2014 FIAT 500L LIVING Owners Manual

BATTERYThe battery does not require the electrolyte to be
topped up with distilled water. A periodic check,
which can be carried out at a Fiat Dealership is,
however, necessary to check efficiency.
REPLACING THE BATTERY
If necessary, replace the battery with another of
equivalent quality and the same specifications as the
original. Follow the battery manufacturer’s
instructions for maintenance.
USEFUL ADVICE FOR EXTENDING THE
LIFE OF YOUR BATTERY
To avoid draining your battery and make it last
longer, observe the following instructions:
❒when you park the car, ensure that the doors,
tailgate and bonnet are closed properly, to prevent
any roof lights from remaining on inside the
passenger's compartment;
❒switch off the internal roof lights. The car is,
however, equipped with a system which switches
the interior lights off automatically;
❒do not keep accessories (e.g. sound system, hazard
lights, etc.) switched on for a long time when the
engine is not running;
❒before performing any operation on the electrical
system, disconnect the negative battery cable;
❒completely tighten the battery terminals.IMPORTANT If the charge level remains under 50%
for a long time, the battery is damaged by sulphation,
reducing its capacity and efficiency at start-up.
The battery will also be more at risk of freezing (this
can happen as early as -10°C). Refer to the paragraph
"Car inactivity" in "Starting and driving" if the car is
left parked for a long time.
If, after buying the car, you wish to install electrical
accessories which require permanent electrical
supply (alarm, etc.) or accessories which influence
the electrical supply requirements, contact a Fiat
Dealership, whose qualified staff will evaluate the
overall electrical consumption.
WARNING
Battery fluid is poisonous and corrosive.
Avoid contact with the skin and eyes.
Keep open flames away from the battery and
do not use objects that might create sparks: risk
of explosion and fire.
WARNING
Using the battery with insufficient fluid
irreparably damages the battery and
may cause an explosion.
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Incorrect installation of electrical and
electronic devices may cause severe
damage to your car. After purchasing your
car, if you wish to install any accessories
(anti-theft , car phone, etc .), contact a Fiat
Dealership, which will suggest the most
appropriate devices for your vehicle, and will,
most importantly, advise you if a higher capacity
battery needs to be installed.Batteries contain substances which are
very dangerous for the environment . For
battery replacement , contact a Fiat
Dealership.
WARNING
If the car will be unused for an extended
period of time in extremely cold
weather conditions, remove the battery and
store it in a heated area to prevent it from
freezing.
WARNING
Always wear appropriate goggles when
working on or near the battery.
BRAKESThe car is equipped with 4 mechanical wear
detection systems for brake pads: one for each wheel
assembly.
When the brake linings are about to wear out,
pressing the brake pedal, a light hiss is heard: this
indication lasts around 100 km (depending on the
driving style and the route type).
In these circumstances it is still possible, proceeding
with caution, to carry on driving.
In any case, contact a Fiat Dealership as soon as
possible to have the worn brake pads replaced.
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WHEELS AND TYRESBefore long trips, and every two weeks, check the
tyre and space-saver wheel inflation pressure (for
versions/markets, where provided). Check the tyres
when cold.
While driving the car, the pressure increases under
standard conditions: for the correct tyre inflation
pressure, see "Wheels" paragraph in the "Technical
specifications" chapter.
Incorrect pressure causes abnormal tyre wear
fig. 216:
A normal pressure: tread evenly worn;
B low pressure: tread particularly worn at the edges;
C high pressure: tread particularly worn in the
centre.The tyres must be replaced when the tread is less
than 1.6 mm thick. In any case, follow the laws
in force in the country where you are driving.
IMPORTANT
Take the following precautions to prevent damage to
the tyres:
❒avoid braking suddenly, racing starts and violent
impact against the curb, potholes or other
obstacles and driving for extended periods on
uneven road surfaces;
❒periodically check that the tyres have no cuts in
the side wall, abnormal swelling or irregular tread
wear;
❒avoid travelling with the car overloaded. If a tyre is
punctured, stop immediately and change it;
❒tyres age even if they are not used much. Cracks in
the tread rubber and at the sides are a sign of
ageing. In any case, if the tyres have been on the
car for over 6 years, they should be checked
by specialised personnel. Also remember to check
the space-saver wheel very carefully (for
versions/markets, where provided);
❒alternate the tyres, between front and rear, every
10-15 thousand kilometres, keeping them on the
same side of the car so as not to reverse the
direction of rotation;
❒In the case of replacement, always fit new tyres,
avoiding those of dubious origin;
❒if a tyre is changed, also change the inflation valve.
fig. 216
F0Y0006
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WARNING
The road holding qualities of the car
also depend on the correct inflation
pressure of the tyres.
WARNING
If tyre pressure is too low, it may
overheat and be severely damaged as a
result .
WARNING
Do not cross switch the tyres, moving
them from the right of the car to the
left and vice versa.
WARNING
Do not repaint alloy wheel rims at
temperatures higher than 150°C.The
mechanical characteristics of the wheels might
be compromised.
WINDSCREEN/REAR WINDOW
WIPERBLADES
Replace the blades if the rubber edge is deformed or
worn. In any event, it is advisable to replace them
approximately once a year.
A few simple precautions can reduce the possibility
of damage to the blades:
❒if the temperature falls below zero, make sure that
ice has not frozen the rubber against the glass. Use
an antifreeze product to release it if required;
❒remove any snow from the glass: in addition to
protecting the blades, this prevents effort on
the motor and over-heating;
❒do not operate the windscreen/rear window
wipers on dry glass.
WARNING
Driving with worn windscreen/rear
window wiper blades is a serious hazard,
because visibility is reduced in bad weather.
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Lifting the wiper blades
If it is necessary to raise the blades from the
windscreen (e.g. in the event of snow or if the blades
need replacement) proceed as follows:
❒turn ring nut A fig. 217 in position
(windscreen
wiper off );
❒ignition key turned to the OFF position;
❒after turning the ignition key to STOP, move for at
least half a second the right lever in unstable
position within 2 minutes to activate the
windscreen wiper for a wiping section;
❒the previous operation can be repeated for a
maximum of 3 times in order to move the blades
in the most convenient position for their possible
replacement;
❒to lower the blades again turn the key to
MAR-ON.IMPORTANT Place the blades back in contact with
the windscreen before activating the windscreen
wiper again and/or turning the ignition key to
MAR-ON.
Replacing the windscreen wiper blades
Proceed as follows:
❒raise the wiper arm, press tab A fig. 218 of the
attachment spring and remove the blade from
the arm;
❒fit the new blade, inserting the tab into the special
slot in the arm, making sure that it is locked.
❒lower the windscreen wiper arm on the
windscreen.
Do not operate the windscreen wiper with
the blades lifted from the windscreen.
fig. 217
F0Y0049
fig. 218
F0Y0114
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Replacing the rear window wiper blade
Proceed as follows:
❒raise cover A fig. 219, undo nut B and remove arm
C;
❒correctly position the new arm, fully tighten nut B
then lower cover A.SPRAY NOZZLES
Windscreen washer
The window washer jets A fig. 220 are fixed. If there
is no jet of fluid, firstly check that there is fluid in
the reservoir (see paragraph “Checking fluid levels”
in this chapter).
Then check that the nozzle holes are not clogged;
use a needle to unblock them if necessary.
IMPORTANT In versions with a sun roof, make sure
that the sun roof is closed before operating the
window washer jets.
fig. 219
F0Y0208
fig. 220
F0Y0209
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Rear window washer
The rear window washer jets are fixed. The nozzle
holder is on the rear window fig. 221.
BODYWORKPROTECTION FROM ATMOSPHERIC
AGENTS
The car is equipped with the best available
technological solutions to protect the bodywork
against corrosion.
These include:
❒painting products and systems which give the car
particular resistance to corrosion and abrasion
❒use of galvanised (or pretreated) steel sheets, with
high resistance to corrosion
❒spraying the underbody, engine compartment,
wheel arch interiors and other parts with highly
protective wax products
❒spraying of plastic parts, with a protective function
in the more exposed points: underdoor, inner
wing, edges, etc.
❒use of “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 original element of the
structure or body.
For the general terms of this warranty, refer to your
Warranty Booklet.
fig. 221
F0Y0210
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PRESERVING THE BODYWORK
Paint
Touch up abrasions and scratches immediately to
prevent the formation of rust.
Maintenance of paintwork consists of washing the
car: the frequency depends on the conditions and
environment where the car is used. For example, in
highly polluted areas, or if the roads are spread
with salt, it is advisable to wash the car more
frequently.
To wash the car correctly, proceed as follows:
❒remove the aerial from the roof to prevent damage
to it if the car is washed in an automatic system;
❒if high pressure jets or cleaners are used to wash
the car, keep a distance of at least 40 cm from
the bodywork to avoid damage or alteration.
It should be remembered that the build up
of water can damage the car over a period of time;
❒wash the body using a low pressure jet of water;
❒wipe the bodywork using a sponge with a slightly
soapy solution, frequently rinsing the sponge;
❒rinse well with water and dry with a jet of air or a
chamois leather.
Dry the less visible parts (e.g. door frames, bonnet,
headlight frames etc.) with special care, as water may
stagnate more easily in these areas. The car should
not be taken to a closed area immediately, but
left outside so that residual water can 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.
Avoid parking under trees as much as possible; the
resin from trees dulls the paintwork and increases
the possibility of corrosion.
IMPORTANT Bird droppings must be washed off
immediately and thoroughly as the acid they contain
is particularly aggressive.
Detergents pollute the environment . Only
wash your car in areas equipped to collect
and treat wastewater from this type of
activity.In order to preserve the aesthetic
properties of the paintwork, abrasive
products and/or polishes should not be
used to clean the car.
260GETTING TO KNOW
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