handbrake Alfa Romeo MiTo 2012 Owner handbook (in English)

REFUELLING
Petrol engines: only use unleaded petrol with an octane
value (RON) of no lower than 95.
Diesel engines: only use diesel fuel compliant with European
specification EN590. The use of other products or mixtures may
damage the engine beyond repair and consequently invalidate the
warranty.
STARTING THE ENGINE
Petrol engines: make sure that the handbrake is
engaged; set the gearshift lever to neutral; fully depress the
clutch pedal without pressing the accelerator, then turn the
ignition key to AVV and release it as soon as the engine has
started.
Diesel engines: turn the ignition key to MAR and wait for the
warning lights to go out; Ythenmturn the ignition key to AVV
and release it as soon as the engine has started.
PARKING ON FLAMMABLE MATERIAL
The catalytic converter reaches high temperatures
during operation. Do not park on grass, dry leaves,
pine needles or other flammable material: fire risk.
RESPECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
The car is fitted with a system that carries out a
continuous diagnosis of the emission-related components
in order to help protect the environment.
ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES
If after having purchased your car you decide to add
accessories requiring electrical power (that may
otherwise cause the battery to gradually lose power),
please consult an Alfa Romeo Authorised Service. They
can calculate the overall electrical requirement and
check that the car’s electrical system can support the
required load
CODE CARD(for versions/markets, where provided)
Keep this in a safe place, not in the car. We
recommend that you always carry the electronic code
provided on the CODE card with you, in case you need
to perform an emergency start.
PROGRAMMED MAINTENANCE
Correct car maintenance is essential to ensure that the
performance, safety features, environmental
friendliness and low running costs stay in tip-top
condition over the years.
THE OWNER HANDBOOK CONTAINS…
... important information, tips and warnings on the
correct use and maintenance of your car over time as
well as safe driving. Particular attention should be paid
to information marked with the following symbols:
"(personal safety) #(environmental protection) â(car
integrity).
READ THIS CAREFULLY!
K



GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR11
1
INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS
General warnings
The lighting up of a warning light is associated with a specific
message and/or buzzer when applicable. These indications are
brief and precautionary and as such must not be considered as
exhaustive and/or an alternative to the information contained in
the Owner Handbook, which you are recommended to read care-
fully in all cases. Always refer to the information in this chapter in
the event of a failure indication.
Low brake fluid level (red)
This warning light comes on when the ignition key is
turned to MAR, but it should go off after a few sec-
onds. The warning light (or symbol on the display) comes
on when the level of the brake fluid in the reservoir falls below
the minimum level due to possible leaks in the circuit.
The display will show the dedicated message.
Handbrake on (red)
This warning light comes on when the ignition key is turned to MAR,
but it should go off after a few seconds. The warning light (or sym-
bol on the display) comes on when the handbrake is on. If the
car is moving a buzzer is also triggered.
IMPORTANT If the warning light comes on with the vehicle in mo-
tion, check that the handbrake is not engaged.
x

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR55
1IGNITION DEVICE
The key can be turned to three different positions fig. 21:
❍STOP: the engine is off, the key can be extracted, the steer-
ing is locked. Some electrical devices (e.g. car radio, central
door locking system, alarm, etc.) are enabled;
❍MAR: driving position. All electrical devices are enabled;
❍AVV: engine start-up.
The ignition switch is fitted with an electronic safety system that
requires the ignition key to be turned back to STOP if the engine
will not start, before the starting operation can be repeated.
fig. 21A0J0031m
If the ignition switch is tampered with (e.g.:
attempted theft), have it checked over by an Alfa
Romeo Authorised Service as soon as possible.
Always remove the key when you leave your car
to prevent someone from accidentally operating
the controls. Remember to engage the handbrake.
Engage 1
stgear if the car is parked uphill or reverse if the
car is parked downhill. Never leave children unattended
in the car.

154STARTING UP AND DRIVING
STARTING THE ENGINE
STARTING PROCEDURE FOR PETROL VERSIONS
Proceed as follows:
❍engage the handbrake and place the gearbox in neutral;
❍press the clutch pedal down to the floor without touching the
accelerator;
❍turn the ignition key to AVV and let it go the moment the en-
gine starts.
IMPORTANT NOTES
❍If the engine does not start on the first attempt, turn the igni-
tion key to STOP before repeating the operation.
❍If, when the ignition key is on MAR, the Ywarning light (or
symbol in the display) remains lit together with the
Uwarning
light, turn the key to STOP and then back to MAR; if the warn-
ing light remains on, try using the other keys provided with the
car. If you are still unable to start the engine carry out the emer-
gency starting procedure (see “Emergency Start-up” in chap-
ter 4) and contact an Alfa Romeo Authorised Service Provider.
❍Never leave the ignition key on MAR when the engine is off.
PROCEDURE FOR DIESEL VERSIONS
Proceed as follows:
❍engage the handbrake and place the gearbox in neutral;
❍turn the ignition key to MAR: the mandYwarning lights
(or symbol in the display) will come on;
❍wait for the warning light (or symbol in the display) to go
out;
❍press the clutch pedal down to the floor without touching the
accelerator;
❍turn the ignition key to AVV as soon as the mwarning light
goes out. Waiting too long will waste the work done by the
glow plugs. Release the key as soon as the engine starts.
If warning light mblinks for 60 seconds after
starting or during prolonged cranking, this indi-
cates a fault in the glow plug pre-heating system.
Use the car normally if the engine starts and contact an
Alfa Romeo Authorised Services provider as soon as pos-
sible.
Is is dangerous to let the engine run in enclosed
spaces. The engine depletes oxygen and discharges
carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and other toxic
gases.

156STARTING UP AND DRIVING
PARKING
Switch off the engine and pull up the handbrake. Engage a gear
(1stif the car is facing uphill or reverse if it is facing downhill) and
leave the wheels steered to one side.
If the car is parked on a steep slope block the wheels with a wedge
or stone. Always remove the ignition key when leaving the vehi-
cle.
HANDBRAKE fig. 1
To engage the handbrake pull lever A upwards until the vehicle is
secured. To disengage slightly raise lever A, press and hold down
button B and lower the lever.IMPORTANT Carry out these manoeuvres with the brake pedal pressed.
IMPORTANT For vehicles equipped with a front armrest, lift this
up to ensure that it does not interfere with the action of the hand-
brake.
fig. 1A0J0110m
The vehicle should be secured after several clicks
of the lever: if this is not the case, contact an Alfa
Romeo Authorised Service Provider to have it ad-
justed.

162STARTING UP AND DRIVING
SNOW CHAINS
The use of snow chains should be in compliance with local regu-
lations. The snow chains may be applied only to the front wheel
tyres (drive wheels).
Check the tension of the chains after the first few metres have been
driven.
Use reduced bulk snow chains: for 195/55 R16” and 205/45
R17” tyres. Use reduced bulk snow chains with a maximum pro-
trusion from the tyres of 9 mm.
IMPORTANT The spare wheel cannot be fitted with snow chains.
If a front (drive) wheel is punctured and snow chains must be used,
you must remove a normal wheel from the rear and replace this
one with the small spare wheel. In this way, with two normal dri-
ve wheels, it is possible to use snow chains.
CAR INACTIVITY
If the car is to be left inactive for longer than a month, the following
precautions should be noted:
❍park the vehicle in a dry, covered and, if possible, ventilated
area; engage a gear and check that the handbrake is not en-
gaged;
❍disconnect the negative battery terminal and check battery
charge. Repeat this check once every three months during stor-
age;
❍clean and protect painted areas using protective wax;
❍clean and protect the shiny metal areas using special com-
mercially-available products;
❍sprinkle talcum powder on the rubber windscreen and rear win-
dow wiper blades and lift them off the glass;
❍slightly open the windows;
❍cover the car with a fabric or perforated plastic sheet. Do not
use compact plastic sheets which do not allow humidity to evap-
orate from the surface of the car.
❍inflate tyres to a pressure of +0.5 bar above the normal spec-
ified pressure and check the pressure at regular intervals;
❍if you have not disconnected the battery, check the battery
charge every thirty days;
❍do not drain the engine cooling system.
Keep your speed down when snow chains are fit-
ted. Do not exceed 50 km/h. Avoid potholes, steps
and pavements and also avoid driving long dis-
tances on roads not covered with snow to prevent dam-
aging the car and the roadbed.

IN AN EMERGENCY167
4
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.Replace the wheel as follows:
❍stop the car in a position where it does not endanger on-com-
ing traffic and where you can replace the wheel safely. The
ground must be flat and compact;
❍switch off the engine, pull up the handbrake and engage 1st
gear or reverse; put on the high visibility jacket (required by
law) before leaving the vehicle;
❍open the luggage compartment, pull tab A-fig. 2 and lift up the
mat;
❍undo locking device A-fig. 3, remove tool box B and place it
next to the wheel to be replaced; remove small spare wheel C;
fig. 2A0J0104mfig. 3A0J0105m

IN AN EMERGENCY175
4
INFLATION PROCEDURE
fig. 16A0J0214m
Wear the gloves provided in the kit.
Proceed as follows:
❍Make sure the handbrake is on, unscrew the tyre valve cap,
take out the flexible filling pipe, B-fig. 16 and screw down
the ring nut C on the tyre valve;
❍make sure that switch A-fig. 17 on the compressor is in posi-
tion 0 (off), start the motor, insert pin A-fig. 18 into the cur-
rent socket/cigar lighter on the central tunnel and switch on
the compressor by placing switch A-fig. 17 in position I (on);
❍inflate the tyre to the pressure shown in the paragraph entitled
“Wheels” in chapter 6. In order to obtain a precise reading,
check the pressure on pressure gauge B-fig. 17 with the com-
pressor off;
fig. 17A0J0114m

176IN AN EMERGENCY
❍if a pressure value of a least 1.8 bars is not reached within 5
minutes, disconnect the compressor from the valve and current
socket, move the vehicle forwards by about 10 metres to dis-
tribute the sealant fluid in the tyre and repeat the inflation
procedure;
fig. 18A0J0116m
❍if a pressure value of a least 1.8 bars is not reached within 5
minutes of switching on the compressor, do not continue dri-
ving. Contact an Alfa Romeo Authorised Services;
❍after having driven for about 10 minutes, stop the car and check
the tyre pressure once more: remember to engage the hand-
brake;
❍if a pressure value of at least 1.8 bars is detected, restore the
correct pressure (with the engine running and the handbrake
engaged), and drive with care to an Alfa Romeo Authorised
Services.
Apply the adhesive label where it can be easily
seen by the driver as a reminder that the tyre has
been treated with the quick repair kit. Drive care-
fully, particularly on bends. Do not exceed 80 km/h. Do
not accelerate or brake suddenly.If the pressure has fallen below 1.8 bar, do not
drive any further: the Fix & Go automatic quick
tyre repair kit cannot guarantee proper hold be-
cause the tyre is too damaged. Contact an Alfa Romeo
Authorised Services.
Remember to inform the workshop that the tyre
has been treated with a quick repair kit. Give the
instruction booklet to the personnel charged with
handling the treated tyre.

CARE AND MAINTENANCE203
5
SCHEDULED SERVICING PLAN
PETROL VERSIONS
Thousands of kilometres
Check tyre condition/wear and adjust pressure if required
Check lighting system operation (headlights, direction indicators, hazard lights, passenger
compartment lights, boot lights, instrument panel warning lights, etc.)
Check windscreen wiper/washer operation
Check the position/wear of the windscreen/rearscreen wiper blades
Check condition and wear of front disc brake pads and
brake pad wear indication
Check rear disc brake pad condition and wear
Visually inspect the condition of: bodywork, underbody
protection, pipes and hoses (exhaust - fuel - brakes),
rubber parts (gaiters, sleeves, bushes, etc.)
Check cleanliness of locks, bonnet and boot, and
cleanliness and lubrication of linkages
Check and top up, if required, fluid levels
(engine coolant, brake/hydraulic clutch fluid, windscreen washer fluid, battery fluid, etc)
Check the handbrake lever travel and adjust it, if necessary
Check timing belt condition
Visually inspect condition of auxiliary drive belt/s
Check tension and adjust auxiliary drive belt (versions with heater system)30 60 90 120 150 180
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