SEAT BELTSUSING THE SEAT BELTS
The belt should be worn keeping the
torso straight and rested against the
backrest.
To fasten the seat belts, hold the
tongue A fig. 151 and insert it into the
buckle B, until it clicks into place.
On removal, if the seat belt jams, let it
rewind for a short stretch, then pull
it out again without jerking.
To unfasten the seat belts, press button
C. Guide the seat belt with your hand
while it is rewinding, to prevent it from
twisting.
Through the retractor, the belt
automatically adapts to the body of the
passenger wearing it, allowing freedom
of movement.The retractor may lock up when the
vehicle is parked on a steep slope: this
is perfectly normal.
Furthermore, the retractor mechanism
locks the belt if it is pulled sharply or
in the event of sudden braking,
collisions or high-speed bends.
95)
HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT
To adjust, use button A fig. 152 and
raise or lower handle B.
96) 97)
Always adjust the seat belt height to the
passenger's body. This precaution
may considerably reduce the risk of
injury in the event of a collision.
Correct adjustment is obtained when
the belt passes approximately half way
between the shoulder and the neck.Seat belt with retractor
for front central place
on bench seat
The two-seater front bench is equipped
with an on-board seat belt (retractor
on seat) with three anchorage points for
the central position fig. 153.
WARNING
95) Never press button C fig. 151
when travelling.
96) The height of the seat belts must
be adjusted with the vehicle
stationary.
151
F1A0145
152
F1A0146
153
F1A0147
146
SAFETY
97) After the adjustment, always
check that the cursor to which the
ring is fastened is locked in one
of the preset positions. Release
the grip and push downwards
to enable the locking device to
click if the grip has not been
released in one of the possible
positions.
SBR SYSTEM
IN BRIEF
The vehicle is fitted with a Seat Belt
Reminder system (SBR), consisting of
a buzzer and a flashing warning light
on the instrument panel which
warns the driver that the seat belt
must be fastened.
The buzzer can be deactivated (until the
next engine stop) as follows:
❒fasten the driver's seat belt;
❒turn the ignition key to the MAR-ON
position;
❒wait for over 20 seconds and then
release one of the seat belts.
For permanent deactivation, contact a
Fiat Dealership.
With digital display, the SBR system
can only be reactivated at a Fiat
Dealership.
With multifunction display, the SBR
system can also be reactivated through
the set-up menu.
PRETENSIONERSTo increase the protective efficiency of
the front seat belts, the vehicle is fitted
with pretensioners. These devices, in
the event of a head-on crash or side
impact, rewind the seat belts a few
centimetres. In this way, they ensure
that the belts fit tightly to the wearer
before the restraining action begins.
The retractor locks to indicate that the
pretensioner has intervened; the seat
belt cannot be drawn back up even
when guiding it manually.
IMPORTANT To obtain the highest
degree of protection from the action of
the pretensioner, wear the seat belt
tight to the chest and pelvis.
A slight discharge of smoke may be
produced during the activation of the
pretensioner which is not harmful and
does not involve any fire hazard.
The pretensioner does not require any
maintenance or lubrication. Any
changes to its original conditions will
invalidate its efficiency. If, due to
unusual natural events (floods, sea
storms, etc.), the device has been
affected by water and mud, it must
absolutely be replaced.
98)25)
147
LOAD LIMITERS
To increase passenger safety, the front
seat belt retractors contain a load
limiter which controls the force acting
on the chest and shoulders during
the belt restraining action in the event of
a head-on collision.
GENERAL
INSTRUCTIONS FOR
USING THE SEAT BELTS
The driver is responsible for respecting
(and ensuring that all the other
passengers also respect) the local laws
in force regarding the use of seat belts.
Always fasten the seat belts before
setting off.
Seat belts are also to be worn by
pregnant women: the risk of injury in
the case of accident is greatly reduced
for them and the unborn child if they
are wearing a seat belt. Pregnant
women must position the lower part of
the belt very low down so that it passes
over the pelvis and under the
abdomen (see fig. 154).
99) 100) 101) 102) 103)
SEAT BELTS
MAINTENANCE
For keeping the seat belts in efficient
conditions, carefully observe the
following:
❒always use the seat belt well
stretched and never twisted; make
sure that it is free to run without
obstructions;
❒replace the belt after an accident of a
certain severity even if it does not
appear to be damaged. Always
replace the belt if the pretensioners
were deployed;
❒to clean the belt, wash by hand with
water and mild soap, rinse and leave
to dry in the shade. Never use strong
detergents, bleach, paints or any
other substance which could
damage the belt fibres;
❒prevent the retractors from getting
wet: their correct operation is only
guaranteed if water does not get
inside;
❒replace the seat belt when it shows
wear or cuts.
154
F1A0148
155
F1A0149
156
F1A0150
148
SAFETY
WARNING
98) The pretensioner may be used
only once. After it is triggered,
have it replaced at a Fiat
Dealership.
99) The belt must not be twisted.
The upper part must pass over
the shoulder and cross the chest
diagonally. The lower part must
adhere to the pelvis (as shown in
fig. 155) rather than the abdomen
of the passenger. Never use
devices (clips, clamps, etc.) that
hold the seat belt away from your
body.
100) For maximum protection, keep
the backrest upright, lean back
into it and make sure the seat belt
fits closely across your chest
and pelvis. Always fasten the seat
belts on both the front and the
rear seats! Travelling without
wearing seat belts will increase
the risk of serious injury and even
death in the event of an accident.101) Removing or otherwise
tampering with seat belt and
pretensioner components is
strictly prohibited. Any operations
on these components must be
performed by qualified and
authorised technicians. Always go
to a Fiat Dealership.
102) If the belt has been subjected
to a high level of stress, for
example after an accident, it must
be completely replaced together
with the attachments, attachment
fixing screws and the
pretensioner. In fact, even if the
belt has no visible defects, it could
have lost its resilience.
103) Each seat belt must be used by
only one person. Never travel with
a child sitting on the passenger's
lap and a single belt to protect
them both fig. 156. In general, do
not place any objects between the
person and the belt.
IMPORTANT
25) Operations which lead to
impacts, vibrations or localised
heating (over 100°C for a
maximum of six hours) in the area
around the pretensioners may
damage or accidentally deploy
them. Contact a Fiat Dealership
should intervention be necessary
on these components.
149
CARRYING
CHILDREN SAFELYFor optimal protection in the event of an
impact, all passengers must be seated
and wearing adequate restraint
systems.
This is even more important for
children.
This prescription is compulsory in all EC
countries according to EC Directive
2003/20/EC.
Compared with adults, a child's head is
proportionally larger and heavier than
the rest of the body, while muscles and
bone structure are not fully developed.
Therefore, correct restraint systems
are necessary which are different from
adult seat belts.
The results of research on the best
child restraint systems are contained in
the European Standard ECE-R44,
which enforces the use of restraint
systems classified into five groups:
Group Weight rangeGroup0 upto10kg
Group 0+ up to 13 kg
Group 1 9-18 kg
Group Weight rangeGroup 2 15-25 kg
Group 3 22-36 kg
As you can see, the groups overlap
partly and, in fact, there are devices on
sale that cover more than one weight
group.
All restraint devices must bear the
certification data, together with the
control mark, on a label solidly fixed to
the child restraint system which must
never be removed.
Over 1.50 m in height, from the point of
view of restraint systems, children are
considered as adults and wear the seat
belts normally.
Lineaccessori Fiat offers child restraint
systems for each weight group. These
devices are recommended, having
been specifically designed for Fiat
vehicles.104)
GROUP 0 and 0+
Babies up to 13 kg must be carried
facing backwards on a cradle seat,
which, supporting the head, does not
induce stress on the neck in the event
of sharp decelerations.
The cradle is restrained by the vehicle's
seat belts, as shown in fig. 157 and it
must restrain the child in turn with
its own belts.
105) 106)
GROUP 1
Children from 9 kg to 18 kg in weight
can be carried facing forwards if the
child restraint system is fitted with
a front cushion, through which the
vehicle's seat belt restrains both child
and seat fig. 158.
105) 106)
157
F1A0151
150
SAFETY
GROUP 2
Children from 15 to 25 kg may use the
vehicle's seat belts directly fig. 159.
The child restraint system is now
needed only to position the child
correctly with respect to the belts so
that the diagonal section crosses the
child's chest and never the neck, and
the lower part is snug on the pelvis not
the abdomen.
105)
GROUP 3
For children from 22 kg to 36 kg in
weight the size of the child's chest no
longer requires a support to space
the child's back from the backrest.
The fig. 160 shows the correct child
positioning on the rear seat.
105)
Children over 1.50 m in height can wear
seat belts like adults.
158
F1A0152
159
F1A0153
160
F1A0154
151
Below is a summary of
the main safety rules to
be followed when
carrying children
❒The recommended position for
installing child restraint systems is on
the rear seat, as it is the most
protected area in the event of an
impact.
❒If the passenger's front airbag is
deactivated always check the
dedicated LED on button
on the
instrument panel to make sure that it
has actually been deactivated.
❒Carefully follow the instructions that
come with the child restraint system,
which the manufacturer must supply.
Keep the instructions in the vehicle
along with the other papers and this
handbook. Do not use second-hand
child restraint systems without
instructions.
❒Always check that the seat belt is
well fastened by pulling on it.
❒Only one child is to be strapped into
each restraint system; never carry
two children using one child restraint
system.
❒Always check that the seat belts do
not restrain the child's throat.
❒While travelling, do not let the child sit
incorrectly or unfasten the belts.❒Never carry children on your lap,
even newborns. No-one can restrain
a child in the event of an accident.
❒In the event of an accident, replace
the child restraint system with a
new one.
153
WARNING
104)Do not place a rearward facing
cradle seat on the front seat if the
passenger side airbag is enabled.
Deployment of the airbag in an
accident could cause fatal injuries
to the child regardless of the
severity of the impact. It is
advisable to always carry children
in a child restraint system on the
rear seat, which is the most
protected position in the event of
a collision. If you need to carry
a child on the front passenger
seat in a rearward facing cradle
seat, the passenger side airbags
(front and side bags for chest/
pelvis protection, for
versions/markets, where
provided) must be deactivated
using the setup menu. It is
important to check the dedicated
LED on button
on the
instrument panel to make sure
that they are actually deactivated.
The passenger seat must also bepositioned back as far as possible
in order to avoid the child
restraint system from coming into
contact with the dashboard.
105) The figures are indicative and
for assembly purposes only. Fit
the child restraint system
according to the instructions,
which must be included.
106) Some child restraint systems
for weight group 0 and 1 have a
rear attachment to the car seat
belts and its own seat belts for
securing the child. Due to their
weight, they may be dangerous if
incorrectly mounted (e.g. if
fastened to the vehicle seat belts
placing a cushion in between).
Follow the assembly instructions
carefully.
SETUP FOR
“UNIVERSAL
ISOFIX” CHILD
RESTRAINT SYSTEMProvision has been made on the vehicle
to fit Universal Isofix child restraint
systems, a new European standardised
system for carrying children safely.
An example of a child restraint system
is shown in fig. 161.161
F1A0155
154
SAFETY