[Hurri]

My car is one of the early ones fitted with an in cabin transmission unlock. If your electrics blow, and nothing works, this is the only way of getting out of park.

So rather than grovelling under the car with your 32mm M6 bolt to unlock, you can do it inside the car from the rear seat. (Strangely on my car, the bolt hole under the car is there, but not the lever as on the normal unlock, so you can screw in a bolt but nothing happens).

So, does anyone else have this??? (you'll need to pop off the rear 'air vents' trim - or rather where the air vents would be if there were any on your car. This is a straightforward pull off job and very easy as it just clips on... although I did use a trim tool to get some purchase.) I'd really like to know how to operate it safely and the owners manual has nothing in it at all about this release. Some clues would be a massive help! Incidentally, I think the release is the orange thing with the tape wrapped around it.

The car is on a hill at the moment so.. not going to do anything experimental!

Thanks in advance!

 

[AlfissimoInternational]

Interesting...

 

[shpuncik]

Interesting...

MacGeek spoke about it some time ago on giuliaforums.

Unlocking Automatic transmission

Need to move the vehicle without starting (for any reason) You have to unlock the transmission ( from P to N) Procedure described in a manual, mentioning a lever under the central tunnel cover, is not true, at least for my car (no such lever) Anyone do it? Detailed procedure?

www.giuliaforums.com

 

[Hurri]

I now have the detailed procedures from Alfa and will post when I get to use the thing, I got confirmation that this is legitimate and should just work when I pull the lever up using the tag, and re-lock when returning it. This is extremely rare, since it only applies to the first non Quad cars to be made (which were diesels). From what I can work out my car was completed manufacturing in 2017 but the fitment was only to diesel transmissions made in 2016.

MacGeek also was kind enough to post the parts list and diagram of the mech on the G forums and speculate about retrofitting the lever to non diesel versions. I guess I'm excited to find what appears to be the wiring for the USB port unattached, so I should just be able to buy the rear vents from the breakers and plug those in, and get an extra rear USB port. Unfortunately MacGeek has given up, and most everyone else on the G forum is US based so won't have the diesel... I thought I would post here instead.

 

[AlfissimoInternational]

MacGeek spoke about it some time ago on giuliaforums.

Unlocking Automatic transmission

Need to move the vehicle without starting (for any reason) You have to unlock the transmission ( from P to N) Procedure described in a manual, mentioning a lever under the central tunnel cover, is not true, at least for my car (no such lever) Anyone do it? Detailed procedure?

www.giuliaforums.com

Yeah, I know. This is way way old. We carry a bolt for that procedure. I am referring to the pull in cabin release. Not that we have diesels here but interesting regardless.

 

[Hurri]

So, more discovery today.. I got the transmission release to release the transmission (supposedly) but the rear brakes appear to be still applied. Power to the car doesn't enable anything other than the Alfa splash screen, but the "brakes applied" light on the dash is on. It's really much like a dead Tesla. your only option with these cars is if the electronics go is to get some 'slippery jims' or equivalent and drag the car onto a truck. That is a bit disappointing, as all the reading I've done on this would suggest that as soon as you release it, your park is disengaged. Edit - it appears that the brakes can 'fail on' as well from talking to Alfa... so I guess what you need to do (if you have the choice) is to put the car in park to stop it going anywhere, but don't apply the handbrake and then pull the battery...

For completeness, here is what it the lever looks like, it pulls a cable, and if you look at the lever itself you'll see there is a little spring loaded unlock switch which you need to move with a small screwdriver or equivalent (per the graphic on the lever) to unlock this. Once pulled and in the open position as it is in these photos, the lever locks and you need to 'unlock' in order to reset the lever. Sorry the pics are not exactly clear but hopefully you get the idea.

The other thing that I discovered today is that although the Giulia has two holes in the front bumper for a tow hook, only one is fitted with the threaded M16 captive nut, so you can't use the other. Maybe it was something they did for LHD or RHD cars... who knows... maybe the Quad has both!