check engine FIAT PALIO 2003 178 / 1.G India Version User Guide
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82
BUMP STARTING IF A TYRE IS
PUNCTURED
Follow the instructions on this and
the following pages to use the jack and
spare wheel correctly.
Remember  that  until
the engine has started the
brake booster and power
steering  systems  will  not  work
and a greater effort will therefore
be required to depress the brake
pedal or turn the steering wheel.
An  incorrectly  posi-
tioned jack may cause the
car to fall. 
Do not use the jack to lift loads
exceeding that indicated on the
label attached to the jack itself. 
The jack should only be used to
change  a  wheel  on  the  car  for
which it is designed.  It should not
be put to other uses or employed
to raise other models of cars.  Un-
der no circumstances should it be
used  when  carrying  out  repairs
under the car. 
Do  not  lubricate  the  bolt
threads before fitting them back:
they could come loose. 
Never start the engine,
when the car is raised on
a jack. Never tamper with
the inflation valve. Never place
tools between the rim and tyre.
Check the tyre and spare wheel
pressure regularly. The tyre in-
flation pressure is shown in the
“Technical specifications” chap-
ter.
Never  bump  start  the
engine (by pushing, tow-
ing or coasting downhill).
This could cause fuel to flow in-
to the catalytic exhaust system
and damage it beyond repair.
If the car is fitted with al-
loy rims, a specific spare
wheel is provided. It is dif-
ferent from the one provided for
the cars fitted with steel rims. In
the event of successive purchase
of alloy rims, replacing the steel
rims,  we suggest you to keep at
disposal  4  genuine  bolts,  which
will be used only with the spare
wheel. Danger of damaging the
wheel hubs
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107
Thousands of Kilometers 15 3045 6075 90105 120135 150165 180
(*) or every 3 years if the car is used in the following harsh conditions:
- Prolonged use in cold/hot climates, sity driving with prolonged lengths of time at idle speed, driving on dusty roads or roads covered with sand/salt.
- or every 5 years regardless of km covered and use conditions.
NOTE: For every 7,500 km service please refer Owner’s Warranty & Service Policy book.
For every 7,500 km or 6 months (whichever is erlier from previous service) replace engine oil and oil filter.
Top up fluids (engine coolant, brakes, power steering, windscreen washer etc.)
Timing command toothed belt check
Timing command toothed belt replacement 
Spark plugs replacement, wire control (*)
Engine control system functionality check
(through autodiagnostic socket)
Change gear/differential gear oil level check
Changing engine oil (every 7,500 km or 6 months)
Replace engine oil filter (every 7,500 km or 6 months)
Brake fluid replacement (or every 24 months)
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108
ADDITIONAL
INTERVENTIONS
Every  1000  kmor  prior  to  long
travels,  check  and  possibly  restore:
– engine coolant level
– brake - clutch fluid level
– Power steering fluid level
– battery fluid level
– windscreen washer fluid level
– pressure and condition of the tyres.
Every 3000 kmcheck and top up
as necessary: engine oil level.We suggest the use of 
FL Group
product  expressly  recommended,
studied and realized for Fiat cars (see
the “Refuelling” table in the “Techni-
cal Specifications” chapter).
IMPORTANT - Engine oil
Replace  the  engine  oil  more  fre-
quently than indicated in the Sched-
uled Servicing Plan, in the event that
the car is mainly used in one of the fol-
lowing particularly severe conditions:
– dusty, sandy or muddy roads;
– repeated and short distances (less
than 7-8 km) and  with external tem-
perature less than zero;– with engine frequently idling or for
long distances at low speed (e.g. taxi,
door-to-door  deliveries  or  for  long
storage).
For any doubt on the engine oil re-
placement, in relation to how the car
is used, contact the 
Fiat Dealership.
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109
IMPORTANT - Air cleaner
Using the car on dusty roads, replace
the air cleaner more frequently than
indicated in the Scheduled Servicing
Plan.
For any doubt on the air cleaner re-
placement, in relation to how the car
is used, contact the
Fiat Dealership.
The maintenance of the
car  must  be  committed
to  Fiat  Dealership.  For
those interventions of ordinary
and  small  maintenance,  always
make sure to have the adequate
equipment, Fiat spare parts and
the  consumption  fluids;  in  any
event, do not perform such op-
erations, if you do not have any
experience. IMPORTANT - Fuel filter
Check the conditions of the fuel fil-
ter when changes (choking) are no-
ticed in the engine operation.
IMPORTANT - Battery
We  suggest  you  to  carry  out  the
check of the state of battery charge,
preferably at the beginning of the cold
season in order to avoid the possibil-
ity of freezing the electrolyte.
Such  check  must  be  carried  out
more  frequently  if  the  car  is  mainly
used  for  short  distances,  or  if  it  is
equipped with permanent absorption
users with disconnected key, above all
if applied in after market.
Please  refer  page  no.  52  of  24
hours service assistance booklet
for BAT MOBILE service extend-
ed by M/s. Exide Batteries.You should check the battery fluid
(electrolyte)  level  more  frequently
than shown in the service schedulein
this chapter if the car is used in hot cli-
mates or particularly demanding con-
ditions.
24  HOURS  SERVICE 
CALL - 9628 290 260
This  single  response  num-
ber is available in 9 cities.*
AHMEDABAD  -  BANGALORE  -
KOLKATA - CHENNAI - DELHI -
HYDERABAD  -  MUMBAI  - 
PUNE - LUCKNOW
*  If  you  are  not  in,  but  near  any  of  the  above
cities;  Dial  city  code  followed  by  the  single
response numberFor  further  information  about  Fiat  Service  Network  please  refer 24  Hours  Service
AssistanceBooklet provided.
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The jack, with which the
car  is  equipped,  is  pre-
scribed  only  when  the
wheel must be replaced. For ex-
igencies different from this latter,
the  lifting      of  the  car  must  re-
spect  particular  modalities.
Therefore, we recommend you
to perform the operation  at Fiat
Dealership.
110fig. 1 - Versions 1.2
P4E02275CHECKING
FLUID LEVELS
1.Engine oil - 2.Battery -3. Brake-
clutch fluid - 
4.Windscreen/rear mir-
ror washer fluid - 
5. Engine coolant -
6.Power steering fluid.
Pay  attention,  during
refilling operations, not to
confuse  the  different
types  of  fluids:  they  are  all  in-
compatible and the car could be
seriously  damaged  if  there  is
wrong usage.
Pay attention to scarves,
ties and clothes which are
not tight: they could get
entangled  in  the  moving  parts.Never smoke during the
interventions  in  the  en-
gine compartment:  flam-
mable gas and vapours  could be
present,  with  the  risk  of  a  fire.
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112
ENGINE OIL
Fig. 4
: versions 1.2 
Fig. 5: versions 1.6
Fig. 6: versions 1.9 D
Check  the  oil  level  with  the  car
parked on level ground and with the
engine still hot (about 10 minutes af-
ter having stopped the engine).
The oil level must be between the
MINIMUMand MAXIMUMmarks
on the control dipstick. The space be-
tween 
MINand MAXcorresponds
to roughly one litre of oil.
IMPORTANT Check the level and
replace the engine oil respecting  the
frequency indicated in the “Scheduled
Servicing Plan” and “Additional Inter-
vention”.
If the oil level is close to or even be-
low the 
MIN mark, add oil through
the filler hole until the level reaches
the 
MAXmark. The oil level must
never exceed the  
MAX line.
IMPORTANTAfter  adding  or
changing the oil, let the engine run for
a few seconds then wait a few minutes
after  you  have  turned  it  off  before
checking the level.
IMPORTANT If the level of the en-
gine oil, when checked, is found to be
over the 
MAXmark, go to a  Fiat
Dealership
to have it put right.
ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION
When  the  car  is  new,  the  engine
needs to run in, therefore the engine
oil consumption can only be consid-
ered stabilised  after the first 5000 -
6000 km.
IMPORTANTOil  consumption
depends on the driving style and the
conditions of use. 
fig. 5
P4E01435
fig. 4
P4E01477
fig. 6 - 1.9 D versions
P4E02327
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113
ENGINE COOLANT  TANK
Fig. 7
: Petrol versions 
Fig. 8: Diesel versionsIf the level is low, pour a 70:30 mix-
ture  of  distilled  water  and
PARAFLU11produced  by  the FL
Group
slowly through the filler hole.
fig. 7 - petrol versions
P4E02290
Do  not  take  the  cap  of
the reservoir off when the
engine is very hot as you
run the risk of scalding yourself.
The coolant level must be checked
while the engine is cold and must be
above the 
MIN mark visible on the
reservoir. 
Do not add oil with dif-
ferent specifications from
the oil already in the en-
gine. 
Used  engine  oil  an  re-
placed oil filters contain
substances  which  can
harm the environment. We rec-
ommend you have the car seen
to at a Fiat Dealership for the oil
and  filter  change.  It  is  suitably
equipped for disposing of used oil
and filters in an environmentally
-friendly way that complies with
the law.
When the engine is hot
be very careful under the
bonnet: you risk burning
yourself. Remember that when
the engine is hot, the fan may cut
in and cause injuries.
The  cooling  system  is
under  pressure. When
changing the cap, use on-
ly  genuine  spare  parts  to  avoid
damaging the system.
fig. 8 - diesel versions
P4E02675
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114
WINDSCREEN/
REAR WINDOW WASHER
FLUID fig. 9
To  add  fluid,  remove  the  cap  and
pour a mixture of water and 10% of
DPI fluid.
IMPORTANT Do not travel with
the window washer reservoir empty:
the use of the windscreen washer is
fundamental  for  improving  visibility.
fig. 9
P4E01438
fig. 10
P4E01439
Some windscreen wash-
er  additives  are  inflam-
mable. The fluid could ig-
nite if it comes into contact with
parts  in  the  engine  compart-
ment.
A  dipstick fig. 10 indicates  the
amount of fluid in the washer reser-
voir.
When  the  fluid  is  fin-
ished, do not operate the
windscreen washer in or-
der to avoid damaging the pump
motor.
fig. 11
P4E02073
POWER STEERING FLUID
Fig. 11: 
1.2 version
Fig. 12: 1.6 16v - 1.9 D version
Check that the level is between the
MINand MAXmarks on the reser-
voir or  in correspondence of the up-
per mark (max level) on the dipstick
integral with the reservoir plug, with
the car parked on flat ground and the
engine cold.
When the fluid is hot the level may
rise over the 
MAX mark.
If necessary, top up ensuring that the
fluid has the same specifications as that
in the reservoir.
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115
Avoid  that  the  highly
corrosive brake fluid drips
onto the paintwork. If it
does, wash immediately with wa-
ter.
fig. 13
P4E02074
With  the  engine  run-
ning, do not push, at the
end of the power steering
stroke,    for  more  than  15  con-
secutive seconds: noises are pro-
duced and the system could be
damaged.
The power steering flu-
id  consumption  is  very
low; if it needs topping up
at short intervals, have the sys-
tem checked for leaks at a Fiat
Dealership.Make  sure  the  power
steering  fluid  does  not
come  into  contact  with
the hot parts of the engine: it is
inflammable.
BRAKE-CLUTCH FLUID
fig. 13
A: 
versions 1.2 
B: versions 1.6 & 1.9 D
Periodically, check he warning lights
on  the  instrument  panel:  when  you
press the reservoir cover (with igni-
tion  key  at 
MAR)  warning  light 
x
should come on.
Brake fluid is poisonous
and very corrosive. In the
event  of  accidental  con-
tact, wash the affected part with
neutral  soap  and  water,  then
rinse in plenty of water. If the flu-
id  is  swallowed,  call  doctor  im-
mediately.
If you need to top up, use only the
type classified DOT4. We advise the
use of  
TOP4, with which the braking
system was originally filled.
The fluid level in the reservoir must
not exceed the 
MAX mark.
fig. 12
P4E01817
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118
The  total  intake  of  these  systems
(factory and after-market) must be less
than 0,6 mA x Ah (of the battery), as
shown in the following table:
Battery  Maximum permissiblestand-by intake
50Ah 30 mA
Furthermore, remember that high in-
take electric devices (such as baby bot-
tle warmer, vacuum cleaners, cellular
phones,  mini-fridges,  etc.)  powered
when the engine is off can deploy the
battery.
IMPORTANTIf you need to fit ad-
ditional systems in the car, remember
that improper wiring connections, in
particular if they affect safety devices,
are dangerous. 
USEFUL ADVICE 
FOR LENGTHENING
THE LIFE
OF YOUR BATTERY
When you park the car, ensure the
doors, boot and bonnet  are closed
properly. The courtesy light must be
off.
Do not keep accessories (e.g. sound
system, hazard lights, etc.) switched on
for a long time when the engine is not
running.
IMPORTANTA battery which is
kept at a charge of less than 50% for
any length of time will be damaged by
sulphation  leading  to  a  reduction  in
cranking power and a higher risk of
the battery electrolyte freezing (this
may even occur at - 10°C).
If the car is inactive for a long peri-
od of time, refer to “Long inactivity of
the car”, in the “Correct use of the
car” chapter.If you want to add electrical acces-
sories after buying the car which need
permanent electric supply(alarm,
free hand phone kit, radio navigator
with satellite antitheft system etc.) vis-
it a 
Fiat Dealership. They can sug-
gest the most suitable accessories to
get  and  check  whether  the  electric
system can support the required load
or whether  a larger capacity battery
is required. 
These devices will, in fact, run off the
battery even when the key is not in-
serted (car parked, engine stopped)
and can destroy the battery.
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