2009 FIAT SEDICI Owners Manual

168
IMPROVING FUEL
ECONOMY
The following instructions will help you
improve fuel economy.
Avoid excessive idling
If you are to wait for more than a minute
while you are parked, stop the engine and
start it again later. When warming up a
cold engine, allow the engine to idle until
the temperature gauge pointer comes up
to the “C” position (if the idling is not pro-
hibited). In this position, the engine is suf-
ficiently warm for starting off.
Avoid “fast” starts
Fast starts away from lights or stop signs
will consume fuel unnecessarily and short-
en engine life. Start off slowly.
Avoid unnecessary stops
Avoid unnecessary deceleration and stop-
ping. Try to maintain a slow, steady speed
whenever possible. Slowing down and
then accelerating again uses more fuel.
Keep a steady cruising speed
Keep as constant a speed as road and traf-
fic conditions will permit.Keep the air cleaner clean
If the air cleaner is clogged with dust, there
will be greater intake resistance, result-
ing in decreased power output and in-
creased fuel consumption.
Keep weight to a minimum
The heavier the load, the more fuel the
vehicle consumes. Take out any luggage or
cargo when it is not necessary.
Keep tire pressures correct
Underinflation of the tires can waste fuel
due to increased running resistance of the
tires. Keep your tires inflated to the cor-
rect pressure shown on the label on the
driver’s side door or the driver’s door
lock pillar.
60A183S
Do not idle the vehicle for prolonged
periods if idling seems rough or there
are other malfunctions.
Do not allow the fuel tank to get near
the empty level.
54G584S
Be careful where you park
and drive; the catalytic con-
verter and other exhaust components
can get very hot. As with any vehicle,
do not park or operate this vehicle
in areas where combustible materials
such as dry grass or leaves can come
in contact with a hot exhaust system.
WARNING
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169
D D
R R
I I
V V
I I
N N
G G
T T
I I
P P
S S
60G409
HIGHWAY DRIVING .......................................................... 170
DRIVING ON HILLS............................................................ 170
DRIVING ON SLIPPERY ROADS ..................................... 171
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170
HIGHWAY DRIVING
When driving at high-speed, pay attention
to the following:
❒Stopping distance progressively in-
creases with vehicle speed. Apply the
brakes far enough ahead of the stopping
point to allow for the extra stopping
distance.
❒On rainy days, “Aquaplaning” can occur.
“Aquaplaning” is the loss of direct con-
tact between the road surface and the
vehicle’s tires due to a water film form-
ing between them. Steering or braking
the vehicle while “Aquaplaning” can be
very difficult, and loss of control can oc-
cur. Keep speed down when the road
surface is wet.
❒At high speeds, the vehicle may be af-
fected by side winds. Therefore, reduce
speed and be prepared for unexpect-
ed buffeting, which can occur at the ex-
its of tunnels, when passing by a cut of
a hill, or when being overtaken by large
vehicles, etc.
DRIVING ON HILLS
❒When climbing steep hills, the vehicle
may begin to slow down and show a
lack of power. If this happens, you
should shift to a lower gear so that the
engine will again be operating in its nor-
mal power range. Shift rapidly to pre-
vent the vehicle from losing momen-
tum.
❒When driving down a hill, the engine
should be used for braking by shifting
into a lower gear. (Do this with EITHER
an automatic or manual transaxle.)
52D078S
– Wear Your Seat Belts at All
Times. Even though air bags
are equipped at the front seating po-
sitions, the driver and all passengers
should be properly restrained at all
times, using the seat belts provided.
Refer to the “Seat Belts and Child Re-
straint Systems” section for instruc-
tions on proper use of the seat belts.
– Never drive while under the influ-
ence of alcohol or other drugs. Alco-
hol and drugs can seriously impair
your ability to drive safely, greatly in-
creasing the risk of injury to yourself
and others. You should also avoid dri-
ving when you are tired, sick, irritat-
ed, or under stress.
WARNING
Try not to hold the brake
pedal down too long or too
often while going down a steep or
long hill. This could cause the brakes
to overheat, resulting in reduced
braking efficiency. Failure to take this
precaution could result in loss of ve-
hicle control.
WARNING
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171
DRIVING ON SLIPPERY
ROADS
Under wet road conditions you should
drive at a lower speed than on dry roads
due to possible slippage of tires during
braking. When driving on icy, snow-cov-
ered, or muddy roads, reduce your speed
and avoid sudden acceleration, abrupt
braking, or sharp steering movements.
FOR 4-WHEEL DRIVE (4WD)
MODELS
Your 4WD is designed to get better trac-
tion on slippery roads than 2-wheel drive
models. However, your 4WD will not
have as much traction in deep snow, mud
or sand as multipurpose 4WD vehicles.
You should not attempt to drive your
4WD in deep snow, mud or sand. 4WD
models are not sport/utility vehicles, and
are not designed for off-road use.
SNOW CHAINS
Snow chains should only be used if they
are needed to increase traction or are re-
quired by law. Make sure that the chains
you use are the correct size for your ve-
hicle’s tires. Also make sure that there is
enough clearance between the fenders
and the chains as installed on the tires.Install the chains on the front tires tight-
ly, according to the chain manufacturer’s
instructions. Retighten the chains after dri-
ving about 1. 0 km (1/ 2 mile) if necessary.
With the chains installed, drive slowly.
IMPORTANT
❒If you hear the chains hitting against the
vehicle body while driving, stop and
tighten them.
❒If you vehicle is equipped with full wheel
caps, remove the wheel caps before in-
stalling the chains or the wheel caps can
be damaged by the chain bands. IMPORTANT When descending a down
hill, NEVER turn the ignition key to the
“OFF” position. Emission control system
damage may result.
79J02960G089S
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172
IMPORTANT Do not continue rocking
the vehicle for more than a few minutes.
Prolonged rocking can cause engine over-
heating or transaxle damage. IF YOUR VEHICLE GETS STUCK
If your vehicle gets stuck in snow, mud, or
sand, follow the directions below:
❒Shift the transaxle back and forth be-
tween first gear and reverse. This will
create a rocking motion which may give
you enough momentum to free the ve-
hicle. Press gently on the accelerator to
keep wheel spin to a minimum.
Remove your foot from the accelera-
tor while shifting.
Do not race the engine. Excessive
wheel spin will cause the tires to dig
deeper, making it more difficult to free
the vehicle.
❒If your vehicle remains stuck after a few
minutes of rocking, get another vehicle
to pull you out.
Do not allow anyone to
stand near the vehicle when
you are rocking it, and do not spin the
wheels faster than an indicated
40 km/h (25 mph) on the speedome-
ter. Personal injury and/ or vehicle
damage may result from spinning the
wheels too fast.
WARNING
54G638S
In addition to following the
driving tips in this section, it
is important to observe the following
precautions.
– Make sure your tires are in good
condition and always maintain the
specified tire pressure. Refer to
“Tires” in the “INSPECTION AND
MAINTENANCE” section for details.
WARNING
– Do not use tires other than
those specified by Fiat.
Never use different sizes or types of
tires on the front and rear wheels. For
information regarding the specified
tires, refer to the Tire Information La-
bel located on the driver’s door lock
pillar.
– Never use oversized tires or special
shock absorbers and springs to raise
(jack up) your vehicle. This will
change the handling characteristics.
Oversized tires may also rub against
the fender over bumps, causing vehi-
cle damage or tire failure.
– After driving through water, 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 effective-
ness.
WARNING
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173
V V
E E
H H
I I
C C
L L
E E
L L
O O
A A
D D
I I
N N
G G
A A
N N
D D
T T
O O
W W
I I
N N
G G
54G215
VEHICLE LOADING............................................................ 174
TRAILER TOWING.............................................................. 174
TOWING YOUR VEHICLE
(RECREATIONAL TOWING)........................................... 179
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174
TRAILER TOWING
Your Fiat was originally designed to car-
ry people and a normal amount of cargo,
not to tow a trailer. Fiat does not rec-
ommend you use your vehicle to tow a
trailer if there is not any local regulation
about towing capacity permitted (for ex-
ample, registered or statutory towing ca-
pacity). Towing a trailer can adversely af-
fect handling, durability, and fuel economy.
Some countries have regulations which
specifically allow trailer towing up to a
specified maximum trailer weight (regis-
tered or statutory towing capacity,
whichever is smaller); vehicles sold in
these countries can be used to tow a light
trailer, provided the trailer does not ex-
ceed the maximum trailer weight specified
in the country’s regulations.
If you use your Fiat to tow a trailer, you
should always observe the requirements
and recommendations in this section. If
you intend to tow a trailer, it is essential
to select a trailer and trailer towing equip-
ment which are compatible. A reputable
towing specialist can help you.
VEHICLE LOADING
Your vehicle was designed for specific
weight capacities. The weight capacities of
your vehicle are indicated by the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and the
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR, front
and rear). The GVWR and GAWR (front
and rear) are listed in the “SPECIFICA-
TIONS” section.
GVWR – Maximum permissible overall
weight of the fully loaded vehicle (includ-
ing all the occupants, accessories and car-
go plus the trailer nose weight if towing
a trailer).
GAWR – (Front and Rear) Maximum per-
missible weight on an individual axle.
Actual weight of the loaded vehicle and ac-
tual loads at the front and rear axles can
only be determined by weighing the vehi-
cle. Compare these weights to the GVWR
and GAWR (front and rear). If the gross
vehicle weight or the load on either axle
exceeds these ratings, you must remove
enough weight to bring the load down to
the rated capacity.Never overload your vehicle.
The gross vehicle weight
(sum of the weights of the vehicle, all
the occupants, accessories, cargo plus
trailer nose weight if towing a trailer)
must never exceed the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR). In addition,
never distribute a load so that the
weight on either the front or rear axle
exceeds the Gross Axle Weight Rat-
ing (GAWR).
WARNING
Always distribute cargo
evenly. To avoid personal in-
jury or damage to your vehicle, al-
ways secure cargo to prevent it from
shifting if the vehicle moves sudden-
ly. Place heavier objects on the floor
and as far forward in the cargo area
as possible. Never pile cargo higher
than the top of the seat backs.
WARNING
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Never use a tow bar which
attaches to the axle or the
bumper of your vehicle.
WARNING
Never attach safety chains
to the bumper of your vehi-
cle. Secure connections so that they
can’t come loose.
WARNING
Never connect trailer lights
directly into your vehicle’s
electrical system, or electrical system
damage may occur.
WARNING
BRAKES
If trailer brakes are used, you
should follow all instructions
provided by the manufacturer. Nev-
er connect to the brake system of
your vehicle and never take an elec-
trical supply directly from the wiring
harness.
WARNING
175
SAFETY CHAINS
Always attach safety chains between your
vehicle and trailer. Cross safety chains un-
der the nose of the trailer so that the nose
will not drop to the road if the trailer be-
comes separated from the tow bar. Fol-
low the manufacturer’s recommendation
for attaching safety chains. Always leave
just enough slack to permit full turning.
Never allow safety chains to drag on the
road.TRAILER LIGHTS
Make sure your trailer is equipped with
lights which meet local requirements. Al-
ways check for the proper operation of all
trailer lights before you start to tow. IMPORTANT Trailer towing puts addi-
tional stress on the engine, drive train, and
brakes of your vehicle. Never tow a trail-
er during the first 960 km (600 miles) of
vehicle operation.
IMPORTANT For Automatic Transaxle
vehicles, do not use “D” range when tow-
ing on a steep hill. Towing in “D” range
when driving on a steep hill can cause au-
tomatic transaxle fluid overheating with-
out warning, which can result in transaxle
damage.
TOW BARS
Only use a tow bar that is designed to at-
tach to the chassis of your vehicle, and
a hitch that is designed to bolt to this
bracket.
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