2005 Alfa Romeo GT brake

CORRECT USE OF THE CAR
205
TOWING TRAILERS
IMPORTANTS
For towing caravans or trailers the vehicle
must be fitted with a certified tow hook
and an adequate electric system.
Installation should be carried out by spe-
cialised personnel who release a special
document for circulation on the road.
Install any specific and/or additional
rearview mirrors as specified by law.
Remember that when towing a trailer,
steep hills are harder to climb, the braking
spaces increase and overtaking takes
longer depending on the overall weight.
Engage a lower gear when driving down-
hill, rather than constantly using the
brake.
The weight the trailer exerts on the vehi-
cle tow hook reduces by the same amount
the actual vehicle loading capacity. To make sure the maximum towable
weight is not exceeded (given in the log
book) account should be taken of the fully
laden trailer, including accessories and per-
sonal belongings.
Drive within the specific speed limit in
every country for vehicle trailers. In any
case the maximum speed should never
exceed 100 km/h.
INSTALLING THE TOW HOOK
The towing device should be fastened to
the body by specialised personnel accord-
ing to the following instructions and any
additional and/or integrative information
supplied by the Manufacturer of the device
itself.
The towing device must meet current
regulations with reference to Directive
94/20/CEE and subsequent amend-
ments.
For any version the towing device used
must match the towable weight of the
vehicle on which it is to be installed.
For the electric connection a unified con-
nector should be used which is generally
placed on a special bracket normally fas-
tened to the towing device itself. The ABS system with
which the car may be fit-
ted does not control the
trailer braking system. Particular
care is therefore necessary on
slippery surfaces.
Under no circumstances
should the vehicle brake
system be altered to con-
trol the trailer brake. The trailer
braking system must be fully
independent of the vehicle’s
hydraulic system.

CORRECT USE OF THE CAR
206
For the electrical connection a 7 or 13
pole 12VDC connection must be used
(CUNA/UNI and ISO/DIN standards) fol-
lowing any reference instructions given by
the vehicle Manufacturer and/or towing
device Manufacturer.
Any electric brake should be supplied
directly by the battery through a cable
with a cross-section of no less than 2.5
mm
2. In addition to the electrical branch-
es, the vehicle electric system can only be
connected to the supply cable for an elec-
tric brake and to the cable for an internal
light, though not above 15W.INSTALLATION LAYOUT
(fig. 1)
The tow hook structure must be fas-
tened in the points shown by the
symbol Ø using 4 M8 screws and 7
M10 screws.
The inner plate (2) should have a
minimum thickness of 6 mm.
The inner plate (3) should have a
minimum thickness of 4 mm.
The inner plate (4) should have a
minimum thickness of 5 mm.
The fastening points (1) should be
fitted with 25 mm x 6 mm spacers.After assembly, the fas-
tening screw bores shall
be sealed to prevent pos-
sible exhaust gas infiltrations.
IMPORTANTIt is compulsory to fas-
ten a label (plainly visible) of suitable size
and material with the following wording:
MAX LOAD ON BALL 60 kg.

CORRECT USE OF THE CAR
209
Keep your speed
down when snow
chains are fitted.
Do not exceed 50 km/h. Avoid
potholes, steps and pavements to
prevent damaging the tyres, sus-
pension and steering. Remember
that with snow chains fitted the
brake distance will increase.
VEHICLE INACTIVITY
If the vehicle is to be left inactive for
long periods, the following precautions
should be noted:
– House the vehicle under cover in a dry
and possibly ventilated place.
– Engage a gear.
– Check that the handbrake is not
engaged.
– Clean and protect the paintwork by
protective wax.
– Cover the rubber windscreen and
rearscreen wiper blades with talcum pow-
der and raise them off the glass.
– Open the windows slightly.
– Inflate the tyres to a pressure of 0.5
bars above normal. If possible rest the
tyres on wooden planks and periodically
check the pressure.
– Do not turn on the electronic alarm
system.– Disconnect the battery negative termi-
nal (–) from the battery and check the
battery charge. This check should be
repeated once a month during stowage.
Charge the battery if the loadless voltage
is below 12,5V.
– Do not empty the engine cooling sys-
tem.
– Cover the vehicle with a fabric or per-
forated plastic cover. Do not use compact
plastic covers which prevent the humidity
on the surface of the vehicle from evapo-
rating. Snow chains cannot be
fitted to the compact
spare wheel. So, if a front
(drive) wheel is punctured and
chains are needed, a rear wheel
should be fitted to the front of
the vehicle (inflate the tyres to
the specified pressure as soon as
possible) and the spare wheel
should be fitted to the rear. This
way, with two normal drive
wheels, snow chains can be fitted
to them to solve an emergency.
With snow chains fitted
it is advisable to turn off
the ASR system. Press
the ASR-OFF button, led on but-
ton on.

IN AN EMERGENCY
212
STARTING BY INERTIA
If the car is equipped with “Kit for tyre
repair Fix&Go“, see the instructions con-
tained in the following chapter.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
As an alternative to FIX & GO, the com-
pact spare wheel or a wheel with the nor-
mal size can be supplied upon request;
wheel changing and correct use of the
jack and compact spare wheel call for
some precautions as listed below.
IN THE EVENT OF A PUNCTURE
Never push, tow or
coast start the vehicle.
This could cause fuel to
flow into the catalyst damaging
it irreversibly.
Remember that the
engine brake and power
steering are not opera-
tional until the engine is started,
therefore, much greater effort
than usual is needed on the brake
pedal and steering wheel.
Signal the presence of
the stationary vehicle
according to current regu-
lations: hazard warning lights,
reflecting triangle etc..
Any passengers should leave
the car and wait for the wheel to
be changed out of harm of the
traffic.
If parked on a slope or rough
surface, chock the wheels with
wedges or other suitable devices
to prevent the car from rolling.
Never start the engine
with the car jacked.
When driving with a
trailer, disconnect the trailer
before raising the car.
The compact spare wheel is spe-
cific to your car, do not use it on
other models, or use the spare
wheel of other models on your
vehicle.
Should the type of wheels used
be changed (alloy rims instead of
steel), it is also necessary to
change the whole set of fastening
bolts with others of suitable size.
The compact spare wheel is nar-
rower than normal wheels, it
should be used only for the dis-
tance necessary to reach a service
point to have the punctured tyre
repaired and, during its use, the
car speed must not exceed 80
km/h.

IN AN EMERGENCY
214
CHANGING A WHEEL
Please be informed that:
– the jack mass is 2,100 kg.
– the jack requires no adjustment.
– the jack cannot be repaired. In the
event of breakage, it must be replaced by
another original one.
– no tools other than its operating crank
can be fitted to the jack.
To change a wheel, proceed as follows:– Stop the car in such a position that it
is not dangerous for the traffic, where it is
possible to change the wheel safely.
Where possible, park on a level, compact
surface.
– Switch off the engine and engage the
handbrake.
– Engage first gear or reverse.– Use handle(A-fig.2) to remove the
stiff covering (B).
– Loosen the clamping device (A-
fig. 3).
– Take out the tool container (B) and
take it near the wheel to be changed.
– Take the spare wheel (C).
– Remove the wheel cap (A-fig. 4)
(only versions with steel rims)
fig. 2
A0A0645b
fig. 3
A0A0151b
fig. 4
A0A0154b

IN AN EMERGENCY
219
The compressor shall not
be operated for more than
20 minutes. Risk of over-
heating!. Tyres repaired with the
quick tyre repair kit shall be used
temporarily only.
Replace the cylinder if
sealer has run out. Do not
throw away the cylinder
and the sealing fluid. Have the
sealing fluid and the cylinder dis-
posed of in compliance with na-
tional and local regulations.INFLATING PROCEDURE
Put on the protection
gloves provided together
with quick tyre repair kit.
Proceed as follows:
– set the wheel to be repaired with valve
A-fig. 13in the position shown in the fig-
ure, then pull up the handbrake, take
the quick tyre repair kit and put it on the
ground near the wheel to be repaired;– loosen tyre inflation valve cap, take out
the filler hose A-fig.1 4and screw the ring
nutB-fig. 15on the tyre valve;
fig. 13
A0A1097bfig. 14
A0A1098b
fig. 15
A0A1099b

IN AN EMERGENCY
221
– after driving for about 10 minutes stop
and check again the tyre pressure; pull up
the handbrake;
If pressure falls below
1.8 bar, stop the car since
the tyre is excessively
damaged and the quick tyre repair
kit Fix & Go automatic cannot
guarantee suitable sealing, contact
Alfa Romeo Authorized Services.
– if at least 1.8 bar pressure is read, re-
store proper pressure (with engine running
and handbrake on) and restart;
– drive with the utmost care to the near-
est Alfa Romeo Authorized Service.You shall absolutely com-
municate that the tyre has
been repaired with the
quick tyre repair kit. Hand the in-
struction brochure to the personnel
charged with treating the tyre re-
paired with the kit.CHECKING AND RESTORING
PRESSURE ONLY
The compressor can be also used just for
restoring pressure. Disconnect the quick con-
nectionA-fig. 18and connect it directly
to the tyre valve fig. 19; in this way the
cylinder is not connected to compressor and
the sealing fluid will not flow into the tyre.
fig. 18
A0A1101b
fig. 19
A0A1102b

IN AN EMERGENCY
244
IF THE VEHICLE IS TO BE TOWED
The tow ring supplied with the vehicle is
housed in the tool box under the boot
mat.
To install the tow ring, proceed as fol-
lows:
– Take the tow ring from the tool box.
– Remove the cover (A) snap-fitted on
the front (fig. 55) or rear (fig. 56)
bumper. To do this, using the flat-bladed
screwdriver provided, protect the tip with
a soft cloth to avoid damaging the car.– Firmly screw the ring in its housing.
fig. 55 - front
A0A0650b
fig. 56 - rear
A0A0670b
Before tightening the
ring carefully clean the
threaded housing. Before
beginning to tow the car, make
sure that the ring is firmly tight-
ened in its threaded housing.
Before starting to tow,
turn the ignition key to
MAR and back to STOP,
again without removing it.
Removing the key automatically
engages the steering lock result-
ing in the impossibility to steer
the wheels. When towing
remember that without the help
of the engine brake and power
steering greater effort is required
on the pedal and steering wheel.
Do not use flexible cables 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, it is compulsory to follow
specific traffic regulations con-
cerning both the towing device
and behaviour on the road.