2012 FIAT FREEMONT check engine

** If the car is used for less than 10 000 km per year, it
is necessary to replace engine oil and cartridge every
12 months.
*** The actual interval for replacement of engine oil
and cartridge depends by vehicle usage conditions and
is shown through a gauge or a message (if available) on
the dashboard or at least every 24 months.
Failure to perform the required mainte-
nance items may result in damage to the
vehicle.
Regular Checks
Every 1,000 km or before long journeys, check and top
up the following if necessary:
• engine coolant fluid, brake fluid, windshield washer fluid and power steering fluid;
• tire pressure and condition;
• operation of lighting system (headlights, direction indicators, hazard lights, etc.);
• operation of the windshield wiper/washer system, position and wear of windshield/rear window wiper
blades;
• Check and add, if required, the engine oil level every 3,000 km. Use Of The Car Under Heavy Conditions
If you use the car mainly under one of the followingconditions:
• trailer or caravan towing;
• dusty roads;
• short (less than 7-8 km) and repeated journeys in
sub-zero temperatures;
• frequent engine idling, travelling long distances at low speeds or long term inactivity, perform the following
inspections more frequently than shown on the
Maintenance Schedule;
• check front disc brake pad condition and wear;
• check cleanliness of hood latches, as well as cleanli- ness and lubrication of linkages;
• visually inspect the conditions of: engine, transmis- sion, pipes and tubes (exhaust - fuel - brakes), rubber
parts (boots, sleeves, etc.);
• check battery charge and liquid level (electrolyte);
• visually inspect the condition of auxiliary drive belts;
• check and if necessary change engine oil and oil filter;
• check pollen filter and replace it, if required;
• check air filter and replace, if required;
• check fuel filter and replace, if required.
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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 – Gasoline 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. Do not
check oil level before starting the engine after it has sat
overnight. Checking engine oil level when the engine is
cold will give you an incorrect reading.
Checking the oil while the vehicle is on level ground
and only when the engine is hot, will improve the
accuracy of the oil level readings. Maintain the oil level
between the range markings on the dipstick. Either the
range markings consist of a crosshatch zone marked
SAFE or a crosshatch zone marked with MIN at the low
end of the range and MAX at the high end of the range.
Adding 1 Liter of oil when the reading is at the low end
of the range marking will raise the oil level to the high
end of the range marking.
Do not overfill the engine. Overfilling the
engine will cause oil aeration, which can
lead to loss of oil pressure and an in-
crease in oil temperature.This could damage your
engine.Also, be sure the oil fill cap is replaced and
tightened after adding oil.
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Checking Oil Level – 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 Liter of oil when the reading is at
the MIN mark will result in a MAX reading on theseengines.
Change Engine Oil – Gasoline Engine
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule” for the proper
maintenance intervals.
Change Engine Oil – Diesel Engine
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule” for the proper
maintenance intervals.
Engine Oil Viscosity – 3.6L Gasoline Engine
SAE 5W-30 engine oil is recommended for all operating
temperatures. This engine oil improves low tempera-
ture starting and vehicle fuel economy.The engine oil filler cap also shows the recommended
engine oil viscosity for your vehicle. For information on
engine oil filler cap location, refer to “Engine Compart-
ment” in “Servicing And Care” for further information.
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.
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.
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Rear Wiper Removal/Installation (for
versions/markets, where provided)
1. Lift the pivot cap on the rear wiper arm upward, thiswill allow the rear wiper blade to be raised off of the
liftgate glass. (fig. 181)
NOTE: The rear wiper arm cannot be raised fully
upward unless the pivot cap is raised first.
2. Lift the rear wiper arm upward to raise the wiper blade off of the liftgate glass.
3. Grab the bottom of the wiper blade and rotate it forward to unsnap the blade pivot pin from the
wiper blade holder. (fig. 182) 4. Install the wiper blade pivot pin into the wiper blade
holder at the end of the wiper arm, and firmly press
the wiper blade until it snaps into place.
5. Lower the wiper blade and snap the pivot cap into place.
ADDING WASHER FLUID
The windshield washer and the rear window washer
share the same fluid reservoir. The fluid reservoir is
located in the engine compartment. Be sure to check
the fluid level in the reservoir at regular intervals. Fill
the reservoir with windshield washer solvent (not
radiator antifreeze) and operate the system for a few
seconds to flush out the residual water.(fig. 181) 1 — Wiper Arm
2 — Pivot Cap
(fig. 182)1 — Wiper Blade
2 — Blade Pivot Pin
3 — Wiper Arm
4 — Wiper Blade Holder
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NOTE:Intentional tampering with emissions control
systems can result in civil penalties being assessed
against you.
WARNING!
A hot exhaust system can start a fire if
you park over materials that can burn.
Such materials might be grass or leaves coming
into contact with your exhaust system. Do not
park or operate your vehicle in areas where your
exhaust system can contact anything that canburn.
In unusual situations involving grossly malfunctioning
engine operation, a scorching odor may indicate severe
and abnormal catalyst overheating. If this occurs, safely
bring the vehicle to a complete stop, shut the engine
OFF, and allow the vehicle to cool. Thereafter, obtain
service, including a tune-up to manufacturer's specifi-
cations immediately.
To minimize the possibility of catalyst damage:
• 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 ignition coil connec- tors disconnected for prolonged periods. COOLING SYSTEM
WARNING!
 When working near the radiator cool-
ing fan, disconnect the fan motor lead or
turn the ignition switch to the LOCK 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
coolant 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 .
Coolant Checks
Check engine coolant (antifreeze) protection every
12 months (before the onset of freezing weather,
where applicable). If coolant is dirty or rusty in appear-
ance, the system should be drained, flushed, and re-
filled with fresh coolant. 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.
Check the coolant recovery bottle tubing for brittle
rubber, cracking, tears, cuts, and tightness of the con-
nection at the bottle and radiator. Inspect the entire
system for leaks.
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(Continued)
 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 Coolant
Used ethylene glycol-based engine coolant is a regu-
lated substance requiring proper disposal. Check with
your local authorities to determine the disposal rules
for your community. To prevent ingestion by animals or
children, do not store ethylene glycol-based engine
coolant in open containers or allow it to remain in
puddles on the ground. If ingested by a child, contact a
physician immediately. Clean up any ground spills
immediately.
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
kilometers of operation, you may observe vapor com- ing 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 vapor-
ized 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.
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(Continued)
 To avoid contamination from foreign matter or
moisture, use only new brake fluid or fluid that
has been in a tightly closed container. Keep the
master cylinder reservoir cap secured at all
times. Brake fluid in a open container absorbs
moisture from the air resulting in a lower boiling
point . This may cause it to boil unexpectedly
during hard or prolonged braking, resulting in
sudden brake failure. This could result in a acci-
dent .
 Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir can result
in spilling brake fluid on hot engine parts, causing
the brake fluid to catch fire. Brake fluid can also
damage painted and vinyl surfaces, care should
be taken to avoid its contact with these surfaces.
 Do not allow petroleum based fluid to con-
taminate the brake fluid. Brake seal components
could be damaged, causing partial or complete
brake failure.This could result in an accident .
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (for
versions/markets, where provided)
The automatic transmission and differential assembly
are contained within a single housing.
The fluid level in the automatic transmission should be
checked whenever the vehicle is serviced. Operation with an improper fluid level will greatly reduce the life
of the transmission and the fluid.
Selection Of Lubricant
It is important that the proper lubricant is used in the
transmission to assure optimum transmission perfor-
mance. Use only manufacturer’s recommended trans-
mission fluid. Refer to “Fluids, Lubricants, and Genuine
Parts” in “Technical Specifications” for further informa-
tion. It is important that the transmission fluid be
maintained at the prescribed level using the recom-
mended fluid. No chemical flushes should be used in
any transmission; only the approved lubricant may beused.
Special Additives
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) is an engineered
product and its performance may be impaired by
supplemental additives. Therefore, do not add any fluid
additives to the transmission. The only exception to
this policy is the use of special dyes to aid in detecting
fluid leaks. In addition, avoid using transmission sealers
as they may adversely affect seals.
Do not use chemical flushes in your
transmission as the chemicals can dam-
age your transmission components. Such
damage is not covered by the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty.
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CONTENTS
About Your Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113,200
ABS (Anti-Lock Brake System) . . . . . . . . . . 113,114,229
Adding Engine Coolant (Antifreeze) . . . . . . . . . 281,282
Adding Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Adding Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Additives, Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Air Cleaner, Engine (Engine Air Cleaner Filter) . . . . . 274
Air Conditioner Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Air Conditioning Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69,276
Air Conditioning Refrigerant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Air Conditioning System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65,275
Air Conditioning, Operating Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Air Conditioning, Rear Zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Air Pressure, Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227,292
Airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181,188
Airbag Deployment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Airbag Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187,190,193,225
Airbag Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Airbag, Side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183,186,188
Airbag, Window (Side Curtain) . . . . . . . . . 184,186,188
Alarm (Security Alarm) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,230
Alarm System (Security Alarm) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15,16
All Wheel Drive (AWD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Alterations/Modifications, Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113,114
Anti-Lock Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114,115,229
Anti-Theft Security Alarm (Theft Alarm) . . . . . . . . . 15
Anti-Theft System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Antifreeze (Engine Coolant) . . . . . . . . . . . 281,282,301 Disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Appearance Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287 Arming Theft System (Security Alarm) . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Auto Down Power Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Auto Unlock, Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Automatic Dimming Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Automatic Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Automatic Headlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Automatic Oil Change Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Automatic Temperature Control (ATC) . . . . . . . . . . 65
Automatic Transaxle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Adding Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Fluid and Filter Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Selection Of Lubricant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Special Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 Adding Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Fluid Level Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Gear Ranges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Auxiliary Electrical Outlet (Power Outlet) . . . . . . . . 89
Auxiliary Power Outlet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Back-Up Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274 Gas Caution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Keyless Transmitter Replacement (RKE) . . . . . . . . 13
Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Belts, Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159,193
Body Mechanism Lubrication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Booster Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Brake Assist System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Brake Control System, Electronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
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