GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
You should read this chapter sitting comfortably in
your new Fiat barchetta. This way you can see the parts
described in the manual at a glance and immediately
check what you have just read for yourself.
In short, you will become more familiar with your
Fiat barchetta and its controls and other features. Lat-
er, when you start the engine and join the traffic you
will make a host of other pleasant discoveries.
DASHBOARD ...................................................................... 7
INSTRUMENT PANEL ...................................................... 8
SYMBOLIS ............................................................................. 9
THE FIAT CODE SYSTEM ............................................... 11
ELECTRONIC ALARM ..................................................... 13
IGNITION SWITCH ......................................................... 17
INDIVIDUAL SETTINGS .................................................. 18
SEAT BELTS ......................................................................... 21
TRANSPORTING CHILDREN IN SAFETY ................ 24
PRETENSIONERS ............................................................... 27
INSTRUMENTS ................................................................... 28INDICATOR AND WARNING LIGHTS .................... 30
HEATING AND VENTILATION ................................... 34
MANUAL CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM ................. 36
STEERING COLUMN STALKS ....................................... 38
CONTROLS ......................................................................... 40
INTERIOR EQUIPMENT .................................................. 42
DOORS ................................................................................. 44
HOOD ................................................................................... 46
HARD TOP .......................................................................... 49
WIND STOP ........................................................................ 51
BONNET .............................................................................. 53
BOOT .................................................................................... 55
HEADLIGHTS ...................................................................... 55
ABS ......................................................................................... 56
AIRBAG ................................................................................. 58
EOBD SYSTEM .................................................................... 62
CELLULAR PHONE SETUP ............................................. 63
AT THE FILLING STATION ........................................... 64
PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT ......................... 66
For more detailed information, see “Index”.
6
ABS (ANTI-LOCK
BRAKING SYSTEM)
INEFFICIENT
(amber) (where fitted)
When the ABS device is faulty.
The normal braking system contin-
ues to work but you should have the
car seen to at a Fiat Dealership.
When the key is turned toMARthe
warning light will come on but should
go out after about 2 seconds. HANDBRAKE ON/
BRAKE FLUID
LEVEL LOW (red)
In two cases:
1. When the handbrake is applied.
2. When the brake fluid level falls be-
low the minimum.BATTERY NOT
RECHARGED
PROPERLY (red)
When there is a malfunction in the
current generating system.
The light comes on when you turn
the ignition key to MARbut it should
go out when the engine starts.
FRONT BRAKE
WEAR (red)
When the front brake
pads have worn out. When having
them replaced, have the rear brakes
checked, too.
31
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d
x
If the xwarning light
comes on while travelling,
check that the handbrake is not en-
gaged. If the warning light stays on
when the handbrake is disengaged,
stop immediately and contact a Fi-
at Dealership.
WARNING
The car is fitted with an
electronic braking device
(EBD). If the >and xwarning
light turn on at the same time, this
means that there is an EBD system
fault. In this case violent braking
may be accompanied by early rear
wheel locking with the possibility of
skidding. Drive the car extremely
carefully to the nearest Fiat Deal-
ership to have the system checked.
WARNING
HAZARD LIGHTS
(red) (flashing)
When the hazard lights
are on.AIRBAG OR
PRETENSIONER
FAILURE (red)
When the system is not working
properly or has been triggered.
SEAT BELTS NOT
FASTENED (red)
When the driver’s seat
belt is not fastened properly. CATALYTIC
CONVERTER HOT
(red) (where fitted)
When the temperature of the cat-
alytic converter is extremely high: the
warning light will go out as soon as the
temperature drops to normal.
32
<
f¬
r
When you turn the ignition
key to the MAR position
this light comes on. It should, how-
ever, go out after about four sec-
onds. If the light stays on or comes
on while the car is moving, stop at
once and have the car seen to at a
Fiat Dealership.
WARNING
The lighting of warning
light >when the engine is
running normally indicates a fault
in the ABS system only. In this case,
the braking system will still be ef-
fective without the anti-lock device.
In these conditions EBD system op-
eration can be reduced. Also in this
case we recommend immediately
taking the car to a Fiat Dealership
avoiding sudden braking to have
the system checked.
WARNING
57
Braking while cornering always re-
quires extreme care even when using
ABS.
The most important advice to follow
is the following:If you follow these tips you will be
able to brake better in any situation.
IMPORTANTVehicles fitted with
ABS may only be fitted with wheel
rims, tyres and brake pads of the make
and model approved by the vehicle
manufacturer.
An Electronic Brake Distributor
EBD integrates the ABSsystem and
uses the control unit and sensors of
theABSsystem to increase perfor-
mance of the brake system.
If there is a fault, the warn-
ing light >will light up on
the dashboard. At this point, reduce
speed and go to a Fiat Dealership
to have your vehicle checked and
put right immediately.
WARNING
When the ABS cuts in, and
you feel the brake pedal
pulsating, do not remove your foot,
but keep it pressed. In doing so you
will stop in the shortest amount of
space possible under the current
road conditions.
WARNING
The car is fitted with an
electronic braking device
(EBD). If the >and xwarning
light turn on at the same time, this
means that there is an EBD system
fault. In this case violent braking
may be accompanied by early rear
wheel locking with the possibility of
skidding. Drive the car extremely
carefully to the nearest Fiat Deal-
ership to have the system checked.
WARNING
The lighting of warning
light >when the engine is
running normally indicates a fault
in the ABS system only. In this case,
the braking system will still be ef-
fective without the anti-lock device.
In these conditions EBD system op-
eration can be reduced. Also in this
case we recommend immediately
taking the car to a Fiat Dealership
avoiding sudden braking to have
the system checked.
WARNING
If the xbrake fluid low
warning light comes on,
stop the vehicle immediately and
contact the nearest Fiat Dealership.
Fluid leaks from the hydraulic sys-
tem, in fact, can compromise brake
system operation, both traditional
systems and systems with ABS.
WARNING
62
EOBD SYSTEM
The EOBD system (European On
Board Diagnosis) performs a non-stop
diagnosis of the components linked to
the emissions, it also warns the user
about the component current deterio-
ration conditions, by turning on the pi-
lot lamp
Uon the instrument panel.
Purpose of system is:
– keeping system efficiency under con-
trol;
– warning about emission increases
due to car malfunction;
– warning about the necessity of re-
placing deteriorated components. System also avails itself of a connector
that can be interfaced with a proper in-
strumentation, enabling to read error
codes stored in the control unit, to-
gether with a set of specific engine di-
agnosis and operation parameters. This
inspection can be also carried out by
traffic control agents. IMPORTANTAfter eliminating the
problem, yourFiat Dealershipwill
run a bench test to fully check the sys-
tem. In some cases, a long road test
may be required.
If the pilot lamp
Udoes
not turn on when the ig-
nition key is turned to the
MAR position, or if, when run-
ning, the fixed or blinking light
turns on, please contact as soon
as possible the Fiat Dealership.
Pilot light
Ufunctionality can be
inspected by the special equip-
ment available with the traffic
control agents. Comply with the
regulations current in the Coun-
try where your are driving.
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.
115
ANNUAL
INSPECTION
SCHEDULE
The following annual inspection
schedule is required for cars travelling
less than 20,000 km a year (e.g. ap-
proximately 10,000 km). The schedule
includes the following operations:
– Check tyre condition and wear and
adjust pressure, if required (including
spare-saver spare wheel).
– Check operation of lights (head-
lights, direction indicators, hazard
lights, boot light, passenger compart-
ment ceiling light, glove compartment
light, instrument panel lights, etc.).
– Check windscreen wiper/washer
and adjust nozzles.
– Check position wear of windscreen
window wiper blades.
ADDITIONAL
OPERATIONS
Every 1,000 kmor before long
trips, check and top up as necessary:
– coolant level
– brake fluid level
– power steering fluid level
– electrolyte level
– windscreen washer liquid level
– tyre condition and pressure.
We advise you to use FL Selenia
products, which have been designed
and produced expressly for the Fiat
vehicles (see the table “Capacities” giv-
en in the “Technical specifications”
section).
Every 3,000 km check and top up
as necessary: engine oil level. – Check rear brake pad conditions
and wear.
– Inspect conditions of. engine, gear-
box, transmission, piping (exhaust - fu-
el feed - brakes), rubber parts (boots
- sleeves - bushings - etc.), brake and
fuel line hoses.
– Check battery charge status.
– Check conditions of various con-
trol belts.
– Check and top up fluid levels (en-
gine coolant, brakes, windscreen
washer, battery, etc.).
– Change engine oil.
– Replace engine oil filter.
– Replace pollen filter (where fitted).
121
Oil consumption is ex-
tremely low: if it needs
topping up after travelling
only a short while, have the sys-
tem checked for leaks at a Fiat
Dealership.
fig. 6
P5S10044m
The level of the fluid in the reservoir
must not exceed the MAXmark.
If you need to add fluid, only use the
type classified DOT 4. You are advised
in particular to use TUTELA TOP 4
with which the braking system was
originally filled. BRAKE FLUID fig. 6
From time to time check the instru-
ment panel warning light by pressing
the reservoir cover (with the ignition
key at MAR): instrument warning pan-
el light xshould come on.
On versions fitted with ABS, the
brake fluid reservoir is positioned as
shown in fig. 6; while on versions
without ABS, the reservoir is posi-
tioned lengthwise.
Make sure the highly
corrosive brake fluid does
not drip onto the paint-
work. If it does, wash it off im-
mediately with water.
Make sure the power steer-
ing fluid does not come in-
to contact with the hot parts of the
engine as is catches fire very easi-
ly.
WARNING