2007 FIAT MULTIPLA fuel

INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 3
FUNCTIONAL DIAGRAM OF THE SYSTEM....................................... 6
BOTTLES ....................................................................................................... 7
SOLENOID VALVE/SAFETY DEVICES ................................................... 8
PIPES ............................................................................................................... 9
PRESSURE REDUCER/REGULATOR ...................................................... 9
NATURAL GAS INJECTORS .................................................................... 9
NATURAL GAS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT ............................ 9
NATURAL GAS/PETROL SWITCH ........................................................ 10
NATURAL GAS AMOUNT INDICATOR.............................................. 11
FUEL CUT-OFF SWITCH ......................................................................... 12
ENGINE STARTING ................................................................................... 12
TO THE FILLING STATION .................................................................... 13
IF A TYRE IS PUNCTURED....................................................................... 14
BOTTLE IDENTIFICATION DATA ........................................................ 15
BOTTLE INSPECTION .............................................................................. 15
SERVICE SCHEDULE................................................................................... 16
BODYWORK VERSION CODES ............................................................ 17
ENGINE ......................................................................................................... 17
FUEL FEED/IGNITION ............................................................................... 18
IGNITION ..................................................................................................... 18
COOLING SYSTEM .................................................................................... 18
PERFORMANCE........................................................................................... 18
WEIGHTS....................................................................................................... 19
DIMENSIONS ............................................................................................... 20
FUELLING AND FILLING ......................................................................... 21
FUEL CONSUMPTION .............................................................................. 22
CO
2 EMISSIONS.......................................................................................... 23
FUSES .............................................................................................................. 23
This enclosure deals with the Fiat
Multipla petrol-natural gas version.
Refer to the Fiat Multipla Owner
Handbook for any subject not covered
by this supplement.
603.83.424 Multipla NatPow gb 5-10-2007 15:27 Pagina 2

3
INTRODUCTION
The Fiat Multipla “Natural power” version features
two fuel feed systems: one for petrol, one for natural
gas.
The two systems are independent from each other;
the natural gas system is of the sequential, timed
Multipoint type.
One single starting system, that is the petrol one, is
available.
What is natural gas?
Natural gas is a mixture of gas used as a primary
power source.
Methane is the main component of natural gas; for this
reason, natural gas is usually reffered to as “methane”
in Italy, even though it contains other hydrocarbons
and inert gases in small amounts.
Natural gas is extracted in a gaseous state and carried
to the place of utilization through gas pipelines;
supplies are abundant and well distributed worldwide.
Methane is a fuel that has a low impact on the
environment as, it significantly reduces the
contribution of exhaust fumes to the greenhouse
effect and pollution.Natural gas Multipoint injection system
This is an original product of the research work
carried out by Fiat in the field of alternative fuel,
realized in close co-operation with qualified suppliers
in the natural gas field.
By matching the natural gas features with highly
sophisticated techniques for electronic petrol engine
control, significant results have been obtained as far as
driveability, exhaust emissions and consumption are
concerned.
The natural gas Multipoint injection system ensures
the same engine driveability features as with petrol
fuelling.
In any case, it should be reminded that, under any
driving condition, the engine power and torque
features are, during natural gas fuelling, reduced by
approximately 10% compared with petrol fuelling.
603.83.424 Multipla NatPow gb 5-10-2007 15:27 Pagina 3

4
Selecting the type of fuel feed
The Natural Power Fiat Multipla has been designed to be normally fuelled
by natural gas.
When the natural gas is running out and the pressure inside the bottle is
nearing the limit of correct operation, switching to petrol fuelling will
take place automatically.
The engine will always be started by petrol fuelling (in order to keep this
type of feed efficient), with automatic switching to natural gas fuelling
after a few seconds.
For this reason, petrol should always be found in the tank.
The control button located on the dashboard (A), represented by
ideograph K, makes it possible to select petrol fuelling. Automatic
switching to natural gas fuelling will not take place in case petrol has run
out.
Manual selection of the operating mode will be actuated only if the
engine speed is lower than 2,000 rpm.
F0E0500m
603.83.424 Multipla NatPow gb 5-10-2007 15:27 Pagina 4

5
reduced to non-hazardous values) and excessive
temperature (a fuse plugnut allows natural gas to be
discharged as fast as possible when the temperature
exceeds 110°C).
The solenoid valve is connected to the Fire
Protection System (inertia switch or fuel cut-off
switch).
Active safety
The Natural Power Fiat Multipla features the same ac-
tive safety characteristics as the other versions. Passive safety
The Natural Power Fiat Multipla features the same
passive safety characteristics as the other versions.
In particular, the natural gas bottle position and
mounts have been designed so as to pass the crash
tests in accordance with the Fiat safety standards.
The flow of the natural gas coming out of the bottle is
regulated by a solenoid valve that is open only when
the engine is fuelled by natural gas.
The solenoid valve unit includes the protections in
case of excessive flow (in the event that the high
pressure system is broken, the natural gas flow will be
WARNINGThe Natural Power Fiat Multipla is equipped with a high-pressure natural gas
system designed to operated at 200 nominal bar.
It is dangerous to force the system with higher pressures. When the vehicle has to
be towed or lifted, strictly follow the instructions of the basic handbook (refer to
“Towing the vehicle”), to avoid damaging the natural gas system components.
In case of natural gas system failure, contact the Fiat Dealership only.
Do not modify the natural gas system configuration or components: they have
been especially designed for Natural Power Fiat Multipla only. Using other
components or materials may cause vehicle malfunction and affect the vehicle’s
safety. In case of “furnace” painting, the bottles shall be removed from the vehicle
and subsequently fitted back into place by the Fiar Dealership.
Although the natural gas system is equipped with various safety devices, it is
recommended that the manual tap of every single bottle is turned off every time
the vehicle is either put away for a long time or transported on other vehicles or
operated in emergency situations following a failure or accident.
603.83.424 Multipla NatPow gb 5-10-2007 15:27 Pagina 5

10
NATURAL GAS/PETROL SWITCH
As a rule, the engine is fuelled by natural gas (both the LED on button (A)
and warning light K(C) on the instrument board are OFF); in the event
that the natural gas runs out, switching to petrol fuelling will take place
automatically (warning light Kon the instrument board will be ON).
After filling up, the engine will be automatically fuelled by natural gas
again.
If you specially want the engine to be fuelled by petrol (for instance, when
greater power is required), act on switch (A).
Both warning light Kon the instrument board and green LED (B) on
button (A) light up to indicate that manual switching has taken place (the
natural gas feed system is fully OFF).
Manual selection of the operating mode is actuated only if the engine
speed is lower than 2,000 rpm.
Natural gas operation is resumed only by acting on switch (A) again (LED
OFF): the respective warning light Kon the instrument board will go out.
Do not switch over between the two operating modes during the engine
starting phase.
F0E0577m
F0E0578m
603.83.424 Multipla NatPow gb 5-10-2007 15:27 Pagina 10

11
GAUGE INDICATING THE AMOUNT OF NATURAL GAS IN
THE BOTTLE
The gauge is always illuminated, both when the engine is fuelled by
natural gas and petrol.
The bottles are full when all of the six green nicks of the meter are fully
covered. Nick (A) (amber yellow) lights up to indicate that the engine is
low on fuel and must therefore be filled up.
When the last green nick goes out (natural gas run out), automatic
switching to petrol fuelling will take place, which will be signalled by the
lighting of warning light Kon the instrument board.
Natural gas operation will be automatically resumed upon the next fill-up.
WARNING! Petrol shall always be available in the tank.
F0E0506m
603.83.424 Multipla NatPow gb 5-10-2007 15:27 Pagina 11

12
FUEL CUT-OFF SWITCH
The safety switch will be tripped in case of vehicle
collision and will cut off natural gas supply, thus causing
the engine to be switched off.
For further information, refer to the Owner
Handbook, chapter “Dashboard and controls”,
paragraph “Fuel cut-off switch”.ENGINE STARTING
To start the engine correctly, refer to the warnings
and recommendations provided in the Owner
Handbook, chapter “Engine starting”.
Emergency starting
If the Fiat CODE system is not able to deactivate the
engine lock, warning light ¢will remain ON and the
engine won’t start. Refer to the Owner Handbook,
chapter “Emergency starting”.
WARNINGThe Natural Power Fiat Multipla engine is always started by using petrol, even
when the switch is set to the “Natural gas” position; in this case, the green LED on
the switch will indicate that the engine is fuelled by petrol and will remain such
until automatic switching to natural gas has taken place: now, the green LED on
the switch will go out.
Therefore, it is required that reserve fuel is always available in the petrol tank.
603.83.424 Multipla NatPow gb 5-10-2007 15:27 Pagina 12

13
AT THE FILLING STATION
NATURAL GAS FILLING PIPE UNION
The natural gas filling pipe union (B) is located next to the petrol pipe
union and can be accessed by opening the fuel lid.
It is equipped with a dual “non-return” valve: one fitted into the pipe
union body itself; one located next to the bottle, at the start of the filling
pipe.
To gain access to pipe union (B), unscrew cap (A).
The contour of pipe union (B) is of the “multi-purpose” type.
During filling up, natural gas pipe union cap (A) can be positioned directly
on the lid, as illustrated.
In certain European States, the adaptors are considered ILLEGAL (e.g.
Germany).
In the case of service stations equipped with m
3gas guns (with dissolved
air pressure) so as to verify the residual pressure in the gas bottle, the
non-return valves must be unblocked by supplying a small quantity of
Methane.
The other plates (delivered with the vehicle documents) indicate the
expected date for the first testing/inspection of the gas bottles.
The employees assigned to the Methane supply are not authorised to fill
the gas bottles with the test date expired.
F0E0507m
F0E0508m
603.83.424 Multipla NatPow gb 5-10-2007 15:27 Pagina 13