2011 Alfa Romeo MiTo maintenance

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.

CARE AND MAINTENANCE225
5
INTERIORS
Periodically check for water puddles under the mats that could cause
the panels to rust.
CLEANING 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. Rub the seats with
a sponge moistened with a solution of water and neutral detergent.
LEATHER SEATS (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.
INTERIOR PLASTIC PARTS
Clean interior plastic parts with a moist cloth and a solution of
water and mild soap. To clean oily or persistent stains, use specif-
ic products free from solvents and designed to maintain the origi-
nal colour of the components.
IMPORTANT Never use spirit or petrol to clean the glass of the in-
strument panel or other plastic parts.

226CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Never use flammable products, such as petrol ether
or rectified petrol to clean inside the car. The elec-
trostatic charges which are generated by rubbing
during the cleaning operation may cause a fire.
Don’t keep aerosol cans in the vehicle: risk of ex-
plosion. Aerosol cans must not be exposed to tem-
peratures exceeding 50°C. When the vehicle is ex-
posed to sunlight, the inner temperature can greatly ex-
ceed this value.LEATHER PARTS
(for versions/markets, where provided)
Use only water and neutral soap to clean these parts. Never use
spirit and/or alcohol based products.
Before using a specific product for cleaning interiors, make sure
that it does not contain spirit and/or alcohol based substances.

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

INDEX255
7
Lane Change” function ................ 77
Load limiters............................... 135
Luggage compartment
– closing ................................. 100
– extending the luggage
compartment ........................ 101
– opening ................................ 99
Main beam headlights
– activation............................. 77
– bulb replacement ................... 180
Maintenance
– demanding use of the car ........ 207
– periodic checks...................... 207
– scheduled maintenance ........... 202
– scheduled servicing plan .......... 203
Menu ........................................ 32
Menu options ............................. 32
MSR (system)............................ 110
Multifunctional display .................. 26
Navigation system (wiring) ......... 121
Number plate lights
– bulb replacement ................... 183
Oddment compartment ............... 89
Oil engine .................................. 214
S.B.R. system ............................ 133
Safe lock (device) ....................... 51
Safety ....................................... 131
Saving fuel................................. 158
Seat belts
– pretensioners........................ 135
– S.B.R. system ....................... 133
– seat belt maintenance ............ 137
– using the seat belts ................ 132
Seats
– adjustment ....................... 56-57
– cleaning ............................... 225
– Easy Entry ............................ 58
– seat warming ........................ 58
Sensors
– automatic headlights ..............76
– rain ..................................... 80
– parking ................................ 123
Service Plan ............................... 203
– regular checks....................... 207
Setting off and driving .................. 153
Side bags ................................... 149
Sidelights/daytime lights
– activation............................. 76
– bulb replacement ...............180-182
Snow chains ............................... 162Paint ........................................ 223
Parking ...................................... 156
– handbrake ............................ 156
Performance ............................... 241
Power windows ........................... 96
Pretensioners.............................. 135
Protecting the environment ........... 130
Puddle lights
– bulb replacement ................... 187
Radio transmitters and
cellular phones.......................... 123
Radio wiring system ..................... 121
Rear fog lights
– activation . ............................ 87
– bulb replacement ................... 183
Rear screen wiper
– activation............................. 79
– brushes ................................ 220
– sprays .................................. 221
Rear view mirrors ........................ 61
Reconfigurable
multifunctional display ................ 27
Reversing light
– bulb replacement ................... 183
Roof rack/ski rack ....................... 104