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 inflation pressure and condition;
❒operation of lighting system
(headlights, direction indicators,
hazard warning lights, etc.);
❒operation of screen washer/wiper
system and positioning/wear of
windscreen/rear screen wiper blades
(for versions/markets where
provided);
Every 3,000 km check and top up if
required: engine oil level.
DEMANDING
VEHICLE USE
If the vehicle is mostly used in one of
the following conditions:
❒towing a trailer or motorhome;
❒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 inactivity;
the following checks must be
carried out more often than
indicated in the Scheduled Servicing
Plan:
❒check front disc brake pad condition
and wear;
❒check cleanliness of bonnet and
luggage compartment locks,
cleanliness and lubrication of linkage;
❒visually inspect condition of: engine,
gearbox, transmission, pipes and
hoses (exhaust - fuel system -
brakes) and rubber elements (boots -
sleeves - bushes - etc.);
❒check battery charge and battery
fluid level (electrolyte);❒visually inspect conditions of the
auxiliary drive belts;
❒check and, if necessary, change
engine oil and replace oil filter;
❒check and, if necessary, replace
pollen filter;
❒replacement of air cleaner cartridge
every 15,000 km.
198
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
AIR CLEANER/
POLLEN FILTER
Have the air cleaner or the pollen
filter replaced by a Fiat Dealership.
DIESEL FILTER
DRAINING
CONDENSATION
(MultiJet versions)
36)
IMPORTANT
36) The presence of water in the
supply circuit may cause severe
damage to the injection system
and irregular engine operation. If
the
warning light comes on,
go to a Fiat Dealership as soon as
possible to have the system bled.
If this problem is indicated
immediately after refuelling, water
may have entered the fuel tank.
In this case, immediately turn off
the engine and contact a Fiat
Dealership.
BATTERY
The battery is of the “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.
133) 134)
REPLACING THE
BATTERY
If required, replace the battery with
an original spare part with the same
specifications.
If a battery with different
specifications is fitted, the service
intervals given in the “Scheduled
Servicing Plan” will no longer be
valid.
Follow the battery manufacturer's
instructions for maintenance.
37) 38)
5)
135)
208
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
USEFUL TIPS FOR
EXTENDING BATTERY
LIFE
To avoid draining your battery and
make it last longer, observe the
following instructions:
❒when you park the vehicle, 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 all roof lights inside the
vehicle: the vehicle is however
equipped with a system which
switches all internal lights off
automatically;
❒do not keep accessories (e.g. radio,
hazard warning 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 pole;
❒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 starting.The battery is also more prone to
the risk of freezing (already at
temperatures of -10°C). Refer to the
paragraph "Vehicle inactivity" in
"Starting and driving" if the vehicle is
left parked for a long time.
If, after buying the vehicle, you want
to install electric accessories which
require permanent electric supply
(alarm, etc.) contact a Fiat
Dealership whose qualified
personnel, in addition to suggesting
the most suitable devices from the
Lineaccessori Fiat, will evaluate
the overall electric absorption,
checking whether the vehicle's
electrical system is capable of
withstanding the load required, or
whether it should be integrated with
a more powerful battery.
Since some of these devices
continue to consume electricity even
when the engine is off, they
gradually run down the battery.
WARNING
133) Battery fluid is poisonous and
corrosive. Avoid contact with
skin and eyes. Keep naked flames
or possible sources of sparks
away from the battery: risk
of explosion or fire.
134) Using the battery when the fluid
is too low can damage it
irreparably and generate a risk of
explosion.
135) When performing any operation
on the battery or near it, always
protect your eyes with special
goggles.
209
RUBBER HOSES
As far as the maintenance of the
brake system and fuel supply
system rubber hoses is concerned,
follow the "Scheduled Servicing
Plan" in this chapter carefully.
Ozone, high temperatures and
prolonged lack of fluid in the system
may cause hardening and cracking
of the hoses, with possible leaks.
Careful checking is therefore
necessary.
PROLONGED
VEHICLE INACTIVITY
If the vehicle needs to be off the
road for longer than one month, the
following precautions must be
taken:
❒park the vehicle indoors in a dry and,
if possible, well-ventilated place;
❒engage a gear and check that the
handbrake is not engaged;
❒disconnect the negative terminal from
the battery pole (see paragraph
“Vehicle inactivity” in the "Dashboard
and controls" chapter) and check
the charge conditions (see paragraph
“Battery” in the “Care and
maintenance” chapter);
❒clean and protect the painted parts
using protective wax;
❒clean and protect the shiny metal
parts using special compounds
available commercially;
❒sprinkle talcum powder on the
windscreen and rear window wiper
rubber 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 specified pressure and
check it at intervals;
❒do not drain the engine cooling
system.
215
BODYWORK
PROTECTION AGAINST
ATMOSPHERIC
AGENTS
The main causes of corrosion are
the following:
❒atmospheric pollution;
❒salty air and humidity (coastal areas,
or hot humid climates);
❒seasonal environmental conditions.
The abrasive action of wind-borne
atmospheric dust and sand, as well
as mud and gravel raised by other
cars is also not to be
underestimated.
On your vehicle, Fiat has
implemented the best
manufacturing technologies to
effectively protect the bodywork
against corrosion.
These include:
❒painting products and systems which
give the vehicle particular resistance
to corrosion and abrasion;
❒use of galvanised (or pretreated)
sheet metal, with high resistance
to corrosion;❒spraying the underbody, engine
compartment, wheelhouse internal
parts 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.
VEHICLE EXTERIOR
AND UNDERBODY
WARRANTY
Your vehicle 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 the Warranty
Booklet.
ADVICE FOR
PRESERVING THE
BODYWORKPaintwork
Paintwork does not only serve an
aesthetic purpose, but also protects
the underlying sheet metal.
Touch up abrasions and scratches
immediately to prevent rust
formation. Use only original paint
products for touch-ups (see
“Bodywork paint identification plate”
in the “Technical specifications”
section).
Normal maintenance of paintwork
consists in washing the vehicle: the
frequency depends on the
conditions and environment where
the vehicle is used.
For example, it is advisable to wash
the vehicle more often in areas
with high levels of environmental
pollution or on roads spread with
salt.To correctly wash the vehicle,
proceed as follows:
❒wash the bodywork using a low
pressure jet of water;
❒wipe a sponge with a slightly soapy
solution over the bodywork,
frequently rinsing the sponge;
❒rinse well with water and dry with a
jet of air or a chamois.
216
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
If you put the vehicle through a car
wash, follow these
recommendations:
– remove the aerial from the roof so
it does not get damaged;
– water added to a soapy solution
should be used for washing;
– rinse thoroughly to avoid soap
marks staying on the bodywork or
less visible parts.
39)
Dry the less visible parts with special
care, such as the door frames,
bonnet and the headlight frames,
where water may stagnate more
easily. It is a good idea to leave the
vehicle outdoors for a while after
washing it to give water time to
evaporate.
Do not wash the vehicle after it has
been left in the sun or with the
bonnet hot: this may alter the shine
of the paintwork.Exterior plastic parts should be
cleaned in the same way as the rest
of the vehicle. Where possible, do
not park the vehicle under trees; the
resinous substances released by
many species give the paint a dull
appearance and increase the
possibility of corrosion.
IMPORTANT Bird droppings should
be washed off immediately and
thoroughly as the acid they contain
is particularly aggressive.6)
Windows
To clean glasses, use specific
cleaning products. Use clean cloths
to avoid scratching the glass or
damaging the transparency.
IMPORTANT Wipe the inside
surface of the rear window gently
with a cloth in the direction of the
filaments to avoid damaging the
heater coils.Engine compartment
At the end of each winter,
thoroughly wash the engine
compartment, taking care to avoid
spraying the water jet directly onto
the electronic control units and
the relay/fuse box on the left side of
the engine compartment (driving
direction). Have this operation
performed at a specialised
workshop.
IMPORTANT The washing should
take place with the engine cold and
the ignition key in the STOP
position. After the washing
operation, make sure that the
various protections (e.g. rubber
caps and guards) have not been
removed or damaged.
Headlights
IMPORTANT Never use aromatic
substances (e.g. petrol) or ketones
(e.g. acetone) for cleaning the
plastic lenses of the front headlights.
217
IMPORTANT
39) Some car washes with old-style
blades and/or in a poor state of
repair can damage the paintwork,
facilitating the formation of lines
that give the paint a dull/misty
appearance, especially on dark
colours. If this happens, lightly
polish the paintwork with
appropriate products.
IMPORTANT
6) Detergents cause water pollution.
The vehicle should be washed in
areas equipped for collecting
and purifying the liquid used in
the washing process.
INTERIORS
Regularly check that water is not
trapped under the mats (due to
water dripping off shoes, umbrellas,
etc.), as this could cause oxidation
of the sheet metal.
143) 144)
SEATS AND FABRIC
PARTS
Remove dust with a soft brush or a
vacuum cleaner. It is advisable to
use a moist brush on velvet
upholstery.
Rub the seats with a sponge
moistened with a solution of water
and mild soap.
PLASTIC PARTS
It is advisable to clean interior parts
with a moist cloth and a solution
of water and non-abrasive mild
soap. Use specific products for
cleaning plastic, without solvents
and specifically designed to prevent
damage to the appearance and
colour of the treated parts, to
remove grease and tough stains.IMPORTANT Do not use alcohol,
petrols or their derivatives to clean
the instrument panel glass.
LEATHER STEERING
WHEEL/GEAR
KNOB/HANDBRAKE
(for versions/markets, where
provided)
These components must be cleaned
with mild soap and water only.
Never use alcohol or alcohol-based
products.
Read the product label carefully
before using specific products for
cleaning the interiors: make sure the
product does not contain spirits or
alcohol-based substances.
If, when cleaning the windscreen
with special products, window
cleaner accidentally drips onto the
leather of the steering wheel/gear
lever knob/hand brake, wipe away
immediately and then wash the
affected area with mild soap and
water.
IMPORTANT Be careful when using
a steering wheel locking device,
to avoid damaging the leather
upholstery through abrasion.
218
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
WARNING
143) Never use flammable products,
such as petroleum ether or
modified petrol, to clean the
inside of the vehicle. The
electrostatic charges which are
generated by rubbing during
the cleaning operation may cause
a fire.
144) Do not keep aerosol cans in the
vehicle: they might explode.
Aerosol cans must not be exposed
to a temperature exceeding 50°C.
When the vehicle is exposed to
sunlight, the internal temperature
can greatly exceed this value.
219