Page 145 of 288
Deactivating passenger
side airbags: front
airbag and side bag for
pelvis, chest and
shoulders protection
(Side bag)
If a child must be carried on the front
seat in a rear facing child restraint
system, deactivate the passenger side
front airbag and side bag for pelvis,
chest and shoulder protection (Side
bag).
With airbags deactivated, a warning
light
lights up on the instrument
panel in the trim located above the
internal rearview mirror fig. 122.
122A0K0660
141
Page 146 of 288
FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG AND CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS: WARNING
123A0K0801
142
SAFETY
Page 147 of 288

WARNING
85) Do not apply stickers or other objects on the steering wheel, on the dashboard in the passenger side airbag area, on
side upholstery on the roof or on the seats. Never put objects (e.g. mobile phones) on the passenger's side dashboard
since they could interfere with correct inflation of the airbag and also cause serious injury to the passengers.
86) Always drive keeping your hands on the steering wheel rim so that the airbag can inflate freely if necessary. Do not
drive with your body bent forward. Keep the back of your seat upright and lean back into it.
87) When an active passenger airbag is fitted, DO NOT install rear facing child restraint systems on the front seat.
Deployment of the airbag in an accident could cause fatal injuries to the child regardless of the severity of the
impact. Therefore, always deactivate the passenger airbag when a rear facing child restraint system is installed on
the front passenger seat. The front passenger seat must also be positioned back as far as possible in order to avoid
the child restraint system from coming into contact with the dashboard. Immediately reactivate the passenger airbag
as soon as the child restraint system has been removed.
88) To deactivate the airbags, see the “Knowing your car” section, “Menu Items” paragraph.
89) When an active passenger airbag is fitted, DO NOT install rear facing child restraint systems on the front seat.
Deployment of the airbag in an accident could cause fatal injuries to the child regardless of the severity of the
impact.
143
Page 148 of 288

SIDE AIRBAGS (SIDE
BAGS - WINDOW
BAGS)
To increase protection of occupants in
case of side collision, the car is
equipped with front side bags for pelvis,
chest and shoulder protection (side
bags) for the driver and the passenger
and airbags protecting the head of front
and rear occupants (window bags).
Non-activation of side bags in other
types of collisions (head-on collisions,
rear shunts, roll-overs, etc...) is not
an indication of system malfunction.
FRONT SIDE AIRBAGS
(SIDE BAGS)
These comprise two types of bags
located in the front seat backrests fig.
124 which protect the pelvic, chest and
shoulder area of the occupants in the
event of a side impact of medium-high
severity.
SIDE AIRBAGS FOR
HEAD PROTECTION
(WINDOW BAGS)
This comprises two "curtain" bags
housed behind the roof side linings and
covered by special trims fig. 125.It is designed to protect the head of
front and rear occupants in the event of
a side collision, thanks to the wide
cushion inflation surface.
The deployment of side bags in the
event of side impacts of low severity is
not required.
The airbags are not deployed in the
event of low-severity impacts (for which
the retaining action of the seat belts is
sufficient). It is therefore always
necessary to wear seat belts.In the event of a side impact, the
system provides optimum protection if
the passenger assumes the correct
position on the seat, thus allowing
correct window bag deployment.
IMPORTANT
Do not wash the seats with water or
pressurised steam (by hand or at
automatic seat washing stations).
The front and/or side bags may activate
in the event of sharp knocks to the
underbody of the car (e.g. impact with
steps, pavements, potholes or road
bumps etc.).
124A0K0629
125A0K0035
144
SAFETY
Page 149 of 288

When the airbag deploys it emits a
small amount of dust: the dust is
harmless and does not indicate the
beginning of a fire. The dust may irritate
the skin and eyes however: in this
case, wash with neutral soap
and water.
Airbag checking, repair and
replacement must be carried out at an
Alfa Romeo Dealership.
If the car is scrapped, have the airbag
system deactivated at an Alfa Romeo
Dealership.
Pretensioners and airbags are deployed
in different ways, according to the
type of impact. Failure to deploy of one
of the devices does not necessarily
indicate a system malfunction.
90) 91) 92) 93) 94) 95) 96) 97) 98) 99)
WARNING
90) Do not hook rigid objects to the
coat hooks and to the support
handles.
91) 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 inflation.
92) Never lean your head, arms and
elbows out of the window.
93) If the
warning light does not
switch on when the key is turned
to MAR-ON, 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 an Alfa Romeo Dealership
to have the system checked
immediately.94) Do not travel holding objects on
your lap, opposite the breast,
holding a pipe, pencil, etc. in your
lips. Airbag deployment after a
collision could cause serious
damage/injury.
95) If the car has been subject to
theft, attempted to theft,
vandalism or flooding, have the
airbag system checked by an Alfa
Romeo Dealership.
145
Page 150 of 288

96) When the ignition key is in and
turned in the MAR-ON position
and the engine is off, the airbags
may deploy if the car is crashed
by another moving vehicle.
Therefore, even if the car is
stationary, when an active
passenger airbag is fitted, DO
NOT install rear facing child
restraint systems on the front
passenger seat. Deployment of
the airbag following an impact
could cause fatal injuries to the
child. Therefore, always
deactivate the passenger airbag
when a rear facing child restraint
system is installed on the front
passenger seat. The front
passenger seat must also be
positioned back as far as possible
in order to avoid the child
restraint system from coming into
contact with the dashboard.
Immediately reactivate the
passenger airbag as soon as the
child restraint system has been
removed. Also remember that,
if the key is turned to STOP, none
of the safety devices (airbags or
pretensioners) will be deployed in
the event of a collision. Non-
deployment in such cases does
not indicate a system malfunction.97) When the ignition key is turned
to MAR-ON, the
warning light
turns on (front airbag on
passenger's side enabled) and
blinks for a few seconds to remind
that the passenger airbag will
activate in the event of a collision.
Then it turns off.
98) The front airbags deploy in the
event of more severe collisions
than those required for deploying
the pretensioners. When the
impact is between the two
deployment thresholds, it is
normal that pretensioners only are
engaged.
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.
146
SAFETY
Page 151 of 288
STARTING AND DRIVING
Let’s get to the "heart" of the car:
seeing how you can exploit all of its
potential to the full.
We’ll look at how to drive it in any
situation, so that it can be a welcome
companion, with our comfort and
our wallets in mind.STARTING THE ENGINE ................148
PARKING ........................................149
USING THE GEARBOX ...................150
ALFA TCT .......................................151
SAVING FUEL .................................158
TOWING TRAILERS ........................160
SNOW TYRES ................................160
SNOW CHAINS...............................161
STORING THE CAR ........................162
147
Page 152 of 288

STARTING THE
ENGINE
PROCEDURE FOR
PETROL VERSIONS
Proceed as follows:
❒engage the handbrake and place the
gear lever in neutral;
❒fully depress the clutch pedal,
without touching the accelerator;
❒turn the ignition key to AVV and
release it as soon as the engine
starts.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
100) 101)
102)
16) 17) 18)
❒If the engine does not start at the first
attempt, return the ignition key to
STOP before repeating the starting
procedure.
❒If, when the ignition key is at
MAR-ON, the
instrument panel
warning light (or the symbol on the
display) stays on together with the
warning light, turn the key to
STOP and then back to MAR-ON. If
the warning light (or the symbol on
the display) remains on, try with
the other keys provided with the car.
Contact an Alfa Romeo Dealership
if the engine still does not start.❒Never leave the ignition key at MAR
when the engine is stopped.
PROCEDURE FOR DIESEL
VERSIONS
Proceed as follows:
19)
❒engage the handbrake and place the
gear lever in neutral;
❒turn the ignition key to MAR-ON: the
warning lights
andon the
instrument panel will turn on (for
versions/markets, where provided);
❒wait for the warning lights to switch
off;
❒fully depress the clutch pedal,
without touching the accelerator;
❒turn the ignition key to AVV as soon
as warning light
switches off.
Waiting too long will waste the
heating work carried out by the glow
plugs. Release the key as soon as
the engine starts.
WARMING UP THE
ENGINE JUST AFTER IT
HAS STARTED
Proceed as follows:
❒drive off slowly, letting the engine turn
at medium speed without
accelerating abruptly;❒do not demand full performance at
first. It is advisable to wait until the
engine coolant temperature indicator
starts moving.
STOPPING THE ENGINE
Turn the ignition key to STOP while the
engine is idling.
IMPORTANT After a demanding drive,
before turning the engine off you should
let it idle so that the temperature in the
engine compartment decreases.
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 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.
102) Do not start the engine by
pushing, towing or driving
downhill. These manoeuvres may
damage the catalytic converter.
148
STARTING AND DRIVING