2021 ALFA ROMEO GIULIA automatic transmission

STARTING AND OPERATING

102

ALFA ACTIVE SUSPENSION
(AAS) — IF EQUIPPED
The system continuously monitors the
damping of the suspension through the actu-
ator installed on each shock absorber. 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 handling.
The driver can choose, while driving, (only in
“d” or “RACE” mode), between two types of
suspension calibration: a more sporty or a
more comfortable type.
By pushing the button, the system prepares
the shock absorber calibration in order to
favor driving comfort.
“Alfa DNA” System Selector
In case of a system failure, the symbol and
a dedicated message will be shown on the
instrument cluster display.
STOP/START SYSTEM
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 consump -
tion, gas emissions, and sound pollution.
Operating Mode
Stopping the Engine

With 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
or turn the steering wheel slightly (if
equipped).
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 the brake pressed while the gear selector
is in “AutoStick” mode, the engine will restart
by shifting to PARK (P) or by moving the
selector to + or -.
21_GA_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 102

111

NOTE:

Moving the RES/SET switch downward
allows you to adjust the speed according to
the selected unit of measurement ("U.S." or
"Metric") set on the radio system. Refer to
the Information and Entertainment System
Owner’s Manual Supplement for further
information.
When the unit of measurement is set to
Metric, pushing and holding the RES/SET
switch will adjust the speed in 10 km/h
increments.
By keeping the accelerator pedal pressed,
the vehicle can continue to accelerate
beyond the set speed. In this case, use the
RES/SET switch to set the speed to the
vehicle’s current speed.
When you push the RES/SET button to
reduce the speed, the braking system inter-
venes automatically if the engine brake
does not slow the vehicle down sufficiently
to reach the set speed. The device holds the
set speed uphill and downhill; however a
slight variation is entirely normal, particu -
larly on slight inclines.
The transmission could shift to a lower gear
when driving downhill, or when acceler -
ating. This is normal and necessary to main -
tain the set speed.
The system will disable while driving if the
brakes overheat.
To Resume

Once the system has been canceled but not
deactivated, to resume a previously set speed,
simply push the RES/SET switch upward and
remove your foot from the accelerator to recall it.

The system will be set to the last stored speed.
Setting The Distance Between Vehicles
The distance between your vehicle and the
vehicle ahead may be set to one bar (short),
two bars (medium), three bars (long), or four
bars (maximum). Distance Icons
The distances from the vehicle ahead are
proportional to speed.
The interval of time with relation to the vehicle
ahead remains constant and varies from one
second (for the short distance one-bar setting)
to two seconds (for the maximum distance
four-bar setting).
The set distance is shown on the display by a
dedicated icon.
The setting is four bars (maximum) the first
time the system is used. After the distance has
been modified by the driver, the new distance
will be stored even if the system is deactivated
and reactivated.
WARNING!
The Resume function should only be used if
traffic and road conditions permit.
Resuming a set speed that is too high or too
low for prevailing traffic and road conditions
could cause the vehicle to accelerate or
decelerate too sharply for safe operation.
Failure to follow these warnings can result
in a collision and death or serious personal
injury.
21_GA_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 111

143

Hill Start Assist (HSA)
This is an integral part of the ESC system and
facilitates starting on slopes, activating auto-
matically in the following cases:
Uphill: vehicle stationary on a road with a
gradient higher than 5%, engine running,
brake pressed and transmission in
NEUTRAL (N) or gear other than REVERSE
(R) engaged.
Downhill: vehicle stationary on a road with a
gradient higher than 5%, engine running,
brake pressed and REVERSE gear engaged.
When starting to move forward from a
complete 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.
Panic Brake Assist (PBA)
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.
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 inappro -
priate 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 prop -
erly 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 perfor-
mance. Improperly inflated and unevenly
worn tires may also degrade ESC perfor -
mance. 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.
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.
21_GA_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 143

SAFETY

172

Enhanced Accident Response System
In the event of an impact, if the communica-
tion network remains intact, and the power
remains intact, depending on the nature of the
event, the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
will determine whether to have the Enhanced
Accident Response System perform the
following functions:
Cut off fuel to the engine (if equipped)
Cut off battery power to the electric motor (if
equipped)
Flash hazard lights as long as the battery
has power
Turn on the interior lights, which remain on
as long as the battery has power or for
15 minutes from the intervention of the
Enhanced Accident Response System
Unlock the power door locks
Your vehicle may also be designed to perform
any of these other functions in response to the
Enhanced Accident Response System:
Turn off the Fuel Filter Heater, Turn off the
HVAC Blower Motor, Close the HVAC Circula -
tion Door
Cut off battery power to the:
• Engine
• Electric Motor (if equipped)
• Electric power steering
• Brake booster
• Electric park brake
• Automatic transmission gear selector
• Horn
• Front wiper
• Headlamp washer pump

NOTE:

After an accident, remember to cycle the ignition
to the OFF position and remove the key from the
ignition switch to avoid draining the battery.
Carefully check the vehicle for fuel leaks in the
engine compartment and on the ground near the
engine compartment and fuel tank before reset -
ting the system and starting the engine. If there
are no fuel leaks or damage to the vehicle elec -
trical devices (e.g. headlights) after an accident,
reset the system by following the procedure
described below. If you have any doubt, contact
an authorized dealer.
Enhanced Accident Response System
Reset Procedure

After the event occurs, when the system is active,
a message regarding fuel cutoff is displayed.
Turn the ignition switch from ignition ACC or ON/
RUN to ignition OFF. Carefully check the vehicle
for fuel leaks in the engine compartment and on
the ground near the engine compartment and
fuel tank before resetting the system and
starting the engine.

Depending on the nature of the event the left
and right turn signal lights, located in the
instrument panel, may both be blinking and
will continue to blink. In order to move your
vehicle to the side of the road, you must follow
the system reset procedure.
21_GA_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 172

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

SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE

214

Engine Coolant
If the level is too low, remove the cap of reser-
voir and add the fluid described on

Ú
page 267.
Washer Fluid For Windshield/Headlights
The windshield and headlights washer fluid
reservoir has a telescopic filler.
If the level is too low, remove reservoir cap and
lift the filler. Then, add the fluid described on

Ú
page 267.

NOTE:

The headlight washing system will not work if
the liquid level is low (as indicated by the
symbol on the instrument cluster display). On
vehicles equipped with headlight washers,
there is a reference notch on the dipstick:
ONLY the windshield/rear window washer
operates with the level below this reference.
Brake Fluid
Check that the fluid is at the maximum level. If
the fluid level in the tank is low, contact an
authorized dealer to have the system checked.

Automatic Transmission Activation System Oil

The transmission control oil level should only
be checked at an authorized dealer.
Useful Advice For Extending The Life Of
Your Battery
To avoid draining your battery and make it last
longer, observe the following instructions:
When you park the car, ensure that the
doors and trunk are closed properly to
prevent any lights from remaining on inside
the passenger's compartment.
Do not keep accessories (e.g. radio, hazard
warning lights, etc.) switched on for a long
time when the engine is not running.
Before performing any operation on the
electrical system, disconnect the negative
battery cable.
If you wish to install electrical accessories
after purchasing the car that require perma -
nent electrical supply (e.g. alarm, etc.), or
accessories which influence the electrical
supply requirements, contact an authorized
dealer, whose qualified staff will evaluate the
overall electrical consumption.
WARNING!
If the engine oil is being topped up, wait for
the engine to cool down before loosening
the filler cap, particularly for vehicles with
aluminum cap (if equipped). WARNING: risk
of burns!
CAUTION!
The oil level must never exceed the MAX
mark.
If the MAX mark is exceeded (last notch on
the right turns red) after the fill-up, go to an
authorized dealer as soon as possible to
have the oil in excess removed.
Do not add oil with specifications different
from those of the oil already in the engine.
Used engine oil and oil filters contain
substances which are harmful to the
environment. To change the oil and filters,
we advise you to contact an authorized
dealer.
CAUTION!
If the charge level remains under 50% for a
long time, the battery may be damaged by
sulphation, reducing its capacity and
efficiency during a vehicle start. The battery
is also more prone to the risk of freezing (at
temperatures as high as 14°F (-10°C).
21_GA_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 214

SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE

222

Braking System
In order to guarantee the efficiency of the
braking system, periodically check its compo-
nents; for this operation, contact an autho -
rized dealer.
For the correct servicing intervals

Ú
page 204.

NOTE:

Driving with your foot resting on the brake
pedal may compromise its efficiency,
increasing the risk of accidents. When driving,
never keep your foot on the brake pedal and
don’t put unnecessary strain on it to prevent
the brakes from overheating: excess pad wear
may cause damage to the braking system.
When an insufficient oil level is detected,
contact an authorized dealer to have the
system checked.
Always keep the cap of the brake fluid reser-
voir (in the engine compartment)
completely closed.
Automatic Transmission
Use only a transmission oil with the same char -
acteristics as those indicated on
Ú
page 268.
Special Additives
Do not use any type of additive with the auto -
matic transmission oil. The automatic trans -
mission oil is a product designed specially for
this vehicle and its performance may be
compromised through the use of further addi -
tives.
Frequency Of Oil Changes
In normal vehicle operating conditions, it is not
necessary to change the transmission oil.
WARNING!
Use only FCA US LLC recommended brake
fluid
Ú
page 268. Using the wrong type of
brake fluid can severely damage your
brake system and/or impair its perfor -
mance. The proper type of brake fluid for
your vehicle is also identified on the orig -
inal factory installed hydraulic master
cylinder reservoir.
To avoid contamination from foreign
matter or moisture, use only new brake
fluid or fluid that has been in a tightly
closed container. Keep the master
cylinder reservoir cap secured at all times.
Brake fluid in a open container absorbs
moisture from the air resulting in a lower
boiling point. This may cause it to boil
unexpectedly during hard or prolonged
braking, resulting in sudden brake failure.
This could result in a collision.
Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir can
result in spilling brake fluid on hot engine
parts, causing the brake fluid to catch fire.
Brake fluid can also damage painted and
vinyl surfaces, care should be taken to
avoid its contact with these surfaces.
Do not allow petroleum-based fluid to
contaminate the brake fluid. Brake seal
components could be damaged, causing
partial or complete brake failure. This
could result in a collision.
CAUTION!
Do not use chemical flushes in your
transmission as the chemicals can damage
your transmission components. Such
damage is not covered by the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty.
CAUTION!
If a transmission fluid leak occurs, visit an
authorized dealer immediately. Severe
transmission damage may occur. An
authorized dealer has the proper tools to
adjust the fluid level accurately.
21_GA_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 222

253

Dry the less visible parts (e.g. door frames,
hood, headlight frames, etc.) with special care,
as water may stagnate more easily in these
areas. Do not wash the car after it has been
left in the sun or with the hood hot: this may
alter the shine of the paintwork.
Exterior plastic parts must be cleaned in the
same way as the rest of the vehicle.
If washing the car in a service that moves the
car, for cars with automatic transmissions,
PARK (P) must be cut out. You have to shut off
the engine in the following conditions: car
stopped, transmission in NEUTRAL (N), push
the starter button for at least three seconds.

NOTE:

Avoid parking under trees; the resin dropped
by trees makes the paintwork go opaque and
increases the possibility of corrosion.
Windows
Use specific detergents and clean cloths to
prevent scratching or altering the transpar -
ency. Front Headlights

Use a soft cloth soaked in water and detergent
for washing cars.

NOTE:

Never use aromatic substances (e.g. gaso -
line) or ketones (e.g. acetone) for cleaning
the plastic lenses of the headlights.
When cleaning with a pressure washer,
keep the pressure washer at least eight
inches (20 cm) away from the headlights.
Engine Compartment
At the end of every Winter, wash the engine
compartment thoroughly, taking care not to
aim the jet of water directly at the electronic
control units or at the windshield wiper
motors. Have this operation performed at a
specialized workshop. For further information

Ú
page 215.

NOTE:

The washing should take place with the engine
cold and the ignition device in the STOP posi -
tion. After the washing operation, make sure
that the various protections (e.g. rubber caps
and guards) have not been removed or
damaged.
INTERIORS
Periodically check the cleanliness of the inte -
rior, beneath the mats, which could cause
oxidation of the sheet metal.
Seats And Fabric Parts
Remove dust with a soft brush or a vacuum
cleaner. Rub the seats with a sponge moist -
ened with a solution of water and neutral
detergent.
Cleaning heat press images on seats — if
equipped:
Due to the color, opacity and wear-resistant
protection with which the heat press images
on some seats are made, they may be subject
to temporary scratching if they are touched by
finger nails, keys, or other hard objects. In
such cases, the visible signs do not impair the
profiled images, and can easily be removed by
wiping the affected area with a microfiber
cloth moistened with water (not dry) to restore
the seat to its original condition. The micro -
fiber cloth must not have been previously
soaked in other substances or detergents.
CAUTION!
Wipe the rear window inside gently with a
cloth following the direction of the filaments
to avoid damaging the heating device.
21_GA_OM_EN_USC_t.book Page 253