STARTING THE ENGINE
EMERGENCY STARTING
If the instrument panel warning light
Ystays on
permanently, contact an Abarth Dealership immediately.
IN AN EMERGENCY
In an emergency we recommend that you call the free-phone number found on the Warranty Booklet. You can
also find the Abarth Dealership nearest to you on the web site www.fiat.com.
This procedure must be performed by
expert personnel because incorrect
actions could cause electrical discharge of
considerable intensity. Furthermore, battery
fluid is poisonous and corrosive: avoid contact
with skin and eyes. Keep naked flames away
from the battery. No smoking. Do not cause
sparks.
WARNING
IMPORTANT For the jump starting procedure, refer to
“Knowing your car” section, paragraph “Start&Stop
system”.
fig. 126F0U187Ab
151
KNOWING
YOUR VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
MAINTENANCE
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
JUMP STARTING fig. 126
If the battery is flat, the engine may be started using an
auxiliary battery with the same capacity or a little higher
than the flat one. It is advisable to contact an Abarth
Dealership to check/replace the battery.
193
KNOWING
YOUR VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
MAINTENANCE
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
BATTERY
The car is fitted with a low-maintenance battery: no
top-ups with distilled water are needed in standard
conditions of use.
INSPECTING THE CHARGE AND THE
ELECTROLYTE LEVEL
The operations must be carried out as described in this
Owner Handbook only by skilled personnel. Any top-up
operations must be carried out by skilled personnel and
by an Abarth Dealership.
Battery liquid is poisonous and corrosive.
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
CHANGING THE BATTERY
If required, replace the battery with a genuine spare part
with the same specifications.
If a battery with different specifications is fitted, the
service intervals given in the “Scheduled Servicing
Programme” in this chapter will no longer be valid.
Follow the battery manufacturer’s instructions for
maintenance.
Incorrect installation of electric and
electronic devices may cause severe
damage to your car. Contact an Abarth
Ford Dealership if you want to install accessories
(alarms, mobile phone, etc.): they will suggest the
most suitable devices and advise you if a higher
capacity battery needs to be installed.
195
KNOWING
YOUR VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
MAINTENANCE
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
IMPORTANT If the charge level remains under 50% for
a long time, the battery is damaged by sulphation,
reducing its capacity and efficiency at start-up.
The battery will also be more at risk of freezing (e.g.
already at -10°C). Refer to the paragraph “Car
inactivity” in “Starting and driving” if the car is left
parked for a long time.
If after buying the car, you want to install electrical
accessories which require permanent electrical supply
(alarm, etc.) or accessories influencing the electrical
supply requirements, contact an Abarth Dealership
whose qualified personnel, in addition to suggesting the
most suitable devices available in Lineaccessori Abarth,
will evaluate the overall electric absorption, checking
whether the car’s electric system is capable of
withstanding the load required, or whether it should be
integrated with a more powerful battery.
Since these devices continue absorbing energy even with
the engine off, they gradually run down the battery.WHEELS AND TYRES
Check the pressure of each tyre, including the space-saver,
every two weeks and before long journeys. The pressure
should be checked with the tyre rested and cold.
While driving the car, the pressure increases under
standard conditions: for the correct tyre inflation
pressure, see “Wheels” in the “Technical specifications”
chapter.
Incorrect pressure causes abnormal tyre wear fig. 171:
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.
IMPORTANT NOTES
❒Avoid braking suddenly, high-powered starts and
violent impacts against curbs, potholes or other
obstacles if possible. Driving for long stretches over
bumpy roads can damage the tyres;
