wheel Alfa Romeo Giulia 2019 User Guide

WARNING LIGHTS ON INSTRUMENT PANEL
Possible detailed messages and/or acoustic signalling can be matched to a few warning lights and symbols.
Red warning lights
Warning
lightWhat it means
INSUFFICIENT BRAKE FLUID / ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE ON
The warning light switches on when the ignition device is brought to ON, but it should switch off after a few seconds.
Low brake fluid level
The warning light turns on when the level of the brake fluid in the reservoir falls below the minimum level, possibly due to a leak in
the circuit.
Go to an Alfa Romeo Dealership to have the system checked as soon as possible.
Electric parking brake on
The warning light switches on when the electric parking brake is engaged.
Release the electric parking brake, then check that the warning light has switched off.
If the warning light stays on, contact an Alfa Romeo Dealership.
IMPORTANT If the car is parked on a gradient of more than 30% and/or the temperature of the brakes is greater than 662 °F
(350 °C), when the parking brake is engaged, the warning light will flash to indicate a potentially unsafe condition.
EBD FAILURE
The simultaneous switching on of the
(red) and(amber) warning lights with the engine on indicates either a failure of the
EBD system or that the system is not available. In this case, the rear wheels may suddenly lock and the vehicle may swerve when
braking sharply.
Drive very carefully to the nearest Alfa Romeo Dealership to have the system inspected immediately.
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KNOWING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL

Amber warning lights
Warning
lightWhat it means
ABS FAILURE
The warning light switches on when the ignition device is brought to ON, but it should switch off after a few seconds.
The warning light switches on to indicate an ABS fault. In this case the braking system maintains its efficiency unaltered but
without the advantage of the ABS system.
Drive carefully and contact an Alfa Romeo Dealership as soon as possible.
TPMS FAILURE
The warning light switches on when a failure is detected in the TPMS. Should one or more wheels be fitted without sensors, the
display will show a warning message until initial conditions are restored.
Do not continue driving with one or more flat tyres as handling may be compromised. Stop the vehicle, avoiding sharp braking and
steering. Immediately restore the correct inflation pressure using the Tire Repair Kit (see "Repairing a wheel" paragraph in the "In
an emergency" chapter) and contact the dedicated Alfa Romeo Dealership as soon as possible.
Tyre pressure low
The warning light switches on to indicate that the tyre pressure is lower than the recommended value and/or that slow pressure
loss is occurring. In these cases, optimal tyre duration and fuel consumption may not be guaranteed.
In any situation in which the message on the display is "See manual", it is ESSENTIAL to refer to the contents of the "Wheels and
rims" paragraph in the "Technical data" chapter, strictly complying with the indications that you find there.
ESC SYSTEM
When the ignition device is brought to ON, the warning light switches on, but should switch off as soon as the engine is started.
ESC system intervention: Intervention by the system is indicated by the flashing of the warning light: it indicates that the car is in
critical stability and grip conditions.
ECS system failure: If the warning light does not switch off, or if it stays on with the engine running, a failure was found in the ESC
system.
In these cases, contact an Alfa Romeo Dealership as soon as possible.
Hill Start Assist system failure: the switching on of the warning light indicates a Hill Start Assist system failure.
In these cases, contact an Alfa Romeo Dealership as soon as possible.
PARTIAL / TOTAL DEACTIVATION OF ACTIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS (where present)
When the ignition device is brought to ON, the warning light switches on, but should switch off as soon as the engine is started.
The warning light switches on to indicate that some active safety systems have been partially or totally deactivated.
For further details about the active safety systems see the "Active safety systems" paragraph in the "Safety" chapter. When the
active safety systems are reactivated, the warning light switches off.
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KNOWING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL

SYMBOLS ON THE DISPLAY
Red symbols
Symbol What it means
LOW ENGINE OIL PRESSURE
The symbol indicates that the engine oil pressure is low.
If it turns on temporarily or flashes (for about 5 seconds), check the oil level by following the corresponding procedure (see the
description in the “Checking levels” paragraph in the “Maintenance and care” chapter) and top up to the correct level if necessary.
If the symbol turns on continuously, contact an Alfa Romeo Dealership to have the system checked.
WARNING IF THE SYMBOL TURNS ON CONTINUOUSLY: Do not use the car until the failure has been solved. When the symbol
turns on, it does not indicate the amount of oil in the engine: the oil level can be checked on the display upon entering the vehicle
and also by activating the "Oil level" function on the Connect system.
17)
ALTERNATOR FAILURE
The switching on of the symbol with the engine running corresponds to an alternator failure.
Contact an Alfa Romeo Dealership as soon as possible.
POWER STEERING FAILURE
If the symbol remains on, you could not have steering assistance and the effort required to operate the steering wheel could be
increased; steering is, however, possible.
Contact an Alfa Romeo Dealership as soon as possible.
ALFA™ SYSTEM STEERING TORQUE (AST) FAILURE
The switching on of the symbol signals a failure in the automatic steering correction system.
Contact an Alfa Romeo Dealership to have the system checked.
IMPORTANT
17)If thesymbol switches on when driving, stop the engine immediately and contact an Alfa Romeo Dealership.
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KNOWING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL

WARNING
31)If a failure is present with sharp braking, the rear wheels may lock and the vehicle may swerve.
Symbol What it means
GENERIC INDICATION
The symbol indicates information and failures.
The accompanying messages describe the failure.
FOUR WHEEL DRIVE FAILURE
This symbol switches on to report a four wheel drive system failure.
Contact an Alfa Romeo Dealership as soon as possible to have the failure eliminated.
TEMPORARY FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE FAILURE (where provided)
The symbol will appear to indicate that the AWD dynamic control system is temporarily deactivated to prevent damage because of
high engine load. The traction system will work in RWD mode in this case.
Until the symbol appears on the display, reduce the load to allow the system to cool down. The AWD system will resume normal
operation when the symbol disappears from the display.
DYNAMIC DRIVE CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE
This symbol appears to indicate a traction system control failure.
AFS SYSTEM FAILURE
The symbol appears to indicate the automatic directional light system failure.
Go to an Alfa Romeo Dealership to have the system checked.
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KNOWING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL

ACTIVE SAFETYSYSTEMS
The vehicle may be equipped with the
following active safety devices:
ABS (Anti-Lock Brakes);
DTC (Drive Train Control);
ESC (Electronic Stability Control);
TC (Traction Control);
PBA (Panic Brake Assist);
HSA (Hill Start Assist);
AST (Alfa™ Steering Torque);
ATV (Alfa™ Active Torque Vectoring).
For the operation of the systems, see the
following pages.
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
This system, which is an integral part of
the braking system, prevents one or more
wheels from locking and slipping in all
road surface conditions, irrespective of
the intensity of the braking action,
ensuring that the vehicle can be
controlled even during emergency
braking and optimising stopping
distances.
The system intervenes during braking
when the wheels are about to lock,
typically in emergency braking or
low-grip conditions, when 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, or on corners.The Electronic Braking Force Distribution
(EBD) system completes the system
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 brake pedal
command given by pressing the brake
pedal is not transmitted hydraulically but
electronically, therefore, the light
pulsation that could be felt on the pedal
with the traditional system is no longer
perceptible.33) 34) 35) 36) 37) 38)
DTC (Drive Train Control)SYSTEM(where provided)
Some versions of this vehicle are
equipped with an automatically
activated/deactivated four-wheel drive
system (AWD), which offers an optimal
drive for countless driving conditions and
road surfaces. The system reduces the
slipping of the tyres to a minimum,
automatically redistributing the torque
to the front and rear wheels, as needed.
To maximize fuel savings, the car with
AWD automatically passes to rear-wheel
drive (RWD) when the road and
environmental conditions are such that
they would not cause the tyres to slip.When the road and environmental
conditions require better traction, the
vehicle automatically goes to AWD mode.
39)
IMPORTANT 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.
40)
ESC (Electronic Stability Control)
SYSTEM
The ESC system improves the directional
control and stability of the car in various
driving conditions.
The ESC system corrects the car’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 car to determine the trajectory
that the driver intends to follow and
compares it with the car’s effective
trajectory. When the real trajectory
deviates from the desired trajectory, the
ESC system intervenes to counter the
vehicle’s understeer or oversteer.
Oversteer: occurs when the car is
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SAFETY

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.
41) 42) 43) 44) 45)
TC (Traction Control)SYSTEM
The system automatically operates in the
event of slipping, loss of grip on wet
roads (aquaplaning) and acceleration on
slippery, snowy or icy roads, etc. on one
or both drive wheels. 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 BLD (Brake Limited
Differential) function is activated,
automatically braking the wheel which is
slipping (the behaviour 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.
46) 47) 48) 49) 50)
PBA (Panic Brake Assist)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.
The PBA system is deactivated when the
brake pedal is released.
51) 52) 53)
HSA (Hill Start Assist)SYSTEM
This is an integral part of the ESC system
and facilitates starting on slopes,
activating automatically in the following
cases:
uphill: vehicle stationary on a road
with a gradient higher than 5%, engine
running, brake pressed and transmission
in neutral or gear other than reverse
engaged;
downhill: vehicle stationary on a road
with a gradient higher than 5%, engine
running, brake pressed and reverse gear
engaged.
When setting off, 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 2 seconds,
allowing your right foot to be moved
easily from the brake pedal to the
accelerator.
When two seconds have elapsed, without
starting, the system is automatically
deactivated, 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
car.
54) 55)
73

AST (Alfa™ Steering Torque)SYSTEM
56)
The AST function uses the integration of
the ESC system with the electric power
steering to increase the safety level of
the whole vehicle.
In critical situations (braking on surfaces
with different grip conditions), through
the AST function the ESC system
controls the steering to implement an
additional torque contribution on the
steering wheel, to suggest the most
correct manoeuvre to the driver.
The coordinated action of the brakes and
steering increases the sensation of
safety and control of the vehicle.
ATV (Alfa™ Active Torque Vectoring)
SYSTEM
The dynamic drive control is used to
optimize and balance the drive torque
between the wheels of the same axis. 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 a phenomenon called
"understeer". Understeer occurs when,
during a turn, a car tends to widen the settrajectory, in this situation the lateral
acceleration the car is subjected to
becomes higher that the grip of the tyres,
which are unable to maintain the car in
the trajectory set by the driver through
the steering angle determined by turning
the steering wheel.
WARNING
33)For maximum efficiency of the braking
system, a bedding-in period of about 500 km
(310 miles) is required: during this period it
is advisable to avoid sharp, repeated and
prolonged braking.
34)If the ABS intervenes, this indicates that
the grip of the tyres on the road is nearing its
limit: you must slow down to a speed
compatible with the available grip.
35)The ABS cannot overrule the natural
laws of physics, and cannot increase the grip
available according to the condition of the
road.
36)The ABS cannot prevent accidents,
including those due to excessive speed on
corners, driving on low-grip surfaces or
aquaplaning.
37)The capability of the ABS must never be
tested irresponsibly and dangerously, in
such a way as to compromise personal
safety and the safety of others.
38)For the correct operation of the ABS, the
tyres must of necessity be the same make
and type on all wheels, in perfect condition
and, above all, of the prescribed type and
dimensions.
39)There may be a brief delay in shifting to
AWD mode after a tyre slipping event.40)When a DTC system failure symbol
appears, the driver must be aware of the
different driving reaction and therefore
reduce the speed. The symbol
warns the
driver not to drive in areas that require
four-wheel drive or on snow-covered roads.
41)The ESC system cannot alter the natural
laws of physics, and cannot increase grip,
which depends on the condition of the road.
42)The ESC system cannot prevent
accidents, including those due to excessive
speed on corners, driving on low-grip
surfaces or aquaplaning.
43)The capability of the ESC system must
never be tested irresponsibly and
dangerously, in such a way as to compromise
personal safety and the safety of others.
44)For the correct operation of the ESC
system, the tyres must necessarily be of the
same make and type on all wheels, in perfect
condition and, above all, of the prescribed
type and size.
45)ESC performance features must not
induce the driver to take unnecessary or
unwarranted risks. Your driving style must
always be suited to the road conditions,
visibility and traffic. The driver is, in any
case, responsible for safe driving.
46)For the correct operation of the TC
system, the tyres must of necessity be the
same make and type on all wheels, in perfect
condition and, above all, of the prescribed
type and dimensions.
47)TC performance features must not
induce the driver to take unnecessary or
unwarranted risks. Your driving style must
always be suited to the road conditions,
visibility and traffic. The driver is, in any
case, responsible for safe driving.
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SAFETY

TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring
System)
63) 64) 65) 66) 67) 68) 69)
31)
The car is equipped with Tyre Pressure
Monitoring System (TPMS), which can
advise the driver in the event of
insufficient tyre pressure on the basis of
the pressure when cold indicated in the
"Technical specifications" chapter.
The system comprises a radio-frequency
transmitter sensor fitted to each wheel
(on the rim inside the tyre), which is able
to send information on the inflation
pressure of each tyre to the control unit
fig. 67.
Inflation pressure varies in relation to
temperature by about 1 psi (0.07) bar
every 43.7 °F (6.5 °C). This means that
when the outdoor temperature falls, the
tyre pressure decreases. Always adjustthe tyre inflation pressure when cold.
This is defined as the tyre pressure after
at least 3 hours of vehicle inactivity or
travel of less than 1mile (1.6 km) after
the 3 hour interval.
The cold tyre inflation pressure must not
exceed the maximum pressure indicated
on the shoulder of the tyre: for further
details see the instructions in the "Rims
and tyres" paragraph, in the "Technical
data" chapter.
Tyre pressure increases when the car is
driven. This is normal, and no adjustment
of the pressure is required.
The TPMS signals the driver a possible
insufficient pressure if this falls below
the warning limit for any reason, including
the effects of low temperature and
normal loss of pressure from the tyre.
The TPMS will stop indicating insufficient
tyre pressure when it is equal to or
greater than the prescribed cold inflation
pressure. Therefore, if insufficient tyre
pressure is indicated (
warning light
on instrument panel on), increase the
inflation pressure up to the prescribed
cold inflation value.
The system automatically updates and
warning light
switches off each time
the system receives the updated
inflation pressures. The vehicle might
need to be driven at a speed higher thanabout 15.5 mph (25 km/h) up to
20 minutes for the TPMS to receive this
information.
Operating example
Supposing that the prescribed cold
inflation pressure (i.e. vehicle stationary
for at least 3 hours) is 33.4 psi (2.3 bar),
if the ambient temperature is 68°F
(20°C) and the detected tyre pressure is
28.3 psi (1.95 bar), a temperature
reduction of 19.4°F (−7°C) results in a
decrease in tyre pressure, bringing it to
approximately 24 psi (1.65 bar). This
pressure is sufficiently low to activate
the
warning light.
Heating of tyres due to driving the
vehicle may increase tyre pressure up to
approximately 28.3 psi (1.95 bar), but
the
warning light will stay on. In this
situation, the warning light will switch off
only after the tyres are inflated to the
prescribed cold pressure value for the
car.
IMPORTANT The TPMS is designed for
original tyres and wheels. The prescribed
pressures and consequent alarm
thresholds set in the TPMS are based on
the dimensions of the tyres fitted on the
vehicle. Using spare wheels of a size, type
and/or design different from the original
ones may cause an irregular operation of
the system and damage the sensors.
Aftermarket fitted wheels may damage
6706016S0009EM
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SAFETY

the sensors. Using aftermarket tyre
sealants may damage the Tyre Pressure
Monitoring System (TPMS) sensor. If
aftermarket tyre sealant is used it is
recommended to go to an Alfa Romeo
Dealership to have the sensors checked.
After checking or adjusting the tyre
inflation pressure, always refit the valve
cap to prevent humidity and dirt from
entering, these may damage the Tyre
Pressure Monitoring System sensor.
LOW TYRE PRESSURE WARNING
If an insufficient pressure value is
detected on one or more tyres, the
warning light on the instrument panel
switches on and the dedicated messages
are shown on the display. The system also
highlights the tyre or tyres with
insufficient pressure graphically. An
acoustic warning is also emitted.
In this case, stop the car, check the
inflation pressure of each tyre and inflate
them to the correct cold inflation
pressure value, shown on the display or in
the dedicated TPMS menu.TPMS TEMPORARILY DISABLED
TPMS check message
If a system failure is present, the
warning light flashes for about
75 seconds and then stays on solid. An
acoustic warning is also emitted.
A dedicated message and dashes "– –"
instead of the pressure value are shown
on the display, to indicate that detection
is impossible.
When the ignition device is set to STOP
and then back to ON, the indication
sequence repeats provided that the
failure is still resent.
The
warning light switches off when
the failure condition disappears and the
pressure value is displayed again in place
of the dashes.
A fault in the system could occur in the
following cases:
intense radio-frequency interference
may prevent the correct operation of the
TPMS. This condition will be indicated by
a dedicated message on the display. The
warning will disappear automatically as
soon as the radio-frequency interference
ceases to affect the system;
aftermarket application of coloured
films on the windows that interfere with
the radio waves emitted by the TPMS;
accumulation of layers of snow or ice
on the wheels or the wheel arches;
using snow chains;
using a rim/tyre assembly without
sensors for the TPMS system.
After the punctured tyre has been
repaired with the original tyre sealant
contained in the TireKit, the previous
condition must be restored, so that the
warning light is off during normal
driving.
Deactivating TPMS messages
(for markets where provided)
When replacing the standard wheels with
others that do not have TPMS sensors
(for example when substituting the
rim/tyre assembly for the winter season)
and depending on the country of sale, the
messages only can be disabled
automatically at the next start-up after
the fault.
The TPMS will emit an acoustic warning,
the
warning light will flash for about
75 seconds, then it will stay on
continuously and the instrument panel
will display the "TPMS check" message
with dashes (– –) instead of the pressure
values on the Connect system display.
From the following ignition cycle, the
TPMS will not emit any acoustic warning
and the display will not show the
message "TPMS check", but the dashes
will be still displayed instead of the
pressure value.
The system will only resume normal
83

operation when all the pressure sensors
have been detected again.
IMPORTANT If wheels without pressure
sensors (e.g. wheels with winter tyres)
have been installed on the vehicle and the
standard wheels (with sensors) are
stored close the vehicle, the system
could detect the pressures of the latter
and consequently display the fault cycle
again once its has left the sensitive area.
WARNING
57)The system is an aid for vehicle driving,
it DOES NOT warn the driver about incoming
vehicles outside of the detection areas. The
driver must always maintain a sufficient
level of attention to the traffic and road
conditions and for controlling the trajectory
of the vehicle.
58)The Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
system is automatically deactivated when
RACE mode is selected.
59)The system is an aid for the driver, who
must always pay full attention while driving.
The responsibility always rests with the
driver, who must take into account the
traffic conditions in order to drive in
complete safety. The driver must always
maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in
front.
60)If the driver depresses the brake pedal
fully or carries out a fast steering during
system operation, the automatic braking
function may stop (e.g. to allow a possible
manoeuvre to avoid the obstacle).61)The system intervenes on vehicles
travelling in the same lane. People, animals
and things (e.g. pushchairs) are not taken
into consideration.
62)If the car must be placed on a roller
bench for maintenance interventions or if it
is washed in an automatic roller washing
tunnel with an obstacle in the front part (e.g.
another car, a wall or another obstacle), the
system may detect its presence and
activate. In this case the system must be
deactivated through the settings of the
Connect system.
63)The presence of the TPMS does not
permit the driver to neglect regular checks
of the tyre pressure, including for the spare
tyre, and correct maintenance: the system is
not used to signalling a possible tyre fault.
64)Tyre pressure must be checked with
tyres rested and cold. Should it become
necessary for whatever reason to check
pressure with warm tyres, do not reduce
pressure even though it is higher than the
prescribed value. Repeat the check when the
tyres are cold.
65)Should one or more wheels be fitted
without sensors, the system will no longer be
available and a warning message will be
shown on the display, until wheels with
sensors are fitted again.
66)The TPMS cannot indicate sudden tyre
pressure drops (e.g. if a tyre bursts). In this
case, stop the vehicle, braking with caution
and avoiding abrupt steering.
67)Changes in outside temperature may
cause tyre pressures to vary. The system
may temporarily indicate insufficient
pressure. In this case, check the tyre
pressure when cold and, if necessary,
restore the inflation values.68)Replacing standard tyres with winter
tyres and vice versa requires TPMS system
adjustment that must only be performed by
Alfa Romeo Dealerships.
69)When a tyre is removed, it is advisable
to replace the rubber valve seal as well:
contact an Alfa Romeo Dealership. The
fitting/removal of the tyres and/or rims
require special care. To avoid damaging or
fitting the sensors incorrectly, tyre and/or
rim fitting/removal operations should only
be carried out by specialised staff. Contact
an Alfa Romeo Dealership.
IMPORTANT
22)The system may have limited or absent
operation due to weather conditions such as:
heavy rain, hail, thick fog, heavy snow.
23)The section of the bumper before the
sensor must not be covered with adhesives,
auxiliary headlights or any other object.
24)System intervention might be
unexpected or delayed when other vehicles
transport loads projecting from the side,
above or from the rear, with respect to the
normal size of the vehicle.
25)Operation can be adversely affected by
any structural change made to the vehicle,
such as a modification to the front geometry,
tyre change, or a heavier load than the
standard load of the vehicle.
26)Incorrect repairs made on the front part
of the vehicle (e.g. bumper, chassis) may alter
the position of the radar sensor, and
adversely affect its operation. Go to an Alfa
Romeo Dealership for any operation of this
type.
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