ECU Abarth 124 Spider 2017 Owner handbook (in English)

IMPORTANT Do not attempt jump
starting if the battery is wet. The battery
could break and explode!
JUMP-STARTING
PROCEDURE
IMPORTANT If the procedure below is
carried out incorrectly can cause severe
injuries to people or damage the
recharging system of one or both
vehicles. Carefully follow the
instructions given below.
Proceed as follows to carry out a jump
starting:
remove the battery cover fig. 143;
make sure the booster battery is
12 V and that its negative terminal is
grounded;
if the booster battery is in another
vehicle, do not allow both vehicles to
touch. Turn off the engine of the vehicle
with the booster battery and all
unnecessary electrical loads in both
vehicles;
connect the jumper leads in the
exact sequence as in “Preparations for
jump starting” paragraph:
–connectoneendofaleadtothe
positive terminal on the discharged
battery;
– attach the other end to the positive
terminal on the booster battery;
– connect one end of the other lead
to the negative terminal of the
booster battery;
– connect the other end to the
ground point indicated in the
illustration away from the
discharged battery.
start the engine of the booster
vehicle and run it a few minutes. Then
start the engine of the other vehicle;
when finished, carefully disconnect
the leads in the reverse order as
previously described;
if the battery cover has been
removed, install it in the reverse order of
removal.
IMPORTANT Verify that the covers are
securely installed.
IMPORTANT Perform the phonic 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.
14308030100-122-001AB
154
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

IMPORTANT Do not use excessive
force as it may damage the cap or
scratch the painted bumper surface.
IMPORTANT Remove the cap
completely and store it so as not to lose
it.
securely install the towing eyelet
using the wheel brace or equivalent
front fig. 146 and rear fig. 147;
hook the towing rope to the towing
eyelet.
Note
Be careful not to damage the towing
eyelet and towing hook, vehicle body,
or transmission system when towing
under the following conditions:
do not tow a vehicle heavier than
yours;
do not suddenly accelerate your
vehicle as it will apply a severe shock tothe towing eyelet and towing hook or
rope;
do not attach any rope other than to
the towing eyelet and towing hook.
IMPORTANT The towing eyelet should
be used in an emergency (to get the
vehicle out of a ditch or a snow bank,
for example).
IMPORTANT When using the towing
eyelets, always pull the lead or chain in
a straight direction with respect to the
eyelet. Never apply a sideways force.
IMPORTANT When towing with chain
or lead, wrap the chain or lead with a
soft cloth near the bumper to prevent
damage to the bumper.
IMPORTANT
35)Before starting towing operations, put
the ignition switch to OFF position.
36)Before tightening the tow hook, clean
the threaded housing thoroughly. Make
sure that the tow hook is fully fastened in
the housing before towing the vehicle.
14508060203-122-001AB14608060201-121-001AB
14708060201-122-001AB
156
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

ENGINE OIL
192)
40)
4)
Inspecting engine oil level
Proceed as follows:
be sure the vehicle is on a level
surface;
warm up the engine to normal
operating temperature;
turn it off and wait at least 5 minutes
for the oil to return to the sump;
pull out the dipstick 1 fig. 149, wipe it
clean, and reinsert it fully;
pull it out again and examine the
level. The level is normal if it is between
Low and Full. If it is near or below Low,
open the engine oil cap/filler 2 and add
enough oil to bring the level to Full.
IMPORTANT Do not overfill the engine
oil. This may cause engine damage.
make sure the O-ring on the dipstick
is positioned properly before reinserting
the dipstick;
reinsert the dipstick fully.
Engine oil consumption
During the initial period of use the
engine oil consumption conditions
should be considered as having
stabilised after the first 5000 –
6000 km.
NOTE It is normal for all engines to
consume engine oil under normal
driving conditions. Engine oil
consumption may be as high as
400 g/1000 km. This may be as a result
of evaporation, internal ventilation or
burning of the lubricating oil in the
working engine. Oil consumption may
be higher when the engine is new due
to the running-in process. Oil
consumption is also dependant on
engine speed and engine load. Under
extreme driving conditions, oil
consumption may be higher.
Engine oil changing
NOTE Changing the engine oil should
be done by an expert repairer, we
recommend an Abarth Dealership.
ENGINE COOLANT
193) 194) 195)
41) 42) 43) 44) 45)
The coolant should be at full in the
radiator and between the F (Full) and L
(Low) marks on the coolant reservoir
fig. 150 when the engine is cool.
If it is at or near L (Low), add enough
coolant to the coolant reservoir to
provide freezing and corrosion
protection and to bring the level to F
(Full).
Securely tighten the coolant reservoir
tank cap after adding coolant.
If the coolant reservoir is empty or new
coolant is required frequently, contact
an Abarth Dealership.
14907030403-121-001AB
15007030501-121-001AB
166
MAINTENANCE AND CARE

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
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 the
neutral 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 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
15107030601-121-002AB
15207030901-121-001AB
167

202)When performing any operation on
the battery or near it, always protect your
eyes with special goggles.
203)If the brake/clutch fluid level is low,
have the brakes inspected. A low
brake/clutch fluid level is dangerous. A low
level could indicate brake lining wear or a
brake system leak which could cause the
brakes to fail and lead to an accident.
204)Use only windscreen washer fluid or
plain water in the reservoir. Using radiator
antifreeze as washer fluid is dangerous. If
sprayed on the windscreen, it will dirty the
windscreen, affect your visibility, and could
result in an accident.
IMPORTANT
39)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 severly
damage your vehicle.
40)The oil level should never exceed the
MAX mark.
41)Do not add oil with specifications other
than those of the oil already in the engine.
42)Do not add only water. Always add a
proper coolant mixture. For coolant fluid
type refer to “Fluids and lubricants” table in
“Technical specifications” chapter.
43)Use only soft (demineralised) water in
the coolant mixture. Water that contains
minerals will cut down on the coolant's
effectiveness.
44)Do not use coolants containing alcohol,
methanol, borate or silicate. These coolants
could damage the cooling system.45)Do not mix alcohol or methanol with the
coolant. This could damage the cooling
system.
46)Do not use a solution that contains
more than 60% antifreeze. This would
reduce effectiveness.
47)Avoid allowing brake fluid, which is
extremely corrosive, to come into contact
with painted areas. Should it happen, wash
immediately with water.
IMPORTANT
4)Used engine oil and oil filters contain
substances which are harmful to the
environment. You are advised to contact an
Abarth 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 an
Abarth Dealership to have the fluid
changed.
6)Batteries contain substances which are
very dangerous for the environment. For
battery replacement, contact an Abarth
Dealership.
BATTERY
RECHARGING
205) 206)
CAUTIONS
IMPORTANT The battery recharging
procedure is given as information only.
You are advised to contact an Abarth
Dealership to have this operation
carried out.
IMPORTANT Before recharging the
battery, turn off all accessories and stop
the engine.
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, 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 used
with the battery fitted on the vehicle,
169

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
WARNING
BRAKE SYSTEM
Do not coast with the engine stalled or turned off, find a safe place to stop. Coasting with the engine stalled or turned off is
dangerous. Braking will require more effort, and the brake's power-assist could be depleted if you pump the brake. This will
cause longer stopping distances or even an accident.
Shift to a lower gear when going down steep hills. Driving with your foot continuously on the brake pedal or steadily applying
the brakes for long distances is dangerous. This causes overheated brakes, resulting in longer stopping distances or even total
brake failure. This could cause loss of vehicle control and a serious accident. Avoid continuous application of the brakes.
INTERNAL EQUIPMENT
Never use a cup holder to hold hot liquids while the vehicle is moving. Using a cup holder to hold hot liquids while the
vehicle is moving is dangerous. If the contents spill, you could be scalded.
Do not put anything other than plastic bottles, cups or drink cans in cup holders. Putting objects other than plastic bottles,
cups or drink cans in a cup holder is dangerous. During sudden braking or manoeuvring, occupants could be hit and injured,
or objects could be thrown around the vehicle, causing interference with the driver and the possibility of an accident. Only use
a cup holder for plastic bottles, cups or drink cans.
Keep storage boxes closed when driving. Driving with the storage boxes open is dangerous. To reduce the possibility of
injury in an accident or a sudden stop, keep the storage boxes closed when driving.
Do not put articles in storage spaces with no lid. Putting articles in storage spaces with no lid is dangerous as they could be
thrown around the cabin if the vehicle is suddenly accelerated and cause injury depending on how the article is stored.
DRIVING TIPS
Never stop the engine when going down a hill: stopping the engine when going down a hill is dangerous. This causes the
loss of power steering and power brake control, and may cause damage to the drivetrain. Any loss of steering or braking
control could cause an accident.
Be extremely careful if it is necessary to downshift on slippery surfaces: downshifting into lower gear while driving on slippery
surfaces is dangerous. The sudden change in tyre speed could cause the tyres to skid. This could lead to loss of vehicle
control and an accident.
Make sure the floor mats are secured with the grommets or the retainers to prevent them from bunching up under the foot

pedals (driver's side): using a floor mat that is not secured is dangerous as it will interfere with the accelerator and brake pedal
operation (driver's side), which could result in an accident.
Only use a floor mat which conforms to the shape of the floor on the driver's side and make sure it is oriented correctly.
Secure the floor mat using the grommets or retainers. There are various ways to secure floor mats depending on the type
used, therefore secure the mat according to the type. After installing the floor mat, make sure that it does not slide from side to
side or back and forth, and that there is sufficient clearance with the accelerator and brake pedals on the driver's side.
After removing the floor mat for cleaning or some other reason, always securely reinstall it while paying attention to the
precautions just mentioned.
Do not install two floor mats, one on top of the other, on the driver's side: installing two floor mats, one on top of the other,
on the driver's side is dangerous as the retention pins can only keep one floor mat from sliding forward.
Loose floor mat(s) will interfere with the foot pedals and could result in an accident.
When using a heavy duty floor mat for winter, always remove the original floor mat.
Do not spin the wheels at high speed, and do not allow anyone to stand behind a wheel when pushing the vehicle: when
the vehicle is stuck, spinning the wheels at high speed is dangerous. The spinning tyre could overheat and explode. This could
cause serious injuries.
Use only the same size and type tyres (snow, radial, or non-radial) on all four wheels: using tyres different in size or type is
dangerous. Your vehicle's handling could be greatly affected and result in an accident.

Vehicle security alarm..........14
Warning lights and messages.....52
Weights..................181
Wheel and tire specifications.....179
Wheels and tires.............170
Window and headlight washer
fluid (level check)...........167
Windscreen washer............29
Windscreen wipers............28
Windscreen wipers/washer.......28