2009 FIAT PUNTO EVO ESP

141
Front airbags may not be activated in the following situa-
tions:
❒in collisions against very strangely shaped objects that
do not affect the front surface of the car (e.g. mudguard
collision against guard rail, piles of gravel etc.);
❒jamming of the car underneath other vehicles or pro-
tective barriers (e.g. underneath a truck or a guard rail);
in this case, the bags would offer no additional pro-
tection with respect to the seat belt and their deploy-
ment is unnecessary. In these cases, non-deployment
of the airbag does not necessarily indicate a system mal-
function.FRONT AIRBAGS
The car is fitted with front airbags for the driver and the
passenger, and with a knee bag on the driver’s side (where
provided).
The front driver/passenger airbags and the driver’s knee
bag (where provided) have been designed to protect the
occupants in the event of head-on crashes of medium/high
severity, by placing the cushion between the occupant and
the steering wheel or dashboard.
Non-activation in other types of crash (side-on collisions,
rear shunts, roll-overs, etc.) is therefore not a sign of sys-
tem malfunction.
An electronic control unit causes the bag to inflate, if nec-
essary, 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 afterwards.
The front driver/passenger airbags and the driver’s knee
bag (where provided) are not a replacement for, but rather
complement the use of, belts, which should always be
worn, as specified by law in Europe and most non-Euro-
pean countries.
The volume of the front airbags at maximum inflation fills
most of the space between the steering wheel and the dri-
ver and between the dashboard and the passenger.
In the event of an impact, someone not wearing a seat belt
could move forward and come into contact with a bag
which is still in the opening phase. The protection offered
by the bag is reduced in such a case.
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Do not apply stickers or other objects on
the steering wheel, passenger side airbag
cover or upper side upholstery. Do not place ob-
jects (e.g. mobile phones) on the passenger side
dashboard because these could interfere with the
correct opening of the airbag and cause severe in-
jury to occupants.
WARNING
The airbags are not deployed in the event of minor colli-
sions (for which the withholding action of the seat belts is
sufficient). For this reason, the seat belt must be worn at
all times. In the case of side-on collisions, the seat belts hold
occupants in the correct position and prevent them from
being thrown out of the car by a very violent impact.
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SAVING FUEL
Here are some suggestions which may help you to save fu-
el and reduce the amount of toxic emissions released in-
to the atmosphere.
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
Car maintenance
Have checks and adjustments carried out in accordance
with the “Scheduled Servicing Plan”.
Tyres
Check the tyre pressures at least once every 4 weeks: if
the pressure is too low, consumption levels increase as re-
sistance to rolling is higher.
Unnecessary loads
Do not travel with an overloaded boot. The weight of
the car (especially when driving in town) and its arrange-
ment greatly affect fuel consumption and stability.
Roof rack/ski rack
Remove the roof rack or ski rack from the roof after use.
These accessories decrease aerodynamic penetration and
have a negative effect on fuel consumption. It is better to
use a trailer to transport particularly bulky objects.Electrical devices
Use electrical devices only for the amount of time need-
ed. The heated rear window, auxiliary headlights, wind-
screen wipers and fan heater use up a considerable amount
of current, causing increased fuel consumption (up to
+25% in the urban cycle).
Air conditioning
Air conditioning leads to higher fuel consumption (on av-
erage up to +20%). If the temperature outside is not too
extreme, try and use the air vents.
Spoilers
The use of non-certified spoilers may adversely affect aero-
dynamics and fuel consumption.
DRIVING STYLE
Starting
Do not warm up the engine at low or high revs when the
vehicle is stationary; this causes the engine to warm up more
slowly, thereby increasing fuel consumption and emissions.
It is advisable to set off immediately and slowly, avoiding high
revs: this allows the engine to warm up more quickly.
Unnecessary actions
Avoid revving up when stationary at traffic lights or before
stopping the engine. The latter action, like double de-
clutching, is entirely unnecessary and causes increased fu-
el consumption and pollution.
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156
TOWING TRAILERS
IMPORTANT NOTES
The car must be equipped with an approved tow hook and
adequate electrical system to tow caravans or trailers. In-
stallation must be performed by specialised personnel who
will issue the required papers for travelling on roads.
Install any specific and/or additional rear-view mirrors in
accordance with the highway code of the country in which
you are travelling.
Remember that, when towing a trailer, steep hills are hard-
er to climb, braking distances increase and overtaking takes
longer relative to the overall weight of the trailer.
Engage a low gear when driving downhill, rather than con-
stantly using the brake.
The weight of the trailer on the car’s tow hook will re-
duce the load capacity of the car by the same amount. Con-
sider the weight of the trailer fully laden, including acces-
sories and luggage, to make sure you do not exceed the
maximum towable weight (shown on the vehicle regis-
tration document).
Respect each country’s speed limits 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.
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The ABS with which the car may be
equipped will not control the braking sys-
tem 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 trail-
er braking system must be fully independent from
the hydraulic system of the car.
WARNING
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SNOW TYRES
Use snow tyres of the same size as the normal tyres pro-
vided with the car.
A Fiat Dealership will be happy to provide advice con-
cerning the most suitable type of tyre for the customer’s
requirements.
For the type, pressures and specifications of the snow tyre
to be used, follow carefully the instructions given in the
“Wheels” paragraph of the “Technical specifications” sec-
tion.
The performance of these tyres is considerably reduced
when the tread depth is less than 4 mm. If this is the case,
replace them.
Due to their specific features, the performance of snow
tyres is much lower than that of standard tyres in normal
conditions or on long motorway stretches. You should
therefore use them only in the conditions for which they
were designed.
IMPORTANT When using snow tyres with a maximum
speed index below the one that can be reached by the
car (increased by 5%), place a notice in the passenger com-
partment, plainly in view, which states the maximum speed
allowed by the snow tyres (as per EC Directive).
All four tyres should be the same (brand and profile) to
ensure greater safety when driving and braking as well as
making the car more responsive.
Remember that you should not change the rotation di-
rection of the tyres.
SNOW CHAINS
The use of snow chains should be in compliance with lo-
cal regulations. Snow chains may be fitted only to the front
wheel tyres (drive wheels). Use of Lineaccessori Fiat snow
chains is recommended. Check the tension of the chains
after the first few metres have been driven.
IMPORTANT When the snow chains are on, use the ac-
celerator with extreme care to prevent, or to limit as much
as possible, the driving wheels from skidding. This could
cause the chains to break, resulting in damage to the ve-
hicle body or mechanical components.
IMPORTANT Snow chains can only be fitted on 15”
tyres. Use compact 9-mm snow chains.
The maximum speed for snow tyres
marked “Q” is 160 km/h, while it is 190
km/h for “T” tyres and 210 km/h for “H” tyres.
You should, however, always stick to the speed
limits of the highway code.
WARNING
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171
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CONTENTSBRAKE PADS WORN
(amber)
(for versions/markets where provided)
The warning light comes on if the front brake pads
are worn; in this case, have them changed as soon as pos-
sible. A specific message is displayed on certain versions.
d
HILL HOLDER FAULT
(amber)
(for versions/markets where provided)
When the ignition key is moved to MAR position,
the warnintg light turns on but should go off after a few
seconds.
The warning light turns on to indicate a Hill Holder sys-
tem fault. In this case, contact a Fiat Dealership as soon
as possible. On certain versions, warning light
áturns
on as an alternative. A specific message is displayed on cer-
tain versions.
*
SIDELIGHTS/TAILLIGHTS
AND DIPPED BEAM HEADLIGHTS
(green)
FOLLOW ME HOME (green)
Sidelights/taillights and dipped beam headlights
The light comes on when the sidelights/taillights or dipped
beams are turned on.
Follow Me Home
The light will turn when this device is active (see “Follow
Me Home” in the “Dashboard and controls” section). The
display will show the associated message.
3
ESP SYSTEM FAULT
(amber)
When the ignition key is moved to MAR posi-
tion, the warnintg light turns on but should go off
after a few seconds.
ESP-ASR system failure
If the warning light does not go off or stays on together
with the LED on the ASR button when travelling, contact
a Fiat Dealership. A specific message is displayed on cer-
tain versions.
NBThe warning light flashing while driving indicates that
the ESP system is active.
á
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IMPORTANT Do not continue driving with one or more
flat tyres as handling may be compromised. Stop the car,
avoiding harsh braking or steering manoeuvres. Replace
the wheel immediately with the small spare wheel (for ver-
sions/markets where provided) or carry out a repair us-
ing the dedicated kit (see “Changing a wheel” in the “In
an emergency” section) and contact a Fiat Dealership as
soon as possible.
Tyre pressure unsuitable for speed
Should you need to travel at a speed higher than 160 km/h,
inflate the tyres to the pressures specified in “Tyre pres-
sures”.
If the TPMS system (for versions/markets where provid-
ed) detects that the pressure of one or more tyres is un-
suitable for the current speed, the warning light will turn
on (together with the message on the display) (see “Tyre
pressure low” in this section) and it will stay on until the
car slows down to a speed below the preset threshold.
IMPORTANT In this case, slow down immediately because
tyre overheating could damage tyre performance and dura-
bility beyond repair, and may even make the tyre explode. CHECK TYRE PRESSURE
(amber)
TYRE PRESSURE LOW (amber)
TYRE PRESSURE UNSUITABLE FOR
SPEED
(amber)
(for versions/markets where provided)
When the ignition key is moved to MAR position, the
warnintg light turns on but should go off after a few sec-
onds.
Check tyre pressures
The warning light turns on to indicate the flat tyre. Should
two or more tyres be flat, the display will show the indi-
cations corresponding to each tyre in sequence.
Restore correct tyre pressures as soon as possible (see
“Cold tyre pressures” in the “Technical specifications” sec-
tion).
Tyre pressure low
The warning light on the panel comes on when the pres-
sure of one or more tyres falls below a preset level. In this
way, the TPMS system warns the driver that one or more
tyres may be dangerously flat and probably punctured.
n
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F0U0170fig. 187
F0U0169mfig. 186
198
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❒refit the light by first inserting side D-fig. 186 and then
pressing the other side until you hear the clip lock in-
to place.
F0U0171mfig. 188
CHANGING A FUSE
GENERAL INFORMATION
Fuses protect the electrical system: they cut in (i.e. they
blow) in the event of a fault or improper action on the sys-
tem.
Check the state of the corresponding fuse when a device
does not work: the filament A-fig. 188 must be intact. If it
is not, replace the blown fuse with a new one of the same
amperage (same colour).
B undamaged fuse
C fuse with damaged filament.
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The brake booster and power steering will
not work while the vehicle is being towed.
You will therefore need to apply more force to the
brake pedal and steering wheel. Do not use bendy
cables for towing and avoid jerking. Make sure not
to damage parts in contact with the car while tow-
ing. When towing the vehicle, be sure to respect
the specific rules of the highway code specifical-
ly in relation to the towing device and the be-
haviour to maintain on the road.
WARNING
Clean the threaded housing throughly be-
fore fastening the tow ring. Make sure that
the ring is securely fastened before towing the car.
WARNING
During towing, do not start up the engine.
WARNING
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