BATTERY
Battery A fig. 130 does not require the
electrolyte to be topped up with distilled
water. A periodic check carried out at a
dedicated Alfa Romeo Dealership is,
however, necessary to check efficiency.
REPLACING THE
BATTERY
127) 128) 129) 130)
28)
4)
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 rapidly
and maintain its efficiency over time,
carefully observe the following
instructions:
when you park the car, ensure that
the doors and tailgate are properly
closed, to prevent roof lights inside the
passenger and luggage compartments
respectively from staying on;
switch off the roof lights; the car is,
however, equipped with a system which
switches the interior lights off
automatically;
do not keep accessories (e.g. radio,
hazard warning 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 turning the ignition
key to STOP and having closed the
driver side door, wait at least one
minute before disconnecting the
electrical supply from the battery. When
reconnecting the electrical supply to the
battery, make sure that the ignition key
is in the STOP position and the driver
side door is closed.
IMPORTANT If the charge level remains
under 50% for a long time, the batteryis 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 “Car inactivity”
paragraph in “Starting and driving” 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
(alarm, etc.) or accessories which
influence the electrical supply
requirements, contact a dedicated Alfa
Romeo Dealership, whose qualified
staff will evaluate the overall electrical
consumption.
WARNING
127)Battery fluid is poisonous and
corrosive. Avoid contact with the skin and
eyes. Keep open flames away from the
battery and do not use objects that might
create sparks: risk of explosion and fire.
128)Using the battery with insufficient fluid
irreparably damages the battery and may
cause an explosion.
129)If the car will be unused for an
extended period of time in extremely cold
weather conditions, remove the battery
and store it in a heated area to prevent it
from freezing.
130)When performing any operation on
the battery or near it, always protect your
eyes with special goggles.
130A0L0138
138
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
the roads are spread with salt, it is
advisable to wash the car more
frequently.
To correctly wash the car, proceed as
follows:
wash the bodywork using a low
pressure jet of water. Remember that
the build up of water can damage the
car over a period of time;
wipe a sponge with a slightly soapy
solution over the bodywork, frequently
rinsing the sponge;
rinse well with water and dry with a
jet of air or a chamois leather.
Dry the less visible parts (e.g. door
frames, engine cover, headlight frames,
etc.) with special care, as water may
stagnate more easily in these areas.
The car should not be taken to a closed
area immediately, but left outside so
that residual water can evaporate.
Do not wash the car after it has been
left in the sun or with the tailgate 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.
Avoid parking under trees as much as
possible; the resin from trees dulls the
paintwork.
IMPORTANT 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 or altering
the transparency.
Front headlights
Use a soft cloth soaked in water and
detergent for washing cars.
IMPORTANT Never use aromatic
substances (e.g. petrol) or ketenes (e.g.
acetone) for cleaning the plastic lenses
of the front headlights.
Engine compartment
At the end of the winter the engine
compartment should be carefully
washed, without directing the jet
against any electronic control unit. 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 washing operation, make sure that
the various protections (e.g. rubber
caps and guards) have not been
removed or damaged.
IMPORTANT
5)Detergents pollute the environment. Only
wash your vehicle in areas equipped to
collect and treat wastewater from this type
of activity.
IMPORTANT
30)In order to preserve the aesthetic
appearance of the paint abrasive products
and/or polishes should not be used for
cleaning the vehicle.
31)Avoid washing with water cannons,
rollers and/or brushes in washing stations.
Then, wash the car, only by hand, using
pH-neutral detergents; dry it with a wet
chamois leather.
142
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
BODYWORK PAINT
IDENTIFICATION PLATE
It is applied under the tailgate and
shows the following data fig. 139:
APaint manufacturer.
BColour name.
CColour code.
DRespray and touch up colour code.
ENGINE MARKING
This is stamped on the cylinder block
and includes the type and the engine
serial number.
139A0L0090
147
