2009 FIAT GRANDE PUNTO warning

4
FIAT PUNTO NATURAL POWER
Passive safety
The Fiat Punto Natural Power version has
the same passive safety features as the
other versions.
In particular, the location and mountings
of the canisters have been designed to
pass the impact tests in accordance with
Fiat safety standards. The flow of methane
coming out of the canisters is governed by
a solenoid valve that is only open during
methane operation.
The solenoid valve unit includes protec-
tion against excess flows (if the high pres-
sure system breaks, the flow of methane
is restricted to values that are not dan-
gerous), overheating (fuse pad that allows
the methane to drain off if the tempera-
ture exceeds 110 °C) and a pressure cal-
ibration device that intervenes if the pres-
sure goes above 300 bar ensuring the
methane escapes in a controlled manner
and as quickly as possible.
The solenoid valve is connected to the
Fire Protection System (inertia switch or
fuel cut off switch).
Active safety
The Fiat Punto Natural Power version has
the same active safety features as the oth-
er versions.
The Fiat Punto Natural Pow-
er version is equipped with a
high pressure methane system de-
signed to run at 200 bar.
It is dangerous to force the system
with higher pressures. When towing
or lifting the car, the instructions in
this booklet at the end of the chap-
ter should be followed in order to pre-
vent damage to the methane system
parts: “Towing the car”.
If there is a problem with the
methane system, only go to a Fiat
Dealer.
Do not alter the methane system con-
figuration or components; they are
designed exclusively for the Fiat Pun-
to Natural Power. The use of other
components or materials could cause
malfunctions and reduce safety.In the case of painting in an
oven, the canisters should be
removed from the vehicle and refit-
ted later by a Fiat Dealer. Although
the methane system has numerous
safety features, it is advisable to close
the manual taps for the canisters
every time the car is not in use for a
long period, transported on other ve-
hicles or moved in an emergency as a
result of a breakdown or accident.
WARNINGWARNING
603_97_125 Punto Nat P GB 1ed 6-05-2009 10:14 Pagina 4

9
FIAT PUNTO NATURAL POWER
The four vertical bars near the letters
CNG in the instrument panel display Figs.
12a-12bindicate the level of methane in
the canisters.
When the residual amount of methane
goes below 1/5 of the capacity of the can-
isters, the CNG logo and the lowest lev-
el Fig. 13flash to indicate the reserve and
notify the need to refuel.
If the methane has run out, switching to
petrol takes place automatically: the Kin-
dicator near the CNG symbol Figs. 12a-
12blights up in the instrument panel dis-
play.
If you particularly want the car to run on
petrol, press button A - Fig. 11located
between the controls in the dashboard.
The LED in the button coming on means
that the request to switch has taken place
correctly.
fig. 11F0M0460m
fig. 12bF0M0471m
fig. 13F0M0462m
fig. 12aF0M0461m
If the last fuel system in use
was petrol, when starting the
switch to methane should be
requested manually by the
customer.
The actual change to the chosen fuel sys-
tem takes place depending on the vehicle
usage conditions to guarantee switching in
absolute safety and will be confirmed by
the Kwarning light in the instrument pan-
el display coming on/going off.
The manual selection of the op-
erating mode from petrol to
methane and viceversa is only ac-
tivated if the engine speed is be-
low 2000 rpm.
At the time of the switching
request there will be a metal-
lic noise coming from the valves to
pressurize the circuit (more obvious
with the ignition in the MAR position).
As a result of the switching logics de-
scribed above, it is entirely normal for
there to be a delay between the tick-
ing of the valve and the switching off
at the instrument panel.
WARNING
603_97_125 Punto Nat P GB 1ed 6-05-2009 10:14 Pagina 9

10
FIAT PUNTO NATURAL POWER
Do not switch between the
two operating modes whilst
starting the engine
WARNING
In addition, in the case of starting at out-
side temperatures of below around -10°C,
the switching times from Petrol to
Methane increase to allow the pressure
regulator/reduction unit to become warm
enough.
IMPORTANT If the switching takes place
during acceleration or pick-up, there may
be a brief flat spot (fall in power).With the reconfigurable multifunction dis-
play, any system failure is signalled by the
dedicated message and, at the same time,
by the
Rsymbol coming on and the four
methane levels going out. In this case, go
to a Fiat Dealership as quickly as possi-
ble.
STARTING
THE ENGINE
To carry out the starting manoeuvre, see
the warnings and advice in the Owner
Handbook under the chapter “Starting the
engine”.
PROTECTIVE FUSES
The table below contains a list of the pro-
tective fuses with reference to the
petrol/methane version. For all the other
fuses, consult the Owner Handbook that
this supplement comes with.
If the methane has run out, the control
unit automatically manages the switch to
running on petrol.
Engine compartment junction unit
CONSUMERS FUSE AMPS
Control systemprimary loads
(coils and injectors)
Methane system
CNG system management solenoid valves 22
8415
10 SYSTEM FAILURE SIGNALLING
With the multifunction display, any system
failure is signalled through a dedicated
messages and, at the same time, by the
CNG logo and the four methane levels
flashing (with solid bars). In this case, go
to a Fiat Dealership as quickly as possi-
ble.
603_97_125 Punto Nat P GB 1ed 6-05-2009 10:14 Pagina 10

12
FIAT PUNTO NATURAL POWER
IDENTIFICATION DATA
IMPORTANT If the car has been
registered in a country other than
Italy, the certification data, identifi-
cation and inspection procedures for
the methane canisters should con-
form to the legislation in that coun-
try. In any case, it should be re-
membered that the life of the can-
isters is 20 years from the produc-
tion date as set out in ECE Regula-
tion no. 110.
Marking the canisters
Each methane canister is identified in the
factory with a stamp on the nose of the
actual canister.
fig. 16F0M0465m
The stamp includes:
CNG ONLY(type of gas designed for:
compressed natural gas only);
DO NOT USE AFTER
-
(canister expiry date: month-year);
FABER(name of canister manufacturer);
/ / (canister regis-
tration number);
L(nominal canister capacity in litres);
KG(weight of canister kg: specific
for each canister);
20.0MPa15°C(operating pressure at
15°C);
30.0MPa(canister test pressure);
E
110R-(ECE homologa-
tion number);ECE R 110(manufacturing regulations);
CNG-1(type of canister);
/ (canister manufacture test
date: month/year);
USE ONLY FABER-APPROVED
PRD(PRD safety device warning);
(–N)(ENI stamp).
The other plates (handed over with the
car documentation) contain the date for
the first inspection of the canisters.
SYSTEM INSPECTION
The canisters should be inspected, in ac-
cordance with ECE Regulation Procedure
no. 110, every 4 years from the vehicle
registration date or in accordance with
specific regulations in individual countries.
603_97_125 Punto Nat P GB 1ed 6-05-2009 10:14 Pagina 12

16
FIAT PUNTO NATURAL POWER
FUEL SYSTEM (methane)
Dedicated electronic injection for
methane.
Type: Phased, sequential, multipoint.
Injection pressure; about 6 bar.
Stoichiometric metering of the air/
methane gas mixture.
The methane injection system is con-
trolled by the dedicated control unit us-
ing the sensors already on the car, in-
cluding the Lambda sensor for controlling
the fuel metering.
IGNITION
Static advance, electronic, integrated with
the injection.ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM
Engine cooling system with pressure re-
duction unit heating circuit subject to
strong cooling during operation.
PERFORMANCE
Top speed in km/h.
Running on petrol: 162
Running on methane: 156
Modifications or repairs to
the fuel feed system that are
not carried out properly or do not
take the system’s technical specifica-
tions into account can cause mal-
functions leading to the risk of fire.
WARNING
603_97_125 Punto Nat P GB 1ed 6-05-2009 10:14 Pagina 16