108DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
IMPORTANTAfter a taxing drive
you should allow the engine to “catch
its breath” before turning it off by let-
ting it idle to allow the temperature in
the engine compartment to fall.
PARKING
Switch off the engine, pull up the
handbrake and engage a gear (1st gear
or reverse, according to whether the
vehicle is facing up or downhill) and
leave the wheels turned. If the vehi-
cle is left on a steep slope, wedges or
a rock should be used to lock the
wheels.
Do not leave the ignition key at
MARto prevent draining the battery.
Always remove the key when you
leave the vehicle.HANDBRAKE
The handbrake lever is located be-
tween the two front seats.
Pull the handbrake lever upwards un-
til the vehicle cannot be moved. Four
or five clicks are generally enough
when the vehicle is on level ground
while nine or ten may be required if
the vehicle is on a steep slope or laden.
IMPORTANTIf this is not the
case, take the vehicle to a Fiat Deal-
ership to have the handbrake adjust-
ed.
Instrument panel warning light x
will come on when the handbrake
lever is pulled up and the ignition key
is at MAR.
To release the handbrake:
1)Slightly lift the handbrake and
press release button A-fig.1.
2)Keep the button pressed in and
lower the lever. Warning light xwill
go out.
3)Press the brake pedal when car-
rying out this operation to prevent the
vehicle moving accidentally. STOPPING THE ENGINE
Turn the key to STOPwhile the
engine is idling.
A quick burst on the ac-
celerator before turning
off the engine serves ab-
solutely no practical purpose and
wastes fuel.
Never leave children un-
supervised in the vehicle.
A
fig. 1
F0A0034b
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110DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
Some suggestions which may help
you to keep the running costs of the
vehicle down and lower the amount
of toxic emissions released into the at-
mosphere are given below.
GENERAL
CONSIDERATIONS
Vehicle maintenance
The overall state of the vehicle is an
important factor which has a marked
influence over fuel consumption and
driving comfort and on the life span of
your vehicle. For this reason care
should be taken to maintain your ve-
hicle by carrying out the necessary
checks and regulations in accordance
with the specifications given in the
SERVICE SCHEDULE (see sections:
spark plugs, idling, air cleaners, diesel
fuel filter, timing).Tyres
Tyre pressure should be checked at
least once every four weeks: if the
pressure is too low fuel consumption
increases as the resistance to the
rolling movement of the tyre is
greater. In this state, tyre wear is in-
creased and handling suffers which will
effect safety.
Unnecessary loads
Do not travel with too much load in
the boot. The weight of the vehicle
and its trim greatly effects consump-
tion and stability.
Roof rack/ski rack
Remove the roof rack or the ski rack
from the roof as soon as they are no
longer used.
These accessories reduce the aero-
dynamic penetration of the vehicle and
will increase consumption. Whentransporting particularly large objects,
use a trailer, where possible.
Electric devices
Use electric devices for the neces-
sary time only. The heated rear win-
dow, fog lights, windscreen wipers,
heater fan require large amounts of
electricity and increasing the request
for power will also increase fuel con-
sumption (up to +25% when driving in
towns).
Climate control system
The climate control system is an ad-
ditional load which greatly effects the
engine leading to higher consumption
(up to +20% in average). When the
temperature outside allows, use the
air vents where possible.
Aerodynamic accessories
The use of non-certified aerodynamic
items may adversely affect air drag and
consumption levels.
CONTAINING RUNNING COSTS AND POLLUTION
106-118 Doblo GB 9-05-2008 12:09 Pagina 110
DRIVING STYLE
Starting
Do not warm the engine when the
vehicle is stationary or at high or low
revs: in this way the engine will warm
up gradually increasing consumption
and emissions. You should drive off
slowly straight away avoiding high revs
so that the engine will warm up more
quickly.
Unnecessary actions
Avoid revving the engine when
stopped at traffic lights or before
switching off the engine and avoid dou-
bling the clutch as these actions have
no purpose of modern vehicles and
serve only to increase consumption
and pollution.
Gear selection
As soon as the traffic and road con-
ditions allow it, shift to a higher gear.
Using a lower gear to liven up accel-
eration greatly increases consumption.
In the same way, improper use of the
higher gears will increase consump-tion, emissions and wear and tear on
the engine.
Top speed
Fuel consumption increases consid-
erably as speed increases. For exam-
ple, when accelerating from 90 to 120
km/h, fuel consumption increases up
to approximately +30%. Your speed
should be kept as even as possible and
superfluous braking and acceleration
avoided as this increases both con-
sumption and emissions. A “smooth”
driving style should be adopted by at-
tempting to anticipate manoeuvres to
avoid imminent danger and to keep a
safe distance from the vehicle in front
to avoid braking sharply.
Acceleration
Accelerating violently increasing the
revs will greatly effect consumption
and emission: acceleration should be
gradual and not exceed the maximum
torque.CONDITIONS OF USE
Cold starting
Frequent cold starting will not enable
the engine to reach optimal running
temperature. It follows, therefore, that
consumption will be higher (from +15
to +30% in towns) as will the pro-
duction of toxic emissions.
Traffic situations and road
conditions
Heavy traffic and higher consumption
are synonymous: for example, when
driving slowly with frequent use of
lower gears or in towns where there
are numerous traffic lights.
Also twisting roads, mountain roads
and rough road surfaces pay a heavy toll
on consumption.
Traffic hold-ups
During prolonged stops (traffic lights,
level crossings, etc.) the engine should
be switched off.
111DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
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112DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
CHEAP RUNNING
THAT RESPECTS THE ENVIRONMENT
LOOKING
AFTER EMISSION
CONTROL DEVICES
The correct use of pollution control
devices not only ensures respect for
the environment but also has an effect
on the vehicle’s performance. Keeping
these devices in good condition is
therefore a fundamental rule for dri-
ving that is easy on your pocket and
on the environment too.
The first step to take is to follow the
SERVICE SCHEDULE to the letter.
If your vehicle has a petrol engine use
only unleaded petrol.
If you have trouble starting, do not
keep turning the ignition key for long
periods. Be especially careful to avoid
bump starting the vehicle by pushing,
towing or rolling downhill: these are
all manoeuvres that can damage the
catalytic exhaust. Use an auxiliary bat-
tery for start-ups only.If the engine begins to “loose its
smoothness”, when travelling, contin-
ue your journey but reduce the de-
mands you are making on the engine
and have the vehicle seen to at a Fi-
at Dealershipas soon as possible.
When the instrument panel fuel re-
serve warning light comes on, fill up as
soon as possible. A low level of fuel
can cause an uneven supply of fuel to
the engine with the inevitable increase
in the temperature of the exhaust gas
and serious damage to the catalytic
converter.
Never run the engine with one or
more spark plugs disconnected, even
for testing purposes.
Do not warm up the engine by let-
ting it idle for a while before moving
off unless the outside temperature is
very low and, even in this case, only
do so for less than 30 seconds.
Do not install other heat shields and
do not remove those already fitted to
the catalytic converter and exhaust
pipe. Environmental protection has been
one of the guiding principles in the
production of the Fiat Doblò. It is no
accident that its pollution control
equipment is much more effective than
that required by current legislation.
Nonetheless, the environment can-
not get by without a concerted effort
from everyone.
By following a few simple rules you
can avoid harming the environment
and often cut down fuel consumption
at the same time.
On this subject, a few useful tips have
been given below to supplement those
marked by symbol #, at various points
of the handbook.
You are asked to read both the for-
mer and the latter carefully.
106-118 Doblo GB 9-05-2008 12:09 Pagina 112
118DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
The following precautions should be
taken if the vehicle will not be used for
several months:
– Park the vehicle in covered, dry and
if possible well-ventilated premises.
– Engage a gear.
– Make sure the handbrake is not en-
gaged.
– Remove the cables from the bat-
tery terminals (first remove the cable
to the negative terminal), and check
the battery charge. If the vehicle is to
be stored for long periods the charge
of the battery should be checked
every month and recharged if it falls
below 12.5V.IMPORTANT Where relevant,
switch off the electronic alarm with the
remote control.
– Clean and protect the painted parts
using protective wax.
– Clean and protect the shiny metal
parts using special compounds readi-
ly available.
– Sprinkle talcum powder on the
rubber windscreen and rear window
wiper blades and lift them off the glass.
– Slightly open the windows.– Cover the vehicle with a cloth or
perforated plastic sheet. Do not use
sheets of non-perforated plastic as
they do not allow moisture on the ve-
hicle body to evaporate.
– Inflate the tyres to 0.5 bar above
the normal specified pressure and
check it at intervals.
– Do not drain the engine cooling
system.
VEHICLE STORAGE
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119IN AN EMERGENCY
I I
N N
A A
N N
E E
M M
E E
R R
G G
E E
N N
C C
Y Y
EMERGENCY
START-UP
If the Fiat code cannot deactivate the
engine immobilising system, the warn-
ing lights ¢(Y) and Ustay on and
the engine will not start. Follow the
emergency start-up procedure to start
the engine.
Read the whole procedure carefully
before trying to carry it out. If you
make a mistake, you must turn the ig-
nition key back to STOPand repeat
the whole operation from the begin-
ning (step 1).
1)Read the 5-figure electronic code
given on the CODE card.
2)Turn the ignition key to MAR.3)Press and hold down the accel-
erator pedal. The injection system
warning light Uwill come on for
about 8 seconds, and then go out. At
this point release the accelerator ped-
al and get ready to count the flashes
of the Uinjection warning light.
4) Count the number of flashes that
corresponds to the first figure of the
code on the CODE card, then press
the accelerator pedal and keep it there
until the Uwarning light comes on
for four seconds and then goes out;
release the accelerator pedal.
5) The Uwarning light will start
flashing again: after it has flashed the
number of times that corresponds to
the second figure on the CODE card,
press the accelerator pedal to the
floor and keep it there.
6)Do the same for the remaining fig-
ures on the CODE card.7)Once the final figure has been en-
tered, keep the accelerator pedal
pressed. The Uwarning light will light
up for four seconds and then go out;
release the accelerator pedal.
8)The Uwarning light will flash
rapidly for about 4 seconds to indicate
that the operation has been complet-
ed correctly.
9) Start the engine by turning the ig-
nition key from MARto AVV.
If, however, the Uwarning light
stays on, turn the ignition key to
STOPand repeat the procedure
from step 1).
IMPORTANT After an emergency
start-up, you should contact a Fiat
Dealership otherwise you will have
to repeat the procedure described
each time you want to start the en-
gine.
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120IN AN EMERGENCY
If the battery is flat, you can use an-
other battery to start the engine. Its
capacity must be the same or slightly
greater than the flat battery.
Proceed as follows fig. 1:
1) Connect positive terminals (+) of
the two batteries with a jump lead.
2)With a second lead, connect the
negative terminal (–) of the auxiliary
battery and to an earthing point E
on
the engine or the gearbox of the ve-
hicle to be started.
IMPORTANTDo not directly
connect the two negative terminals:
sparks could ignite the flammable gas
from the battery. If the other battery
is fitted in a vehicle, prevent acciden-
tal contacts between the metal parts
of the two vehicles.
3) Start the engine.
4)When the engine has been start-
ed, remove the leads reversing the or-
der above.If the engine fails to start after a few
attempts, do not keep turning the key
but have the vehicle seen to at a Fiat
Dealership.
JUMP STARTING
fig. 1
F0A0106b
Do not carry out this
procedure if you lack ex-
perience; if it is not done
correctly it can cause very in-
tense electrical discharges. In ad-
dition, the fluid contained in the
battery is poisonous and corro-
sive. Avoid contact with skin and
eyes. You are also advised not to
put naked flames or lighted cig-
arettes near the battery and not
to cause sparks.
Under no circumstances
should a battery charger
be used to start the en-
gine: it could damage the elec-
tronic systems and in particular
the ignition and injection control
units.
119-148 Doblo GB 9-05-2008 12:09 Pagina 120
121IN AN EMERGENCY
BUMP STARTING IF A TYRE IS
PUNCTURED
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
Wheel changing and correct use of
the jack and spare wheel call for some
precautions as listed below. Catalysed vehicles must
not be bump started
(pushed, towed or coast-
ed down hill) as this could cause
fuel to flow into the catalytic ex-
haust system and damage it be-
yond repair.
Remember that until
the engine has started the
brake booster and hy-
draulic power steering systems
will not work and a greater effort
will therefore be required to de-
press the brake pedal or turn the
steering wheel.
Alert other drivers that
the vehicle is stationary in
compliance with local
regulations: hazard warning
lights, warning triangle etc.
Passengers on board should
leave the vehicle, especially if it is
heavily laden. Passengers should
stay away from oncoming traffic
while the wheel is being changed.
If the wheel is being changed on
a steep or badly surfaced road,
place wedges or other suitable
material under the wheels to
stop the vehicle.
The spare wheel is vehicle-spe-
cific. Never use the wheel on oth-
er models. Never fit other mod-
el spare wheels on your vehicle.
Do not use the jack for
loads over the value indi-
cated on the plate.
The jack should only be used to
change a wheel on the vehicle for
which it was designed. It should
not be put to other uses or em-
ployed to raise other models of
vehicle. Under no circumstances
should it be used when carrying
out repairs under the vehicle.
An incorrectly positioned jack
may cause the vehicle to fall.
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