2008 Alfa Romeo Brera/Spider Owner handbook (in English)

208
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
Do not start the engine
when towing the car.
WARNING
Before starting to tow,
disengage the steering
lock (see paragraph “Ignition
device” in section “Dashboard
and controls”). When towing,
remember that without the
help of the brake booster and
power steering, a greater ef-
fort is required on the pedal
and steering wheel. Do not use
flexible cables for towing and
avoid jerks. During towing op-
erations make sure that fas-
tening the joint to the car does
not damage the components in
contact with it. When towing
the car, you must comply with
the specific traffic regulations
regarding the tow ring and
how to tow on the road.
WARNING

209
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
C C
A A
R R
M M
A A
I I
N N
T T
E E
N N
A A
N N
C C
E E
SCHEDULED SERVICING....................................... 210
SERVICE SCHEDULE ............................................ 211
PERIODICAL CHECKS ........................................... 213
USE OF THE CAR UNDER HEAVY CONDITIONS ........ 213
CHECKING FLUID LEVELS ..................................... 214
AIR FILTER/POLLEN FILTER ................................. 222
DIESEL FUEL FILTER ........................................... 222
BATTERY ........................................................... 223
WHEELS AND TYRES........................................... 226
RUBBER HOSES ................................................. 228
WINDSCREEN/REARSCREEN WIPER ..................... 228
BODYWORK ...................................................... 230
INTERIORS ........................................................ 233

210
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
SCHEDULED
SERVICING
Correct maintenance is essential for en-
suring long car life under the best condi-
tions.
This is why Alfa Romeo has programmed
a series of checks and maintenance op-
erations every 30,000 km.
IMPORTANTGAt 2000 km from the
scheduled service, the display will show
a dedicated message.
It is however important to remember that
scheduled servicing does not completely
cover all the car’s requirements: also in
the initial period before 30,000 km ser-
vice coupon and later, between one
coupon and another, ordinary care is still
required such as for example routine
check and topping up the level of fluids,
tyre pressure check, etc...IMPORTANTThe Programmed Main-
tenance coupons are specified by the
Manufacturer. The failure to have them
carried out may invalidate the warranty.
Scheduled Servicing is performed by all
Alfa Romeo Authorized Services, at pre-
established times.
If during whatever service operation, in
addition to the ones programmed, the
need arises for further replacements or
repairs, these may be carried out only
with the explicit agreement of the Cus-
tomer.IMPORTANTYou are advised to con-
tact Alfa Romeo Authorized Services in
the event of any minor operating faults,
without waiting for the next service
coupon.
If your car is used frequently for towing,
the interval between one service coupon
and the other must be reduced.

211
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
30 60 90 120 150 180
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SERVICE SCHEDULE
Thousands of km
Check tyre conditions/wear and
adjust pressure if required
Check light system operation (headlights, direction indicators,
hazard lights, boot lights, passenger compartment lights,
glovebox lights, warning lights, etc.)
Check windscreen wiper/washer operation,
adjust nozzles if required
Check windscreen/rear window blade
position/wear
Check front disk brake pad conditions and wear
and wear indicator operation
Check rear disk brake pad conditions and wear
Sight inspect the conditions of: body external parts,
underbody protection, pipes and hoses (exhaust - fuel -
brakes), rubber parts (boots, sleeves, bushes, etc.)
Check cleanness of locks, bonnet and boot and lever cleanness
and lubrication
Check and top up, if required, fluid levels (brakes/hydraulic
clutch, power steering, windscreen washer, battery,
engine coolant, etc.)
Check and adjust handbrake lever stroke
Sight inspect accessory drive belt conditions

212
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
Thousands of km
Check exhaust emissions (petrol versions)
Check exhaust emissions/smoke (diesel versions)
Check antievaporation system (petrol versions)
Check engine control system operation
(through diagnosis socket)
Replace accessory drive belt/s
Replace timing belt (diesel versions) (*)
Change spark plugs (petrol versions)
Replace diesel fuel filter (diesel versions)
Change air cleaner cartridge (petrol versions)
Change air cleaner cartridge (diesel versions)
Change front transmission gear oil (3.2 JTS versions)
Change engine oil and oil filter (petrol versions)
(or every 2 years)
Change engine oil and oil filter (diesel versions - DPF)(**)
(or every 2 years)
Change brake fluid (or every 2 years)
Change pollen filter (or every 2 year)
(*) Regardless of the km covered, the timing belt shall be replaced every 4 years for particularly demanding use (cold climates, driving
in the city, idling for a long time) or in any case every 5 years.
(**) Engine oil and oil filter shall actually be changed according to the conditions of use of the car and it is indicated by the relevant
message on the instrument panel display (see section “Warning lights and messages”).
30 60 90 120 150 180
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213
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
USE OF THE CAR
UNDER HEAVY
CONDITIONS
Should prevailing use of the car be un-
der one of the following specially heavy
conditions:
❒trailer or caravan towing;
❒dusty roads;
❒short distances (less than 7-8 km)
and repeated with external temper-
atures below zero;
❒frequently idling engines or long dis-
tance low speed driving (e.g.: door-
to-door deliveries) or in case of a long
term inactivity;
❒urban routes;
carry out checks more frequently than
required on Service Schedule:
❒check front disk brake pad conditions
and wear;
❒check cleanness of bonnet and boot
locks and lever cleanness and lubri-
cation;
❒sight inspect the conditions of: en-
gine, gearbox, transmission, pipes
and hoses (exhaust - fuel - brakes),
rubber parts (boots, sleeves, bushes,
etc.);
❒check battery charge and fluid level
(electrolyte);
❒visual check on various drive belt con-
ditions;
❒change engine oil and oil filter, if re-
quired;
❒check and replace pollen filter, if re-
quired;
❒check and replace air cleaner, if re-
quired.
PERIODICAL CHECKS
Every 1,000 km or before long jour-
neys, check and top up if required:
❒engine coolant fluid level;
❒brake fluid level;
❒windscreen washer fluid level;
❒tyre pressure and conditions.
❒check light system operation (head-
lights, direction indicators, hazard
lights, etc.);
❒check windscreen wiper/washer op-
eration and windscreen/rear window
blade position/wear;
Every 3,000 km check and top up if re-
quired: engine oil level.
You are recommended to use FL Sele-
nia products, designed and produced
specifically for Alfa Romeo cars (see
table “Capacities” in section “Techni-
cal specifications”).

214
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
CHECKING FLUID
LEVELS
Refer to section Technical Specifications
for fluid amounts.
1.Engine oil - 2.Battery
3.Brake fluid - 4.Windscreen washer
fluid - 5.Engine coolant
6.Power steering fluid
fig. 1 - 2.2 JTS versionsA0F0161m
fig. 2 - 3.2 JTS versionsA0F0038m
Never smoke while
working in the engine
compartment; gas and inflam-
mable vapours may be pre-
sent, with the risk of fire.
WARNING
When topping up take
care not to confuse the
various types of fluids:
they are all incompatible with
one another and could serious-
ly damage the car.

215
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
fig. 3 - 2.4 JTDMversionsA0F0203m
1.Engine oil - 2.Battery
3.Brake fluid - 4.Windscreen washer
fluid - 5.Engine coolant
6.Power steering fluid