115) Car handling is modified with
the space-saver wheel fitted.
Avoid violent acceleration and
braking, abrupt steering and fast
cornering. The overall duration
of the space-saver wheel is of
about 3000 km, after which the
relevant tyre must be replaced
with another one of the same
type. Never install a traditional
tyre on a rim designed to be used
as a space-saver wheel. Have
the wheel repaired and refitted as
soon as possible. Using two or
more space-saver wheels at the
same time is forbidden. Do not
grease the bolt threads before you
fit them, because they could
suddenly come loose.116) Use the jack only to replace
wheels on the car with which it
is supplied or on other cars of the
same model. Never use the jack
for other purposes, such as lifting
other car models. Never use it
for repair operations under the
car. Incorrect positioning of the
jack may cause the car to fall. Do
not use the jack for loads higher
than those shown on the label.
Never install snow chains on the
space-saver wheel; if a front tyre
(driving wheel) is punctured and
you need to use snow chains, use
a standard wheel from the rear
axle and install the space-saver
wheel on the rear axle. In this
way, with two normal front drive
wheels, it is possible to use snow
chains.
117) Incorrect hub cap assembly
may cause it to come off when the
car is moving. Never tamper with
the inflation valve. Never
introduce tools of any kind
between rim and tyre. Regularly
check the inflation pressure of the
tyres and space-saver wheel
(see chapter "Technical
specifications").
IMPORTANT
26) Contact an Alfa Romeo
Dealership as soon as possible to
have the correct tightening of
the wheel bolts checked.
169
❒inflate the tyre to the pressure
indicated in the “Wheels” paragraph
in the “Technical data” chapter. In
order to obtain a more precise
reading, check the pressure value on
pressure gauge B fig. 153 with the
compressor off;
❒if after five minutes it is still impossible
to reach at least 1.8 bar, disengage
the compressor from the valve and
power socket, then move the car
forwards by approx. ten metres
in order to distribute the sealing fluid
inside the tyre evenly, then repeat
the inflation operation;
❒if you still cannot obtain a pressure of
at least 1.8 bar within 5 minutes from
the compressor switching on, do
not drive off and contact an Alfa
Romeo Dealership;❒after having driven for about 10
minutes, stop and recheck the tyre
pressure; remember to engage
the handbrake;
❒if a pressure value of at least 1.8 bar
is detected, restore the correct
pressure (with the engine running and
the handbrake engaged), resume
driving and drive with great care to an
Alfa Romeo Dealership.
CHECKING AND
RESTORING TYRE
PRESSURE
The compressor can also be used to
check and, if necessary, adjust the tyre
pressure.
Release quick coupling A fig. 157 and
connect it directly to the valve of the
tyre to be inflated.
152A0K0518
153A0K0519
154A0K0520
155A0K0128
156A0K0521
171
123) Always indicate that the tyre
was repaired using the quick
tyre repair kit. Give the booklet to
the technicians who will be
handling the tyre that was treated
using the kit.
124) Repair is not possible if the
wheel rim is damaged (groove
is deformed, causing air to
escape). Do not remove foreign
bodies (screws or nails) from the
tyre.
125) Do not operate the compressor
for longer than 20 minutes
consecutively. Risk of
overheating. The kit is not suitable
for definitive repairs, so the
repaired tyres may only be used
temporarily.126) The bottle contains ethylene
glycol and latex: it may cause
an allergic reaction. It is harmful if
swallowed. It is irritant for the
eyes. It may cause sensitisation if
inhaled or on contact. Avoid
contact with eyes, skin and
clothes. In the event of contact,
rinse immediately with plenty
of water. If ingested, do not
induce vomiting. Rinse out your
mouth, drink large quantities
of water and seek immediate
medical attention. Keep out of the
reach of children. The product
must not be used by asthmatics.
Do not inhale the vapours during
insertion and suction. Call a
doctor immediately if allergic
reactions are noted. Store the
bottle in its proper compartment,
away from sources of heat. The
sealant fluid has an expiry date.
Replace the bottle containing
out-of-date sealant fluid.CHANGING A BULB
28)
127) 128) 129)
GENERAL
INSTRUCTIONS
❒Before changing a bulb check the
contacts for oxidation;
❒replace blown bulbs with others of
the same type and power;
❒after replacing a headlight bulb,
always check its alignment;
❒when a light is not working, check
that the corresponding fuse is intact
before changing the bulb. For the
location of fuses, refer to the
paragraph “If a fuse blows” in this
chapter.
173
RAISING THE CAR
If the car needs to be jacked up, go to
an Alfa Romeo Dealership which is
equipped with shop jacks and jack
arms.
IMPORTANT Be careful when
positioning the arm of the lift for
versions with side skirts.
TOWING THE CAR
The tow ring provided with the car is
housed in the tool box in the boot.
ATTACHING THE TOW
HOOK
Release plug A by pressing the lower
part, take tow hook B from its housing
in the tool support and tighten it
securely on the front threaded pin (fig.
183) or on the rear threaded pin (fig.
184).
135) 136) 137)
WARNING
135) Before towing, turn the ignition
key to MAR-ON and then to STOP
without removing it. The steering
column will automatically lock
when the key is removed and the
wheels cannot be steered. Also
check that the gearbox is in
neutral (on versions equipped with
Alfa TCT automatic transmission,
check that the gear lever is inN
position)
183A0K0623
184A0K0704
192
IN AN EMERGENCY
136) Remember that the brake servo
and the electromechanical power
steering will not work while
towing the car. You will therefore
need to apply more force on the
brake pedal and steering wheel.
Do not use wires for towing. Do
not jerk. During towing, make sure
that the trailer hitch does not
damage any components it
is touching. When towing the car,
you must comply with all specific
traffic regulations and adopt an
appropriate driving behaviour. Do
not start the engine while towing
the car. Before tightening the
ring, clean the threaded housing
thoroughly. Make sure that the
ring is fully fastened in the
housing before towing the car.137) The front and rear tow hooks
should be used only for
emergencies on the road. You are
allowed to tow the vehicle for
short distances using an
appropriate device in accordance
with the highway code (a rigid
bar), to move the vehicle on the
road in readiness for towing or
transport via a tow truck. Tow
hooks MUST NOT be used to tow
vehicles off the road or where
there are obstacles and/or for
towing operations using cables or
other non-rigid devices.
Respecting the above conditions,
towing must take place with two
vehicles (one towing, the other
towed) aligned as much as
possible along the same centre
line.
193
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
Correct maintenance permits the
performance of the car to be
maintained over time, as well as limited
running costs and safeguarding the
efficiency of the safety systems.
This chapter explains how.SCHEDULED SERVICING ...............196
SCHEDULED SERVICING PLAN .....197
PERIODIC CHECKS ........................204
HEAVY-DUTY USE OF THE CAR .....204
CHECKING LEVELS........................205
AIR CLEANER/POLLEN
FILTER/DIESEL FILTER....................210
BATTERY ........................................211
WHEELS AND TYRES.....................212
WINDSCREEN/REAR WINDOW
WIPERS ..........................................213
BODYWORK ...................................216
INTERIORS .....................................218
195
BATTERY
Battery F (see previous pages) does not
require the electrolyte to be topped up
with distilled water. A periodic check
carried out at an Alfa Romeo Dealership
is, however, necessary to check
efficiency.
REPLACING THE
BATTERY
146) 147) 148) 149)
36)
5)
If necessary, replace the battery with
another original battery with the same
specifications. Follow the battery
manufacturer's instructions for
maintenance.
USEFUL ADVICE FOR
EXTENDING THE LIFE OF
YOUR BATTERY
To avoid draining your battery and
make it last longer, observe the
following instructions:
❒when you park the car, ensure that
the doors, tailgate and bonnet are
closed properly, to prevent any lights
from remaining on inside the
passenger's compartment;❒switch off all roof lights inside the car:
the car is however equipped with a
system which switches all internal
lights off automatically;
❒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 negative battery cable.
IMPORTANT After the battery is
disconnected, the steering must be
initialised. Thewarning light
switches on to indicate this. To carry
out this procedure, simply turn the
steering wheel all the way from one end
to the other or drive in a straight line
for about a hundred metres.
IMPORTANT If the charge level remains
under 50% for a long time, the battery
is damaged by sulphation, reducing
its capacity and efficiency at start-up.
The battery will also be more at risk
of freezing (this can happen as early as
–10°C). Refer to the paragraph "Car
inactivity" in "Starting and driving"
chapter if the car is left parked for a
long time.If, after purchasing the car, you wish to
install electrical accessories which
require permanent electrical supply (e.g.
alarm, etc.) or accessories which
influence the electrical supply
requirements, contact an Alfa Romeo
Dealership, whose qualified staff will
evaluate the overall electrical
consumption.WARNING
146) Battery liquid is poisonous and
corrosive. Avoid contact with the
skin and eyes. Keep naked flames
and sources of sparks away from
the battery: risk of explosion and
fire.
147) Using the battery with
insufficient fluid irreparably
damages the battery and may
cause an explosion.
148) If the car must remain unused
for a long time at a very low
temperature, remove the battery
and take it to a warm place, to
avoid freezing.
211
149) When performing any
operation on the battery or near it,
always protect your eyes with
special goggles.
IMPORTANT
36) Incorrect assembly of electrical
and electronic accessories may
cause severe damage to your car.
Go to an Alfa Romeo Dealership
if you want to install accessories
(e.g. anti-theft, radio phone, etc.):
they will suggest the most
suitable devices and advise you
whether a higher capacity battery
needs to be installed.
IMPORTANT
5) Batteries contain substances
which are very dangerous for the
environment. For battery
replacement, contact an Alfa
Romeo Dealership.
WHEELS AND TYRES
Before embarking on a long trip, and
every two weeks, check the tyre
inflation pressure. Check the tyres when
cold.
150) 151) 152) 153)
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” chapter.
Incorrect pressure causes abnormal
tyre wear fig. 189:
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. In
any case, follow the laws in force in the
country you are in.
IMPORTANT
INFORMATION
Take the following precautions to
prevent damage to the tyres:
❒avoid violent impact against the kerb,
potholes or obstacles as well as
driving for extended periods on
uneven road surfaces;
❒periodically check that the tyres have
no cuts in the side walls, abnormal
swelling or irregular tread wear;
❒avoid travelling with the car
overloaded. If a tyre is punctured,
stop immediately and change it;
❒tyres age even if they are not used a
great deal. Cracks in the tread and
on the side walls are a sign of ageing.
Have the tyres checked by
specialised personnel if they have
been fitted for longer than 6 years;
❒in case of replacement, always fit
new tyres, avoiding those of dubious
origin;
❒if a tyre is changed, also change the
inflation valve.
189A0K0531
212
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE