Page 89 of 258

88GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
If you have never driven a vehicle
with ABS before, you should practice
using the system on slippery terrain,
obviously with the necessary safety
precautions and keeping to the High-
way Code of the country you are in.
It is also a good idea to read the fol-
lowing information carefully.
The advantage in using the ABS sys-
tem is that it continues to give you
maximum manoeuvrability even when
braking hard in conditions of poor grip
by preventing the wheels locking.
You should, however, not expect the
braking distance to always decrease:
for example surfaces with gravel or
fresh snow on a slippery road will in
fact increase the braking distance.
To exploit the ABS system to the full
in the event of necessity, you should
take heed of the following advice:ABS
The vehicle is fitted with an ABS
braking system (optional), which pre-
vents the wheels from locking when
braking, makes the most of road grip
and gives the best control when emer-
gency braking under difficult road con-
ditions.
The driver can tell the ABS system
has come into play when he feels the
brake pedal pulsating slightly and the
system gets noiser.
This should not be interpreted as a
fault in the brakes; on the contrary it
is a sign that the ABS system is work-
ing: it tells the driver that the vehicle
is travelling at the limit of its road grip
and that he should alter his speed to
fit the type of road surface.
The ABS system is an addition to the
basic braking system. If there is a mal-
function, the system turns off auto-
matically and only the ordinary brakes
continue to work.
If a failure occurs, and consequently
the anti-lock function is not effective,
the braking system will continue to
work as usual.
If the ABS system cuts in it
is a sign that the grip be-
tween the tyre and the road surface
has reached the limit: you must
slow down to match the speed to
the road grip available.
WARNING
If there is a fault, the warn-
ing light >will light up on
the dashboard. At this point, reduce
speed and go to a Fiat Dealership
to have your vehicle checked and
put right immediately.
WARNING
The ABS exploits the tyre-
road grip available to the
full, but it cannot improve it; you
should therefore take every care
when driving on slippery surfaces,
and not take unnecessary risks.
WARNING
Page 91 of 258

90GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
FRONT AND SIDE
AIRBAGS
FRONT AIRBAGS
Description and operation
The front airbag (driver’s and passen-
ger’s) is a safety device which comes in-
to action in the event of a head-on col-
lision.
It consists of a cushion that inflates
instantaneously contained in a special
recess:
– in the centre of the steering wheel
for the driver; fig. 137;
– in the dashboard and with a bigger
cushion for the passenger fig. 138.The front airbag (driver and passen-
ger) has been designed to protect the
occupants in the event of head-on
crashes of medium-high severity, by
placing the cushion between the oc-
cupant and the steering wheel or dash-
board.
In case of crash, an electronic con-
trol unit processes the signals from de-
celeration sensor and, when required,
triggers the inflation of the cushion.
The bag inflates instantly and acts as
a protective barrier between the front
seat passengers and the structures in
front of them that could cause injury.
The bags deflate immediately after-
wards.
fig. 137
F0D0131m
fig. 138
F0D0169m
In case of crash, a person not wear-
ing the seat belt moves forward and
may come into contact with the cush-
ion while it is still inflating. Under this
circumstance the protection offered
by the airbag is reduced.
The front airbag (driver and passen-
ger) is therefore not a replacement of
but is complementary to the use of
belts, which should always be worn, as
specified by law in Europe and most
non-European countries.
In the case of minor head-on colli-
sions, (for which the restraining action
of the seat belt is sufficient) the airbag
is not triggered.
In collisions against highly deformable
or mobile objects (such as road signs,
heaps of gravel or snow, parked vehi-
cles, etc.), in rear crashes (such as
bumps from behind by another vehi-
cle), side impacts, and in case of wedg-
ing under other vehicles or protective
barriers (for example under a truck or
guard rail), the airbag is not triggered
as it offers no additional protection
compared with the seat belts, conse-
quently, it would be pointless.
Page 92 of 258

91GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
Therefore, failure to come into ac-
tion in the above circumstances does
not mean that the system is not work-
ing properly.
Airbag system efficiency is constant-
ly monitored by an electronic control
unit.
If warning light
¬(A-fig. 139)
comes on when travelling (indicating a
fault), have immediately the system
checked and repaired at a Fiat Deal-
ership.FRONT AIRBAG
PASSENGER SIDE
The passenger’s front airbag has been
designed and calibrated to improve the
protection of a person wearing seat
belts.
At its maximum inflation, its volume
fills most of the space between the
dashboard and the passenger.
fig. 139
F0D0190m
SERIOUS DANGER If it is
absolutely necessary to car-
ry a child on the front pas-
senger seat with the cradle
child’s seat facing back-
wards, the front passenger’s air bag
must be deactivated using the key
switch. In this case it is absolutely
necessary to check the warning
light
F(see paragraph “Passen-
ger’s front air bag”) to make sure
that deactivation has actually tak-
en place.
WARNING
With passenger’s air bag
active, never place child’s
seats with the cradle facing back-
wards since the air bag activation
could cause to the child serious in-
juries, even mortal, regardless of the
seriousness of the crash that trig-
gered it. You are advised to carry
children always with proper re-
straint systems on the rear seats, as
this is the most protected position
in the case of a crash.
WARNING
Page 99 of 258

98GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
SOUND SYSTEM
Visit a Fiat Dealership if
you want to fit a sound
system after buying the
vehicle. They can advise you on
how to safeguard battery life. Ex-
cessive idle intake can damage
the battery and may invalidate
the warranty.LIGHT SET-UP
The system consists of:
– radio power supply cables
– dashboard front speaker cables
– housing for the radio
– aerial and relevant wire
HEAVY SET-UP
The system consists of:
– radio power supply cables
– dashboard front speaker cables
– dashboard speakers
– door speaker cables
– door speakers
– housing for the radio
– aerial and relevant wire.
fig. 145
F0D0171m
For the Panorama version, four ad-
ditional speakers are provided, two on
the right and two on the left side, set
one in the body side and the other on
the top of the pillar.
For the Combi version, two addi-
tional rear speakers are provided, one
per body side.
The sound system should be installed
in the compartment occupied by the
object tray which can be removed by
releasing the two retaining tabs A-
fig. 145.
The power supply, speaker connec-
tion and aerial cables can be found in
this compartment.
Page 100 of 258
99GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
IMPORTANT The cables are se-
cured to the heater cables bundle with
adhesive tape to cut out noise.
For speakers, use the housings at the
ends of the dashboard fig. 146:
A- left-hand speaker housing
B- right-hand speaker housing.
To install: dismantle the press-fitted
dashboard panel and insert the speak-
er in its special recess.
To fit speakers in the doors, loosen
screws A-fig. 147and remove the
protection grid. After securing the
speakers refit the protecting grid.
fig. 146
F0D0061m
SOUND SYSTEM (optional)
The complete system consists of:
– system set-up (see previous para-
graph)
– sound system (radio with cassette
or CD player) with removable front
panel (for features and operation, see
the attached “Sound system” supple-
ment).
fig. 147
F0D0060m
The wiring diagram is as follows
(fig. 148):
Connector A
A1Vehicle speed
A2Booster
A3Spare
A4Key-controlled power (+15)
A5Aerial power
A6Light
A7Power + (battery)
A8Ground
fig. 148
F0D0672m
Page 101 of 258

100GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
The wiring connection diagram is:
1Sound system MUTE function.
2Spare.
3Cellular phone INPUT ground
signal (–).
4Cellular phone INPUT ground
signal (+).
5Spare
6Spare
7Ignition switch power (+15).
8Spare
9Battery power (+).
10Ground.
Max. aerial power is 20W.
WARNINGConnector B
B1Door speaker
passenger’s side (+)
B2Door speaker
passenger’s side (-)
B3Dashboard speaker
right side (+)
B4Dashboard speaker
right side (-)
B5Dashboard speaker
left side (+)
B6Dashboard speaker
left side (-)
B7Door speaker
driver’s side (+)
B8Door speaker
driver’s side (-)
AERIAL
Aerial is built into the passenger’s
door mirror.CELLULAR PHONE
SET-UP
IMPORTANTThe optional cellu-
lar phone set-up is bound to “Heavy
set-up” or “Radio” purchase.
The system set-up consists of:
– dual-purpose aerial (sound system
+ cellular phone), built into the pas-
senger’s door mirror;
– dual-purpose aerial connection
wires and ten-pin connector wiring
fig. 149;
– front door speakers.
fig. 149
F0D0106m
See the information given
in the “Accessory installa-
tion” section when making electri-
cal connections so as not to dam-
age the system.
WARNING
Page 151 of 258
150IN AN EMERGENCY
POSITION OF THE FUSES
Four fuseboxes are provided: two
fuseboxes are located at the dash-
board ends, one is located in the en-
gine compartment (near the air clean-
er) and the last one is located on the
battery positive pole A-fig. 34(CBA).
To reach the first fusebox on the left-
hand side of the dashboard (driver’s
side; passenger’s side for right-hand
drive version), loosen the two screws
A-fig. 35.Fig. 36- fusebox on the left-hand
side (CFB) (driver’s side; passenger’s
side for right-hand drive version).
fig. 34
F0D0172m
fig. 36
F0D0141m
fig. 35
F0D0144m
Page 152 of 258
151IN AN EMERGENCY
To reach the second fusebox on the
right-hand side of the dashboard (pas-
senger’s side; driver’s side for right-
hand drive version), loosen the two
screws B-fig. 37.
fig. 37
F0D0145m
fig. 38
F0D0142m
Fig. 38- fusebox on the right-hand
side (CFO) (passenger’s side; driver’s
side for right-hand drive version).