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FIAT Linea User Manual

Page 197

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196

W

ARNING

LIGHTS AND MESSAGES

TECHNICAL

SPECIFICA

TIONS

INDEX

DASHBOARD AND CONTROLS

SAFETY DEVICES

CORRECT USE OF THE CAR

IN AN

EMERGENCY

CAR

MAINTENANCE

Normal maintenance of paintwork consists
in washing the car: the frequency depends
on the conditions and environment where
the car is used. For example, it is advisable
to wash the car more often in areas with
a high environmental pollution or on roads
sprinkled with salt.

To correctly wash the car:
❒ remove the aerial from the roof to pre-

vent damage to it if the car is washed in
an automatic system;

❒ wash the body using a low pressure jet

of water;

❒ wipe a sponge with a slightly soapy so-

lution over the bodywork, frequently
rinsing with the sponge;

❒ rinse well with water and dry with a jet

of air or a chamois leather.

Dry the parts less in sight particularly care-
fully, such as the door frames and the
headlight frames, where water may stag-
nate more easily. It is a good idea to leave
the car in the open for a while after wash-
ing it to give time for the water to evap-
orate.

Do not wash the car after it has been
parked in the sun or when the engine is
bonnet is hot: this could take the shine off
the paint.

Exterior plastic parts must be cleaned in
the same way as the rest of the car.

Where possible, do not park under trees;
the resinous substance many species re-
lease give the paint a dull appearance and
increase the possibility of triggering rust
processes.

IMPORTANT Bird droppings must be
washed off immediately and thoroughly as
the acid they contain is particularly ag-
gressive.

Detergents cause water pollu-
tion. The car should be washed
in areas equipped for collect-
ing and purifying the liquid

used in the washing process.

Windows

Use specific window cleaner products.

Use also clean cloths to avoid scratching
the glass or damaging the transparency.

IMPORTANT The inside of the rear win-
dow should be wiped gently with a cloth
in the direction of the filaments to avoid
damaging the heating device.

Engine compartment

Wash the engine compartment carefully
after the end of the winter. Be careful not
to direct the jet of water onto electronic
control units. Adequately protect the up-
per air vents to prevent damage to the
windscreen wiper motor. Have this op-
eration performed at a specialised work-
shop.

IMPORTANT Perform this operation on
a cold engine and with the key at STOP.
After the washing operation, make sure
that the various protections (e.g. rubber
caps and guards) have not removed or
damaged.

Front headlights

IMPORTANT Never use aromatic sub-
stances (e.g.: petrol) or ketenes (e.g.: ace-
tone) for cleaning front headlight plastic
lens.