2010 FIAT PUNTO EVO Owners Manual

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
149-160 PUNTO FL EN 4ed 20-01-2010 14:37 Pagina 152

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.
149-160 PUNTO FL EN 4ed 20-01-2010 14:37 Pagina 153

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.
149-160 PUNTO FL EN 4ed 20-01-2010 14:37 Pagina 154

155
KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
Gear selection
Use a higher gear as soon as traffic and road conditions al-
low. Using a low gear for faster acceleration will increase
fuel consumption. In the same way, improper use of a high
gear increases consumption, emissions and engine wear.
Top speed
Fuel consumption considerably increases as speed in-
creases. Keep your speed as even as possible, avoiding un-
necessary braking and acceleration, which cause excessive
fuel consumption and increased emissions.
Acceleration
Accelerating violently severely affects consumption and
emissions: acceleration should be gradual and should not
exceed the maximum torque.CONDITIONS OF USE
Cold starting
Short distances and frequent cold start-ups will prevent the
engine from reaching optimal running temperature. Con-
sequently, both fuel consumption (from +15 to +30% on
the urban cycle) and emissions will increase.
Traffic and road conditions
Heavy traffic, for instance when travelling in a queue with
frequent use of low gears or in cities with lots of traffic
lights, causes fairly high fuel consumption. Mountain roads
and uneven surfaces also have a negative effect on con-
sumption.
Traffic hold-ups
During prolonged hold-ups (e.g. at level crossings) the en-
gine should be switched off.
149-160 PUNTO FL EN 4ed 20-01-2010 14:37 Pagina 155

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
149-160 PUNTO FL EN 4ed 20-01-2010 14:37 Pagina 156

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 4ed 20-01-2010 14:37 Pagina 157

158
KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
Assembly diagram fig. 149
The tow hook structure must be fas-
tened at the points marked by
Øus-
ing a total of 6 M10 screws.
The internal back plates should be at
least 6 mm thick.
The hook should be fastened to the
body avoiding any type of drilling of
the rear bumper that remains visible
when the hook is removed.
IMPORTANT It is compulsory to at-
tach a label (plainly visible) of suitable
size and material at the same level as
the hitch ball, with the following
wording:
MAX LOAD ON BALL 60 kg
After assembly, the screw
holes should be sealed to
prevent exhaust gases getting in.
WARNING
fig. 149F0U0132m
Existing
hole
Existing
screw
Existing screw
Existing
holeExisting
hole
Existing hole
Standard ball
Laden
149-160 PUNTO FL EN 4ed 20-01-2010 14:37 Pagina 158

159
KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
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
149-160 PUNTO FL EN 4ed 20-01-2010 14:37 Pagina 159