Page 50 of 307

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
48
At each start, the rain sensor automati-
cally stabilises at a temperature of about
40°C to eliminate any condensation from
the control surface and prevent the forma-
tion of ice.
The rain sensor is able to detect and
automatically adapt to the presence of the
following particular conditions which
require different sensitivity:
– impurities on the control surface (salt,
dirt, etc.);
– streaks of water caused by worn wiper
blades;
– difference between day and night (the
human eye is more disturbed during the
night by the wet glass surface). Rain sensor(fig. 64)
The rain sensor (A), fitted only on cer-
tain versions, is an electronic device com-
bined with the windscreen wiper which
has the purpose of automatically adjusting
the number of wipes during intermittent
operation to the intensity of the rain.
All the other functions controlled by the
right-hand lever remain unchanged.
The rain sensor is activated automatical-
ly moving the right-hand lever to position
(B-fig. 62) and it has a range of adjust-
ment that gradually varies between wiper
stationary (no wiping) when the wind-
screen is dry, to wiper at first continuous
speed (continuous, slow) with heavy rain.Turning the knurled ring (F-fig. 62) it
is possible to increase the sensitivity of the
rain sensor, obtaining a quicker change
from stationary, when the windscreen is
dry, to first continuous speed (continuous,
slow).
Operating the windscreen washer with
the rain sensor activated (lever at position
B) the normal washing cycle is performed
at the end of which the rain sensor
resumes its normal automatic function.
Turning the ignition key to STOPthe
rain sensor is deactivated and the next
time the engine is started (MAR posi-
tion) it will not be reactivated even if the
lever has remained in position (B). In this
case to activate the rain sensor, simply
move the lever to (A) or (C) and then
back to (B).
When the rain sensor is reactivated in
this way, the wiper performs at least one
stroke, even if the windscreen is dry, to
indicate that reactivation has occurred.
The rain sensor is located behind the
inner rear-view mirror in contact with the
windscreen and inside the area cleaned by
the wiper and it controls an electronic con-
trol unit which in turn controls the wiper
motor.
fig. 64
A0A0331b
Page 211 of 307

CORRECT USE OF THE CAR
209
Keep your speed
down when snow
chains are fitted.
Do not exceed 50 km/h. Avoid
potholes, steps and pavements to
prevent damaging the tyres, sus-
pension and steering. Remember
that with snow chains fitted the
brake distance will increase.
VEHICLE INACTIVITY
If the vehicle is to be left inactive for
long periods, the following precautions
should be noted:
– House the vehicle under cover in a dry
and possibly ventilated place.
– Engage a gear.
– Check that the handbrake is not
engaged.
– Clean and protect the paintwork by
protective wax.
– Cover the rubber windscreen and
rearscreen wiper blades with talcum pow-
der and raise them off the glass.
– Open the windows slightly.
– Inflate the tyres to a pressure of 0.5
bars above normal. If possible rest the
tyres on wooden planks and periodically
check the pressure.
– Do not turn on the electronic alarm
system.– Disconnect the battery negative termi-
nal (–) from the battery and check the
battery charge. This check should be
repeated once a month during stowage.
Charge the battery if the loadless voltage
is below 12,5V.
– Do not empty the engine cooling sys-
tem.
– Cover the vehicle with a fabric or per-
forated plastic cover. Do not use compact
plastic covers which prevent the humidity
on the surface of the vehicle from evapo-
rating. Snow chains cannot be
fitted to the compact
spare wheel. So, if a front
(drive) wheel is punctured and
chains are needed, a rear wheel
should be fitted to the front of
the vehicle (inflate the tyres to
the specified pressure as soon as
possible) and the spare wheel
should be fitted to the rear. This
way, with two normal drive
wheels, snow chains can be fitted
to them to solve an emergency.
With snow chains fitted
it is advisable to turn off
the ASR system. Press
the ASR-OFF button, led on but-
ton on.
Page 250 of 307

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
248
SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME
20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180Thousands of km
Check tyre conditions/wear and adjust pressure if necessary
Check operation of lighting system (headlights, direction indicators, hazard warning
lights, boot, passenger compartment, glovebox lights, warning lights, etc..)
Check operation of windscreen washer system, adjust spray jets
Check position/wear of windscreen/rearscreen wiper blades
Check operation of front disk brake pad wear indicator
Check wear conditions of rear disk brake pads
Sight check the conditions of: body exterior, underbody protection, stiff pipes
and hoses (exhaust - fuel supply - brakes), rubber parts
(boots - sleeves - bushes etc..)
Check for bonnet and boot lock cleanness, lever cleanness and lubrication
Sight check for accessory drive belt conditions
Check handbrake lever stroke adjustment
Check antievaporation system (petrol versions)
Change air cleaner cartridge (petrol versions)
Change air cleaner cartridge (JTD versions)
Top up fluid levels (engine coolant, brakes, windscreen washer, battery, etc..)
Check and if necessary top up the Selespeed automatic transmission oil level
(2.0 JTS versions)
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Page 268 of 307

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
266
SPRAY JETS (fig.16)
If the jet of fluid is inadequate, firstly
check that there is fluid in the reservoir:
see “Checking levels” in this chapter.
Then check that the nozzle holes are not
clogged, if necessary use a needle.
If necessary, direct the jet of fluid work-
ing on the adjustment screw. Changing the windscreen wiper
blade(fig. 15)
Instructions for removing the
windscreen wiper blade
Proceed as follows:
– raise the windscreen wiper arm (A);
– turn blade (B) 90° around pin (C),
set at the end of the arm;
– remove the blade from pin (C).
Instructions for refitting the
windscreen wiper blade
To refit the blade proceed as follows:
– fit pin (C) into the hole located at the
middle of the blade (B);
– place the arm with the blade on the
windscreen.
Driving with worn wiper
blades is a serious haz-
ard, because visibility is
reduced in bad weather.WINDSCREEN/REARS
CREEN WIPERS
BLADES
Periodically clean the rubber part using
special products; TUTELA PROFES-
SIONAL SC 35is recommended.
If the rubber blades are bent or worn
they should be replaced. In any case they
should be changed once a year.
A few simple notions can reduce the pos-
sibility of damage to the blades:
– If the temperature falls below zero
make sure that ice has not frozen the rub-
ber against the glass. If necessary, thaw
using an antifreeze product.
– Remove any snow from the glass: in
addition to protecting the blades, this pre-
vents effort on the motor and overheat-
ing.
– Do not operate the windscreen and
rearscreen wipers on dry glass.
fig. 16
A0A0696b
fig. 15
A0A0728b