MANUAL DEACTIVATION OF
PASSENGER’S FRONT AIR BAG
AND SIDE BAG
(where provided)
Should it be absolutely necessary to car-
ry a child on the front seat, the passenger’s
front air bag and the side bag (where pro-
vided) can be deactivated.
The instrument panel warning light Fwill
stay on glowing steadily until reactivating
the passenger’s front air bag and the Side
Bag (where provided).
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CORRECT USE
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WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
VEHICLE
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
IINDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
SERIOUS DANGER: With
passenger’s air bag active
(ON), never place child’s
seats with the cradle facing
backwards since the air bag
activation could cause to
the child serious injuries, even mortal.
In the case of need, always deactivate
the passenger’s air bag when a child’s
seat is placed on the front seat. The
front passenger’s seat shall be ad-
justed in the most backward position
to prevent any contact between
child’s seat and dashboard. Even if
not compulsory by law, you are rec-
ommended to reactivate the air bag
immediately as soon as child trans-
port is no longer necessary.
WARNING
To deactivate the passen-
ger’s front air bag and the
side bag (where provided), refer to
paragraphs “Digital display” and
“Multifunction display” in section
“Dashboard and controls”.
WARNING
SIDE AIR BAGS
The vehicle is fitted with front side bags
for driver and passenger (where provid-
ed) for protecting the chest and window
bags (where provided) for protecting front
passengers’ head.
Side bags (where provided) protect vehi-
cle occupants from side crashes of medi-
um-high severity, by placing the cushion
between the occupant and the internal
parts of the side structure of the vehicle.
Non-activation of side bags in other types
of collisions (front collisions, rear shunts,
roll-overs, etc...) is not a system malfunc-
tion.
In case of side crash, an electronic control
unit, when required triggers the inflation
of the cushion. The cushion immediately
inflates, placing itself as a protection, be-
tween the occupant’s body and the struc-
ture that could cause injuries. Immediate-
ly after, the cushion deflates.
Side bags (where provided) are not a re-
placement of but complementary to the
belts, which you are recommended to al-
ways wear, as specified by law in Europe
and most non-European countries.
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TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
FRONT SIDE BAGS - CHEST
PROTECTION
fig. 16 (where provided)
Front side bags are housed in the seat back
rests, they consist of an instant inflation
cushion designed to increase protection
of the occupants’ chest in the event of a
side crash of medium-high severity.SIDE WINDOW BAGS - HEAD
PROTECTION fig. 17
(where provided)
They consist of two “curtain” cushions,
one on the right and the other on the left
side of the vehicle, located behind the side
coverings of the roof and covered by
proper finishing.
Window bags have been designed for pro-
tecting the head of front 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.
fig. 16F0N0140mfig. 17F0N0133m
IMPORTANT The front air bags and/or
side bags may be deployed if the vehicle
is subject to heavy knocks or accidents in-
volving the underbody area, such as for
example violent shocks, against steps,
kerbs or low obstacles, falling of the ve-
hicle in big holes or sags in the road.
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 vehicle interiors 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.
Expiration dates of pyrotechnic charge and
coil contact are indicated on the label in-
side the glovebox. As these dates ap-
proach, contact Fiat Dealership to have
them replaced.
IMPORTANT Should an accident occur in
which any of the safety devices is activat-
ed, take the vehicle to a Fiat Dealership to
have the devices 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 vehicle scrapped,
have the air bag system deactivated at a Fi-
at Dealership first. If the vehicle changes
ownership, the new owner must be in-
formed 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.
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CORRECT USE
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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 window.
WARNING
GENERAL WARNINGS
If when turning the key to
MAR the warning light ¬
does not turn on or if it stays on when
travelling (together with the message
on the multifunction display, where
provided) 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 acciden-
tally. Contact Fiat Dealership imme-
diately to have the system checked.
WARNING
Do not cover the backrest of
front and rear seats with
trims or covers that are not suitable
to be used with side bags.
WARNING
131
CORRECT USE
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WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
VEHICLE
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
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 ve-
hicle if it is bumped by another mov-
ing vehicle. Therefore, never seat chil-
dren on the front seat even when the
vehicle is stationary. On the other
hand remember that if the key is at
STOP, no safety system (air bags or
pretensioners) is triggered in the
event of an impact; in this case, fail-
ure to come into action cannot be
considered as a sign that the system
is not working properly.
WARNING
If the vehicle 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
When the ignition key is
turned to MAR, the warning
light F(with passenger’s front air
bag active) turns on and flashes for
few seconds to remind that passen-
ger’s air bag will be deployed in a
crash, after which it should go off.
WARNING
132
CORRECT USE
OF THE
VEHICLE
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
VEHICLE
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
IINDEX
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
136
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
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EMERGENCY
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MAINTENANCE
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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.
137
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
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MAINTENANCE
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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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WARNING
LIGHTS AND
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EMERGENCY
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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.