2008 FIAT DUCATO Owner handbook (in English)

136
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
VEHICLE
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE VEHICLEWhen the handbrake lever is pulled up
and the ignition key is at MAR, the in-
strument panel warning light
xwill turn
on.
To release the handbrake:
❒slightly lift the handbrake and press the
release button A;
❒keep button Apressed and lower the
lever. Warning light xwill turn off.
Press the brake pedal when carrying out
this operation to prevent the vehicle mov-
ing accidentally.
IMPORTANT Pull the handbrake only
when the vehicle is stationary or, with
vehicle running only if the hydraulic sys-
tem is failing. Should it be necessary to
use the handbrake with the vehicle run-
ning, pull it slowly to prevent rear axle
locking and vehicle side skid as a conse-
quence.
PARKING THE VEHICLE
Proceed as follows:
❒stop the engine and engage the hand-
brake;
❒engage a gear (on a slope, engage
first gear if the vehicle is faced uphill
or reverse if it is faced downhill) and
leave the wheels steered.
Block the wheels with a wedge or a
stone if the vehicle is parked on a steep
slope. Do not leave the key in the igni-
tion switch to prevent draining the bat-
tery. Always remove the key when you
leave the vehicle.
HANDBRAKE fig. 1
The handbrake lever is located on the left-
hand side of the driver’s seat.
Pull the handbrake lever upwards until the
vehicle cannot be moved. Four or five
clicks are generally enough when the ve-
hicle is on level ground while nine or ten
may be required if the vehicle is on a steep
slope or laden.
IMPORTANT If this is not the case, con-
tact Fiat Dealership to have the handbrake
adjusted.
Never leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle. Always
remove the ignition key when leaving
the vehicle and take it out with you.
WARNING
fig. 1F0N0073m
USING THE MANUAL
GEARBOX
To engage the gears, press the clutch ped-
al fully and shift the gear lever into one of
the required positions (the diagram is
shown on the knob fig. 2).
To engage the 6th gear (where provided)
move the gearshift lever pressing slightly
rightwards to prevent engaging the 4th
gear accidentally. Do the same for shifting
from 6th to 5th gear.
IMPORTANT The vehicle can only be put
into reverse gear when it has stopped
moving completely. With the engine run-
ning, before engaging the reverse, wait at
least 2 seconds with the clutch pedal ful-
ly down to prevent damage and grating of
the gears.
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137
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
VEHICLE
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE VEHICLE
fig. 2F0N0074m
To change gears properly
you must push the clutch
pedal fully down. It is therefore es-
sential that there is nothing under the
pedals: make sure the mats are lying
flat and do not get in the way of the
pedals.
WARNING
Do not drive with your hand
resting on the gear lever as
the force exerted, even if
slight, could lead over time to
premature wear on the gearbox inter-
nal components.
To engage reverse R from neutral, pro-
ceed as follows: raise the sliding ring Aun-
der the knob and at the same time move
the gearshift lever leftwards and then for-
ward.
LOAD
RECOMMENDATIONS
The version of the Fiat Ducato you are
driving has been designed and approved
on the basis of several set maximum
weights (see the tables “Weights” in sec-
tion “Technical specifications”): kerb
weight; payload; total weight; total weight
on the front axle; total weight on the rear
axle; towable weight
Each of these limits must be
borne in mind and MUST
NEVER BE EXCEEDED under any cir-
cumstances. In particular, never ex-
ceed the maximum weight permitted
on the front and rear axles when ar-
ranging loads in vehicle (especially for
special version vehicles).Chance knocks or sudden
braking can cause sudden
shifts of the load which could jeop-
ardise the safety of the driver and the
passengers: before you start off make
sure the load is firmly secured by us-
ing the hooks built into the floor for
that purpose. Use metal cables, ropes
or straps strong enough to support
the weight of the load to be fixed.
WARNING
WARNING
Even if the vehicle is sta-
tionary on a steep hill or
sideways incline, goods not properly
secured could fall out when the back
or side doors are opened.
WARNING
IMPORTANT Max. admitted load on floor
fixings is 500 kg; max. admitted load on
body side is 150 kg.IMPORTANT For versions with right and
left side boards, before opening the side
boards you are recommended to refit the
release lever in closing position.
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138
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
VEHICLE
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE VEHICLE
CONTAINING
RUNNING COSTS
Here are some suggestions which may
help you to keep the running costs of your
vehicle down and lower the amount of
toxic emissions released into the atmos-
phere.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
Vehicle maintenance
Carry out the checks and adjustments/reg-
ulations specified in the “Service Sched-
ule”.
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 ve-
hicle (especially when driving in town) and
its trim greatly affects consumption 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 lower air pene-
tration and adversely affect consumption
levels. When needing to carry particular-
ly 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 vehicle permits it, use the air vents
where possible.
Spoilers
The use of non-certified aerodynamic
items may adversely affect air drag and
consumption levels.
Observe the enforced rules if
you need to carry a spare
can of petrol. Only use a homologat-
ed can and secure it to the load an-
choring eyebolts. Even given these
precautions, the risk of fire in the
event of an accident is increased.
WARNING
In addition to these general precautions,
some simple measures could enhance dri-
ving safety, comfort and the length of the
vehicle’s life:
❒distribute the load evenly over the
load floor: if you need to concentrate
it all in one point choose the part be-
tween the axles;
❒remember that the lower the load is,
the lower the vehicle’s centre of grav-
ity will be, contributing to a safe drive;
you should therefore always position
the heavier goods at the bottom;
❒finally, remember that the way in
which the vehicle moves is influenced
by the weight being carried. In partic-
ular, stopping distance lengthens par-
ticularly at high speed.
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139
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
VEHICLE
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE VEHICLE
Acceleration
Accelerating violently increasing the revs
will greatly affect consumption and emis-
sions: acceleration should be gradual and
should not exceed the maximum torque.
CONDITIONS OF USE
Cold starting
Short journeys and frequent cold starts do
not allow the engine to reach optimum op-
erating temperature. This results in a sig-
nificant increase in consumption levels
(from +15 to +30% on the urban cycle)
and emission of harmful substances.
Traffic and
road conditions
Rather high consumption levels are tied to
situations with heavy traffic, for example
in queues with frequent use of the lower
gears or in cities with many traffic lights.
Also winding mountain roads and rough
road surfaces adversely affect consump-
tion.
Traffic hold-ups
During prolonged hold-ups (level crossings)
the engine should be switched off.TOWING TRAILERS
IMPORTANT NOTES
For towing caravans or trailers the vehi-
cle must be fitted with a certified tow
hook and an adequate electric system. In-
stallation should be carried out by spe-
cialised personnel who release a special
document for circulation on the road.
Install any specific and/or additional rear-
view mirrors as specified by law.
Remember that when towing a trailer,
steep hills are harder to climb, the brak-
ing spaces increase and overtaking takes
longer depending on the overall weight.
Engage a low gear when driving downhill,
rather than constantly using the brake.
The weight the trailer exerts on the ve-
hicle tow hook reduces by the same
amount the actual vehicle loading capaci-
ty. To make sure the maximum towable
weight is not exceeded (given in the log
book) account should be taken of the ful-
ly laden trailer, including accessories and
personal belongings. DRIVING STYLE
Starting
Do not warm the engine when the vehi-
cle is stationary or at high or low speed:
in this way the engine will warm up grad-
ually increasing consumption and emis-
sions. You should drive off slowly straight
away avoiding high revs so that the engine
will warm up more quickly.
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 vehicles and
also increase 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.
Top speed
Fuel consumption considerably increases
with speed. Avoid superfluous braking and
accelerating, which cost in terms of both
fuel and emissions.
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140
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
VEHICLE
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE VEHICLE
INSTALLING THE TOW
HOOK
The towing device should be fastened to
the body by specialised personnel accord-
ing to any additional and/or integrative in-
formation supplied by the Manufacturer of
the device.
The towing device must meet current reg-
ulations with reference to 94/20/EC Di-
rective and subsequent amendments.
For any version the towing device used
must match the towable weight of the ve-
hicle on which it is to be installed.
For the electric connection a unified con-
nector should be used which is generally
placed on a special bracket normally fas-
tened to the towing device, and a special
ECU for external trailer light control shall
be installed on the vehicle.
For the electrical connection, 7 or 13 pin
12VDC connection is to be used (CU-
NA/UNI and ISO/DIN Standards). Follow
the instructions provided by the vehicle
manufacturer and/or the tow hitch man-
ufacturer.An electric brake should be supplied di-
rectly by the battery through a cable with
a cross section of no less than 2.5 mm
2.
IMPORTANT Electric brake or other de-
vice shall be used with running engine.
In addition to the electrical branches, the
vehicle’s electric system can only be con-
nected to the supply cable for an electric
brake and to the cable for an internal light,
though not above 15W.
For connections use the preset control
unit with battery cable no less than 2.5
mm
2.
IMPORTANT The towing hitch consti-
tutes the length of the vehicle; therefore
if the total vehicle length exceeds the 6
meter limit and if it is to be installed on
“long pitch” versions, you will have to in-
stall an extractable towing hitch.
Remove the hitch from the connection
base when the trailer is not being used and
make sure that the length does not exceed
the original length of the vehicle.
IMPORTANT If you wish to leave the
tow-hook fitted permanently without
towing a trailer, it is important to ask your
Fiat Dealership to update the System
because the tow hook could be detected
as an obstacle by the central sensors. Do not exceed the speed limits of the
country you are driving in. In any case do
not exceed 100 km/h.
Fit a suitable towing stabilizer to the trail-
er to be towed.
The ABS system with which
the vehicle may be fitted
does not control the trailer braking
system. Therefore be cautious on slip-
pery roads.
WARNING
Under no circumstances
should the vehicle brake sys-
tem be altered to control the trailer
brake. The trailer braking system
must be fully independent of the ve-
hicle’s hydraulic system.
WARNING
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141
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
VEHICLE
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE VEHICLE
Assembly diagram -
Van versions fig. 3
The tow hook structure must be fastened
in the points shown by the symbol Øus-
ing a total of 6 M10x1.25 screws and 4
M12 screws.
The internal counterplates are to be at
least 5 mm thick.
MAX LOAD ON BALL: 100/120kg de-
pending on carrying capacity (see tables
“Weights” in Chapter “Technical Data”).
After fitting, screw holes
shall be sealed to prevent ex-
haust gas inlet.
WARNING
fig. 3F0N0189m
Existing hole
Existing nut
Existing nutExisting hole
Existing hole
laden
Standard tow ball M12
M12
M10 (3x)
M10 (3x)
M12
To install the towing hitch you have to cut
the bumper, Follow the instructions of the
supplier included in the assembly kit.
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142
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
VEHICLE
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE VEHICLE
fig. 4F0N0250m
Assembly diagram - Truck and
Chassis Cab versions - fig. 4
A specific tow hook for Truck and Chas-
sis Cab versions is shown infig. 4. Struc-
ture Ømust be fastened in the points
shown by a total of 6 M10x1.25 and 4 M12
screws.
MAX LOAD ON BALL: 100/120kg de-
pending on carrying capacity (see tables
“Weights” in Chapter “Technical Data”).
After fitting, screw holes
shall be sealed to prevent
exhaust gas inlet.
WARNING
Existing nut
Existing nut
Existing nut
Standard tow ball
laden
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143
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
VEHICLE
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE VEHICLE
IMPORTANT When snow tyres are used
with a max speed index below the one
that can be reached by the vehicle (in-
creased by 5%), place a notice in the pas-
senger’s compartment, plainly in the dri-
ver’s view which states the max permis-
sible speed of the snow tyres (as per EC
Directive).
All four tyres should be the same (brand
and track) to ensure greater safety when
driving and braking and better driveability.
Remember that it is inappropriate to
change the direction of rotation of tyres.SNOW CHAINS
Use of snow chains should be in compli-
ance with local regulations.
Snow chains should only be applied to the
driving wheels (front wheels). We rec-
ommend using Lineaccessori Fiat snow
chains.
Check the tension of the chains after the
first few metres have been driven.
IMPORTANT With snow chains, use the
accelerator with extreme care to prevent
or to limit as much as possible slipping of
the driving wheels that could cause chain
breaking resulting in damages to the ve-
hicle body or mechanical components.
IMPORTANT Use snow chains with re-
duced size.
SNOW TYRES
Fiat Dealership will be happy to provide
advice concerning the most suitable type
of tyre for the customer’s requirements.
The winter features of these tyres are re-
duced considerably when the tread depth
is below 4 mm. In this case, they should
be replaced.
Due to the snow tyre features, under nor-
mal conditions of use or on long motor-
way journeys, the performance of these
tyres is lower than that of normal tyres. It
is therefore necessary to limit their use to
the purposes for which they are certified.
The max speed for snow
tyres with “Q” marking is
160 km/h; 190 km/h for tyres with “T”
marking and 210 km/h for tyres with
H marking. The Road Traffic Code
speed limits must however be always
strictly observed.
WARNING
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