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

Passenger front airbag
This is located in a dedicated
compartment in the dashboard fig. 72.
74)
GENERAL WARNINGS
The front airbags may activate in the
event of sharp impacts to the
underbody of the car (e.g. impact with
steps, pavements, potholes or road
bumps, etc.).
When the airbag deploys it emits a
small amount of dust: the dust is
harmless and does not indicate the
beginning of a fire. The dust may irritate
the skin and eyes however: in this
case, wash with neutral soap
and water.
Airbag checking, repair and
replacement must be carried out at a
dedicated Alfa Romeo Dealership.If the car is scrapped, have the airbag
system deactivated at a dedicated
Alfa Romeo Dealership.
Pretensioners and airbags are deployed
according to different logics on the
basis of the type of collision. Failure to
deploy of one of the devices does
not necessarily indicate a system
malfunction.
77) 78) 79) 80) 81) 82) 83)
WARNING
72) Do not apply stickers or other
objects to the steering wheel or
the passenger side airbag cover.
Do not place objects on the
passenger side of the dashboard
because these could interfere
with the correct opening of the
passenger airbag and cause injury
to occupants.
73) Always drive keeping your hands
on the steering wheel rim so that
the airbag can inflate freely if
necessary. Do not drive with your
body bent forward. Keep the
backrest in straight position,
resting correctly your back on it.74) Instructions to deactivate the
passenger's front airbag can be
found in the "Menu Options"
paragraph of the "Knowing the
instrument panel" chapter. Please
note that under these conditions
the airbag will NOT deploy in case
of need (accident).
75) Do not rest your head, arms or
elbows on the door to prevent
injury during airbag deployment.
76) Never lean your head, arms and
elbows out of the window.
77) If the
warning light does not
switch on when the key is turned
to MAR-ON, or stays on while
driving (on some versions
together with a message on the
display) there may be a fault in the
restraint systems. In this case,
airbags or pretensioners may not
be activated in the case of an
accident or (in a lesser number of
cases) they may be activated
incorrectly. Before proceeding,
contact a dedicated Alfa Romeo
Dealership to have the system
checked immediately.
78) Do not travel carrying objects on
your lap, in front of your chest or
between your lips (pipe, pencils,
etc.): they could cause severe
injury if the airbag is deployed.
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SAFETY

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.
101

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

LEVERS ON THE
STEERING WHEEL
These enable sequential gear shifting
fig. 77.
– steering wheel stalk "+(pulling stalk
towards driver, see fig. 78): engage
higher gear;
– steering wheel stalk "–(pulling stalk
towards driver, see fig. 78): engage
lower gear.The engagement of a lower (or higher)
gear is only permitted if the engine
rpm allow it.
STARTING THE CAR
To start the engine press the brake
pedal: the system engages neutral (N)
automatically.
After the starting procedure, 1st gear
(1) or reverse (R) can be engaged.
Irrespective of the mode selected
(AUTO/MANUAL), to engage 1st gear
or reverse (R), it is necessary to press
the brake pedal and press the1button
on the transmission control panel (or
the "+" steering wheel stalk) to engage
1st gear or theRbutton to engage
reverse.
When 1st gear is engaged, the system
sets itself toAUTOmode.
Neutral (N) can be engaged again by
pressing theNbutton with the brake
pedal pressed.
When the1,NorRbuttons are
pressed (or "+" steering wheel stalk is
operated) without pressing the brake
pedal, no gear change request is
implemented by the system.
IMPORTANT Reverse cannot be
engaged by pressing the "-" stalk on
the steering wheel.Important information
If starting is requested with a
transmission failure (see "Warning lights
and messages" paragraph), carry out
the “Delayed start-up” procedure: when
the key is turned to AVV for at least 7
seconds with brake pedal pressed, the
engine will be started. The system will
remain in “recovery” condition.
If the engine does not start, contact a
dedicated Alfa Romeo Dealership.
When the driver's door is opened, the
system activates the hydraulic
components so that they are prepared
for the subsequent engine starting.
MOVING THE CAR
The car can set off both in 1st gear and
reverse (R).
Notes (concerning car
start-up)
The gears can only be engaged by
pressing the brake pedal. If the brake
pedal is not depressed, the display will
show a dedicated message.
It is not possible to set off in a higher
gear than 1st: if this is attempted,
the display shows a dedicated
message.
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78A0L0072
108
STARTING AND DRIVING

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.
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STARTING AND DRIVING

❒If it is necessary to proceed downhill
with transmission in neutral (N) for
unexpected reasons, bearing in mind
that this practice is highly inadvisable,
remember that when gear
engagement is requested, the
system will automatically engage the
best gear to permit the correct
transmission of drive torque to the
wheels, according to the speed
of the car.
❒When necessary, it is possible to
engage 1st gear, reverse (R)or
neutral (N) with the engine off, the
key at MAR-ON and the brake
pressed. In this case, change gear
leaving at least 5 seconds between
one gear change and the next, in
order to safeguard the operation of
the hydraulic system, and the pump
in particular.
❒For uphill departures, it is advisable
to accelerate gradually but fully
immediately after releasing the
handbrake or the brake pedal; this
allows the engine to temporarily
increase the number of revs and
tackle the steepest gradients with
more torque at the wheels.
WARNING
89) The Launch control function is
only available in Race mode.
Regardless of what is explicitly
indicated in the description of this
mode, the ESC and ASR systems
are deactivated during operation
of the Launch Control function.
This means that vehicle dynamic
control is the sole responsibility of
the driver. Therefore pay the
utmost attention when using the
Launch Control. Take into account
traffic and road surface conditions
and during manoeuvres make
sure there is enough room in the
area concerned.
SAVING FUEL
Alfa Romeo has designed and built the
vehicle using technologies, materials
and devices able to reduce negative
environmental impact. Here are some
suggestions to further contribute to
environmental protection.
GENERAL
CONSIDERATIONS
Car maintenance
Have checks and adjustments carried
out in accordance with the “Scheduled
Servicing Plan”.
Tyres
Check the tyre pressures at least once
every four weeks: if the pressure is
too low, consumption levels increase as
resistance to rolling is higher.
Climate control system
The use of the climate control system
leads to higher fuel consumption. If the
temperature outside permits, try to
use ventilation only.
111

SNOW TYRES
Use snow tyres of the same size as the
normal tyres provided with the car:
the dedicated Alfa Romeo Dealership
will be able to advise you on the most
appropriate tyre to use.
Only use these tyres in the event of ice
or snow on the roads. In these
conditions it is recommended to select
the "All Weather" mode of the Alfa
DNA system.
For the type of tyre to be used, inflation
pressures and the specifications of
snow tyres, follow the instructions given
in the "Wheels" paragraph in the
"Technical specifications" chapter.
90)
The performance of these tyres on
low-grip surfaces are reduced
considerably when the tread depth is
below 4 mm. They should be replaced
in this case.
Due to the specific characteristics of
snow tyres, in normal weather
conditions and dry asphalt or on long
motorway journeys, the performance of
these tyres is lower than that of
standard tyres. Their usage should
therefore be restricted in accordance
with their type approval.IMPORTANT When using snow tyres
with a maximum speed index below the
one that can be reached by the car
(increased by 5%), place a notice in the
passenger compartment, plainly in
view, which states the maximum speed
allowed by the snow tyres (as per EC
Directive).
All four tyres should be the same brand
to ensure greater safety when driving
and braking as well as making the
car more responsive. It is inadvisable to
change the rotation direction of tyres.
Refer to the "Raising the car" section in
the "In an emergency" chapter for
further details on how to raise the car
correctly.
WARNING
90) The maximum speed for snow
tyres marked “Q” is 160 km/h,
while it is 190 km/h for “T” tyres
and 210 km/h for "H" tyres. The
highway code speed limits must
however always be complied with.
SNOW CHAINS
Reduced size snow chains with a
maximum projection of 7 mm beyond
the tyre profile can be fitted only on
235/40 R18 rear tyres.
The use of snow chains should be in
compliance with local regulations.
Snow chains can be fitted on the tyres
of the rear wheels (drive wheels) only.
19" rear tyres cannot be fitted with
chains.
Check the tension of the snow chains
after the first few metres have been
driven.
11)
IMPORTANT Snow chains cannot be
fitted to the space-saver wheel (for
versions/markets, where provided).
113

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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118
IN AN EMERGENCY

WARNING
92) Indicate the presence of the
stationary car in accordance with
current regulations: hazard
warning lights, warning triangle,
etc. Those on board should get
out of the vehicle and wait for the
wheel to be repaired away from
the threat posed by the traffic.
If parked on a slope or rough
surface, chock the wheels with
wedges or other suitable devices
(for the correct procedure for
parking the car safely, refer to the
"Parking" paragraph in the
"Starting and driving" chapter).
93) Give the booklet to the
technicians who will be handling
the tyre that was treated using
the "Fix&Go automatic" kit.
94) A repair is not possible if the
wheel rim is damaged (groove
is deformed, causing air to
escape). Do not remove foreign
bodies (screws or nails) from the
tyre.95) Do not use the compressor for
more than 20 consecutive
minutes. Risk of overheating. The
kit is not suitable for definitive
repairs, so the repaired tyres may
only be used temporarily.
96) The bottle contains ethylene
glycol and latex: it may cause
an allergic reaction. It is harmful if
swallowed. Eye irritant. It may
cause sensitisation if inhaled or
on contact. Avoid contact with
eyes, skin and clothes. In the
event of contact, rinse
immediately with plenty of water.
If ingested, do not induce
vomiting. Rinse out your mouth,
drink large quantities of water and
seek immediate medical attention.
Keep out of the reach of children.
The product must not be used
by asthmatics. Do not inhale the
vapours during insertion and
suction. Call a doctor immediately
if allergic reactions are noted.
Store the bottle in its special
compartment, away from sources
of heat. The sealant has an expiry
date. Replace the bottle if the
sealant has expired.
97) Wear the protective gloves
provided with the kit.98) Apply the adhesive label where it
can be easily seen by the driver as
a reminder that the tyre has been
treated with the quick repair kit.
Drive carefully, especially on
corners. Do not exceed 80 km/h.
Avoid sudden acceleration or
braking.
99) If the pressure has fallen below
1.8 bar, do not drive any further:
the Fix&Go automatic quick tyre
repair kit cannot guarantee proper
hold because the tyre is too
damaged. Contact a dedicated
Alfa Romeo Dealership.
100) Always indicate that the tyre
was repaired using the quick
tyre repair kit. Give the booklet to
the personnel charged with
handling the tyre treated with the
repair kit.
121