FRONT AIRBAGSThe vehicle is provided with front
airbags for the driver and the
passenger.
The front driver/passenger airbags have
been designed to protect the front
seat occupants in the event of frontal
impacts of medium-high severity, by
placing the bag between the occupant
and the steering wheel or dashboard.
Therefore, non-activation in other types
of collisions (side collisions, rear shunts,
roll-overs, etc.) is not a system
malfunction.
An electronic control unit will make the
bag inflate in the event of a frontal
impact.
The bag will inflate instantaneously
placing itself between the front
occupants body and the structures
which could cause injury. It will deflate
immediately afterwards.
Driver and passenger front airbags 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.The volume of the front airbags at
maximum inflation fills most of
the space between the steering wheel
and the driver and between the
dashboard and the passenger.
In the event of an impact, someone not
wearing a seat belt will move forward
and come into contact with the bag
which is still in the opening stage. The
protection offered by the bag is
compromised in these circumstances.
Front airbags may not activate in the
following situations:
❒frontal impacts against highly
deformable objects not involving the
front surface of the vehicle (e.g.
wing collision against guard rail, etc.);
❒jamming of the vehicle underneath
other vehicles or protective barriers
(e.g. underneath a truck or a guard
rail); in this case, the bags would offer
no additional protection with respect
to the seat belt and their deployment
is unnecessary. In these cases,
non-deployment does not indicate a
system malfunction.
110)
The airbags are not deployed in the
event of minor frontal collisions (for
which the restraining action of the seat
belts is sufficient). Safety belts must
always be worn. In the event of frontal
collisions they guarantee correct
positioning of the passenger.
DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT
AIRBAG
It consists of an instantly inflating bag
contained in a special recess in the
centre of the steering wheel fig. 164.
PASSENGER SIDE FRONT
AIRBAG
(for versions/markets, where provided)
This consists of an instantly inflating
bag contained in a special recess in the
dashboard fig. 165: this bag has a
larger volume than that of the driver's.164
F1A0312
160
SAFETY
STOPPING THE ENGINE
Turn the ignition key to STOP while the
engine is idling.
31) 32)
IMPORTANT
26) It is advisable not to demand
maximum performance from
your vehicle (e.g. excessive
acceleration, long distances at
high speeds, excessively intense
braking, etc.) during the initial
period of use.
27) When the engine is off, do not
leave the ignition key turned to
MAR-ON to prevent unnecessary
electrical consumption from
draining the battery.
28) If the
warning light flashes
for about 60 seconds after
starting or during prolonged
cranking, this indicates a fault in
the glow plug preheating system.
Use the vehicle normally if the
engine starts, but contact a Fiat
Dealership as soon as possible.29) Remember that the brake servo
and power steering are not
operational until the engine has
been started, so you need to apply
much more force than usual to
the brake pedal and steering
wheel.
30) Never start the engine by
pushing, towing or driving
downhill. This could cause fuel to
flow into the catalytic converter
and damage it beyond repair.
31) A quick burst on the accelerator
before turning off the engine
serves absolutely no practical
purpose; it wastes fuel and is
especially damaging to
turbocharged engines.
32) In some cases, when the engine
switches off, the fan could
activate for max. 120 seconds.
WARNING
125) It is dangerous to run the
engine in enclosed areas. The
engine takes in oxygen and
releases carbon dioxide, carbon
monoxide and other toxic gases.
171
PARKINGProceed as follows:
❒stop the engine and engage the
handbrake;
❒engage a gear (on a slope, engage
first gear if the car is facing uphill or
reverse if it is facing downhill) and
leave the wheels steered.
If the vehicle is parked on a steep
slope, it is advisable to block the
wheels with a wedge or stone.
Do not leave the key in the ignition as
this drains the battery. Always remove
the key when you leave the car.
126)
HANDBRAKE
The handbrake lever is located to the
left of the driver's seat fig. 170. Pull the
lever upwards to engage the handbrake
and ensure that the vehicle does not
move.
IMPORTANT Make sure that the
handbrake is engaged in such a way as
to ensure the stationing of the vehicle,
especially in the case of steep slopes
and full load.
IMPORTANT If this is not the case,
contact a Fiat Dealership to have the
handbrake adjusted. If the lever travel
gets longer, contact a Fiat Dealership.
When the handbrake lever is engaged
and the ignition key is in MAR-ON
position, the instrument panel warning
light
will switch on.Proceed as follows to release the
handbrake:
❒slightly lift the lever and press release
button A;
❒keep button A pressed and lower the
lever.
The
warning light in the instrument
panel will switch off.
Press the brake pedal when carrying
out this operation to prevent the vehicle
from moving accidentally.
33)
IMPORTANT Apply the handbrake only
when the vehicle is at a standstill or
with the vehicle in motion only in the
event of a failure in the hydraulic
system. If exceptional use is made of
the handbrake with the vehicle in
motion, moderate traction is advisable
in order not to cause locking of the
rear end with consequent swerving of
the vehicle.
170
F1A0162
172
STARTING AND DRIVING
LOADING ADVICEThe Fiat Ducato version used by you
has been designed and type approved
on the basis of certain maximum
weights (see "Weights" table in the
"Technical Data" chapter): kerb weight,
payload, total weight, maximum weight
on front axle, maximum weight on
rear axle, towable weight.
IMPORTANT The maximum permitted
load on the floor fastenings is 500
kg; the maximum permitted load on the
side panel is 150 kg.
IMPORTANT For versions with right and
left side flaps, it is advisable to
reposition the release lever in the closed
position before lowering the sides.
35)128) 129) 130)
In addition to these general
precautions, some simple precautions
can improve driving safety, travelling
comfort and vehicle durability:
❒distribute the load evenly over the
platform: if it is necessary to
concentrate it in a single area,
choose an area mid-way between
both axles;❒lastly, remember that the vehicle’s
dynamic behaviour is affected by
the weight transported: in particular,
the stopping distances are longer,
especially at high speed.
IMPORTANT
35) Each of these must be strictly
observed and MUST NEVER BE
EXCEEDED in any case. In
particular, ensure that you never
exceed the maximum permitted
weights on the front and rear
axles when arranging the load on
the vehicle (particularly if the
vehicle is equipped with a specific
trim level).
WARNING
128) Irregular trajectories and abrupt
braking may cause sudden
movements of the load with
consequent situations of hazard
for the driver and passengers:
before setting off, secure the load
tightly using the appropriate
hooks on the floor and use steel
cables, ropes or chains strong
enough to hold the items to be
secured.
129) If a vehicle is parked on a very
steep gradient or with a side
gradient, opening the rear door or
side door could cause any
unsecured items to emerge
suddenly.
130) If you wish to carry a reserve of
petrol in a can, observe the legal
restrictions and only use a can
that is type-approved and
properly secured to the load
anchorage eyebolts. Anyway, by
doing so, you increase the risk
of fire in the event of an accident
with your vehicle.
175
SAVING FUELSome useful tips are given below for
fuel saving and reducing harmful
emissions of CO2 and other pollutants
(nitrogen oxides, unburnt
hydrocarbons, Particulate Matter (PM),
etc.).
GENERAL
CONSIDERATIONS
The general factors that affect fuel
consumption are listed below.
Vehicle maintenance
Have checks and adjustments carried
out in accordance with the “Scheduled
Servicing Plan”.Tyres
Check the tyre pressures at least once
every four weeks: if the pressure is
too low, consumption levels increase as
resistance to rolling is higher.
Unnecessary loads
Do not travel with an overloaded
luggage compartment. The weight of
the vehicle (especially when driving
in town) and its geometry greatly affect
fuel consumption and stability.
Roof rack/ski rack
Remove the roof rack or the ski rack
from the roof after use. These
accessories decrease aerodynamic
penetration of the vehicle and have a
negative effect on fuel consumption.
When transporting particularly large
objects, use a trailer if possible.Electric devices
Use electrical devices only for the
amount of time needed. The heated
rear window, additional headlights,
windscreen/rear window wipers and
heater fan need a considerable amount
of energy, therefore increasing fuel
consumption (by up to 25% in
the urban cycle).
Climate control system
Air conditioning leads to higher fuel
consumption (on average up to +20%).
If the temperature outside permits, try
and use the ventilation only.
Devices for
aerodynamic control
The use of non-certified spoilers may
adversely affect air drag and fuel
consumption.
176
STARTING AND DRIVING
Installing the ball head
tow bar
1. Remove the plug from the mounting
pipe.
The ball head tow bar is usually in the
released position when taken out from
the luggage compartment. This can
be observed by the flywheel spaced
from the tow bar, corresponding to
a slot of approx. 5 mm (see figure) and
by the red mark on the flywheel
directed to the green mark on the tow
bar.Please note that the tow bar can be
installed only when in these conditions.
If the locking mechanism of the tow
bar is disengaged before the
installation, or at any other time, and is
in the locked position, it must be
pre-loaded. The locked position can be
identified by the green mark of the
flywheel coinciding with the green mark
of the tow bar and by the flywheel in
the stop position on the tow bar,
namely without slot (see figure).
The locking mechanism is pre-loaded
as follows: with the key inserted and
the lock open, extract the flywheel
following the direction of the arrow and,
to pre-load, rotate according to the
direction of the arrow b until the stop.
The release lever is engaged and the
locking mechanism remains in the
pre-loading position even when the
flywheel is released. The tow bar must
be inserted in the housing pipe with the
coupling pin for the installation. Insert
from the bottom and push upwards.
The mechanism then locks
automatically. Keep your hands far from
the flywheel, as it rotates during the
locking procedure.2. The tow bar must be inserted in the
housing pipe with the coupling pin
for the installation. Insert from the
bottom and push upwards. The
mechanism then locks automatically.
Keep your hands far from the flywheel,
as it rotates during the locking
procedure.
3. Close the lock and always remove
the key. The key cannot be removed
when the lock is released. Apply the
protection cap on the lock.
Removing the tow bar
1. Remove the protection cap from the
lock and press it on the key grip. Open
the lock with the key.
2. Hold the tow bar firmly, remove the
flywheel following the direction of the
arrow and rotate according to the
direction of the arrow b until stopping,
so as to remove till the extracted
position. Then remove the tow bar from
the housing pipe. The flywheel can
then be released; it autonomously
stops in the released position.
3. Arrange the tow bar in the luggage
compartment so that it cannot be
dirtied or damaged by other
transported objects.
4. Insert the suitable plug in the
mounting pipe.176 - Released position, removed
F1A0382
184
STARTING AND DRIVING
CHANGING A BULBGENERAL
INSTRUCTIONS
44)158) 159)
❒When a light is not working, check
that the corresponding fuse is intact
before changing a bulb. For the
location of fuses, refer to the
paragraph "Replacing fuses" in this
chapter.
❒before changing a bulb check the
contacts for oxidation;
❒burnt bulbs must be replaced by
others of the same type and power;
❒always check the headlight beam
direction after changing a bulb;
IMPORTANT A slight misting may
appear on the internal surface of the
headlight: this does not indicate a fault
and is caused by low temperature
and the degree of humidity in the air.
Misting will rapidly disappear when the
headlights are switched on. The
presence of drops inside the headlights
indicates infiltration of water. Contact
a Fiat Dealership.
IMPORTANT
44) Halogen bulbs must be handled
by holding the metallic part only.
Touching the transparent part
of the bulb with your fingers may
reduce the intensity of the
emitted light and even reduce the
lifespan of the bulb. In the event
of accidental contact, wipe the
bulb with a cloth moistened with
alcohol and let the bulb dry.
WARNING
158) Modifications or repairs to the
electric system that are not
carried out properly or do not take
the system technical
specifications into account can
cause malfunctions leading to the
risk of fire.
159) Halogen bulbs contain
pressurised gas; in the case of
breakage they may burst.
201
Thousands of miles 30 60 90 120 150
Thousands of kilometres 48 96 144 192 240
Months 24 48 72 96 120
Replace toothed timing drive belt (*) (110 (°)- 130 - 150 MultiJet versions)●
Replace toothed timing drive belt (*) (115 MultiJet versions)(°))●
Replace air cleaner cartridge (***)●●●●●
Change engine oil and replace oil filter (**) (#)
Change brake fluid (or every 24 months)●●
Replace pollen filter (or every 24 months)●●●●●(*) Irrespective of the mileage, the timing drive belt must be changed every 4 years for heavy-duty use (cold climates, town use, long periods of idling) or at least
every 5 years.
I
(°)Version for specific markets
(***) If the vehicle is equipped with a specific air cleaner for dusty areas: -every 20,000 km check and wash cleaner; every 40,000 km replace cleaner.
(**) The actual interval for changing the oil and replacing the engine oil filter depends on the car usage conditions and is signalled by the warning light or message (if
present) on the instrument panel (see “Warning lights and messages” paragraph) and must never exceed 24 months.
(#) If the vehicle is driven mainly in towns, change engine oil and oil filter every 12 months.
227