2014 FIAT 500L Owners Manual

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
STARTING PROCEDURES ................211
▫ Manual Transmission — If Equipped .......211
▫ Automatic Transmission — If Equipped .....211
▫ Normal Starting .......................211
▫ Cold Weather Operation ................212
▫ Extended Park Starting ..................212
▫ If Engine Fails To Start .................213
▫ After Starting ....................... .213
▫ Turbo Charger “Cool Down” .............213MANUAL TRANSMISSION — IF EQUIPPED . . .214
▫
DOWNSHIFTING .....................215
 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION —
IF EQUIPPED ........................ .216
▫ Key Ignition Park Interlock ...............218
▫ Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . .218
▫ Six-Speed Euro Twin Clutch Transmission —
If Equipped ........................ .218
 AUTOSTICK® — IF EQUIPPED ............230
▫ Operation .......................... .230
5

DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES .........231
▫ Acceleration ........................ .231
▫ Traction ........................... .232
 DRIVING THROUGH WATER .............232
▫ Flowing/Rising Water ..................233
▫ Shallow Standing Water .................233
 ELECTRIC POWER STEERING .............235
 PARKING BRAKE ..................... .235
 BRAKE SYSTEM ...................... .237
▫ Four-Wheel Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) . . .237
 ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM . . . .239
▫ Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ............239
▫ Brake Assist System (BAS) ...............239 ▫
Traction Control System (TCS) ............240
▫ Hill Start Assist (HSA) .................240
▫ Dynamic Steering Torque (DST) ...........242
▫ Electronic Stability Control (ESC) ..........242
▫ ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light And
ESC OFF Indicator Light ................243
▫ Electronic Roll Mitigation (ERM) ..........246
 TIRE SAFETY INFORMATION .............247
▫ Tire Markings ....................... .247
▫ Tire Identification Number (TIN) ...........250
▫ Tire Terminology And Definitions ..........252
▫ Tire Loading And Tire Pressure ...........253
 TIRES — GENERAL INFORMATION ........258
208 STARTING AND OPERATING

▫Tire Pressure ....................... .258
▫ Tire Inflation Pressures .................259
▫ Tire Pressures For High Speed Operation . . . .260
▫ Radial Ply Tires ..................... .261
▫ All Season Tires — If Equipped ............262
▫
Summer Or Three Season Tires — If Equipped . .262
▫ Snow Tires ......................... .262
▫ Spare Tire Matching Original Equipped Tire And
Wheel — If Equipped ..................263
▫ Compact Spare Tire ....................263
▫ Tire Spinning ....................... .264
▫ Tread Wear Indicators ..................265
▫ Life Of Tire ........................ .266▫
Replacement Tires .....................267
 TIRE CHAINS (TRACTION DEVICES) .......269
 TIRE ROTATION RECOMMENDATIONS .....270
 TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING
SYSTEM (TPMS) ...................... .271
▫ Base System ........................ .274
▫ General Information ...................276
 FUEL REQUIREMENTS — 1.4L Turbo ........277
▫ Reformulated Gasoline .................277
▫ Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends ..............278
▫ MMT In Gasoline .....................278
▫ Materials Added To Fuel ................279
▫ Fuel System Cautions ...................2795
STARTING AND OPERATING 209

▫Carbon Monoxide Warnings .............280
 ADDING FUEL ....................... .280
 TRAILER TOWING .....................282 
RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND
MOTORHOME, ETC.) ...................283
▫
Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle . . .283
210 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 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 (or
in a location accessible to children). A 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. Depress the
brake pedal 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.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 211

Turn the ignition switch to the AVV/ACC (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.
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 message “plug 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.NOTE:
Use of the recommended SAE 5W-40 Synthetic oil
and adhering to the prescribed oil change intervals is
important to prevent engine damage and ensure satisfac-
tory starting in cold conditions.
Extended Park Starting
NOTE: Extended Park condition occurs when the vehicle
has not been started or driven for at least 35 days.
1. Install a battery charger or jumper cables to the battery to ensure a full battery charge during the crank cycle.
2. Cycle the ignition in the START position and release it when the engine starts.
3. If the engine fails to start within ten seconds, cycle the ignition to the STOP (OFF/LOCK) position, wait five
seconds to allow the starter to cool, then repeat the
Extended Park Starting procedure.
212 STARTING AND OPERATING

4. If the engine fails to start after eight attempts, allowthe starter to cool for at least 10 minutes, then repeat
the procedure.
CAUTION!
To prevent damage to the starter, do not continuously
crank the engine for more than 15 seconds at a time.
Wait 10 to 15 seconds before trying again.
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 a Euro Twin Clutch
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.
• 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 is controlled automatically and it will
decrease as the engine warms up.
Turbo Charger “Cool Down”
This vehicle is equipped with an after-run pump to cool
the turbocharger after the engine is shut off. Depending
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STARTING AND OPERATING 213

on the type of driving and the amount of cargo, the pump
will run for up to 10 minutes after the engine has been
shut off to circulate coolant through the turbocharger.
Although the pump is rubber-mounted for quiet opera-
tion, it is normal to hear it running during this time.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION — IF EQUIPPED
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. 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.
Shift Pattern (Six-Speed)
214 STARTING AND OPERATING