Rear window (washer)
The rear window washer jets are fixed.
The nozzle holder is located above
the rear window.
WARNING
138) Driving with worn windscreen
wiper blades is a serious hazard,
because visibility is reduced in
bad weather conditions.
WHEELS AND TYRES
Check the pressure of each tyre,
including the space-saver wheel,
approximately every two weeks and
before long journeys: the pressure
should be checked with the tyre rested
and cold.
It is normal for the pressure to increase
when the vehicle is used; for the correct
tyre inflation pressure, see “Wheels” in
the “Technical specifications” section.
Incorrect pressure causes abnormal
tyre wear fig. 224:
Anormal pressure: tread evenly worn;
Blow pressure: tread particularly worn
at the edges;
Chigh 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 you are in.
IMPORTANT
❒As far as possible, avoid sharp
braking, screech starts and violent
shocks against pavements, potholes
or other hard obstacles. Driving for
long stretches over bumpy roads can
damage the tyres;
❒periodically check that the tyres have
no cuts in the side wall, abnormal
swelling or irregular tyre wear.
Contact a Fiat Dealership if required;
❒avoid overloading the vehicle when
travelling: this may cause serious
damage to the wheels and tyres;
❒if a tyre is punctured, stop
immediately and change it to avoid
damage to the tyre, the rim,
suspensions and steering system;
❒tyres age even if they are not used
much. Cracks in the tread and on
the side walls are a sign of ageing.
Have the tyres checked by
specialised personnel if they have
been fitted for longer than 6 years.
Remember to check the spare wheel
very carefully;
224F0V0161
204
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
❒in the case of replacement, always fit
new tyres, avoiding those of
unknown origin;
❒If a tyre is changed, also change the
inflation valve;
❒to allow even wear between the front
and rear tyres, it is advisable to
change them over every 10-15
thousand kilometres, keeping them
on the same side of the vehicle so as
not to reverse the direction of
rotation.
139) 140) 141) 142)
WARNING
139) Remember that the road
holding qualities of your vehicle
also depend on the correct
inflation pressure of the tyres.
140) If tyre pressure is too low, the
tire may overheat and be severely
damaged as a result.
141) Do not switch tyres from the
righthand side of the vehicle to
the lefthand side, and vice versa.142) Never submit alloy rims to
repainting treatments requiring
the use of temperatures
exceeding 150°C. The mechanical
properties of the wheels could
be impaired.
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.
205
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.
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;
206
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
❒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
BODYWORK
Paintwork
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.
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.
207
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.
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.
208
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
Hazard warning lights..................... 152
Headlights...................................... 66
Headlight washers ......................... 40
Head restraints............................... 30
Heating and ventilation ............... 41-43
Hill Holder system .......................... 108
Identification data .......................... 212
Ignition device ................................ 16
Important information ..................... 126
Inflation pressure ............................ 230
Installing electrical/electronic
devices ........................................ 5
Interior fittings ................................ 62
Interior lights .................................. 36
Interior mirror ................................. 32
Interiors .......................................... 208
Isofix child restraint system
setup ........................................... 119
Jump starting ................................ 174
Lifting the vehicle .......................... 176
Load limiters .................................. 113
Luggage compartment light ........... 37
Main beam headlights............. 34-156
Maintenance of the seat belts ........ 114
Manual climate control system ....... 45
Manual deactivation of
passenger side front airbag and
side bag for chest/head
protection .................................... 123
MSR system .................................. 109Multifunction display....................... 78
– Control buttons ......................... 78
– Set-up menu ............................. 79
Number plate lights (for
hatchback versions) ..................... 158
Number plate lights (for versions
with wing doors)........................... 158
Occupant protection systems ....... 110
Parking ......................................... 132
Parking sensors ............................. 144
Partitions........................................ 28
Passenger side front airbag ............ 122
Performance .................................. 269
Periodic checks ............................. 188
Plastic parts ................................... 208
Plugs (type) .................................... 216
Power socket ................................. 62
Power steering fluid........................ 197
Practical advice for reducing fuel
consumption and harmful
emissions ..................................... 147
Prescriptions for vehicle at end
of life ............................................ 305
Pretensioners ................................. 113
Procedure for diesel versions ......... 130
Procedure for petrol versions.......... 130
Prolonged vehicle inactivity............. 206
Protecting the environment ............ 68
Protection against atmospheric
agents.......................................... 206
Radio (setup) ................................ 67
Radio transmitters and mobile
phones......................................... 5
Rear doors ..................................... 21
Rear fog lights ................................ 57
Rear light clusters .......................... 156
Rear roof light ................................ 159
Rear view mirrors ........................... 32
Rear window washer...................... 40
Rear window wiper ..................... 39-40
Refuelling the vehicle ...................... 146
Replacing a bulb ............................ 152
Replacing an exterior bulb .............. 155
Replacing an interior bulb ............... 158
Replacing fuses.............................. 160
Replacing the battery ..................... 199
Rim Protector................................. 225
Rims and tyres ............................... 224
Roof rack ....................................... 66
Rubber hoses ................................ 205
Saving fuel .................................... 147
SBR system ................................... 112
Scheduled servicing ....................... 180
Scheduled Servicing Plan ............... 181
Seat belts....................................... 111
Seats and fabric parts .................... 208
Seats ............................................. 23
– Driver’s seat .............................. 23
– Passenger seat ......................... 24
INDEX