BRAKE FLUID fig. 17
Check that the fluid level in the reservoir
is at maximum. Top up with the brake
fluid specified in the table “Fluids and
lubricants” (see section “Technical Spec-
ifications ").
NOTEClean accurately the tank cap A
and the surrounding surface. When
opening the cap take the utmost care to
prevent impurities entering the tank.
When topping up, always use a funnel
with built-in filter with mesh equal to
or lower than 0.12 mm.
A0E0016mfig. 17
Make sure that the high-
ly corrosive brake fluid
does not drip onto the
paintwork. If it does, wash it off
immediately with water.
IMPORTANTFor this operation it is
however recommended to contact Alfa
Romeo Authorised Services.
From time to time, check the instrument
panel warning light
x: pressing on cap
A(with key fitted into the ignition de-
vice) the warning light shall turn on.
IMPORTANTBrake fluid absorbs
moisture. For this reason, if the car is
mainly used in areas with a high degree
of atmospheric humidity, the fluid should
be replaced at more frequent intervals
than specified in the Service schedule.
CAR
MAINTENANCE
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
INDEX
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
IN AN
EMERGENCY
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
SAFETY
DEVICES
236
Brake fluid is poisonous
and highly corrosive. In
the event of accidental contact,
wash the parts involved im-
mediately with neutral soap
and water, then rinse thor-
oughly. Call the doctor imme-
diately if the fluid is swal-
lowed.
WARNING
Symbol πon the con-
tainer indicates syn-
thetic brake fluid, distinguish-
ing it from the mineral kind.
Using mineral fluids irre-
versibly damages the special
braking system rubber seals.
WARNING
223-248 Alfa 159 GB 3-12-2009 14:11 Pagina 236
CAR
MAINTENANCE
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
INDEX
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
IN AN
EMERGENCY
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
SAFETY
DEVICES
237
AIR FILTER/
POLLEN FILTER
Air cleaner or pollen filter replacement
shall be carried out at Alfa Romeo Au-
thorized Services.
BATTERY
The battery does not require top ups of
distilled water to replenish the elec-
trolyte. A periodic check carried out at
an Alfa Romeo Authorised Services is,
however, necessary to check efficien-
cy.
IMPORTANTThe charge in the bat-
tery should be checked at the start of
winter to limit the risk of electrolyte
freezing. This check should be carried
out more frequently if the car is used
mainly for short trips, or if it is fitted with
accessories that permanently absorb
electricity also with the ignition key re-
moved, especially in the case of after
market accessories.
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
After connecting/dis-
connecting the battery,
wait for 3 minutes at
least before fitting the electronic
key into the ignition device in
order to allow the climate con-
trol system control unit to reset
the positions of the electric ac-
tuators that adjust air temper-
ature and distribution.
Running the battery
with low fluid level can
damage the battery beyond
repair and could also cause its
explosion.
WARNING
223-248 Alfa 159 GB 3-12-2009 14:11 Pagina 237
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 per-
fectly tightened.IMPORTANTA battery which is kept
at a charge of less than 50% for any
length of time will be damaged by sul-
phation leading to a reduction in crank-
ing power.
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 ab-
sorbing energy even when the ignition
key is off, they gradually run down the
battery.
The total intake of these systems (fac-
tory and after-market) must be less than
0.6 mA x Ah (of the battery) as shown
in the following table:
Battery
60 Ah
70 Ah
90 AhMaximum admitted
stand-by intake
36 mA
42 mA
54 mA
CAR
MAINTENANCE
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
INDEX
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
IN AN
EMERGENCY
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
SAFETY
DEVICES
239
223-248 Alfa 159 GB 3-12-2009 14:11 Pagina 239
Engine compartment
At the end of the winter the engine com-
partment should be carefully washed,
without directing the jet against electronic
control units. Contact a specialised work-
shop to have this done.
IMPORTANT The car should be
washed with the engine cold and the key
removed from the ignition device. After
washing make sure that the various pro-
tections (e.g. rubber caps and various cov-
ers) have not been damaged or removed. Windows
Use specific window cleaner products. Use
also clean cloths to avoid scratching the
glass or damaging the transparency.
IMPORTANTThe inside of the
rearscreen should be wiped gently with
a cloth in the direction of the filaments
to avoid damaging the heating device.Front headlights
Front headlights shall be washed with
soft cloth moistened with water and car
detergent.
IMPORTANT Cleaning headlight lens-
es with a dry cloth will damage the
headlights with lack of performance as
a consequence. Solvents mat the lens-
es with lack of performance as a con-
sequence.
IMPORTANT When washing the front
headlights with a water monitor noz-
zle keep at least 2 cm away from the
lenses.
CAR
MAINTENANCE
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
INDEX
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
IN AN
EMERGENCY
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
SAFETY
DEVICES
246
223-248 Alfa 159 GB 3-12-2009 14:11 Pagina 246
CURRENT OUTLET
(for versions/markets,
where provided)
The current outlet is located on the left
side of the boot.
To use the current outlet, open the lid
A-fig. 12. The current outlet only
works with the key fitted into the igni-
tion device and can only be used to pow-
er accessories having max. 15A intake
(180 W).
280
ALFA 159 SPORTWAGON
ODDMENT COMPARTMENTS
fig. 10 - 11
The boot sides are equipped with two odd-
ment compartments closed by a cover.
To open the cover press button Aand
turn it downwards.
A0E0273mfig. 10A0E0274mfig. 12A0E0272mfig. 11
Never use the outlet for
accessories with power
over the max. specified
one. Long power intake can run
down the battery and inhibit
engine starting.
271-292 Alfa 159 GB 8-04-2009 10:55 Pagina 280
303
SOUND SYSTEM
SELECTING CD/CD CHANGER
FUNCTIONS
Pressing briefly and repeatedly button CD
it is possible to select the following audio
sources in sequence:
❒CD (only if the Compact Disc is inserted);
❒CHANGER (CD Changer - only if the CD
Changer is connected).
AUDIO SOURCE MEMORY
FUNCTION
If while listening to a CD another function is
selected (e.g.: the radio), playing is stopped
and when the CD mode is resumed, it starts
again from the point in which it was
stopped.
If while listening to the radio another func-
tion is selected, when the Radio mode is
resumed, it is tuned to the last station se-
lected.
VOLUME ADJUSTMENT
Adjust volume through button/knob
ON/OFF.
If the volume level is changed during the
broadcast of a traffic bulletin, the new set-
ting is maintained only until the end of the
bulletin.
SPEED VOLUME FUNCTION
(excluding versions with Bose
HI-FI system)
The SVC function makes it possible to au-
tomatically adapt the volume level to the
speed of the car, increasing it as the speed
increases to maintain the ratio with the noise
level inside the passenger compartment.
See section MENU for activat-
ing/deactivating this function.
TURNING THE
SOUND SYSTEM ON
The set is switched on pressing briefly the
button/knob ON/OFF.
When turning the sound system on, the vol-
ume level will be brought to 20 if it was set
to over.
If the radio is turned on when the key is not
fitted into the ignition device, it will turn off
automatically after about 20 minutes. After
automatic switching off, it is however possi-
ble to turn the radio on again for other 20 min-
utes by pressing the button/knob ON/OFF.
TURNING THE
SOUND SYSTEM OFF
Keep button/knob ON/OFF pressed.
SELECTING RADIO FUNCTIONS
Pressing briefly and repeatedly button FM-
AS it is possible to select the following func-
tions in sequence:
❒TUNER (“FM1”, “FM2”, “FMT”);
Pressing briefly and repeatedly button AM it
is possible to select the following functions
in sequence:
❒TUNER (“MW”, “LW”).
F F
U U
N N
C C
T T
I I
O O
N N
S S
A A
N N
D D
A A
D D
J J
U U
S S
T T
M M
E E
N N
T T
S S
293-318 Alfa 159 GB 8-04-2009 10:56 Pagina 303
311
SOUND SYSTEM
EXTERNAL AUDIO VOL function
With this function it is possible to adjust (set-
ting from 0 to 40) or exclude (OFF) external
audio sources.
To turn this function on/off, use button
÷or ˜.
The display will show the current status of
the function:
❒“EXTERN FUNCTION OFF”: function off.
❒“EXTERN VOLUME: 23”: function on with
volume level 23.
RADIO OFF function
(system power on/off mode)
This function enables to switch off the sound
system according to two different modes.
To turn the function on use button
÷or
˜.
The display will show the selected mode:
❒“00 MIN”: deactivation dependent on ig-
nition key. The sound system will turn off
automatically as soon as the key is re-
moved from the ignition device;
❒“20 MIN”: deactivation independent of
ignition key. The sound system will stay
on for max. 20 minutes after removing
the key from the ignition device.IMPORTANT When the sound system is
switched off automatically after removing
the key from the ignition device (for both
immediate or 20-minute delayed power
off), it will switch on automatically fitting
the key into the ignition device. If the sound
system has been switched off pressing the
button ON/OFF, when fitting the key into
the ignition device, it will stay off.
RESTORE DEFAULT function
This function enables to restore default set-
tings. Options available are the following:
❒NO: no restore;
❒YES: restore default settings. During this
operation the display will show the mes-
sage “RESTORING”. At the end of this op-
eration, the audio source will not be
changed and the previous situation is dis-
played. SPEED VOLUME function
(volume changing with speed)
(excluding versions with
Bose HI-FI system)
This function makes it possible to automat-
ically adapt the volume level to the speed
of the car, increasing it as the speed in-
creases to maintain the ratio with the noise
level inside the passenger compartment.
To turn the function on/off use button
÷or ˜. The display will show the current
status of the function:
❒OFF: function off
❒LOW: function on
(low sensitivity)
❒HIGH: function on
(high sensitivity).
293-318 Alfa 159 GB 8-04-2009 10:56 Pagina 311
314
SOUND SYSTEM
Entering the secret code
When turning the sound system on (in the
event of code request), the display will show
the word “CODE” for about 2 seconds, fol-
lowed by four dashes “- - - -”.
The secret code comprises four figures from
1 to 6, each corresponding to one of the
dashes.
To enter the first digit of the code, press the
corresponding key of the preset stations
(from 1 to 6). Enter the other code digits in
the same way.
If the four figures are not entered within 20
seconds, the display shows the word
“CODE” for 2 seconds and then fours dash-
es “- - - -”. This is not to be considered as an
incorrect code entry.
After entering the fourth digit (within 20 sec-
onds), the radio starts working.
If a wrong code is entered, the radio sounds
a beep, the display shows the word “CODE”
for 2 seconds and then fours dashes “- - - -”
to warn the user that it is necessary to en-
ter the correct code.Every time the user enters a wrong code,
the waiting time increases gradually (1 min,
2 min, 4 min, 8 min, 16 min, 30 min,1h,
2h, 4h, 8h, 16h, 24h) until reaching a max-
imum of 24 hours. The waiting time will
be shown on the display with the word
“WAIT”. When this goes off it is possible
to start the new code entry procedure.
Code Card
This the document that certifies possession
of the radio. The Code Card contains the ra-
dio model, serial number and secret code.
IMPORTANT Keep the Code Card carefully to
be able to give the related data to the com-
petent authorities in the event of theft.ANTITHEFT PROTECTION
The radio is fitted with an antitheft protec-
tion system based on the exchange of in-
formation between the radio and the elec-
tronic control unit (Body Computer) installed
on the car.
This system warrants the highest level of se-
curity and prevents entry of the secret code
every time the radio supply is disconnected.
If the result of the check is positive, the set
starts working, whereas if the comparison
codes are not the same or if the electronic
control unit (Body Computer) is replaced,
the device informs the user of the need to
enter the secret code according to the pro-
cedure described in the following paragraph.
293-318 Alfa 159 GB 8-04-2009 10:56 Pagina 314