2011 FIAT FREEMONT service schedule

MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES
The pages that follow contain therequiredmainte-
nance services determined by the engineers who de-
signed your vehicle.
Besides those maintenance items specified in the fixed
maintenance schedule, there are other components
which may require servicing or replacement in the
future.
 Failure to properly maintain your ve-
hicle or perform repairs and service when
necessary could result in more costly re-
pairs, damage to other components or negatively
impact vehicle performance. Immediately have
potential malfunctions examined by an autho-
rized dealership or qualified repair center.
 Your vehicle has been built with improved fluids
that protect the performance and durability of
your vehicle and also allow extended mainte-
nance intervals. Do not use chemical flushes in
these components as the chemicals can damage
your engine, transmission, power steering or air
conditioning. Such damage is not covered by the
New Vehicle Limited Warranty. If a flush is needed
because of component malfunction, use only the
specified fluid for the flushing procedure. ENGINE OIL
Checking Oil Level – 2.0L Diesel Engine
To assure proper engine lubrication, the engine oil
must be maintained at the correct level. Check the oil
level at regular intervals, such as every fuel stop.
The best time to check the engine oil level is about five
minutes after a fully warmed engine is shut off or
before starting the engine after it has sat overnight.
Checking the oil while the vehicle is on level ground will
improve the accuracy of the oil level readings. Maintain
the oil level between the MIN and MAX markings on
the dipstick. Adding 1.0 qt (1.0 l) of oil when the
reading is at the MIN mark will result in a MAX reading
on these engines.
Change Engine Oil – 2.0L Diesel Engine
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule” for the proper
maintenance intervals.
Engine Oil Viscosity – 2.0L Diesel Engine
For best performance and maximum protection under
all types of operating conditions, the manufacturer
recommends Fully Synthetic Low Ash 5W-30 engine
oils that meet the requirements of FIAT 9.55535-S1
spec and ACEA C1/C2.
Materials Added To Engine Oil
Do not add any supplemental materials, other than leak
detection dyes, to the engine oil. Engine oil is an
engineered product and its performance may be im-
paired by supplemental additives.
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Disposing of Used Engine Oil And Oil Filters
Care should be taken in disposing of used engine oil and
oil filters from your vehicle. Used oil and oil filters,
indiscriminately discarded, can present a problem to
the environment. Contact your authorized dealer, ser-
vice station, or governmental agency for advice on how
and where used oil and oil filters can be safely discarded
in your area.
ENGINE AIR CLEANER FILTER
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule” for the proper
maintenance intervals.
WARNING!
The air induction system (air cleaner,
hoses, etc .) can provide a measure of
protection in the case of engine backfire. Do not
remove the air induction system (air cleaner,
hoses, etc .) unless such removal is necessary for
repair or maintenance. Make sure that no one is
near the engine compartment before starting the
vehicle with the air induction system (air cleaner,
hoses, etc .) removed. Failure to do so can result in
serious personal injury.
Engine Air Cleaner Filter Selection
The quality of replacement engine air cleaner filters
varies considerably. Only high quality filters should be
used to assure most efficient service. MAINTENANCE-FREE BATTERY
You will never have to add water, nor is periodic
maintenance required.
NOTE:
The battery is stored in a compartment that
is located behind the left front fender and is accessible
through the wheel well. The wheel and tire assemble
do not need to be removed to access the compart-
ment. Remote battery terminals are located in the
engine compartment for jump-starting.
To access the battery, turn the steering wheel fully to
the right and remove the access panel from the inner
fender shield.
WARNING!
 Battery fluid is a corrosive acid solu-
tion and can burn or even blind you. Do
not allow battery fluid to contact your eyes, skin,
or clothing. Do not lean over a battery when
attaching clamps. If acid splashes in eyes or on
skin, flush the area immediately with large
amounts of water.
 Battery gas is flammable and explosive. Keep
flame or sparks away from the battery. Do not
use a booster battery or any other booster source
with an output greater than 12 Volts. Do not
allow cable clamps to touch each other.
 Battery posts, terminals, and related accesso-
ries contain lead and lead compounds. Wash
hands after handling.
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 It is essential when replacing the cables
on the battery that the positive cable is
attached to the positive post and the
negative cable is attached to the negative post .
Battery posts are marked positive (+) and nega-
tive (-) and identified on the battery case. Cable
clamps should be tight on the terminal posts and
free of corrosion.
 If a “fast charger ” is used while the battery is in
the vehicle, disconnect both vehicle battery cables
before connecting the charger to the battery. Do
not use a “fast charger ” to provide starting volt-
age as battery damage can result .
AIR CONDITIONER MAINTENANCE
For best possible performance, your air conditioner
should be checked and serviced by an authorized
dealer at the start of each warm season. This service
should include cleaning of the condenser fins and a
performance test. Drive belt tension should also be
checked at this time.Do not use chemical flushes in your air
conditioning system as the chemicals can
damage your air conditioning compo-
nents. Such damage is not covered by the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty.
WARNING!
 Use only refrigerants and compressor
lubricants approved by the manufac-
turer for your air conditioning system. Some un-
approved refrigerants are flammable and can
explode, injuring you. Other unapproved refrig-
erants or lubricants can cause the system to fail,
requiring costly repairs.
 The air conditioning system contains refriger-
ant under high pressure.To avoid risk of personal
injury or damage to the system, adding refriger-
ant or any repair requiring lines to be discon-
nected should be done by an experienced
technician.
Refrigerant Recovery And Recycling
R-134a Air Conditioning Refrigerant is a hydrofluoro-
carbon (HFC) that is endorsed by the Environmental
Protection Agency and is an ozone-saving product.
However, the manufacturer recommends that air con-
ditioning service be performed by authorized dealers
or other service facilities using recovery and recyclingequipment.
NOTE: Use only manufacturer approved A/C system
sealers, stop leak products, seal conditioners, com-
pressor oil, and refrigerants.
A/C AIR FILTER — IF EQUIPPED
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule” for the proper
maintenance intervals. 221
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Coolant Level
The radiator normally remains completely full, so there
is no need to remove the radiator cap unless checking
for coolant freeze point or replacing coolant. Advise
your service attendant of this. As long as the engine
operating temperature is satisfactory, the coolant
bottle need only be checked once a month. When
additional coolant is needed to maintain the proper
level, it should be added to the coolant bottle. Do not
overfill.
Points To Remember
NOTE:When the vehicle is stopped after a few miles
(kilometers) of operation, you may observe vapor
coming from the front of the engine compartment.
This is normally a result of moisture from rain, snow, or
high humidity accumulating on the radiator and being
vaporized when the thermostat opens, allowing hot
coolant to enter the radiator.
If an examination of your engine compartment shows
no evidence of radiator or hose leaks, the vehicle may
be safely driven. The vapor will soon dissipate.
• Do not overfill the coolant recovery bottle.
• Check coolant freeze point in the radiator and in the coolant recovery bottle. If antifreeze needs to be
added, contents of coolant recovery bottle must also
be protected against freezing.
• If frequent coolant additions are required, or if the level in the coolant recovery bottle does not drop
when the engine cools, the cooling system should be
pressure tested for leaks. • Make sure that the radiator and coolant recovery
bottle overflow hoses are not kinked or obstructed.
• Keep the front of the radiator clean. If your vehicle is equipped with air conditioning, keep the front of the
condenser clean.
• Do not change the thermostat for Summer or Win- ter operation. If replacement is ever necessary, install
ONLY the correct type thermostat. Other designs
may result in unsatisfactory coolant performance,
poor gas mileage, and increased emissions.
BRAKE SYSTEM
In order to assure brake system performance, all brake
system components should be inspected periodically.
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule” for the proper
maintenance intervals.
WARNING!
Riding the brakes can lead to brake fail-
ure and possibly an accident . Driving
with your foot resting or riding on the brake
pedal can result in abnormally high brake tem-
peratures, excessive lining wear, and possible
brake damage.You would not have your full brak-
ing capacity in an emergency.
Master Cylinder – Brake Fluid Level Check
Check the fluid level in the master cylinder immediately
if the “Brake Warning Light” indicates system failure.
Check the fluid level in the master cylinder when
performing underhood services.
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Daytime Running . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Dimmer Switch, Headlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Electronic Stability Program (ESP) Indicator . . . . . 110
Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Fog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67,186,201
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Hazard Warning Flasher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Headlight Leveling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Headlight Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66,201
Headlights On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Headlights On With Wipers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
High Beam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68,186,201
High Beam Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
High Beam/Low Beam Select . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Illuminated Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66,185
Intensity Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Lights On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Low Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,20
Low Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Malfunction Indicator (Check Engine) . . . . . . . . . 185
Map Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Parade Mode (Daytime Brightness) . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Passing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Rear Fog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189,202
Rear Servicing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201,203
Rear Tail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Seat Belt Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200,201
Service Engine Soon (Malfunction Indicator) . . . . . 185Side Marker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Side Repeater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPMS) . . . . . . . . . 114,186
Traction Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Turn Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68,165,186,201,203
Vanity Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Warning (Instrument Cluster Description) . . . . . . 185
Load Floor, Cargo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Auto Unlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Automatic Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Child Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Power Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Low Tire Pressure System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Lower Anchors and Tether for CHildren
(LATCH) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146,149
Lubrication, Body . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Luggage Rack (Roof Rack) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Maintenance Free Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Maintenance Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Maintenance, General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Maintenance, Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Malfunction Indicator Light (Check Engine) . . . . . . . 185
Manual Transaxle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170,229 Downshifting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Fluid Level Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Frequency of Fluid Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Lubricant Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Map/Reading Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Marker Lights, Side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Master Cylinder (Brakes) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
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