to start within 10 seconds, turn the ignition switch to
the STOP (OFF/LOCK) position, wait 10 to 15 seconds,
then repeat the “Normal Starting” procedure.
Cold Weather Operation
Your engine is designed to operate at temperatures as
low as 0°F (-18°C).
CAUTION!
Use of the recommended oil and adhering to the
prescribed oil change intervals is important to pre-
vent engine damage and ensure satisfactory starting
in cold conditions.
If Engine Fails To Start
WARNING!
Never pour fuel or other flammable liquids into the
throttle body air inlet opening in an attempt to start
the vehicle. This could result in a flash fire causing
serious personal injury.
CAUTION!
•Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to get
it started. Vehicles equipped with a Alfa Twin
Clutch Transmission cannot be started this way.
Unburned fuel could enter the catalytic converter
and once the engine has started, ignite and dam-
age the converter and vehicle.
•
To prevent damage to the starter, do not continu-
ously crank the engine for more than 15 seconds at
a time. Wait 10 to 15 seconds before trying again.
After Starting
The idle speed is controlled automatically, and it will
decrease as the engine warms up.
Turbo Charger “Cool Down”
This vehicle is equipped with an after-run pump to cool
the turbocharger after the engine is shut off. Depending
on the type of driving and the amount of cargo, the
pump will run for up to five minutes after the engine
has been shut off to circulate coolant through the
turbocharger.
Although the pump is rubber-mounted for quiet opera-
tion, it is normal to hear it running during this time.
138 STARTING AND OPERATING
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
CONTENTS
SCHEDULED SERVICING ...............197
▫ Maintenance Plan ....................199
ENGINE COMPARTMENT ...............204
▫ 1750 Turbo Engine ...................204
▫ Checking Oil Level ...................205
▫ Adding Washer Solvent ................205
▫ Maintenance-Free Battery ..............208
DEALER SERVICE ....................209
▫ Engine Oil ........................ .209
▫ Engine Oil Filter .....................210
▫ Engine Air Cleaner Filter ...............210
▫ Engine Cover .......................211
▫ Air Conditioner Maintenance ............211
▫ Body Lubrication ....................212 ▫
Wiper Blades ...................... .213
▫ Windshield Washer Nozzles .............214
▫ Exhaust System .....................215
▫ Cooling System .....................216
▫ Brake System ...................... .221
▫ Alfa Twin Clutch Transmission ..........224
RAISING THE VEHICLE ................225
TIRES ............................. .226
▫ Tire Safety Information ................226
▫ Tires — General Information ............234
▫ Tire Types ......................... .241
▫ Spare Tires — If Equipped ..............242
▫ Wheel
And Wheel Trim Care ............245
▫ Tire Chains (Traction Devices) ...........246
8
Under any of the above circumstances, the following
checks need to be performed more frequently than
indicated in the Maintenance Plan:
•Check front and rear disc brake pad condition and
wear.
• Check cleanliness of tailgate locks.
• Check cleanliness and lubrication of chassis and
steering linkage.
• Visually inspect condition of: engine, gearbox, trans-
mission, pipes and hoses (exhaust - fuel system -
brakes) and rubber elements (gaiters - sleeves -
bushes - etc.).
• Check battery charge and battery fluid level (electro-
lyte).
• Visually inspect condition of the auxiliary drive belts.
• Check and, if necessary, change engine oil and re-
place oil filter.
• Check and, if necessary, replace air cleaner filter.
Using the vehicle on a track should be regarded as an
exception. The vehicle has been designed and manufac-
tured for road use. Change engine oil at 4,000 miles (6,500 km) if the
vehicle is operated in a dusty and off road environment.
This type of vehicle use is considered Severe Duty.
If the vehicle is operated in a dusty or dirty environ-
ment the engine air filter has to be changed every 6,500
miles (10,000 km).
Once A Month Or Before A Long Trip/Periodic
Checks
Every 600 miles (1,000 km) or before long trips, check
and, if necessary, top off the following:
•
Check engine oil level.
• Check brake fluid level.
• Check windshield washer fluid level.
• Check the tire inflation pressures and look for un-
usual wear or damage.
• Check the fluid levels of the coolant reservoir and
brake master cylinder reservoir, and add as needed
• Check function of all interior and exterior lights.
Every 2,000 miles (3,000 km) check and, if necessary, top
up: engine oil level.
198 SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
Mileage or time passed
(whichever comes first)
12,000
24,000
36,000
48,000
60,000
72,000
84,000
96,000
108,000
120,000
132,000
144,000
156,000
Or Months: 12 24 36 48 60 72 84 96 108 120 132 144 156
Or Kilometers:
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
140,000
160,000
180,000
200,000
220,000
240,000
260,000
Replace accessory drive belt(s) XX
Replace spark plugs * XX X X
Replace toothed timing drive belt ** XX
Change engine oil and oil filter ***
Change brake fluid every 24 months***** X X X XX X
Replace air filter cartridge**** X X X X X X X X XXXXX
# Recommend using Midtronics tester to check charge
status and, if necessary, recharge battery.
* The spark plug change interval is mileage based only,
yearly intervals do not apply. The following are essen-
tial to ensure correct operation and prevent serious
damage to the engine:
•Only use spark plugs of the same make and type
which are specially certified for such engines (refer to
“Fluids And Lubricants” in “Technical Specifica-
tions” for further information). •
Strictly comply with the spark plug replacement
interval given in the maintenance plan for spark plug
replacement.
• Contact your Alfa Romeo Dealer if you have ques-
tions.
** Regardless of the distance covered, the timing belt
must be changed every four years for particularly
demanding use (cold climates, city driving, long peri-
ods of idling) or at least every five years.
202 SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
DEALER SERVICE
The pages that follow contain therequiredmaintenance
services determined by the engineers who designed
your vehicle.
Besides those maintenance items specified in the fixed
maintenance schedule, there are other components
which may require servicing or replacement in the
future.
CAUTION!
• Failure to properly maintain your vehicle or per-
form repairs and service when necessary could
result in more costly repairs, damage to other
components or negatively impact vehicle perfor-
mance. Immediately have potential malfunctions
examined by an authorized dealer or qualified
repair center.
• Your vehicle has been built with improved fluids
that protect the performance and durability of
your vehicle and also allow extended mainte-
nance intervals. Do not use chemical flushes in
these components as the chemicals can damage
(Continued)
CAUTION! (Continued)
your engine, transmission, or air conditioning.
Such damage is not covered by the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty. If a flush is needed because of
component malfunction, use only the specified
fluid for the flushing procedure.
Engine Oil
Change Engine Oil
The oil change indicator system will remind you that it
is time to take your vehicle in for scheduled mainte-
nance. Refer to the “Maintenance Plan” for further
information.
NOTE:The actual interval for changing the oil and
replacing the engine oil filter depends on the vehicle
usage conditions and is signalled by the warning light
or message (if present) on the instrument panel or every
12 months.
Engine Oil Selection
For best performance and maximum protection for
turbocharged engines under all types of operating
conditions, the manufacturer recommends synthetic
8
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE 209
engine oils that are API Certified and meet the require-
ments of FCA Material Standard MS-12991.
Engine Oil Viscosity — 1750 Turbo Engine (SAE
Grade)
SAE 5W-40 full synthetic engine oil is recommended for
all operating temperatures. This engine oil improves
low temperature starting and vehicle fuel economy.
Lubricants which do not have both the engine oil
certification mark and the correct SAE viscosity grade
number should not be used.
Materials Added To Engine Oil
The manufacturer strongly recommends against the
addition of any additives (other than leak detection
dyes) to the engine oil. Engine oil is an engineered
product and its performance may be impaired by
supplemental additives.
Disposing Of Used Engine Oil And Oil Filters
Care should be taken in disposing of used engine oil
and oil filters from your vehicle. Used oil and oil filters,
indiscriminately discarded, can present a problem to
the environment. Contact an authorized dealer, servicestation or governmental agency for advice on how and
where used oil and oil filters can be safely discarded in
your area.
Engine Oil Filter
The engine oil filter should be replaced with a new filter
at every engine oil change.
Engine Oil Filter Selection
This manufacturer’s engines have a full-flow type dis-
posable oil filter. Use a filter of this type for replace-
ment. The quality of replacement filters varies consid-
erably. Only high quality filters should be used to
assure most efficient service. Mopar engine oil filters are
high quality oil filters and are recommended.
Engine Air Cleaner Filter
Refer to the “Maintenance Plan” in this section for the
proper maintenance intervals.
NOTE:
Be sure to follow the “Severe Duty Conditions”
maintenance interval if applicable.
210 SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
Use only manufacturer’s recommended brake fluid.
Refer to “Fluids And Lubricants ” in “Technical Speci-
fications” for further information.
WARNING!
•Use only manufacturer’s recommended brake
fluid. Refer to “Fluids And Lubricants” in “Tech-
nical Specifications” for further information. Us-
ing the wrong type of brake fluid can severely
damage your brake system and/or impair its per-
formance. 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.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•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 contami-
nate the brake fluid. Brake seal components could
be damaged, causing partial or complete brake
failure. This could result in a collision.
CAUTION!
Use of improper brake fluids will affect overall
clutch system performance. Improper brake fluids
may damage the clutch system resulting in loss of
clutch function and the ability to shift the transmis-
sion.
222 SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
CAUTION!(Continued)
•Damage caused by these type of products may not
be covered by your New Vehicle Limited War-
ranty.
Cleaning Plastic Instrument Cluster Lenses
The lenses in front of the instruments in this vehicle are
molded in clear plastic. When cleaning the lenses, care
must be taken to avoid scratching the plastic.
1. Clean with a wet soft cloth. A mild soap solution may be used, but do not use high alcohol content or
abrasive cleaners. If soap is used, wipe clean with a
clean damp cloth.
2. Dry with a soft cloth.
Leather Parts
Mopar Total Clean is specifically recommended for
leather upholstery.
Your leather upholstery can be best preserved by regu-
lar cleaning with a damp soft cloth. Small particles of
dirt can act as an abrasive and damage the leather
upholstery and should be removed promptly with a
damp cloth. Stubborn soils can be removed easily with a soft cloth and Mopar Total Clean. Care should be
taken to avoid soaking your leather upholstery with
any liquid. Please do not use polishes, oils, cleaning
fluids, solvents, detergents, or ammonia-based cleaners
to clean your leather upholstery. Application of a
leather conditioner is not required to maintain the
original condition.
NOTE:
If equipped with light colored leather, it tends to
show any foreign material, dirt, and fabric dye transfer
more so than darker colors. The leather is designed for
easy cleaning, and FCA recommends Mopar total care
leather cleaner applied on a cloth to clean the leather
seats as needed.
CAUTION!
Do not use Alcohol and Alcohol-based and/or Ke-
tone based cleaning products to clean leather up-
holstery, as damage to the upholstery may result.
8
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE 253