124
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
STOPPING THE ENGINE
Turn the ignition to STOPwhile the en-
gine is idling.
IMPORTANT After a taxing drive, you
should allow the engine to “catch its
breath” before turning it off by letting it
idle to allow the temperature in the en-
gine compartment to fall.
A quick burst on the acceler-
ator before turning off the en-
gine serves absolutely no
practical purpose, it wastes
fuel and is damaging especially to tur-
bocharged engines.HOW TO WARM UP THE
ENGINE AFTER IT HAS JUST
STARTED
(petrol and diesel engines)
Proceed as follows:
❒drive off slowly, letting the engine turn
at medium revs. Do not accelerate
abruptly;
❒do not demand to performance for the
first few kilometres. Wait until the en-
gine coolant gauge starts moving.
Remember that the brake
booster and power steering
are not operational until the
engine has been started,
therefore much effort than usual is re-
quired on the brake pedal and steering
wheel.
Never jump start the engine
by pushing, towing or driving
downhill. This could cause a
flow of fuel into the catalyt-
ic converter and damage it beyond re-
pair.
125
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE CARHANDBRAKE fig. 1
The handbrake lever is located between
the two front seats.
Pull the lever upwards to operate the
handbrake. Four or five notches are nor-
mally sufficient to lock the car on flat ter-
rain, while nine or ten may be necessary
on a steep slope with the car loaded.
IMPORTANT If this is not the case, con-
tact Fiat Dealership to have the handbrake
adjusted.
When the handbrake lever is pulled up
and the ignition key is atMAR, the in-
strument panel warning light
xwill turn
on.
PARKING THE CAR
Proceed as follows:
❒stop the engine and engage the hand-
brake;
❒engage a gear (on a slope, engage first
gear if the car is faced uphill or reverse
if it is faced downhill) and leave the
wheels steered.
If the car is parked on a steep slope, it is
further advisable to block the wheels with
a wedge or stone. Do not leave the key in
the ignition switch to prevent draining the
battery. Always remove the key when you
leave the car.
Never leave children unat-
tended in the car. Always re-
move the ignition key when leaving
the car and take it out with you.
WARNING
fig. 1F0R0103m
Proceed as followed to release the hand-
brake:
❒slightly lift the handbrake and press re-
lease button A;
❒hold button Apressed and lower the
lever. Warning light xon the instru-
ment panel will go out.
Press the brake pedal when carrying out
this operation to prevent the car from
moving accidentally.
134
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE
CAR
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
GENERAL WARNINGS
Lighting of a warning light is associated to
a specific message and/or buzzer when ap-
plicable. These indications are brief and
precautionary and as such must non be
considered as exhaustive and/or alterna-
tive to the information contained in the
Owner’s Handbook, which you are rec-
ommended to read carefully in all cases.
Refer to the information in this chap-
ter in the event of a failure indication.
IMPORTANT Failure indications on the
display fall into either of two categories:
seriousfaults and less seriousfaults.
Very seriousfailures are indicated by a
repeated and prolonged warning “cycle”.
Less seriousfailures are indicated by a lim-
ited warning “cycle”.
Press MENU ESCto stop the warning
cycle in both cases. The warning light on
the instrument panel will stay on until the
cause of the fault is eliminated.LOW BRAKE FLUID
LEVEL (red)
HANDBRAKE ON (red)
Turning the ignition key to MARthe
warning light turns on, but it should go off
after few seconds.
Low brake fluid level
The warning light turns on when the lev-
el of the brake fluid in the reservoir falls
below the minimum level, due to possi-
ble leak in the circuit.
On certain versions the dedicated message
is displayed.
x
If the warning light xturns
on when travelling (on cer-
tain versions together with the mes-
sage on the display) stop the car im-
mediately and contact Fiat Dealer-
ship.
WARNING
Handbrake on
The warning light turns on when the hand-
brake is on.
On certain versions, if the car is moving
the buzzer will also sound.
IMPORTANT If the warning light turns on
when travelling, check that the handbrake
is not engaged.
135
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE
CAR
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
AIR BAG FAILURE
(red)
Turning the ignition key to
MARthe warning light turns on, but it
should go off after few seconds.
The warning light stays on steady if there
is a failure in the airbag system.
On certain versions the dedicated message
is displayed.
¬If when turning the key to
MAR the warning light ¬does not turn on or if it stays on when
travelling (together with the message
on the multifunctional display, where
provided) there could be a failure in
safety systems; in this event air bags
or pretensioners may not be deployed
in case of impact or, in a minor num-
ber of cases, they be deployed acci-
dentally. Contact Fiat Dealership im-
mediately to have the system checked.
WARNING
Failure of warning light ¬(warning light off) is indicat-
ed by warning light
Fwhich will
blink for longer than the normal 4
seconds indicating that the front pas-
senger airbag is off.
WARNING
HOT ENGINE
COOLANT (red)
Turning the ignition key to
MARthe warning light turns on, but it
should go off after few seconds.
The warning light turns on when the en-
gine is overheated.
If the warning light comes on, proceed as
follows:
❒during normal travel: stop the car,
stop the engine and check that the wa-
ter level in the vessel is not under the
MINline. In this case, wait for a few
minutes for the engine to cool down
when slowly and carefully open the
cap, top-up with coolant and check
that the level is between the MINand
MAXreferences on the vessel itself.
Also check for leakages. Go to a Fiat
Dealership if the warning should come
on when the engine is started again.
ç
136
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE
CAR
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
LOW ENGINE OIL
PRESSURE (red)
Turning the ignition key to
MARthe warning light turns on, but it
should go out as soon as the engine is
started.
On certain versions the dedicated message
is displayed.
v
If the warning light vturns on when the car is trav-
elling (on certain versions together
with the message on the display) stop
the engine immediately and contact
a Fiat Dealership.
WARNING
❒In the case of demanding use (e.g.
towing trailers uphill or car at full
load): slow down and stop the car if
the warning light stays on. Stand for
2 or 3 minutes with the engine running
and slightly accelerated to promote a
better circulation of coolant. Then
stop the engine. Check correct liquid
level as described above.
IMPORTANT Under severe use of the
car, keep the engine on and slightly accel-
erated for few minutes before switching it
off.
On certain versions the dedicated message
is displayed.LOW BATTERY
CHARGE (red)
Turning the ignition key to
MARthe warning light turns on, but it
should go out as soon as the engine is
started (with the engine running at idle
speed a brief delay in going out is allowed).
Go to a Fiat Dealership immediately if the
warning light stays on either steady or
blinking.
w
138
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE
CAR
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
Go to a Fiat Dealership as
soon as possible if warning
light
Ueither does not light
up when the key is turned to
MAR to if while travelling the warning
lights comes on either steady or blink-
ing (along with a message on the dis-
play). The operation of warning light
Umay be checked by the traffic po-
lice using specific devices. Follow the
laws in force in the country where you
are driving.
If the light flashes, release the accelerator
pedal to lower the speed of the engine un-
til the warning light stops flashing; contin-
ue the journey at moderate speed, trying
to avoid driving conditions that may cause
further flashing and contact Fiat Dealer-
ship as soon as possible. EOBD ENGINE CONTROL
SYSTEM FAILURE
Under normal conditions, turning the ig-
nition key to MAR, the warning light turns
on but it should go off after engine starting.
This indicates that the warning light is
working correctly. If the warning light ei-
ther stays on or comes on while travelling:
❒steady light: a fault in the supply/ignition
system which could cause high emis-
sions at the exhaust, possible lack of
performance, poor handling and high
consumption levels.
On certain versions the dedicated mes-
sage is displayed.
In these conditions, you may continue
travelling at moderate speed without de-
manding excessive effort from the engine.
Prolonged use of the car with the warn-
ing light on may cause damage. Go to a
Fiat Dealership as soon as possible. If
warning light will go out after the fault
goes away but it will be stored in the sys-
tem.
❒blinking: indicates the possibility of
damage to the catalyser (see “EOBD
system” in section “Dashboard and
controls”). INJECTION SYSTEM
FAILURE
(Multijet versions -
amber)
EOBD SYSTEM
FAILURE (petrol
versions - amber)
Injection system failure
Under normal conditions, turning the ig-
nition key to MAR, the warning light turns
on but it should go off after engine start-
ing.
If the warning light stays on or turns on
when travelling, means a fault in the sup-
ply/ignition system which could cause high
emissions at the exhaust, possible lack of
performance, poor handling and high con-
sumption levels.
On certain versions the dedicated message
is displayed.
In these conditions, you may continue
travelling at moderate speed without de-
manding excessive effort from the engine.
Go to a Fiat Dealership as soon as possi-
ble.
U
139
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE
CAR
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
K
FUEL RESERVE(amber)
Turning the ignition key to
MARthe warning light turns on, but it
should go off after few seconds.
The warning light turns on when about 7
litres fuel are left in the tank.
IMPORTANT The warning light will blink
to indicate a system failure. Go to a Fiat
Dealership to have the system checked. ABS SYSTEM FAILURE
(amber)
Turning the ignition key to
MARthe warning light turns on, but it
should go off after few seconds.
The warning light will light up when the
system is either not working or not avail-
able. In the case, the braking system will
work as normal without the extra poten-
tials offered by the ABS system. Drive
carefully and go to a Fiat Dealership as
soon as possible.
On certain versions the dedicated message
is displayed.
>F
FRONT PASSENGER
AIRBAG
DEACTIVATED
(amber)
Warning light
Fcomes on when front
passenger’s airbag is deactivated.
With front passenger’s airbag on, turning
the ignition key to MAR, warning light
Fcomes on steadily for about 4 sec-
onds, it flashes for other 4 seconds and
then it shall go off.
Warning light
Findicates
failure of warning light ¬.
This condition is indicated by inter-
mittent blinking of warning light
Ffor longer than 4 seconds. In this case,
warning light ¬may not indicate
fault to the system. Contact Fiat
Dealership immediately to have the
system checked before driving off.
WARNING
140
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE
CAR
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
GLOW PLUG
WARMING
(Multijet versions - amber)
GLOW PLUG
WARMING FAILURE
(Multijet versions - amber)
Glow plug warming
The warning light will go on when the key
is turned to MAR. It will go out as soon
as the glow plugs have reached a prede-
termined temperature. Start the engine as
soon as the warning light goes out.
IMPORTANT With hot ambient temper-
ature, warning light stays on for very short
time.
Glow plug warming failure
The warning light will blink in the event
of a failure to the glow plug heating sys-
tem. Go to a Fiat Dealership as soon as
possible.
On certain versions the dedicated message
is displayed.
m
WATER IN DIESEL
FUEL FILTER
(Multijet versions - amber)
Turning the ignition key to MARthe
warning light turns on, but it should go off
after few seconds.
The warning light turns on when there is
water in the diesel fuel filter.
On certain versions the dedicated message
is displayed.
c
The presence of water in the
feeding circuit may cause se-
vere damage to the injection
system and irregular engine
operation. If warning light
clights up
(on some versions with the message on
the display), go to a Fiat Dealership as
soon as possible to have the system
bled. Water may have been introduced
in the tank if this appears immediate-
ly after refuelling: in this case, stop
the engine immediately and contact a
Fiat Dealership.
CAR PROTECTION
SYSTEM FAILURE -
FIAT CODE (amber)
Turning the key to MARthe warning light
shall flash only once and then go off.
If with the ignition key at MAR, the warn-
ing light stays on, this indicates a possible
failure (see “Fiat Code system” in section
“Dashboard and controls”).
IMPORTANT Warning lights
Uand Ywill come on at the same time to indicate
a Fiat CODE system failure.
If with the engine running the warning light
Yflashes, this means that the car is not
protected by the engine inhibitor device
(see “Fiat Code system” in section “Dash-
board and controls”).
Contact Fiat Dealership to have all the key
stored.
Y