111
SAFETYWARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGESIN AN
EMERGENCYSERVICE
AND CARETECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONSINDEXCONTROLS
AND DEVICESSTARTING
AND DRIVING
STARTING THE ENGINE ................................................. 112
PARKING THE VEHICLE ................................................... 114
USING THE MANUAL GEARBOX ................................. 114
SAVING FUEL ....................................................................... 115
SNOW TYRES ...................................................................... 119
SNOW CHAINS .................................................................. 119
CAR INACTIVITY ............................................................... 120
S S
T T
A A
R R
T T
I I
N N
G G
A A
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D D
D D
R R
I I
V V
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111-120 PUNTO POP 1ed EN 24/09/13 14.29 Pagina 111
112SAFETY
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGESIN AN
EMERGENCYSERVICE
AND CARETECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONSINDEXCONTROLS
AND DEVICESSTARTING
AND DRIVING
If, when the ignition key is at MAR, the in-
strument panel warning light
Y
remains
lit together with warning light
U
, turn the
key to STOPand then back to MAR; if
the warning lights remain on, try using the
other keys provided with the car.
IMPORTANT If the instrument panel
warning light
Y
stays on permanently,
contact a Fiat Dealership immediately.
IMPORTANT Never leave the ignition key
at MARwhen the engine is off.
STARTING PROCEDURE
FOR DIESEL VERSIONS
Proceed as follows:❒
ensure that the handbrake is on;
❒
put the gear lever into neutral;
❒
turn the ignition key to MAR: the
warning lights
m
and
Y
on the in-
strument panel will turn on;
❒
wait for the warning lights
Y
and
m
to turn off. The hotter the engine is, the
quicker this will happen;
❒
press the clutch pedal all the way down
without touching the accelerator;
STARTING THE ENGINEThe car is fitted with an electronic engine
lock device: if the engine fails to start, see
the paragraph on “The Fiat CODE sys-
tem” in the “Dashboard and controls”
section.
The engine may be noisier during the first
few seconds of operation, particularly af-
ter a long period of inactivity. This is a fea-
ture of hydraulic tappets, the timing sys-
tem chosen to reduce the number of
servicing interventions, and effects neither
functionality nor reliability.
We recommend that during
the initial period you do not
drive to full car performance
(e.g. excessive acceleration,
long journeys at top speed, sharp brak-
ing etc.).
When the engine is switched
off, never leave the key in
the ignition switch to prevent
draining the battery.
It is dangerous to have the
engine running indoors. The
engine consumes oxygen and pro-
duces carbon dioxide, carbon monox-
ide and other toxic gases.
WARNING
Remember that the brake
booster and power steering
are not operational until the engine
has been started, therefore you need
to apply much more force than usu-
al to the brake pedal and steering
wheel.
WARNING
STARTING PROCEDURE
FOR PETROL VERSIONS
Proceed as follows:❒
ensure that the handbrake is on;
❒
put the gear lever into neutral;
❒
press the clutch pedal all the way down
without touching the accelerator;
❒
turn the ignition key to AVVand re-
lease it the moment the engine starts.
If the engine does not start at the first at-
tempt, return the ignition key to STOP
before repeating the starting procedure.
111-120 PUNTO POP 1ed EN 24/09/13 14.29 Pagina 112
113
SAFETYWARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGESIN AN
EMERGENCYSERVICE
AND CARETECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONSINDEXCONTROLS
AND DEVICESSTARTING
AND DRIVING
❒
turn the ignition key to AVVas soon
as the warning light
m
turns off. Wait-
ing too long will waste the work done
by the heater plugs. Release the key as
soon as the engine starts.
If the engine does not start at the first at-
tempt, return the ignition key to STOP
before repeating the starting procedure.
If, when the ignition key is at MAR, the in-
strument panel warning light Y
remains
lit together with warning light m
, turn
the key to STOPand then back to MAR;
if the warning lights remain on, try using
the other keys provided with the car.
IMPORTANT If the instrument panel
warning light
Y
stays on permanently,
contact a Fiat Dealership immediately.
IMPORTANT Never leave the ignition key
at MARwhen the engine is off.
Warning light
m
will blink
for 60 seconds after starting
or during prolonged cranking
to indicate a fault with the
glow plug system. Use the car as nor-
mal if the engine starts, but go to a Fi-
at Dealership as soon as possible.
WARMING UP THE ENGINE
AFTER IT HAS JUST STARTED
(petrol and diesel versions)
Proceed as follows:❒
drive off slowly at medium revs, and ac-
celerate smoothly;
❒
do not demand maximum performance
for the first few kilometres. Wait until
the engine coolant gauge starts moving.
Remember that the brake
booster 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.
Never jump start the engine
by pushing, towing or driving
downhill. This could cause fu-
el to flow into the catalytic
converter and damage it beyond repair.
STOPPING THE ENGINE
Turn the ignition to STOPwhile the
engine is idling.
IMPORTANT After a long drive, you
should allow the engine to “catch its
breath” before turning it off by letting it
idle to allow the temperature in the en-
gine compartment to fall.
A quick burst on the acceler-
ator before turning off the en-
gine serves absolutely no
practical purpose; it wastes
fuel and is especially damaging to tur-
bocharged engines.
111-120 PUNTO POP 1ed EN 03/10/13 13.21 Pagina 113
114SAFETY
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGESIN AN
EMERGENCYSERVICE
AND CARETECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONSINDEXCONTROLS
AND DEVICESSTARTING
AND DRIVING
IMPORTANT If this is not the case, con-
tact a Fiat Dealership to have the hand-
brake adjusted.
When the handbrake is on and the igni-
tion key is at MAR, the instrument panel
warning light
x
will come on.
To release the handbrake, proceed as
follows:
❒
pull up slightly on the lever and press
release button A;
❒
hold button Adown and lower the
lever. The
x
warning light on the in-
strument panel will go out.
Press the brake pedal when carrying out
this operation to prevent the car from
moving accidentally.
PARKING THE VEHICLEProceed as follows:❒
stop the engine and engage the hand-
brake;
❒
engage a gear (first gear if the vehicle
is parked uphill or reverse if it is facing
downhill) and leave the wheels turned.
If the car is parked on a steep slope, it is
also advisable to block the wheels with
a wedge or stone. Do not leave the key in
the ignition switch as this drains the bat-
tery. Always remove the key when you
leave the car.
Never leave children unat-
tended in the car. Always re-
move the ignition key when leaving
the car and take it with you.
WARNING
fig. 1
F0M0115m
HANDBRAKE fig. 1
The handbrake is located between the
two front seats.
Pull the lever upwards to operate the
handbrake. Four or five notches are nor-
mally sufficient to secure the car on flat
terrain, while nine or ten may be neces-
sary on a steep slope with the car loaded.
USING THE MANUAL
GEARBOXTo engage the gears, press the clutch ped-
al down fully and shift the gear lever into
one of the required positions (a diagram
is shown on the knob fig. 2).
IMPORTANT Reverse may be engaged
only when the car is at a standstill. With
the engine running, wait for at least 2 sec-
onds with the clutch pedal fully depressed
before engaging reverse to prevent dam-
age to the gears and grating.
To engage reverse Rfrom neutral, lift ring
Aunder the knob and at the same time
move the gearshift lever to the right and
then backwards fig. 2.
IMPORTANT The clutch pedal should be
used only to change gear. Do not drive
with your foot resting on the clutch ped-
al, however slightly. For versions/markets,
where provided, the electronic clutch
control can intervene if it interprets the
incorrect driving style as a fault.
111-120 PUNTO POP 1ed EN 24/09/13 14.29 Pagina 114
116SAFETY
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGESIN AN
EMERGENCYSERVICE
AND CARETECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONSINDEXCONTROLS
AND DEVICESSTARTING
AND DRIVING
DRIVING STYLE
Starting
Do not warm up the engine at low or high
revs when the vehicle is stationary; this
causes the engine to warm up more slow-
ly, thereby increasing fuel consumption
and emissions. It is advisable to set off im-
mediately and slowly, avoiding high revs:
this allows the engine to warm up more
quickly.
Unnecessary actions
Avoid revving up when stationary at traf-
fic lights or before stopping the engine.
The latter action, like double declutching,
is entirely unnecessary and causes in-
creased fuel consumption and pollution.
Gear selection
Use a higher gear as soon as traffic and
road conditions allow. Using a low gear
for faster acceleration will increase fuel
consumption.
In the same way, improper use of a high
gear increases fuel consumption, emissions
and engine wear.Traffic and road conditions
Heavy traffic, for instance when travelling
in a queue with frequent use of low gears
or in cities with lots of traffic lights, caus-
es fairly high fuel consumption. Mountain
roads and uneven surfaces also have a neg-
ative effect on consumption.
Traffic hold-ups
During prolonged hold-ups (e.g. at level
crossings) the engine should be switched
off.
TOWING TRAILERS
IMPORTANT NOTES
The car must be equipped with an ap-
proved tow hook and adequate electrical
system to tow caravans or trailers. Instal-
lation must be performed by specialised
personnel who will issue the required pa-
pers for travelling on roads.
Install any specific and/or additional rear
view mirrors in accordance with the high-
way code of the country in which you are
travelling. Top speed
Fuel consumption considerably increases
as speed increases. Keep your speed as
even as possible, avoiding unnecessary
braking and acceleration, which cause ex-
cessive fuel consumption and increased
emissions.
Acceleration
Accelerating violently severely affects con-
sumption and emissions: acceleration
should be gradual and should not exceed
the maximum torque.
CONDITIONS OF USE
Cold starting
Short distances and frequent cold start-
ups will prevent the engine from reach-
ing optimal running temperature. Conse-
quently, both fuel consumption (from +15
to +30% on the urban cycle) and emis-
sions will increase.
111-120 PUNTO POP 1ed EN 24/09/13 14.29 Pagina 116
117
SAFETYWARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGESIN AN
EMERGENCYSERVICE
AND CARETECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONSINDEXCONTROLS
AND DEVICESSTARTING
AND DRIVING
Remember that, when towing a trailer,
steep hills are harder to climb, braking dis-
tances increase and overtaking takes
longer relative to the overall weight of the
trailer.
Engage a low gear when driving downhill,
rather than constantly using the brake.
The weight of the trailer on the car’s tow
hook will reduce the load capacity of the
car by the same amount. Consider the
weight of the trailer fully laden, including
accessories and luggage, to make sure you
do not exceed the maximum towable
weight (shown on the vehicle registration
document).
Respect each country’s specific speed lim-
its for vehicles towing trailers. The top
speed must not exceed 100 km/h at any
time.
You should fit a suitable stabiliser to the
trailer.
The ABS with which the car
may be equipped will not
control the braking system of the
trailer. Particular caution is therefore
required on slippery roads.
WARNING
Never modify the braking
system of the car to control
the trailer brake. The trailer braking
system must be fully independent
from the hydraulic system of the car.
WARNING
INSTALLING THE TOW HOOK
The towing device should be fastened to
the body by specialised personnel in ac-
cordance with any additional information
supplied by the manufacturer of the device.
The towing device must meet current reg-
ulations with reference to Directive
94/20/EC and subsequent amendments.
For any version the towing device used
must be right for the towable weight of
the car on which it is to be installed.
For the electric connection a unified con-
nector should be used, which is generally
placed on a special bracket fastened to the
towing device, and a special ECU should
be installed on the car to control the trail-
er’s exterior lights.
Seven- or 13-pin 12VDC connections
should be used (CUNA/UNI and ISO/DIN
Standards). Follow any instructions pro-
vided by the car manufacturer and/or the
towing device manufacturer.An electric brake or winch should be pow-
ered directly by the battery through a ca-
ble with a cross-section of no less than
2.5 mm
2.
IMPORTANT The engine must be running
to use the electric brake or winch.
In addition to the electrical appliances, the
car’s electrical system may be connected
only to the supply cable for an electric
brake and the cable for a light inside the
trailer with a wattage of no more than
15 W.
For connections, use the preset control
unit with a battery cable no less than
2.5 mm2.
111-120 PUNTO POP 1ed EN 24/09/13 14.29 Pagina 117
120SAFETY
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGESIN AN
EMERGENCYSERVICE
AND CARETECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONSINDEXCONTROLS
AND DEVICESSTARTING
AND DRIVING
CAR INACTIVITYIf the car is to be left inactive for longer
than a month, the following precautions
should be observed:❒
park the car in covered, dry and, if pos-
sible, well-ventilated premises;
❒
engage a gear;
❒
check that the handbrake is engaged;
❒
disconnect the clip for the negative bat-
tery terminal and check battery charge.
Repeat this check once every three
months during storage. Recharge the
battery if the indicator is dark and the
middle area is not green;
❒
clean and protect the painted parts us-
ing protective wax;
❒
clean and protect the shiny metal parts
using special compounds readily avail-
able;
❒
sprinkle talcum powder on the rubber
windscreen and rear window wiper
blades and lift them off the glass;
❒
open the windows slightly;
❒
cover the car with a fabric or perfo-
rated plastic sheet. Do not use compact
plastic sheets which do not allow hu-
midity to evaporate from the surface of
the car;
❒
inflate tyres to a pressure of +0.5 bar
above the normal specified pressure
and check regularly;
❒
if you don’t disconnect the battery from
the electrical system, check its charge
every month and recharge it if the in-
dicator shows a dark colour without
the central green area;
❒
do not drain the engine cooling system.
IMPORTANT Where relevant, switch off
the car alarm with the remote control.
Keep your speed down when
snow chains are fitted – do
not exceed 50 km/h. Avoid
potholes, steps and pave-
ments and also avoid driving
for long distances on roads
not covered with snow to avoid dam-
aging the car and the road surface.
WARNING
111-120 PUNTO POP 1ed EN 24/09/13 14.29 Pagina 120
121
SAFETYSTARTING
AND DRIVINGIN AN
EMERGENCYSERVICE
AND CARETECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONSINDEXCONTROLS
AND DEVICESWARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
GENERAL WARNINGS ..................................................... 122
LOW BRAKE FLUID LEVEL .............................................. 122
HANDBRAKE ON .............................................................. 122
AIRBAG FAULT ................................................................... 123
OVERHEATED ENGINE COOLANT ............................ 123
LOW BATTERY CHARGE ................................................ 124
LOW ENGINE OIL PRESSURE -
EXHAUSTED ENGINE OIL ............................................... 124
“DUALDRIVE” ELECTRIC POWER
STEERING FAULT ............................................................... 125
DOOR OPEN ....................................................................... 125
LOW ENGINE OIL LEVEL ................................................ 125
EBD FAULT ........................................................................... 125
INJECTION SYSTEM FAULT
(Multijet versions) ................................................................. 126
ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM FAULT (EOBD)
(petrol versions) ................................................................... 126
FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG DEACTIVATED .......... 127
ABS FAULT ........................................................................... 127
FUEL RESERVE ...................................................................... 127
SEAT BELT NOT FASTENED ........................................... 127
GLOW PLUG HEATING ................................................... 128
GLOW PLUG HEATING FAULT .................................... 128WATER IN DIESEL FILTER ............................................... 128
FIAT CODE CAR PROTECTION SYSTEM FAULT .... 129
EXTERIOR LIGHTS FAULT .............................................. 129
REAR FOG LAMPS .............................................................. 129
GENERIC WARNING ........................................................ 129
DPF CLEANING IN PROGRESS
(Multijet versions) ................................................................. 130
ESP SYSTEM FAULT ............................................................ 130
WORN BRAKE PADS ........................................................ 130
HILL HOLDER FAULT ....................................................... 130
SIDELIGHTS AND DIPPED BEAM HEADLIGHTS ...... 131
FOLLOW ME HOME .......................................................... 131
FOG LIGHTS ........................................................................ 131
LEFT-HAND DIRECTION INDICATOR ....................... 131
RIGHT-HAND DIRECTION INDICATOR ................... 131
“DUALDRIVE” ELECTRIC POWER STEERING ON ... 131
MAIN BEAM HEADLIGHTS .............................................. 131
POSSIBLE ICE ON ROAD ................................................. 132
LIMITED RANGE ................................................................. 132
ASR SYSTEM ......................................................................... 132
SPEED LIMIT EXCEEDED .................................................. 132
W W
A A
R R
N N
I I
N N
G G
L L
I I
G G
H H
T T
S S
A A
N N
D D
M M
E E
S S
S S
A A
G G
E E
S S
121-132 PUNTO POP 1ed EN 29/08/13 15.03 Pagina 121