2004 Alfa Romeo 156 bonnet

CAR MAINTENANCE
251
ADDITIONAL
OPERATIONSEvery 1000 kmor before long journeys
check and if necessary top up:
– engine coolant level
– brake fluid/hydraulic clutch control flu-
id level
– power steering fluid level
– windscreen washer and headlamp wash-
er fluid level
– tyre pressure and conditions.
Every 3000 kmcheck the level of the
engine oil and top up if necessary.
You are recommended to use products of
the FL Selenia, designed and developed
expressly for Alfa Romeo cars (see the table
“Specifications of fluids and lubricants” in
the “Technical specifications” chapter).
ANNUAL INSPECTION
PROGRAMMEAn annual inspection programme
has been established for cars thet
cover less than 20,000 km (e.g.
10,000 km). It consists of the fol-
lowing:
– Check tyre conditions/wear and adjust
pressure if required (including the compact
spare wheel)
– Check lighting system operation (head-
lights, direction indicators, hazard lights,
boot lights, passenger compartment lights,
glovebox light, warning lights of instrument
panel, etc.)
– Check windscreen and rear-screen
wiper/washer operation, adjust nozzles
– Check windscreen/rear-screen blade po-
sition/wear
– Check condition and wear of the front
brake pad
– Check for bonnet and boot lock clean-
ness, lever cleanness and lubrication– Visually check the following: engine,
gearbox, transmission, piping (exhaust - fu-
el - brakes) rubber components (casings -
sleeves - bushings, etc..), brake and fuel
hoses
– Check battery charge condition
– Visually check the condition of the belts
and various controls
– Check and top up if necessary, the flu-
id levels (coolant, brake fluid, windscreen
washer fluid, battery, etc.)
– Change engine oil
– Replace engine oil filter
– Change pollen filter.

CAR MAINTENANCE
256
A0B0558m
1Engine oil - 2Battery - 3Brake fluid -
4Windscreen washer fluid - 5Engine
coolant fluid - 6Power steering fluid
1Engine oil - 2Battery - 3Brake fluid -
4Windscreen washer fluid - 5Engine
coolant fluid - 6Power steering fluidfig. 5 - JTD 16V Multijet version
fig. 6 - JTD 20V Multijet version
To improve picture detail, the engine compartment is illustrated without the bonnet
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CAR MAINTENANCE
269
USEFUL HINTS TO EXTEND
THE LIFE OF YOUR BATTERYTo avoid quickly draining the battery and
to preserve its operating conditions over the
course of time, carefully follow the instruc-
tions below:
– The terminals must always be tightened.
– As far as possible, avoid keeping ser-
vices on for a long time with the engine
stopped (radio, hazard lights, parking lights,
etc.).
– When leaving the car parked in a
garage, make sure that the doors, bonnet,
boot and interior lids are properly shut to
prevent lights from staying on.
– Before doing any work on the electric
system, disconnect the battery negative ter-
minal.– If after purchasing the car, you wish to
install electrical accessories which need a
permanent electrical supply (alarm, hands-
free phone, radio-navigator with satellite an-
ti-theft function, etc.) contact Alfa Romeo
Authorized Services whose qualified per-
sonnel, in addition to suggesting the most
suitable devices from Lineaccessori Alfa
Romeo will be able to evaluate the total
electrical absorption, checking whether the
car’s electric system is able to support the
load required or whether a battery with high-
er capacity is necessary. In fact, these de-
vices continue to absorb current with the
ignition key off (car parked, engine off) and
may gradually drain the battery.
REPLACING THE BATTERYIf required, replace the battery with a gen-
uine spare part having the same specifica-
tions. If a battery with different specifica-
tions is fitted, the service intervals given in
the Programmed Maintenance Schedule in
this section will no longer be valid. Refer
to the instructions provided by the battery
manufacturer.

CAR MAINTENANCE
275
RECOMMENDATIONS
TO PRESERVE THE BODYWORKPaint
The paintwork does not only serve an aes-
thetic purpose but also protects the under-
lying sheet metal.
In the case of deep scrapes or scores, you
are advised to have the necessary touch-
ing up carried out immediately to avoid the
formation of rust.
Only original products should be used for
touching up paint (see “Bodywork paint
identification label” in the “Technical spec-
ifications” chapter).
Normal paint maintenance consists in
washing at intervals depending on the con-
ditions and environment of use. For exam-
ple, in highly polluted areas, or if the roads
are sprayed with salt, it is wise to wash the
car more frequently.
Detersives pollute water.
The car should therefore be
washed in areas equipped
for the collection and purification
of the liquid used in the washing
process.
To correctly wash the car:
1)Remove the aerial from the roof to pre-
vent damage to it if the car is washed in
an automatic system.
2)Spray the body with a low pressure
jet of water.
3)Pass a sponge moistened with a light
detergent solution, rinsing the sponge fre-
quently.
4)Rinse well with water and dry with a
jet of air or a chamois leather.
When drying, take particular care with the
less visible parts like door surrounds, bonnet
and around the headlights where water may
stagnate. The car should not be taken to a
closed area immediately, but left in the open
so that residual water can evaporate. – Spraying of plastic parts, with a pro-
tective function, in the more exposed
points: underdoor, inner wheel arch linings,
edges, etc.
– Use of “open” boxed sections to pre-
vent condensation and pockets of moisture
from triggering rust inside.
VEHICLE EXTERIOR AND
UNDERBODY WARRANTYThe Alfa 156is guaranteed against
perforation due to rust of any original ele-
ment of the structure or body. For the gen-
eral terms of this warranty, refer to the War-
ranty Booklet.

CAR MAINTENANCE
276
Detergents cause water
pollution. Therefore the en-
gine compartment should
be washed in areas equipped for
collecting and purifying the liquid
used in the washing process.
WARNINGThe vehicle should washed
with the engine cold and the ignition key at
STOP. After washing make sure that the
various protections (e.g. rubber caps and
various covers) have not been damaged or
removed. Do not wash the car after it has been left
in the sun or with the bonnet hot: this may
alter the shine of the paintwork.
Exterior plastic parts must be cleaned in
the same way as the rest of the vehicle.
Where possible, do not park under trees;
the resinous substance many species release
give the paint a dull appearance and in-
crease the possibility of triggering rust
processes.
WARNINGBird droppings must be
washed off immediately and thoroughly as
the acid they contain is particularly ag-
gressive.Windows
Use specific products to clean the windows.
Use clean cloths to avoid scratching or al-
tering the transparency of the glass.
WARNINGThe inside of the rearscreen
should be wiped gently with a cloth in the
direction of the filaments to avoid damag-
ing the heating device. Engine compartment
At the end of the winter the engine com-
partment should be carefully washed, with-
out directing the jet against electronic con-
trol units. Contact a specialised workshop to
have this done.

ALPHABETICAL INDEX
326
A A
L L
P P
H H
A A
B B
E E
T T
I I
C C
A A
L L

I I
N N
D D
E E
X X
A
BS (wheel anti-lock system)
– operation and warnings........... 177
Accessories purchased by
the owner ................................ 166
Additional heater ......................... 135
Additional operations
(car maintenance) ..................... 251
Additional stop light (3rd stop) 230-297
Air bags, front and side ................ 42
– deactivating passenger’s
air bag ................................ 44
– front air bags ........................ 42
– general cautions ................... 46
– passenger side front air bag .... 43
– side air bags
(side bag - window bag) ........ 44
Air cleaner................................... 265
Air recirculation ........................... 129
Air vents .............................. 108-109
Alfa 156 Sportwagon........... 278
Alfa Romeo CODE system .............. 6
– operation .............................. 9
Annual inspection programme
(car maintenance) ..................... 251Armrests
– centre ............................ 23-280
– front .............................. 22
– rear ............................... 23-280
Ashtray
– front .................................... 164
– rear .................................... 164
ASR system ................................. 181
Battery
– advice for prolonging life ........ 269
– charging ........................ 242-268
– checking the charge ............... 267
– maintenance ......................... 266
– replacement ......................... 269
– starting with an auxiliary
battery ................................ 242
Body
– cleaning ............................... 274
– marking................................ 299
– versions ................................ 301
Bodywork paint identification label . 300
Bonnet ....................................... 172
Boot
– capacity ......................... 317-309– current socket ....................... 285
– extension ............................. 289
– lighting ......................... 171-284
– luggage cover ....................... 287
– object retainer net .................. 285
– oddment compartments .......... 285
– opening from inside .. 131-170-282
– opening lever ....................... 135
– opening with remote
control ........................ 8-170-282
– passenger compartment
separation net (lower) ............ 288
– passenger compartment
separation net (upper)............ 288
– securing the load ............ 171-283
– tailgate closing ............... 171-283
– warnings for carrying
luggage.......................... 172-284
Brake and clutch fluid
– checking level and topping up .. 263
Brakes
– checking fluid level
and topping up ..................... 263
– handbrake ........................... 138
– specifications ......................... 305

ALPHABETICAL INDEX
328
Diesel filter ................................. 265
Dimensions ........................... 315-316
Dipped beam headlights
– aiming for left-hand/
right-hand driving ................... 178
– changing bulbs ..................... 224
– switching on ......................... 48
Direction indicators
– changing front bulbs ............... 223
– changing rear bulbs ................ 228
– changing side bulbs ................ 227
– switching on ......................... 49
Door mirrors.......................... 25-26
Doors
– centralized locking ................. 19
– child safety lock............... 20-279
– opening/closing
from inside ..................... 19-278
– opening/closing
from outside ................... 18-278
– remote control ....................... 7
– remote locking/unlocking ...... 16
Economy and environment-friendly
driving ..................................... 197
Electronic alarm system................. 11
– automatic engagement ........... 14
– cutting out the siren .............. 15
– description ............................ 11
– interrupting the alarm ............. 14
– ministerial homologation ........ 16
– request for additional
emote controls....................... 12
– switching off ........................ 13
– switching on ......................... 12
– volumetric protection ............. 15
– when the alarm is triggered ..... 14
Electronic control units ................. 270
Emergency starting ................ 191-205
– starting by inertia .................. 207
– starting with an auxiliary
battery ................................. 242
Engine
– identification codes................. 301
– marking ............................... 299
– specifications ......................... 302
Engine compartment
– bonnet ................................. 172
– cleaning................................ 276Engine coolant
– checking level and topping up .. 261
– temperature gauge
and warning light ................... 62
Engine lock system
(Alfa Romeo CODE) ................... 6
Engine oil
– checking level and topping up .. 257
– consumption ......................... 258
Environment
– economy and environment-
friendly driving....................... 197
– emission reducing devices . 187-188
– protecting emission
reducing devices .................... 198
– reducing running costs
and environment pollution ....... 195
– use of non-toxic materials........ 187
EOBD system............................... 182
First-aid kit ................................ 247
Fix&Go (quick tyre repair kit) ........ 212
Flashing main beam headlights ..... 49
Fluids and lubricants .................... 320
Front foglights
– adjustment............................ 177
– changing bulbs ..................... 225
– switching on.......................... 136

RIGHT HAND DRIVE VERSION
342
DASHBOARD1.Side air outlets - 2.Defrosting/demisting vents for side windows - 3.Upper side vents - 4.Passanger’s Air bag - 5.Sound system -
6.Engine coolant temperature gauge - 7.Clock - 8.Centre air vents - 9.Infocenter display - 10.Fuel level gauge - 11.Cruise control
lever (where fitted) - 12.Outside lights control lever - 13.Speedometer. - mileage recorder - 14.Check panel - 15.Rev counter -
16.Windscreen wiper control lever - 17.Bonnet opening lever - 18.Radio controls on the steering wheel (where applicable) -19.Igni-
tion switch - 20.Steering wheel lock/release lever - 21.Driver’s Air bag and horns - 22.Controls unit: instrument panel lighting adjust-
ment and healamp diming - 23.Controls for heating, ventilation and climate control - 24.Ashtray and cigar lighter - 25.Hazard warning
lights switch - 26.Glove box.fig. 1
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