•Steering Wheel and Column
• Instrument Panel
• Knee Impact Bolsters
• Driver and Front Passenger Air Bags
• Seat Belt Buckle Switch
• Supplemental Side Air Bags
• Supplemental Knee Air Bags
• Front and Side Impact Sensors
• Seat Belt Pretensioners
• Seat Track Position Sensors
Air Bag Warning Light
The ORC monitors the readiness of the elec-
tronic parts of the air bag system whenever
the ignition switch is in the AVV/START or
MAR/ACC/ON/RUN position. If the igni-
tion switch is in the STOP/OFF/LOCK position the air
bag system is not on and the air bags will not inflate.
The ORC contains a backup power supply system that
may deploy the air bag system even if the battery loses
power or it becomes disconnected prior to deployment. The ORC turns on the Air Bag Warning Light in the
instrument panel for approximately four to eight sec-
onds for a self-check when the ignition switch is in the
MAR/ACC/ON/RUN position. After the self-check,
the Air Bag Warning Light will turn off. If the ORC
detects a malfunction in any part of the system, it turns
on the Air Bag Warning Light, either momentarily or
continuously. A single chime will sound to alert you if
the light comes on again after initial startup.
The ORC also includes diagnostics that will illuminate
the instrument panel Air Bag Warning Light if a mal-
function is detected that could affect the air bag system.
The diagnostics also record the nature of the malfunc-
tion. While the air bag system is designed to be main-
tenance free, if any of the following occurs, have an
authorized dealer service the air bag system
immediately.
•
The Air Bag Warning Light does not come on during
the four to eight seconds when the ignition switch is
first in the MAR/ACC/ON/RUN position.
• The Air Bag Warning Light remains on after the four
to eight-second interval.
• The Air Bag Warning Light comes on intermittently
or remains on while driving.
5
SAFETY 103
WARNING!(Continued)
extending your arms to reach the steering wheel
or instrument panel.
• Never place a rear-facing child restraint in front of
an air bag. A deploying passenger front air bag
can cause death or serious injury to a child 12
years or younger, including a child in a rear-
facing child restraint.
• Only use a rear-facing child restraint in a vehicle
with a rear seat.
Driver And Passenger Front Air Bag Features
The Advanced Front Air Bag system has multistage
driver and front passenger air bags. This system pro-
vides output appropriate to the severity and type of
collision as determined by the Occupant Restraint Con-
troller (ORC), which may receive information from the
front impact sensors (if equipped) or other system
components.
The first stage inflator is triggered immediately during
an impact that requires air bag deployment. A low
energy output is used in less severe collisions. A higher
energy output is used for more severe collisions. This vehicle may be equipped with a driver and/or
front passenger seat belt buckle switch that detects
whether the driver or front passenger seat belt is
buckled. The seat belt buckle switch may adjust the
inflation rate of the Advanced Front Air Bags.
This vehicle may be equipped with driver and/or front
passenger seat track position sensors that may adjust
the inflation rate of the Advanced Front Air Bags based
upon seat position.
WARNING!
•
No objects should be placed over or near the air
bag on the instrument panel or steering wheel
because any such objects could cause harm if the
vehicle is in a collision severe enough to cause the
air bag to inflate.
• Do not put anything on or around the air bag
covers or attempt to open them manually. You
may damage the air bags and you could be
injured because the air bags may no longer be
functional. The protective covers for the air bag
cushions are designed to open only when the air
bags are inflating.
(Continued)
5
SAFETY 105
WARNING!(Continued)
•Relying on the air bags alone could lead to more
severe injuries in a collision. The air bags work
with your seat belt to restrain you properly. In
some collisions, air bags won’t deploy at all.
Always wear your seat belts even though you
have air bags.
Front Air Bag Operation
Front Air Bags are designed to provide additional
protection by supplementing the seat belts. Front air
bags are not expected to reduce the risk of injury in rear,
side, or rollover collisions. The front air bags will not
deploy in all frontal collisions, including some that may
produce substantial vehicle damage — for example,
some pole collisions, truck underrides, and angle offset
collisions.
On the other hand, depending on the type and location
of impact, front air bags may deploy in crashes with
little vehicle front-end damage but that produce a
severe initial deceleration. Because air bag sensors measure vehicle deceleration
over time, vehicle speed and damage by themselves are
not good indicators of whether or not an air bag should
have deployed.
Seat belts are necessary for your protection in all
collisions, and also are needed to help keep you in
position, away from an inflating air bag.
When the ORC detects a collision requiring the front air
bags, it signals the inflator units. A large quantity of
non-toxic gas is generated to inflate the front air bags.
The steering wheel hub trim cover and the upper right
side of the instrument panel separate and fold out of the
way as the air bags inflate to their full size. The front air
bags fully inflate in less time than it takes to blink your
eyes. The front air bags then quickly deflate while
helping to restrain the driver and front passenger.
Knee Impact Bolsters
The Knee Impact Bolsters help protect the knees of the
driver and front passenger, and position the front
occupants for improved interaction with the front air
bags.
106 SAFETY
The SABICs may help reduce the risk of partial or
complete ejection of vehicle occupants through side
windows in certain side impact events.
WARNING!
Do not mount equipment, or stack luggage or other
cargo up high enough to block the deployment of
the SABICs. The door trim below the side windows
where the SABIC and its deployment path are
located should remain free from any obstructions.Side Impacts
The Side Air Bags are designed to activate in certain
side impacts. The Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
determines whether the deployment of the Side Air
Bags in a particular impact event is appropriate, based
on the severity and type of collision. The side impact
sensors aid the ORC in determining the appropriate
response to impact events. The system is calibrated to
deploy the Side Air Bags on the impact side of the
vehicle during impacts that require Side Air Bag occu-
pant protection. In side impacts, the Side Air Bags
deploy independently; a left side impact deploys the
left Side Air Bags only and a right-side impact deploys
the right Side Air Bags only. Vehicle damage by itself is
not a good indicator of whether or not Side Air Bags
should have deployed.
The Side Air Bags will not deploy in all side collisions,
including some collisions at certain angles, or some side
collisions that do not impact the area of the passenger
compartment. The Side Air Bags may deploy during
angled or offset frontal collisions where the front air
bags deploy.
Supplemental Door-Integrated Side Air Bag Inflatable
Curtains (SABICs) Location
108 SAFETY
•Air Bag Warning Light
•Steering Wheel and Column
• Instrument Panel
• Knee Impact Bolsters
• Driver and Front Passenger Air Bags
• Seat Belt Buckle Switch
• Supplemental Side Air Bags
• Supplemental Knee Air Bags
• Front and Side Impact Sensors
• Seat Belt Pretensioners
• Seat Track Position Sensors
If A Deployment Occurs
The front air bags are designed to deflate immediately
after deployment.
NOTE: Front and/or side air bags will not deploy in all
collisions. This does not mean something is wrong with
the air bag system. If you do have a collision which deploys the air bags,
any or all of the following may occur:
•
The air bag material may sometimes cause abrasions
and/or skin reddening to the occupants as the air
bags deploy and unfold. The abrasions are similar to
friction rope burns or those you might get sliding
along a carpet or gymnasium floor. They are not
caused by contact with chemicals. They are not
permanent and normally heal quickly. However, if
you haven’t healed significantly within a few days,
or if you have any blistering, see your doctor imme-
diately.
• As the air bags deflate, you may see some smoke-like
particles. The particles are a normal by-product of the
process that generates the non-toxic gas used for air
bag inflation. These airborne particles may irritate
the skin, eyes, nose, or throat. If you have skin or eye
irritation, rinse the area with cool water. For nose or
throat irritation, move to fresh air. If the irritation
continues, see your doctor. If these particles settle on
your clothing, follow the garment manufacturer ’s
instructions for cleaning.
110 SAFETY
STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
STARTING THE ENGINE ...............129
▫ Automatic Transmission ...............129
▫ Normal Starting ..................... .129
▫ Cold Weather Operation ...............130
▫ If Engine Fails To Start ................130
▫ After Starting ...................... .130
▫ Turbo Charger “Cool Down” ............130
ENGINE BREAK-IN RECOMMENDATIONS . .131
PARKING BRAKE .....................131
SIX-SPEED ALFA TWIN CLUTCH
TRANSMISSION ..................... .133
▫ Using The Transmission ...............133
ALFA DNA SYSTEM (DYNAMIC VEHICLE
CONTROL SYSTEM) ...................138
▫ Driving Modes ..................... .139▫
System Failure ...................... .142
▫ Launch Control .....................142
SPEED CONTROL — IF EQUIPPED ........143
▫ To Activate ........................ .143
▫ To Set A Desired Speed ................144
▫ To Vary The Speed Setting ..............144
▫ To Accelerate For Passing ..............145
▫ To Resume Speed ....................145
▫ To Deactivate ...................... .145
PARKING SENSORS — IF EQUIPPED ......146
▫ Acoustic Signal ..................... .146
▫ Indications On Display — If Equipped .....147
▫ Activation/Deactivation ................147
▫ Fault
Indication ..................... .148
6
PARKING SENSORS — IF EQUIPPED
The vehicle’s parking sensors are located in the rear
bumper, and will detect the presence of any obstacles
near the rear part of the vehicle while moving in
REVERSE gear. The driver is then informed through an
intermittent acoustic signal.
Acoustic Signal
When REVERSE gear is engaged, and there is an
obstacle behind the vehicle, an acoustic signal is emitted
which varies according to the distance of the bumper
from the obstacle.
The frequency of the acoustic signal:
•Increases as the distance between vehicle and ob-
stacle decreases, culminating in a continuous acous-
tic signal when the distance is less than approxi-
mately 12 inches (30 cm).
• Decreases if the distance from the obstacle increases,
until the signal ceases entirely.
• Remains constant if the distance between vehicle and
obstacle remains unchanged; if this situation con-
cerns the side sensors, the signal will stop after
approximately 3 seconds, for example, in the event of
manoeuvres along a wall.
If several obstacles are detected by the sensors, only the
nearest one is considered.
Parking Sensors
146 STARTING AND OPERATING
Indications On Display — If Equipped
When the sensors are activated, the parking sensor
display screen appears in the instrument cluster.
Obstacle presence and distance information is therefore
provided both by the acoustic signal and the instrument
cluster display.
The system indicates a detected obstacle by displaying
an arc in one or more positions according to the distance
of the obstacle and its position in relation to the vehicle.If an obstacle is detected in the rear central area, the
instrument cluster display shows all the arcs in the rear
central area, up to the one that corresponds to the
position of the obstacle itself.
The signal is similar for obstacles in the rear left or right
area.
The arc that corresponds to the position of the obstacle
will flash.
The color on the instrument cluster display depends on
the distance from and position of the obstacle.
The vehicle is close to the obstacle when the instrument
cluster display shows a single constant arc and emits a
continuous sound.
If there are several obstacles, the closest one is indi-
cated.
Activation/Deactivation
The sensors are automatically activated when REVERSE
gear is engaged. As the obstacle behind the vehicle gets
closer, the acoustic signal becomes more frequent.
Parking Sensor Display Screen
6
STARTING AND OPERATING 147