2009 Alfa Romeo MiTo wiper blades

158STARTING UP AND DRIVING
SNOW CHAINS
The use of snow chains should be in compliance with local regu-
lations. The snow chains may be applied only to the front wheel
tyres (drive wheels).
Check the tension of the chains after the first few metres have been
driven.
Use reduced bulk snow chains: for 195/55 R16” and 205/45
R17” tyres. Use reduced bulk snow chains with a maximum pro-
trusion from the tyres of 9 mm.
IMPORTANT The spare wheel cannot be fitted with snow chains.
If a front (drive) wheel is punctured and snow chains must be used,
you must remove a normal wheel from the rear and replace this
one with the small spare wheel. In this way, with two normal dri-
ve wheels, it is possible to use snow chains.
CAR INACTIVITY
If the car is to be left inactive for longer than a month, the following
precautions should be noted:
❍park the vehicle in a dry, covered and, if possible, ventilated
area; engage a gear and check that the handbrake is not en-
gaged;
❍disconnect the negative battery terminal and check battery
charge. Repeat this check once every three months during stor-
age;
❍clean and protect painted areas using protective wax;
❍clean and protect the shiny metal areas using special com-
mercially-available products;
❍sprinkle talcum powder on the rubber windscreen and rear win-
dow wiper blades and lift them off the glass;
❍slightly open the windows;
❍cover the car with a fabric or perforated plastic sheet. Do not
use compact plastic sheets which do not allow humidity to evap-
orate from the surface of the car.
❍inflate tyres to a pressure of +0.5 bar above the normal spec-
ified pressure and check the pressure at regular intervals;
❍if you have not disconnected the battery, check the battery
charge every thirty days;
❍do not drain the engine cooling system.
Keep your speed down when snow chains are fit-
ted. Do not exceed 50 km/h. Avoid potholes, steps
and pavements and also avoid driving long dis-
tances on roads not covered with snow to prevent dam-
aging the car and the roadbed.
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CARE AND MAINTENANCE199
5
SCHEDULED SERVICING PLAN
PETROL VERSIONS
Thousands of kilometres
Check tyre condition/wear and adjust pressure if required
Check lighting system operation (headlights, direction indicators, hazard lights, passenger
compartment lights, boot lights, instrument panel warning lights, etc.)
Check windscreen wiper/washer operation
Check the position/wear of the windscreen/rearscreen wiper blades
Check condition and wear of front disc brake pads and
brake pad wear indication
Check rear disc brake pad condition and wear
Visually inspect the condition of: bodywork, underbody
protection, pipes and hoses (exhaust - fuel - brakes),
rubber parts (gaiters, sleeves, bushes, etc.)
Check cleanliness of locks, bonnet and boot, and
cleanliness and lubrication of linkages
Check and top up, if required, fluid levels
(engine coolant, brake/hydraulic clutch fluid, windscreen washer fluid, battery fluid, etc)
Check the handbrake lever travel and adjust it, if necessary
Check timing belt condition
Visually inspect condition of auxiliary drive belt/s
Check tension and adjust auxiliary drive belt (versions with heater system)30 60 90 120 150 180
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CARE AND MAINTENANCE201
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DIESEL VERSIONS
35 70 105 140 175
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Thousands of kilometres
Check tyre condition/wear and adjust pressure if required
Check lighting system operation (headlights, direction indicators, hazard lights,
passenger compartment lights, boot lights, instrument panel warning lights, etc.)
Check windscreen wiper/washer operation
Check the position/wear of the windscreen/rearscreen wiper blades
Check condition and wear of front disc brake pads and
brake pad wear indication
Check rear disc brake pad seal condition and wear
Visually inspect the condition of: bodywork, underbody
protection, pipes and hoses (exhaust - fuel - brakes),
rubber parts (gaiters, sleeves, bushes, etc.)
Check cleanliness of locks, bonnet and boot, and
cleanliness and lubrication of linkages
Check and top up, if required, fluid levels
(engine coolant, brake/hydraulic clutch fluid, windscreen washer fluid, battery fluid, etc)
Check the handbrake lever travel and adjust it, if necessary
Visually inspect the condition of auxiliary drive belt/s.
Check exhaust fumes/emissions
Check engine management system operation (via diagnostic socket)
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CARE AND MAINTENANCE203
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PERIODIC CHECKS
Every 1,000 km or before long journeys, check and top up the fol-
lowing if necessary:
❍engine coolant level, brake fluid and windscreen washer fluid
❍tyre pressure and condition;
❍operation of lights (headlights, direction indicators, hazard
lights, etc.);
❍operation of the windscreen wiper/washer system, position
and wear of windscreen/rearscreen wiper blades;
Every 3,000 km check the following and top-up, if necessary: en-
gine oil level.
We recommend the use of FL Selenia products, designed and pro-
duced specifically for Alfa Romeo cars (see “Consumables” table
in chapter 6).
DEMANDING USE OF THE CAR
If you use the vehicle mainly under one of the following conditions:
❍trailer or caravan towing;
❍dusty roads;
❍repeated short distances (less than 7-8 km) and with exter-
nal temperatures below zero;
❍frequently idling the engine, travelling long distances at low
speeds or long term inactivity;
❍in cities;
perform the following inspections more frequently than shown on
the Scheduled Servicing Plan:
❍check front disc brake pad condition and wear;
❍check cleanliness of bonnet and boot locks, and cleanliness and
lubrication of linkages;
❍visually inspect the condition of: engine, gearbox, transmission,
pipes and hoses (exhaust – fuel supply - brakes) rubber ele-
ments (gaiters – hoses - bushes etc.);
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214CARE AND MAINTENANCE
WINDSCREEN/REARSCREEN WIPERS
Avoid changing over the tyres from the right side
of the vehicle to the left side and vice versa.
Do not repaint alloy wheel rims at temperatures
higher than 150°C. The mechanical characteristics
of the wheels might be disrupted.
Driving with worn wiper blades is a serious haz-
ard, because visibility is reduced in bad weather.
BLADES
We recommend replacing the blades once a year.
A few simple precautions can reduce the possibility of damage to
the blades:
❍make sure that the rubber part does not stick to the windscreen
at sub-zero temperatures. Use an antifreeze product to release
it if required;
❍remove any snow from the window;
❍activate the windscreen/rearscreen wiper on a dry window.
If the pressure is too low the tyre will get over-
heated, with the risk of serious damage to the tyre.
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CARE AND MAINTENANCE215
5
Replacing the windscreen wiper blades
Proceed as follows:
❍lift the windscreen wiper arm and position the blade so that it
forms an angle of 90° with the arm;
❍press tabs (one on each side) A-fig. 6 on the attachment clip
and remove the blade from the arm;
❍fit the new blade, inserting the tab into the dedicated housing
in the arm. Make sure that the new blade is secured in posi-
tion.
Replacing the rearscreen wiper blade
Proceed as follows:
❍lift cover A-fig. 7, undo nut B and remove arm C;
❍position the new arm, fully tighten nut B and then lower
cover A.
SPRAY NOZZLES
Windscreen washer fig. 8
The windscreen washer jets are fixed.
fig. 6A0J0054m
fig. 7A0J0057m
fig. 8A0J0053m
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