stop start Alfa Romeo 8C 2010 Owner handbook (in English)

87
4
STOPACC
MAR
A
BEFORE YOU DRIVE
IGNITION SWITCHThe ignition key can be turned to 3 positions:
STOP - Engine off, engine immobilizer and
steering wheel lock activated, connected devices
cut-out, except those that are not key-controlled
(e.g. centralised door lock, rear window opening
control, etc.). The key is removable.
ACC - Steering lock release position.
MAR - Engine start and driving position. All
electrical devices can operate.START BUTTON
Hold the brake pedal depressed and press the
START button
A to start the engine.
When the engine has started, release the START
button.
Avoid pressing the START button at length.
For the starting procedure, see “Starting the
Engine”.
CAUTION
If the ignition switch has been
tampered with (e.g. attempted theft)
have it checked at an authorised
Service Centre of the Manufacturer’s
Network before continuing driving.
CAUTION
When you get out of the
vehicle, always remove the key
to prevent someone inadvertently
activating the controls.
Remember to apply the parking brake
and, if the vehicle is on a hill, engage
first gear.
If the vehicle is on a downward slope,
engage reverse gear.
CAUTION
Never leave children
unattended in the vehicle.

95
4
A
BEFORE YOU DRIVE
EXTERNAL LIGHTS
AND DIRECTION
INDICATORSThe external lights and direction indicators can be
turned on only when the starter key is at MAR,
except the parking lights which can always be
turned on.
The external lights can be turned on and off
manually or automatically, according to the
brightness of the light outside.HEADLIGHT SWITCH
The switch
A can be set to 5 positions:
0 – DRL on (*)
– Position and number plate lights on
– Low beams on
– Parking lights
AUTO – Automatic activation and
deactivation of the external lights
according to the brightness outside.
(*) On vehicles manufactured for the Japanese
market, they are not operational; for all the
other markets where by law they may not be
turned on, they can be deactivated from the
multifunction display.PARKING LIGHTS
The parking lights work only when the ignition
key is turned to STOP or when the key is
removed.
They are activated by turning the light switch to
position .
It is harder to turn the switch to position than
to the other positions. This is to avoid activating
the parking lights unintentionally and waste
power.
Operating the direction indicator lever, you
can turn on only the parking lights on the side
selected with the lever.

99
4
BAECD
BEFORE YOU DRIVE
WINDSCREEN
WASHER/WIPERS
AND HEADLIGHT
WASHERThe windscreen wiper and washer only works
with the ignition key turned to MAR.
WINDSCREEN WIPER
The lever has 5 setting positions:A - Windscreen wipers off.B - Automatic operation. In this position,
the sensing range of the rain sensor can
be adjusted (lever turned to first click
position).
C - Slow continuous operation (lever turned to
second click position).D - Fast continuous operation (lever turned to
third click position).E - Fast temporary operation (non-permanent
position).
WINDSCREEN WASHER
Pulling the lever towards the steering wheel
(non-permanent position) activates the
windscreen washer and wiper.
When the windscreen washer is activated, the
windscreen wipers start automatically. Releasing
the lever stops the spray of fluid while the blades
continue to wipe for a short time.
WARNING: Do not activate the windscreen
washer during the cold months until the
windscreen has warmed up. If it has not warmed
up, the liquid could freeze on the glass and block
the view.
WARNING: If there is ice or snow on the
windscreen, do not activate the windscreen wiper
to prevent damage to the device.

114
5
MAR
STARTING THE
ENGINE
CAUTION
Hold the brake pedal depressed
when starting the engine.
CAUTION
It is dangerous to operate the
engine in an enclosed space. The engine
consumes oxygen and discharges
carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and
other toxic gases.
WARNING: Before start-up, switch off the
electrical devices with a high power consumption
(air-conditioning and heating system, heated
rear window, headlights, etc.).
WARNING: Do not start the engine if the fuel
level in the tank is low.
1) Make sure that the parking brake is applied
and that the doors are closed.
2) Hold the brake pedal depressed when
starting the engine.
3) Do not depress the accelerator pedal.
4) Set the gear to neutral by pulling both
paddles UP and DOWN towards the
steering wheel and check that the gear
display indicates N not fl ashing.
5) Turn the ignition key to MAR.
6) press button START button and release it as
soon as the engine starts.
Do not hold the START button for a long time.If the engine does not start, turn the key back to
position STOP and wait for the gear display to go
off before retrying.
The engine can also be started with a gear
engaged; turning the key to position MAR, with
the brake pedal depressed, press the START
button. The system allows the clutch to open and
the gearshift to engage neutral gear; then the
starter motor receives clearance for start-up. This
procedure usually requires one second. At very
low temperatures, the procedure could take a
slightly longer time.
If the gearbox is instead in the N position,
starting is immediate.
If the engine does not start after turning the key
to position STOP, wait for the gear display to go
off and then repeat the entire procedure.

116
5
A
B
WARNING: Do not use a battery-charger for
emergency starting under any circumstances:
you could damage the electronic systems,
particularly the control units that manage the
ignition and fuel supply functions.
CAUTION
Remember that when the
engine is not started, the power
braking and power steering systems
are not activated and so the effort
required on the brake pedal and
steering wheel is much greater.
TURNING OFF THE
ENGINE
With the engine idling, rotate the ignition key to
the STOP position.
A burst on the accelerator pedal before turning
off the engine has no purpose and increases fuel
consumption.
Q-SELECT
GEARBOXThe “Q-Select gearbox” is controlled with
the paddles on the steering wheel for gear
engagement and with the buttons on the centre
console for reverse gear engagement and
activation of the “automatic gearshift” and “low
grip” functions.
The “Q-Select gearbox” controls are the
following:A - Lower gear engagement paddle DOWNB - Upper gear engagement paddle UPC - Reverse gear engagement button

119
5
USING THE VEHICLE
DRIVING THE VEHICLE
With the engine running, the vehicle stationary
and the brake pedal pressed, release the brake
and depress the accelerator to start off.
With the engine on and the vehicle stationary,
you can shift directly from 1
st gear to R (reverse
gear), by pressing the button C, and from reverse
gear to 1
st gear by pulling the paddle
B UP
towards the steering wheel.
WARNING: Reverse gear engagement is
accompanied by a safety acoustic signal, which
sounds intermittently for the entire reversing
manoeuvre. When shifting from reverse to 1
st gear, if the
system automatically engages 2nd gear, it
indicates that jamming has occurred with 1
st
gear. Therefore, this is not a failure, as it falls
within the logic of the system operation.
For the same reason, the system automatically
engages neutral (N) in case of jamming
when shifting from 1
st gear to reverse. During
prolonged stops with the engine running, it is
advisable to keep the gearshift in neutral (N).Hill Holder Strategy
The Hill Holder system helps the driver when
starting-off on an uphill slope. It activates only
following a vehicle stop when the brake pedal
is released, keeping the vehicle stationary for a
moment, so as to allow the driver to move from
the brake to the accelerator pedal.
The system is capable of varying its activation
time depending on the road slope. This time
ranges from a minimum (0.06 seconds)
on downhill stretches and a maximum (1.2
seconds) on uphill stretches, so that the driver
will not perceive the vehicle as “braking”
downhill.
The function that measures the gradient is active
only at speeds over 8 km/h, therefore gradient
changes at lower speeds will not be detected.
Example: if you are driving uphill and you make
a manoeuvre to change your driving direction,
the system will not detect a gradient change,
and its maximum activation time will remain 1.2
seconds.
WARNING: If, on downhill slopes, you let the
vehicle move in neutral (N), when you request
a gearshift UP, the gear engaged will depend on
the current speed of the vehicle. For safety reasons, the system activates the
warning buzzer and automatically engages
neutral (N) when, with the vehicle stationary,
the engine running and a gear engaged:
- the brake pedal or the accelerator are not
depressed for over 1 minute
- the brake pedal is depressed for more than
10 minutes
- the door is opened without depressing the
brake pedal or the accelerator
- the engine compartment lid is opened.WARNING: The warning buzzer is activated
even if the clutch overheats during the “pickup”
manoeuvre. In these cases, you must start off
immediately or release the accelerator pedal and
depress the brake pedal.

120
5
In any event, it is best to:
- Shift gears without releasing the accelerator
pedal if it is pressed.
- If a DOWNshift is requested in order to
start overtaking where rapid acceleration is
required, depress the accelerator pedal just
before moving the lever.
- Wait until gearshifting has been completed
before requesting another one, avoiding
multiple requests in rapid sequence.
DOWNSHIFT FOR
ENGINE UNDERREVVING
The system “automatically” shifts gear at an
engine speed of approximately 1200 RPM.
A DOWNshift request will be ignored if a
gearshift is already in progress due to engine
underrevving. Important
- With the vehicle stationary and a gear
engaged, keep the brake pedal depressed
until starting-off.
- Engage the reverse gear only when the
vehicle is at a full stop and with the brake
pedal pressed.
- When the VDC system is turned off, the
antiskid system is deactivated.UPSHIFTING (UP)
Use the right-hand
B UPpaddle without releasing
the accelerator pedal.
An UPshift request will not be accepted if
engagement of the requested gear would force
the engine to run at low speeds (underrevving)
or if an upshift is already in progress due to
overrevving.
Gearshifting time depends on the accelerator
pedal travel and on the engine RPM: the closer
the pedal is to the end of travel and the greater is
the engine RPM, the faster will be the gearshift.In any event, it is best to:
- Shift gears without releasing the accelerator
pedal if it is depressed.
- Wait until one gearshift is completed before
requesting the next one, thereby avoiding a
rapid sequence of multiple requests.
UPSHIFT FOR ENGINE
OVERREVVING
The system “automatically” engages a higher
gear if, with the accelerator pedal depressed, the
engine approaches the “runaway speed rate”
(overrevving). This condition does not occur with
the system in the “SPORT” mode.
DOWNSHIFTING
(DOWN)
Use the left-hand
A DOWN paddle without
releasing the accelerator pedal.
A DOWNshift request will not be accepted if
the requested gear would force the engine to
overrev, or if a DOWNshift is already in progress
due to underrevving

121
5
USING THE VEHICLE
REQUESTING
NEUTRAL (N)
If necessary, neutral (N) can be requested at any
speed.
If you then operate the UP paddle, the system
will engage a gear suited to the vehicle speed.
STOPPING THE VEHICLE
When the vehicle stops, the system
automatically engages 1
st gear (unless N has
already bee requested).
With the vehicle stationary and the engine
running, hold the brake pedal depressed until
you are ready to start off again. TURNING OFF
THE ENGINE AND
DEACTIVATING THE
SYSTEM
The engine can only be turned off with the
gearbox in 1
st, or reverse gear R.
If the gear is in neutral and the key is turned
from MAR to position STOP, the display remains
on for a few seconds showing the letter (N)
flashing and activating the acoustic signal.
For safety reasons, to avoid undesired and
sudden vehicle movements:
CAUTION
Never leave the vehicle with
the gear in neutral (N), but engage
1
st or reverse gear and check that the
parking brake has been engaged. Do
not leave the vehicle with the engine
running.CAUTION
Do not remove the key when
the vehicle is moving! The system (and
thus the display) would remain active
but malfunctioning, until the vehicle
stops; in addition, the steering wheel
would lock automatically at the first
turn of the wheel.
In this case, the failure symbol
will
illuminate and, before starting-off again, the
system must be turned off and the “system start-
up” phase repeated.
In any event, it is best to:
- Turn off the engine and the system holding
the brake pedal depressed.
- Do not request a gearshift while the system
is turning off.

132
5
TRAVELLING
- Caution is the fi rst rule for safe driving.
Being careful also means being in a position
to be able to predict the driving behaviour
of other drivers, that may be wrong or
careless.
- Keep a safe distance from vehicles in front
of you, adjusting this distance in accordance
to the vehicle speed and traffi c conditions.
- Strictly follow the traffi c regulations
applicable in each country and above all,
respect the speed limits.
- Long trips should be started in optimal
physical condition.
CAUTION
Drunk driving, or driving
under the influence of drugs or certain
medicines is extremely dangerous for
the driver and for others.CAUTION
Always fasten the seat belts.
Travelling without your seat belt
fastened increases the risk of serious
injury in the event of a collision.
- Make regular stops to loosen up your limbs
and refresh yourself, and avoid driving for
hours on end.
- Ensure that the air inside the passenger
compartment is changed constantly.
- Never coast downhill with the engine off:
the braking action requires greater effort on
the pedal due to the absence of the engine
brake and the power braking system. DRIVING AT NIGHT
The main guidelines to follow when driving at
night are set out below:
- Drive with the greatest caution: at night the
driving conditions are more demanding.
- Reduce your speed, especially on roads with
no street lights.
- At the fi rst signs of drowsiness, stop: to
continue driving would be a risk for yourself
and for others. Continue only after you have
had a rest.
- Keep the vehicle at a greater distance from
vehicles in front of you than you would
during the day: it is diffi cult to assess the
speed of other vehicles when you can only
see the lights.
- Make sure that the headlights are aimed
correctly: if they are too low, they reduce
visibility and strain the eyes. If they are too
high, they may bother the drivers of other
cars.

138
5
B
Engagement
The electric parking brake is automatically
applied when the engine is turned off and the
vehicle is stationary.
It can only be disengaged when the engine is
restarted.
When the key is removed or set to STOP it
cannot be disengaged.
The electric parking brake can also be manually
engaged when the vehicle is moving or the key is
turned to MAR by pulling up the lever
B.
If the engine was turned off with the automatic
engagement device deactivated, you can
reactivated it simply by pulling lever B.
CAUTION
Always check that the vehicle is
actually locked before leaving it.
CAUTION
When the EPB button is
activated while driving, the vehicle
slows down with strong deceleration
(Dynamic Braking). It is therefore
advisable to use this function only
in case of an emergency. The vehicle
stability is in any case ensured by the
VDC system, which is always active.
Disengagement
The parking brake automatically disengages
when the accelerator pedal is depressed.
The electric parking brake can also be manually
disengaged when the vehicle is moving or the
key is in position MAR by manually pulling up
lever
B and simultaneously depressing the brake
pedal.
WARNING: In certain conditions it is however
advisable to manually disengage the electric
parking brake and brake the starting manoeuvre
slightly using the service brake. This is advisable
when there are obstacles very close to the
vehicle in the direction in which you intend to
move.