Page 8 of 254
7
PROHIBITION SYMBOLS
Battery
Keep away from open
flames.
Battery
Keep away from children.
Heat shields - belts -
pulleys - fan
Do not touch.WARNING SYMBOLS
Catalytic converter
Do not park over inflam-
mable materials. See chap-
ter: “Protecting the emission control
devices”.
Power steering
Do not exceed the max-
imum fluid level in the
reservoir. Use only the fluid specified
in section “Capacities”.
Brake circuit
Do not exceed the max-
imum fluid level in the
reservoir. Use only the fluid specified
in the section “Capacities”.
Windscreen wiper
Only use fluid of the type
specified in section “Ca-
pacities”.
Engine
Use only the oil specified
in section “Capacities”.
Page 141 of 254

DRIVING YOUR CAR
140
BEFORE GETTING BEHIND
THE WHEEL
The main suggestions are the fol-
lowing:
– make sure all lights including the
headlights are working properly;
– adjust the position of the seat,
steering wheel, driving and door mir-
rors properly for the best driving po-
sition;
– adjust the head restraints careful-
ly so that they support the head and
not the neck;
– make sure that nothing (mats, etc.)
gets in the way of the pedals when
they are pushed down;
– make sure that any child restraint
systems (child seats, carriers, etc.) are
properly fixed, preferably on the back
seat as this is the safest place in the
event of an accident;– make sure that objects being trans-
ported are carefully arranged so they
will not fly forward if you have to
brake sharply;
– do not eat a heavy meal before
travelling. Light eating will help keep
your reflexes prompt. Above all, do
not have anything alcoholic to drink.
Using certain prescription drugs can
reduce your ability to drive: read in-
structions for use carefully.
Periodically, remember to check:
– tyre pressure and conditions;
– engine oil level;
– coolant level and conditions of the
system;
– brake fluid level;
– power steering fluid level;
– windscreen washer liquid level.WHEN TRAVELLING
The main suggestions are the fol-
lowing:
– the first rule of safe driving is pru-
dence. Prudence also means putting
yourself into a position where you can
predict wrong or imprudent behaviour
from other drivers;
– stick closely to the rules of the
road in the particular country where
the vehicle is being driven and, above
all, do not exceed speed limits;
– ensure that, besides yourself, all the
other passengers in the vehicle have
their seat belts fastened, that children
are sitting in the appropriate child
seats and any animals in the car are
placed in suitable compartments;
– you should be physically fit and
mentally alert before setting out on
long journeys;
Page 155 of 254

IN AN EMERGENCY
154
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.
Remember that until
the engine has started the
brake booster and elec-
trical power steering systems will
not work and a greater effort will
therefore be required to press
the brake pedal or turn the steer-
ing wheel.IF A TYRE
IS PUNCTURED
Certain versions (where provided)
are fitted with wheel identification and
tyre inflation sensors; pressure loss is
signalled to the driver in the follow-
ing way:
pressure loss- the infotelematic
CONNECT system displays the relat-
ed message and a “gong” is emitted by
the system. Contact a Fiat Dealer-
ship;
punctured tyre- warning light
“STOP” comes on and the in-
fotelematic CONNECT system dis-
plays the related message together
with 3 consecutive “gong” sounds.
Change the wheel in the following
way.
The system can also display a dedi-
cated message in the event it should
not be able to detect the tyre pres-
sure. 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.
BUMP STARTING
Do not bump start by
pushing, towing or coast-
ing downhill. This way of
starting could cause a rush of fu-
el into the catalytic converter and
damage it beyond repair.
Page 191 of 254
CAR MAINTENANCE
190
1.Windscreen/rear window and
headlight (where fitted) washer fluid -
2.Engine coolant - 3.Power steering
fluid - 4.Engine oil - 5.Brake and hy-
draulic clutch fluid.
fig. 1 - Versions 2.0 JTD 120 HP - 136 HPF0B0442b
Page 192 of 254
CAR MAINTENANCE
191
1.Windscreen/rear window and
headlight (where fitted) washer fluid -
2.Engine coolant - 3.Power steering
fluid - 4.Engine oil - 5.Brake and hy-
draulic clutch fluid.
fig. 2 - Versions 2.2 JTDF0B0600b
Page 197 of 254

Do not travel with the
windscreen washer reser-
voir empty. The wind-
screen washer is fundamental for
improving visibility.Do not start the wind-
screen washer when the
fluid is finished to prevent
damaging the pump engine.
POWER STEERING FLUID
fig. 9
The oil level, with the vehicle on lev-
el ground and the engine cold should
correspond to the MAX reference
line.
This check should be performed
when the engine is cold and with the
car on level ground.When topping up (where necessary)
make sure that the oil has the same
specifications as the oil in the system.
Apply the following procedure:
– when the engine has been started,
turn the steering wheel repeatedly on
the left and on the right; then bring it
back to its central position;
– remove cap Aand wait for the oil
level in the reservoir to stabilize;
– top up to reach the MAX refer-
ence line and put the cap back to its
place. Certain commercial ad-
ditives for windscreen
washers are inflammable.
The engine compartment con-
tains hot components which may
set it on fire.
CAR MAINTENANCE
196fig. 9 - Versions 2.0 JTD 120 HP - 136 HP
Versions 2.2 JTD 170 HP
F0B0443b
Page 198 of 254
CAR MAINTENANCE
197
Do not let the power
steering fluid come into
contact with hot engine
parts. It catches fire very easily.The brake fluid is poiso-
nous and very corrosive.
In the event of accidental
contact, immediately wash the
affected parts with water and
mild soap and rinse under run-
ning water. Immediately call a
doctor if the fluid is swallowed.
Oil consumption is ex-
tremely low. If the oil lev-
el needs topping up again
in a short period of time, have the
system checked for leakage at a
Fiat Dealership.Make sure that the high-
ly corrosive brake fluid
does not trip onto the
paintwork. If it does, wash it off
immediately with water. BRAKE AND HYDRAULIC
CLUTCH FLUID fig. 10
Remove cap Aand check that the
fluid in the reservoir is at the maxi-
mum level.
The symbol πon the
container indicates syn-
thetic brake fluid distin-
guishing it from mineral fluid. Us-
ing mineral type fluid would dam-
age the special rubber braking
system gaskets beyond repair.
Page 208 of 254

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.