2009 FIAT SEDICI warning

152
Oil consumption: Max. 1.0 L per
1000 km (1 Qt. per 600 miles)
When judging the amount of oil con-
sumption, note that the oil may become
diluted and make it difficult to accurately
judge the true oil level.
As an example, if a vehicle is used for re-
peated short trips, and consumes a nor-
mal amount of oil, the dipstick may not
show any drop in the oil level at all, even
after 1000 km (600 miles) or more of dri-
ving. This is because the oil is gradually be-
coming diluted with fuel or moisture, mak-
ing it appear that the oil level has not
changed.
You should also be aware that the dilut-
ing ingredients evaporate out when the ve-
hicle is subsequently driven at high speeds,
such as on an expressway, making it ap-
pear that oil is excessively consumed af-
ter high- speed driving.STARTING THE ENGINE
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
NOTE Gearshift levers shown in the
above illustration are examples of 5-
speed manual transaxle (for gasoline en-
gine model) and automatic transaxle.

Make sure the parking brake is set fully.
Manual transaxle – Shift into “N” (Neu-
tral) and depress the clutch pedal all the
way to the floor. Hold the clutch ped-
al while starting the engine.
Automatic transaxle – If the gearshift
lever is not in “P” (Park) position, shift
into “P” (Park). (If you need to re- start
the engine while the vehicle is moving,
shift into “N”.)
NOTE Automatic transaxle vehicles have
a starter interlock device which is de-
signed to keep the starter from operat-
ing if the transaxle is in any of the drive
positions.
Make sure that the parking
brake is set fully and the
transaxle is in Neutral (or Park for ve-
hicles with an automatic transaxle)
before attempting to start the engine.
WARNING
IMPORTANT We recommend that dur-
ing the initial period you do not drive to
full vehicle performance (e.g.: excessive ac-
celeration, long journeys at top speed,
sharp braking, etc.).
IMPORTANT When the engine is
switched off never leave the key into the
ignition switch to prevent pointless cur-
rent absorption from draining the battery.
MT
80JS008
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154
NOTE When you drive or idle your ve-
hicle, white smoke may be emitted de-
pending on the grade of fuel used. This is
due to the particle filter regenerating au-
tomatically, and does not affect the way
the vehicle runs.If the diesel particulate filter warning light
comes on when driving, the diesel partic-
ulate filter is nearly clogged. You should
regenerate the diesel particulate filter
when the diesel particulate filter warning
light comes on. To regenerate the diesel
particulate filter, you must drive the ve-
hicle until the light goes out, at a speed
of 50 km/h (31 mph) or higher for a while
(max. 30 minutes depending on the vehi-
cle speed).
However, you should drive carefully and
within the legal speed limit, and should
take in to consideration the surrounding
traffic conditions.
If you drive your vehicle until the light goes
out, the regeneration of the diesel partic-
ulate filter will be completed.
IMPORTANT Be sure to regenerate the
diesel particulate filter when the Diesel
Particulate Filter warning light comes on.
Failure to regenerate the diesel particu-
late filter will cause the vehicle malfunc-
tion due to the clogged filter.VEHICLE WITH KEYLESS
START SYSTEM
The ignition switch can be operated with-
out using an ignition key when the remote
controller is in an area of the vehicle oth-
er than the rear luggage area. To turn the
ignition switch, first push in the switch.
64J244
Diesel Particulate Filter warning
light
Keep away from the exhaust
pipe when the engine is run-
ning. If the diesel particulate filter is
regenerating, the exhaust gas tem-
perature could be higher.
WARNING
56KN082
79JF001
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156
77J021
77J028Gearshift lever positions
4- Speed Automatic Transaxle
USING THE
TRANSAXLE
4-SPEED AUTOMATIC
TRANSAXLE
Gearshift lever
The gearshift lever is designed so that it
cannot be shifted out of the “P” position
unless the ignition switch is in the “ON”
position and the brake pedal is depressed.
Always depress the brake
pedal before shifting from
“P” (Park) (or “N” (Neutral) if the ve-
hicle is stationary) to a forward or re-
verse gear, to help prevent the vehi-
cle from moving unexpectedly when
you shift.
WARNING
N (Neutral)
Use this position for starting the engine
if the engine stalls and you need to restart
it while the vehicle is moving. You may al-
so shift into Neutral and depress the brake
pedal to hold the vehicle stationary dur-
ing idling.
D (Drive)
Use this position for all normal driving.
With the gearshift lever in “D” range you
can get an automatic downshift by pressing
the accelerator pedal. The higher the ve-
hicle speed is, the more you need to press
the accelerator pedal to get a downshift.
3 (Low 3)
Use this position for driving on moder-
ate uphill and downhill gradients. The en-
gine braking effect on moderate downhills
can be used in this position. The transaxle
shifts up only to 3rd gear.
2 (Low 2)
Use this position to provide extra power
when climbing hills, or to provide engine
braking when going down hills.
L (Low 1)
Use this position to provide maximum
power when climbing steep hills or driving
through deep snow or mud, or to provide
maximum engine braking when going
down steep hills. Use the gearshift lever positions as de-
scribed below:
P (Park)
Use this position to lock the transaxle
when the vehicle is parked or when start-
ing the engine. Shift into Park only when
the vehicle is completely stationary.R (Reverse)
Use this position to reverse the vehicle
from stop. Make sure that vehicle is com-
pletely stationary before shifting into Re-
verse.
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158
– Reduce your speed and
downshift to a lower gear
before going down a long or steep hill.
A lower gear will allow the engine to
provide braking.
– Avoid riding the brakes or they may
overheat, resulting in brake failure.
_ When driving on slippery roads, be
sure to slow down before downshift-
ing. Excessive and or sudden changes
in engine speed may cause loss of
traction, which could cause you to
lose control.
– Make sure that the vehicle is com-
pletely stationary before you shift in-
to reverse.
WARNING
79J217
To change gears properly
you must push the clutch
pedal fully down. It is therefore es-
sential that there is nothing under the
pedals: make sure the mats are lying
flat and do not get in the way of the
pedals.
WARNING
For vehicle with tachometer
Keep the engine speed so it does not get
into the red zone of tachometer. Downshifting maximum allowable
speeds
For 1.6 L engine
DownshiftingKm/h (mph)
2nd to 1st50 (31)
3rd to 2nd90 (56)
4th to 3rd135 (84)
5th to 4th180 (113)*
Downshifting Km/h (mph)
2nd to 1st40 (25)
3rd to 2nd70 (43)
4th to 3rd120 (74)
5th to 4th160 (99)
6th to 5th200 (124)*
For 2.0 L Diesel engine
(*) NOTE You may not accelerate to the
maximum allowable speed because of the
driving situation and/or the vehicle con-
dition.
IMPORTANT When downshifting to a
lower gear, make sure not to operate with
the speed faster than the maximum al-
lowable speeds for the next lower gear,
or severe engine damage can result.IMPORTANT
 To help avoid clutch damage, do not
use the clutch pedal as a footrest while
driving or use the clutch to keep the ve-
hicle stationary on a slope. Depress the
clutch fully when shifting.
 When shifting or starting off, do not
race the engine. Racing the engine can
shorten engine life and affect smooth
shifting.
6-speed manual transaxle (for Diesel engine)
Reverse engagement for 6-speed
Manual Transaxle model (For
Diesel Engine Model)
Reverse gear: with lifting up ring, shift the
gearshift lever to the right, engage gear.
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162
POWER-ASSISTED BRAKES
Your vehicle has power-assisted brakes. If
power assistance is lost due to a stalled
engine or other failures, the system is still
fully operational on reserve power and
you can bring the vehicle to a complete
stop by pressing the brake pedal once and
holding it down. The reserve power is
partly used up when you depress the
brake pedal and reduces each time the
pedal is pressed. Apply smooth and even
pressure to the pedal. Do not pump the
pedal.ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM
(ABS)
(for versions/markets, where provided)
ABS will help you avoid skidding by elec-
tronically controlling braking pressure. It
will also help you maintain steering con-
trol when braking on slippery surfaces or
when braking hard.
The ABS works automatically, so you do
not need any special braking technique.
Just push the brake pedal down without
pumping. The ABS will operate whenev-
er it senses that the wheels are locking up.
You may feel the brake pedal moves a lit-
tle while the ABS is operating.
NOTE The ABS will not work if vehicle
speed is under about 6 km/h (4 mph).
If water gets into the brake
drums, brake performance
may become poor and unpredictable.
After driving through water or wash-
ing the underside of the vehicle, test
the brakes while driving at a slow
speed to see if they have maintained
their normal effectiveness. If the
brakes are less effective than normal,
dry them by repeatedly applying the
brakes while driving slowly until the
brakes have regained their normal ef-
fectiveness.
WARNING
Even without reserve power
in the brake system, you can
still stop the vehicle by pressing the
brake pedal harder than normally re-
quired. However, the stopping dis-
tance may be longer.
WARNING
Brake Assist System
When you slam the brakes on, the brake
assist system judges as an emergency stop
and provides more powerful braking for a
driver who cannot hold down the brake
pedal firmly.
NOTE If you quickly and forcefully de-
press the brakes, you may hear a clicking
sound in the brake pedal. This is normal
and indicates that the brake assist system
is activated properly.
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163
1.ABS warning light Type 1
2.ABS warning light Type 2
3.Brake system warning light
(1) (2)
(3)
65D451
– On some types of loose
surfaces (such as gravel,
snow- covered roads, etc.) the stop-
ping distance required for an ABS-
equipped vehicle may be slightly
greater than for a comparable ve-
hicle with a conventional brake sys-
tem. With a conventional brake sys-
tem, skidding tires are able to
“plow” the gravel or snow layer,
shortening the stopping distance,
ABS minimizes this resistance effect.
Allow for extra stopping distance
when driving on loose surfaces.
– On regular paved roads, some dri-
vers may be able to obtain slightly
shorter stopping distances with con-
ventional brake systems than with
ABS.
– In both of the above conditions,
ABS will still offer the advantage of
helping you maintain directional
control. However, remember that
ABS will not compensate for bad
road or weather conditions or poor
driver judgment. Use good judg-
ment and do not drive faster than
conditions will safely allow.
WARNING
If the ABS warning light ((1)
or (2)) on the instrument
panel comes on and stays on while
driving, there may be a problem with
the ABS system. Ask your Fiat Deal-
ership to inspect the ABS system im-
mediately. If the ABS system becomes
inoperative, the brake system will
function as an ordinary brake system
that has no ABS.
WARNING
If the ABS warning light ((1)
or (2)) and the Brake system
warning light (3) on the instrument
panel simultaneously stays on or
comes on when driving, both anti-lock
function and rear brake force control
function (Proportioning valve func-
tion) of the ABS system may have
failed. If so, the rear wheels may eas-
ily skid or the vehicle can even spin in
the worst case when braking on a slip-
pery road or when hard braking even
on a dry paved road.
Ask your Fiat Dealership to inspect
the ABS system immediately. Drive
carefully, avoiding hard braking as
much as possible.
WARNING
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164
HOW THE ABS WORKS
A computer continuously monitors wheel
speed. The computer compares the
changes in wheel speed when braking. If
the wheels slow suddenly, indicating a
skidding situation, the computer will
change braking pressure several times
each second to prevent the wheels from
locking. When you start your vehicle or
when you accelerate after a hard stop, you
may hear a momentary motor or clicking
noise as the system resets or checks itself.
The ABS may not work
properly if tires or wheels
other than those specified in the own-
er’s manual are used. This is because
the ABS works by comparing changes
in wheel speed. When replacing tires
or wheels, use only the size and type
specified in this owner’s manual.
WARNING
ELECTRONIC STABILITY
PROGRAM (ESP®)
(for versions/markets, where provided)
ESP
®is a registered trademark of Daimler
AG.
The Electronic Stability Program (ESP
®)
helps to control the vehicle during cor-
nering if the vehicle is understeering or
oversteering. It also assists you in main-
taining traction while accelerating on loose
or slippery road surfaces. It does this by
regulating the engine’s output, and by se-
lectively applying the brakes. In addition,
ESP
®helps to avoid skidding by controlling
braking pressure.
The ESP®cannot enhance
the vehicle’s driving stabili-
ty in all situations and does not con-
trol your vehicle’s entire braking sys-
tem. The ESP
®cannot prevent acci-
dents, including those resulting from
excessive speed in turns, or hy-
droplaning. Only a safe and attentive
driver can prevent accidents. The ca-
pabilities of an ESP
®- equipped ve-
hicle must never be used as a substi-
tute for careful driving.
WARNING
The ESP®has the following three systems:
STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM
The vehicle stability control system helps
provide integrated control of systems such
as anti- lock brakes, traction control, en-
gine control, etc. This system automati-
cally controls the brakes and engine to
help prevent the vehicle from skidding
when cornering on a slippery road surface
or when turning the steering wheel
abruptly.
TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
The traction control system automatical-
ly helps prevent the spinning of wheels
when the vehicle is started or accelerated
on slippery road surfaces. The system op-
erates only if it senses that some of the
wheels are spinning or beginning to lose
traction. When this happens, the system
operates the front or rear brakes and re-
duces engine power to limit wheel spin.
NOTE You may hear a clicking sound in
the engine compartment for a few seconds
when you start the engine or just after the
vehicle begins to move. This means that
the above systems are in the self-check
mode. This sound does not indicate a mal-
function.
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165
– The ESP may not work
properly if tires or wheels
other than those specified in the
Owner’s Manual are used. When re-
placing tires or wheels, use only the
size and type specified in this Own-
er’s Manual.
– The ESP
®may not work properly if
tires are not inflated to the recom-
mended tire inflation pressure.
– The ESP
®may not work properly if
tires are fitted with tire chains.
– The ESP
®may not work properly if
the tires are excessively worn. Be sure
to replace tires when the tread wear
indicators in the grooves appear on
the tread surface.
– The ESP
®is not a substitute for win-
ter tires or tire chains on a snow cov-
ered road.
WARNING
– The ESP®may not work
properly if engine related
parts such as the muffler are not
equivalent to standard equipment or
are extremely deteriorated.
– Do not modify the vehicle’s sus-
pension since the ESP
®may not op-
erate correctly.
WARNING
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM
(ABS)
ABS will help you avoid skidding by elec-
tronically controlling braking pressure. It
will also help you maintain steering con-
trol when braking on slippery surfaces or
when braking hard. The ABS works au-
tomatically, so you do not have to use any
special braking technique. Just push the
brake pedal down without pumping. The
ABS will operate whenever it senses that
wheels are locking up. You may feel the
brake pedal pulsate while the ABS is op-
erating.
(For more information on ABS, see “Brak-
ing” in the “OPERATING YOUR VEHI-
CLE” section.)
NOTE If the ABS system is activated, you
may hear a clunking noise and/ or feel pul-
sating in the brake pedal. This is normal
and indicates that the brake fluid pressure
is being controlled properly.The ESP®indicator lights are described be-
low:
SLIP INDICATOR LIGHT
52KM133
When one of the ESP®systems other than
ABS is activated, the SLIP indicator light in
the instrument cluster blinks 5 times per
second.
IMPORTANT If the SLIP indicator light
comes on and stays on while driving, there
may be a malfunction of the ESP
®systems
(other than ABS). You should have the
systems inspected by an authorized Fiat
Dealership.
NOTE When the SLIP indicator light
comes on and stays on while driving, in-
dicating a malfunction of the ESP
®systems
(other than ABS), the brake system will
function as an ordinary ABS with no ad-
ditional ESP
®functions.
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