154
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
IINDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
IN AN
EMERGENCY
ENGINE
STARTING
EMERGENCY START-UP
If the instrument panel warning light
Yturns on glowing steadily, contact im-
mediately Fiat Dealership.
JUMP STARTING fig. 1
If the battery is flat, it is possible to start
the engine using an auxiliary battery with
the same capacity or a little higher than
the flat one. Proceed as follows:
❒Connect positive terminals (+near the
terminal) of the two batteries with a
jump lead;
❒With a second lead, connect the nega-
tive terminal (–) of the auxiliary battery
to an earthing point
Eon the engine or
the gearbox of the car to be started;
❒ Start the engine;
❒When the engine has been started, re-
move the leads reversing the order
above.
If after a few attempts the engine does not
start, do not insist but contact the near-
est Fiat Dealership.
fig. 1F0M0361m
The starting procedure must
be carried out by qualified
personnel because incorrect opera-
tions may cause electrical discharge of
considerable intensity. The liquid con-
tained in the battery is poisonous and
corrosive. Avoid contact with the skin
and eyes. Keep naked flames and light-
ed cigarettes away from the battery
and do not cause sparks.
WARNING
153-188 Punto GDX GB 20-07-2007 9:43 Pagina 154
204
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
Incorrect assembly of electric
and electronic devices 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 substances
that can be very dangerous
for the environment. t is ad-
visable to have the battery
changed by a Fiat Dealership where it
will be disposed of according to the
law.
If the vehicle must remain
unused for a long time at
very low temperature, remove the
battery and carry it to a warm place,
to avoid freezing.
WARNING
When you must perform any
operation on the battery or
near it, always protect your eyes with
the special goggles.
WARNING
USEFUL ADVICE FOR
LENGTHENING THE LIFE OF
YOUR BATTERY
To avoid draining your battery and length-
en its life, observe the following indica-
tions:
❒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 au-
tomatically;
❒do not keep accessories (e.g. sound sys-
tem, hazard lights, etc.) switched on for
a long time when the engine is not run-
ning;
❒before performing any operation on the
electrical system, disconnect the bat-
tery negative cable;
❒battery terminals shall always be per-
fectly tightened.IMPORTANT If the charge level remains
for a long time under 50%, the battery is
damaged by sulphation, reducing its ca-
pacity and starting attitude.
The battery will also be more at risk of
freezing (e.g. already at -10°C). Refer 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 require per-
manent electric supply (alarm, etc.) con-
tact Fiat Dealership whose qualified per-
sonnel, in addition to suggesting the most
suitable devices, 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 power-
ful battery.
Since these devices continue absorbing en-
ergy even when the ignition key is off, they
gradually run down the battery.
189-210 Punto GDX GB 20-07-2007 9:43 Pagina 204
