109CAR MAINTENANCE
IMPORTANT - Remote control
If when the remote control button
is pressed the doors are not
locked/unlocked or the performed
operation signal (indicator lights on)
does not appear, change the battery,
using spare batteries of the same kind.
IMPORTANT - Engine oil
Should the prevailing use of the car
be under one of the following specially
heavy conditions:
– trailer towing
– 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 car 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 car, contact a Fiat Dealership.
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 fre-
quently if the car is mainly used for
short trips or if it is fitted with acces-
sories that permanently take in elec-
tricity even when the ignition key is
removed, especially in the case of af-
ter market accessories.You should check the battery fluid
(electrolyte) level more frequently
than shown in the
SERVICE SCHEDULEin
this chapter if the vehicle is used in
hot climates or particularly demand-
ing conditions.
Maintenance of your car
should be entrusted to a
Fiat Dealership. For ordi-
nary routine maintenance oper-
ations 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.
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110CAR MAINTENANCE
CHECKING FLUID LEVELS
fig. 1
P4Q01095
Do not smoke while
working in the engine
compartment: the pres-
ence of flammable gas and
vapour could cause a fire.
Be very careful: scarves,
ties and other loose arti-
cles of clothing could eas-
ily get caught up in moving parts.
This can be extremely danger-
ous.
1. Engine oil - 2. Battery - 3. Brake fluid - 4. Windscreen washer fluid - 5. Engine
coolant.
Be careful not to mix up
the various types of fluids
when you are topping up:
they are all mutually incompati-
ble and could damage the car. ENGINE OIL
Check engine oil with the car on
level ground and while the engine is
still warm (approximately 5 minutes
after stopping the engine).
The oil level must be between the
MIN and MAX marks on the dipstick
B-fig. 2.The space between MIN and MAX
equals about 1 litre of oil.
If the oil level is near or even below
the MINmark, pour in oil through
the filler hole Auntil it reaches the
MAXmark.
The level of the oil should never ex-
ceed the MAXmark.
105-123 Seicento GB 22-11-2007 10:51 Pagina 110
114CAR MAINTENANCE
BATTERY
The car fits a low-maintenance bat-
tery: no top-ups with distilled water
are needed in normal conditions of
use.
INSPECTING THE CHARGE
AND THE ELECTROLYTE
LEVEL
Inspection operations must be car-
ried out by specialised personnel, fol-
lowing the prescriptions contained in
the Use and maintenance booklet. Any
top-up operations must be carried out
by specialised personnel and by Fiat
Dealership.Battery liquid is poiso-
nous and corrosive. Avoid
contact with the skin and
eyes. Keep naked flames and
sources of sparks away from the
battery: risk of explosion and fire.
Running the battery
with an excessively low
liquid level will damage
the battery beyond repair and
even cause an explosion.CHANGING THE BATTERY
If required, replace the battery with
a genuine spare part having the same
specifications.
If a battery with different specifica-
tions is fitted, the service intervals giv-
en in the “Service schedule” in this
section will no longer be valid.
Refer therefore to the instructions
provided by the battery manufacturer.
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115CAR MAINTENANCE
Incorrect assembly of
electric and electronic de-
vices may cause severe
damage to your car. Go to a Fiat
Dealership if you want to install
accessories (alarms, mobile
phone, etc.): they will suggest the
most suitable devices and advise
you if a higher capacity battery
needs to be installed.
Batteries contain sub-
stances that can be very
dangerous for the envi-
ronment. t is advisable to have the
battery changed by a Fiat Dealer-
ship where it will be disposed of
according to the law.
If the vehicle must re-
main unused for a long
time at very low temper-
ature, remove the battery and
carry it to a warm place, to avoid
freezing.When you must perform
any operation on the bat-
tery or near it, always pro-
tect your eyes with the special
goggles.
USEFUL ADVICE FOR
LENGTHENING THE LIFE OF
YOUR BATTERY
To avoid draining your battery and
lengthen its life, observe the follow-
ing indications:
– when you park the car, ensure the
doors, tailgate and bonnet are closed
properly;
– switch off all lights inside the car:
the car is however equipped with a
system which switches all internal
lights off automatically;
– do not keep accessories (e.g. sound
system, hazard lights, etc.) switched on
for a long time when the engine is not
running;
– before performing any operation
on the electrical system, disconnect
the battery negative cable;
– battery terminals shall always be
perfectly tightened.IMPORTANT If the charge level re-
mains for a long time under 50%, the
battery is damaged by sulphation, re-
ducing its capacity and starting atti-
tude.
The battery will also be more at risk
of freezing (e.g. already at -10°C). Re-
fer to the paragraph “Car inactivity” in
“Starting and driving” if the car is left
parked for a long time.
If after buying the car, you want to
install electric accessories which re-
quire permanent electric supply
(alarm, etc.) contact Fiat Dealership
whose qualified personnel, in addition
to suggesting the most suitable de-
vices, will evaluate the overall electric
absorption, checking whether the car’s
electric system is capable of with-
standing the load required, or whether
it should be integrated with a more
powerful battery.
Since these devices continue ab-
sorbing energy even when the ignition
key is off, they gradually run down the
battery.
105-123 Seicento GB 22-11-2007 10:51 Pagina 115
116CAR MAINTENANCE
IMPORTANTIf the sound system
or car alarm systems are not installed
correctly, they can interfere with the
working of the electronic control
units. ELECTRONIC
CONTROL UNITS
When the car is being used normally,
special measures are not necessary.
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 electrical system while the engine
is running.
– Disconnect the battery from the
electrical system if you are recharg-
ing it.
– Never perform emergency starts
with a battery charger. Always use an
auxiliary battery.Modifications or repairs
to the electrical system
carried out incorrectly
and without bearing the features
of the system in mind can cause
malfunctions with the risk of fire.
– Be particularly careful when con-
necting the battery to the electrical
system. Ensure the battery posts are
connected up to the right leads (the
polarity is correct) and check that the
connection has been made properly.
– 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 units if
you are electrically welding the car
body. Remove the units if tempera-
tures exceed 80°C (special operations
on the bodywork etc.).
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137INDEX
I I
N N
D D
E E
X X
ABS ............................................ 54
Accessories purchased by the
owner ......................................... 66
– Installation of electrical/
electronic devices .................... 67
– Radio transmitters and
mobile phones ...................... 67
Air filter ....................................... 113
Air recirculation ......................... 35
Ashtray ......................................... 42
Battery
– checking fluid level ............... 114
– jump starting .................. 84-101
– recharging .............................. 101
– replacing the battery ........... 114
– useful advice .......................... 115
– warning light for check ....... 115
Bodywork .................................... 124
Bonnet .......................................... 51
Boot
– extension ............................... 48
– opening ................................... 47
– securing the load .................. 49Brake fluid level .......................... 112
Brake lights .................................. 95
Brakes
– fluid level ................................ 112
– service and emergency ....... 126
Bulbs
– bulb replacement ................. 89
– exterior bulb replacement .. 92
– general information ............. 90
– interior bulb replacement .. 107
– types ....................................... 91Capacities .................................. 133
Car maintenance
– additional operations .......... 108
– annual inspection plan ......... 108
– scheduled servicing .............. 105
– service schedule ................... 106
Car parked .................................. 71
Car radio ..................................... 64
Carrying children in safety ..... 13
Ceiling (courtesy) light
– bulb replacement ................ 97– controls .................................. 39
Central locking ........................... 45
Cigar lighter ................................ 42
Clock.............................................. 24
Clutch ........................................... 127
CO
2emissions ........................... 136
Control buttons ......................... 40
Correct use of the vehicle ....... 70
Courtesy (ceiling) lights
– bulb replacement ................ 97
– controls .................................. 39
Courtesy light
– bulb replacement ................ 97
– controls .................................. 39
Dashboard ................................. 19
Dimensions ................................. 131
Dipped beam headlights
– bulb replacement ................ 92
– controls .................................. 37
Directable, adjustable air vents 33
Direction indicators
– controls .................................. 38
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