TURNING OFF THE REAR SIDE
CHEST PROTECTION AIR BAGS
(Rear Side Bags) (where provided)
If it is absolutely necessary to transport a
child on the rear seats, the rear side chest
protection air bags can be turned off (Rear
Side Bags) (where provided).
Two conditions may occur:
❒rear side chest protection air bags on:
warning light Àon the instrument
panel off; it is absolutely prohibited to
transport children on the rear seats.
❒rear side chest protection air bags off:
warning light Àon the instrument
panel on; it is possible to transport
children on the rear seats using prop-
er restraining systems.
The warning light
Àon the instrument
panel will remain on with a stationary light
until the rear side air bags are turned on
again (Rear Side Bags).
123
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
IINDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
Never rest head, arms and
elbows on the door, on the
windows and in the window bag area
to prevent possible injuries during in-
flation phase.
WARNING
Never lean head, arms and
elbows out of the window.
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
Do not hook rigid objects to
the coat hooks and to the
support handles.
WARNING
To turn off the rear side
chest protection air bags
(Rear Side Bags) (if foreseen), please
refer to the paragraphs “Multifunc-
tional display” and “Reconfigurable
multifunctional display” in the “Dash-
board and controls” chapter.
WARNING
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CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
GENERAL WARNINGS
1) The front air bags and/or front and
front side bags (where provided) may be
deployed if the car is subject to heavy
knocks or accidents involving the under-
body area, such as for example violent
shocks, against steps, kerbs or low obsta-
cles, falling of the car in big holes or sags
in the road.
2) When the airbag inflates it emits a small
amount of dusts. These dusts are harm-
less and is not the beginning of a fire; then
the unfold cushion surface and the car in-
teriors can be covered by a dusty remains:
this dust can irritate skin and eyes. In case
of contact, wash yourself using neutral
soap and water.3) Should an accident occur in which any
of the safety devices is activated, take the
car to a Fiat Dealership to have the de-
vices activated replaced and to have the
system checked.
Every control, repair and replacement op-
erations concerning the air bags must on-
ly be carried out c/o Fiat Dealership.
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”.4) The triggering of pretensioners, front
air bags and front side bags is decided in
a differentiated manner, 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.
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125
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
IINDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
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
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
Life and validity of pyrotech-
nic charge and coil contact
are indicated on the label located in-
side the lower oddment compart-
ment. As this date approaches, con-
tact Fiat Dealership to have them re-
placed.
WARNING
If when turning the ignition
key to ON, the warning light
¬does not turn on or if it stays on
when travelling (together with the
message on the display) 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 number of cases, they could
trigger accidentally. Contact Fiat
Dealership immediately to have the
system checked.
WARNING
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126
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
The front air bag is triggered
for shocks greater in magni-
tude than the pretensioners. For im-
pacts between these two thresholds,
it is therefore normal that only the
pretensioners are triggered.
WARNING
By turning the ignition key to
the ON position, warning
light
F(with front and side pas-
senger side air bags on) will turn on
and flash for a few seconds to remind
you that the passenger air bags will
be activated in the case of a collision,
afterwards it will turn off.
WARNING
Remember that with the key
engaged and at ON, even
with the engine 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
stationary. On the other hand, please
remember that when the key is not
inserted in the ignition or is in the OFF
position, safety devices (air bag or
pretensioner) will not activate as a re-
sult of a collision; the failed activa-
tion of these devices in these cases
cannot therefore be considered as an
index of system malfunctioning.
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
By turning the ignition key
to the ON position, the
warning light
À(with rear side
chest protection air bags on) will
turn on and flash for a few seconds
to remind you that the rear air bags
will be activated in the case of a col-
lision, afterwards it will turn off.
WARNING
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127
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
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IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
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DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
STARTING THE ENGINE ................................................. 128
PARKING................................................................................ 131
MANUAL TRANSMISSION ............................................... 132
ELECTRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ........... 133
CONTAINING RUNNING COSTS................................. 138
TOWING TRAILERS............................................................ 139
SNOW TYRES....................................................................... 142
SNOW CHAINS................................................................... 143
CAR INACTIVITY................................................................. 144
CC C
O O
R R
R R
E E
C C
T T
U U
S S
E E
O O
F F
T T
H H
E E
C C
A A
R R
127-144 Croma TRW GB 28-05-2008 16:32 Pagina 127
STARTING PROCEDURE FOR
PETROL VERSIONS
Proceed as follows:
❒Ensure that the handbrake is up;
❒put the gear lever into neutral (posi-
tions P or N for automatic transmis-
sion);
❒press the clutch pedal (or brake ped-
al with automatic transmission) down
to the floor without pressing the ac-
celerator;
❒turn the ignition key to STARTand
let it go the moment the engine starts.
If the engine does not start at the first at-
tempt, return the ignition key to OFFbe-
fore repeating starting.
IMPORTANT In the event of fast engine
start-up (i.e.: fitting the ignition key and
turning it to ON), any slight jamming is to
be attributed to correct recognition of the
electronic key by the ignition switch.
ENGINE STARTING
The car is fitted with an electronic engine
lock device: if the engine fails to start, see
the paragraph “The Fiat CODE system” in
section “Dashboard and controls”.
The engine may be noisier than usual dur-
ing the first seconds of operation, espe-
cially after it has not been used for a while.
This characteristic feature of the hydraulic
tappet system does not compromise func-
tionality or reliability. This timing system
for petrol engines was adopted to limit
servicing.
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WARNING
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DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
We recommend that during
the initial period you do not
drive to full car performance
(e.g.: excessive acceleration,
long journeys at top speed, sharp brak-
ing, etc.).
When the engine is switched
off never leave the key into
the ignition switch to prevent
pointless current absorption
from draining the battery.
Running the engine in con-
fined areas is extremely dan-
gerous. The engine consumes oxygen
and produces carbon monoxide
which is a highly toxic and lethal gas.
WARNING
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STARTING PROCEDURE FOR
MULTIJET VERSIONS
Proceed as follows:
❒Ensure that the handbrake is up;
❒Put the gear lever into neutral (posi-
tions P or N for automatic transmis-
sion);
❒Turn the ignition key to ON: the
warning lights
mand Yon the in-
strument panel will turn on;
❒Wait for the warning lights mand
Yto turn off. The hotter the engine
is, the quicker this will happen;
❒Press the clutch pedal (or brake ped-
al with automatic transmission) down
to the floor without pressing the ac-
celerator;
❒Turn the ignition key to STARTas
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 accel-
erator pedal shall be completely released
while turning the ignition key to START.If the engine does not start at the first at-
tempt, return the ignition key to OFFbe-
fore repeating starting.
IMPORTANT In the event of fast engine
start-up (i.e.: fitting the ignition key and
turning it to ON), any slight jamming is to
be attributed to correct recognition of the
electronic key by the ignition switch.
IMPORTANT If when fitting the key into
the ignition switch, the multifunction dis-
play shows the message stating that the
electronic key has not been recognised,
remove and refit the key; if the problem
persists try with the other keys provided
with the car. If you still cannot start the
engine, contact Fiat Dealership.
IMPORTANT If it is not possible to turn
the ignition key to ON, remove the emer-
gency key, fit it into slot A-fig. 1to un-
lock the ignition switch; then, turn the key
to ONand follow the starting procedure.
Contact Fiat Dealership.
IMPORTANT Never leave the ignition key
into the ignition switch when the engine
is off. In this event, when opening the dri-
ver’s door, a buzzer will sound for about
1 second. IMPORTANT If when fitting the key into
the ignition switch, the multifunction dis-
play shows the message stating that the
electronic key has not been recognised,
remove and refit the key; if the problem
persists try with the other keys provided
with the car. If you still cannot start the
engine, contact Fiat Dealership.
IMPORTANT If it is not possible to turn
the ignition key to ON, remove the emer-
gency key, fit it into slot A-fig. 1to un-
lock the ignition switch; then, turn the key
to ONand follow the starting procedure.
Contact Fiat Dealership.
IMPORTANT Never leave the ignition key
into the ignition switch when the engine
is off. In this event, when opening the dri-
ver’s door, a buzzer will sound for about
1 second.
129
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
fig. 1FF0L0206m
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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 drive at full performance for
the initial kilometres. Wait until the
coolant temperature gauge starts
moving.
130
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
Never bump start the engine
by pushing, towing or coasting
downhill as this could cause
fuel to flow into the catalytic
exhaust system and damage it beyond
repair.
A quick burst on the acceler-
ator before turning off the en-
gine serves absolutely no prac-
tical purpose, it wastes fuel
and is damaging especially to tur-
bocharged engines.
Remember that the servo-
brake and power steering
are not operational until the engine
has been started, therefore much ef-
fort than usual is required on the
brake pedal and steering wheel.
WARNING
STOPPING THE ENGINE
Turn the ignition key to OFFwhile the
engine 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.
IMPORTANT If the engine is turned off
while the car is still moving, for safety rea-
sons it will be impossible to remove the
key from the ignition switch. To remove
the key, turn it to ONand then to OFF
with the car stopped without forcing at re-
moval.
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