NOTE:In many temperature positions, the BI-LEVEL
mode is designed to provide cooler air out of the head-
liner outlets and warmer air from the floor outlets.
• Floor Mode Air comes from the floor outlets.
Operating Tips
NOTE: Refer to the chart at the end of this section for
suggested control settings for various weather condi-
tions.
Summer Operation
The engine cooling system must be protected with a
high-quality antifreeze coolant to provide proper cor-
rosion protection and to protect against engine over-
heating. A solution of 50% OAT (Organic Additive
Technology) coolant that meets the requirements of
Fiat Classification 9.55522 and 50% water is recom-
mended. Refer to “Maintenance Procedures” in “Ser-
vice and Care” for proper coolant selection.
Winter Operation
Use of the air Recirculation mode during Winter
months is not recommended because it may cause
window fogging. Vacation Storage
Any time you store your vehicle or keep it out of
service (i.e., vacation) for two weeks or more, run the
air conditioning system at idle for about five minutes in
the fresh air and high blower setting. This will ensure
adequate system lubrication to minimize the possibility
of compressor damage when the system is started
again.
Window Fogging
Interior fogging on the windshield can be quickly re-
moved by turning the mode selector to Defrost. The
Defrost/Floor mode can be used to maintain a clear
windshield and provide sufficient heating. If side win-
dow fogging becomes a problem, increase the blower
speed. Vehicle windows tend to fog on the inside in
mild but rainy or humid weather.
NOTE:
• Recirculation mode without A/C should not be used
for long periods, as fogging may occur.
• Automatic Temperature Controls (ATC) will auto- matically adjust the climate control settings to re-
duce or eliminate window fogging on the front wind-
shield. When this occurs, recirculation will be
unavailable.
84
KNOWING YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING AND
DRIVING
W
ARNING LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
Thousands Of Kilometers24 48 72 96 120 144 168 192
Months 12 24 36 48 60 72 84 96
Check battery charge status and possibly recharge. • • • • ••••
Check tire condition/wear and adjust pressure, if
necessary. ••••••••
Check operation of lighting system (headlamps, direction
indicators, hazard warning lights, luggage compartment,
passenger compartment, glove compartment, instrument
panel warning lights, etc.). ••••••••
Check windshield/rear window wiper blade
position/wear. ••••••••
Check operation of windscreen washer system and
adjust jets if necessary. ••••••••
Check cleanliness of hood and tailgate locks and
cleanliness and lubrication of linkages. ••••••••
Visually inspect condition of: exterior bodywork,
underbody protection, pipes and hoses (exhaust - fuel
system - brakes), rubber elements (boots, sleeves,
bushes, etc.). ••••••••
Check condition and wear of front disc brake pads. • • • • ••••
Check condition and wear of rear disc brake pads. • • • •••••
Check and, if necessary, top up fluid levels
(brakes/hydraulic clutch, windshield washer, battery,
engine coolant, etc.). ••••••••
Visually inspect the condition of accessory drive belt/s. ••
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KNOWING
YOUR
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STARTING AND
DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTSAND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
Periodic Checks
Every1,000 km or before long journeys, check and, if
necessary, restore:
• engine coolant;
• brake fluid;
• power steering 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 and automatic transmission fluid level
(four-speed automatic only). 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.
314
KNOWING YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING AND
DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTSAND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
Thousands Of Kilometers30 60 90 120 150 180
Months 24 48 72 96 120 144
Check lighting system operation
(headlights, direction indicators, hazard
lights, passenger compartment lights,
instrument panel warning lights, etc.). ••••••
Check the position/wear of the
windshield/rear window wiper blades. ••••••
Check operation of windscreen washer
system and adjust jets if necessary. ••••••
Check condition and wear of front disc
brake pads. ••••••
Check condition and wear of rear disc
brake pads. ••••••
Conditions and visual check: bodywork
exterior, underbody protection, pipes and
hoses (exhaust - fuel system - braking
system), rubber elements (boots - sleeves
- etc.), CV joints, front suspension, tie rod
ends and boot seals, and replace if
necessary. ••••••
Check cleanliness of hood latches, as well
as cleanliness and lubrication of linkages. ••••••
Check all fluid levels (engine coolant,
brake/hydraulic clutch fluid, windshield
washer fluid, battery fluid, etc.), add if
necessary. ••••••
Check exhaust fumes/emissions. • • • • • •
316
KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING AND
DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTSAND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
Thousands Of Kilometers30 60 90 120 150 180
Months 24 48 72 96 120 144
Change the automatic transmission fluid
and filter (for versions/markets, where
provided) (#). •
(*) 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.
(***) Regardless of the distance covered, the timing
belt must be changed every 4 years for particularly
demanding use (cold climates, city driving, long periods
of idling) or at least every 5 years.
(#) Change the automatic transmission fluid and fil-
ter(s) at 90 thousand km or 72 months if using your
vehicle for any of the following: city driving, short (less
than 7-8 km) and repeated journeys, or frequent trailer
or caravan towing
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;
• power steering 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 and automatic transmission fluid level
(four-speed automatic only).
318
KNOWING YOUR
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WARNING LIGHTSAND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
Selection Of Coolant – Diesel Engine
Use only the manufacturer's recommended coolant
(antifreeze). Refer to “Fluids, Lubricants, and Genuine
Parts” in “Technical Specifications” for further informa-
tion.
•Do not use HOAT (Hybrid Organic Ad-
ditive Technology) products in the Diesel
Engine.
• Do not use OAT (Organic Additive Technology)
products containing 2-EH (2–ethyl hexanol).
• Do not use plain water alone or alcohol base
engine coolant (antifreeze) products. Do not use
additional 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 coolants. Use of Propyl-
ene Glycol based coolants is not recommended.
Adding Coolant – Gasoline Engine
Your vehicle has been built with an improved engine
coolant (antifreeze) that allows extended maintenance
intervals. This coolant (antifreeze) can be used up to
ten years or 240 000 km before replacement. To
prevent reducing this extended maintenance period, it
is important that you use the same coolant throughout
the life of your vehicle. 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.
Please note that it is the owner's responsibility to
maintain the proper level of protection against freezing
according to the temperatures occurring in the area
where the vehicle is operated.
NOTE:
Mixing coolant types will decrease the life of
the engine coolant (antifreeze) and will require more
frequent coolant changes.
Adding Coolant – Diesel Engine
Your vehicle has been built with an improved engine
coolant (antifreeze) that allows extended maintenance
intervals. To prevent reducing this extended mainte-
nance period, it is important that you use the same
coolant throughout the life of your vehicle.
Please note that it is the owner's responsibility to
maintain the proper level of protection against freezing
according to the temperatures occurring in the area
where the vehicle is operated.
NOTE: Mixing coolant types will decrease the life of
the engine coolant (antifreeze) and will require more
frequent coolant changes.
335
KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND
DRIVING
WARNING
LIGHTS
AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
Cooling System Pressure Cap
The cap must be fully tightened to prevent loss of
engine coolant (antifreeze), and to ensure that engine
coolant (antifreeze) will return to the radiator from the
coolant recovery tank.
The cap should be inspected and cleaned if there is any
accumulation of foreign material on the sealing sur-
faces.
WARNING!
• The warning words “DO NOT OPEN
HO T
” on the cooling system pressure
cap are a safety precaution. Never add engine
coolant (antifreeze) when the engine is over-
heated. 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 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 im-
mediately.
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.
336
KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING AND
DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTSAND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
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.
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 fail-
ure and possibly
an accident . Driving
with your foot resting or riding on the brake
pedal can result in abnormally high brake tem-
peratures, excessive lining wear, and possible
brake damage.You would not have your full brak-
ing capacity in an emergency.
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.
337
KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND
DRIVING
WARNING
LIGHTS
AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS