107
CORRECT USE
OF THE
VEHICLE
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
VEHICLE
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
PASSENGER’S FRONT AIR BAG
fig. 17
(for versions/markets, where provided)
It consists of an instant-inflating cushion
contained into a special recess in the
dashboard, this cushion has a volume big-
ger than that of the driver.
fig. 16F0P0606m
fig. 17F0P0114m
In minor crashes (for which the restrain-
ing action of the seat belts is sufficient),
the air bags are not deployed. Also in this
case it is of vital importance to wear the
seat belts since in case of side crash they
guarantee proper positioning of the oc-
cupant and prevent the occupants to be
pitched out of the vehicle in case of vio-
lent crashes.
DRIVER’S FRONT AIR BAG fig. 16
It consists of an instant-inflating cushion
contained in a special recess in the cen-
tre of the steering wheel.
Do not apply stickers or oth-
er objects to the steering
wheel or to the air bag cover on the
passenger’s side or on the side roof
lining. Never put objects (e.g. mobile
phones) on the dashboard on pas-
senger side since they could interfere
with proper air bag inflation and al-
so cause serious injury.
WARNINGAt their maximum inflation, the front air
bags volume fills most of the space be-
tween driver and steering wheel and be-
tween dashboard and passenger.
In case of crash, a person not wearing the
seat belt moves forward and may come in-
to contact with the cushion while it is still
inflating. Under this circumstance the pro-
tection offered by the air bag is reduced.
Front air bag may not be activated in the
following situations:
❒ in collisions against highly deformable
objects not affecting the vehicle front
surface (e.g. bumper collision against
guard rail, heaps of gravel, etc.);
❒in case of wedging under other vehicles
or protective barriers (for example un-
der a truck or guard rail), the air bag
is not triggered as it offers no additional
protection compared with the seat
belts, consequently it would be point-
less. Therefore, failure to come into ac-
tion in the above circumstance does
not mean that the system is not work-
ing properly.
108
CORRECT USE
OF THE
VEHICLE
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
VEHICLE
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
IINDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
MANUAL DEACTIVATION OF
PASSENGER’S FRONT AIR BAG
AND SIDE BAG
(for versions/markets, where provided)
Should it be absolutely necessary to car-
ry a child on the front seat, the passenger’s
front air bag and the side bag (for ver-
sions/markets, where provided) can be de-
activated.
The deactivating device fig. 18is located
at the glovebox edge; to use it open the
glovebox lid.
SERIOUS DANGER: With
passenger’s air bag active
(ON), never place child’s
seats with the cradle facing
backwards since the air bag
activation could cause to
the child serious injuries, even mortal.
In the case of need, always deactivate
the passenger’s air bag when a child’s
seat is placed on the front seat. The
front passenger’s seat shall be ad-
justed in the most backward position
to prevent any contact between
child’s seat and dashboard. Even if
not compulsory by law, you are rec-
ommended to reactivate the air bag
immediately as soon as child trans-
port is no longer necessary.
WARNING
fig. 18F0P0115m
Use the ignition key to turnthe deactivat-
ing device to OFFand deactivate the air
bag or to ONto activate it.
The instrument panel warning light
“will
stay on glowing steadily until reactivating
the passenger’s front air bag and the side
bag (for versions/markets, where provid-
ed).
109
CORRECT USE
OF THE
VEHICLE
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
VEHICLE
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
SIDE AIR BAGS
The vehicle is fitted with front side bags
for driver and passenger (for ver-
sions/markets, where provided) for pro-
tecting the chest and window bags (for
versions/markets, where provided) for
protecting front and rear passengers’
head.
Side bags (for versions/markets, where
provided) protect vehicle occupants from
side crashes of medium-high severity, by
placing the cushion between the occupant
and the internal parts of the side structure
of the vehicle.
Non-activation of side bags in other types
of collisions (front collisions, rear shunts,
roll-overs, etc...) is not a system malfunc-
tion.In case of side crash, an electronic control
unit, when required triggers the inflation
of the cushion. The cushion immediately
inflates, placing itself as a protection, be-
tween the occupant’s body and the struc-
ture that could cause injuries. Immediate-
ly after, the cushion deflates.
Side bags (for versions/markets, where
provided) are not a replacement of but
complementary to the belts, which you
are recommended to always wear, as
specified by law in Europe and most non-
European countries.
fig. 19F0P0116m
FRONT SIDE BAGS - CHEST AND
PELVIS ZONE PROTECTION
fig. 19
(for versions/markets, where provided)
Front side bags are housed in the seat back
rests, they consist of an instant inflation
cushion designed to increase protection
of the occupants’ chest and pelvis zone in
the event of a side crash of medium-high
severity.
110
CORRECT USE
OF THE
VEHICLE
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
VEHICLE
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
IINDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
SIDE WINDOW BAGS - HEAD
PROTECTION fig. 20
(for versions/markets, where provided)
They consist of two “curtain” cushions,
one on the right and the other on the left
side of the vehicle, located behind the side
coverings of the roof and covered by
proper finishing.
Window bags have been designed for pro-
tecting the head of front and rear occu-
pants in the event of side crash, thanks to
the wide cushion inflation surface.
IMPORTANT In the event of side crash,
you can obtain the best protection by the
system keeping a correct position on the
seat, allowing thus a correct window bag
unfolding.IMPORTANT The front air bags and/or
side bags may be deployed if the vehicle
is subject to heavy knocks or accidents in-
volving the underbody area, such as for
example violent shocks, against steps,
kerbs or low obstacles, falling of the ve-
hicle in big holes or sags in the road.
IMPORTANT When the airbag inflates it
emits a small amount of dusts. These dusts
are harmless and is not the beginning of
a fire; then the unfold cushion surface and
the vehicle interiors can be covered by a
dusty remains: this dust can irritate skin
and eyes. In case of contact, wash yourself
using neutral soap and water.
Expiry dates for pyrotechnic charge and
coil contact are specified on the label in-
side the glovebox. As this date approach-
es, contact Fiat Dealership to have it re-
placed.
fig. 20F0P0117m
IMPORTANT Should an accident occur in
which any of the safety devices is activat-
ed, take the vehicle to a Fiat Dealership to
have the devices activated replaced and to
have the system checked.
Every control, repair and replacement op-
erations concerning the air bags must on-
ly be carried out c/o Fiat Dealership.
If you are having the vehicle scrapped,
have the air bag system deactivated at a
Fiat Dealership first. If the vehicle changes
ownership, the new owner must be in-
formed of the method of use of air bags
and the above warnings and also be given
this “Owner Handbook”.
111
CORRECT USE
OF THE
VEHICLE
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
VEHICLE
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
Never rest head, arms and
elbows on the door, on the
windows and in the window bag area
to prevent possible injuries during in-
flation phase.
WARNING
Never lean head, arms and
elbows out of window.
WARNING
GENERAL WARNINGS
If when turning the key to M
the warning light ¬does not
turn on or if it stays on when travel-
ling there could be a failure in safety
systems; in this event air bags or pre-
tensioners could not trigger in case of
impact or, in a minor number of cas-
es, they could trigger accidentally.
Contact Fiat Dealership immediately
to have the system checked.
WARNING
Do not cover the backrest of
front and rear seats with
trims or covers that are not suitable
to be used with side bags.
WARNING
Never travel with objects on
your lap, in front of your
chest or with a pipe, pencil, etc. be-
tween your lips; injury may result in
the event of the air bag being trig-
gered.
WARNINGIMPORTANT The triggering of preten-
sioners, front air bags and side bags is de-
cided in a differentiated manner by the
electronic control unit, depending on the
type of crash. The failure to deploy one or
more of them does not mean that the sys-
tem is not working properly.
Always keep your hands on
the steering wheel rim when
driving, so that if the air bag is trig-
gered, it can inflate without meeting
any obstacles which could cause seri-
ous harm to you. Do not drive with
the body bent forwards, keep the seat
back rest in the erect position and
lean your back well against it.
WARNING
112
CORRECT USE
OF THE
VEHICLE
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
VEHICLE
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
IINDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
Remember that with the key
engaged and at M, even if
the engine is not running, the air bags
may be triggered on a stationary ve-
hicle if it is bumped by another mov-
ing vehicle. Therefore, never seat chil-
dren on the front seat even when the
vehicle is stationary. On the other
hand remember that if the key is at S,
no safety system (air bags or preten-
sioners) is triggered in the event of an
impact; in this case, failure to come
into action cannot be considered as a
sign that the system is not working
properly.
WARNING
Do not wash the seat back
rest with pressurised water
or steam (by hand or at automatic
seat washing stations).
WARNING
The front air bag is triggered
for shocks greater in magni-
tude that the pretensioners.
For impacts between these two
thresholds, it is therefore normal that
only the pretensioners are triggered.
WARNING
Do not hook rigid objects to
the coat hooks and to the
support handles.
WARNING
The air bag does not substi-
tute the seat belts, but only
increases their effectiveness.
Moreover, since the front air bags do
not come into operation in the event
of front impact at low speed, side col-
lisions, bumps from behind or over-
turning, in these circumstances the
occupants would only be protected
by the seat belts which must therefore
always be fastened.
WARNING
When the ignition key is
turned to M, the warning
light
“(with passenger’s front air bag
active) turns on and flashes for few
seconds to remind that passenger’s air
bag will be deployed in a crash, af-
ter which it should go off.
WARNING
If the vehicle has been stolen
or an attempt to steal it has
been made, if it has been subjected to
vandals or floods, have the air bag
system checked by Fiat Dealership.
WARNING
113
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
VEHICLE
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE VEHICLE
ENGINE STARTING .......................................................... 114
PARKING .............................................................................. 116
USING THE MANUAL GEARBOX ................................ 117
CONTAINING RUNNING COSTS .............................. 118
SNOW TYRES ..................................................................... 121
SNOW CHAINS .................................................................. 121
VEHICLE INACTIVITY ....................................................... 122
C C
O O
R R
R R
E E
C C
T T
U U
S S
E E
O O
F F
T T
H H
E E
V V
E E
H H
I I
C C
L L
E E
114
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
VEHICLE
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE VEHICLE
ENGINE STARTING
The vehicle is fitted with an electronic en-
gine lock device: if the engine fails to start,
see the paragraph “The Fiat CODE sys-
tem” in section “Dashboard and controls”.
The engine may be noisier than usual dur-
ing the first seconds of operation, espe-
cially after it has not been used for a while.
This characteristic feature does not com-
promise functionality or reliability of the
hydraulic tappets: the timing system de-
vised to limit servicing.
We recommend that during
the initial period you do not
drive to full vehicle perfor-
mance (e.g.: excessive accel-
eration, long journeys at top speed,
sharp braking, etc.).
When the engine is switched
off never leave the key into
the ignition switch to prevent
pointless current absorption
from draining the battery.
Running the engine in con-
fined areas is extremely dan-
gerous. The engine consumes oxygen
and produces carbon monoxide
which is a highly toxic and lethal gas.
WARNING
Remember that the servo-
brake and power steering
are not operational until the engine
has been started, therefore much ef-
fort than usual is required on the
brake pedal and steering wheel.
WARNING
Dashboard and controls
Proceed as follows:
❒Ensure that the handbrake is up;
❒Put the gear lever into neutral;
❒Turn the ignition key to M: the warn-
ing light
mon the instrument panel
display will turn on;
❒Wait for the warning light mto turn
off. The hotter the engine is, the quick-
er this will happen;
❒Press the clutch pedal down to the
floor without touching the accelerator;
❒Turn the ignition key to Das soon as
warning light
mgoes out. If you wait
too long you will lose the benefit of the
work done by the glow plugs. Release
the key as soon as the engine starts.