2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio warning

Warning LightWhat It Means What To Do
DYNAMIC DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE
The telltale will illuminate to signal a failure in the
dynamic drive control system.Contact an authorized dealer.
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE
Signals a windshield wiper failure.
Contact an authorized dealer.
GENERIC INDICATION
Signals information and failures.
The accompanying messages describe the failure.Contact an authorized dealer.
FOUR WHEEL DRIVE FAILURE
This telltale will illuminate to report a four wheel drive
system failure.Contact an authorized dealer as soon as possible to have
the failure eliminated.
AFS SYSTEM FAILURE
The telltale will illuminate to indicate the automatic
directional light system failure.
Go to an authorized dealer to have the system checked.
SOFT SUSPENSION CALIBRATION SELECTION — IF
EQUIPPED
The telltale will illuminate when the most comfortable
suspension setting is activated.
ALFA ACTIVE SUSPENSION — IF EQUIPPED
While driving, if the telltale illuminates, it signals a failure
in the suspension system.Contact an authorized dealer to have the system checked.
97

Warning LightWhat It Means What To Do
WINDSHIELD WASHER LIQUID LEVEL
The telltale will illuminate to indicate that the level of the
windshield and headlight washing fluid (if any) is low.To refill the liquid, refer to “Engine Compartment” in
“Servicing And Maintenance.” Always use liquid with the
features indicated in the “Fluids And Lubricants” section
in “Technical Specifications.”
TRAILER LIGHT CONTROL UNIT FAILURE
The telltale illuminates to indicate that there has been a
failure in the control unit that manages the trailer lights.Check that the trailer light is correctly connected to the
socket. If the fault persists the next time you start the
engine, contact an authorized dealer to have the system
checked.
LIFTGATE ELECTRIC OPENING/CLOSING FAILURE
The telltale illuminates to indicate a liftgate electric
opening/closing system failure.
Contact an authorized dealer as soon as possible to have
the failure eliminated.
98
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

ONBOARD DIAGNOSTIC
SYSTEM
Operation
The OBD (Onboard Diagnostic system)
carries out a continuous diagnosis of the
components of the vehicle related to
emissions.
It also alerts the driver of when these
components are no longer in peak
condition by switching on the
warning
light on the instrument panel (see
“Warning Lights And Messages”
paragraph in this chapter).
The aim of the OBD system (Onboard
Diagnostic) is to:
Monitor the efficiency of the system
Indicate an increase in emissions
Indicate the need to replace damaged
components
The vehicle also has a connector, which
can interface with appropriate tools, that
makes it possible to read the error codes
stored in the electronic control units
together with a series of specific
parameters for engine operation and
diagnosis. This check can be carried out
by your authorized dealer.
Note: After eliminating a fault, to check
the system completely, your authorized
dealer is obliged to run tests and, if
necessary certain road tests.
Onboard Diagnostic System (OBD II)
Cybersecurity
Your vehicle is required to have an
Onboard Diagnostic system (OBD II) and
a connection port to allow access to
information related to the performance
of your emissions controls. Authorized
service technicians may need to access
this information to assist with the
diagnosis and service of your vehicle and
emissions system.
Warning!
ONLY an authorized service technician
should connect equipment to the OBD II
connection port in order to diagnose or
service your vehicle.
If unauthorized equipment is connected to
the OBD II connection port, such as a
driver-behavior tracking device, it may:
Be possible that vehicle systems,
including safety related systems, could be
impaired or a loss of vehicle control could
occur that may result in an accident
involving serious injury or death.
Access, or allow others to access,
information stored in your vehicle systems,
including personal information.
EMISSIONS INSPECTION AND
MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS
In some localities, it may be a legal
requirement to pass an inspection of your
vehicle's emissions control system.
Failure to pass could prevent vehicle
registration.
For states that require
an Inspection and
Maintenance (I/M), this
check verifies the
“Malfunction Indicator
Light (MIL)” is functioning and is not on
when the engine is running, and that the
OBD II system is ready for testing.
Normally, the OBD II system will be ready.
The OBD II system may notbe ready if
your vehicle was recently serviced,
recently had a dead battery or a battery
replacement. If the OBD II system should
be determined not ready for the I/M test,
your vehicle may fail the test.
Your vehicle has a simple ignition
actuated test, which you can use prior to
going to the test station. To check if your
vehicle's OBD II system is ready, you
must do the following:
1. Cycle the ignition switch to the ON
position, but do not crank or start the
engine.
Note: If you crank or start the engine,
you will have to start this test over.
101

ACTIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS
The vehicle may be equipped with the
following active safety devices:
Anti-Lock Braking (ABS) System
Drive Train Control (DTC) System
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
System
Traction Control System (TCS)
Panic Brake Assist (PBA) System
Hill Start Assist (HSA) System
Dynamic Steering Torque (DST)
System
Active Torque Vectoring (ATV) System
For system operation, see the following
pages.
Anti-Lock Braking (ABS) System
An integral part of the braking system,
the ABS prevents one or more wheels
from locking and slipping in all road
surface conditions, regardless of the
intensity of the braking action. The
system ensures that the vehicle can be
controlled even during emergency
braking, allowing the driver to optimize
stopping distances.
The system intervenes during braking
when the wheels are about to lock,
typically in emergency braking or
low-grip conditions where locking may be
more frequent. The system also improves control and
stability of the vehicle when braking on a
surface where the grip of the left and
right wheels varies, such as in a corner.
The Electronic Braking Force Distribution
(EBD) system works with the ABS,
allowing the brake force to be distributed
between the front and rear wheels.
System Intervention
The ABS equipped on this vehicle is
provided with the "Brake-By-Wire"
(Integrated Brake System - IBS) function.
With this system, the command given by
pressing the brake pedal is not
transmitted hydraulically, but electrically.
Therefore, the light pulsation that is felt
on the pedal with the traditional system
is no longer noticeable.Warning!
The ABS contains sophisticated
electronic equipment that may be
susceptible to interference caused by
improperly installed or high output radio
transmitting equipment. This interference
can cause possible loss of anti-lock braking
capability. Installation of such equipment
should be performed by qualified
professionals.
Pumping of the Anti-Lock Brakes will
diminish their effectiveness and may lead to a
collision. Pumping makes the stopping distance
longer. Just press firmly on your brake pedal
when you need to slow down or stop.
The ABS cannot prevent the natural laws
of physics from acting on the vehicle, nor
can it increase braking or steering efficiency
beyond that afforded by the condition of the
vehicle brakes and tires or the traction
afforded.
The ABS cannot prevent collisions,
including those resulting from excessive
speed in turns, following another vehicle too
closely, or hydroplaning.
The capabilities of an ABS equipped
vehicle must never be exploited in a reckless
or dangerous manner that could jeopardize
the user’s safety or the safety of others.
Drive Train Control (DTC) System
Some models of this vehicle are equipped
with an All-Wheel Drive system (AWD),
which offers an optimal drive for
countless driving conditions and road
surfaces. The system reduces tire
slipping to a minimum, automatically
redistributing the torque to the front and
rear wheels as needed.
To maximize fuel savings, the vehicle with
AWD automatically passes to rear-wheel
drive (RWD) when the road and
environmental conditions are such that
they wouldn't cause the tires to slip.
When the road and environmental
conditions require better traction, the
vehicle automatically switches to AWD
mode.
104
SAFETY

Note:
There may be a brief delay in shifting
to AWD mode after a tire slipping event
occurs.
If the system failure symbol switches
on, after starting the engine or while
driving, it means that the AWD system is
not working properly. If the warning
message activates frequently, it is
recommended to carry out the
maintenance operations.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
System
The ESC system improves the directional
control and stability of the vehicle in
various driving conditions.
The ESC system corrects the vehicle’s
understeer and oversteer, distributing
the brake force on the appropriate
wheels. The torque supplied by the
engine can also be reduced in order to
maintain control of the vehicle.
The ESC system uses sensors installed
on the vehicle to determine the path that
the driver intends to follow and
compares it with the vehicle’s effective
path. When the real path deviates from
the desired path, the ESC system
intervenes to counter the vehicle’s
understeer or oversteer.
Oversteer occurs when the vehicle is
turning more than it should according to
the angle of the steering wheel.
Understeer occurs when the vehicle is turning less than it should according to
the angle of the steering wheel.
System Intervention
The intervention of the system is
indicated by the flashing of the ESC
warning light on the instrument panel, to
inform the driver that the vehicle
stability and grip are critical.
Warning!
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) cannot
prevent the natural laws of physics from
acting on the vehicle, nor can it increase the
traction afforded by prevailing road
conditions. ESC cannot prevent accidents,
including those resulting from excessive
speed in turns, driving on very slippery
surfaces, or hydroplaning. ESC also cannot
prevent accidents resulting from loss of
vehicle control due to inappropriate driver
input for the conditions. Only a safe,
attentive, and skillful driver can prevent
accidents. The capabilities of an ESC
equipped vehicle must never be exploited in
a reckless or dangerous manner which could
jeopardize the user’s safety or the safety of
others.
Vehicle modifications, or failure to
properly maintain your vehicle, may change
the handling characteristics of your vehicle,
and may negatively affect the performance
of the ESC system. Changes to the steering
system, suspension, braking system, tire
type and size or wheel size may adversely
affect ESC performance. Improperly inflated and unevenly worn tires may also
degrade ESC performance. Any vehicle
modification or poor vehicle maintenance
that reduces the effectiveness of the ESC
system can increase the risk of loss of
vehicle control, vehicle rollover, personal
injury and death.
Traction Control System (TCS)
The system automatically operates in the
event of slipping, loss of grip on wet
roads (hydroplaning), and acceleration on
one or both drive wheels on roads that
are slippery, snowy, icy, etc. Depending
on the slipping conditions, two different
control systems are activated:
If the slipping involves both drive
wheels, the system intervenes, reducing
the power transmitted by the engine.
If the slipping only involves one of the
drive wheels, the Brake Limited
Differential (BLD) function is activated,
automatically braking the wheel which is
slipping (the behavior of a self-locking
differential is simulated). This will
increase the engine torque transferred to
the wheel which isn't slipping.
System Intervention
The intervention of the system is
indicated by the flashing of the ESC
warning light on the instrument panel, to
inform the driver that the vehicle
stability and grip are critical.
105

Panic Brake Assist (PBA) System
The PBA system is designed to improve
the vehicle’s braking capacity during
emergency braking.
The system detects emergency braking
by monitoring the speed and force with
which the brake pedal is pressed, and
consequently applies the optimal brake
pressure. This can reduce the braking
distance: the PBA system therefore
complements the ABS.
Maximum assistance from the PBA
system is obtained by pressing the brake
pedal very quickly. In addition, the brake
pedal should be pressed continuously
during braking, avoiding intermittent
presses, to get the most out of the
system. Do not reduce pressure on the
brake pedal until braking is no longer
necessary.
The PBA system is deactivated when the
brake pedal is released.Warning!
The Panic Brake Assist (PBA) cannot prevent
the natural laws of physics from acting on
the vehicle, nor can it increase the traction
afforded by prevailing road conditions. PBA
cannot prevent collisions, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns,
driving on very slippery surfaces, or
hydroplaning. The capabilities of a
PBA-equipped vehicle must never be
exploited in a reckless or dangerous manner,
which could jeopardize the user's safety or
the safety of others.
Hill Start Assist (HSA) System
This is an integral part of the ESC system
that facilitates starting on slopes,
activating automatically in the following
cases:
Uphill: the vehicle is stationary on a
road with a gradient higher than 5%, the
engine is running, the brake is pressed,
and the transmission is in NEUTRAL (N)
or a gear other than REVERSE (R) is
engaged.
Downhill: the vehicle is stationary on a
road with a gradient higher than 5%, the
engine is running, the brake is pressed,
and the transmission is in REVERSE (R). When starting from a stop, the ESC
system control unit maintains the braking
pressure on the wheels until the engine
torque necessary for starting is reached,
or in any case for a maximum of two
seconds, allowing your right foot to be
moved easily from the brake pedal to the
accelerator.
The system will automatically deactivate
after two seconds without starting,
gradually releasing the braking pressure.
During this release stage, it is possible to
hear a typical mechanical brake release
noise, indicating the imminent movement
of the vehicle.
Warning!
There may be situations where the Hill Start
Assist (HSA) will not activate and slight
rolling may occur, such as on minor hills or
with a loaded vehicle, or while pulling a
trailer. HSA is not a substitute for active
driving involvement. It is always the driver’s
responsibility to be attentive to distance to
other vehicles, people, and objects, and most
importantly brake operation to ensure safe
operation of the vehicle under all road
conditions. Your complete attention is
always required while driving to maintain
safe control of your vehicle. Failure to follow
these warnings can result in a collision or
serious personal injury.
106
SAFETY

Dynamic Steering Torque (DST) System
The DST function uses the integration of
the ESC system with the electric power
steering to increase the safety level of
the whole vehicle.
In critical situations for example (braking
on surfaces with different grip
conditions), the ESC system influences
the steering through the DST function to
implement an additional torque
contribution on the steering wheel in
order to suggest the most correct
maneuver to the driver.
The coordinated action of the brakes and
steering increases the safety and control
of the vehicle.
Note:The DST feature is only meant to
help the driver realize the correct course
of action through small torques on the
steering wheel, which means the
effectiveness of the DST feature is highly
dependent on the driver’s sensitivity and
overall reaction to the applied torque. It
is very important to realize that this
feature will not steer the vehicle,
meaning the driver is still responsible for
steering the vehicle.
Active Torque Vectoring (ATV) System
The dynamic drive control is used to
optimize and balance the drive torque
between the wheels of the same axles.
The ATV system improves the grip in
turns, sending more drive torque to the
external wheel.
Given that, in a turn, the external wheels
of the car travel more than the internal
ones and therefore turn faster, sending a
higher thrust to the external rear wheel
allows for the car to be more stable and
to not suffer an "understeer" condition.
Understeer occurs when the vehicle is
turning less than appropriate for the
steering wheel position.
AUXILIARY DRIVING SYSTEMS
The following auxiliary driving systems
are available in this vehicle:
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM)
Forward Collision Warning Plus
(FCW+)
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS)
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) System
The Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) system
uses two radar sensors, located in the
rear bumper (one on each side), to detect
the presence of other vehicles in the rear
side blind spots of your vehicle.
The system warns the driver about the
presence of other vehicles in the
detection area by illuminating the
warning light located within the door
mirror on the side in which the other
vehicle was detected.
0403132303USRear Sensor Location
107

When the engine is started, the warning
light illuminates briefly to signal the
driver that the system is active.
Sensors
The sensors are activated when any
forward gear is engaged at a speed
higher than approximately 6 mph
(10 km/h) or when REVERSE is engaged.
The sensors are temporarily deactivated
when the vehicle is stationary or the
vehicle is in PARK (P).
The detection area of the system covers
approximately a lane on both sides of the
vehicle which is around 9 feet (3 m).
This area begins from the door mirror and
extends for approximately 19 feet (6 m)
toward the rear part of the vehicle.
When the sensors are active, the system
monitors the detection areas on both
sides of the vehicle and warns the driver
about the possible presence of vehicles
in these areas.While driving, the system monitors the
detection area from three different input
points (side, rear and front) to check
whether an alert needs to be sent to the
driver. The system can detect the
presence of a vehicle in one of these
three areas.
Note:
The system does not alert the driver
of the presence of fixed objects (e.g.
safety barriers, poles, walls, etc.).
However, in some circumstances, the
system may activate in the presence of
these objects. This is normal and does
not indicate a system malfunction.
The system does not alert the driver
about the presence of vehicles coming
from the opposite direction, in the
adjacent lanes.
Warning!
The Blind Spot Monitoring system is only an
aid to help detect objects in the blind spot
zones. The BSM system is not designed to
detect pedestrians, bicyclists, or animals.
Even if your vehicle is equipped with the
BSM system, always check your vehicle’s
mirrors, glance over your shoulder, and use
your turn signal before changing lanes.
Failure to do so can result in serious injury or
death.
Note:
For the system to operate properly,
the rear bumper area where the radar
sensors are located must stay free from
snow, ice and dirt gathered from the
road surface.
Do not cover the rear bumper area
where the radar sensors are located with
any object (e.g. adhesives, bike rack,
etc.).
If you wish to install a rear tow eye
after purchasing the vehicle, you will
need to deactivate the system via the
Information and Entertainment System.
To access the function, select the
following items in sequence on the main
menu:
1. “Settings.”
2. “Safety.”
3. “Blind Spot Alert.”
Rear View
The system detects vehicles coming from
the rear part of your vehicle on both sides
and entering the rear detection area with
a difference in speed of less than 31 mph
(50 km/h) in relation to your vehicle.0434132127USBSM Indicator Light
108
SAFETY