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
ENGINE BLOCK HEATER — IF
EQUIPPED
The engine block heater warms the
engine and permits quicker starts in cold
weather.
Connect the cord to a 110-115 Volt AC
electrical outlet with a grounded,
three-wire extension cord.
For ambient temperatures below 0°F
(-18°C), the engine block heater is
recommended. For ambient
temperatures below -20°F (-29°C), the
engine block heater is required.
The engine block heater cord is routed
under the hood, behind to the driver’s
side headlamp. Follow the steps below to
properly use the engine block heater:
1. Locate the engine block heater cord
(access door on the passenger side wiper
cowl).
2. Pull the cord to the front of the
vehicle and plug it into a grounded,
three-wire extension cord.
3. After the vehicle is running, properly
stow away behind access door on the
passenger side wiper cowl.Note:
The engine block heater cord is a
factory installed option. If your vehicle is
not equipped, heater cords are available
from your authorized dealer.
The engine block heater will require
110 Volts AC and 6.5 Amps to activate
the heater element.
The engine block heater must be
plugged in at least 1 hour to have a
warming effect on the engine and at
least 4 hours to have a warming effect
when ambient temperatures are below
-20 F (-29 C)
Warning!
Remember to disconnect the engine block
heater cord before driving. Damage to the
110-115 Volt electrical cord could cause
electrocution.
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.
0604132227USElectric Park Brake Switch
149
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 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. 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.
150
STARTING AND OPERATING
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.
Display
The following information is shown on the
dedicated area of the display:
In Automatic Mode : the active mode
(P, R, N, D) and with "D" the current gear
number.
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STARTING AND OPERATING
To transition the vehicle into REVERSE
(R) mode from DRIVE (D) mode, or into
DRIVE (D) mode from REVERSE (R)
mode, it is necessary to move the gear
selector by pushing the gear selector
button.
When using AutoStick, activate it by
moving the gear selector from DRIVE (D)
to the left and then forward toward the -
symbol or backward toward the + symbol
and the gear is changed.
To shift out of PARK (P), or to pass from
position NEUTRAL (N) to position DRIVE
(D) or REVERSE (R), the vehicle must be
moving at a low speed or stopped, and
the brake pedal must also be pressed.
Note:
DO NOT accelerate while shifting
from position PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N)
to another position.
After selecting a gear, wait a few
seconds before accelerating. This
precaution is particularly important with
engine cold.
It is not possible to select NEUTRAL
(N) mode from PARK (P) mode.
Transmission Operating Modes
PARK (P)
The transmission is locked in this mode.
The engine can be started in this mode.
Note: Never try to engage PARK (P)
mode when the vehicle is moving. Before
leaving the vehicle, make sure this mode is engaged (letter P shown on the display
and gear selector) and that the park
brake is engaged.
When parking on a flat surface, first
engage the PARK (P) mode and then
engage the electric park brake.
When parking uphill, before activating
the PARK (P) mode, engage the electric
park brake. Otherwise, it could be
difficult to engage the (P) mode.
To check that the PARK (P) mode is actually
engaged, make sure (P) is illuminated on
the display and on the gear selector.
Warning!
Never use the PARK position as a
substitute for the park brake. Always apply
the park brake fully when parked to guard
against vehicle movement and possible
injury or damage.
Your vehicle could move and injure you
and others if it is not in PARK. Check by
trying to move the gear selector out of
PARK with the brake pedal released. Make
sure the transmission is in PARK before
leaving the vehicle.
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 park 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
ON mode. A child could operate power
windows, other controls, or move the
vehicle.
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STARTING AND OPERATING
Deactivation
To deactivate the sequential driving
mode, bring the gear selector back in
position DRIVE (D) ("automatic" driving
mode).
Warning!
Do not downshift for additional engine
braking on a slippery surface. The drive
wheels could lose their grip and the vehicle
could skid, causing a collision or personal
injury.
Note:
To select the correct gear for
maximum deceleration (engine brake),
just keep the gear paddle pulled (–): the
transmission goes to an operating mode
in which the vehicle can slow down
easily.
The vehicle will keep the gear
selected by the driver until the safety
conditions allow it.
This means, for example, that the
system will try to prevent the engine
from switching off, automatically
downshifting if the engine speed is too
low.
Automatic Transmission Limp Home
Mode
Transmission function is monitored
electronically for abnormal conditions. If
a condition is detected that could result
in transmission damage, Transmission
Limp Home Mode is activated.
In this condition, the transmission stays
in fourth gear, regardless of the selected
gear. Positions PARK (P), REVERSE (R)
and NEUTRAL (N) still work.
The
symbol might light up in the
instrument cluster.
Temporary failure
In the event of a momentary problem, the
transmission can be reset to regain all
forward gears by performing the
following steps:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Shift the transmission into PARK (P),
if possible. If not, shift the transmission
to NEUTRAL (N).
3. Push and hold the ignition until the
engine turns OFF.
4. Wait for about 10 seconds, then
restart the engine.
5. Shift into the desired gear range. If
the problem is no longer detected, the
transmission will return to normal
operation.
Note: Even if the transmission can be
reset, we recommend that you visit your authorized dealer at your earliest
possible convenience. Your authorized
dealer has diagnostic equipment to
determine if the problem could reoccur. If
the transmission cannot be reset, service
is required at your authorized dealer.
Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock
System
This vehicle is equipped with a Brake
Transmission Shift Interlock system
(BTSI) that holds the gear selector in
PARK (P) unless the brakes are applied.
This system prevents you from moving
the gear selector from position PARK (P)
unless the brakes are applied.
To shift the transmission out of PARK (P),
the ignition must be cycled to the ON
position (engine running or not) and the
brake pedal must be pressed.
Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock
Disabling
Only if strictly necessary (e.g. pushing the
vehicle, conveyor vehicle washing
systems), inhibit the automatic activation
of PARK (P) mode when stopping the
engine. To do so, follow the directions
below:
1. Bring the vehicle to a standstill.
2. Place the transmission in the
NEUTRAL (N) position.
3. Push the ignition button for at least
three seconds.
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STARTING AND OPERATING