
19
Once you have let go of the lever,
check the seat is firmly locked in the
runners by trying to move it back and
forth. Failure to lock the seat in place
could result in the seat moving unex-
pectedly with obvious dangerous con-
sequences.
Adjusting the reclining seat back
Lift lever Band tilt the back into the
position required. After releasing the
lever, check that the back is locked
properly into position by trying to tilt
it backwards and forwards.
Tipping the seat back forwards
To make it easier to get at the hood
housing, the front seats can be tipped
forwards
To tip the seat back, turn knob Cto-
wards the dashboard.HEAD RESTRAINTS fig. 13
These may be height adjusted by
pulling them upwards or pushing them
downwards.STEERING WHEEL fig. 14
The wheel can only be ad-
justed while the car is sta-
tionary.
WARNING
The steering wheel is height ad-
justable:
1)move lever Ato position 1;
2) adjust the steering wheel;
3) return the lever to position2to
lock the wheel in place again.
fig. 13
P5S00628m
fig. 14
P5S00629m
Remember that the head
restraints should be adjust-
ed to support the back of your head
and not your neck. They only per-
form their protective function in
case of an accident when they are
in this position.
WARNING

21
SEAT BELTS
HOW TO USE THE SEAT
BELTS fig. 17When the driver’s seat belt is not fas-
tened, instrument panel indicator light
Press button Cto unfasten the belts.
Keep holding the belt as it rewinds to
prevent it from getting twisted.The seat belt retractor will adapt the
belt to the body of the person wear-
ing it to give him/her freedom of
movement. The retractor could lock
when the vehicle is parked on a steep
slope, but this should be considered
normal.
In addition, the reel mechanism
blocks the belt when it is jerked or if
the car brakes sharply, is in a collision
or when taking bends at high speed.
To fasten the seat belts, take the
tongue of fastener Aand push it into
buckle Buntil you hear it click.
If the belt jams, let it rewind for a
short stretch, then pull it out again
without jerking.
Before fastening the seat
belts, check they pass
through the slots at the top of the
seat back behind the shoulder.
WARNING
For maximum safety, keep
the back of your seat up-
right, lean back into it and make
sure the seat belt fits closely across
your chest and hips.
WARNING
fig. 17
P5S00632m

22
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
FOR THE USE OF THE SEAT
BELTS
All the occupants of the vehicle are
obliged to respect the local traffic laws
regarding the wearing of seat belts.
Make sure the seat belts
are fastened at all times.
You increase the risk of serious in-
jury or death in a collision if you
travel with the belts unfastened.
WARNING
fig. 18
P5S00633m
fig. 19
P5S00748
The webbing must not be
twisted. The upper section
must pass across the shoulder and
chest diagonally. The lower part
must fit closely across the passen-
gers’ hips and not the abdomen, to
prevent them sliding forward. Do
not use devices (clips, clasps etc.)
that prevent the belt adhering
properly to the passenger’s body.
WARNING
Never travel with children
sitting on a passenger’s lap
with a single seat belt to protect
them both.
WARNING
SEVERE DANGER:
if the car has a pas-
senger airbag, do not place the
child seat on the front seat.
WARNING

25
GROUP 0 (fig. 22)
Babies up to 10 kg are to be seated
in a cot type seat supporting the child’s
head facing backwards. This ensures
there is no stress on the child’s neck
in sudden decelerations. The cot is se-
cured with the seat belts. The child
must be strapped to the carrier.GROUP 1 (fig. 23)
Children from 9 kg are to be seated
facing forward in child seats with front
cushions. The vehicle seat belt secures
both seat and child.
fig. 22
P5S00745m
fig. 23
P5S00746m
Child restraint systems
must never be positioned in
the front passenger seat in vehicle’s
equipped with passenger side
airbags. The inflated airbag could
cause fatal injury, regardless of how
severe the crash. Children can trav-
el in the front seat only in cars
equipped with an airbag deactiva-
tion device. In this case, make ab-
solutely sure that the airbag has in
fact been deactivated.
WARNING
The figure is only an exam-
ple. Attain to the instruc-
tions for fastening the specific child
restraint system you are using.
WARNINGThe figure is only an exam-
ple. Attain to the instruc-
tions for fastening the specific child
restraint system you are using.
There are child restraints for
Groups 0 and 1 which are fastened
with the vehicle seat belts by means
an attachment on the seat back.
The child is then secured to the seat
with specific straps. Due to their
weight, child seats can be danger-
ous if they are fitted incorrectly
(e.g. placing a cushion between the
seat and the belts). Always attain
carefully to the specific installation
instructions for the child restraint
system you are using.
WARNING

26
GROUP 2 (fig. 24)
Children from 15 kg can be secured
directly with the vehicle seat belts. The
child seat has the purpose of posi-
tioning the child correctly with respect
to the seat belt so that the diagonal
section crosses the child’s chest (nev-
er the child’s throat) and the hori-
zontal section fits snugly on the child’s
hips (and not the child’s abdomen). GROUP 3 (fig. 25)
Children from 22 kg up only require
a cushion to lift them. The size of the
child’s chest no longer requires a sup-
port to space the child’s back from the
seat back.
Children taller than 1.5 m can wear
seat belts like adults.To sum up the safety precau-
tions to follow when transporting
children:
1) Child restraint systems should be
installed on the rear seat as this is the
most protected area in the vehicle in
the event of a crash.
2) Attain to the instructions for fas-
tening the specific child restraint sys-
tem you are using which must be pro-
vided by the manufacturer. Keep the
child restraint system installation in-
structions with this the vehicle docu-
ments and with this Handbook. Nev-
er use a child restraint system without
installation instructions.
3) Always check the seat belt is well
fastened by pulling the webbing.
4) Only one child can secured to a
child restraint at a time. Never carry
two children in one restraint system.
5) Always check the seat belts do
not fit around the child’s throat.
6) While travelling, do not let the
child sit incorrectly or release the
belts.
7)Passengers should never carry
children or babies on their laps. No-
one, however strong they are, can
hold a child in the event of a crash.
8) Replace the child restraint system
after an accident.
fig. 24
P5S00749m
fig. 25
P5S00750m
The figure is only an exam-
ple. Attain to the instruc-
tions for fastening the specific child
restraint system you are using.
WARNING
The figure is only an exam-
ple. Attain to the instruc-
tions for fastening the specific child
restraint system you are using.
WARNING

27
PRETENSIONERS
To render the protective action of
the seat belts even more effective, Fi-
at barchetta is fitted with pretension-
ers. These devices “feel” that a violent
collision is in progress via a sensor, and
pull back a few inches of webbing. In
this way the pretensioner ensures that
the belt is adhering perfectly to the
body before the belt begins to hold
back the wearer. When the preten-
sioner has been triggered the retrac-
tor will lock. The seat belt cannot be
drawn back up even when guiding it
manually.
When the pretensioner is triggered
as small amount of smoke will be pro-
duced. This smoke is not harmful and
does not indicate the principle of fire.The pretensioner does not require
any maintenance or lubrication. Any
modification of its original state inval-
idates its efficiency. If, as the result of
exceptional natural occurrences
(floods, sea storms etc.), the device is
soaked through with water and mud,
it must be replaced.
The pretensioner will give maximum
protection when the seat belt adheres
snugly to the wearer’s chest and hips.
Operations involving
banging, vibrations or
heating (exceeding 100°C
for a maximum of 6 hours) in the
area around the pretensioner
may trigger or damage the de-
vice. Vibrations from rough road
surfaces or accidental jolting
caused by mounting pavements
etc. do not have any effect on the
pretensioner. If, however, you
need any assistance, go to a Fiat
Dealership.
The pretensioner can only
be used once. After a colli-
sion that has triggered it, have it re-
placed at a Fiat Dealership. The de-
vice will last for 10 years from the
date of production given on the ad-
hesive label: the pretensioner must
be replaced when this date is
reached.
WARNING
Pretensioners do not re-
quire lubrication or main-
tenance. Under no circumstances
should the components of the pre-
tensioner be tampered with as this
could affect the correct operation
of these devices. If any interven-
tions are necessary, contact your Fi-
at Dealership.
WARNING

29
COOLANT TEMPERATURE
GAUGE A-fig. 29
Under normal conditions, the needle
of the temperature gauge should hov-
er around the middle of the scale. If
it approaches the red section it means
the engine is being overtaxed and you
should reduce your demands on it.
Travelling too slowly when the out-
side temperature is very hot can also
cause the needle to approach the red
sector.
In this case it is better to stop and
turn off the engine. After a few mo-
ments you can start the engine again
and accelerate slightly.FUEL GAUGE B-fig. 29
The needle shows the number of
litres of fuel probably in the tank.
When the Kreserve warning light
comes on, it means that about 5 litres
of fuel are left in the tank.
Never travel with the fuel tank al-
most empty: any gaps in fuel supply
could damage the catalytic converter.DIGITAL CLOCK fig. 30
This a twenty-four hour clock. When
the headlights are turned on the fig-
ures will automatically grow dim to
make them easier to read.
To set the hours: press button A.
To set the minutes: press button B.
Press the button once to forward
one unit at a time. Keep the button
pressed to fast forward automatical-
ly. When you are close to the time
you wish to set, release the button and
press the button as many times as re-
quired.
If the conditions persists
even after the measures
you have taken, turn off
the engine and have the car seen
to at a Fiat Dealership.
fig. 29
P5S10035m
fig. 30
P5S00639m

ENGINE CONTROL
SYSTEM FAILURE
(EOBD) (amber)
In normal conditions, the warning
light will come on when the ignition
key is turned to MARand should go
out as soon as the engine is started.
The initial lighting up shows that the
warning light is working properly.
If the warning light either stays on or
comes on while travelling:
1.Fixed light - warning of a fuel
feed/ignition system failure which may
increase emissions in exhaust or cause
possible drops in performance, poor
handling and high consumption. In such
conditions, you can continue driving
but you should not tax the engine and
you should moderate the speed. Pro-
longed use with the warning light on
can cause damage. Contact aFiat
Dealershipas soon as possible.
The warning light will go out when
the failure disappears. In any case, the
system will store the error. ENGINE OIL
PRESSURE TOO
LOW (red)
When the pressure of the oil in the
engine falls below the normal level.
The light comes on when you turn
the ignition key to MARbut it should
go out when the engine starts.
A delay in the light going out is ac-
ceptable only when the engine is idling.
If the engine has been taxed heavily,
the light might flash when idling but
should go out on accelerating slightly.
30
v
U
INDICATOR AND
WARNING LIGHTS
These light up in the following cas-
es:2.Flashing light - warning that the
catalyser may be damaged (see
“EOBD system” in this chapter). If the
warning light starts flashing, release the
accelerator pedal and slow the engine
until the warning light stops flashing.
Continue driving at moderate speed,
preventing the warning light from
coming on again. Contact a Fiat Deal-
ership as soon as possible.
Contact a Fiat Dealer-
ship as soon as possible if
the
Uwarning light ei-
ther does not come on when the
key is turned to MAR or comes
on, with fixed or flashing light,
when travelling.
If the warning light comes
on when the vehicle is mov-
ing, switch off the engine and con-
tact a Fiat Dealership.
WARNING