painting FIAT DUCATO 244 2005 3.G Owners Manual

64GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
– Always remember to turn the
heater off when refuelling or standing
in service stations to avoid fires and
explosions.
– Do not park the vehicle over in-
flammable material such as paper, dry
grass or leaves: fire risk!
– The temperature near the heater
must never exceed 120°C (e.g. during
painting operations in a workshop
oven). Higher temperatures could
damage the electronic control unit
components.
– When the engine is off, the heater
runs off the battery: it is consequently
important to run the engine for a cer-
tain period of time in order to restore
the battery charge.– Follow the prescriptions in “Vehi-
cle maintenance” section at paragraph
“Engine coolant level” to check the
coolant level. The coolant in the cir-
cuit must contain at least 10% an-
tifreeze fluid.
– Maintenance and repairs must al-
ways be carried out by a Fiat Deal-
ershipand only genuine spare parts
must be used.
MAINTENANCE
Have the heater checked at a Fiat
Dealership periodically (always be-
fore winter). This will ensure safe and
cheap running and long appliance life.
The heater burns fuel in the
same way as the engine,
though, of course, to a lesser degree
and therefore to avoid intoxication
and suffocation, never use the sup-
plementary heater in closed areas,
garages or workshops not equipped
with specific exhaust evacuation
devices even for short periods of
time.
WARNING

179VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
Tyres age even if they are not used
very much. Cracking of the tread rub-
ber and the side walls are a sign of this
ageing. In any case, if the tyres have
been fitted for more than six years
they should be examined by an expert
who can judge whether they are still
fit for use. Remember to check the
spare tyre particularly carefully too.
If a replacement is necessary, always
use new tyres and avoid using ones
the origin of which you are not cer-
tain about.
The Ducato uses tubeless tyres. Un-
der no circumstances use an inner
tube with these tyres.
If you replace a tyre it is a good idea
to change the inflation valve, too.To ensure the front and rear tyres all
wear evenly, you are advised to change
the tyres over every 10 - 15 thousand
kilometres keeping them on the same
side of the vehicle so as not to reverse
the direction of rotation.RUBBER TUBING
Follow the Service Schedule carefully
in the case of braking and fuel supply
system rubber tubing.
Ozone, high temperatures and long
absence of fluid in the system can in
fact cause the hardening and cracking
of the pipes with possible loss of fluid.
A careful check is therefore essential.
Do not change the tyres
over in criss-cross fashion
by moving a tyre from the left-hand
side of the vehicle to the right and
vice versa.
WARNING
Never submit alloy rims to
repainting treatments re-
quiring to use temperatures ex-
ceeding 150°C since the mechani-
cal properties of the wheels could
be impaired.
WARNING

181VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
SPRAY NOZZLES
Windscreen washer
If there is no jet of liquid, first make
sure that there is liquid in the reser-
voir: see “Checking fluid levels” in this
section. Then make sure that the
holes in the nozzles are not clogged
upfig. 19. Use a pin to open the noz-
zles if necessary. The windscreen jets
are directed by adjusting the inclina-
tion of nozzles. Direct the spray so
that it reaches the highest point
reached by the brushes.Headlight washer
If there is no jet of liquid, first make
sure that there is liquid in the reser-
voir. Then make sure that the holes
in the nozzles fig. 20are not clogged
up. Use a pin to open the nozzles if
necessary.BODYWORK
PROTECTING THE VEHICLE
FROM ATMOSPHERIC
AGENTS
The main causes of rust are:
– atmospheric pollution;
– salt and humidity in the atmos-
phere (coastal or very hot and humid
areas);
– environmental conditions that are
specific to the season.
In addition, the abrasiveness of dust
in the atmosphere and sand carried by
the wind as well as mud and stones
kicked up by other vehicles must not
be underestimated.
For your vehicle, Fiat has used lead-
ing-edge technological solutions to ef-
fectively protect the body from rust.
These are the most important:
– painting systems and products that
make the vehicle particularly resistant
to rust and scratching;
fig. 20
F0D0122m
fig. 19
F0D0125m