Fiat Barchetta Owner's Handbook Manual - Towing

79

If the engine begins to “lose its

smoothness” when travelling, contin-

ue your journey but reduce the

demands you are making on the

engine and have the car seen to at a

Fiat Dealership.

When the instrument panel fuel

reserve warning light K comes on, fill

up as soon as possible. A low level of

fuel can cause an uneven supply of

fuel to the engine with the inevitable

increase in the temperature of the

exhaust gas and serious damage to

the catalytic converter. 

Never run the engine with one or

more spark plugs disconnected, even

for testing purposes.

Do not warm up the engine by let-

ting it idle for a while before moving

off unless the outside temperature is

very low and, even in this case, only

do so for less than thirty seconds.

TOWING 

A TRAILER

IMPORTANT

The car must be fitted with a

homologated tow hitch and suitable

electrical system for towing a cara-

van or trailer. Have the tow hitch fit-

ted by an expert who will issue spe-

cific documentation for use on

roads. 

Fit special and/or additional

rearview mirrors in accordance with

the highway code.

Remember that towing a trailer

makes it harder for the car to climb

the maximum gradients specified,

increases braking and overtaking dis-

tance, proportionally to the overall

weight of the trailer.

The weight the trailer exerts on

the car’s tow hitch coupling reduces

the car’s loading capacity by the

same amount.

Do not install other heat shields

and do not remove those already fit-

ted to the catalytic converter and

exhaust pipe.

Do not allow anything to be

sprayed onto the catalytic converter,

lambda sensor and exhaust pipe.

When functioning normal-

ly the catalytic converter

develops high temperatures. For

this reason do not park the car

over inflammable material (grass,

dry leaves, pine needles, etc.): fire

hazard.

WARNING

Failure to heed these pre-

cautions could cause a

fire.

WARNING