115
SAFETY
WARNING
LIGHTS AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICE
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CONTROLS
AND DEVICES
STARTING
AND DRIVING
Roof rack/ski rack
Remove the roof rack or ski rack from the
roof after use. These accessories decrease
aerodynamic penetration and have a neg-
ative effect on fuel consumption. It is bet-
ter to use a trailer to transport particu-
larly bulky objects.
Electrical devices
Use electrical devices only for the amount
of time needed. The heated rear window,
auxiliary headlights, windscreen wipers and
fan heater use up a considerable amount
of current, causing increased fuel con-
sumption (up to +25% in the urban cycle).
Air conditioning
Air conditioning leads to higher fuel con-
sumption (on average up to +20%). If the
temperature outside is not too extreme,
try and use the air vents.
Spoilers
The use of non-certified spoilers may ad-
versely affect aerodynamics and fuel con-
sumption. DRIVING STYLE
Starting
Do not warm up the engine at low or high
revs when the vehicle is stationary; this
causes the engine to warm up more slow-
ly, thereby increasing fuel consumption
and emissions. It is advisable to set off im-
mediately and slowly, avoiding high revs:
this allows the engine to warm up more
quickly.
Unnecessary actions
Avoid revving up when stationary at traf-
fic lights or before stopping the engine.
The latter action, like double declutching,
is entirely unnecessary and causes in-
creased fuel consumption and pollution.
Gear selection
Use a higher gear as soon as traffic and
road conditions allow. Using a low gear
for faster acceleration will increase fuel
consumption.
In the same way, improper use of a high
gear increases fuel consumption, emissions
and engine wear.SAVING FUEL
Here are some suggestions which may
help you to save fuel and reduce the
amount of toxic emissions released into
the atmosphere.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
Car maintenance
Have checks and adjustments carried out
in accordance with the “Scheduled Service
Plan”.
Tyres
Check the tyre pressure at least once
every 4 weeks: if the pressure is too low,
consumption levels increase as resistance
to rolling is higher.
Unnecessary loads
Do not travel with an overloaded boot.
The weight of the car (especially when dri-
ving in town) and its arrangement greatly
affect fuel consumption and stability.
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SAFETY
WARNING
LIGHTS AND MESSAGES
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EMERGENCY
SERVICE
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CONTROLS
AND DEVICES
STARTING
AND DRIVING
CONDITIONS OF USE
Cold starting
Short distances and frequent cold start-
ups will prevent the engine from reach-
ing optimal running temperature. Conse-
quently, both fuel consumption (from +15
to +30% on the urban cycle) and emis-
sions will increase.
Traffic and road
conditions
Heavy traffic, for instance when travelling
in a queue with frequent use of low gears
or in cities with lots of traffic lights, caus-
es fairly high fuel consumption. Mountain
roads and uneven surfaces also have a neg-
ative effect on consumption.
Traffic hold-ups
During prolonged hold-ups (e.g. at level
crossings) the engine should be switched
off. TOWING TRAILERS
IMPORTANT NOTES
The car must be equipped with an ap-
proved tow hook and adequate electrical
system to tow caravans or trailers. Instal-
lation must be performed by specialised
personnel who will issue the required pa-
pers for travelling on roads.
Install any specific and/or additional rear
view mirrors in accordance with the high-
way code of the country in which you are
travelling.
Remember that, when towing a trailer,
steep hills are harder to climb, braking dis-
tances increase and overtaking takes
longer relative to the overall weight of the
trailer.
Engage a low gear when driving downhill,
rather than constantly using the brake.
The weight of the trailer on the car’s tow
hook will reduce the load capacity of the
car by the same amount. Consider the
weight of the trailer fully laden, including
accessories and luggage, to make sure you
do not exceed the maximum towable
weight (shown on the vehicle registration
document).
Top speed
Fuel consumption considerably increases
as speed increases. Keep your speed as
even as possible, avoiding unnecessary
braking and acceleration, which cause ex-
cessive fuel consumption and increased
emissions.
Acceleration
Accelerating violently severely affects con-
sumption and emissions: acceleration
should be gradual and should not exceed
the maximum torque.
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STARTING
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SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
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AND DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND MESSAGES
ç
FUEL RESERVE
(amber)
When the ignition key is moved to MAR,
the warning light turns on but should go
off after a few seconds.
The warning light turns on when about
7 litres of fuel are left in the tank.
IMPORTANT The warning light will blink
to indicate a system failure. If this is the
case, go to a Fiat Dealership to have the
system checked. ABS SYSTEM FAULT
(amber)
When the ignition key is moved to MAR,
the warning light turns on but should go
off after a few seconds.
The warning light comes on when the sys-
tem is either not working properly or not
available. Under these circumstances, the
braking system will work as normal but
without the extra performance offered by
the ABS system. Drive carefully and go to
a Fiat Dealership as soon as possible.
A specific message is displayed on certain
versions.
>“
FRONT PASSENGER
AIRBAG
DEACTIVATED
(amber)
The warning light
“comes on when the
front passenger airbag is disabled.
With the front passenger airbag enabled
and when turning the key to MAR, warn-
ing light
“comes on for about 4 seconds,
flashes for the next 4 seconds and then
goes out.
Warning light
“indicates
a failure of warning light ¬.
This condition is indicated by inter-
mittent blinking of warning light
“for longer than 4 seconds. In this case,
warning light ¬may not be indicat-
ing that there is a fault in the restraint
systems. Before driving off, contact
a Fiat Dealership to have the system
checked immediately.
WARNING
SEAT BELT NOT
FASTENED
(red)
The warning light on the instrument pan-
el will light up permanently when the car
is not moving and the driver’s seat belt is
not correctly fastened. This light will flash
if the driver’s seat belt is not correctly fas-
tened and the car is moving. The audible
alert of the SBR (Seat Belt Reminder) sys-
tem can be removed only by a Fiat Deal-
ership.
<
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SAFETY
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TECHNICAL
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AND DEVICES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
Engine compartment fusebox fig. 38
DEVICES FUSE AMPS
Single tone horn
Left main beam headlight, right main beam headlight
Additional heater
Air conditioning compressor
Heated rear window
Fuel pump on tank 10
14
15
19
20
21
10
15
30
7,5 30
15
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EMERGENCY
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AND DEVICES
SERVICE
AND CARE
DEMANDING USE
OF THE CAR
Should the car be used predominantly in
one of the following particularly demand-
ing conditions:
❒trailer or caravan towing;
❒dusty roads;
❒short (less than 7-8 km) and repeated
journeys in sub-zero temperatures;
❒ frequently idling engine or long-dis-
tance, low-speed driving (e.g. door-to-
door deliveries) or lengthy inactivity;
you should perform the following inspec-
tions more frequently than shown on the
Scheduled Servicing Plan:
❒ check front disc brake pad conditions
and wear;
❒check cleanliness of bonnet and boot
locks, and cleanliness and lubrication of
linkages;
❒ visually inspect the conditions of: en-
gine, gearbox, transmission, pipes and
tubes (exhaust – fuel – brakes), rubber
parts (boots, sleeves, bushes, etc.);
❒check battery charge and liquid level
(electrolyte);
❒visually inspect the condition of the ac-
cessory drive belts;
❒check pollen filter and replace, if re-
quired;
❒check air filter and replace, if required.
REGULAR CHECKS
Every 1,000 km or before long journeys,
check and, if necessary, top up:
❒engine coolant fluid level;
❒brake fluid level;
❒windscreen washer level;
❒tyre pressure and conditions.
❒operation of lights (headlights, direction
indicators, hazard lights, etc.);
❒operation of the windscreen wiper/
washer system, position and wear of
the windscreen and rear window wiper
blades;
Every 3,000 km, check and top up, if re-
quired, the engine oil level.
You are recommended to use PETRONAS
LUBRICANTS products, which have been
designed and produced specifically for
Fiat cars (see table “Capacities” in the
“Technical specifications” section).
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SAFETY
STARTING
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WARNING
LIGHTS AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CONTROLS
AND DEVICES
SERVICE
AND CARE
AIR FILTER
Have the air filter replaced by a Fiat Deal-
ership.
POLLEN FILTER
Have the pollen filter replaced by a Fiat
Dealership.
BATTERY
The battery is of the “Limited mainte-
nance” type: under normal conditions of
use, the electrolyte does not need topping
up with distilled water.
The battery fluid is poiso-
nous 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
CHECKING THE CHARGE
AND THE ELECTROLYTE LEVEL
Inspection operations must be carried out
only by specialised personnel, following
the prescriptions contained in this Own-
er Handbook. Any top-up operations
must be carried out only by specialised
personnel at a Fiat Dealership.
Using the battery when the
fluid is too low can damage
it irreparably and generate a risk of
explosion.
WARNING
REPLACING THE BATTERY
If required, replace the battery with an
original spare part with the same specifi-
cations.
If a battery with different specifications is
fitted, the service intervals given in the
“Scheduled Servicing Plan” will no longer
be valid.
For battery maintenance, you should
therefore refer to the instructions pro-
vided by the battery manufacturer.
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❒spraying protective plastic materials in
the most exposed areas: underdoor, in-
ner mudguard parts, edges, etc.;
❒using “open” boxed sections to prevent
condensation and pockets of moisture
from triggering rust inside.
BODY AND UNDERBODY
WARRANTY
Your car is covered by warranty against
perforation due to corrosion of any origi-
nal element of the structure or bodywork.
For the general terms of this warranty, re-
fer to your Warranty Booklet.
ADVICE FOR PRESERVING
THE BODYWORK
Paint
Paintwork does not only serve an aes-
thetic purpose, but also protects the un-
derlying sheet metal.
Touch up abrasions and scratches immedi-
ately to prevent the formation of rust. Use
only original paint products for touch-ups
(see “Bodywork paint identification” in the
“Technical specifications” section).
BODYWORK
PROTECTION FROM
ATMOSPHERIC AGENTS
The main causes of corrosion are the fol-
lowing:
❒atmospheric pollution;
❒salty air and humidity (coastal areas or
hot and humid climates);
❒seasonal environmental conditions.
The abrasive action of wind-borne at-
mospheric dust and sand, as well as mud
and gravel raised by other cars, should not
be underestimated either.
Fiat used the best manufacturing tech-
nologies on your car to effectively protect
the bodywork against corrosion.
These are the most important:
❒painting products and systems which
give the car particular resistance to cor-
rosion and abrasion;
❒use of galvanised (or pre-treated) steel
sheets with high resistance to corro-
sion;
❒spraying the underbody, engine com-
partment, wheelhouse internal parts
and other elements with highly protec-
tive wax-based products;
Rear window washer fig. 12
The rear window washer jets are fixed.
The nozzle holder is located above the
rear window.
fig. 12F0M0164m
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SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING
LIGHTS AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CONTROLS
AND DEVICES
SERVICE
AND CARE
Standard upkeep of the paintwork consists
of washing the vehicle: the frequency de-
pends on the conditions and environment
where the vehicle is used. For example, it
is advisable to wash the car more often in
areas with high atmospheric pollution or
on gritted roads.
To wash the car properly, proceed as fol-
lows:
❒if taking your car through an automat-
ic car wash, remove the aerial from the
roof;
❒wash the body using a low-pressure jet
of water;
❒use a sponge to wipe a slightly soapy so-
lution over the bodywork, frequently
rinsing the sponge;
❒rinse with plenty of water and dry with
a jet of air or a chamois leather.
Take particular care when drying the less
visible parts, such as the door, bonnet and
headlight frames, where water can stagnate
more easily. It is a good idea to leave the
car in the open for a while after washing
it to give time for the water to evaporate. Do not wash the car after it has been left
in the sun or with the bonnet hot: this may
alter the shine of the paintwork.
Exterior plastic parts must be cleaned in
the same way as the rest of the car.
Where possible, do not park under trees;
the resinous substances that fall off many
species give the paint a dull appearance
and increase the possibility of triggering
rust processes.
IMPORTANT Bird droppings should be
washed off immediately and thoroughly
as the acid they contain is particularly
aggressive.Detergents pollute water. The
vehicle should be washed only
in areas equipped for collect-
ing and purifying the liquids
used in the washing process.
Windows
Use specific detergents to clean the win-
dows.
Also use clean cloths to avoid scratching
the glass or altering the transparency.
IMPORTANT Wipe the rear window
gently with a cloth in the direction of the
filaments to avoid damaging the heating
device.
Engine compartment
Wash the engine compartment thor-
oughly at the end of every winter. Be care-
ful not to direct the jet of water onto elec-
tronic control units. Adequately protect
the upper air vents to prevent damage to
the windscreen wiper motor. Have this
operation performed at a specialised
workshop.
IMPORTANT Washing should take place
with a cold engine and with the key at
STOP. After the wash, make sure that
the various protective devices (e.g. rubber
caps and guards) have not been removed
or damaged.
Front headlights
IMPORTANT Never use aromatic sub-
stances (e.g. petrol) or ketenes (e.g. ace-
tone) for cleaning the plastic lenses of the
front headlights.
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