2014 FIAT FREEMONT tow

NOTE:If the ignition switch is left in the ACC or RUN
(engine not running) position and the transmission is in
PARK, the system will automatically time out after
30 minutes of inactivity and the ignition will switch to
the OFF position.
ENGINE START/STOP Button Functions –
With Driver’s Foot OFF The Brake Pedal
(In PARK Or NEUTRAL Position)
The ENGINE START/STOP button operates similar to
an ignition switch. It has four positions, OFF, ACC,
RUN and START. To change the ignition switch posi-
tions without starting the vehicle and use the accesso-
ries follow these steps.
• Starting with the ignition switch in the OFF position:
• Press the ENGINE START/STOP button once to change the ignition switch to the ACC position,
• Press the ENGINE START/STOP button a second time to change the ignition switch to the RUN
position,
• Press the ENGINE START/STOP button a third time to return the ignition switch to the OFF position.EXTREME COLD WEATHER (BELOW −29°C)
To ensure reliable starting at these temperatures, use
of an externally powered electric engine block heater is
recommended.
IF ENGINE FAILS TO START
WARNING!
• Never pour fuel or other flammable
liqui ds

into the throttle body air inlet
opening in an attempt to start the vehicle. This
could result in a flash fire causing serious per-
sonal injur y.
• Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to
get it started. Unburned fuel could enter the
catalytic converter and once the engine has
started, ignite and damage the converter and
vehicle. If the vehicle has a discharged battery,
booster cables may be used to obtain a start from
a booster battery or the battery in another ve-
hicle.This type of start can be dangerous if done
improperly. Refer to “Jump Starting” in “In An
Emergency” for further information.
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Automatic Transmission
The foot operated parking brake is located below the
lower left corner of the instrument panel. To apply the
park brake, firmly push the park brake pedal fully. To
release the parking brake, press the park brake pedal a
second time and let your foot up as you feel the brake
disengage.
(fig. 152)
When the parking brake is applied with the ignition
switch ON, the “Brake Warning Light” in the instru-
ment cluster will illuminate.NOTE:
• When the parking brake is applied and the automatic
transmission is placed in gear, the “Brake Warning
Light” will flash. If vehicle speed is detected, a chime
will sound to alert the driver. Fully release the park-
ing brake before attempting to move the vehicle.
• This light only shows that the parking brake is ap- plied. It does not show the degree of brake applica-
tion.
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. For vehicles equipped
with an automatic transmission, apply the parking
brake before placing the shift lever in PARK, otherwise
the load on the transmission locking mechanism may
make it difficult to move the shift lever out of PARK.
The parking brake should always be applied whenever
the driver is not in the vehicle.
WARNING!
• Never use PARK position on an auto-
mat i

c transmission as a substitute for
the parking brake. Always apply the parking
brake fully when parked to guard against vehicle
movement and possible injury or damage.
(Continued)
(fig. 152)Parking Brake
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Gear Ranges
DO NOT race the engine when shifting from PARK or
NEUTRAL into another gear range.
NOTE: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.
PARK (P)
This range supplements the parking brake 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 parking brake 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 park-
ing brake.
When parking on a hill, apply the parking brake before
shifting the transmission to PARK, otherwise the load
on the transmission locking mechanism may make it
difficult to move the shift lever 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.
WARNING!
• NeverusethePARKpositionasasub-
st i

tute for the parking brake. Always ap-
ply the parking brake fully when parked to guard
against vehicle movement and possible injury or
damage.
• Your vehicle could move and injure you and
others if it is not completely in PARK. Check by
trying to move the shift lever out of PARK with
the brake pedal released. Make sure the trans-
mission is in PARK before leaving the vehicle.
• It is dangerous to shift out of PARK or NEU-
TRAL if the engine speed is higher than idle
speed. If your foot is not firmly pressing the brake
pedal, the vehicle could accelerate quickly for-
ward 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.
(Continued)
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REVERSE (R)
This range is for moving the vehicle backward. Shift into
REVERSE only after the vehicle has come to a complete
stop.
NEUTRAL (N)
Use this range when the vehicle is standing for pro-
longed periods with the engine running. The engine
may be started in this range. Apply the parking brake
and shift the transmission into PARK if you must leave
the vehicle.
WARNING!
Do not coast in NEUTRAL and never
turn of f

the ignition to coast down a hill.
These are unsafe practices that limit your re-
sponse to changing traffic or road conditions.You
might lose control of the vehicle and have a
collision.
Towing the vehicle, coasting, or driving
for any other reason with the transmis-
sion in NEUTRAL can result in severe
transmission damage. Refer to “Recreational Tow-
ing” in “Starting and Driving” and “Towing A Dis-
abled Vehicle” in “In An Emergency” for further
information.
DRIVE (D)
This range should be used for most city and highway
driving. It provides the smoothest upshifts and down-
shifts, and the best fuel economy. The transmission
automatically upshifts through all forward gears. The
DRIVE position provides optimum driving characteris-
tics under all normal operating conditions.
When frequent transmission shifting occurs (such as
when operating the vehicle under heavy loading condi-
tions, in hilly terrain, traveling into strong head winds,
or while towing heavy trailers), use the AutoStick®
shift control (refer to “AutoStick®” in this section for
further information) to select a lower gear. Under
these conditions, using a lower gear will improve per-
formance and extend transmission life by reducing
excessive shifting and heat buildup.
If the transmission temperature exceeds normal oper-
ating limits, the powertrain controller will modify the
transmission shift schedule and expand the range of
torque converter clutch engagement. This is done to
prevent transmission damage due to overheating.
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• The transmission fluid has reached an adequate tem-perature.
• The engine coolant has reached an adequate tem- perature.
• The vehicle speed is sufficiently high and the driver is not heavily pressing the accelerator.
Torque Converter Clutch
A feature designed to improve fuel economy has been
included in the automatic transmission on your vehicle.
A clutch within the torque converter engages auto-
matically at calibrated speeds. This may result in a
slightly different feeling or response during normal
operation in the upper gears. When the vehicle speed
drops or during some accelerations, the clutch auto-
matically disengages.
NOTE: The torque converter clutch will not engage
until the transmission fluid and engine coolant are
warm (usually after 2 to 5 km of driving). Because the
engine speed is higher when the torque converter
clutch is not engaged, it may seem as if the transmission
is not shifting into Overdrive when cold. This is normal.
Using the AutoStick® shift control, when the transmis-
sion is sufficiently warm, will demonstrate that the
transmission is able to shift into and out of Overdrive.
AUTOSTICK® (for versions/
markets, where provided)
AutoStick® is a driver-interactive transmission feature
providing manual shift control, giving you more control
of the vehicle. AutoStick® allows you to maximize
engine braking, eliminate undesirable upshifts and
downshifts, and improve overall vehicle performance.
This system can also provide you with more control
during passing, city driving, cold slippery conditions,
mountain driving, trailer towing, and many other situ-
ations.
Operation
When the shift lever is in the AutoStick® position
(below the DRIVE position), it can be moved from side
to side. This allows the driver to manually select the
transmission gear being used. Moving the shift lever to
the left (-) triggers a downshift and to the right (+) an
upshift. The current gear will be displayed in the instru-
ment cluster.
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TRAILER TOWING
In this section you will find safety tips and information
on limits to the type of towing you can reasonably do
with your vehicle. Before towing a trailer, carefully
review this information to tow your load as efficiently
and safely as possible.
To maintain the New Vehicle Limited Warranty cover-
age, follow the requirements and recommendations in
this manual concerning vehicles used for trailer towing.
COMMON TOWING DEFINITIONS
The following trailer towing related definitions will
assist you in understanding the following information:
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
The GVWR is the total allowable weight of your
vehicle. This includes driver, passengers, cargo, and
tongue weight. The total load must be limited so that
you do not exceed the GVWR.
Gross Trailer Weight (GTW)
The GTW is the weight of the trailer plus the weight of
all cargo, consumables and equipment (permanent or
temporary) loaded in or on the trailer in its "loaded and
ready for operation" condition. The recommended way
to measure GTW is to put your fully loaded trailer on
a vehicle scale. The entire weight of the trailer must be
supported by the scale.Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR)
The GCWR is the total permissible weight of your
vehicle and trailer when weighed in combination.
NOTE:
The GCWR rating includes a 68 kg allowance
for the presence of a driver.
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)
The GAWR is the maximum capacity of the front and
rear axles. Distribute the load over the front and rear
axles evenly. Make sure that you do not exceed either
front or rear GAWR.
WARNING!
It is important that you do not exceed
the m

aximum front or rear GAWR. A
dangerous driving condition can result if either
rating is exceeded. You could lose control of the
vehicle and have an accident .
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Tongue Weight (TW)
The tongue weight is the downward force exerted on
the hitch ball by the trailer. In most cases, it should not
be less than 7% or more than 10% of the trailer load.
Tongue weight must not exceed the lesser of either the
hitch certification rating, or the trailer tongue chassis
rating. It should never be less than 4% of the trailer
load, and not less than 25 kg. You must consider tongue
load as part of the load on your vehicle and its’ GAWR.
WARNING!
An improperly adjusted hitch system
may redu c

e handling, stability and brak-
ing performance and could result in an accident .
Consult with your hitch and trailer manufacturer
or a reputable trailer/dealer for additional infor-
mation.
Frontal Area
The frontal area is the maximum height multiplied by
the maximum width of the front of a trailer.
Trailer Sway Control
Refer to “TSC (Trailer Sway Control)” under “Knowing
Your Vehicle/Electronic Brake Control System” for
further information. BREAKAWAY CABLE ATTACHMENT
European braking regulations for braked trailers up to
3,500 kg require trailers to be fitted with either a
secondary coupling or breakaway cable.
The recommended location for attaching the normal
trailer's breakaway cable is in the stamped slot located
on the sidewall of the hitch receiver.
With Attachment Point
•
For detachable tow bar, pass the cable through the
attachment point and clip it back onto itself.
(fig. 155)
(fig. 155)
Detachable Ball Clip Loop Method
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• For fixed ball tow bar, attach the clip directly to thedesignated point. This alternative must be specifically
permitted by the trailer manufacturer since the clip
may not be sufficiently strong for use in the way.(fig. 156)
Without Attachment Points
• For detachable ball tow bar, you must follow the recommended manufacturer or supplier procedure.(fig. 157)
• For fixed ball tow bar, loop the cable around the neck of the tow ball. If you fit the cable like this, use a single
loop only. (fig. 158)
(fig. 156)
Fixed Ball Clip Loop Method
(fig. 157)Detachable Ball Neck Loop Method
(fig. 158) Fixed Ball Neck Loop Method
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KNOWINGYOUR
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