warning Abarth 124 Spider 2016 Owner handbook (in English)

TIRE SERVICE USAGE
PRECAUTIONS
NoteThe tire sealant cannot be reused.
Purchase new tire sealant at an Abarth
Dealership.
The tire service kit cannot be used in
the following cases. Consult an Abarth
Dealership:
– the period of effective use for the
tire sealant has expired (the period
of effectiveness is indicated on the
bottle label);
– the tear or puncture exceeds about
4 mm;
– the damage has occurred to an
area of the tire other than the tread;
– the vehicle has been driven with
nearly no air remaining in the tire;
– the tire has come off the wheel rim;
– damage to the wheel rim has
occurred;
– the tire has two or more punctures.
SEALING A TIRE WITH
TIRE SERVICE
Proceed as follows:
move the vehicle off the right-of-way
to a safe place on a level and hard
surface where the vehicle does not
obstruct traffic;
shift the shift lever to the 1 or
Reverse (R) position (manual
transmission), and shift the selectorlever to the P position (automatic
transmission);
apply the parking brake with the
brake pedal depressed and turn off the
engine;
if necessary, flash the hazard warning
lights and set up the roadside
emergency triangle;
unload passengers and cargo and
remove the tire service kit;
shake the tire sealant well. If the
bottle is shaken after the injection hose
is screwed on, tire sealant could spray
out from the injection hose. Tire sealant
contacting clothing or other objects
may be impossible to remove. Shake
the bottle before screwing on the
injection hose;
IMPORTANT The sealant hardens easily
and injecting it will be difficult under
cold weather conditions (0°C or below).
Warm the sealant inside the vehicle to
facilitate injection.
remove the cap 1 from the bottle 2
fig. 132. Screw on the injection hose
3 with the bottle's inner cap left on to
break the inner cap;
remove the valve cap 4 fig. 133 from
the flat tire. Press the back of a valve
core tool 6 to the core of the tire valve
5 and bleed all the remaining air;
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NOTE If the tire inflation pressure does
not increase, repair of the tire is not
possible. If the tire does not reach the
specified tire inflation pressure within
10 minutes, it may have received
extensive damage. In this case, the
repair using the tire service kit was not
successful. Contact an Abarth
Dealership.
If the tire has been over-inflated, loosen
the screw cap on the air compressor
and bleed some of the air out;
when the tire inflates to the specified
tire inflation pressure, turn the air
compressor switch off, turn the sleeve
of the air compressor hose to the left,
and pull it out of the tire valve;
install the tire valve cap;
put the tire service kit into the boot;
start driving immediately to spread
the sealant in the tire.
IMPORTANT Carefully drive the vehicle
at a speed of 80 km/h or less. If the
vehicle is driven at a speed of 80 km/h
or more, the vehicle may vibrate.
If the tire is not properly inflated, the
warning light will illuminate.
after driving the vehicle for about
10 minutes or 5 km (3 miles), connect
the air compressor to the tire and check
the tire inflation pressure using the tire
pressure gauge on the air compressor.
If the tire inflation pressure is lower than
the specified tire inflation pressure, turn
the air compressor on and wait until it
reaches the specified tire inflation
pressure;
the emergency flat tire repair is
completed successfully if the tire
inflation pressure does not decrease.
Carefully drive the vehicle to the nearest
Abarth Dealership and have the flat tire
replaced. Replacement with a new tire
is recommended. If the tire is to be
repaired or reused, contact an Abarth
Dealership.
IMPORTANT Before checking the tire
inflation pressure using the tire pressure
gauge, turn the air compressor switch
off.
NOTEIf an emergency flat tire repair has
been performed using the tire service
kit, FCA recommends that the tire be
replaced with a new one as soon as
possible. If the tire is to be repaired or
reused, contact an Abarth Dealership.
The wheel can be reused if the
sealant adhering to it is removed.
However, replace the valve with a new
one.
REPLACING THE BOTTLE
Inspect the tire service kit at regular
intervals.
Check the tire sealant period of
effective use. Check the operation of
the tire compressor.
IMPORTANT The tire sealant has a
period of effective use. Check the
period of effective use indicated on the
152
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY
bottle label and do not use it if it has
expired. Have the tire sealant replaced
at an Abarth Dealership before the
period of effective use has expired.

WARNING
170)Punctures on the sides of the tire may
not be repaired. Do not use the kit if the tire
was damaged as a result of being used
when underinflated.
171)Do not adhere the speed restriction
sticker to the padded area on the steering
wheel. Adhering the speed restriction
sticker to the padded area on the steering
wheel is dangerous because the air bag
may not operate (deploy) normally resulting
in serious injury. In addition, do not adhere
the sticker to areas where warning lights or
the speedometer cannot be viewed.
172)If the tire inflation pressure has
decreased below 130 kPa (1.3 kgf/cm
2or
bar, 18.9 psi), stop driving and contact a
Dealership. The repair using the emergency
at tire repair kit was not successful. If you
see a decrease in the tire inflation pressure,
stop driving. Contact a Dealership.
173)You must always indicate that the tyre
was repaired using the kit. Give the booklet
to the technicians who will be handling the
tire that was treated using the kit.
174)Repairs are not possible in the case of
damage to the wheel rim (bad groove
distortion causing air loss). Do not remove
foreign bodies (screws or nails) from the
tire.175)The information required by the
applicable regulation is indicated on the tire
service kit package label. Compliance with
the indications on the label is an essential
condition to ensure the safety and the
effectiveness of the tire service kit. Carefully
read the label before use, avoid improper
use. Tire service kit is subject to expiration
and must be replaced periodically. The kit
should be used by adults and cannot be
used by children.
176)Do not allow children to touch the tire
sealant: ingestion of tire sealant is
dangerous. In the event tire sealant is
accidentally swallowed, drink large
amounts of water immediately and seek
medical assistance. Tire sealant that
comes into contact with the eyes and skin
is dangerous. If tire sealant enters the eyes
or contacts the skin, flush immediately with
large amounts of water and seek medical
assistance.
IMPORTANT
3)Dispose of the bottle and the sealant
liquid properly. Have them disposed of in
compliance with national and local
regulations.
JUMP STARTING
PREPARATIONS FOR
JUMP STARTING
177) 178) 179) 180) 181) 182) 183) 184) 185) 186)
34)
Jump-starting is dangerous if done
incorrectly. So follow the procedure
carefully fig. 142. If you feel unsure
about jump-starting, we strongly
recommend that you have a competent
service technician do the work.
IMPORTANT When using booster
battery is used, comply with the
utilisation and precaution instructions
specified by the producer.
153

if the battery cover has been
removed, install it in the reverse order of
removal.
IMPORTANT Verify that the covers are
securely installed.
IMPORTANT For versions with
automatic transmission, perform the
toothed wheel learning procedure
described in the “Battery maintenance”
section (see the “Maintenance and
care” chapter).
WARNING
177)Before opening the bonnet, make
sure that the engine is off and that the
ignition switch is in OFF position. During
refuelling, make sure that the engine is off
(and that the ignition switch is in OFF
position).
178)Do not get too close to the radiator
cooling fan: the electric fan may start;
danger of injury. Pay attention to scarves,
ties and other loose clothing which might
be pulled by moving parts.
179)Remove any metal objects (e.g. rings,
watches, bracelets), that might cause an
accidental electrical contact and cause
serious injury.
180)Batteries contain acid which may
burn skin and eyes. Batteries produce
hydrogen, which is easily flammable and
explosive. Thus keep away flames or
devices which may cause sparks.181)Do not allow the positive (+) terminal
to contact any other metal object that
could cause sparks. Flames and sparks
near open battery cells are dangerous.
Hydrogen gas, produced during normal
battery operation, could ignite and cause
the battery to explode. An exploding
battery can cause serious burns and
injuries. When working near a battery, do
not allow metal tools to contact the positive
(+) or negative (–) terminal of the battery.
182)Keep all flames, including cigarettes,
and sparks away from open battery cells.
Flames and sparks near open battery cells
are dangerous. Hydrogen gas, produced
during normal battery operation, could
ignite and cause the battery to explode. An
exploding battery can cause serious burns
and injuries.
183)Do not jump-start a frozen battery or
one with a low fluid level. Jump-starting a
frozen battery or one with a low fluid level is
dangerous. It may rupture or explode,
causing serious injury.
184)Route the jumper leads away from
parts that will be moving. Connecting a
jumper lead near or to moving parts
(cooling fans, belts) is dangerous. The lead
could get caught when the engine starts
and cause serious injury.
185)Never tow a vehicle to start it. Towing
a vehicle to start it is dangerous. The
vehicle being towed could surge forward
when its engine starts, causing the two
vehicles to collide. The occupants could be
injured.186)Connect the negative lead to a good
ground point (see figure) away from the
battery. Connecting the end of the second
jumper lead to the negative (–) terminal of
the discharged battery is dangerous. A
spark could cause the gas around the
battery to explode and injure someone.
IMPORTANT
34)Do not connect the cable to the
negative terminal (–) of the flat battery. The
following spark could lead to battery
explosion and cause serious harm. Only
use the specific earth point; do not use any
other exposed metallic part.
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INTRODUCTION
Be extremely careful and prevent injury
to yourself and others or damage to
your vehicle when using this manual for
inspection and maintenance.
If you are unsure about any procedure it
describes, we strongly urge you to have
a reliable and qualified service shop
perform the work, preferably at Abarth
Dealership.
Factory-trained FCA technicians and
genuine FCA parts are best for your
vehicle. Without this expertise and the
parts that have been designed and
made especially for your vehicle,
inadequate, incomplete, and insufficient
servicing may result in problems. This
could lead to vehicle damage or an
accident and injuries.
For expert advice and quality service,
contact an Abarth Dealership.
The owner should retain evidence that
proper maintenance has been
performed as prescribed.
A claim against a warranty will not
qualify if it results from lack of
maintenance and not from defective
material or authorised workmanship.
Claims against the warranty resulting
from lack of maintenance, as opposed
to defective materials or authorized FCA
workmanship, will not be honored.Scheduled maintenance
NOTE After the prescribed period,
continue to follow the described
maintenance at the recommended
intervals.
Emission control and related
systems
The ignition and fuel systems are highly
important to the emission control
system and to efficient engine
operation. Do not tamper with them.
All inspections and adjustments must
be made by Abarth Dealership.
OWNER MAINTENANCE
PRECAUTIONS
187) 188) 189)
38)
Routine service
We highly recommend that these items
be inspected daily, or at least every
week:
Engine oil level
Engine coolant level
Brake and clutch fluid Level
Washer fluid level
Battery maintenance
Tire inflation pressure
Improper or incomplete service may
result in problems. This section gives
instructions only for items that are easy
to perform.As explained in the “Introduction”
paragraph, several procedures can be
done only by a qualified service
technician with special tools.
Improper do-it yourself maintenance
during the warranty period may affect
warranty coverage. For details, read the
separate Warranty statement provided
with the vehicle. If you are unsure about
any servicing or maintenance
procedure, have it done by Abarth
Dealership.
There are strict environmental laws
regarding the disposal of waste oil and
fluids. Please dispose of your waste
properly and with due regard to the
environment.
We recommend that you entrust the oil
and fluid changes of your vehicle to an
Abarth Dealership.
PERIODIC CHECKS
Every1,000 kmor before long trips
check and, if necessary, top up:
engine coolant level;
brake fluid level;
windscreen washer fluid level;
tire inflation pressure and condition;
operation of lighting system
(headlights, direction indicators, hazard
warning lights, etc.);
operation of windscreen
washer/wiper system and
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MAINTENANCE AND CARE

SCHEDULED SERVICING PLAN
The checks listed in the Scheduled Servicing Plan, after reaching 120,000 km/8 years, must be cyclically repeated starting from
the first interval, thus following the same intervals as before.
Thousands of miles9 182736455463728190
Thousands of kilometers15 30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150
Years12345678910
Check tire condition/wear and adjust pressure, if
necessary. Check quick tire repair kit recharge
condition and expiry date (where provided)
●●●●●●●●●●
Check operation of lighting system (headlights,
direction indicators, hazard warning lights, boot,
passenger compartment, glove compartment,
instrumental panel warning lights, etc.)
●●●●●●●●●●
Check and, if necessary, top up fluid levels (1)●●●●●●●●●●
Check exhaust emissions/smokiness●●●●●●●●●●
Use the diagnosis socket to check engine
management system operation, emissions and,
for versions/markets where provided, engine oil
degradation
●●●●●●●●●●
Visually inspect conditions of: exterior bodywork,
underbody protection, pipes and hoses (exhaust,
fuel system, brakes), rubber elements (gaiters,
sleeves, bushes, etc.) and fasteners in sight
●●●●●
Visually inspect conditions of steering elements
and check their operation●●●●●
(1) Always only use the liquids shown in the handbook for topping up after having checked that the system is not damaged.
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MAINTENANCE AND CARE

WARNING
187)Do not perform maintenance work if
you lack sufficient knowledge and
experience or the proper tools and
equipment to do the work. Have
maintenance work done by a qualified
technician. Performing maintenance work
on a vehicle is dangerous if not done
properly. You can be seriously injured while
performing some maintenance procedures.
188)If you must run the engine while
working under the bonnet, make certain
that you remove all jewelry (especially
rings, bracelets, watches, and necklaces)
and all neckties, scarves, and similar loose
clothing before getting near the engine or
cooling fan which may turn on
unexpectedly. Working under the hood with
the engine running is dangerous. It
becomes even more dangerous when you
wear jewelry or loose clothing. Either can
become entangled in moving parts and
result in injury.
189)Switch the ignition to off and make
sure the fan is not running before
attempting to work near the cooling fan.
Working near the cooling fan when it is
running is dangerous. The fan could
continue running indefinitely even if the
engine has stopped and the engine
compartment temperature is high. You
could be hit by the fan and seriously
injured.
IMPORTANT
38)Do not leave items in the engine
compartment. After you have finished
checking or doing servicing in the engine
compartment, do not forget and leave
items such as tools or rags in the engine
compartment. Tools or other items left in
the engine compartment could cause
engine damage or a fire leading to an
unexpected accident.
165

BRAKE / CLUTCH FLUID
198) 203)
46)
It should be kept between the MAX and
MIN lines fig. 151.
The level normally drops with
accumulated distance, a condition
associated with wear of brake and
clutch linings. If it is excessively low,
have the brake/clutch system contact
an Abarth Dealership.
NOTE On right-hand drive versions the
reservoir is located on the left side of
the engine compartment.
WINDOW AND
HEADLIGHT WASHER
FLUID
196) 197) 204)
Inspect fluid level in the washer fluid
reservoir fig. 152; open the cap and
add fluid if necessary.
AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
CONTROL UNIT
5)
The transmission control oil level should
only be checked at Abarth Dealership.
BATTERY MAINTENANCE
199) 200) 201) 202)
47)
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 (versions with automatic
transmission)
Every time the battery is reconnected
after being disconnected, it is
necessary to perform the described
toothed wheel learning procedure:
warm up the engine;
with the car stopped, the engine
running and the shift lever in the N
position, press the accelerator pedal all
the way down to bring the engine 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 the Abarth 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
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MAINTENANCE AND CARE

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 leave open the
possibility to repeat the toothed wheel
learning.
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 level (1 fig. 153 = upper level/2=
lower level).Do not overfill.
Examine the specific gravity of the
electrolyte with a hydrometer, especiallyduring cold weather. If it is low,
recharge the battery.
Battery replacement
Contact an Abarth Dealership for a
battery replacement purchase.
For versions with automatic
transmission: after replacing the battery,
perform the toothed wheel learning
procedure described in this section.
WARNING
190)Never smoke when performing
operations in the engine compartment.
Flammable gases and fumes may be
present and risk igniting.
191)Be very careful when working in the
engine compartment when the engine is
hot: you may get burned. Do not get too
close to the radiator cooling fan: the
electric fan may start; danger of injury.
Scarves, ties and other loose clothing
might be pulled by moving parts.
192)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). IMPORTANT: risk of burns!
193)Do not use a match or live flame in
the engine compartment. DO NOT ADD
COOLANT WHEN THE ENGINE IS HOT: a
hot engine is dangerous. If the engine has
been running, parts of the engine
compartment can become very hot. You
could be burned. Carefully inspect the
engine coolant in the coolant reservoir, but
do not open it.194)Do not remove either cooling system
cap when the engine and radiator are hot.
When the engine and radiator are hot,
scalding coolant and steam may shoot out
under pressure and cause serious injury.
195)The cooling system is pressurized. If
necessary, only replace the cap with
another original one or the operation of the
system may be adversely affected. Do not
remove the reservoir cap when the engine
is hot: risk of burns.
196)Do not travel with the windscreen
washer fluid reservoir empty: the washer
operation is essential for improving visibility.
Repeated operation of the system without
fluid could damage or cause rapid
deterioration of some system components.
197)Certain commercial additives for
windscreen washer fluids are inflammable.
The engine compartment contains hot
components which may set it on fire.
198)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.
199)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.
200)Using the battery with insufficient fluid
irreparably damages the battery and may
cause an explosion.
201)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.
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169

before connecting it disconnect both
cables of the battery itself. Do not use a
“quick-type” battery charger to provide
the starting voltage.
IMPORTANT For versions with
automatic transmission, perform the
toothed wheel learning procedure
described in the “Battery maintenance”
paragraph in this chapter.
BATTERY CHARGING
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.
WARNING
205)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.206)Do not try to recharge a frozen
battery: it must be thawed first, otherwise it
may explode. If the battery was frozen,
have it inspected by specialized personnel
before recharging to check that the internal
elements are not damaged and that the
casing is not cracked, which causes the
risk of leakage of poisonous, corrosive
acid.
WHEELS AND TIRES
SAFETY INFORMATION
207) 208) 209)
48) 49)
Before embarking on a long trip, and
approximately every two weeks, check
the tire inflation pressure, including the
spare wheel, if present. Check the tires
when cold.
It is normal for the pressure to increase
when the vehicle is used due to tire
heating; for the correct tire inflation
pressure, see the “Wheels and tire
specifications” paragraph in the
“Technical specifications” chapter.
The tires must be replaced when the
tread is less than 1.6 mm thick.
REPLACING A TIRE
210)
If a tire wears evenly, a wear indicator
will appear as a solid band across the
tread. Replace the tire when this
happens (see figure): 1: new tread/2:
worn tread (3 = tread wear indicator).
171