124
ACCESSORIES PURCHASED
BY THE OWNER
If, after buying the vehicle, you decide to install electrical
accessories that require a permanent electrical supply
(sound system, satellite anti-theft system, etc.) or ones that
drain the battery, contact a Fiat Dealership, whose quali-
fied personnel, besides suggesting the most suitable de-
vices from Lineaccessori Fiat, will also check whether the
vehicle’s electrics are able to withstand the load required,
or whether they need to be integrated with a more pow-
erful battery.
KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
Take care when fitting additional spoilers,
alloy wheels or non-standard wheel hubs:
they could reduce the ventilation of the brakes
and affect efficiency under sharp, repeated brak-
ing or on long descents. Make sure that nothing
obstructs the pedals (mats, etc.)
WARNING
INSTALLING ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC
DEVICES
Electrical and electronic devices installed after buying the
car in the context of after-sales service must carry the fol-
lowing label:
F0U0110mfig. 127
SATELLITE NAVIGATION SYSTEM
CAPABILITY
(for versions/markets where available)
On cars equipped with the Blue&Me
™system, there may
be (on request) capacity to install the Blue&Me
™Tom-
Tom®satellite navigation system, which is available from
Lineaccessori Fiat.
Install the navigation system by inserting the specific sup-
port bracket into the housing shown in fig. 127.
082-128 PUNTO FL EN 3ed 9-12-2009 13:43 Pagina 124
149
STARTING PROCEDURE FOR PETROL
VERSIONS
Proceed as follows:
❒ensure that the handbrake is on;
❒put the gear lever into neutral;
❒fully depress the clutch pedal without touching the ac-
celerator;
❒turn the ignition key to AVV and let it go the moment
the engine starts.
If the engine does not start at the first attempt, return
the ignition key to STOP before repeating the procedure.
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 system” in the “Dashboard and controls” section.
The engine may be noisier during the first few seconds of
operation, particularly after a long period of inactivity. This
is a feature of hydraulic tappets, the timing system cho-
sen to reduce the number of servicing interventions, and
effects neither functionality nor reliability.
KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
STARTING AND DRIVING
It is dangerous to let the engine run in en-
closed spaces. The engine consumes oxy-
gen and produces carbon dioxide, carbon monox-
ide and other toxic gases.
WARNING
In the first period of use, we recommend
that you do not demand maximum perfor-
mance from the car (e.g. excessive accel-
eration, extended travel at maximum revs, heavy
braking etc.).
With the engine off, do not leave the
key in the ignition to prevent draining the
battery.
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 usual to the brake
pedal and steering wheel.
WARNING
149-160 PUNTO FL EN 3ed 9-12-2009 13:41 Pagina 149
150
If, when the ignition key is at MAR, the instrument panel
warning light
Yremains on together with warning light
U, turn the key to STOP and then back to MAR; if the
warning light remains on, try with the other keys provid-
ed with the car.
IMPORTANT If the instrument panel warning light
Ystays on permanently, contact a Fiat Dealership immedi-
ately.
IMPORTANT Never leave the ignition key at MAR when
the engine is off.
KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTSSTARTING PROCEDURE FOR DIESEL
VERSIONS
Proceed as follows:
❒ensure that the handbrake is on;
❒put the gear lever into neutral;
❒turn the ignition key to MAR: the warning lights mand
Yon the instrument panel will turn on;
❒wait for the warning lights Yand m to turn off. The
hotter the engine is, the quicker this will happen;
❒fully depress the clutch pedal without touching the ac-
celerator;
❒turn the ignition key to AVV as soon as warning light
m goes out. If you wait too long, you will lose the ben-
efit of the heating work done by the glow plugs. Release
the key as soon as the engine starts.If the engine does not start at the first attempt, return
the ignition key to STOP before repeating the procedure.
If, when the ignition key is at MAR, the instrument panel
warning light
Yremains on together with warning light
m, turn the key to STOP and then back to MAR; if the
warning lights remain on, try with the other keys provid-
ed with the car.
IMPORTANT If the instrument panel warning light
Ystays on permanently, contact a Fiat Dealership immedi-
ately.
IMPORTANT Never leave the ignition key at MAR when
the engine is off.
Warning light m will blink for 60 seconds af-
ter starting or during prolonged cranking to
indicate a fault with the glow plug system.
Use the car as normal if the engine starts, but go to
a Fiat Dealership as soon as possible.
149-160 PUNTO FL EN 3ed 9-12-2009 13:41 Pagina 150
151
STOPPING THE ENGINE
Turn the ignition key to STOP while the engine is idling.
IMPORTANT After a long drive, you should allow the en-
gine to “catch its breath” before turning it off by letting it
idle to allow the temperature in the engine compartment
to fall. WARMING UP THE ENGINE AFTER IT HAS
JUST STARTED (petrol and diesel versions)
Proceed as follows:
❒drive off slowly at medium revs, and accelerate
smoothly;
❒do not demand maximum performance for the first few
kilometres. Wait until the engine coolant gauge starts
moving.
KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTSRemember that the brake booster and pow-
er steering are not operational until the en-
gine has been started, so you need to apply
much more force than usual to the brake pedal and
steering wheel.
Never jump start the engine by pushing,
towing or driving downhill. This could cause
fuel to flow into the catalytic converter and
damage it beyond repair.
A quick burst on the accelerator before
turning off the engine serves absolutely no
practical purpose; it wastes fuel and is es-
pecially damaging to turbocharged engines.
149-160 PUNTO FL EN 3ed 9-12-2009 13:41 Pagina 151
152
KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
F0U0129mfig. 147
HANDBRAKE fig. 147
The handbrake lever is located to the left side of the dri-
ver’s seat. Pull the lever upwards to operate the handbrake.
Four or five notches are normally sufficient to secure 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, contact a Fiat Deal-
ership to have the handbrake adjusted.
When the handbrake is on and the ignition key is at
MAR,
the instrument panel warning light
xwill come on.
To release the handbrake, proceed as follows:
❒pull up slightly on the lever and press release button A;
❒hold button Adown and lower the lever. The x
warning light on the instrument panel will go out.
Press the brake pedal when carrying out this operation
to prevent the car from moving accidentally.
PARKING THE VEHICLE
Proceed as follows:
❒stop the engine and engage the handbrake;
❒engage a gear (first gear if the vehicle is parked uphill
or reverse if it is facing downhill) and leave the wheels
turned.
If the car is parked on a steep slope, it is further advis-
able to block the wheels with a wedge or stone. Do not
leave the key in the ignition as this drains the battery.
Always remove the key when you leave the car.
Never leave children unattended in the
car. Always remove the ignition key when
leaving the car and take it with you.
WARNING
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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.
KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
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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157
An electric brake or winch should be powered directly by
the battery through a cable with a cross-section of no less
than 2.5 mm
2.
IMPORTANT The engine must be running to use the elec-
tric brake or winch.
In addition to the electrical branches, the vehicle’s elec-
trical system can be connected only to the supply cable for
an electric brake and to the cable for an internal trailer
light, though not above 15W.
For connections, use the preset control unit with a bat-
tery cable no less than 2.5 mm
2.
KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
INSTALLING THE TOW HOOK
The towing device should be fastened to the body by spe-
cialised personnel in accordance with any additional infor-
mation supplied by the manufacturer of the device.
The towing device must meet current regulations with ref-
erence 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 connector 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 trailer’s exterior lights. 7 or 13-
pin 12VDC connections should be used (CUNA/UNI and
ISO/DIN Standards). Follow any instructions provided by
the car manufacturer and/or the towing device manufac-
turer.
149-160 PUNTO FL EN 3ed 9-12-2009 13:41 Pagina 157
❒clean and protect the painted parts using protective
wax;
❒clean and protect the shiny metal parts using special
compounds readily available;
❒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 perforated plastic sheet.
Do not use compact plastic sheets which do not allow
humidity to evaporate from the surface of the car;
❒inflate tyres to a pressure of +0.5 bar above the nor-
mal 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 indicator shows a dark colour without the cen-
tral green area;
❒do not drain the engine cooling system.
IMPORTANT Where relevant, switch off the car alarm
with the remote control.
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 possible, well-ven-
tilated premises;
❒engage a gear;
❒check that the handbrake is engaged;
❒disconnect the clip for the negative battery 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;
160
KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
16” and 17” tyres cannot be fitted with
chains.
WARNING
Keep your speed down when snow chains
are fitted: do not exceed 50 km/h. Avoid
potholes, steps and pavements, and do
not drive for long distances on roads not
covered with snow to prevent damaging
the car and the road surface.
WARNING
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