Fiat Punto Owner's Handbook Manual page 181

Incorrect assembly of electric
and electronic devices may
cause severe damage to your
car. Go to a Fiat Dealership if
you want to install accessories (anti-
theft device, mobile phone, etc.): they
will suggest the most suitable devices
and advise you if a higher-capacity bat-
tery needs to be installed.
Batteries contain substances
that can be very harmful to
the environment. It is advis-
able to have the battery
changed by a Fiat Dealership, where
it will be disposed of properly and in
accordance with the law.
WARNING
If the vehicle must remain
unused for a long time at
very low temperatures, remove the
battery and take it to a warm place
to avoid freezing.
180
WARNING
If you have to perform any
operation on the battery or
near it, always protect your eyes with
special goggles.
USEFUL ADVICE FOR
EXTENDING THE LIFE
OF YOUR BATTERY
To avoid draining your battery and make
it last longer, follow these instructions
closely:
❒ when you park the car, ensure that the
doors, boot and bonnet are closed
properly to prevent the ceiling courtesy
lights from staying on;
❒ turn off the ceiling lights, although the
car does have an automatic system for
switching off internal lights;
❒ do not leave devices (e.g. sound sys-
tem, hazard lights, etc.) switched on
for a long time when the engine is not
running;
❒ before performing any operation on the
electrical system, disconnect the nega-
tive battery cable;
❒ make sure battery terminals are fully
tightened.
IMPORTANT If the battery's charge stays
below 50% for a long time it becomes
damaged through sulphation, which re-
duces its capacity and ability to start
the car.
The battery will also be more at risk of
freezing (this can happen as early as
−10 °C). Refer to "Car inactivity" in
"Starting and driving" if the car is left
parked for a long time.
If, after buying the car, you want to install
electrical devices that require a permanent
electric supply (alarm, etc.) or devices that
use a lot of electricity, contact a Fiat Deal-
ership. Their qualified personnel, in addi-
tion to suggesting the most suitable de-
vices from the Lineaccessori Fiat range,
will evaluate the overall electricity con-
sumption, checking whether the car's elec-
tric system is capable of withstanding the
load required, or whether it should be in-
tegrated with a more powerful battery.
Since these devices continue to consume
energy even when the engine is switched
off, they gradually run down the battery.