2009 FIAT SEDICI maintenance

110
AUDIO SYSTEMS
❒Driving on extremely bumpy roads
which cause severe vibrations may
cause sound to skip.
❒This unit uses a precision mechanism.
Even in the event that trouble arises,
never open the case, disassemble the
unit, or lubricate the rotating parts.
Please bring the unit to an authorized
Fiat Dealership. MAINTENANCE
If you do not use the air conditioner for
a long period, such as during winter, it may
not give the best performance when you
start using it again. To help maintain op-
timum performance and durability of your
air conditioner, it needs to be run peri-
odically. Operate the air conditioner at
least once a month for one minute with
the engine idling. This circulates the re-
frigerant and oil and helps protect the in-
ternal components.
Your air conditioner is equipped with air
filters. Clean or replace them as specified
in the “Maintenance Schedule” in the “IN-
SPECTION AND MAINTENANCE” sec-
tion. Have this job done by your Fiat Deal-
ership as the lower glove box must be
lowered for this job.
NOTE Your vehicle uses the air condi-
tioning refrigerant HFC-134a, commonly
called “R-134a”. R-134a replaced R-12
around 1993 for automotive applications.
Other refrigerants are available, including
recycled R-12, but only R-134a should be
used in your vehicle.
IMPORTANT Using the wrong refriger-
ant may damage your air conditioning sys-
tem. Use R-134a only. Do not mix or re-
place the R-134a with other refrigerants.
79J188
Too high a volume when dri-
ving can put the driver’s life
at risk and that of other people.
Therefore the volume should always
be adjusted in such a way that it is al-
ways possible to hear the noises of
the surrounding environment (e.g.:
horns, ambulance, police sirens, etc.).
WARNING
FM/MW/LW CD PLAYER WITH
CD CHANGER CONTROL
PRECAUTIONS
❒When the inside of the vehicle is very
cold and the player is used soon after
switching on the heater, moisture may
form on the disc or the optical parts
of the player and proper playback may
not be possible. If moisture forms on
the disc, wipe it off with a soft cloth. If
moisture forms on the optical parts of
the player, do not use the player for
about one hour, this will allow the con-
densation to disappear normally.
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150
DAILY INSPECTION
CHECKLIST
BEFORE DRIVING
Make sure that windows, mirrors,
lights, and reflectors are clean and un-
obstructed.
Visually check the tires for the fol-
lowing points:
– the depth of the tread groove
– abnormal wear, cracks and damage
– loose wheel bolts
– existence of foreign material such as
nails, stones, etc.
Refer to “Tires” in “INSPECTION AND
MAINTENANCE” section for details.
Look for fluid and oil leaks.
NOTE It is normal for water to drip from
the air conditioning system after use.
Make sure the hood is fully closed and
latched.
Check the headlights, turn signal lights,
brake lights and horn for proper oper-
ation.
EXHAUST GAS
WARNING
52D334
Avoid breathing exhaust gas-
es. Exhaust gases contain
carbon monoxide, a potentially lethal
gas that is colorless and odorless.
Since carbon monoxide is difficult to
detect by itself, be sure to take the
following precautions to help prevent
carbon monoxide from entering your
vehicle.
– Do not leave the engine running in
garages or other confined areas.
– Do not park with the engine run-
ning for a long period of time, even in
an open area. If it is necessary to sit
for a short time in a parked vehicle
with the engine running, make sure
the air intake selector is set to
“FRESH AIR” and the fan is at high
speed.
– Avoid operating the vehicle with the
tail gate or trunk open. If it is neces-
sary to operate the vehicle with the
tail gate or trunk open, make sure the
sunroof (for versions/markets, where
provided) and all windows are closed,
and the blower is at high speed with
the air intake selector set to “FRESH
AIR”.
WARNING
– To allow proper operation
of your vehicle’s ventilation
system, keep the air inlet grille in
front of the windshield clear of snow,
leaves, or other obstructions at all
times.
– Keep the exhaust tailpipe area
clear of snow and other material to
help reduce the buildup of exhaust
gases under the vehicle. This is par-
ticularly important when parked in
blizzard conditions.
– Have the exhaust system inspect-
ed periodically for damage and leaks.
Any damage or leaks should be re-
paired immediately.
WARNING
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151
Brake fluid level
Power steering (for versions/markets,
where provided) fluid level
Windshield washer fluid level
Battery solution level
Hood latch operation
Pull the hood release handle inside the
vehicle. Make sure that you cannot
open the hood all the way without re-
leasing the secondary latch. Be sure to
close the hood securely after check-
ing for proper latch operation. See “All
latches, hinges & locks” of “CHASSIS
AND BODY” in the “Periodic Main-
tenance Schedule” in the “INSPEC-
TION AND MAINTENANCE” section
for lubrication schedule.
Once a month, or each time you fill your
fuel tank, check the tire pressure using a
tire pressure gauge. Also check the tire
pressure of the spare tire.
Adjust the seat and adjustable head re-
straint (for versions/markets, where
provided).
Check the brake pedal and the park-
ing brake lever.
Adjust the mirrors.
Make sure that you and all passengers
have properly fastened your seat belts.
Make sure that all warning lights come
on as the key is turned to the “ON” or
“START” position.
Check all gauges.
Make sure that the BRAKE SYSTEM
WARNING light turns off when the
parking brake is released.
Once a week, or each time you fill your
fuel tank, perform the following under-
hood checks:
Engine oil level
Coolant level
60A187S
Make sure the hood is fully
closed and latched before
driving. If it is not, it can fly up un-
expectedly during driving, obstructing
your view and resulting in an acci-
dent.
WARNING
ENGINE OIL
CONSUMPTION
It is normal for the engine to consume
some engine oil during normal vehicle op-
eration.
The amount of engine oil consumed de-
pends on the viscosity of the oil, the qual-
ity of the oil and the conditions the vehi-
cle is driven under.
More oil is consumed during high- speed
driving and when there is frequent accel-
eration and deceleration. Under high
loads, your engine also will consume more
oil.
A new engine also consumes more oil,
since its pistons, piston rings and cylinder
walls have not yet become conditioned.
New engines reach the normal level of oil
consumption only after approximately
5000 km (3000 miles) driving.
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161
Any forcible operation while driving of-
froad in the sand or water or when a
wheel has run off the road, the differ-
ence of the revolution between front
wheels and rear wheels increases
(wheels run idle). If this state continues,
the oil temperature of the driving sys-
tem parts rises.
In such case, the “4WD AUTO” indi-
cator light blinks and the driving mode
changes to the 2WD mode to protect
the driving system parts.
When you operate your vehicle in the
4WD mode continuously, park the ve-
hicle at a safe place and run the engine
idle. After some time, the “4WD AU-
TO” indicator light turns on again and
the driving mode returns to the “4WD
AUTO” mode.
IMPORTANT
Never use the “4WD LOCK” mode
when driving on dry paved roads.
Avoid using the “4WD LOCK” mode
when driving on wet paved roads as
much as possible. Use of the “4WD
LOCK” mode in above conditions will
apply excessive force to the driving sys-
tem and may cause a critical failure. Also,
the tires may wear faster and fuel con-
sumption may be affected adversely.
BRAKING
The distance needed to bring any vehicle
to a halt increases with the speed of the
vehicle. The braking distance needed, for
example, at 60 km/h (37 mph) will be ap-
proximately 4 times greater than the brak-
ing distance needed at 30 km/h (19 mph).
Start to brake the vehicle when there is
plenty of distance between your vehicle
and the stopping point, and slow down
gradually.
60G165A
Note that 4WD vehicles are not al-
laround vehicles. Be sure to observe
following instructions when driving
your vehicle.
– Do not drive through water like
crossing a river.
– Do not drive continuously where
front wheels tend to race such as in
the sand and mud.
– When any wheel is in the air for such
reason as running off the road, do
not race it needlessly.
If the “4WD AUTO” and the “4WD
LOCK” indicator lights stay on and come
on simultaneously when driving, there
may be something wrong the 4WD sys-
tem. Have the system inspected by an au-
thorized Fiat Dealership.
IMPORTANT Unevenly worn tires can
cause problems in the operation of the
2WD/4WD switch. Be sure to rotate the
tires according to the maintenance sched-
ule. Refer to “Tires” and “Maintenance
Schedule” in the “INSPECTION AND
MAINTENANCE” section for proper tire
rotation procedures.
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167
IMPORTANT To minimize the possibili-
ty of catalyst or other vehicle damage:
Maintain the engine in the proper op-
erating condition.
In the event of an engine malfunction,
particularly one involving engine misfire
or other apparent loss of performance,
have the vehicle serviced promptly.
Do not turn off the engine or interrupt
the ignition when the transaxle is in
gear and the vehicle is in motion.
Do not try to start the engine by push-
ing or towing the vehicle, or coasting
down a hill.
Do not idle the engine with any spark
plug wires disconnected or removed,
such as during diagnostic testing.
CATALYTIC CONVERTER
(for versions/markets, where provided)
The purpose of the catalytic converter is
to minimize the amount of harmful pollu-
tants in your vehicle’s exhaust. Use of
leaded fuel in vehicles equipped with cat-
alytic converters is prohibited, because
lead deactivates the pollutant- reducing
components of the catalyst system.
The converter is designed to last the life
of the vehicle under normal usage and
when unleaded fuel is used. No special
maintenance is required on the convert-
er. However, it is very important to keep
the engine properly tuned. Engine misfir-
ing, which can result from an improperly
tuned engine, may cause overheating of
the catalyst. This may result in permanent
heat damage to the catalyst and other ve-
hicle components.
68KM085
RUNNING-IN
IMPORTANT The future performance
and reliability of the engine depends on the
care and restraint exercised during its ear-
ly life. It is especially important to observe
the following precautions during the initial
960 km (600 miles) of vehicle operation.
After starting, do not race the engine.
Warm it up gradually.
Avoid prolonged vehicle operation at a
constant speed. Moving parts will break
in better if you vary your speed.
Start off from a stop slowly. Avoid full
throttle starts.
Avoid hard braking, especially during
the first 320 km (200 miles) of driving.
Do not drive slowly with the transaxle
in a high gear.
Drive the vehicle at moderate engine
speeds.
Do not tow a trailer during the first
960 km (600 miles) of vehicle opera-
tion.
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172
IMPORTANT Do not continue rocking
the vehicle for more than a few minutes.
Prolonged rocking can cause engine over-
heating or transaxle damage. IF YOUR VEHICLE GETS STUCK
If your vehicle gets stuck in snow, mud, or
sand, follow the directions below:
❒Shift the transaxle back and forth be-
tween first gear and reverse. This will
create a rocking motion which may give
you enough momentum to free the ve-
hicle. Press gently on the accelerator to
keep wheel spin to a minimum.
Remove your foot from the accelera-
tor while shifting.
Do not race the engine. Excessive
wheel spin will cause the tires to dig
deeper, making it more difficult to free
the vehicle.
❒If your vehicle remains stuck after a few
minutes of rocking, get another vehicle
to pull you out.
Do not allow anyone to
stand near the vehicle when
you are rocking it, and do not spin the
wheels faster than an indicated
40 km/h (25 mph) on the speedome-
ter. Personal injury and/ or vehicle
damage may result from spinning the
wheels too fast.
WARNING
54G638S
In addition to following the
driving tips in this section, it
is important to observe the following
precautions.
– Make sure your tires are in good
condition and always maintain the
specified tire pressure. Refer to
“Tires” in the “INSPECTION AND
MAINTENANCE” section for details.
WARNING
– Do not use tires other than
those specified by Fiat.
Never use different sizes or types of
tires on the front and rear wheels. For
information regarding the specified
tires, refer to the Tire Information La-
bel located on the driver’s door lock
pillar.
– Never use oversized tires or special
shock absorbers and springs to raise
(jack up) your vehicle. This will
change the handling characteristics.
Oversized tires may also rub against
the fender over bumps, causing vehi-
cle damage or tire failure.
– After driving through water, test the
brakes while driving at a slow speed
to see if they have maintained their
normal effectiveness. If the brakes are
less effective than normal, dry them
by repeatedly applying the brakes
while driving slowly until the brakes
have regained their normal effective-
ness.
WARNING
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177
ADDITIONAL TRAILER
TOWING WARNINGS
Never overload your trailer
or your vehicle. Gross trail-
er weight must never exceed the
“Towing capacity”. Gross vehicle
weight (sum of the weights of the ve-
hicle, all the occupants, accessories
including tow bars and a trailer hitch,
cargo and trailer nose weight) must
never exceed the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR) listed in the
“SPECIFICATIONS” section.
WARNING
Connect trailer lights and
hook up safety chains every
time you tow.
WARNING
IMPORTANT Because towing a trailer
puts additional stress on your vehicle,
more frequent maintenance will be re-
quired than under normal driving condi-
tions. Follow the schedule for “Mainte-
nance Recommended under Severe Dri-
ving Conditions”.
Your vehicle will handle dif-
ferently when towing a trail-
er. For your safety and the safety of
others, you should observe the fol-
lowing precautions:
– Practice turning, stopping, and re-
versing before you begin towing in
traffic. Do not tow in traffic until you
are confident that you can handle the
vehicle and trailer safely.
– Never exceed towing speed limits or
80 km/h (50 mph), whichever is low-
er.
– Never drive at a speed that causes
shaking or swaying of the trailer. If
you notice even the slightest sign of
shaking or swaying, slow down.
– When roads are wet, slippery or
rough, drive at a slower speed than
you would on dry, smooth roads.
Failure to slow down when road con-
ditions are bad can result in loss of
control.
– Always have someone guide you
when reversing.
– Allow adequate stopping distance.
Stopping distance is increased when
you tow a trailer. For each 16 km/h
(10 mph) of speed, allow at least one
vehicle and trailer length between
you and the vehicle ahead. Follow at
a greater distance if roads are wet or
slippery.
WARNING
– If the trailer has over-run
brakes, apply the brakes
gradually to avoid snatching caused
by the trailer wheels locking.
– Slow down before corners and
maintain a steady speed while cor-
nering. Deceleration or acceleration
while cornering can result in loss of
control. Remember that a larger than
normal turning radius is needed be-
cause the trailer wheels will be clos-
er than vehicle wheels to the inside of
the turn.
– Avoid sudden acceleration and
stopping of the vehicle. Do not make
quick maneuvers unless they are nec-
essary.
– Slow down in cross winds and be
prepared for gusts of wind from large
passing vehicles.
– Be careful when overtaking other
vehicles. Be sure to allow enough
room for your trailer before you
change lanes, and signal well in ad-
vance.
– Slow down and shift into a lower
gear before you reach long or steep
downhill grades. It is hazardous to at-
tempt downshifting while you are de-
scending a hill.
WARNING
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I I
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P P
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D D
M M
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60G410
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE................................................. 185
SERVICE SCHEDULE – PETROL VERSIONS ..................... 186
SERVICE SCHEDULE – DIESEL VERSIONS........................ 188
MAINTENANCE RECOMMENDED UNDER SEVERE
DRIVING CONDITIONS......................................................... 190
DRIVE BELT.................................................................................. 191
ENGINE OIL AND FILTER...................................................... 191
GEAR OIL...................................................................................... 195
AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE (AT) FLUID ........................... 196
ENGINE COOLANT................................................................. 198
WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID............................................ 201
AIR CLEANER.............................................................................. 201
SPARK PLUGS (Gasoline engine)........................................... 202
FUEL FILTER (Diesel engine).................................................... 204
BRAKES.......................................................................................... 205
STEERING ..................................................................................... 207
CLUTCH PEDAL........................................................................ 208
TIRES ............................................................................................... 208
BATTERY....................................................................................... 213
FUSES .............................................................................................. 215
BULB REPLACEMENT............................................................... 221
WINDSCREEN - REAR WINDOW WASHER/WIPERS 227
AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM............................................. 230
8
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