
STARTING AND OPERATING
88
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.
For more information on starting with a
discharged key fob battery
Ú
page 19.
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 ENGINE START/STOP button on the steering wheel
to STOP the engine.
NOTE:
Do not leave the ignition in ACC 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 ENGINE
START/STOP button three times consecutively within a few seconds. The engine will shut
down, and the ignition will be placed in the
ACC mode
With the keyless ignition system, it is possible
to leave the vehicle taking the key fob with you
without the engine switching off. The vehicle
will inform the absence of the key on board,
only if the doors are closed.
Stopping the engine (cycling from the ACC to
the OFF position), the accessories are still
powered for about three minutes, or until a
door is opened.
When the ignition is in the 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 compart
-
ment 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 suit -
ably 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.
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
Ú
page 199. This type of
start can be dangerous if done improperly.
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.
21_GA_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 88

SAFETY
188
(Continued)
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 imme-
diately.
ALWAYS REMOVE THE EXISTING FLOOR
MAT FROM THE VEHICLE before
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 inter -
ference, with the vehicle properly parked
with the engine off, fully depress the
accelerator, the brake, and the clutch
pedal (if present) to check for interfer -
ence. 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.
WARNING! (Continued)
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.
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.
WARNING! (Continued)
21_GA_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 188

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
200
Cable Disconnection
Once the engine is started, remove the
connection cables in reverse sequence, as
described below:
1. Disconnect the negative (-) jumper cablefrom the remote negative (-) post of the
discharged vehicle.
2. Disconnect the negative end (-) of the jumper cable from the negative (-) post of
the booster battery.
3. Disconnect the opposite end of the posi -
tive (+) jumper cable from the positive (+)
post of the booster battery.
4. Disconnect the positive (+) end of the jumper cable from the positive (+) post of
the vehicle with the discharged battery.
If frequent jump starting is required to start
your vehicle, you should have the battery and
charging system inspected at an authorized
dealer.Bump Starting
Never jump start the engine by pushing,
towing or coasting downhill.
NOTE:
You cannot start a vehicle with an automatic
transmission by pushing it.
IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS
Engine overheating may occur in situations of
extreme environmental temperatures,
frequent engine stops/starts, or driving in
heavy traffic. If the engine becomes over -
heated, the Engine Temperature Warning
Light in the instrument cluster will illuminate
along with a dedicated message
Ú
page 73.
If the vehicle is overheating, it will need to be
serviced by an authorized dealer.
In any of the following situations, you can
reduce the potential for overheating by taking
the appropriate action.
On the highways — slow down.
In city traffic — while stopped, place the
transmission in NEUTRAL, but do not
increase engine idle speed.
NOTE:
There are steps that you can take to slow down
an impending overheat condition:
If your Air Conditioner (A/C) is on, turn it off.
The A/C system adds heat to the engine
cooling system and turning the A/C off can
help remove this heat.
You can also turn the temperature control
to maximum heat, the mode control to floor
and the blower control to high. This allows
the heater core to act as a supplement to
the radiator and aids in removing heat from
the engine cooling system.
CAUTION!
Accessories plugged into the vehicle power
outlets draw power from the vehicle’s
battery, even when not in use (i.e., cellular
phones, etc.). Eventually, if plugged in long
enough without engine operation, the
vehicle’s battery will discharge sufficiently
to degrade battery life and/or prevent the
engine from starting.
WARNING!
You or others can be badly burned by hot
engine coolant (antifreeze) or steam from
your radiator. If you see or hear steam
coming from under the hood, do not open
the hood until the radiator has had time to
cool. Never try to open a cooling system
pressure cap when the radiator or coolant
bottle is hot.
CAUTION!
Driving with a hot cooling system could
damage your vehicle. If temperature gauge
reads “H”, pull over and stop the vehicle.
Idle the vehicle with the air conditioner
turned off until the pointer drops back into
the normal range. If the pointer remains on
the “H”, turn the engine off immediately,
and call for service.
21_GA_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 200

201
If Steam Is Coming From The Engine Compart-
ment
Do not go near the front of the vehicle. Stop
the engine. Wait until the steam dissipates.
Then, open the hood and start the engine.
If Neither Coolant Nor Steam Is Escaping
Open the hood and idle the engine until it
cools.
NOTE:
If the cooling fan does not operate while the
engine is running, the engine temperature
will increase. Stop the engine and contact
an authorized dealer.
If the engine continues to overheat or
frequently overheats, have the cooling
system inspected. The engine could be seri -
ously damaged unless repairs are made.
Contact an authorized dealer.
MANUAL PARK RELEASE
See an authorized dealer to disengage the
manual park release lever.
TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE
This section describes procedures for towing a
disabled vehicle using a commercial towing
service. The operators of the assistance vehicle must
be informed with regard to the vehicle's
minimum height from ground in order to avoid
contact between the ends of the fascia/
bumper with the equipment of the breakdown
truck.
The following image illustrates the front and
rear attachment corners of the vehicle, to be
taken into consideration when loading the
vehicle on the assistance vehicle.
Front And Rear Loading Angles
WARNING!
A special tool is required to perform this
procedure. Damage to the vehicle or
serious injury or death may occur if the
procedure is performed improperly. Please
contact an authorized dealer to have this
procedure performed.
CAUTION!
The vehicle should be transported with all
four wheels OFF the ground on the flatbed
of a roadside assistance vehicle. Avoid
towing with only the front (or rear) wheels
lifted. When towing with only the front (or
rear) wheels lifted, in addition to
damaging the body, it could damage the
transmission.
Do not use sling-type equipment when
towing. Vehicle damage may occur.
When securing the vehicle to a flatbed
truck, do not attach to front or rear
suspension components. Damage to your
vehicle may result from improper towing.
Ensure that the Electric Park Brake is
released, and remain released, while
being towed.
Damage from improper towing is not
covered under the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty.
RWD
ModelsAWD
Models
A — Front
Loading Angle 12.880° 15.160°
B — Rear
Loading Angle 17.105° 18.400°
21_GA_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 201

204
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
Correct servicing permits the performance of
the vehicle to be maintained over time, as well
as limited running costs and safeguarding the
efficiency of the safety systems.
This chapter explains how.
SCHEDULED SERVICING
Correct servicing is crucial for guaranteeing a
long life for the vehicle under the best condi-
tions.
For this reason, Alfa Romeo has planned a
series of checks and services for your vehicle
at fixed intervals based on distance and time,
as described in the Scheduled Servicing Plan.
Before each service, it is always necessary to
carefully follow the instructions in the Sched -
uled Servicing Plan (e.g. periodically check
level of fluids, tire pressure, etc.).
Scheduled Servicing is offered by an autho -
rized dealer according to a set time schedule.
If, during each operation, in addition to the
ones scheduled, the need arises for further
replacements or repairs, these may be carried
out with the owner’s explicit consent only.
NOTE:
Scheduled Servicing intervals are required by
FCA US LLC. Failure to have them carried out
may invalidate the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty.
You are advised to inform an authorized
dealer of any small operating irregularities
without waiting for the next service.
Periodic Checks
Every month or every 600 miles (1,000 km) or
before long trips check and, if necessary, top
off:
Engine coolant level.
Brake fluid level (if insufficient, see an
authorized dealer as soon as possible).
Windshield washer fluid level.
Tire inflation pressure and condition.
Operation of lighting system (headlights,
direction indicators, hazard warning lights,
etc.).
Operation of windshield washing/wiping
system and positioning/wear of wiper
blades.
Inspect the CV/Universal joints.
Oil consumption of the engine depends on
conditions and driving style. For this reason,
the engine oil level must be checked every
1,860 miles (3,000 km), and top off if neces -
sary
Ú
page 213.
Heavy Usage Of The Vehicle
If the vehicle is used under one of the following
conditions:
Dusty roads.
Short, repeated journeys less than 4 miles
(7 km) at sub-zero outside temperatures.
Engine often idling or driving long distances
at low speeds or long periods of inactivity.
In the event of a long period of inactivity.
The following checks must be carried out more
often than indicated in the Scheduled
Servicing Plan:
Check cleanliness of hood and trunk locks,
cleanliness and lubrication of linkage.
Visually inspect conditions of: engine, trans -
mission, pipes and hoses (exhaust/fuel
system/brakes) and rubber elements
(sleeves/bushes, etc.).
Check battery charge and battery fluid level
(electrolyte).
Visually inspect conditions of the accessory
drive belts.
Check and, if necessary, change engine oil
and replace oil filter.
Check and, if necessary, replace cabin air
filter.
Check and, if necessary, replace engine air
cleaner.
Severe Duty All Models
Vehicles that are operated in a dusty and
off-road environment, or predominately at idle
or very low engine RPM are known as Severe
Duty vehicles. It is recommended that you
change engine oil at 4,000 miles (6,500 km)
or 350 hours of engine run time.
21_GA_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 204

SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
206
Check cleanliness of hood and luggage compartment
locks, cleanliness and lubrication of linkage●●●●●●●
Visually inspect conditions and wear of front/rear
disc brake pads and operation of pad wear indicators●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
Visually inspect the condition and tensioning of the
accessory drive belt(s)
●●●●●●●●●●●●
Change engine coolant
●
Change engine oil and replace oil filter
3
Replace transfer case oil (AWD models only)●
Replace accessory drive belt(s)●
Replace engine air cleaner
4●●●●●
Replace additional fuel filter (if equipped)
●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
Change the brake fluid
5
Thousands of miles102030405060708090100110120130140150
Years123456789101112131415
Thousands of kilometers163248648096112128144160176192208224240
21_GA_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 206

209
Check operation of the windshield wiper/washer
system and adjust nozzles, if necessary.●●●●●●●●
Check cleanliness of hood and luggage compartment
locks, cleanliness and lubrication of linkage.
●●●●●●●
Visually inspect conditions and wear of front/rear
disc brake pads and operation of pad wear
indicators.
●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
Visually inspect the brake discs surface and edge.
●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
Brake pads/brake discs replacement.
2
Visually inspect the condition and tensioning of the
accessory drive belt(s).●●●●●●●●●●●●
Change engine coolant.
●
Change engine oil and replace oil filter.
●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
Replace accessory drive belt/s.
3
Replace engine air cleaner.4●●●●●●●
Replace additional fuel filter (if equipped).●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
Thousands of miles102030405060708090100110120130140150
Years123456789101112131415
Thousands of kilometers163248648096112128144160176192208224240
21_GA_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 209

211
ENGINE COMPARTMENT
Checking Levels — 2.0L Engine
1 – Engine Oil Filler Cap4 –Windshield/Headlights Washer Fluid Reservoir Cap
2 – Brake Fluid Reservoir Access Cover 5 – Intercooler Coolant Reservoir Cap
3 – Engine Coolant Reservoir Cap
21_GA_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 211