
jamming of the car underneath other
vehicles or protective barriers (e.g.
underneath a truck or a guard rail) as, in
this case, the bags would offer no
additional protection with respect to the
seat belt and their deployment would be
inappropriate. Failure to activate in the
conditions described above is due to the
fact that they may not provide any
additional protection compared with seat
belts, so their activation would be
inappropriate. In these cases,
non-deployment does not indicate a
system malfunction.
FRONT AIRBAG DRIVER'S SIDE
This consists of an instantly inflating
cushion contained in a special
compartment in the centre of the
steering wheel fig. 57.
PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG
This consists of an instantly inflating bag
contained in a special recess in the
dashboard fig. 58 which has a larger
volume than that of the driver.
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND
CHILD RESTRAINTSYSTEMS
Rearward facing child restraint systems
mustNEVERbe fitted on the front seat
with an active passenger airbag since in
the event of an impact the airbag
activation may cause fatal injuries to the
transported child.ALWAYScomply with
the instructions on the label on the
passenger side sun visor fig. 59.Deactivating passenger side airbags:
front airbag and side bag for pelvis,
chest 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
protection (Side bag). To deactivate the
airbags use the Setup Menu (see the
instructions in the “Display” paragraph,
“Knowing the instrument panel” chapter).
With airbags deactivated, a warning light
lights up on the instrument panel in
the trim located above the internal
rearview mirror fig. 60.
57A0J0047C
58A0J0050C
59A0J0450C
82
SAFETY

SIDE AIRBAGS (SIDE BAG -
WINDOW BAG)
To increase protection of occupants in
case of side collision, the car is equipped
with front side bags for pelvis, chest
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 (front collisions, rear
shunts, roll-overs, etc.) is not a system
malfunction.
FRONT SIDE AIRBAGS (SIDE BAGS)
These comprise two bags located in the
front seat backrests fig. 63 which
protect the pelvic and chest area of the
occupants in the event of a side impact of
medium-high severity.
SIDE AIRBAGS FOR HEAD PROTECTION
(WINDOW BAGS)
These consist of two “drop-down”
cushions, housed behind the side trim of
the roof and covered with finishing
elements fig. 64.
They are 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 impact of low severity (for which the
restraining 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 best protection if the passengersits on the seat in a correct position, thus
allowing correct window bag deployment.
IMPORTANT NOTES
82) 83) 84) 85) 86) 87) 88) 89) 90) 91) 92)
Do not wash the seats with water or
pressurised steam (wash 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.).
When the airbag deploys it emits a small
amount of dust: the dust is harmless and
does not indicate the beginning of a fire.
However, the dust may irritate the skin
and eyes: 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
according to different logic on the basis
of the type of collision. Failure to activate
one or more of the devices does not
indicate a system malfunction.
63A0J0103C
64A0J0051C
86
SAFETY

WARNING
82)Do not affix rigid objects to the garment
hooks or support handles.
83)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.
84)Never lean your head, arms or elbows
out of the window.
85)If the
warning light does not switch
on when the key is turned to MAR, 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.
86)Do not travel carrying objects on your
lap, in front of your chest or between your
lips (pipe, pencils, etc.): they could cause
severe injury if the airbag is deployed.
87)If the car has been subject to theft,
attempted theft, vandalism, or flooding,
have the airbag system inspected at an Alfa
Romeo Dealership.88)The airbags may also be deployed when
the car is not moving, if the key is in the
ignition and turned to MAR-ON or when the
engine is off, if the car is hit by another
moving vehicle. Therefore, even if the vehicle
is stationary, when an active front
passenger airbag is fitted, DO NOT install
rearward 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 side airbag when a
rearward 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
prevent 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 collision.
Non-deployment in such cases does not
indicate a system malfunction.
89)When the ignition key is turned to MAR,
the
warning light switches for few
seconds, then if the passenger airbag is
active it should switch off.
90)The front airbag is designed to be
deployed for impacts of a greater intensity
than for the pretensioners. For impacts
whose intensity falls between the two levels,
normally, only the pretensioners will be
activated.91)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.
92)On cars with side bags, do not cover the
front seat backrests with extra covers.
87

STARTING THE ENGINE
93) 94) 95)
17) 18) 19) 20)
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.
PROCEDURE FOR PETROL VERSIONS
Except Turbo TwinAir versions
Proceed as follows:
engage the handbrake and place the
gearbox 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.
Turbo TwinAir versions
Proceed as follows:
engage the handbrake and place the
gear lever in neutral or fully press the
clutch pedal if a gear other than neutral is
engaged;
turn the ignition key to AVV and
release it as soon as the engine starts.Versions with LPG system
To properly perform the starting
procedure, refer to as previously
described.
The engine always starts up on petrol
independently of the mode previously
selected. There must therefore always be
some petrol in the tank to protect the
petrol pump and to guarantee temporary
switching from LPG to petrol operation, if
high performance is required.
IMPORTANT NOTES
Except Turbo TwinAir versions:Ifthe
engine does not start at the first attempt,
return the ignition key to STOP before
repeating the procedure.
For Turbo TwinAir versions only:Ifthe
vehicle does not start at the first
attempt, return the ignition key to STOP
and repeat the starting procedure placing
the gear lever in neutral and fully
pressing the clutch pedal.
If, with the ignition key turned to MAR,
the
symbol is shown on the display
together with the warning light
, turn
the key to STOP and then back to MAR. If
the symbol on the display is still shown,
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 in
MAR-ON position when the engine is
stopped.
PROCEDURE FOR DIESEL VERSIONS
Proceed as follows:
engage the handbrake and place the
gear lever in neutral;
turn the ignition key to MAR position:
the
warning light will light up on
instrument panel;
wait for the warning light to switch off;
fully depress the clutch pedal, without
touching the accelerator;
turn the ignition key to AVV; the
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.
WARNING
93)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.
94)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.
95)Do not start the engine by pushing,
towing or driving downhill. These
manoeuvres may damage the catalytic
converter.
90
STARTING AND DRIVING

SYSTEM MANUAL ACTIVATION /
DEACTIVATION
To activate/deactivate manually the
system, press the fig. 73 button on the
trim next to the steering wheel.
Start&Stop system activation:A
message will appear on the display when
the Start&Stop system is activated.
Start&Stop system deactivation: The
symbol and a message will appear on
the display. When the system is
deactivated, the
warning light on the
instrument panel switches on.
MISSED ENGINE STOPPING
CONDITIONS
25)
When the system is active, for a higher
comfort and safety, and to reduce
emissions, the engine does not stop in
certain ambient conditions, engineconditions, with the driver door not
closed and driver seat belt unfastened.
SAFETY FUNCTIONS
When the engine is stopped by the
Start&Stop system, if the driver releases
his/her seat belt and opens the driver's or
passenger's door, the engine can be
restarted only by the ignition key.
The driver is informed by a buzzer and by
the flashing of the symbol
on the
display (on some versions, a message is
displayed as well).
"ENERGY SAVING" FUNCTION(where provided)
If, following the automatic engine
restarting, the driver does not carry out
any action on the vehicle for over
3 minutes, the Start&Stop system stops
the engine definitely, to prevent fuel
consumption. In these cases, the engine
can be restarted only using the ignition
key.
NOTE In any case, it is possible to keep
the engine running by deactivating the
Start&Stop system.
IRREGULAR OPERATION
In the event of malfunction, the
Start&Stop system is deactivated.
The fault is indicated by the
symbol
switching on (on some version a specific
message is also shown) on the display.In this case, contact an Alfa Romeo
Dealership.
VEHICLE INACTIVITY
100)
In the event of vehicle inactivity (or if the
battery is replaced), special attention
must be paid to the disconnection of the
battery power supply.
IMPORTANT After turning the ignition
key to STOP, wait at least 1 minute
before disconnecting the electrical
supply to the battery.
IMPORTANT
25)If climate comfort is to be favoured, the
Stop/Start system can be deactivated, for a
continuous operation of the climate control
system.
WARNING
100)When replacing the battery, always
contact an Alfa Romeo Dealership. Replace
the battery with one of the same type
(HEAVY DUTY) and with the same
specifications.
73A0J0307C
96
STARTING AND DRIVING

Thousands of miles9 182736455463728190
Thousands of kilometres15 30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150
Years12345678910
Visually inspect conditions of:
exterior bodywork, underbody
protection, pipes and hoses (exhaust,
fuel system, brakes), rubber elements
(gaiters, sleeves, bushes, etc.)
Visually inspect condition of: LPG
pipes and connectors, LPG tank
fastening (1.4 Turbo Petrol/LPG
120 HP version)
Check windscreen/rear window wiper
blade position/wear
Check operation of the windscreen
wiper/washer system and adjust jets,
if necessary
Check cleanliness of bonnet and
luggage compartment locks,
cleanliness and lubrication of linkage
Check handbrake lever travel and
adjust, if necessary
Visually inspect condition and wear of
front and rear disc brake pads
Visually inspect conditions of toothed
timing drive belt (Turbo TwinAir
versions excluded)
130
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE

Thousands of miles9 182736455463728190
Thousands of kilometres15 30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150
Years12345678910
Visually inspect condition of the
accessory drive belt(s)
Check and, if necessary, top up Alfa
TCT oil level (where provided)(2)
Change engine oil and replace oil
filter(3)
Spark plug replacement(4)
Replace accessory drive belt/s(5)
Replacement of toothed timing drive
belt (excluding TwinAir Turbo
versions)(5)
Replace air cleaner cartridge (6)
(2) Check to be carried out every year for cars on the road in countries with particularly severe climates (cold countries).
(3) If the car's annual mileage is less than 10,000 km, the engine oil and filter must be replaced every year.
(4) For 1.4 Turbo MultiAir versions, to guarantee correct operation and prevent serious damage to the engine, it is essential to proceed as follows:
only use spark plugs specifically certified for these engines; all spark plugs should be of the same type and brand (see the "Engine" paragraph in
the "Technical specifications" chapter); strictly comply with the spark plugs replacement intervals in the Scheduled Servicing Plan. It is advisable
to contact an Alfa Romeo Dealership for spark plug replacement.
(5) Areas that are not dusty: recommended maximum mileage 120,000 km. The belt must be replaced every 6 years, regardless of distance travelled.
Dusty areas and/or demanding use of the car (cold climates, town use, long periods of idling): advised maximum mileage 60,000 km. The belt must
be replaced every 4 years, regardless of distance travelled.
(6) If the vehicle is used in dusty areas, this cleaner must be replaced every 15,000 km.
131

Thousands of miles12 24 36 48 60 72 84 96 108 120
Thousands of kilometres20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200
Years12345678910
Visually inspect conditions of: exterior
bodywork, underbody protection, pipes and
hoses (exhaust, fuel system, brakes), rubber
elements (gaiters, sleeves, bushes, etc.)
Check windscreen/rear window wiper blade
position/wear
Check operation of the windscreen
wiper/washer system and adjust jets, if
necessary
Check cleanliness of bonnet and luggage
compartment locks, cleanliness and
lubrication of linkage
Check handbrake lever travel and adjust, if
necessary
Visually inspect condition and wear of front
and rear disc brake pads
Visual inspect condition and check tension of
accessory drive belt(s) (for versions without
automatic tensioner only)
Change engine oil and replace oil filter(2)
(2) The actual interval for changing engine oil and replacing the engine oil filter depends on the vehicle usage conditions and is signalled by the
warning light or message in the instrument panel. In any case, it must never exceed 2 years. If the vehicle is mainly used in towns and cities, change
the engine oil and filter every year.
134
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE