102GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
DIESEL ENGINES
The vehicle must only
be filled with diesel fuel
for motor vehicles, in
compliance with European Spec-
ification EN590. The use of other
products or mixtures may ir-
reparably damage the engine
with invalidation of the warran-
ty due to the damage caused. In
the event of accidentally filling
with another type of fuel, do not
start the engine and empty the
tank. If the engine has been run
even for only a very short time,
in addition to the tank, it is also
necessary to drain out the whole
fuel circuit.AT THE FILLING
STATION
PETROL ENGINES
Use unleaded petrol only.
However, to avoid mistakes, the fu-
el filler is too small for the leaded
petrol pump.
Octane rating (R.O.N.) must not be
lower than 95.
fig. 151
F0D0193m
Never put even the tini-
est amount of leaded
petrol in the fuel tank of
your Ducato even in an emer-
gency. You would damage the
catalytic converter beyond re-
pair.
An inefficient catalytic
converter will allow
harmful exhaust fumes to
be emitted and thus contribute
to air pollution.
104GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
IMPORTANTThe airtight seal of
the cap may lead to a slight increase of
pressure in the tank. A hissing sound
when the cap is removed is therefore
quite normal.
After refuelling, screw the cap until
hearing one or more clicks, turn the
key and then remove it.. close the lid.
IMPORTANTMoreover, before
starting the engine, for the sake of
safety, check whether the refuelling
gun is properly hung onto the fuel
pump.If required, replace the
fuel cap with another gen-
uine cap to avoid affecting
the efficiency of the fuel vapour
recovery system.
fig. 153
F0D0140m
PROTECTING THE
ENVIRONMENT
Protection of the environment has
been the guiding principle in the design
of the Fiat Ducato right from the start.
The result is the use of materials and
creation of devices that can reduce or
considerably curtail harmful influences
on the environment.
The devices for curtailing petrol en-
gine emissions are:
– a three-way catalytic converter;
– a lambda sensor;
– a fuel evaporation system.
The devices for curtailing diesel en-
gine emissions are:
– an oxidising catalytic converter;
– an exhaust gas recirculation system
(E.G.R.) (for certain versions).
Consequently, the Fiat Ducato is
ready to travel well ahead of the most
stringent international pollution control
standards.
Keep naked flames or light-
ed cigarettes away from
the fuel filler hole as there is a dan-
ger of fire. Do not bend too close to
the hole either so as not to breathe
in harmful vapours.
WARNING
105GETTING THE BEST OUT OF YOUR VEHICLE
G G
E E
T T
T T
I I
N N
G G
T T
H H
E E
B B
E E
S S
T T
O O
U U
T T
O O
F F
Y Y
O O
U U
R R
V V
E E
H H
I I
C C
L L
E E
STARTING
THE ENGINE HOW TO START PETROL
VERSIONS
IMPORTANT Do not press the
accelerator until the engine has start-
ed.
1) Ensure that the handbrake is up.
2)Put the gear lever into neutral.
3)Press the clutch pedal down to
the floor without touching the accel-
erator.
4) Turn the ignition key to AVVand
release it as soon as the engine starts.
If the engine does not start at the
first attempt, return the ignition key
to STOP before trying to start the
engine again.
If the warning light Ystays on when
the ignition key is at MAR, turn the
key to STOPand then to MAR; if the
warning light stays on, try with the
other keys provided.
If you are still unable to start the en-
gine, go to a Fiat Dealership.IMPORTANTDo not leave the ig-
nition key at MAR when the engine is
off.
Minibus and School Bus versions:
press the ignition enable button lo-
cated to the left of the steering col-
umn as shown in the specific supple-
ment to this handbook.
Never touch the high volt-
age cables (spark plug ca-
bles) when the engine is running.
WARNING
It is dangerous to let the en-
gine run in a garage of oth-
er closed area. The engine con-
sumes oxygen and gives off carbon
dioxide, carbon monoxide and oth-
er poisonous fumes.
WARNING
106GETTING THE BEST OUT OF YOUR VEHICLE
HOW TO START DIESEL
VERSIONS
1) Ensure that the handbrake is up.
2)Put the gear lever into neutral.
3)Press the clutch pedal down to
the floor without touching the accel-
erator.
4) Turn the ignition key to MAR. In-
strument panel warning lights mand
Ywill come on.
5)Wait for the instrument panel
warning light Yto go out.
6) Wait for the instrument panel
warning light mto go out. The hot-
ter the engine is, the quicker this will
happen.
7) Turn the key to AVVimmediate-
ly after the mwarning light goes out.
If you wait too long, you will lose the
benefit of the work done by the glow
plugs.
Release the key as soon as the engine
starts.Intake air heater (Heat Flange)
An air heating device is fitted on the
intake manifold inlet in 2.8 JTD ver-
sions to facilitate starting the engine in
cold weather.
This device will be switched on au-
tomatically when the key is turned to
MAR.
The heater is fitted in all 2.8 JTD ver-
sions with EGR system. It is optional
for other JTD versions.
The engine start-up procedure is the
same with and without the heater.GENERAL NOTES
If the engine does not start first time,
return the key to STOPbefore try-
ing to start the engine again.
If warning light Yremains lit when
the ignition key is at MAR, turn the
key to STOPand then to MAR; if the
warning light stays on, try with the
other keys provided. The warning light m
will flash (for approxi-
mately 60 seconds) at
start-up or during prolonged
cranking to signal a fault in the
glow plug heating system. You
can use the vehicle as usual if the
engine starts but you should con-
tact a Fiat Dealership as soon as
possible to have problem seen to.
SELENIA 20K (petrol en-
gines) is recommended
when the vehicle is mainly
used in relatively mild climates. If
however, the vehicle is mainly
used where the climate is partic-
ularly severe, the use of SELENIA
PERFORMER MULTIPOWER
(petrol engines) or SELENIA WR
(diesel engines) is recommended.
107GETTING THE BEST OUT OF YOUR VEHICLE
If you still cannot start the engine,
get in touch with a Fiat Dealership.
IMPORTANT When the outside
temperature is low, it is important to
note that the use of a more fluid oil
will facilitate starting the cold engine.
Therefore, in winter, follow the advice
in chapter “Technical specifications”,
paragraph “Fluids and lubricants”.
IMPORTANTNever leave the igni-
tion key at MARwhen the engine is off.
Minibus and School Bus versions:
press the ignition enable button lo-
cated to the left of the steering col-
umn as shown in the specific supple-
ment to this handbook.HOW TO WARM UP
THE ENGINE AFTER IT
HAS JUST STARTED
(petrol and diesel versions)
– Begin to move forward slowly let-
ting the engine turn at medium revs.
Do not accelerate abruptly.
– Do not push the engine to its lim-
it for the first few kilometres. You are
recommended to wait until the
coolant temperature indicator starts
to move.
EMERGENCY START-UP
If the Fiat CODE system fails to
recognise that code transmitted by the
ignition key (warning light Yon the
instrument panel lit) the emergency
start-up can be performed by using the
CODE card code.
See the “In an emergency” section.Catalysed vehicles must
not be bump started
(pushed, towed or coast-
ed downhill) as this could cause
fuel to flow into the catalytic ex-
haust system and damage it be-
yond repair.
Remember that until the
engine has started the
brake booster and power steering
systems will not work and a greater
effort will therefore be required to
depress the brake pedal or turn the
steering wheel.
WARNING
110GETTING THE BEST OUT OF YOUR VEHICLE
STARTING
After starting the engine, with the en-
gine idling and keeping the brake ped-
al pressed, move the gearshift lever to
position D. Release the brake pedal
and gradually press the accelerator
pedal.
IMPORTANT Movement of the
lever from position Pis allowed only
with the ignition key at MARand the
button on the lever and the brake ped-
al pressed. STOPPING THE VEHICLE
To stop the vehicle, simply press the
brake pedal regardless of the position
of the gearshift lever.
IMPORTANTRemoving the igni-
tion key is only allowed with the
gearshift lever in position Pand for a
maximum time of 30 seconds from
when the engine is turned off P, when
the door is opened a buzzer will sound
for about 15 seconds to alert the dri-
ver.
In the case of an emergency (faults,
flat battery, etc.) the ignition key can
be removed from the switch fitting a
screwdriver in hole infig. 3set under
the ignition switch and pressing up-
wards Do not attempt to ob-
tain peak performance
until the engine has
reached normal operating tem-
perature.
fig. 3
F0D0236m
With the engine idling, also
on a level surface, and the
gearshift lever in position D or R,
the vehicle tends to move if the
brake pedal is not kept pressed.
WARNING
ELECTRONIC
AUTOMATIC
GEARBOX
(2.8 JTD versions
only)
The automatic gearbox fitted on Fi-
at Ducato features four speeds plus
reverse with self-adapting control (i.e.
capable of adapting to the driver’s dri-
ving style), which transmits power
continuously and with very fast elec-
tro-hydraulic gear engagement times.
STARTING THE ENGINE
The engine can be started only with
the gearshift lever in the P or Nposi-
tion.
For safety reasons, it is advisable to
start the engine with the brake pedal
pressed.
IMPORTANTWhen moving off af-
ter starting the engine, do not press
the accelerator pedal before and dur-
ing the movement of the gearshift
lever. This is particularly important
when the engine is cold.
114GETTING THE BEST OUT OF YOUR VEHICLE
SEQUENTIAL MANUAL
OPERATION
For the sequential manual operation
mode, move the lever to the left sec-
tor B-fig. 4with two positions:
(+) = engagement of the higher ra-
tio;
(–) = engagement of the lower ratio.
Moving the gearshift lever to the
manual sector is only possible from
position D: the ratio selected by the
automatic gearbox when the lever is
moved will remain engaged.
When the sequential manual mode is
selected, the display shows the en-
gaged gear fig. 6.
To select the higher ratio move the
lever in the (+) direction and to shift
down move the lever to (–).IMPORTANTIf the request to
downshift would cause engine
overevving, this is eliminated by the
electronic control unit. Moreover, if
the manually engaged gear causes en-
gine overevving, the electronic control
unit will shift gear automatically to the
most appropriate one (AUTO-UP).
When the sequential man-
ual mode has been set and
a high gear is engaged, to acceler-
ate rapidly, for example to over-
take, it is necessary to downshift
by hand: the kickdown feature
cannot be engaged!
WARNING
Engaging the automatic
WINTER programme
(only with lever in “D”)
Press button A-fig. 8to engage the
automatic WINTERprogramme that
makes the vehicle starting in 2
ndgear.
This mode is recommended under
poor grip conditions (snow, ice, mud,
etc.).
Use this function only when required
in poor grip road conditions then con-
tinue driving with the WINTERfunc-
tion off.
The WINTERfunction shall always
be off on slopes.
fig. 8
F0D0241m
116GETTING THE BEST OUT OF YOUR VEHICLE
BUMP STARTING
Starting by pushing or towing the ve-
hicle is not possible. In the event of an
emergency, when the battery is flat,
start the vehicle with a suitable emer-
gency battery, following the instruc-
tions given in section “In an emer-
gency” at paragraph “Jump starting”.
TOWING THE VEHICLE
IMPORTANTFor towing the ve-
hicle comply with current local regu-
lations and follow the instructions giv-
en in section “In an emergency” at
paragraph “Towing the vehicle”.If the vehicle is to be towed, adhere
to the following recommendations:
– if possible, carry the vehicle on the
floor of a rescue vehicle;
– if this is not possible, tow the ve-
hicle raising the driving wheels (front)
from the ground;
– if this, too, is not possible, the ve-
hicle should not be towed for more
than 200 km at a speed of no more
than 50 km/h.
When towing, the gearshift lever
should be at N.
Do not start the engine
while the vehicle is being
towed.
The failure to comply
with these instructions
may cause serious dam-
age to the automatic gearbox.
When travelling with the
gearbox faulty, drive with
the utmost care in consideration of
the limited performance (in terms
of acceleration and speed) that the
vehicle can offer.
WARNING
When travelling with the
gearbox faulty, the revers-
ing gear lock might not be active:
absolutely never move the lever to
the R position with the vehicle on
the move.
WARNING– Warning light flashing= auto-
matic gearbox fault.
Warning light flashing at starting or
when travelling indicates a fault in the
automatic gearbox.
The automatic control system sets
an “emergency programme” engaging
the 3
rdgear.
Switching the engine off and then on
again, the self-test system could ex-
clude the fault and therefore turn off
the warning light. The failure is how-
ever stored and the automatic gear-
box shall be checked at a Fiat Deal-
ership.