121GETTING THE BEST OUT OF YOUR VEHICLE
– Do not drive too many hours at a
time but stop at intervals to stretch
your legs and recoup your energy;
– make sure the air in the passenger’s
compartment is being changed
continuously;
– never coast downhill (i.e. with the
engine off): if you do, you lose the aid
of engine braking, power brakes and
power steering so that braking re-
quires greater effort on the pedal and
steering requires greater effort on the
steering wheel.DRIVING AT NIGHT
These are the main rules to follow
when you are driving at night:
– drive especially carefully: it is hard-
er to drive at night;
– slow down especially if the road is
not lit;
– at the first signs of sleepiness, stop:
continuing would be a risk for yourself
and everybody else. Only start driving
again when you have had enough rest;
– keep a greater safety distance from
the vehicles in front of you than dur-
ing daylight hours: it is hard to judge
how fast other vehicles are going when
all you can see are their lights;
– make sure the headlights beams are
properly positioned: if they are too
low, they reduce visibility and strain
your eyes. If they are too high they can
dazzle other drivers. Adjust headlight
beam according to transported load;
– only use main beam headlights
when you are driving outside town
and when you are sure they do not an-
noy other drivers. dip your headlights
Water, ice or salt sprinkled
on the road can deposit on
the brake discs and reduce effi-
ciency of the first braking.
WARNING
Do not drive with objects
on the floor in front of the
driver’s seat: they could caught un-
der the pedals making braking or
accelerating impossible.
WARNING
Pay attention to the mats:
even a small problem to the
braking system may require in-
creased brake pedal stroke with re-
spect to normal.
WARNING
127GETTING THE BEST OUT OF YOUR VEHICLE
In addition to these general precau-
tions, some simple measures could en-
hance driving safety, comfort and the
length of the vehicle’s life:
– distribute the load evenly over the
load floor: if you need to concentrate
it all in one point choose the part be-
tween the axles;
– remember that the lower the load
is, the lower the vehicle’s centre of
gravity will be, contributing to a safe
drive; you should therefore always po-
sition the heavier goods at the bottom;
– finally, remember that the way in
which the vehicle moves is influenced
by the weight being carried. In partic-
ular, stopping distance lengthens par-
ticularly at high speed.CHEAP RUNNING
THAT RESPECTS
THE ENVIRONMENT
Environmental protection has been
one of the guiding principles in the
production of the Ducato. It is no ac-
cident that its pollution control equip-
ment is much more effective than that
required by current legislation.
Nonetheless, the environment can-
not get by without a concerted effort
from everyone. By following a few sim-
ple rules you can avoid harming the
environment and often cut down fuel
consumption at the same time.
On this subject, a few useful tips have
been given below to supplement those
marked by symbol #at various points
of the handbook. You are asked to
read both the former and latter care-
fully.
Even if the vehicle is sta-
tionary on a steep hill or
sideways incline, goods not proper-
ly secured could fall out when the
back or side doors are opened.
WARNING
Observe the enforced rules
if you need to carry a spare
can of petrol. Only use a homolo-
gated can and secure it to the load
anchoring eyebolts. Even given
these precautions, the risk of fire in
the event of an accident is in-
creased.
WARNING
128GETTING THE BEST OUT OF YOUR VEHICLE
LOOKING AFTER EMISSION
CONTROL DEVICES
The correct use of pollution control
devices not only ensures respect for
the environment but also has an effect
on the vehicle’s performance.
Keeping these devices in good con-
ditions is therefore a fundamental rule
for driving that is easy on your pock-
et and on the environment too.
The first step to take is to follow the
Service Schedule to the letter.
If your vehicle has a petrol engine
with catalytic converter use only un-
leaded petrol.
if you have trouble starting, do not
keep turning the ignition key for long
periods. Be especially careful to avoid
bump starting the vehicle by pushing,
towing or rolling downhill: these are
all manoeuvres that can damage the
catalyst.
Use an auxiliary battery for start-ups
only.If the engine begins to “loose its
smoothness” when travelling, contin-
ue your journey but reduce the de-
mands you are making on the engine
and have the vehicle seen to at a Fi-
at Dealershipas soon as you can.
When the instrument panel fuel re-
serve warning light comes on, fill up as
soon as possible. A low fuel level may
cause an uneven supply of fuel to the
engine with inevitable increase in the
temperature of the exhaust gas and se-
rious damage to the catalytic con-
verter.
Never run the engine with one or
more spark plugs disconnected, even
for testing purposes.
Do not warm up the engine by let-
ting it idle for a while before moving
off unless the outside temperature is
very low and, even in this case, only
do so for less than thirty seconds.
Do not install heat shields and do not
remove those already fitted to the cat-
alytic converter and exhaust pipe.
Do not allow anything to
be sprayed onto the cat-
alytic converter, lambda sensor and
exhaust pipe.
WARNING
Ignoring the above rules
may lead to fire.
WARNING
When functioning normal-
ly the catalytic converter
reaches high temperatures. For this
reason do not park the vehicle over
inflammable material (grass, dry
leaves, pine needles, etc.): fire haz-
ard.
WARNING
135IN AN EMERGENCY
I I
N N
A A
N N
E E
M M
E E
R R
G G
E E
N N
C C
Y Y
EMERGENCY
START-UP
DIESEL VERSIONS
Emergency start-ups cannot be per-
formed on versions with a diesel en-
gine; contact aFiat Dealership.
PETROL VERSIONS
If the Fiat CODE cannot deactivate
the engine immobiliser, the Yand
Uwarning lights stay on and the en-
gine will not start. Follow the emer-
gency start-up procedure to start the
engine.
Read the whole procedure care-
fully before trying to carry it out.
If you make a mistake, you must turn
the ignition key back to STOPand re-
peat the whole operation from the be-
ginning (step 1).1) Read the 5-figure electronic code
given on the CODE card.
2) Turn the ignition key to MAR.
3)Press and hold down the accel-
erator pedal. Warning light
Uwill
come on for about 8 seconds, and
then go out. At this point release the
accelerator pedal and get ready to
count the flashes of the warning light
U.
4) Count the number of flashes that
corresponds to the first figure of the
code on the CODE card, then press
the accelerator pedal and keep it there
until the warning light
Ucomes on
for four seconds and then goes out;
release the accelerator pedal.
5) Warning light
Uwill start flash-
ing again: after it has flashed the num-
ber of times that corresponds to the
second figure on the CODE card,
press the accelerator pedal and keep
it pressed.
6) Do the same for the remaining fig-
ures on the CODE card.7) Once the final figure has been en-
tered, keep the accelerator pedal
pressed. Warning light
Uwill light up
for four seconds and then go out; re-
lease the accelerator pedal.
8)Warning light
Uwill flash rapid-
ly for about 4 seconds to indicate that
the operation has been completed
correctly.
9) Start the engine by turning the ig-
nition key from MARto AVV.
If, however, the warning light
U
stays on, turn the ignition key to
STOPan repeat the procedure from
step 1).
IMPORTANT After an emergency
start-up, you should contact a Fiat
Dealership otherwise you will have
to repeat the procedure described
each time you want to start the en-
gine.
149IN AN EMERGENCY
Before changing a fuse,
check the ignition key has
been removed and that
all the other electric devices have
been turned off/disabled.IF A FUSE BLOWS
GENERAL FEATURES
A fuse is an element for protecting
the electrical system. A fuse will trip
(i.e. blow) in the event of a failure or
improper interventions in the electri-
cal system.
If an electric device is not working,
check whether the respective fuse is
blown (i.e. the conductor is broken
fig. 33). If required, replace the blown
fuse with another with the same am-
perage (same colour).B- Undamaged fuse.
C- Fuse with broken filament.
Use the tongs Din the fusebox to
extract the fuse.
To locate the fuse, refer to the tables
on the following pages.
fig. 33
F0D0029m
Never replace a broken
fuse with anything other
than a new fuse. Always
use a fuse of the same colour.
If the fuse blows again,
have the vehicle inspected
at a Fiat Dealership.
WARNING
Never change a fuse with
another amperage: FIRE
RISK!
WARNING
Do not attempt to repair a
blown MAXI-FUSE. Go to a
Fiat Dealership.
WARNING
166VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
IMPORTANT - Pollen filter
If the vehicle is often used in dusty
or extremely polluted environments,
you should change the filter element
more frequently. It should be changed
especially if the amount of air intro-
duced into the passenger compart-
ment has decreased.
IMPORTANT - Diesel filter
Refuelling with diesel fuel not com-
plying with the grade of purity pre-
scribed by European Specification
EN590 might make it necessary to re-
place the filter more frequently than
indicated in the Service Schedule.
IMPORTANT - Battery
The charge in your battery should be
checked, where possible at the start
of the winter, to limit the risk of the
battery electrolyte freezing.
This check should be carried out
more frequently if the vehicle is mainly
used for short trips or if it is fitted
with accessories that permanently
take in electricity even when the igni-
tion key is removed, especially in the
case of after market accessories.You should check the battery fluid
(electrolyte) level more frequently
than shown in the Service Schedule if
the vehicle is used in hot climates or
particularly demanding conditions.
IMPORTANTAs concerns Camp-
ing Car versions, due to high electric
absorption, observe indications rele-
vant to battery contained in para-
graphs "Vehicle storage" (section
"Getting the best out of your vehicle")
and "Battery – Checking the charge"
(section "Vehicle maintenance").
Maintenance of your ve-
hicle should be entrusted
to a Fiat Dealership. For
ordinary routine maintenance
operations which you are able to
carry out yourself, ensure that
you have the necessary tools and
original Fiat spare parts and flu-
ids available. Do not carry out
servicing operations if you have
no experience.IMPORTANT - Engine oil
Change the engine oil more fre-
quently than shown in the Service
Schedule if the vehicle is normally dri-
ven in one of the following particular-
ly severe conditions:
– towing a trailer
– on dusty roads
– short distances (less than 7-8 km)
repeated and with external tempera-
tures below zero.
– frequently idling engines or long
distance low speed driving (e. g. taxis
or door-to-door deliveries) or in case
of a long term inactivity replace engine
oil more frequently than required on
Scheduled Maintenance Plan.
IMPORTANT - Air cleaner
Replace the air cleaner more fre-
quently if the vehicle is used on dusty
roads.
If you are in doubt about how often
the engine oil or the air cleaner should
be changed in relation to how you use
the vehicle, contact a Fiat Dealer-
ship.
169VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
Do not add oil with dif-
ferent specifications from
the oil already in the en-
gine.
ENGINE OIL
Fig. 5:2.0 versions
Fig. 6:2.0 JTD versions
Fig. 7:2.3 JTD versions
Fig. 8: 2.8 JTD - 2.8 JTD POWER
versions
Check engine oil with the vehicle on
level ground and while the engine is
still warm (approximately 10 minutes
after stopping the engine). The oil
level should be included between the
MINand MAXreference lines on
the dipstick.
The gap between MINand MAX
reference lines corresponds to ap-
proximately 2 litres oil.
The oil level must never exceed the
MAXline.If the oil level is near or even below
the MINline, pour in oil through the
filler hole until it reaches the MAX
line.
fig. 5
F0D0063m
fig. 6
F0D0064m
fig. 7
F0D0211m
fig. 8
F0D0183m
Be very careful under the
bonnet: you risk burning
yourself. Remember that when the
engine is hot, the fan can start up
and cause injuries.
WARNINGIMPORTANT After topping up or
changing the oil, let the engine turn
for a few seconds and wait a few min-
utes after stopping it before you check
the level.
173VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
AIR CLEANER
REPLACEMENT
Unscrew the screws A-fig. 13and
remove cap B.
Remove the filtering element C-
fig. 14to be replaced.
fig. 13
F0D0295m
fig. 14
F0D0070m
POLLEN FILTER
Have the filter changed at the fre-
quency specified in the Service Sched-
ule.
Have the change made at a Fiat
Dealership.
IMPORTANTIf the vehicle is of-
ten used in dusty or extremely pol-
luted environments, you should
change the filter more frequently. It
should be changed especially if the
amount of air introduced into the pas-
senger compartment has decreased.
DIESEL FILTER
DRAINING THE
CONDENSATION
The presence of water in
the fuel feed circuit can
severely damage the in-
jection system and make the en-
gine misfire. Go to a Fiat Dealer-
ship as soon as possible when the
cwarning light comes on to have
the bleeding operation carried
out. If the warning light comes on
immediately after refuelling, wa-
ter is probably present in the
tank: turn the engine off imme-
diately and contact Fiat Dealer-
ship.