ignition Alfa Romeo 4C 2015 Owner handbook (in English)

IMPORTANT
5) If, turning the ignition key to MAR-ON, thewarning light does not turn on or if it turns on steadily or flashing
when travelling (on certain versions together with the message on the display), contact the dedicated Alfa Romeo
Dealership as soon as possible.
WARNING
61) Failure of thewarning light is indicated by thewarning light switching on. In addition, the airbag system
automatically disables the passenger side airbag.
Warning lights on
panelWhat it means What to do
greenSIDE LIGHTS AND DIPPED HEADLIGHTS
The warning light switches on when the side
lights or dipped headlights are turned on.
FOLLOW ME HOME
The warning light switches on (together with a
message shown on the display) when this device
is in use (see "Follow me home device" paragraph
in "Exterior lights" in the "Knowing your car"
chapter).
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KNOWING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL

Warning lights on
displayWhat it means What to do
amberFUEL RESERVE/LIMITED RANGE
The digital warning light switches on in the display
when about 4–5 litres of fuel are left in the tank.
63)
amberFUEL RESERVE/LIMITED RANGE SENSOR
FAULT
The digital warning light switches on in the display
when a fuel reserve sensor fault is detected. The
display shows the dedicated message.Contact the dedicated Alfa Romeo Dealership as
soon as possible.
greenCRUISE CONTROL
(for versions/markets, where provided)
The digital warning light switches on in the display
when the ignition key is turned to MAR-ON, but it
should switch off after a few seconds, if the
Cruise Control is deactivated.
The digital warning light switches on when the
Cruise Control ring nut is turned to the ON
position (see the “Cruise Control” paragraph in
the "Knowing your car" chapter).
The display shows the dedicated message.
greenDOOR MIRROR DEMISTING/DEFROSTING
The digital warning light switches on in the display
when the
button on the control panel is
pressed.
85

79) If the car has been subject to
theft, attempted theft, vandalism,
or flooding, have the airbag
system inspected at a dedicated
Alfa Romeo Dealership.
80) The airbags may also be
deployed when the car is not
moving, if the key is inserted and
turned to MAR-ON even when
the engine is off, if the car is hit by
another moving vehicle. Also
remember that no safety device
(airbags or pretensioners) will
activate in the event of impact
when the key is at STOP.
Non-deployment of these devices
under these circumstances does
not therefore indicate a system
malfunction.
81) When the ignition key is turned
to MAR-ON, the
warning light
comes on constantly for the first 4
seconds. Then, if the warning
light remains on, this means the
passenger's protection has been
deactivated; if the warning light
switches off, instead, the
passenger's protection is enabled.
82) The front airbag is designed
to be deployed for impacts of
a greater intensity than for the
pretensioners. For impacts whose
intensity falls between the two
levels, normally, only the
pretensioners will be activated.83) The airbag does not replace seat
belts but increases their
effectiveness. Because front
airbags are not deployed for
low-speed frontal impacts, side
collisions, rear shunts or rollovers,
occupants are protected only by
their seat belts, which must
always be fastened.
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STARTING THE
ENGINE
Procedure84) 85) 86)
❒press the brake pedal;
❒turn the ignition key to AVV and
release it as soon as the engine
starts.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
8) 9)
❒If the engine does not start at the first
attempt, return the ignition key to
STOP before repeating the
procedure.
❒If, when the ignition key is at
MAR-ON, the
instrument panel
warning light stays on together with
the
warning light, turn the key
to STOP and then back to MAR-ON;
if the warning light stays on, try the
other keys provided with the vehicle.
If it is still not possible to start the
engine, contact a dedicated Alfa
Romeo Dealership.
❒Do not leave the ignition key at
MAR-ON when the engine is
stopped.WARMING UP THE
ENGINE JUST AFTER IT
HAS STARTED
Procedure
❒drive off slowly, letting the engine turn
at medium revs. Do not accelerate
abruptly;
❒do not demand full performance at
first. It is advisable to wait until the
digital engine coolant temperature
indicator starts moving.
SWITCHING OFF THE
ENGINE
Procedure
Turn the ignition key to STOP while the
engine is idling.10)
IMPORTANT After a demanding drive,
keep the engine idling for at least a
couple of minutes before stopping it, in
order to permit the temperature inside
the engine compartment to lower.
WARNING
84) It is dangerous to run the engine
in enclosed areas. The engine
takes in oxygen and releases
carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide
and other toxic gases.
85) The brake servo is not active
until the engine is started, so
you would need to apply much
more force than usual to the
brake pedal.
86) Do not start the engine by
pushing, towing or driving
downhill. These manoeuvres may
damage the catalytic converter.
IMPORTANT
8) It is advisable not to demand
maximum performance from your
car (e.g. excessive acceleration,
long distances at maximum rpm,
excessively intense braking, etc.)
when it is first used.
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STARTING AND DRIVING

9) When the engine is off, do not
leave the ignition key turned to
MAR-ON to prevent unnecessary
electrical consumption from
draining the battery.
10) A quick burst on the accelerator
before turning off the engine
serves absolutely no practical
purpose; it wastes fuel and is
especially damaging to
turbocharged engines.PARKING
Always remove the ignition key when
leaving the car.
When parking and leaving the car,
proceed as follows:
❒engage a gear (first gear if parked
uphill or reverse if facing downhill)
and leave the wheels turned;
❒stop the engine and engage the
handbrake.
Block the wheels with a wedge or a
stone if the car is parked on a steep
slope.
Wait until the indication of the gear
engaged disappears on the display
before releasing the brake pedal.
87)
IMPORTANT:NEVERleave the car with
the gearbox in neutral.
HANDBRAKE
To engage it, pull lever A fig. 73
upwards until the car is secured. When
the handbrake is engaged and the
ignition key is at MAR-ON, the
warning light will switch on in the
instrument panel.
To release the handbrake, raise lever A
slightly, hold down button B and lower
the lever. The
warning light in the
instrument panel will switch off.Four or five clicks are generally enough
when the car is on level ground, while
ten or eleven may be required if the car
is on a steep slope and laden.
88)
IMPORTANT Carry out these
manoeuvres with the brake pedal
pressed.
WARNING
87) Never leave children unattended
in the car. Always remove the key
from the ignition device when
leaving the car and take it with
you.
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105

88) The car must be locked after a
few clicks of the parking brake: if
this is not so, contact the
dedicated Alfa Romeo Dealership
to have it adjusted. Always park
the vehicle safely as indicated by
the Highway Code and as
described above.USING THE
TRANSMISSION
The 4C features the TCT 6-speed twin
dry clutch transmission with steering
wheel controls. This is an advanced
technical solution which combines the
control of a manual gearbox, the
immediacy of a sequential system and
the convenience of being able to select
an automatic selection programme
without the slowdown of a conventional
automatic transmission.
With the key removed from the ignition,
the system will not implement any
action when the buttons on the
transmission control panel on the
central tunnel fig. 74 are pressed,
irrespective of the pressure applied to
the brake pedal. Therefore, the
transmission will remain in the condition
that it was in when the engine was
switched off.With car stationary and key at MAR-ON
(ignition-operated electrical services
activated), the screen displays the gear
engaged and the active operating
mode (automatic =AUTOor manual =
no display).
OPERATING MODES
The transmission can operate in two
operating modes (except when the
"Race" mode is selected):
❒the first manual type (MANUAL), in
which the driver decides directly
when to change gear;
❒the second completely automatic
(AUTO), in which the system decides
when to change gear.
When the "Race" mode is selected, the
only allowed operating mode is
MANUAL.
Manual operation
(MANUAL)
In this operating mode, the driver is
responsible for choosing the best gear
to engage, depending on the car
operating conditions.
Use the “+” steering wheel stalk to
engage a higher gear, or the “–” stalk to
engage a lower gear (see the following
paragraph, "Steering wheel stalks").
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106
STARTING AND DRIVING

When setting off on a medium-steep
incline, it is advisable to engage the
handbrake.
Engaging 1st gear
Proceed as follows:
❒press the brake pedal;
❒press the1button on the
transmission control panel;
❒release the brake pedal and press
the accelerator pedal.
Engaging reverse (R)
Reverse (R) can only be engaged with
car stationary and brake pedal pressed.
Proceed as follows:
❒press the brake pedal (car completely
stationary);
❒press the R button on the
transmission control panel;
❒release the brake pedal and press
the accelerator pedal. When reverse
is engaged, the system emits an
acoustic signal (for versions/markets,
where provided).
If the brake pedal is not depressed (and
the car is stationary), the display will
show a dedicated message and the
system will automatically engage
neutral (N).IMPORTANT With the car running, the
request is accepted and executed if the
car speed drops below 3 km/h within
3 seconds from the request: if the
request is not executed, the system will
maintain the gear engaged or, if the
speed of the car drops below 10 km/h,
will put the transmission in neutral (N)
and the manoeuvre will have to be
repeated.
ENGAGING NEUTRAL (N)
With car stationary and ignition key at
MAR-ON (irrespective of the condition
of the engine), neutral (N) can only
be engaged with the brake pedal
pressed.
If the car is in motion, neutral (N) can
always be engaged, irrespective of the
pressure applied to the brake and
accelerator pedals.
The display will show the letterN
together with the active operating
mode.
With car in motion, to engage a gear
from the neutral (N) position, press the
1button on the transmission control
panel (it is not necessary to press
the brake pedal): the transmission will
immediately engage the correct gear
according to the car’s speed.With car stationary and ignition key at
MAR-ON (irrespective of the condition
of the engine), 1st gear can only be
engaged with the brake pedal pressed.
LAUNCH CONTROL
The "Launch Control" strategy permits
high-performance starting.
This strategy can be activated with
vehicle at a standstill, "Race" mode
selected and 1st gear engaged.
The sequence of operations to perform
is as follows:
❒press the brake pedal and hold it
down;
❒press the accelerator pedal and hold
it down;
❒press the "–" stalk behind the
steering wheel;
When the brake pedal is released, the
car will start with maximum
acceleration. Keeping the accelerator
pressed, the system will automatically
upshift once the best engine speed has
been achieved for shifting gears.
89)
To abandon the strategy, simply
interrupt the above sequence
of operations or release the accelerator
pedal.
109

DISPLAYED
INFORMATION
When the key is turned to MAR-ON,
after about 1 second, the display
shows the transmission in neutral
indication (N). When driving, the display
shows the gear engaged and the active
mode (AUTOorMANUAL). The
indications on the display have the
following meanings:
N = neutral;
1 = first gear;
2 = second gear
3 = third gear;
4 = fourth gear;
5 = fifth gear;
6 = sixth gear;
R = reverse.
The car always starts in neutral. When
1st gear is requested, the system
forces the selection ofAUTOmode.
IMPORTANT If 10 seconds elapse with
the ignition key in theMAR-ON
position and the display does not show
the gear engaged, turn the key to the
STOPposition, wait for the display
to switch off and then repeat the
procedure. If the fault persists, contact
a dedicated Alfa Romeo Dealership.ACOUSTIC SIGNAL
For safety reasons, an acoustic signal is
emitted when the car is parked with
the transmission in neutral (N) (the
signal can be heard when the ignition
key is turned toSTOP).
With the car stationary, the engine
started and (1st) gear or (R) engaged,
the system activates the acoustic signal
and automatically places the
transmission in neutral (N) when:
❒the accelerator and/or brake pedal
are not operated for at least 3
minutes;
❒the brake pedal is pressed for longer
than 10 minutes;
❒the driver's door is opened and the
accelerator pedal or the brake pedal
are not operated for at least one
and a half seconds;
❒a fault has been detected in the
transmission.
PARKING THE CAR
When parking and leaving the car,
proceed as follows:
❒engage a gear (1st gear if facing
uphill or reverse if facing downhill)
and leave the wheels turned;
❒stop the engine and engage the
handbrake.Block the wheels with a wedge or a
stone if the car is parked on a steep
slope.
Wait until the indication of the gear
engaged disappears on the display
before releasing the brake pedal.
IMPORTANT:NEVERleave the car with
the transmission in neutral.
GENERAL WARNINGS
❒With car stationary and gear
engaged, always keep the brake
pedal pressed until you decide to set
off, then release the brake and
accelerate gradually.
❒During prolonged stops with the
engine running, it is advisable to keep
the transmission in neutral (N).
❒In order to safeguard the efficiency of
the clutch, do not use the accelerator
to keep the car stationary (e.g. when
stopped on an incline). The clutch
could overheat and be damaged: use
the brake pedal or the handbrake
and only operate the accelerator
pedal when you decide to set off.
❒If, with reverse gear (R) engaged, you
have to engage 1st gear or vice
versa, only do this when the car is
completely stationary and with the
brake pedal pressed.
110
STARTING AND DRIVING

❒ensure that the air intake directly in
front of the windscreen is not
obstructed by leaves or other foreign
bodies; any leaves in the air intake
could reduce the air flow and, if they
enter the reservoir, could prevent
water drainage. In winter months,
make sure that the air intake is not
obstructed by ice, mud or snow.
IMPORTANT After turning the ignition
key to STOP and having closed the
driver side door, wait at least one
minute before disconnecting the
electrical supply from the battery. When
reconnecting the electrical supply to
the battery, make sure that the ignition
key is in the STOP position and the
driver side door is closed.
115

STARTING THE
ENGINE
Contact the dedicated Alfa Romeo
Dealership immediately if
warning
light stays on constantly on the
instrument panel.
JUMP STARTING
If the battery is flat, start the engine
using an auxiliary battery with the same
capacity or a little higher than the flat
one.
12)91)
Proceed as follows to start the car:
❒connect the positive terminals (+ sign
near the terminal) of the two batteries
with a jump lead fig. 79;❒with a second lead, connect the
negative terminal(−)oftheauxiliary
battery to an earthing point
on
the engine or the gearbox/
transmission of the car to be started;
❒start the engine; when the engine has
started, remove the leads, reversing
the order above.
If after a few attempts the engine does
not start, do not persist but contact
the dedicated Alfa Romeo Dealership.
IMPORTANT Do not connect the
negative terminals of the two batteries
directly! If the auxiliary battery is
installed on another car, check that
there is no accidental contact between
metallic parts of the two cars.
BUMP STARTING
Never, under any circumstances, jump
start the engine by pushing, towing
or coasting downhill.
IMPORTANT
12) Never use a fast battery charger
to start the engine as this could
damage the electronic systems
and the ignition and engine supply
control units.
WARNING
91) This procedure must be
performed by qualified personnel
as incorrect actions may cause
high-intensity electrical discharge.
Furthermore, battery fluid is
poisonous and corrosive: avoid
contact with skin and eyes. Keep
naked flames and lit cigarettes
away from the battery and do not
cause sparks.
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IN AN EMERGENCY