2005 Alfa Romeo 159 Owner handbook (in English)

223
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CAR
MAINTENANCE
❒sight inspect the conditions of: en-
gine, gearbox, transmission, pipes
and hoses (exhaust - fuel - brakes),
rubber parts (boots, sleeves, bushes,
etc.);
❒check battery charge;
❒visual check on various drive belt con-
ditions;
❒check and top up, if required, fluid
levels (engine coolant, brake fluid,
windscreen washer fluid, power steer-
ing fluid, battery fluid, etc);
❒ change engine oil and oil filter (petrol
versions);
❒change engine oil and oil filter, if re-
quired (diesel versions);
❒ replace pollen filter.
ADDITIONAL
CHECKS
Every 1,000 km or before long jour-
neys, check and top up if required:
❒engine coolant fluid level;
❒brake fluid level;
❒windscreen washer fluid level;
❒ tyre pressure and conditions.
Every 3,000 km check and top up if re-
quired: engine oil level.
You are recommended to use FL Se-
leniaproducts, designed and produced
specifically for Alfa Romeo cars (see
table “Capacities” in section “Techni-
cal specifications”).
ANNUAL INSPECTION
SCHEDULE
For cars with an annual mileage of be-
low 30,000 km (for example about
15,000 km) the following Annual In-
spection Schedule is advised:
❒check tyre conditions/wear and ad-
just pressure if required (including the
spare wheel);
❒check light system operation (head-
lights, direction indicators, hazard
lights, boot lights, passenger com-
partment lights, glovebox light, warn-
ing lights, etc.);
❒ check windscreen wiper/washer op-
eration;
❒check windscreen/rear window blade
position/wear;
❒check front disk brake pad conditions
and wear;
❒check cleanness of bonnet and boot
locks and lever cleanness and lubri-
cation;

224
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
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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.

225
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
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EMERGENCY
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CAR
MAINTENANCE
WARNING - Battery
The charge in the battery should be
checked at the start of winter to limit
the risk of electrolyte freezing.
This check should be carried out more
frequently if the car is used mainly for
short trips, or if it is fitted with acces-
sories that permanently absorb electric-
ity even with the ignition key removed,
especially in the case of after market ac-
cessories. If the car is used in hot cli-
mates or particularly harsh conditions
it is wise to check the level of the bat-
tery fluid (electrolyte) more frequently
than specified in the Service schedule.Car maintenance should
be entrusted to Alfa
Romeo Authorized Ser-
vices. For routine and minor
maintenance operations you
wish to carry out yourself, al-
ways make sure you have the
proper equipment, genuine Alfa
Romeo spare parts and the nec-
essary fluids; do not however
carry out these operations if
you have no experience.WARNING - Diesel filter
Topping up with diesel fuel not comply-
ing with EN590 European Norm might
make it necessary to replace the filter
more frequently than indicated in the
Service schedule.

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DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CAR
MAINTENANCE
CHECKING FLUID
LEVELS
For refilling amounts refer to Technical
Specifications section.
1.Engine oil - 2.Battery
3.Brake fluid - 4.Windscreen washer
fluid - 5.Engine coolant -
6.Power steering fluid
fig. 1 - 1.9 JTS - 2.2 JTS versionsA0E0161m
fig. 2 - 3.2 JTS versionA0E0038m
Never smoke while
working in the engine
compartment; gas and inflam-
mable vapours may be pre-
sent, with the risk of fire.
WARNING
When topping up take
care not to confuse the
various types of fluids:
they are all incompatible with
one another and could serious-
ly damage the car.

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CAR
MAINTENANCE
fig. 3 - 1.9 JTDM8v - 1.9 JTDM16v versionsA0E0162m
fig. 4 - 2.4 JTDMv versionA0E0203m
1.Engine oil - 2.Battery
3.Brake fluid - 4.Windscreen washer
fluid - 5.Engine coolant
6.Power steering fluid
1.Engine oil - 2.Battery
3.Brake fluid - 4.Windscreen washer
fluid - 5.Engine coolant
6.Power steering fluid

228
SAFETY
DEVICES
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LIGHTS AND
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OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CAR
MAINTENANCE
ENGINE OIL
Fig. 5: 1.9 JTS - 2.2 JTS versions
Fig. 6: 3.2 JTS version
Fig. 7: 1.9 JTD
M8V-
1.9 JTD
M16Vversions
Fig. 8: 2.4 JTD
MversionChecking engine oil
Check the oil level a few minutes (about
5) after the engine has stopped, with
the car parked on level ground.
Remove the dipstick Aand clean it, put it
back in completely, remove it and check
that the level is within the MINand
MAXmarks on the dipstick. The gap be-
tween the MINandMAXmarks cor-
responds to about one litre of oil.
A0E0018mfig. 5A0E0069mfig. 6
A0E0233mfig. 7
A0E0202mfig. 8

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SAFETY
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CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CAR
MAINTENANCE
Engine oil consumption
Max engine oil consumption is usually
400 grams every 1000 km.
When the car is new, the engine needs
to run in, therefore the engine oil con-
sumption can only be considered sta-
bilised after the first 5000 - 6000 km.
IMPORTANTThe oil consumption de-
pends on driving style and the conditions
under which the car is used.
IMPORTANTDo not add oil with
specifications other than that already
in the engine. Topping up engine oil
If the oil level is near or even below the
MINmark, add oil through the filler
neckB, until reaching the MAXmark.
Oil level shall never exceed the MAX
mark.
IMPORTANT If a routine check re-
veals that the oil level is above the
MAXmark, contact Alfa Romeo Au-
thorized Services to have the correct lev-
el restored.
IMPORTANT After adding or changing
the oil, let the engine turn over for a few
seconds and wait a few minutes after
turning it off before you check the level.
When the engine is hot,
take care when work-
ing inside the engine compart-
ment to avoid burns. Remem-
ber that when the engine is
hot, the fan may cut in: danger
of injury. Scarves, ties and
other loose clothing might be
pulled by moving parts.
WARNING
Used engine oil and fil-
ter contain harmful sub-
stances for the environ-
ment. Contact Alfa Romeo Au-
thorized Services to have the oil
and filter changed.

230
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CAR
MAINTENANCE
ENGINE COOLANT FLUID
fig. 9
If the level is low, pour slowly a mixture
of 50% distilled water and 50%
PARAFLU UPthrough the filler neck
A.
A 50% mixture of distilled water and
PARAFLU UP gives freeze protection
to –35°C.
A0E0017mfig. 9
The cooling system uses
PARAFLU UP that shall
be used for topping up
and that cannot be mixed with
other types of fluids. Should
other fluids be added, do not
start the engine and contact Al-
fa Romeo Authorized Services
as soon as possible.
Do not remove the
reservoir cap when the
engine is hot: you risk scalding
yourself.
WARNING
The cooling system is
pressurised. If neces-
sary, replace the cap only with
another genuine one, other-
wise system efficiency could
be compromised.
WARNING