Page 271 of 357

CAR MAINTENANCE
269
USEFUL HINTS TO EXTEND
THE LIFE OF YOUR BATTERYTo avoid quickly draining the battery and
to preserve its operating conditions over the
course of time, carefully follow the instruc-
tions below:
– The terminals must always be tightened.
– As far as possible, avoid keeping ser-
vices on for a long time with the engine
stopped (radio, hazard lights, parking lights,
etc.).
– When leaving the car parked in a
garage, make sure that the doors, bonnet,
boot and interior lids are properly shut to
prevent lights from staying on.
– Before doing any work on the electric
system, disconnect the battery negative ter-
minal.– If after purchasing the car, you wish to
install electrical accessories which need a
permanent electrical supply (alarm, hands-
free phone, radio-navigator with satellite an-
ti-theft function, etc.) contact Alfa Romeo
Authorized Services whose qualified per-
sonnel, in addition to suggesting the most
suitable devices from Lineaccessori Alfa
Romeo will be able to evaluate the total
electrical absorption, checking whether the
car’s electric system is able to support the
load required or whether a battery with high-
er capacity is necessary. In fact, these de-
vices continue to absorb current with the
ignition key off (car parked, engine off) and
may gradually drain the battery.
REPLACING THE BATTERYIf required, replace the battery with a gen-
uine spare part having the same specifica-
tions. If a battery with different specifica-
tions is fitted, the service intervals given in
the Programmed Maintenance Schedule in
this section will no longer be valid. Refer
to the instructions provided by the battery
manufacturer.
Page 295 of 357

ALFA 156 SPORTWAGON
293
AUTOMATIC REAR
GEOMETRY CONTROL(optional for versions/markets
where applicable)
The car is fitted with a semi-bearing hy-
dropneumatic system with built-in self-level-
ling functions (due to an active element in-
corporated in the rear shock absorbers) and
damping, applied to the rear suspensions in-
stead of conventional shock absorbers.
When the car is loaded with passengers
and luggage, the rear geometry lowers in
relation to the rigidity of the spring system
and the load. However, as soon as the car
moves off the system utilises the move-
ments induced on the wheels by the rough-
ness of the road surface to increase its bear-
ing capacity and higher the body up to a
pre-established position that will be kept un-
der any load condition.
SOUND SYSTEM(optional for versions/markets
where applicable)
The fixed sound system, with cassette
player (radio with cassette player) or CD
player with parametric sound equalizer
(radio with CD player) has been designed
to suit the specific characteristics of the
passenger compartment, with a
personalised design that matches the
style of the dashboard. The sound system
instructions for use are described in the
attached supplement.The distance that must be covered to reach
the levelling condition is approx. 2,000 me-
tres and it may vary depending on the road
bottom.
When using the boot, nev-
er exceed the maximum
permissible loads given in the
“Technical specifications” chapter.
The load carried and its arrange-
ment in the boot modify road hold-
ing of the car in any case even if
the geometry is kept constant by
the automatic device.
WARNING
Page 327 of 357
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
325
RADIO FREQUENCY REMOTE CONTROL: MINISTERIAL HOMOLOGATIONS
Country
Austria
Belgium
Switzerland
Croatia
Cyprus
Germany
Denmark
Spain
France
Finland
Great Britain
Gibraltar
Greece
Hungary
Italy
Ireland
Iceland
Luxemburg
Norway
Holland
Portugal
Sweden
SloveniaHomologation number
G131649J CEPT LPD-A
RTT/D/X1491
BAKOM 97.0516.K.P
LPD-041/97
MCW 129/95 5/1997
G131649J CEPT LPD-D
ARL 9741/Telestyrelsen
E D.G./Tel. 07 97 0647
970235PPLO
FI 97080075
12793
12000/120AG
EK550
HB-23879/97
CEPT-LPD I DGPGF/4/2/03/338862/
FO/0002926/29/10/97
TRA 24/5/60/31
IS-2623-00
L2822/10263-01H
N097000419-R
G131649J CEPT LPD-NL
ICP-044TC-97
UE 970090
N832/00
International automobile code
ABCHCROCYDDKEFFINGBGBZGRH
IIRLISLNNLPSSLO
Page 335 of 357

ALPHABETICAL INDEX
333
Tailgate
– closing ..................... 171-283
– opening from inside .. 135-170-282
– opening with remote
control ..................... 8-170-282
Technical specifications.......... 299
Telephone (provision) .................. 166
– cellular telephone................... 166
– radio transmitters ................... 166
Third stop light ...................... 230-297
Tools .......................................... 294
Tow hook ............................ 199-201
Tow rings .................................... 243
Towing the car....................... 160-244
Towing trailers ............................. 199
Transmission
– technical data ........................ 304
Tyres
– changing............................... 209
– correct reading....................... 311
– FIX&GO
(kit for quick tyre repairing)..... 212
– in the event of a puncture . 207-294
– inflation pressure .................. 307
– snow chains ......................... 202
– tools and compact spare
wheel housing ....................... 294– types of tyres
and rims ............................... 306
– winter tyres........................... 202
U
nderbody protection.................. 274
Useful accessories ........................ 204
V
DC system .............................. 179
– ASR function ......................... 181
Vehicle inactivity ......................... 203
– removing from storage ........... 204
Volumetric protection .................... 15
W
arning lights and indications .... 92
Washing the car
– body .................................... 275
– engine compartment .............. 276
– interiors (cleaning) ................. 277
Weights................................ 317-318
Wheel rims ........................... 306-312
– correct rim reading ................. 312
Wheels and tyres
– FIX&GO (quick tyre repair kit) .. 212
– geometry.............................. 313
– replacement ......................... 209
– snow chains ......................... 202
– tyres and rims ...................... 306
– tyre inflation pressure ....... 271-310Window winders .......................... 28
Windows
– cleaning................................ 276
Windscreen washer
– checking fluid level
and topping up ...................... 264
– “intelligent washing” function . 51
– operation ............................. 50
– spray jets .............................. 274
Windscreen wiper
– blade replacement ................. 273
– rain sensor ........................... 51
– operation .............................. 50
– spray jets .............................. 274
Winter
– snow chains .......................... 202
– winter tyres .......................... 202
X
enon lights
– replacing dipped-beam
headlamps ............................ 221
– replacing direction indicators .... 223
– replacing main beam
headlamps ............................ 222
– replacing sidelights ................. 223
Page 344 of 357
RIGHT HAND DRIVE VERSION
342
DASHBOARD1.Side air outlets - 2.Defrosting/demisting vents for side windows - 3.Upper side vents - 4.Passanger’s Air bag - 5.Sound system -
6.Engine coolant temperature gauge - 7.Clock - 8.Centre air vents - 9.Infocenter display - 10.Fuel level gauge - 11.Cruise control
lever (where fitted) - 12.Outside lights control lever - 13.Speedometer. - mileage recorder - 14.Check panel - 15.Rev counter -
16.Windscreen wiper control lever - 17.Bonnet opening lever - 18.Radio controls on the steering wheel (where applicable) -19.Igni-
tion switch - 20.Steering wheel lock/release lever - 21.Driver’s Air bag and horns - 22.Controls unit: instrument panel lighting adjust-
ment and healamp diming - 23.Controls for heating, ventilation and climate control - 24.Ashtray and cigar lighter - 25.Hazard warning
lights switch - 26.Glove box.fig. 1
A0B0611m