2023 ALFA ROMEO STELVIO warning light

STARTING AND OPERATING

136

Towing Requirements — Tires
Do not attempt to tow a trailer while using a
compact spare tire.
Do not drive more than 50 mph (80 km/h)
when towing while using a full size spare tire.
Proper tire inflation pressures are essential to
the safe and satisfactory operation of your
vehicle.
Check the trailer tires for proper tire inflation
pressures before trailer usage.
Check for signs of tire wear or visible tire
damage before towing a trailer.
Replacing tires with a higher load carrying
capacity will not increase the vehicle's GVWR
and GAWR limits.
For proper tire inflation procedures
Ú
page 224.
Towing Requirements — Trailer Brakes
Do not interconnect the hydraulic brake
system or vacuum system of your vehicle with
that of the trailer. This could cause inadequate
braking and possible personal injury.
An electronically actuated trailer brake
controller is required when towing a trailer with
electronically actuated brakes. When towing a
trailer equipped with a hydraulic surge
actuated brake system, an electronic brake
controller is not required.
Trailer brakes are recommended for trailers
over 1,000 lb (453 kg) and required for trailers
in excess of 2,000 lb (907 kg).
Towing Requirements — Trailer Lights
And Wiring
Whenever you pull a trailer, regardless of the
trailer size, stoplights and turn signals on the
trailer are required for motoring safety.
The Trailer Tow Package may include a four- and
seven-pin wiring harness. Use a factory approved
trailer harness and connector.

NOTE:
Do not cut or splice wiring into the vehicle’s wiring
harness.
The electrical connections are all complete to the
vehicle but you must mate the harness to a trailer
connector. Refer to the following illustrations.

NOTE:

Disconnect trailer wiring connector from the
vehicle before launching a boat (or any other
device plugged into vehicle’s electrical
connect) into water.
Be sure to reconnect once clear from
water area.
Then, during the first 500 miles (805 km)
that a trailer is towed, do not drive over
50 mph (80 km/h) and do not make starts
at full throttle. This helps the engine and
other parts of the vehicle wear in at the
heavier loads.
CAUTION!
WARNING!
Do not connect trailer brakes to your
vehicle's hydraulic brake lines. It can
overload your brake system and cause it to
fail. You might not have brakes when you
need them and could have an accident.
Towing any trailer will increase your stopping
distance. When towing, you should allow for
additional space between your vehicle and
the vehicle in front of you. Failure to do so
could result in an accident.
CAUTION!
If the trailer weighs more than 1,000 lb
(453 kg) loaded, it should have its own brakes
and they should be of adequate capacity.
Failure to do this could lead to accelerated
brake lining wear, higher brake pedal effort,
and longer stopping distances.
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(Continued)
SAFETY
This very important section describes the safety
systems that your vehicle may be equipped with,
and provides instructions on how to use them
correctly.
ACTIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS
The vehicle may be equipped with the following
active safety devices:
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Active Torque Vectoring (ATV) System
Dynamic Steering Torque (DST) System
Drive Train Control (DTC) System
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) System
Hill Descent Control (HDC) System
Hill Start Assist (HSA) System
Panic Brake Assist (PBA) System
Traction Control System (TCS)
For system operation, see the following pages.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS)
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.
ACTIVE TORQUE VECTORING (ATV)
S
YSTEM — IF EQUIPPED
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.
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.
WARNING!
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(Continued)
DYNAMIC STEERING TORQUE (DST)
S
YSTEM
DST uses the integration of the Electronic
Stability Control (ESC) system with the electric
power steering to increase the safety level of the
whole vehicle.
In critical situations (e.g. 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 depen -
dent on the driver’s sensitivity and overall reac -
tion 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.
DRIVE TRAIN CONTROL (DTC) SYSTEM
Some models of this vehicle are equipped with an
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system, 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.

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)
S
YSTEM
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 oversteer or
understeer.
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.
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NOTE:
If the vehicle’s speed exceeds 6 mph (10 km/h),
but remains below 37 mph (60 km/h) and the
accelerator pedal is released, as soon as the
vehicle gets close to the set speed the HDC
system will automatically brake to keep the
vehicle at the set speed.
The driver can cancel HDC system intervention at
any time by pressing the accelerator pedal.
System Deactivation
The HDC system will be deactivated, but remain
available, if any of the following conditions are
met:
The vehicle is traveling on a downhill slope with
a gradient less than 8%, on a level surface, or
on an uphill grade.
PARK (P) mode is engaged.
Disabling The System
The system is disabled if any of the following
conditions are met:
The HDC switch is pressed.
Cruise Control/Adaptive Cruise Control is
activated.
A vehicle speed of 37 mph (60 km/h) is
exceeded.
System deactivation is shown by the icon on
the display turning off.
HILL START ASSIST (HSA) SYSTEM
HSA is an integral part of the Electronic Stability
Control (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.
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) 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.
WARNING!
HDC is only intended to assist the driver in
controlling vehicle speed when descending
hills. The driver must remain attentive to the
driving conditions and is responsible for
maintaining a safe vehicle speed.
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.
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SAFETY

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The PBA system is deactivated when the brake
pedal is released.
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM (TCS)
The TCS 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.
AUXILIARY DRIVING
SYSTEMS
The following auxiliary driving systems may be
available in this vehicle:
Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) — if equipped
Active Blind Spot Assist (ABSA) — if equipped
Forward Collision Warning Plus (FCW+)
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
The vehicle may also be fitted with the following
driving assistance systems:
Driver Attention Assist (DAA)
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)
Highway Assist System (HAS)
Traffic Jam Assist (TJA)
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
Intelligent Speed Control (ISC)
Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR)
For the operation of the DAA, LDW, LKA, HAS, TJA,
ACC, ISC, or TSR systems, see

Ú
page 86.

NOTE:
When driving on two-way roads where there is no
lane dividing center line (e.g. on unpaved roads),
the use of the ABSA, HAS, TJA, and LKA systems is strongly discouraged as the system could
detect the entire road as single-lane dividing
lines.

NOTE:
The driving assistance systems are designed to
aid in driving the car. The driver must always
maintain a sufficient level of attention to the
traffic and road conditions and control the
trajectory of the car.
BLIND SPOT MONITORING (BSM)
S
YSTEM — IF EQUIPPED
The BSM system uses radar sensors, located in
the rear fascia/bumper, to detect the presence of
other vehicles in the rear side blind spots of your
vehicle.
Rear Sensor Location
The system warns the driver about the presence
of other vehicles in the detection area by illumi -
nating the warning light located within the door
mirror on the side in which the other vehicle was
detected. If equipped, an audible chime will also
be heard to alert the driver (if option is selected
within the radio system).
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.
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BSM Indicator Light
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). The sensors are temporarily deactivated when
the vehicle is stationary or the vehicle is in PARK.
The detection area of the system covers approxi -
mately one lane on both sides of the vehicle,
which is around 9 ft (3 m).
This area begins from the door mirror and
extends for approximately 19 ft (6 m) towards 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
zone in three different situations:
when you are being overtaken by a vehicle;
when you are overtaking a vehicle;
when a vehicle approaches from the side;
to check whether it is necessary to send a signal
to the driver on both sides.

NOTE:

The system does not alert the driver of the
presence of fixed objects (e.g. safety barriers,
poles, walls, etc.). However, in some circum -
stances, 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.
If a trailer is hitched to the car, the system
automatically deactivates.

NOTE:

For the system to operate properly, the rear
fascia/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 fascia/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 radio system.
To access the function, select the following
items in sequence on the main menu:
a. “Driver Assistance”
b. “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 25 mph (40 km/h) in relation to your
vehicle.
Overtaking Vehicles
If another vehicle is overtaken slowly, with a
difference in speed of less than approximately
15 mph (25 km/h) and the vehicle stays in the
blind spot for approximately 1.5 seconds, the
warning light on the door mirror of the
corresponding side illuminates.
If the difference in speed between the two
vehicles is greater than approximately 15 mph
(25 km/h), the warning light does not illuminate.
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.
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Rear Cross Path Detection (RCP) System
The Rear Cross Path Detection (RCP) system
assists the driver during reverse maneuvers in
the case of reduced visibility.
The RCP system monitors the rear detection
areas on both sides of the vehicle to detect
objects moving toward the sides of the vehicle,
with a minimum speed between approximately
1 mph (1 km/h) and 2 mph (3 km/h) and objects
moving at a maximum speed of 21 mph
(35 km/h), in areas such as parking lots.
The system activation is signaled to the driver by
an audible warning.

NOTE:

If the sensors are covered by objects or
vehicles, the system may not work as
intended.
For the system to operate correctly, the rear
fascia/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 fascia/bumper area
where the radar sensors are located with any
object (e.g. adhesives, bike rack, etc.).Operating Mode
The system may be activated/deactivated via the
radio system. To access the function, select the
following items on the main menu in sequence:
1. “Driving Assistance”
2. “Blind Spot Alert”
“Blind Spot Alert”, “Visual” Mode
When the system is enabled, the warning light
within the door mirror on the side of the detected
object illuminates.
The visual warning on the mirror will blink if the
driver activates the turn signals, indicating a lane
change.
The warning light will be constant if the driver
stays in the same lane. “Blind Spot Alert” Function Deactivation
When the system is deactivated (“Blind Spot
Alert” mode off), the BSM or RCP systems will
not emit an audible or a visual warning.
The BSM system will store the operating mode
that was active when the engine was stopped.
Each time the engine is started, the operating
mode stored previously will be recalled and used

Ú
page 259.
ACTIVE BLIND SPOT ASSIST (ABSA)
S
YSTEM — IF EQUIPPED
The ABSA system is to help avoid/limit lateral
collisions with cars coming from adjacent lanes
changing the vehicle’s trajectory in order to try to
keep it in the detected lane.
The system warns the driver about the presence
of other vehicles in the detection area by illumi -
nating the warning light located within the door
mirror on the side in which the other vehicle was
detected and by means of an acoustic signal
and/or vibration on the steering wheel and/or
counter-steering torque on the steering wheel
(if the respective item on the “Driver Assistance”
menu is set up and then “Safety” is selected on
the radio system).
When the engine is started, the warning light
illuminates briefly to signal the driver that the
system is active (the warning light comes on even
if the system is activated through the radio
system menu).
WARNING!
Rear Cross Path Detection (RCP) is not a back
up aid system. It is intended to be used to help
a driver detect an oncoming vehicle in a
parking lot situation. Drivers must be careful
when backing up, even when using RCP.
Always check carefully behind your vehicle,
look behind you, and be sure to check for
pedestrians, animals, other vehicles,
obstructions, and blind spots before backing
up. Failure to do so can result in serious injury
or death.
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(Continued)
ABSA Indicator Light
Sensors
The system uses radar sensors, located in the
rear fascia/bumper, to detect the presence of
vehicles (cars, trucks, motorbikes, etc.) in the
rear side blind spots of the car.
The sensors are activated when any forward gear
is engaged at a speed higher than about 6 mph
(10 km/h), or when REVERSE (R) is engaged.
The sensors are temporarily deactivated when
the car is stationary and in PARK (P).
The detection area of the system covers about a
lane on both sides of the car around 10 ft (3 m).
This area begins from the door mirror and
extends for about 20 ft (6 m) towards the rear
part of the car.
When the sensors are active the system monitors
the detection areas on both sides of the car and
warns the driver about the possible presence of
cars in these areas. Rear Sensor Location
While driving, the system monitors the detection
zone in three different situations:
when you are being overtaken by a vehicle;
when you are overtaking a vehicle;
when a vehicle approaches from the side;
to check if it is necessary to intervene in order to
keep the vehicle inside the lane on both sides.

NOTE:
The system does not signal the presence of fixed
object (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 warn the driver about the
presence of cars coming from the opposite direc -
tion, in the adjacent lanes.
WARNING!
The accident risk persists despite the
application of torque to the steering wheel by
the ABSA system.
Applying a torque that corrects the steering
wheel alignment does not always prevent an
accident. It is always the driver's responsi -
bility to steer, brake or accelerate, especially
after the ABSA system warning or after the
steering wheel torque intervention. The
driver is responsible for ensuring that there
are no pedestrians, other vehicles or objects
along the direction of the vehicle. Failure to
comply with these precautions may cause
serious accidents and injuries. The driver is
fully responsible for holding a safe distance
from the vehicle ahead respecting the
highway code in force in the respective
country.
In some cases, the system could apply an
improper torque to the steering wheel. This
application can be interrupted at any time by
turning the steering wheel in the opposite
direction.
WARNING!
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