2008 Alfa Romeo GT brake fluid

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
72
Handbrake on
The warning light turns on when the hand-
brake is on. HIGH ENGINE
COOLANT
TEMPERATURE (red)
Turning the ignition key to MARthe warn-
ing light turns on, but it should go off after
few seconds.
The warning light turns on (together with
message + symbol on the display) when the
engine is overheated: if the warning light
comes on when driving, stop the car leav-
ing the engine on and slightly accelerated
to further activate the circulation of the
coolant fluid.
If the warning light does not turn off with-
in the next 2 or 3 minutes, stop the engine
and contact Alfa Romeo Authorized Services.
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IMPORTANTThe presence of warning
lights depends on the type of engine and
equipment with which the car is fitted.
LOW BRAKE FLUID
LEVEL (red)
HANDBRAKE
ON (red)
Turning the ignition key to MARthe warn-
ing light turns on, but it should go off after
few seconds.
Low brake fluid level
The warning light turns on (together with
message + symbol on the display) when the
level of the brake fluid in the reservoir falls
below the minimum level, due to possible
leak in the circuit.
x
If the warning light turns
on when travelling, check
that the handbrake is not
engaged. If the warning light stays
on with handbrake disengaged,
stop the car immediately and con-
tact Alfa Romeo Authorized Ser-
vices.
u

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
135
Always take due care when braking on
bends, even with the help of the ABS.
The most important advice of all, howev-
er, is this:
When the ABS cuts in, and
you feel the pulsing on the
pedal, do not lighten the
pressure, but keep the pedal firm-
ly pressed with no fear; this way
you will stop in the least space
possible, compatibly with the con-
ditions of the road surface.
Following these instructions you will be
in the best braking condition under all cir-
cumstances.
IMPORTANTCars fitted with ABS may
only be fitted with the wheel rims, tyres and
brake linings of type and brand approved by
the Manufacturer.
The system is completed by the EBD (Elec-
tronic Brake Distributor) which distributes
the braking action through the control unit
and the ABS system sensors. The car is fitted with an
electronic braking distribu-
tor (EBD). If the
>andx
warning lights turn on simultane-
ously with the engine running, this
indicates an EBD system failure; in
this case with sharp braking the
rear wheels might lock too early,
with the possibility of skidding. Dri-
ving extremely carefully, go to the
nearest Alfa Romeo Authorised Ser-
vice to have the system checked.
The turning on of only the
>warning light with the
engine running normally in-
dicates a fault to the ABS system
only. In this case the braking sys-
tem is still efficient, though with-
out the aid of the anti-lock device.
Under these conditions perfor-
mance of the EBD system may be
reduced. In this case too, you are
advised to go immediately to the
nearest Alfa Romeo Authorised
Service to have the system checked
over, driving in such a way as to
avoid sharp braking.
If the low brake fluid lev-
el
xwarning light turns
on, stop the car immedi-
ately and contact the nearest Alfa
Romeo Authorised Service. Any
loss of fluid from the hydraulic sys-
tem will negatively affect the op-
eration of the braking system be it
of the conventional type or of the
type with ABS.
If the compact spare
wheel is used, operation of
the ABS system is cut off
and the
>warning light on the in-
strument cluster turns on.
IMPORTANTIf the battery is run down
the
>andxwarning lights might turn on
when starting the engine and go off after
starting. This should not be considered as
a fault but as a warning that during start-
ing the ABS is not active. The turning off
of the warning lights ensures normal system
operation.

IN AN EMERGENCY
188
The compressor shall not
be operated for more than
20 minutes. Risk of over-
heating!. Tyres repaired with the
quick tyre repair kit shall be used
temporarily only.INFLATING PROCEDURE– loosen tyre inflation valve cap, take out
the filler hose A-fig. 14and screw the ring
nutB-fig. 15on the tyre valve;
fig. 13
A0A1097bfig. 14
A0A1098b
fig. 15
A0A1099b
Replace the cylinder if
sealer has run out. Do not
throw away the cylinder
and the sealing fluid. Have the
sealing fluid and the cylinder dis-
posed of in compliance with na-
tional and local regulations.
Put on the protection
gloves provided together
with quick tyre repair kit.
Proceed as follows:
– place the wheel with the valve A-fig.
13in the position shown in the figure then,
pull up the handbrake, take the repair
kit and put it on the ground near the in-
volved wheel;

IN AN EMERGENCY
190
– after driving for about 10 minutes stop
and check again the tyre pressure; pull up
the handbrake;
fig. 18
A0A1101b
fig. 19
A0A1102b
If the pressure falls below
1.8 bars, do not drive any
further: the quick tyre re-
pair kit Fix & Go automatic cannot
guarantee proper hold because the
tyre is too much damaged. Contact
Alfa Romeo Authorized Services.
– drive with the utmost care to the near-
est Alfa Romeo Authorized Service.
It is of vital importance to
communicate that the tyre
has been repaired using the
quick tyre repair kit. Hand the in-
struction brochure to the personnel
charged with treating the tyre re-
paired with the kit.FOR CHECKING AND
RESTORING PRESSURE ONLY
The compressor can be also used just for
restoring pressure. Disconnect the quick con-
nectionA-fig. 18and connect it directly
to the tyre valve fig. 19; in this way the
cylinder is not connected to compressor and
the sealing fluid will not flow into the tyre.
– if at least 1.8 bar pressure is read, re-
store proper pressure (with engine running
and handbrake on) and restart;

CAR MAINTENANCE
217
SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME
20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180Thousands of km
Check tyre conditions/wear and adjust pressure if necessary
Check operation of lighting system (headlights, direction indicators,
hazard warning lights, boot, passenger compartment, glovebox lights, warning lights, etc..)
Check operation of windscreen washer system, adjust spray jets
Check position/wear of windscreen/rearscreen wiper blades
Check operation of front disk brake pad wear indicator
Check wear conditions of rear disk brake pads
Sight check the conditions of: body exterior, underbody protection, stiff pipes
and hoses (exhaust - fuel supply - brakes), rubber parts
(boots - sleeves - bushes etc..)
Check cleanness of locks, bonnet and boot and lever cleanness, and lubrication
Sight inspect accessory drive belt conditions
Check handbrake lever stroke adjustment
Check antievaporation system (petrol versions)
Change air cleaner cartridge (petrol versions)
Change air cleaner cartridge (JTD versions)
Top up fluid levels (engine coolant, brakes, windscreen washer, battery, etc..)
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CAR MAINTENANCE
218
20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180Thousands of km
Check and if necessary top up the Selespeed automatic transmission oil level
(2.0 JTS versions)
Sight check for conditions of timing gear drive toothed belt (JTD versions)
Check emissions/smoke at the exhaust (JTD versions)
Check operation of engine control system (through diagnosis socket)
Check mechanical transmission oil level
Change counter-rotating shaft drive belt
Change timing gear drive belt (petrol versions) (*)
Change timing gear drive belt (JTD versions) (*)
Change accessory poly-V drive belt
Change spark plugs (petrol versions)
Change engine oil and oil filter (petrol versions) (or every 24 months)
Change engine oil and oil filter (diesel with DPF versions)(**)
(or every 24 months)
Change brake fluid (or every 24 months)
Change fuel filter (JTD versions)
Change pollen filter (or every 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 warning light or message (where provided) on the instrument panel
(see “Warning lights and messages” paragraph).

CAR MAINTENANCE
219
ADDITIONAL
OPERATIONS
Every 1000 kmor before long journeys,
check and if necessary top up:
– engine coolant fluid level
– brake/hydraulic clutch control fluid level
– power steering fluid level
– windscreen washer and headlamp wash-
er fluid level
– tyre pressure and conditions.
Every 3000 kmcheck and if necessary
top up the engine oil level.
The use of FL Seleniaproducts is rec-
ommended which have been designed and
made expressly for Alfa Romeo cars (see
“Refuelling” in the “Technical Specifica-
tions” chapter).
ANNUAL INSPECTION
PROGRAMME
For cars with an annual mileage
of below 20,000 km (for example
about 10,000 km) the following
yearly inspection programme is ad-
vised:
– Check tyre conditions/wear and if nec-
essary adjust the pressure (including spare
wheel)
– Check operation of lighting system
(headlights, direction indicators, hazard
warning lights, boot, passenger compart-
ment, glovebox lights, warning lights, etc.)
– Check operation of windscreen wiper
system, spray jet adjustment
– Check windscreen blade position/wear
– Check front disk brake pad conditions
and wear
– Check cleanness of bonnet and boot
locks, and lever cleanness and lubrication.– Sight check for conditions of: engine,
gearbox, transmission, pipes (exhaust - fu-
el supply - brakes), rubber parts (boots -
sleeves - bushes etc..), brake and fuel sup-
ply system hoses
– Check battery charge
– Sight check for conditions of various dri-
ve belts
– Check and if necessary top up fluid lev-
els (engine coolant, brakes, windscreen
washer, battery etc. )
– Change engine oil and oil filter
– Change pollen filter.

CAR MAINTENANCE
222
fig. 1 - 1.8 T. SPARK version
A0A0736b
A0A0681b
CHECKING LEVELS
Never smoke while work-
ing in the engine compart-
ment; gas and inflammable
vapours may be present, with the
risk of fire.
When topping up take
care not to confuse the var-
ious types of fluids: they
are incompatible with one anoth-
er and could seriously damage the
car.
fig. 2 - 2.0 JTS version 1Engine oil - 2Battery - 3Brake fluid -
4Windscreen/rear window/headlight
washer fluid - 5Engine coolant - 6Power
steering fluid - 7Selespeed transmission oil
(2.0 JTS Selespeed versions)