ENGINE
OVERHEATING
Engine overheating may occur in
situations of extreme environmental
temperatures, frequent engine
stops/starts, or driving in heavy traffic. If
the engine becomes overheated, the
Engine Temperature Warning Light in
the instrument cluster will illuminate
along with a dedicated message. Refer
to "Warning Lights And Messages" in
the "Getting To Know Your Instrument
Panel" for more information.
In any of the following situations, you
can reduce the potential for overheating
by taking the appropriate action.
On the highways — slow down.
In city traffic — while stopped, place
the transmission in NEUTRAL, but do
not increase engine idle speed.
Note:
There are steps that you can take to
slow down an impending overheat
condition:
If your air conditioner (A/C) is on,
turn it off. The A/C system adds heat
to the engine cooling system and
turning the A/C off can help remove
this heat.
You can also turn the temperature
control to maximum heat, the mode
control to floor and the blower control
to high. This allows the heater core to
act as a supplement to the radiator
and aids in removing heat from the
engine cooling system.
Warning!
You or others can be badly burned by hot
engine coolant (antifreeze) or steam from
your radiator. If you see or hear steam
coming from under the hood, do not open
the hood until the radiator has had time to
cool. Never try to open a cooling system
pressure cap when the radiator or coolant
bottle is hot.
Caution!
Driving with a hot cooling system could
damage your vehicle. If temperature gauge
reads “H”, pull over and stop the vehicle.
Idle the vehicle with the air conditioner
turned off until the pointer drops back into
the normal range. If the pointer remains on
the “H”, turn the engine off immediately,
and call for service.
If Steam Is Coming From The
Engine Compartment
Do not go near the front of the vehicle.
Stop the engine. Wait until the steam
dissipates. Then, open the hood and
start the engine.
If Neither Coolant Nor Steam Is
Escaping
Open the hood and idle the engine until
it cools.
Note:
If the cooling fan does not operate
while the engine is running, the engine
temperature will increase. Stop the
engine and contact your authorized
dealer.
If the engine continues to overheat
or frequently overheats, have the
cooling system inspected. The engine
could be seriously damaged unless
repairs are made. Contact your
authorized dealer.
199
SCHEDULED
SERVICING
Correct servicing is crucial for
guaranteeing a long life for the vehicle
under the best conditions.
For this reason, Alfa Romeo has
planned a series of checks and services
for your vehicle at fixed intervals based
on distance and time, as described in
the Scheduled Servicing Plan.
Before each service, it is always
necessary to carefully follow the
instructions in the Scheduled Servicing
Plan (e.g. periodically check level of
fluids, tire pressure, etc.).
Scheduled Servicing is offered by an
authorized dealer according to a set
time schedule. If, during each
operation, in addition to the ones
scheduled, the need arises for further
replacements or repairs, these may be
carried out with owners explicit consent
only.
Note:
Scheduled Servicing intervals are
required by the Manufacturer. Failure to
have them carried out may invalidate
the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
You are advised to inform your
authorized dealer of any small operating
irregularities without waiting for the next
service.
Periodic Checks
Every month or every600miles
( 1,000 km) or before long trips check
and, if necessary, top off:
Engine coolant level.
Brake fluid level (if insufficient, see
your authorized dealer as soon as
possible).
Windshield washer fluid level.
Tire inflation pressure and condition.
Operation of lighting system
(headlights, direction indicators, hazard
warning lights, etc.).
Operation of windshield
washing/wiping system and
positioning/wear of wiper blades.
Every 2,000 miles ( 3,000km), check
and top off if required:
Engine oil level.
Heavy Usage Of The Car
If the vehicle is used under one of the
following conditions:
Dusty roads.
Short, repeated journeys less than
4 miles (7-8 km) at sub-zero outside
temperatures.
Engine often idling or driving long
distances at low speeds or long periods
of inactivity.
In the event of a long period of
inactivity. The following checks must be carried
out more often than indicated in the
Scheduled Servicing Plan:
Check cleanliness of hood and trunk
locks, cleanliness and lubrication of
linkage.
Visually inspect conditions of: engine,
transmission, pipes and hoses
(exhaust/fuel system/brakes) and
rubber elements (sleeves/bushes, etc.).
Check battery charge and battery
fluid level (electrolyte).
Visually inspect conditions of the
accessory drive belts.
Check and, if necessary, change
engine oil and replace oil filter.
Check and, if necessary, replace
cabin air filter.
Check and, if necessary, replace air
cleaner.
Severe Duty All Models
Change Engine Oil at 4,000 miles
(6,500 km) if the vehicle is operated in a
dusty and off-road environment or is
operated predominately at idle or only
very low engine RPM’s. This type of
vehicle use is considered Severe Duty.
205
Maintenance Plan (2.9 V6 Engine)
Thousands of miles10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
130
140
150
Years123456789101112131415
Thousands of kilometers16
32
48
64
80
96
112
128
144
160
176
192
208
224
240
Check battery charge status with the proper instrument. ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
Check tire condition/wear and adjust pressure, if
necessary. Check the tire repair kit recharge condition and
expiration date. ●●●●●●●●●
●●●●●●
Check operation of lighting system (headlights, direction
indicators, hazard warning lights, deck lid, passenger
compartment, glove compartment, instrument panel
warning lights, etc.). ●●●●●●●●●
●●●●●●
Check and, if necessary, top up fluid levels
(1)●●●●●●●●● ●●●●●●
Check engine control system operation (via diagnostic
tool). ●●●●●●●●●
●●●●●●
Visually inspect conditions of: exterior bodywork,
underbody protection, pipes and hoses (exhaust, fuel
system, brakes), rubber elements (sleeves, bushes, etc.). ●●●●●●●
Check position/wear of front windshield wiper blade. ●●●●●●●●
Check operation of the windshield wiper/washer system
and adjust nozzles, if necessary. ●●●●●●●●
(1) Top up using the fluids indicated in the “Fluids And Lubricants” section of the “Technical Specifications” chapter only after checking that the system is intact.
206
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
Thousands of miles10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
130
140
150
Years123456789101112131415
Thousands of kilometers16
32
48
64
80
96
112
128
144
160
176
192
208
224
240
Check cleanliness of hood and luggage compartment
locks, cleanliness and lubrication of linkage. ●●●●●●●
Visually inspect conditions and wear of front/rear disc
brake pads and operation of pad wear indicators. ●●●●●●●●●
●●●●●●
Brake disc wear status check with diagnostic tool. ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
Visually inspect the brake discs surface and edge. ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
Brake pads/brake discs replacement.
(2)
Visually inspect the condition and tensioning of the
accessory drive belt(s). ●●● ●●● ●●● ●●●
Change engine oil and replace oil filter. ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
Replace accessory drive belt/s.
(3)
Replace air cleaner cartridge(4)●●●●●●●
Replace the additional fuel filter (if equipped). ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
Change the brake fluid.
(5)
(2) The actual interval for changing the brake pads and the carbon ceramic brake discs depends on the vehicle usage conditions and is signaled by the warning light or message on the instrument panel. It is advisable to check brake disc weight and thickness after each intensive use.
(3) Areas that are not dusty: recommended maximum mileage 36,000 miles (60,00 km). Regardless of the mileage, the belt must be replaced every 4 years. Dusty areas and/or demanding use of the vehicle (cold climates, town use, long periods of idling): advised maximum mileage 18,000 miles (30,000 km). Regardless of
the mileage, the belt must be replaced every 2 years.
(4) If the vehicle is used in dusty areas, this cleaner must be replaced every 10,000 miles (16,000 km).
(5) The brake fluid replacement has to be done every two years, irrespective of the mileage.
207
Engine Coolant Fluid
If the level is too low, unscrew the cap
of reservoir and add the fluid described
in the "Technical Specifications"
chapter.
Washer Fluid For
Windshield/Headlights
The windshield and headlights washer
fluid reservoir (if equipped) has a
telescopic filler.
If the level is too low, remove reservoir
cap and lift the filler. Then, add the fluid
described in the "Technical
Specifications" chapter.
Note:
The headlight washing system will not
work if the liquid level is low (situation
indicated by the symbol on the
instrument panel display). The
windshield washer will keep working.
On vehicles equipped with headlight
washers, if equipped, there is a
reference notch on the dipstick: ONLY
the windshield/rear window washer
operates with the level below this
reference.
Brake Fluid
Check that the fluid is at the maximum
level. If the fluid level in the tank is low,
contact your authorized dealer to have
the system checked.
Automatic Transmission
Activation System Oil
The transmission control oil level should
only be checked at your authorized
dealer.
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 and trunk are closed properly
to prevent any lights from remaining on
inside the passenger's compartment.
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.
If, after purchasing the car, you wish to
install electrical accessories that require
permanent electrical supply (e.g. alarm,
etc.), or accessories which influence the
electrical supply requirements, contact
your authorized dealer, whose qualified
staff will evaluate the overall electrical
consumption.
Caution!
If the charge level remains under 50% for a
long time, the battery may be damaged by
sulphation, reducing its capacity and
efficiency at start the vehicle. The battery is
also more prone to the risk of freezing (at
temperatures as high as 14°F (-10°C).
Note:
After the battery is disconnected, the
steering must be initialized. The
warning light on the instrument
panel switches on to indicate this. To
carry out this procedure, simply turn the
steering wheel all the way from one end
to the other, and then turn it back to the
central position.
211
These indicators are molded into the
bottom of the tread grooves. They will
appear as bands when the tread depth
becomes a 1/16 of an inch (1.6 mm).
When the tread is worn to the tread
wear indicators, the tire should be
replaced. Refer to “Replacement Tires”
in this section for further information.
Life Of Tire
The service life of a tire is dependent
upon varying factors including, but not
limited to:
Driving style.
Tire pressure - Improper cold tire
inflation pressures can cause uneven
wear patterns to develop across the tire
tread. These abnormal wear patterns
will reduce tread life, resulting in the
need for earlier tire replacement.
Distance driven.
Performance tires, tires with a speed
rating of V or higher, and Summer tires
typically have a reduced tread life.
Rotation of these tires per the vehicle
maintenance schedule is highly
recommended.
Warning!
Tires and the spare tire should be replaced
after six years, regardless of the remaining
tread. Failure to follow this warning can
result in sudden tire failure. You could lose
control and have a collision resulting in
serious injury or death.
Keep dismounted tires in a cool, dry
place with as little exposure to light as
possible. Protect tires from contact with
oil, grease, and gasoline.
Replacement Tires
The tires on your new vehicle provide a
balance of many characteristics. They
should be inspected regularly for wear
and correct cold tire inflation pressures.
The manufacturer strongly recommends
that you use tires equivalent to the
originals in size, quality and
performance when replacement is
needed. Refer to the paragraph on
“Tread Wear Indicators” in this section.
Refer to the Tire and Loading
Information placard or the Vehicle
Certification Label for the size
designation of your tire. The Load Index
and Speed Symbol for your tire will be
found on the original equipment tire
sidewall. See the Tire Sizing Chart example
found in the “Tire Safety Information”
section of this manual for more
information relating to the Load Index
and Speed Symbol of a tire.
It is recommended to replace the two
front tires or two rear tires as a pair.
Replacing just one tire can seriously
affect your vehicle’s handling. If you
ever replace a wheel, make sure that
the wheel’s specifications match those
of the original wheels.
It is recommended you contact your
authorized tire dealer or original
equipment dealer with any questions
you may have on tire specifications or
capability. Failure to use equivalent
replacement tires may adversely affect
the safety, handling, and ride of your
vehicle.
232
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
Temperature Grades
The temperature grades are A (the
highest), B, and C, representing the
tire's resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat,
when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high
temperature can cause the material of
the tire to degenerate and reduce tire
life, and excessive temperature can
lead to sudden tire failure. The grade C
corresponds to a level of performance,
which all passenger vehicle tires must
meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B
and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test
wheel, than the minimum required by
law.
Warning!
The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly
inflated and not overloaded. Excessive
speed, under-inflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat buildup and
possible tire failure.
STORING THE
VEHICLE
If the vehicle is left inactive for longer
than a month, the following precautions
should be observed:
Park the car in an area that is
covered and dry, and well-ventilated if
possible. Slightly open the windows.
Check that the electric park brake is
not activated.
Carry out the procedure: “manual
trunk opening device” procedure
described in this paragraph.
Disconnect the negative battery
terminal and check the battery charge.
Repeat this check once every three
months during storage.
If the battery is not disconnected
from the electrical system, check its
state of charge every thirty days.
Clean and protect the painted parts
using protective wax.
Clean and protect the shiny metal
parts using special compounds
available commercially.
Sprinkle talcum powder on the
windshield wiper rubber blades, and lift
them off the glass.
Cover the vehicle with a fabric or
perforated plastic sheet, paying
particular care not to damage the
painted surface by dragging any dust
that may have accumulated on it. Do
not use compact plastic sheets, as they do not allow humidity to evaporate from
the surface of the vehicle.
Inflate tires to +7.25 psi (+0.5 bar)
above the standard prescribed pressure
and check it periodically.
Do not drain the engine cooling
system.
Any time the car is left inactive for
two weeks or more, operate the air
conditioning system with engine idling
for at least five minutes, setting external
air and with fan set to maximum speed.
This operation will ensure appropriate
lubrication for the system, thus
minimizing the possibility of damage to
the compressor when the system is
operated again.
Note:
After cycling the ignition 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 is in the STOP
position and the driver side door is
closed.
Manual Trunk Opening Device
Proceed as follows if the battery needs
to be disconnected:
1. From the trunk interior covering,
rotate the plug to the left of the lock
and extract the strap connected to it.
234
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
Customer Assistance
For The Hearing Or
Speech Impaired
(TDD/TTY)
To assist customers who have hearing
difficulties, the manufacturer has
installed special TDD
(Telecommunication Devices for the
Deaf) equipment at its customer center.
Any hearing or speech impaired
customer, who has access to a TDD or
a conventional teletypewriter (TTY) in
the United States, can communicate
with the manufacturer by dialing
1-800-380-CHRY.
Canadian residents with hearing
difficulties that require assistance can
use the special needs relay service
offered by Bell Canada. For TTY
teletypewriter users, dial 711 and for
Voice callers, dial 1-800-855-0511 to
connect with a Bell Relay Service
operator.
Service Contract
You may have purchased a service
contract for a vehicle to help protect
you from the high cost of unexpected
repairs after the manufacturer's New
Vehicle Limited Warranty expires. The
manufacturer stands behind only the
manufacturer's service contracts. If you
purchased a manufacturer's service
contract, you will receive Plan
Provisions and an Owner Identification
Card in the mail within three weeks of
the vehicle delivery date. If you have
any questions about the service
contract, call the manufacturer's
Service Contract National Customer
Hotline at 1-800-521-9922 (Canadian
residents, call (800) 465-2001 English /
(800) 387-9983 French).
The manufacturer will not stand behind
any service contract that is not the
manufacturer's service contract. It is
not responsible for any service contract
other than the manufacturer's service
contract. If you purchased a service
contract that is not a manufacturer's
service contract, and you require
service after the manufacturer's New
Vehicle Limited Warranty expires,
please refer to the contract documents,
and contact the person listed in those
documents.We appreciate that you have made a
major investment when you purchased
the vehicle. An authorized dealer has
also made a major investment in
facilities, tools, and training to assure
that you are absolutely delighted with
the ownership experience. You will be
pleased with their sincere efforts to
resolve any warranty issues or related
concerns.
Warning!
Engine exhaust (internal combustion
engines only), some of its constituents, and
certain vehicle components contain, or
emit, chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer and birth
defects, or other reproductive harm. In
addition, certain fluids contained in vehicles
and certain products of component wear
contain, or emit, chemicals known to the
State of California to cause cancer and
birth defects, or other reproductive harm.
257