CORRECT USE OF THE CAR
172
Never leave children un-
attended in the car. Al-
ways remove the ignition
key when leaving the car and take
it with you.To avoid useless con-
sumption of power and
possible draining of the
battery, never leave the ignition
key in the MAR position when the
engine is not running.
PARKING
When the car is parked, proceed as fol-
lows:
– Switch off the engine.
– Engage the handbrake.
– Engage first gear if the car is faced up-
hill or reverse if the car is facing downhill.
– Turn the front wheels so that the car will
immediately come to a halt if the handbrake
slips.
REDUCING
RUNNING COSTS
AND ENVIRONMENT
POLLUTION
By following a few simple guidelines, it
is possible to save car running costs and re-
duce harmful emissions.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
Car maintenance
To take care of the car maintenance have
the checks and adjustments carried out in
accordance with the “Scheduled Mainte-
nance Programme”.
Tyres
Check the pressure of the tyres routinely
at an interval of no more than 4 weeks: if
the pressure is too low consumption levels
increase as resistance to rolling is higher.
Useless loads
Never travel with an overload in the boot.
The weight of the car (especially in urban
traffic), and its geometry heavily affect con-
sumption levels and stability.Electric services
Use electric devices only for the amount of
time needed. Rearscreen heating, addition-
al headlights, windscreen wipers and heater
fan need a considerable amount of energy,
therefore increasing the requirement of cur-
rent increases fuel consumption (up to
+25% in the urban cycle).
Climate control system
The climate control system is a further load
bearing heavily on the engine inducing high-
er consumption levels(up to +20% on av-
erage). Outside temperature permitting,
preferably use the air vents.
Aerodynamic items
The use of non-certified aerodynamic items
may adversely affect air drag and con-
sumption levels.
CORRECT USE OF THE CAR
178
Keep your speed
down when snow
chains are fitted.
Do not exceed 50 km/h. Avoid
potholes, steps and pavements and
avoid also to drive for long dis-
tances on roads not covered with
snow to prevent damaging the car
and the roadbed.
CAR INACTIVITY
If the car is to be left inactive for long pe-
riods, the following precautions should be
noted:
– House the car under cover in a dry and
possibly ventilated place.
– Engage a gear.
– Check that the handbrake is not en-
gaged.
– Clean and protect the paintwork by pro-
tective wax.
– Clean and protect the metal polished
parts with marketed products.
– Cover the rubber windscreen and
rearscreen wiper blades with talcum powder
and raise them off the glass.
– Open the windows slightly.
– Inflate the tyres to a pressure of 0.5 bars
above normal. If possible rest the tyres on
wooden planks and periodically check the
pressure.
– Do not turn on the electronic alarm sys-
tem.– Disconnect the battery negative termi-
nal from the battery and check the battery
charge. This check should be repeated
every three months during stowage.
Charge the battery if the indicator (where
provided) shows a dark colour in the central
green area.
– Do not empty the engine cooling sys-
tem.
– Cover the car with a fabric or perforat-
ed plastic cover. Do not use compact plas-
tic covers which prevent the humidity on the
surface of the car from evaporating. Snow chains cannot be
fitted to the space-saver
spare wheel. So, if a front
(drive) wheel is punctured and
chains are needed, a rear wheel
should be fitted to the front of the
car (adjust tyre pressure to the
specified value as soon as possi-
ble) and the space-saver spare
wheel should be fitted to the rear.
This way with two normal drive
wheels, snow chains can be fitted
to them to solve an emergency.
Deactivate the ASR sys-
tem when snow chains are
fitted. Press the ASR-OFF
button, button led turned on.
IN AN EMERGENCY
189
– make sure the compressor switch A-
fig. 16is set to 0(off), start the engine
and fit plug A-fig. 17into the cigar lighter
outlet and then turn on the compressor by
setting switch A-fig. 16toI(on);
fig. 16
A0A1100b
– inflate the tyre to the correct pressure
value. Check tyre pressure on gauge B-fig.
16with compressor off to obtain precise
reading;
– if after 5 minutes it is still impossible
to reach at least 1.5 bar, disengage com-
pressor from valve and current outlet, then
move the car forth for approx. ten metres in
order to distribute the sealing fluid inside the
tyre evenly, then repeat the inflation oper-
ation;– if after this operation it is still impossi-
ble after 5 minutes to reach at least 1.8 bar,
do not start driving since the tyre is exces-
sively damaged and the quick tyre repair kit
cannot guarantee suitable sealing, contact
Alfa Romeo Authorized Services;
– once the correct tyre pressure has been
reached, start driving immediately;
fig. 17
A0A0647b
Apply the sticker in a vis-
ible position for the driver
to indicate that the tyre
has been treated with the quick
tyre repair kit. Drive carefully es-
pecially when cornering. Do not ex-
ceed 80 km/h. Avoid heavy brak-
ing and accelerating.
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;
– Fit a new bulb, making the tab of the
metal part coincide with the one on the lamp
unit, then hook the bulb holder catch (B).
– Re-connect the electric connector (A).
– Refit the protective cover correctly.Fog lights(fig. 24)
IMPORTANTWhen needing to change
the left bulb, the side trim next to the light
itself needs to be removed to facilitate ac-
cess to the engine compartment.
To change the bulb, proceed as follows:
– Remove the protective cover turning
counter-clockwise.
– Disconnect the electric connector (A).
– Release the bulb catch (B).
– Remove the bulb and replace it.
fig. 24
A0A0161b
After replacement, refit
the covers correctly check-
ing that they are properly
secured.
IMPORTANTA slight layer of steam
(fogging) can appear on the inside surface
of the beam transparent cover: this is not
a defect. The presence of condensate traces
in beams is a natural phenomenon, due to
a low temperature and to the degree of hu-
midity in the air. These traces will disappear
when the beams are turned on. Drops of wa-
ter inside the headlight indicate instead wa-
ter infiltration: contact Alfa Romeo Autho-
rised Services.
IN AN EMERGENCY
196
IN AN EMERGENCY
214
Take care when position-
ing the arms of the lift or
workshop lift to avoid dam-
aging the side strips.
USING AN ARM LIFT OR
WORKSHOP LIFT
The car must only be lifted laterally posi-
tioning the ends of the arms or the workshop
lift in the areas illustrated, approx. 40 cm from
the profile of the wheelhouse (fig. 57).These points are identified by symbol
▼
on the bottom of the sidemember.
The car may fall if the jack
is not positioned correctly.
Never use the jack for
higher capacities than the one stat-
ed on the label.
IMPORTANTFor versions with Sele-
speed transmission, make sure that the
gears are in neutral (N) (checking that the
car moves if pushed) and then proceed as
for towing a normal car with mechanical
transmission, following the instructions giv-
en previously.
Should it be impossible to set the gears to
neutral, do not tow the car and contact Al-
fa Romeo Authorised Services.Do not start the engine
when towing the car.
IF THE CAR IS TO BE LIFTED
fig. 57
A0A0672b
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
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 (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.