2011 FIAT FREEMONT steering

KNOWING YOUR VEHICLE
INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on selecting your new FIAT vehicle. Be
assured that it represents precision workmanship, dis-
tinctive styling, and high quality - all essentials that are
traditional to our vehicles.
Before you start to drive this vehicle, read this Owner's
Manual and all the supplements. Be sure you are familiar
with all vehicle controls, particularly those used for
braking, steering, and transmission shifting. Learn how
your vehicle handles on different road surfaces. Your
driving skills will improve with experience, but as in
driving any vehicle, take it easy as you begin. Always
observe local laws wherever you drive.
NOTE: After reviewing the owner information,
it should be stored in the vehicle for convenient
referencing and remain with the vehicle whensold.
Failure to operate this vehicle correctly may result in
loss of control or a collision. Operating this vehicle at excessive speeds or while
intoxicated may result in loss of control, collision with
other vehicles or objects, going off the road, or over-
turning; any of which may lead to serious injury or
death. Also, failure to use seat belts subjects the driver
and passengers to a greater risk of injury or death.
To keep your vehicle running at its best, have your
vehicle serviced at recommended intervals by an au-
thorized dealer who has the qualified personnel, special
tools, and equipment to perform all service.
The manufacturer and its distributors are vitally inter-
ested in your complete satisfaction with this vehicle. If
you encounter a service or warranty problem, which is
not resolved to your satisfaction, discuss the matter
with your dealer's management.
Your authorized dealer will be happy to assist you with
any questions about your vehicle.
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• For vehicles equipped with Keyless Enter-N-Go,press the Keyless Enter-N-Go Start/Stop button
(requires at least one valid Key Fob in the vehicle).
• For vehicles not equipped with Keyless Enter-N- Go, insert a valid key into the ignition switch and
turn the key to the ON position.
NOTE:
• The driver's door key cylinder and the liftgate button
on the RKE transmitter cannot arm or disarm the
Vehicle Security Alarm.
• When the Vehicle Security Alarm is armed, the
interior power door lock switches will not unlock thedoors.
The Vehicle Security Alarm is designed to protect your
vehicle; however, you can create conditions where the
system will give you a false alarm. If one of the previ-
ously described arming sequences has occurred, the
Vehicle Security Alarm will arm regardless of whether
you are in the vehicle or not. If you remain in the
vehicle and open a door, the alarm will sound. If this
occurs, disarm the Vehicle Security Alarm.
If the Vehicle Security Alarm is armed and the battery
becomes disconnected, the Vehicle Security Alarm will
remain armed when the battery is reconnected; the
exterior lights will flash, the horn will sound. If this
occurs, disarm the Vehicle Security Alarm.
Security System Manual Override
The system will not arm if you lock the doors using the
manual door lock plunger. STEERING WHEEL LOCK — IF EQUIPPED
Your vehicle may be equipped with a passive electronic
steering wheel lock. This lock prevents steering the
vehicle without the ignition key. The steering wheel
lock has six positions (one every 60 degrees). If the
steering wheel is moved to one of these six position
with the key in the off positions, the steering wheel will
lock.
TO MANUALLY LOCK THE STEERING WHEEL
With the engine running, rotate the steering wheel
one-half revolution, turn off the engine and remove the
key. Turn the steering wheel slightly in either direction
until the lock engages.
TO RELEASE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK
Cycle the ignition and start the engine.
NOTE:
If you turned the wheel to the right to engage
the lock, you must turn the wheel slightly to the right
to disengage it. If you turned the wheel to the left to
engage the lock, turn the wheel slightly to the left to
disengage it.
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ELECTRONIC VEHICLE
INFORMATION CENTER (EVIC)
The Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) fea-
tures a driver-interactive display that is located in the
instrument cluster. (fig. 8)
This system allows the driver to select a variety of
useful information by pressing the switches mounted
on the steering wheel. The EVIC consists of the follow-ing:
• Radio Info
• Fuel Economy
• Vehicle Speed
• Trip Info
• Tire Pressure
• Vehicle Information• Warning Message Displays
• Turn Menu OFF
The system allows the driver to select information by
pressing the following buttons mounted on the steer-
ing wheel: (fig. 9)
UP Button
Press and release the UP button to scroll
upward through the main menus (Fuel
Economy, Vehicle Info, Tire PSI, Cruise, Mes-
sages, Units) and sub-menus.
DOWN Button Press and release the DOWN button to
scroll downward through the main menus
and sub-menus.(fig. 8)Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC)
(fig. 9) EVIC Steering Wheel Buttons
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WARNING!
 Be certain that the seatback is locked
securely into position. Otherwise, the
seat will not provide the proper stability for
passengers. An improperly latched seat could
cause serious injury.
 Do not allow a passenger to sit in a third row
seat without having the head restraint unfolded
and locked in place. Failure to follow this warning
may result in personal injury to the passenger in
the event of a collision.
 Do not allow a passenger to sit in a third row
seat with the second row seatback(s) folded flat .
In a collision, the passenger could slide under-
neath the seat belt and be seriously or even
fatally injured. TILT/TELESCOPING STEERING
COLUMN
This feature allows you to tilt the steering column
upward or downward. It also allows you to lengthen or
shorten the steering column. The tilt/telescoping con-
trol handle is located below the steering wheel at the
end of the steering column. (fig. 36)
To unlock the steering column, push the control handle
downward. To tilt the steering column, move the steer-
ing wheel upward or downward as desired. To lengthen
or shorten the steering column, pull the steering wheel
outward or push it inward as desired. To lock the
steering column in position, pull the control handle
upward until fully engaged.
(fig. 36)
Tilt/Telescoping Steering Control Handle
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WARNING!
Do not adjust the steering column while
driving. Adjusting the steering column
while driving or driving with the steering column
unlocked could cause the driver to lose control of
the vehicle. Be sure the steering column is locked
before driving your vehicle. Failure to follow this
warning may result in serious injury or death. MIRRORS
INSIDE DAY/NIGHT MIRROR
A single ball joint mirror is provided in the vehicle. It is
a twist on mirror that has a fixed position. The mirror
installs on the windshield button with a counterclock-
wise rotation and requires no tools for mounting.
The mirror head can be adjusted up, down, left, and
right for various drivers. The mirror should be adjusted
to center on the view through the rear window.
Headlight glare from vehicles behind you can be re-
duced by moving the small control under the mirror to
the night position (toward the rear of the vehicle). The
mirror should be adjusted while set in the day position
(toward the windshield). (fig. 37)
(fig. 37)
Manual Rearview Mirror 53
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NOTE:The fog lights will operate with the low beam
headlights or parking lights on. However, selecting the
high beam headlights will turn off the fog lights.
MULTIFUNCTION LEVER
The multifunction lever controls the operation of the
turn signals, headlight beam selection and passing lights.
The multifunction lever is located on the left side of the
steering column.
TURN SIGNALS
Move the multifunction lever up or down and the
arrows on each side of the instrument cluster flash to
show proper operation of the front and rear turn signallights.
NOTE:
• If either light remains on and does not flash, or there
is a very fast flash rate, check for a defective outside
light bulb. If an indicator fails to light when the lever is
moved, it would suggest that the indicator bulb is
defective.
• A “Turn Signal On” message will appear in the EVIC
(if equipped) and a continuous chime will sound if the
vehicle is driven more than 1.6 km with either turn
signal on.
LANE CHANGE ASSIST
Tap the lever up or down once, without moving beyond
the detent, and the turn signal (right or left) will flash
three times then automatically turn off. HIGH/LOW BEAM SWITCH
Push the multifunction lever away from you to switch
the headlights to high beam. Pull the multifunction lever
toward you to switch the headlights back to low beam.
FLASH-TO-PASS
You can signal another vehicle with your headlights by
lightly pulling the multifunction lever toward you. This
will turn on the high beams headlights until the lever is
released.
INTERIOR LIGHTS
The interior lights come on when a door is opened.
To protect the battery, the interior lights will turn off
automatically 10 minutes after the ignition switch is
moved to the LOCK position. This will occur if the
interior lights were switched on manually or are on
because a door is open. This includes the glove box
light, but not the trunk light. To restore interior light
operation, either turn the ignition switch ON or cycle
the light switch.
DIMMER CONTROLS
The dimmer control is part of the headlight switch and
is located on the left side of the instrument panel.
(fig. 52)
Rotating the left dimmer control upward with the
parking lights or headlights on will increase the bright-
ness of the instrument panel lights.
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ILLUMINATED ENTRY
The courtesy lights will turn on when you use the
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter to unlock the
doors or open any door or liftgate.
This feature also turns on the approach lighting in the
outside mirrors (if equipped). Refer to “Mirrors” in
“Knowing Your Vehicle” for further information.
The interior lights will fade to off after approximately
30 seconds or they will immediately fade to off once
the ignition is cycled to the ON/RUN position from the
OFF position.
NOTE:
• The front courtesy overhead console and door cour-
tesy lights do not turn on if the dimmer control is in the
"Dome ON" position (extreme top position).
• The Illuminated Entry system will not operate if the
dimmer control is in the “Dome defeat” position (ex-
treme bottom position).WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND
WASHERS
The windshield wiper/washer control lever is located
on the left side of the steering column. (fig. 53)
The front wipers are operated by rotating a switch,
located at the end of the lever. Refer to “Rear Window
Features” for further information on using the rear
window wiper/washer.
INTERMITTENT WIPER SYSTEM
Use the intermittent wiper system when weather con-
ditions make a single wiping cycle, with a variable pause
between cycles, desirable. Rotate the end of the wind-
shield wiper/washer control lever to one of the first
five detents to select the desired delay interval.
(fig. 54)
(fig. 53)
Windshield Wiper/Washer Lever
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HEADLIGHT WASHERS — IF EQUIPPED
The Headlight Washers are recessed into the top of
the fascia, centrally located below each headlight.
The windshield wiper/washer control lever operates
the headlight washers when the ignition switch is in the
ON position and the headlights are ON. The lever is
located on the left side of the steering column.
To use the headlight washers, push the washer knob,
located on the end of the multifunction lever, inward to
the second detent to activate the windshield washers
and release it. When this is done, the two stationary
washer nozzles at each headlight spray one timed
high-pressure spray of washer fluid onto each headlight
lens. In addition, the windshield washers will spray the
windshield and the windshield wipers will cycle.
NOTE:After turning the ignition switch and head-
lights ON, the headlight washers will operate on the
first spray of the windshield washer and then every
eleventh spray after that. REAR WINDOW FEATURES
REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER
The rear window wiper/washer control is located on
the right side of the steering column. (fig. 56)
Rotate the switch upward to the first detent
position for rear wiper operation.
Rotate the switch upward past the first detent
position to activate the rear washer. The washer
pump will continue to operate as long as the
switch is held. Upon release, the wiper will cycle three
times before returning to the set position. (fig. 57)
If the rear wiper is operating when the ignition is
turned to the LOCK position, the wiper will automati-
cally return to the “Park” position. When the vehicle is
restarted, the wiper will resume function at whichever
position the switch is set at.
(fig. 56) Rear Wiper/Washer
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