2008 FIAT ULYSSE maintenance

CAR MAINTENANCE
207
To ensure the front and rear tyres all
wear evenly, you are advised to change
the tyres every 10-15 thousand kilo-
metres keeping them on the same side
of the car so as not to reverse the di-
rection of rotation.RUBBER TUBING
Follow the Service Schedule to the
letter as concerns braking, power
steering and fuel line rubber tubing.
Ozone, high temperatures and long ab-
sence of fluid in the system can in fact
cause the hardening and cracking of the
pipes with possible loss of fluid. A care-
ful check is therefore essential.
WINDSCREEN/
REAR WINDOW
WIPERS
BLADES
Periodically clean the rubber part
with suitable products. We recom-
mend TUTELA PROFESSIONAL
SC 35.
Change the blades if the rubber edge
is warped or worn out. You should in
any case change them approximately
once a year. Do not change the tyres
over in criss-cross fashion
by moving a tyre from the
left hand side of the car to the
right and vice versa.
Travelling with worn
wiper blades is dangerous
because it reduces visibil-
ity in bad weather.

CAR MAINTENANCE
208
Some simple steps can reduce po-
tential damage to the blades:
– if the temperature falls to below
zero, make sure the rubber blade is
not frozen to the windscreen. If nec-
essary, free it with a de-icing com-
pound;
– remove any snow that has settled
on the glass: besides saving the blades
you will avoid straining the electric
windscreen wiper motor and causing
it to overheat;
– do not operate the windscreen or
rear window wipers on dry glass.Changing the windscreen wiper
blade fig. 14-15
Proceed as follows:
– with the ignition key at Sor re-
moved, turn the right-hand stalk down
(impulse) within 60 seconds, so the
windscreen wipers Awill stop in ver-
tical position;
– remove nozzle Bpressure fitted in
the blade;
– lift the windscreen wiper arm C,
keep it in that position and position
the blade to make it form a 90° angle
with the arm itself;
– press the retainer tab Dand, at the
same time, push the blade downwards
until the arm Cis released from the
blade;– refit a new blade, inserting it on the
arm and pushing it upwards, until tab
D clicks;
– make sure the blade is fastened.
Keep the windscreen
arm lifted during the
blade replacement to
avoid damaging the windscreen.
After changing the blade, guide
the arm to its correct position on
the windscreen.
fig. 14
F0B0175b
fig. 15
F0B0176b

CAR MAINTENANCE
209
Changing the rear window
wiper blade fig. 16
Proceed as follows:
– lift the rear window wiper arm A
off the glass and position the blade so
as to form a right angle with the arm;
– remove the pressure fitted blade B
following the arrow direction;
– fit the new blade in the opposite di-
rection and make sure it is properly
locked into place.SPRAY NOZZLES
If there is no jet of liquid, first make
sure that there is liquid in the reser-
voir (see “Checking fluid levels” in this
chapter).
Then make sure that the holes in the
nozzles are not clogged up. Use a pin
for this if necessary.HEADLIGHT
WASHERS
(where fitted) fig. 17
Regularly check that the nozzles are
intact and clean.
The headlight washers are automat-
ically switched on when the wind-
screen washer is operated and the
headlights are on.
fig. 16
F0B0177b
fig. 17
F0B0181b

CAR MAINTENANCE
210
BODYWORK
PROTECTING THE CAR
FROM ATMOSPHERIC
AGENTS
The main causes of rust are:
– atmospheric pollution;
– salt and humidity in the atmosphere
(coastal or very hot and humid areas);
– environmental conditions that spe-
cific to the season.
In addition, the abrasiveness of dust
in the atmosphere and sand carried by
the wind as well as mud and stones
kicked up by other cars must not be
underestimated.
For your Ulysse, Fiat has used lead-
ing-edge technological solutions to ef-
fectively protect the body from rust.These are the most important:
– painting systems and products that
make the vehicle particularly resistant
to rust and scratching;
– the use of zinc-plated sheet steel
which is highly resistant to rust;
– the spraying of the underbody, en-
gine compartment, inside the wheel-
arches and other parts with wax-based
products with a high protective ca-
pacity;
– spraying plastic-coating materials to
protect the most exposed points: un-
der the door, inside the wings, the
edges, etc.;
– the use of “open” box sections to
prevent condensation and water from
building up and rusting the inside of
the parts.BODY AND UNDERBODY
WARRANTY
Your Ulysse is covered by warranty
against any original structural or body
part being perforated by rust. Refer to
the Warranty Booklet for the gener-
al terms.
TIPS FOR KEEPING
THE BODY IN GOOD
CONDITIONS
Paintwork
The paintwork is not only to make
your car look attractive but also to
protect the steel.
If the paint is scuffed or scratched
deeply you are therefore advised to
touch up as necessary to prevent rust
from forming.

CAR MAINTENANCE
211
Only use genuine products when
touching up the paintwork (see the
“Technical specifications” chapter).
Ordinary maintenance of the paint-
work means washing it. The frequen-
cy you should do this depends on the
conditions and the environment the
vehicle is driven in. For example: areas
with high level of air pollution, roads
sprinkled with road saltwash, parking
under trees which drop resin. In these
cases, wash your vehicle more fre-
quently.To wash the vehicle properly:
1)wash the body using a low pres-
sure jet of water;
2)wipe a sponge with a slightly soapy
solution over the bodywork, fre-
quently rinsing the sponge;
3)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.
Do not wash the car after it has been
parked in the sun or while the bon-
net is hot: it could take the shine off
the pain.Outside plastic parts must be cleaned
following the usual car washing pro-
cedure.
IMPORTANTIf you wish having
the car washed at an automatic wash-
ing station remove the antenna from
the roof to prevent damaging it.
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.
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.

CAR MAINTENANCE
212
Windows
Use specific window cleaners to
clean the windows. Use very clean
cloths to avoid scratching the glass or
damaging the transparency.
IMPORTANT To prevent damage
to the electric heater element, wipe
the inside of the heated rear window
gently in the same direction as the el-
ements.
Engine compartment
At the end of each winter season,
carefully clean the engine compart-
ment. Have this done at a garage.IMPORTANTThe engine com-
partment should be washed while the
engine is cold and with the ignition key
at S. After washing, make sure that the
various protections (e.g. rubber boots
and various guards) have not been re-
moved or damaged.INTERIORS
From time to time check that water
has not collected under the mats
(from dripping shoes, umbrellas, etc.)
which could cause the steel to rust. 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.
Never use flammable
products (petroleum
ether or petrol) to clean
the inside of the vehicle. Electro-
static charges generated by rub-
bing while cleaning could cause
fires.

CAR MAINTENANCE
213
CLEANING SEATS
AND FABRICS
Remove dust with a soft brush and
vacuum cleaner.
Brush the seats with a damp sponge
with water and a neutral soap.
CLEANING LEATHER SEATS
Remove the dry dirt with a chamois
leather or very slightly moist cloth
without exerting too much pressure.
Remove liquid or grease stains with
a dry absorbent cloth without rubbing.
Then wipe with a chamois leather or
soft cloth moistened with water and
neutral soap.
IMPORTANTNever use alcohol
or alcohol-based products.STEERING WHEEL/GEAR
LEVER KNOB WITH
GENUINE LEATHER
COVERING
These components shall only be
cleaned with water and neutral soap.
Never use spirit or alcohol-based
products.
Before using special products for
cleaning interiors, read carefully label
instructions and indications to make
sure they are free from spirit and/or
alcohol-based substances.
If when cleaning the windscreen with
special glass products, some drops fall
on the leather covering of the steer-
ing wheel/gear lever knob remove
them immediately and then clean with
water and neutral soap.
IMPORTANTTake the utmost
care when engaging the steering lock
to prevent scratching the leather cov-
ering.PLASTIC PARTS INSIDE
THE CAR
Use special products designed not to
alter the appearance of the compo-
nents.
IMPORTANTDo not use alcohol
or petrol to clean the instrument
panel.
Do not keep aerosol
cans in the vehicle. There
is the risk they might ex-
plode. Aerosol cans must never
be exposed to a temperature
above 50°C; when the weather
starts to get hot the temperature
inside the vehicle might go well
beyond that figure.

RIGHT-HAND DRIVE VERSIONS
236
INSTRUMENTS
A -Odometer display: speedometer,
miles counter, maintenance indicator,
engine oil level gauge (where fitted)
and, for versions with automatic gear,
engaged gear indicator
B -Warning lights
C -Trip miles counter reset button
D -Button for instrument panel
brightness adjustment
fig. 2F0B0412b
fig. 3F0B0413b