2010 FIAT PUNTO EVO Air

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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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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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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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.
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162
KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
AIRBAG FAILURE (red)
When the ignition key is moved to MAR position,
the warnintg light turns on but should go off af-
ter a few seconds.
The warning light stays on constantly if there is a failure
in the airbag system. A specific message is displayed on cer-
tain versions.
¬
If the warning light ¬does not come on
when turning the key to MAR or stays on
during car travel, a failure may be present in the
restraint systems. If this is the case, the airbags
or pretensioners may not be deployed after an im-
pact or, in a minor number of cases, they may be
deployed accidentally. Contact a Fiat Dealership
immediately to have the system checked before
driving off.
WARNING
A problem with the warning light ¬(light
off) is indicated by the warning light “,
which indicates the front passenger airbag is de-
activated, flashing for more than the usual four
seconds.
WARNING
OVERHEATED ENGINE COOLANT
(red)
When the ignition key is moved to MAR position,
the warnintg light turns on but should go off after a few
seconds. The warning light turns on when the engine is
overheated. If the warning light comes on, proceed as fol-
lows:
❒when driving normally: stop the car, switch off the en-
gine and check that the water level in the reservoir is
not below the MIN mark. If it is not, wait for a few min-
utes for the engine to cool down then slowly and care-
fully open the cap, top-up with coolant and check that
the level is between the MIN and MAX marks. Also
visually check for leaks. Go to a Fiat Dealership if the
warning light comes on again when the engine is next
started.
❒if the vehicle is used under demanding conditions (e.g.
towing trailers uphill or fully loaded): slow down and,
if the light stays on, stop the car. Stop for 2 or 3 min-
utes with the engine running and slightly accelerated to
assist better coolant circulation. Then switch the en-
gine off. Check correct fluid level as described above.
IMPORTANT On particularly demanding journeys, it is ad-
visable to keep the engine on and slightly accelerated for
a few minutes before switching it off.
A specific message is displayed on certain versions.
ç
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166
KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
Go to a Fiat Dealership as soon as possi-
ble if warning light Udoes not light up
when the key is turned to MAR or if, while trav-
elling, the warning light comes on either perma-
nently or flashing (along with a message on the
display on certain versions). The operation of the
Uwarning light may be checked by traffic police
using appropriate equipment. Follow the laws in
force in the country where you are driving.
WARNING
FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG
DEACTIVATED (amber)
The warning light
“comes on when the front
passenger airbag is disabled.
With the front passenger air bag enabled, when the igni-
tion key is turned to MAR the
“warning light comes on
constantly for about 4 seconds, flashes for another 4 sec-
onds and then should go out.
“
Engine management system failure – EOBD
Under normal conditions, turning the ignition key to MAR,
the warning light turns on but it should go off after the en-
gine starts. This indicates that the warning light is work-
ing correctly. If the warning light either stays on or comes
on during car travel:
❒on permanently: this means there is a fault in the sup-
ply/ignition system which could cause high exhaust
emissions, loss of performance, poor handling and high
fuel consumption levels.
A specific message is displayed on certain versions.
Under these conditions, the vehicle can continue travel-
ling at moderate speed without demanding excessive ef-
fort from the engine. Prolonged use of the car with the
warning light on may cause damage. Go to a Fiat Dealer-
ship as soon as possible. The warning light goes out after
the fault disappears, but the indication is stored in the sys-
tem.
❒flashing: this indicates possible damage to the catalytic
converter (see “EOBD system” in the “Dashboard and
controls” section).
If the light flashes, come off the accelerator pedal to re-
duce engine revs until the warning light stops flashing; con-
tinue the journey at moderate speed, trying to avoid dri-
ving conditions that may cause further flashing, and get
to a Fiat Dealership as soon as possible.For versions/markets, where provided, the
Uwarning
light in the instrument panel does not have the EOBD func-
tion (European On Board Diagnosis) but only that of sig-
nalling that the injection system is not working perfectly.
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172
KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
IMPORTANT Do not continue driving with one or more
flat tyres as handling may be compromised. Stop the car,
avoiding harsh braking or steering manoeuvres. Replace
the wheel immediately with the small spare wheel (for ver-
sions/markets where provided) or carry out a repair us-
ing the dedicated kit (see “Changing a wheel” in the “In
an emergency” section) and contact a Fiat Dealership as
soon as possible.
Tyre pressure unsuitable for speed
Should you need to travel at a speed higher than 160 km/h,
inflate the tyres to the pressures specified in “Tyre pres-
sures”.
If the TPMS system (for versions/markets where provid-
ed) detects that the pressure of one or more tyres is un-
suitable for the current speed, the warning light will turn
on (together with the message on the display) (see “Tyre
pressure low” in this section) and it will stay on until the
car slows down to a speed below the preset threshold.
IMPORTANT In this case, slow down immediately because
tyre overheating could damage tyre performance and dura-
bility beyond repair, and may even make the tyre explode. CHECK TYRE PRESSURE
(amber)
TYRE PRESSURE LOW (amber)
TYRE PRESSURE UNSUITABLE FOR
SPEED
(amber)
(for versions/markets where provided)
When the ignition key is moved to MAR position, the
warnintg light turns on but should go off after a few sec-
onds.
Check tyre pressures
The warning light turns on to indicate the flat tyre. Should
two or more tyres be flat, the display will show the indi-
cations corresponding to each tyre in sequence.
Restore correct tyre pressures as soon as possible (see
“Cold tyre pressures” in the “Technical specifications” sec-
tion).
Tyre pressure low
The warning light on the panel comes on when the pres-
sure of one or more tyres falls below a preset level. In this
way, the TPMS system warns the driver that one or more
tyres may be dangerously flat and probably punctured.
n
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Use your hazard lights, warning triangle,
etc to show that your car is stationary.
Passengers should get out of the car, particularly
if it is heavily loaded, and wait for the wheel to be
changed away from the traffic. Apply the hand-
brake.
WARNING
The spare wheel provided is specifically for
your vehicle. Therefore, it must not be
used on different models and you should not use
spare wheels from other models on your vehicle.
The wheel bolts are specific for your vehicle: do
not use them on different models and do not use
bolts from other models on your car.
WARNING
IMPORTANT Do not directly connect the negative ter-
minals of the two batteries: sparks could ignite explosive
gas released from the battery. If the auxiliary battery is
installed on another vehicle, prevent accidental contact be-
tween metallic parts of the two vehicles.
IMPORTANT For cars with Start&Stop system, in case
of starting by booster battery, refer to "Knowing your car"
chapter, paragraph "Start&Stop system".
BUMP STARTING
Never bump start the engine by pushing, towing or driving
downhill. This could cause fuel to flow into the catalytic
converter and damage it beyond repair.
IMPORTANT Remember that the brake booster and the
power steering system are not active until the engine is
started, so you will need to apply much more force to
the brake pedal or steering wheel.CHANGING A TYRE
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS
Wheel changing and correct use of the jack and spare
wheel call for some precautions, as listed below.
176
KNOWING
YOUR
VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
SERVICING
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
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