Page 113 of 218

112DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
CHEAP RUNNING
THAT RESPECTS THE ENVIRONMENT
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 condition is
therefore a fundamental rule for dri-
ving that is easy on your pocket 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 use
only unleaded 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
catalytic exhaust. Use an auxiliary bat-
tery 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 possible.
When the instrument panel fuel re-
serve warning light comes on, fill up as
soon as possible. A low level of fuel
can cause an uneven supply of fuel to
the engine with the inevitable increase
in the temperature of the exhaust gas
and serious damage to the catalytic
converter.
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 30 seconds.
Do not install other heat shields and
do not remove those already fitted to
the catalytic converter and exhaust
pipe. Environmental protection has been
one of the guiding principles in the
production of the Fiat Doblò. It is no
accident that its pollution control
equipment 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 simple 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 for-
mer and the latter carefully.
Page 121 of 218

120IN AN EMERGENCY
If the battery is flat, you can use an-
other battery to start the engine. Its
capacity must be the same or slightly
greater than the flat battery.
Proceed as follows fig. 1:
1) Connect positive terminals (+) of
the two batteries with a jump lead.
2)With a second lead, connect the
negative terminal (–) of the auxiliary
battery and to an earthing point E
on
the engine or the gearbox of the ve-
hicle to be started.
IMPORTANTDo not directly
connect the two negative terminals:
sparks could ignite the flammable gas
from the battery. If the other battery
is fitted in a vehicle, prevent acciden-
tal contacts between the metal parts
of the two vehicles.
3) Start the engine.
4)When the engine has been start-
ed, remove the leads reversing the or-
der above.If the engine fails to start after a few
attempts, do not keep turning the key
but have the vehicle seen to at a Fiat
Dealership.
JUMP STARTING
fig. 1
F0A0106b
Do not carry out this
procedure if you lack ex-
perience; if it is not done
correctly it can cause very in-
tense electrical discharges. In ad-
dition, the fluid contained in the
battery is poisonous and corro-
sive. Avoid contact with skin and
eyes. You are also advised not to
put naked flames or lighted cig-
arettes near the battery and not
to cause sparks.
Under no circumstances
should a battery charger
be used to start the en-
gine: it could damage the elec-
tronic systems and in particular
the ignition and injection control
units.
Page 167 of 218

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:
Page 183 of 218

182TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
TRANSMISSION
CLUTCH
Hydraulic, self-adjusting external
control.
GEARBOX
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.
BRAKES
SERVICE AND
EMERGENCY BRAKES
Front:
– disc, floating shoe, self-ventilated.
Rear:
– drum, self-centring callipers.
Crossed hydraulic circuit control.
Vacuum brake booster.
ABS system with four sensors and
EBD.
Automatic take-up of friction liner
wear.
Lacking the ABS, there is the brake
force distributor that acts on rear
brake circuit according to load on rear
axle
HANDBRAKE
Controlled by a lever, it works me-
chanically on the rear brake shoes.
SUSPENSIONS
FRONT
Independent wheel, McPherson sus-
pension with steel wishbones an-
chored to an auxiliary crossmember.
Coil springs and sway bar.
Double acting telescopic hydraulic
shock absorbers.
REAR
Stiff axle with wishbones.
Double acting telescopic hydraulic
shock absorbers.
Sway bar in Fiat Doblò Passengers
Transport versions.