handbrake Alfa Romeo GT 2007 Owner handbook (in English)

2
VERY IMPORTANT!
FUEL CAPACITY
Petrol engines:only use unleaded petrol with no less than 95 R.O.N.
Diesel engines:only refuel with diesel fuel conforming to the European specification EN590. The use of other products or
mixtures may irreparably damage the engine with invalidation of the warranty due to the damage caused.
STARTING THE ENGINE
Petrol engines with mechanical transmission:make sure that the handbrake is engaged; set the gearshift lever
to neutral, fully depress the clutch without pressing the accelerator, then turn the ignition key to AV Vand release it as soon
as the engine has started.
Petrol engine with Selespeed transmission:keep the brake pedal fully depressed, turn the ignition key to AV Vand
release it as soon as the engine has started; the transmission sets to neutral automatically (the display shows position N).
JTD engines:turn the ignition key to MARand wait for the
Yandmwarning lights to go off; turn the ignition key
toAV Vand release it as soon as the engine has started.
PARKING ON FLAMMABLE MATERIAL
While working, the catalyst develops a very high temperature. Do not park the car over grass, dry leaves, pine needles or
any other inflammable materials: risk of fire.
K


GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
14
IGNITION DEVICE
SWITCH(fig. 8)
The key can be turned to one of four po-
sitions:
–STOP: engine switched off, key can be
removed, engine inhibitor engaged, steer-
ing lock engaged, services excluded apart
from those supplied directly (e.g. hazard
warning lights).
–MAR: drive position. The engine lock
is deactivated and all electrical devices are
powered.
fig. 8
A0A0016b
When leaving the car al-
ways remove the key from
the ignition to prevent any
occupants of the car from acciden-
tally activating the controls. Nev-
er leave children in the car unac-
companied. Remember to engage
the handbrake and, if the car is
parked on an uphill slope, to en-
gage the first gear. If the car is fac-
ing downhill, engage reverse gear.
If the ignition device is
tampered with (for exam-
ple an attempted theft)
have it checked over by Alfa
Romeo Authorised Services before
travelling again.
IMPORTANTDo not leave the key in
this position when the engine is stopped.
–AV V: unstable position for starting the
engine.
IMPORTANTIf the engine fails to start
move the key back to STOPand repeat.
The ignition switch has a safety device
which prevents passage to AV Vwhen the
engine is running.
–PARK: engine switched off, key can
be removed, engine lock engaged, steer-
ing lock engaged, sidelights switched on au-
tomatically.
IMPORTANTTo turn the key to the
PARKposition, button (A) on the switch
must be pressed first.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
72
Handbrake on
The warning light turns on when the hand-
brake is on. HIGH ENGINE
COOLANT
TEMPERATURE (red)
Turning the ignition key to MARthe warn-
ing light turns on, but it should go off after
few seconds.
The warning light turns on (together with
message + symbol on the display) when the
engine is overheated: if the warning light
comes on when driving, stop the car leav-
ing the engine on and slightly accelerated
to further activate the circulation of the
coolant fluid.
If the warning light does not turn off with-
in the next 2 or 3 minutes, stop the engine
and contact Alfa Romeo Authorized Services.
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IMPORTANTThe presence of warning
lights depends on the type of engine and
equipment with which the car is fitted.
LOW BRAKE FLUID
LEVEL (red)
HANDBRAKE
ON (red)
Turning the ignition key to MARthe warn-
ing light turns on, but it should go off after
few seconds.
Low brake fluid level
The warning light turns on (together with
message + symbol on the display) when the
level of the brake fluid in the reservoir falls
below the minimum level, due to possible
leak in the circuit.
x
If the warning light turns
on when travelling, check
that the handbrake is not
engaged. If the warning light stays
on with handbrake disengaged,
stop the car immediately and con-
tact Alfa Romeo Authorized Ser-
vices.
u

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
120
PARKING THE CAR
To park the car safely it is absolutely nec-
essary to engage first gear (1) or reverse
(R) and also the handbrake if the road is
on a slope.
Turning the engine off with the car facing
uphill and a gear engaged, it is absolutely
necessary to wait for the gear display to go
off before releasing the brake pedal, so that
the clutch is fully disengaged.
If the gearbox is in neutral (N) and want-
ing to engage a parking gear, the system
should be activated and with the foot on the
brake pedal it is necessary to engage (1)
or (R).
TOWING THE CAR
IMPORTANTFor towing the car, adhere
to local regulations. Make sure that the gear-
box is in neutral (N) (checking that the car
moves when pushed) and proceed as for
towing a normal car with mechanical gear-
box following the instructions given in sec-
tion “In an emergency”.
If setting to neutral is not possible, do not
tow the car and contact Alfa Romeo Autho-
rized Services.
While towing the car do
not start the engine.
BUZZER WARNINGS
The buzzer is activated when:
– reverse gear is engaged (R);
– the car is parked with the gearbox in
neutral (N); signal that can be noted turn-
ing the ignition key to STOP;
– clutch overheating occurs when moving
off;
– the system has shifted automatically
to neutral (N) when:
there is no action on the accelerator
and/or brake pedal for at least 3 minutes;
or the brake is pressed for over 10 min-
utes;
or the driver’s door is opened and no ac-
tion is made on the accelerator and brake
for at least 1.5 seconds;
or detection of a gearbox fault;
– gearbox fault.

CORRECT USE OF THE CAR
169
STARTING PROCEDURE
FOR PETROL VERSIONS
IMPORTANTIt is important never to
press the accelerator before the engine has
started.
1) Make sure the handbrake is engaged.
2) Move the gear lever to neutral.
3) Fully depress the clutch pedal, so that
the starter motor is not forced to crank the
gears.
4) Ensure that the electric systems and de-
vices, especially if they absorb high quanti-
ties of energy (e.g. heated rearscreen), are
switched off.
5) Turn the ignition key to the AV Vpo-
sition and release it as soon as the engine
starts.
6) If the engine does not start, return the
key to STOP, then repeat the procedure.
IMPORTANTIf it is difficult to start the
engine do not insist with extended attempts
which may damage the catalyst, but con-
tact Alfa Romeo Authorised Services. The ignition switch is fitted with a safety
device which obliges the driver to return the
key to the STOPposition before repeat-
ing the starting operation if the engine does
not start immediately.
Similarly, when the engine is running, the
device prevents the key being moved from
theMARto the AV Vposition.
STARTING
THE ENGINE
IMPORTANTThe car is fitted with an
electronic engine lock device. If the engine
fails to start, see the “Alfa Romeo CODE sys-
tem”.
C C
O O
R R
R R
E E
C C
T T
U U
S S
E E
O O
F F
T T
H H
E E
C C
A A
R R
We recommend that dur-
ing the initial period you do
not drive to full car perfor-
mance (for example excessive ac-
celeration, long journeys at top
speed, hard braking etc.).
Running the engine in con-
fined areas is extremely
dangerous. The engine con-
sumes oxygen and produces carbon
monoxide which is a highly toxic
and lethal gas.
When the engine is
switched off never leave
the ignition key in the MAR
position to prevent pointless cur-
rent absorption from draining the
battery.

CORRECT USE OF THE CAR
170
STARTING PROCEDURE
FOR JTD VERSIONS
1) Make sure the handbrake is engaged.
2) Set the gearshift lever to neutral.
3) Turn the ignition key to MAR. The re-
configurable multifunction display will show
the
mwarning light.
4) Wait for the
mto turn off, which
takes place sooner, the warmer the engine.
With the engine very warm the light might
stay on for such a short time as to pass un-
noticed.
5) Fully depress the clutch pedal.
6) Turn the ignition key to AV Vas soon
as the
mwarning light has gone out.
Waiting too long, makes the warming work
of the glow plugs useless.IMPORTANTThe electric devices that
absorb a high amount of energy (climate
control, rearscreen heating, etc.) are cut off
automatically during starting.
If the engine does not start at the first at-
tempt, move the ignition key to STOPbe-
fore repeating starting.
If starting is difficult (with the Alfa Romeo
CODE system working properly), do not in-
sist with prolonged attempts.
Only use an auxiliary battery if the cause
is due to low battery charge. Never use a
battery charger to start the engine.
WARMING THE ENGINE
– Drive off slowly, at medium revs with-
out accelerating abruptly.
– Do not drive at full performance for the
initial kilometres of the journey. Wait until
the engine coolant temperature reaches 50-
60 °C.

CORRECT USE OF THE CAR
172
Never leave children un-
attended in the car. Al-
ways remove the ignition
key when leaving the car and take
it with you.To avoid useless con-
sumption of power and
possible draining of the
battery, never leave the ignition
key in the MAR position when the
engine is not running.
PARKING
When the car is parked, proceed as fol-
lows:
– Switch off the engine.
– Engage the handbrake.
– Engage first gear if the car is faced up-
hill or reverse if the car is facing downhill.
– Turn the front wheels so that the car will
immediately come to a halt if the handbrake
slips.
REDUCING
RUNNING COSTS
AND ENVIRONMENT
POLLUTION
By following a few simple guidelines, it
is possible to save car running costs and re-
duce harmful emissions.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
Car maintenance
To take care of the car maintenance have
the checks and adjustments carried out in
accordance with the “Scheduled Mainte-
nance Programme”.
Tyres
Check the pressure of the tyres routinely
at an interval of no more than 4 weeks: if
the pressure is too low consumption levels
increase as resistance to rolling is higher.
Useless loads
Never travel with an overload in the boot.
The weight of the car (especially in urban
traffic), and its geometry heavily affect con-
sumption levels and stability.Electric services
Use electric devices only for the amount of
time needed. Rearscreen heating, addition-
al headlights, windscreen wipers and heater
fan need a considerable amount of energy,
therefore increasing the requirement of cur-
rent increases fuel consumption (up to
+25% in the urban cycle).
Climate control system
The climate control system is a further load
bearing heavily on the engine inducing high-
er consumption levels(up to +20% on av-
erage). Outside temperature permitting,
preferably use the air vents.
Aerodynamic items
The use of non-certified aerodynamic items
may adversely affect air drag and con-
sumption levels.

CORRECT USE OF THE CAR
178
Keep your speed
down when snow
chains are fitted.
Do not exceed 50 km/h. Avoid
potholes, steps and pavements and
avoid also to drive for long dis-
tances on roads not covered with
snow to prevent damaging the car
and the roadbed.
CAR INACTIVITY
If the car is to be left inactive for long pe-
riods, the following precautions should be
noted:
– House the car under cover in a dry and
possibly ventilated place.
– Engage a gear.
– Check that the handbrake is not en-
gaged.
– Clean and protect the paintwork by pro-
tective wax.
– Clean and protect the metal polished
parts with marketed products.
– Cover the rubber windscreen and
rearscreen wiper blades with talcum powder
and raise them off the glass.
– Open the windows slightly.
– Inflate the tyres to a pressure of 0.5 bars
above normal. If possible rest the tyres on
wooden planks and periodically check the
pressure.
– Do not turn on the electronic alarm sys-
tem.– Disconnect the battery negative termi-
nal from the battery and check the battery
charge. This check should be repeated
every three months during stowage.
Charge the battery if the indicator (where
provided) shows a dark colour in the central
green area.
– Do not empty the engine cooling sys-
tem.
– Cover the car with a fabric or perforat-
ed plastic cover. Do not use compact plas-
tic covers which prevent the humidity on the
surface of the car from evaporating. Snow chains cannot be
fitted to the space-saver
spare wheel. So, if a front
(drive) wheel is punctured and
chains are needed, a rear wheel
should be fitted to the front of the
car (adjust tyre pressure to the
specified value as soon as possi-
ble) and the space-saver spare
wheel should be fitted to the rear.
This way with two normal drive
wheels, snow chains can be fitted
to them to solve an emergency.
Deactivate the ASR sys-
tem when snow chains are
fitted. Press the ASR-OFF
button, button led turned on.

IN AN EMERGENCY
183
CHANGING A WHEEL
Please be informed that:
– the jack mass is 2.100 kg.
– the jack requires no adjustment.
– the jack cannot be repaired. In the event
of breakage, it must be replaced by anoth-
er original one.
– no tools other than its operating crank
can be fitted to the jack.
To change a wheel, proceed as follows:– Stop the car in such a position that it is
not dangerous for the traffic, where it is pos-
sible to change the wheel safely. Where pos-
sible, park on a level, compact surface.
– Switch off the engine and engage the
handbrake.
– Engage first gear or reverse.– Use handle(A-fig.2) to remove the
stiff covering (B).
– Loosen the clamping device (A-fig. 3).
– Take out the tool container (B) and take
it near the wheel to be changed.
– Take the spare wheel (C).
– Remove the wheel cap (A-fig. 4) (on-
ly versions with steel rims)
fig. 2
A0A0645b
fig. 3
A0A0151b
fig. 4
A0A0154b

IN AN EMERGENCY
188
The compressor shall not
be operated for more than
20 minutes. Risk of over-
heating!. Tyres repaired with the
quick tyre repair kit shall be used
temporarily only.INFLATING PROCEDURE– loosen tyre inflation valve cap, take out
the filler hose A-fig. 14and screw the ring
nutB-fig. 15on the tyre valve;
fig. 13
A0A1097bfig. 14
A0A1098b
fig. 15
A0A1099b
Replace the cylinder if
sealer has run out. Do not
throw away the cylinder
and the sealing fluid. Have the
sealing fluid and the cylinder dis-
posed of in compliance with na-
tional and local regulations.
Put on the protection
gloves provided together
with quick tyre repair kit.
Proceed as follows:
– place the wheel with the valve A-fig.
13in the position shown in the figure then,
pull up the handbrake, take the repair
kit and put it on the ground near the in-
volved wheel;