steering Alfa Romeo Giulietta 2012 Owner handbook (in English)

114
GETTING
TO KNOW
YOUR CAR
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING AND
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
TURNING “Dynamic” MODE ON/OFF
On
Move lever A-fig. 80 upwards (to the letter “d”) and hold in this
position for 0.5 seconds until the corresponding LED lights up or
the word “Dynamic” appears on the display (see figures). The
switch A will go back to central position after having been released.Electronic Q2: improves traction and reduces understeer in acce-
leration while exiting curves.
RAB: pre-positioning of the brake pads (front and rear) following
a rapid release of the accelerator pedal to reduce braking
times, shorten stopping distances and improve the feel of
the brake pedal.
The activation of the Dynamic mode is also shown by the change
in the instrument panel lighting that, after decreasing, reaches
the highest luminosity and then returns to the previously set va-
lues.
Off
To turn “Dynamic” mode off and go back to “Normal” mode, move
the lever as described above once again. In this case, the LED cor-
responding to “Normal” mode will light up and the words “Nor-
mal on” will appear on the reconfigurable multifunction display
(see figure).
A0K1225gA0K1055g
A0K1052g
VDCandASR: intervention thresholds that allow more enjoy-
able, sportier driving whilst guaranteeing stabil-
ity in the event of loss of control. Improves trac-
tion whilst accelerating on bends.
Steering tuning: sports mode operation.
DST:Standard brake control coordinated with ABS/VDC.
Standard control over lateral acceleration
Oversteer compensation adapted to VDC/ASR intervention
thresholds: a slight pulse on the steering wheel encourage
the driver to carry the most appropriate manoeuvre.
Engine: Prompter response + Overboost to maximise torque (for
versions/markets, where provided).

115
GETTING
TO KNOW
YOUR CAR
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING AND
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
TURNING “All Weather” MODE ON/OFF
On
Move switch A-fig. 80 downwards (to the letter “a”) and hold in
this position for 0.5 seconds until the corresponding LED lights up
or the word “All Weather” appears on the display (see figures).
A0K1226gA0K1180g
VDCandASR: intervention thresholds to ensure maximum safe-
ty and control even in critical conditions (e.g. rain,
snow, etc.).
Steering wheel tuning: Standard comfort.
DST: Higher brake control coordinated with ABS/VDC.
Standard control over lateral acceleration
Oversteer compensation adapted to VDC/ASR intervention
thresholds: a slight pulse on the steering wheel encour-
ages the driver to carry the most appropriate manoeuvre.
Engine: Standard response
On
To disengage “All Weather” mode and return to “Normal”, carry
out the same procedure described for“Dynamic” mode, however
moving lever A-fig. 80 to “a”.
IMPORTANT
❍It is not possible to go directly from “Dynamic” mode to “All
Weather” mode and vice versa. You must always first go back
to “Normal” mode and then select the other mode.
❍“Dynamic” mode was engaged when the engine was switched
off, the next time it is started “Normal” mode is automatical-
ly selected. If, however, “All Weather” or “Normal”, was en-
gaged when the engine was switched off, the selected mode
is maintained the next time it is started.
❍“Dynamic” mode cannot be engaged at speeds of above 110
km/h.
❍In the event of system failure or a fault with lever A-fig. 80,
no driving modes can be selected. The display will show a warn-
ing message.

121
GETTING
TO KNOW
YOUR CAR
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING AND
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
EOBD SYSTEM
(European On Board Diagnosis)
(for versions/markets, where provided)
The aim of the EOBD (European On Board Diagnosis) system is to:
❍to monitor system efficiency;
❍indicate an increase in emissions;
❍to warn of the need to replace deteriorated components.
The car also has a diagnostic connector that can be interfaced
with appropriate tools, which makes it possible to read the error
codes stored in the electronic control units together with a series
of specific parameters for engine operation and diagnosis. This
check can also be carried out by the traffic police.
IMPORTANT After eliminating a fault, to check the system com-
pletely, Alfa Romeo Authorized Services are obliged to run tests
and, if necessary, road tests which may also call for a long journey.
DUAL PINION ACTIVE STEERING
This only operates with the key turned to MAR and the engine start-
ed. The steering allows the force required at the steering wheel
to be adjusted to suit driving conditions. The different power as-
sistance modes can be selected via the d,n,a positions of the"Alfa
DNA System" lever (see paragraph entitled "Alfa DNA System").
IMPORTANT The steering system will need to be initialised after
disconnecting the battery. A warning light will come on to indicate
this. Simply turn the steering wheel all the way from one end to the
other or simply drive in a straight line for a few hundred metres.
Under no circumstances should aftermarket op-
erations be carried out involving steering system
or steering column modifications (e.g. installation
of anti-theft device). This could negatively affect perfor-
mance and safety, invalidate the warranty, cause serious
safety problems and also result in non-compliance of the
car with type-approval requirements.

146
GETTING
TO KNOW
YOUR CAR
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING AND
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
FRONT AIRBAGS
The car is provided with multistage front air bags (“Smart bag”)
for driver and passenger.
“SMART BAG” SYSTEM
(MULTISTAGE FRONT AIR BAGS)
The front driver/passenger air bags are designed to protect occu-
pants in the event of head-on crashes of medium-high severity,
by placing the bag between the occupant and the steering wheel
or dashboard.
Front air bags are designed to protect car’s occupants in front crash-
es and therefore non-activation in other types of collisions (side col-
lisions, rear shunts, roll-overs, etc.) is not a system malfunction.
The air bag do not replace, but rather complement the use of seat
belts, which should always be worn. In the event of an impact,
someone not wearing a seat belt could move forward and come
into contact with a bag which is still in the opening phase. The pro-
tection offered by the bag is reduced in such a case.
Front air bags may not be activated in the following situations:
❍front collisions against highly deformable objects not affect-
ing the front surface of the car (e.g. bumper collision against
guard rail, etc.);
❍car penetration under other vehicles or protective barriers (e.g.
trucks or guard rails);
in these instances they could not provide any additional protec-
tion compared with seat belts, so their deployment would not be
useful. In these cases, non-deployment of the airbag does not
necessarily indicate a system malfunction.
FRONT AIR BAG ON DRIVER’S SIDE fig. 106
This is located in a dedicated compartment in the centre of the steer-
ing wheel.
Do not apply stickers or other objects to the steer-
ing wheel, passenger side air bag cover or upper
side upholstery. Do not place objects on the pas-
senger side dashboard because these could interfere with
the correct opening of the air bag and cause severe injury
to occupants.
fig. 106A0K0080m
Always drive with your hands on the steering wheel
rim so that the air bag can inflate freely if need-
ed. Do not drive with your body bent forward.
Keep your back straight against the backrest.

152
GETTING
TO KNOW
YOUR CAR
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING AND
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
It is advisable not to demand maximum perfor-
mance from your car (e.g. excessive acceleration,
long distances at top rpm, excessively intense brak-
ing, etc.) when it is first used.
Remember that the brake servo and electro-
mechanical power steering are not operational un-
til the engine has been started, therefore much
more effort than usual is required on the brake pedal and
steering wheel.
Never jump start the engine by pushing, towing or
driving downhill. These manoeuvres may damage
the catalytic converter.
When the engine is switched off never leave the
key in the MAR position to prevent useless cur-
rent absorption from draining the battery.
HOW TO WARM UP THE ENGINE
AFTER IT HAS JUST STARTED
Proceed as follows:
❍drive off slowly, letting the engine turn at medium speed. Do
not accelerate abruptly;
❍do not demand maximum performance for the first few kilo-
metres. Wait until the engine coolant temperature indicator
starts moving.
STOPPING THE ENGINE
Turn the ignition key to STOP while the engine is idling.
IMPORTANT After a taxing drive, before turning the engine off you
should allow it to idle to allow the temperature in the engine com-
partment to fall.
A quick burst on the accelerator before turning off
the engine serves absolutely no practical purpose;
it wastes fuel and is especially damaging to tur-
bocharged engines.

163
GETTING
TO KNOW
YOUR CAR
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING AND
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
The jack may be used to replace wheels only on
the car that it comes with or other cars of the same
model. Never use the jack for other purposes, such
as lifting other models. Never use the jack to carry out re-
pairs under the car. Incorrect positioning of the jack may
cause the car to fall. Do not use the jack for loads higher
than the one shown on its label. Never install snow chains
on the space-saver spare wheel; if a front tyre (driving
wheel) is punctured and you need to use snow chains, use
a standard wheel from the rear axle and install the space-
saver spare wheel on the rear axle. In this way, with two
normal drive wheels, it is possible to use snow chains.
If the hub cap is not fitted correctly, it may come
off when the car is travelling. Never tamper with
the inflation valve. Never introduce tools of any
kind between the rim and the tyre. Regularly check the
inflation pressure of the tyres and space-saver wheel (see
chapter “Technical specifications”).Vehicle handling is modified with the space-saver
spare wheel fitted. Avoid violent acceleration and
braking, sharp steering and fast cornering. The
overall duration of the space-saver spare wheel is of about
3000 km, after which the relevant tyre must be replaced
with another one of the same type. Never install a tradi-
tional tyre on a rim designed to be used as a space-saver
spare wheel. Repair and refit the standard wheel as soon
as possible. Using two or more space-saver spare wheels
at the same time is forbidden. Do not apply grease to
the bolt threads before assembly: they might sponta-
neously unscrew.
JACK
Important notes:
❍the jack weight is 1.76 kg;
❍the jack requires no adjustment;
❍the jack cannot be repaired; if it breaks it must be replaced with
a new jack;
❍no tool other than the cranking device may be fitted on the
jack.

187
GETTING
TO KNOW
YOUR CAR
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING AND
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
Contact Alfa Romeo Authorized Services should the
fuse blow again.
Never replace a blown fuse with metallic wires or
other material.
Never replace a fuse with another of higher am-
perage: FIRE RISK.
If a general protection fuse (MEGA-FUSE, MIDI-
FUSE, MAXI-FUSE) blows, contact Alfa Romeo
Authorized Services.
Remove the key from the ignition switch and switch
off all loads before replacing a fuse.
Contact Alfa Romeo Authorized Services if a safe-
ty system (air bags, brakes), engine system (en-
gine, gearbox) or steering system general pro-
tection fuse blows.

196
GETTING
TO KNOW
YOUR CAR
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING AND
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
LIFTING THE CAR
If you need to lift the car contact Alfa Romeo Authorized Services,
who will be equipped with a workshop lift.
IMPORTANT Be careful when positioning the lift for versions with
side spoilers.
TOWING THE CAR
The tow ring provided with the car is housed in the tool box in
the boot.
ATTACHING THE TOW HOOK
Manually release the plug A pressing in the lower part, take the
tow hook from its seat in the tool support and tighten it securely
on the front threaded pin (fig. 159) or on the rear threaded pin
(fig. 160).
Before beginning to tow, turn the ignition key to
MAR and then to STOP, without extracting it When
the key is removed, the steering wheel lock auto-
matically activates, making it impossible to turn the
wheels.
fig. 159A0K0136mfig. 160A0K0137m

197
GETTING
TO KNOW
YOUR CAR
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING AND
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
The brake servo and the electrical power steering
will not work while the car is being towed. More
effort on the brake pedal and steering wheel will
therefore be required. Do not use wires for towing. Do not
jerk. Be careful not to damage parts in contact with the
car while towing. Respect the specific rules of the Highway
Code when towing the car, specifically in relation to the
towing device and conduct on the road. Do not start the
engine while towing the car. Clean the threaded seat care-
fully before fastening the hook. Make sure that the hook
is fully fastened in the seat before towing the car.The front and rear tow hooks must only be used
for emergency situations on the road. The car may
be towed for short distances when a dedicated de-
vice is used in compliance with the Highway Code (rigid
bar), and in order to move the vehicle on the road in
preparation for towing by a tow truck. Tow hooks MUST
NOT be used to tow vehicles off the road or where there
are obstacles and/or for towing operations using cables
or other non-rigid devices. Respecting the above condi-
tions, towing must take place with two vehicles (one tow-
ing, the other towed) aligned as much as possible along
the same centre line.

214
GETTING
TO KNOW
YOUR CAR
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING AND
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
BATTERY
The electrolyte of the battery G-fig. 161-162-163-164 does not
need to be topped up with distilled water. A periodic check carried
out at Alfa Romeo Authorized Services is, however, necessary to
check efficiency.
BATTERY REPLACEMENT
When necessary, replace the battery with another original battery
with the same specifications. Follow the battery manufacturer’s in-
structions for maintenance.
ADVICE FOR PROLONGING
THE LIFE OF YOUR BATTERY
To avoid rapidly draining your battery and to prolong its life, ob-
serve the following indications:
❍when you park the car, ensure the doors, tailgate and bonnet
are closed properly in order to avoid the courtesy lights re-
maining on for longer than necessary;
❍turn off the ceiling lights, although the car does have an au-
tomatic system for switching off internal lights;
❍do not leave devices (e.g. car radio, hazard lights, etc.)
switched on for a long time when the engine is not running;
❍before performing any operation on the electrical system, dis-
connect the battery negative terminal.
IMPORTANT The steering system will need to be initialised after dis-
connecting the battery. A warning light
gwill come on to indi-
cate this. Simply turn the steering wheel all the way to one end
or simply drive on a straight line for a few hundred metres.
AIR FILTER/POLLEN FILTER/
DIESEL FILTER
Contact Alfa Romeo Authorized Services to replace these
filters.