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105
LONG VEHICLE
INACTIVITY
If the vehicle needs to be off the
road for longer than a month, the
following precautions should be
taken:
– Park the vehicle indoors in a dry
and, if possible, well-ventilated
place.
– Engage a gear.
– Check that the handbrake is not
engaged.
– Disconnect the negative battery
terminal and check the state of
charge (see “Battery” in the
“Vehicle maintenance” section).
– Clean and protect the painted
parts using protective waxes.– Clean and protect the shiny metal
parts using specific commercially
available compounds.
– Sprinkle talcum powder on the
rubber windscreen wiper blades
and lift them off the glass.
– Slightly open the windows.
– Cover the vehicle with a piece of
fabric or perforated plastic sheet.
Do not use compact plastic
tarpaulins, which prevent humidity
from evaporating from the surface
of the vehicle.– Inflate tyres to +0.5 bar above the
standard prescribed pressure and
check it at intervals.
– Do not drain the engine cooling
system.
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Page 137 of 187
135
Thousands of miles
Thousands of kilometres
Months
Check and, if necessary, top up fluid levels (engine coolant,
hydraulic clutch/brakes, windscreen washer, battery, etc.)
Visual check of accessory drive belt(s) conditions
(versions without automatic tensioner)
Check tension of accessory drive belt
(versions without automatic tensioner)
Check handbrake lever travel and adjust, if required
Check exhaust emissions/smokiness
Check operation of engine management systems
(using diagnosis socket)
Check manual gearbox oil level
Replace fuel filter cartridge (diesel versions)
Replace accessory drive belt(s)
Replace air cleaner cartridge
21 42 63 84 105
35 70 105 140 175
24 48 72 96 120
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137
PERIODIC CHECKS
Every 1,000 km or before long
journeys, check and, if necessary, top
up the following:
– engine coolant level;
– brake fluid level;
– windscreen washer fluid level;
– tyre pressure and conditions;
– operation of lighting system
(headlights, direction indicators,
hazard warning lights, etc.);
– operation of windscreen
washer/wiper system and
position/wear of windscreen/rear
window wiper blades;
Every 3,000 km check and top up if
required: engine oil level.
You are advised to use PETRONAS
LUBRICANTS products, which have
been designed and produced
specifically for Fiat vehicles (see table
“Capacities” in the “Technical
specifications” section).
DEMANDING
VEHICLE USE
If the vehicle is mostly used in one of
the following conditions:
– towing a trailer or caravan;
– dusty roads;
– short, repeated journeys (less
than 7-8 km) at sub-zero
temperatures;
– engine often idling or driving long
distances at low speeds or long
periods of inactivity;
the following checks must be carried
out more frequently than indicated
in 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:
engine, gearbox, transmission,
pipes and hoses
(exhaust/fuel/brakes), rubber parts
(boots/sleeves/bushes, etc.);
– check battery charge and fluid
level (electrolyte);
– visually inspect the condition of
the accessory drive belts;
– check and, if necessary, change
engine oil and replace oil filter;
– check pollen filter and replace, if
required;
– check air cleaner and replace, if
required.
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138
CHECKING LEVELS
Never smoke while
working in the engine
compartment: inflammable
gases and vapours may be
present, constituting a fire risk.
WARNING
When topping up, take
care not to mix up the
various types of fluids:
they are not compatible with
each other and could seriously
damage the vehicle.
fig. 152 - 1.3 Multijet 16Vversion
F0X0136m
1. engine oil - 2. battery - 3. brake fluid - 4. windscreen washer fluid -
5. engine coolant - 6. power steering fluid - 7. diesel filter
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139
ENGINE OIL fig. 153
Engine oil level checkCheck the oil level a few minutes
(about 5) after the engine has
stopped, with the vehicle parked on
level ground.
Take out the engine oil dipstick
A-fig. 153, clean it and then fully
reinsert it, take it out again and
check that the level is between the
MIN and MAX marks on the
dipstick. The interval between MIN
and MAX corresponds to about
1 litre of oil.
AB
fig. 153
F0X0137m
Always top up using
engine oil of the same
specifications as that
already in the engine.
Be very careful when
working in the engine
compartment when the engine
is hot: you may get burned.
Remember that the fan may
start up if the engine is hot:
this could injure you. Scarves,
ties and other loose clothing
may be pulled by moving parts.
WARNING
Topping up the engine oil
If the oil level is near or under the
MIN mark, add oil through the filler
B-fig. 153 until it reaches the MAX
mark.
The oil level must never exceed the
MAX mark.
IMPORTANT If the engine oil level,
after a routine check, is above the
MAX level, contact a Fiat Dealership
to have the correct level restored.
IMPORTANT After adding or
changing the oil, let the engine turn
over for a few seconds and wait a
few minutes after stopping it before
you check the level.
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140
When the vehicle is used in
particularly harsh weather
conditions, we recommend using a
60-40 mixture of PARAFLU
UPand
demineralised water.
fig. 154
F0X0138m
ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION
The maximum engine oil
consumption is usually 400 grams
every 1000 km.
When the vehicle is new, the engine
needs to be run in, therefore the
engine oil consumption can only be
considered stabilised after the first
5,000–6,000 km.
IMPORTANT The oil consumption
depends on the driving style and the
conditions under which the vehicle is
used.ENGINE COOLANT fig. 154
The coolant level must be checked
when the engine is cold and must be
above the MIN mark on the
reservoir.
If the level is low, slowly pour a
mixture of 50% demineralised water
and 50% PARAFLU
UPby PETRONAS
LUBRICANTS through the filler A
until the level is nearly at MAX.
A 50-50 mixture of PARAFLU
UPand
distilled water gives freeze
protection to –35°C.
Used engine oil and the
oil filter contain harmful
substances for the
environment. It is advisable to
have oil and filters changed by a
Fiat Dealership, where they will
be disposed of properly and in
accordance with the law.
The engine cooling
system uses PARAFLUUP
protective antifreeze
fluid. Use fluid of the same type
contained in the cooling system
for any top-ups. PARAFLU
UP
cannot be mixed with any other
type of fluid. If this happens, do
not under any circumstances
start the engine and contact a
Fiat Dealership.
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142
POWER STEERING FLUID
fig. 156
Check that the oil level with the
vehicle on flat ground and the engine
cold is between the MIN and MAX
marks on the reservoir.
The level may exceed the MAX
mark when the oil is hot.
If topping up is required, make sure
the oil you use has the same
specifications as that already in the
system.BRAKE FLUID fig. 157
Unscrew the cap A-fig. 157 and
check that the liquid contained in the
reservoir is at the maximum level.
The fluid level in the reservoir must
not exceed the MAX mark.
You are advised to use the brake
fluid shown in the “Fluids and
lubricants” table (see section
“Technical Specifications”) to top up.
When opening the cap A, make sure
that no dirt gets into the reservoir.
For topping up, always use a funnel
with integrated filter with mesh
equal to or lower than 0.12 mm.
fig. 157
F0X0141m
fig. 156
F0X0140m
Power steering fluid
consumption is
extremely low; if
another top-up is required
afteronly a short period of time,
have the system checked for
leaks at a Fiat Dealership.
Prevent power steering
fluid from coming into
contact with hot engine parts:
it is flammable.
WARNING
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144
DIESEL FILTER fig. 158
DRAINING CONDENSATION
fig. 158
F0X0142m
fig. 159
F0X0143m
BATTERY
The battery is “limited maintenance”
type: under normal conditions of
use, the electrolyte does not need
topping up with distilled water.
It does, however, need to be
checked periodically at a Fiat
Dealership or by specialist personnel
to make sure it is working correctly.
The presence of water in
the supply circuit may
cause severe damage to
the injection system and
irregular engine operation. If the
cwarning light switches on,
contact a Fiat Dealership as
soon as possible to have the
system bled. If this problem is
indicated immediately after
refueling, water may have
entered the fuel tank. In this
case, stop the engine
immediately and contact a Fiat
Dealership.
Dispose of the
diesel/water mixture
discharged by the filter
correctly. You are advised to
contact a Fiat Dealership to
drain the condensation. They
are equipped to dispose of it in
full respect of the environment
and in compliance with legal
regulations.
The bleeding operation,
if not carried out
correctly taking the necessary
precautions, may compromise
the driving safety of the vehicle
as well as leading to dangerous
fuel leaks.
WARNING
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