2019 FIAT 124 SPIDER maint

AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
CONTROL UNIT
5)
The transmission control oil level should
only be checked at a Fiat Dealership.
BATTERY MAINTENANCE
209) 210) 211) 212)
43)
6)
To get the best service from a battery:
keep it securely mounted;
keep the top clean and dry;
keep terminals and connections
clean, tight, and coated with petroleum
jelly or terminal grease;
rinse off spilled electrolyte
immediately with a solution of water
and baking soda;
if the vehicle will not be used for an
extended time, disconnect the battery
leads and charge the battery every six
weeks.
NOTE
Every time the battery is reconnected
after being disconnected, it is
necessary to perform the following
procedure:
warm up the engine;
with the vehicle stationary, the engine
running and the transmission in theneutral or N/P (for automatic
transmission) position, press the
accelerator down fully to bring the
engine speed to over 6000 rpm;
release the accelerator pedal and
wait for the engine to return naturally to
idling speed.
If this procedure is not performed, the
warning light could turn on: in this
case, contact Fiat Dealership.
IMPORTANT If, after the first press of
the accelerator pedal to bring the
engine to over 6000 rpm, another
follows immediately after without the
engine naturally reaching idling speed,
the learning procedure is invalidated
and the
warning light on the
instrument panel will turn on. If the
engine is not brought to over 6000 rpm,
or it is not warmed up, the control unit
will keep open the possibility to repeat
the described procedure.
Inspecting electrolyte level
A low level of electrolyte fluid will cause
the battery to discharge quickly.
Inspect the electrolyte level at least
once a week. If it is low, remove the
caps and add enough distilled water to
bring the level between the upper and
lower levelfig. 151 (1 = upper level /
2 = lower level).Do not overfill.Examine the specific gravity of the
electrolyte with a hydrometer, especially
during cold weather. If it is low,
recharge the battery.
Battery replacement
Contact a Fiat Dealership for a battery
replacement purchase.
After replacing the battery, perform the
phonic wheel learning procedure
described in the “Battery maintenance”
chapter.
WARNING
200)Never smoke when performing
operations in the engine compartment.
Flammable gases and fumes may be
present and risk igniting.
15107031202-ALL-001
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MAINTENANCE AND CARE

IMPORTANT
4)Used engine oil and oil filters contain
substances which are harmful to the
environment. You are advised to contact a
Fiat Dealership to have the oil and filters
changed.
5)Used transmission fluid contains
substances that are harmful to the
environment. It is advisable to contact a
Fiat Dealership to have the fluid changed.
6)Batteries contain substances which are
very dangerous for the environment. For
battery replacement, contact a Fiat
Dealership.
BATTERY
RECHARGING
215) 216)
BATTERY RECHARGING
PROCEDURE
Charge battery as follows:
remove the caps before recharging
the battery;
connect the charger cables to the
battery terminals, observing the polarity;
turn on the charger;
when finished, turn the charger off
before disconnecting the battery;
reconnect the negative battery
terminal.
IMPORTANT Before recharging the
battery, turn off all accessories and stop
the engine.
IMPORTANT Make sure that the cables
of the electrical system are 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 usedwith 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.
IMPORTANT Charging should be slow
at a low ampere rating for
approximately 24 hours. Charging for a
longer time may damage the battery.
IMPORTANT After reconnecting the
battery, perform the toothed wheel
learning procedure described in the
“Battery maintenance” in this chapter.
WARNING
215)Battery fluid is poisonous and
corrosive: avoid contact with skin and
eyes. The battery recharging operation
must be performed in a ventilated place,
away from naked flames or possible
sources of sparks to avoid the risk of
explosion and fire.
174
MAINTENANCE AND CARE

initialization of the tire pressure
monitoring system is necessary to
make the system operate normally.
Refer to “Tire Pressure Monitoring
System Initialization” paragraph in
“Safety” chapter.
REPLACING A WHEEL
224)
A wrong-sized wheel may adversely
affect:
tire fit
wheel and bearing life;
ground clearance;
snow-chain clearance;
speedometer calibration;
headlight aim;
bumper height;
Tire Pressure Monitoring System.
IMPORTANT When replacing a wheel,
make sure the new one is the same as
the original factory wheel in diameter,
rim width, and offset (inset/outset). For
details contact a Fiat Dealership.
Proper tire balancing provides the best
riding comfort and helps reduce tread
wear. Out-of-balance tires can cause
vibration and uneven wear, such as
cupping and flat spots.
SNOW CHAINS
46)
The snow chains may be applied only
to the rear wheel tires. Check the
tension of the snow chains after the first
few metres have been driven.
IMPORTANT Using snow chains with
tires with non-original dimensions may
damage the vehicle.
IMPORTANT Using different size or type
(M+S, snow, etc.) tires between front
and rear axle may adversely affect
vehicle driveability, with the risk of losing
control of the vehicle and resulting
accidents.
TIRE ROTATION
RECOMMENDATIONS
IMPORTANT The following rotation
methods must NOT be used with
one-way tires! This type of tires can
only be switched from the front axle to
the rear axle and vice versa, keeping
them on the same side of the vehicle.
IMPORTANT Rotate tires periodically.
Irregular tire wear is dangerous. To
equalize tread wear for maintaining
good performance in handling and
braking, rotate the tires every 10,000
km, or sooner if irregular wear
develops.IMPORTANT Because your vehicle is
not equipped with a spare tire for tire
rotation contact Fiat Dealership.
After adjusting the tire pressure,
initialization of the tire pressure
monitoring system is necessary to
make the system operate normally.
Refer to “Tire Pressure Monitoring
System Initialization” paragraph in
“Safety” chapter.
IMPORTANT Rotate unidirectional tires
and radial tires that have an
asymmetrical tread pattern or studs
only from front to rear, not from side to
side. Tire performance will be reduced if
rotated from side to side.
With limited-slip differential
(where provided)
Do not use the following:
tires not of the designated size;
tires of different sizes or types at the
same time;
tires not sufficiently inflated.
If these instructions are not followed,
the rotation of the left and right wheels
will be different and will thus apply a
constant load on the limited-slip
differential. This will cause a
malfunction.
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MAINTENANCE AND CARE

WARNING
217)If the tires are “unidirectional”, do not
switch tires from the right-hand side of the
vehicle to the left-hand side, and vice
versa. This type of tires can only be
switched from the front axle to the rear axle
and vice versa, keeping them on the same
side of the vehicle.
218)Travelling with partially or completely
flat tires can cause safety problems and
irreparable damages to the tire.
219)Always use tires that are in good
condition. Driving with worn tires is
dangerous. Reduced braking, steering, and
traction could result in an accident.
220)Always inflate the tires to the correct
pressure. Overinflation or underinflation of
tires is dangerous. Adverse handling or
unexpected tire failure could result in a
serious accident (see “Tires” paragraph in
“Technical specification” chapter).
221)Use only a FCA-genuine tire valve
cap. Use of a non-genuine part is
dangerous as the correct tire air pressure
cannot be maintained if the tire valve
becomes damaged. If the vehicle is driven
under this condition, the tire air pressure
will decrease which could result in a
serious accident. Do not use any part for
the tire valve cap that is not a FCA-genuine
part.
222)Replace all four tires at the same time.
Replacing just one tyre is dangerous. It
could cause poor handling and poor
braking resulting in loss of vehicle control.223)Always use tyres that are in good
condition. Driving with worn tyres is
dangerous. Reduced braking, steering, and
traction could result in an accident.
224)Always use wheels of the correct size
on your vehicle. Using a wrong-sized wheel
is dangerous. Braking and handling could
be affected, leading to loss of control and
an accident.
IMPORTANT
44)Road holding depends also on the
correct tire inflating pressure.
45)If the pressure is too low the tire
overheats and this can cause it serious
damage.
46)Keep your speed down when snow
chains are fitted; do not exceed 50 km/h
(30 mph). Avoid potholes, steps and
pavements and avoid driving for long
distances on roads not covered with snow
to prevent damaging the vehicle and the
road surface.
BODYWORK
PRESERVING THE
PAINTWORK
47) 48)
7)
Touch up abrasions and scratches
immediately to prevent the formation of
rust.
To correctly wash the vehicle, follow
these instructions:
is the vehicle is washed remove the
aerial;
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 vehicle in the long
term;
wash the bodywork using a low
pressure jet of water if possible;
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.
Dry the less visible parts (e.g. door
frames, bonnet, headlight frames, etc.)
with special care, as water may
stagnate more easily in these areas. Do
not wash the vehicle after it has been
177

left in the sun or with the bonnet hot:
this may alter the shine of the
paintwork.
Exterior plastic parts must be cleaned
in the same way as the rest of the
vehicle.
IMPORTANT Avoid parking under trees;
the resin dropped by trees makes the
paintwork go opaque and increases the
possibility of corrosion.
IMPORTANT Bird droppings must be
washed off immediately and thoroughly
as the acid they contain is particularly
aggressive.
Paint chipping
Paint chipping occurs when gravel
thrown in the air by another vehicle's
tires hits your vehicle.
Keeping a safe distance between you
and the vehicle ahead reduces the
chances of having your paint chipped
by flying gravel.
IMPORTANT In low temperatures a
vehicle's finish hardens. This increases
the chance of paint chipping.
IMPORTANT Chipped paint can lead to
rust forming on your vehicle. Before this
happens, repair the damage by using
FCA touch-up paint according to the
instructions in this section. Failure torepair the affected area could lead to
serious rusting and expensive repairs.
Versions with opaque paint
(where provided)
Your vehicle could be equipped with an
exclusive opaque paint needing special
care for its preservation.
To correctly wash the vehicle, proceed
as follows:
wash the body using a low pressure
jet of water. Remember that the build
up of water can damage the car over a
period of time;
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 chamois leather, without
wiping localised areas repeatedly.
MAINTAINING THE
FINISH
Washing
To help protect the finish from rust and
deterioration, wash your vehicle
thoroughly and frequently, at least once
a month, with lukewarm or cold water.
IMPORTANT FCA is not responsible for
scratches caused by automatic car
washes or improper washing.
Scratches are more noticeable on
vehicles with darker paint finishes.IMPORTANT Keep hands and scrapers
clear of the windscreen when the wiper
lever is in the AUTO position and the
ignition is switched ON as fingers could
be pinched or the wipers and wiper
blades damaged when the wipers
activate automatically. If you are going
to clean the windscreen, be sure the
wipers are turned off completely (when
it is most likely that the engine is left
running) this is particularly important
when clearing ice and snow.
IMPORTANT Do not spray water in the
engine compartment. Otherwise, it
could result in engine-starting problems
or damage to electrical parts.
IMPORTANT When washing and
waxing the vehicle, be careful not to
apply excessive force to any single area
of the vehicle bonnet. Otherwise, you
could dent the vehicle.
IMPORTANT Do not use automatic car
washing machines and car washing
devices using high water pressure.
IMPORTANT Make sure that the fuel
flap is closed and lock the doors.
Otherwise, the fuel flap may be
forcefully opened by water pressure
causing damage to the vehicle or fuel
flap.
178
MAINTENANCE AND CARE

INTERIORS
SEATS AND FABRIC
PARTS
Seat belt maintenance
227) 228)
Clean the soiled area by lightly dabbing
it with a soft cloth soaked in a mild
detergent (approx. 5%) diluted with
water.
Wipe off the remaining detergent using
a cloth soaked in clean water and
wrung out well.
Before retracting seat belts which have
been pulled out for cleaning, dry them
off thoroughly and make sure there is
no remaining moisture on them.
NOTE Clean seat belts diligently if they
get dirty. Leaving them uncleaned will
make it dif cult to clean them later, and
it may affect the smooth retracting of
the seat belt.
PLASTIC PART
MAINTENANCE
49)
Instrument panel top maintenance
226)
Wipe the soiled area with a soft cloth
soaked in a mild detergent (approx. 5%)
diluted with water.Wipe off the remaining detergent using
a cloth soaked in clean water and
wrung out well.
WARNING
226)Do not spray water into the vehicle
cabin. Spraying water into the vehicle cabin
is dangerous as electrical devices such as
the audio and switches could get wet
resulting in a malfunction or vehicle fire.
227)If a seat belt appears frayed or has
abrasions, have it replaced by a
Dealership. If a seat belts is used under
such a condition, it cannot function at its
full capacity which could result in serious
injury or death.
228)Use a mild detergent to remove
soiling from a seat belt. If organic solvents
are used for cleaning the seat belts or they
become stained or bleached, there is the
possibility of them becoming weakened
and as a result, they may not function at
their full capacity which could cause
serious injury or death.
229)Never use flammable products, such
as petrol ether or rectified petrol to clean
the inside of the car. The electrostatic
charges which are generated by rubbing
during the cleaning operation may cause a
fire.
230)Do not keep aerosol cans in the car:
they might explode. Aerosol cans must not
be exposed to a temperature exceeding
50°C. When the vehicle is exposed to
sunlight, the internal temperature can
greatly exceed this value.231)There must be no obstacles on the
floor underneath the pedals; make sure
that mats are always flat and do not
interfere with the pedals.
IMPORTANT
49)Never use alcohol, petrols and
derivatives to clean the dashboard and
instrument panel lens.
50)Do not use “hard” synthetic brushes as
they could damage the fabric beyond
repair. Do not perform partial, localised
restorations that could cause “aesthetic”
differences between treated and untreated
areas. Do not use alcohol or ketone-based
solvents.
180
MAINTENANCE AND CARE

WHEEL AND TIRE
SPECIFICATIONS
RIMS AND TIRES
233)
51)
NOTE The tires have been optimally
matched with the chassis of your
vehicle. When replacing tires, FCA
recommends that you replace tires of
the same type originally fitted to your
vehicle. For details, contact a Fiat
Dealership.
Check the tire pressure label for tire size
and inflation pressure (refer to “Tire
inflation pressure” paragraph in
“Maintenance and care” chapter). After
adjusting the tire pressure, initialization
of the TPMS system is necessary to
make the system operate normally
(refer to “Tire Pressure Monitoring
System initialization” in “Safety”
chapter).
IMPORTANT If there are any
discrepancies between the Owner
Handbook and the registration
document, take the information from
the latter. For safe driving, the vehicle
must be fitted with tires of the same
make and type on all wheels.
IMPORTANT Do not use tubes with
tubeless tires.
WARNING
233)If winter tyres with a lower speed
rating than that indicated in the
Registration Document are used, do not
exceed the maximum speed
corresponding to the speed rating of the
tyres used.
IMPORTANT
51)Keep your speed down when snow
chains are fitted; do not exceed 50 km/h
(30 mph). Avoid potholes, steps and
pavements and avoid driving for long
distances on roads not covered with snow
to prevent damaging the vehicle and the
road surface.
184
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

TIPS, CONTROLS
AND GENERAL
INFORMATION
ROAD SAFETY
234) 235)
Learn how to use the various system
functions before setting off.
Read the instructions for the system
carefully before setting off.
RECEPTION CONDITIONS
Reception conditions change
constantly while driving.
Reception may be interfered with by the
presence of mountains, buildings or
bridges, especially when you are far
away from the broadcaster.
IMPORTANT The volume may be
increased when receiving traffic alerts
and news.
CARE AND
MAINTENANCE
53) 54)
Observe the following precautions to
ensure the system is fully operational:
the display lens should not come into
contact with pointed or rigid objects
which could damage its surface; use a
soft, dry anti-static cloth to clean and
do not press;
never use alcohol, petrols and
derivatives to clean the display lens;
prevent any liquid from entering the
system: this could damage it beyond
repair.
IMPORTANT
INFORMATION
Look at the screen only when it is
necessary and safe. If you need to look
at the screen for a long time, pull over
to a safe place so as not to be
distracted while driving.
Immediately stop using the system in
the event of a fault. Otherwise the
system might be damaged.
Contact a Fiat Dealership as soon as
possible to have the system repaired.
WARNING
234)Follow the safety rules below:
otherwise serious injuries may occur to the
occupants or the system may be
damaged.
235)If the volume is too loud this can be
dangerous. Adjust the volume so that you
can still hear background noises (e.g.
horns, ambulances, police vehicles, etc.).
IMPORTANT
53)Only clean the front panel and the
display lens with a soft, clean, dry,
anti-static cloth. Cleaning and polishing
products may damage the surface. Never
use alcohol, petrols and derivatives.
54)Do not use the display as a base for
supports with suction pads or adhesives for
external navigators or smartphones or
similar devices.
196
MULTIMEDIA