2007 FIAT PANDA Air

94
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
IINDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
The driver’s and passenger’s front Air bags
have been designed and calibrated to im-
prove the protection of a person wear-
ing seat belts.
At their maximum inflation, their volume
fills most of the space between the dash-
board and the passenger.
In minor side crashes (for which the re-
straining action of the seat belts is suffi-
cient), the air bags are not deployed. Al-
so in this case it is of vital importance to
wear the seat belts since in case of side
crash they guarantee proper positioning
of the occupant. DRIVER’S FRONT AIR BAG fig. 16
It consists of an instant-inflating cushion
contained in a special recess in the cen-
tre of the steering wheel. Front air bag may not be activated in the
following situations:
❒in collisions against highly deformable
objects not affecting the car front sur-
face (e.g. bumper collision against guard
rail);
❒car wedging under other vehicles or
protective barriers (for example under
a truck or guard rail);
as it offers no additional protection com-
pared with the seat belts, consequently,
it would be pointless. Therefore, failure to
come into action in the above circum-
stances does not mean that the system is
not working properly.
fig. 16
CHF
E
F0G0693m
Do not apply stickers or oth-
er objects to the steering
wheel or to the air bag cover on the
passenger’s side or on the side roof
lining. Never put objects (e.g. mobile
phones) on the dashboard on pas-
senger side since they could interfere
with proper passenger air bag infla-
tion and also cause serious injury.
WARNING
081-100 Panda New GB 21-06-2007 13:49 Pagina 94

95
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
MANUALLY DEACTIVATING
THE PASSENGER’S FRONT
AIR BAG
Should it be absolutely necessary to car-
ry a child on the front seat, the passenger’s
air bag on the car can be deactivated.
Deactivation/reactivation takes place with
ignition key at STOPand operating it in
the special key switch in the glovebox.
The key can be fitted and extracted in
both positions.
IMPORTANT Operate the switch only
when the engine is not running and the ig-
nition key is removed. PASSENGER’S FRONT AIR BAG
fig. 17
It consists of an instant-inflating cushion
contained in a special recess in the dash-
board; its volume is bigger than the dri-
ver’s one.
fig. 17F0G0057m
SERIOUS DANGER: Never
place cradle child’s seats on
the front passenger seat of
cars fitted with passenger
air bag. Air bag activation
could cause 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 adjusted in the most
backward position to prevent any
contact between child’s seat and
dashboard. Even if not compulsory by
law, you are recommended to reacti-
vate the air bag immediately as soon
as child transport is no longer neces-
sary.
WARNING
081-100 Panda New GB 21-06-2007 13:49 Pagina 95

96
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
IINDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
SIDE AIR BAGS
(Side bag - Window
bag)
SIDE BAG fig. 19
It consists of an instant inflation cushion
housed in the back rest of the front seat
and has the task to increase protection
of the occupants’ chest in the event of a
side crash of medium-high severity.
The key-operated switch has two posi-
tions fig. 18:
❒passenger’s front air bag activated (ON
position P): warning light Fon in-
strument cluster off; it is absolutely pro-
hibited to carry a child on the front
seat.
❒passenger’s front air bag deactivated
(OFFposition F): warning light F
on instrument cluster on; it is possible
to carry a child protected by special re-
straint system on the front seat.
The warning light Fon the cluster stays
on permanently until the passenger’s air
bag is reactivated.
Deactivation of the passenger’s front air
bag does not inhibit operation of the side
air bag.
fig. 19F0G0058mfig. 18F0G0170m
081-100 Panda New GB 21-06-2007 13:49 Pagina 96

97
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
If you are having the car scrapped, have
the air bag system deactivated at a Fiat
Dealership first. If the car changes own-
ership, the new owner must be informed
of the method of use of air bags and the
above warnings and also be given this
“Owner Handbook”.
IMPORTANT The triggering of preten-
sioners, front air bags and side bags is de-
cided in a differentiated manner by the
electronic control unit, depending on the
type of crash. The failure to deploy one or
more of them does not mean that the sys-
tem is not working properly. IMPORTANT When the airbag inflates it
emits a small amount of dusts. These dusts
are harmless and is not the beginning of
a fire; then the unfold cushion surface and
the car interiors can be covered by a dusty
remains: this dust can irritate skin and
eyes. In case of contact, wash yourself us-
ing neutral soap and water. Expiration
dates of pyrotechnic charge and coil con-
tact are indicated on the label inside the
glovebox. As these dates approach, con-
tact Fiat Dealership to have them re-
placed.
IMPORTANT Should an accident occur in
which any of the safety devices is activat-
ed, take the car to a Fiat Dealership to
have the devices activated replaced and to
have the system checked.
All control, repair and replacement op-
erations concerning the Air bags must on-
ly be carried out c/o Fiat Dealership.
Never rest head, arms and
elbows on the door, on the
windows and in the windowbag area
to prevent possible injuries during in-
flation phase.
WARNING
Never put head, arms and el-
bows out of window.
WARNING
WINDOW BAG fig. 20
They are “curtain” cushions located be-
hind the side coverings of the roof and
covered by proper finishings, studied for
the head protection to offer the best pro-
tection to the front and rear occupants
in the event of side crash, thanks to the
wide cushion inflation surface.
IMPORTANT In the event of side crash,
you can obtain the best protection by the
system keeping a correct position on the
seat, allowing thus a correct window bag
unfolding.
IMPORTANT The front air bags and/or
side bags may be deployed if the car is sub-
ject to heavy knocks or accidents involv-
ing the underbody area, such as for ex-
ample violent shocks, against steps, kerbs
or low obstacles, falling of the car in big
holes or sags in the road.
fig. 20F0G0059m
081-100 Panda New GB 21-06-2007 13:49 Pagina 97

98
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
IINDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
GENERAL WARNINGS
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 systems; in this event air bags
or pretensioners could not trigger in
case of impact or, in a minor num-
ber of cases, they could trigger acci-
dentally. Contact Fiat Dealership im-
mediately to have the system
checked.
WARNING
Do not cover the backrest of
front seats with trims or cov-
ers that are not suitable to be used
with side bags.
WARNING
Never travel with objects on
your lap, in front of your
chest or with a pipe, pencil, etc. be-
tween your lips; injury may result in
the event of the air bag being trig-
gered.
WARNING
Always keep your hands on
the steering wheel rim when
driving, so that if the air bag is trig-
gered, it can inflate without meeting
any obstacles which could cause seri-
ous harm to you. Do not drive with
the body bent forwards, keep the seat
back rest in the erect position and
lean your back well against it.
WARNING
Remember that with the key
engaged and at MAR, even if
the engine is not running, the air bags
may be triggered on a stationary car
if it is bumped by another moving car.
Therefore, never seat children on the
front seat even when the car is sta-
tionary. On the other hand remem-
ber that if the key is at STOP, no safe-
ty system (air bags or pretensioners)
is triggered in the event of an impact;
in this case, failure to come into ac-
tion cannot be considered as a sign
that the system is not working prop-
erly.
WARNING
If the car has been stolen or
an attempt to steal it has
been made, if it has been subjected to
vandals or floods, have the air bag
system checked by Fiat Dealership.
WARNING
081-100 Panda New GB 21-06-2007 13:49 Pagina 98

99
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
Do not wash the seat back
rest with pressurised water
or steam (by hand or at automatic
seat washing stations).
WARNING
The front air bag is triggered
for shocks greater in magni-
tude that the pretensioners. For im-
pacts between these two thresholds,
it is therefore normal that only the
pretensioners are triggered.
WARNING
Do not hook rigid objects to
the coat hooks and to the
support handles.
WARNING
The air bag does not substi-
tute the seat belts, but only
increases their effectiveness. More-
over, since the front air bags do not
come into operation in the event of
front impact at low speed, side colli-
sions, bumps from behind or over-
turning, in these circumstances the
occupants would only be protected
by the seat belts which must therefore
always be fastened.
WARNING
When the ignition key is
turned to the MAR position,
the warning light F(with passen-
ger’s front air bag deactivation switch
in the ON position) turns on and
flashes for few seconds to remind that
the passenger’s air bag will be de-
ployed in a crash, after which it
should go off.
WARNING
081-100 Panda New GB 21-06-2007 13:49 Pagina 99

If the engine does not start at the first at-
tempt, return the ignition key to STOP
before repeating starting.
If, when the ignition key is at MAR, warn-
ing light
Yremains lit, turn the key to
STOPand then back to MAR; if the
warning light remains on, try with the oth-
er keys provided with the car.
If you still cannot start the engine, contact
Fiat Dealership.HOW TO WARM UP THE
ENGINE AFTER IT HAS JUST
STARTED
Proceed as follows:❒ Drive off slowly, letting the engine turn
at medium revs. Do not accelerate
abruptly;
❒Do not drive at full performance for the
initial kilometres. Wait until the coolant
temperature gauge starts moving.
EMERGENCY START-UP
If the instrument panel warning light
Ystays on with fixed light, the emergency
start-up can be performed by using the
CODE card code (see section “In an
emergency”). STARTING PROCEDURE
FOR DIESEL VERSIONS
Proceed as follows:
❒ Ensure that the handbrake is up;
❒ Put the gear lever into neutral;
❒Turn the ignition key to MAR: the
warning lights
mand Yon the in-
strument panel will turn on;
❒Wait for the warning lights Yand
mto turn off. The hotter the engine
is, the quicker this will happen;
❒ Press the clutch pedal down to the
floor without touching the accelerator;
❒Turn the ignition key to AVVas soon
as warning light
mgoes 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.
IMPORTANT With cold engine, the ac-
celerator pedal shall be completely re-
leased while turning the ignition key to
AVV.
103
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
The warning light mwill
flash for 60 seconds at start-
up or during prolonged crank-
ing to indicate a fault in the
glow plug heating system. You can use
the car as usual if the engine starts but
you should contact Fiat Dealership as
soon as possible.
Never bump start the engine
by pushing, towing or coast-
ing downhill. These opera-
tions could cause fuel to flow
into the catalytic exhaust system and
damage it beyond repair.
101-112 Panda New GB 21-06-2007 13:50 Pagina 103

Accessories installed on
longitudinal bars
Remove accessories like: roof racks, ski
racks, luggage container, etc. from the roof
as soon as they are no longer used. These
accessories lower air penetration and ad-
versely affect consumption levels. When
needing to carry particularly voluminous
objects, preferably use a trailer.
Electric devices
Use electric devices only for the amount
of time needed. Rear heated window, ad-
ditional headlights, windscreen wipers and
heater fan need a considerable amount of
energy, therefore increasing the require-
ment of current increases fuel consump-
tion (up to +25% in the urban cycle).
Climate control
The air conditioner is an additional load
which greatly affects the engine leading to
higher consumption (on average up to
+20%). When the temperature outside
the car permits it, use the air vents where
possible.
Spoilers
The use of non-certified aerodynamic
items may adversely affect air drag and
consumption levels.DRIVING STYLE
Starting
Do not warm the engine with the car at
a standstill or at idle or high speed: under
these conditions the engine warms up
much more slowly, increasing electrical
consumption and emissions. It is therefore
advisable to move off immediately, slow-
ly, avoiding high speeds: this way the en-
gine will warm faster.
Unnecessary actions
Avoid accelerating when waiting at traffic
lights or before switching off the engine.
This and also double declutching is ab-
solutely pointless on modern cars and al-
so increases consumption and pollution.
Gear selection
As soon as the conditions of the traffic and
road allow, use a higher gear. Using a low
gear to obtain brilliant performance in-
creases consumption.
In the same way improper use of a high
gear increases consumption, emissions an
engine wear.CONTAINING
RUNNING COSTS
Some useful tips are given below for fuel
saving and reducing harmful emissions of
CO
2and other pollutants (nitrogen ox-
ides, unburnt hydrocarbons, Particulate
Matter (PM) etc.).
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
Car maintenance
Have checks and adjustments carried out
in accordance with the “Service schedule”.
Tyres
Check the pressure of the tyres routine-
ly at an interval of no more than 4 weeks:
if the pressure is too low, consumption
levels increase as resistance to rolling is
higher.
Unnecessary loads
Do not travel with too much luggage
stowed in the boot. The weight of the car
(especially when driving in town) and its
trim greatly affects consumption and sta-
bility.
106
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
101-112 Panda New GB 21-06-2007 13:50 Pagina 106