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61
SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
Operation in position Eis limited to the
time during which the lever is kept in that
position manually. When released, the
stalk will return to position Aand the
wiper will be automatically stopped.
IMPORTANT Replace wiper blades as
specified in section “Car maintenance”.RAIN SENSOR
(where provided)
The rain sensor is located behind the dri-
ving mirror in contact with the windscreen
and has the purpose of automatically ad-
just the frequency of the windscreen
wiper strokes as to the rain intensity.
IMPORTANT Keep the window clean in
the sensor area.
Activation
Move the right lever down by one click.
The activation of the rain sensor is sig-
nalled by a control acquisition “stroke”.
Turn the knurled ring F-fig. 76to increase
the rain sensor sensitivity.
The increase of the sensitivity of the rain
sensor is signalled by a control and acqui-
sition “stroke”.
By operating the windscreen washer with
the rain sensor enabled, a smart washing
cycle is carried out, without the addition-
al stroke after 5 seconds; once complet-
ed, the sensor resumes its regular auto-
matic operation. “Smart washing” function fig. 75
Pull the stalk towards the steering wheel
(unstable position) to operate the wind-
screen washer.
Keeping the stalk pulled for more than half
a second, with just one movement it is
possible to operate the washer jet and the
wiper at the same time.
When releasing the stalk, the jet stops im-
mediately, while the wiper carries out an-
other four strokes.
A further stroke after 6 seconds com-
pletes the wiping operation. Do not use the windscreen
wiper to remove layers of
snow or ice from the wind-
screen. In such conditions, the
windscreen wiper may be subjected to
excessive stress and the motor protec-
tion which prevents operation for a few
seconds may trip. If the issue persists,
contact the Fiat Dealership.
fig. 75F0H0074m
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122
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
CAR INACTIVITY
If the car is to be left inactive for longer
than a month, the following precautions
should be noted:
❒park the car in covered, dry and if pos-
sible well-ventilated premises;
❒engage a gear;
❒check that the handbrake is not en-
gaged;
❒disconnect battery terminals (first dis-
connect the negative terminal) and
check the battery charge. This check
is to be repeated every three months
when the car is left inactive. Recharge
if the optical indicator shows a dark
colour without the central green area;
❒clean and protect the painted parts us-
ing protective wax;
❒clean and protect the shiny metal
parts using special compounds readi-
ly available;
❒sprinkle talcum powder on the rub-
ber windscreen and rear window
wiper blades and lift them off the
glass;
❒slightly open the windows;
❒cover the car with a cloth or perfo-
rated plastic sheet. Do not use sheets
of non-perforated plastic as they do
not allow moisture on the car body to
evaporate;
❒inflate tyres to +0.5 bar above the
normal specified pressure and check it
at intervals;
❒if you don’t disconnect the battery
from the electric system, check its
charge every month and recharge it if
the optical indicator shows a dark
colour without the central green area;
❒do not drain the engine cooling sys-
tem.
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TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
RUBBER HOSES
As far as the brake system and fuel rubber
hoses are concerned, carefully follow the
“Service schedule” in this section.
Indeed ozone, high temperatures and pro-
longed lack of fluid in the system may
cause hardening and cracking of the hoses,
with possible leaks. Careful control is
therefore necessary.
WINDSCREEN/
REAR WINDOW
WIPERS
BLADES
Periodically clean the rubber part using
special products; TUTELA PROFES-
SIONAL SC 35 is recommended.
If the rubber blades are bent or worn they
should be replaced. In any case they
should be changed once a year.
A few simple notions can reduce the pos-
sibility of damage to the blades:
❒if the temperature fall below zero,
make sure that ice has not frozen the
rubber against glass. If necessary, thaw
using an antifreeze product;
❒remove any snow from the glass: in ad-
dition to protecting the blades, this
prevents effort on the motor and
overheating;
❒do not operate the windscreen and
rear window wipers on dry glass.
Driving with worn wiper
blades is a serious hazard,
because visibility is reduced in bad
weather.
WARNING
Changing the windscreen wiper
blades fig. 14
Proceed as follows:
❒raise the windscreen wiper arm Aand
position the blade so that it forms an
angle of 90° with the arm;
❒press tab Bof the coupling spring and
remove the blade to be replaced from
the arm A;
❒fit the new blade by inserting the tab
into the special slot in the arm. Make
sure it is properly locked into place.
161-180 idea GB 1 ed 10-07-2008 8:30 Pagina 176
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SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
INDEX
Wheel geometry ....................... 189
Windows (cleaning) .................. 60
Windscreen washer
– control ................................. 60
– fluid level ................................ 60
Windscreen wiper
– blades .................................... 171
– nozzles .................................. 60
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