2010 Alfa Romeo Giulietta Owner handbook (in English)

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CONTENTS
WHEELS AND TYRES
Before embarking on a long trip, and every two weeks, check the
tyre inflation pressure (and space-saver wheel); check the pressure
with the tyres cold.
It is normal for the pressure to increase when the car is used; for
the correct tyre inflation pressure, see “Wheels” in the “Technical
specifications” section.
Incorrect pressure causes abnormal tyre wear fig. 165:
A normal pressure: tread evenly worn.
B low pressure: tread particularly worn at the edges.
C high pressure: tread particularly worn in the centre.
The tyres must be replaced when the tread is less than 1.6 mm
thick. IMPORTANT NOTES
Take the following precautions to prevent damage to the tyres: ❍avoid braking suddenly, racing starts and violent impact against
the curb, potholes or other obstacles and driving for extended
periods on unsurfaced roads;
❍check the tyres regularly for cuts on the sides, swelling or ir-
regular tread wear;
❍avoid travelling with the vehicle overloaded. If you puncture a
tyre, stop immediately and replace it;
❍have the tyres checked by specialised personnel if they have
been fitted for longer than 6 years. Remember to check the
space-saver wheel very carefully;
❍change the position of the tyres every 10-15 thousand kilo-
metres, keeping them on the same side of the vehicle to avoid
inverting the direction of rotation.
❍a tyre will age even if it is not used much. Cracks in the tread
and on the sidewalls are a sign of ageing. In any event, have
the tyres checked by specialised personnel if they have been
fitted for longer than six years. Remember to check the space-
saver wheel very carefully;
❍when replacing the tyres, always fit new tyres, avoiding those
of dubious origin;
❍If a tyre is replaced, you should also change the inflation valve.
fig. 165A0K0023m
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Remember that the road holding qualities of your
car also depend on the correct inflation pressure
of the tyres. WINDSCREEN/REAR WINDOW
WIPERS
Avoid switching 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 compromised.
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 is not frozen to the windscreen
in sub-zero temperatures. Use a de-icing product to release it
if required;
❍remove any snow from the window;
❍do not activate the windscreen/rear window wiper on a dry
window.
If the pressure is too low, the tyre will overheat and
could be seriously damaged.
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Replacing the windscreen wiper blades
Proceed as follows:
❍lift the windscreen wiper arm, press the tab A-fig. 166 of the
fastening clip and extract 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.
❍lower the windscreen wiper arm on the windscreen.
Lifting the wiper blades
When the wiper blades have to be lifted from the windscreen (i.e.
in the event of snow), proceed as follows:
❍turn the ignition key to the MAR position;
❍operate the lever to the right of the steering wheel to activate
a windscreen wiper stroke (see paragraph "Window wash-
ing" in chapter "Getting to know your car");
❍turn the ignition key to the STOP position when the driver's
side wiper blade reaches the windscreen side pillar and lift the
windscreen wiper to the rest position;
❍bring the wiper blades back into contact with the windscreen
before activating the windscreen wiper.
fig. 166A0K0144m
Do not operate the windscreen wiper with the
blades lifted from the windscreen.
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SPRAY NOZZLES
Windscreen washer fig. 168
The window washer jets are fixed. The nozzle holders are located
under the bonnet.
If the jet of fluid is inadequate, firstly check that there is fluid in the
reservoir: see “Checking fluid levels” paragraph in this section).
Then check that the nozzle holes are not clogged, if necessary us-
ing a needle.
fig. 167A0K0101mfig. 168A0K0139m
Replacing the rear window wiper blade
Proceed as follows:
❍lift cover A-fig. 167, undo nut B and remove arm C;
❍correctly position the new arm, fully tighten nut B and then
lower cover A.
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Rear window washer fig. 169
The nozzle holder is located above the rear window. The rear win-
dow washer jets are fixed.
HEADLAMP WASHERS fig. 170
(on request for versions/markets, where provided)
These are located within the front bumper. They are activated when
the dipped beam and/or main beam headlights are on and the
windscreen washer is activated.
Check the condition and cleanliness of nozzles at regular intervals.
fig. 169A0K0102mfig. 170A0K0138m
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BODYWORK
PROTECTION FROM ATMOSPHERIC AGENTS
The car is equipped with the best available technological solutions
to protect the bodywork against corrosion.
These are the most important:
❍paint products and systems which give the car resistance to cor-
rosion and abrasion;
❍use of galvanised (or pre-treated) steel sheets with high resis-
tance to corrosion;
❍spraying protective plastic materials in the most exposed ar-
eas: underdoor, inner mudguard parts, edges, etc.;
❍using “open” boxed sections to prevent condensation and pock-
ets of moisture from causing rust inside.
❍use of special films to protect against abrasion in exposed ar-
eas (e.g. rear wing, doors, etc.).
BODY AND UNDERBODY WARRANTY
Your car is covered by warranty against perforation, due to rust,
of any original element of the structure or bodywork. For the gen-
eral terms of this warranty, refer to your Warranty Booklet.
PRESERVING THE BODYWORK
Paint
Touch up abrasions and scratches immediately to prevent the for-
mation of rust.
Maintenance of paintwork consists of washing the car: the fre-
quency depends on the conditions and environment where the
car is used. For example, it is advisable to wash the car more of-
ten in areas with high environmental pollution or salted roads.
To correctly wash the car:
❍remove the aerial from the roof when using a carwash;
❍in washing stations keep the steam jet/high pressure washing
nozzles at least 40 cm away from the bodywork to prevent dam-
age. It should be remembered that a build up of water could
cause damage, in the long term, to the car.
❍wash the body using a low pressure jet of water;
❍wipe a sponge with a slightly soapy solution over the body-
work, frequently rinsing the sponge;
❍rinse well with water and dry with a jet of air or chamois leather.
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IMPORTANT
Avoid parking under trees; the resin dropped by trees makes the
paintwork go opaque and increasing the possibility of corrosion.
Bird droppings must be washed off immediately and thoroughly as
the acid they contain is particularly aggressive.
Windows
Use specific detergents and clean cloths to prevent scratching.
IMPORTANT Wipe the rear window gently with a cloth in the di-
rection of the filaments to avoid damaging the heating device.
Front headlights
Use a soft, damp cloth soaked in water and detergent for wash-
ing cars.
IMPORTANT Never use aromatic substances (e.g. petrol) or ketenes
(e.g. acetone) for cleaning the plastic lenses of the front head-
lights.
IMPORTANT When cleaning the car with a pressure washer, keep
the water jet at least 2 cm away from the headlights.
Engine compartment
At the end of every winter, wash the engine compartment thor-
oughly, taking care not to aim the jet of water directly at the elec-
tronic control units or at the windscreen wiper motors. Have this
operation performed at a specialised workshop.
IMPORTANT The washing should take place with the engine cold
and the ignition key in the STOP position. After the wash, make
sure that the various protective devices (e.g. rubber caps and
guards) have not been removed or damaged.
Detergents cause water pollution. Only wash the
car in areas equipped for the collection and pu-
rification of the fluids used in the actual washing
process.
When drying take care to dry the least visible parts where the
water could collect most easily. Do not wash the car after it has
been left in the sun or with the bonnet hot: this may alter the shine
of the paintwork.
Exterior plastic parts must be cleaned in the same way as the rest
of the car.
In order to preserve the aesthetic appearance of
the paintwork abrasive products and/or polishes
should not be used for cleaning the car.
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INTERIORS
Periodically check for water puddles under the mats that could cause
the panels to rust.
SEATS AND FABRIC PARTS
Remove dust with a soft brush or a vacuum cleaner. It is advis-
able to use a moist brush on velvet upholstery. Wipe the seats with
a sponge soaked in a solution of neutral detergent and water.
LEATHER SEATS
(on request for versions/markets, where provided)
Remove the dry dirt with a buckskin or slightly damp cloth, with-
out exercising too much pressure.
Remove liquid or oil stains using a dry absorbent cloth, without rub-
bing. Then clean with a soft cloth or buckskin cloth dampened with
water and neutral soap.
If the stain persists, use specific products and observe the instruc-
tions carefully.
IMPORTANT Never use alcohol. Make sure that the cleaning prod-
ucts used contain no alcohol or alcohol derivatives, even in small
quantities.
PLASTIC PARTS AND COVERS
Clean interior plastic parts with a damp cloth (if possible made from
microfibre), and a solution of water and neutral, non-abrasive de-
tergent. To clean oily or persistent stains, use specific products free
from solvents and designed to maintain the original appearance
and colour of the components.
Remove any dust using a microfibre cloth, if necessary moistened
with water. The use of paper tissues is not recommended as these
may leave residues.
IMPORTANT Never use alcohol or petrol to clean the glass on the
instrument panel or other plastic parts.
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