2003 FIAT BARCHETTA spark plugs

76
Here are some suggestions which
may help you to keep the running
costs of your vehicle down and low-
er the amount of toxic emissions re-
leased into the atmosphere.
GENERAL
CONSIDERATIONS
Car maintenance
The overall state of the car is an im-
portant factor which has a marked in-
fluence over fuel consumption and dri-
ving comfort and on the life span of
your car. For this reason care should
be taken to maintain your car by car-
rying out the necessary checks and
regulations in accordance with the
specifications given in the Scheduled
Maintenance Programme (see sec-
tions... spark plugs, idle, air filter, tim-
ing).
CONTAINING RUNNING COSTS
AND POLLUTION
Tyres
Tyres should be checked at least
every four weeks: if the pressure is
too low fuel consumption increases as
the resistance to the rolling movement
of the tyre is greater. In this state, tyre
wear is increased and car handling suf-
fers which will affect safety.
Unnecessary loads
Do not travel with too much luggage
stowed in the boot. The weight of the
vehicle (especially when driving in
town) and its trim greatly affects con-
sumption and stability. To get the most out of ABS:
– During emergency stops or when
grip conditions are poor, you will feel
a slight pulsation on the brake pedal.
This is the sign that the ABS is in ac-
tion. Do not release the brake pedal
but continue to press so as not to in-
terrupt the braking action.
– ABS prevents the wheels from
locking but it does not increase actu-
al grip conditions between tyre and
road. Therefore, even if your car is fit-
ted with ABS, respect the safety dis-
tance from the car in front of you and
keep your speed down when driving
into bends.
– ABS serves to increase the con-
trollability of the car, not to enable you
to go faster.

79
If the engine begins to “lose its
smoothness” when travelling, contin-
ue your journey but reduce the
demands you are making on the
engine and have the car seen to at a
Fiat Dealership.
When the instrument panel fuel
reserve warning light Kcomes on, fill
up as soon as possible. A low level of
fuel can cause an uneven supply of
fuel to the engine with the inevitable
increase in the temperature of the
exhaust gas and serious damage to
the catalytic converter.
Never run the engine with one or
more spark plugs disconnected, even
for testing purposes.
Do not warm up the engine by let-
ting it idle for a while before moving
off unless the outside temperature is
very low and, even in this case, only
do so for less than thirty seconds.TOWING
A TRAILER
IMPORTANT
The car must be fitted with a
homologated tow hitch and suitable
electrical system for towing a cara-
van or trailer. Have the tow hitch fit-
ted by an expert who will issue spe-
cific documentation for use on
roads.
Fit special and/or additional
rearview mirrors in accordance with
the highway code.
Remember that towing a trailer
makes it harder for the car to climb
the maximum gradients specified,
increases braking and overtaking dis-
tance, proportionally to the overall
weight of the trailer.
The weight the trailer exerts on
the car’s tow hitch coupling reduces
the car’s loading capacity by the
same amount. Do not install other heat shields
and do not remove those already fit-
ted to the catalytic converter and
exhaust pipe.
Do not allow anything to be
sprayed onto the catalytic converter,
lambda sensor and exhaust pipe.
When functioning normal-
ly the catalytic converter
develops high temperatures. For
this reason do not park the car
over inflammable material (grass,
dry leaves, pine needles, etc.): fire
hazard.
WARNING
Failure to heed these pre-
cautions could cause a
fire.
WARNING

111
CAR MAINTENANCE
The Fiat barchetta is brand new throughout, even
in its service schedule. For example: the first service
schedule coupon is to be used at 20,000 km making the
traditional check at 1,500 km unnecessary. You should
however remember that your car needs routine main-
tenance such as systematic checking of the fluid level
and tyre pressure, and any necessary topping up.
You should nonetheless bear in mind that proper car
maintenance is certainly the best way to keep your car
in tip-top condition for years to come and safeguard its
safety features, its environmentally-friendly nature and
its low running costs.
Also remember that following the servicing regula-
tions marked with the symbol ∑as specified might be
essential to ensuring the warranty remains valid.SCHEDULED SERVICING ............................................... 112
SERVICE SCHEDULE ......................................................... 113
ANNUAL INSPECTION SCHEDULE ........................... 115
ADDITIONAL OPERATIONS ........................................ 115
CHECKING FLUID LEVELS ............................................. 117
AIR CLEANER ..................................................................... 122
POLLEN FILTER .................................................................. 123
BATTERY .............................................................................. 123
ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNITS ............................... 125
SPARK PLUGS ..................................................................... 126
WHEELS AND TYRES ...................................................... 126
RUBBER TUBING .............................................................. 128
WINDSCREEN WIPER ..................................................... 128
MANUAL CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM ................. 130
BODYWORK ...................................................................... 130
HOOD ................................................................................... 133
INTERIORS ........................................................................... 133

114
(*) Or every 3 years for heavy duty uses (cold-hot climates, long idling urban use, use on roads that are specially dusty or covered with sand and/or salt)
Or every 5 years independently from mileage.
Thousands of km
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20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180
Check evaporation system
Replace air cleaner cartridge
Top up fluid level (engine coolant, brakes, windscreen washer,
battery, etc.)
Check timing belt conditions
Replace timing belt (*)
Replace spark plugs
Check engine control systems (via diagnostic socket)
Check gearbox/differential oil level
Change engine oil
Replace engine oil filter
Change brake fluid (or every two years)
Replace pollen filter (or every year)
Top: check opening/closing operation and lubricate joints,
visually inspect seals, check adherence of windows with top
seal and adjust, if required

126
WHEELS
AND TYRES
TYRES PRESSURE
Every two weeks and before long
journeys, check the pressure of each
tyre including the spare.
The pressure must be checked when
the tyre is rested and cold.
It is normal for the pressure to rise
when you are driving. If you have to
check or restore the pressure when
the tyres are warm remember that the
pressure value must be 0.3 bar above
the specified value.
SPARK PLUGS
The cleanness and soundness of the
spark plugs fig. 9are very important
for keeping the engine efficient and
polluting emissions down.
The appearance of the spark plug, if
examined by an expert eye, is a good
way of pin-pointing a malfunction even
if it has nothing to do with the ignition
system. Therefore, if the engine has
problems, it is important to have the
spark plugs checked at a Fiat Deal-
ership.The spark plugs must be
changed at the times
specified in the Service
Schedule. Only use the type of
plugs indicated: if the heat ratio
is less than required or the life
specified is not guaranteed, prob-
lems can arise.
fig. 9
P5S00684m
Spark plug (type)
Champion RC10YCC
NGK BKR6EZ
Tyre pressure must be cor-
rect to ensure good road
holding.
WARNING

138
FUEL SUPPLY/IGNITION
Integrated electronic injection and ig-
nition system: a single electronic con-
trol unit controls both functions. It
processes both the time the injection
lasts (for fuel metering) and the igni-
tion’s advance angle.
Type: Sequential in phase Multipoint
Air cleaner: dry-type with paper fil-
ter element; thermostatically con-
trolled intake.
Petrol pump: in-tank.
Injection pressure: 3 bar
Method of measuring the amount of
aspirated air by directly measuring the
maximum rate of flow with a hot wire
air flow meter.
“Closed loop” petrol metering (in-
formation about combustion provid-
ed by the Lambda sensor).Firing order: 1-3-4-2
Spark plugs:
– Champion RC10YCC
– NGK BKR6EZLUBRICATION
Forced-fed with gear pump with
pressure relief valve incorporated.
Oil purification by means of full-flow-
cartridge filter.
COOLING
Cooling system with radiator, cen-
trifugal pump and expansion tank.
“Controlled” by-pass type thermo-
stat on the secondary circuit for the
recirculation of water from the engine
to the radiator.
Electric fan for radiator cooling with
thermostatically-controlled on/off
switch on the radiator.
Modifications or repairs to
the fuel feed system that
are not carried out properly or do
not take the system’s technical
specifications into account can
cause malfunctions with the risk of
fire.
WARNING

161
– homologation codes....... 156
Rear fog lights
– controls ............................ 41
– bulb replacement ........... 97
Rear windowing (cleaning) . 133
Rearview mirrors
– electric............................... 20
– external ............................. 20
– internal .............................. 20
Rev counter............................. 28
Repeated checks ................... 82
Reversing lights ....................... 97
Rubber piping .......................... 128
Safe driving
– driving at night ................. 73
– driving in the rain ............ 74
– before getting behind
the wheel .......................... 72
– driving in fog .................... 74
– driving in the mountains 75
– driving on snow and ice 75
– driving with ABS.............. 75
– when travelling ................ 72
Seat belts
– general information ........ 22– maintenance ..................... 23
– use ...................................... 21
Seats
– adjustment ........................ 18
– cleaning.............................. 134
Servicing ................................... 111
– additional operations ..... 115
– annual inspection schedule 115
– scheduled service............ 112
– Service Schedule ............. 113
Side/taillights
– controls ............................ 38
– front bulb replacement 93
– rear bulb replacement .. 96
Snow tyres ............................... 80-141
Spark plugs............................... 126
Specifications ........................... 135
Speedometer........................... 28
Starting the engine
– jump starting .................... 85
– bump starting ................... 86
– emergency start-up ........ 84
– ignition switch.................. 17
– stopping the engine ........ 69
– warming up a recently
started engine .................. 69Steering column lock............. 18
Steering column stalks
– left-hand stalk .................. 38
– right-hand stalk................ 39
Steering wheel ........................ 19
Steering..................................... 140
Storing the car ........................ 81
Sun visors ................................. 43
Suspensions ............................. 140
Symbols .................................... 9
Technical specifications.... 135
Third brake light
(bulb replacement) ............... 96
Tools............................................. 88
Top speeds .................................. 140
Towing a trailer
– tow hitch installation ......... 152
– warnings................................ 79
Towing the car ........................... 108
Transmission (ratios) ................ 139
Transporting children
in safety .................................... 24
Tyre pressure ............................. 148
Tyres ..................................... 126-148