IMPORTANT Brake fluid absorbs
moisture. For this reason, if the vehicle
is mainly used in areas with a high
degree of atmospheric humidity, the
fluid should be replaced at more
frequent intervals than specified in the
“Scheduled Servicing Plan”.
34)
140) 141)
POWER STEERING FLUID
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 body G fig. 212 - fig.
213 - fig. 214 - fig. 215 - fig. 217 - fig.
218 - fig. 219.
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.
142)
5)
35)
WARNING
136)Never smoke while working in the
engine compartment: gas and inflammable
vapours may be present, with the risk of
fire.
137)When the engine is hot, take care
when working inside the engine
compartment to avoid burns. Remember
that when the engine is hot, the fan may
operate: danger of injury. Scarves, ties and
other loose clothing might be pulled by
moving parts.
138)The cooling system is pressurised. If
necessary, only replace the plug with
another original or the operation of the
system may be adversely affected. Do not
remove the reservoir plug when the engine
is hot: you risk scalding yourself.
139)Do not travel with the windscreen
washer fluid reservoir empty: the
windscreen washer is essential for
improving visibility. Some commercial
windscreen washer additives are
flammable. The engine compartment
contains hot components which may set it
on fire.
140)Brake fluid is poisonous and highly
corrosive. In the event of accidental
contact, immediately wash the affected
parts with water and mild soap. Then rinse
thoroughly. Call a doctor immediately if
swallowed.141)The symbol
, on the brake fluid
container indicates if a brake fluid is
synthetic or mineralbased. Using
a mineral-type fluid will damage the special
rubber seals of the braking system beyond
repair.
142)Prevent power steering fluid from
coming into contact with hot engine parts:
it is flammable.
WARNING
31)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.
32)Do not add oil with specifications other
than those of the oil already existing in
the engine.
33)PARAFLU
UPanti-freeze is used in the
engine cooling system. Use the same
fluid as in the cooling system when topping
up. PARAFLU
UPcannot be mixed with
any other type of fluid. If this occurs, do not
start the engine and contact your Fiat
Dealership immediately.
34)Prevent brake fluid, which is highly
corrosive, from coming into contact with
painted parts. Should it happen,
immediately wash with water.
35)Do not press on the power steering
end of travel with engine on for more than
8 consecutive seconds, since noise is
produced and there is a risk of system
damages.
193
WARNING
4)Used engine oil and oil filters contain
substances which are harmful to the
environment. Contact a Fiat Dealership to
have the oil and filters changed. They
are equipped to dispose of the used oil
and filters respecting nature and the law.
5)Power steering fluid consumption is
extremely low; if another top-up is required
after only a short period of time, have the
system checked for leaks at a Fiat
Dealership.
AIR CLEANER/
POLLEN FILTER
Have the air cleaner or the pollen filter
replaced by a Fiat Dealership.
DIESEL FILTER
DRAINING
CONDENSATION
(MultiJet versions)
36)
WARNING
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.
194
SERVICING AND CARE
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.
143) 144)
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)
6)
145)
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
143)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.
144)Using the battery when the fluid is too
low can damage it irreparably and generate
a risk of explosion.
195
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.
200
SERVICING AND CARE
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.
7)
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.
WARNING
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.
WARNING
7)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.
153) 154)
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.
202
SERVICING AND CARE
FUEL
CONSUMPTION
The fuel consumption figures given in
the tables below are determined on the
basis of the type-approval tests laid
down by specific European Directives.
These consumption values refer to
basic vehicles without optionals.
The following procedures are used to
measure the fuel consumption:
urban cycle: begins with cold
starting, followed by driving simulating
the use of the vehicle in town;
extra-urban cycle: driving that
simulates using the vehicle out of town
with frequent acceleration in all gears;
the speed varies from 0 to 120 km/h;
combined fuel consumption:
calculated with a weighting of
approximately 37% of the urban cycle
and 63% of the extra-urban cycle.
IMPORTANT The type of route, traffic
situations, weather conditions, driving
style, general conditions of the vehicle,
trim level/equipment/accessories,
climate control system, vehicle load,
roof rack, other situations that affect
aerodynamics or air drag may lead to
different fuel consumption levels than
those measured.IMPORTANT
In practice, fuel consumption may be
higher than the values obtained during
the approval tests.
Here are some of the major factors that
can lead to a difference between test
and real consumption.
1) Vehicle condition: inadequate
servicing, use of roof racks, trailers,
heavy loading, high usage of electrical
devices and the air conditioning.
2) Driving style: frequent cold starts for
short journeys, poor engine warming
technique, gear selection, high speeds,
sudden acceleration and braking.
3) Traffic and road conditions: driving in
traffic, steep hills or winding roads,
road surface conditions.
4) Atmospheric conditions: intemperate
weather, wind, rain, snow, high altitude.
5) Proportion of use in towns and
cities, in the country and on
motorways.
PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR
REDUCING FUEL
CONSUMPTION AND
HARMFUL EMISSIONS
Vehicle conditions
1. Have checks and adjustments
carried out in accordance with the
“Service Schedule”.2. Check tyre pressure regularly, at least
once every four weeks. Excessively
low pressures will increase
consumption because rolling resistance
will be higher. In addition, this wears
the tyre more quickly and impairs
performance.
3. Only use snow tyres when the
weather conditions make them
absolutely necessary. They increase
consumption and noise.
4. Do not travel with a heavy load: the
weight of the vehicle (especially when
driving in town) and its trim greatly
affect fuel consumption and stability.
5. Remove roof racks or ski racks after
use. These accessories reduce the
vehicle's aerodynamic penetration and
have a negative effect on fuel
consumption.
6. When transporting particularly large
objects, use a trailer if possible.
7. Use the vehicle's air vents if possible:
travelling with the windows open
impairs aerodynamics.
8. Use electrical devices only for the
amount of time needed. The vehicle’s
heated rear window, additional
headlights, screen wipers and heater
fan require a considerable amount
of energy; this increases fuel
consumption (by up to +25% in an
urban cycle).
260
TECHNICAL DATA