2014 FIAT FREEMONT brakes

TOWING REQUIREMENTS
To promote proper break-in of your new vehicle drive-
train components the following guidelines are recom-
mended:
•Donottowatraileratallduringthe
first 805 km the new vehicle is driven.The
engine, axle or other parts could be dam-
aged.
• Then, during the first 805 km that a trailer is
towed, do not drive over 80 km/h and do not make
starts at full throttle. This helps the engine and
other parts of the vehicle wear in at the heavier
loads.
Perform the maintenance listed in the Maintenance
Schedule. When towing a trailer, never exceed the
GAWR ratings.
WARNING!
Improper towing can lead to an injury
acciden t

. Follow these guidelines to
make your trailer towing as safe as possible:
•Make certain that the load is secured in the
trailer and that it will not shift during travel.
When trailering cargo that is not fully secured,
dynamic load shifts can occur that may be diffi-
cult for the driver to control.You could lose con-
trol of your vehicle and have an accident .
• All trailer hitches should be professionally in-
stalled on your vehicle.
• When hauling cargo or towing a trailer, do not
overload your vehicle or trailer. Overloading can
cause a loss of control, poor performance, or
damage to brakes, axle, engine, transmission,
steering, suspension, chassis structure, or tires.
• Safety chains must always be used between
your vehicle and trailer. Always connect the
chains to the frame or hook retainers of the
vehicle hitch. Cross the chains under the trailer
tongue and allow enough slack for turning cor-
ners.
(Continued)
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(Continued)
• Vehicles with trailers should not be parked on a
grade.When parking, apply the parking brake on
the tow vehicle. Always, block or "chock" the
trailer wheels.
• GCWR must not be exceeded.
• Total weight must be distributed between the
tow vehicle and the trailer such that the following
four ratings are not exceeded:
1. GVWR
2. GTW
3. GAWR
4. Tongue weight rating for the trailer hitch uti- lized.
Towing Requirements – Tires
– Do not attempt to tow a trailer while using a compact spare tire.
– Proper tire inflation pressures are essential for the safe and satisfactory operation of your vehicle. Refer
to “Tires – General Information” in “Technical Speci-
fications” for proper tire inflation procedures.
– Check the trailer tires for proper tire inflation pres- sures before trailer usage. – Check for signs of tire wear or visible tire damage
before towing a trailer. Refer to “Tires – General
Information” in “Technical Specifications” for the
proper tire inspection procedures.
– When replacing tires, refer to “Tires – General Information” in “Technical Specifications” for proper
tire replacement procedures. Replacing tires with a
higher load carrying capacity will not increase the
vehicle's GVWR and GAWR limits.
Towing Requirements – Trailer Brakes
–Do notinterconnect the hydraulic brake system or
vacuum system of your vehicle with that of the
trailer. This could cause inadequate braking and pos-
sible personal injury.
– When towing a trailer equipped with a hydraulic surge actuated brake system, an electronic brake
controller is not required.
– Trailer brakes are recommended for trailers over 450 kg and required for trailers in excess of 750 kg.
If the trailer weighs more than 450 kg
loaded, it should have its own brakes, and
they should be of adequate capacity. Fail-
ure to do this could lead to accelerated brake
lining wear, higher brake pedal effort , and longer
stopping distances.
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WARNING!
• Do not connect trailer brakes to your
vehi cle's

hydraulic brake lines. It can
overload your brake system and cause it to fail.
You might not have brakes when you need them
and could have an accident .
• Towing any trailer will increase your stopping
distance. When towing, you should allow for ad-
ditional space between your vehicle and the ve-
hicle in front of you. Failure to do so could result
in an accident . Towing Requirements – Trailer Lights And
Wiring
Whenever you pull a trailer, regardless of the trailer
size, stoplights and turn signals on the trailer are
required for motoring safety.
The Trailer Tow Package may include a seven-pin or a
thirteen-pin wiring harness. Use a factory approved
trailer harness and connector.
NOTE:
Do not cut or splice wiring into the vehicles
wiring harness.
The electrical connections are all complete to the
vehicle but you must mate the harness to a trailer
connector.
(fig. 159)
(fig. 159)
Seven-Pin Connector
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The light also will turn on when the parking brake is
applied with the ignition switch in the ON/RUN position.
NOTE:This light shows only that the parking brake is
applied. It does not show the degree of brake
application.
12. Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) Light This light monitors the Anti-Lock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS). The light will turn on when the
ignition switch is turned to the ON/RUN
position and may stay on for as long as four
seconds.
If the ABS light remains on or turns on while driving, it
indicates that the Anti-Lock portion of the brake sys-
tem is not functioning and that service is required.
However, the conventional brake system will continue
to operate normally if the Brake System Warning Light
is not on.
If the ABS light is on, the brake system should be
serviced as soon as possible to restore the benefit of
Anti-Lock brakes. Furthermore, the ABS light should
be checked frequently to assure that it is operating
properly. If the light does not turn on, have the system
checked by an authorized dealer. (Refer to “Electronic
Brake Control System” in “Knowing Your Vehicle” for
further information). 13. Fuel Cap Indicator
This symbol indicates the side of the vehicle
where the fuel filler cap is located.
14. Rear Fog Light Indicator
This indicator will illuminate when the rear fog
lights are on. (Refer to “Rear Fog Lights” in
“Knowing Your Vehicle” for further information).
15. Vehicle Security Light This light will flash rapidly for approximately
16 seconds when the vehicle security system
is arming and then flash slowly when the
system is armed. The light will also turn on
for about three seconds when the ignition switch is
first turned to ON/RUN. (Refer to “Vehicle Security
Alarm” or “Premium Security System” in “Knowing
Your Vehicle” for further information).
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Thousands Of Kilometers24 48 72 96 120 144 168 192
Months 12 24 36 48 60 72 84 96
Check battery charge status and possibly recharge. • • • • ••••
Check tire condition/wear and adjust pressure, if
necessary. ••••••••
Check operation of lighting system (headlamps, direction
indicators, hazard warning lights, luggage compartment,
passenger compartment, glove compartment, instrument
panel warning lights, etc.). ••••••••
Check windshield/rear window wiper blade
position/wear. ••••••••
Check operation of windscreen washer system and
adjust jets if necessary. ••••••••
Check cleanliness of hood and tailgate locks and
cleanliness and lubrication of linkages. ••••••••
Visually inspect condition of: exterior bodywork,
underbody protection, pipes and hoses (exhaust - fuel
system - brakes), rubber elements (boots, sleeves,
bushes, etc.). ••••••••
Check condition and wear of front disc brake pads. • • • • ••••
Check condition and wear of rear disc brake pads. • • • •••••
Check and, if necessary, top up fluid levels
(brakes/hydraulic clutch, windshield washer, battery,
engine coolant, etc.). ••••••••
Visually inspect the condition of accessory drive belt/s. ••
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Periodic Checks
Every1,000 km or before long journeys, check and, if
necessary, restore:
• engine coolant;
• brake fluid;
• power steering fluid;
• windshield washer fluid level;
• power steering fluid;
• tire inflation pressure and condition;
• operation of lighting system (headlights, direction indicators, hazard warning lights, etc.);
• operation of windshield washer/wiper system and positioning/wear of windshield/rear window wiper
blades.
Every 3,000 km, check and top up, if required, the
engine oil level and automatic transmission fluid level
(four-speed automatic only). Heavy-Duty Use Of The Car
If the car is used mainly under one of the following
conditions:
• towing a trailer or caravan;
• dusty roads;
• short, repeated journeys (less than 7-8 km) at sub-
zero outside temperatures;
• engine often idling or driving long distances at low speeds or long periods of idleness.
You should perform the following inspections more
frequently than shown on the Scheduled Servicing Plan:
• check front disc brake pad conditions and wear;
• check cleanliness of hood and trunk locks, cleanli- ness and lubrication of linkage;
• visually inspect conditions of: engine, transmission, pipes and hoses (exhaust - fuel system - brakes) and
rubber elements (boots - sleeves - bushes - etc.);
• check battery charge and battery fluid level (electro- lyte);
•
visually inspect condition of the accessory drive belts;
• check and, if necessary, change engine oil and replace oil filter;
• check and, if necessary, replace pollen filter;
• check and, if necessary, replace air cleaner.
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Heavy-Duty Use Of The Car
If the car is used mainly under one of the following
conditions:
• towing a trailer or caravan;
• dusty roads;
• short, repeated journeys (less than 7-8 km) at sub-zero outside temperatures;
• engine often idling or driving long distances at low speeds or long periods of idleness.
You should perform the following inspections more
frequently than shown on the Scheduled Servicing Plan:
• check front disc brake pad conditions and wear;
• check cleanliness of hood and trunk locks, cleanli- ness and lubrication of linkage; • visually inspect conditions of: engine, transmission,
pipes and hoses (exhaust - fuel system - brakes) and
rubber elements (boots - sleeves - bushes - etc.);
• check battery charge and battery fluid level (electro- lyte);
• visually inspect condition of the accessory drive belts;
• check and, if necessary, change engine oil and replace oil filter;
• check and, if necessary, replace pollen filter;
• check and, if necessary, replace air cleaner.
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Points To Remember
NOTE:When the vehicle is stopped after a few
kilometers of operation, you may observe vapor com-
ing from the front of the engine compartment. This is
normally a result of moisture from rain, snow, or high
humidity accumulating on the radiator and being vapor-
ized when the thermostat opens, allowing hot coolant
to enter the radiator.
If an examination of your engine compartment shows
no evidence of radiator or hose leaks, the vehicle may
be safely driven. The vapor will soon dissipate.
• Do not overfill the coolant recovery bottle.
• Check coolant freeze point in the radiator and in the coolant recovery bottle. If antifreeze needs to be
added, contents of coolant recovery bottle must also
be protected against freezing.
• If frequent coolant additions are required, or if the level in the coolant recovery bottle does not drop
when the engine cools, the cooling system should be
pressure tested for leaks.
• Make sure that the radiator and coolant recovery bottle overflow hoses are not kinked or obstructed.
• Keep the front of the radiator clean. If your vehicle is equipped with air conditioning, keep the front of the
condenser clean. • Do not change the thermostat for Summer or Win-
ter operation. If replacement is ever necessary, install
ONLY the correct type thermostat. Other designs
may result in unsatisfactory coolant performance,
poor gas mileage, and increased emissions.
BRAKE SYSTEM
In order to assure brake system performance, all brake
system components should be inspected periodically.
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule” for the proper
maintenance intervals.
WARNING!
Riding the brakes can lead to brake fail-
ure and possibly

an accident . Driving
with your foot resting or riding on the brake
pedal can result in abnormally high brake tem-
peratures, excessive lining wear, and possible
brake damage.You would not have your full brak-
ing capacity in an emergency.
Car maintenance should be done at a
FIAT Dealership. For routine and minor
maintenance operations you wish to
carry out yourself, we do recommend you have
the proper equipment , genuine FIAT spare parts
and the necessary fluids; do not however carry out
these operations if you have no experience.
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