2003 FIAT PALIO warning

73
ECONOMICAL
RUNNING THAT
RESPECTS THE
ENVIRONMENT
Environmental protection has been
one of the guiding principles in the
production of the Fiat Palio.
It is no accident that its pollution
control equipment is much more ef-
fective 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 the latter carefully.
DRIVING WITH ABS
The ABS is a braking system that es-
sentially offers two advantages:
1)It prevents wheel lock and con-
sequent 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.
To exploit the ABS at best:
– 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 work-
ing. Do not release the brake pedal but
continue to press so as not to inter-
rupt the braking action.– ABS prevents the wheels from lock-
ing but it does not increase actual grip
conditions between tyre and road.
Therefore, even if your car is fitted
with ABS, respect the safety distance
from the car in front of you and keep
your speed down when driving into
bends.
The ABS serves to increase your
control over the car, not to enable
you to go faster.
Warning light >, with
the engine running, nor-
mally indicates a faulting
the ABS system only. In this case,
the braking system is still effi-
cient, though without the an-
tilocking device. You are advised
to go immediately to the nearest
Fiat Dealership, driving in a man-
ner to avoiding sharp braking and
get the system checked.
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74
If the engine begins to “lose its
smoothless” when travelling, continue
your journey but reduce the demands
you are making on the engine and go
to a
Fiat Dealership as soon as you
can.
When the instrument panel fuel re-
serve warning light comes 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 letting
it idle for a while before moving off un-
less the outside temperature is very low
and, even in this case, only do so for less
then 30 seconds.Do not install other heat shields and
do not remove those already fitted to
the catalytic converter and exhaust
pipe.
Do not allow anything to be sprayed
onto the catalytic converter, lambda
sensor and exhaust pipe.
Ignoring the above rules
may lead to fire.
The catalytic converter
develops high tempera-
ture during normal oper-
ation. Do not park the car on
grass, dry leaves, pine needles or
other flammable material: fire
hazard
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.
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 downhill: these are all
manoeuvres that can damage the cat-
alytic exhaust. Use an auxiliary battery
for start-ups only (see “Starting with
auxiliary battery” in the chapter “In an
emergency”).
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83
1. STOP THE CAR
– Stop the car in a position that is not
dangerous for oncoming traffic where
you can change the wheel safely. The
ground should be flat and adequately
firm. If you have to change the wheel
at night, choose a lit area if possible.
– Turn the engine off and pull up the
handbrake.
– Engage first or reverse gear.
– Alert other drivers that the car is
stationary in compliance with local
regulations: hazard warning lights,
warning triangle etc.
Any passenger should get out and
wait as far away as possible from the
dangers of traffic.
If the road is sloping or bumpy, place
wedges or other suitable material un-
der the wheels to prevent the car from
moving.
2. TAKE OUT THE TOOLS,
JACK AND SPARE WHEEL
They are in the boot.
The tool bag is secured to the inter-
nal boot wall by proper belts,
fig. 2;
to take it out, lift the adhesive strip of
the belts. The bag contains: the jack
A-
fig. 3
, the jack operating handle B, the
wheel bolt wrench
C, the tow hitch D
and the screwdriver E.
fig. 2
P4E02373
fig. 4
P4E02375
fig. 3
P4E02374
– Lift the carpet covered flap.
– Loosen the fastener
A-fig. 4and
take the spare wheel.
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115
Avoid that the highly
corrosive brake fluid drips
onto the paintwork. If it
does, wash immediately with wa-
ter.
fig. 13
P4E02074
With the engine run-
ning, do not push, at the
end of the power steering
stroke, for more than 15 con-
secutive seconds: noises are pro-
duced and the system could be
damaged.
The power steering flu-
id consumption is very
low; if it needs topping up
at short intervals, have the sys-
tem checked for leaks at a Fiat
Dealership.Make sure the power
steering fluid does not
come into contact with
the hot parts of the engine: it is
inflammable.
BRAKE-CLUTCH FLUID
fig. 13
A:
versions 1.2
B: versions 1.6 & 1.9 D
Periodically, check he warning lights
on the instrument panel: when you
press the reservoir cover (with igni-
tion key at
MAR) warning light
x
should come on.
Brake fluid is poisonous
and very corrosive. In the
event of accidental con-
tact, wash the affected part with
neutral soap and water, then
rinse in plenty of water. If the flu-
id is swallowed, call doctor im-
mediately.
If you need to top up, use only the
type classified DOT4. We advise the
use of
TOP4, with which the braking
system was originally filled.
The fluid level in the reservoir must
not exceed the
MAX mark.
fig. 12
P4E01817
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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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