tow Alfa Romeo Giulietta 2012 Owner handbook (in English)

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PRETENSIONERS
The car is equipped with front seat belt pretensioners, which draw
back the seat belts by several centimetres in the event of a strong
frontal impact. This guarantees the perfect adherence of the seat
belts to the occupant’s bodies before the retention action begins.
It is evident that the pretensioners have operated when the belt
withdraws toward the reel.
This car is also equipped with a second pretensioner (in the kick
plate area). Its activation is signalled by the shortening of the met-
al cable.
A small amount of smoke may be produced when the pretension-
ers cut in. This smoke is not toxic and does not indicate a fire.
IMPORTANT To obtain the highest degree of protection from the ac-
tion of the pretensioner, wear the seat belt, keeping it close to
the chest and pelvis.
The pretensioner does not require any maintenance or lubrication.
Anything that modifies its original conditions invalidates its effi-
ciency. If, due to unusual natural events (floods, sea storms, etc.),
the device has been affected by water and mud, it must be re-
placed.
LOAD LIMITERS
To increase protection in case of an accident, the front seat belt
reels are equipped with a device which modulates the force act-
ing on the chest and shoulders during the belt restraining action
in the event of a frontal impact.
The pretensioner can be used only once. Once it
has activated contact Alfa Romeo Authorized Ser-
vices to have it replaced. See the label inside the
glove box to check the expiration date of the device: go
to Alfa Romeo Authorized Services when it is time to re-
place it.
Operations which lead to impacts, vibrations or lo-
calised heating (over 100°C for a maximum of six
hours) in the area around the pretensioners may
damage or deploy them. These devices are not affected
by vibrations caused by uneven road surfaces or low ob-
stacles such as kerbs, etc. Contact Alfa Romeo Authorized
Services to intervene.

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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.

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USING THE GEARBOX
To engage the gears, press the clutch pedal down fully and shift
the gear lever into the required position (a diagram is shown
on the knob fig. 111).
To engage 6th gear, operate the lever by pressing it towards the
right in order to avoid engaging 4th gear by mistake. Similar ac-
tion to pass from sixth to fifth gear.
To engage reverse gear (R) from the neutral position, lift up ring
A-fig. 111 and simultaneously move the lever to the left and then
forwards.
IMPORTANT Reverse may be engaged only when the car is at a
standstill.
fig. 111A0K0082m
Press the clutch pedal fully to change gears cor-
rectly. Therefore, the floor area under the pedals
must be clear: ensure that any rubber mats are flat
and do not interfere with the pedals.
Do not drive with your hand resting on the gear
lever, because this pressure, even if light, can wear
out the inner components of the gearbox over
time.

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TOWING TRAILERS
IMPORTANT
The car must be provided with a type-approved tow hook and ad-
equate electric system to tow caravans or trailers. Installation must
be carried out by a specialist.
Install any specific and/or additional rear-view mirrors in accor-
dance with the highway code of the country in which you are trav-
elling.
Remember that when towing a trailer, steep hills are harder to climb,
braking distances increase and overtaking takes longer depending
on the overall weight.
Engage a low gear when driving downhill, rather than constantly
using the brake.
The weight of the trailer reduces the load capacity of the car by the
same amount. Consider the weight at full load, including acces-
sories and luggage, to make sure you do not exceed the maximum
towable weight (shown in the registration document).
Respect the speed limits specific to each country for vehicles tow-
ing trailers. In any event do not exceed 100 km/h.
INSTALLING A TOW HOOK
Contact Alfa Romeo Authorized Services to install a tow hook.
The ABS with which the car is equipped will not con-
trol the braking system of the trailer. Take extra
care when travelling on slippery roads.
Never modify the braking system of the car to con-
trol the trailer brake. The trailer braking system
must be fully independent from the hydraulic sys-
tem of the car.

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The space-saver spare wheel is vehicle-specific:
do not use it on vehicles of other model and do not
use space-saver spare wheels from other models
on your car. The space-saver spare wheel must only be
used in an emergency. Never use it longer than strictly
necessary and never exceed 80 km/h. On the space-saver
spare wheel there is a label, summarizing the main warn-
ings about the space-saver spare wheel usage restrictions.
Never remove or cover the label. Never apply any hub
cap to the space-saver spare wheel.
CHANGING A TYRE
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
The car is equipped with an “Automatic Fix&Go Kit“: see “Auto-
matic Fix&Go Kit” for how to use this device.
Alternatively to the “Automatic Fix&Go Kit” the car may be
equipped with a space-saver spare wheel: see the instructions on
the following pages for changing the tyre.
Use your hazard lights, warning triangle, etc. to
show that your car is stationary in compliance with
regulations. Passengers should get out of the car,
particularly if it is heavily loaded, and wait for the wheel
to be changed away from the traffic. In the event of a
wheel change on a slope or on unsurfaced roads, chock
the wheels.
BUMP STARTING
Never start the engine by pushing, towing or driving downhill.
Never use a fast battery-charger to start the en-
gine as this could damage the electronic systems
of your car, particularly the ignition and fuel sup-
ply control units.

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REFITTING THE WHEEL
Following the procedure previously described, raise the car and
remove the space-saver spare wheel.
Proceed as follows:
❍make sure the contact surfaces between standard wheel and
hub are clean so that the fastening bolts will not come loose;
❍for versions with steel rims: fixed the wheel hub onto the rim;
❍fit the hub cap by aligning the crescent hole with the bolt you
have fitted, then insert the other 4 bolts;
❍tighten the retaining bolts using wrench A-fig. 115;
❍lower the car and remove the jack;
❍use wrench A-fig. 115 to fully tighten the bolts, following the
sequence shown in fig. 118;
When you have finished:
❍stow the space-saver spare wheel in the compartment provid-
ed in the boot;
❍insert the jack and the other tools in the container;
❍arrange the container and tools on the space-saver spare wheel;
❍reposition the boot mat correctly.
Subwoofer and “Automatic Fix&Go Kit”
Locating the Automatic Fix&Go Kit:
❍open the boot, pull tab A-fig. 113 and lift up the mat;
❍take the “Automatic Fix&Go Kit” located on the left side of the
boot (fig. 121);
❍inflate the wheel (see “Automatic Fix&Go Kit”).
IMPORTANT If you need to remove the subwoofer follow the indi-
cations shown on the adhesive label fig. 121 over the subwoofer
itself to reposition it correctly.
fig. 121A0K0178m

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“Automatic Fix&Go” KIT
This is located in the boot (the kit container may change according
to versions - see fig. 122). The kit container also contains a screw-
driver and the tow ring. The kit contains:
❍a bottle A-fig. 122a containing sealing liquid, provided with:
filling tube B and adhesive label C with the wording
“max. 80 km/h” to be placed in a clearly visible position
(e.g. on the dashboard) after repairing the tyre;
fig. 122aA0K0019m
fig. 122A0K0126mfig. 123A0K0020m
❍a compressor D complete with pressure gauge and connectors;
❍an information booklet fig. 123, providing instructions for us-
ing the kit correctly. This booklet should be given to the per-
sons charged with handling the tyre treated with this kit;

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Halogen bulbs must be handled holding the metal-
lic part only. Touching the transparent part of the
bulb with your fingers may reduce the intensity
of the light emitted and even compromise the longevity
of the bulb itself. In the event of accidental contact, wipe
the bulb with an alcohol-soaked cloth and leave to dry.
Modifications or repairs to the electrical system
(electronic control units) that are not carried out
properly or do not take the technical specifications
of the system into account can cause malfunctions lead-
ing to the risk of fire.
Halogen bulbs contain pressurised gas which may
cause small fragments of glass to be projected out-
wards if the bulb is broken.
Due to the high power supply voltage, gas dis-
charge bulbs (Bi-Xenon) should only be replaced
by specialised personnel: danger of death! Contact
Alfa Romeo Authorized Services.
IMPORTANT When the weather is cold or damp or after heavy rain
or after washing, the surface of headlights or rear lights, may steam
up and/or form drops of condensation on the inside. This is a nat-
ural phenomenon due to the difference in temperature and humidity
between the inside and the outside of the glass which does not
indicate a fault and does not compromise the normal operation of
lighting devices. The mist disappears quickly turning the lights on,
starting from the centre of the diffuser, extending progressively
towards the edges.
CHANGING A BULB
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
❍Before changing a bulb check the contacts for oxidation;
❍blown bulbs must be replaced with others of the same type
and power:
❍after replacing a headlight bulb, always check its alignment;
❍when a light is not working, check that the corresponding fuse
is intact before changing the bulb. For the location of fuses, re-
fer to the “Changing a fuse” paragraph in this section.

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DIPPED BEAM HEADLIGHTS
To change the bulb, proceed as follows:
❍remove cover B-fig. 131;
❍remove the connector A-fig. 133, press the tab B forward and
then release by pushing it towards the inside the car;
❍extract the bulb C and replace it;
❍refit the new lamp, making sure that it is locked correctly, and
secure the tab B again and reconnect the connector A;
❍finally refit cover B-fig. 131.
DIRECTION INDICATORS
Front
To replace the bulb, turn the cover C-fig. 131 anticlockwise by ¼
of a turn and replace the bulb + bulb holder assembly A-fig. 134.
Side
These are LEDs. Contact Alfa Romeo Authorized Services to replace
these lights.
FRONT FOG LIGHTS
(for versions/markets, where provided)
Contact Alfa Romeo Authorized Services to replace these bulbs.
fig. 133A0K0203mfig. 134A0K0204m

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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