2005 Alfa Romeo 159 towing

179
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
IN AN
EMERGENCY
IF A TYRE
IS PUNCTURED
For versions/markets where applicable,
the car can be equipped with the “Quick
tyre repair kit Fix&Go automatic“. Op-
erations required to change a wheel are
described in the following chapter.
As an alternative to the kit “Fix & Go
automatic”, the car can be provided (up-
on request) with space-saver spare
wheel or standard size spare wheel;
wheel changing and correct use of the
jack and space-saver spare wheel call for
some precautions as listed below.
BUMP STARTING
Never bump start the engine (by push-
ing, towing, or coasting downhill) as this
could cause fuel to flow into the catalytic
exhaust system and damage it beyond
repair.
Remember that the
brake booster and the
power steering system are not
operating until the engine is
started, a greater effort will
therefore be required to press
the brake pedal or turn the
steering wheel.
WARNING
Alert other drivers that
the car is stationary in
compliance with local regula-
tions: hazard warning lights,
warning triangle etc. Any pas-
sengers on board should leave
the car, especially if it is heav-
ily laden. Passengers should
stay away from oncoming
traffic while the wheel is be-
ing changed on. If the wheel is
being changed on a steep or
badly surfaced road, place the
wedges or other suitable ma-
terial under the wheel to stop
the car. Never start the engine
when the car is jacked up. If
you were towing a trailer, un-
couple the trailer before jack-
ing the car.
WARNING

217
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
IN AN
EMERGENCY
TOWING THE CAR
The tow hook provided with the car is
contained into the Fix&Go automatic
container.
TOW RING HOOKING
Front
Proceed as follows:
❒take the tow hookA-fig. 66from
the Fix&Go automatic container.Rear
The tow hook A-fig. 68for the rear
bumper is fixed.
❒remove the snap-fitted plug A-fig. 67
from the front bumper. If using the flat
blade screwdriver B-fig. 66 provided
as standard, protect its tip with a soft
cloth to prevent damaging the car.
❒tighten the tow hook in its seat.
A0E0230mfig. 67
A0E0176mfig. 68A0E0111mfig. 66

218
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
IN AN
EMERGENCY
Do not start the engine
when towing the car.
WARNING
Before fitting the hook,
clean accurately its
threaded seat. Before starting
to tow, make sure to have
tighten the hook.
WARNING
Before starting to tow,
disengage the steering
lock (see paragraph “Ignition de-
vice” in section “Dashboard and
controls”). When towing, re-
member that without the help of
the brake booster and power
steering, a greater effort is re-
quired on the pedal and steer-
ing wheel. Do not use flexible ca-
bles for towing and avoid jerks.
During towing operations make
sure that fastening the joint to
the car does not damage the
components in contact with it.
When towing the car, you must
comply with the specific traffic
regulations regarding the tow
ring and how to tow on the road.
WARNING

220
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CAR
MAINTENANCE
SCHEDULED
SERVICING
Correct maintenance is essential for en-
suring long car life under the best condi-
tions.
This is why Alfa Romeo has programmed
a series of checks and maintenance op-
erations every 30,000 km.
IMPORTANTAt 2,000 km from the
scheduled service, the display will show
a dedicated message.
It is however important to remember that
scheduled servicing does not completely
cover all the car’s requirements: also in
the initial period before 30,000 km ser-
vice coupon and later, between one
coupon and another, ordinary care is still
required such as for example routine
check and topping up the level of fluids,
tyre pressure check, etc...IMPORTANTThe Programmed Main-
tenance coupons are specified by the
Manufacturer. The failure to have them
carried out may invalidate the warranty.
Scheduled Servicing is performed by all
Alfa Romeo Authorized Services, at pre-
established times.
If during whatever service operation, in
addition to the ones programmed, the
need arises for further replacements or
repairs, these may be carried out only
with the explicit agreement of the Cus-
tomer.IMPORTANTYou are advised to con-
tact Alfa Romeo Authorized Services in
the event of any minor operating faults,
without waiting for the next service
coupon.
If your car is used frequently for towing,
the interval between one service coupon
and the other must be reduced.

224
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CAR
MAINTENANCE
WARNING - Air cleaner
Using the car on dusty roads, change the
air cleaner more frequently than stated
in the Scheduled Maintenance Pro-
gramme.
If in doubt as to how often the engine oil
and air cleaner should be changed ac-
cording to how you use the car, contact
Alfa Romeo Authorized Services.
WARNING - Pollen filter
If the car is used frequently in dusty or
heavily polluted environments it is ad-
visable to replace the filtering element
more frequently; in particular it should
be replaced if a reduction of the amount
of air admitted to the passenger com-
partment is noted. WARNING - Engine oil
(petrol versions)
Should prevailing use of the car be un-
der one of the following specially heavy
conditions:
❒trailer or caravan towing;
❒dusty roads;
❒ short distances (less than 7-8 km) re-
peated and with external tempera-
tures below zero;
❒frequently idling engines or long dis-
tance low speed driving (e.g. taxis or
door-to-door deliveries) or in case of
a long term inactivity;
replace engine oil more frequently than
required on Service Schedule.WARNING - Engine oil
(diesel versions)
Engine oil and oil filter shall be changed
when the relevant warning message is
displayed (versions with “Reconfigurable
multifunction display”) or when warn-
ing light
vstarts flashing (versions
with “Multifunction display”) (see sec-
tion “Warning lights and Messages”),
or in any case every 2 years.
If the car is mainly used in town, oil will
waste more fastly than in other driving
conditions.
Oil topping up (also sig-
nificant ones) do not re-
place the oil change pro-
cedure requested by the dis-
played message. Change engine
oil at Alfa Romeo Authorized
Services that will also turn off
the warning light on the instru-
ment panel.

268
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
INDEX
– understanding tyre marking .. 252
VDC system ............................ 106
Warning lights and
messages.......................... 161
Weights .................................. 259
Wheel geometry ...................... 256
Wheel rims
– understanding rim marking .... 253
Wheels
– changing ........................... 179
– technical data ..................... 252
Wheels and tyres ..................... 237
Windows (cleaning) ................. 243
Windscreen washer
– control ............................... 75
– fluid level ........................... 231
Windscreen wiper
– blades ............................... 239
– control ............................... 73
– nozzle ............................... 240 Snow chains ............................ 159
Sound system (presetting) ........ 112
Steering .................................. 251
Steering lock ........................... 21
Steering wheel (adjustment) ..... 49
Sun curtains ............................ 88
Sun visors ............................... 88
Sunroof .................................. 89
Suspensions ............................ 251
Symbols ................................. 9
Technical Specifications...... 245
Third brake light ....................... 200
Top speeds .............................. 258
Towing the car ......................... 217
Towing trailers
– installing the tow hook ........ 155
T.P.M.S. system ........................ 118
Transmission ............................ 250
Tyres
– changing ........................... 179
– inflation pressures ............... 255
– snow tyres ......................... 158
– standard tyres .................... 254