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

224
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
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DASHBOARD
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CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
REPLACING
THE BATTERY
If required, replace the battery with a
genuine spare part having the same
specifications.
If a battery with different specifications
is fitted, the service intervals given in
the Service schedule in this section will
no longer be valid.
Refer therefore to the instructions pro-
vided by the battery manufacturer.
Incorrect fitting of elec-
trical and electronic ac-
cessories can seriously
damage the car. If after buying
the car, you want to install elec-
tric accessories which require per-
manent electric supply (alarm,
free-hand phone kit, etc.) contact
Alfa Romeo Authorized Services
whose qualified personnel, in ad-
dition to suggesting the most
suitable devices, will evaluate the
overall electric absorption, check-
ing whether the car’s electric sys-
tem is capable of withstanding
the load required, or whether it
should be integrated with a more
powerful battery.
If the car is left inactive
for long periods at cold,
remove the battery and store
it in a warm place to prevent
freezing.
WARNING
When working on the
battery or near it, al-
ways wear the proper gog-
gles.
WARNING
Batteries contain sub-
stances that are very
harmful for the environ-
ment. You are advised to have
the battery changed at Alfa
Romeo Authorized Services,
which is properly equipped for
disposing of used batteries re-
specting nature and the law.
The liquid in the bat-
tery is poisonous and
corrosive. Avoid contact with
eyes and skin. Do not bring
naked flames or possible
sources of sparks near to the
battery: risk of fire and ex-
plosion.
WARNING
Running the battery
with low fluid level can
damage the battery beyond
repair and could also cause its
explosion.
WARNING

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CORRECT USE
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USEFUL ADVICE FOR
LENGTHENING THE LIFE OF
YOUR BATTERY
To avoid draining your battery and
lengthen its life, observe the following
indications:
❒when you park the car, ensure the
doors, tailgate and bonnet are closed
properly;
❒the ceiling lights must be off. The car
is however provided with an auto-
matic system for switching off inter-
nal lights;
❒do not keep accessories (e.g.: sound
system, hazard lights, etc.) switched
on for a long time when the engine
is not running;
❒before performing any operation on
the electrical system, disconnect the
battery negative terminal cable;
❒battery terminals shall always be
perfectly tightened.
IMPORTANTA battery which is kept
at a charge of less than 50% (optical in-
dicator with dark colour without green
area in the middle) for any length of
time will be damaged by sulphation
leading to a reduction in cranking pow-
er.
Moreover, this might lead to a higher
risk of the battery electrolyte freezing
(this may even occur at –10°C). If the
car is inactive for a long period of time,
refer to “Car inactivity”, in section “Cor-
rect use of the car”. If after buying the car, you want to in-
stall electric accessories which require
permanent electric supply (alarm, etc.)
contact Alfa Romeo Authorized Services
whose qualified personnel, in addition
to suggesting the most suitable devices
available at Lineaccessori Alfa Romeo,
will evaluate the overall electric ab-
sorption, checking whether the car’s
electric system is capable of withstand-
ing the load required, or whether it
should be integrated with a more pow-
erful battery. In fact, since these devices
continue absorbing energy even when
the ignition key is off, they gradually run
down the battery.
The total intake of these systems (factory and after-market) must be less than 0.6 mA x Ah (of the battery) as shown in
the following table:
Battery Maximum admitted stand-by intake
50 Ah 30 mA
60 Ah 36 mA
70 Ah 42 mA
90 Ah 54 mA

226
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
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IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CARIncorrect pressure causes abnormal tyre
wearfig. 13:
Anormal pressure: tread evenly worn.
Blow pressure: tread particularly worn
at the edges.
Chigh pressure: tread particularly worn
in the centre.
Tyres must be replaced when the tread
wears down to 1.6 mm. In any case,
comply with the laws in the country
where the car is being driven.
IMPORTANT NOTES
As far as possible, avoid sharp braking
and screech starts, etc. Be careful not to
hit the kerb, potholes or other obstacles
hard. Driving for long stretches over
bumpy roads can damage the tyres.
Periodically check that the tyres have no
cuts in the side wall, abnormal swelling
or irregular tyre wear. If any of these oc-
cur, have the car seen to at Alfa Romeo
Authorized Services.
Avoid overloading the car when travel-
ling: this may cause serious damage to
the wheels and tyres; if a tyre is punc-
tured, stop immediately and change it
to avoid damage to the tyre, the rim,
suspensions and steering system.
WHEELS AND TYRES
Check the pressure of each tyre, includ-
ing the space-saver spare wheel, every
four weeks and before long journeys:
pressure should be checked with the tyre
rested and cold.
For the correct tyre inflation pressure,
see “Wheels” in “Technical specifica-
tions” section.
A0F0120mfig. 13

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Remember that road
holding depends also
on the correct tyre inflating
pressure.
WARNING
If the pressure is too
low the tyre overheats
and this can cause it serious
damage.
WARNING
Never submit alloy
rims to repainting
treatments requiring to use
temperatures exceeding
150°C since the mechanical
properties of the wheels could
be impaired.
WARNING
Do not cross switch the
tyres, moving them
from the right of the car to the
left and vice versa.
WARNINGTyres age even if they are not used
much. Cracks in the tread rubber are a
sign of ageing. In any case, if the tyres
have been on the car for over 6 years,
they should be checked by specialised
personnel, to see if they can still be
used. Also remember to check the space-
saver spare wheel.
In the case of replacement, always fit
new tyres, avoiding those of dubious ori-
gin.
If a tyre is changed, also change the in-
flation valve; to allow even wear be-
tween the front and rear tyres, it is ad-
visable to change them over every 10-
15 thousand kilometres, keeping them
on the same side of the car so as to not
reverse the direction of rotation.

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WINDSCREEN/
REARSCREEN
WIPERS
BLADES
Periodically clean the rubber part using
special products TUTELA PROFES-
SIONAL SC 35is recommended.
If the rubber blades are bent or worn
they should be replaced. In any case
they should be changed once a year.
RUBBER HOSES
As far as the brake system and fuel rub-
ber hoses are concerned, carefully fol-
low the Service schedule in this section.
Indeed ozone, high temperatures and
prolonged lack of fluid in the system
may cause hardening and cracking of
the hoses, with possible leaks. Careful
control is therefore necessary.
Driving with worn
wiper blades is a seri-
ous hazard, because visibility
is reduced in bad weather.
WARNING
A few simple notions can reduce the pos-
sibility of damage to the blades:
❒if the temperature falls below zero,
make sure that ice has not frozen
the rubber against glass. If neces-
sary, thaw using an antifreeze prod-
uct;
❒remove any snow from the glass:
in addition to protecting the blades,
this prevents effort on the motor and
overheating;
❒do not operate the windscreen
wipers on dry glass.

229
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
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IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
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AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CARChanging the rearscreen
wiper blades
Proceed as follows:
❒raise cover A-fig. 15and remove
the arm by loosening the nut Bthat
secures it to the revolving pin;
❒fit the new arm, tighten the nut B
and then lower the cover A.
SPRAY NOZZLES
If the jet of fluid is missing, firstly check
that there is fluid in the reservoir: see
“Checking fluid levels” in this section).
Then check that the nozzle holes are not
clogged, if necessary use a needle.
Fluid jets shall be directed at about 1/3
height from the window upper edge.
HEADLIGHT WASHERS
Regularly check that the spray jets are
intact and clean.
The headlight washers are automatical-
ly switched on when the windscreen
washer is operated and the dipped
beams are on. Changing the windscreen
wiper blades fig. 14
How to remove the blade:
– raise the windscreen wiper arm A;
– turn the blade Bby 90° around pin
C, on the final section of the arm;
– remove the blade from the pin C.
How to refit the new blade:
– fit pin Cinto the hole in the middle
of the blade B;
– refit the arm with the blade on the
windscreen.
A0F0080mfig. 14A0F0249mfig. 15

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SAFETY
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CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
These include:
❒Painting products and systems which
give the car particular resistance to
corrosion and abrasion;
❒Use of galvanised (or pretreated)
steel sheets, with high resistance to
corrosion;
❒Spraying of plastic parts, with a pro-
tective function, in the more exposed
points: underdoor, inner fender parts,
edges, etc;
❒Use of “open” boxed sections to pre-
vent condensation and pockets of
moisture from triggering rust inside;
❒Use of special anti-abrasion protec-
tive tapes in the most exposed areas
(e.g.: rear mudguard, etc.).
BODY AND UNDERBODY
WARRANTY
Your car is covered by warranty against
perforation due to rust of any original el-
ement of the structure or body. For the
general terms of this warranty, refer to
the Alfa Romeo Warranty booklet.
BODYWORK
PROTECTION FROM
ATMOSPHERIC AGENTS
The main causes of corrosion are the fol-
lowing:
❒atmospheric pollution;
❒salty air and humidity (coastal areas,
or hot humid climates);
❒seasonal environment conditions.
Not to be underestimated is also the
abrasive action of wind-borne atmos-
pheric dust and sand and mud and grav-
el raised by other cars.
On your car, Alfa Romeo implemented
the best manufacturing technologies to
effectively protect the bodywork against
corrosion.

231
SAFETY
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WARNING
LIGHTS AND
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EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
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DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
To wash the car correctly proceed as fol-
lows:
❒remove the aerial from the roof to
prevent damage to it if the car is
washed in an automatic system;
❒wash the body using a low pressure
jet of water;
❒wipe a sponge with a slightly soapy
solution over the bodywork, fre-
quently rinsing with the sponge;
❒rinse well with water and dry with
a jet of air or a chamois leather.
When drying, take particular care with
the less visible parts like door surrounds,
bonnet and around the headlights where
water may stagnate. The car should not
be taken to a closed area immediately,
but left in the open so that residual wa-
ter can evaporate.
Do not wash the car after it has been left
in the sun or with the bonnet hot: this
may alter the shine of the paintwork.
ADVICE FOR PRESERVING
THE BODYWORK
Paint
Paintwork does not only serve an aes-
thetic purpose, but also protects the un-
derlying sheet metal.
In the case of deep scrapes or scores,
you are advised to have the necessary
touching up carried out immediately to
avoid the formation of rust. Use only
original paint products for touching up
(see “Bodywork paint identification
plate” in section “Technical specifica-
tion”).
Normal paint maintenance consists in
washing at intervals depending on the
conditions and environment of use. For
example, in highly polluted areas, or if
the roads are sprayed with salt, it is wise
to wash the car more frequently.
Detergents cause water
pollution. Therefore the
car should be washed
in areas equipped for collecting
and purifying the liquid used in
the washing process.
Exterior plastic parts must be cleaned in
the same way as the rest of the car.
Where possible, do not park under trees;
the resinous substance many species re-
lease give the paint a dull appearance
and increase the possibility of triggering
rust processes.
IMPORTANTBird droppings must be
washed off immediately and thorough-
ly as the acid they contain is particular-
ly aggressive.