2012 FIAT 500C maintenance

TABLE OF CONTENTSSECTIONPAGE
1INTRODUCTION............................................................3
2THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE..............................9
3UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE............................. 73
4UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL.................................. 129
5STARTING AND OPERATING................................................203
6WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES............................................. 269
7MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE..............................................303
8MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES.................................................351
9IF YOU NEED CONSUMER ASSISTANCE........................................ 367
10INDEX...................................................................377
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INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on selecting your new vehicle. Be as-
sured that it represents precision workmanship, distinc-
tive styling, and high quality - all essentials that are
traditional to our vehicles.
This Owner’s Manual has been prepared with the assis-
tance of service and engineering specialists to acquaint
you with the operation and maintenance of your vehicle.
It is supplemented by Warranty Information, and various
customer-oriented documents. Please take the time to
read these publications carefully. Following the instruc-
tions and recommendations in this manual will help
assure safe and enjoyable operation of your vehicle.
The enclosed Warranty Information lists the services that
FIAT Group Automobiles offers to its customers:
•the Warranty Certificate with terms and conditions for
maintaining its validity
•the range of additional services available to FIAT
Group Automobiles customersNOTE: After reviewing the owner information, it
should be stored in the vehicle for convenient referenc-
ing and remain with the vehicle when sold.
When it comes to service, remember that your authorized
dealer knows your vehicle best, has factory-trained techni-
cians and genuine parts, and cares about your satisfaction.
HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL
Consult the Table of Contents to determine which section
contains the information you desire.
Since the specification of your vehicle depends on the
items of equipment ordered, certain descriptions and
illustrations may differ from your vehicle’s equipment.
The detailed Index at the back of this Owner’s Manual
contains a complete listing of all subjects.
Consult the following table for a description of the
symbols that may be used on your vehicle or throughout
this Owner’s Manual:
4 INTRODUCTION

WARNING!
•Before exiting a vehicle, always apply the parking
brake, shift the transmission into PARK, and re-
move the key fob from the ignition. When leaving
the vehicle, always lock your vehicle.
•Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle.
•Allowing children to be in a vehicle unattended is
dangerous for a number of reasons. A child or
others could be seriously or fatally injured. Chil-
dren should be warned not to touch the parking
brake, brake pedal or the shift lever.
•Do not leave the key fob in or near the vehicle, and
do not leave the ignition in the ACC or ON/RUN
position. A child could operate power windows,
other controls, or move the vehicle.(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Do not leave children or animals inside parked
vehicles in hot weather. Interior heat build-up may
cause serious injury or death.
CAUTION!
An unlocked car is an invitation to thieves. Always
remove the key from the ignition and lock all the
doors when leaving the vehicle unattended.
Locking Doors With A Key
You can insert the key with either side up. To lock the
door, turn the key to the right. To unlock the door, turn
the key to the left. Refer to “Body Lubrication” in
“Maintaining Your Vehicle” for maintenance
information.
2
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 13

Air Bag Warning Light
You will want to have the air bags ready to
inflate for your protection in a collision. The
Air Bag Warning Light monitors the internal
circuits and interconnecting wiring associated
with air bag system electrical components. While the air
bag system is designed to be maintenance free, if any of
the following occurs, have an authorized dealer service
the air bag system immediately.
•The Air Bag Warning Light does not come on during
the four to eight seconds when the ignition switch is
first turned to the ON/RUN position.
•The Air Bag Warning Light remains on after the four to
eight-second interval.
•The Air Bag Warning Light comes on intermittently or
remains on while driving.
NOTE: If the speedometer, tachometer, or any engine
related gauges are not working, the Occupant Restraint
Controller (ORC) may also be disabled. The air bags may
not be ready to inflate for your protection. Promptly
check the Body Control Module (BCM) fuse block inside
the vehicle for blown fuses. Refer to the label located on
the inside of the fuse block cover for the proper air bag
fuses. See your authorized dealer if the fuse is good.
2
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 55

Transporting Pets
Air Bags deploying in the front seat could harm your pet.
An unrestrained pet will be thrown about and possibly
injured, or could injure a passenger during panic braking
or in a collision.
Pets should be restrained in the rear seat in pet harnesses
or pet carriers that are secured by seat belts.
ENGINE BREAK-IN RECOMMENDATIONS
A long break-in period is not required for the engine and
drivetrain (transmission and axle) in your vehicle.
Drive moderately during the first 300 miles (500 km).
After the initial 60 miles (100 km), speeds up to 50 or
55 mph (80 or 90 km/h) are desirable.
While cruising, brief full-throttle acceleration within the
limits of local traffic laws contributes to a good break-in.
Wide-open throttle acceleration in low gear can be detri-
mental and should be avoided.The engine oil installed in the engine at the factory is a
high-quality energy conserving type lubricant. Oil
changes should be consistent with anticipated climate
conditions under which vehicle operations will occur. For
the recommended viscosity and quality grades, refer to
“Maintenance Procedures” in “Maintaining Your Ve-
hicle”.
CAUTION!
Never use Non-Detergent Oil or Straight Mineral Oil
in the engine or damage may result.
NOTE: A new engine may consume some oil during its
first few thousand miles (kilometers) of operation. This
should be considered a normal part of the break-in and
not interpreted as an indication of difficulty.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 67

▫Technical Specifications ................ 164
▫ Quick Guide ....................... 165
▫ General Information .................. 167
▫ Functions And Adjustments ............. 169
▫ Radio ............................ 176
▫ Sirius Satellite Radio — If Equipped ...... 178
▫ CD Player ......................... 181
▫ CD MP3 Player ..................... 183
▫ Troubleshooting ..................... 185
 iPod/USB/Media Player Control — If
Equipped ............................ 186
 Steering Wheel Audio Controls ............ 187▫
Radio Operation ..................... 188
▫ CD Player Operation .................. 188
▫ Operating Instructions — Hands-Free Phone
(If Equipped) ....................... 189
 CD/DVD Disc Maintenance .............. 189
 Radio Operation And Mobile Phones ....... 189
 Climate Controls ...................... 190
▫ Manual Heating And Air Conditioning ..... 190
▫ Operating Tips Chart ................. 193
▫ Automatic Temperature Control (ATC) — If
Equipped .......................... 194
▫ Operating Tips ...................... 200
130 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illumi-
nates, you should stop and check your tires as soon as
possible, and inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving
on a significantly under-inflated tire causes the tire to
overheat and can lead to tire failure. Under-inflation also
reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect
the vehicle’s handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for proper
tire maintenance, and it is the driver ’s responsibility to
maintain correct tire pressure, even if under-inflation has
not reached the level to trigger illumination of the TPMS
low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS
malfunction indicator to indicate when the system is not
operating properly. The TPMS malfunction indicator iscombined with the low tire pressure telltale. When the
system detects a malfunction, the telltale will flash for
approximately one minute and then remain continuously
illuminated. This sequence will continue upon subse-
quent vehicle start-ups as long as the malfunction exists.
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated, the sys-
tem may not be able to detect or signal low tire pressure
as intended. TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety
of reasons, including the installation of replacement or
alternate tires or wheels on the vehicle that prevent the
TPMS from functioning properly. Always check the
TPMS malfunction telltale after replacing one or more
tires or wheels on your vehicle, to ensure that the
replacement or alternate tires and wheels allow the TPMS
to continue to function properly.
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UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 137

If the radio has BLUE&ME™, refer to the appropriate
“BLUE&ME™ User ’s Manual” for further information.
The instructions for use are given below and we recom-
mend you to read them carefully.
Suggestions
Road Safety
Please, learn how to use all different radio functions (e.g.
store stations) before beginning to drive.
Reception Conditions
Reception conditions change constantly while driving.
Reception may be interfered with by the presence of
mountains, buildings or bridges, or when you are far
away from the broadcaster.
WARNING!
Having the volume turned up high can cause the
driver to no be able to hear important traffic sounds,
i.e. sirens, horns, etc. This could cause an accident.
Always adjust the volume so that you can still hear
background noises.
Care And Maintenance
Clean the cover with a soft antistatic cloth only. Cleaning
and polishing products could damage the surface.
CDs
The presence of dirt, scratches or distortions on the CDs
could cause skipping and poor sound quality while it is
playing. For optimal playback conditions, follow these
guidelines:
•Only use branded CDs.
162 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL