wiper blades Alfa Romeo 147 2005 Owner handbook (in English)

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
46
At each start, the rain sensor automatically
stabilises at a temperature of about 40°C
to eliminate any condensation from the con-
trol surface and prevent the formation of ice.
The rain sensor is able to detect and au-
tomatically adapt to the presence of the fol-
lowing particular conditions which require
different sensitivity:
– impurities on the control surface (salt,
dirt, etc.);
– streaks of water caused by worn wiper
blades;
– difference between day and night (the
human eye is more disturbed during the
night by the wet glass surface).Rearscreen wiper-washer
(fig. 62-63)
Pushing the lever towards the dashboard
(unstable position) operates the rearscreen
washer jet and continuous operation of the
rearscreen wiper.
Operation ends when the lever is released.
fig. 62
A0A0073m
fig. 63
A0A0075m
Turning the knurled ring (A) from position
Oto
'operates the rearscreen wiper in-
termittently.
Headlamp washers (fig. 64)
These come into operation when the wind-
screen washer is turned on with the
dipped/main beam headlights on.
IMPORTANTOn certain versions when
the headlamp washer is operating, the cli-
mate control system automatically engages
inside air re-circulation, to prevent the smell
of liquid detergent from entering the pas-
senger compartment.
fig. 64
A0A0425m

CORRECT USE OF THE CAR
180
DRIVING WITH RAIN
Rain and wet roads can be dangerous.
If the road is wet, the traction between
wheel and asphalt is greatly reduced, thus
increasing the stopping distance and de-
creasing road holding.
Here are a few suggestions in the case of
rain:
– Reduce speed and keep further back
from the vehicle in front.
– Heavy rain also reduces visibility. In
these cases, turn on the headlights even dur-
ing the day to make yourself more visible
to others.
– Do not drive over puddles at high speed
and hold the steering wheel firmly: you may
lose control of the car (aquaplaning).
– Position the ventilation controls for
demisting (as described in the chapter (“Get-
ting to know your car”), to prevent visibili-
ty from worsening.
– Routinely check the conditions of the
windscreen wiper blades.
DRIVING IN FOG
– If fog is very thick, avoid travelling
where possible. If travelling with mist,
ground fog or the possibility of fog banks:
– Drive at moderate speed.
– Also in the day turn on the dipped-beam
headlights, rear fog guards and front fog
lights. Do not use the main-beam headlights.
IMPORTANTIf visibility in some parts
improves, switch off the rear fog guards; the
intense light disturbs the occupants of ve-
hicles behind.
– Remember that fog also involves wet
asphalt, thus greater difficulty in all types of
manoeuvres and longer stopping distances.
– Keep well away from the vehicle in
front.
– Where possible avoid sudden changes
in speed.
– Possibly avoid overtaking other vehicles.
– If the vehicle is forced to stop (faults,
impossibility to continue due to poor visi-
bility, etc.), firstly try to pull off the road.
Then turn on the hazard warning lights and,
if possible the dipped-beam headlights.
Rhythmically sound the horn if you note an-
other car coming.
MOUNTAIN DRIVING
– When travelling down hill use the en-
gine braking by engaging lower gears to pre-
vent the brakes from overheating.
– Never coast down hill with the engine
off or in neutral and especially not with the
ignition key removed.
– Drive at a moderate speed and avoid
cutting corners.
– Remember that overtaking up hill is
slower and therefore requires a greater
length of clear road. If you are being over-
taken on a hill, move over to enable the oth-
er vehicle to pass in safety.

CORRECT USE OF THE CAR
186
VEHICLE
INACTIVITY
If the vehicle is to be left inactive for long
periods, the following precautions should be
noted:
– House the vehicle under cover in a dry
and possibly ventilated place.
– Engage a gear.
– Check that the handbrake is not en-
gaged.
– Clean and protect the paintwork by pro-
tective wax.
– Cover the rubber windscreen and
rearscreen wiper blades with talcum powder
and raise them off the glass.
– Open the windows slightly.
– Inflate the tyres to a pressure of 0.5 bars
above normal. If possible rest the tyres on
wooden planks and periodically check the
pressure.
– Do not turn on the electronic alarm sys-
tem. Keep you speed
down when snow
chains are fitted.
Do not exceed 50 km/h. Avoid
potholes, steps and pavements to
prevent damaging the tyres, sus-
pension and steering.
Snow chains should only be applied to the
drive wheels (front).
Before purchasing or using snow chains,
you are recommended to contact Alfa
Romeo Authorised Services.
Check the tension of the chain after the
first few metres have been driven.SNOW CHAINS
Use of snow chains should be in compli-
ance with local regulations.
Use snow chains with reduced size with
maximum protrusion beyond the tyre pro-
file of 12 mm.
Snow chains may not be
used on tyres type 225/45
ZR 17”, 235/35 R18”.
Only spider type chains can be used
on tyres type 215/45 R17” and
215/45 ZR17”. SPIKES SPIDER
COMPACT snow chains (17003
compact model) with 9 arms and 16
mm adjustable length and 17"
wheel cover adapter are available
at Lineaccessori Alfa Romeo. Keep
your speed down when this type of
chains is fitted. Do not exceed 50
km/h with this type of chains,
avoid sudden acceleration and de-
activate the ASR system (the warn-
ing light on the button shall be on).
Remember that snow chains make
braking distance longer.

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VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
222
SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME
20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180Thousands of km
Check tyre conditions/wear and adjust pressure if necessary
Check operation of lighting system (headlights, direction indicators, hazard
warning lights, boot, passenger compartment, glovebox lights, warning lights, etc..)
Check operation of windscreen washer system, adjust spray jets
Check position/wear of windscreen/rearscreen wiper blades
Check operation of front disk brake pad wear indicator
Check wear conditions of rear disk brake pads
Sight check the conditions of: body exterior, underbody protection, stiff pipes and
hoses (exhaust - fuel supply - brakes), rubber parts (boots - sleeves - bushes etc..)
Check for bonnet and boot lock cleanness, lever cleanness and lubrication
Sight check for accessory poly-V drive belt
Check handbrake lever stroke adjustment
Check antievaporation system
Change air cleaner cartridge
Top up fluid levels (engine coolant, brakes, windscreen washer, battery, etc..)
Check and if necessary top up the Selespeed automatic transmission oil level
Sight check for conditions of timing gear drive toothed belt

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
224
ADDITIONAL
OPERATIONS
Every 1000 kmor before long journeys,
check and if necessary top up:
– engine coolant fluid level
– brake/hydraulic clutch control fluid level
– power steering fluid level
– windscreen/rearscreen and headlamp
washer fluid level
– tyre pressure and conditions.
Every 3000 kmcheck and if necessary
top up the engine oil level.
The use of products of the FL Seleniais
recommended which have been designed
and made expressly for Alfa Romeo cars
(see “Refuelling” in the “Technical Specifi-
cations” chapter).
ANNUAL INSPECTION
PROGRAMME
For cars with an annual mileage
of below 20,000 km (for example
about 10,000 km) the following
yearly inspection programme is ad-
vised:
– Check tyre conditions/wear and if nec-
essary adjust the pressure
– Check operation of lighting system
(headlights, direction indicators, hazard
warning lights, boot, passenger compart-
ment, glovebox lights, warning lights )
– Check operation of windscreen wiper
system, spray jet adjustment
– Check position/wear of windscreen/
rearscreen wiper blades
– Check front disk brake pad conditions
and wear
– Check for bonnet and boot lock clean-
ness, lever cleanness and lubrication– Sight check for conditions of: engine,
gearbox, transmission, pipes (exhaust - fu-
el supply - brakes) rubber parts (boots -
sleeves - bushes etc..), brake and fuel sup-
ply system hoses
– Check battery charge
– Sight check for conditions of various dri-
ve belts
– Check and if necessary top up fluid lev-
els (engine coolant, brakes, windscreen
washer, battery, etc...)
– Change engine oil
– Change engine oil filter
– Change pollen filter.

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
238
WINDSCREEN/
REARSCREEN WIPERS
BLADES
Periodically clean the rubber part using spe-
cial products; TUTELA PROFESSIONAL
SC 35is recommended.
If the rubber blades are bent or worn they
should be replaced. In any case they should
be changed once a year.
A few simple notions can reduce the pos-
sibility of damage to the blades:
– If the temperature falls below zero,
make sure that ice has not frozen the rub-
ber against the glass. If necessary, thaw us-
ing an antifreeze product.
– Remove any snow from the glass: in ad-
dition to protecting the blades, this prevents
effort on the motor and overheating.
– Do not operate the windscreen and
rearscreen wipers on dry glass.
RUBBER HOSES
As far as the brake system and fuel sup-
ply rubber hoses are concerned, carefully fol-
low the Scheduled Maintenance Programme
of this chapter. Indeed, ozone, high tem-
peratures and the prolonged lack of fluid in
the system may cause hardening and crack-
ing of the hoses, with possible leaks. Care-
ful control is therefore necessary.
Do not cross switch the
tyres, moving them from
the right of the car to the left and
vice versa.
WARNING
Alloy rim painting involving
temperatures exceeding
150°C should be avoided since
wheel mechanical characteristics
could be impaired.
WARNING

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
239
Changing the windscreen wiper
blade(fig. 13)
Instructions for removing the
windscreen wiper blade
Proceed as follows:
– raise the windscreen wiper arm (A);
– turn blade (B) 90° around pin (C), set
at the end of the arm;
– remove the blade from pin (C).Instructions for refitting the
windscreen wiper blade
To refit the blade proceed as follows:
– fit pin (C) into the hole located at the
middle of the blade (B);
– place the arm with the blade on the
windscreen.
Changing the rearscreen blade
(fig. 14)
– Raise the cover (A) and remove the arm
from the car, slackening the nut (B) that
fastens it to the pivot pin.
– Correctly position the new arm and firm-
ly tighten the nut.
– Lower the cover.
fig. 14
A0A0227m
SPRAY JETS (fig. 15-16)
If the jet of fluid is inadequate, firstly check
that there is fluid in the reservoir: see
“Checking levels” in this chapter.
Then check that the nozzle holes are not
clogged, if necessary use a needle.
If necessary, direct the jet of fluid work-
ing on the adjustment screw (A).
fig. 15
A0A0460m
fig. 16
A0A0461m
Driving with worn wiper
blades is a serious hazard,
because visibility is reduced in bad
weather.
WARNING
fig. 13
A0A0728m