68GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
IMPORTANTThe hermetic clo-
sure may cause a slight pressure in the
tank: a slight hissing when turning the
cap is quite normal.
To close:
1)the cap coupling is “bayonet”
type. Insert the cap (with the key) and
turn it clockwise until it clicks;
2)keeping the cap still, turn the key
clockwise and remove it; close the
flap.
fig. 92
P4Q01051
Never pour even the
tiniest amount of leaded
petrol in the tank, not
even in an emergency; this would
damage the catalytic exhaust be-
yond repair. FUEL TANK CAP
The fuel filler cap is fitted with a lock.
To open:
1)press on the point indicated and
open the flap fig. 90;
2) holding the cap still, turn the key
anticlockwise fig. 91;
3) turn the cap anticlockwise by
about one fourth of a turn and re-
move it.
The cap is provided with a strap A-
fig. 92fastening it to the flap so that
is cannot be lost.
fig. 90
P4Q00076
fig. 91
P4Q01050
An inefficient catalytic
exhaust causes harmful
emissions with conse-
quent environmental pollution.
REFUELLING
To guarantee full tank filling, carry
out two refuelling operations after the
first click of the fuel delivery gun.
Avoid further topping up operations
that could cause damages to the fuel
system.
70DRIVING YOUR CAR
STARTING
THE ENGINE1)Ensure that the handbrake is up.
2)Put the gear lever into neutral.
3)Press the clutch pedal fully down,
without pressing the accelerator.
4) Turn the ignition key to AVV and
let it go the moment the engine starts.
If warning lights ¢stay on when the
key is turned to MARturn the key to
STOPand then back to MAR. If the
light does not go off, try with the
other keys.If you are still unable to start the en-
gine, perform the emergency start-up
procedure (see
INANEMERGENCY) and
call your Fiat Dealership.
IMPORTANTDo not leave the ig-
nition key at MARwhen the engine is
off.
HOW TO WARM UP
THE ENGINE AFTER IT
HAS JUST STARTED
– Begin to move forward slowly let-
ting the engine turn at medium revs.
Do not accelerate abruptly.
– Do not push the engine to its limit
for the first few kilometres.
D D D D
R R R R
I I I I
V V V V
I I I I
N N N N
G G G G
Y Y Y Y
O O O O
U U U U
R R R R
C C C C
A A A A
R R R R
It is dangerous to let the
engine run in a garage or
other closed area. The
engine consumes oxygen and
gives off carbon dioxide, carbon
monoxide and other poisonous
fumes.
Do not touch the high
voltage cables (spark plug
leads) when the engine is
running.
IMPORTANT Do not press down
the accelerator before starting the en-
gine.
71DRIVING YOUR CAR
EMERGENCY START-UP
If the Fiat CODE system fails to
recognise that code transmitted by
the ignition key (instrument panel
warning light ¢on) the emergency
start-up can be performed by using
the CODE card code.
See the
INANEMERGENCY. A quick burst on the ac-
celerator before turning
off the engine serves ab-
solutely no practical purpose and
wastes fuel.
IMPORTANTAfter a taxing drive
it is better to allow the engine to
“catch its breath” before turning it off,
by letting it idle to allow the temper-
ature in the engine compartment to
fall.
PARKING
Switch off the engine, pull up the
handbrake and put the car in 1st gear
if the car is pointing uphill, reverse if
downhill.
If the car is parked on a steep gradi-
ent it is a good idea to use a stone or
wedge to block the wheels.
Do not leave the ignition key at
MARbecause it drains the battery.
Always remove the key when you
leave the car. Bump starting by push-
ing, towing or rolling
downhill must be avoided
at all costs. This way of starting
could cause a rush of fuel into the
catalytic exhaust pipe and dam-
age it beyond repair.
Remember that as long
as the engine is not run-
ning, the power brakes
and power steering do not work.
You therefore have to use con-
siderably more effort on both the
brake pedal and the steering
wheel. SWITCHING OFF
THE ENGINE
Turn the key to STOPwhile the
engine is idling.
Never leave unsuper-
vised children in the car.
72DRIVING YOUR CAR
HANDBRAKE
The handbrake lever is between the
front seats.
Pull the handbrake lever upwards
until the car cannot be moved. Four
or five clicks are generally enough
when the car is on level ground while
nine or ten may be required if the car
is on a steep slope or laden. IMPORTANTIf this is not the
case, go to a Fiat Dealership to
have the handbrake adjusted.
Instrument panel warning light x
will come on when the handbrake
lever is pulled up and the ignition key
is at MAR.
To release the handbrake:
1)Slightly lift the hand brake and
press release button A-fig. 1;
2)keep the button pressed in and
lower the lever. Warning light xwill
go out;
3)to prevent accidental movement
of the car, this procedure should be
carried out with the brake pedal
pressed down.
STEERING LOCK LEVER
Use the brake pedal to lock the bot-
tom end. HOW TO USE
THE GEARS
The lever positions for the different
gears are shown in fig. 2(this diagram
is also on the gear knob).
Press the clutch fully.
To put the car in reverse (R), wait
until the car has stopped and, from
neutral: move the lever to the right
and back.
fig. 1
P4Q00078
fig. 2
P4Q00079
76DRIVING YOUR CAR
IMPORTANT On stretches of
road with good visibility, switch off
your rear fog lights; the brightness of
these lights could annoy the people
travelling in the cars behind
– Remember that fog also means the
tarmac is wet and therefore manoeu-
vres of all kinds are more difficult and
stopping distances are longer.
– Keep a good distance from the
cars in front of you.
– As far as possible, avoid spurts of
speed or sudden deceleration.
– Do not overtake other vehicles if
you can help it.
– If you are forced to stop your car
(breakdown, limited visibility etc.) try
to stop off the road. Turn on the haz-
ard lights and, if possible, the dipped-
beam headlights. Rhythmically sound
the horn if you realise another car is
coming.DRIVING IN
THE MOUNTAINS
– When driving downhill use the en-
gine braking effect by engaging a low
gear so as not to overheat the brakes.
– Under no circumstances should
you drive downhill with the engine off
or with the car in neutral, let alone
with the ignition key out.
– Drive at a moderate speed with-
out cutting corners.
– Remember that overtaking while
going uphill is slower and therefore
requires more free road. If you are
being overtaken while driving uphill,
make it easier for the other vehicle to
pass. DRIVING ON SNOW
AND ICE
Here are some tips for driving in
these conditions:
– keep your speed down;
– use chains if the roads are covered
in snow: see paragraph
SNOW TYRESin
this chapter;
– mainly use the braking effect of the
engine and under all circumstances
avoid braking sharply;
– when braking in a car not fitted
with ABS, reduce the possibility of the
wheels locking by varying the pressure
you exert on the brake pedal;
– do not accelerate suddenly and
avoid swerving;
– in the winter, even apparently dry
roads may have icy patches. Be care-
ful therefore when driving over
stretches that do not get much expo-
sure to the sun or are lined with trees
or rock where ice might not have
melted;
– keep a good distance from the ve-
hicles in front;
80DRIVING YOUR CAR
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 car’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 car 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 car by pushing, tow-
ing or rolling down hill: these are all
manoeuvres that can damage the cat-
alytic exhaust. For emergency starts
use only an auxiliary battery.If the engine begins to “lose its
smoothness” when travelling, con-
tinue your journey but reduce the de-
mands you are making on the engine
and go to a Fiat Dealershipas soon
as you can.
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 fit-
ted to the catalytic converter and
exhaust pipe.
When functioning nor-
mally the catalytic con-
verter reaches high tem-
peratures. For this reason do not
park the car over flammable ma-
terial (grass, dry leaves, pine nee-
dles etc.): fire hazard.
Ignoring the above rules
may lead to fire.
Do not allow anything to
be sprayed onto the cat-
alytic converter, Lambda
sensor or exhaust pipe.
87IN AN EMERGENCY
I I I I
N N N N
A A A A
N N N N
E E E E
M M M M
E E E E
R R R R
G G G G
E E E E
N N N N
C C C C
Y Y Y Y
EMERGENCY
START-UP
If the Fiat CODE cannot deactivate
the engine immobilising system, the
¢and
Uwarning lights stay on and
the engine will not start. Follow the
emergency 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
repeat the whole operation from the
beginning (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 acceler-
ator pedal. The injection system warn-
ing 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
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
Uwarning light comes on
for four seconds and then goes out;
release the accelerator pedal.
5) The
Uwarning light will start
flashing again: after it has flashed the
number of times that corresponds to
the second figure on the CODE card,
press the accelerator pedal to the
floor and keep it there.
6) Do the same for the remaining
figures on the CODE card. 7) Once the final figure has been en-
tered, keep the accelerator pedal
pressed. The injection warning light
Uwill light up for four seconds and
then go out; release the accelerator
pedal.
8)The
Uwarning light will flash
rapidly for about 4 seconds to indicate
that the operation has been com-
pleted correctly.
9) Start the engine by turning the ig-
nition key from MARto AVV.
If, however, the
Uwarning light
stays on, turn the ignition key to
STOPand repeat the procedure
from step 1.
IMPORTANTAfter an emergency
start, you should contact a Fiat Deal-
ership, otherwise you will have to re-
peat the procedure described each
time you want to start the engine.
102IN AN EMERGENCY
Never change a fuse
with another amperage:
fire risk !To locate the fuse, refer to the table
on the following pages. Do not attempt to re-
pair a blown maxi fuse.
Go to a Fiat Dealership.
If the fuse blows again,
have the car inspected at
a Fiat Dealership.
fig. 38
P4Q00121
fig. 39
P4Q01030
Remove the blown use with the
tongs Cwhich can be found in the
fusebox.
Never replace a broken
fuse with anything other
than a new fuse. Always
use a fuse of the same colour.
Before changing a fuse,
check the ignition key has
been removed and that
all the other electric devices have
been turned off/disabled. FUSE LOCATION
The fusebox is located to the left of
the steering wheel. To reach the fuse-
box, loosen the screw B-fig. 38 fas-
tening the cover A.
The numbers indicating the devices
corresponding to the fuses are shown
on the back of the cover fig. 39.