5
Hydraulic power
steering
Do not exceed the max-
imum level of the fluid as indicated
on the tank. Use only the fluid pre-
scribed in the “Refueling” chapter.
PROHIBITION SYMBOL WARNING SYMBOLS
Battery
Do not expose to open
flames.
Battery
Keep children away.
Heat guards - belts -
pulleys - fan
Do not put hands.
Catalytic converter
Do not stay on inflam-
mable surfaces. Refer to
the “Safeguard of the device reduc-
ing the emissions” chapter.
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.
WATER IN DIESEL FU-
EL FILTER versions (am-
ber) (diesel version)
When there is water in the diesel fu-
el filter. have the condense drained out
by a Fiat Dealership.
GLOW PLUGS
(amber)
(diesel version)
When the ignition key is turned to
the
MARposition. The warning light
will go out when the glowplugs reach
the correct temperature
1-19 03/03/2003 05:44 PM Page 5
READY TO GO
Sit comfortably in your car and get ready to...
read.
The following pages tell you everything you need to
know to start off in the best way: that is to say, in
total safety, right from the start.
In a few minutes you will be confident with warning
lights, instruments and main devices.
All adjustments must be made when the car is sta-
tionary.DASHBOARD INSTRUMENT HOLDER ......... PAGE 9
INSTRUMENT PANEL .......................................... PAGE 10
KEYS ............................................................................ PAGE 11
SEATS ........................................................................ PAGE 11
HEAD RESTS ........................................................... PAGE 11
SAFETY BELTS ........................................................ PAGE 12
STEERING COLUMN STALKS ........................... PAGE 13
REARVIEW MIRRORS ........................................... PAGE 14
MANUAL CLIMATE CONTROL ........................ PAGE 14
HAZARD LIGHTS .................................................. PAGE 14
COMMAND SWITCHES .......................................PAGE 15
ELECTRIC WINDOW WINDER ....................... PAGE 15
BOOT ........................................................................ PAGE 16
ENGINE BONNET ............................................... PAGE 16
DOORS ..................................................................... PAGE 17
AT THE FILLING STATION .................................. PAGE 18
8
1-19 03/03/2003 05:44 PM Page 8
10
VERSIONS 1.2 EL - ELX
A
- Fuel level gauge with reserve
warning light.
B- Speedometer, kilometre
counter and trip meter.
C- Engine coolant temp. gauge.
VERSIONS 1.6 - GTX
A
- Fuel level gauge with reserve
warning light.
B- Engine coolant temperature
gauge.
C- Speedometer, kilometre
counter and trip meter.
D- Rev counter.
fig. 2P4E02270
fig. 3P4E02271
INSTRUMENT PANEL
VERSION 1.9 D EL-ELX
A
- Fuel level gauge with reserve
warning light.
B- Engine coolant gauge.
C- Speedometer, kilometre
counter and trip meter.
D- Rev counter.
P4E02671
Note: Dial gauge background
colours for illustrative purpose only.
1-19 03/03/2003 05:44 PM Page 10
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
You should read this chapter sitting comfortably in
your new Fiat Palio. This way you can see the parts
described in the handbook at a glance and immediate-
ly check out what you have just read for yourself.
You will quickly become familiar with your Fiat Palio,
and its control and other features. Later, when you start
the engine and join the traffic, you will make a host of
other pleasant discoveries.INSTRUMENTS ......................................................... PAGE 33
WARNING LIGHTS ................................................ PAGE 35
HEATING/
CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM ............................ PAGE 37
MANUAL CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM ....... PAGE 38
STEERING COLUMN STALKS ............................. PAGE 41
CONTROLS ............................................................... PAGE 43
INTERIOR EQUIPMENT ........................................ PAGE 45
DOORS ........................................................................ PAGE 48
BOOT .......................................................................... PAGE 51
BONNET .................................................................... PAGE 54
HEADLIGHTS ............................................................ PAGE 56
ABS ............................................................................... PAGE 56
AIR BAG ...................................................................... PAGE 58
SOUND SYSTEM ....................................................... PAGE 60
AT THE FILLING STATION ................................. PAGE 62
PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT ............... PAGE 63
20
KEYS ............................................................................. PAGE 21
IGNITION SWITCH ............................................... PAGE 21
INDIVIDUAL SETTINGS ........................................ PAGE 22
SEAT BELTS ............................................................... PAGE 24
TRANSPORTING CHILDREN IN SAFETY ...... PAGE 29
PRETENSIONER ....................................................... PAGE 32
20-63 03/03/2003 06:02 PM Page 20
33
The pretensioners can
only be used once. After a
collision that has trig-
gered it, have it replaced at a Fi-
at Dealership. The device will last
for 10 years from the date of pro-
duction given to the adhesive la-
bel. Replace the pretensioners as
this date approaches.INSTRUMENTS
SPEEDOMETER (SPEED INDI-
CATOR) fig. 21-22
A
- Kilometre counter.
B- Speedometer.
fig. 22
P4E01839
Operations involving
banging, vibrations or
heating (exceeding 100
C° for a maximum of 6 hours) in
the area around the pretension-
er may trigger or damage the de-
vice. Vibrations from rough road
surfaces or accidental jolting
caused by mounting pavements
etc. do not have any effect on the
pretensioner. If, however, you
need any assistance, go to a Fiat
Dealership.
C- Partial kilometer counter (Trip-
meter).
D- Trip counter reset button. Press
to reset.
FUEL GAUGE fig. 23
The needle indicates the amount of
fuel in the tank.
When the fuel reserve warning light
Acomes on it means that there are
about 5.5-7.5 litres of fuel in the tank.
E- tank empty.
F - tank full.
fig. 21
P4E01380
fig. 23
P4E01840
20-63 03/03/2003 06:02 PM Page 33
35
WARNING
LIGHTS
The warning lights come on in the
following circumstances:
BATTERY NOT
CHARGING PROPER-
LY (red)
When there is
a fault in the current gen-
erating system.
Go to a
Fiat Dealershipand pre-
vent deploying the battery.
When the key is turned to
MAR the
light comes on but should go out the
moment the engine is started.
LOW ENGINE OIL
PRESSURE (red)
When
the engine oil pressure
drops under the normal
value.
When the key is turned to
MARthe
light comes on but should go out the
moment the engine is started.
A delay in the light going out is ac-
ceptable only when the engine is idling.
If the engine has been heavily taxed,
the light may flash when the engine re-
turns to idle. The light should howev-
er go out when you accelerate slight-
ly.
v
w
If the vwarning light
comes on while the car is
moving, stop the engine
immediately and contact a Fiat
Dealership.
INJECTION SYSTEM
FAILURE (red) (petrol
version)
When there is a
fault in the injection system.
When the ignition key is turned to
the
MAR position, the light comes on
but should 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.
g
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.
Using the car for long periods when
the warning light is on may cause dam-
age especially when the engine is run-
ning irregularly or misfiring. The car
should only be used for short periods
at low speeds.
Occasional and brief lighting of the
warning light is meaningless.
HANDBRAKE EN-
GAGED / LOW
BRAKE FLUID (red)
In
two cases:
1.When the handbrake is applied.
2. when the brake fluid level falls be-
low the minimum level.
x
20-63 03/03/2003 06:02 PM Page 35
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
37
HEATING /CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM
1 -Windscreen defroster/demister
vents.
2 -Front side window
defroster/demister vents.
3 -Central and side directional vents.
4 -Side vents for sending air to
footwell.
P4E02020
fig. 27
WATER IN DIESEL
FUEL FILTER versions
(amber) (diesel version)
When there is water in the diesel fu-
el filter. have the condense drained
out by a Fiat Dealership.
GLOW PLUGS
(amber)
(diesel version)
When the ignition key is turned to
the
MARposition. The warning light
will go out when the glowplugs reach
the correct temperature.
The warning light has a diagnostic
function to signal pre-heating system
failures (cut-off or short-circuited
glow plugs, blown pre-heating control
unit power fuse, tripped pre-heating
control unit circuit surge and current
protections).
If the warning light flashes for 60 sec-
onds just before the engine is started,
the vehicle can still be started but a
Fiat Dealershipshould be contact-
ed as soon as possible to have the
anamoly rectified.
20-63 03/03/2003 06:02 PM Page 37