SCHEDULED
SERVICING
Correct maintenance is essential for en-
suring long car life under the best condi-
tions.
This is why Alfa Romeo has programmed
a series of checks and maintenance op-
erations every 35,000 km (or 21,000
mi).
IMPORTANTThe actual engine oil and
filter change frequency depends on the
conditions of use of the car and is si-
gnalled by means of a warning light or
message (where provided) on the in-
strument panel.
IMPORTANTAt 2,000 km from the
scheduled service, the display will show
a dedicated message. It is however important to remember that
scheduled servicing does not completely
cover all the car’s requirements: also in
the initial period before 35,000 km (or
21,000 mi) service coupon and later, be-
tween one coupon and another, ordinary
care is still required such as for example
routine check and topping up the level of
fluids, tyre pressure check, etc...
IMPORTANTThe Programmed Main-
tenance coupons are specified by the
Manufacturer. The failure to have them
carried out may invalidate the warranty.
Scheduled Servicing is performed by all
Alfa Romeo Authorized Services, at pre-
established times.
If during whatever service operation, in
addition to the ones programmed, the
need arises for further replacements or
repairs, these may be carried out only
with the explicit agreement of the Cus-
tomer.IMPORTANTYou are advised to con-
tact Alfa Romeo Authorized Services in
the event of any minor operating faults,
without waiting for the next service
coupon.
If your car is used frequently for towing,
the interval between one service coupon
and the other must be reduced.
CAR
MAINTENANCE
DASHBOARD
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CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
INDEX
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
IN AN
EMERGENCY
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
SAFETY
DEVICES
224
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35 70 105 140 175
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SERVICE SCHEDULE
Thousands of km
Check tyre conditions/wear and adjust pressure if required
Check light system operation (headlights, direction indicators, hazard lights,
boot lights, passenger compartment lights, glovebox lights, warning lights, etc.)
Check windscreen wiper/washer operation,adjust nozzles if required
Check windscreen/rear window blade position/wear
Check front disk brake pad conditions and wear and wear indicator operation
Check rear disk brake pad conditions and wear
Sight inspect the conditions of: body external parts, underbody protection,
pipes and hoses (exhaust - fuel - brakes), rubber parts
(boots, sleeves, bushes, etc.)
Check cleanness of locks, bonnet and boot and lever cleanness
and lubrication
Check and top up, if required, fluid levels (brakes/hydraulic clutch,
power steering, windscreen washer, battery, engine coolant, etc.)
Check and adjust handbrake lever stroke
Sight inspect accessory drive belt conditions (except 1.8 140 HP version)
Sight inspect accessory drive belt conditions (1.8 140 HP version)
Sight inspect timing belt conditions (1.8 140 HP version)
CAR
MAINTENANCE
DASHBOARD
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TECHNICAL
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EMERGENCY
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LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
SAFETY
DEVICES
225
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Thousands of km
Check and adjust tappet clearance (1.9 JTDM8v version)
Check and adjust tappet clearance, if required (1.8 140 HP version)
Check exhaust emissions (petrol versions)
Check exhaust emissions/smoke (diesel versions)
Check engine control system operation (through diagnosis socket)
Replace accessory drive belt/s (except 1.8 140 HP version)
Replace accessory drive belt/s (1.8 140 HP version)
Replace timing belt (1.8 140 HP version) (*)
Replace timing belt (1750 TURBO BENZINA version) (*)
Replace timing belt (diesel versions) (*)
Change spark plugs (3.2 JTS and 2.2 JTS Selespeed versions)
Change spark plugs (1.8 140 HP and 1750 TURBO BENZINA versions)
Replace diesel fuel filter (diesel versions)
Change air cleaner cartridge
Change front transmission gear oil (3.2 JTS 4x4 versions)
Change engine oil and oil filter (1.8 140 HP versions) (or every 12 months)
Change engine oil and oil filter (1750 TURBO BENZINA versions) (**)
(or every 12 months)
Change engine oil and oil filter (3.2 JTS and 2.2 JTS Selespeed versions)
(or every 24 months) (***)
Change engine oil and oil filter (diesel versions with DPF) (**)
(or every 24 months)
Change engine oil and oil filter (diesel versions without DPF)
(or every 24 months)
Change brake fluid (or every 24 months)
Change pollen filter (or every 24 months)
(*) 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.
(**) The engine oil and the filter must be changed when the instrument panel warning light comes on (see “Warning lights and Messages” chapter)
and in all cases every 24 months.
If the car is mainly used for town driving or in particularly harsh climate conditions and has a low annual mileage, the engine oil and filter should
be changed every 12 months.
CAR
MAINTENANCE
DASHBOARD
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226
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USE OF THE CAR
UNDER HEAVY
CONDITIONS
Should prevailing use of the car be un-
der one of the following specially heavy
conditions:
❒ trailer or caravan towing;
❒ dusty roads;
❒ short distances (less than 7-8 km)
and repeated with external temper-
atures below zero;
❒ frequently idling engines or long dis-
tance low speed driving (e.g.: door-
to-door deliveries) or in case of a long
term inactivity;
❒ urban routes;
carry out checks more frequently than
required on Service Schedule:
❒ check front disk brake pad conditions
and wear;
❒ check cleanness of bonnet and boot
locks and lever cleanness and lubri-
cation;
❒ sight inspect the conditions of: en-
gine, gearbox, transmission, pipes
and hoses (exhaust - fuel - brakes),
rubber parts (boots, sleeves, bushes,
etc.);
❒ check battery charge and fluid level
(electrolyte);
❒ visual check on various drive belt con-
ditions;
❒ change engine oil and oil filter, if re-
quired;
❒ check and replace pollen filter, if re-
quired;
❒ check and replace air cleaner, if re-
quired.
PERIODICAL CHECKS
Every 1,000 km or before long jour-
neys, check and top up if required:
❒engine coolant fluid level;
❒brake fluid level;
❒windscreen washer fluid level;
❒ tyre pressure and conditions.
❒ check light system operation (head-
lights, direction indicators, hazard
lights, etc.);
❒ check windscreen wiper/washer op-
eration and windscreen/rear window
blade position/wear;
Every 3,000 km check and top up if re-
quired: engine oil level.
You are recommended to use
PETRONAS LUBRICANTSprod-
ucts, designed and produced specifical-
ly for Alfa Romeo cars (see table “Ca-
pacities” in section “Technical specifi-
cations”).
CAR
MAINTENANCE
DASHBOARD
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INDEX
TECHNICAL
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EMERGENCY
WARNING
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SAFETY
DEVICES
227
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228
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CAR
MAINTENANCE
CHECKING
FLUID LEVELS
For refilling amounts refer to Technical
Specifications section.
1.Engine oil - 2. Battery
3.Brake fluid - 4.Windscreen washer
fluid - 5.Engine coolant -
6.Power steering fluid
fig. 2 - 1750 TURBO BENZINA version
2
4
1 6
53
A0E0854m
Never smoke while
working in the engine
compartment; gas and inflam-
mable vapours may be pre-
sent, with the risk of fire.
WARNING
When topping up take
care not to confuse the
various types of fluids:
they are all incompatible with
one another and could serious-
ly damage the car.
A0E0374mfig. 1 - 1.8 140 HP version
223-248 Alfa 159 GB 3-12-2009 14:11 Pagina 228
ENGINE OIL
Fig. 7: 1.8 140 HP version
Fig. 8: 1750 TURBO BENZINA version
Fig. 8/a: 2.2 JTS Selespeed version
Fig. 9: 3.2 JTS version
Fig. 10: 1.9 JTD
M8V-
1.9 JTD
M16Vversions
Fig. 11: 2.0 JTD
Mversion
Fig. 12: 2.4 JTD
MversionChecking engine oil
Check the oil level a few minutes (about
5) after the engine has stopped, with
the car parked on level ground.
Remove the dipstick Aand clean it, put it
back in completely, remove it and check
that the level is within the MIN and
MAXmarks on the dipstick. The gap be-
tween the MINand MAX marks cor-
responds to about one litre of oil.
CAR
MAINTENANCE
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DEVICES
232
A0E0856mfig. 8A0E0069mfig. 9
A0E0233mfig. 10
A0E0855mfig. 11A0E0400mfig. 7
A0E0202mfig. 12
A0E0018mfig. 8/a
223-248 Alfa 159 GB 3-12-2009 14:11 Pagina 232
CAR
MAINTENANCE
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IN AN
EMERGENCY
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
SAFETY
DEVICES
233
Engine oil consumption
Max engine oil consumption is usually
400 grams every 1000 km.
When the car is new, the engine needs
to run in, therefore the engine oil con-
sumption can only be considered sta-
bilised after the first 5000 - 6000 km.
IMPORTANTThe oil consumption de-
pends on driving style and the conditions
under which the car is used.
IMPORTANTDo not add oil with
specifications other than that already
in the engine. Topping up engine oil
If the oil level is near or even below the
MINmark, add oil through the filler
neck B, until reaching the MAXmark.
Oil level shall never exceed the MAX
mark.
IMPORTANT If a routine check re-
veals that the oil level is above the
MAXmark, contact Alfa Romeo Au-
thorized Services to have the correct lev-
el restored.
IMPORTANT After adding or changing
the oil, let the engine turn over for a few
seconds and wait a few minutes after
turning it off before you check the level.
When the engine is hot,
take care when work-
ing inside the engine compart-
ment to avoid burns. Remem-
ber that when the engine is
hot, the fan may cut in: danger
of injury. Scarves, ties and
other loose clothing might be
pulled by moving parts.
WARNING
Used engine oil and fil-
ter contain harmful sub-
stances for the environ-
ment. Contact Alfa Romeo Au-
thorized Services to have the oil
and filter changed.
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235
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CAR
MAINTENANCE
Do not travel with the
windscreen washer
reservoir empty. The wind-
screen washer is fundamental
for improving visibility.
WARNING
Certain commercial ad-
ditives for windscreen
washers are inflammable. The
engine compartment contains
hot components which may set
it on fire.
WARNING
POWER STEERING FLUID
fig. 15-16
Check that the fluid level in the reservoir
is at maximum level: this operation shall
be carried out with the car on level sur-
face, engine not running and cold.
Check that the fluid level is at the MAX
mark on the reservoir or at the top mark
(maximum level) shown on the dipstick
under the reservoir cap.
A0E0027mfig. 15 - 1.8 140 CV -
1750 TURBO BENZINA -
2.2 JTS Selespeed - 2.4 JTD
Mversions
A0E0234mfig. 16 - 3.2 JTS - 1.9 JTDM8V-
1.9 JTDM16V- 2.0 JTDMversions
If the fluid level in the reservoir is below
the specified level, top up as follows:
❒start the engine and wait until the flu-
id level in the reservoir has stabilized;
❒with the engine started, turn repeat-
edly the steering wheel fully right-
wards and leftwards;
❒top up until reaching the MAXmark
then refit the cap.IMPORTANTFor this operation it is
however recommended to always con-
tact Alfa Romeo Authorized Services.
Do not allow the pow-
er steering fluid to
touch the hot parts of the en-
gine: it is inflammable.
WARNING
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