2018 FIAT 500L Owner handbook (in English)

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.
CLIMATE CONTROL
SYSTEM MAINTENANCE
In winter, the climate control system
must be turned on at least once a
month for about 10 minutes. Before
summer, have the system checked at a
Fiat Dealership.
WARNING
149)Never smoke while working in the
engine compartment: gas and inflammable
vapours may be present, with the risk of
fire.
150)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.
151)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.
152)If the engine oil is being topped up,
wait for the engine to cool down before
loosening the filler cap, particularly for
vehicles with aluminium cap (where
provided). WARNING: risk of burns!153)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.
154)Do not travel with the windscreen
washer fluid reservoir empty: the
windscreen washer is essential for
improving visibility. Repeated operation of
the system without fluid could damage
or cause rapid deterioration of some
system components.
155)Some commercial additives for
windscreen washer fluid are flammable.
The engine compartment contains hot
components which may start a fire.
156)Brake fluid is poisonous and highly
corrosive. In the event of accidental
contact, immediately wash the affected
parts with water and neutral soap. Then
rinse thoroughly. Call a doctor immediately
if swallowed.
157)The symbol
, on the brake fluid
container indicates if a brake fluid is
synthetic or mineral­based. Use of mineral
type fluids will damage the special rubber
seals of the braking system beyond repair.
158)Battery fluid is poisonous and
corrosive. Avoid contact with the skin and
eyes. Keep open flames away from the
battery and do not use objects that might
create sparks: risk of explosion and fire.
159)Using the battery with low fluid will
irreparably damage the battery and may
cause an explosion.160)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.
161)When performing any operation on
the battery or near it, always protect your
eyes with special goggles.
WARNING
69)Be careful not to confuse the various
types of fluids while topping up: they
are not compatible with each other!
Topping up with an unsuitable fluid could
severely damage your car.
70)The oil level must never exceed the
MAX reference.
71)Do not add oil with specifications other
than those of the oil already in the engine.
72)PARAFLU
UPanti-freeze fluid is used
in the engine cooling system; use the same
fluid type as that already in the cooling
system when topping up. PARAFLU
UP
may not be mixed with other types of
anti-freeze fluids. In the event of topping up
with an unsuitable product, under no
circumstances start the engine and contact
a Fiat Dealership.
73)Prevent brake fluid, which is highly
corrosive, from coming into contact with
painted parts. Should it happen,
immediately wash with water.
167

74)Incorrect installation of electric and
electronic devices may cause severe
damage to your car. After purchasing your
vehicle, if you wish to install any
accessories (e.g. anti-theft, radio phone,
etc.), go to a Fiat Dealership, which will
suggest the most suitable devices and
advise you whether a higher capacity
battery needs to be installed.
WARNING
3)Used engine oil and oil filters contain
substances which are harmful to the
environment. To change the oil and filters,
we advise you to contact a Fiat Dealership.
4)Used transmission oil contains
substances that may be dangerous for the
environment. It is advisable to contact a
Fiat Dealership to have the oil changed.
5)Batteries contain substances which are
very harmful for the environment. For
battery replacement, contact a Fiat
Dealership.
BATTERY
RECHARGING
162) 163)
IMPORTANT After turning the ignition
key to STOP and having closed the
driver side door, wait at least 1 minute
before disconnecting the electrical
supply from the battery. When
reconnecting the electrical supply to the
battery, make sure that the ignition
device is in the STOP position and the
driver side door is closed.
IMPORTANT Charging should be slow
at a low ampere rating for
approximately 24 hours. Charging for a
longer time may damage the battery.IMPORTANT Make sure that the cables
of the electrical system are correctly
reconnected to the battery: 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 vehicle, before
connecting it disconnect both cables of
the battery itself. Do not use a
"quick-type" battery charger to provide
the starting voltage.
IMPORTANT The battery recharging
procedure is given as information only.
You are advised to contact a Fiat
Dealership to have this operation
carried out.
VERSIONS WITHOUT
Start&Stop SYSTEM
(for versions/markets, where provided)
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;
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SERVICING AND CARE

when it is recharged, turn the
charger off before disconnecting it from
the battery;
reconnect the terminal to the
negative battery pole.
VERSIONS WITH
Start&Stop SYSTEM
(for versions/markets, where provided)
To recharge, proceed as follows:
disconnect connector A fig. 177
(pressing button B) from battery status
monitoring sensor C (fitted on the
negative battery terminal D);
connect the positive cable (+) of the
battery charger to the battery positive
terminal (+);
connect the negative cable (–) of the
battery charger to the pin D of the
negative battery terminal (–);
turn on the battery charger. When it
is recharged, turn the charger off before
disconnecting it from the battery;
reconnect the connector A to the
sensor C of the battery.
WARNING
162)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.163)Do not try to recharge a frozen
battery; defrost it first to prevent the risk of
explosion. If the battery was frozen, have
it inspected by specialised technicians
before recharging to check that the internal
elements are not damaged and that the
casing is not cracked, which could cause
poisonous, corrosive acid to leak.
177F0Y0153C
169

WINDSCREEN /
REAR WINDOW
WIPERS
164)75)
REPLACING THE
WINDSCREEN WIPER
BLADES
Proceed as follows:
raise the wiper arm, press tab A fig.
178 of the attachment spring and
remove the blade from the arm;
fit the new blade, inserting the tab
into the special slot in the arm, making
sure that it is locked;
lower the wiper arm onto the
windscreen.REPLACING THE REAR
WINDOW WIPER BLADE
Proceed as follows:
raise the cover A fig. 179, undo the
nut B and remove the arm C;
correctly position the new arm, fully
tighten the nut B then lower the cover
A.
NOZZLES
Windscreen washer
The windscreen washer jets A fig. 180
are fixed.
If there is no jet of fluid, firstly check
that there is fluid in the reservoir (see
paragraph “Checking fluid levels” in this
chapter). Then check that the nozzle
holes are not clogged; use a needle to
unblock them if necessary.Rear window washer
The rear window washer jets are fixed.
The nozzle holder is on the rear window
fig. 181.
WARNING
164)Driving with worn windscreen/rear
window wiper blades is a serious risk,
because visibility is reduced in bad
weather.
178F0Y0114C
179F0Y0208C
180F0Y0209C
181F0Y0210C
170
SERVICING AND CARE

WARNING
75)Do not operate the windscreen wiper
with the blades lifted from the windscreen.
LIFTING THE CAR
165)
76)
If the car needs to be lifted, go to a Fiat
Dealership which is equipped with
arm hoists or workshop lifts.
WARNING
165)The care must only be raised laterally
by placing the ends of the arms or
workshop lift in the areas shown in fig. 182
and fig. 183 (for lifting the rear side).
WARNING
76)Take special care when positioning the
arm lifts or the workshop lift in order not
to damage the aerodynamic spoilers and
the side skirts, if any.
182F0Y0266C
183F0Y0333C
171

WHEELS AND TYRES
SUGGESTIONS ABOUT
THE ROTATION OF THE
TYRES
166)77) 78) 79) 80)
The front and rear tyres are subject to
different loads and stress due to
steering, manoeuvres and braking. For
this reason they are subject to uneven
wear.
To resolve this problem, tyres should be
rotated at the appropriate time. This
operation is recommended for tyres
with a deep tread pattern, suitable both
for on-road and off-road driving.
Tyre rotation contributes to the
preservation of the grip and traction
performance on wet, muddy or snowy
roads, guaranteeing optimal driveability
of the car.
In the case of irregular wear of the
tyres, the reason must be identified and
corrected before rotating them.
WARNING
166)Do not cross switch the tyres if they
are "unidirectional" type. In this case,
always take care not to fit the tyres with a
direction of rotation that is opposite to that
indicated: you would risk losing grip and
control of the vehicle.
WARNING
77)The road holding qualities of the car
also depend on the correct inflation
pressure of the tyres.
78)If tyre pressure is too low, the tyre may
overheat and be severely damaged as a
result.
79)Do not switch tyres from the right­hand
side of the vehicle to the left­hand side,
and vice versa.
80)Never submit alloy rims to repainting
treatments requiring the use of
temperatures exceeding 150°C. The
mechanical properties of the wheels could
be impaired.
BODYWORK
PRESERVING THE
BODYWORK
Paintwork
81)6)
Touch up abrasions and scratches
immediately to prevent the formation of
rust.
Versions with matt paint
(for versions/markets, where provided)
On some versions the car may have
an exclusive opaque paint on the roof,
which requires special care to keep it
in good condition.
82)
Washing the car
To correctly wash the car, follow these
instructions:
if the vehicle is washed remove the
aerial from the roof;
if high pressure jets or cleaners are
used to wash the vehicle, keep a
distance of at least 40 cm from the
bodywork to avoid damage or
alteration. Build up of water could
cause damage to the car in the long
term;
wash the bodywork using a low
pressure jet of water;
172
SERVICING AND CARE

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 leather.
WARNING
81)In order to preserve the aesthetic
appearance of the paint abrasive products
and/or polishes should not be used for
cleaning the vehicle.
82)Avoid washing with rollers and/or
brushes in washing stations. Wash the car
only by hand using neutral pH detergents;
dry it with a wet chamois leather. Abrasive
products and/or polishes should not be
used for cleaning the car. Bird droppings
must be washed off immediately and
thoroughly as the acid they contain
is particularly aggressive. Avoid (if at all
possible) parking the vehicle under trees;
remove vegetable resins immediately
as, when dried, it may only be possible to
remove them with abrasive products
and/or polishes, which is highly inadvisable
as they could alter the typical opaqueness
of the paint. Do not use pure windscreen
washer fluid for cleaning the front
windscreen and rear window; dilute it min.
50% with water. Only use pure screen
washer fluid when strictly necessary due to
outside temperature conditions.
WARNING
6)Detergents pollute the water. Only wash
your car in areas equipped to collect and
treat wastewater from this type of activity.
173

TECHNICAL DATA
Everything you may find useful for
understanding how your vehicle
is made and works is contained in this
chapter and illustrated with data, tables
and graphics. For the enthusiasts and
the technician, but also just for those
who want to know every detail of their
car.IDENTIFICATION DATA....................175
ENGINE ..........................................176
WHEELS .........................................180
DIMENSIONS ..................................188
PERFORMANCE .............................191
WEIGHTS........................................194
REFUELLING ..................................205
FLUIDS AND LUBRICANTS ............207
FUEL CONSUMPTION ....................210
CO2 EMISSIONS ...........................214
PRESCRIPTIONS FOR HANDLING
THE CAR AT THE END OF ITS
LIFE ................................................217
174
TECHNICAL DATA