(e.g. if frequent top ups are required),
have the seal checked at an authorized
dealer.
With the engine off and at normal
operating temperature, check that the
cooling system radiator cap is closed
properly.
Warning!
Do not open hot engine cooling system.
Never add engine coolant (antifreeze) when
the engine is overheated. Do not loosen or
remove the cap to cool an overheated
engine. Heat causes pressure to build up in
the cooling system. To prevent scalding or
injury, do not remove the pressure cap
while the system is hot or under pressure.
Do not use a pressure cap other than
the one specified for your vehicle. Personal
injury or engine damage may result.
Note:
Before removing the engine coolant
reservoir cap, wait for the system to
cool down.
Topping Up / Draining / Flushing
The Engine Coolant
If the engine coolant (antifreeze) is dirty,
have cleaning and flushing carried out
at an authorized dealer.
See the "Maintenance Plan" for the
correct servicing intervals. Note:
For topping up, use a fluid with the
same characteristics as those
indicated in the "Fluids And
Lubricants" table (see "Technical
Specifications" chapter).
Do not use pure water,
alcohol-based coolants, corrosions
inhibitors or additional anti-rust
products because they may be
incompatible with the engine coolant
and cause the clogging of the radiator.
The use of propylene glycol-based
coolant is also not recommended.
Engine Cooling System Cap
To prevent loss of engine coolant, make
sure that the expansion tank cap is
closed. If it is open, screw it completely
until you reach/hear the click.
Periodically check the cap and clean it
from any foreign bodies that may have
deposited on the external surface.
Warning!
Never add coolant with the engine hot
or overheated.
Do not attempt to cool an overheated
engine by loosening or removing the cap.
The heat causes a considerable increase in
pressure in the cooling system.
To prevent damage to the engine, only
use the engine cooling circuit caps
provided.
Disposal of Used Engine Coolant
Disposal of engine coolant is subject to
legal requirements: contact the
appropriate body to determine local
regulations.
Note:
To prevent the fluid from being
ingested by children or animals, do
not keep it in open containers or pour
it on the ground. If ingested, contact a
doctor immediately. Eliminate any
traces of fluid from the ground
immediately.
When the vehicle stops after a short
trip, steam may be seen coming out
from front of the hood. This is a
normal phenomenon which is due to
the presence of rain, snow or a lot of
moisture on the surface of the
radiator.
With engine and system cold, do
not top up with coolant beyond the
maximum level indicated on the
reservoir in the engine compartment.
216
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
Braking System
In order to guarantee the efficiency of
the braking system, periodically check
its components; for this operation,
contact an authorized dealer.
See the "Maintenance Plan" for the
correct servicing intervals.
Note:Driving with your foot resting on
the brake pedal may compromise its
efficiency, increasing the risk of
accidents. When driving, never keep
your foot on the brake pedal and don’t
put unnecessary strain on it to prevent
the brakes from overheating: excess
pad wear may cause damage to the
braking system.
When an insufficient oil level is
detected, contact an authorized dealer
to have the system checked.
Always keep the cap of the brake
fluid reservoir (in the engine
compartment) completely closed.
Warning!
Use only manufacturer's recommended
brake fluid. Refer to “Fluids And Lubricants”
in “Technical Specifications” for further
information. Using the wrong type of brake
fluid can severely damage your brake
system and/or impair its performance. The
proper type of brake fluid for your vehicle is
also identified on the original factory
installed hydraulic master cylinder reservoir.
To avoid contamination from foreign
matter or moisture, use only new brake
fluid or fluid that has been in a tightly
closed container. Keep the master cylinder
reservoir cap secured at all times. Brake
fluid in a open container absorbs moisture
from the air resulting in a lower boiling
point. This may cause it to boil
unexpectedly during hard or prolonged
braking, resulting in sudden brake failure.
This could result in a collision.
Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir can
result in spilling brake fluid on hot engine
parts, causing the brake fluid to catch fire.
Brake fluid can also damage painted and
vinyl surfaces, care should be taken to
avoid its contact with these surfaces.
Do not allow petroleum based fluid to
contaminate the brake fluid. Brake seal
components could be damaged, causing
partial or complete brake failure. This could
result in a collision.
Automatic Transmission
Use only a transmission oil with the
same characteristics as those indicated
in the "Fluids and Lubricants" table (see
"Technical Specifications" chapter).
Special Additives
Do not use any type of additive with the
automatic transmission oil. The
automatic transmission oil is a product
designed specially for this vehicle and
its performance may be compromised
through the use of further additives.
Caution!
Do not use chemical flushes in your
transmission as the chemicals can damage
your transmission components. Such
damage is not covered by the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty.
Frequency of Oil Changes
In normal vehicle operating conditions,
it is not necessary to change the
transmission oil.
217
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
Engine compartment
At the end of every winter, wash the
engine compartment thoroughly, taking
care not to aim the jet of water directly
at the electronic control units or at the
windshield wiper motors. Have this
operation performed at specializeded
workshop.
Note:
The washing should take place with the
engine cold and the ignition device 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.INTERIORS
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 advised 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 — If
Equipped
Remove the dry dirt with a chamois or
slightly damp cloth, without exerting 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.
Note: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 microfiber),
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 color of the
components.
Remove any dust using a microfiber
cloth, if necessary moistened with
water. The use of paper tissues is not
recommended as these may leave
residues.
Genuine Leather Parts —
If Equipped
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.
Carbon Fiber Parts
To eliminate small scratches and marks
on the carbon, contact your authorized
dealer. An improperly performed
operation may irreparably damage the
carbon.
236
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
Disabled Vehicle Towing........198
Door Locks Child-Protection Door Lock —
Rear Doors ...............25
Power Door Locks ..........25
Doors .....................21
Drive Train Control (DTC) System . . .96
Driving modes ..............146
Dynamic Steering Torque (DST) System ..................99
Electric park brake ...........138
Electric Remote Mirrors .........33
Electric steering wheel heating .....32
Electronic Speed Control ........153
Electronic Speed Control (Cruise Control) .........153,155
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) System ..................97
Emergency refuelling ..........197
Emergency Starting ...........194
Emergency, In Case Of .........191
Hazard Warning Flasher ......179
Jacking ............... .218
Jump Starting .........194,195
Overheating .............197
Tow Hooks ..............200
Towing ................ .198
Engine .................. .239
engine coolant level .........209
Fuel Requirements .........248 Jump Starting
.........194,195
Overheating .............197
Starting ............... .197
Temperature Gauge .........63
Engine compartment ..........207
Engine compartment (washing) . . . .236
Engine oil consumption .............208
level check ..............208
Engine Overheating ...........197
Enhanced Accident Response Feature ................ .201
Environmental protection systems . . .60
Ethanol .................. .248
Exterior Lighting ............34,35
Exterior Lights ...............34
External Lights ...............34
Fire Extinguisher .............59
Flashers Hazard Warning ...........179
Turn Signal ...............36
Fluids and lubricants ..........251
Forward Collision Warning .......102
Front light cluster with main beam Xenon gas discharge headlights
(bulb replacement) ..........182
Front mobile spoiler (Alfa Active Aero) ...................60
Front seat electric heating ........28
Front seats (Power Seats) ........27Front Wipers
Wiper Operation ...........40
Fuel Additives ...............249
Clean Air ...............248
Ethanol ............... .248
Gauge ..................63
Materials Added ...........249
Methanol ...............248
Fuse boxes ............... .186
Fuses (replacement) ...........185
Garage Door Opener
(HomeLink) ...............55
Gasoline, Clean Air ...........248
Gasoline, Reformulated ........248
Gauges Speedometer .............63
Tachometer ..............63
General Information ........101,162
Glove Compartment ...........55
Glove Compartment Light ........38
Glove compartment light (bulb replacement) ..........183
GVWR .................. .173
Hazard Warning Flasher........179
Head Restraints ............29,30
Head Rests .................29
Headlights Switch ...............34,35
Headlights (cleaning) ..........235
INDEX