ESP Alfa Romeo 156 2006 Owner handbook (in English)

IN AN EMERGENCY
242
IN THE EVENT OF A FLAT BATTERYFirst of all, you are advised to refer to the
“Car maintenance” chapter for precautions
to be adopted in order to prevent the bat-
tery from getting flat and to ensure its long
durability.CHARGING THE BATTERYWARNINGThe description of the bat-
tery charging procedure is described only for
informative purposes. This operation should
be carried out by Alfa Romeo Authorized Ser-
vices.
Charging should be slow at a low amp rat-
ing for about 24 hours. Charging for a longer
time may damage the battery.Charge the battery as follows:
– Disconnect the terminal from the bat-
tery negative (–) pole.
– Connect the charger cables to the bat-
tery, respecting polarity.
– Turn on the charger.
– After charging turn off the charger be-
fore disconnecting it from the battery.
– Reconnect the terminal to the battery
negative (–) pole.
STARTING WITH AN AUXILIARY
BATTERYSee “Starting with an auxiliary battery” in
this chapter.
The fluid contained in the
battery is poisonous and
corrosive. Avoid contact with the
skin or eyes. The battery should be
charged in a well ventilated place
and kept away from naked flames
or sources of sparks: danger of ex-
plosion and fire.
WARNING
Never attempt to charge a
frozen battery before
thawing it, the danger of explosion
exists. If it has frozen, always
check that the inside elements are
not broken (risk of short circuit)
and that the body is not cracked,
with the risk of acid coming out
which is poisonous and corrosive.
WARNING

IN AN EMERGENCY
244
TOWING THE 2.0 JTS
SELESPEED VERSIONWARNINGFor version with Selespeed
gearbox, make sure that it is in neutral (N)
(checking that the car moves when pushed)
and proceed as for towing a normal car with
mechanical gearbox following the instruc-
tions given on the previous page.
Should it be impossible to set to neutral,
do not tow the vehicle; contact Alfa Romeo
Authorised Services.
TOWING THE VERSION WITH
AUTOMATIC GEARBOX
(2.5 V6 24V Q-SYSTEM)WARNINGFor towing the vehicle com-
ply with current local regulations. Also fol-
low the instructions given on the previous
page.
If the car needs to be towed, observe the
following recommendations:
– if possible, put the car on a rescue ve-
hicle;
– if this is not possible, tow the car rais-
ing the driving wheels (front) from the
ground;
– if this, too, is not possible, the car may
only be towed for 50 Km at a speed of
50 km/h.
The gearshift lever should be at position N
for towing.The failure to follow the
above instructions may
cause serious damage to
the automatic gearbox.
Cars with automatic gear-
box may be towed only for
short distances and at a
low speed: if longer towing is nec-
essary, the driving wheels must be
raised to prevent the gearbox from
being pulled into rotation during
towing.
Do not start the engine
when towing the vehicle.
WARNING
Do not start the engine
when the vehicle is being
towed.
WARNING

CAR MAINTENANCE
250
20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180
Thousand of km
Change fuel filter (diesel versions only)Change air cleaner cartridge (petrol engines)Change air cleaner cartridge (diesel versions only)
Check and if necessary top up fluid levels (brakes, hydraulic clutch, power steering, windscreen wiper, battery, engine coolant, etc..) Check and if necessary top up Selespeed oil level (2.0 JTS version)Replacement of timing drive belt (*) and Poly-V accessory drive beltReplacement of counter-rotating shaft drive belt (only 2.0 JTS)Replacement of spark plugs (T.SPARK 16V, 2.0 JTS and 2.5 V6 24V versions) Check operation of engine control systems (through diagnosis)Check gearbox and differential oil levelCheck automatic gearbox oil level (2.5 V6 24V version)Change engine oil and oil filterChange brake fluid (or every 2 year)Replacement of dust/pollen filter
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(*) Or every 3 years in harsh conditions (cold – hot climates, stop and go city traffic, dusty areas or roads covered with sand and/or salt)
Or every 5 years, regardless of the mileage.

CAR MAINTENANCE
253
Car maintenance should be
entrusted to Alfa Romeo
Authorized Services. For
routine and minor maintenance op-
erations you wish to carry out
yourself, always make sure you
have the proper equipment, genuine
Alfa Romeo spare parts and the
necessary fluids; do not however
carry out these operations if you
have no experience.
WARNING
Pollen filter
If the car is used frequently in dusty or
heavily polluted environments it is advisable
to replace the filtering element more fre-
quently; in particular it should be replaced if
a reduction of the amount of air admitted to
the passenger compartment is noted. WARNING
Battery
You are recommended to have the battery
charge conditions checked, preferably at the
onset of winter, to avoid the possibility of
freezing the electrolyte.
This check should be carried out more fre-
quently if the car is used prevailingly for
short journeys, or if it is fitted with services
that absorb high amounts of current per-
manently with the ignition key off, especially
if installed in the after market.
In the case of use of the car in hot climates
or particularly harsh conditions, it is wise
to check the level of the battery fluid (elec-
trolyte) at more frequent intervals than stat-
ed in the Scheduled Maintenance Pro-
gramme.

CAR MAINTENANCE
257
ENGINE OIL Fig. 7: T.SPARK versions
Fig. 8: 2.0 JTS version
Fig. 9: 2.5 V6 24V version
Fig. 10: JTD versions
Fig. 11: JTD 16V Multijet version
Fig. 12: JTD 20V Multijet version
The engine oil level should be checked
when the car is standing on a level surface
a few minutes (about 5) after the engine
has been switched off.
Remove the dipstick (A), clean it, put it
back completely, remove it once again and
check that the level is between the MIN
and MAXmarks on the dipstick.
The interval between the MINand MAX
marks corresponds to approximately 1 liter
of oil.If the oil level is near or even below the
MIN, mark, add oil trough the filler neck
(B), until reaching the MAXmark. Never add oil with char-
acteristics (classification,
viscosity) which are differ-
ent from those of the oil already in
the circuit.fig. 7 - T.SPARK versions fig. 8 - 2.0 JTS version
A0B0170m
fig. 9 - 2.5 V6 24V version
A0B0169m
A0B0437m
When the engine is hot,
take care when working
inside the engine compartment to
avoid burns. Remember that when
the engine is hot, the fan may cut
in: danger of injury.
WARNING
Scarves, ties and other
loose clothing might be
pulled by moving parts.
WARNING

CAR MAINTENANCE
258
WARNINGIf a routine check reveals
that the oil level is above the MAXmark,
contact Alfa Romeo Authorized Services to
have the correct level restored.
WARNINGAfter adding or changing the
oil, run the engine for a few seconds and
wait a few minutes after stopping it.Used engine oil and filter
contain pollutants. Contact
Alfa Romeo Authorized
Services to have the oil and filter
changed as these are equipped to
dispose of the waste oil and filters
respecting the environment and
laws.fig. 10 - JTD version
A0B0165m
fig. 11 - JTD 16V Multijet version
A0B0559m
fig. 12 - JTD 20V Multijet version Engine oil consumption
Max. engine oil consumption is usually
400 grams every 1000 km.
During the initial period of use the engine
settles, therefore the engine oil consump-
tion can only be considered stabilised after
the first 5000 ÷ 6000 km.
WARNINGEngine oil consumption de-
pends on the way of driving and the condi-
tions of use of the car.
A0B0617m

CAR MAINTENANCE
259
Do not add oil with dif-
ferent characteristics than
those of the oil already in
the system.Used gearbox oil contain
pollutants. Contact Alfa
Romeo Authorized Services
to have the oil changed as these
are equipped to dispose of the
waste oil respecting the environ-
ment and laws.
SELESPEED GEARBOX
HYDRAULIC SYSTEM OIL(fig. 13)
The oil level of the Selespeed system
should be carried out with the car on a lev-
el surface and with the engine stopped and
cold.
To check the level, proceed as follows:
– turn the ignition key to MAR;
– disconnect the breather tube and re-
move the cap (A) checking that the level
corresponds with the MAXmark on the dip-
stick of the actual cap;
– if the level is below the MAXmark, top
up with oil until reaching the correct level;
– after screwing the cap back on, insert
the breather tube completely on the cap
spout and turn the ignition key to STOP.fig. 13
A0B0162m
When the engine is hot,
take care when working
inside the engine compartment to
avoid burns. Remember that when
the engine is hot, the fan may cut
in: danger of injury.
WARNING

CAR MAINTENANCE
260
Do not add oil with dif-
ferent characteristics than
those of the oil already in
the system.
The oil level should never exceed the
MAXmark on the dipstick on the COLD
side, if the level is checked cold and on the
HOTside if the level is checked with the
gearbox/differential unit hot.
fig. 14
A0B0163m
The level should be between the MINand
MAXmarks of the sector identified by the
word COLD(+40°C).
WARNINGAfter long journeys with the
gearbox/differential unit very hot, the oil
level should be between the MINand
MAXmarks of the sector identified by the
word HOT(+80°C).
Q-SYSTEM AUTOMATIC
GEARBOX OIL LEVEL
(fig. 14)
The oil should be checked with the engine
idling and at operating temperature, the
gearshift lever at position Pand the car on
level ground.
To check the level, proceed as follows:
– remove the dipstick (A);
– clean it with a clean lint free cloth;
– insert the dipstick in its housing pushing
well down to the bottom;
– remove it to check.
If the oil level is near or below the MIN
mark, add TUTELA GI/2oil through the
dipstick housing.
When the engine is very
hot, take care when work-
ing inside the engine compartment
to avoid burns. Remember that
when the engine is hot, the fan may
cut in: danger of injury.
WARNING
Used gearbox oil contain
pollutants. Contact Alfa
Romeo Authorized Services to
have the oil changed as these are
equipped to dispose of the waste
oil respecting the environment and
laws.
WARNING

CAR MAINTENANCE
266
BATTERYThe battery is of the “Limited Mainte-
nance” type and is fitted with an optical in-
dicator (A-fig. 23) for checking the elec-
trolyte level and charge.
Under normal conditions of use the elec-
trolyte does not need topping up with dis-
tilled water. To make sure that it is in effi-
cient conditions, at routine intervals check
the indicator on the battery cover which
should be dark in colour with a green cen-
tral area.
If the indicator is a bright light colour, or
dark without the green central area, contact
Alfa Romeo Authorized Services.Batteries contain sub-
stances that are very
harmful for the environ-
ment. You are advised to have the
battery changed at Alfa Romeo
Authorized Services, which are
properly equipped for disposing of
used batteries respecting nature
and the law.
POLLEN FILTER This has mechanical/electrostatic air fil-
tering actions, provided that the windows
and doors are shut.
Have the pollen filter checked once a year
by Alfa Romeo Authorized Services, prefer-
ably at the onset of summer.
If the car is mainly used in dusty or heav-
ily polluted areas, the filter should be
changed at more frequent intervals than
specified in the Scheduled Maintenance Pro-
gramme.
WARNINGThe failure to replace the fil-
ter can considerably reduce the effectiveness
of the climate control system.
fig. 23
A0B0147m
The liquid in the battery is
poisonous and corrosive.
Avoid contact with eyes and skin.
Do not bring naked flames or pos-
sible sources of sparks near to the
battery: risk of fire and explosion.
WARNING

CAR MAINTENANCE
273
Proceed as follows:
– Raise the windscreen wiper arm and po-
sition the blade so that it forms an angle
of 90° with the arm.
– Press tab (B) of the coupling spring and
remove the blade to be replaced from the
arm (A).
– When the spring is released from the
curved top of the arm, move the blade to al-
low the arm to be withdrawn through the slot.
– Insert a new blade passing it through the
curved top of the arm (A) through the slot.
– Lift the blade to clamp tab (B) of the cou-
pling spring with the curved top of the arm.
– Lower the windscreen wiper arm.
WARNINGThe blades may differ ac-
cording to the versions. In any case, follow
the instructions provided in the packs avail-
able as spares from Alfa Romeo Authorized
Services. Changing the windscreen wiper
blade (fig. 27)
WARNINGThe blade on driver’s side
is fitted with a spoiler that improves adhe-
sion between the blade and the windscreen.
To prevent improper fitting, before changing
the blade, check the spoiler direction of the
blade to be replaced, then fit the new blade
following the same spoiler direction.
fig. 27
A0B0580m
WINDSCREEN/REAR
SCREEN WIPERSBLADESPeriodically 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 rear
window wipers on dry glass.
Driving with worn wiper
blades is a serious hazard,
because visibility is reduced in bad
weather.
WARNING