
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........146
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF
EQUIPPED ............... .149
ELECTRIC PARK BRAKE ........149
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION .....152
ALFA DNA PRO SELECTOR ......158
ALFA ACTIVE SUSPENSION (AAS) . .161
STOP/START SYSTEM .........161
SPEED LIMITER .............163
SPEED CONTROL
(CRUISE CONTROL) ..........164
ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL (ACC) —
IF EQUIPPED .............. .166
PARK SENSORS SYSTEM .......173
LANE DEPARTURE WARNING (LDW)
SYSTEM — IF EQUIPPED .......176
REAR BACK-UP CAMERA / DYNAMIC
GRIDLINES .............. .179
REFUELING THE VEHICLE .......180
VEHICLE LOADING ...........182
SUGGESTIONS FOR DRIVING .....183
145

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.
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.
Liftgate closed.
Hazard switch off.
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STARTING AND OPERATING

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 (if equipped
with keyless ignition system).
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 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.
Cold Weather Operation
To prevent possible engine damage while
starting at low temperatures, this vehicle
will inhibit engine cranking when the
ambient temperature is less than –22° F
(–30° C) and the oil temperature sensor
reading indicates an engine block heater
has not been used. An externally-
powered electric engine block heater is
available as optional equipment or from
your authorized dealer.
The message “plug in engine heater” will
be displayed in the instrument cluster
when the ambient temperature is below
5° F (–15° C) at the time the engine is
shut off as a reminder to avoid possible
crank delays at the next cold start.
Caution!
Use of the recommended oil and adhering to
the prescribed oil change intervals is
important to prevent engine damage and
ensure satisfactory starting in cold
conditions.
Extended Park Starting
If the vehicle has not been started or
driven for at least 90 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 partially flat
battery. In this case, refer to "Jump
Starting" in "In Case Of Emergency".
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.
147

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.
After Starting — Warming Up The
Engine
Proceed as follows:
Travel slowly, letting the engine run at
a reduced RPM, without accelerating
suddenly.
It is recommended to wait until the
digital engine coolant temperature
indicator starts to rise for maximum
performance.
Stopping The Engine
To stop the engine, proceed as follows:
1. Park the vehicle in a position that is
not dangerous for oncoming traffic.
2. Engage the PARK (P) mode.
3. With engine idling, push the
START/STOP button on the steering
wheel to STOP the engine.
Note: Do not leave the ignition in ON
mode when the engine is off.
To shut off the engine with vehicle speed
greater than 5 mph (8 km/h), you must
push and hold the ignition or push the
START/STOP button three times
consecutively within a few seconds. The
engine will shut down, and the ignition will
be placed in the ON mode
With the keyless ignition system, it is
possible to go away from the vehicle
taking the key fob with you, without the
engine switching off. The vehicle will inform about the absence of the key on
board, only if the doors are closed.
Stopping the engine (cycling from the ON
to the STOP position) the accessories are
still powered for about three minutes, or
until a door is opened.
When the ignition is in the STOP/OFF
mode, the window switches remain active
for three minutes. Opening a front door
will cancel this function.
After severe driving, idle the engine to
allow the temperature inside the engine
compartment to cool before shutting off
the engine.
Turbocharger Cool Down
It is recommended before switching the
vehicle off, to keep the engine idling for a
few minutes so that the turbocharger can
be suitably lubricated. This procedure is
particularly recommended after severe
driving.
After a full load operation, keep the
engine idling for three to five minutes
before switching it off.
This time allows the lubricating oil and
the engine coolant to eliminate the
excessive heat from combustion
chamber, bearings, inner components and
turbocharger.
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STARTING AND OPERATING

Caution!
Before moving the transmission gear
selector out of PARK, you must push the
ignition button to cycle from STOP/OFF
mode to the ON mode, and also press the
brake pedal. Otherwise, damage to the gear
selector could result.
DO NOT race the engine when shifting
from PARK or NEUTRAL into another gear
range, as this can damage the drivetrain.
REVERSE (R)
Select this mode only with the vehicle at
a standstill.
NEUTRAL (N)
Use this range when the vehicle is
standing for prolonged periods with the
engine running. The engine may be
started in this range. Apply the electric
park brake and shift the transmission
into PARK (P) if you must leave the
vehicle.
Warning!
Do not coast in NEUTRAL and never turn off
the ignition to coast down a hill. These are
unsafe practices that limit your response to
changing traffic or road conditions. You
might lose control of the vehicle and have a
collision.
DRIVE (D)
Use this mode in normal driving
conditions.
Shifting from DRIVE (D) to PARK (P) or
REVERSE (R) modes must take place
only after releasing the accelerator
pedal, with vehicle at a standstill and
brake pedal pressed.
This mode ensures automatic
engagement of the most suitable gears
for driving needs and maximum fuel
economy in terms of consumption.
In this position, the transmission shifts
the gears automatically, selecting the
most suitable for forward driving among
those available as you go. In this way the
vehicle's optimal driving characteristics
are provided for all conditions.
AutoStick
In the case of frequent shifting (e.g. for
sport driving, when the vehicle is driven
with a heavy load, on slopes, when towing
heavy trailers), it is recommended to use
the AutoStick (sequential shifting) mode
to select and keep a lower fixed ratio.
In these conditions, the use of a lower
gear improves vehicle performance and
prevents overheating.
It is possible to shift from DRIVE (D)
mode to AutoStick mode regardless of
vehicle speed. Activation
Starting from DRIVE (D) mode, to
activate the sequential drive mode, move
the gear selector to the left (– and +
indication of the trim). The gear engaged
will be shown on the display.
Shifting is made by moving the gear
selector forward, toward symbol – or
backward, toward symbol +.
Steering Column Mounted Shift
Paddles
The gear can be manually shifted also by
using the paddles behind the steering
wheel, pull the right paddle (+) toward the
steering wheel and release it to engage a
higher gear, perform the same operation
with the left paddle (-) to engage a lower
gear.
Note:
If only one manual shift is
necessary, the letter (D) will remain on
the display with the engaged gear next to
it.
0604132230USSteering Column Mounted Shift Paddles
155

ALFA DNA PRO SELECTOR
Alfa DNA Pro System
This vehicle is equipped with a Alfa DNA
Pro system selector (located on the
center console). There are four modes of
operation to be selected according to
driving style and road conditions:
d = Dynamic (sports driving mode).
n = Natural (mode for driving in normal
conditions).
a = Advanced Efficiency (ECO driving
mode for maximum fuel savings).
RACE = track race driving mode.
= Adjusts the calibration of the
active suspension.
Unlike the other modes, the RACE
position does not latch; therefore, by
rotating the selector to RACE, it will
return to its initial position "d". On the instrument panel display, the
different modes are characterized by
different colors:
Natural - Blue
Dynamic - Red
Advanced Efficiency - Green
RACE - Yellow
Each driving mode is graphically different
in frame color and contents of each
individual "performance" screen.
Driving Modes
"Natural" Mode
“Natural” Mode is characterized by
reduced engine performance and ECO
shifting strategy for the automatic
transmission. Activation
It is activated by rotating the selector to
the letter "n"; the display will light up in
blue.
The "Performance" screen graphically
reproduces some parameters closely
linked to the efficiency of the driving
style, with a view to limiting consumption.
07076S0004EMAlfa DNA Pro System Selector07076S0003EMMode Display
07116S0002EMNatural Mode
07116S0001EMNatural Mode Performance Display
158
STARTING AND OPERATING

ALFA ACTIVE SUSPENSION
(AAS)
The vehicle's electronic suspension
management system is aimed at
optimizing the vehicle's performance.
The system continuously monitors the
damping of the suspensions through the
actuator installed on each shock
absorber. This way, the calibration of the
shock absorbers can be adjusted to the
conditions of the road surface and to the
dynamic conditions of the vehicle,
improving its comfort and road holding.
The driver can choose, even while driving,
(only in "Dynamic” mode), between two
types of suspension calibration: a more
sporty or a more comfortable one.
By pushing the button, the system
changes the shock absorber calibration.
In case of a system failure, the symbol
and a dedicated message will be
shown on the instrument panel display.
STOP/START SYSTEM
The Stop/Start system automatically
shuts off the engine during a vehicle stop
if the required conditions are met.
Releasing the brake pedal or accelerator
pedal will automatically restart the
engine.
The function was developed to increase
vehicle efficiency by reducing fuel
consumption, gas emissions, and sound
pollution.
Note:When the Stop/Start system
stops the engine, the power steering is
also disabled.
Operating Mode
Stopping The Engine
With the vehicle at a standstill and brake
pedal pressed, the engine switches off if
the gear selector is in a position other
than REVERSE (R).
The system does not operate when the
gear selector is in REVERSE (R), in order
to make parking maneuvers easier.
In the event of stops uphill, engine
switching off is disabled to make the "Hill
Start Assist" function available (works
only with running engine).
Note: The engine can only be
automatically stopped after having run at
about 6 mph (10 km/h). After an
automatic restart, the vehicle only needs
to exceed a speed of 0.3 mph (0.5 km/h)
to stop the engine. Engine stopping is signaled by the
symbol lighting up on the instrument
cluster display.
Restarting The Engine
To restart the engine, release the brake
pedal.
With the brake pressed and the
transmission in automatic mode DRIVE
(D), the engine will restart by shifting to
REVERSE (R), to PARK (P) or to
"AutoStick".
With brake pressed if the gear selector is
in "AutoStick" mode, the engine will
restart by shifting to PARK (P) or by
moving the selector to + or -.
System Manual Activation/
Deactivation
To manually activate/deactivate the
system, push the button located in the
control panel on the left of the steering
wheel.
0604132232USAlfa Active Suspension Button
07126V0001NAStop/Start On/Off Button
161

System Activation
The activation of the system is indicated
by the
symbol lighting up on the
display. In this condition, the light on the
button is off.
System Deactivation
A message will appear on the display
when the system is deactivated. In this
condition, the light on the button is on.
Note: Each time the engine is started,
the system is activated regardless of
where was when it was previously
switched off.
Possible Reasons The Engine Does Not
Autostop
For higher comfort and increased safety,
and to reduce emissions, there are
certain conditions where the engine will
not autostop despite the system being
active, such as:
Engine still cold.
Especially cold outside temperature.
Battery not sufficiently charged.
Driver's door not shut.
Driver's seat belt not fastened.
Reverse gear engaged (e.g. for parking
maneuvers).
With the automatic climate control
active, an adequate cabin heating or
cooling comfort has not been reached or
with MAX-DEF function active.
During the first period of use, to
initialize the system.
Steering angle beyond threshold.
Engine Restarting Conditions
Due to comfort, emission control, and
safety reasons, the engine can restart
automatically without any action by the
driver, under special conditions, such as:
Battery not sufficiently charged.
Reduced braking system vacuum (e.g.
if the brake pedal is pressed repeatedly).
Vehicle moving (e.g. when driving on
roads with a grade).
Engine stopping by the Stop/Start
system for more than approx. three
minutes.
With the automatic climate control
active, an adjustment in cabin heating or
cooling is made or with MAX-DEF
function active.
Safety Functions
When the engine is stopped through the
Stop/Start system, if the driver releases
their seat belt, opens the driver's or
passenger's door, or opens the hood from
inside the vehicle, the engine can be
restarted only by using the ignition.
This condition is indicated to the driver
both through a buzzer and a message on
the instrument cluster display.
Energy Saving Function
If the driver does not carry out any action
for more than three minutes after the
automatic engine restart, the Start/Stop
system will switch off the engine in order
to prevent fuel consumption.
In this situation, the engine can only be
restarted using the ignition device.
Note: It is possible to keep the engine
running by deactivating the system.
Irregular Operation
In the event of malfunction, the
Stop/Start system is deactivated.
For failure indications, refer to "Warning
Lights and Messages" paragraph in
"Getting To Know Your Instrument Panel".
Vehicle Inactivity
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.
Proceed as follows:
Remove connector from socket to
disconnect sensor (battery status
monitoring) installed on the negative pole
of the battery. This sensor should never
be disconnected from the pole except if
the battery is replaced.
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STARTING AND OPERATING