2003 FIAT PALIO maintenance

117
BATTERY
The Fiat Palio battery is of the “lim-
ited maintenance” type: under normal
conditions it will not need to be
topped up with distilled water.
The level of the battery fluid(elec-
trolyte) should be between the two
marks on the battery when the car is
parked on level ground. If the level is
under the
MIN-fig. 16 line, have the
car seen to at a
Fiat Dealership.
See the section “In an emergency”
for instructions on how to recharge
the battery.
The liquid in the battery
is poisonous and corro-
sive. do not let it touch
the skin or eyes. Do not bring
naked flames or possible sources
of sparks near the battery: risk of
fire and explosion.
Working on low fluid
can damage the battery
beyond repair and lead to
the casing cracking and spilling
the acid it contains.
When you have to oper-
ate on the battery or near
it, always protect your
eyes with adequate glasses.
fig. 16
P4E01443
Batteries contain sub-
stances very dangerous for
the environment. We rec-
comend you have the car seen to
at a Fiat Dealership for the bat-
tery replacement. It is suitably
equipped for disposing of used oil
and filters in an environmentally
-friendly way that complies with
the law.
Incorrect fitting of elec-
trical and electronic ac-
cessories can seriously
damage the car.
If the car will stand for a
long time in the cold, re-
move the battery and
store it in a warm place to avoid
it freezing.
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126
Detergents pollute wa-
ter. For this reason, the
car must be washed in an
area equipped for the collection
and purification of the liquids
used while washing.
To wash the car properly:
1)Wash the body using a low pres-
sure jet of water.
2)Wipe a sponge with a slightly
soapy solution over the bodywork,
frequently rinsing the sponge.
3) Rinse well with water and dry
with a jet of air or a chamois leather.
When drying the car, be careful to
get at those parts which are not so
easily seen e.g. the door frames, bon-
net and around the headlights where
water can most readily collect. You
should leave the car out in the open
so that any water remaining can evap-
orate more easily.
Do not wash the car after it has been
parked in the sun or while the bon-
net is hot: it could take the shine off
the paint.Outside plastic parts must be cleaned
following the usual car washing pro-
cedure.
Avoid parking the car under trees;
the resinous substances that certain
species of tree shed dull the paintwork
and increase the possibility of rust
forming.
IMPORTANTBird droppings must
be washed off immediately and with
great care as their acid is particularly
aggressive.
Windows
Use specific window cleaners to
clean the windows. Use very clean
cloths to avoid scratching the glass or
damaging its transparency.
TIPS FOR KEEPING THE
BODY IN GOOD CONDITION
Paintwork
The paintwork is not only to make
your car look attractive but also to
protect the steel.
If the paint is scuffed or scratched
deeply you are advised to touch up as
necessary to prevent rust from form-
ing.
Only use genuine products when
touching up the paintwork (see the
“Technical Specifications”).
Ordinary maintenance of the paint-
work means washing it. The frequen-
cy you should do this depends on the
conditions and the environment the
car is driven in. For example:
– in areas with a high level of air pol-
lution;
– on roads sprinkled with road salt-
wash;
– parking under trees which drop
resin. In these cases, you should wash
your car more frequently.
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Abord instrument ................... 33
ABS ................................................. 56
Accessories Purchased
Air cleaner (replacement) ....... 116
Air bag ........................................... 58
Air re-circulation.......................... 40
Air vents......................................... 38
Alternator (specifications) ........ 137
Ashtray ........................................... 47
Battery
- jump starting ......................... 81
- specifications........................... 137
- with optical hydrometer .... 119
- useful advices .......................... 118
- maintenance ............................ 118
- recharging ................................ 98
Bodywork
- bodywork type code ........... 130
- maintenance .......................... 125Boot
- extending ................................. 52
- tailgate opening/closing ........ 16-51
Brake lights
(bulb replacement) ................. 90
Brake-clutch fluid level ............... 115
Brakes
- service and emergency ....... 134
- fluid level ................................ 115
Bulb (replacement) ..................... 86
- bulb types ............................... 86
By the Owner ............................... 79Car dimensions ......................... 139
Car maintenance ......................... 104
Ceiling lights
- control ..................................... 46
- bulb replacement ................... 92
Centralized locking .................... 17-49
Chassis(marking) ......................... 129
Cheap running that respects
the environment ..................... 73
Checking the levels .................... 111
Children safety ............................ 18-49
Climate control system- climate ..................................... 39
- controls.................................... 14-39
- fast demisting ........................ 40
- maintenance .......................... 125
- air re-circulation .................... 40
- heating ...................................... 39
Climate/heating control
system ........................................ 37
Clutch ............................................. 133
Containing running costs and
pollution .................................... 75
Control switches ........................ 15-44
Correct use of your car ............ 64
Dashboard ................................ 9
Demisting ....................................... 40
- rear window .......................... 40
- windscreen and side
window ...................................... 40
Differential ..................................... 133
Digital clock ................................. 34
INDEX
144
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146
Main beam headlights
- control ..................................... 13-41
- flashing...................................... 13-42
- bulb replacement ................... 88
Maintenance
- Additional interventions ..... 108
- servicing schedule.................. 105
- servicing schedule plan......... 106
Max speeds ................................... 138
Paintwork identification
plate ............................................ 130
Paintwork
- maintenance .......................... 126
- Identification plate ............... 130
Parking ........................................... 67
Passenger compartment air vents 38
Performances ................................ 138
Periodic checks and before
long distances........................... 78
Plate light ...................................... 92
Power steering fluid level ......... 114
Pretensioners ................................ 32
Protecting emission control
devices ....................................... 74Protecting the environment ..... 63
Raising the car .......................... 99
Ready to start ............................... 8
Rear mirror
- rear view mirrors .................. 14-24
- driving mirror ......................... 23
Rear window washer
- control ..................................... 13-43
- fluid level ................................ 114
Rear window wiper
- controls.................................... 13-43
- blades ...................................... 127
- sprayer ..................................... 124
Rev counter................................... 34
Reversing lights
(bulb replacement) ................. 90
Roof rack ....................................... 55
Safe driving
- travelling ................................. 70
- driving with ABS ................... 73
- driving in rain.......................... 71
- driving at night ...................... 71
- driving in the mountains ...... 72- driving in fog ........................... 71
- driving on snow and ice .... 72
- before driving ........................ 69
Seat belts ........................................ 12-24
- general warnings .................... 27
- use ..................................... 12-24-26
- maintenance .......................... 28
- adjusting the height of the
seat belts ................................ 12-25
Seats
- cleaning .................................... 127
- adjustments ............................. 11-22
Side/tail lights
- control .................................... 13-41
- front bulb replacement ...... 89
- rear bulb replacement.......... 90
Side/tail lights
- control ..................................... 13-42
- front bulb replacement ...... 89
- side bulb replacement ......... 89
- rear bulb replacement.......... 90
Snow chains ................................. 77
Sound system ............................... 60
- aerial ......................................... 62
- standard equipment .............. 61
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147
Spark plugs ................................... 121
Speedometer................................. 33
Starter (specifications) ............... 137
Starting the engine ...................... 65
- Jump starting ......................... 81
- bump starting ........................ 66-82
- ignition switch ....................... 21
- turning off the engine .......... 66
- starting procedure ................ 65
- engine warm up (just
started) ................................... 66
Steering column lock .................. 11-22
Steering column stalks ............... 13-41
Steering........................................... 135
Storing the car ............................. 78
Sun visors ...................................... 47
Suspensions .................................. 134
Symbols .......................................... 4
Technical specifications ........... 128
Third brake light ......................... 91Towing the car ........................... 101
Transmission ................................. 133
Transporting children in
safety .......................................... 29
Tubing ............................................ 123
Tyre pressure ......................... 121-143
Tyres
- specifications........................... 136
- Correct reading .................... 136
- maintenance .......................... 121
- inflation pressure ............ 121-143
- changing the wheel................ 82
Useful accessories ................... 79
Ventilation.................................. 40
Warning lights
- injection system failure ....... 35
- air bag failure ......................... 36- engaged handbrake .............. 35
- direction indicators ............. 36
- low brake-clutch fluid level 35
- low engine oil pressure........ 35
- low battery recharge ......... 35
- main beam headlights .......... 36
- Exterior lights ......................... 36
- unserviceable ABS ................. 36
Weights .......................................... 138
Wheel rims.................................... 136
- correct reading of the rim .. 136
Wheels
- wheel geometry ..................... 136
- specifications........................... 136
- maintenance .......................... 121
- replacement ........................... 82
Windows
- electric window winder .... 15-49
- manual window winder ...... 16-50
- cleaning operation ................. 126
Windscreen washer
- control .................................... 13-42
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