engine FIAT PALIO 2003 178 / 1.G India Version User Guide
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: FIAT, Model Year: 2003, Model line: PALIO, Model: FIAT PALIO 2003 178 / 1.GPages: 156, PDF Size: 6.27 MB
Page 36 of 156

35
WARNING
LIGHTS
The warning lights come on in the
following circumstances:
BATTERY  NOT
CHARGING PROPER-
LY (red) 
When there is
a fault in the current gen-
erating system.
Go to a 
Fiat Dealershipand pre-
vent deploying the battery.
When the key is turned to 
MAR the
light comes on but should go out the
moment the engine is started.
LOW  ENGINE  OIL
PRESSURE (red) 
When
the  engine  oil  pressure
drops  under  the  normal
value.
When the key is turned to 
MARthe
light comes on but should go out the
moment the engine is started.
A delay in the light going out is ac-
ceptable only when the engine is idling.
If the engine has been heavily taxed,
the light may flash when the engine re-
turns to idle. The light should howev-
er go out when you accelerate slight-
ly.
v
w
If the vwarning light
comes on while the car is
moving, stop the engine
immediately and contact a Fiat
Dealership. 
INJECTION  SYSTEM
FAILURE (red) (petrol
version) 
When there is a
fault in the injection system.
When the ignition key is turned to
the 
MAR position, the light comes on
but should go out after a few seconds.
The  warning  light  will  stay  on  or
come on when travelling to indicate
imperfect operation of the injection
system with possible loss of perfor-
mance, poor handling and higher con-
sumption. 
g
In these conditions, you can contin-
ue driving but you should avoid de-
manding  efforts  from  the  engine  or
high speeds. Contact a 
Fiat Dealer-
ship
as soon as possible.
Using the car for long periods when
the warning light is on may cause dam-
age especially when the engine is run-
ning irregularly or misfiring. The car
should only be used for short periods
at low speeds.
Occasional and brief lighting of the
warning light is meaningless.
HANDBRAKE  EN-
GAGED  /  LOW
BRAKE FLUID (red) 
In
two cases:
1.When the handbrake is applied.
2. when the brake fluid level falls be-
low the minimum level. 
x
20-63  03/03/2003  06:02 PM  Page 35 
Page 37 of 156

ABS  (WHEEL  AN-
TILOCKING  SYS-
TEM)  FAILURE  (am-
ber) 
When there is a fail-
ure in the ABS system. 
In this case, the normal braking sys-
tem continues to work although with-
out the ABS assistance. Hence, have
the car seen to at a 
Fiat Dealership
as soon as possible.
The  warning  light  should  come  on
when the key is turned to 
MARand
go out after approximately 2 seconds.
DIRECTION INDICA-
TORS  (green)  (flash-
ing) 
When the direction
indicator  control  stalk  is
operated (arrows).
PARKING  LIGHTS
(green) 
When  the
side/tail lights are switched
on.
RE
3
MAIN  BEAM  HEAD-
LIGHTS (blue) 
When  main  beam  head-
lights are switched on
1
AIR  BAG  FAILURE
(red) 
When  there  is  an
airbag system failure.
If  the xwarning  light
comes  on  when  travel-
ling,  check  whether  the
handbrake  is  engaged.  If  the
warning  light  stays  on  and  the
handbrake is not engaged, stop
immediately and contact a Fiat
Dealership. 
>
Warning  light >,  with
the engine running, nor-
mally indicates a fault in
the ABS system only. In this case,
the  braking  system  is  still  effi-
cient,  though  without  the  an-
tilocking device. You are advised
to go immediately to the nearest
Fiat Dealership, driving in a man-
ner to avoiding sharp braking and
get the system checked.
û
The warning light should
come on when the key is
turned  to  MAR  and  go
out  after  approximately  4  sec-
onds. If the warning light either
does not come on or comes on
when  travelling,  stop  immedi-
ately and go to a Fiat Dealership.
The  warning  light  should  come  on
when the key is turned to 
MARand
go out after approximately 2 seconds.
36
INJECTION  SYSTEM
FAILURE  (red)  (diesel
versions)
When there is a fault in the injection
system.
The warning light should come on
when  the  ignition  key  is  turned  to
MARand go out after a few seconds.
The  warning  light  will  stay  on  or
come on when travelling to indicate
imperfect operation of the injection
system with possible loss of perfor-
mance, poor handling and higher con-
sumption.
In these conditions, you can contin-
ue driving but you should avoid de-
manding efforts from the engine or
high speeds. Contact a 
Fiat Dealer-
ship
as soon as possible.
Prolonged use of the car with warn-
ing light can cause damage to the en-
gine, specially in the event of misfir-
ing. The car can only be driven for a
short  period  of  time  at  low  ratios.
Occassional and brief lighting of the
warning light is meaningless.
20-63  03/03/2003  06:02 PM  Page 36 
Page 38 of 156

37
HEATING /CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM
1 -Windscreen defroster/demister
vents.
2  -Front  side  window
defroster/demister vents. 
3 -Central and side directional vents.
4  -Side  vents  for  sending  air  to
footwell. 
P4E02020
fig. 27
WATER  IN  DIESEL
FUEL  FILTER  versions
(amber) (diesel version)
When there is water in the diesel fu-
el filter. have the condense drained
out by a Fiat Dealership.
GLOW PLUGS
(amber)
(diesel version)
When the ignition key is turned to
the 
MARposition. The warning light
will go out when the glowplugs reach
the correct temperature.
The warning light has a diagnostic
function to signal pre-heating system
failures  (cut-off  or  short-circuited
glow plugs, blown pre-heating control
unit power fuse, tripped pre-heating
control unit circuit surge and current
protections).
If the warning light flashes for 60 sec-
onds just before the engine is started,
the vehicle can still be started but a
Fiat Dealershipshould be contact-
ed  as  soon  as  possible  to  have  the
anamoly rectified.
20-63  03/03/2003  06:02 PM  Page 37 
Page 45 of 156

44
fig. 41
P4E02029
fig. 40
P4E02287
CONTROLS 
fig. 40
The buttons located above the cen-
tral air vents.
The controls can only be operated
when the ignition key is at 
MAR.
When a function is activated the LED
on the respective button will light up.
Press the button again to switch the
control off.
Heated rear window
Button A: to switch on /off the ther-
mal rear window.
Rear fog light
Button B: These lights can only be
switched on when the dipped beam
headlights  or  the  front  foglights  are
switched on.
Fog lights 
ButtonB: These lights can only be
switched on when the parking lights
are on.
Climate control system
Button C:  to  switch  on/off  the  air
conditioner.
FUEL CUT-OFF SWITCH 
fig. 41
This is a safety cut-off switch which
comes into operation in the case of an
accident  to  block  the  supply  of  fuel
thereby stopping the engine.
If, after an accident, you
can  smell  petrol  or  see
that the fuel feed system
is leaking, to avoid the risk of fire,
do not reset the switch.
If you cannot see any fuel leaks and
the car is in a fit state to continue its
20-63  03/03/2003  06:03 PM  Page 44  
Page 55 of 156

54
When the engine is run-
ning,  do  not  put  hands
near  moving  elements.
Be very careful that scarves, ties
or loose clothing do not acciden-
tally get caught in moving parts;
this can be extremely dangerous.BONNET
To open the bonnet:
1) Pull lever A-fig. 63. 
fig. 64
P4E02273
fig. 65
P4E01365
Before lifting the bonnet
check  that  the  wind-
screen  wiper  arms  are
not raised from the windscreen.
Important.  Improper
positioning of the support
rod could cause the bon-
net fall violently.
This should only be done
when  the  car  is  station-
ary.
2)Press lever A-fig. 64.
3)Lift  the  bonnet  and  release  the
support rod 
A-fig. 65from its clip.
4)Insert the end of the rod in its re-
cess 
Bon the bonnet. 
fig. 63
P4E02037
20-63  03/03/2003  06:03 PM  Page 54 
Page 56 of 156

55
To close the bonnet:
1) Hold the bonnet up with one hand
and with the other remove the rod 
A-
fig. 65
from the recess Band replace
it in its clip.
2)Lower the bonnet until it is about
20 cm above the engine compartment.
3) Let it fall: the bonnet closes au-
tomatically.
ROOF RACK
Move the door weather strips aside
in the points shown in 
fig. 66to reach
the fasteners.
When the engine is hot,
be very careful not to burn
yourself  when  operating
inside the engine compartment.
Keep your hands away from the
electric fan as it may switch on at
any  time,  even  with  the  key  re-
moved from the ignition switch.
Wait until the engine cools down.
Always  make  sure  the
bonnet is closed properly
so it will not open whilst
the car is moving. 
After  travelling  a  few
kilometers,  check  that
the  securing  screws  are
tight.
Never  exceed  the  per-
mitted  weight  (see
“Technical specifications”
chapter).
Be  careful  not  to  dam-
age  the  objects  on  the
roof rack opening the tail-
gate.
20-63  03/03/2003  06:03 PM  Page 55 
Page 61 of 156

60
Always drive with both
hands  on  the  rim  of  the
steering wheel so that the
airbag is free to inflate and pro-
tect you from serious injury in a
collision. Do not drive with your
body bending toward the steer-
ing wheel, but sit in an upright po-
sition  with  your  back  resting
against the seat.
If the car has been stolen
or  an  attempt  has  been
made to steal it, or it has
been  vandalised  in  any  way,  or
subjected  to  flooding,  have  the
airbag system checked at a Fiat
Dealership.The  air  bag  does  not
substitute seat belts, but
increases  its  efficiency.
Furthermore, since the airbag is
not inflated in frontal collisions at
low  speed,  side  collisions,  rear
end shunts or overturns, in such
cases the occupants are protect-
ed  by  the  seat  belts  only  and
therefore they should always be
fastened.Correct  functioning  of
airbag and pretensioners
is only guaranteed when
the car is not overloaded.SOUND SYSTEMRemember  that  airbag
can  be  triggered  when
the ignition key is insert-
ed and set to MAR, even with the
car stationary, if another vehicle
crashes  into  it.  On  the  other
hand, when the car is stationary
and the ignition key is removed,
the airbag does not trigger in the
event of an impact.
Visit the Fiat Dealership
if you want to fit a sound
system  after  purchasing
your car. Qualified, trained staff
will provide useful advice for safe-
guarding the battery. Excessive
intake  when  the  engine  is  not
running will damage the battery
and  may  invalidate  the  battery
warranty.
Fiat recommends wide range of
music  systems  as  Fiat  acces-
sories, which are available with
Fiat dealerships.
20-63  03/03/2003  06:03 PM  Page 60 
Page 65 of 156

DRIVING YOUR CAR
To  help  you  handle  your  Fiat  Palio  in  the  best  and
safest  possible  way,  and  above  all  use  it  to  its  fullest
potential, we have given you some hints in this chap-
ter  on  “what  to  do,  what  not  to  do  and  what  to
avoid” when at the wheel of your Fiat Palio.
In  most  cases,  these  behaviours  are  valid  also  on
other cars. In other cases, they are related to opera-
tional  particularities  exclusive  to  Fiat  Palio.  It  is  nec-
essary  to  pay  utmost  attention  while  reading  this
chapter,  to  know  the  use  and  driving  behaviours
allowing  you  to  derive  the  maximum  from  your  Fiat
Palio.STARTING THE ENGINE  ...................................... PAGE 65
PARKING .................................................................... PAGE 67
USING THE GEARBOX  ......................................... PAGE 68
SAFE DRIVING .......................................................... PAGE 68
ECONOMICAL RUNNING THAT RESPECTS 
THE ENVIRONMENT .............................................. PAGE 73
CONTAINING RUNNING COST AND 
POLLUTION .............................................................. PAGE 75
SNOW CHAINS  ....................................................... PAGE  77
STORING THE CAR ................................................ PAGE 78
RECURRENT CHECKS 
AND BEFORE LONG DISTANCE TRIPS  ......... PAGE 78
ACCESSORIES PURCHASED 
BY THE OWNER  ..................................................... PAGE 79
USEFUL ACCESSORIES ........................................... PAGE 79
64
64-79  03/03/2003  06:45 PM  Page 64 
Page 66 of 156

65
The  key  switch  is  equipped  with  a
safety  device  which  obliges,  in  the
event of engine starting malfunction to
return the key at 
STOP prior to re-
peating the starting operation.
At the same time, when the engine is
running,  the  device  prevents    to  shift
from 
MAR postion to AVV position.
In  the  first  operational  seconds,
above all after a long inactivity peri-
od, you can hear a higher  noise level
of  the  engine.  Such  phenomenon,
which does not compromise the func-
tionality and reliability,  is typical of the
hydraulic tappets: the distribution sys-
tem, chosen for the engine of  100 
16V
version of your Fiat Palio to contribute
to the maintenance intervention re-
duction.
STARTING THE ENGINE 
IMPORTANT 
Do  not  press  the
accelerator until the engine has start-
ed.
1) Ensure that the handbrake is up.
2) Put  the  gear  lever  into  neutral.
3)Press the clutch pedal right down.
4) Turn the ignition key to AVVand
release it as soon as the engine starts.If  the  engine  does  not  start  at  the
first attempt, return the ignition key
to 
STOP before trying to start the
engine again.
IMPORTANT Press the accelera-
tor slightly only if the outside temper-
ature is lower than –10°C and the en-
gine does not start at the first attempt.
IMPORTANTNever leave the ig-
nition key at 
MARwhen the engine is
off. 
Never  touch  the  high
voltage wires (spark plug
wires) when the engine is
running. 
It is dangerous to let the
engine run in a garage of
other closed area. The en-
gine consumes oxygen and gives
off carbon dioxide, carbon monox-
ide  and  other  poisonous  fumes. 
STARTING THE
ENGINE
We recommend not to
push the engine to its lim-
its for the first period of
use (e.g. abrupt accelerations, ex-
cessively prolonged distances at
max revs, hard braking, etc.).
64-79  03/03/2003  06:45 PM  Page 65 
Page 67 of 156

66
BUMP STARTING STOPPING THE ENGINE
Turn the ignition key to STOPwhile
the engine is idling.
HOW TO WARM UP THE 
ENGINE AFTER IT HAS JUST 
STARTED
– Begin to move forward slowly let-
ting the engine turn over at medium
revs. Do not accelerate abruptly.
– Do not push the engine to its lim-
its for the first few kilometers. You are
recommended to wait until the water
temperature  achieves  50°C÷60°C.
Remember  that  until
the engine has started the
brake  booster  and  hy-
draulic power steering systems
they will not work and a greater
effort will therefore be required
to depress the pedal or turn the
steering wheel.Never  bump  start  the
engine (by pushing, tow-
ing or coasting downhill)
as this could cause fuel to flow in-
to the catalytic exhaust system
and damage it beyond repair.
A quick burst on the ac-
celerator before turning
off the engine serves ab-
solutely no practical purpose and
wastes fuel.
IMPORTANT 
After a taxing drive
you should allow the engine to “catch
its breath” before turning it off by let-
ting it idle to allow the temperature in
the engine compartment to fall.
64-79  03/03/2003  06:45 PM  Page 66