2009 FIAT PANDA automatic

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USING THE DUALOGIC GEARBOX
The car is fitted with a mechanical gearbox with electronic control called
“Dualogic” that can work in two operating modes: MANUAL and AUTO.
This gearbox includes a conventional mechanical transmission to which an
electronically-operated electrohydraulic device has been added which
controls automatically the clutch and gear engagement.
HOW TO MOVE OFF
Manual mode
❒Press the brake pedal
❒Start the engine
❒Move the gear lever (A) to (+) to engage the first gear or to R to
engage reverse
❒Release the brake pedal and press the accelerator pedal
❒When running move the gear lever (A) to (+) for upshifting or to (–)
for downshifting.
Automatic mode
❒ Press the brake pedal
❒Start the engine
❒Move the gear lever (A) to A/M to engage the automatic mode or to R
to engage reverse
❒Release the brake pedal and press the accelerator pedal.
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OPERATION
The gearbox can work in two operating modes:
❒the first mode is manual (MANUAL): the driver directly requests
gearshifting;
❒the second mode is automatic (AUTO): the system directly decides
when shifting gears. With this operating logic it is possible to activate
the ECO (Economy) function to contain consumption by pressing
button (E) on the gearbox mask.
To shift gears and to select the operating mode (MANUAL or AUTO)
use the gear lever (A) set on the central console (see figure).
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GEAR LEVER
The gear lever (A) is located on the dashboard and it is of the floating
“multi-stable position” type, i.e.: it features three stable positions and
three unstable ones.
The three stable positions correspond to neutral (N), reverse (R) and
central position set between the unstable positions (+) and (–) (see
figure).
Unstable positions (i.e.: positions abandoned as soon as the gear lever is
released), are the upshifting position (+), the downshifting position (–)
and the automatic mode position (A/M).
To return to manual mode, set the gear lever back to A/M.
With the car stationary and the key removed, it is possible to shift the
lever with/without the brake pedal pressed. The system will perform no
actuation when shifting the lever and the gear engaged will be the one
stored before removing the ignition key.
IMPORTANT With the engine off and the car stationary, any error
between lever position and gear engaged is indicated by warning light (è)
coming on for a few seconds on the instrument panel together with the
message on the reconfigurable multifunction display.
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MANUAL OPERATION (MANUAL)
In this operating mode, the decision to change gear is
left to the driver who decides the most appropriate
moment.
To change gears in MANUAL operating mode proceed
as follows:
❒move lever to (+) to engage higher gear;
or
❒move lever to (–) to engage lower gear.
The system will cut in automatically preventing
gearshifting only if the request to change gear will
impair regular engine and transmission operation; the
system will also shift down gears automatically when
the engine (e.g.: at slowing down).The system will warn the driver that the required gear
will not be engaged through the sound of the buzzer
and a dedicated message on the reconfigurable
multifunction display (see paragraph “Warning lights
and messages”).
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AUTOMATIC OPERATION (AUTO)
For engaging/disengaging the automatic operating mode (AUTO), move
lever (A) to A/M: automatic mode activation is indicated by message
AUTO and gear engaged on the reconfigurable multifunction display
(see figure).
With AUTO mode active, the system decides to change gear depending
on car speed, engine rpm and how the accelerator pedal is pressed. It is
however possible to change gears with the control lever without
deactivating the automatic mode: this function called “gear advice”
suspends the automatic mode for the time required to change gear.
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Automatic operation (AUTO - ECO)
The ECO function can be activated only with automatic mode active.
To activate the ECO function press button (E) set on the mask near the
gearshift lever. After activating this function, the reconfigurable
multifunction display shows the gear engaged and words AUTO and E
(see figure).
With ECO function active the system will select the most suitable gear
(according to car speed, engine rpm and how the accelerator pedal is
pressed) to save as much fuel as possible.
If necessary (e.g.: overtaking) the system will change gears in order to
provide suitable torque and power for acceleration (this will take place in
automatic mode regardless of ECO function condition, ON or OFF).
In this way engine rpm will suddenly increase, excluding temporarily the
ECO function that will be automatically resumed when returning to the
previously set conditions.
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STARTING THE ENGINE
The engine can be started either with a gear engaged or in neutral (N),
always press the brake pedal first.
After starting:
❒the gearbox sets to neutral (N) automatically
❒lever (A) keeps the same position it had before starting
❒the reconfigurable multifunction display shows (N) and a buzzer will
indicate if the lever position and the gear engaged are not matching
❒gears that can be engaged are: 1st, 2nd or reverse (R) gear.
IMPORTANT When trying to start the engine with gearbox not in
neutral (any gearshift lever position other than N) and without pressing
the brake pedal, the reconfigurable multifunction display will show a
dedicated message (see paragraph “Warning lights and messages”). In this
event, to start the engine just repeat operation keeping the brake pedal
pressed.
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If the engine fails to start with the gear engaged, the driver is informed of the
potentially dangerous situation due to the fact that the gearbox is in neutral by
the buzzer.IMPORTANT
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PARKING THE CAR
To park the car safely it is absolutely necessary to
press the brake pedal and to engage first gear or
reverse (R) and also the hand brake if the car is on a
slope; it is also absolutely necessary to wait for the
reconfigurable multifunction display showing the gear
engaged to go off before releasing the brake pedal.
IMPORTANT NEVER leave the car with gearbox in
neutral (N).IMPORTANT NOTES
❒With the car stopped and a gear engaged always
keep the brake pedal pressed until deciding to move
off, then release the brake pedal and accelerate
gradually;
❒during prolonged halts with the engine running it is
advisable to keep the gearbox in neutral (N);
❒when the car is parked facing uphill, to safeguard
clutch efficiency do not use the accelerator to keep
the car still since clutch overheating could damage
it. Use the brake pedal and press the accelerator
pedal only when deciding to move off;
❒use second gear only when more control is needed
for moving off manoeuvres with poor grip;
❒if, in reverse gear (R), first gear is to be engaged or
vice versa, shift gear only when the car is stopped
completely and with the brake pedal pressed;
❒though highly inadvisable, if when travelling downhill
for some unexpected reason the car is set to
neutral (N), when the engagement of a gear is
requested, the system automatically engages the
best gear in relation to the speed of the car to allow
the correct transmission of torque to the wheels;
❒when travelling downhill with a gear engaged and
the accelerator released (if the car is moving),
beyond a pre-established speed, the system engages
the clutch automatically to give the car adequate
engine braking.
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