2014 FIAT 500X parking brake

STARTING THE ENGINE
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust the
inside and outside mirrors, fasten your seat belt, and if
present, instruct all other occupants to buckle their 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 gear selector.
• Do not leave the key fob in or near the vehicle (or
in a location accessible to children), and do not
leave the ignition in the ON or RUN mode. A
child could operate power windows, other con-
trols, or move the vehicle.
Start the engine with the gear selector in the NEUTRAL
or PARK position. Apply the brake before shifting to
any driving range. Manual Transmission
Proceed as follows:
1. Set the Electric Park Brake (EPB) and put the gear
selector in the NEUTRAL position.
2. Press the clutch pedal to the floor, without pressing the accelerator.
3. Cycle the ignition to the START mode and release it as soon as the engine is started.
4. If the engine does not start, place the ignition in the OFF mode and wait 10-15 seconds before attempting
to restart the engine.
Automatic Transmission
Proceed as follows:
1. Set the Electric Park Brake (EPB) and put the gear selector in the PARK or NEUTRAL position.
2. Press on the brake pedal, without pressing the accel- erator.
3. Cycle the ignition to the START mode and release it as soon as the engine is started.
214 STARTING AND OPERATING

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
detrimental 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 “Dealer Service” in “Servicing And Mainte-
nance”.
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 a problem.
ELECTRIC PARK BRAKE (EPB)
Your vehicle is equipped with an Electric Park Brake
System (EPB) that offers simple operation, and some
additional features that make the parking brake more
convenient and useful.
The parking brake is primarily intended to prevent the
vehicle from rolling while parked. Before leaving the
vehicle, make sure that the parking brake is applied.
Also, be certain to leave the transmission in PARK.
The EPB switch is located in the center console.
You can engage the EPB in two ways;
• Manually, by pulling up on the park brake switch
momentarily to apply.
• Automatically, by enabling the Auto Park Brake
feature in the customer programmable features sec-
tion of the Uconnect Settings.
218 STARTING AND OPERATING

To apply the EPB manually, pull up on the switch
momentarily. You may hear a slight whirring sound
from the back of the vehicle while the EPB engages.
Once the parking brake is fully engaged, the BRAKE
warning lamp in the instrument cluster and an indica-
tor on the switch will illuminate. If your foot is on the
brake pedal while you apply the EPB, you may notice a
small amount of brake pedal movement. The EPB can
be applied even when the ignition switch is in the OFF
mode but the BRAKE warning lamp will not illuminate,
however, it can only be released when the ignition is in
the RUN mode.NOTE:
The EPB fault lamp will illuminate if the EPB
switch is held for longer than 20 seconds in either the
released or applied position. The light will extinguish
upon releasing the switch.
If the Auto Park Brake feature is enabled, the EPB will
automatically engage whenever the transmission is
placed into PARK, or with a manual transmission, when
the ignition switch is in the STOP/OFF position. If your
foot is on the brake pedal, you may notice a small
amount of brake pedal movement while the EPB is
engaging.
The EPB will be automatically released if the driver ’s
seat belt is buckled and driver’s intention to start (in
forward or reverse direction) is recognized by the
system
To release the EPB manually, the ignition must be in the
RUN mode. Put your foot on the brake pedal, then push
the EPB switch down momentarily. You may hear a
slight whirring sound from the back of the vehicle while
the parking brake disengages. You may also notice a
small amount of movement in the brake pedal. Once the
EPB is fully disengaged, the BRAKE warning lamp in
the instrument cluster and the LED indicator on the
switch will extinguish.
Electric Park Brake Switch7
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NOTE:
•When parking on a hill, it is important to turn the
front wheels toward the curb on a downhill grade
and away from the curb on an uphill grade. Apply
the EPB before placing the gear selector in PARK,
otherwise the load on the transmission locking
mechanism may make it difficult to move the gear
selector out of PARK. The EPB should always be
applied whenever the driver is not in the vehicle.
• If the clutch pedal is released at the same time the gas
pedal is pressed, the EPB will be automatically
released (manual transmissions only).
WARNING!
• When leaving the vehicle, always remove the key
fob from the ignition and 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. Children should be
warned not to touch the parking brake, brake
pedal or the transmission gear selector.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Do not leave the key fob in or near the vehicle (or
in a location accessible to children), and do not
leave the ignition in the ON or RUN mode. A
child could operate power windows, other con-
trols, or move the vehicle.
• Be sure the parking brake is fully disengaged
before driving; failure to do so can lead to brake
failure and a collision.
• Always fully apply the parking brake when leav-
ing your vehicle, or it may roll and cause damage
or injury. Also be certain to leave the transmission
in PARK. Failure to do so may allow the vehicle to
roll and cause damage or injury.
CAUTION!
If the Brake System Warning Light remains on with
the parking brake released, a brake system mal-
function is indicated. Have the brake system ser-
viced by an authorized dealer immediately.
If exceptional circumstances should make it necessary
to engage the EPB while the vehicle is in motion,
maintain upward pressure on the EPB switch for as
220 STARTING AND OPERATING

long as engagement is desired. The brake warning lamp
could illuminate in case of the hydraulic system is not
available. The rear stop lamps will also be illuminated
automatically while the vehicle remains in motion.
To disengage the EPB while the vehicle is in motion,
release the switch. If the vehicle is brought to a com-
plete stop using the EPB, when the vehicle reaches
approximately 1.9 mph (3 km/h) the EPB will remain
engaged.
WARNING!
Driving the vehicle with the parking brake en-
gaged, or repeated use of the parking brake to slow
the vehicle may cause serious damage to the brake
system. Be sure the parking brake is fully disen-
gaged before driving; failure to do so can lead to
brake failure and a collision.
In the unlikely event of a malfunction of the EPB
system, a yellow EPB fault lamp will illuminate. This
may be accompanied by the Brake warning lamp flash-
ing. In this status some EPB functionalities may be deactivated. In this event, urgent service of the EPB
system is required. Do not rely on the EPB to hold the
vehicle stationary.
Auto Park Brake
The EPB can be programmed to be applied automati-
cally whenever the vehicle speed is below 1.9 mph
(3 km/h) and the automatic transmission is placed in
PARK, or with a manual transmission, whenever the
ignition is in the OFF mode. Auto Park Brake is enabled
and disabled by customer selection through the Cus-
tomer Programmable Features section of the Uconnect
Settings.
Any single Auto Park Brake application can be by-
passed by pushing the EPB switch to the release posi-
tion while the transmission is placed in PARK (auto-
matic transmission) and the ignition is in the RUN
mode. In some cases, in case of Automatic or Dual
clutch transmission, when the ignition is in the OFF
mode EPB can automatically apply even if it has been
previously disabled
7
STARTING AND OPERATING 221

Service Mode has requirements that must be met in
order to be activated:
•The vehicle must be at a standstill.
• The parking brake must be disabled.
• The transmission must be in park or neutral.
• The EPB switch not activated.
• The ignition is in the ON mode.
• The brake pedal not pressed.
While in service mode, the EPB fault lamp will flash
continuously while the ignition is cycled ON.
NOTE: A dedicated message will appear in the instru-
ment cluster if Brake Service Mode cannot be activated.
When brake service work is complete, the following
steps must be followed to reset the parking brake
system to normal operation:
• Ensure the vehicle is at a standstill.
• Press the brake pedal with moderate force.
• Apply the EPB Switch. NOTE:
A dedicated message will appear in the instru-
ment cluster if Brake Service Mode cannot be deacti-
vated.
WARNING!
You can be badly injured working on or around a
motor vehicle. Do only that service work for which
you have the knowledge and the right equipment.
If you have any doubt about your ability to perform
a service job, take your vehicle to a competent
mechanic.
MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WARNING!
You or others could be injured if you leave the
vehicle unattended without having the parking
brake fully applied. The parking brake should
always be applied when the driver is not in the
vehicle, especially on an incline.
7
STARTING AND OPERATING 223

REVERSE when the vehicle is stopped or moving at low
speeds (refer toBrake/Transmission Shift Interlock
System in this section). Select the DRIVE range for
normal driving.
WARNING!
• It is dangerous to shift out of PARK or NEUTRAL
if the engine speed is higher than idle speed. If
your foot is not firmly pressing the brake pedal,
the vehicle could accelerate quickly forward or in
reverse. You could lose control of the vehicle and
hit someone or something. Only shift into gear
when the engine is idling normally and your foot
is firmly pressing the brake pedal.
• Unintended movement of a vehicle could injure
those in or near the vehicle. As with all vehicles,
you should never exit a vehicle while the engine
is running. Before exiting a vehicle, always apply
the parking brake, shift the transmission into
PARK, and turn the ignition OFF. When the
ignition is in the OFF mode, the transmission is
locked in PARK, securing the vehicle against
unwanted movement.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•When leaving the vehicle, always make sure the
ignition is in the OFF mode, remove the key fob
from the vehicle, and lock the 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. Children should be
warned not to touch the parking brake, brake
pedal or the transmission gear selector.
• Do not leave the key fob in or near the vehicle (or
in a location accessible to children), and do not
leave the ignition in the ACC or ON/RUN mode.
A child could operate power windows, other
controls, or move the vehicle.
CAUTION!
Damage to the transmission may occur if the fol-
lowing precautions are not observed:
• Shift into or out of PARK or REVERSE only after
the vehicle has come to a complete stop.
(Continued)
7
STARTING AND OPERATING 227

Only shift from DRIVE to PARK or REVERSE when the
accelerator pedal is released and the vehicle is stopped.
Be sure to keep your foot on the brake pedal when
shifting between these gears.
DO NOT race the engine when shifting from PARK or
NEUTRAL into another gear range.
CAUTION!
After selecting any gear range, wait a moment to
allow the selected gear to engage before accelerat-
ing. This is especially important when the engine is
cold.
Gear Ranges
PARK (P)
This range supplements the Electric Park Brake (EPB)
by locking the transmission. The engine can be started
in this range. Never attempt to use PARK while the
vehicle is in motion. Apply the EPB when leaving the
vehicle in this range.
When parking on a level surface, you may shift the
transmission into PARK first, and then apply the EPB.
When parking on a hill, apply the EPB before shifting
the transmission to PARK, otherwise the load on the
transmission locking mechanism may make it difficult
to move the gear selector out of PARK. As an added
precaution, turn the front wheels toward the curb on a
downhill grade and away from the curb on an uphill
grade.
Gear Selector Lock Button7
STARTING AND OPERATING 229