
14
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICE
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CONTROLS
AND DEVICES
INSTRUMENTS
Instrument background colour and type
may vary according to the version.
SPEEDOMETER fig. 12
This shows the speed of the vehicle.REV COUNTER fig. 13
The rev counter shows the number of en-
gine revolutions per minute.
IMPORTANT The electronic injection
control system gradually shuts off the flow
of fuel when the engine is over-revving, re-
sulting in a gradual loss of engine power.
When the engine is idling, the rev counter
may indicate a gradual or sudden increase
of the rate.
This is normal and does not indicate a fault.
It may be caused, for example, by the op-
eration of the climate control system or
fan. In these cases, a slow change in revs
is used to protect the battery charge.
fig. 12F0M0405mfig. 13F0M0406m
001-032 ACTUAL 1ed EN.qxd 28-08-2009 13:41 Pagina 14

52
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICE
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CONTROLS
AND DEVICES
Courtesy light timing
On certain versions, to facilitate getting
in/out of the car at night or in poorly-lit ar-
eas, two timed modes have been provided.
TIMING WHEN GETTING INTO THE CAR
The courtesy lights switch on as follows:
❒for about 10 seconds when unlocking
the front doors;
❒for about 3 minutes when opening one
of the side doors;
❒for about 10 seconds when closing the
doors.
The timed period is interrupted when the
ignition is turned to MAR.
TIMING WHEN GETTING OUT OF THE CAR
After removing the key from the ignition,
the courtesy lights switch on as follows:
❒within 2 minutes from turning the en-
gine off for about 10 seconds;
❒when opening one of the side doors for
about 3 minutes;
❒when one of the doors is closed for
a period of about 10 seconds.
The timed period stops automatically
when the doors are locked. CAUTION Before getting out of the car,
make sure both switches are in the cen-
tral position; when the doors are closed,
the lights switch off to prevent the battery
from running down.
In any case, if the switch is left in the ‘per-
manently on’ position, the courtesy light
goes off automatically 15 minutes after the
engine switching off.
033-071 ACTUAL 1ed EN 28-08-2009 13:44 Pagina 52

55
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICE
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CONTROLS
AND DEVICES
Door unlocking in the event of
a crash
If the fuel cut-off switch trips following an
accident, the doors will be automatically
unlocked to allow access to the passenger
compartment and the ceiling lights will be
switched on at the same time. The doors
can always be opened from the inside of
the car by using the appropriate controls.
if no fuel leakage is found and the car is
roadworthy, ensure the correct operation
of the vehicle by adhering to the following
instructions. DOOR LOCKING fig. 50
To lock all doors at the same time, press
button A, located on the central console
control panel, regardless of the position
of the ignition key.FUEL CUT-OFF SYSTEM
This system triggers after a collision and
activates the following:
❒cut-off of fuel supply with consequent
switching off of the engine;
❒automatic door unlocking;
❒switching on of all interior lights.
When the system has been triggered, the
message “Fuel cut off, see handbook” is
displayed.
Carefully check the car for fuel leaks, for
instance in the engine compartment, un-
der the car or near the tank area.
After a crash, turn the key to STOP to
avoid draining the battery.fig. 50F0M0013m
If, after a crash, you smell fu-
el or notice leaks from the
fuel system, do not reactivate the sys-
tem to avoid the risk of fire.
WARNING
033-071 ACTUAL 1ed EN 28-08-2009 13:44 Pagina 55

106
SAFETY
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICE
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CONTROLS
AND DEVICES
STARTING
AND DRIVING
STARTING THE ENGINE
The car is fitted with an electronic engine
lock device: if the engine fails to start, see
the paragraph on “The Fiat CODE sys-
tem” in the “Dashboard and controls”
section.
The engine may be noisier during the first
few seconds of operation, particularly af-
ter a long period of inactivity. This is a fea-
ture of hydraulic tappets, the timing sys-
tem chosen to reduce the number of
servicing interventions, and effects neither
functionality nor reliability.
We recommend that during
the initial period you do not
drive to full car performance
(e.g. excessive acceleration,
long journeys at top speed, sharp brak-
ing etc.).
When the engine is switched
off, never leave the key in
the ignition switch to prevent
draining the battery.
It is dangerous to have the
engine running indoors. The
engine consumes oxygen and pro-
duces carbon dioxide, carbon monox-
ide and other toxic gases.
WARNING
Remember that the brake
booster and power steering
are not operational until the engine
has been started, therefore you need
to apply much more force than usu-
al to the brake pedal and steering
wheel.
WARNING
STARTING PROCEDURE
FOR PETROL VERSIONS
Proceed as follows:
❒ensure that the handbrake is on;
❒put the gear lever into neutral;
❒press the clutch pedal all the way down
without touching the accelerator;
❒turn the ignition key to AVVand re-
lease it the moment the engine starts.
If the engine does not start at the first at-
tempt, return the ignition key to STOP
before repeating the starting procedure.
105-116 ACTUAL 1ed EN 28-08-2009 8:57 Pagina 106

113
SAFETY
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICE
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CONTROLS
AND DEVICES
STARTING
AND DRIVING
INSTALLING THE TOW HOOK
The towing device should be fastened to
the body by specialised personnel in ac-
cordance with any additional information
supplied by the manufacturer of the device.
The towing device must meet current reg-
ulations with reference to Directive
94/20/EC and subsequent amendments.
For any version the towing device used
must be right for the towable weight of
the car 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 fastened to the
towing device, and a special ECU should
be installed on the car to control the trail-
er’s exterior lights.
Seven- or 13-pin 12VDC connections
should be used (CUNA/UNI and ISO/DIN
Standards). Follow any instructions pro-
vided by the car manufacturer and/or the
towing device manufacturer.An electric brake or winch should be pow-
ered directly by the battery through a ca-
ble with a cross-section of no less than
2.5 mm
2.
IMPORTANT The engine must be running
to use the electric brake or winch.
In addition to the electrical appliances, the
car’s electrical system may be connected
only to the supply cable for an electric
brake and the cable for a light inside the
trailer with a wattage of no more than
15 W.
For connections, use the preset control
unit with a battery cable no less than
2.5 mm
2. Respect each country’s specific speed lim-
its for vehicles towing trailers. The top
speed must not exceed 100 km/h at any
time.
You should fit a suitable stabiliser to the
trailer.
The ABS with which the car
may be equipped will not
control the braking system of the
trailer. Particular caution is therefore
required on slippery roads.
WARNING
Never modify the braking
system of the car to control
the trailer brake. The trailer braking
system must be fully independent
from the hydraulic system of the car.
WARNING
105-116 ACTUAL 1ed EN 28-08-2009 8:57 Pagina 113

116
SAFETY
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICE
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CONTROLS
AND DEVICES
STARTING
AND DRIVING
CAR INACTIVITY
If the car is to be left inactive for longer
than a month, the following precautions
should be observed:
❒park the car in covered, dry and, if pos-
sible, well-ventilated premises;
❒engage a gear;
❒check that the handbrake is engaged;
❒disconnect the clip for the negative bat-
tery terminal and check battery charge.
Repeat this check once every three
months during storage. Recharge the
battery if the indicator is dark and the
middle area is not green;
❒clean and protect the painted parts us-
ing protective wax;
❒clean and protect the shiny metal parts
using special compounds readily avail-
able;
❒sprinkle talcum powder on the rubber
windscreen and rear window wiper
blades and lift them off the glass;
❒open the windows slightly;
❒cover the car with a fabric or perfo-
rated plastic sheet. Do not use compact
plastic sheets which do not allow hu-
midity to evaporate from the surface of
the car;
❒inflate tyres to a pressure of +0.5 bar
above the normal specified pressure
and check regularly;
❒if you don’t disconnect the battery from
the electrical system, check its charge
every month and recharge it if the in-
dicator shows a dark colour without
the central green area;
❒do not drain the engine cooling system.
IMPORTANT Where relevant, switch off
the car alarm with the remote control.
Keep your speed down when
snow chains are fitted – do
not exceed 50 km/h. Avoid
potholes, steps and pave-
ments and also avoid driving
for long distances on roads
not covered with snow to avoid dam-
aging the car and the road surface.
WARNING
105-116 ACTUAL 1ed EN 28-08-2009 8:57 Pagina 116

117
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICE
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CONTROLS
AND DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
GENERAL WARNINGS ..................................................... 118
LOW BRAKE FLUID LEVEL .............................................. 118
HANDBRAKE ON .............................................................. 118
AIRBAG FAULT ................................................................... 119
OVERHEATED ENGINE COOLANT ............................ 119
LOW BATTERY CHARGE ................................................ 120
LOW ENGINE OIL PRESSURE ........................................ 120
DEGRADED OIL .................................................................. 120
“DUALDRIVE” ELECTRIC POWER
STEERING FAULT ............................................................... 121
DOOR OPEN ....................................................................... 121
LOW ENGINE OIL LEVEL ................................................ 121
EBD FAULT ........................................................................... 121
INJECTION SYSTEM FAULT
(DIESEL VERSIONS) ............................................................ 122
ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM FAULT (EOBD)
(PETROL VERSIONS) ......................................................... 122
FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG DEACTIVATED .......... 123
ABS FAULT ........................................................................... 123
FUEL RESERVE ...................................................................... 123
SEAT BELT NOT FASTENED ........................................... 123
GLOW PLUG HEATING ................................................... 124
GLOW PLUG HEATING FAULT .................................... 124WATER IN DIESEL FILTER ............................................... 124
FIAT CODE CAR PROTECTION SYSTEM FAULT .... 125
EXTERIOR LIGHTS FAULT .............................................. 125
REAR FOG LAMPS .............................................................. 125
GENERIC WARNING ........................................................ 125
PARTICULATE FILTER CLOGGED
(Multijet versions) ................................................................. 126
ESP SYSTEM FAULT ............................................................ 126
WORN BRAKE PADS ........................................................ 126
HILL HOLDER FAULT ....................................................... 126
SIDELIGHTS AND DIPPED BEAM HEADLIGHTS ...... 127
FOLLOW ME HOME .......................................................... 127
FOG LIGHTS ........................................................................ 127
LEFT-HAND DIRECTION INDICATOR ....................... 127
RIGHT-HAND DIRECTION INDICATOR ................... 127
“DUALDRIVE” ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ON ... 127
MAIN BEAM HEADLIGHTS .............................................. 127
POSSIBLE ICE ON ROAD ................................................. 128
LIMITED RANGE ................................................................. 128
ASR SYSTEM ......................................................................... 128
SPEED LIMIT EXCEEDED .................................................. 128
W W
A A
R R
N N
I I
N N
G G
L L
I I
G G
H H
T T
S S
A A
N N
D D
M M
E E
S S
S S
A A
G G
E E
S S
117-128 ACTUAL 1ed EN 28-08-2009 8:56 Pagina 117

120
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICE
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
CONTROLS
AND DEVICES
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
LOW ENGINE OIL
PRESSURE (red)
DEGRADED OIL (red)
(Multijet versions
with DPF)
When the ignition key is moved to MAR,
the warning light turns on but should go
out as soon as the engine is started.
Low engine oil pressure
The warning light turns on and stays on
constantly along with a message on the
display (in versions/markets where pro-
vided) when the system detects that en-
gine oil pressure is low.
v
If the warning light vturns on when the vehicle is
travelling (on certain versions to-
gether with a message on the display)
stop the engine immediately and con-
tact a Fiat Dealership.
WARNING
❒if the vehicle is used under de-
manding conditions (e.g. towing
trailers uphill or fully loaded): slow
down and, if the light stays on, stop the
car. Stop for 2 or 3 minutes with the
engine running and slightly accelerated
to assist better coolant circulation.
Then switch the engine off. Check cor-
rect fluid level as described above.
IMPORTANT On particularly demanding
journeys, it is advisable to keep the engine
on and slightly accelerated for a few min-
utes before switching it off.
A specific message is displayed on certain
versions.
LOW BATTERY
CHARGE (red)
When the ignition key is moved to MAR,
the warning light turns on but should go
out as soon as the engine is started (with
the engine idling, a brief delay can be ex-
pected).
If the warning light comes on, either per-
manently or intermittently, contact a Fiat
Dealership immediately.
w
Engine oil degraded
The warning light flashes and a specific
message appears on the display (for ver-
sions/markets where provided). The
warning light may flash in the following
ways, depending on the version:
– for 1 minute every two hours;
– for 3 minute cycles with the warning
light off for intervals of 5 seconds until oil
is changed.
After the initial warning, each time the en-
gine is started up, the warning light will
continue to flash in the same ways as de-
scribed above, until the oil is changed.
A specific message will appear on the dis-
play (for versions/markets where provid-
ed) in addition to the warning light.
If the warning light flashes, this does not
mean that the car is defective, but simply
informs the driver that it is now necessary
to change the oil as a result of regular
vehicle use.
Note that engine oil degrades faster un-
der the following circumstances:
– use of the vehicle mainly for city driving,
requiring more frequent regeneration of
the DPF
– use of the vehicle for short drives, in
which the engine does not have time to
reach its regular operating temperature
– repeated interruption of the regenera-
tion process, signalled by the DPF warn-
ing light coming on.
117-128 ACTUAL 1ed EN 28-08-2009 8:56 Pagina 120