stop start Alfa Romeo 4C Spider 2019 User Guide

Operating Modes
The transmission has two normal operating modes
(except when the “Race” mode is selected on the DNA
switch):
•MANUAL mode: The driver must shift gears manu-
ally (using the steering wheel mounted shift
paddles).
• Automatic (AUTO) mode: The system shifts between
all forward gears automatically. When the “Race” mode is selected via the DNA selector,
the only allowed transmission operating mode is
MANUAL.
MANUAL Mode
In this operating mode, the driver is responsible for
choosing the best gear to engage, depending on the
vehicle’s operating conditions. The current gear is dis-
played in the instrument cluster.
To activate/deactivate MANUAL mode, push the A/M
button on the center console when the transmission is in
any forward gear.
Use the “+” shift paddle to engage a higher gear, or the
“–” paddle to engage a lower gear.
If a requested gear shift is not allowed (typically,
because it would cause engine overspeed or lugging),
an acoustic signal will sound and the transmission will
remain in the existing gear.
The transmission will automatically downshift during
closed-throttle decelerations, to prevent engine lugging.
When coming to a stop, the transmission will automati-
cally select FIRST (1st) gear. The driver must manually
upshift the transmission (by tapping the + shift paddle)
as the vehicle accelerates.
Transmission Gear Selector
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NOTE:To provide better comfort, the transmission will
up-shift to the next available gear if the engine speed
limit is reached. This feature is only available in NATU-
RAL and ALL WEATHER Modes.
AUTO Mode
In AUTO mode the transmission shifts gears automati-
cally depending on vehicle speed, engine RPM, and
accelerator pedal position.
AUTO is the default operating mode at startup. When
in AUTO mode, AUTOappears in the instrument
cluster, adjacent to the current gear display.
To toggle between AUTO and MANUAL modes, push
the A/M button on the center console.
Accelerating From A Stop
FIRST (1) and REVERSE (R) can only be engaged (at a
stop) when the brake pedal is pressed.
To drive, press the brake pedal, and select 1 (1st) or R
(REVERSE) using the transmission gear selector buttons
on the center console. Then release the brake pedal and
smoothly press the accelerator pedal. NOTE:
•
The vehicle will not “creep” when the brake pedal is
released, and may in fact roll down on an incline.
Leaving from a stop, the accelerator pedal must be
pressed to transmit driving torque to the wheels.
• When starting on a fairly steep incline, it may be
helpful to engage the parking brake.
• The vehicle can only be launched (from a stop) in
FIRST (1) or REVERSE (R). Second gear (or higher)
cannot be engaged when the vehicle is stationary.
• If the brake pedal is not depressed (and the vehicle is
stationary for a period of time), the transmission will
automatically engage NEUTRAL (N).
• FIRST (1) and REVERSE (R) gears can only be
engaged at vehicle speeds below 2 mph (3 km/h). At
speeds below 6 mph (10 km/h), attempts to shift
from 1 to R (or R to 1) will only be allowed if the
vehicle speed drops below the 2 mph (3 km/h)
threshold within three seconds of the request; other-
wise, the transmission will shift to NEUTRAL (N).
The driver should then repeat the request for 1st or R
once the vehicle has come to a stop.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 143

the brake pedal). The transmission will engage the
correct gear according to the vehicle’s speed.
Acoustic Signal
If the vehicle is stationary with the engine running and
FIRST (1) or REVERSE (R) engaged, the system acti-
vates an acoustic signal and automatically places the
transmission in NEUTRAL (N) when:
•The accelerator and/or brake pedal are not operated
for at least three minutes.
• The brake pedal is pressed for longer than 10 min-
utes.
• 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 Vehicle
When parking and leaving the vehicle, proceed as
follows:
1. Make sure that the vehicle has come to a complete
stop. 2. With the brake pedal depressed, put the vehicle into
either a forward or reverse gear by pushing 1 or R.
(The vehicle may already be in 1 or R if you were just
driving.)
3. Engage the parking brake.
4. Turn off and remove the key.
5. Release the brake pedal.
When parking on an incline, turn the front wheels
toward the curb on a downhill slope and away from the
curb on an uphill slope. Always chock the wheels when
parking on steep grades.
General Notes
When the vehicle is stopped and in gear, 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).
When stopped on an incline, always hold the vehicle in
place using the brakes. On steep inclines, Hill Start
Assist (HSA) will temporarily hold the vehicle in posi-
tion when the brake pedal is released. If the accelerator
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STARTING AND OPERATING 145

pedal is not applied after a short time, the vehicle will
roll back. Either reapply the brake (to hold the vehicle)
or press the accelerator to climb the hill.
Only shift between FIRST (1) and REVERSE (R) when
completely stopped, with the brake pedal pressed.
When necessary, it is possible to engage FIRST (1),
REVERSE (R) or NEUTRAL (N) with the engine off, the
key at MAR-ON and the brake pressed. In this case,
wait at least five 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, accelerate gradually but fully,
immediately after releasing the parking brake or the
brake pedal; this allows the engine speed to increase to
provide more torque at the wheels.
ALFA DNA SYSTEM (DYNAMIC VEHICLE
CONTROL SYSTEM)
This vehicle is equipped with a “Alfa DNA” system
lever (located on the center console). There are four
modes of operation to be selected according to driving
style and road conditions:•
Dynamic (This mode alters the transmission’s auto-
matic shift schedule for sportier driving [D]).
• Natural (mode for driving in normal conditions [N]).
• All Weather (mode for driving in poor grip condi-
tions, such as rain and snow [A]).
• Race (sports driving mode [D]).
This also acts on the dynamic vehicle control systems
(engine, gearbox/transmission, ESC system).
Alfa DNA Mode Selector
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Acoustic Signal
When REVERSE gear is engaged, and there is an
obstacle behind the vehicle, an acoustic signal is emitted
which varies according to the distance of the bumper
from the obstacle.
The frequency of the acoustic signal:
•Increases as the distance between vehicle and ob-
stacle decreases, culminating in a continuous acous-
tic signal when the distance is less than approxi-
mately 12 inches (30 cm).
• Decreases if the distance from the obstacle increases,
until the signal ceases entirely.
• Remains constant if the distance between vehicle and
obstacle remains unchanged; if this situation con-
cerns the side sensors, the signal will stop after
approximately 3 seconds, for example, in the event of
parking along a wall.
If several obstacles are detected by the sensors, only the
nearest one is considered.
Indications On Display — If Equipped
When the sensors are activated, the parking sensor
display screen appears in the instrument cluster.
Obstacle presence and distance information is therefore
provided both by the acoustic signal and the instrument
cluster display.
The system indicates a detected obstacle by displaying
an arc in one or more positions according to the distance
of the obstacle and its position in relation to the vehicle.
Parking Sensor Display Screen
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•The variation in sensor position, caused by variation
in ride (due to suspension component wear), chang-
ing tires, overloaded vehicle, or tuning that lowers
the vehicle, for example, may affect parking sensor
system performance.
NOTE: The sensor must be free from mud, dirt snow or
ice in order for the system to operate correctly. Be
careful not to scratch or damage the sensors while
cleaning them. Avoid using dry, rough or hard cloths.
The sensors must be washed using clean water, with the
addition of car shampoo if necessary. When using
special washing equipment such as high pressure jets or
steam cleaning, clean the sensors very quickly keeping
the jet more than 4 inches (10 cm) away. Also, do not
apply stickers to the sensors.
WARNING!
Drivers must be careful when backing up even
when using the Parking Sensor system. Always
check carefully behind your vehicle, and be sure to
check for pedestrians, animals, other vehicles, ob-
structions, or blind spots before backing up. You
are responsible for the safety of your surroundings
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
and must continue to pay attention while backing
up. Failure to do so can result in serious injury or
death.
CAUTION!
•The Parking Sensor system is only a parking aid
and it is unable to recognize every obstacle,
including small obstacles. Parking curbs might be
temporarily detected or not detected at all. Ob-
stacles located above or below the sensors will
not be detected when they are in close proximity.
• The vehicle must be driven slowly when using
the Parking Sensor system in order to be able to
stop in time when an obstacle is detected. It is
recommended that the driver looks over his/her
shoulder when using the Parking Sensor system.
PARKVIEW REAR BACK UP CAMERA
The ParkView Rear Back Up Camera allows you to see
an on-screen image of your vehicle’s rear surroundings
when the gear selector is put into REVERSE. The image
will be displayed on the rearview mirror along with a
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note to “check entire surroundings.” After five seconds
this note will disappear. The ParkView camera is lo-
cated on the trunk lid below the brake light.
When the vehicle is shifted out of REVERSE, the camera
image will continue to be displayed for up to 10 seconds
after shifting out of REVERSE.
Fixed guide lines are overlaid on the image to illustrate
the width of the vehicle.
Different colored zones indicate the distance to the rear
of the vehicle.
The following table shows the approximate distances
for each zone:
ZoneDistance To The Rear
Of The Vehicle
Red 0 - 1 ft (0 - 30 cm)
Yellow 1 ft - 3 ft (30 cm - 1 m)
Green 3 ft or greater (1 m or greater)
NOTE: If snow, ice, mud, or any foreign substance
builds up on the camera lens, clean the lens, rinse with
water, and dry with a soft cloth. Do not cover the lens.
WARNING!
Drivers must be careful when backing up even
when using the ParkView Rear Back Up Camera.
Always check carefully behind your vehicle, and be
sure to check for pedestrians, animals, other ve-
hicles, obstructions, or blind spots before backing
up. You are responsible for the safety of your
surroundings and must continue to pay attention
while backing up. Failure to do so can result in
serious injury or death.
CAUTION!
• To avoid vehicle damage, ParkView should only
be used as a parking aid. The ParkView camera is
unable to view every obstacle or object in your
drive path.
• To avoid vehicle damage, the vehicle must be
driven slowly when using ParkView to be able to
stop in time when an obstacle is seen. It is
recommended that the driver look frequently
over his/her shoulder when using ParkView.
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DRIVING TIPS
Driving On Slippery Surfaces
Information in this section will aid in safe controlled
launches in adverse conditions.
Acceleration
Rapid acceleration on snow covered, wet, or other
slippery surfaces may cause the driving wheels to pull
erratically to the right or left. This phenomenon occurs
when there is a difference in the surface traction under
the rear (driving) wheels.
WARNING!
Rapid acceleration on slippery surfaces is danger-
ous. Unequal traction can cause sudden pulling of
the rear wheels. You could lose control of the
vehicle and possibly have a collision. Accelerate
slowly and carefully whenever there is likely to be
poor traction (ice, snow, wet, mud, loose sand, etc.).
Traction
When driving on wet or slushy roads, it is possible for
a wedge of water to build up between the tire and road
surface. This is known as hydroplaning and may causepartial or complete loss of vehicle control and stopping
ability. To reduce this possibility, the following precau-
tions should be observed:
•
Slow down during rainstorms or when the roads are
slushy.
• Slow down if the road has standing water or
puddles.
• Replace tires when tread wear indicators first become
visible.
• Keep tires properly inflated.
• Maintain sufficient distance between your vehicle
and the vehicle in front of you to avoid a collision in
a sudden stop.
Your vehicle may be equipped with a Limited Slip
Differential (LSD) that reduces, but does not eliminate,
the amount of wheel slip across a given axle for
improved handling.
Driving Through Water
Driving through water more than a few inches/
centimeters deep will require extra caution to ensure
safety and prevent damage to your vehicle.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 161

Flowing/Rising Water
WARNING!
Do not drive on or across a road or path where water
is flowing and/or rising (as in storm run-off). Flow-
ing water can wear away the road or path’s surface
and cause your vehicle to sink into deeper water.
Furthermore, flowing and/or rising water can carry
your vehicle away swiftly. Failure to follow this
warning may result in injuries that are serious or
fatal to you, your passengers, and others around
you.
Shallow Standing Water
Although your vehicle is capable of driving through
shallow standing water, consider the following Cau-
tions and Warnings before doing so.
WARNING!
•Driving through standing water limits your vehi-
cle’s traction capabilities. Do not exceed 5 mph
(8 km/h) when driving through standing water.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Driving through standing water limits your vehi-
cle’s braking capabilities, which increases stop-
ping distances. Therefore, after driving through
standing water, drive slowly and lightly press on
the brake pedal several times to dry the brakes.
• Failure to follow these warnings may result in
injuries that are serious or fatal to you, your
passengers, and others around you.
CAUTION!
• Always check the depth of the standing water
before driving through it. Never drive through
standing water that is deeper than the bottom of
the tire rims mounted on the vehicle.
• Determine the condition of the road or the path
that is under water and if there are any obstacles
in the way before driving through the standing
water.
• Do not exceed 5 mph (8 km/h) when driving
through standing water. This will minimize wave
effects.
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162 STARTING AND OPERATING

CAUTION!(Continued)
condition. In the event of engine malfunction,
particularly involving engine misfire or other
apparent loss of performance, have your vehicle
serviced promptly. Continued operation of your
vehicle with a severe malfunction could cause the
converter to overheat, resulting in possible dam-
age to the converter and vehicle.
Under normal operating conditions, the catalytic con-
verter will not require maintenance. However, it is
important to keep the engine properly tuned to assure
proper catalyst operation and prevent possible catalyst
damage.
NOTE: Intentional tampering with emissions control
systems can result in civil penalties being assessed
against you.
In unusual situations involving grossly malfunctioning
engine operation, a scorching odor may suggest severe
and abnormal catalyst overheating. If this occurs, stop
the vehicle, turn off the engine and allow it to cool.
Service, including a tune-up to manufacturer’s specifi-
cations, should be obtained immediately.
To minimize the possibility of catalytic converter damage:
• Do not shut off the engine or interrupt the ignition,
when the transmission is in gear and the vehicle is in
motion.
• Do not try to start the engine by pushing or towing
the vehicle.
• Do not idle the engine with any spark plug wires
disconnected or removed, such as when diagnostic
testing, or for prolonged periods during very rough
idle or malfunctioning operating conditions.
Cooling System
WARNING!
• Turn vehicle off and disconnect the fan motor
lead before working near the radiator cooling fan.
•
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 open a cooling system pressure
cap when the radiator or coolant bottle is hot.
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216 SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE