicle (forward gear or
reverse gear);
"Safe Hold": if the vehicle speed is
lower than 2 mph (3 km/h), on vehicles
with automatic transmission, the gear
lever is not in P (Park) position and the
driver's intention of leaving the vehicle is
detected, the electric parking brake will
automatically engage to hold the vehicle
in safety conditions;
"Auto Park Brake": if the vehicle speed
is below 2 mph (3 km/h), the electric
parking break will automatically engage
when the gear lever is in P (Park) position.
The LED on the switch located on the
104
STARTING AND DRIVING

central tunnel fig. 101 switches on
together with the warning light
on the
instrument panel when the parking brake
is engaged and applied to the wheels.
Each automatic parking brake
engagement can be cancelled by pressing
the switch on the central tunnel and at
the same time moving the gear lever for
the transmission to position P (Park).
SAFE HOLD
It is a safety function that automatically
engages the electric parking brake in the
event of a dangerous condition for the
vehicle.
If:
the vehicle speed is below 2 mph
(3 km/h);
on vehicles with automatic
transmission, a transmission operating
mode different from P (Park) is activated;
the driver's seat belt is not fastened;
the driver side door is open;
no attempts to apply pressure on the
brake pedal have been detected.
the electric parking brake engages
automatically to prevent vehicle
movement.
The Safe Hold function can be
temporarily disabled by pressing the
switch located on the central tunnel and
the brake pedal at the same time, with
the vehicle stationary and the driver side
door open.Once disabled, the function will activate
again when the vehicle speed reaches
12 mph (20 km/h) or the ignition device is
moved to STOP and then to ON.
WARNING
103)In the case of parking manoeuvres on
roads on a gradient, the front wheels must
be steered towards the pavement (when
parking downhill), or in the opposite
direction if the vehicle is parked uphill. Block
the wheels with a wedge or a stone if the car
is parked on a steep slope.
104)Never leave children alone in an
unattended vehicle; make sure that when
you move away from the vehicle, you have
the key with you.
105)The electric parking brake must
always be engaged when leaving the vehicle.
MANUAL GEARBOX
106)
34)
To engage the gears, press the clutch
pedal fully and put the gear lever into the
required position (the diagram for gear
engagement is shown on the knob ).
To engage reverse gear R from the idle
position, press towards the left (until end
of stroke) to avoid mistakenly inserting
the 1
stgear.
To engage 6thgear, operate the lever by
pressing it towards the right in order to
avoid engaging 4
thgear by mistake. The
same applies to the shift from 6thto 5th
gear.
IMPORTANT Reverse can only be
engaged when the vehicle is completely
stationary. With the engine running, wait
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105

Deactivation
To deactivate the sequential driving
mode, bring the gear lever back in
position D (Drive) ("automatic" driving
mode).
TRANSMISSION EMERGENCY
FUNCTION
(where provided)
Transmission operation is constantly
monitored to detect any fault. If a
condition that might damage the
transmission is detected, the
"transmission emergency" function is
activated.
In this condition, the transmission stays
in 4
thgear, regardless of the selected
gear. Positions P (Parking), R (Reverse)
and N (Neutral) still work.
The
symbol might light up in the
display.
In the event of a "transmission
emergency" immediately contact the
nearest Alfa Romeo Dealership.
Temporary failure
If the warning light goes on, you can
confirm if the failure is temporary and
restore the gear's proper functioning by
proceeding as follows:
stop the vehicle;
engage P (Park);
bring the ignition device to STOP;
wait for about 10 seconds, then
restart the engine;
select the desired gear: if the problem
is not detected anymore the
transmission correct operation is
restored.
IMPORTANT In the event of a temporary
failure it is in any case recommended to
contact an Alfa Romeo Dealership as
soon as possible.
GEAR ENGAGEMENT DISABLING
SYSTEM WITHOUT BRAKE PEDAL
PRESSED
This system prevents you from moving
the gear lever from position P (Park) if
the brake pedal has not been previously
depressed.
To bring the gear lever to a position other
than P (Park), the ignition device must be
in position AVV (engine on or off) and the
brake pedal must be pressed.
WARNING
107)Never use position P (Park) instead of
the electric parking brake. Always engage
the electric parking brake when parking the
vehicle to avoid the accidental movement of
the vehicle.
108)If the P (Park) position is not engaged,
the vehicle could move and injure people.
Before leaving the vehicle, make sure that
the gear lever is in position P and that the
electric parking brake is engaged.109)Do not shift the gear lever to N
(Neutral) and do not stop the engine when
driving on a downhill road. This type of
driving is dangerous and reduces the
possibility of intervening in the case of
variation of the road traffic or surface. You
risk losing control of your vehicle and
causing accidents.
IMPORTANT
35)Before selecting P (Park) mode, bring the
ignition device to position ON and press the
brake pedal. Otherwise, the gear lever may
get damaged.
36)Engage reverse only with the car
stationary, engine at idling speed and
accelerator fully released.
108
STARTING AND DRIVING