2012 FIAT 500 cooling

MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
CONTENTS
Engine Compartment — 1.4L ............. 305
 Onboard Diagnostic System – OBD II ....... 306
 Emissions Inspection And Maintenance
Programs ............................ 306
 Replacement Parts ..................... 308
 Dealer Service ........................ 308
 Maintenance Procedures ................. 309
▫ Engine Oil ......................... 310
▫ Engine Oil Filter ..................... 312 ▫
Engine Air Cleaner Filter ............... 312
▫ Maintenance-Free Battery .............. 313
▫ Air Conditioner Maintenance ............ 315
▫ Body Lubrication .................... 316
▫ Windshield Wiper Blades ............... 316
▫ Adding Washer Fluid ................. 318
▫ Exhaust System ..................... 319
▫ Cooling System ..................... 321
▫ Brake System ....................... 326
7

To minimize the possibility of catalytic converter dam-
age:
•Do not shut off the engine or interrupt the ignition,
when the transmission is in gear and the vehicle is in
motion.
•Do not try to start the engine by pushing or towing the
vehicle.
•Do not idle the engine with any spark plug wires
disconnected or removed, such as when diagnostic
testing, or for prolonged periods during very rough
idle or malfunctioning operating conditions.
Cooling System
WARNING!
•When working near the radiator cooling fan, dis-
connect the fan motor lead or turn the ignition
switch to the OFF position. The fan is temperature
controlled and can start at any time the ignition
switch is in the ON position.
•You or others can be badly burned by hot engine
coolant (antifreeze) or steam from your radiator. If
you see or hear steam coming from under the
hood, do not open the hood until the radiator has
had time to cool. Never try to open a cooling
system pressure cap when the radiator is hot.
7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 321

Coolant Checks
Check engine coolant (antifreeze) protection every
12 months (before the onset of freezing weather, where
applicable). If the engine coolant (antifreeze) is dirty or
rusty in appearance, the system should be drained,
flushed and refilled with fresh engine coolant (anti-
freeze). Check the front of the A/C condenser for any
accumulation of bugs, leaves, etc. If dirty, clean by gently
spraying water from a garden hose vertically down the
face of the condenser.
Cooling System – Drain, Flush, And Refill
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule” for the proper
maintenance intervals.
If the engine coolant (antifreeze) is dirty or contains a
considerable amount of sediment, clean and flush with a
reliable cooling system cleaner. Follow with a thorough
rinsing to remove all deposits and chemicals. Properly
dispose of old engine coolant (antifreeze).
Selection Of Coolant
Refer to “Fluids, Lubricants, and Genuine Parts” in
“Maintaining Your Vehicle” for further information.
CAUTION!
•Mixing of engine coolant (antifreeze) other than
specified Organic Additive Technology (OAT) en-
gine coolant (antifreeze), may result in engine
damage and may decrease corrosion protection.
Organic Additive Technology (OAT) engine cool-
ant is different and should not be mixed with
Hybrid Organic Additive Technology (HOAT) en-
gine coolant (antifreeze). If a non-OAT engine
coolant (antifreeze) is introduced into the cooling
system in an emergency, it should be replaced with
the specified engine coolant (antifreeze) as soon as
possible.(Continued)
322 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

CAUTION! (Continued)
•Do not use water alone or alcohol-based engine
coolant (antifreeze) products. Do not use addi-
tional rust inhibitors or antirust products, as they
may not be compatible with the radiator engine
coolant and may plug the radiator.
•This vehicle has not been designed for use with
propylene glycol-based engine coolant (anti-
freeze). Use of propylene glycol-based engine
coolant (antifreeze) is not recommended.
Adding Coolant
Your vehicle has been built with an improved engine
coolant (antifreeze) that allows extended maintenance
intervals. This engine coolant (antifreeze) can be used up
to ten years or 152,000 miles (247 000 km) before replace-
ment. To prevent reducing this extended maintenance
period, it is important that you use the same engine
coolant (antifreeze) throughout the life of your vehicle.Please review these recommendations for using Organic
Additive Technology (OAT) engine coolant (antifreeze).
When adding engine coolant (antifreeze):
•The manufacturer recommends using MOPAR

Antifreeze/Coolant 10 Year/152,000 Mile Formula
OAT (Organic Additive Technology) or equivalent.
•Mix a minimum solution of 50% OAT engine coolant
and distilled water. Use higher concentrations (not to
exceed 70%) if temperatures below 34°F(37° C)
are anticipated.
•Use only high purity water such as distilled or deion-
ized water when mixing the water/engine coolant
(antifreeze) solution. The use of lower quality water
will reduce the amount of corrosion protection in the
engine cooling system.
7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 323

Please note that it is the owner’s responsibility to main-
tain the proper level of protection against freezing ac-
cording to the temperatures occurring in the area where
the vehicle is operated.
NOTE:Mixing engine coolant (antifreeze) types is not
recommended and can result in cooling system damage.
Drain, flush, and refill as soon as possible to avoid
damage if coolant types are mixed in an emergency.
Cooling System Pressure Cap
The cap must be fully tightened to prevent loss of engine
coolant (antifreeze) and to ensure that engine coolant
(antifreeze).
The cap should be inspected and cleaned if there is any
accumulation of foreign material on the sealing surfaces.
WARNING!
•The warning words “DO NOT OPEN HOT” on
the cooling system pressure cap are a safety pre-
caution. Never add engine coolant (antifreeze)
when the engine is overheated. Do not loosen or
remove the cap to cool an overheated engine. Heat
causes pressure to build up in the cooling system.
To prevent scalding or injury, do not remove the
pressure cap while the system is hot or under
pressure.
•Do not use a pressure cap other than the one
specified for your vehicle. Personal injury or en-
gine damage may result.
Disposal Of Used Engine Coolant
Used ethylene glycol-based engine coolant (antifreeze) is
a regulated substance requiring proper disposal. Check
with your local authorities to determine the disposal
324 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

•Check the coolant freeze point in the radiator and in
the coolant expansion bottle. If engine coolant (anti-
freeze) needs to be added, the contents of the coolant
expansion bottle must also be protected against freez-
ing.
•If frequent engine coolant (antifreeze) additions are
required, the cooling system should be pressure tested
for leaks.
•Maintain engine coolant (antifreeze) concentration at
50% OAT engine coolant (antifreeze) (minimum) and
distilled water for proper corrosion protection of your
engine which contains aluminum components.
•Make sure that the coolant expansion 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 Winter
operation. If replacement is ever necessary, install
ONLY the correct type thermostat. Other designs may
result in unsatisfactory engine coolant (antifreeze) per-
formance, 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 failure and
possibly a collision. Driving with your foot resting or
riding on the brake pedal can result in abnormally
high brake temperatures, excessive lining wear, and
possible brake damage. Riding the brakes may also
reduce braking capacity in an emergency.
326 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

FLUID CAPACITIES
U.S.Metric
Fuel (Approximate) 10.5 Gallons40 Liters
Engine Oil with Filter
1.4 Liter Engine 4 Quarts4 Liters
Cooling System
1.4 Liter Engine (MOPAR Antifreeze/Engine Coolant
10 Year/152,000 Mile Formula or equivalent) — with Manual
Transmission 4.6 Quarts
4.4 Liters
1.4 Liter Engine (MOPAR Antifreeze/Engine Coolant
10 Year/152,000 Mile Formula or equivalent) — with Auto-
matic Transmission 5.8 Quarts
5.5 Liters
7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 347

Child Seat.............................. 62
Clean Air Gasoline ....................... 261
Cleaning Wheels ............................ 333
Climate Control ......................... 190
Clutch ............................... 327
Clutch Fluid ........................... 327
Compact Disc (CD) Maintenance ............. 189
Compact Spare Tire ...................... 249
Connector UCI .............................. 186
Universal Consumer Interface (UCI) ....... 186
Contract, Service ........................ 371
Convertible Top Maintenance ............... 336
Coolant (Antifreeze) ................... 347,348
Cooling System ......................... 321
Adding Coolant (Antifreeze) ............. 323
Coolant Level .................... 322,325
Disposal of Used Coolant ............... 324 Drain, Flush, and Refill
................ 322
Inspection .......................... 325
Points to Remember ................ 324,325
Pressure Cap ........................ 324
Selection of Coolant (Antifreeze) .......... 322
Corrosion Protection ..................... 330
Cruise Light ........................... 135
Cupholders ............................ 124
Customer Assistance ..................... 369
Data Recorder, Event ...................... 56
Daytime Running Lights ................... 101
Dealer Service .......................... 308
Defroster, Windshield .............70,191,192,198
Diagnostic System, Onboard ................ 306
Dipsticks Automatic Transmission ................ 330
Disposal Antifreeze (Engine Coolant) ............. 324
380 INDEX