147
KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
Do not rest your head, arms or elbows on
the doors, windows or window bag de-
ployment area as you could be injured during the
inflation phase.
WARNING
Never lean you head, arms or elbows out
of the window.
WARNING
Do not cover the front seat backrest with
sheets or covers that are not compatible
with side bags.
WARNING
If, when turning the key to MAR, the warn-
ing light
¬does not turn on or if it stays
on when travelling (together with the message on
the multifunction display, where provided), there
could be a failure in the safety systems; if this is
the case, the airbags or pretensioners may not trig-
ger in the event of an accident or, in a minor num-
ber of cases, they could activate incorrectly. Con-
tact a Fiat Dealership immediately to have the
system checked before driving off.
WARNING
GENERAL WARNINGS
Do not travel with objects in your lap,
in front of your chest, or between your lips
(pipes, pencils, etc.). In the event of a crash when
the airbag is deployed, you may be seriously in-
jured.
WARNING
Always drive keeping your hands on the
steering wheel rim so that, in the event of
airbag activation, it can inflate without obstruc-
tion. Do not drive with your body slouched for-
wards; keep the backrest upright and lean back
into it.
WARNING
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148
KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
If the key is turned to MAR, even if the en-
gine is switched off, airbags may be de-
ployed when the car is stationary and hit by an-
other vehicle. For this reason, young children must
never sit on the front seat, even if the car is not
moving. We remind you that if the key is turned
to the STOP position, no safety device (airbag or
pretensioner) activates following a collision. Non-
deployment in such cases should not be consid-
ered as the sign of a malfunction.
WARNING
If the car has been stolen or has been the
subject of an attempted theft, if it has
been vandalised or flooded, have the airbag sys-
tem checked at a Fiar Dealership.
WARNING
When the ignition key is turned to MAR,
the warning light “turns on (with front
airbag on passenger’s side enabled) and blinks for
a few seconds to remind you that the passenger
airbag will activate in the event of a collision. Then
it turns off.
WARNING
Do not pressure wash the seats with steam
or water (either by hand or at automatic
seat washing stations).
WARNING
The front airbags deploy in the event of
more severe collisions than those required
for deploying the pretensioners. For collisions in
the range between the two activation thresholds,
pretensioner activation alone is normal.
WARNING
Do not hook rigid objects to clothes hang-
ers and support handles.
WARNING
The airbag does not replace seat belts; it
increases their effectiveness. Furthermore,
since front airbags are not deployed in low speed
collisions, side-on collisions, rear-end shunts or
roll-overs, the passengers are protected only by
the seat belts which must therefore be fastened
at all times.
WARNING
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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
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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 mwill blink for 60 seconds
after starting or during prolonged crank-
ing 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.
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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.
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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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153
KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
F0U0130mfig. 148
USING THE MANUAL GEARBOX
To engage the gears, depress the clutch pedal fully and shift
the gear lever into the required positions (the diagram is
shown on the gear knob fig. 148).
To engage 6
thgear (for versions/markets where provided),
push firmly to the right when operating the lever in or-
der to avoid selecting 4
thgear by mistake. The same ap-
plies to the shift from 6thto 5thgear.
IMPORTANT Reverse may be engaged only when the car
is at a standstill. With the engine running, wait for at least
2 seconds with the clutch pedal fully depressed before en-
gaging reverse to prevent damage to the gears and grating.
To engage reverse R from neutral with a six-speed gearbox,
proceed as follows: lift ring A under the knob and at the
same time move the gear lever to the left and then forwards
fig. 148
Depress the clutch pedal fully to change
gear correctly. Therefore, the floor area
under the pedals should be clear: ensure that any
rubber mats are flat and do not interfere with the
pedals.
WARNING
Do not drive with your hand resting on the
gear lever, because this pressure, even if
light, can wear out the inner components
of the gearbox over time.
IMPORTANT The clutch pedal should be used only for
changing gear. Do not drive with your foot resting on the
clutch pedal, however slightly. For versions/markets where
provided, the electronic clutch control can intervene if it
interprets the incorrect driving style as a fault.
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154
KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
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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