2016 Abarth 500 check engine

CAR INACTIVITY
If the car is to be left inactive for longer
than a month, the following precautions
should be noted:
❒park the car in covered, dry and if
possible well-ventilated premises and
slightly open the windows;
❒check that the handbrake is not
engaged;
❒engage a gear;
❒disconnect the negative battery
terminal and check the battery
charge. Repeat this check once
every three months during storage;
❒if the battery is not disconnected
from the electrical system, check
its state of charge every thirty days;
❒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;❒cover the car with a cloth or
perforated plastic sheet. Do not use
compact plastic sheets which do
not allow humidity to evaporate from
the surface of the car;
❒inflate tyres to +0.5 bar above the
standard prescribed pressure and
check it periodically;
❒do not drain the engine cooling
system;
128
STARTING AND DRIVING

SCHEDULED SERVICING PLAN
The checks listed in the Scheduled Servicing Plan, after reaching 120,000 km/8 years, must be cyclically repeated starting from
the first interval, thus following the same intervals as before.
Thousands of miles 9 18 27 36 45 54 63 72 81 90
Thousands of kilometres 15 30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150
Years12345678910
Check tyre condition/wear and adjust pressure, if
necessary; check “Fix&Go Automatic” kit recharge expiry
date (for versions/markets, where provided)●●●●●●●●●●
Check operation of lighting system (headlights, direction
indicators, hazard warning lights, luggage compartment,
passenger compartment, glove compartment, instrument
panel warning lights, etc.)●●●●●●●●●●
Check and, if necessary, top up fluid levels (engine
coolant, hydraulic clutch/brakes, screen washer, battery,
etc.)●●●●●●●●●●
Check exhaust emissions/smokiness●●●●●●●●●●
Use the diagnosis socket to check supply/engine
management systems operation, emissions and, for
versions/markets, where provided, engine oil degradation●●●●●●●●●●
Visually inspect condition of: exterior bodywork,
underbody protection, pipes and hoses (exhaust, fuel
system, brakes), rubber elements (gaiters, sleeves,
bushes, etc.)●●●●●
Check windscreen/rear window wiper blade position/wear●●●●●
155

Thousands of miles 9 18 27 36 45 54 63 72 81 90
Thousands of kilometres 15 30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150
Years12345678910
Check operation of the wiper/washer system and adjust
jets, if necessary●●●●●
Check cleanliness of bonnet and luggage compartment
locks, as well as cleanliness and lubrication of linkages●●●●●
Check soft top operation while closing and opening; check
sealing gaskets and lubrication of canvas sliding side
guides (cabrio versions only)●●●●●●●●●●
Check handbrake lever travel and adjust, if necessary●●●●●
Visually inspect condition and wear of rear and front disc
brake pads and operation of pad wear indicator (for
versions/markets where provided)●●●●●●●●●●
Visually inspect conditions of the accessory drive belt(s)●
Check tensioning of accessory drive belt(s) and adjust if
necessary●●
Visually inspect condition of toothed timing drive belt●
Change engine oil and replace oil filter●●●●●●●●●●
Replace spark plugs (1)●●●●●
(1) The following are essential to ensure correct operation and prevent serious damage to the engine: only use spark plugs of the same make and type specially
certified for 1.4 Turbo petrol Abarth engines (see the information in the "Engine" paragraph); strictly comply with the spark plug replacement interval given in the
Scheduled Servicing Plan; for spark plug replacement it is advisable to contact an Abarth Dealership.
156
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE

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 window wiper
blades.
Every 3,000 km check and, if
necessary, top up: engine oil level.
You are advised to use PETRONAS
LUBRICANTS products, which have
been designed and produced
specifically for Abarth cars (see table
"Capacities" in the "Technical
specifications" chapter).
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 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 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.
158
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE

CHECKING LEVELS
29)
130) 131).
A. Engine oil filler – B. Engine oil dipstick – C. Engine coolant – D. Windscreen washer fluid – E. Brake fluid – F. Battery
128AB0A0110
159

ENGINE OIL
30)
3)
Check the oil level a few minutes (about
five) after the engine has stopped,
with the car parked on level ground.
Take out the engine oil dipstick B, clean
it with a lint-free cloth and reinsert it.
Extract the engine oil dipstick again and
check that the level is between the
MIN and MAX marks on the dipstick.
The range between the MIN and MAX
marks corresponds to about 1 litre
of oil.
If the oil level is near or under the MIN
mark, add oil through the filler A until
it reaches the MAX mark.
The oil level must never exceed the
MAX mark.
Engine oil consumption
The maximum engine oil consumption
is usually 400 grams every 1,000 km.
When the car 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 driving style and the
conditions under which the car is used.
IMPORTANT After adding or changing
the oil, let the engine run for a few
seconds and wait a few minutes after
switching it off before checking the
level.
ENGINE COOLANT
The coolant level must be checked
when the engine is cold and must
range between the MIN and MAX
marks on the reservoir.
If the level is too low, unscrew reservoir
cap C fig. 128 and add the fluid
described in the "Technical
specifications" chapter.
31)
132)
WINDSCREEN/REAR
WINDOW WASHER FLUID
Check fluid level through the reservoir.
If the level is too low, lift reservoir cap D
fig. 128 and add the fluid described in
the "Technical specifications" chapter.
After topping up, close cap D, making
sure it is correctly locked.BRAKE FLUID
Check that the fluid is at the maximum
level (the fluid level in the reservoir
must not exceed the MAX mark).
If the fluid level in the reservoir is too
low, undo reservoir cap E fig. 128 and
add the fluid described in the "Technical
specifications" chapter.
134) 135)
32)
IMPORTANT Carefully clean the cap of
the reservoir E and the surrounding
surface.
Take great care to ensure that
impurities do not enter the reservoir
when the cap is opened.
For topping-up, always use a funnel
with integrated filter with mesh equal to
or lower than 0.12 mm.
IMPORTANT Brake fluid is hygroscopic
(i.e. it absorbs moisture). For this
reason, if the car is mainly used in areas
with a high degree of atmospheric
humidity, the fluid must be replaced at
more frequent intervals than specified in
the "Scheduled Servicing Plan".
160
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE

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 want to
install electrical accessories that require
permanent electrical supply (alarm,
etc.) or accessories that in any case
burden the electrical supply, contact an
Abarth Dealership whose qualified
personnel, in addition to suggesting the
most suitable devices available in
Lineaccessori Abarth, will evaluate the
overall electric consumption, checking
whether the car’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
136) Battery fluid is poisonous and
corrosive. Avoid contact with
skin and eyes. Keep naked flames
and sources of sparks away from
the battery: risk of explosion and
fire.
137) Running the battery with an
excessively low fluid level will
damage the battery beyond repair
and could even cause its
explosion.
138) If the vehicle must remain
unused for a long time at a very
low temperature, remove the
battery and take it to a warm
place, to avoid freezing.
139) When performing any operation
on the battery or near it, always
protect your eyes with special
goggles.
IMPORTANT
33) Incorrect assembly of electrical
and electronic accessories may
cause severe damage to your car.
Go to an Abarth Dealership if
you want to install accessories
(anti-theft system,
radiotelephone, etc.): they will
suggest the most suitable devices
and advise you whether a higher
capacity battery needs to be
installed.
IMPORTANT
4) Batteries contain substances
which are very dangerous for the
environment. It is advisable to
contact an Abarth Dealership for
battery replacement.
163

Fault Possible solution
... THE ENGINE DOES NOT START, THE
STARTER DOES NOT TURN.-Contact an Abarth
Dealership.
... THE ENGINE DOES NOT START OR
STOPS WHEN DRIVING.Check that there is sufficient fuel in the tank;
refuel if necessary.See FILLING THE TANK
page 64
... THE ENGINE DOES NOT START
FOLLOWING AN IMPACT.Fuel supply might be interrupted following
activation of the fuel cut off inertia switch.
Check the system re-activation procedure.See page 35
... ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE TOO
HIGH INDICATION.Check the engine coolant level.See page 160 or contact an
Abarth Dealership.
... IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO ENGAGE THE
GEARS.Have the gearbox/transmission checked.Contact an Abarth
Dealership.
... LOSS OF ENGINE PERFORMANCE,
POOR DRIVEABILITY, HIGH EXHAUST
EMISSIONS AND CONSUMPTION.Have the EOBD/injection system checked.See page 59 or contact an
Abarth Dealership.
... THE ABS DOES NOT WORK. Have the ABS checked.See page 53 or contact an
Abarth Dealership.
196
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS