2012 FIAT 500 steering column

In addition, the vehicle is equipped with a Supplemental
Driver Side Knee Air Bag mounted in the instrument
panel below the steering column.NOTE:
These air bags are certified to the Federal
regulations for Advanced Air Bags.
The Advanced Front Air Bags are designed to allow the
air bags to have different inflation levels based on the
severity and type of collision.
This vehicle may be equipped with driver and/or front
passenger seat track position sensors that may adjust the
inflation level of the Advanced Front Air Bags based
upon seat position.
This vehicle may be equipped with a driver and/or front
passenger seat belt buckle switch that detects whether
the driver or front passenger seat belt is fastened. The
seat belt buckle switch may adjust the inflation level of
the Advanced Front Air Bags.
This vehicle is equipped with Supplemental Side Air Bag
Inflatable Curtains (SABIC) to protect the driver, front,
Advanced Front Air Bag And Knee Bolster Locations
1 — Driver And Passenger Ad-
vanced Front Air Bags 3 — Supplemental Driver Side
Knee Air Bag
2 — Knee Bolster
2
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 41

and rear passengers sitting next to a window. The SABIC
are located above the side windows. The trim covering
the SABIC is labeled SRS AIRBAG.
This vehicle is equipped with Supplemental Seat-
Mounted Side Air Bags (SAB). The SAB are marked with
an air bag label sewn into the outboard side of the front
seats.
NOTE:
•Air Bag covers may not be obvious in the interior trim,
but they will open during air bag deployment.
•After any accident, the vehicle should be taken to an
authorized dealer immediately.
Air Bag System Components
Your vehicle may be equipped with the following air bag
system components:
•Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
•Air Bag Warning Light
•Steering Wheel and Column
•Instrument Panel
•Supplemental Driver Side Knee Air Bag
•Knee Impact Bolster
•Driver Advanced Front Air Bag
•Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag
•Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bags (SAB)
•Supplemental Side Air Bag Inflatable Curtains
(SABIC)
•Front and Side Impact Sensors
•Front Seat Belt Pretensioners, Seat Belt Buckle Switch,
and Seat Track Position Sensors
42 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

are possible, based on the collision type and severity. The
steering wheel hub trim cover and the upper right side of
the instrument panel separate and fold out of the way as
the air bags inflate to their full size. The air bags fully
inflate in about 50 to 70 milliseconds. This is about half of
the time it takes to blink your eyes. The air bags then
quickly deflate while helping to restrain the driver and
front passenger.
The Advanced Front Air Bag gas is vented through the
vent holes in the sides of the air bag. In this way, the air
bags do not interfere with your control of the vehicle.
Supplemental Driver Side Knee Air Bag Inflator
Unit
The Supplemental Driver Side Knee Air Bag unit is
located in the instrument panel trim beneath the steering
column. When the ORC detects a collision requiring the
air bag, it signals the inflator units. A large quantity of
non-toxic gas is generated to inflate the SupplementalDriver Side Knee Air Bag. The trim cover separates and
folds out of the way allowing the air bag to inflate to the
full size. The air bag fully inflates in about 15 to 20
milliseconds. The Supplemental Driver Side Knee Air
Bag gas is vented through small vent holes in the side of
the air bag.
Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bag (SAB)
Inflator Units
The Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bags (SAB) are
designed to activate only in certain side collisions.
The ORC determines if a side collision requires the side
air bags to inflate, based on the severity and type of
collision.
Based on the severity and type of collision, the side air
bag inflator on the crash side of the vehicle may be
triggered, releasing a quantity of non-toxic gas. The
inflating SAB exits through the seat seam into the space
between the occupant and the door. The SAB fully inflate
2
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 49

▫Recline Adjustment .................... 93
▫ Seat Height Adjustment ................. 94
▫ Ez Entry Feature ...................... 94
▫ Memory Feature ...................... 95
▫ Heated Seats — If Equipped ............. 95
▫ Head Restraints ...................... 96
 To Open And Close The Hood ............. 98
 Lights ............................. 100
▫ Multifunction Lever .................. 100
▫ Headlights ......................... 100
▫ High Beams ........................ 101
▫ Flash-To-Pass ....................... 101
▫ Parking Lights ...................... 101 ▫
Daytime Running Lights — If Equipped .... 101
▫ Turn Signals ........................ 102
▫ Lane Change Assist ................... 102
▫ Follow Me Home/Headlight Delay ....... 102
▫ Interior Lights ...................... 103
▫ Front Fog Lights — If Equipped .......... 104
 Windshield Wipers And Washers .......... 105
▫ Front Windshield Wiper Operation ........ 105
▫ Rear Windshield Wiper ................ 107
 Tilt Steering Column — If Equipped ........ 108
 Electronic Speed Control ................ 109
▫ To Activate ......................... 110
▫ To Set A Desired Speed ................ 110
74 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHERS
The windshield wiper/washer lever is located on the
right side of the steering column.
NOTE:The windshield wipers/washers will only oper-
ate with the ignition in the ON/RUN position.
Front Windshield Wiper Operation
There are five different modes of operation for the front
windshield wipers. The windshield wiper lever can be
raised or lowered to access these modes:
Windshield Wiper Off
This is the normal position of the wiper lever.
Intermittent Wiper Operation
Push the lever downward to the first detent. The wipers
will operate intermittently.
Windshield Wiper Operation
3
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 105

Rear Windshield Washer Operation
Push the windshield wiper/washer lever toward the
instrument panel to activate the rear washer. Push and
hold the lever for more than a half second and the wipers
will activate automatically for three cycles after the lever
is released.
TILT STEERING COLUMN — IF EQUIPPED
This feature allows you to tilt the steering column
upward or downward. The tilt control lever is located on
the left-side of the steering column, below the turn signal
controls.Push down on the lever to unlock the column. With one
hand firmly on the steering wheel, move the steering
column up or down as desired. Push the lever up to lock
the column firmly in place.
Tilt Control Lever
108 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
Do not adjust the steering column while driving.
Adjusting the steering column while driving or driv-
ing 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 ve-
hicle. Failure to follow this warning may result in
serious injury or death.
ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROL
When engaged, the Electronic Speed Control takes over
accelerator operations at speeds greater than 25 mph
(40 km/h).
The Electronic Speed Control buttons are located on the
right side of the steering wheel.NOTE:
In order to ensure proper operation, the Elec-
tronic Speed Control system has been designed to shut
down if multiple Speed Control functions are operated at
the same time. If this occurs, the Electronic Speed ControlSpeed Control Buttons
3
UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE 109

Trip Computer
The Trip Computer is located in the instrument cluster. It
features a driver-interactive display (displays informa-
tion such as; trip information, range, fuel consumption,
average speed and travel time).
Trip Button
TheTRIP button, located on the right steering column
stalk, can be used to display and to reset the previously
described values.
•A short button press displays the different values.
•A long button press resets the system and then starts a
new trip.
New Trip
To reset:
•Press and hold the TRIPbutton to reset the system
manually.
•When the “Trip distance” reaches 9999.9 miles or
kilometers or when the “Travel time” reaches 99.59
(99 hours and 59 minutes), the system is reset auto-
matically.
•Disconnecting/Reconnecting the battery resets the
system.
NOTE: If the reset operation occurs in the presence of
the screens concerning Trip A or Trip B, only the infor-
mation associated with Trip A or Trip B functions will be
reset.
Start Of Trip Procedure
With the ignition on, press and hold the TRIPbutton for
over one second to reset.
Exit Trip
To exit the Trip function, wait until all the values have
been displayed or hold the MENU ESCbutton for longer
than one second.
150 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL