2020 Abarth 500 Owner handbook (in English)

WINDSCREEN /
REAR WINDOW
WIPERS
BLADES
Replace the blades if the rubber edge is
deformed or worn. In any case, it is
advisable to replace them
approximately once a year.
148)
A few simple precautions can reduce
the possibility of damage to the blades:
if the temperature falls below zero,
make sure that ice has not frozen
the rubber to the glass. Use a de-icing
product to release it if required;
remove any snow from the glass: in
addition to protecting the blades, this
prevents effort on the motor and
overheating;
do not operate the windscreen and
rear window wipers on dry glass.
REPLACING THE
WINDSCREEN WIPER
BLADES
Proceed as follows:
lift up the windscreen wiper arm 1
fig. 111 and position the blade so that it
forms a 90° angle with the arm;
press the button 1 and extract the
blade 3 from the arm 2;
insert the new blade making sure it
is locked into place.
REPLACING THE REAR
WINDOW WIPER BLADE
Proceed as follows:
raise the cover 1 fig. 112 and
remove the arm from the car, undoing
the nut 2 fig. 112 that fixes it to the
pivot pin;
correctly position the new arm and
tighten the nut fully;
lower the cover.
NOZZLES
Windscreen washer
If there is no jet, first check that there is
fluid in the reservoir (see the "Checking
fluid levels" paragraph in this chapter).
Then check that the nozzle holes are
not clogged; use a needle to unblock
them if necessary.The screen washer jets can be oriented
by adjusting the nozzle angles.
The jets should be directed at about
1/3 of the height from the top edge of
the windscreen fig. 113.
IMPORTANT In versions with a sunroof,
make sure that the sunroof is closed
before operating the front jets.
111AB0A0112C
112AB0A0113C
113AB0A0114C
127

Rear window washer
The rear window washer jets are fixed.
The nozzle holder is on the rear window
fig. 114.
WARNING
148)Driving with worn windscreen/rear
window wiper blades is a serious risk,
because visibility is reduced in bad
weather.
LIFTING THE CAR
36)
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
36)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.
149) 150) 151) 152)
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.
153)
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.
114AB0A0115C
128
SERVICING AND CARE

SNOW CHAINS
The use of snow chains should be in
compliance with local regulations of
each country.
Snow chains can be fitted to the tyres
of the front wheels (drive wheels) only.
Check the tension of the snow chains
after the first few metres have been
driven.
37)
WARNING
149)Remember that the road holding
qualities of your car also depend on
correct tyre pressures.
150)If tyre pressure is too low, the tyre
may overheat and be severely damaged as
a result.
151)Do not switch tyres from the
right­hand side of the vehicle to the
left­hand side, and vice versa.
152)Never submit alloy rims to repainting
treatments requiring the use of
temperatures exceeding 150°C. The
mechanical properties of the wheels could
be impaired.
153)The max. speed for snow tyres with
“Q” marking is 160 km/h. The Highway
Code speed limits must however be always
strictly observed.
WARNING
37)Keep the vehicle's speed down when
snow chains are fitted; never exceed 50
km/h. Avoid potholes, steps and
pavements and avoid driving long
distances on roads not covered with snow
to avoid damaging the car and the
roadbed.
BODYWORK
PRESERVING THE
BODYWORK
Paint
To correctly wash the car, proceed as
follows:
remove the aerial from the roof to
prevent damage to it if the car is
washed in an automatic system;
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. It should be remembered
that the build up of water can damage
the car over a period of time;
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.
Dry the less visible parts with special
care, such as the door frames, bonnet
and the headlight frames, where water
may stagnate more easily. The car
should not be taken to a closed area
immediately, but left outside so that
residual water can evaporate.
129

Do not wash the car after it has been
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.
Where possible, do not park under
trees; the resinous substances that
many species release give the paint a
dull appearance and increase the
possibility of triggering rusting
processes.
IMPORTANT Bird droppings must be
washed off immediately and thoroughly
as the acid they contain is particularly
aggressive.
6)
38)
Versions with matt paintwork
These versions have exclusive matt
paintwork which requires special care
for its preservation. The instructions for
good preservation follow below.
38) 39) 40)
Versions with stickers
Cars that are wholly or partially
covered, decorated and/or customised
with stickers, must only be cleaned
by hand.
The use of solvents, waxes, detergents
or similar products is not recommended
for the care of the car as they could
damage the stickers or cause them to
detach.
The use of such washing or cleaning
instruments and methods will therefore
invalidate the warranty.
NOTE We recommend using mild
products for cleaning the car.
IMPORTANT In case of stains (water
rings) on the wrapping, remove them by
washing the wrapping again and drying
it with a non-abrasive soft cloth.
38) 39) 40) 41)
Windows
To clean glasses, use specific cleaning
products.
Use clean cloths to avoid scratching
the glass or altering the transparency.
IMPORTANT Wipe the rear window
inside gently with a cloth following the
direction of the filaments to avoid
damaging the heating device.
42)
Front headlights
Use a soft cloth soaked in water and
detergent for washing cars.
IMPORTANT Never use aromatic
substances (e.g. petrol) or ketones (e.g.
acetone) for cleaning the plastic lenses
of the headlights.
IMPORTANT When cleaning with a
pressure washer, keep the water jet at
least 20 cm away from the headlights.
Engine compartment
Wash the engine compartment
thoroughly at the end of every winter.
Be careful not to direct the jet of water
onto electronic control units.
Adequately protect the upper air
intakes to prevent damage to the
windscreen wiper motor. 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.
130
SERVICING AND CARE

Washing and cleaning the soft top
Use of specific products is
recommended for washing the soft top
cloth.
The soft top fabric is treated with a
special water-repellent, waterproof
product. The water-repellent properties
will degrade in time with exposure to
the weather elements.
43) 44) 45) 46) 47)
Remove as much dirt from the surface
of the soft top with a soft brush or
vacuum cleaning before washing it. This
operation will considerably improve
the final result.
In lack of specific products, use water
and mild soap applied with a sponge
(preferably in the shade) for washing.
Rinse the soft top with clean water after
having eliminated all the stains.
Hand washing is recommended;
modern automatic washing systems
equipped with soft brushes which
do not apply excessive pressure and
employ specific soft top products may
be used.
48)
Leave the car in the shade after
washing avoiding direct sunlight.
Waterproofing the top
Use specific waterproofing products for
fabric soft-tops.
49) 50)
Interior top fabric
Remove dust with a soft brush. Avoid
using hard brushes made of synthetic
material to prevent damaging the fabric
beyond repair.
Clean the surface with a microfiber
cloth or soft sponge dipped in a
solution of water and mild soap. Clean
the entire surface, including the zones
where cleaning is not needed, to
prevent staining.
Use common, car care mild stain
removers for more stubborn stains.
Apply by blotting (never rubbing)
directly on the area of the stain.
WARNING
6)Detergents pollute the environment.
Only wash your vehicle in areas equipped
to collect and treat wastewater from this
type of activity.
WARNING
38)Avoid washing with rollers and/or
brushes in washing stations. Then, wash
the vehicle, only by hand, using pH-neutral
detergents; dry it with a wet chamois
leather. In order to preserve the aesthetic
appearance of the paint, abrasive products
and/or polishes should not be used for
cleaning the vehicle.
39)Bird droppings must be washed off
immediately and thoroughly as the acid
they contain is particularly aggressive.
40)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.
41)It is not advisable to wash with
pressure washer or, in case of use, it is
necessary to maintain at least a minimum
distance of 40 cm with water at room
temperature.
42)Do not use pure windscreen washer
fluid for cleaning the front windscreen and
rear window - dilute it at least 50% with
water.
43)Bird droppings and plant resins must
be washed off immediately and thoroughly
as the acid they contain is particularly
aggressive.
44)Never use high-pressure washing
systems.
131

45)When using steam washers or
high-pressure water washers, maintain a
suitable distance and do not exceed a
maximum temperature of 60°C. Damage,
alterations and water infiltration may occur
if the distance is too small and the pressure
is too high.
46)If a water jet is used, direct away from
the edges of the fabric and the rear
window frame to prevent water infiltration.
47)Never use alcohol, petrol, chemical
products, detergents, stain removers, wax,
solvents and "wash and polish" products.
48)Rinse immediate to remove soap to
prevent stains and halos. Repeat the
operation if needed.
49)Rinse immediately, and repeat this
operation if necessary. If you choose to
waterproof the soft top, strictly follow the
instructions on the package of the
waterproofing product you have selected in
order to obtain optimal results.
50)The rubber seals on the soft top must
be cleaned exclusively with water. If you
notice that this trim is dry or is sticking,
apply talcum powder or products
specifically for rubber trim (silicone spray).INTERIOR
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.
154) 155)
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 neutral
detergent.
PLASTIC AND COATED
PARTS
It is advisable to clean interior plastic
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 Never use alcohol, petrols
and derivatives to clean the instrument
panel lens.
LEATHER PARTS(where provided)
Use only water and mild soap to clean
these parts. Never use alcohol or
alcohol-based products. Before using a
specific product for cleaning interiors,
make sure that it does not contain
alcohol and/or alcohol-based
substances.
ALCANTARA PARTS
(STEERING WHEEL)
Procedure for restoring Alcantara
applied to the steering wheel:
Treat the surface using a microfibre
cloth moistened with mild Marseilles
soap and water, taking care to cover
the whole covered area, applying a
uniform light pressure (do not rub hard).
Rinse and wring out the microfibre
cloth, and pass over the covered area
treated in the previous point again.
Leave it to dry and brush it gently
with a soft brush.
51)
132
SERVICING AND CARE

WARNING
154)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.
155)Do not keep aerosol cans in the
vehicle: 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.
WARNING
51)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.
133

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
vehicle.IDENTIFICATION DATA....................135
ENGINE ..........................................136
WHEELS .........................................138
DIMENSIONS ..................................139
WEIGHTS........................................140
REFUELLING ..................................143
FLUIDS AND LUBRICANTS ............144
PERFORMANCE .............................146
FUEL CONSUMPTION AND CO2
EMISSIONS ....................................147
PRESCRIPTIONS FOR HANDLING
THE VEHICLE AT THE END OF ITS
LIFE ................................................148
134
TECHNICAL DATA