Page 250 of 307

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
248
SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME
20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180Thousands of km
Check tyre conditions/wear and adjust pressure if necessary
Check operation of lighting system (headlights, direction indicators, hazard warning
lights, boot, passenger compartment, glovebox lights, warning lights, etc..)
Check operation of windscreen washer system, adjust spray jets
Check position/wear of windscreen/rearscreen wiper blades
Check operation of front disk brake pad wear indicator
Check wear conditions of rear disk brake pads
Sight check the conditions of: body exterior, underbody protection, stiff pipes
and hoses (exhaust - fuel supply - brakes), rubber parts
(boots - sleeves - bushes etc..)
Check for bonnet and boot lock cleanness, lever cleanness and lubrication
Sight check for accessory drive belt conditions
Check handbrake lever stroke adjustment
Check antievaporation system (petrol versions)
Change air cleaner cartridge (petrol versions)
Change air cleaner cartridge (JTD versions)
Top up fluid levels (engine coolant, brakes, windscreen washer, battery, etc..)
Check and if necessary top up the Selespeed automatic transmission oil level
(2.0 JTS versions)
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VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
249
20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180Thousands of km
(*) Or every 3 years for harsh conditions (cold climates, city driving or prolonged lengths of time at idle speed, dusty roads or roads covered with sand and/or salt).
Or every 5 years, regardless of mileage.
Sight check for conditions of timing gear drive toothed belt
Change counter-rotating shaft drive belt
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 oil level
Change engine oil and engine oil filter
Change brake fluid (or every 2 years)
Change fuel filter (JTD versions)
Change pollen filter (or every year)
Check emissions/smoke at the exhaust (JTD versions)
Page 252 of 307

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
250
ADDITIONAL
OPERATIONS
Every 1000 kmor before long jour-
neys, check and if necessary top up:
– engine coolant fluid level
– brake/hydraulic clutch control fluid
level
– power steering fluid level
– windscreen and headlamp washer
fluid level
– tyre pressure and conditions.
Every 3000 kmcheck and if necessary
top up the engine oil level.
The use of FL Seleniaproducts is rec-
ommended which have been designed
and made expressly for Alfa Romeo cars
(see “Refuelling” in the “Technical
Specifications” chapter).
ANNUAL INSPECTION
PROGRAMME
For cars with an annual mileage
of below 20,000 km (for exam-
ple about 10,000 km) the follow-
ing yearly inspection programme
is advised:
– Check tyre conditions/wear and if
necessary adjust the pressure (including
spare wheel)
– Check operation of lighting system
(headlights, direction indicators, hazard
warning lights, boot, passenger compart-
ment, glovebox lights, warning lights,
etc.)
– Check operation of windscreen wiper
system, spray jet adjustment
– Check position/wear of windscreen
– Check front disk brake pad conditions
and wear– Sight check for conditions of: engine,
gearbox, transmission, pipes (exhaust -
fuel supply - brakes), rubber parts (boots
- sleeves - bushes etc..), brake and fuel
supply system hoses
– Check for bonnet and boot lock clean-
ness, lever cleanness and lubrication
– Check battery charge
– Sight check for conditions of various
drive belts
– Check and if necessary top up fluid
levels (engine coolant, brakes, wind-
screen washer, battery etc. )
– Change engine oil and engine oil filter
– Change pollen filter.
Page 255 of 307
VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
253
1Engine oil - 2Battery - 3Brake fluid -4
Windscreen/rearscreen/headlamp
washer fluid - 5Engine coolant fluid -
6Power steering fluid - 7Selespeed
transmission oil (2.0 JTS Selespeed ver-
sions)
CHECKING LEVELS
Never smoke while
working in the engine
compartment; gas and
inflammable vapours may be pre-
sent, with the risk of fire.
When topping up take
care not to confuse the
various types of fluids:
they are incompatible with one
another and could seriously dam-
age the vehicle.fig. 1 - 1.8 T. SPARK version
A0A0736b
A0A0681b
fig. 1a - 2.0 JTS version
Page 256 of 307
VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
254fig. 3 - JTD 16Vversion1Engine oil - 2Battery - 3Brake fluid -4
Windscreen/rearscreen/headlamp
washer fluid - 5Engine coolant fluid -
6Power steering fluid
A0A0396b A0A0683b
fig. 2 - 3.2 V6version
1Engine oil - 2Battery - 3Brake fluid -4
Windscreen/rearscreen/headlamp
washer fluid - 5Engine coolant fluid -
6Power steering fluid
Page 260 of 307

Oil consumption is very
low; if topping up again is
needed shortly after-
wards, have the system checked
for possible leaks by Alfa Romeo
Authorised Services.
VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
258
When loosening the
reservoir cap do not
allow the fluid to come
into contact with painted parts. If
it does, wash it off immediately
with water. Do not allow the power
steering fluid to touch hot
parts of the engine: it is
inflammable.
fig. 10
A0A0217b
fig. 9
A0A0400b
BRAKE AND HYDRAULIC
CLUTCH FLUID
(fig. 10)
Slacken the cap (A) and check that the
fluid contained in the reservoir reaches the
maximum mark.
POWER STEERING FLUID
(fig. 9)
Check that the level of the oil in the
reservoir is at maximum.
This operation should be carried out with
the vehicle on a level surface and the
engine 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.
If the oil level in the reservoir is below
the specified one, top up only with one of
the products listed in the “Fluid and lubri-
cant Specification” table in the “Technical
Specifications” chapter proceeding as fol-
lows:– Start the engine and wait for the oil
level in the reservoir to stabilise.
– With the engine running, turn the
steering wheel lock to lock a few times.
– Top up to the MAXlevel notch, then
refit the cap.
Page 261 of 307

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
259
Do not travel with the
windscreen washer reser-
voir empty: the action of
the windscreen washer is funda-
mental for improving vision.
To avoid damaging the
pump motor, do not use the
windscreen/rearscreen
washers when the reservoir is
empty.
Some commercial addi-
tives for windscreen wash-
ers are inflammable. The
engine compartment contains hot
components which may set it on
fire.
IMPORTANTBrake and hydraulic
clutch fluid is hygroscopic (i.e. it absorbs
moisture). For this reason, if the car is
mainly used in areas with a high degree of
atmospheric humidity, the fluid should be
replaced at more frequent intervals than
specified in the Scheduled Maintenance
Programme.
WINDSCREEN/REARSCREEN
HEADLIGHT WASHER FLUID
(fig. 11)
Open the cap (A) and check the level in
the reservoir.
If necessary top up using a mixture of
water and TUTELA PROFESSIONAL
SC 35fluid as follows:
– 30% of TUTELA PROFESSIONAL
SC 35and 70% water in summer;
– 50% of TUTELA PROFESSIONAL
SC 35and 50% water in winter;
– in the case of temperatures below -
20°C use TUTELA PROFESSIONAL
SC 35fluid neat. Brake and clutch fluid is
poisonous and highly cor-
rosive. In the event of
accidental contact, wash the
parts concerned immediately with
neutral soap and water, then
rinse thoroughly. See a doctor at
once if the fluid is swallowed.
Theπsymbol on the
container indicates syn-
thetic brake fluid, distin-
guishing it from the mineral kind.
Using mineral fluids irreversibly
damages the special braking sys-
tem rubber seals.
fig. 11
A0A0242b
Page 267 of 307

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
265
Alloy rim painting
involving temperatures
exceeding 150 °C should
be avoided since wheel mechani-
cal characteristics could be
impaired.Do not cross switch the
tyres, moving them from
the right of the car to the
left and vice versa.Excessive low pressure
causes overheating of the
tyre with the possibility
of serious damage to it.Remember that vehicle
road holding also depends
on correct tyre inflation
pressure.
RUBBER HOSES
As far as the brake system and fuel sup-
ply rubber hoses are concerned, carefully
follow the Scheduled Maintenance
Programme. Indeed, ozone, high temper-
atures and the prolonged lack of fluid in
the system may cause hardening and
cracking of the hoses, with possible leaks.
Careful control is therefore necessary. IMPORTANTS
– Where possible, avoid sudden brak-
ing, tyre squealing starts, violent bumps
against kerbs, potholes or obstacles of var-
ious kinds. Prolonged driving on rough
roads may damage the tyres;
– Routinely check the tyres for cuts on
the sides, swellings or uneven tread wear.
If necessary contact Alfa Romeo
Authorised Services;
– Avoid overloading the vehicle when
travelling: this may cause serious damage
to the wheels and tyres;
– If a tyre is punctured, stop immedi-
ately and change it to avoid damage to
the tyre itself, the rim, suspensions and
steering system;
– Tyres age even if they are not used
much. Cracks in the tread rubber are a
sign of aging. In any case, if the tyres
have been on the vehicle for over 6 years,
they should be checked by specialised per-
sonnel, to see if they can still be used.
Also remember to check the compact
spare wheel;
– In case of replacement, always fit new
tyres, avoiding those of dubious origin;