Fiat 500 Owner's Handbook Manual page 165

GETTING TO
KNOW YOUR
When performing any operation on the
CAR
battery or near it, always protect your
eyes with special goggles.
SAFETY
USEFUL ADVICE FOR EXTENDING THE
LIFE OF YOUR BATTERY
STARTING AND To avoid draining your battery and make it last
DRIVING longer, observe the following instructions:
❒ when you park the car, ensure that the doors,
tailgate and bonnet are closed properly, to prevent
WARNING
any lights from remaining on inside the passenger's
LIGHTS AND
compartment;
MESSAGES
❒ switch off all lights inside the car: the car is
however equipped with a system which switches
IN AN
all internal lights off automatically;
EMERGENCY
❒ do not keep accessories (e.g. sound system, hazard
lights, etc.) switched on for a long time when the
engine is not running;
SERVICING
❒ before performing any operation on the electrical
AND
MAINTENANCE
system, disconnect the negative battery cable;
❒ Completely tighten the battery terminals.
TECHNICAL
IMPORTANT If the charge level remains under 50%
SPECIFICATIONS
for a long time, the battery is damaged by sulphation,
reducing its capacity and efficiency at start-up.
The battery will also be more at risk of freezing (e.g.
INDEX
already at -10°C). Refer to the paragraph "Car
164
WARNING
inactivity" in "Starting and driving" if the car is left
parked for a long time.
If after buying the car, you want to install electric
accessories which require permanent electric supply
(alarm, etc.) or accessories influencing the electrical
supply requirements, contact a Fiat Dealership
whose skilled personnel, in addition to suggesting the
most suitable devices from Lineaccessori Fiat, will
evaluate the overall electric absorption, checking
whether the car's electric system is capable of
withstanding the load required, or whether it should
be integrated with a more powerful battery.
Since these devices continue absorbing energy even
when the ignition key is off, they gradually run down
the battery.