2005 Alfa Romeo 147 Owner handbook (in English)

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
223
20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180Thousands of km
Change timing gear drive belt (*)
Change accessory Poly-V drive belt
Change spark plugs
Check operation of engine control system (through diagnosis socket)
Check mechanical transmission and differential oil level
Change engine oil
Change engine oil filter
Change brake fluid (or every 2 years)
Change pollen filer (or once a year)
Check emissions/smoke at the exhaust
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(*) Or every 3 years for harsh conditions (cold climates, city driving or prolonged lengths of time at idle speed, dusty areas)
Or every 5 years, regardless of mileage.

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
224
ADDITIONAL
OPERATIONS
Every 1000 kmor before long journeys,
check and if necessary top up:
– engine coolant fluid level
– brake/hydraulic clutch control fluid level
– power steering fluid level
– windscreen/rearscreen and headlamp
washer fluid level
– tyre pressure and conditions.
Every 3000 kmcheck and if necessary
top up the engine oil level.
The use of products of the FL Seleniais
recommended which have been designed
and made expressly for Alfa Romeo cars
(see “Refuelling” in the “Technical Specifi-
cations” chapter).
ANNUAL INSPECTION
PROGRAMME
For cars with an annual mileage
of below 20,000 km (for example
about 10,000 km) the following
yearly inspection programme is ad-
vised:
– Check tyre conditions/wear and if nec-
essary adjust the pressure
– Check operation of lighting system
(headlights, direction indicators, hazard
warning lights, boot, passenger compart-
ment, glovebox lights, warning lights )
– Check operation of windscreen wiper
system, spray jet adjustment
– Check position/wear of windscreen/
rearscreen wiper blades
– Check front disk brake pad conditions
and wear
– Check for bonnet and boot lock clean-
ness, lever cleanness and lubrication– Sight check for conditions of: engine,
gearbox, transmission, pipes (exhaust - fu-
el supply - brakes) rubber parts (boots -
sleeves - bushes etc..), brake and fuel sup-
ply system hoses
– Check battery charge
– Sight check for conditions of various dri-
ve belts
– Check and if necessary top up fluid lev-
els (engine coolant, brakes, windscreen
washer, battery, etc...)
– Change engine oil
– Change engine oil filter
– Change pollen filter.

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
225
IMPORTANT
Engine oil
Should prevailing use of the car be under
one of the following specially heavy condi-
tions:
– trailer or caravan towing
– dusty roads
– frequently idling engines or long distance
low speed driving or in case of a long term
inactivity
– short distances (less than 7-8 km) re-
peated and with external temperatures be-
low zero replace engine oil more frequent-
ly than required on Service Schedule.
IMPORTANT
Air cleaner
Using the car on dusty roads change the
air cleaner more frequently than specified in
the Scheduled Maintenance Programme.
For any doubts concerning the intervals be-
tween engine oil and air cleaner replacement
in relation to how the vehicle is used, con-
tact Alfa Romeo Authorised Services.IMPORTANT
Battery
It is advisable to check the battery charge,
preferably at the onset of winter, to prevent
the possibility of the electrolyte freezing.
This check should be carried out more fre-
quently if the car is used mainly for short
trips, or if it is fitted with accessories that
permanently absorb electricity even with the
ignition key removed, especially in the case
of after market accessories.
If the vehicle is used in hot climates or par-
ticularly harsh conditions it is wise to check
the level of the battery fluid (electrolyte)
more frequently than specified in the Sched-
uled Maintenance Programme.Vehicle maintenance should
be entrusted to Alfa Romeo
Authorised Services. For
routine and minor maintenance op-
erations you wish to carry out your-
self, always make sure you have the
proper equipment, genuine Alfa
Romeo spares and the necessary flu-
ids;do not however carry out these
operations if you have no experi-
ence.IMPORTANT
Pollen filter
If the vehicle is used frequently in dusty or
heavily polluted environments it is advisable
to replace the filtering element more fre-
quently; in particular it should be replaced
if a reduction of the amount of air admitted
to the passenger compartment is noted.

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
226
A0A0405m
fig. 1
CHECKING LEVELS
1Engine oil - 2Battery - 3Brake fluid - 4Power steering fluid - 5Windscreen/rearscreen/head-
lamp washer fluid - 6Engine coolant fluid When topping up take
care not to confuse the var-
ious types of fluids: they
are all incompatible with one an-
other and could seriously damage
the vehicle.
Never smoke while work-
ing in the engine compart-
ment; gas and inflammable vapours
may be present, with the risk of
fire.
WARNING

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
227
Used engine oil and filter
contain harmful substances
for the environment. Con-
tact Alfa Romeo Authorised Ser-
vices, to have the oil and filter
changed as they are equipped to
dispose of the waste oil and filters
respecting nature and the law.
ENGINE OIL (fig. 3)
The engine oil should be checked with the
vehicle on a level surface a few minutes
(about 5) after the engine has been
switched off.
Remove the dipstick (A) clean it, put it
back in completely, remove it and check that
the level is within the MINandMAX
marks on the dipstick. The interval between
theMINandMAXmarks corresponds to
about one litre of oil.If the oil level is near or even below the
MINmark, add oil through the filler neck
(B), until reaching the MAXmark.
IMPORTANTIf a routine check reveals
that the level is above the MAXmark, con-
tact Alfa Romeo Authorised Services to have
the correct level restored.
IMPORTANTAfter topping up the oil,
before checking the level again, run the en-
gine a few seconds and wait for a few min-
utes after stopping it.Engine oil consumption
Max engine oil consumption is usually 400
grams every 1000 km.
During the initial period of use the engine
settles, therefore engine oil consumption
may be considered stabilised only after the
first 5000 ÷ 6000 km.
IMPORTANTEngine oil consumption de-
pends on the way of driving and the condi-
tions of use of the vehicle.
fig. 3
A0A0406m
Do not add oil with spec-
ifications (classification,
viscosity) other than those
of the oil already in the engine.
When the engine is hot,
take care when working
inside the engine compartment to
avoid burns. Remember that when
the engine is hot, the fan may cut
in: danger of injury.
WARNING

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
228
SELESPEED TRANSMISSION
OIL
(fig. 4)
The Selespeed transmission oil should be
checked with the vehicle on a level surface
and with the engine stopped and cold.
To check the level, proceed as follows:
– turn the ignition key to MAR;
– disconnect the breather tube and re-
move the cap (A) checking that the level
corresponds with the MAXmark on the dip-
stick integrated with the cap;– if the oil is below the MAXmark, top
up to reach the correct level;
– after refitting the cap, insert the breather
tube firmly on the housing on the cap and
turn the ignition key to STOP.
Used gearbox oil contains
dangerous substances for
the environment. For chang-
ing the oil we advise contacting Al-
fa Romeo Authorised Services who
are equipped for disposing of used
oil respecting nature and the law.Do not add oil with spec-
ifications other than that
already in the gearbox.
fig. 4
A0A00197m
Be very careful working in-
side the engine compart-
ment if the engine is hot: danger of
burns. Remember that the fan may
cut in if the engine is very hot: dan-
ger of injury.
WARNING

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
229
POWER STEERING FLUID
(fig. 6)
Check that the level of the oil in the reser-
voir is at maximum.
This operation should be carried out with
the vehicle on a level surface and the en-
gine switched off and cold.
Check that the level reaches the MAX
mark on the reservoir or coincides with the
upper notch (maximum level) on the dip-
stick (A) integral with the reservoir cap. The cooling system is
pressurised. If necessary,
replace the cap only with
another genuine one, otherwise
system efficiency could be compro-
mised.
Top up only with the same
fluid contained in the cool-
ing circuit. PARAFLU UP
(red) cannot be mixed with
PARAFLU 11 (blue) or with other
fluids. Should this take place, do
not start the engine and contact Al-
fa Romeo Authorized Service.
fig. 6
A0A0407m
ENGINE COOLANT FLUID
(fig. 5)
The level of the coolant in the header tank
(reservoir) should be checked with the en-
gine cold and the car on a level surface and
it should be between the MINandMAX
marks on the tank.
If the level is low, loosen the header tank
cap (A) and slowly pour a mixture of the
fluid specified in the ”Fluids and lubricants”
table in section “Technical Specifications”,
through the filler neck until nearing the
MAXmark; have this operation carried out
at Alfa Romeo Authorised Services.
fig. 5
A0A0240m
The antifreeze mixture contained in the
cooling circuit guarantees protection down
to –40°C.
Do not remove the cap
when the engine is hot:
danger of burns.
WARNING

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
230
If the oil level in the reservoir is below the
specified one, top up only with one of the
products listed in the “Fluids and lubricants”
table in the “Technical Specifications” chap-
ter proceeding as follows.
– Start the engine and wait for the oil lev-
el in the reservoir to stabilise.
– With the engine running, turn the steer-
ing wheel lock to lock a few times.
– Top up to the MAXlevel notch, then
refit the cap.
Oil consumption is very
low, if topping up again is
needed shortly afterwards,
have the system checked for pos-
sible leaks by Alfa Romeo Autho-
rised Services.BRAKE AND HYDRAULIC
CLUTCH FLUID
(fig. 7)
Slacken the cap (A) and check that the
fluid contained in the reservoir reaches the
maximum mark.
fig. 7
A0A0408m
When loosening the
reservoir cap do not allow
the fluid to come into con-
tact with painted parts. If it does,
wash it off immediately with wa-
ter.
Do not allow the power
steering fluid to touch hot
parts of the engine: it is inflam-
mable.
WARNING