2012 FIAT 500 GUCCI Owners Manual

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
Starting Procedures .................... 203
▫ Manual Transmission – If Equipped ....... 203
▫ Automatic Transmission – If Equipped ..... 203
▫ Normal Starting ..................... 203
▫ Cold Weather Operation ............... 204
▫ If Engine Fails To Start ................ 204
▫ After Starting ....................... 205
 Manual Transmission — If Equipped ........ 205
▫ Five-Speed Manual Transmission ......... 205▫
Recommended Shift Speeds ............. 206
▫ Downshifting ....................... 207
 Automatic Transmission — If Equipped ...... 207
▫ Key Ignition Park Interlock ............. 208
▫ Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . 208
▫ Six-Speed Automatic Transmission ........ 208
▫ Gear Ranges ........................ 209
 AutoStick — If Equipped ............... 214
▫ Operation ......................... 215
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▫General Information .................. 215
 Driving On Slippery Surfaces ............. 216
▫ Acceleration ........................ 216
▫ Traction ........................... 217
 Driving Through Water ................. 217
▫ Flowing/Rising Water ................. 217
▫ Shallow Standing Water ............... 218
 Power Steering ....................... 219
 Parking Brake ........................ 220
 Sport Mode .......................... 222
▫ Manual Transmission – If Equipped ....... 222
▫ Automatic Transmission – If Equipped ..... 223
 Brake System ........................ 224 ▫
Four-Wheel Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) . . 224
 Electronic Brake Control System ........... 225
▫ Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ........... 226
▫ Brake Assist System (BAS) .............. 226
▫ Traction Control System (TCS) ........... 227
▫ Hill Start Assist (HSA) ................ 227
▫ Electronic Stability Control (ESC) ......... 228
▫ ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light
And ESC Off Indicator Light ............ 231
 Tire Safety Information ................. 232
▫ Tire Markings ....................... 232
▫ Tire Identification Number (TIN) ......... 236
▫ Tire Terminology And Definitions ......... 237
200 STARTING AND OPERATING

▫Tire Loading And Tire Pressure .......... 238
 Tires — General Information ............. 242
▫ Tire Pressure ....................... 242
▫ Tire Inflation Pressures ................ 243
▫ Tire Pressures For High Speed Operation . . . 244
▫ Radial-Ply Tires ..................... 245
▫ Compact Spare Tire ................... 245
▫ Tire Spinning ....................... 246
▫ Tread Wear Indicators ................. 247
▫ Life Of Tire ........................ 248
▫ Replacement Tires .................... 248
 Tire Chains .......................... 249
 Tire Rotation Recommendations ........... 251
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) ..... 252
▫ Base System ........................ 254
▫ General Information .................. 256
 Fuel Requirements ..................... 257
▫ Reformulated Gasoline ................ 257
▫ Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends ............. 258
▫ E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles ...... 258
▫ MMT In Gasoline .................... 259
▫ Materials Added To Fuel ............... 259
▫ Fuel System Cautions ................. 260
▫ Carbon Monoxide Warnings ............ 261
 Adding Fuel ......................... 262
▫ Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap) .............. 262
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STARTING AND OPERATING 201

▫Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message ........... 263
 Trailer Towing ........................ 263 Recreational Towing (Behind Motorhome, Etc.). . 264
▫
Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle. . 264
202 STARTING AND OPERATING

STARTING PROCEDURES
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust both
inside and outside mirrors, and fasten your seat belts.
WARNING!
Never leave children in the vehicle alone. Leaving
unattended children in a vehicle is dangerous for a
number of reasons. The child or others could be
seriously or fatally injured. The child could operate
power windows, other controls or move the vehicle.
Manual Transmission – If Equipped
Apply the parking brake, place the shift lever in NEU-
TRAL, and press the clutch pedal before starting the
vehicle. This vehicle is equipped with a clutch interlock-
ing ignition system. It will not start unless the clutch
pedal is pressed to the floor.
Automatic Transmission – If Equipped
The shift lever must be in the PARK or NEUTRAL
position before you can start the engine. Apply the brakes
before shifting to any driving gear.
NOTE:You must press the brake pedal before shifting
out of PARK.
Normal Starting
NOTE: Normal starting of either a cold or a warm
engine is obtained without pumping or pressing the
accelerator pedal.
Turn the ignition switch to the AVV (START) position and
release it when the engine starts. If the engine fails to start
within 10 seconds, turn the ignition switch to the STOP
(OFF/LOCK) position, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then repeat
the Normal Starting procedure.5
STARTING AND OPERATING 203

Cold Weather Operation
To prevent possible engine damage while starting at low
temperatures, this vehicle will inhibit engine cranking
when the ambient temperature is less than –22° F (–30° C)
and the oil temperature sensor reading indicates an
engine block heater has not been used. An externally-
powered electric engine block heater is available as
optional equipment or from your authorized dealer.
The messageplug in engine heater will be displayed in the
instrument cluster when the ambient temperature is below
5° F (–15° C) at the time the engine is shut off as a reminder
to avoid possible crank delays at the next cold start.
CAUTION!
Use of the recommended SAE 5W-30 oil and adher-
ing to the prescribed oil change intervals is important
to prevent engine damage and ensure satisfactory
starting in cold conditions.
If Engine Fails To Start
WARNING!
Never pour fuel or other flammable liquids into the
throttle body air inlet opening in an attempt to start
the vehicle. This could result in a flash fire causing
serious personal injury.
CAUTION!
•Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to get
it started. Vehicles equipped with an automatic
transmission cannot be started this way. Unburned
fuel could enter the catalytic converter and once
the engine has started, ignite and damage the
converter and vehicle.
(Continued)
204 STARTING AND OPERATING

CAUTION! (Continued)
•To prevent damage to the starter, do not continu-
ously crank the engine for more than 15 seconds at
a time. Wait 10 to 15 seconds before trying again.
After Starting
The idle speed will automatically decrease as the engine
warms up.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION — IF EQUIPPED
Five-Speed Manual Transmission
WARNING!
You or others could be injured if you leave the
vehicle unattended without having the parking
brake fully applied. The parking brake should al-
ways be applied when the driver is not in the vehicle,
especially on an incline.Fully press the clutch pedal before you shift gears. As you
release the clutch pedal, lightly press the accelerator
pedal.
NOTE:
To shift into REVERSE from NEUTRAL, lift the
ring under the knob and, at the same time move the
gearshift lever to the right and then backward.
Shift Lever
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 205

Use each gear in numerical order; do not skip a gear. Be
sure the transmission is in first gear, not third, when
starting from a standing position. Damage to the clutch
can result from starting in third gear.
For most city driving, you will find it easier to use only
the lower gears. For steady highway driving with light
accelerations, fifth gear is recommended.
Never drive with your foot resting on the clutch pedal,
and never try to hold the vehicle on a hill with the clutch
pedal partially engaged. This will cause abnormal wear
on the clutch.
REVERSE gear is not synchronized and the vehicle must
be at a complete stop to shift into REVERSE gear. When
selecting REVERSE gear, the driver should pause (ap-
proximately 2 seconds) after pushing in the clutch pedal
and prior to shifting into REVERSE which allows gears to
stop spinning. Should an unwanted clash noise be pro-
duced, the pause length should be increased.NOTE:
•Clashing REVERSE gear, especially if vehicle is mov-
ing, can result in transmission damage.
•During cold weather, until the transmission lubricant
is warm, you may experience slightly higher shift
efforts. This is normal and not harmful to the
transmission.
Recommended Shift Speeds
To use your manual transmission for optimal fuel
economy, it should be upshifted as listed in the following
table.
Manual Transmission Recommended Shift Speeds
Units In mph (km/h)
Engine Size Accel-
eration Rate 1to2 2to3 3to4 4to5
1.4L Accel 14 (23) 23 (37) 29 (47) 38 (61)
Cruise 12 (19) 18 (29) 25 (40) 32 (52)
206 STARTING AND OPERATING