2012 FIAT FREEMONT towing

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DESCRIPTIONS
1. Air Bag Warning LightThis light will turn on for four to eight sec-
onds as a bulb check when the ignition switch
is first turned to ON/RUN. If the light is
either not on during starting, stays on, or
turns on while driving, have the system inspected at an
authorized dealer as soon as possible. Refer to “Occu-
pant Restraints” in “Safety” for further information.
2. Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) is part of
an onboard diagnostic system, called OBD, that
monitors engine and transmission control sys-
tems. The light will illuminate when the key is in the
ON/RUN position, before engine start. If the bulb does
not come on when turning the key from OFF to
ON/RUN, have the condition checked promptly.
Certain conditions, such as a loose or missing gas cap,
poor fuel quality, etc., may illuminate the MIL after
engine start. The vehicle should be serviced if the MIL
stays on through several of your typical driving cycles.
In most situations, the vehicle will drive normally and
will not require towing.
Prolonged driving with the MIL on could
cause damage to the engine control sys-
tem. It also could affect fuel economy
and drivability. If the MIL is flashing, severe cata-
lytic converter damage and power loss will soon
occur. Immediate service is required.
WARNING!
A malfunctioning catalytic converter, as
referenced above, can reach higher tem-
peratures than in normal operating conditions.
This can cause a fire if you drive slowly or park
over flammable substances such as dry plants,
wood, cardboard, etc .This could result in death or
serious injury to the driver, occupants or others.
3. Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light (for
versions/markets, where provided) The “ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator
Light” in the instrument cluster will come on
when the ignition switch is turned to the
ON/RUN position. It should go out with the
engine running. If the “ESC Activation/Malfunction In-
dicator Light” comes on continuously with the engine
running, a malfunction has been detected in the ESC
system. If this light remains on after several ignition
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TOW EYE
Your vehicle is equipped with a tow eye that can be
used to rescue your vehicle, should it become stranded
off road. (fig. 174)
Tow eyes are for emergency use only, to
rescue a vehicle stranded off road. Do not
use tow eyes for tow truck hookup or
highway towing. You could damage your vehicle.
Tow straps are recommended when towing the
vehicle; chains may cause vehicle damage.
WARNING!
Stand clear of vehicles when pulling with
tow eyes. Tow straps and chains may
break, causing serious injury.
FRONT TOW EYE USAGE
The front tow eye receptacle is located on the lower
right side of the front fascia.
To install the tow eye, remove the rubber plug and
thread the tow eye into the receptacle.
Insert the flat end of the jack handle through the eye
and tighten, refer to “Jacking and Tire Changing” for
further information. The tow hook must be fully seated
to the attaching bracket through the lower front fascia
as shown. If the tow hook is not fully seated to the
attaching bracket, the vehicle should not be towed.
(fig. 175)
(fig. 174) Tow Eye
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TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE
Towing Condition Wheels OFF The Ground MANUAL TRANSMISSIONFlat Tow NONE • Trans in NEUTRAL
• Ignition key in ACC
Wheel Lift Or Dolly Tow Rear
NO
Front OK
Flatbed ALL BEST METHOD
Proper towing or lifting equipment is required to pre-
vent damage to your vehicle. Use only tow bars and
other equipment designed for the purpose, following
equipment manufacturer’s instructions. Use of safety
chains is mandatory. Attach a tow bar or other towing
device to main structural members of the vehicle, not
to bumpers or associated brackets. State and local laws
applying to vehicles under tow must be observed.
If you must use the accessories (wipers, defrosters,
etc.) while being towed, the ignition must be in the
ON/RUN position, not the ACC position.
 Do not use sling type equipment when
towing. Damage to the fascia will occur.
 When securing the vehicle to a flatbed
truck, do not attach to front or rear suspension
components. Damage to your vehicle may result
from improper towing.
 Do not push or tow this vehicle with another
vehicle as damage to the bumper fascia and trans-
mission may result .
 If the vehicle being towed requires steering, the
ignition switch must be in the ON position, not in
the LOCK or ACC position.
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MANUAL TRANSMISSION
The manufacturer recommends towing your vehicle
with all four wheels OFF the ground using a flatbed.
Your vehicle may also be towed in a forward direction,
with all four wheels on the ground, the shift lever in the
NEUTRAL position, and the ignition key in the ACC
position. If the transmission is not operative, the ve-
hicle must be towed with the front wheels OFF the
ground (using a flatbed truck, towing dolly, or wheel lift
equipment with the front wheels raised).WITHOUT THE IGNITION KEY
Special care must be taken when the vehicle is towed
with the ignition in the LOCK position. Flatbed towing
is the preferred towing method. However, if a flatbed
towing vehicle is not available, wheel lift towing equip-
ment may be used. Rear towing (with the front wheels
on the ground) is not allowed, as transmission damage
will occur. If rear towing is the only alternative, the
front wheels must be placed on a towing dolly. Proper
towing equipment is necessary to prevent damage to
the vehicle.
Failure to follow these towing methods
could result in severe damage to the
transmission. Such damage is not covered
by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
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(*) Change the automatic transmission fluid and fil-
ter(s) at 96 000 km or 48 months if using your vehicle
for any of the following: city driving, short (less than
7-8 km) and repeated journeys, or frequent trailer or
caravan towing.
Periodic Checks
Every1 000 km or before long journeys, check and, if
necessary, restore:
• engine coolant;
• brake fluid;
• windshield washer fluid level;
• tire inflation pressure and condition;
• operation of lighting system (headlights, direction
indicators, hazard warning lights, etc.);
• operation of windshield washer/wiper system and positioning/wear of windshield/rear window wiper
blades.
Every 3 000 km , check and top up, if required, the
engine oil level. Heavy-Duty Use Of The Car
If the car is used mainly under one of the followingconditions:
• towing a trailer or caravan;
• dusty roads;
• short, repeated journeys (less than 7-8 km) at sub-
zero outside temperatures;
• engine often idling or driving long distances at low speeds or long periods of idleness.
You should perform the following inspections more
frequently than shown on the Scheduled Servicing Plan:
• check front disc brake pad conditions and wear;
• check cleanliness of hood and trunk locks, cleanli- ness and lubrication of linkage;
• visually inspect conditions of: engine, transmission, pipes and hoses (exhaust - fuel system - brakes) and
rubber elements (boots - sleeves - bushes - etc.);
• check battery charge and battery fluid level (electro- lyte);
• visually inspect condition of the accessory drive belts;
• check and, if necessary, change engine oil and replace oil filter;
• check and, if necessary, replace pollen filter;
• check and, if necessary, replace air cleaner.
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** If the car is used for less than 10 000 km per year, it
is necessary to replace engine oil and cartridge every
12 months.
*** The actual interval for replacement of engine oil
and cartridge depends by vehicle usage conditions and
is shown through a gauge or a message (if available) on
the dashboard or at least every 24 months.
Failure to perform the required mainte-
nance items may result in damage to the
vehicle.
Regular Checks
Every 1,000 km or before long journeys, check and top
up the following if necessary:
• engine coolant fluid, brake fluid, windshield washer fluid and power steering fluid;
• tire pressure and condition;
• operation of lighting system (headlights, direction indicators, hazard lights, etc.);
• operation of the windshield wiper/washer system, position and wear of windshield/rear window wiper
blades;
• Check and add, if required, the engine oil level every 3,000 km. Use Of The Car Under Heavy Conditions
If you use the car mainly under one of the followingconditions:
• trailer or caravan towing;
• dusty roads;
• short (less than 7-8 km) and repeated journeys in
sub-zero temperatures;
• frequent engine idling, travelling long distances at low speeds or long term inactivity, perform the following
inspections more frequently than shown on the
Maintenance Schedule;
• check front disc brake pad condition and wear;
• check cleanliness of hood latches, as well as cleanli- ness and lubrication of linkages;
• visually inspect the conditions of: engine, transmis- sion, pipes and tubes (exhaust - fuel - brakes), rubber
parts (boots, sleeves, etc.);
• check battery charge and liquid level (electrolyte);
• visually inspect the condition of auxiliary drive belts;
• check and if necessary change engine oil and oil filter;
• check pollen filter and replace it, if required;
• check air filter and replace, if required;
• check fuel filter and replace, if required.
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NOTE:Intentional tampering with emissions control
systems can result in civil penalties being assessed
against you.
WARNING!
A hot exhaust system can start a fire if
you park over materials that can burn.
Such materials might be grass or leaves coming
into contact with your exhaust system. Do not
park or operate your vehicle in areas where your
exhaust system can contact anything that canburn.
In unusual situations involving grossly malfunctioning
engine operation, a scorching odor may indicate severe
and abnormal catalyst overheating. If this occurs, safely
bring the vehicle to a complete stop, shut the engine
OFF, and allow the vehicle to cool. Thereafter, obtain
service, including a tune-up to manufacturer's specifi-
cations immediately.
To minimize the possibility of catalyst damage:
• Do not shut OFF the engine or interrupt the ignition when the transmission is in gear and the vehicle is in motion.
• Do not try to start the engine by pushing or towing the vehicle.
• Do not idle the engine with any ignition coil connec- tors disconnected for prolonged periods. COOLING SYSTEM
WARNING!
 When working near the radiator cool-
ing fan, disconnect the fan motor lead or
turn the ignition switch to the LOCK position.The
fan is temperature controlled and can start at
any time the ignition switch is in the ON position.
 You or others can be badly burned by hot
coolant or steam from your radiator. If you see or
hear steam coming from under the hood, do not
open the hood until the radiator has had time to
cool. Never try to open a cooling system pressure
cap when the radiator is hot .
Coolant Checks
Check engine coolant (antifreeze) protection every
12 months (before the onset of freezing weather,
where applicable). If coolant is dirty or rusty in appear-
ance, the system should be drained, flushed, and re-
filled with fresh coolant. Check the front of the A/C
condenser for any accumulation of bugs, leaves, etc. If
dirty, clean by gently spraying water from a garden hose
vertically down the face of the condenser.
Check the coolant recovery bottle tubing for brittle
rubber, cracking, tears, cuts, and tightness of the con-
nection at the bottle and radiator. Inspect the entire
system for leaks.
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Disposal of Used Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Drain, Flush, and Refill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Points to Remember . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Pressure Cap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Radiator Cap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Selection of Coolant (Antifreeze) . . . . . . 281,301,302
Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Corrosion Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Cupholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92,290
Data Recorder, Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Daytime Brightness, Interior Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Daytime Running Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Defroster, Rear Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Defroster, Windshield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64,193
Delay (Intermittent) Wipers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Diagnostic System, Onboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Diesel Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300,302
Diesel Fuel Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Dimmer Switch, Headlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73Dipsticks Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Oil (Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272,273
Power Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Disabled Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262Disposal
Antifreeze (Engine Coolant) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Door Locks, Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Downshifting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203 Driving
On Slippery Surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Through Flowing, Rising, or Shallow Standing
Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Driving to Achieve Maximum Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 24
Electric Remote Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Electrical Outlet, Auxiliary (Power Outlet) . . . . . . . . 89
Electrical Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Electronic Brake Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Anti-Lock Brake System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Brake Assist System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Electronic Roll Mitigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Electronic Stability Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Traction Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Electronic Speed Control (Cruise Control) . . . . . . . . 81
Electronic Stability Program (ESP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Electronic Vehicle Information Center (EVIC) . . . 19,134
Emergency, In Case of Freeing Vehicle When Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Hazard Warning Flasher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Jacking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195,271
Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Break-In Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Checking Oil Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272,273
Compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Compartment Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Coolant (Antifreeze) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280,302
Cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
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KNOWING
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WARNING LIGHTSAND
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