PERIODIC CHECKS
Every 1,000 km or before long trips
check and, if necessary, top up:
engine coolant, brake fluid and
windscreen washer fluid level;
tyre inflation pressure and condition;
operation of lighting system
(headlights, direction indicators, hazard
warning lights, etc.);
operation of screen wash/wipe system
and positioning/wear of windscreen/
rearscreen wiper blades
Every 3,000 km check and top up if
required: engine oil level.
IMPORTANT To find out the correct oil
quantity, always check using the dipstick.
Carry out the check with the vehicle
parked on level ground.
DEMANDING USE OF THE CAR
If the vehicle is used mainly under one of
the following conditions:
towing a trailer or caravan;
dusty roads;
short, repeated journeys (less than
7-8 km) at sub-zero outside
temperatures;
engine often idling or driving long
distances at low speeds or long periods
of inactivity;
the following checks must be carried out
more often than indicated in the
Scheduled Servicing Plan:
check front disc brake pad condition
and wear;
check cleanliness of bonnet and
luggage compartment locks, cleanliness
and lubrication of linkage;
visually inspect condition of: engine,
gearbox, transmission, pipes and hoses
(exhaust - fuel system - brakes) and
rubber elements (boots - 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 pollen
filter;
check and, if necessary, replace air
cleaner.
136
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
BATTERY
The battery 6 (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.
INSPECTING THE CHARGE AND THE
ELECTROLYTE LEVEL
139) 140) 141) 142)
43)
4)
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. 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.
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 "Vehicle inactivity"
paragraph in "Starting and driving"
chapter if the vehicle 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
139)Battery fluid is poisonous and
corrosive. Avoid contact with the skin and
eyes. Keep open flames away from the
battery and do not use objects that might
create sparks: risk of explosion and fire.
140)Using the battery with insufficient
fluid irreparably damages the battery and
may cause an explosion.
141)If the vehicle 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.
142)When performing any operation on the
battery or near it, always protect your eyes
with special goggles.
IMPORTANT
43)Incorrect installation of electric and
electronic devices may cause severe damage
to your car. After purchasing your vehicle, if
you wish to install any accessories (e.g.
anti-theft, radio phone, etc.), go to an Alfa
Romeo Dealership, which will suggest the
most suitable devices and advise you
whether a higher capacity battery needs to
be installed.
146
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
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 vehicle.
IMPORTANT NOTES
Avoid parking under trees; the resin
dropped by trees makes the paintwork
go opaque and increases the possibility
of corrosion.
Bird droppings must be washed off
immediately and thoroughly as the acid
they contain is particularly aggressive.
Windows
Use specific detergents and clean cloths
to prevent scratching or altering the
transparency.
IMPORTANT Wipe the rear window inside
gently with a cloth following the direction
of the filaments to avoid damaging the
heating device.
Front headlights
Use a soft cloth soaked in water and
detergent for washing cars.
IMPORTANT Never use aromatic
substances (e.g. petrol) or ketones (e.g.
acetone) for cleaning the plastic lenses
of the headlights.
IMPORTANT When cleaning with a
pressure washer, keep the water jet at
least 20 cm away from the headlights.
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
windscreen wiper motors. Have this
operation performed at a specialised
workshop.
IMPORTANT The washing should take
place with the engine cold and the
ignition key 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.
IMPORTANT
5)Detergents pollute the environment. Only
wash your vehicle in areas equipped to
collect and treat wastewater from this type
of activity.
IMPORTANT
44)In order to preserve the aesthetic
appearance of the paint abrasive products
and/or polishes should not be used for
cleaning the vehicle.
45)Avoid washing with rollers and/or
brushes in washing stations. Wash the
vehicle 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 vehicle 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 opaqueness 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.
148
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
INDEX
"Electronic Q2" system ("E-Q2")....67
“Alfa DNA” system.............34
“Smart Bag” system (multistage
front airbags)..............81
ABS system................66
Active safety systems...........66
Alarm system................13
Alfa Romeo Code system.........12
Alfa TCT ...................93
ALFA TCT transmission (key
removal) ................124
ASR (AntiSlip Regulation) system....66
Automatic dual-zone climate
control system.............26
Battery..................146
Battery (recharging)...........143
Bodywork (maintenance)........147
Boot . . ...................33
Brake Assist system............66
Brakes (fluid level)............142
Carrying children safely.........75
CBC (Cornering Brake Control)
system..................67
Changing a wheel.............116
Checking levels..............137
Cleaning and maintenance
bodywork...............147
leather parts..............149
leather seats..............149seats and fabric parts........149
Climate control...............24
Climate control/heating system.....24
CO2 emissions..............178
Control buttons...............42
Control panel and on-board
instruments...............40
Cruise Control...............97
Daytime running lights (DRL)......19
Dimensions................165
Dipped headlights (bulb
replacement)..............108
Direction indicators............20
Direction indicators (bulb
replacement)..............109
Display....................42
Door central locking/unlocking.....13
Door mirrors................18
Doors.....................13
Driver side knee bag............83
DST system (Dynamic Steering
Torque)..................66
Dusk sensor.................19
Dynamic suspension............35
EBD system................66
Electric sunroof..............30
Electric windows..............29
Engine...................154
marking.................153
Engine bonnet...............32Engine coolant fluid . ..........142
Engine oil (level check)..........142
EOBD system ................64
ESC (Electronic Stability Control)
system . . . ...............66
External courtesy lights . . . . . .....21
External lights . . .............19
Fitting "Universal" child restraint
system..................76
Fix&Go Automatic kit..........120
Flashing . ..................20
Fluids and lubricants . ..........172
Follow Me Home (device) . ........21
Front airbag driver's side . ........82
Front airbags ................81
Front ceiling light . . . . ..........21
Front fog lights . . .............20
bulb replacement . ..........109
Front seats . . . . .............14
Fuel consumption............176
Fuel cut-off system . ..........123
Fuel tank cap . . . . . ..........100
Fuses (replacement) . ..........110
Gear Shift Indicator............42
Handbrake.................91
Hazard warning lights..........104
Head restraints . . .............16
Headlights..................34
Headlight alignment corrector . . . .20