2009 Alfa Romeo GT oil level

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
61fig. 82
A0A9129g
fig. 83
A0A0022m
INFORMATION ABOUT
CAR CONDITION
❒Trip computer;
❒Lighting adjustment (rheostat);
❒Display of failure messages with corre-
sponding symbol;
❒Display of warning messages with cor-
responding symbol (e.g.: possible ice
on road);
❒Gear selected (2.0 T.SPARK Selespeed
versions only);
❒Engine oil level (JTDMversions only).
CONTROL BUTTONS fig. 83
MODE
Press the button briefly: to confirm
the selected option and/or to go to next
screen;
Press the button for long: to con-
firm the selected option and to go back to
previous screen;
▲/▼to scroll the “Setup Menu” up-
wards/downwards or to increase/decrease
the value displayed. The reconfigurable multifunction display is
able to display all the useful and necessary
information when driving, in particular:
INFORMATION ON
STANDARD SCREEN
❒Time (A-fig. 82);
❒Outside temperature (B);
❒Date (C).
RECONFIGURABLE MULTIFUNCTION DISPLAY

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
63
Engine oil level check
(JTD versions)
Turning the ignition key to MARthe dis-
play shows the engine oil level for a few sec-
onds. During this phase, to clear the display
and move to next screen, press briefly but-
tonMODE.
IMPORTANTTo make sure that the en-
gine oil level displayed is correct, carry out
the check with the car on level ground.
Fig. 85refers to the correct engine oil
level display. As the oil level gradually falls,
the full bars go off leaving room for the emp-
ty ones.
fig. 85
A0A9101g
fig. 86
A0A9102g
fig. 87
A0A9103g
Fig. 86refers to the display with an oil
level below the preset minimum. In this con-
dition the bars are all empty.
IMPORTANTIn this case the correct en-
gine oil level should be restored as soon as
possible, see “Checking levels” in section
“Car maintenance”. Fig. 87refers to the display with an oil
level above the preset maximum. In this con-
dition the bars are all full.
IMPORTANTIn this case, contact Alfa
Romeo Authorised Services who will restore
the correct engine oil level.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
80
WARNING LIGHTS
FAILURE
The message will be displayed when one
of the following warning lights is failing: ABS
warning light, EBD warning light, ASR warn-
ing light, VDC warning light.
ENGINE OIL
LEVEL SENSOR
The warning light turns on when a fault
is detected to the engine oil level sensor.
Contact Alfa Romeo Authorized Services as
soon as possible to have the failure elimi-
nated.
SPEED LIMIT EXCEEDED
The display will show the dedicated mes-
sage + symbol and the buzzer will sound
when the car exceeds the speed limit set
previously (see “Reconfigurable multifunc-
tion display”).
RANGE (Trip Computer)
The display will show the dedicated mes-
sage + symbol when the cruising range is
less than 50 km.
SCHEDULED SERVICING
The display will show the dedicated mes-
sage starting from 2000 km from the dead-
line planned in the Service Schedule. The
message will be repeated every 200 km
when turning the ignition key to MAR.
POSSIBLE
PRESENCE
OF ICE
ON THE ROAD
The display shows message + symbol √
and a buzzer will sound when the outside
temperature reaches or falls below 3°C to
warn the driver of the possible presence of
ice on the road.
The buzzer will sound for approx. 2 sec-
onds whereas the message will stay on the
display for aprrox. 10 seconds then, only
the symbol will stay displayed until tem-
perature exceeds 6°C or until the engine
is switched off.
If when travelling, next to the indication
of possible ice on road, the temperature will
raise above 6° C symbol
√will turn off. If
temperature falls again below 3° C a new
message (outside temperature flashing) +
symbol
√will be displayed together with
the sound of the buzzer.
√

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
136
VDC SYSTEM
(Vehicle Dynamics Control)
(on request for versions/
markets where applicable)
The VDC is an electronic system that con-
trols car stability, intervening on the driving
torque and braking the wheels in a differ-
entiated manner, in the lack of grip, it helps
to bring the car back to the correct direction.
When travelling the car is subjected to lat-
eral and longitudinal forces which can be
controlled by the driver as long as the tyres
offer adequate roadholding; when this falls
below the minimum level, the car begins
to divert from the course required by the dri-
ver.
Especially when travelling on an uneven
surface (such as paving, or due to the pres-
ence of water, ice or soil), changes in speed
(acceleration or braking) and/or course
(bends or the need to avoid obstacles) may
cause the tyres to lose grip. When the sensors detect the conditions
that would lead to skidding, the system in-
tervenes on the engine and on the brakes
producing a stabilising torque.
HOW THE VDC
SYSTEM WORKS
System is engaged automatically when the
car is started and cannot be switched off.
The basic components of the system are:
– an electronic control unit that process-
es the signals received from the various sen-
sors and brings about the most appropriate
strategy;
– a sensor that detects the position of the
steering wheels;
– four sensors that detect the turning
speed of each wheel;
– a sensor that detects rotation of the car
around its vertical axis;
– a sensor that detects lateral acceleration
(centrifugal force).
The heart of the system is the control unit,
which with the data supplied by the sensors
installed on the car calculates the centrifugal
forces generated when the car is cornering.
The yawing sensor, which originates from the
aeronautical industry, detects the rotations
of the car around its own vertical axis. The
centrifugal forces generated when the car
is cornering are detected by a highly sensi-
tive lateral acceleration sensor. The performance of the
system, in terms of active
safety should not induce
the driver to take pointless and un-
necessary risks. The style of dri-
ving must in any case always be
adapted to the conditions of the
road surface, visibility and traffic.
The responsibility for road safety
is always and in any case the dri-
ver’s.
System helps the driver to keep the car un-
der control in the event of a loss of tyre grip.
The forces induced by the system to con-
trol the loss of car stability always depend
on the grip between the tyre and the road
surface.

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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 (3.2 V6 and 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 (1.8 T.SPARK and 2.0 JTS versions) (*)
Change timing gear drive belt (3.2 V6 and 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 engine oil and oil filter (diesel without 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).
If the car is used mainly on urban routes or if the yearly kilometres travelled are less than 10,000 km, the engine oil and filter must be changed every 12 months.

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)

CAR MAINTENANCE
224
ENGINE OIL (fig. 5-6-7-8)
The engine oil should be checked with the
car on a level surface a few minutes (about
5) after the engine has been switched off.
Remove the dipstick (A), clean it, put it
back in completely, remove it and check that
the level is within the MINandMAX
marks on the dipstick. The interval between
theMINandMAXmarks correspond to
about one litre of oil.When the engine is hot,
take care when working
inside the engine compart-
ment to avoid burns. Remember
that when the engine is hot, the
fan may cut in: danger of injury.
Never add oil with char-
acteristics (classification,
viscosity) which are differ-
ent from those of the oil already in
the circuit.
fig. 6 - 2.0 JTS version
A0A0682b
fig. 8 - JTD 16Vversion
A0A0398b
AB
fig. 7 - 3.2 V6version
A0A0406b
fig. 5 - 1.8 T. SPARK version
A0A0737b
If the oil level is near or even below the
MINmark, add oil through the filter neck
(B), until reaching the MAXmark.
IMPORTANTIf a routine check reveals
that the level is above the MAXmark, con-
tact Alfa Romeo Authorised Services to have
the correct level restored.
IMPORTANTAfter topping up the oil,
before checking the level again, run the en-
gine a few seconds and wait for a few min-
utes after stopping it.