86GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
After travelling a few
kilometres, check that
the attachment fastening
screws are tight.
Distribute the load even-
ly and when driving, bear
in mind the increased
sensitivity of the vehicle to side
wind.
Never exceed the max.
permissible loads (see
section “Technical speci-
fications”).
Strictly comply with cur-
rent law regulations con-
cerning max. overall di-
mensions.
fig. 136
F0A0185b
ROOF RACK/SKI
RACK
PRESETTING
To use the roof racks you shall re-
move the caps set in points fig. 136.
Attach the roof rack bar brackets to
the fasteners.
IMPORTANTAlways follow the
instructions provided with the kit
carefully. The bars should be fitted by
skilled personnel.
For safety reasons the
bonnet must be closed
properly to avoid its
opening while the vehicle is trav-
elling. Therefore, always check it
is properly closed and the catch
engaged. Should you notice that
the catch is not perfectly engaged
when travelling, stop the vehicle
immediately and close the bon-
net. To close the bonnet
1)Hold the bonnet up with one hand
and, with the other, remove rod A-
fig. 135from recess Band replace it
in its clip.
2)Lower the bonnet until it is about
20 cm above the engine compartment,
and then let it drop, ensuring that it
is fully closed and not just held in po-
sition by the safety catch.
If the bonnet does not close properly
do not push it down but open it again
and repeat the above procedure.
90GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
To exploit the ABS system to the full
in the event of necessity, you should
take heed of the following advice:
Braking while cornering always re-
quires extreme care even when using
ABS.
The most important advice to follow
is this The ABS exploits the
road hold available as
much as possible but can-
not increase it. You should always
drive carefully on slippery sur-
faces and avoid any unnecessary
risks.
If the ABS system cuts in
it is a sign that the grip
between the tyre and the
road surface has reached the lim-
it: you must slow down to match
the speed to the road grip avail-
able.
If there is a fault, the in-
strument panel warning
light >will come on. At
this point, reduce speed and go to
a Fiat Dealership to have your ve-
hicle checked and put right im-
mediately.
When the ABS cuts in,
and you feel the brake
pedal pulsating, do not re-
move your foot, but keep it
pressed. In doing so you will stop
in the shortest amount of space
possible under the current road
conditions.
If you follow these tips you will be
able to brake better in any situation.
IMPORTANTVehicles fitted with
may only be fitted with wheel rims,
tyres and brake pads of the make and
model approved by the vehicle man-
ufacturer.
The system is completed with an
EBD electronic brake force distribu-
tor which increases the brake system
performance and employs the ABS
control unit and sensors.
The vehicle is fitted with
an electronic braking de-
vice (EBD). The >and
xwarning light will come on at
the same time when the engine
is running to indicate that there
is an EBD system failure. In this
case violent braking may be ac-
companied by early rear wheel
locking with the possibility of
skidding. Drive the vehicle ex-
tremely carefully to the nearest
Fiat Dealership to have the sys-
tem checked.
91GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
The cushion immediately inflates,
placing itself as a protection between
the body of the front occupants and
the structure that could cause injuries.
Immediately after, the cushion deflates.
The front air bag (driver and pas-
senger) is not a replacement of but
complementary to the use of belts,
which should always be worn, as spec-
ified by law in Europe and most non-
European countries.
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.
Front airbags may not activate in the
following situations:
– in collisions against highly de-
formable objects not affecting the ve-
hicle front surface (e.g. bumper colli-
sion against guard rail); If the xbrake fluid low
warning light comes on,
stop the vehicle immedi-
ately and contact the nearest Fi-
at Dealership. Fluid leaks from
the hydraulic system, in fact, can
compromise brake system oper-
ation, both traditional systems
and systems with ABS.FRONT AND SIDE
AIRBAGS
The vehicle can be fitted with front
air bags for the driver and passenger
and with side bags.
FRONT AIRBAGS
Front airbags (driver and passenger)
have been designed to protect the oc-
cupants in the event of head-on crash-
es of medium-high severity, by plac-
ing the cushion between the occupant
and the steering wheel or dashboard.
Front airbags are designed to protect
vehicle’s occupants in front crashes
and therefore non-activation in other
types of collisions (side collisions, rear
shunts, roll-overs, etc.) is not a system
malfunction.
In case of crash, an electronic con-
trol unit, when required, triggers the
inflation of the cushion according to
the severity of the collision. Warning light >alone,
with the engine running,
normally indicates a fault
in the ABS system only. In this
case, the braking system is still ef-
ficient, though without the anti-
locking device. Under these con-
ditions, performance of the EBD
system may be reduced. Also in
this case, you are advised to go
immediately to the nearest Fiat
Dealership, driving in such a way
to avoid sharp braking to have
the system checked.
93GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
Manual deactivation
The passenger side airbag can be de-
activated if it is absolutely necessary to
carry a child in the front passenger
seat.
Deactivation / reactivation shall be
carried out with ignition device at
STOP. Turn the specific switch fig.
142on the dashboard on passenger
side with the ignition key.IMPORTANTOperate the switch
only with engine off and ignition key
removed.
The switch fig. 142has two posi-
tions:
– Passenger front airbag on: (position
ON P): instrument panel warning
light
Foff. Do not carry children on
the front seat.
– Passenger front airbag off: (position
OFF F): instrument panel warning
light Fon. A child can be carried on
the front seat with a suitable restraint
system.
Warning light Fon the cluster
stays on permanently until the pas-
senger’s airbag is reactivated.
Deactivation of the passenger’s front
air bag does not inhibit operation of
the side air bag.SERIOUS DANGER:
With passenger’s
air bag active (ON),
never place child’s seats with the
cradle facing backwards since the
air bag activation could cause to
the child serious injuries, even
mortal. In the case of need, al-
ways deactivate the passenger’s
air bag when a child’s seat is
placed on the front seat. The
front passenger’s seat shall be ad-
justed in the most backward po-
sition to prevent any contact be-
tween child’s seat and dashboard.
Even if not compulsory by law,
you are recommended to reac-
tivate the air bag immediately as
soon as child transport is no
longer necessary.
ON OFF
PASS.
AIR BAG
fig. 142
F0A0213b
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.
97GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
EOBD SYSTEM
The EOBD system (European On
Board Diagnosis) allows continuos di-
agnosis of the components of the ve-
hicle correlated with emissions.
Furthermore, the system warns the
driver of deterioration concerning the
emission system components by
means of the Uwarning light on the
instrument panel.
The objective is to:
– monitor system efficiency;
– warn when failures can increase
emissions over the threshold estab-
lished by the European regulations;
– warn of the need to replace dete-
riorated components.
Furthermore, the system is equipped
with a connector for interfacing with
specific tools used to read the error
codes stored in the control unit mem-
ory along with a set of diagnostic and
engine specific parameters.IMPORTANTAfter eliminating the
problem, your Fiat Dealershipwill
run a bench test to fully check the sys-
tem. In some cases, a long road test
may be required. 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. Warning light U
operation can be checked by
means of special equipment by
traffic agents. Always comply
with the traffic regulations in
force in the country where you
are travelling.
SOUND SYSTEM
If the “Sound System” has not been
requested, the vehicle features an odd-
ment compartment on the dashboard.
Contact a Fiat Dealer-
ship if you want to install
a sound system after pur-
chasing your vehicle. Their staff
will advise you on how to safe-
guard the life of the battery. Ex-
cessive idle intake can damage
the battery and invalid the bat-
tery warranty as well.
LIGHT PRESETTING
The system consists of the following:
– sound system power wires;
– wires for front speakers on the
dashboard, doors (where provided)
and rear speakers for passengers
transport versions;
– sound system compartment;
– aerial wire and aerial.
102GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
DIESEL ENGINES
Use diesel fuel for motor
vehicles complying with
European specifications
EN590 only. The use of other
products or mixtures may dam-
age the engine beyond repair and
invalidate the warranty. If the
tank is accidentally filled with oth-
er types of fuel, do not start the
engine and drain the tank. If the
engine has run even for a very
short time, you will also need to
drain the fuel supply circuit.AT THE FILLING
STATIONPETROL ENGINES
Use only unleaded petrol.
To prevent errors, the diameter of
the fuel tank filler is too small to in-
troduce a lead petrol pump filler.
Use petrol with a rated octane num-
ber (R.O.N.) not lower than 95.
IMPORTANTAn inefficient cat-
alytic converter will allow harmful ex-
haust fumes to be emitted and thus
contribute to air pollution.
IMPORTANTNever put even the
tiniest amount of leaded petrol in the
fuel tank of your vehicle even in an
emergency. You would damage the
catalytic converter beyond repair. Make sure that the left-
hand sliding side door is
completely closed before
refuelling. You could damage the
door and the sliding lock system
which comes into play when the
fuel flap is open.
You cannot open the
left-hand sliding side door
while refuelling when the
flap is open.
105GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
DIESEL PARTICULATE
FILTER (DPF) (for Multijet
versions 1.3 85 HP and 1.9 120
HP)
The Diesel Particulate Filter is a me-
chanical filter, integral with the exhaust
system, that physically traps particulates
present in the exhaust gases of Diesel
engines.
The diesel particular filter has been
adopted to eliminate almost totally par-
ticulates in compliance with current /
future law regulations.
During normal use of the vehicle, the
engine control unit records a set of da-
ta (e.g.: travel time, type of route, tem-
peratures, etc.) and it will then calcu-
late how much particulates has been
trapped by the filter.Since this filter physically traps partic-
ulates, it shall be cleaned (reclaimed) at
regular intervals by burning carbon par-
ticles.
Reclaiming procedure is controlled
automatically by the engine control unit
according to the filter conditions and
the conditions of use of the vehicle.
During reclaiming the following phe-
nomena could take place: idling slight
increase, fan activation, slight smoke in-
crease, high exhaust temperatures.
These situations shall not be considered
as faults and they do not affect vehicle
performance and environment.
If the dedicated message is displayed,
refer to paragraph “Warning lights and
messages”.