2020 FIAT 500 warning

IMPORTANT Brake fluid is hygroscopic
(i.e. it absorbs moisture). For this
reason, if the car is mainly used in areas
with a high degree of atmospheric
humidity, the fluid must be replaced at
more frequent intervals than specified in
the "Scheduled Servicing Plan".
178) 179)
63)
DUALOGIC GEARBOX
HYDRAULIC ACTIVATION
SYSTEM OIL
4)
The fluid level should only be checked
at a Fiat Dealership.
WARNING
174)Never smoke while working in the
engine compartment: gas and inflammable
vapours may be present, with the risk of
fire.
175)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.176)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.
177)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.
178)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.
179)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
59)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.
60)The use of products with specifications
other than those indicated above could
cause damage to the engine not covered
by the warranty.61)Do not add oil with specifications other
than those of the oil already existing in
the engine.
62)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.
63)Prevent brake fluid, which is highly
corrosive, from coming into contact with
painted parts. Should it happen,
immediately wash with water.
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 fluid contains
substances that are harmful to the
environment. It is advisable to have the oil
changed by a Fiat Dealership where it
will be disposed of respecting the
environment and according to legal
requirements.
148
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. Topping
must be carried out by specialised
personnel at a Fiat Dealership.
180) 181)
REPLACING THE
BATTERY
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 "Service Schedule" will no longer be
valid.
Follow the battery manufacturer's
instructions for maintenance.
182) 183) 184)
64)
5)
CAR INACTIVITY (CARS
EQUIPPED WITH
START&STOP SYSTEM)
In the event of vehicle inactivity (or if the
battery is replaced), special attention
must be paid to the disconnection
of the battery power supply.
Proceed as follows: detach the
connector A fig. 132 (by pressing
button B) from sensor C for monitoring
the status of the battery installed on
the negative battery pole D. This sensor
should never be disconnected from
the battery pole except if the battery is
replaced.
IMPORTANT After turning the ignition
key to STOP and having closed the
driver's side door, wait at least one
minute before disconnecting the battery
and then reconnecting the electrical
supply to the battery.
WARNING
180)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.
181)Running the battery with an
excessively low liquid level will damage the
battery beyond repair and could even
cause its explosion
182)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.
183)When performing any operation on
the battery or near it, always protect your
eyes with special goggles.
184)Do not attempt to charge a frozen
battery: it must be thawed first, otherwise it
may explode. 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.
132F0S0372
149

WARNING
64)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 (anti-theft, 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
5)Batteries contain substances which are
very dangerous for the environment. It is
advisable to contact a Fiat Dealership
for battery replacement.
BRAKES
Depending on the version/market, the
vehicle may be equipped with
mechanical wear detectors for the
brake pads: one for each wheel
assembly.
When the brake linings are close to
wearing out, pressing the brake pedal
will generate a slight squeal: this lasts
for about 100 km (the mileage varies
with the driving style and route).
In this case, it is still possible to
continue driving, with caution.
However, contact a Fiat Dealership as
soon as possible to have the worn
brake pads changed.
REPLACING THE
WINDSCREEN/REAR
WINDOW WIPER
BLADES
WIPER 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.
185) 186)
RAISING THE
WINDSCREEN WIPER
BLADES
Lift the windscreen wiper arm and
position the blade so that it forms a 90°
angle with the arm.
REPLACING THE
WINDSCREEN WIPER
BLADES
Proceed as follows:
raise the wiper arm A fig. 133 and
position the blade so that it forms
an angle of 90° with the arm;
press the button A and extract the
blade C from the arm B;
insert the new blade making sure it
is locked into place.
150
SERVICING AND CARE

REPLACING THE REAR
WINDOW WIPER BLADE
Proceed as follows:
raise cover A fig. 134 and remove
the arm from the car undoing the nut B
that fastens it to the pivot pin;
correctly position the new arm and
tighten the nut fully;
lower the cover.WINDSCREEN WASHER
NOZZLES
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. 135.
IMPORTANT In versions with a sun
roof, make sure that the sun roof is
closed before operating the front jets.REAR WINDOW WASHER
NOZZLE
The rear window washer jets are fixed.
The nozzle holder is on the rear window
fig. 136.
WARNING
185)Driving with worn windscreen wiper
blades is a serious hazard, because
visibility is reduced in bad weather
conditions.
186)If the window needs to be cleaned,
make sure the device is deactivated or the
key is on STOP.
133F0S0137
134F0S0109
135F0S0110
136F0S0111
151

WHEELS AND TYRES
187) 188) 189) 190)
Check the pressure of each tyre,
including the space-saver spare wheel,
approximately every two weeks and
before long journeys: the pressure
should be checked with the tyre rested
and cold.
It is normal for the pressure to increase
when the car is used; for the correct
tyre inflation pressure, see the “Wheels”
paragraph in the “Technical
specifications” chapter.
WARNING
187)Remember that the road holding
qualities of your car also depend on
correct tyre pressures.
188)If tyre pressure is too low, the tyre
may overheat and be severely damaged as
a result.
189)Do not switch tyres from the
right­hand side of the vehicle to the
left­hand side, and vice versa.
190)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
Paintwork does not only serve an
aesthetic purpose, but also protects the
underlying sheet metal.
Normal care for paintwork consists of
washing the car; how often depends on
the conditions and environment where
the car is used. For example, in highly
polluted areas, or if the roads are
spread with salt, it is advisable to wash
the car more frequently.
IMPORTANT Bird droppings must be
washed off immediately and thoroughly
as the acid they contain is particularly
aggressive.
6)
Versions with matt paintwork
These versions have exclusive matt
paintwork which requires special care
for its preservation. The instructions for
good preservation follow below:
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. 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
car 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 windscreen and
the rear window: dilute it to at least
50% with water.
Some versions are fitted with exclusive
decorations on the door mirror covers;
do not use pressurised or high-
temperature jets of water when
washing them.
152
SERVICING AND CARE

Versions with stickers or wrapping
To correctly clean and wash the car,
proceed as follows:
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. Abrasive products
and/or polishes should not be used for
cleaning the car.
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 a build up of water could cause
damage, in the long term, to the car.
Wet the bodywork with a low-
pressure water jet.
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 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.
Do not wash the car after it has been
parked in the sun.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 In case of water stains
(rings) on the wrapping, remove it,
washing again and drying it with
a non-abrasive soft cloth.
IMPORTANT NOTES
Bird droppings must be washed off
immediately and thoroughly as the
acid they contain is particularly
aggressive.
Avoid (if at all possible) parking the
car 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 paint, the stickers or the
wrapping.
Do not use pure windscreen washer
fluid for cleaning the windscreen and
the rear window: dilute it to at least
50% with water.
65) 66)
WARNING
65)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.
66)Abrasive products and/or polishes
should not be used for cleaning the vehicle
WARNING
6)Detergents pollute the environment.
Only wash your vehicle in areas equipped
to collect and treat wastewater from this
type of activity.
153

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.
191) 192)
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 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
(for versions/markets, where provided)
Use only water and neutral 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.
WARNING
191)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.
192)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.
154
SERVICING AND CARE

SNOW TYRES
200)
Use snow tyres of the same size as the
standard tyres provided with the car.
All four tyres should be the same (brand
and track) to ensure greater safety
when driving and braking as well as a
good manoeuvrability.
Remember that you should not change
the rotation direction of the tyres.
The Fiat Dealership will be happy to
provide advice concerning the most
suitable type of tyre for the customer's
requirements.
The winter performance of these tyres
is considerably reduced when the tread
thickness is less than 4 mm. Replace
them in this case.
Due to the specific characteristics of
snow tyres, in normal weather
conditions or on long motorway
journeys, the performance of these
tyres is lower than that of standard
tyres. Their usage should therefore be
restricted in accordance with their
type approval.IMPORTANT When using snow tyres
with a maximum speed index below the
one that can be reached by the car
(increased by 5%), place a notice in the
passenger compartment, plainly in
view, which states the maximum speed
allowed by the snow tyres (as per EC
Directive). All four tyres should be
the same (brand and track) to ensure
greater safety when driving and braking
as well as a good manoeuvrability.
Remember that you should not change
the rotation direction of the tyres.
SNOW CHAINS
67) 68) 69)
The use of snow chains should be in
compliance with local regulations of
each country. In certain countries, tyres
marked with code M+S (Mud and
Snow) are considered as winter
equipment; therefore their use is
equivalent to that of the snow chains.
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.
Using snow chains with tyres with
non-original dimensions may damage
the vehicle.Using different size or type (M+S, snow,
etc.) tyres between front and rear axle
may adversely affect car driveability,
with the risk of losing control of the car
and resulting accidents.
IMPORTANT Snow chains cannot be
fitted to the space-saver wheel. If a
front tyre is punctured, replace a rear
wheel with the space-saver wheel and
move the rear wheel to the front axle. In
this way, with two normal drive wheels
at the front, snow chains can be fitted.WARNING
193)The space-saver wheel (for
versions/markets where provided) is
specific to your car, do not use it on other
models, or use the space-saver wheel
of other models on your car. The
space-saver wheel must only be used in
the event of an emergency. Never use it for
more than strictly necessary and never
exceed a speed of 80 km/h.
194)Snow chains cannot be fitted to the
space-saver wheel. So, if a front (drive)
wheel is punctured and chains are needed,
a rear wheel should be fitted to the front
of the car and the space-saver wheel
should be fitted to the rear. In this way,
equipped with two normal drive wheels at
the front, they can be fitted with snow
chains, thus resolving the emergency
situation
161