
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL
82
Automatic Transmission Fluid Overheating
The telltale will illuminate in the case
of  transmission  overheating,  after  a
particularly  demanding  use.  In  this
case  an  engine  performance  limita-
tion is carried out.
Wait for the telltale to turn off with the engine
off or idling.
Audio System Failure
The telltale will illuminate to report a
failure of the audio system.
Contact  an  authorized  dealer  as  soon  as
possible to have the failure eliminated.
Speed Limiter System Failure
While  driving,  the  telltale  will  illumi -
nate  to  signal  a  Speed  Limiter
system failure.
Contact  an  authorized  dealer  as  soon  as
possible to have the failure eliminated.
Loose Fuel Filler Cap
Lights up if the fuel tank cap is open
or not properly closed.
Tighten the cap properly.
Electric Park Brake Failure
The  telltale  will  illuminate  and  a
message  will  display  to  signal  a
failure  in  the  electric  park  brake
system.
This  failure  may  partially  or  completely  block
the  vehicle  because  the  park  brake  could
remain  activated  even  if  automatically  or
manually  disengaged  using  the  relevant
controls.  In  these  circumstances,  you  can
disengage  the park brake following  the  emer -
gency disengagement procedure  
Ú
 page 90.
If  you  are  still  able  to  drive  the  vehicle  (park
brake  is  not  engaged),  drive  to  the  nearest
authorized  dealer  and  remember,  when
executing  any  maneuvers/commands,  that
the electric park brake is not operational.
Low Coolant Level — If Equipped
This telltale will illuminate to indicate
that the vehicle coolant level is low.
Service Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) 
System
This  light  will  illuminate  when  the
ACC  is  not  operating  and  needs
service.
Contact  an  authorized  dealer  to  have  the
system checked.
Wear On Brake Pads
This  light  will  illuminate  when  the
brake pads have reached their wear
limit.
Contact  an  authorized  dealer  as  soon  as
possible.
NOTE:
Always  use  genuine  parts  or  similar  because
the  Integrated  Brake  System  (IBS)  system
could detect anomalies.
Dynamic Drive Control System Failure
The telltale will illuminate to signal a
failure  in  the  dynamic  drive  control
system.
Windshield Wiper Failure
Signals a windshield wiper failure.
Contact an authorized dealer.
 WARNING!
If  a  failure  is  present  with  sharp  braking,
the  rear  wheels  may  lock  and  the  vehicle
may swerve.
21_GU_OM_EN_USC_t.book  Page 82   

STARTING AND OPERATING
88
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  notdangerous 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 exit 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, when the doors are closed.
After the engine has stopped (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.  This  type  of  start  can
be  dangerous  if  done  improperly 
Ú
 page 201.
 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_GU_OM_EN_USC_t.book  Page 88   

SAFETY
190
(Continued)
(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.
Exhaust Gas 
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.
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.
 WARNING!  (Continued)
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)
 WARNING!
Exhaust  gases  can  injure  or  kill.  They
contain  carbon  monoxide  (CO),  which  is
colorless  and  odorless.  Breathing  it  can
make  you  unconscious  and  can  eventually
poison  you.  To  avoid  breathing  (CO),  follow
these safety tips:
Do  not run  the  engine  in a  closed  garage
or  in  confined  areas  any  longer  than
needed  to  move  your  vehicle  in  or  out  of
the area.
If you are required to drive with the trunk/lift -
gate/rear  doors  open,  make  sure  that  all
windows  are  closed  and  the  climate  control
BLOWER switch is set at high speed. DO NOT
use the recirculation mode.
21_GU_OM_EN_USC_t.book  Page 190   

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
204
4. Disconnect  the  positive  (+)  end  of  thejumper  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.
ENGINE OVERHEATING
If your vehicle is overheating, it will need to be
serviced at an authorized dealer.
Engine  overheating  may  occur  in  situations
such  as  (but  not  limited  to)  extreme  environ -
mental  temperatures  or  frequent  engine
stops/starts.  If  the  engine  becomes  over -heated,  the  Engine  Temperature  Warning
Light  in  the  instrument  cluster  will  illuminate
along with a dedicated message  
Ú
page 79.
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.
 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.
 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_GU_OM_EN_USC_t.book  Page 204   

208
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.
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
the  manufacturer.  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 620 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; for further information  
Ú
 page 215.
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  liftgate
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 air cleaner.
Severe Duty All Models
Change  engine  oil  at  4,000 miles  (6,500 km)
if  the  vehicle  is  operated  in  a  dusty  and
off-road  environment  or  is  operated  predomi -
nately at idle or only very low engine RPM. This
type of vehicle use is considered Severe Duty.
21_GU_OM_EN_USC_t.book  Page 208   

SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
210
(o) Recommended operations
(●) Mandatory operations
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
●
Replace transfer case oil (AWD models only)
●
Replace accessory drive belt(s)●
Replace air cleaner cartridge
5●●●●●
Replace the additional fuel filter (if equipped)
●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
Change the brake fluid
6
Replac
e the passenger compartment cleaner
7o●o●o●o●o●o●o●o
Spark plug replacement
8●●
1. The actual interval for changing engine oil and replacing the engine oil filter depends on the vehicle usage conditions and is signaled by the warning light or message in the  instrument panel. In all cases, never exceed 1 year/10,000 miles (16,000 km).
2. The SOS backup battery must be replaced every five years, regardless of mileage.
3. Top up using the fluids indicated, only after checking that the system is intact  
Ú
page 263.
4. If oil degradation ratio (data collectible from diagnostic device) is more than 80% (oil quality less than 20%), engine oil and filter replacement is recommended.
5. If the vehicle is used in dusty areas, this engine air cleaner filter must be replaced every 10,000 miles (16,000 km).
6. The brake fluid replacement has to be done every two years, regardless of the mileage.
7. If the vehicle is used in dusty areas, this cleaner filter must be replaced every 10,000 miles (16,000 km). 8. The spark plug change interval is mileage-based only. Yearly intervals do not apply.
Thousands of miles102030405060708090100110120130140150
Years123456789101112131415
Thousands of kilometers163248648096112128144160176192208224240
21_GU_OM_EN_USC_t.book  Page 210   

213
Inspect the CV/Universal joints●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
Visually inspect the brake discs surface and edge
●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
Brake pads/brake discs replacement
3
Visually
 inspect the condition and tensioning of the 
accessory drive belt(s)
●●●●●●●●●●●●
Change engine coolant
●
Change engine oil and replace oil filter
●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
Replace transfer case oil (AWD models only)
●
Replace accessory drive belt/s4
Replace 
air cleaner cartridge 
5●●●●●●●
Replace the additional fuel filter (if equipped)●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
Change the brake fluid
6
Replace 
the cabin air filter 
7 o●o●o●o●o●o●o●o
Spark plug replacement
8●●●●●
1. The SOS backup battery must be replaced every five years, regardless of mileage.
2. Top off using the fluids indicated only after checking that the system is intact  
Ú
page 263.
3. The actual interval for changing the brake pads and the carbon ceramic brake discs depends on the vehicle usage conditions and is signaled by the warning light or message  on the instrument panel. After each discs replacement, reset the warning light using the diagnostic socket.
4. Areas that are not dusty: recommended maximum mileage 36,000 miles (60,000 km). Regardless of the mileage, the belt must be replaced every 4 years. Dusty areas and/ or demanding use of the vehicle (cold climates, town use, long periods of idling): advised maximum mileage 18,000 miles (30,000 km). Regardless of the mileage, the belt must be replaced every 2 years.
5. If the vehicle is used in dusty areas, this engine air cleaner filter must be replaced every 10,000 miles (16,000 km).
6. The brake fluid replacement has to be done every two years, regardless of the mileage.
7. If the vehicle is used in dusty areas, this cleaner filter must be replaced every 10,000 miles (16,000 km). 8. The spark plug change interval is mileage-based only. Yearly intervals do not apply.
Thousands of miles102030405060708090100110120130140150
Years123456789101112131415
Thousands of kilometers163248648096112128144160176192208224240
21_GU_OM_EN_USC_t.book  Page 213   

SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
214
ENGINE COMPARTMENT
Checking Levels — 2.0L Engine
1 – Engine Coolant Reservoir Cap4 –Intercooler Coolant Reservoir Cap
2 – Brake Fluid Reservoir Access Cover 5 – Engine Oil Filler Cap
3 – Windshield/Headlights Washer Fluid Reservoir Cap
21_GU_OM_EN_USC_t.book  Page 214