2006 FIAT DUCATO Owners Manual

176VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
Furthermore, remember that high in-
take electric devices (such as baby bot-
tle warmers, vacuum cleaners, cellular
phones, mini-fridges, etc.) powered
when the engine is offcan deploy
the battery.
IMPORTANTWhen installing ad-
ditional systems on the vehicle, bear
in mind that improper branches on
connections of the vehicle wiring are
dangerous, particularly if safety devices
are involved.
Battery
60 Ah
88 Ah
100 Ah
The total intake of these systems
(factory and after-market) must be
less than 0.6 mA x Ah (of the bat-
tery) as shown in the following table:
Maximum
admitted stand-by
intake
36 mA
52.8 mA
60 mA
If the vehicle is inactive for a long pe-
riod of time, refer to the “Vehicle stor-
age” paragraph in section “Getting the
best out of you vehicle”.
Before performing any operation on
the electrical system, disconnect the
battery negative cable.
Battery terminals shall always be
perfectly separated.
If you want to add accessories after
buying the vehicle (antitheft system,
free-hand phone kit, radio navigator,
etc.) visit a Fiat Dealership. They
can suggest the most suitable acces-
sories to get and check whether the
electric system can support the
required load or whether a higher
capacity battery is required.
These devices will, in fact, run off
the battery even when the key is not
inserted (vehicle parked, engine off).

177VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
ELECTRONIC
CONTROL UNIT
When the vehicle is being used nor-
mally, special measures are not nec-
essary.
The following instructions must be
followed very carefully however, if
you work on the electrical system or
in cases where emergency starting is
necessary:
– never disconnect the battery from
the electric system while the engine is
running;
– disconnect the battery from the
electric system if you are recharging it;
– never perform emergency starting
with a battery charger. Always use an
auxiliary battery;
– be particularly careful when con-
necting the battery to the electric sys-
tem. Make sure that the polarity is
correct and that the connection is ef-
ficient;
– do not connect or disconnect the
terminals of the electronic units while
the ignition key is at MAR;
– do not check polarity through
sparking;– disconnect the electronic control
units if you are electrically welding the
vehicle body. Remove the units if tem-
peratures exceed 80 °C (special op-
erations on the bodywork, etc.).
IMPORTANTIf the sound system
or vehicle alarm systems are not in-
stalled correctly, they can interfere
with the working of the electronic
control units.
Modifications or repairs to
the electrical system car-
ried out incorrectly and without
bearing the features of the system
in mind can cause malfunctions
with the risk of fire.
WARNING
SPEED LIMITER
On certain version, the injection con-
trol unit is set to limit the vehicle
speed at a max. preset limit.
Speed limits are the following:
– for Minibus versions (M2 homolo-
gation category): 100 km/h;
– for good Transport versions (ve-
hicle dead weight: > 3.5 t) (N2 ho-
mologation category): 90 km/h;
Label (fig.16) with admitted top
speed (90 or 100 km/h according to
versions) is applied on the wind-
screen.
This limit has been established by Eu-
ropean Directive 2002/85/EC, what-
ever violation is therefore punishable
by law.
IMPORTANTWhen the device
comes into action, the speed value
displayed on the instrument panel
could be approx. 10% higher than the
actual one.
fig. 16
F0D0299m

178VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
WHEELS AND
TYRES
Check the pressure of each tyre, in-
cluding the spare, every two weeks
and before long journeys.
The pressure must be checked when
the tyre is rested and cold.
It is normal for pressure to rise
when you are driving. If you have to
check or restore the pressure when
the tyres are warm, remember that
the pressure value must be 0.3 bar
above the specified value.
See “Wheels” in “Technical specifi-
cations” chapter for the correct tyre
inflation pressure.Wrong pressure causes uneven
wear of the tyres fig. 17:
A- correct pressure: tyre wears
evenly
B- under-inflated tyre: shoulder
tread wear
C- over-inflated tyre: centre tread
wear.IMPORTANTAs far as possible
avoid sharp braking and screech starts.
Be careful not to hit the kerb, pot-
holes or other obstacles. Driving for
long stretches over bumpy roads can
damage the tyres.
Periodically check that the tyres have
no cuts in the side wall, abnormal
swelling or irregular tyre wear. If any
of these occur, have the vehicle seen
to at a Fiat Dealership.
Avoid overloading your vehicle: this
can seriously damage wheels or tyres.
If you get a flat tyre, stop immedi-
ately and change it so as not to dam-
age the tyre, the wheel, the suspen-
sion and the steering.
fig. 17
F0D0027m
If the pressure is too low,
the tyre overheats and this
can cause it serious damage.
WARNING
Tyre pressure must be cor-
rect to ensure good road
holding.
WARNING
Tyres must be replaced when the
tread wears down to 1.6 mm. In any
case, comply with the laws in the coun-
try where the vehicle is being driven.

179VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
Tyres age even if they are not used
very much. Cracking of the tread rub-
ber and the side walls are a sign of this
ageing. In any case, if the tyres have
been fitted for more than six years
they should be examined by an expert
who can judge whether they are still
fit for use. Remember to check the
spare tyre particularly carefully too.
If a replacement is necessary, always
use new tyres and avoid using ones
the origin of which you are not cer-
tain about.
The Ducato uses tubeless tyres. Un-
der no circumstances use an inner
tube with these tyres.
If you replace a tyre it is a good idea
to change the inflation valve, too.To ensure the front and rear tyres all
wear evenly, you are advised to change
the tyres over every 10 - 15 thousand
kilometres keeping them on the same
side of the vehicle so as not to reverse
the direction of rotation.RUBBER TUBING
Follow the Service Schedule carefully
in the case of braking and fuel supply
system rubber tubing.
Ozone, high temperatures and long
absence of fluid in the system can in
fact cause the hardening and cracking
of the pipes with possible loss of fluid.
A careful check is therefore essential.
Do not change the tyres
over in criss-cross fashion
by moving a tyre from the left-hand
side of the vehicle to the right and
vice versa.
WARNING
Never submit alloy rims to
repainting treatments re-
quiring to use temperatures ex-
ceeding 150°C since the mechani-
cal properties of the wheels could
be impaired.
WARNING

180VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
WINDSCREEN
WIPER
BLADES
Periodically clean the rubber part
with suitable products. We recom-
mend TUTELA PROFESSIONAL
SC35.
Change the blades if the rubber edge
is warped or worn out. You should in
any case change them approximately
once a year.Changing the windscreen
wiper blade
1)Lift windscreen wiper arm A-
fig. 18off the glass and position the
blade so as to form a right angle with
the arm.
2) Press tab Bon the retainer and
remove the blade to be replaced from
arm A .
3)Fit the new blade by inserting the
tab into the special slot in the arm.
Make sure it is properly locked into
place.
fig. 18
F0D0123m
Some simple steps can reduce po-
tential damage to the blades:
– if the temperature falls to below
zero, make sure the rubber blade is
not frozen to the windscreen. If nec-
essary, free it with a de-icing com-
pound;
– remove any snow that has settled
on the glass: besides saving the blades
you will avoid straining the electric
windscreen wiper motor and causing
it to overheat;
– do not operate the windscreen or
rear window wipers on dry glass.
Travelling with worn wiper
blades is dangerous be-
cause it reduces visibility in bad
weather.
WARNING

181VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
SPRAY NOZZLES
Windscreen washer
If there is no jet of liquid, first make
sure that there is liquid in the reser-
voir: see “Checking fluid levels” in this
section. Then make sure that the
holes in the nozzles are not clogged
upfig. 19. Use a pin to open the noz-
zles if necessary. The windscreen jets
are directed by adjusting the inclina-
tion of nozzles. Direct the spray so
that it reaches the highest point
reached by the brushes.Headlight washer
If there is no jet of liquid, first make
sure that there is liquid in the reser-
voir. Then make sure that the holes
in the nozzles fig. 20are not clogged
up. Use a pin to open the nozzles if
necessary.BODYWORK
PROTECTING THE VEHICLE
FROM ATMOSPHERIC
AGENTS
The main causes of rust are:
– atmospheric pollution;
– salt and humidity in the atmos-
phere (coastal or very hot and humid
areas);
– environmental conditions that are
specific to the season.
In addition, the abrasiveness of dust
in the atmosphere and sand carried by
the wind as well as mud and stones
kicked up by other vehicles must not
be underestimated.
For your vehicle, Fiat has used lead-
ing-edge technological solutions to ef-
fectively protect the body from rust.
These are the most important:
– painting systems and products that
make the vehicle particularly resistant
to rust and scratching;
fig. 20
F0D0122m
fig. 19
F0D0125m

182VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
– the use of zinc-plated sheet steel
which is highly resistant to rust;
– the spraying of the underbody, en-
gine compartment, inside the wheel-
houses and other parts with wax-
based products with a high protective
capacity;
– spraying plastic-coating materials
to protect the most exposed points:
under the door, inside the wings, the
edges, etc.;
– the use of “open” box sections to
prevent condensation and water from
building up and rusting the inside of
the parts.
BODY AND UNDERBODY
WARRANTY
Your Ducato is covered by warranty
against any original structural or body
part being perforated by rust. Refer to
the Warranty Booklet for the general
terms.TIPS FOR KEEPING THE BODY
IN GOOD CONDITIONS
Paintwork
The paintwork is not only to make
your vehicle look attractive but also
to protect the steel.
If the paint is scuffed or scratched
deeply you are therefore advised to
touch up as necessary to prevent rust
from forming.
Only use genuine products when
touching up the paintwork (see sec-
tion “Technical Specifications”).
Ordinary maintenance of the paint-
work means washing it. The frequency
you should do this depends on the
conditions and the environment the
vehicle is driven in.
For example:
– areas with a high level of air-pollu-
tion;
– roads sprinkled with road saltwash;
– parking under trees which drop
resin. In these cases, wash your vehi-
cle more frequently.To wash the vehicle properly:
1)wash the body using a low pres-
sure jet of water;
2) wipe a sponge with a slightly
soapy solution over the bodywork,
frequently rinsing the sponge;
3) rinse well with water and dry
with a jet of air or a chamois leather.
When drying the vehicle, be careful
to get at those parts which are not so
easily seen, e.g. the door frames, bon-
net and around the headlights where
water can most readily collect. You
should leave the vehicle out in the
open so that any water remaining can
evaporate more easily.

183VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
Do not wash the vehicle after it has
been parked in the sun or while the
bonnet is hot: it could take the shine
off the paint.
Outside plastic parts must be
cleaned following the usual vehicle
washing procedure.
Where possible avoid parking the
vehicle under trees; the resinous sub-
stances that certain species of tree
shed dull the paintwork and increase
the possibility of rust forming.To better protect the paintwork,
polish with protective wax from time
to time, that leaves a protective layer
on the paintwork.
When the paintwork tends to lose
its shine because of the build-up of
smog, use a wax (polish) which has a
slightly abrasive as well as protective
action.
Front headlights
IMPORTANTNever use aromat-
ic substances (e.g.: petrol) or ketones
(e.g.: acetone) for cleaning front head-
light plastic lens.
Windows
Use specific window cleaners to
clean the windows. Use very clean
cloths to avoid scratching the glass or
damaging its transparency.
IMPORTANTTo prevent damage
to the electric heater element, wipe
the inside of the heated rear window
(where fitted) gently in the same di-
rection as the elements.Engine compartment
At the end of each winter season,
carefully clean the engine compart-
ment. Have this done at a garage.
IMPORTANTThe engine com-
partment should be washed while the
engine is cold and with the ignition key
at STOP. After washing, make sure
that the various protections (e.g. rub-
ber boots and various guards) have
not be removed or damaged.
Detergents pollute wa-
ter. For this reason, the
vehicle must be washed
in an area equipped for the col-
lection and purification of the liq-
uids used while washing.
IMPORTANTBird droppings
must be washed off immediately and
with great care as their acid is partic-
ularly aggressive.
Detergents pollute wa-
ter. The vehicle must
therefore be washed in an
area equipped for the collection
and purification of the liquids
used while washing.