2009 FIAT IDEA wheel

86
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
MAINTENANCE
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
ALPHABETICAL
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
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 Fiat Dealership, whose qualified per-
sonnel, besides suggesting the most suit-
able devices belonging to Lineaccessori Fi-
at, will also evaluate the overall electric
consumption, 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.
INSTALLING
ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC
DEVICES
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 by a specialised centre ac-
cording to rules of good engineering prac-
tice in compliance with the manufacturer’s
indications.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.
Be very careful when fitting
non-standard additional
spoilers, light alloy wheels or wheel
caps: they could reduce brake venti-
lation and consequently brake effi-
ciency in the case of repeated, violent
braking or on long downhill roads.
Make sure that nothing obstructs the
pedal stroke (mats, etc.)
WARNING

87
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
MAINTENANCE
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
ALPHABETICAL
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
DUALDRIVE ELECTRIC
POWER STEERING
The car is provided with an electric pow-
er steering system which only works with
the key at MARand the engine running.
The system called “Dualdrive” allows to
customise the effort required to turn the
steering wheel according to driving con-
ditions.
ON/OFF (CITY function)
Press CITY fig. 126in the central part of
the dashboard to turn the function on and
off.
The CITYwarning light on the instru-
ment panel will light up when the function
is on; in other versions, the message
CITYwill appear on the reconfigurable
multifunctional display.
With the CITYfunction the effort on the
steering wheel is lighter, thus facilitating
parking manoeuvres: this is particularly
useful when driving in towns.
fig. 126F0H0716m
Under no circumstances
should aftermarket opera-
tions involving steering system or
steering column modifications (e.g.:
installation of anti-theft device) be
carried out that could badly affect
performance and safety. This also
causes the warranty to become null
and void and results in vehicle non-
compliance with type-approval re-
quirements.
WARNING
The car can be driven using the mechani-
cal steering in case of failure to the elec-
tric power steering system. Take the car
to a Fiat Dealership as soon as possible.
IMPORTANT The steering may before
stiffer when parking requiring a lot of
steering. This is normal and caused by the
electric control motor overheating sys-
tem. No repairs are needed. The power
steering system will start working prop-
erly again the next time the car is used.
Before starting any mainte-
nance operation, stop the
engine and remove the key from the
ignition switch to operate the steer-
ing lock, particularly when the car is
lifted off the ground. If this is not pos-
sible (i.e. if the key must be kept in
the MAR position or the engine must
be kept running), remove the main
electric power steering system fuse.
WARNING
FAILURE INDICATIONS
Electric power steering failure is indicated
by the turning on of warning light
gon
the instrument panel together with the
dedicated message on the reconfigurable
multifunctional display (where provided),
(see section “Warning lights and mes-
sages”).

106
STARTING
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WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
MAINTENANCE
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
ALPHABETICAL
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
SAFETY
FRONT AIRBAGS
The car is provided with front airbags for
the driver and passenger and window bags
(head protection system). It may be pro-
vided with optional front side bags.
The front driver / passenger air bags ha-
ve been designed to protect the occupants
in the event of head-on crashes of me-
dium-high severity, by placing the cushion
between the occupant and the steering
wheel or dashboard.
Front air bags are designed to protect
vehicle occupants in head-on crashes and
therefore non-activation in other types of
collisions (side collisions, rear shunts, roll-
overs, etc.) is not a system malfunction.
An electronic control unit causes the bag
to inflate in the event of a head-on crash.
The bag will inflate instantaneously placing
itself between the front occupant’s body
and the structures which could cause
injury. It will deflate immediately af-
terwards.
Driver and passenger front airbags are not
a replacement of but complementary to
the belts, which you are recommended to
always wear, as specified by law in Euro-
pe and most non-European countries.
In the event of a collision, a person not
wearing a seat belt may be thrown
forward and con into contact with the bag
before it has fully opened. The protectionoffered by the cushion is reduced in such
a case.
Front air bag 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.);
❒jamming of the car underneath other
vehicles or protective barriers (e.g. un-
derneath a truck or a guard rail); in this
case, the bags would offer no additio-
nal protection with respect to the seat
belt and their deployment is unneces-
sary. In these cases non-deployment
of the airbag does not necessarily in-
dicate a system malfunction.
The front airbags (driver and passenger)
are designed and calibrated to protect
front seat occupants who are wearing seat
belts.
The volume of front air bags at max. in-
flation fills most of the space between the
steering wheel and the driver and between
the dashboard and the passenger.FRONT AIR BAG ON DRIVER’S
SIDE, Fig. 17
This consists of an instant inflating bag con-
tained in a special recess in the centre of
the steering wheel.fig. 17F0H0746m

107
STARTING
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INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
SAFETY
fig. 18F0H0145m
PASSENGER’S FRONT AIR BAG
fig. 18
It consists of an instant-inflating cushion
contained into a special recess Ain the
dashboard, this cushion has a volume big-
ger than that of the driver.
The airbags are not deployed in the event
of collisions of low severity (for which the
withholding action of the seat belts is suf-
ficient). For this reason, the seat belt mu-
st be worn at all times. During side colli-
sions the seat belts hold passengers in the
correct position and prevent ejection
from the vehicle during very violent colli-
sions.
Do not apply stickers or
other objects on the steering
wheel in zone A-fig. 18, passenger si-
de airbag cover or side upholstery on
roof. Do not place objects on the pas-
senger side dashboard because these
could interfere with the correct ope-
ning of the airbag (e.g. mobile pho-
nes) and cause severe injury to occu-
pants.
WARNING
Do not arranged cradle
child restraints facing
backwards if the passenger’s airbag is
on. Deployment of the airbag in an
accident could cause fatal injuries to
the baby.
WARNING
If the car is provided with a
front passenger airbag,
deactivate the airbag when
arranging a child restraint
seat on the front seat. Mo-
ve the passenger seat as far
back as possible to avoid contact
between the child seat and the dash-
board. Although this is not mandatory
by law, the air bag should be imme-
diately reactivated when children are
no longer carried to ensure better
protection for adults.
WARNING

109
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
MAINTENANCE
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
ALPHABETICAL
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
SAFETY
IMPORTANT The front air bags and/or si-
de bags may be deployed if the car 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 car in
big holes or sags in the road.
IMPORTANT A small amount of dust will
be released when the airbags are de-
ployed. The dust is not harmful and does
not indicate the beginning of a fire.
Furthermore, the surface of the deployed
bag and the interior of the car may be co-
vered in a dusty residue: This dust may ir-
ritate the skin and the eyes. Wash with
mild soap and water in the event of ex-
posure.
The airbag system expires after 14 years
(charge) and 10 years (clock contact). Go
to a Fiat Dealership to have the devices
replaced when the expiration date ap-
proaches.
IMPORTANT Should an accident occur in
which any of the safety devices is activa-
ted, take the car to a Fiat Dealership to
have the devices activated replaced and to
have the system checked.
Every control, repair and replacement
operations concerning the air bags must
only be carried out c/o Fiat Dealership.If you are having the car scrapped, have
the air bag system deactivated at a Fiat
Dealership first. If the car changes ow-
nership, the new owner must be informed
of the method of use of air bags and the
above warnings and also be given this
“Owner‘s Handbook”.
IMPORTANT Pretensioners, front airbags
and front side bags are deployed differen-
tly according to the type of collision. Non
deployment of one of the devices does not
therefore indicate a system fault.
Do not rest your head, arms
or elbows on the door, on
the windows and in the window bag
area to prevent injury in case of de-
ployment.
WARNING
Never lean head, arms and
elbows out of window.
WARNING
If when turning the key to
MAR the warning light
¬does not turn on or stays on whilst
driving (together with the message in
the multifunctional display, where
provided), a failure may have occur-
red in the restraint systems. In this ca-
se the air bags or pretensioners may
not be deployed after an impact or,
in a minor number of cases, they may
be deployed accidentally. Contact a
Fiat Dealership immediately to have
the system checked.
WARNING
GENERAL WARNINGS
Do not cover the backrest of
the front seats with covers
which are not suitable for use with si-
de bags.
WARNING
Always drive holding your
hands on the steering wheel
rim so that the airbag can inflate
freely in the case of need. Do not dri-
ve with your body bent forward. Keep
your back straight against the back
rest.
WARNING

113
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
MAINTENANCE
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
ALPHABETICAL
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
❒turn the ignition key to AVVas soon
as the warning light mturns off.
Waiting too long will waste the work
done by the heater plugs. Release the
key as soon as the engine starts.
IMPORTANT With the engine cold, the
accelerator must be entirely released
when turning the ignition key to position
AVV.
If the engine does not start at the first at-
tempt, return the ignition key to STOP
before repeating starting.
If, when the ignition key is at MAR, the
instrument panel warning light
Yre-
mains lit, turn the key to STOPand then
back to MAR; if the warning lights remain
on, try with the other keys provided with
the car.
Contact a Fiat Dealership if you still can-
not start the engine.
IMPORTANT Never leave the ignition key
to MARwhen the engine is off. Warning light
mwill blink
for 60 seconds after starting
or during prolonged cranking
to indicate a fault to the glow
plug heating system. Use the car nor-
mally if the engine starts and go to a
Fiat Dealership as soon as possible.
HOW TO WARM UP THE
ENGINE AFTER IT HAS JUST
STARTED (petrol and Multijet
engines)
Proceed as follows:
❒drive off slowly, letting the engine turn
at medium speed. Do not accelerate
abruptly;
❒do not demand maximum performan-
ce for the first few kilometres. Wait
until the engine coolant gauge starts
moving.
STOPPING THE ENGINE
Turn the ignition to STOPwhile the en-
gine is idling.
IMPORTANT After a taxing drive, you
should allow the engine to “catch its
breath” before turning it off by letting it
idle to allow the temperature in the engi-
ne compartment to fall. Never jump start the engine
by pushing, towing or driving
downhill. This could cause a
flow of fuel into the catalytic
converter and damage it beyond re-
pair.
A quick burst on the accele-
rator before turning off the
engine serves absolutely no
practical purpose, it wastes
fuel and is damaging especially to tur-
bocharged engines.
Remember that the brake
booster and power steering
are not operational until the engine
has been started, therefore much
effort than usual is required on the
brake pedal and steering wheel.
WARNING

114
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
MAINTENANCE
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
ALPHABETICAL
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
PARKING THE VEHICLE
Proceed as follows:
❒Stop the engine and engage the hand-
brake;
❒Engage a gear (on a slope, engage fir-
st gear if the vehicle is faced uphill or
reverse if it is faced downhill) and lea-
ve the wheels steered.
If the car is parked on a steep slope, it is
further advisable to block the wheels with
a wedge or stone. Avoid parking for a long
time with one wheel on the pavement or
steered against the kerb. Do not leave the
key in the ignition switch at MARto pre-
vent draining the battery. Always remo-
ve the key when you leave the car.
HANDBRAKE
The handbrake lever is located between
the two front seats.
Pull the lever upwards to operate the
handbrake.
Four or five notches are normally suffi-
cient to lock the car on flat terrain, while
nine or ten may be necessary on a steep
slope with the car loaded.
IMPORTANT If this is not the case, con-
tact Fiat Dealership to have the handbrake
adjusted.When the handbrake lever is pulled up
and the ignition key is at MAR, the in-
strument panel warning light
xwill turn
on.
Proceed as follows to release the hand-
brake:
❒slightly lift the handbrake and press re-
lease button A-fig. 1;
❒hold the button Apressed and lower
the lever; the warning light
xon the
instrument panel will go out.
Press the brake pedal when carrying out
this operation to prevent the car from
moving accidentally.
IMPORTANT if the handbrake lever tends
to reach end of stroke (groove on the
central tunnel), go to a Fiat dealership to
have the handbrake adjusted correctly.fig. 1F0H0149m
Never leave children unat-
tended in the car. Always re-
move the ignition key when leaving
the car and take it out with you.
WARNING

120
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
MAINTENANCE
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
ALPHABETICAL
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND
CONTROLS
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
SNOW TYRES
Use snow tyres of the same size as the
normal tyres provided with the car.
Fiat Dealership will be happy to provide
advice concerning the most suitable type
of tyre for the customer’s requirements.
For the type of tyre to be used, inflation
pressures and the specifications of snow
tyres, follow the instructions given in pa-
ragraph “Wheels” in section “Technical
specifications”.
The performance of these tyres is consi-
derably reduced when the tread depth is
less than 4 mm. Replace them in this case.
Due to their specific features, the perfor-
mance of snow tyres is much lower than
that of standard tyres in normal conditions
or long motorway stretches. Limit perfor-
mance according the use for which they
were approved.IMPORTANT When snow tyres are used
with a max speed index below the one
that can be reached by the car (increased
by 5%), place a notice in the passenger’s
compartment, plainly in the driver’s view
which states the max permissible 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 chan-
ge the direction of rotation of tyres.The top speed of a “T” type
snow tyre is 190 km/h. Re-
spect the highway code in all cases.
WARNING