
166VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
ELECTRONIC
CONTROL UNITS
When the vehicle is being used nor-
mally, special measures are not neces-
sary.
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. The modern battery chargers
can discharge voltage up to 20V.
– Never perform emergency start-
ups with a battery charger. Always use
an auxiliary battery.
– Be particularly careful when con-
necting the battery to the electrical
system. Ensure the battery posts are
connected up to the right leads (the Battery Maximum
admitted
stand-by intake
40 Ah 24 mA
50 Ah 30 mA
60 Ah 36 mApolarity 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 vehi-
cle body. Remove the units if temper-
atures exceed 80°C (special opera-
tions on the bodywork, etc.).
IMPORTANTIf the sound system
or alarm systems are not installed cor-
rectly, they can interfere with the
working of the electronic control
units.
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.
The total intake of these systems
(factory and after-market) must be less
than 0.6 mA x Ah (of the battery) as
shown in the following table:

172VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
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.
IMPORTANT The 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. To wash the vehicle properly:
1) Remove the aerial from the roof
to prevent damaging it when washing
the vehicle in an automatic carwash.
2) Wash the body using a low pres-
sure jet of water.
3)Wipe a sponge with a slightly
soapy solution over the bodywork,
frequently rinsing the sponge.
4)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.Detergents pollute wa-
ter. For this reason, the
vehicle must be washed in
an area equipped for the collec-
tion and purification of the liquids
used while washing.
Engine compartment
At the end of each winter season,
carefully clean the engine compart-
ment. Be careful not to direct the jet
of water on the electronic control
units. Have this done at a garage. 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 ve-
hicle under trees; the resinous sub-
stances that certain species of tree
shed dull the paintwork and increase
the possibility of rust forming.
IMPORTANTBird droppings must
be washed off immediately and with
great care as their acid is particularly
aggressive.
Windows
Use specific window cleaner prod-
ucts to clean cloths to avoid scratch-
ing the glass or damaging the trans-
parency.
IMPORTANTTo prevent damage
to the electric heater element, wipe the
inside of the heated rear window gen-
tly in the same direction as the ele-
ments.

Modifications or repairs
to the fuel system that
are not carried out prop-
erly or do not take the system
technical specifications into ac-
count can cause malfunctions
leading to the risk of fire. FUEL SUPPLY/IGNITION
Petrol versions
Electronic Multipoint sequential
phased injection integrated with igni-
tion, returnless system.FUEL FEED/IGNITION
Multijet versions
“Common Rail” electronic control
direct injection, turbo and intercool-
er.
SPARK PLUGS
The cleanness and soundness of the
spark plugs are very important for
keeping the engine efficient and pol-
luting emissions down.
The appearance of the spark plug, if
examined by an expert eyes, is a good
way of pinpointing a problem even if it
has nothing to do with the ignition sys-
tem. Therefore, if the engine has prob-
lems, it is important to have the spark
plugs checked at a Fiat Dealership.
The spark plugs must be
changed at the times
specified in the service
schedule. Only use the type of
plugs indicated. If the heat ratio
is less than required or the life
specified is not guaranteed, prob-
lems can arise.
181TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

209INDEX
- rear window ............................. 61
- windscreen ............................... 60
Digital clock .......................... 26-27
Dimensions ................................... 187
Direction indicators
- control ...................................... 64
- front bulb replacement .......... 133
- rear bulb replacement ........... 134
- side bulb replacement ............ 134
Door lock/unlock
remote control ............................. 8
Double ladder (partitions) ......... 51
Driver’s protection ladder
(partitions)................................... 51
Driving your vehicle .................... 106
EBD electronic brake force
distributor ................................... 90
Electric windows .......................... 74
Electronic brake force
distributor EBD .......................... 90
Electronic control units .............. 166
Engine
- fuel feed ..................................... 181
- identification code .................. 176
- ignition ...................................... 181
- specifications ............................ 179Engine compartment
- washing ...................................... 172
Engine coolant gauge ................... 25
Engine coolant level ..................... 159
Engine oil
- checking the level.................... 157
- consumption............................. 158
- specifications ............................ 202
Engine oil level .............................. 157
EOBD system................................ 97
Evaporation system...................... 104
Exhaust gas recirculation ............ 104
Extending the boot ...................... 80
Fiat CODE system ..................... 6
First aid kit ..................................... 148
Follow me home ......................... 66
Front doors ................................... 74
Front foglights
- bulb replacement ................... 133
- control button ......................... 68
Fuel
- at the filling station ................. 102
- capacities .................................. 200
- fuel cut-off switch ................... 69
- gauge .......................................... 25
Fuel cap........................................... 103Fuel consumption ......................... 204
Fuel cut-off switch........................ 69
Fuses
- dashboard fusebox.................. 139
- engine compartment
fusebox ...................................... 140
- replacement.............................. 138
- table............................................ 141
Gearbox
- gearbox use .............................. 109
- technical characteristics ........ 182
Getting to know your vehicle ... 6
Glove compartment .................... 69
Handbrake .......................... 107-182
Hazard lights.................................. 68
Headlight beam corrector.......... 88
Headlight slant
(electrical corrector) ................ 88
Headlights
- adjusting the headlights
abroad........................................ 89
- beam corrector ....................... 88
- beam direction......................... 89
- slant compensation ................. 88
Head restraints

210INDEX
- front ........................................... 53
- rear ............................................. 54
Heated rear window ................... 68
Heating............................................ 57
Hydraulic power steering
- fluid level ................................... 160
Identification data ....................... 174
If an accident occurs .................... 147
- first aid kit ................................. 148
- if anyone is injured.................. 148
Ignition switch ............................... 20
In an emergency ........................... 119
Individual settings ......................... 48
Instrument panel .......................... 22
Instruments.................................... 23
Interior equipment....................... 69
Interiors.......................................... 173
- cleaning seats
and plastic parts....................... 173
Jack................................................ 122
Jacking the vehicle ........................ 145
Keys.............................................. 6
- duplicate copies ....................... 8
Lambda sensors .......................... 104
Levels
- checking..................................... 154
Loading ramps .............................. 87
Lubricants....................................... 202
Main beam headlights
- bulb replacement ...................... 131
- control ......................................... 64
- flashing ........................................... 64
Manual climate control system
- air distribution ............................ 59
- climatic comfort ......................... 62
- controls ....................................... 61
- cooling .......................................... 61
- maintenance ............................... 63
Model plate ....................................... 174
Number plate light .................... 136
Paint ............................................ 171
Parking ............................................ 107
Parking sensors ............................. 101
Partitions ....................................... 51
- double ladder ........................... 51
- driver’s protection ladder ..... 51
- fixed panelled partition .......... 50- fixed partition with window . 51
Performance ............................... 186
Pollen filter .................................... 161
Power steering fluid level ........... 160
Pretensioners ............................... 11
Prolonged vehicle inactivity ....... 117
Protecting the environment ...... 104
Radio transmitters .................... 100
Radio-frequency
remote control ............................. 8
- battery replacement ............... 9
- homologation numbers.......... 206
Rear double doors ....................... 77
Rear foglight
- bulb replacement ................... 134
- control button ......................... 68
Rear side windows ....................... 72
Rear window shelf ....................... 71
Rear window washer
- control ...................................... 65
- fluid level ................................... 159
Rear window wiper
- blade ........................................... 169
- control ...................................... 65
- nozzle......................................... 170
- smart wash ............................... 66

211INDEX
Rearview mirrors
- electric ....................................... 56
- exterior ..................................... 55
- interior ...................................... 55
Rev counter .................................. 24
Reversing light ............................... 134
Rims ........................................ 183-185
Roof bars
- fasteners presetting ................ 86
Rubber tubing................................ 168
SBR system ................................. 10
Seat adjustment ............................ 48
Seat belts
- general warnings...................... 13
- height adjustment.................... 11
- maintenance ............................ 14
- use .............................................. 9
Seats
- accessing the rear seat........... 52
- adjustments .............................. 48
- cleaning ...................................... 173
- electrically heated ................... 49
- passenger folding seat ............ 50
Side doors ...................................... 75
Side/taillights
- control ...................................... 63- front bulb replacement .......... 133
- rear bulb replacement ........... 134
Snow chains ................................... 116
Snow tyres .................................... 117
Sound system ............................... 97
- setup system ............................ 97
- sound system installation ...... 98
Spark plugs
- maintenance ............................. 181
- type............................................. 179
Starting the engine ....................... 105
- bump starting ........................... 121
- diesel versions ......................... 107
- emergency startup ......... 107-119
- ignition switch .......................... 20
- jump starting ............................ 120
- petrol versions......................... 106
- stopping the engine ................ 108
- warming up the engine .......... 107
Steering column lock ................... 20
Steering column stalks
- left-hand stalk ......................... 63
- right-hand stalk ........................ 64
Steering wheel adjustment ......... 55
Steering........................................... 183
Stopping the engine ..................... 107
Storing the vehicle ....................... 118Structure ........................................ 183
Sun visors ....................................... 71
Suspensions .................................. 182
Symbols........................................... 6
Tailgate.......................................... 79
Technical characteristics ............ 174
Third brake lights ........................ 136
Tools ............................................... 121
Top speed ...................................... 186
Towing a trailer
- assembly diagram .................... 114
- tow hitch installation .............. 114
- warnings ................................... 113
Towing the vehicle ....................... 146
Transmission ................................ 182
Transporting children in safety . 15
Trip computer .............................. 36
Tyre pressure................................ 185
Tyres
- if a tyre is punctured .............. 121
- inflation pressure .................... 184
- reading ....................................... 184
- standard..................................... 185
Using the gearbox ..................... 109