towing Alfa Romeo Brera/Spider 2009 Owner handbook (in English)

207
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CARRear
Take the tow ring from the tool container
and tighten it into seat A-fig. 57.
A0F0176mfig. 57
Before fitting the hook,
clean accurately its
threaded seat. Before starting
to tow, make sure to have
tighten the hook.
WARNING
Do not start the engine
when towing the car.
WARNING
Before starting to tow,
disengage the steering
lock (see paragraph “Ignition
device” in section “Dashboard
and controls”). When towing,
remember that without the
help of the brake booster and
power steering, a greater ef-
fort is required on the pedal
and steering wheel. Do not use
flexible cables for towing and
avoid jerks. During towing op-
erations make sure that fas-
tening the joint to the car does
not damage the components in
contact with it. When towing
the car, you must comply with
the specific traffic regulations
regarding the tow ring and
how to tow on the road.
WARNING
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208
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
The front and rear tow
hooks must only be
used for emergency situations
on the road. The vehicle may
be towed for short distances
when a dedicated device is
used in compliance with the
Highway Code (rigid bar), in
order to move the vehicle on
the road in preparation for
towing by a tow truck Tow
hooks MUST NOT be used to
tow vehicles off the road or
where there are obstacles
and/or for towing operations
using cables or other non-rigid
devices. Respecting the above
conditions, towing must only
take place with two vehicles
(one towing, the other towed)
travelling as far as possible in
alignment along the same cen-
treline.
WARNING
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210
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
SCHEDULED
SERVICING
Correct maintenance is essential for en-
suring long car life under the best condi-
tions.
This is why Alfa Romeo has programmed
a series of checks and maintenance op-
erations every 35,000 km (or 21,000
mi).
IMPORTANTGAt 2000 km from the
scheduled service, the display will show
a dedicated message.
It is however important to remember that
scheduled servicing does not completely
cover all the car’s requirements: also in
the initial period before 35,000 km (or
21,000 mi) service coupon and later, be-
tween one coupon and another, ordinary
care is still required such as for example
routine check and topping up the level of
fluids, tyre pressure check, etc...IMPORTANTThe Programmed Main-
tenance coupons are specified by the
Manufacturer. The failure to have them
carried out may invalidate the warranty.
Scheduled Servicing is performed by all
Alfa Romeo Authorized Services, at pre-
established times.
If during whatever service operation, in
addition to the ones programmed, the
need arises for further replacements or
repairs, these may be carried out only
with the explicit agreement of the Cus-
tomer.IMPORTANTYou are advised to con-
tact Alfa Romeo Authorized Services in
the event of any minor operating faults,
without waiting for the next service
coupon.
If your car is used frequently for towing,
the interval between one service coupon
and the other must be reduced.
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213
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
USE OF THE CAR
UNDER HEAVY
CONDITIONS
Should prevailing use of the car be un-
der one of the following specially heavy
conditions:
❒trailer or caravan towing;
❒dusty roads;
❒short distances (less than 7-8 km)
and repeated with external temper-
atures below zero;
❒frequently idling engines or long dis-
tance low speed driving (e.g.: door-
to-door deliveries) or in case of a long
term inactivity;
❒urban routes;
carry out checks more frequently than
required on Service Schedule:
❒check front disk brake pad conditions
and wear;
❒check cleanness of bonnet and boot
locks and lever cleanness and lubri-
cation;
❒sight inspect the conditions of: en-
gine, gearbox, transmission, pipes
and hoses (exhaust - fuel - brakes),
rubber parts (boots, sleeves, bushes,
etc.);
❒check battery charge and fluid level
(electrolyte);
❒visual check on various drive belt con-
ditions;
❒change engine oil and oil filter, if re-
quired;
❒check and replace pollen filter, if re-
quired;
❒check and replace air cleaner, if re-
quired.
PERIODICAL CHECKS
Every 1,000 km or before long jour-
neys, check and top up if required:
❒engine coolant fluid level;
❒brake fluid level;
❒windscreen washer fluid level;
❒tyre pressure and conditions.
❒check light system operation (head-
lights, direction indicators, hazard
lights, etc.);
❒check windscreen wiper/washer op-
eration and windscreen/rear window
blade position/wear;
Every 3,000 km check and top up if re-
quired: engine oil level.
You are recommended to use FL Sele-
nia products, designed and produced
specifically for Alfa Romeo cars (see
table “Capacities” in section “Techni-
cal specifications”).
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262
SAFETY
DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
INDEX
Sun curtains ............................ 83
Sun visors ............................... 83
Suspensions............................ 241
Symbols................................. 9
Technical Specifications...... 235
Third brake light ...................... 190
Top speeds .............................. 248
Towing the car ......................... 206
Towing trailers ......................... 147
T.P.M.S. system ....................... 109
Transmission ........................... 240
Trip computer .......................... 37
Turbocharger pressure gauge ...... 24
Tyres
– changing ........................... 171
– inflation pressures ............... 245
– snow tyres ........................ 148
– standard tyres .................... 244
– understanding tyre marking .. 242
VDC system ........................... 100Warning lights
and messages................... 151
Weights ................................. 249
Wheel geometry ...................... 246
Wheel rims
– understanding rim marking ... 243
Wheels
– changing ........................... 171
– technical data .................... 242
Wheels and tyres ..................... 226
Windows (cleaning) ........ 68-232
Windscreen washer
– control .............................. 68
– fluid level .......................... 219
Windscreen wiper
– blades .............................. 228
– control .............................. 68
– nozzle .............................. 229 Safe lock device ...................... 14
Safety devices ......................... 115
S.B.R. system ......................... 117
Seat belts ............................... 116
Seats
– cleaning ............................ 233
– electrically adjustable
front seats ......................... 42
– manually adjustable
front seats ......................... 41
– with electric warming .......... 43
Side/taillights
– bulb replacement ....... 186-188
– control .............................. 65
Side air bags ........................... 132
Ski tunnel ............................... 81
Smart washing ........................ 69
Snow chains ........................... 149
Sound system ......................... 104
Steering................................. 241
Steering lock ........................... 21
Steering wheel (adjustment) ..... 45
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