60
SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE
CAR
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
YOUR CAR
ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC
DEVICE INSTALLATION
Electrical and electronic devices installed
after buying the car by after-market ser-
vice must carry the following label:
Fiat Auto S.p.A. authorises the installation
of transceiving devices provided that they
are installed according to rules of good en-
gineering practice respecting the manu-
facturer’s indications by a specialised cen-
tre.
IMPORTANT Traffic police may not allow
the car on the road in the event of as-
sembly of devices which imply modifica-
tions to the features of the car. This may
also cause lapse of warranty in relation to
faults caused by the change or either di-
rectly or indirectly related to it.
Fiat Auto S.p.A. shall not be liable for dam-
age caused by the installation of acces-
sories either not supplied or recom-
mended by Fiat Auto S.p.A. and/or not in-
stalled in compliance with the provided in-
structions.RADIO TRANSMITTERS
AND CELLULAR PHONES
Radio transceiver equipment (e.g.: e-tacs
mobile phones, HAM radio systems and
the like) shall not be used inside the car
unless a separate aerial is mounted on the
roof.
IMPORTANT The use of similar devices
inside the passenger compartment (with-
out separated aerial) produces radio-fre-
quency electromagnetic fields which, am-
plified by the resonance effects inside the
passenger compartment, may cause elec-
trical systems equipping the car to mal-
function. This could compromise safety in
addition to constituting a potential hazard
for the passengers.
In addition, transmission and reception of
these devices may be affected by the
shielding effect of the car body.
As concerns EC-approved mobile phones
(GSM, GPRS, UMTS), strictly comply with
the instructions for use provided by the
mobile phone’s manufacturer.ACCESSORIES
PURCHASED
BY THE OWNER
If after buying the car, you decide to install
electrical accessories that require a per-
manent electric supply (alarm, satellite an-
titheft system, etc.) or accessories that in
any case burden the electric supply, con-
tact Abarth Dealership, whose qualified
personnel, besides suggesting the most
suitable devices belonging to Lineaccessori
Abarth, will also evaluate the overall elec-
tric absorption, checking whether the car’s
electric system is able to withstand the
load required, or whether it needs to be
integrated with a more powerful battery.
046-062 ABARTH 500 GB 29-04-2009 9:41 Pagina 60
73
CORRECT USE
OF THE
CAR
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
YOUR CAR
SAFETY
DEVICES
AIRBAGS
The car is provided with front air bags for
the driver and the passenger, driver’s
knees air bag and side bags - window bags.
FRONT AIRBAGS
The front airbags (driver’s, passenger’s,
driver’s knees air bags) have been designed
to protect the occupants in the event of
head-on crashes of medium-high severity,
by placing the cushion between the occu-
pant and the steering wheel or dashboard.
Front air bags are designed to protect
car’s occupants in front crashes and there-
fore non-activation in other types of col-
lisions (side collisions, rear shunts, roll-
overs, etc.) is not a system malfunction.
An electronic control unit will make the
bag inflate in the event of a frontal crash.
The bag will inflate instantaneously placing
itself between the front occupant’s body
and the structures which could cause in-
jury. It will deflate immediately afterwards.
The front airbags (driver’s, passenger’s,
driver’s knees air bags) are not a replace-
ment of but complementary to the belts,
which you are recommended to always
wear, as specified by law in Europe and
most non-European countries.In the event of a collision, a person not
wearing a seat belt may be thrown forward
and come into contact with the bag before
it has fully opened. The protection offered
by the cushion is reduced in such a case.
Front air bags 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, etc.);
❒car penetration under other vehicles or
protective barriers (e.g. trucks or guard
rails);
they could not provide any additional pro-
tection compared with seat belts, so their
activation would be improper. No de-
ployment in such cases is consequently not
the sign of a fault.
Do not apply stickers or oth-
er objects on the steering
wheel, on the dashboard in the pas-
senger side airbag area, on side up-
holstery on roof and on the seats. Do
not place objects (e.g. cell phones) on
the passenger side dashboard because
these could interfere with the correct
opening of the airbag and cause se-
vere injury to occupants.
WARNING
The front airbags (driver’s, passenger’s,
driver’s knees air bags) are designed and
calibrated to protect the front seat pas-
sengers who wear the safety belts.
Their volume at the moment of maximum
inflation fills most space between the
steering wheel and the driver, between
the lower post guard and the knees on
passenger side and between the dash-
board and the passenger.
The airbags are not deployed in the event
of front collisions of low severity (for
which the withholding action of the seat
belts is sufficient). Safety belts must always
be used. In the event of frontal crash they
ensure the correct positioning of the oc-
cupant.
063-078 ABARTH 500 GB 29-04-2009 9:42 Pagina 73
133
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
YOUR CAR
SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
IMPORTANT If the charge level remains
for a long time under 50%, the battery is
damaged by sulphation, reducing its ca-
pacity and starting attitude.
The battery will also be more at risk of
freezing (e.g. already at -10°C). Refer to
the paragraph “Car inactivity” in “Starting
and driving” if the car is left parked for a
long time.
If after buying the car, you want to install
electric accessories which require per-
manent electric supply (alarm, etc.) con-
tact Abarth Dealership whose qualified
personnel, in addition to suggesting the
most suitable devices, will evaluate the
overall electric absorption, checking
whether the car’s electric system is capa-
ble of withstanding the load required, or
whether it should be integrated with a
more powerful battery.
Since these devices continue absorbing en-
ergy even when the ignition key is off, they
gradually run down the battery. USEFUL ADVICE FOR
LENGTHENING THE LIFE OF
YOUR BATTERY
To avoid draining your battery and length-
en its life, observe the following indica-
tions:
❒when you park the car, ensure the
doors, tailgate and bonnet are closed
properly;
❒switch off all lights inside the car: the
car is however equipped with a system
which switches all internal lights off au-
tomatically;
❒do not keep accessories (e.g. sound sys-
tem, hazard lights, etc.) switched on for
a long time when the engine is not run-
ning;
❒before performing any operation on the
electrical system, disconnect the bat-
tery negative cable;
❒battery terminals shall always be per-
fectly tightened. Incorrect assembly of electric
and electronic devices may
cause severe damage to your
car. Go to a Abarth Dealer-
ship if you want to install accessories
(alarms, mobile phone, etc.): they will
suggest the most suitable devices and
advise you if a higher capacity battery
needs to be installed.
Batteries contain substances
that can be very dangerous
for the environment. t is ad-
visable to have the battery
changed by a Abarth Dealership where
it will be disposed of according to the
law.
If the vehicle must remain
unused for a long time at
very low temperature, remove the
battery and carry it to a warm place,
to avoid freezing.
WARNING
When you must perform any
operation on the battery or
near it, always protect your eyes with
the special goggles.
WARNING
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162
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
YOUR CAR
SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE
CAR
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
– request for extra remote
controls .......................................... 7
– battery replacement .................... 7
Rear fog lights ...................................... 38
– activation ........................................ 38
– bulb replacement .......................... 113
Rear head restraints............................ 24
Rear screen washer ........................... 36
– activation ........................................ 36
– fluid level ........................................ 130
Rear screen wiper .............................. 36
– activation ........................................ 36
– brushes ........................................... 136
– sprayers .......................................... 137
Rear seats ............................................. 24
Rear view mirrors .............................. 26
– exterior .......................................... 26
– interior ........................................... 26
Refuelling the car ................................ 61
Removal of parcel shelf ..................... 49
Rev counter ......................................... 11
Reversing light ..................................... 113
Roof rack/ski rack .............................. 51
– trailer hitch ready ......................... 51
Rubber hoses ....................................... 135
Safety ................................................... 63
Saving on fuel ....................................... 82
SBR (system) ........................................ 64
Seat adjustment ................................... 23
Seat belts............................................... 64
– warnings ......................................... 65– use of .............................................. 64
– load limiters ................................... 65
– maintenance .................................. 67
– seatbelt tensioners ....................... 65
Seatbelt tensioners ............................. 65
Seats ...................................................... 23
Sidelights ............................................... 34
– rear bulb replacement ................. 113
Snow chains ......................................... 85
Spark plugs............................................ 145
Speedometer (tachometer)............... 11
Sport functions activation ................. 37
Starting the engine ........................80-96
– jump starting with battery .......... 96
– bump starting ............................... 97
– ignition switch .............................. 8
– how to warm up the engine
that has just started ..................... 81
– engine turn off ...............................81
Starting the engine and driving ........ 79
Steering ................................................. 147
Steering column lock ......................... 8
Steering wheel adjustment ............... 25
Storing the car ....................................85
Sun roof ................................................ 41
– emergency action ......................... 43
Sun visors ............................................. 39
Suspension ........................................... 147
Symbols ................................................. 4
Tachometer (speedometer) ........... 11
TCC System ....................................... 56
Main beam headlights ....................... 34
– activation ........................................ 34
– flashing the headlights .................. 34
– bulb replacement .......................... 112
Manual climate control system ........29
Motor oil
– technical specifications ................ 155
– consumption .................................. 129
– checking fluid levels ...................... 129
MSR (system) ....................................... 56
Multifunctional and reconfigurable
multifunctional display...................... 12
– Display ............................................ 12
Number plate light ............................ 114
Oddment compartment .................. 39
Paint ..................................................... 138
Parking .................................................. 81
Particulate Filter (DPF) ...................... 132
Performance ........................................ 152
Plates...................................................... 142
– identification code ........................ 142
– bodywork paint ............................ 143
Power supply ....................................... 146
Power windows .................................. 45
Protecting the environment ............. 62
Radio .................................................... 59
Radio and cell phone transmitters .. 60
Radio frequency remote control .... 159
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