2003 FIAT BARCHETTA key

69
HOW TO WARM UP
THE ENGINE AFTER
IT HAS JUST STARTED
– Begin to move forward slowly, let-
ting the engine turn over at medium
revs. Do not floor the accelerator.
– Do not push the engine to its lim-
it for the first few kilometres. You are
recommended to wait until the water
temperature has reached 50° to 60°C.
EMERGENCY START-UP
If the Fiat CODE system fails to
recognise the code transmitted by
the ignition key (warning lamp ¢on
instrument panel lit with a fixed
light), you can start the engine by fol-
lowing the emergency procedure
using the code written on the CODE
card.
See the section “In an emergency”.Do not bump start by
pushing, towing or coast-
ing downhill. This way of
starting could cause a rush of fu-
el into the catalytic exhaust pipe
and damage it beyond repair.
A quick burst on the ac-
celerator before turning
off the engine serves ab-
solutely no practical purpose and
wastes fuel.
IMPORTANT After a taxing drive it
is better to allow the engine to “catch
its breath” before turning it off by let-
ting it idle to allow the temperature in
the engine compartment to fall.STOPPING THE ENGINE
Turn the ignition key to STOP
while the engine is idling.
Remember that as long as
the engine is not running,
the power brakes and power steer-
ing do not work. You therefore have
to use considerably more effort on
both the brake pedal and the steer-
ing wheel.
WARNING

70
PARKING
Turn off the engine, pull up the hand-
brake, put the car in gear (1st if the car
is pointing uphill, reverse if downhill)
and turn the wheels. If the car is on a
steep incline, you should put a stone
or wedge under the wheels to block
them.
Do not leave the ignition key at
MAR because it drains the battery.
Always remove the key when you
leave the car.IMPORTANTIf this is not the
case, have the handbrake adjusted at
a Fiat Dealership.
When the hand brake is on and the
ignition key is at MAR, panel indica-
tor light xcomes on.
To release the handbrake:
1) Slightly lift the handbrake and
press release button A.
2) Keep the button pressed in and
lower the lever. Instrument panel in-
dicator light xwill go out.
3) To prevent the vehicle acciden-
tally moving, carry out this manoeuvre
with the brake pedal pressed. HANDBRAKE fig. 1
The handbrake lever is situated be-
tween the two front seats.
To operate the handbrake pull the
lever upwards until the car is pre-
vented from moving: pulling the lever
through four or five “clicks” is gener-
ally enough on level ground while nine
or ten might be necessary on a steep
incline and with a load in the car.
fig. 1
P5S00678mDo not leave children
unsupervised in the car.
WARNING

75
– Remember that fog also means the
tarmac is wet and therefore manoeu-
vres of all kinds are more difficult and
stopping distances are longer.
– Keep a good distance from the cars
in front of you.
– As far as possible, avoid spurts of
speed or sudden deceleration.
– Do not overtake other vehicles if
you can help it.
– If you are forced to stop your car
(breakdown, limited visibility etc.) try
to stop off the road. Then turn on the
hazard lights and, if possible, the
dipped headlights. Rhythmically sound
the horn if you realise another car is
coming.
DRIVING
IN THE MOUNTAINS
– When driving downhill, use the en-
gine brake by engaging a low gear so
as not to overheat the brakes.
– Under no circumstances should
you drive downhill with the engine off
or with the car in neutral, let alone
with the ignition key out.– Drive at a moderate speed without
cutting corners.
– Remember that overtaking while
going uphill is slower and therefore re-
quires more free road. If you are be-
ing overtaken while driving uphill,
make it easier for the other vehicle
to pass.
DRIVING ON SNOW OR ICE
Here are some tips for driving in
these conditions:
– Keep your speed down.
– Use chains if the roads are covered
in snow (refer to the “Snow chains”
paragraph in this section).
– Mainly use the engine brake and
under all circumstances avoid braking
sharply.
– When braking in a car not fitted
with ABS, avoid the wheels locking by
varying the pressure you exert on the
brake pedal.
– Do not accelerate suddenly and
avoid swerving.– In the winter, even apparently dry
roads may have icy patches. Be care-
ful therefore when driving over
stretches that do not get much expo-
sure to the sun or that are lined by
trees and rocks where ice might not
have melted.
– Keep a good distance from the ve-
hicles in front.
– Do not remain for long periods in
deep snow with the engine running as
the snow could force the exhaust gas-
es into the passenger compartment.
DRIVING WITH ABS
ABS is a braking system that essen-
tially offers two advantages:
1)It prevents wheel lock-up and
consequent skidding in emergency
stops, particularly when the road does
not offer much grip.
2)It makes it possible to brake and
steer at the same time so you can
avoid unexpected obstacles and direct
the car where you want while braking.
The extent to which this can be done
will depend on the physical limits of
the tyre's sideways grip.

78
CONDITIONS OF USE
Cold starting
Frequent cold starting will not enable
the engine to reach optimal running
temperature. It follows therefore that
consumption will be higher (from
+15% to +30% in towns) as will the
production of toxic emissions.
Traffic and road conditions
Heavy traffic and higher consumption
are synonymous; for example, when
driving slowly with frequent use of the
lower gears or in large towns where
there are numerous traffic lights.
Winding roads, mountain roads and
bumpy roads also have a negative ef-
fect on consumption.
Enforced halts
During prolonged hold-ups (traffic
lights, level crossings) the engine
should be switched off.CHEAP RUNNING THAT RESPECTS
THE ENVIRONMENT
LOOKING AFTER EMISSION
CONTROL DEVICES
The correct use of pollution control
devices not only ensures respect for
the environment but also has an effect
on the car’s performance.
Keeping these devices in good con-
dition is therefore a fundamental rule
for driving that is easy on your pock-
et and on the environment too.
The first step to take is to follow the
Service Schedule to the letter.
Use only unleaded petrol in petrol
engines.
If you have trouble starting, do not
keep turning the ignition key for long
periods. Be especially careful to avoid
bump starting the car by pushing, tow-
ing or rolling down hill: these are all
manoeuvres that can damage the cat-
alytic exhaust. For emergency starts
use only an auxiliary battery. Environmental protection has been
one of the guiding principles in the
production of the Fiat barchetta. It is
no accident that its pollution control
equipment is much more effective than
that required by current legislation.
Nonetheless, the environment can-
not get by without a concerted effort
from everyone.
By following a few simple rules you
can avoid harming the environment
and often cut down fuel consumption
at the same time.
On this subject, a few useful tips have
been given below to supplement those
marked by symbol #, at various points
of the handbook.
You are asked to read both the for-
mer and latter carefully.

81
VEHICLE
STORAGE
Do the following if the car is not to
be used for several months:
– Park the car with the hood closed
in covered, dry and if possible well-
ventilated premises.
– Engage a gear.
– Make sure the handbrake is not
engaged.
– Disconnect the terminals from
the battery poles (negative pole first)
and check the battery charge. When
the vehicle is in storage, this check
should be carried out once a month.
If the no-load voltage is less than
12.5V, recharge the battery.– Inflate the tyres to 0.5 bar above
the normal specified pressure and
check it at intervals.
– Check battery charge once a
month.
– Do not drain the engine cooling
system. IMPORTANTIf the car is fitted
with an electronic car alarm, turn off
the alarm with the remote control
and deactivate the system by turning
the emergency key to “OFF”(see
the “Electronic alarm” in the
“Getting to know your car” section).
– Clean and protect the painted
parts using a protective wax.
– Clean and protect the shiny metal
parts using special compounds avail-
able on the market.
– Sprinkle talcum powder on the
rubber windscreen wiper blades and
lift them off the glass.
– Open the windows slightly.
– Cover the car with a cloth or
perforated plastic sheet. Do not use
sheets of imperforated plastic as
they do not allow moisture on the
car body to evaporate.

84
EMERGENCY
START-UP
If the Fiat CODE system cannot de-
activate the engine immobiliser, the
warning lights ¢and
Uwill remain
lit and the engine will not start. To
start your car, follow the emergency
startup procedure.
Read the whole procedure care-
fully before trying to carry it out.
If you make a mistake in the emer-
gency procedure you must turn the ig-
nition key back toSTOPand repeat
the whole operation from the begin-
ning, step 1).
1)Read the 5-figure electronic code
given on the CODE card.
2) Turn the ignition key to MAR.
3)Press the accelerator pedal to the
floor and keep it there. The injection
warning lamp
Uwill light up for about
8 seconds, and then go out. At this
point release the accelerator pedal and
get ready to count the flashes of warn-
ing lamp
U.4) Count the number of flashes that
corresponds to the first figure of the
code on the CODE card, then press
the accelerator pedal and keep it there
until the warning lamp
Ulights up for
four seconds and then goes out again.
Release the accelerator pedal.
5)The warning lamp
Uwill start
flashing again: when the lamp has
flashed the number of times that cor-
responds to the second figure on the
CODE card, press the accelerator
pedal to the floor and keep it there.
6) Do the same for the remaining fig-
ures on the CODE card.
7) Once the final figure has been en-
tered, keep the accelerator pedal
pressed. The warning lamp
Uwill
light up for 4 seconds and then go out.
Release the accelerator pedal.
8) The warning lamp
Uwill flash
rapidly for about 4 seconds to indicate
that the operation has been complet-
ed correctly.9)Turn on the engine by turning the
ignition key from the MARto the
AVVposition.
If however indicator light
Ustays
on, turn the ignition key to STOPand
repeat the procedure starting from
point 1).
IMPORTANT After emergency
starting the car you should have it seen
to at a Fiat Dealershipbecause the
emergency procedure will have to be
repeated each time you start the en-
gine otherwise.

85
Under no circumstances
should a battery charger
be used to start the en-
gine: it could damage the elec-
tronic systems and in particular
the control units governing igni-
tion and fuel feed.
JUMP STARTING
If the battery is flat, you can use an-
other battery to start the engine. Its
capacity must be the same or slightly
greater than the flat battery (see the
chapter “Technical specifications”).
This is what to do fig. 1:
1)Connect positive terminals (signal
+in proximity of the terminal) of the
two batteries with a jump lead.
2)With a second lead, connect the
negative terminal (–) of the auxiliary
battery to an earth point Eon the en-
gine or transmission of the vehicle to
be started.IMPORTANTDo not connect the
two negative terminals directly: sparks
could ignite the explosive gas output
from the battery. If the other battery
is fitted in a vehicle, prevent acciden-
tal contacts between the metal parts
of the two vehicles.
3)Start the engine.
4)When the engine has been start-
ed, remove the leads in the reverse
order.
If the engine fails to start after a few
attempts, do not keep turning the key
but have the car seen to at a Fiat
Dealership.
fig. 1
P5S00677m
Do not carry out this pro-
cedure if you lack experi-
ence; if it is not done correctly it
can cause very intense electrical
discharges. Furthermore, the fluid
in the battery is poisonous and cor-
rosive, avoid contact with your skin
and eyes.
Do not put naked flames or light-
ed cigarettes near the battery and
do not cause sparks.
WARNING

99
POSITION OF THE FUSES
Fuses in the fuse box fig. 30
The fuse box is situated under the
dashboard to the left of the steering
wheel.
To get at the fuses:
1)undo the fixing screws;
2)remove guard A-fig. 29. When
you replace the guard, make sure it fits
properly under the door weather-
stripping.
The symbols identifying the main
electrical elements corresponding to
each fuse are shown on the inside of
the guard.
fig. 29
P5S00741m
Never replace a broken
fuse with anything other
than a new fuse. Always
use a fuse of the same colour.
To locate the fuse, refer to the table
on the following pages.
Never, under any circum-
stances, replace a fuse with
one of a higher amperage, this is
FIRE HAZARD!
WARNING
Before changing a fuse,
check the ignition key has
been removed and that all the oth-
er electrical devices have been
turned off/disabled.
WARNING
If a general protection fuse
(MAXI-FUSE) blows, do not
carry out any repairs. Take the ve-
hicle to a Fiat Dealership.
WARNING
If the fuse blows again, con-
tact a Fiat Dealership.
WARNING