2003 FIAT BARCHETTA key battery

105
JUMP STARTING
See “Jump starting” in this chapter. 2)Connect the battery terminals to
the charger.
3)Turn on the charger.
4)When you have finished, turn the
charger off before disconnecting the
battery.
5) Reconnect the cables to the bat-
tery posts. Make sure the polarity is
correct.IF THE BATTERY
IS FLAT
First of all, read the “Car mainte-
nance” chapter for the steps to be tak-
en to avoid the battery running down
and to ensure it has a long life.
RECHARGING THE BATTERY
You are advised to recharge the bat-
tery slowly for a period of approxi-
mately 24 hours at a very low amper-
age. Charging for too long could result
in the battery being damaged.
Proceed as follows:
1) Disconnect the electrical system
terminals from the battery posts.
IMPORTANTIf the car is fitted
with an electronic car alarm, use the
remote control to turn the alarm off
with the remote control and deacti-
vate the system by turning the emer-
gency key to “OFF” (see the “Elec-
tronic alarm” in the “Getting to know
your car” section).
The liquid in the battery is
poisonous and corrosive.
Do not let it touch the skin or eyes.
Recharging the battery should be
done in a well-ventilated area and
away from naked flames or possi-
ble sources of sparks: explosion and
fire risk.
WARNING
Do not attempt to recharge
a frozen battery. Thaw it
first otherwise it could explode. If
the battery froze, make sure the in-
ternal elements are not broken
(short-circuit risk) and that the cas-
ing is not cracked (risk of spilling
the poisonous and corrosive fluid).
WARNING

116
This check should be carried out
more frequently if the vehicle is main-
ly used for short trips, or if it is fitted
with accessories that permanently ab-
sorb electricity even with the ignition
key removed, especially in the case of
after market accessories.
You should check the battery fluid
(electrolyte) level more frequently
than shown in the Service Schedule if
the car is used in hot climates or par-
ticularly demanding conditions. IMPORTANT - Engine oil
Change the engine oil more fre-
quently than specified in the Service
Schedule if the vehicle is mainly used
under one of the following particular-
ly severe conditions:
– towing a trailer or caravan
– on dirt roads
– short, repetitive trips (less than 7
or 8 kilometres) in outside tempera-
tures below zero.
– engines that are frequently left to
idle or drive slowly over long dis-
tances.
IMPORTANT - Air cleaner
If you drive your car on dirt roads
change the air cleaner more frequently
than specified in the Service Schedule.If you are in doubt about how often
the engine oil or the air cleaner should
be changed in relation to how you use
the car, contact a Fiat Dealership.
IMPORTANT - Pollen filter
If the car is often used in dusty or ex-
tremely polluted environments, you
should change the filter element more
frequently. It should be changed espe-
cially if the amount of air introduced
into the passenger compartment is re-
duced.
IMPORTANT - Battery
You should check the status of the
battery charge preferably at the be-
ginning of the cold season to avoid the
possibility of the electrolyte freezing.Maintenance of your car
should be entrusted to a
Fiat Dealership. For in-
terventions of routine mainte-
nance and small repairs you wish
to carry out yourself, make sure
you always have the proper
equipment, genuine Fiat spare
parts and fluids available. Do not,
carry out these operations if you
have no experience.

124
USEFUL ADVICE
FOR LENGTHENING THE
LIFE OF YOUR BATTERY
When you park the car, ensure the
doors, boot and bonnet are closed
properly. The courtesy light must be
off.
Do not keep accessories (e.g. radio,
hazard lights etc.) switched on for a
long time when the engine is not run-
ning.
IMPORTANT A battery which is
kept at a charge of less than 50% for
any length of time will be damaged by
sulphation leading to a reduction in
cranking power and a higher risk of
the battery electrolyte freezing (this
may even occur at –10°C).
If the car is inactive for a long peri-
od of time, refer to “Storing the car”
in the “Driving your car” chapter.If, after purchasing your car you
would like to add electrical accessories
that require a permanent power sup-
ply (alarm systems, hands-free phone,
radio navigator with satellite anti-theft
system, etc.), visit a Fiat Dealership.
The staff of experts, besides suggest-
ing the most suitable accessories in the
Lineaccessori range, will also check
whether the car electrical system can
support the required load or if a larg-
er size battery needs to be installed.
These devices will, in fact, run off the
battery even when the key is not in-
serted (car parked) and can deploy the
battery.
Incorrect fitting of elec-
trical and electronic ac-
cessories can seriously
damage the car.Batteries contain sub-
stances that are very
harmful for the environ-
ment. You are advised to have the
battery changed at a Fiat Dealer-
ship. It is properly equipped for
disposing of used batteries in an
environmentally-friendly way that
complies with the law.
Do not attempt to recharge
a frozen battery. Thaw it
first otherwise it could explode. If
the battery froze, make sure the in-
ternal elements are not broken
(short-circuit risk) and that the cas-
ing is not cracked (risk of spilling
the poisonous and corrosive fluid).
WARNING

125
– Do not connect or disconnect the
terminals of the electronic units while
the ignition key is at MAR.
– Do not check polarity through
sparking.
– Disconnect the electronic units if
you are electrically welding the car
body. Remove the units if tempera-
tures exceed 80°C. (special operations
on the bodywork etc.)
IMPORTANTIf the radio or car
alarm systems are not installed cor-
rectly, they can interfere with the
working of the electronic control
units.ELECTRONIC
CONTROL UNITS
When the car is being used normal-
ly, special measures are not necessary.
The following instructions must be
followed very carefully however, if you
work on the electrical system or in
cases where starting with another bat-
tery is necessary:
– Never disconnect the battery from
the electrical system while the engine
is running.
– When recharging, disconnect the
battery from the wiring system. The
latest battery chargers can, in fact, gen-
erate voltages of up to 20V.
– Never start the engine with a bat-
tery charger. Always use another bat-
tery.
– Be particularly careful when con-
necting the battery to the electrical
system. Ensure the battery posts are
connected up to the right leads (the
polarity is correct) and check that the
connection has been made properly.
Battery Maximum admitted
stand-by intake
50Ah 30 mA
Furthermore, remember that high in-
take electric devices (such as baby bot-
tle warmers, vacuum cleaners, cellular
phones, mini-fridges, etc.) powered
when the engine is off can run the
battery down.
IMPORTANT If you need to install
added systems to the car, improper
wiring connections, in particular if they
affect safety devices, are dangerous.The total intake of these systems
(factory and after-market) must be less
than 0.6 mA x Ah (of the battery) as
shown in the following table:
Modifications or repairs to
the electrical system car-
ried out incorrectly and without
bearing the features of the system
in mind can cause malfunctions
with the risk of fire.
WARNING