2006 Alfa Romeo 147 check engine

CORRECT USE OF THE CAR
180
DRIVING WITH RAIN
Rain and wet roads can be dangerous.
If the road is wet, the traction between
wheel and asphalt is greatly reduced, thus
increasing the stopping distance and de-
creasing road holding.
Here are a few suggestions in the case of
rain:
– Reduce speed and keep further back
from the vehicle in front.
– Heavy rain also reduces visibility. In
these cases, turn on the headlights even dur-
ing the day to make yourself more visible
to others.
– Do not drive over puddles at high speed
and hold the steering wheel firmly: you may
lose control of the car (aquaplaning).
– Position the ventilation controls for
demisting (as described in the chapter (“Get-
ting to know your car”), to prevent visibili-
ty from worsening.
– Routinely check the conditions of the
windscreen wiper blades.
DRIVING IN FOG
– If fog is very thick, avoid travelling
where possible. If travelling with mist,
ground fog or the possibility of fog banks:
– Drive at moderate speed.
– Also in the day turn on the dipped-beam
headlights, rear fog guards and front fog
lights. Do not use the main-beam headlights.
IMPORTANTIf visibility in some parts
improves, switch off the rear fog guards; the
intense light disturbs the occupants of ve-
hicles behind.
– Remember that fog also involves wet
asphalt, thus greater difficulty in all types of
manoeuvres and longer stopping distances.
– Keep well away from the vehicle in
front.
– Where possible avoid sudden changes
in speed.
– Possibly avoid overtaking other vehicles.
– If the vehicle is forced to stop (faults,
impossibility to continue due to poor visi-
bility, etc.), firstly try to pull off the road.
Then turn on the hazard warning lights and,
if possible the dipped-beam headlights.
Rhythmically sound the horn if you note an-
other car coming.
MOUNTAIN DRIVING
– When travelling down hill use the en-
gine braking by engaging lower gears to pre-
vent the brakes from overheating.
– Never coast down hill with the engine
off or in neutral and especially not with the
ignition key removed.
– Drive at a moderate speed and avoid
cutting corners.
– Remember that overtaking up hill is
slower and therefore requires a greater
length of clear road. If you are being over-
taken on a hill, move over to enable the oth-
er vehicle to pass in safety.

CORRECT USE OF THE CAR
181
DRIVING ON SNOW AND ICE
Here are a few suggestions for driving in
these conditions:
– Drive very slowly.
– On a snowy road, fit winter tyres or
snow chains; see the related paragraphs in
this chapter.
– Use engine braking where possible and
avoid abrupt braking.
– Braking with a car without ABS, avoid
locking the wheels, modulating the pressure
on the brake pedal.
– Avoid abrupt acceleration and changes
of direction.
– During cold weather even apparently dry
roads may be covered with occasional patch-
es of ice. Pay great attention therefore when
driving on roads which are in the shade, or
where rocks or trees line the road and on
which ice may persist.
– Keep further back from the vehicle in
front.
DRIVING WITH ABS
The ABS is a part of the braking system
which essentially offers 2 advantages:
1) it prevents locking, thus skidding, of the
wheels during emergency braking and es-
pecially under conditions with poor grip;
2) it allows braking and steering at the
same time, to avoid any sudden obstacles
or to direct the car as required when brak-
ing, compatibly with the physical limits of
lateral grip of the tyre.
To make the most of the ABS:
– In emergency braking or when grip is
low, a slight pulsing can be felt on the brake
pedal: this means that the ABS has come in-
to action. Do not release the pedal, but con-
tinue pressing it to give continuity to the
braking action.
– The ABS prevents the wheels from lock-
ing but it does not increase the physical lim-
its of grip between the asphalt and the road.
Therefore, also with a car fitted with ABS,
keep within a safety distance from the ve-
hicle in front and limit speed when ap-
proaching bends.
The ABS serves to increase vehicle con-
trollability not to go faster.
REDUCING RUNNING
COSTS AND
ENVIRONMENT
POLLUTION
By following a few simple guidelines, it
is possible to save vehicle running costs and
reduce harmful emissions.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
Vehicle maintenance
The conditions of the vehicle represent an
important factor which affects fuel con-
sumption as well as travelling tranquillity
and the life of the vehicle. For this reason,
it is wise to take care of its maintenance
have the checks and adjustments carried out
in accordance with the “Scheduled Mainte-
nance Programme” (see... spark plugs, air
cleaner, timing).

CORRECT USE OF THE CAR
182
Tyres
Check the pressure of the tyres routinely at
an interval of no more than 4 weeks: if the
pressure is too low consumption levels in-
crease as resistance to rolling is higher. It
should be underscored that in these condi-
tions tyre wear increases and vehicle per-
formance is lower, therefore also its safety.
Useless loads
Never travel with an overload in the boot.
The weight of the vehicle (especially in ur-
ban traffic), and its geometry heavily affect
consumption levels and stability.
Luggage/ski racks
Remove the luggage rack or ski rack from
the roof as soon as they are no longer used.
These accessories lower air penetration and
adversely affect consumption levels. When
needing to carry particularly voluminous ob-
jects, preferably use a trailer.Electric services
Use electric devices only for the amount of
time needed. Rearscreen heating, addition-
al headlights, windscreen wipers and heater
fan need a considerable amount of energy
therefore, increasing the requirement of cur-
rent increases fuel consumption (up to
+25% in the urban cycle).
Climate control system
The climate control system is a further load
bearing heavily on the engine inducing high-
er consumption levels (up to +20% on av-
erage). Outside temperature permitting,
preferably use the air vents.
Aerodynamic items
The use of non-certified aerodynamic items
may adversely affect air drag and con-
sumption levels.DRIVING STYLE
Starting
Do not warm the engine with the car at a
standstill or at idle or high speed: under
these conditions the engine warms up much
more slowly, increasing electrical consump-
tion and emissions. It is therefore advisable
to move off immediately, slowly, avoiding
high speeds. This way the engine will warm
faster.
Pointless manoeuvres
Avoid accelerating when waiting at traffic
lights or before switching off the engine. This
and also double declutching is absolutely
pointless on modern cars and also increase
consumption and pollution.
Gear shifting
As soon as the conditions of the traffic and
road allow, use a higher gear. Using a low
gear to obtain brilliant performance increases
consumption. In the same way improper use
of a high gear increases consumption, emis-
sions and engine wear.

CORRECT USE OF THE CAR
187
USEFUL ACCESSORIES
Independently of current regulations, we
suggest you keep the following on board
(fig. 2):
– first aid kit containing non-alcoholic dis-
infectant, sterile gauzes, gauze roll, plas-
ters, etc.;
– electric torch;
– rounded scissors;
– work gloves.
fig. 2
A0A0148m
– Disconnect the battery negative termi-
nal (–) from the battery and check the bat-
tery 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 evaporating.
USING AGAIN
Before using the car again after a pro-
longed period of inactivity, the following op-
erations are recommended:
– Do not dust the outside of the car.
– Check for leaks of fluids (oil, brake and
clutch fluid, engine coolant fluid, etc.).
– Change the engine oil and filter.
– Check the level of brake and clutch flu-
id engine coolant fluid.– Check the air cleaner and change it if
necessary.
– Check the tyre pressure and the tyres
for signs of damage, cuts or cracks. In this
case they need to be changed.
– Check the conditions of the engine belts.
– Re-connect the battery negative termi-
nal (–) after checking the battery charge.
– With the gears in neutral, start the en-
gine and let it idle a few minutes, pressing
the clutch pedal repeatedly.
This operation must be car-
ried out in the open.
Exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide which highly toxic and
lethal.
WARNING

IN AN EMERGENCY
193
INFLATING PROCEDURE
– Place the wheel in the position illustrated
in the figure (A-fig. 14) for the operation
with the valve, then engage the hand-
brake.
– Screw the filling pipe (B-fig. 15) to
the bottle (C).
– Unscrew the tyre valve plug, remove the
element inside the valve by using the ap-
propriate tool (D-fig. 16); be careful not
to place it on the sand or on a dirty surface.
– Introduce the filling pipe (B-fig. 17)
in the tyre valve, keep the bottle (C) with
the pipe directed downwards, then press the
bottle so that the whole sealer can get into
the tyre.– Screw again the element inside the
valve with the tool (D-fig. 18).
– Use the appropriate lever (E-fig. 19)
to insert and clamp the air compressor pipe
(F) to the tyre valve.
– Start the engine, insert the plug (G-
fig. 20) in the lighter (or current socket,
where fitted) and inflate the tyre according
to the right pressure value (see “Cold infla-
tion pressures” in the “Technical specifica-
tion”). You are advised to check the tyre
pressure value on the pressure gauge (H-
fig. 19) with the compressor off, in order
to have a more accurate reading.If it is not possible to reach the prescribed
pressure, move the car forwards or back-
wards for about 10 metres, so that the seal-
er is distributed inside the tyre, then repeat
inflation.
If, in spite of the last operation, the pre-
scribed pressure is not achieved, do not
move the vehicle and contact Alfa Romeo
Authorized Services.
Once the correct tyre pressure has been
reached, start driving immediately so that
the sealer is distributed evenly inside the
tyre.
fig. 14
A0A0447m
fig. 15
A0A0378m
fig. 16
A0A0448m

IN AN EMERGENCY
194fig. 17
A0A0449m
fig. 18
A0A0450m
fig. 19
A0A0451m
After about 10 minutes, stop and check
the tyre pressure once again; remember to
engage the handbrake.
Place the sticker in a posi-
tion where it can be clear-
ly seen by the driver as a notice
that the tyre has been treated with
the quick repairing kit. Drive care-
fully especially in a bend. Do not
overcome 80 km/h. Avoid sudden
acceleration or braking.
WARNING
If the pressure is below
1,3 bars do not drive any
further: the quick repairing kit can-
not guarantee proper hold because
the tyre is too much damaged. Con-
tact Alfa Romeo Authorized Ser-
vices.
Conversely, if at least 1,3 bars are
detected, restore the correct pres-
sure (with the engine running and
the handbrake engaged) and start
driving the car with great care.
WARNING
If, during the pressure
restoring operation, it is
not possible to reach at least 1,8
bars, do not drive any further be-
cause the tyre is too much dam-
aged and the quick repairing kit
cannot guarantee proper hold. Con-
tact Alfa Romeo Authorized Ser-
vices.
WARNING

IN AN EMERGENCY
199
Front fog lights(fig. 23a)
IMPORTANT When needing to change
the left bulb, the side trim next to the light
itself needs to be removed to facilitate ac-
cess to the engine compartment.
To change the bulb, proceed as follows:
– Remove the protective cover turning it
counter-clockwise.
– Disconnect the electric connector (A).
– Release the bulb catch (B).
– Remove the bulb and replace it.
– Fit a new bulb, making the tab of the
metal part coincide with the one on the
lamp unit, then hook the bulb holder catch
(B).
– Reconnect the electric connector (A).
– Refit the protective cover correctly.Xenon dipped beam
headlights
(fig. 23b)
To change the bulb, proceed as follows:
– Remove the protective cover releasing
the locking screws.
– Disconnect the electric connector (A)
turning it slightly counter-clockwise.
– Remove ring nut (B) turning it slightly
counter-clockwise
– Remove the bulb and replace it.
– Fit a new bulb correctly observing the
grooves on the lamp lens, then refit the ring
nut (B).
– Reconnect the electric connector (A).
– Refit the protective cover correctly.
Front sidelights(fig. 24a)
To change the bulb, proceed as follows:
– Remove the protective cover releasing
the locking screws.
– Using the extension (A), integral with
the bulb holder (B), withdraw the bulb hold-
er itself which is snap-fitted.
– Remove the bulb (C), pushing it gen-
tly and turning it counter-clockwise.
– Change the bulb and refit the bulb hold-
er making sure that it clicks into place; al-
so check that the bulb is in the correct po-
sition looking at the lamp from outside.
– Refit the protective cover correctly.
fig. 23a
A0A0499m
fig. 23b
A0A0500m
fig. 24a
A0A0501m

IN AN EMERGENCY
201
After replacement, refit
the covers correctly check-
ing that they are properly
secured.
IMPORTANTOn the inside surface of
the headlight there could appear a slight
coat of fogging; this does not show a de-
fect, since it is a natural occurrence due to
low temperature and to the degree of hu-
midity in the air; it will soon disappear as
soon as the lights are turned on. The pres-
ence of drops inside the headlight shows
water seepage, refer to the Alfa Romeo
Dealership.
Fog lights(fig. 26a)
IMPORTANTWhen needing to change
the left bulb, the side trim next to the light
itself needs to be removed to facilitate ac-
cess to the engine compartment.
To change the bulb, proceed as follows:
– Remove the protective cover turning
counter-clockwise.
– Disconnect the electric connector (A).
– Release the bulb catch (B).
– Remove the bulb and replace it.
– Fit a new bulb, making the tab of the
metal part coincide with the one on the
lamp unit, then hook the bulb holder catch
(B).
– Re-connect the electric connector (A).
– Refit the protective cover correctly.Dipped beam headlights
(fig. 26b)
To change the bulb, proceed as follows:
– Remove the protective cover releasing
the catches.
– Disconnect the electric connector (A).
– Release the bulb catch (B).
– Remove the bulb and replace it.
– Fit a new bulb, Fit a new bulb, mak-
ing the tabs of the metallic part coincide
with the grooves on the reflector, then hook
the bulb holder catch (B).
– Re-connect the electric connector (A).
– Refit the protective cover correctly.
fig. 26a
A0A0161m
fig. 26b
A0A0162m