Safety Checks You Should Make Inside
The Vehicle
Seat Belts
Inspect the seat belt system periodically,
checking for cuts, frays, and loose parts.
Damaged parts must be replaced
immediately. Do not disassemble or
modify the system.
Front seat belt assemblies must be
replaced after a collision. Rear seat belt
assemblies must be replaced after a
collision if they have been damaged
(i.e., bent retractor, torn webbing, etc.).
If
there is any question regarding seat belt
or retractor condition, replace the seat belt.
Air Bag Warning Light
The Air Bag warning lightwill turn on
for four to eight seconds as a bulb check
when the ignition switch is first turned to
ON/RUN. If the light is either not on
during starting, stays on, or turns on while
driving, have the system inspected at
your authorized dealer as soon as
possible. After the bulb check, this light
will illuminate with a single chime when a
fault with the Air Bag System has been
detected. It will stay on until the fault is
removed. If the light comes on
intermittently or remains on while
driving, have your authorized dealer
service the vehicle immediately.
Refer to “Occupant Restraint Systems” in
“Safety” for further information.
Defroster
Check operation by selecting the defrost
mode and place the blower control on
high speed. You should be able to feel the
air directed against the windshield. See
your authorized dealer for service if your
defroster is inoperable.
Floor Mat Safety Information
Always use floor mats designed to fit
your vehicle. Only use a floor mat that
does not interfere with the operation of
the accelerator, brake or clutch pedals.
Only use a floor mat that is securely
attached using the floor mat fasteners so
it cannot slip out of position and interfere
with the accelerator, brake or clutch
pedals or impair safe operation of your
vehicle in other ways.
Warning!
An improperly attached, damaged, folded, or
stacked floor mat, or damaged floor mat
fasteners may cause your floor mat to
interfere with the accelerator, brake, or
clutch pedals and cause a loss of vehicle
control. To prevent SERIOUS INJURY or
DEATH:
ALWAYS securely attachyour floor
mat using the floor mat fasteners. DO NOT
install your floor mat upside down or turn
your floor mat over. Lightly pull to confirm
mat is secured using the floor mat fasteners
on a regular basis.
ALWAYS REMOVE THE EXISTING FLOOR
MAT FROM THE VEHICLEbefore
installing any other floor mat. NEVER install
or stack an additional floor mat on top of an
existing floor mat.
ONLY install floor mats designed to fit
your vehicle. NEVER install a floor mat that
cannot be properly attached and secured to
your vehicle. If a floor mat needs to be
replaced, only use a FCA approved floor mat
for the specific make, model, and year of
your vehicle.
ONLY use the driver’s side floor mat on
the driver’s side floor area. To check for
interference, with the vehicle properly
parked with the engine off, fully depress the
accelerator, the brake, and the clutch pedal
(if present) to check for interference. If your
floor mat interferes with the operation of
any pedal, or is not secure to the floor,
remove the floor mat from the vehicle and
place the floor mat in your trunk.
ONLY use the passenger’s side floor mat
on the passenger’s side floor area.
ALWAYS make sure objects cannot fall or
slide into the driver’s side floor area when
the vehicle is moving. Objects can become
trapped under accelerator, brake, or clutch
pedals and could cause a loss of vehicle
control.
NEVER place any objects under the floor
mat (e.g., towels, keys, etc.). These objects
could change the position of the floor mat
and may cause interference with the
accelerator, brake, or clutch pedals.
128
SAFETY
If the vehicle carpet has been removed
and re-installed, always properly attach
carpet to the floor and check the floor mat
fasteners are secure to the vehicle carpet.
Fully depress each pedal to check for
interference with the accelerator, brake, or
clutch pedals then re-install the floor mats.
It is recommended to only use mild soap
and water to clean your floor mats. After
cleaning, always check your floor mat has
been properly installed and is secured to
your vehicle using the floor mat fasteners
by lightly pulling mat.
Periodic Safety Checks You Should
Make Outside The Vehicle
Tires
Examine tires for excessive tread wear
and uneven wear patterns. Check for
stones, nails, glass, or other objects
lodged in the tread or sidewall. Inspect
the tread for cuts and cracks. Inspect
sidewalls for cuts, cracks, and bulges.
Check the wheel nuts for tightness.
Check the tires (including spare) for
proper cold inflation pressure.
Lights
Have someone observe the operation of
brake lights and exterior lights while you
work the controls. Check turn signal and
high beam indicator lights on the
instrument panel.
Door Latches
Check for proper closing, latching, and
locking.
Fluid Leaks
Check area under the vehicle after
overnight parking for fuel, coolant, oil, or
other fluid leaks. Also, if gasoline fumes
are detected or if fuel, or brake fluid
leaks are suspected. The cause should be
located and corrected immediately.
Warning!
To prevent SERIOUS INJURY or DEATH when
using “Track-Use” parts and equipment:
NEVER use any “Track-Use” equipment on
public roads. FCA US LLC does not authorize
the use of “Track-Use” equipment on public
roads.
The intended use of “Track-Use” parts is
for race vehicles on race tracks. To help
ensure the safety of the race driver,
engineers should supervise the installation
of “Track-Use” parts.
FCA US LLC does not authorize the
installation or use of any part noted as
“Track-Use” on any new vehicle prior to its
first retail sale.
Warning!
To prevent SERIOUS INJURY or DEATH:ALWAYS remove any “Track-Use”
equipment before driving on public roads.
ALWAYS properly use your three-point
seat belts when driving on public roads.
In a collision, you and your passengers can
suffer much greater injuries if you are not
properly buckled up. You can strike the
interior of your vehicle or other passengers,
or you can be thrown out of the vehicle.
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STARTING AND OPERATING
Let’s get to the core of the vehicle, and
see how you can explore its fullest
potential. We’ll look at how to drive
safely in any situation, making it a
welcome companion with our comfort
and wallets in mind.STARTING THE ENGINE........132
ELECTRIC PARK BRAKE ........135
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION .....137
ALFA DNA PRO SELECTOR ......143
ALFA ACTIVE SUSPENSION (AAS) . .146
STOP/START SYSTEM .........146
SPEED LIMITER .............148
SPEED CONTROL
(CRUISE CONTROL) ..........149
ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
(ACC) — IF EQUIPPED .........151
PARK SENSORS SYSTEM .......158
LANE DEPARTURE WARNING (LDW)
SYSTEM — IF EQUIPPED .......161
REAR BACK-UP CAMERA / DYNAMIC
GRIDLINES .............. .163
REFUELING THE VEHICLE .......165
VEHICLE LOADING ...........166
TRAILER TOWING ............167
SUGGESTIONS FOR DRIVING .....168
131
STARTING THE ENGINE
Before starting the engine, be sure to
adjust the seat, the interior rear view
mirrors, and the door mirrors, and fasten
the seat belt correctly.
Never press the accelerator pedal before
starting the engine.
If necessary, messages indicating the
starting procedure can be shown in the
display.
Warning!
When leaving the vehicle, always remove
the key fob from the vehicle and lock your
vehicle.
Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or
with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Allowing children to be in a vehicle
unattended is dangerous for a number of
reasons. A child or others could be seriously
or fatally injured. Children should be warned
not to touch the parking brake, brake pedal
or the transmission gear selector.
Do not leave the key fob in or near the
vehicle, or in a location accessible to
children. A child could operate power
windows, other controls, or move the
vehicle.
Do not leave children or animals inside
parked vehicles in hot weather. Interior heat
build-up may cause serious injury or death.
Starting Procedure
Proceed as follows:
1. Apply the electric park brake and set
the gear selector to PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N).
2. Fully depress the brake pedal without
touching the accelerator.
3. Briefly push the ignition button.
4. If the engine doesn't start within a
few seconds, you need to repeat the
procedure.
If the problem persists, contact an
authorized dealer.
Warning!
Never pour fuel or other flammable liquid
into the throttle body air inlet opening in an
attempt to start the vehicle. This could
result in flash fire causing serious personal
injury.
Do not attempt to push or tow your
vehicle to get it started. Vehicles equipped
with an automatic transmission cannot be
started this way. Unburned fuel could enter
the catalytic converter and once the engine
has started, ignite and damage the
converter and vehicle.
If the vehicle has a discharged battery,
booster cables may be used to obtain a
start from a booster battery or the battery
in another vehicle. This type of start can be
dangerous if done improperly. Refer to
“Jump Starting” in “In Case Of Emergency”
for further information.
Caution!
To prevent damage to the starter, do not
continuously crank the engine for more than
25 seconds at a time. Wait 60 seconds
before trying again.
Remote Starting System
This system uses the key fob to start the
engine conveniently from outside the
vehicle while still maintaining security.
The system has a range of at least
300 feet (91 meters).
The remote starting system also
activates the climate control
(if equipped), the heated seats
(if equipped), and the heated steering
wheel (if equipped), depending on
temperatures outside and inside of
the vehicle.
Note:
Obstructions between the vehicle
and key fob may reduce this range.
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STARTING AND OPERATING
How to use Remote Start
All of the following conditions must be
met before the engine will remote start:
Gear selector in PARK (P).
Doors closed.
Hood closed.
Trunk closed.
Hazard switch off.
Brake switch inactive (brake pedal not
pressed).
Battery at an acceptable charge level.
PANIC button not pushed.
System not disabled from previous
remote start event.
Vehicle alarm system indicator
flashing.
Ignition in the OFF mode.
Fuel level meets minimum requirement.
Remote Start Comfort Systems —
If Equipped
When Remote Start is activated, the
heated steering wheel and driver heated
seat features will automatically turn on in
cold weather.
These features will stay on through the
duration of remote start also until the
ignition is cycled to the ON/RUN mode. Remote Start Windshield Wiper De–Icer
Activation — If Equipped
When remote start is active and the
outside ambient temperature is less than
39°F (4°C), the Windshield Wiper De-Icer
will be enabled. Exiting remote start will
resume previous operation, except if the
Windshield Wiper De-Icer is active.
The Windshield Wiper De-Icer timer and
operation will continue.
Extended Park Starting
If the vehicle has not been started or
driven for at least 35 days, it is advisable
to follow the indications below.
To start the engine, proceed as follows:
1. Briefly push the ignition button
2. If the engine does not start, wait five
seconds and let the starter cool down and
then repeat the starting procedure
3. If the engine does not start after eight
attempts, let the starter cool down for at
least 10 seconds, and then repeat the
starting procedure
If the problem persists, contact your
authorized dealer.
Note:
After prolonged vehicle inactivity,
very difficult starting, that can be noticed
through rapid fatigue of the starter,
might also be due to a discharged
battery. In this case, see the "Jump
Starting" section in the "In Case Of
Emergency" chapter.
If Engine Fails To Start
Starting the Engine with Key Fob
Battery Run Down or Drained
If the ignition does not respond when the
button is pushed, the key fob battery
might be run down or drained. Therefore,
the system does not detect the presence
of the key fob in the vehicle, and will
display a dedicated message.
In this case, follow the instructions
outlined in "Starting With A Discharged
Key Fob Battery" in the "Getting To Know
Your Vehicle" chapter, and start the
engine normally.
Warning!
Never pour fuel or other flammable liquid
into the throttle body air inlet opening in an
attempt to start the vehicle. This could
result in flash fire causing serious personal
injury.
Do not attempt to push or tow your
vehicle to get it started. Vehicles equipped
with an automatic transmission cannot be
started this way. Unburned fuel could enter
the catalytic converter and once the engine
has started, ignite and damage the
converter and vehicle.
133
ELECTRIC PARK BRAKE
The vehicle is equipped with electric park
brake to guarantee better use and
optimal performance compared to a
manually operated park brake.
The electric parking brake features a
switch located on the center console, 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
center console.
Automatically, in "Safe Hold" or "Auto
Park Brake" conditions.
Note: Normally, the electric parking
brake is engaged automatically when the
engine is stopped. This function can be
deactivated/activated on the
Information and Entertainment system
by selecting the following items in sequence on the main menu: "Settings",
"Driver Assistance" and "Automatic
Parking Brake".
In addition to engaging the electric park
brake, along with steering and positioning
chocks in front of the wheels (when on a
steep slope), you must always place the
vehicle in the PARK (P) mode before
leaving.
Should the vehicle battery be faulty, the
battery must be replaced in order to
unlock the electric park brake.
Engaging The Park Brake Manually
Briefly pull the switch located on the
center console to manually engage the
electric park 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
may be detected when engaging the
electric parking brake with the brake
pedal pressed.
With the electric parking brake engaged,
the BRAKE warning light on the
instrument panel and the switch will
illuminate.
Caution!
With 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
center console pulled as long as the brake
action is necessary.
The BRAKE warning light may turn on
with the hydraulic system temporarily
unavailable, in this case braking is
controlled by the motors.
The brake lights will also automatically
turn on in the same way as for normal
braking with the use of the brake pedal.
Release the switch on the center console
to stop the braking action with the
vehicle in motion.
If, through this procedure, the vehicle is
braked until a speed below 1.9 mph
(3 km/h) is reached and the switch is kept
pulled, the park brake will definitively
engage.
Note:
Driving 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.
07046S0001EMElectric Park Brake Switch
135
Disengaging The Electric Park Brake
Manually
In order to manually release the park
brake, the ignition should be in the ON
mode. Press the brake pedal, and then
push the switch on the center console
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 BRAKE warning light on the
instrument panel and the light on the
switch will turn off.
If the BRAKE warning light on the
instrument panel remains on with the
electric parking brake disengaged, this
indicates a fault: in this case, contact an
authorized dealer.
Warning!
Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or
with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Allowing children to be in a vehicle
unattended is dangerous for a number of
reasons. A child or others could be seriously
or fatally injured. Children should be warned
not to touch the park brake, brake pedal or
the gear selector.
Do not leave the key fob in or near the
vehicle or in a location accessible to children.
A child could operate power windows, other
controls, or move the vehicle.
Be sure the park brake is fully disengaged
before driving; failure to do so can lead to
brake failure and a collision.
Always fully apply the park brake when
leaving your vehicle, or it may roll and cause
damage or injury.
Caution!
Never use gear position PARK (P) 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 Park Brake Operating Modes
The electric park brake may operate as
follows:
"Dynamic Operating Mode": this mode is
activated by pulling the switch repeatedly
while driving.
"Static Engagement and Release
Mode": with the vehicle stationary, the
electric park brake can be activated by
pulling the switch on the center console
once. On the other hand, push the switch
and the brake pedal at the same time to
disengage the brake.
"Drive Away Release": the electric park
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). This feature can be
turned on or off in the Information and
Entertainment System.
"Safe Hold": if the vehicle speed is
lower than 1.9 mph (3 km/h), the gear
selector is not in PARK (P) position and
the driver's intention of leaving the
vehicle is detected, the electric park
brake will automatically engage to hold
the vehicle in safety conditions.
"Auto Park Brake": if the vehicle speed
is below 1.9 mph (3 km/h), the electric
park brake will automatically engage
when the gear selector is in PARK (P)
position. The light on the switch located
on the center console switches on
together with the BRAKE warning light on
the instrument panel when the park brake
is engaged and applied to the wheels.
Each automatic park brake engagement
can be cancelled by pressing the switch
on the center console and at the same
time moving the gear selector for the
transmission to position PARK (P).
Note: The electric parking brake
automatically engages when the vehicle
is parked on roads with slope of more
than 10%.
136
STARTING AND OPERATING
Safe Hold
Safe Hold is a safety function that
automatically engages the electric park
brake in the event of a dangerous
condition for the vehicle.
The electric park brake engages
automatically to prevent vehicle
movement if:
The vehicle speed is below 2 mph
(3 km/h).
A transmission operating mode
different from PARK (P) 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 “Safe Hold” function can be
temporarily disabled by pressing the
switch located on the center console 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 is cycled
to STOP and then to ON.
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
The vehicle can be equipped with an
electronically controlled 8-speed
automatic transmission where gear
shifting automatically takes place,
depending on the vehicle usage
instantaneous parameters (vehicle
speed, grade, and accelerator pedal
position).
The new transmission is an absolute
innovation, as it can match the
Stop/Start system with the traditional
automatic transmissions with built-in
torque converter. For further
information, refer to the “Stop/Start”
section within this chapter.
Manual gear shifting can still occur
thanks to the "sequential mode" position
for the gear selector.
Warning!
It is dangerous to shift out of PARK or
NEUTRAL if the engine speed is higher than
idle speed. If your foot is not firmly pressing
the brake pedal, the vehicle could
accelerate quickly forward or in reverse.
You could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear
when the engine is idling normally and your
foot is firmly pressing the brake pedal.
Unintended movement of a vehicle could
injure those in or near the vehicle. As with all
vehicles, you should never exit a vehicle
while the engine is running. Before exiting a
vehicle, always apply the park brake, shift the transmission into PARK, and turn the
ignition STOP/OFF. When the ignition is in
the STOP/OFF mode, the transmission is
locked in PARK, securing the vehicle against
unwanted movement.
When leaving the vehicle, always make
sure the ignition is in the STOP/OFF mode,
remove the key fob from the vehicle, and
lock the vehicle.
Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or
with access to an unlocked vehicle. Allowing
children to be in a vehicle unattended is
dangerous for a number of reasons. A child
or others could be seriously or fatally
injured. Children should be warned not to
touch the parking brake, brake pedal or the
transmission gear selector.
Do not leave the key fob in or near the
vehicle (or in a location accessible to
children), and do not leave the ignition in the
AVV or ON mode. A child could operate power
windows, other controls, or move the vehicle.
Caution!
Damage to the transmission may occur if
the following precautions are not observed:
Shift into or out of PARK or REVERSE
only after the vehicle has come to a
complete stop.
Do not shift between PARK, REVERSE,
NEUTRAL, or DRIVE when the engine is
above idle speed.
Before shifting into any gear, make sure
your foot is firmly pressing the brake pedal.
137