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.
203
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 you wish to install electrical
accessories after purchasing the car
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.
209
Battery
The battery does not require the
electrolyte to be topped up with distilled
water. A periodic check carried out at
an authorized dealer, however, is
necessary to check efficiency.
Follow the battery manufacturer's
instructions for maintenance.
Replacing The Battery
If necessary, replace the battery with
another original battery with the same
specifications. Follow the battery
manufacturer’s instructions for
maintenance.
Warning!
Battery fluid is a corrosive acid solution
and can burn or even blind you. Do not
allow battery fluid to contact your eyes,
skin, or clothing. Do not lean over a battery
when attaching clamps. If acid splashes in
eyes or on skin, flush the area immediately
with large amounts of water. Refer to
“Emergency Starting” in “In Case Of
Emergency” for further information.
Battery gas is flammable and explosive.
Keep flame or sparks away from the
battery. Do not use a booster battery or
any other booster source with an output
greater than 12 Volts. Do not allow cable
clamps to touch each other.
Battery posts, terminals, and related
accessories contain lead and lead
compounds. Wash hands after handling.
Note:
It will not be possible to open the trunk
with a key or by pressing the button in
the passenger compartment when the
battery is disconnected. So, always
position the manual trunk opening strap
on the trunk lock before disconnecting
the battery. The procedure is described
in the "Storing The Vehicle" paragraph
in this chapter.
BATTERY
RECHARGING
Important Notes
Warning!
Never charge or recharge a frozen
battery: it may explode because of the
nitrogen trapped inside the ice crystals.
At all times while charging or recharging
the battery, make sure that any sparks or
open flames are kept sufficiently far away
from the battery.
Note:
Before using the charging device,
always make sure that it is appropriate
for the installed battery, with constant
voltage (below 14.8 V) and low
amperage (maximum 15 A).
Recharge the battery in a well
ventilated environment.
Before using any devices to charge
or to maintain the charge of the
battery, carefully follow the instructions
provided with the device in order to
properly and safely connect it to the
car battery.
210
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
You can recharge the battery without
disconnecting the wires of the vehicle's
electrical system.
To reach the battery, remove the
access panel inside the trunk.
Remove the protective cover and
connect the positive cable terminal of
the charger (usually red) to the positive
terminal (+) of the battery.
Connect the negative terminal of the
charger (usually black) to nut next to the
negative terminal (-) of the battery. The vehicle is equipped with an IBS
(Intelligent Battery Sensor), which is
able to measure the charge and
discharge voltage and calculate the
charge level and the general condition
of the battery. The sensor is placed next
to the negative terminal (-) of the
battery.For a correct charge/discharge
procedure, the charge voltage must go
through the IBS sensor.
1. Turn the charger on and follow the
instructions on the user's manual to
completely recharge the battery.
2. When the battery is charged, turn
the charger off before disconnecting it
from the battery.
3. Disconnect the black cable terminal
of the battery charger and then the red
cable terminal.
4. Refit the protective cover of the
positive terminal of the battery and
the access cover to the battery
compartment.
Note:
If a "quick-type" battery charger is used
with the battery fitted on the vehicle,
before connecting it disconnect both
cables of the battery itself. Do not use a
"quick-type" battery charger to provide
the starting voltage.
GUID-09036S0001EMBattery Access Panel
GUID-09036S0002EMBattery
1 — Protective Cover
2 — Negative Post (Nut)
211
Warning!
Use only refrigerants and compressor
lubricants approved by the manufacturer
for your air conditioning system. Some
unapproved refrigerants are flammable and
can explode, injuring you. Other
unapproved refrigerants or lubricants can
cause the system to fail, requiring costly
repairs. Refer to Warranty Information
Book, located in your owner’s information
kit, for further warranty information.
Lubricating Moving
Parts Of The Bodywork
Ensure that the locks and bodywork
junction points, including components
such as the seat guides, door hinges
(and rollers), trunk and hood are
periodically lubricated with
lithium-based grease to ensure correct,
silent operation and to protect them
from rust and wear.
Thoroughly clean the components,
eliminating every trace of dirt and dust.
After lubricating, eliminate excess oil
and grease. Also pay particular
attention to the hood closing devices,
to ensure correct operation. During
operations on the hood, to be carried
out with the engine cold, also
remember to check, clean and lubricate
the locking, release and safety devices.Lubricate the external lock barrels twice
a year. Apply a small amount of
high-quality lubricant directly into the
lock barrel.
If necessary, contact your authorized
dealer as soon as possible.
Windshield Wiper
Periodically clean the windshield and
rear window and rubber profile of the
windshield wiper blades, using a
sponge or a soft cloth and a
non-abrasive detergent. This eliminates
the salt or impurities accumulated when
driving.
Prolonged operation of the windshield
window wipers with dry glass may
cause the deterioration of the blades, in
addition to abrasion of the surface of
the glass. To eliminate the impurities on
the dry glass, always operate the
windshield washers.
In the event of very low outdoor
temperatures, below zero degrees,
ensure that the movement of the rubber
part in contact with the glass is not
obstructed. Use a suitable deicing
product to release it if required.
Avoid using the windshield wipers to
remove frost or ice.
Also avoid contact of the rubber profile
of the blades with petroleum derivatives
such as engine oil, gas, etc.
Warning!
Driving with worn windshield wiper blades
is a serious hazard, because visibility is
reduced in bad weather conditions.
Note:
The life of the windshield wiper blades
varies according to the usage
frequency. In any case, it is advised to
replace the blades approximately once
a year. When the blades are worn,
noise, marks on the glass or streaks of
water may be noticed. In the presence
of these conditions, clean the
windshield wiper blades or, if necessary,
replace them.
R
aising The Windshield Wiper Blades
("Service Position" Function)
The "service position" function allows
the driver to replace the windshield
wiper blades more easily. It is also
recommended to activate this function
when it is snowing and to make it easier
to remove any dirt deposits in the area
where the blades are normally
positioned, when washing.
Activation Of The Function
To activate this function, disable the
windshield wiper before setting the
ignition device to STOP.
213
Caution!
If a transmission fluid leak occurs, visit your
authorized dealer immediately. Severe
transmission damage may occur. Your
authorized dealer has the proper tools to
adjust the fluid level accurately.
Replacing The Battery
If necessary, replace the battery with
another battery with the same
specifications. It is advised to contact
an authorized dealer for replacement.
Follow the battery manufacturer's
instructions for maintenance.
Note:
It will not be possible to open the trunk
with a key or by pressing the button in
the passenger compartment when the
battery is disconnected. So, always
position the manual trunk opening strap
on the trunk lock before disconnecting
the battery. The procedure is described
in the "Storing The Vehicle" section in
this chapter.
RAISING THE
VEHICLE
If the vehicle requires lifting, visit an
authorized dealer which is equipped
with shop jacks or jack arms.
The vehicle lifting points are marked on
the side skirts with the
symbols.
TIRES
Tire Safety Information
Tire safety information will cover
aspects of the following information:
Tire Markings, Tire Identification
Numbers, Tire Terminology and
Definitions, Tire Pressures, and Tire
Loading.
Tire Markings
GUID-09056S0001EMVehicle Lift Point LocationsGUID-0601085395USTire Markings
1 — U.S. DOT
Safety Standards
Code (TIN)4 — Maximum
Load
2 — Size Designa-
tion 5 — Maximum
Pressure
3 — Service
Description 6 — Treadwear,
Traction and Tem-
perature Grades
218
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
under controlled conditions on specified
government test surfaces of asphalt
and concrete. A tire marked C may
have poor traction performance.
Warning!
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.
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:
Parkthecarinanareathatis
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.
233
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.
2. Make sure the free end of the strap
remains outside the deck lid when
closing the deck lid.
3. The trunk can now be opened
manually by pulling the strap.
Note:
This procedure must be carried out
exclusively in safe places because it
allows to open the trunk unconditionally.
BODYWORK
Protection Against
Atmospheric Agents
The car is equipped with the best
available technological solutions to
protect the bodywork against corrosion.
These include:
Painting products and systems
which give the vehicle resistance to
corrosion and abrasion.
Use of galvanized (or pre-treated)
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 favor the
formation of rust inside.
Use of special films to protect
against abrasion in exposed areas
(e.g. rear wing, doors, etc.).
GUID-09086S0001EMTrunk Compartment
234
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE