2018 Abarth 500 warning

WARNING
27)Never use a fast battery-charger to
start the engine as this could damage the
electronic systems of your vehicle,
particularly the ignition and engine fuel
supply control units.
WARNING
126)This starting procedure must be
performed by expert personnel because
incorrect actions could cause electrical
discharge of considerable intensity.
Furthermore, battery fluid is poisonous and
corrosive: avoid contact with skin and
eyes. Keep naked flames and lighted
cigarettes away from the battery and do
not cause sparks.
FUEL CUT-OFF
SYSTEM
This intervenes in the case of an impact
causing:
the interruption of the fuel supply
with the engine consequently cutting
out
the automatic unlocking of the doors
turning on the lights inside the car.
The intervention of the system is
indicated by a message shown on the
display.
IMPORTANT Carefully check the car for
fuel leaks, for instance in the engine
compartment, under the car or near the
tank area.
127)
After a crash, turn the ignition key to
STOP position to prevent the battery
from running down.
To restore the correct operation of the
car, proceed as follows:
turn the ignition key to the MAR
position
activate the right direction indicator
deactivate the right direction
indicator
activate the left direction indicator
deactivate the left direction indicator
activate the right direction indicator
deactivate the right direction
indicator
activate the left direction indicator
deactivate the left direction indicator
turn the ignition key to the STOP
position
turn the ignition key to the MAR-ON
position.
WARNING
127)If, after an impact, you smell fuel or
notice leaks from the fuel system, do
not reactivate the system to avoid the risk
of fire.
107

TOWING THE
VEHICLE
The tow hook, which is supplied with
the vehicle, is housed in the tool box,
under the carpet in the luggage
compartment.
128) 129) 130) 131) 132)
ATTACHING THE TOW
RING
Proceed as follows:
Front
release cap 1 fig. 105
take the tow hook 2 fig. 105 out of
its housing in the tool support;
fully tighten it on the threaded pin.Rear
release cap 1 fig. 106
take the tow hook 2 fig. 106 out of
its housing in the tool support;
fully tighten it on the threaded pin.
Towing with robotised
sequential transmission
Make sure that the gearbox is in neutral
(N) (checking that the vehicle moves
when pushed) and proceed in the same
way as for towing a normal vehicle
with a manual gearbox. If the gearbox
cannot be put in neutral, do not tow the
car and contact an Abarth Dealership.
WARNING
128)Before towing, turn the ignition key to
MAR-ON and then to STOP without
removing it. The steering column
will automatically lock when the key is
removed and the wheels cannot be
steered.
129)Before tightening the ring clean the
threaded housing thoroughly. Make sure
that the ring is fully fastened in the housing
before towing the car.
130)The front and rear tow hooks should
be used only for emergencies on the road.
You are allowed to tow the vehicle for
short distances using an appropriate
device in accordance with the highway
code (a rigid bar), to move the vehicle on
the road in readiness for towing or
transporting via a breakdown vehicle. Tow
rings MUST NOT be used to tow vehicles
off the road or where there are obstacles
and/or for towing operations using cables
or other non-rigid devices. In compliance
with the above conditions, towing must
take place with the two vehicles (one
towing, the other towed) aligned as much
as possible along the same centre line.
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106AB0A0109C
108
IN AN EMERGENCY

SERVICE SCHEDULE
WARNING: Once you have carried out the last intervention in the table, continue with the scheduled servicing, maintaining the
frequency indicated in the plan by marking each operation with a dot or dedicated note.
Warning: simply restarting the maintenance from the start of the plan may cause the allowed interval to be exceeded for some
operations!
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
Years 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Check the tyre condition/wear and, if necessary, adjust the
pressure. Check the "Fix&Go” kit condition/expiry (where
provided)
Check operation of lighting system (headlights, direction
indicators, hazard warning lights, boot, passenger
compartment, glove compartment, instrument panel
warning lights, etc.)
Check and, if necessary, top up fluid levels (1)
Check exhaust emissions
Use the diagnosis socket to check supply/engine
management system operation, emissions and, where
present, engine oil degradation
(1) Always only use the liquids shown in the handbook for topping up after having checked that the system is not damaged.
112
SERVICING AND CARE

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 top up if
required: 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).
DEMANDING USE OF
THE CAR
If the car is used mainly under one of
the following conditions:
if the car is used under demanding
conditions, e.g. on track;
dusty roads;
short, repeated journeys (less than
7-8 Km) at sub-zero outdoor
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 conditions of:
engine, gearbox, transmission, pipes
and hoses (exhaust/fuel system/brakes)
and rubber elements (gaiters/sleeves/
bushes, etc.);
check battery charge and battery
fluid level (electrolyte);
visually inspect conditions 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.
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SERVICING AND CARE

WARNING
133)Never smoke while working in the
engine compartment: gas and inflammable
vapours may be present, with the risk of
fire.
134)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 might be pulled by
moving parts.
135)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.
136)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.
137)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.138)The
symbol on the reservoir
identifies synthetic brake fluids,
distinguishing them from the mineral type.
Use of mineral type fluids will damage
the special rubber seals of the braking
system beyond repair.
WARNING
28)Abarth 595/695 is designed and built
for road use, in compliance with the
current regulations. Car use in the track
must be considered as occasional and in
any case under the responsibility of the
user. The vehicle CANNOT be modified or
tampered with for any reason; this would
alter the Manufacturer homologation
and/or safety requirements. Using a
modified or tampered product relieves the
Manufacturer from any responsibility on
the product and may expose people
to serious risks.
29)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 car.
30)Do not add oil with specifications other
than those of the oil already existing in
the engine.
31)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 happens, do not
start the engine under any circumstances
and contact an Abarth Dealership.32)Prevent brake fluid, which is highly
corrosive, from coming into contact with
painted parts. Should it happen,
immediately wash with water.
WARNING
4)Used engine oil and oil filters contain
substances which are harmful to the
environment. You are advised to go to an
Abarth Dealership to have the oil and filters
changed.
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SERVICING AND CARE

BATTERY
The car is fitted with a low-maintenance
battery: no electrolyte top-ups with
distilled water are needed in standard
conditions of use.
INSPECTING THE
CHARGE AND THE
ELECTROLYTE LEVEL
The operations must be carried out as
described in this Owner Handbook only
by specialised personnel. Any top-up
operations must be carried out by
skilled personnel and by an Abarth
Dealership.
REPLACING THE
BATTERY
139) 140) 141) 142)
33)
5)If required, replace the battery with a
genuine 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.USEFUL ADVICE FOR
EXTENDING THE LIFE OF
YOUR BATTERY
To avoid draining your battery and
make it last longer, observe the
following instructions:
when you park the car, ensure that
the doors, tailgate and bonnet are
closed properly, to prevent any lights
from remaining on inside the
passenger's compartment;
switch off all roof lights inside the
car: the car is however equipped with a
system which switches all internal
lights off automatically;
do not keep accessories (e.g.
Uconnect™, 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 start-up.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
139)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.
121

140)Running the battery with an
excessively low liquid level will damage the
battery beyond repair and could even
cause its explosion.
141)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.
142)When performing any operation on
the battery or near it, always protect your
eyes with special goggles.
WARNING
33)Incorrect installation of electric and
electronic devices may cause severe
damage to your car. After purchasing your
car, if you wish to install any accessories
(car alarm, car phone etc.), please contact
your Abarth Dealership, which will suggest
the most appropriate devices for your
car and will, most importantly, recommend
installing a higher­capacity battery.
WARNING
5)Batteries contain substances which are
very dangerous for the environment. It is
advisable to contact an Abarth Dealership
for battery replacement.
BATTERY
RECHARGING
143) 144)
IMPORTANT The battery recharging
procedure is given as information only.
It is advisable to contact an Abarth
Dealership to have this operation
performed.
Charging should be slow at a low
ampere rating for approximately 24
hours. Charging for a longer time may
damage the battery.
To recharge, proceed as follows:
disconnect the terminal from the
negative battery pole;
connect the charger cables to the
battery terminals, observing the polarity;
turn on the battery charger;
when it is recharged, turn the
charger off before disconnecting it from
the battery;
reconnect the terminal to the
negative battery pole.WARNING: The cables of the electrical
system must be correctly reconnected
to the battery, i.e. the positive cable
(+) to the positive terminal and the
negative cable (-) to the negative
terminal. The battery terminals are
marked with the positive (+) and
negative (-) symbols, and are shown on
the battery cover. The battery terminals
must also be corrosion-free and firmly
secured to the terminals. If a "quick-
type" battery charger is used with the
battery fitted on the car, before
connecting it disconnect both cables of
the battery itself. Do not use a
"quick-type" battery charger to provide
the starting voltage.
WARNING
143)Battery fluid is poisonous and
corrosive: avoid contact with your skin and
eyes. The battery should be charged in a
well ventilated place, away from naked
flames or possible sources of sparks:
danger of explosion and fire.
144)Do not attempt to recharge a frozen
battery: first it must be thawed, otherwise
there is a risk of explosion. If freezing
has occurred, the battery should be
checked by skilled personnel to make sure
that the internal elements are not damaged
and that the body is not cracked, with the
risk of leaking poisonous and corrosive
acid.
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SERVICING AND CARE

Rear window washer
The rear window washer jets are fixed.
The nozzle holder is on the rear window
fig. 112.
WARNING
145)Driving with worn windscreen/rear
window wiper blades is a serious risk,
because visibility is reduced in bad
weather.
LIFTING THE CAR
34)
As a result of its sporty nature, the car
is fitted with aerodynamic spoilers at
the bottom and side skirts at the sides.
If the car needs to be raised, go to an
Abarth Dealership which is equipped
with arm lifts and workshop lifts.
WARNING
34)When positioning the workshop lift
arms, be very careful to avoid damaging
the aerodynamic spoilers and the side
skirts.
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.
146) 147) 148) 149)
It is normal for the pressure to increase
when the car is used; for the correct
tyre inflation pressure, see “Wheels” in
the “Technical specifications” section.
SNOW TYRES
Use snow tyres of the same size as the
standard tyres provided with the car.
An Abarth Dealership will be happy to
provide advice concerning the most
suitable type of tyre for the Customer's
requirements.
150)
For the type of tyre to be used, inflation
pressures and the specifications of
snow tyres, follow the instructions given
in the "Wheels" paragraph in the
"Technical specifications" chapter.
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SERVICING AND CARE