2011 FIAT STRADA Owner handbook (in English)

fig. 91
To close the bonnet:
1) Hold the bonnet up with one
hand and with the other remove
stay A-fig. 90 from housing B and
fit it back into its locking device.
2) Lower the bonnet to
approximately 20 centimetres
from the engine compartment.
3) Let it drop: the bonnet closes
automatically.
Always check that the
bonnet is closed
correctly, to prevent it from
opening while the vehicle is in
motion.
WARNING
REAR WINDOW
The rear window (for versions/
markets, where provided) slides
when stop A-fig. 91 is released.
F0X0072m
fig. 92
F0X0073m
PROTECTIVE GRILLE
A grille is fixed to the body to
protect the rear window and can
hold a ladder fig. 92. Use the ladder
holder to support the tallest objects
transported and to secure them
correctly. In versions with extended,
crew or Adventure cab, lift the load
limiter fig. 93-94.
87

fig. 95
F0X0076m
fig. 94
F0X0075m
Where provided, side handles A-fig. 95
in the load compartment facilitate
climbing (to arrange the load for
example).
fig. 93
F0X0074m
Pay great attention to
your hands both when
lifting and when closing the
side limiters: risk of pinching
and/or injury.
WARNING
Do not climb on the
plastic mouldings in the
load compartment, especially
in the area near the fuel filler
flap.
WARNING
Do not tie objects to
the side handles.
WARNING
Do not apply a lateral
pressure greater than
30 kg to the external load
limiters.
WARNING
Do not climb on the
crosspieces of the
protective grille; they are
designed to support a
maximum load of 50 kg.
WARNING
88

REAR AND SIDE
FOOTBOARDS
(for versions/markets, where
provided)
To facilitate access to the load
compartment, the vehicle features
two rear footboards fig. 96.
To facilitate access to the passenger
compartment, the Adventure
version features side footboards.
HEADLIGHTS
LIGHT BEAM DIRECTION
The correct direction of the
headlights is essential for the
comfort and safety of the driver and
other road users. To ensure the
best visibility when travelling with
the headlights on, the vehicle’s
headlight alignment must be correct.
Contact a Fiat Dealership to have
the headlights checked and adjusted.
HEADLIGHT ALIGNMENT
CORRECTOR
This device operates with the
ignition key at MAR and the dipped
headlights on. The vehicle tilts
backwards when it is laden, raising
the beam. The beams must
therefore be realigned in this case.Headlight alignment
adjustment fig. 97
To adjust, depending on the version,
use the dedicated buttons on the
control panel to the left of the
steering wheel fig. 97.
The display on the instrument panel
provides a visual indication of the
adjustment position.
Position 0 - one or two people in
the front seats.
Position 1 - four people.
Position 2 - four people + load in
the rear compartment.
Position 3 - driver + maximum
permitted load, all
stowed in the rear load
compartment.
fig. 97
F0X0078m
fig. 96
F0X0077m
89

Check the alignment of
the light beams each
time the weight of the load
transported changes.
WARNINGABS SYSTEM
This is an integral part of the braking
system, which prevents one or more
wheels from locking or slipping
regardless of the road surface
conditions and braking intensity,
ensuring control of the vehicle even
during emergency braking.
The EBD system (Electronic Braking
Force Distribution) completes the
system, allowing the brake force to
be distributed between the front and
rear wheels.
IMPORTANT For maximum
efficiency of the braking system, a
bedding-in period of about 500 km is
required: during this period it is
better to avoid sharp, repeated and
prolonged braking.SYSTEM INTERVENTION
The driver can feel that the ABS
system has come into action because
the brake pedal pulsates slightly and
the system gets noisier: it means that
the speed of the vehicle should be
altered to suit the type of road
surface.
90

When the ABS
intervenes and you feel
the brake pedal pulsating, do
not raise your foot, but keep it
pressed; in doing so you will
stop in the shortest amount of
space possible depending on
the current road conditions.
WARNING
If the ABS system
intervenes, this
indicates that the traction of
the tyres on the road is nearing
its limit. You must slow down
to a speed compatible with the
available traction.
WARNING
The ABS gets the most
from the available grip,
but it cannot improve it; you
should therefore take every
care when driving on slippery
surfaces and not take
unnecessary risks.
WARNING
FAULT INDICATIONS
ABS failure
This is indicated by the >warning
light switching on in the instrument
panel (together with a message on
the display on some versions) (see
“Warning lights and messages”
section).
In this case, the braking system will
still be effective, although without
the extra capacity offered by the
ABS system. Drive carefully to the
nearest Fiat Dealership to have the
system checked. EBD failure
This is indicated by the >and x
warning lights switching on in the
instrument panel (together with a
message on the display on some
versions) (see “Warning lights and
messages” section).
In this case, the rear wheels may
suddenly lock and the vehicle may
swerve when braking sharply.
Therefore, drive very cautiously to
the nearest Fiat Dealership to have
the system checked.
If only the xwarning
light switches on in the
instrument panel (together
with a message on the display
on some versions), stop the
vehicle immediately and
contact the nearest Fiat
Dealership. Leakage of
hydraulic fluid from the
braking system will
compromise the operation of
the braking system, whether it
is of the conventional type or
with ABS.
WARNING
91

FRONT AIRBAGS
The front (driver and passenger)
airbags protect the front seat
occupants in the event of head-on
crashes of medium-high severity, by
placing the cushion between the
occupant and the steering wheel or
instrument panel.
Therefore, non-activation in other
types of collisions (side collisions,
rear shunts, rollovers, etc.) does not
indicate a system malfunction.
An electronic control unit causes the
bag to inflate, if necessary, in the
event of a head-on crash.
The bag will inflate instantaneously,
placing itself between the front
occupants’ bodies and the structures
which could cause injury. It will
deflate immediately afterwards.
Front (driver and passenger) airbags
are not a replacement of but
complementary to the use of seat
belts, which should always be worn,
as specified by law in Europe and
most non-European countries.In the event of an impact, someone
not wearing a seat belt could move
forward and come into contact with
a bag which is still in the opening
phase. The protection offered by the
cushion is reduced in such a case.
Front air bags may not activate in
the following situations:
– frontal impacts against highly
deformable objects not involving
the front surface of the vehicle
(e.g. wing collision against guard
rail, etc.);
– vehicle wedging under other
vehicles or protective barriers
(e.g. trucks or guard rails);AIRBAGS
The vehicle is fitted with front airbag
for the driver and, for
versions/markets where provided,
front airbag for the passenger.
F0X0059m
92

they may not provide any additional
protection compared with seat belts,
so their activation would not be
appropriate.
In these cases, non-deployment does
not indicate a system malfunction.
Do not apply stickers or
other objects to the
steering wheel or the passenger
side airbag cover. Never put
objects (e.g. mobile phones) on
the passenger side of the
dashboard since they could
interfere with correct inflation
of the passenger air bag and
also cause serious injury to the
passengers.
WARNING
Their volume at maximum inflation
fills most of the space between the
steering wheel and the driver and
between the dashboard and the
passenger. The airbags are not
deployed in the event of minor front
collisions (for which the restraining
action of the seat belts is sufficient).
Seat belts must always be worn. In
the event of frontal impact they
guarantee correct positioning of the
passenger.
fig. 99
F0X0055m
fig. 98
F0X0054m
DRIVER SIDE FRONT
AIRBAG fig. 98
This consists of an instantly inflating
cushion contained in a special recess
in the centre of the steering wheel.
PASSENGER SIDE FRONT
AIRBAG fig. 99
(for versions/markets,
where provided)
This consists of an instantly inflating
cushion contained in a special recess
in the dashboard: this bag has a
larger volume than that on the
driver’s side.
The driver side and passenger side
front airbags have been designed and
calibrated to protect front seat
occupants wearing seat belts.
93

fig. 100
F0X0081m
SEVERE
DANGER:
Do not put cradle seats facing
backwards on the front seat if
the passenger side airbag has
been activated. Deployment of
the airbag in an accident could
cause fatal injuries to the child.
Should it be necessary to place
a child seat on the front seat,
always deactivate the
passenger side airbag. The
passenger seat must also be slid
back as far as possible in order,
to prevent the child seat from
coming into contact with the
dashboard. Although this is not
mandatory by law, the airbag
should be immediately
reactivated when children are
no longer carried to ensure
better protection for adults.
WARNINGMANUALLY DEACTIVATING
THE PASSENGER SIDE
FRONT AIR BAG
(for versions/markets, where
provided)
Should it be absolutely necessary to
carry a child on the front seat, the
passenger side front airbag can be
deactivated.
With the ignition at STOP, the
airbags can be
deactivated/reactivated using the
ignition key in the special key-
operated switch that can be
accessed with the passenger side
door open.
The key can be inserted and
removed in both positions.
IMPORTANT Only operate the
switch with the engine off and the
ignition key removed.The key-operated switch has two
positions fig. 100:
– passenger front airbag activated
(ON position
P):
warning light
Fon instrument
panel off; carrying children on the
front seat is strictly prohibited.
– passenger front airbag deactivated
(OFF position
F): warning light
Fon instrument panel on;
children, protected with
appropriate restraint systems, may
be carried on the front seat.
The
Fwarning light on the
instrument panel remains on
constantly until the passenger airbag
is reactivated.
94