109
STARTING
AND DRIVINGWARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGESIN AN
EMERGENCYSERVICE
AND CARETECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONSINDEXCONTROLS
AND DEVICESSAFETY
Never travel with objects on
your lap, in front of your
chest or with a pipe, pencil, etc. be-
tween your lips; serious injury may re-
sult in the event of the airbag being
triggered.
WARNING
The airbags may also be de-
ployed when the car is not
moving, if the key is in the ignition and
turned to MAR-ON or when the en-
gine is off, if the car is hit by another
moving vehicle. Therefore, even if the
car is stationary,when an active pas-
senger airbag is fitted, DO NOT install
on the passenger seat child restraint
systems to be fitted rearward facing
on the front seat. Deployment of the
airbag following an impact could
cause fatal injuries to the child. There-
fore, always release the passenger
airbag when a rearward facing child
restraint is installed on the passenger
front seat. The front passenger seat
must also be positioned back as far as
possible in order to avoid the child re-
straint from coming into contact with
the dashboard. Immediately reacti-
vate the passenger airbag as soon as
the child restraint system has been re-
moved. Also remember that, if the key
is turned to STOP, none of the safe-
ty devices (airbags or pretensioners)
will be deployed in the event of colli-
sion. Non-deployment of these de-
vices does not indicate a system mal-
function.
WARNING
Always drive with your hands
on the steering wheel rim so
that the airbag can inflate freely if
needed. Do not drive with your body
bent forward. Keep your back straight
against the backrest.
WARNING
If the vehicle has been sub-
ject to theft or a theft at-
tempt, or if it has been affected by
vandalism or flooding, have the airbag
system checked at a Fiat Dealership.
WARNING
When the ignition key is
turned to MAR, the warning
light (with passenger’s front airbag
activated) turns on and flashes for
a few seconds to remind you that the
passenger’s air bag will be deployed
in a crash, after which it should go off.
WARNING
091-110 PUNTO POP 1ed EN 29/08/13 14.52 Pagina 109
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
122SAFETYSTARTING
AND DRIVINGIN AN
EMERGENCYSERVICE
AND CARETECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONSINDEXCONTROLS
AND DEVICESWARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGESGENERAL WARNINGS
Warning lights are accompanied by a spe-
cific message and/or sound when applica-
ble. These indications are synthetic and
precautionaryand, as such, must not be
considered as exhaustive and/or alterna-
tive to the information contained in this
Owner Handbook, which you are rec-
ommended to read carefully in all cases.
Refer to the information in this sectionif
a fault is signalled.
IMPORTANT The fault indications ap-
pearing on the display are divided into two
categories: very seriousand less seri-
ousfailures.
Very seriousfailures are indicated by
a repeated and prolonged warning “cycle”.Less seriousfailures are indicated by
a shorter warning “cycle”.Press MENU ESCto stop the warning
cycle in both cases. Warning lights on the
instrument panel will stay on until the
cause of the failure is eliminated.
For messages relevant to the versions
equipped with a Dualogic gearbox, see the
attached Supplement.LOW BRAKE FLUID
LEVEL (red)
HANDBRAKE ON (red)
When the ignition key is moved to MAR,
the warning light turns on but should go
off after a few seconds.
Low brake fluid level
The warning light comes on when the lev-
el of the brake fluid in the reservoir falls
below the minimum level due to possible
leaks in the circuit.
A specific message is displayed on certain
versions.
x
If the warning light
x
turns
on when travelling (togeth-
er with the message on the display on
certain versions), stop the car imme-
diately and contact a Fiat Dealership.
WARNING
Handbrake on
The warning light turns on when the hand-
brake is engaged.
If the car is moving, an audible warning will
also sound on certain versions.
IMPORTANT If the warning light comes
on with the vehicle in motion, check that
the handbrake is not engaged.
121-132 PUNTO POP 1ed EN 29/08/13 15.03 Pagina 122
123
SAFETYSTARTING
AND DRIVINGIN AN
EMERGENCYSERVICE
AND CARETECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONSINDEXCONTROLS
AND DEVICESWARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
AIRBAG FAULT
(red)
When the ignition key is moved to MAR,
the warning light turns on but should go
off after a few seconds.
The warning light stays on constantly if
there is a failure in the airbag system.
A specific message is displayed on certain
versions.
¬
If the warning light
¬
does
not turn on when turning the
key to MAR or stays on during car
travel, there may be a failure in the
restraint systems. If this is the case,
the airbags or pretensioners may not
be deployed in an accident or, in a
minor number of cases, they may be
deployed incorrectly. Contact a Fiat
Dealership immediately to have the
system checked before driving off.
WARNING
A problem with the warning
light
¬
(light off) is indicat-
ed by the warning light
“, which in-
dicates the front passenger airbag is
deactivated, flashing for more than
the usual four seconds.
WARNING
OVERHEATED ENGINE
COOLANT (red)
When the ignition key is moved to MAR,
the warning light turns on but should go
off after a few seconds.
The warning light turns on when the en-
gine is overheated.
If the warning light comes on, proceed as
follows:
❒when driving normally: stop the car,
switch off the engine and check that the
coolant level in the reservoir is not be-
low the MIN mark. If it is, wait for the
engine to cool down then slowly and
carefully open the cap, top up with
coolant and check that the level is be-
tween the MIN and MAX marks on the
reservoir. Also check visually for any
fluid leaks. If, when restarting, the warn-
ing light comes on again, contact a Fiat
Dealership.
ç
121-132 PUNTO POP 1ed EN 29/08/13 15.03 Pagina 123
124SAFETYSTARTING
AND DRIVINGIN AN
EMERGENCYSERVICE
AND CARETECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONSINDEXCONTROLS
AND DEVICESWARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
LOW ENGINE OIL
PRESSURE (red)
EXHAUSTED ENGINE
OIL
(only Multijet versions with
DPF - red)
When the ignition key is turned to MAR
(ON), the warning light switches on and
should go out as soon as the engine is
started.
Low engine oil pressure
The warning light turns on and stays on
constantly (for versions/markets, where
provided) along with the message on the
display when the system detects that en-
gine oil pressure is low.
v
If the warning light
v
turns on when the vehicle is
travelling (on certain versions to-
gether with the message on the dis-
play) stop the engine immediately
and contact a Fiat Dealership.
WARNING
❒if the vehicle is used under de-
manding conditions (e.g. towing
trailers uphill or fully loaded): slow
down and, if the light stays on, stop the
car. Stop for 2 or 3 minutes with the
engine running and slightly accelerated
to assist better coolant circulation.
Then switch the engine off. Check cor-
rect fluid level as described above.
IMPORTANT On particularly demanding
journeys, it is advisable to keep the engine
on and slightly accelerated for a few min-
utes before switching it off.
A specific message is displayed on certain
versions.
LOW BATTERY
CHARGE (red)
When the ignition key is moved to MAR,
the warning light turns on but should go
out as soon as the engine is started (with
the engine idling, a brief delay can be ex-
pected).
If the warning light comes on, either per-
manently or intermittently, contact a Fiat
Dealership immediately.w
Exhausted engine oil
(only Multijet versions with DPF)
The warning light will flash and a specific
message will appear on the display (for
versions/markets, where provided). The
warning light may flash in the following
ways, depending on the version:
– for 1 minute every two hours;
– for 3 minute cycles with the warning
light off for intervals of 5 seconds until oil
is changed.
After the initial warning, each time the en-
gine is started up, the warning light will
continue to flash in the above mentioned
modes, until the oil is changed. A specific
message will appear on the display (for
versions/markets, where provided) in ad-
dition to the warning light.
If the warning light flashes, this does not
mean that the car is defective but simply
informs the driver that it is now necessary
to change the oil as a result of regular ve-
hicle use.
Note that engine oil is exhausted faster
under the following circumstances:
– use of the vehicle prevalently for city dri-
ving, requiring more frequent regenera-
tion of DPF
– use of the vehicle for short drives, in
which the engine does not have time to
reach its regular operating temperature
– repeated interruption of the regenera-
tion process, signalled by the DPF warn-
ing light coming on.
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125
SAFETYSTARTING
AND DRIVINGIN AN
EMERGENCYSERVICE
AND CARETECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONSINDEXCONTROLS
AND DEVICESWARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
DOOR OPEN (red)
On certain versions, the warn-
ing light turns on when one or
more doors or the boot are not proper-
ly closed.
A specific message is displayed on certain
versions.
You will hear a warning sound if a door
is open and the car is moving.
´
“DUALDRIVE”
ELECTRIC POWER
STEERING FAILURE (red)
This warning light comes on
when the ignition key is turned to MAR,
but it should go off after a few seconds.
If the warning light stays on, you will not
get the benefit from the electric power
steering and the effort needed to turn the
wheel will be greatly increased, although
it will still be possible to steer the car.
Contact a Fiat Dealership.
A specific message is displayed on certain
versions.
g
EBD FAULT
(red)
(amber)
Warning lights
x
and
>
lit at the same
time with the engine running indicates an
EBD system failure or that the system is
not available. This may cause premature
locking of the rear wheels in the event of
violent braking, causing the car to swerve.
Drive very carefully to a Fiat Dealership to
have the system inspected immediately.
A specific message is displayed on certain
versions.
x
>LOW ENGINE OIL
LEVEL (red)
(for versions/markets, where
provided)
When turning the ignition key to MAR,
the warning light turns on but it should go
off after a few seconds.
This warning light where provided comes
on when the engine oil level falls below the
minimum recommended value. Restore
the correct engine oil level (see “Check-
ing fluid levels” in the “Servicing and care”
section).
A specific message is displayed on certain
versions.
k
Exhausted engine oil should
be replaced as soon as pos-
sible after the warning light comes on,
never more than 500 km after the
warning light first comes on. Failure
to change the oil within the first 500
km may result in severe damage to
the engine and will result in forfeiture
of the warranty. Remember that
when the warning light flashes, it does
not mean that the level of engine oil
is low, so if the light flashes you must
not top up.
WARNING
For versions/markets, where
provided:
the
v
warning light turns on and flash-
es along with the message on the display
(if applied) when the system detects that
the engine oil is exhausted. The flashing of
the warning light should not be considered
as a fault, rather simply informs the driver
that oil needs to be changed after a stan-
dard period of car utilisation. If the oil is
not changed, when reaching a second de-
terioration threshold, also the warning
light
U
switches on in the instrument
panel and the engine operation is limited
at 3000 rpm.
If the oil is still not changed, when reaching
a third deterioration threshold, the engine
is limited at 1500 rpm to avoid damage.
WARNING! To avoid dam-
aging the engine it is recom-
mended to change the en-
gine oil when the warning light
v
flashes. Contact a Fiat Dealership.
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