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* Regardless of the distance covered, the timing belt
must be changed every 4 years for particularly demand-
ing use (cold climates, city driving, long periods of
idling) or at least every 5 years.
** 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.
Failure to perform the required mainte-
nance items may result in damage to the
vehicle.Periodic Checks
Every
1,000 km or before long journeys, check and, if
necessary, restore:
engine coolant;
brake fluid;
windshield washer fluid level;
power steering fluid;
tire inflation pressure and condition;
operation of lighting system (headlights, direction indicators, hazard warning lights, etc.);
operation of windshield washer/wiper system and positioning/wear of windshield/rear window wiper
blades.
Every 3,000 km, check and top up, if required, the
engine oil level.
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Heavy-Duty Use Of The Car
If the car is used mainly under one of the following
conditions:
towing a trailer or caravan;
dusty roads;
short, repeated journeys (less than 7-8 km) at sub-zero outside temperatures;
engine often idling or driving long distances at low speeds or long periods of idleness.
You should perform the following inspections more
frequently than shown on the Scheduled Servicing Plan:
check front disc brake pad conditions and wear;
check cleanliness of hood and trunk locks, cleanli- ness and lubrication of linkage;
visually inspect conditions of: engine, transmission, pipes and hoses (exhaust - fuel system - brakes) and
rubber elements (boots - sleeves - bushes - etc.);
check battery charge and battery fluid level (electro- lyte);
visually inspect condition of the accessory drive belts; check and, if necessary, change engine oil and replace
oil filter;
check and, if necessary, replace pollen filter;
check and, if necessary, replace air cleaner.
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ENGINE COMPARTMENT — 2.4L(fig. 174)(fig. 174)1 — Engine Coolant Reservoir 7 — Totally Integrated Power Module (Fuses)
2 — Power Steering Fluid Reservoir 8 — Automatic Transmission Dipstick
3 — Engine Oil Fill 9 — Washer Fluid Reservoir
4 — Brake Fluid Reservoir 10 — Coolant Pressure Cap
5 — Remote Jump Start (Positive Battery Post) 11 — Engine Oil Dipstick
6 — Remote Jump Start (Negative Battery Post)
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ENGINE COMPARTMENT — 3.6L(fig. 175)(fig. 175)1 — Engine Coolant Reservoir 5 — Air Cleaner Filter
2 — Power Steering Fluid Reservoir 6 — Washer Fluid Reservoir
3 — Brake Fluid Reservoir 7 — Engine Oil Dipstick
4 — Totally Integrated Power Module (Fuses) 8 — Engine Oil Fill
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ENGINE COMPARTMENT — 2.0L
DIESEL(fig. 176)(fig. 176)1 — Engine Coolant Reservoir 5 — Brake Fluid Reservoir
2 — Power Steering Fluid Reservoir 6 — Totally Integrated Power Module (Fuses)
3 — Engine Oil Fill 7 — Air Cleaner Filter
4 — Engine Oil Dipstick 8 — Washer Fluid Reservoir
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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.
Car maintenance should be done at a FIAT
Dealership. For routine and minor maintenance
operations you wish to carry out yourself, we do
recommend you have the proper equipment ,
genuine FIAT parts and the necessary fluids; do
not however carry out these operations if you
have no experience.
(Continued)(Continued)
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
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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.
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 these
engines.
Car maintenance should be done at a
FIAT Dealership. For routine and minor
maintenance operations you wish to
carry out yourself, we do recommend you have
the proper equipment , genuine FIAT spare parts
and the necessary fluids; do not however carry out
these operations if you have no experience.
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 – 2.4L And 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.
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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 Qualification
9.55535-S1 and ACEA C2.
Change Engine Oil – Diesel Engine
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule” for the proper
maintenance intervals.
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 authorizeddealer,
service 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,
h
oses, 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, and periodic mainte-
nance is not 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.
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