21
IGNITION
SWITCH
The key can turn to 4 different po-
sitions
fig. 2:
–
STOP: engine switched off, ex-
tractable key, steering column lock.
Some electrical devices (e.g. door cen-
tralized lock etc.) remain operational.
–
MAR: ride position. All electrical
devices are operational.
–
AVV: engine starting.
–
PARK: engine switched-off, park-
ing lights switched on, extractable key,
steering column lock. To turn the key
in
PARK position, press the button
A.
In the event of a break-
in (e.g. attempted theft),
have the car checked at a
Fiat Dealership prior to driving
again.
fig. 1
P4E02062
KEYS
Two keys are provided with the car
& (
fig. 1) they are used for:
– the ignition;
– the front doors;
– the boot door.
Together with the keys, a self-stick
label is supplied. On this label is re-
ported the number to be quoted to
Fiat Dealershipwhen ordering du-
plicate keys.
fig. 2
P4E02017
When getting out of the
car, always remove the
key, to avoid someone ac-
cidentally activating the controls.
Remember to engage the hand
brake, ensuring complete lockup
of the car, engage gear and leave
the wheels steered. If the car is
parked on a very sloping road, we
recommend you lock the wheels
also with a wedge or a stone.
Never leave children alone in an
unattended car.
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25
To unfasten the seat belts, press but-
ton
C. Guide the seat belt with your
hand while it is rewinding, to prevent
it from twisting.
The seat belt reel mechanism will
adapt the belt to the body of the per-
son wearing it, offering freedom of
movement.
When the car is parked on a steep
slope the reel mechanism may lock;
this is normal.
The reel mechanism prevents the
webbing coming out when it is jerked
or if the car brakes sharply, as in a col-
lision or when cornering at high speed.
To ensure maximum
protection, keep the
backrest in the upright
position, lean back into the seat
and ensure that the seat belt ad-
heres closely to torso and hips.
Do not use the seat belt when the
seat back is reclined.
Always adjust the height of the seat
belt to fit the person wearing it. This
could greatly reduce the risk of injury
in the case of collision.
The belt is adjusted properly when
the webbing passes approximately
halfway between the edge of the
shoulder and the neck.
ADJUSTING THE HEIGHT OF
THE SEAT BELTS
Make the height adjust-
ment when the car is sta-
tionary.
fig. 9
P4E01783
Adjust the seat belt height only when
the car is stationary.
Fig. 9: fasten the loop in Aor B.
Fig. 10: The seat belt can be adjust-
ed on four different heights.
To raise the belt: raise loop Cto
the required position.
To lower the belt: press knob (D)
and move loop (C)down to the re-
quired position at the same time.
After adjustment always check that
the seat belt is locked by pushing loop
Cdownwards without pressing knob
D.
fig. 10
P4E01796
20-63 03/03/2003 06:02 PM Page 25
ABS (WHEEL AN-
TILOCKING SYS-
TEM) FAILURE (am-
ber)
When there is a fail-
ure in the ABS system.
In this case, the normal braking sys-
tem continues to work although with-
out the ABS assistance. Hence, have
the car seen to at a
Fiat Dealership
as soon as possible.
The warning light should come on
when the key is turned to
MARand
go out after approximately 2 seconds.
DIRECTION INDICA-
TORS (green) (flash-
ing)
When the direction
indicator control stalk is
operated (arrows).
PARKING LIGHTS
(green)
When the
side/tail lights are switched
on.
RE
3
MAIN BEAM HEAD-
LIGHTS (blue)
When main beam head-
lights are switched on
1
AIR BAG FAILURE
(red)
When there is an
airbag system failure.
If the xwarning light
comes on when travel-
ling, check whether the
handbrake is engaged. If the
warning light stays on and the
handbrake is not engaged, stop
immediately and contact a Fiat
Dealership.
>
Warning light >, with
the engine running, nor-
mally indicates a fault in
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.
û
The warning light should
come on when the key is
turned to MAR and go
out after approximately 4 sec-
onds. If the warning light either
does not come on or comes on
when travelling, stop immedi-
ately and go to a Fiat Dealership.
The warning light should come on
when the key is turned to
MARand
go out after approximately 2 seconds.
36
INJECTION SYSTEM
FAILURE (red) (diesel
versions)
When there is a fault in the injection
system.
The warning light should come on
when the ignition key is turned to
MARand go out after a few seconds.
The warning light will stay on or
come on when travelling to indicate
imperfect operation of the injection
system with possible loss of perfor-
mance, poor handling and higher con-
sumption.
In these conditions, you can contin-
ue driving but you should avoid de-
manding efforts from the engine or
high speeds. Contact a
Fiat Dealer-
ship
as soon as possible.
Prolonged use of the car with warn-
ing light can cause damage to the en-
gine, specially in the event of misfir-
ing. The car can only be driven for a
short period of time at low ratios.
Occassional and brief lighting of the
warning light is meaningless.
20-63 03/03/2003 06:02 PM Page 36
65
The key switch is equipped with a
safety device which obliges, in the
event of engine starting malfunction to
return the key at
STOP prior to re-
peating the starting operation.
At the same time, when the engine is
running, the device prevents to shift
from
MAR postion to AVV position.
In the first operational seconds,
above all after a long inactivity peri-
od, you can hear a higher noise level
of the engine. Such phenomenon,
which does not compromise the func-
tionality and reliability, is typical of the
hydraulic tappets: the distribution sys-
tem, chosen for the engine of 100
16V
version of your Fiat Palio to contribute
to the maintenance intervention re-
duction.
STARTING THE ENGINE
IMPORTANT
Do not press the
accelerator until the engine has start-
ed.
1) Ensure that the handbrake is up.
2) Put the gear lever into neutral.
3)Press the clutch pedal right down.
4) Turn the ignition key to AVVand
release it as soon as the engine starts.If the engine does not start at the
first attempt, return the ignition key
to
STOP before trying to start the
engine again.
IMPORTANT Press the accelera-
tor slightly only if the outside temper-
ature is lower than –10°C and the en-
gine does not start at the first attempt.
IMPORTANTNever leave the ig-
nition key at
MARwhen the engine is
off.
Never touch the high
voltage wires (spark plug
wires) when the engine is
running.
It is dangerous to let the
engine run in a garage of
other closed area. The en-
gine consumes oxygen and gives
off carbon dioxide, carbon monox-
ide and other poisonous fumes.
STARTING THE
ENGINE
We recommend not to
push the engine to its lim-
its for the first period of
use (e.g. abrupt accelerations, ex-
cessively prolonged distances at
max revs, hard braking, etc.).
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67
With handbrake engaged and igni-
tion key at
MAR, the instrument pan-
el warning light
x
comes on.
To disengage the handbrake:
1)Slightly lift the handbrake and
press release button
A.
2)Keep the button pressed in and
lower the lever. Warning light
x
will
go out.
3)To prevent accidental movement
of the car, this procedure should be
carried out with the brake pedal
pressed down.
HANDBRAKE fig. 1
The handbrake lever is situated be-
tween the two front seats.
Pull the handbrake lever upwards un-
til the car cannot be moved. Four or
five clicks are generally enough when
the car is on level ground while nine
or ten may be required if the car is
on a steep slope or loaded.
IMPORTANTIf this is not the
case, take the car to a
Fiat Dealer-
ship
to have the handbrake adjusted.
Never leave unsuper-
vised children in the car.
Always remove the key
from the ignition switch and take
it with you when you get out of
the car.
fig. 1
P4E02046
PARKING
Stop the engine, engage the hand-
brake and engage first gear if the car
is faced uphill or reverse gear if it is
faced downhill in compliance with the
national Highway Code and leave the
wheels steered towards the road bor-
ders or the kerb. Block the wheels
with a wedge or a stone if the car is
parked on a steep slope.
Do not leave the ignition key at
MARbecause it drains the battery.
Always remove the key when you
leave the car.
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72
– 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 ve-
hicle 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. Turn on the haz-
ard lights and, if possible, the dipped
beam headlights. Rhythmically sound
the horn if you realize another car is
coming.MOUNTAIN DRIVING
– When driving downhill, use the en-
gine braking 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 AND
ICE
Here are some tips for driving in
these conditions:
– Before starting off make sure that
the windscreen wiper blades are not
frozen to the windscreen.
– Remove the snow from the climate
control system air vent. – Keep your speed down.
– Use chains if the roads are covered
in snow: see paragraph “Snow chains”
in this chapter.
– Do not stay parked on high snow
for too long with engine running: the
snow could divert the carbon oxide
of the exhaust gases in the passenger
compartment.
– Mainly use the braking effect of the
engine and under all circumstances
avoid braking sharply.
– When braking in a car not fitted
with ABS, reduce the possibility of 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 patch-
es that do not get much exposure to
sun or are lined with trees or rocks
where ice may have not have melted.
– Keep a good distance from the ve-
hicles in front.
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78
RECURRENT
CHECKS AND
BEFORE LONG
DISTANCE TRIPS
Periodically, remember to check:
– tyre pressure and conditions
– level of battery fluid
– engine oil level
– coolant level and conditions of the
system
– brake fluid level
– windscreen washer liquid level
– power steering fluid level.
STORING THE
CAR
The following precautions should be
taken if the car will not be used for
more than a month:
– Park the car in covered, dry and if
possible well-ventilated premises.
– Engage a gear.
– Make sure the handbrake is not en-
gaged.
– Remove the cables from the bat-
tery terminals (first remove the cable
to the negative terminal), and check
the battery charge. If the car is to be
stored for long periods the battery
charge should be checked every
month and recharged if it falls below
12,5V.
– Clean and protect the painted parts
using protective wax.– Clean and protect the shiny metal
parts using special compounds readi-
ly available.
– Sprinkle talcum powder on the
rubber windscreen and rear window
wiper blades and lift them off the glass.
– Slightly open the windows.
– Cover the car with a cloth or per-
forated plastic sheet. Do not use
sheets of no-perforated plastic as they
do not allow moisture on the car body
to evaporate.
– Inflate the tyres to +0.5 bar above
the normal specified pressure and
check it at intervals.
– Do not drain the engine cooling
system.
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91
The bulbs fig. 24are:
A- 12V-21/5W for brake lights;
B- 12V-21W for direction indicators;
C- 12V-21W for the reversing lights;
3)Unscrew the screws B-fig. 26
and replace the bulb group C or only
the burnt-out bulb.
D- 12V-21/5W for parking/tail
lights.
THIRD BRAKE LIGHT
To replace the light cluster:
1) With the boot open, loosen the
screws
A-fig. 25 and remove the unit.
2) Disconnect the electrical connec-
tion.
fig. 25
P4E01758
fig. 22
P4E02378
fig. 23
P4E02188
fig. 24
P4E02189
fig. 26
P4E01759
80-103 03/03/2003 06:49 PM Page 91