Page 253 of 357

CAR MAINTENANCE
251
ADDITIONAL
OPERATIONSEvery 1000 kmor before long journeys
check and if necessary top up:
– engine coolant level
– brake fluid/hydraulic clutch control flu-
id level
– power steering fluid level
– windscreen washer and headlamp wash-
er fluid level
– tyre pressure and conditions.
Every 3000 kmcheck the level of the
engine oil and top up if necessary.
You are recommended to use products of
the FL Selenia, designed and developed
expressly for Alfa Romeo cars (see the table
“Specifications of fluids and lubricants” in
the “Technical specifications” chapter).
ANNUAL INSPECTION
PROGRAMMEAn annual inspection programme
has been established for cars thet
cover less than 20,000 km (e.g.
10,000 km). It consists of the fol-
lowing:
– Check tyre conditions/wear and adjust
pressure if required (including the compact
spare wheel)
– Check lighting system operation (head-
lights, direction indicators, hazard lights,
boot lights, passenger compartment lights,
glovebox light, warning lights of instrument
panel, etc.)
– Check windscreen and rear-screen
wiper/washer operation, adjust nozzles
– Check windscreen/rear-screen blade po-
sition/wear
– Check condition and wear of the front
brake pad
– Check for bonnet and boot lock clean-
ness, lever cleanness and lubrication– Visually check the following: engine,
gearbox, transmission, piping (exhaust - fu-
el - brakes) rubber components (casings -
sleeves - bushings, etc..), brake and fuel
hoses
– Check battery charge condition
– Visually check the condition of the belts
and various controls
– Check and top up if necessary, the flu-
id levels (coolant, brake fluid, windscreen
washer fluid, battery, etc.)
– Change engine oil
– Replace engine oil filter
– Change pollen filter.
Page 285 of 357
ALFA 156 SPORTWAGON
283
CLOSING THE TAILGATE (fig. 15)
To lower the tailgate use the grip (A) on
the interior trim.fig. 15
A0B0084m
fig. 16
A0B0085m
CAUTIONS FOR CARRYING
LUGGAGEOn versions not fitted with the automatic
rear geometry control system, when trav-
elling at night with a load in the boot, it is
necessary to adjust the height of the low
beams (see “Headlamps” paragraph in the
chapter “Getting to know your car”). For
correct use of the aiming device, also make
sure that the load does not exceed the val-
ues given in the same paragraph.
RESTRAINING THE LOAD(fig. 16-17)
The loads carried can be held in place with
the belts hooked to the rings provided at the
corners of the boot.
The rings also serve for fastening the lug-
gage retainer net (available on request for
versions/markets where applicable c/o Al-
fa Romeo Authorized Services).
fig. 17
A0B0086m
Page 292 of 357
ALFA 156 SPORTWAGON
290
Total extension (fig. 37)
Completely folding the rear seat makes the
maximum load volume available.– Tilt the cushions forward pulling from
the handle (A-fig. 39) at the centre of
each cushion.
– remove the side headrests from the rear
seat and insert them in the special housings
on the cushions (fig. 40).
– If the car is fitted with the third head-
rest from the centre of the seat, lower it
completely.
fig. 40
A0B0120m
To extend the boot
– Check that the lateral safety belt buck-
les (A-fig. 38) are located in their pock-
ets on the seat back and that the tab (B-
fig. 38) of the central abdominal safety
belts is hooked onto the support (C-
fig. 38).
– Remove the roll with the luggage cover.
fig. 37
A0B0607m
fig. 38
A0B0118m
fig. 39
A0B0119m
Page 293 of 357
ALFA 156 SPORTWAGON
291
– Release the seat back catch raising the
handle (A-fig. 41) for the right seat back
and handle (B-fig. 42) for the left seat
back.
– Fold the seat backs forward to obtain
a single loading surface with the boot floor.To take the seats back to the
normal position
– Move the seat backs to the vertical po-
sition making sure that they are caught cor-
rectly.
WARNINGThe seat backs are correct-
ly caught when the button (A-fig. 43)
next to each handle (B-fig. 43) is back in
the handle.– Remove the headrest and tilt the cush-
ion backward, making sure that the safety
belts do not remain twisted in the hidden
section between the cushion and seat back.
– Refit the headrest on the seat back.
– Refit the roll with the luggage cover.
fig. 42
A0B0122m
fig. 41
A0B0121m
fig. 43
A0B0123m
Page 301 of 357
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
299
BODY LABELThe body label carrying the following in-
formation is located in the engine bay to one
side of the right-hand shock absorber up-
per connection:
– Type of vehicle: ZAR 932000
– Manufacturer’s serial number (chassis
number).
For some versions/markets the marking
is partially covered by a protection. To see
the marking completely, remove the cap
turning counter-clockwise and raise the pro-
tection.
ENGINE LABELSOn the rear left-hand side, gearbox side.
IDENTIFICATION DATAThe identification data should be recorded.
The identification data is carried on labels lo-
cated in the following positions (fig. 1-2):
1- Identification label
2- Body label
3- Bodywork paint identification label
- Saloon versions = fig. 1
- Sportwagon versions = fig. 2
4- Engine label.
T T
E E
C C
H H
N N
I I
C C
A A
L L
S S
P P
E E
C C
I I
F F
I I
C C
A A
T T
I I
O O
N N
S S
fig. 1
A0B0590m
fig. 2
A0B0058m
Page 302 of 357
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
300
fig. 3
A0B0059m
BODYWORK PAINT
IDENTIFICATION LABELOn the Saloon versions, the plate is ap-
plied in the internal part of the luggage com-
partment (3-fig. 1), while on the Sport-
wagon versions it is applied on the right-
hand internal edge of the tailgate (3-
fig. 2). The plate carries the following da-
ta (fig. 3):
A.Paint manufacturer
B.Name of colour
C.Colour code
D.Colour code for touching up and re-
spraying.
IDENTIFICATION LABELThis is located in the engine bay on the
front crossmember (fig. 4).
It carries the following identification data:
A.Space for details of national ho-
mologation
B.Space for punching the consecutive
chassis number
C.Space available for maximum
weights authorised by various national lawsD.Space for version and any supple-
mentary indications to those specified
E.Space for smoke index (diesel ver-
sions only)
F.Space for punching manufacturer’s
name.fig. 4
A0B0076m
Page 334 of 357

ALPHABETICAL INDEX
332
Roof bars/ski racks ...................... 292
Roof rack provision ....................... 174
Rubber hoses .............................. 272Safe driving ............................... 192
– before driving off ................... 192
– driving in the fog ................... 194
– driving in the rain ................... 194
– driving on snow and ice .......... 195
– driving with ABS .................... 195
– mountain driving .................... 194
– night driving .......................... 193
– when travelling ...................... 192
Safeguarding the environment ...... 187
Scheduled maintenance
programme .............................. 249
Seat belts ................................... 28
– carrying children safely ........... 35
– front and rear side belt
height adjustment .................. 31
– general instructions ................ 33
– maintenance ......................... 34
– pretensioners......................... 32
– rear central abdominal belt ..... 30
– use ...................................... 28
Seats (front and rear) ............ 21-23
Selespeed gearbox ....................... 141– automatic operation (CITY) ..... 150
– checking the oil level .............. 259
– failure signalling .................... 150
– moving off ............................ 146
– operation with the engine off ... 143
– parking the vehicle ................. 151
– semiautomatic operation
(MANUAL) ............................ 148
– signalling with the buzzer........ 151
– starting the engine ................. 145
– stopping the car ..................... 148
– system activation ................... 142
– towing the vehicle .................. 151
– turning the engine off ............. 145
– warnings .............................. 146
Side lights
– changing front bulbs ............... 226
– changing rear bulbs ............... 228
– switching on.......................... 48
Ski compartment ......................... 24
Snow chains................................ 202
Sound system ...................... 183-293
Sound system presetting
system ............................. 183
Spark plugs (technical data) .......... 305
Speedometer............................... 63
Spray jets – windscreen/rearscreen/
headlight .............................. 274
Starting the engine....................... 189
– emergency starting .......... 191-205
– ignition switch ....................... 17
– procedure for JTD versions ....... 190
– procedure for petrol versions .... 189
– switching off the engine .......... 190
– warming the engine ............... 190
Starting with an auxiliary battery ... 242
Steering system
– specifications ......................... 305
– steering wheel adjustments .... 25
Steering lock .............................. 18
Steering wheel
– adjustment............................ 25
Steering wheel levers ................... 48
Stop lights
– changing bulbs ...................... 228
Sunroof ...................................... 167
– emergency operation ............. 169
– sliding forwards/backwards..... 168
– raising to the quarterlight
position ............................... 168
Sun visors .................................. 166
Symbols .................................... 5-6