
39GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
AIRBAG FAILURE
(red) (where provided)
The warning light comes on when
there is a failure in the system.
¬
HANDBRAKE
ENGAGED/LOW
BRAKE FLUID LEVEL
(red)
In three cases:
1- when engaging the handbrake
2- when the brake fluid level drops
under the minimum level
3- with the
>warning light to in-
dicate an EBD(electronic brakeforce
distributor) failure.SEAT BELTS (red)
(for countries/markets
where applicable)
When the driver’s seat belt is not fas-
tened properly.
DOORS OPEN (red)
When cab door/doors
is/are not perfectly closed.
The warning light is provided only on
certain versions.
FRONT BRAKES
WORN (red)
When the front brake pads
are worn. Have them replaced and
check the rear brake pads too.
x<
´
d
If the ¬warning light does
not turn on when turning
the ignition key to MAR or if it stays
on when travelling, this could indi-
cate a failure in safety retaining sys-
tems; under this condition air bags
or pretensioners could not trigger
in the event of collision or, in a re-
stricted number of cases, they could
trigger accidentally. Stop the car
and contact Fiat Dealership to have
the system checked immediately.
WARNING
If xwarning light comes
on when travelling, check
whether the handbrake is on. If the
warning light stays on and the
handbrake is off, stop immediate-
ly and contact a Fiat Dealership.
WARNING

89GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
Warning light >alone,
with the engine running,
normally indicates a fault in the
ABS system only. In this case, the
braking system is still efficient,
though without the anti-locking de-
vice. Under these conditions, per-
formance of the EBD system may
be reduced. In this case too, you are
advised to go immediately to the
nearest Fiat Dealership, driving in
such a way to avoid sharp braking
to have the system checked over.
WARNING
If the xbrake fluid low
warning light comes on,
stop the vehicle immediately and
contact the nearest Fiat Dealership.
Fluid leaks from the hydraulic sys-
tem, in fact, can compromise brake
system operation, both traditional
systems and systems with ABS.
WARNING
Braking while cornering always re-
quires extreme care even when using
ABS.
The most important advice to follow
is this:
If you follow these tips you will be
able to brake better in any situation.
IMPORTANTVehicles fitted with
ABS shall only be fitted with wheel rims,
tyres and brake pads of the make and
model approved by the vehicle manu-
facturer.The system is completed with an elec-
tronic brakeforce distributor called
EBD which improves braking system
performance by means of the ABSsys-
tem control unit and sensors.
When the ABS cuts in, and
you feel the brake pedal
pulsating, do not remove your foot,
but keep it pressed. In doing so you
will stop in the shortest amount of
space possible under the current
road conditions.
WARNING
The vehicle is fitted with an
electronic brakeforce dis-
tributor (EBD). The >and x
warning lights come on at the same
time when the engine is running to
indicate that there is an EBD sys-
tem failure. In this case violent
braking may be accompanied by
early rear wheel locking with the
possibility of skidding. Drive ex-
tremely carefully to the nearest Fi-
at Dealership to have the system
checked.
WARNING

163VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
SERVICE SCHEDULE
thousands of kilometres
Check tyre conditions and wear and adjust pressure, if required
Check lighting system operation (headlights, direction indicators, hazard lights,
load compartment light, ceiling lights, warning lights, etc.)
Check windscreen wiper/washer operation, adjust nozzles
Check windscreen/rear window wiper blade position/wear
Check front and rear (where fitted) disc brake pad conditions and wear
Check rear drum brake linings conditions and wear (where fitted)
Inspect conditions and soundness of:
– outer bodywork and underbody protection;
– piping (exhaust - fuel feed and brakes)
– rubber parts (boots, sleeves, bushings, etc.)
– fuel feed and braking system hosing
Check tension and conditions of various control belts and adjust, if required
(excluding engines with automatic belt tighteners)
Check accelerator pedal stroke and adjust, if required
Check handbrake lever stroke and adjust, if required
Check tappet clearance and adjust, if required (2.8 JTD version)
Check tappet clearance and adjust, if required (petrol versions)
Check exhaust emissions
30 60 90 120 150 180
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165VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
ANNUAL
INSPECTION
SCHEDULE
The following annual inspection
schedule is required for vehicles trav-
elling 15,000 Kmapprox. a year. The
schedule includes the following oper-
ations:
– check tyre condition and wear and
adjust pressure, if required (including
spare wheel);
– check operation of lights (head-
lights, direction indicators, hazard
lights, boot light, passenger compart-
ment light, instrument panel lights,
etc.);
– check windscreen wiper/washer
and adjust nozzles;
– check position and wear of wind-
screen/rear window wiper blades;
– check front pad conditions and
wear;
– check for bonnet and boot lock
cleanness, lever cleanness and lubri-
cation;– inspect conditions of: engine, gear-
box, transmission, piping (exhaust, fu-
el feed, brakes), rubber parts (boots,
sleeves, bushings, etc.), brake and fu-
el line hoses;
– check battery charge status;
– check conditions of various control
belts;
– check and top up fluid levels (en-
gine coolant, brakes, windscreen
washer, battery, etc.);
– check and top up engine oil;
– replace pollen filter.
ADDITIONAL
CHECKS
Every 1,000 km or before long
trips, check and top up as necessary:
– engine coolant level
– brake fluid level
– power steering fluid level
– battery electrolyte level
– windscreen washer fluid
– tyre pressure and conditions.
Every 3,000 km or before long
trips, check and top up as necessary:
engine oil
Every 10,000 kmor at cwarning
light coming on (diesel engines only):
bleed water from fuel filter.
You are recommended to use FL
Seleniaproducts designed and pro-
duced for Fiat vehicles (see the “Ca-
pacities” table in the “Technical Spec-
ifications” section).

216TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
BRAKES
SERVICE AND EMERGENCY
BRAKES
Front: disc, floating caliper with two
operating cylinders for each wheel and
pad wear warning light.
Rear: self-centring shoes and micro-
metric mechanism for clearance take-
up.
Certain versions are fitted with rear
disc brakes with Drum in hat device
(i.e. drum on disc to block the vehicle
when parked with handbrake en-
gaged).
Cross-over hydraulic circuit control.
Four sensors ABS system with EBD.
Automatic recovery of the friction
gasket wear; versions with rear disc
brake excluded (Drum in hat ver-
sions).
Lacking ABS system brakeforce dis-
tributor acting on rear brake hydraulic
circuit according to rear axle load.HANDBRAKE
Controlled by a lever, it works me-
chanically on the rear brake shoes.
For versions with rear disc brakes,
the handbrake works on the Drum in
hat device shoes.
IMPORTANTPull the handbrake
lever only when the vehicle is at a
standstill, or when the vehicle is run-
ning, but however only in case of a
failure of the hydraulic system.
Should the handbrake be exception-
ally used when the vehicle is running,
it is suggested to keep a moderate
traction to avoid causing the rear axle
block, entailing vehicle side skidding.
TRANSMISSION
CLUTCH
Hydraulically controlled without
travel-free pedal.
MECHANICAL GEARBOX
AND DIFFERENTIAL
Five forward gears and reverse with
synchromesh for front gear engage-
ment.
Cyclical gear reduction and differen-
tial assembly incorporated in the gear-
box.
Drive transmission to the front
wheels by means of drive shafts con-
nected to the differential assembly and
the wheels with CV joints.
Water, ice or salt on road
surfaces can deposit on
brake discs, reducing braking effi-
ciency on the first braking.
WARNING