2011 Alfa Romeo MiTo bonnet

CARE AND MAINTENANCE207
5
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 PETRONAS LUBRICANTS products, de-
signed and produced specifically for Alfa Romeo cars (see “Con-
sumables” 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.);

CARE AND MAINTENANCE217
5
BATTERY
The battery F-fig. 1-2-3-4-5-6 does not require top ups of distilled wa-
ter to replenish the electrolyte. A periodic check carried out at an
Alfa Romeo Authorised Services is, however, necessary to check ef-
ficiency.
REPLACING THE BATTERY
When necessary, replace the battery with another original battery
with the same specifications. Follow the battery manufacturer’s in-
structions for maintenance.
ADVICE FOR PROLONGING
THE LIFE OF YOUR BATTERY
To avoid draining your battery and prolong its life, observe the
following indications:
❍when you park the car, ensure the doors, tailgate and bonnet
are closed properly in order to avoid the courtesy lights re-
maining on for longer than necessary;
❍switch off all lights inside the car: the car is, however, equipped
with a system which switches all internal lights off automati-
cally;
❍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, dis-
connect the battery negative terminal.
AIR FILTER/POLLEN FILTER/
DIESEL FILTER
Contact an Alfa Romeo Authorised Services to replace these
filters.

224CARE AND MAINTENANCE
IMPORTANT NOTES
Avoid parking under trees; the resin dropped by trees makes the
paintwork go opaque, 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 window cleaner products.
Use also clean cloths to avoid scratching the glass or damaging
the transparency.
IMPORTANT Wipe the rear window inside gently with a cloth in the
direction 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 front headlight plastic lens.
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 windscreen wiper motors. Have this opera-
tion performed at a specialised workshop.
IMPORTANT Perform this operation on a cold engine and with the
key at STOP. After the washing operation, make sure that the var-
ious protections (e.g. rubber caps and guards) have not been re-
moved or damaged.
Detergents cause water pollution. The car should
be washed in areas equipped for collecting and pu-
rifying the liquid used in the washing process.
When drying take care to dry the least exposed parts where the
water could collect most easily. Do not wash the car after it has
been parked in the sun or when the engine is bonnet is hot: this
could take the shine off the paint.
Exterior plastic parts must be cleaned in the same way as the rest
of the car.
To keep intact the aesthetic properties of the
paintwork do not use abrasive and/or polish
products for cleaning the car bodywork.

INDEX253
7
Car maintenance......................... 201
– Heavy-duty use of the car ........ 207
– service schedule ..................... 202
Carrying children safely
– Isofix universal child
restraint system ..................... 143
– child seats ............................ 141
Car radio (wiring) ........................ 121
CBC system ................................ 110
Chassis marking .......................... 229
Checking fluid levels .................... 208
Cigar lighter................................ 90
Climatic comfort .......................... 63
CO
2emissions ............................ 249
CODE card .................................. 47
Compliance for use ...................... 141
Control buttons ........................... 29
Controls
– door lock.............................. 87
– front fog lights ....................... 87
– fuel cut-off system ................. 88
– hazard warning lights ............. 86
– rear fog lights ........................ 87
Courtesy lights ........................ 83-86
Courtesy mirror lights
– bulb replacement ................... 186
Cruise Control ............................. 81
Current outlet ............................. 90
ABS (system) ........................... 107
Air cleaner.................................. 217
Alarm ........................................ 53
Alfa “DNA” (system) ................... 111
Alfa Romeo CODE (system) .......... 46
Ashtray ...................................... 91
ASR system ................................ 109
At the filling station ...................... 129
Automatic two-zone climate
control system .......................... 68
Battery
– tips for extending duration ....... 217
– recharging............................ 196
– replacing .............................. 217
Bodywork (cleaning)................... 223
Bonnet ...................................... 103
Boot .......................................... 88
Boot light
– bulb replacement ................... 184
Brake lights ................................ 182
Brakes ....................................... 235
Bulb (replacement) ..................... 178
– general instructions ................ 178
– bulb types ............................ 178
Bulb replacement....................178-184
Capacities ................................. 128
– table capacities .................244-245
Dashboard............................ 7-243
Daylight lights (D.R.L.) ................. 76
Demanding use of the car ............. 207
Devices ...................................... 120
Dimensions ................................ 240
Dipped beam headlights
– activation............................. 76
– bulb replacement ................... 181
Direction indicators
– activation............................. 77
– replacement.......................... 182
Display ...................................... 26
Dynamic Suspension..................... 119
Door lock device .......................... 87
Doors ........................................ 95
DPF ........................................... 130
D.R.L. (daylight lights) ................. 76
DST system ................................ 110
Electric power steering system ...... 119
Electric sunroof ............................ 92
Electronic Q2 (“E-Q2”) ................ 110
Engine
– marking ............................... 229
– specifications ......................... 231
Engine codes
– bodywork versions ................. 230
Engine compartment (washing) ..... 223