maintenance Alfa Romeo MiTo 2009 Owner handbook (in English)

Dear Customer,
Congratulations on your purchase and thank you for choosing Alfa Romeo.
We have written this handbook to help you get the most out of your new car.
Please read it all the way through before taking your car on the road for the first time.
Here you will find information, tips and important warnings regarding use of your car and how to achieve the best performance from the
technological features of your Alfa Romeo.
The booklet also provides a description of special features as well as tips and essential information for the correct care and maintenance
of your Alfa Romeo and safe driving tips.
Please read the warnings and indications at the bottom of each page carefully; these are marked with the following symbols:
personal safety;
the car’s wellbeing;
environmental protection.
The enclosed Warranty Booklet lists the services that Alfa Romeo offers to its Customers:
– the Warranty Certificate with terms and conditions for maintaining its validity;
– the range of additional services available to Alfa Romeo Customers.
We are confident that these instructions will help you become familiar with your new car and the Alfa Romeo after-sales staff who will
be at your service.
Best regards and happy motoring!
This Owner Handbook describes all Alfa MiTo versions; you should therefore only take
note of the information relating to your cars’s engine and version.
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REFUELLING
Petrol engines: only use unleaded petrol with an octane
value (RON) of no lower than 95.
Diesel engines: only use diesel fuel compliant with European
specification EN590. The use of other products or mixtures may
damage the engine beyond repair and consequently invalidate the
warranty.
STARTING THE ENGINE
Petrol engines: make sure that the handbrake is
engaged; set the gearshift lever to neutral; fully depress the
clutch pedal without pressing the accelerator, then turn the
ignition key to AVV and release it as soon as the engine has
started.
Diesel engines: turn the ignition key to MAR and wait for the
warning lights to go out; Ythenmturn the ignition key to AVV
and release it as soon as the engine has started.
PARKING ON FLAMMABLE MATERIAL
The catalytic converter reaches high temperatures
during operation. Do not park on grass, dry leaves,
pine needles or other flammable material: fire risk.
RESPECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
The car is fitted with a system that carries out a
continuous diagnosis of the emission-related components
in order to help protect the environment.
ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES
If after having purchased your car you decide to add
accessories requiring electrical power (that may
otherwise cause the battery to gradually lose power),
please consult an Alfa Romeo Authorised Service. They
can calculate the overall electrical requirement and
check that the car’s electrical system can support the
required load
CODE CARD
(for versions/markets where provided)
Keep this in a safe place, not in the car. We
recommend that you always carry the electronic code
provided on the CODE card with you, in case you need
to perform an emergency start.
PROGRAMMED MAINTENANCE
Correct car maintenance is essential to ensure that the
performance, safety features, environmental
friendliness and low running costs stay in tip-top
condition over the years.
THE OWNER MANUAL CONTAINS…
... important information, tips and warnings on the
correct use and maintenance of your car over time as
well as safe driving. Particular attention should be paid
to information marked with the following symbols:
"(personal safety) #(environmental protection) â(car
integrity).
READ THIS CAREFULLY!
K


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SUMMARY3
Getting to know your car
Safety
Starting up and driving
In an emergency
Care and maintenance
Technical data
Index1
2
3
4
5
6
7
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40GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
Ser vice (Scheduled ser vicing)
This function allows you to view information on car servicing de-
pending on kilometres travelled or daily intervals.
With the Service function it is also possible to view the interval
(in kilometres or miles) before the next engine oil change is due.
This information can be consulted as follows:
– briefly press MENU ESC: the display shows service requirements
in km or mi according to the previous setting (see paragraph “Dis-
tance unit of measurement”);
– briefly press the MENU ESC button to go back to the menu screen
or hold the button down to go back to the standard screen.IMPORTANT The “Planned Maintenance Programme” requires the
vehicle to be serviced every 30,000 km (for petrol versions), or
every 35,000 km (for diesel versions). This message is displayed
automatically when the key is turned to MAR, from 2,000 km
(or equivalent value in miles) from the mileage when the next ser-
vice is due and is re-displayed every 200 km (or equivalent value
in miles). The indications will appear more frequently when there
are less than 200 km left. The indication will appear in kilome-
tres or miles according to the unit of measurement settings. When
the next scheduled service operation is approaching, the message
“Service” will appear on the display followed by the number of
kilometres or miles left, when the key is turned to MAR. Go to an
Alfa Romeo Authorised Service where the “Scheduled Service” op-
erations will be performed and the message will be reset.
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94GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
ROOF CLOSING SAFETY DEVICES
(anti-crush function)
The anti-crush safety system, which conforms to Directive
2000/4/CE, is activated during the horizontal and vertical clos-
ing stage of the panel after an obstacle is encountered (e.g. fin-
ger, hand):
❍during the horizontal closing movement it is activated for the
entire travel and after an obstacle is encountered at the front
of the glass panel the movement is reversed;
❍during the vertical closing movement it is activated and after
an obstacle is encountered at the back of the glass panel the
movement is reversed until the spoiler position is reached.
The possibility of crushing from inside the passenger compartment
in the side areas of the panel is prevented through the adoption
of side guards that deny access to the risk areas.
IMPORTANT The anti-crush safety system is deactivated by press-
ing button B-fig. 53 continuously.
MAINTENANCE/EMERGENCY
In case of emergency or maintenance the roof can be moved man-
ually when there is no power supply (opening/closing of the front
glass panel) by carrying out the following operations:
❍remove the protective cap A-fig. 55 located in the middle of
the roof;
❍take the Allen key B supplied which can be found together with
the on board documentation;
❍introduce the key into housing C and turn it:
– clockwise, to open the roof;
– anti-clockwise, to close the roof.
fig. 55A0J0328m
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114GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
ELECTRIC POWER STEERING
This only works with the key turned to MAR and the engine start-
ed. Power steering allows the force required at the steering wheel
to adapt to driving conditions.
The different power assistance modes can be selected via the d,n,a
positions of the“DNA System” lever (see paragraph “ALFA dna Sys-
tem”).
EOBD SYSTEM (provided on
request for versions/markets
where provided)
The aim of the EOBD system (European On Board Diagnosis) is to:
❍keep the system efficiency under control;
❍indicate an increase in emissions;
❍indicate the need to replace deteriorated components.
The vehicle also has a diagnostic connector that can be interfaced
with appropriate tools, which makes it possible to read the error
codes stored in the electronic control units together with a series
of specific parameters for engine operation and diagnosis. This check
can also be carried out by the traffic police.
IMPORTANT After eliminating a fault, to check the system com-
pletely, Alfa Romeo Authorised Services are obliged to run tests
and, if necessary, road tests which may also call for a long journey.
It is absolutely forbidden to carry out any after-
market operation involving steering system or
steering column modifications (e.g.: installation of
anti-theft device). This could badly affect performance and
safety, invalidate the warranty and also result in the non-
compliance of the car with approval requirements.
Before carrying out any maintenance operation
switch off the engine and remove the ignition key
to activate the steering lock. This is particularly im-
portant if the vehicle’s wheels are raised from the ground.
If this is not possible (if the key must be on MAR or the
engine must be running), remove the main fuse which
protects the electric power steering.
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SAFETY131
2
PRETENSIONERS
The vehicle is equipped with front seat belt pretensioners, which
draw back the seat belts by several centimetres in the event of a
strong frontal impact. This guarantees the perfect adherence of the
seat belts to the occupant’s bodies before the retention action be-
gins.
The activation of the pretensioners can be detected from the re-
traction of the belt towards the reel.
The vehicle also features a second pretensioning device (fitted near
the kick plate): The activation of this device is indicated by the
shortening of the metal cable.
A small amount of smoke may be produced during the activation
of the pretensioners. This smoke is in no way toxic and does not
indicate an outbreak of fire.
IMPORTANT To obtain the highest degree of protection from the ac-
tion of the pretensioning device, wear the seat belt, keeping it close
to the chest and pelvis.
The pretensioner does not require any maintenance or greasing:
anything that modifies its original condition invalidates its efficiency.
If, due to unusual natural events (floods, sea storms, etc.), the de-
vice has been affected by water and mud, it must be replaced.
The pretensioner can only be used once.
Once it has activated contact an Alfa Romeo
Authorised Service Provider to have it replaced.
The expiry date of the device is shown on the label in the
glove compartment: Contact an Alfa Romeo Authorised
Service Provider when the time comes to replace the de-
vice.
Operations which lead to shocks, vibrations or lo-
calised heating (over 100
°C for a maximum of 6
hours) in the area around the pretensioners may
damage or trigger them. These devices are not affected
by vibrations caused by irregularities of the road surface
or low obstacles such as kerbs, etc. Contact an Alfa Romeo
Authorised Service Provider for any assistance.
LOAD LIMITERS
To increase passenger’s safety, the front seat belt reels contain a
load limiter which allows controlled sag in such a way as to dose
the force acting on the chest and shoulders during the belt restraining
action in case of front crash.
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SAFETY133
2
SEAT BELT MAINTENANCE
❍Always use the seat belts with the belt taut and never twist-
ed; make sure that it is free to run without impediments;
❍Replace the belt after a serious accident even if it does not
appear damaged. Always replace the belt if the pretensioners
were deployed.
❍To clean the seat belts, hand wash with water and neutral soap,
rinse and leave to dry in the shade. Do not use strong deter-
gents, bleach, paints or any other substance which could dam-
age the belt fibres.
❍Keep the reels dry: correct operation may only be ensured if
the reels are dry;
❍Replace the seat belt when it shows significant wear or cuts.
Under no circumstances should the seat belt and
pretensioner components be removed or tampered
with. All interventions must be performed by qual-
ified and authorised personnel only. Contact an Alfa
Romeo Authorised Service Provider.
If the belt has been subjected to heavy stress, for
example after an accident, it should be changed
completely together with the anchors, anchor fas-
tening screws and the pretensioners. In fact, even if the
belt has no visible defects, it could have lost its resilience.
fig. 7A0J0096m
Each seat belt may only be used by a single person: Do not carry
children on your lap with one seat belt protecting both (fig. 7). In
general, do not place any objects between the passenger and the
belt.
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154STARTING UP AND DRIVING
SAVING FUEL
Here are some suggestions which may help you to save fuel and
lower the amount of toxic emissions released into the atmosphere.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
Car maintenance
Have checks and adjustments carried out in accordance with the
“Scheduled servicing plan”.
Tyres
Check tyre pressure regularly, at least once every four weeks: ex-
cessively low pressure will increase fuel consumption because rolling
resistance will be higher.
Unnecessar y loads
Do not travel with an overloaded boot. The weight of the car and
its ride setting greatly affect fuel consumption and stability.
Roof rack/ski rack
Remove the roof rack or the ski rack from the roof after use. These
accessories decrease aerodynamic penetration of the car and have
a negative effect on fuel consumption. It is better to use a trailer,
particularly for transporting bulky objects.
Press the clutch pedal fully to change gears cor-
rectly. For this reason, there must be no obstacles
on the floor under the pedals: ensure that any rub-
ber mats are correctly positioned, and do not interfere
with the pedals
Do not drive with your hand resting on the gear
lever, because this pressure, even if light, can wear
out the gearbox internal components over time.
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CARE AND MAINTENANCE197
5
Scheduled maintenance ...................................................................... 198
Scheduled servicing plan ..................................................................... 199
Periodic checks .................................................................................. 203
Demanding use of the car .................................................................... 203
Checking fluid levels ........................................................................... 204
Air filter/pollen filter/diesel filter.......................................................... 211
Battery.............................................................................................. 211
Wheels and tyres ............................................................................... 213
Windscreen/rearscreen wipers ............................................................. 214
Bodywork.......................................................................................... 217
Interiors............................................................................................. 219
197-220 Alfa MiTo GB 12-11-2008 15:42 Pagina 197