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If, after buying the vehicle, you want to install electrical
accessories requiring permanent electric supply (alarm,
etc.) or having high power level consumption, contact
a Fiat Dealership, whose qualified personnel, in addition
to suggesting the most suitable devices from the Lin-
eacessori Fiat range, will assess the overall electrical con-
sumption to determine whether the vehicle’s electrical
system is capable of withstanding the load required, or
whether it should be integrated with a more powerful
battery.
Since these devices continue to use electricity even when
the engine is off, they gradually run down the battery.
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VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND
DRIVING
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEXUSEFUL ADVICE FOR EXTENDING THE LIFE
OF YOUR BATTERY
To avoid draining your battery and make it last longer,
follow these instructions closely:
❒when you park the vehicle, ensure the doors, boot and
bonnet are closed properly so that the ceiling lights do
not stay on;
❒turn off the ceiling lights, although the car does have
an automatic system for switching off internal lights;
❒do not leave devices (e.g. sound system, hazard lights,
etc.) switched on for a long time when the engine is
not running;
❒before performing any operation on the electrical sys-
tem, disconnect the negative battery cable;
❒make sure battery terminals are fully tightened.
The battery is also more prone to the risk of freezing (at
temperatures as high as –10°C). If the vehicle is off the
road for long periods, refer to “Vehicle inactivity” in the
“Starting and driving” section.
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209
KNOW
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND
DRIVING
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEXIMPORTANT NOTES
❒Where possible, avoid braking suddenly, wheel-spin-
ning and crashing into kerbs, potholes or other obsta-
cles. Long distances on uneven roads can damage the
tyres;
❒check the tyres regularly for cuts on the sides, swelling
or irregular tread wear. Go to a Fiat Dealership if re-
quired.
❒avoid overloading the car when travelling: this may cause
serious damage to the wheels and tyres;
❒if a tyre is punctured, stop the vehicle immediately and
change it to avoid damage to the tyre, the rim, and the
suspension and steering systems;
❒a tyre will age even if it is not used much. Cracks in
the tread and on the sidewalls are a sign of ageing. In
any event, have the tyres checked by specialised per-
sonnel if they have been fitted for longer than six years.
Remember to check the spare wheel very carefully;WHEELS AND TYRES
Check the pressure of each tyre, including the spare, every
two weeks and before long journeys. The pressure should
be checked with the tyre rested and cold.
It is normal for the pressure to increase when the vehi-
cle is used; for the correct tyre inflation pressure, see
“Wheels” in the “Technical specifications” section.
Incorrect pressure causes abnormal tyre wear fig. 185:
A normal pressure: tread evenly worn.
B low pressure: tread particularly worn at the edges.
C high pressure: tread particularly worn in the centre.
The tyres must be replaced when the tread is less than
1.6 mm thick. In all cases, follow the laws in force in the
country where you are driving.
F0V0161mfig. 185
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KNOW
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND
DRIVING
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX❒In case of replacement, always fit new tyres, avoiding
those with an unknown origin.
❒If a tyre is replaced, you should also change the infla-
tion valve.
❒to allow even wear between the front and rear tyres,
it is advisable to switch them every 10-15 thousand kilo-
metres, keeping them on the same side of the car so
as not to reverse the direction of rotation.
Remember that road hold depends on cor-
rect tyre pressures.
WARNING
If the pressure is too low, the tyre
overheats and this can cause it serious
damage.
WARNING
Do not switch the tyres from the right of
the vehicle to the left and vice versa.
WARNING
Do not re-spray alloy wheel rims at tem-
peratures higher than 150 °C. The me-
chanical characteristics of the wheels may be
compromised.
WARNING
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211
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STARTING
AND
DRIVING
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEXRUBBER TUBES
As far as the brake system and fuel rubber hoses are con-
cerned, stick closely to the “Scheduled Servicing Plan” in
this section.
Ozone, high temperatures and a prolonged lack of fluid
in the system may cause hardening and cracking of the
tubes, which could result in leaks. Careful inspections are
therefore necessary.
WINDSCREEN/REAR WINDOW
WIPERS
(for versions/markets where provided)
BLADES
Regularly clean the rubber part using appropriate
products; TUTELA PROFESSIONAL SC 35 is recom-
mended.
Replace the blades if the rubber edge is deformed or worn.
In any event, it is advisable to replace them approximate-
ly once a year.
A few simple precautions can reduce the possibility of dam-
age to the blades:
❒make sure that the rubber part is not frozen to the wind-
screen in sub-zero temperatures. Use an antifreeze
product to release it if required;
❒remove any snow from the glass: in addition to pro-
tecting the blades, this prevents the electric motor from
overheating;
❒do not operate the windscreen and the rear window
wipers on dry glass.
Driving with worn wiper blades is a seri-
ous hazard, because visibility is reduced
in bad weather.
WARNING
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212
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YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND
DRIVING
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEXReplacing the rear window wiper blade
(for versions/markets where provided)
Proceed as follows:
❒press retainer tab A-fig. 187 and remove the blade by
making it slide in the direction of the arrow. Replacing the windscreen wiper blades fig. 186
Proceed as follows:
❒lift up the windscreen wiper arm;
❒push retaining device A and, at the same time, slide
the blade from the arm by pushing in the direction
shown in the diagram.
F0V0090mfig. 186
A
F0V0211mfig. 187
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213
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SAFETY
STARTING
AND
DRIVING
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEXRear window (rear window washer)
The rear window washer jets are fixed. The nozzle hold-
er is located above the rear window. NOZZLES
If the jet is not coming out, firstly check that there is flu-
id in the windscreen/rear window reservoir (for ver-
sions/markets where provided) (see “Checking levels” in
this section).
Then check that the nozzle holes are not clogged; use a
needle to unblock them if necessary.
Front windscreen
The window washer jets are fixed. The nozzle holders
are located under the bonnet (see fig. 188).
F0V0091mfig. 188
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STARTING
AND
DRIVING
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEXVEHICLE BODY
AND UNDERBODY WARRANTY
Your vehicle is covered by warranty against perforation
due to rust of any original element of the structure or
body.
For the general terms of this warranty, refer to your War-
ranty Booklet.
ADVICE FOR PRESERVING THE BODYWORK
Paint
Paintwork does not only serve an aesthetic purpose, but
also protects the underlying sheet metal.
Touch up abrasions and scratches immediately to pre-
vent the formation of rust. Use only original paint prod-
ucts for touch-ups (see “Bodywork paint identification
plate” in the “Technical specifications” section).
Standard upkeep of the paintwork consists of washing the
vehicle: the frequency depends on the conditions and en-
vironment where the vehicle is used.
For example, it is advisable to wash the vehicle more of-
ten in areas with high atmospheric pollution or if you are
travelling on roads sprinkled with salt.BODYWORK
PROTECTION FROM ATMOSPHERIC
AGENTS
The main causes of corrosion are the following:
❒atmospheric pollution;
❒salty air and humidity (coastal areas or hot and humid
climates);
❒seasonal environmental conditions.
The abrasive action of wind-borne atmospheric dust and
sand, as well as mud and gravel raised by other cars, is al-
so not to be underestimated.
Fiat used the best manufacturing technologies on your
vehicle to effectively protect the bodywork against cor-
rosion.
These are the most important:
❒painting products and systems which give the vehicle
particular resistance to corrosion and abrasion;
❒use of galvanised (or pre-treated) steel sheets with high
resistance to corrosion;
❒spraying the underbody, engine compartment, wheel-
house internal parts and other elements with highly pro-
tective wax-based products;
❒spraying protective plastic materials in the most ex-
posed areas: underdoor, inner mudguard parts, edges,
etc.;
❒using “open” boxed sections to prevent condensation
and pockets of moisture from triggering rust inside.
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215
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VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND
DRIVING
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEXTo wash the vehicle properly, proceed as follows:
❒wash the body using a low-pressure jet of water;
❒use a sponge to wipe a slightly soapy solution over the
bodywork, frequently rinsing the sponge;
❒rinse with plenty of water and dry with a jet of air or
a chamois leather.
Observe the following recommendations for washing the
vehicle in an automatic carwash:
– remove the aerial from the roof so it does not get dam-
aged;
– the car wash should use water added to a soapy solu-
tion;
– rinse thoroughly to avoid soap marks staying on the
bodywork or less visible parts.
Some car washes with old-style blades
and/or in a poor state of repair can dam-
age the paintwork, facilitating the forma-
tion of lines that give the paint a dull/misty ap-
pearance, especially on dark colours. If this hap-
pens, lightly polish the paintwork with appropri-
ate products.
Dry the less visible parts particularly carefully, such as the
door frames, bonnet and the headlight frames, where wa-
ter may stagnate more easily. It is a good idea to leave
the vehicle outdoors for a while after washing it to give
water time to evaporate.
Do not wash the vehicle after it has been left in the sun
or with the bonnet hot: this may alter the shine of the
paintwork.
Exterior plastic parts should be cleaned in the same way
as the rest of the vehicle. Where possible, do not park
the vehicle under trees; the resinous substances released
by many species give the paint a dull appearance and in-
crease the possibility of rust.
IMPORTANT Bird droppings should be washed off im-
mediately and thoroughly as the acid they contain is par-
ticularly aggressive.
Detergents cause water pollution. The ve-
hicle should be washed in areas equipped
for collecting and purifying the liquid used
in the washing process.