.
G
186 - 1.4 Turbo MultiAir versionsA0K0656
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SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
ENGINE OIL
Check that the oil level is between the
MIN and MAX references on the
dipstick A.
If the oil level is near or under the MIN
reference, add oil through the filler B
until it reaches the MAX reference.
140)32)
Take out the engine oil dipstick A, clean
it with a lint-free cloth and reinsert it.
Extract it again and check that the level
is between the MIN and MAX marks
on the dipstick.Engine oil consumption
33)3)
The maximum engine oil consumption
is usually 400 grams every 1,000 km.
When the car is new, the engine needs
to be run in; therefore the engine oil
consumption can only be considered
stabilised after the first 5,000 - 6,000
km.
G
188 - Diesel versionsA0K0658
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SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
140) If the engine oil is being topped
up, wait for the engine to cool
down before loosening the filler
plug, particularly for cars with
aluminium plug (for versions/
markets, where provided).
WARNING: risk of burns!
141) The cooling system is
pressurised. If necessary, only
replace the plug with another
original or the operation of the
system may be adversely affected.
Do not remove the reservoir plug
when the engine is hot: you risk
burns.
142) Do not travel with the
windscreen washer reservoir
empty: the windscreen washer is
essential for improving visibility.
Repeated operation of the system
without fluid could damage or
cause rapid deterioration of some
system components.
143) Certain commercial additives
for windscreen washer fluids are
inflammable. The engine
compartment contains hot
components which may set it on
fire.144) Brake fluid is poisonous and
highly corrosive. In the event of
accidental contact, immediately
wash the affected parts with
water and mild soap. Then rinse
thoroughly. Call a doctor
immediately if swallowed.
145) The symbol
on the container
indicates a synthetic brake fluid,
which is different from a mineral
fluid. Using a mineral-type fluid
will damage the special rubber
seals of the braking system
beyond repair.
IMPORTANT
3) Used engine oil and oil filters
contain substances which are
harmful to the environment. You
are advised to contact an Alfa
Romeo Dealership to have the oil
and filters changed.
4) Used transmission fluid contains
substances that are harmful to
the environment. You are advised
to contact an Alfa Romeo
Dealership for oil changes.
AIR CLEANER/
POLLEN
FILTER/DIESEL
FILTER
For filter replacement, contact an Alfa
Romeo Dealership.
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SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
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
"Service position"
Function activation
The "Service position" function allows
the driver to replace the windscreen
wiper blades more easily, protecting
them from snow.
To activate this function disable the
windscreen wiper (ring nut A fig. 191 in
positionO) before turning the ignition
key to STOP.
This function can only be activated
within 2 minutes from when the ignition
key is turned to STOP.
To activate this function, move the lever
upwards (unstable position) for at
least half a second.Each time the function is activated
correctly, the blades move to signal the
correct reception of the command.
This command can be repeated up to a
maximum of three times. After that the
function is disabled.
If after using this function the key is
brought back to MAR-ON and the
blades are not in the stop position,
these will be brought in the 1st speed
stop position only after a command
given through that lever (moving the
lever in unstable position) or when
5 km/h are exceeded.
Function deactivation
The function is deactivated if:
❒two minutes have passed since when
the ignition key has been taken to
STOP;
❒the ignition key is turned to MAR-ON
and the blades are in the stop
position;
❒is activated 3 times.
Replacing the rear
window wiper blade
Proceed as follows:
❒raise cover A fig. 192, undo nut B
and remove arm C;❒correctly position the new arm, fully
tighten the nut B then lower the
cover A.
NOZZLES
Windscreen washer
The windscreen washer nozzles are
fixed fig. 193.
191A0K0557
192A0K0533
193A0K0139
214
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
BODYWORK
PROTECTION AGAINST
ATMOSPHERIC AGENTS
The car is equipped with the best
available technological solutions to
effectively protect the bodywork against
corrosion.
These include:
❒painting products and systems which
give the car resistance to corrosion
and abrasion
❒use of galvanised (or pretreated) steel
sheets, with high resistance to
corrosion;
❒spraying of plastic parts, with a
protective function in the more
exposed points: underdoor, inner
wing, edges, etc;
❒use of “open” boxed sections to
prevent condensation and pockets of
moisture which could favour the
formation of rust inside;
❒use of special films to protect against
abrasion in exposed areas (e.g. rear
wing, doors, etc.).BODY AND UNDERBODY
WARRANTY
Your car is covered by warranty against
perforation due to rust of any original
element of the structure or bodywork.
For the general terms of this warranty,
refer to the Warranty Booklet.
PRESERVING THE
BODYWORK
Paintwork
6)38)
Touch up abrasions and scratches
immediately to prevent the formation of
rust.
Maintenance of paintwork consists of
washing the car: the frequency
depends on the conditions and
environment where the car is used. For
example, it is advisable to wash the
car more often in areas with high levels
of atmospheric pollution or salted
roads.
On some versions the car may be
equipped, on request, with an exclusive
opaque paint on the roof which, in
order to be maintained intact, requires
special care: see the instructions in
the warning.
39)
To correctly wash the car, follow these
instructions:
❒remove the aerial from the roof when
using a carwash;
❒if high pressure jets or cleaners are
used to wash the car, keep a
distance of at least 40 cm from the
bodywork to avoid damage or
alteration. Bear in mind that a build
up of water could cause damage
to the car in the long term;
❒wash the bodywork using a low
pressure jet of water;
❒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, bonnet, headlight frames, etc.)
with special care, as water may
stagnate more easily in these areas. Do
not wash the car after it has been left
in the sun or with the bonnet 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.
216
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
39) Avoid washing with rollers
and/or brushes in washing
stations. Wash the car only by
hand using neutral pH detergents;
dry it with a wet chamois leather.
Abrasive products and/or polishes
should not be used for cleaning
the car. Bird droppings must
be washed off immediately and
thoroughly as the acid they
contain is particularly aggressive.
Avoid (if at all possible) parking
the car under trees; remove
vegetable resins immediately as,
when dried, it may only be
possible to remove them with
abrasive products and/or polishes,
which is highly inadvisable as
they could alter the typical opacity
of the paint. Do not use pure
windscreen washer fluid for
cleaning the front windscreen and
rear window; dilute it min. 50%
with water. Only use pure screen
washer fluid when strictly
necessary due to outside
temperature conditions.INTERIORS
155) 156) 157)
Periodically check the cleanliness of the
interior, beneath the mats, which could
cause oxidation of the sheet metal.
SEATS AND FABRIC
PARTS
Remove dust with a soft brush or a
vacuum cleaner. It is advisable 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 slightly
damp buckskin or cloth, without
exercising too much pressure. Remove
any liquid or grease stains using an
absorbent dry cloth, without rubbing.
Then clean with a soft cloth or buckskin
cloth dampened with water and mild
soap. If the stain persists, use specific
products and observe the instructions
carefully.
IMPORTANT Never use alcohol. Make
sure that the cleaning products used
contain no alcohol or alcohol
derivatives, even in small quantities.PLASTIC AND COATED
PARTS
Clean interior plastic parts with a damp
cloth (if possible made from microfibre),
and a solution of water and neutral,
non-abrasive detergent. To clean oily or
persistent stains, use specific products
free from solvents and designed to
maintain the original appearance and
colour of the components.
Remove any dust using a microfibre
cloth, if necessary moistened with
water. The use of paper tissues is not
recommended as these may leave
residues.
40)
LEATHER PARTS
(for versions/markets, where provided)
Use only water and mild soap to clean
these parts. Never use alcohol or
alcohol-based products. Before using a
specific product for cleaning interiors,
make sure that it does not contain
alcohol and/or alcohol-based
substances.
218
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE