change wheel Alfa Romeo GT 2007 Owner handbook (in English)

IN AN EMERGENCY
181
STARTING BY INERTIA
If the car is equipped with “Kit for tyre re-
pair Fix&Go“, see the instructions contained
in the following chapter.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
As an alternative to the FIX & GO, the car
can be provided (upon request) with space-
saver spare wheel or standard wheel; wheel
changing and correct use of the jack call for
some precautions as listed below.
IN THE EVENT OF A PUNCTURE
Never push, tow or coast
start the car. This could
cause fuel to flow into the
catalyst damaging it irreversibly.
Remember that the en-
gine brake and power
steering are not opera-
tional until the engine is started,
therefore, much greater effort than
usual is needed on the brake ped-
al and steering wheel.
Signal the presence of the
stationary car according to
current regulations: hazard
warning lights, reflecting triangle
etc.. Any passengers should leave
the car and wait for the wheel to be
changed out of harm of the traffic.
If parked on a slope or rough sur-
face, chock the wheels with
wedges or other suitable devices
to prevent the car from rolling.
Never start the engine
with the car jacked.
When driving with a trail-
er, disconnect the trailer before
raising the car. The compact spare
wheel is specific to your car, do not
use it on other models, or use the
spare wheel of other models on
your car.
Should the type of wheels used
be changed (alloy rims instead of
steel), it is also necessary to
change the whole set of fastening
bolts with others of suitable size.
The compact spare wheel is nar-
rower than normal wheels, it
should be used only for the dis-
tance necessary to reach a service
point to have the punctured tyre
repaired and, during its use, the car
speed must not exceed 80 km/h.

IN AN EMERGENCY
183
CHANGING A WHEEL
Please be informed that:
– the jack mass is 2.100 kg.
– the jack requires no adjustment.
– the jack cannot be repaired. In the event
of breakage, it must be replaced by anoth-
er original one.
– no tools other than its operating crank
can be fitted to the jack.
To change a wheel, proceed as follows:– Stop the car in such a position that it is
not dangerous for the traffic, where it is pos-
sible to change the wheel safely. Where pos-
sible, park on a level, compact surface.
– Switch off the engine and engage the
handbrake.
– Engage first gear or reverse.– Use handle(A-fig.2) to remove the
stiff covering (B).
– Loosen the clamping device (A-fig. 3).
– Take out the tool container (B) and take
it near the wheel to be changed.
– Take the spare wheel (C).
– Remove the wheel cap (A-fig. 4) (on-
ly versions with steel rims)
fig. 2
A0A0645b
fig. 3
A0A0151b
fig. 4
A0A0154b

IN AN EMERGENCY
184
– Using the wrench provided (A-fig. 5),
loosen the fastening bolts by about one turn.
– Set the jack under the car, near the
wheel to be changed taking care not to dam-
age the plastic streamlined guard.
– Work the jack crank (A-fig. 6), to ex-
tend it until the groove (B) on the upper
part of jack is correctly inserted on the low-
er profile of the body (C) approx. 40 cm
from the profile of the wheelhouse.
– Work the jack and raise the car until the
wheel is a few centimetres from the ground.
– Completely unscrew the fastening bolts
and remove the wheel.– Make sure that the contact surfaces of
the spare wheel with the hub are clean and
free of impurities which may later cause the
fastening bolts to slacken.
– Install the spare wheel matching the
hole (A-fig. 7) with the corresponding pin
(B).
– Using the wrench provided, fasten the
five bolts.
– Lower the car and remove the jack.
– Using the wrench provided, fully tighten
the bolts in the sequence shown in fig. 8.REFITTING
A NORMAL WHEEL
– Following the procedure described pre-
viously, raise the car and remove the spare
wheel.
For versions with steel rims:
– Fit the normal wheel matching the hole
(A-fig. 7) with the corresponding pin (B).
– Make sure that the contact surfaces of
the wheel with the hub are clean and free
of impurities which may later cause the fas-
tening bolts to slacken.
fig. 5
A0A0694b
fig. 6
A0A0695b

CAR MAINTENANCE
219
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 washer and headlamp wash-
er fluid level
– tyre pressure and conditions.
Every 3000 kmcheck and if necessary
top up the engine oil level.
The use of FL Seleniaproducts is rec-
ommended which have been designed and
made expressly for Alfa Romeo cars (see
“Refuelling” in the “Technical Specifica-
tions” 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 (including spare
wheel)
– Check operation of lighting system
(headlights, direction indicators, hazard
warning lights, boot, passenger compart-
ment, glovebox lights, warning lights, etc.)
– Check operation of windscreen wiper
system, spray jet adjustment
– Check windscreen blade position/wear
– Check front disk brake pad conditions
and wear
– Check cleanness of bonnet and boot
locks, and 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 and oil filter
– Change pollen filter.

CAR MAINTENANCE
233
Incorrect pressure causes abnormal tyre
wear:
(A): normal pressure: tread evenly worn.
(B): low pressure: tread particularly worn
at the edges.
(C): high pressure: tread particularly worn
in the centre.
Tyres should be changed when the tread
thickness is reduced to 1.6 mm.
In any case follow local regulations.
You are also reminded that services with
high current absorption switched on by the
user, such as for example: baby bottle warm-
ers, vacuum cleaner, mobile phone, mini
fridge, etc., quicken the battery drain-
ing processif they are turned on with the
engine off or running at idle speed.
IMPORTANTWhen installing addition-
al systems on the car, bear in mind that im-
proper branches on connections of the car
wiring are dangerous, particularly if safety
devices are involved.
WHEELS AND TYRES
TYRE PRESSURE
Check the tyre pressure of every wheel, in-
cluding the spare, every two weeks and be-
fore a long journey. The pressure should be
checked with the tyre rested and cold.
It is normal for the pressure to increase
when the car is in use; for the correct tyre
inflation pressure, see “Wheels” in the
“Technical Specifications” chapter.
Battery
60 Ah
70 AhMaximum permissible
loadless absorption
36 mA
42 mA
The maximum absorption of all the ac-
cessories (standard and fitted afterwards)
should be 0,6 mA x Ah (of the battery), as
shown in the following table:
fig. 16
A0A0225b

CAR MAINTENANCE
234
Alloy rim painting involv-
ing temperatures exceed-
ing 150 °C should be
avoided since wheel mechanical
characteristics could be impaired. Do not cross switch the
tyres, moving them from
the right of the car to the
left and vice versa.Excessive low pressure
causes overheating of the
tyre with the possibility of
serious damage to it.Remember that car road
holding also depends on
correct tyre inflation pres-
sure.
RUBBER HOSES
As far as the brake system and fuel sup-
ply rubber hoses are concerned, carefully fol-
low the Scheduled Maintenance Pro-
gramme. Indeed, ozone, high temperatures
and the prolonged lack of fluid in the sys-
tem may cause hardening and cracking of
the hoses, with possible leaks. Careful con-
trol is therefore necessary.
IMPORTANT NOTES
– Where possible, avoid sudden braking,
tyre squealing starts, violent bumps against
kerbs, potholes or obstacles of various kinds.
Prolonged driving on rough roads may dam-
age the tyres;
– Routinely check the tyres for cuts on the
sides, swellings or uneven tread wear. If nec-
essary contact Alfa Romeo Authorised Ser-
vices;
– Avoid overloading the car when travel-
ling: this may cause serious damage to the
wheels and tyres;
– If a tyre is punctured, stop immediate-
ly and change it to avoid damage to the tyre
itself, the rim, suspensions and steering sys-
tem;
– Tyres age even if they are not used
much. Cracks in the tread rubber are a sign
of aging. In any case, if the tyres have been
on the car for over 6 years, they should be
checked by specialised personnel, to see if
they can still be used. Also remember to
check the compact spare wheel;
– In case of replacement, always fit new
tyres, avoiding those of dubious origin;