2015 FIAT DUCATO BASE CAMPER Owner handbook (in English)

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS:
WARNING
168F1A0387
173

WARNING
114) Do not apply stickers or other objects to the steering wheel, the dashboard in the passenger side airbag area and
the seats. Never put objects (e.g. mobile phones) on the passenger side of the dashboard since they could interfere
with correct inflation of the passenger airbag and also cause serious injury to the passengers.
115) When an active passenger airbag is fitted, DO NOT install rear facing child restraint systems on the front seat.
Deployment of the airbag in an accident could cause fatal injuries to the child regardless of the severity of the
impact. Therefore, always deactivate the passenger airbag when a rear facing child restraint system is installed on
the front passenger seat. The front passenger seat must also be positioned back as far as possible in order to prevent
the child restraint system from coming into contact with the dashboard. Immediately reactivate the passenger airbag
as soon as the child restraint system has been removed.
174
SAFETY

SIDE BAGS
116) 117) 118) 119) 120) 121) 122) 123) 124) 125)
126) 127) 128)
The vehicle is fitted with front side
bags for driver and passenger
(for versions/markets where
provided) for protecting the chest
and window bags (for versions/
markets where provided) for
protecting front and rear
passengers' heads.
Side bags (for versions/markets
where provided) protect occupants
from side impacts of medium-high
severity, by placing the bag
between the occupant and the
internal parts of the side structure
of the vehicle. Non-activation of
side bags in other types of
collisions (front collisions, rear
shunts, roll-overs, etc...) is not a
system malfunction.
An electronic control unit causes
the bags to inflate in the event of a
side impact. The bags inflate
instantaneously placing themselves
between the occupants' bodies
and the structures which could
cause injury. They deflate
immediately afterwards.Side bags (for versions/markets
where provided) are not a
replacement of but complementary
to the belts, which you are
recommended to always wear, as
specified by law in Europe and
most non-European countries.
FRONT SIDE BAGS
FOR CHEST
PROTECTION
(for versions/markets, where
provided)
Housed in the seats' backrests fig.
169, they consist of an instantly
inflating bag designed to protect
the occupants' chest in the event of
a side impact of medium-high
severity.SIDE AIRBAGS FOR
HEAD PROTECTION
(WINDOW BAGS)
(for versions/markets, where
provided)
They consist of two curtain bags,
one on the right and the other
on the left side of the vehicle,
located behind the side coverings
of the roof and covered by specific
finishing fig. 170.
Window bags have been designed
for protecting the head of front
occupants in the event of side
impact, thanks to the wide bag
inflation surface.
169F1A0160
170F1A0333
175

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

120) Do not travel carrying objects in
your lap, in front of your chest or
between your lips (pipe, pencils,
etc.). They could cause severe
injury if the airbag is deployed.
121) Always drive keeping your
hands on the steering wheel rim
so that the airbag can inflate
freely if necessary. Do not drive
with your body bent forward.
Keep your back straight against
the backrest.122) If the key is inserted and turned
to MAR-ON, airbags may be
deployed if another vehicle
crashes into the vehicle even if
the engine is not running and the
vehicle is stationary. Therefore,
even if the car is stationary, when
an active front passenger airbag
is fitted, DO NOT install rear
facing child restraint systems on
the front passenger seat.
Deployment of the airbag
following an impact could cause
fatal injuries to the child.
Therefore, always deactivate the
passenger airbag when a rear
facing child restraint system is
installed on the front passenger
seat. The front passenger seat
must also be positioned back as
far as possible in order to prevent
the child restraint system from
coming into contact with the
dashboard. Immediately
reactivate the passenger airbag
as soon as the child restraint
system has been removed. Also
remember that, if the key is
turned to STOP, none of the
safety devices (airbags or
pretensioners) will be deployed in
the event of collision. Non-
deployment in such cases does
not indicate a system malfunction.123) If the vehicle has been subject
to theft, attempted theft,
vandalism, or flooding, have the
airbag system inspected at a Fiat
Dealership.
124) When the ignition key is turned
to MAR-ON, the LED on button
on the dashboard blinks for a
few seconds (the number of
seconds may depend on the
market) to check the correct
operation of the LED on the
button.
125) Do not wash the seats with
water or pressurised steam (by
hand or at automatic car seat
washing stations).
126) The front airbag deploys in the
event of more severe collisions
than those required for deploying
the pretensioners. For impacts
whose intensity falls between the
two levels, normally, only the
pretensioners will be activated.
127) Do not affix rigid objects to the
coat hooks or support handles.
177

128) The airbag does not replace
seat belts but increases their
efficiency. Furthermore, since
front airbags are not deployed in
low-speed frontal impacts, side
impacts, rear shunts or roll-overs,
the passengers are protected
only by the seat belts which must
therefore be fastened at all
times.
178
SAFETY

STARTING AND DRIVING
Let’s get to the "heart" of the
vehicle: seeing how you can exploit
all of its potential to the full.
We’ll look at how to drive it safely in
any situation, so that it can be a
welcome companion, with our
comfort and our wallets in mind.STARTING THE ENGINE .................180
PARKING ........................................181
USING THE GEARBOX ...................183
LOADING ADVICE...........................184
SAVING FUEL .................................185
TOWING TRAILERS ........................187
SNOW TYRES ................................195
SNOW CHAINS...............................195
PROLONGED VEHICLE
INACTIVITY .....................................196
179

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