Owner manual

282
SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
CAR
MAINTENANCE
BODYWORK
PROTECTION FROM ATMOSPHERIC
AGENTS
The main causes of corrosion are the following:
❒ atmospheric pollution;
❒ salty air and humidity (coastal areas, or hot humid
climates);
❒ seasonal environment conditions.
Not to be underestimated is also the abrasive action
of wind-borne atmospheric dust and sand and mud and
gravel raised by other vehicles.
On your Fiat Idea, Fiat implemented the best
manufacturing technologies to effectively protect the
bodywork against corrosion.
These include:
❒ Painting products and systems which give the car
particular resistance to corrosion and abrasion;
❒ Use of galvanised (or pretreated) steel sheets, with
high resistance to corrosion;
❒ Spraying of plastic parts, with a protective function,
in the more exposed points: underdoor, inner
fender parts, edges, etc.;
❒ Use of “open” boxed sections to prevent
condensation and pockets of moisture from
triggering rust inside.
BODY AND UNDERBODY
WARRANTY
Your Fiat Idea is covered by warranty against
perforation due to rust of any original element of the
structure or body. For the general terms of this
warranty, refer to “FIAT WARRANTY” booklet.
ADVICE FOR PRESERVING THE
BODYWORK
Paint
Paintwork does not only serve an aestethic purpose,
but also protects the underlying sheet metal.
In the case of deep scrapes or scores, you are advised
to have the necessary touching up carried out
immediately to avoid the formation of rust. Use only
original paint products for touching up (see
“Bodywork paint identification plate” in section
“Technical specification”).
Normal paint maintenance consists in washing at
intervals depending on the conditions and environment
of use. For example, in highly polluted areas, or if the
roads are sprayed with salt, it is wise to wash the car
more frequently.
To correctly wash the car:
❒ remove the aerial from the roof to prevent damage
to it if the car is washed in an automatic system;
❒ wash the body using a low pressure jet of water;