FIAT 124 SPIDER 2021 Owner handbook (in English)

196)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.
TOWING THE
VEHICLE
ATTACHING THE TOW
HOOKS
35) 36) 37)
Proceed as follows:
remove the towing eyelet and the
wheel brace from the luggage
compartment;
wrap a flathead screwdriver or similar
tool with a soft cloth to prevent damage
to a painted bumper, and open the cap
located on the front 1 fig. 141 or rear
bumper 2 fig. 142;IMPORTANT Do not use excessive force
as it may damage the cap or scratch the
painted bumper surface.
NOTE 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. 143 and rear fig. 144;
hook the towing rope to the towing
eyelet.
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159

IMPORTANT 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 to
the 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 If the towing eyelet is not
securely tightened, it may loosen or
disengage from the bumper when
towing the vehicle. Make sure that the
towing eyelet is securely tightened 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.37)The front and rear tow hooks should be
used only for emergencies on the road. You
are allowed to tow the vehicle for short
distances using an appropriate device in
accordance with the highway code (a rigid
bar), to move the vehicle on the road in
readiness for towing or transport via a
breakdown vehicle. Tow hooks MUST NOT
be used to tow vehicles off the road or
where there are obstacles and/or for
towing operations using ropes or other
non-rigid devices. Respecting the above
conditions, towing must take place with
two vehicles (one towing, the other towed)
aligned as much as possible along the
same center line.
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IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

EMERGENCY
TOWING
TOWING DESCRIPTION
Proper lifting and towing are necessary
to prevent damage to the vehicle.
Government and local laws must be
followed.
A towed vehicle usually should have its
drive wheels (rear wheels) off the
ground. If excessive damage or other
conditions prevent this, use wheel
dollies.
When towing with the rear wheels on
the ground, release the parking brake.
IMPORTANT Do not tow the vehicle
pointed backward with driving wheels
on the ground. This may cause internal
damage to the transmission.
IMPORTANT Do not tow with sling-type
equipment. This could damage your
vehicle. Use wheel-lift or flatbed
equipment.
If towing service is not available in an
emergency, the vehicle may be towed
with all four wheels on the ground using
the towing hook at the front of the
vehicle. Only tow the vehicle on paved
surfaces for short distances at low
speeds.
Follow these instructions when towing
the vehicle with all wheels on the
ground:
shift to neutral (manual transmission),
or the N position (automatic
transmission);
switch the ignition to ACC;
release the parking brake.
NOTE Remember that power assist for
the brakes and steering will not be
available when the engine is not
running.
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MAINTENANCE AND CARE
Correct maintenance permits the
performance of the vehicle to be
maintained over time, as well as limited
running costs and safeguarding the
efficiency of the safety systems.SCHEDULED SERVICING.......163
ENGINE COMPARTMENT......169
BATTERY RECHARGING.......174
WHEELS AND TIRES..........175
BODYWORK...............177
INTERIORS................180
162
MAINTENANCE AND CARE

SCHEDULED
SERVICING
INTRODUCTION
Be careful not to hurt yourself when
inspecting your vehicle, replacing a tyre,
or doing some kind of maintenance
such as car washing. In particular, wear
thick work gloves such as cotton gloves
when touching areas that are difficult to
see while inspecting or working on your
vehicle. Doing inspections or
procedures with your bare hands could
cause injury.
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 Fiat
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 a Fiat 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 Dealership.
The malfunction diagnosis connector is
designed exclusively for connecting the
specially designed device to perform
on-board diagnosis. Do not connect
any devices other than the specially
designed malfunction diagnosis devices
for servicing. If any device other than
the malfunction diagnosis device is
connected, it may affect the vehicle's
electrical devices or lead to damage
such as battery depletion.
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 an expert repairer, we
recommend a Fiat Dealership.
163

OWNER MAINTENANCE
PRECAUTIONS
197) 198) 199)
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 an expert
repairer, we recommend a Fiat
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 a
Fiat 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.
165

Thousands of miles9 182736455463728190
Thousands of kilometers15 30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150
Years12345678910
Check endfloat of wheel bearings and front and
rear joints●●●●●
Check windscreen wiper blade position/wear●●●●●
Check operation of the wiper/washer system
and adjust jets, if necessary●●●●●
Check cleanliness of bonnet and boot locks, as
well as cleanliness and lubrication of linkages●●●●●
Check handbrake lever travel and adjust, if
necessary●●●●●●●●●●
Visually inspect conditions and wear of front/rear
disk brake pads and integrity of pad wear
indicator
●●●●●●●●●●
Visually inspect condition of evaporation control
system●●●
Visually inspect condition and tensioning of
accessory drive belt(s)●
Visually inspect conditions of toothed timing
drive belt●
Change transmission oil●
Change engine oil and replace oil filter●●●●●●●●●●
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MAINTENANCE AND CARE

Thousands of miles9 182736455463728190
Thousands of kilometers15 30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150
Years12345678910
Replace spark plugs (2)●●●
Replace accessory drive belt(s)(3)
Replace toothed timing drive belt(3)
Replace air filter cartridge (4)
●●●
Change the brake fluid(5)
(2) For 1.4 Turbo Multiair versions, to guarantee correct operation and prevent serious damage to the engine, it is essential to proceed as follows: only use spark
plugs specifically certified for these engines; all spark plugs should be of the same type and brand (see the "Engine" paragraph in the "Technical specifications"
chapter); stricltly comply with the replacement intervals in the Scheduled Servicing Plan. It is advisable to contact a Fiat Dealership for spark plug replacement.
(3) Areas that are not dusty: recommended maximum mileage 120.000 km. Regardless of the mileage, the belt must be replaced every 6 years. Dusty areas and/or
demanding use (cold climates, town use, long periods of idling): recommended maximum mileage 60.000 km. Regardless of the mileage, the belt must be
replaced every 4 years.
(4) If the vehicle is used in dusty areas, this cleaner must be replaced every 15.000 km.
(5) The brake fluid replacement has to be done every two years, irrespective of the mileage.
167

WARNING
197)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.
198)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. Either can become
entangled in moving parts and result in
injury.
199)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.
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MAINTENANCE AND CARE