155
KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
Gear selection
Use a higher gear as soon as traffic and road conditions al-
low. Using a low gear for faster acceleration will increase
fuel consumption. In the same way, improper use of a high
gear increases consumption, emissions and engine wear.
Top speed
Fuel consumption considerably increases as speed in-
creases. Keep your speed as even as possible, avoiding un-
necessary braking and acceleration, which cause excessive
fuel consumption and increased emissions.
Acceleration
Accelerating violently severely affects consumption and
emissions: acceleration should be gradual and should not
exceed the maximum torque.CONDITIONS OF USE
Cold starting
Short distances and frequent cold start-ups will prevent the
engine from reaching optimal running temperature. Con-
sequently, both fuel consumption (from +15 to +30% on
the urban cycle) and emissions will increase.
Traffic and road conditions
Heavy traffic, for instance when travelling in a queue with
frequent use of low gears or in cities with lots of traffic
lights, causes fairly high fuel consumption. Mountain roads
and uneven surfaces also have a negative effect on con-
sumption.
Traffic hold-ups
During prolonged hold-ups (e.g. at level crossings) the en-
gine should be switched off.
149-160 PUNTO FL EN 3ed 9-12-2009 13:41 Pagina 155
162
KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
AIRBAG FAILURE (red)
When the ignition key is moved to MAR position,
the warnintg light turns on but should go off af-
ter a few seconds.
The warning light stays on constantly if there is a failure
in the airbag system. A specific message is displayed on cer-
tain versions.
¬
If the warning light ¬does not come on
when turning the key to MAR or stays on
during car travel, a failure may be present in the
restraint systems. If this is the case, the airbags
or pretensioners may not be deployed after an im-
pact or, in a minor number of cases, they may be
deployed accidentally. Contact a Fiat Dealership
immediately to have the system checked before
driving off.
WARNING
A problem with the warning light ¬(light
off) is indicated by the warning light “,
which indicates the front passenger airbag is de-
activated, flashing for more than the usual four
seconds.
WARNING
OVERHEATED ENGINE COOLANT
(red)
When the ignition key is moved to MAR position,
the warnintg light turns on but should go off after a few
seconds. The warning light turns on when the engine is
overheated. If the warning light comes on, proceed as fol-
lows:
❒when driving normally: stop the car, switch off the en-
gine and check that the water level in the reservoir is
not below the MIN mark. If it is not, wait for a few min-
utes for the engine to cool down then slowly and care-
fully open the cap, top-up with coolant and check that
the level is between the MIN and MAX marks. Also
visually check for leaks. Go to a Fiat Dealership if the
warning light comes on again when the engine is next
started.
❒if the vehicle is used under demanding conditions (e.g.
towing trailers uphill or fully loaded): slow down and,
if the light stays on, stop the car. Stop for 2 or 3 min-
utes with the engine running and slightly accelerated to
assist better coolant circulation. Then switch the en-
gine off. Check correct fluid level as described above.
IMPORTANT On particularly demanding journeys, it is ad-
visable to keep the engine on and slightly accelerated for
a few minutes before switching it off.
A specific message is displayed on certain versions.
ç
161-174 PUNTO FL EN 3ed 9-12-2009 13:40 Pagina 162
166
KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
Go to a Fiat Dealership as soon as possi-
ble if warning light Udoes not light up
when the key is turned to MAR or if, while trav-
elling, the warning light comes on either perma-
nently or flashing (along with a message on the
display on certain versions). The operation of the
Uwarning light may be checked by traffic police
using appropriate equipment. Follow the laws in
force in the country where you are driving.
WARNING
FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG
DEACTIVATED (amber)
The warning light
“comes on when the front
passenger airbag is disabled.
With the front passenger air bag enabled, when the igni-
tion key is turned to MAR the
“warning light comes on
constantly for about 4 seconds, flashes for another 4 sec-
onds and then should go out.
“
Engine management system failure – EOBD
Under normal conditions, turning the ignition key to MAR,
the warning light turns on but it should go off after the en-
gine starts. This indicates that the warning light is work-
ing correctly. If the warning light either stays on or comes
on during car travel:
❒on permanently: this means there is a fault in the sup-
ply/ignition system which could cause high exhaust
emissions, loss of performance, poor handling and high
fuel consumption levels.
A specific message is displayed on certain versions.
Under these conditions, the vehicle can continue travel-
ling at moderate speed without demanding excessive ef-
fort from the engine. Prolonged use of the car with the
warning light on may cause damage. Go to a Fiat Dealer-
ship as soon as possible. The warning light goes out after
the fault disappears, but the indication is stored in the sys-
tem.
❒flashing: this indicates possible damage to the catalytic
converter (see “EOBD system” in the “Dashboard and
controls” section).
If the light flashes, come off the accelerator pedal to re-
duce engine revs until the warning light stops flashing; con-
tinue the journey at moderate speed, trying to avoid dri-
ving conditions that may cause further flashing, and get
to a Fiat Dealership as soon as possible.For versions/markets, where provided, the
Uwarning
light in the instrument panel does not have the EOBD func-
tion (European On Board Diagnosis) but only that of sig-
nalling that the injection system is not working perfectly.
161-174 PUNTO FL EN 3ed 9-12-2009 13:40 Pagina 166
09
10
14
15
19
20
21
30
84
85
86
87
8820
10
15
30
7.5
30
15
15
7.5
–
15
5
7.5
204
KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
Engine compartment fuse box fig. 192
DEVICESFUSE AMPS
Hi-Fi sound system with control unit and subwoofer
Single tone horn
Left main beam headlight, right main beam headlight
Additional heater PTC1
Air conditioning compressor
Heated rear window
Fuel pump on tank
Left fog light, right fog light
CNG methane system management solenoid valves
Socket (ready for use)
Passenger compartment socket, cigarette lighter
Battery charge status sensor
De-mister on driver-side wing mirror, de-mister on passenger-side wing mirror
175-210 PUNTO FL EN 3ed 9-12-2009 13:42 Pagina 204
211
KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
SERVICING AND CARE
SCHEDULED SERVICING
Correct maintenance is essential for ensuring long car life
under the best conditions.
That is why Fiat has prepared a series of checks and ser-
vice operations to be carried out every 30,000 kilometres
(for petrol and Euro 4 diesel versions) or every 35,000
kilometres (for Euro 5 diesel versions).
It is, however, important to remember that scheduled ser-
vicing does not completely cover all the car’s requirements:
even in the initial period before 30,000/35,000 km, and then
subsequently between one service and another, ordinary
care is always required such as routine checks involving top-
ping up fluid levels, checking tyre pressures etc...IMPORTANT Scheduled Services are prescribed by the
manufacturer. Failure to stick to the schedule may invali-
date the warranty.
Scheduled Servicing is performed by all Fiat Dealerships at
pre-arranged times.
If, during each part of the service, the need arises for ad-
ditional replacements or repairs, these may be carried out
only with the explicit agreement of the Customer.
IMPORTANT You are advised to contact a Fiat Dealer-
ship immediately in the event of any minor operating faults,
without waiting for the next service.
If your car is used frequently for towing trailers, the in-
terval between services should be reduced.
211-234 PUNTO FL EN 3ed 9-12-2009 13:38 Pagina 211
216
HEAVY USAGE OF THE VEHICLE
Should the car be used predominantly in one of the fol-
lowing particularly demanding conditions:
❒ trailer or caravan towing;
❒ dusty roads;
❒short (less than 7-8 km) and repeated journeys in sub-
zero temperatures;
❒frequently idling engine or long-distance, low-speed dri-
ving (e.g. door-to-door deliveries), or in the event of
long-term inactivity;
❒ in cities;
perform the following inspections more frequently than
shown on the Scheduled Servicing Plan:
❒ check condition and wear of front disc brake pads;
❒check cleanliness of bonnet and boot locks, as well as
cleanliness and lubrication of linkages;
❒visually inspect the conditions of: engine, gearbox, trans-
mission, pipes and tubes (exhaust – fuel – brakes), rub-
ber parts (boots, sleeves, bushes, etc.);
❒check battery charge and liquid level (electrolyte);
❒ visually inspect condition of accessory drive belts;
❒ check pollen filter and replace it, if required;
❒ check air filter and replace, if required.
REGULAR CHECKS
Every 1,000 km or before long journeys, check and, if nec-
essary, top up:
❒engine coolant fluid level;
❒brake fluid level;
❒windscreen washer fluid level;
❒tyre pressures and conditions;
❒operation of lighting system (headlights, direction indi-
cators, hazard lights, etc.);
❒operation of the windscreen wiper/washer system, po-
sition and wear of the windscreen and rear window
wiper blades;
Check and top up, if required, the engine oil level every
3,000 km.
You are recommended to use PETRONAS LUBRICANTS
products, which have been designed and produced specif-
ically for Fiat cars (see table “Capacities” in the “Techni-
cal specifications” section).
KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
211-234 PUNTO FL EN 3ed 9-12-2009 13:38 Pagina 216
225
KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
AIR FILTER
Have the air filter replaced by a Fiat Dealership.
POLLEN FILTER
Have the pollen filter replaced by a Fiat Dealership.
Brake fluid is poisonous and highly corro-
sive. In the event of accidental contact,
wash the parts immediately with water and mild
soap, then rinse with plenty of water. In case of
swallowing, immediately call a doctor.
WARNING
The symbol πon the container indicates
a synthetic brake fluid, which is different
from a mineral fluid. Using a mineral-type fluid
will damage the special rubber seals of the brak-
ing system beyond repair.
WARNING
BATTERY
The battery is of the “limited maintenance” type: under
normal conditions of use, the electrolyte does not need
topping up with distilled water.
CHECKING THE CHARGE
AND THE ELECTROLYTE LEVEL
Inspection operations must be carried out only by spe-
cialised personnel, following the prescriptions contained
in this Owner Handbook. Any top-up operations must
be carried out only by specialised personnel at a Fiat Deal-
ership.
The battery fluid is poisonous and corro-
sive. Avoid contact with the skin and eyes.
Keep naked flames or possible sources of sparks
away from the battery: risk of explosion or fire.
WARNING
Using the battery when the fluid is too low
can damage it irreparably and generate
a risk of explosion.
WARNING
211-234 PUNTO FL EN 3ed 9-12-2009 13:38 Pagina 225
231
F0U0293mfig. 215
F0U0292mfig. 214
Rear window washer fig. 215
The rear window washer jets are fixed.
The nozzle holder is located above the rear window.KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
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 car
to effectively protect the bodywork against corrosion.
These are the most important:
❒painting products and systems which give the car par-
ticular 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 exposed
areas: underdoor, inner mudguard parts, edges, etc.;
❒using “open” boxed sections to prevent condensation
and pockets of moisture from triggering rust inside.
211-234 PUNTO FL EN 3ed 9-12-2009 13:38 Pagina 231