Page 96 of 218

95GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
Pretensioners, front airbags and side
airbags are triggered by the electron-
ic control unit according to different
types of impacts. Missed triggering of
the system, consequently, does not in-
dicate a fault in the system.
If when turning the key
to MAR the warning light
¬does not turn on or if it
stays on when travelling there
could be a failure in safety sys-
tems; in this event air bags or
pretensioners could not trigger in
case of impact or, in a minor
number of cases, they could trig-
ger accidentally. Contact Fiat
Dealership immediately to have
the system checked.When the passenger’s
front airbag is active (pas-
senger front airbag deac-
tivation switch at ON), the
F
warning light will come on for ap-
proximately four seconds and
flash for other four seconds when
the ignition key is turned to MAR
to remind the driver than the
passenger’s front and side airbags
(where fitted) will be fired in the
event of a crash. The warning
light should go out immediately
afterwards.
If an attempt has been
made to steal the vehicle,
or if it has actually been
stolen or has been vandalised in
any way or subjected to flooding,
have the airbag system checked
over at a Fiat Dealership.The front air bag is trig-
gered for shocks greater
in magnitude that the
pretensioners. For impacts be-
tween these two thresholds, it is
therefore normal that only the
pretensioners are triggered.
Do not apply stickers or
other objects to the
steering wheel or to the
dashboard on the passenger’s
side. Do not travel with objects
on your lap or in front of you nor
with a pipe, pencil or similar be-
tween your lips; you could seri-
ously hurt yourself if the airbag
inflates in a collision.
Page 97 of 218

96GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
The correct operation of
front airbags, side airbags
and pretensioners is en-
sured only if the vehicle is not
overloaded.
Do not wash the seat
back in vehicles with side
airbags with pressurised
steam or water in automatic seat
washing stations.
The airbag does not re-
place seat belts but rather
increases their effective-
ness. Furthermore, the airbag is
not fired in the event of low
speed front collisions, side colli-
sions, rear-end shunts and roll-
overs. In these cases, the passen-
gers are only protected by the
seat belts which for this reason
must always be fastened.
Always drive with both
hands on the rim of the
steering wheel so that the
airbag is free to inflate during a
head-on collision, and protect
you from serious injury. Do not
drive with your body bending to-
wards the steering wheel, but sit
in an upright position with your
back resting against the seat.
Do not cover the back-
rest of front seats with
trims or covers that are
not suitable to be used with side
bags.
It is important to re-
member that the airbag
can be fired if the ignition
key is fitted and at MAR also if
the engine is not running and the
vehicle it is hit by another vehicle
travelling at suitable speed. As a
consequence, Fiat recommends
sitting children in their specific
restraint systems on the back
seat, which is the most protected
position possible. On the con-
trary, the airbags will not be fired
if the vehicle is crashed into when
the key is not inserted or turned.
Consequently, in this case, the
fact that the system is not fired
does not indicate a fault.
Page 209 of 218

208INDEX
I I
N N
D D
E E
X X
- recharging ................................ 144
- replacing ................................... 164
Bodywork
- maintenance ............................ 171
- version codes .......................... 176
Bodywork paint plate .................. 175
Bonnet ............................................ 85
Boot
- anchoring the load .................. 84
- extending .................................. 80
- opening and closing ................ 79
Boot light........................................ 134
Brake fluid level ............................ 160
Brake lights .................................... 134
Brakes
- fluid level ................................... 160
- service and emergency .......... 181
Bulb (replacement) ...................... 130
- bulb types.................................. 131
- general instructions ................ 130
Capacities ..................................... 200Catalytic converter
(oxidising) .................................... 104
Catalytic converter
(three way) .................................. 104
Ceiling light .................................... 66
- control ....................................... 67
- replacement.............................. 137
Cellular telephone setup ............ 99
Central side windows ................. 72
Checking the levels ...................... 154
Child lock
(device)......................................... 77
Cigar lighter ................................. 70
Clutch ............................................ 182
- fluid level .................................. 160
CO
2emissions at exhaust ......... 205
Containing running costs and
pollution ....................................... 110
Control buttons ........................... 68
Dashboard................................... 21
Demisting
- electric mirrors ....................... 61
- front side windows ................. 60
ABS .............................................. 89
Accessories purchased
by the owner .............................. 100
- installation of
electric/electronic devices .... 100
- radio transmitters and
cellular telephones .................. 100
Air filter
- replacement ............................ 162
Air recirculation ........................... 61
Air vents ......................................... 58
Airbags (front and side) .............. 91
- general warnings...................... 94
- passenger airbag manual
deactivation .............................. 93
Annual inspection schedule ....... 152
Ashtray
- front ........................................... 71
At the filling station ..................... 102
Battery
- fluid level (electrolyte) .......... 163
- jump starting ............................ 144