2015 FIAT DUCATO BASE CAMPER light

IMPORTANT In the event of a
side-on crash, the system offers
best protection if you keep a
correct position on the seat
because this allows the side bags
to inflate correctly.
IMPORTANT The front airbags
and/or side bags may be deployed
if the vehicle is subject to heavy
knocks or accidents involving the
underbody area, such as for
example violent shocks, against
steps, kerbs or low obstacles,
vehicle falling into big potholes or
depressions in the road.
IMPORTANT A small amount of
dust will be released when the
airbags are deployed. The dust is
not harmful and does not indicate
the beginning of a fire. Furthermore,
the surface of the deployed bag
and the interior of the vehicle may
be covered in a dusty residue:
this may irritate your skin and eyes.
Wash with mild soap and water in
the event of exposure.IMPORTANT Should an accident
occur in which any of the safety
devices are activated, take the
vehicle to a Fiat Dealership to have
the activated devices replaced
and to have the whole system
checked.
Every control, repair and
replacement operation concerning
the airbags must only be carried
out at a Fiat Dealership.
If you are having the vehicle
scrapped, have the system
deactivated at a Fiat Dealership
first. If the vehicle changes
ownership, the new owner must be
informed of how to use the airbags
and the above warnings and also
be given this "Owner Handbook".
IMPORTANT Pretensioners, front
airbags and front side bags are
deployed differently according to
the type of collision. Failure to
deploy of one of the devices does
not necessarily indicate a system
malfunction.
WARNING
116) Never rest your head, arms or
elbows on the doors, on the
windows or in the window bag
area as this could cause injuries
during the inflation phase.
117) Never lean your head, arms and
elbows out of the window.
118) If when turning the key to
MAR-ON the warning light
does not turn on or if it stays
on when travelling (together with
the message on the multifunction
display, for versions/markets
where provided), there could be a
fault in the safety systems; in
this event, airbags or
pretensioners may not trigger in
the case of impact or, in a lower
number of cases, they could be
triggered accidentally. Contact a
Fiat Dealership immediately to
have the system checked.
119) Do not cover the backrest of
the front or rear seats with covers
which are not suitable for use
with side bags.
176
SAFETY

STARTING THE
ENGINE
The vehicle is fitted with an
electronic engine lock device: if the
engine fails to start, see the
paragraph “The Fiat CODE system”
in section “Know your vehicle”.
27) 28)
129)
PROCEDURE
Proceed as follows:
❒engage the handbrake;
❒put the gear lever into neutral;
❒turn the ignition key to MAR-ON: the
warning lights
andon the
instrument panel will turn on;
❒wait for the warning lights
and
to switch off. The hotter the
engine is, the quicker this will
happen;
❒fully press the clutch pedal without
touching the accelerator;
❒turn the ignition key to AVV as soon
as warning light
switches off.
Waiting too long will waste the
heating work carried out by the glow
plugs.
Release the key as soon as the
engine starts.
If the engine does not start at the
first attempt, return the ignition key
to STOP before repeating the
starting procedure.
If, when the ignition key is at
MAR-ON the
warning light
remains lit, turn the key to STOP
and then back to MAR-ON; if
the warning light remains lit, try with
the other keys provided with the
car.
IMPORTANT Go to a Fiat
Dealership immediately if warning
light
stays on constantly on the
instrument panel.
IMPORTANT Never leave the
ignition key in MAR-ON position
when the engine is stopped.
29)
WARMING UP THE
ENGINE JUST AFTER
IT HAS STARTED
Proceed as follows:
❒drive off slowly, letting the engine turn
at medium revs. Do not accelerate
abruptly;❒do not demand full performance at
first. Wait until the engine coolant
temperature gauge starts moving.
30) 31)
STOPPING THE
ENGINE
Turn the ignition key to STOP while
the engine is idling.
32) 33)
IMPORTANT
27) It is advisable not to demand
maximum performance from
your vehicle (e.g. excessive
acceleration, long distances at
high speeds, excessively intense
braking, etc.) during the initial
period of use.
28) When the engine is off, do not
leave the ignition key turned to
MAR-ON to prevent unnecessary
electrical consumption from
draining the battery.
180
STARTING AND DRIVING

29) If thewarning light flashes
for about 60 seconds after
starting or during prolonged
cranking, this indicates a fault in
the glow plug preheating system.
Use the vehicle normally if the
engine starts, but contact a Fiat
Dealership as soon as possible.
30) Remember that the brake servo
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.
31) Never start the engine by
pushing, towing or driving
downhill. This could cause fuel to
flow into the catalytic converter
and damage it beyond repair.
32) A quick burst on the accelerator
before turning off the engine
serves absolutely no practical
purpose; it wastes fuel and is
especially damaging to
turbocharged engines.
33) In some cases, when the engine
switches off, the fan could
activate for max. 120 seconds.
WARNING
129) It is dangerous to run the
engine in enclosed areas. The
engine takes in oxygen and
releases carbon dioxide, carbon
monoxide and other toxic gases.
PARKING
Proceed as follows:
❒stop the engine and engage the
handbrake;
❒engage a gear (on a slope, engage
first gear if the car is facing uphill or
reverse if it is facing downhill) and
leave the wheels steered.
If the vehicle is parked on a steep
slope, it is advisable to block the
wheels with a wedge or stone.
Do not leave the key in the ignition
as this drains the battery. Always
remove the key when you leave the
car.
130)
HANDBRAKE
The handbrake lever is located to
the left of the driver's seat fig. 171.
Pull the lever upwards to engage
the handbrake and ensure that the
vehicle does not move.
IMPORTANT Make sure that the
handbrake is engaged in such
a way as to ensure the stationing of
the vehicle, especially in the case
of steep slopes and full load.
181

IMPORTANT If this is not the case,
contact a Fiat Dealership to have
the handbrake adjusted. If the lever
travel gets longer, contact a Fiat
Dealership.
When the handbrake lever is
engaged and the ignition key is in
MAR-ON position, the instrument
panel warning light
will switch
on.
Proceed as follows to release the
handbrake:
❒slightly lift the lever and press release
button A;
❒keep button A pressed and lower the
lever.
Thewarning light in the
instrument panel will switch off.
Press the brake pedal when
carrying out this operation to
prevent the vehicle from moving
accidentally.
34)
IMPORTANT Apply the handbrake
only when the vehicle is at a
standstill or with the vehicle in
motion only in the event of a failure
in the hydraulic system. If
exceptional use is made of the
handbrake with the vehicle in
motion, moderate traction is
advisable in order not to cause
locking of the rear end with
consequent swerving of the vehicle.
WARNING
130) Never leave children
unattended in the vehicle. Always
remove the ignition key when
leaving the vehicle and take it out
with you.
IMPORTANT
34) If the vehicle is equipped with
self-levelling air suspension,
always check that there is
sufficient space above the roof
and around the vehicle when
parking. Indeed, the vehicle could
raise (or lower) automatically
depending on load or temperature
changes.
171F1A0162
182
STARTING AND DRIVING

USING THE
GEARBOX
To engage the gears, press the
clutch pedal fully and put the gear
lever into the required position
(the diagram for gear engagement
is shown on the knob fig. 172).
To engage 6th gear (where
provided), operate the lever by
pressing it towards the right in
order to avoid engaging 4th gear by
mistake. The action is similar for
shifting from 6th gear to 5th gear.IMPORTANT Reverse may only be
engaged when the vehicle is at a
standstill. With the engine running,
wait for at least 2 seconds with
the clutch pedal fully pressed
before engaging reverse to prevent
damage to the gears and grating.
To engage reverse R from neutral,
proceed as follows: raise sliding
ring A under the knob and at the
same time move the gear lever
to the left and then forwards.
131)
35)
WARNING
131) Depress the clutch pedal fully
to change gear correctly. It is
therefore essential that there is
nothing under the pedals: make
sure the mats are lying flat and do
not get in the way of the pedals.
IMPORTANT
35) Do not drive with your hand
resting on the gear lever as the
force exerted, even if slight, could
lead over time to premature wear
of the internal gearbox
components. The clutch pedal
should be used only for gear
changes. Do not drive with your
foot resting on the clutch pedal,
however lightly. For versions/
markets where provided, the
electronic clutch pedal control
could cut in, interpreting the
incorrect driving style as a fault.
172F1A0163
183

SAVING FUEL
Some useful tips are given below
for fuel saving and reducing harmful
emissions of CO2 and other
pollutants (nitrogen oxides, unburnt
hydrocarbons, Particulate Matter
(PM), etc.).
GENERAL
CONSIDERATIONS
The general factors that affect fuel
consumption are listed below.
Vehicle maintenance
Have checks and adjustments
carried out in accordance with the
“Scheduled Servicing Plan”.
Tyres
Check the tyre pressures at least
once every four weeks: if the
pressure is too low, consumption
levels increase as resistance to
rolling is higher.Unnecessary loads
Do not travel with an overloaded
luggage compartment. The weight
of the vehicle (especially when
driving in town) and its geometry
greatly affect fuel consumption and
stability.
Roof rack/ski rack
Remove the roof rack or the ski
rack from the roof after use. These
accessories decrease aerodynamic
penetration of the vehicle and
have a negative effect on fuel
consumption. When transporting
particularly large objects, use a
trailer if possible.
Electric devices
Use electrical devices only for the
amount of time needed. The heated
rear window, additional headlights,
windscreen/rear window wipers
and heater fan need a considerable
amount of energy, therefore
increasing fuel consumption (by up
to 25% in the urban cycle).Climate control
system
Air conditioning leads to higher fuel
consumption (on average up to
+20%). If the temperature outside
permits, try and use the ventilation
only.
Devices for
aerodynamic control
The use of non-certified spoilers
may adversely affect air drag and
fuel consumption.
DRIVING STYLE
The main driving styles that affect
fuel consumption are listed below.
Cranking
Do not warm up the engine at low
or high revs when the vehicle is
stationary; this causes the engine
to warm up more slowly, thereby
increasing fuel consumption and
emissions. It is therefore advisable
to move off immediately, slowly,
avoiding high speeds: in this way
the engine will warm up more
quickly.
185

Unnecessary actions
Avoid accelerating when stopped at
traffic lights or before switching off
the engine. This action and also
double declutching is absolutely
pointless on modern cars and also
increases consumption and
pollution.
Gear selection
As soon as the conditions of the
traffic and road permit, use a higher
gear. Using a low gear for faster
acceleration will increase
consumption.
In the same way improper use of a
high gear increases consumption,
emissions and engine wear.
Max. speed
Fuel consumption increases
considerably with speed. Maintain a
constant speed, avoiding
unnecessary braking and
acceleration, which cost in terms of
both fuel consumption and
emissions.Acceleration
Accelerating violently will greatly
affect consumption and emissions:
acceleration should be gradual.
USAGE CONDITIONS
The main usage conditions that
negatively affect fuel consumption
are listed below.
Cold starting
Short journeys and frequent cold
starts do not allow the engine
to reach optimum operating
temperature.
This results in a significant increase
in consumption levels (from +15
to +30% on the urban cycle) and
emissions.Traffic and road
conditions
Rather high consumption levels are
linked to situations with heavy
traffic, for instance when travelling
in queues with frequent use of
the lower gears or in cities with
many traffic lights. Winding
mountain roads and rough road
surfaces also adversely affect
consumption.
Stops in traffic
During prolonged hold-ups (e.g.
level crossings) the engine should
be switched off.
186
STARTING AND DRIVING

TOWING TRAILERS
IMPORTANT
INFORMATION
The vehicle must be provided with
a type-approved tow hook and
adequate electrical system to tow
caravans or trailers. Installation
should be carried out by
specialised personnel who will issue
the required papers for travelling
on roads.
Install any specific and/or additional
door mirrors as specified by the
Highway Code.
Remember that when towing a
trailer, steep hills are harder to
climb, the braking spaces increase
and overtaking takes longer
depending on the overall weight.
Engage a low gear when driving
downhill, rather than constantly
using the brake.The weight of the trailer on the
vehicle tow hook will reduce the
loading capacity of the vehicle 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).
Do not exceed the speed limits
specific to each country you are
driving in, in the case of vehicles
towing trailers. In any case, the top
speed must not exceed 100 km/h.
You are advised to fit a suitable
stabiliser to the trailer drawbar.
In the vehicles equipped with
parking sensors, after fitting the tow
hook malfunctioning warnings
may be displayed, as some parts
(tow bar, ball tow hook) may be
within the sensor detection range.
In this case the detection range
must be adjusted or the parking
assistance function must be
deactivated.
135) 136)
INSTALLING THE TOW
HOOK
The towing device should be
fastened to the body by specialised
personnel according to any
additional and/or integrative
information supplied by the
Manufacturer of the device.
The towing device must meet
current regulations with reference to
Directive 94/20/EC and subsequent
amendments.
For any version the towing device
used must match the towable
weight of the vehicle on which it is
to be installed.
For the electric connection a
standard connector should be used
which is generally placed on a
special bracket normally fastened
to the towing device, and a special
ECU for external trailer light control
must be installed on the vehicle.
For the electrical connection, 7 or
13 pin 12 V DC connections are to
be used (CUNA/UNI and ISO/DIN
Standards). Follow the instructions
provided by the vehicle
manufacturer and/or the tow hitch
manufacturer.
187