2014 FIAT FREEMONT steering

SAFETY
OCCUPANT RESTRAINTS
Some of the most important safety features in your
vehicle are the restraint systems:
• Three-point lap and shoulder belts for all seatingpositions
•
Advanced Front Air Bags for driver and front passenger
• Supplemental Active Head Restraints (AHR) located on top of the front seats (integrated into the head
restraint) (for versions/markets, where provided)
• Supplemental Side Air Bag Inflatable Curtains (SABIC) that span the front, second, and third row
seating for the driver and passengers seated next to
a window
• Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bags
• An energy-absorbing steering column and steering wheel
• Knee bolsters/blockers for front seat occupants
• Front seat belts incorporate pretensioners that may enhance occupant protection by managing occupant
energy during an impact event
If you will be carrying children too small for adult-sized
seat belts, the seat belts or ISOFIX feature also can
be used to hold infant and child restraint systems. For more information, refer to ISOFIX — Child Seat
Anchorage System.
NOTE:
The Advanced Front Air Bags have a multi-
stage inflator design. This allows the air bag to have
different rates of inflation based on several factors,
including the severity and type of collision.
Please pay close attention to the information in this
section. It tells you how to use your restraint system
properly, to keep you and your passengers as safe as
possible.
WARNING!
In a collision, you and your passengers
can suff er

much greater injuries if you
are not properly buckled up. You can strike the
interior of your vehicle or other passengers, or
you can be thrown out of the vehicle. Always be
sure you and others in your vehicle are buckled
up properly.
Buckle up even though you are an excellent driver, even
on short trips. Someone on the road may be a poor
driver and cause a collision that includes you. This can
happen far away from home or on your own street.
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4. Remove slack in the tether strap according to thechild restraint manufacturer’s instructions.
WARNING!
• An incorrectly anchored tether strap
could lead

to increased head motion and
possible injury to the child. Use only the anchor-
age position directly behind the child seat to
secure a child restraint top tether strap.
• If your vehicle is equipped with a split rear
seat , make sure the tether strap does not slip into
the opening between the seatbacks as you re-
move slack in the strap.
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) — Air
Bags
This vehicle has Advanced Front Air Bags for both the
driver and front passenger as a supplement to the seat
belt restraint systems. The driver's Advanced Front
Air Bag is mounted in the center of the steering wheel.
The passenger's Advanced Front Air Bag is mounted in
the instrument panel, above the glove compartment.
The words SRS AIR BAG are embossed on the air bag
covers.
(fig. 148)
NOTE: The Driver and Front Passenger Advanced
Front Air Bags are certified to the regulations for
Advanced Air Bags.
The Advanced Front Air Bags have a multistage inflator
design. This allows the air bag to have different rates of
inflation based on several factors, including the severity
and type of collision.
This vehicle may be equipped with a driver and/or front
passenger seat belt buckle switch that detects whether
the driver or front passenger seat belt is fastened. The
seat belt buckle switch may adjust the inflation rate of
the Advanced Front Air Bags.
(fig. 148)
Advanced Front Air Bag And Knee Bolster Locations
1 — Driver And Passenger Advanced Front Air Bags
2 — Knee Bolsters
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This vehicle is equipped with Supplemental Side Air Bag
Inflatable Curtains (SABIC) to protect the driver, front,
and rear passengers sitting next to a window. The
SABIC air bags are located above the side windows and
their covers are also labeled: SRS AIRBAG.
This vehicle is equipped with Supplemental Seat-
Mounted Side Air Bags (SAB). The Supplemental Seat-
Mounted Side Air Bags are marked with an air bag label
sewn into the outboard side of the front seats.
NOTE:
• Air Bag covers may not be obvious in the interiortrim, but they will open during air bag deployment.
• After any accident, the vehicle should be taken to an authorized dealer immediately.
Air Bag System Components
Your vehicle may be equipped with the following air bag
system components:
• Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
• Air Bag Warning Light
• Steering Wheel and Column • Instrument Panel
• Knee Impact Bolsters
• Driver Advanced Front Air Bag
• Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag
• Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bags (SAB)
• Supplemental Side Air Bag Inflatable Curtains
(SABIC)
• Front and Side Impact Sensors
• Front Seat Belt Pretensioners
• Seat Belt Buckle Switch
Advanced Front Air Bag Features
The Advanced Front Air Bag system has multistage
driver and front passenger air bags. This system pro-
vides output appropriate to the severity and type of
collision as determined by the Occupant Restraint
Controller (ORC), which may receive information
from the front impact sensors.
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of impact, Advanced Front Air Bags may deploy in
crashes with little vehicle front-end damage but that
produce a severe initial deceleration.
The side air bags will not deploy in all side collisions.
Side air bag deployment will depend on the severity and
type of collision.
Because air bag sensors measure vehicle deceleration
over time, vehicle speed and damage by themselves are
not good indicators of whether or not an air bag should
have deployed.
Seat belts are necessary for your protection in all
collisions, and also are needed to help keep you in
position, away from an inflating air bag.
The ORC monitors the readiness of the electronic
parts of the air bag system whenever the ignition is in
the ON/RUN position. If the ignition is in the OFF
position, or in the ACC position, the air bag system is
not on and the air bags will not inflate.
The ORC contains a backup power supply system that
may deploy the air bags even if the battery loses power
or it becomes disconnected prior to deployment.Also, the ORC turns on the Air Bag Warning
Light in the instrument panel for approxi-
mately four to eight seconds for a self-check
when the ignition is first turned on. After the self-
check, the Air Bag Warning Light will turn off. If the ORC detects a malfunction in any part of the system, it
turns on the Air Bag Warning Light, either momentarily
or continuously. A single chime will sound if the light
comes on again after initial startup.
It also includes diagnostics that will illuminate the
instrument cluster Air Bag Warning Light if a malfunc-
tion is noted that could affect the air bag system. The
diagnostics also record the nature of the malfunction.
WARNING!
Ignoring the Air Bag Warning Light in
your ins t

rument panel could mean you
won't have the air bags to protect you in a
collision. If the light does not come on as a bulb
check when the ignition is first turned on, stays
on after you start the vehicle, or if it comes on as
you drive, have an authorized dealer service the
air bag system immediately.
Driver And Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag
Inflator Units
The Driver and Passenger Advanced Front Air Bag Infla-
tor Units are located in the center of the steering wheel
and on the right side of the instrument panel. When the
ORC detects a collision requiring the Advanced Front
Air Bags, it signals the inflator units. A large quantity of
non-toxic gas is generated to inflate the Advanced Front
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Air Bags. Different air bag inflation rates are possible,
based on several factors, including the collision type and
severity. The steering wheel hub trim cover and the
upper right side of the instrument panel separate and
fold out of the way as the air bags inflate to their full size.
The air bags fully inflate in about 50 to 70 milliseconds.
This is about half of the time it takes to blink your eyes.
The air bags then quickly deflate while helping to restrain
the driver and front passenger.
The Advanced Front Air Bag gas is vented through the
vent holes in the sides of the air bag. In this way, the air
bags do not interfere with your control of the vehicle.
Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bag
(SAB) Inflator Units
The Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bags (SAB)
are designed to activate only in certain side collisions.
The ORC determines if a side collision requires the
side air bags to inflate, based on the severity and type of
collision.
Based on the severity and type of collision, the side air
bag inflator on the crash side of the vehicle may be
triggered, releasing a large quantity of non-toxic gas.
The inflating SAB exits through the seat seam into the
space between the occupant and the door. The SAB
fully inflates in about 10 milliseconds. The side air bag
moves at a very high speed and with such a high force
that it could injure you if you are not seated properly,or if items are positioned in the area where the side air
bag inflates. This especially applies to children.
Supplemental Side Air Bag Inflatable Curtain
(SABIC) Inflator Units
During collisions where the impact is confined to a
particular area of the side of the vehicle, the ORC may
deploy the SABIC air bags, depending on the severity and
type of collision. In these events, the ORC will deploy
the SABIC only on the impact side of the vehicle.
A quantity of non-toxic gas is generated to inflate the
side curtain air bag. The inflating side curtain air bag
pushes the outside edge of the headliner out of the way
and covers the window. The air bag inflates in about 30
milliseconds (about one-quarter of the time that it takes
to blink your eyes) with enough force to injure you if you
are not belted and seated properly, or if items are
positioned in the area where the side curtain air bag
inflates. This especially applies to children. The side
curtain air bag is only about 9 cm thick when it is inflated.
Because air bag sensors estimate deceleration over
time, vehicle speed and damage are not good indicators
of whether or not an air bag should have deployed.
NOTE:
In a rollover the pretensioners and/or SAB and
SABIC air bags may deploy on both sides of the vehicle.
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(Continued)
Failure to properly follow floor mat installation
or mounting can cause interference with the
brake pedal and accelerator pedal operation
causing loss of control of the vehicle.
Periodic Safety Checks You Should Make
Outside The Vehicle
Tires
Examine tires for excessive tread wear and uneven
wear patterns. Check for stones, nails, glass, or other
objects lodged in the tread or sidewall. Inspect the
tread for cuts and cracks. Inspect sidewalls for cuts,
cracks and bulges. Check the wheel nuts for tightness.
Check the tires (including spare) for proper cold infla-
tion pressure. Lights
Have someone observe the operation of brake lights
and exterior lights while you work the controls. Check
turn signal and high beam indicator lights on the instru-
ment panel.
Door Latches
Check for positive closing, latching, and locking.
Fluid Leaks
Check area under vehicle after overnight parking for
fuel, engine coolant, oil, or other fluid leaks. Also, if
gasoline fumes are detected or if fuel, power steering
fluid (for versions/markets, where provided), or brake
fluid leaks are suspected, the cause should be located
and corrected immediately.
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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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3. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Activation/
Malfunction Indicator Light (for versions/markets,
where provided)The “ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator
Light” in the instrument cluster will come on
when the ignition switch is turned to the
ON/RUN position. It should go out with the
engine running. If the “ESC Activation/Malfunction In-
dicator Light” comes on continuously with the engine
running, a malfunction has been detected in the ESC
system. If this light remains on after several ignition
cycles, and the vehicle has been driven several kilome-
ters at speeds greater than 48 km/h, see your autho-
rized dealer as soon as possible to have the problem
diagnosed and corrected.
NOTE:
The “ESC Off Indicator Light” and the “ESC Activation/
Malfunction Indicator Light” come on momentarily each
time the ignition switch is turned to ON/RUN.
Each time the ignition is turned to ON/RUN, the ESC
system will be ON, even if it was turned off previously.
The ESC system will make buzzing or clicking sounds
when it is active. This is normal; the sounds will stop
when ESC becomes inactive following the maneuver
that caused the ESC activation. 4. Turn Signal Indicator Light
The left or right arrow will flash in unison
with the corresponding front and rear turn
signal lights when the turn signal switch is
operated. (Refer to “Lights” in “Knowing
Your Vehicle” for further information).
NOTE:
A chime will sound if the vehicle is driven more than
1.6 km with either turn signal on.
Check for an inoperative outside light bulb if either
indicator flashes at a rapid rate.
5. High Beam Indicator This light shows that the high beam headlights
are on. Pull the multifunction lever on the left
side of the steering column toward you to switch to
low beam. (Refer to “Lights” in “Knowing Your Vehicle”
for further information).
6. Front Fog Light Indicator (for versions/markets,
where provided) This indicator will illuminate when the front fog
lights are on. (Refer to “Lights” in “Knowing
Your Vehicle” for further information).
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