light Abarth 124 Spider 2020 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 selector
lever 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.
IMPORTANT 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. 135. 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. 136 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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the tire valve 17 fig. 143;
insert the air compressor plug into
the accessory socket 18 fig. 144 inside
the vehicle and switch the ignition to
ACC;
turn the air compressor switch on
and inflate the tire carefully to the
correct inflation pressure;
IMPORTANT When inserting the air
compressor plug into or removing it
from the accessory socket, make sure
that the air compressor switch is off.
When turning the air compressor on/off,
use the air compressor switch.
NOTE Check the tire inflation pressure
label driver's door frame for the correct
tire inflation pressure.
NOTE Do not operate the aircompressor for a continuous
10 minutes or longer because using it
for long periods could cause a
malfunction.
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
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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
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
174)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.
175)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.176)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.
177)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.
178)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.
179)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.
180)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.
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IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

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
positioning/wear of windscreen window
wiper blades.
Every 3,000 km, check and top up if
required: engine oil level.
HEAVY-DUTY USE OF THE
VEHICLE
If the vehicle is used under one of the
following conditions:
dusty roads;
short, repeated journeys (less than
7-8 km) at sub-zero outside
temperatures;
engine often idling or driving long
distances at low speeds or long periods
of inactivity;
the following checks must be carried
out more often than indicated in the
Scheduled Servicing Plan:
check front disc brake pad condition
and wear;
check cleanliness of bonnet and
luggage compartment locks,
cleanliness and lubrication of linkage;
visually inspect conditions of: engine,
gearbox, transmission, pipes and hoses
(exhaust/fuel system/brakes) and
rubber elements (gaiters/sleeves/
bushes, etc.);
check battery charge and battery
fluid level (electrolyte);
visually inspect conditions of the
accessory drive belts;
check and, if necessary, change
engine oil and replace oil filter;
check and, if necessary, replace
pollen filter;
check and, if necessary, replace air
cleaner.
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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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ENGINE COMPARTMENT
CHECKING LEVELS
194) 195)
39)
1. Window and headlight washer fluid 2. Engine oil dipstick 3. Engine oil cap 4. Engine coolant fluid 5. Brake/clutch
fluid 6. Battery
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IMPORTANT Use only soft
(demineralised) water in the coolant
mixture. Water that contains minerals
will cut down on the coolant's
effectiveness.
IMPORTANT Do not add only water.
Always add a proper coolant mixture.
IMPORTANT The engine has aluminium
parts and must be protected by an
ethylene-glycol-based coolant to
prevent corrosion and freezing.
IMPORTANT DO NOT USE coolants
Containing Alcohol, methanol, Borate
or Silicate. These coolants could
damage the cooling system.
IMPORTANT DO NOT MIX alcohol or
methanol with the coolant. This could
damage the cooling system.
IMPORTANT Do not use a solution that
contains more than 60% antifreeze.
This would reduce effectiveness.
IMPORTANT If the “FL22” mark is
shown on or near the cooling system
cap, use of FL-22 is recommended
when replacing engine coolant. Using
engine coolant other than FL-22 may
cause serious damage to the engine
and cooling system.BRAKE / CLUTCH FLUID
202) 207)
41)
It should be kept between the MAX and
MIN lines fig. 154.
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
200) 201) 208)
Inspect fluid level in the washer fluid
reservoir fig. 155; 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
203) 204) 205) 206)
6)
To get the best service from a battery:
keep it securely mounted;
keep the top clean and dry;
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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
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 level (1 fig. 156 = 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 Abarth Dealership for a battery
replacement purchase.
After replacing the battery, perform the
phonic wheel learning procedure
described in the “Battery maintenance”
chapter.
WARNING
194)Never smoke when performing
operations in the engine compartment.
Flammable gases and fumes may be
present and risk igniting.
195)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.
196)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!
197)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.
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MAINTENANCE AND CARE

With limited-slip differential
Your vehicle is equipped with
limited-slip differential. 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.
WARNING
211)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.
212)Travelling with partially or completely
flat tires can cause safety problems and
irreparable damages to the tire.
213)Always use tires that are in good
condition. Driving with worn tires is
dangerous. Reduced braking, steering, and
traction could result in an accident.
214)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.215)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.
216)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).
217)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.IMPORTANT
42)Road holding depends also on the
correct tire inflating pressure.
43)If the pressure is too low the tire
overheats and this can cause it serious
damage.
44)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
45) 46)
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
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MAINTENANCE AND CARE

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.
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