SEAT BELT
PRETENSIONER AND
LOAD LIMITING
SYSTEMS
PRETENSIONERS
88) 89) 90) 91)
For optimum protection, the driver and
passenger seat belts are equipped with
pretensioner and load limiting systems.
For both these systems to work
properly you must wear the seat belt
properly.
When a collision is detected, the
pretensioners deploy simultaneously
with the air bags. For deployment
details, refer to the “SRS air bag
deployment criteria” paragraph in this
chapter.
The seat belt retractors remove slack
quickly as the air bags are expanding.
Any time the air bags and seat belt
pretensioners have fired they must be
replaced.
A system malfunction or operation
conditions are indicated by a warning.
Refer to “Warning lights and messages”
and “Warning sound is activated”
paragraph in “Knowing the instrument
panel” chapter.
In addition, the pretensioner system for
the passenger, like the front and side
passenger air bag, is designed to onlydeploy when the passenger occupant
classification sensor detects a
passenger sitting on the passenger's
seat. For details, refer to the passenger
occupant classification sensor.
IMPORTANT The pretensioner system
may not operate depending on the type
of the collision. For details, refer to the
“SRS Air Bag deployment criteria”
paragraph.
IMPORTANT Some smoke (non-toxic
gas) will be released when the air bags
and pretensioners deploy. This does
not indicate a fire. This gas normally
has no effect on occupants, however,
those with sensitive skin may
experience slight skin irritation. If
residue from the deployment of the air
bags or the pretensioner system gets
on the skin or in the eyes, wash it off as
soon as possible.
LOAD LIMITER
The load limiting system releases belt
webbing in a controlled manner to
reduce belt force on the occupant's
chest.
While the most severe load on a seat
belt occurs in frontal collisions, the load
limiter has an automatic mechanical
function and can activate in any
accident mode with sufficient occupant
movement.Even if the pretensioners have not fired,
the load limiting function must be
checked by Abarth Dealership.
WARNING
88)Wear seat belts only as recommended
in this Owner Handbook. Incorrect
positioning of the driver and passenger
seat belts is dangerous. Without proper
positioning, the pretensioner and load
limiting systems cannot provide adequate
protection in an accident and this could
result in serious injury. For more details
about wearing seat belts, refer to
"Fastening the seat belts".
89)Have your seat belts changed
immediately if the pretensioner or load
limiter has been expended. Always have an
expert repairer: contact an Abarth
Dealership immediately for seat belt
pretensioners and air bags inspections
after any collision. Like the air bags, the
seat belt pretensioners and load limiters will
only function once and must be replaced
after any collision that caused them to
deploy. If the seat belt pretensioners and
load limiters are not replaced, the risk of
injury in a collision will increase.
90)Do not modify the components or
wiring, or use electronic testing devices on
the pretensioner system. Modifying the
components or wiring of the pretensioner
system, including the use of electronic
testing devices is dangerous. You could
accidentally activate it or make it inoperable
which would prevent it from activating in an
accident. The occupants or repairers could
be seriously injured.
80
SAFETY
bag only on the side in which the
vehicle was hit.
The side air bag inflates quickly to
reduce injury to the driver or
passenger's head and chest caused by
directly hitting interior parts such as a
door or window. For more details about
air bag deployment, refer to "SRS Air
Bag deployment criteria" in this chapter.
In addition, the passenger side bag is
designed to only deploy when the
passenger occupant classificationsensor detects a passenger sitting on
the passenger's seat.
Warning Light/Beep
A system malfunction or operation
conditions are indicated by a warning.
Refer to “Warning lights and messages”
paragraph in “Knowing your instrument
panel” chapter. Refer to “Warning
sound is activated” paragraph in
“Knowing your instrument panel”
chapter.
Passenger side front air bag and
child restraint systems
Rearward-facing child restraint systems
mustNEVERbe fitted on the front seat
with an active passenger side air bag
since in the event of an impact the air
bag activation may cause fatal injuries
to the transported child.
ALWAYScomply with the instructions
on the label stuck on the passenger
side sun visor fig. 77.
7606010205-126-123AB
7703030100-133-555
97
126)Do not operate a vehicle with
damaged air bag/seat belt pretensioner
system components. Expended or
damaged air bag/seat belt pretensioner
system components must be replaced
after any collision which caused them to
deploy or damage them. Only a trained
expert repairer, we recommend an Abarth
Dealership that can fully evaluate these
systems to see that they will work in any
subsequent accident. Driving with an
expended or damaged air bag or
pretensioner unit will not afford you the
necessary protection in the event of any
subsequent accident which could result in
serious injury or death.
127)Do not remove interior air bag parts.
Removing any components such as the
seats, front instrument panel, the steering
wheel, containing air bag parts or sensors
is dangerous. These parts contain essential
air bag components. The air bag could
accidentally activate and cause serious
injuries. Always have an Abarth Dealership
remove these parts.128)Do not allow an occupant in the
passenger's seat to sit with a posture
which makes it difficult for the passenger
occupant classification sensor to detect
the occupant correctly. Sitting in the
passenger's seat with a posture which
makes it difficult for the passenger
occupant classification sensor to detect
the occupant correctly is dangerous. If the
passenger occupant classification sensor
cannot detect the occupant sitting on the
passenger's seat correctly, the passenger
front and side air bags and pretensioner
system may not operate (deploy) or they
may operate (deploy) accidentally. The
passenger will not have the supplementary
protection of the air bags or the accidental
operation (deployment) of the air bags
could result in serious injury or death.129)Under the following conditions, the
passenger occupant classification sensor
cannot detect a passenger sitting on the
passenger's seat correctly and the
deployment/non-deployment of the air
bags cannot be controlled as indicated in
the passenger air bag deactivation
indicator light on/off condition chart. For
example: luggage or other items placed
under the passenger seat or between the
passenger seat and driver seat that push
up the passenger seat bottom / An object,
such as a seat cushion, is put on the
passenger's seat or between the
passenger's back and the seat back / A
seat cover is put on the passenger's seat /
Luggage or other items are placed on the
seat with the child in the child restraint
system / The seat is washed / Liquids are
spilled on the seat / The passenger seat is
moved backward, pushing into luggage or
other items placed behind it / Luggage or
other items are placed between the
passenger seat and driver seat / An electric
device is put on the passenger's seat. The
passenger front and side air bags and seat
belt pretensioner systems will deactivate if
the passenger air bag deactivation OFF
indicator light turns on.
IMPORTANT
22)To assure proper deployment of the
front air bag and to prevent damage to the
sensor in the seat cushion: do not place
sharp objects on the seat cushion or leave
heavy luggage on them. Do not spill any
liquids on the seats or under the seats.
106
SAFETY
SCHEDULED SERVICING PLAN
The checks listed in the Scheduled Servicing Plan, after reaching 120,000 km/8 years, must be cyclically repeated starting from
the first interval, thus following the same intervals as before.
Thousands of miles9 182736455463728190
Thousands of kilometers15 30 45 60 75 90 105 120 135 150
Years12345678910
Check tire condition/wear and adjust pressure, if
necessary. Check quick tire repair kit recharge
condition and expiry date (where provided)
●●●●●●●●●●
Check operation of lighting system (headlights,
direction indicators, hazard warning lights, boot,
passenger compartment, glove compartment,
instrumental panel warning lights, etc.)
●●●●●●●●●●
Check and, if necessary, top up fluid levels (1)●●●●●●●●●●
Check exhaust emissions/smokiness●●●●●●●●●●
Use the diagnosis socket to check engine
management system operation, emissions and,
for versions/markets where provided, engine oil
degradation
●●●●●●●●●●
Visually inspect conditions of: exterior bodywork,
underbody protection, pipes and hoses (exhaust,
fuel system, brakes), rubber elements (gaiters,
sleeves, bushes, etc.) and fasteners in sight
●●●●●
Visually inspect conditions of steering elements
and check their operation●●●●●
(1) Always only use the liquids shown in the handbook for topping up after having checked that the system is not damaged.
162
MAINTENANCE AND CARE
engine naturally reaching idling speed,
the learning procedure is invalidated
and the
warning light on the
instrument panel will turn on.
If the engine is not brought to over
6000 rpm, or it is not warmed up, the
control unit will leave open the
possibility to repeat the toothed wheel
learning.
Inspecting electrolyte level
A low level of electrolyte fluid will cause
the battery to discharge quickly.
Inspect the electrolyte level at least
once a week. If it is low, remove the
caps and add enough distilled water to
bring the level between the upper and
lower level (1 fig. 153 = upper level/2=
lower level).Do not overfill.
Examine the specific gravity of the
electrolyte with a hydrometer, especiallyduring cold weather. If it is low,
recharge the battery.
Battery replacement
Contact an Abarth Dealership for a
battery replacement purchase.
For versions with automatic
transmission: after replacing the battery,
perform the toothed wheel learning
procedure described in this section.
WARNING
190)Never smoke when performing
operations in the engine compartment.
Flammable gases and fumes may be
present and risk igniting.
191)Be very careful when working in the
engine compartment when the engine is
hot: you may get burned. Do not get too
close to the radiator cooling fan: the
electric fan may start; danger of injury.
Scarves, ties and other loose clothing
might be pulled by moving parts.
192)If the engine oil is being topped up,
wait for the engine to cool down before
loosening the filler cap, particularly for
vehicles with aluminium cap (where
provided). IMPORTANT: risk of burns!
193)Do not use a match or live flame in
the engine compartment. DO NOT ADD
COOLANT WHEN THE ENGINE IS HOT: a
hot engine is dangerous. If the engine has
been running, parts of the engine
compartment can become very hot. You
could be burned. Carefully inspect the
engine coolant in the coolant reservoir, but
do not open it.194)Do not remove either cooling system
cap when the engine and radiator are hot.
When the engine and radiator are hot,
scalding coolant and steam may shoot out
under pressure and cause serious injury.
195)The cooling system is pressurized. If
necessary, only replace the cap with
another original one or the operation of the
system may be adversely affected. Do not
remove the reservoir cap when the engine
is hot: risk of burns.
196)Do not travel with the windscreen
washer fluid reservoir empty: the washer
operation is essential for improving visibility.
Repeated operation of the system without
fluid could damage or cause rapid
deterioration of some system components.
197)Certain commercial additives for
windscreen washer fluids are inflammable.
The engine compartment contains hot
components which may set it on fire.
198)Brake fluid is poisonous and highly
corrosive. In the event of accidental
contact, immediately wash the affected
parts with water and mild soap. Then rinse
thoroughly. Call a doctor immediately if
swallowed.
199)Battery fluid is poisonous and
corrosive. Avoid contact with the skin and
eyes. Keep open flames away from the
battery and do not use objects that might
create sparks: risk of explosion and fire.
200)Using the battery with insufficient fluid
irreparably damages the battery and may
cause an explosion.
201)If the vehicle must remain unused for
a long time at a very low temperature,
remove the battery and take it to a warm
place, to avoid freezing.
15307031202-ALL-001AB
169
52)Avoid washing with rollers and/or
brushes in washing stations. Wash the
vehicle only by hand using neutral pH
detergents; dry it with a wet chamois
leather. Abrasive products and/or polishes
should not be used for cleaning the car.
Bird droppings must be washed off
immediately and thoroughly as the acid
they contain is particularly aggressive.
Avoid (if at all possible) parking the vehicle
under trees; remove vegetable resins
immediately as, when dried, it may only be
possible to remove them with abrasive
products and/or polishes, which is highly
inadvisable as they could alter the typical
opaqueness of the paint. Do not use pure
windscreen washer fluid for cleaning the
front windscreen and rear window; dilute it
min. 50% with water. Only use pure screen
washer fluid when strictly necessary due to
outside temperature conditions.
IMPORTANT
7)Detergents cause water pollution. Only
wash your vehicle in areas equipped to
collect and treat wastewater from this type
of activity.
INTERIORS
INTERIOR CARE
216) 217) 218)
If the vehicle interior becomes soiled by
any of the following, wipe it off
immediately using a soft cloth.
Leaving it uncleaned could cause
discolouration, stains, cracks, or
peeling of the coating, and it will make it
hard to wipe off later.
Beverage or fragrance
Grease or oil
Soiling
NOTE Do not wipe the interior using
alcohol, chlorine bleach, or organic
solvents such as thinner, benzene, and
petrol. Otherwise, it may cause
discolouration or stains.
NOTE Rubbing hard with a stiff brush or
cloth may cause damage.
SEATS AND FABRIC
PARTS
Seat belt maintenance
214) 215)
Clean the soiled area by lightly dabbing
it with a soft cloth soaked in a mild
detergent (approx. 5%) diluted with
water.
Wipe off the remaining detergent usinga cloth soaked in clean water and
wrung out well.
Before retracting seat belts which have
been pulled out for cleaning, dry them
off thoroughly and make sure there is
no remaining moisture on them.
NOTE Clean seat belts diligently if they
get dirty. Leaving them uncleaned will
make it dif cult to clean them later, and
it may affect the smooth retracting of
the seat belt.
PLASTIC PART
MAINTENANCE
53)
Instrument panel top maintenance
213)
Wipe the soiled area with a soft cloth
soaked in a mild detergent (approx. 5%)
diluted with water.
Wipe off the remaining detergent using
a cloth soaked in clean water and
wrung out well.
ALCANTARA PARTS
54)
Procedure for restoring Alcantara parts:
treat the surface using a microfibre
cloth moistened with mild Marseilles
soap and water, taking care to cover
the whole covered area, applying a
uniform light pressure (do not rub hard);
175
rinse and wring out the microfibre
cloth, and pass over the covered area
treated in the previous point again;
leave it to dry and brush it gently with
a soft brush.
WARNING
213)Do not spray water into the vehicle
cabin. Spraying water into the vehicle cabin
is dangerous as electrical devices such as
the audio and switches could get wet
resulting in a malfunction or vehicle fire.
214)If a seat belt appears frayed or has
abrasions, have it replaced by a
Dealership. If a seat belts is used under
such a condition, it cannot function at its
full capacity which could result in serious
injury or death.
215)Use a mild detergent to remove
soiling from a seat belt. If organic solvents
are used for cleaning the seat belts or they
become stained or bleached, there is the
possibility of them becoming weakened
and as a result, they may not function at
their full capacity which could cause
serious injury or death.
216)Never use flammable products, such
as petrol ether or rectified petrol to clean
the inside of the car. The electrostatic
charges which are generated by rubbing
during the cleaning operation may cause a
fire.217)Do not keep aerosol cans in the car:
they might explode. Aerosol cans must not
be exposed to a temperature exceeding
50°C. When the vehicle is exposed to
sunlight, the internal temperature can
greatly exceed this value.
218)There must be no obstacles on the
floor underneath the pedals; make sure
that mats are always flat and do not
interfere with the pedals.IMPORTANT
53)Never use alcohol, petrols and
derivatives to clean the dashboard and
instrument panel lens.
54)Do not use “hard” synthetic brushes as
they could damage the fabric beyond
repair. Do not perform partial, localised
restorations that could cause “aesthetic”
differences between treated and untreated
areas. Do not use alcohol or ketone-based
solvents.
176
MAINTENANCE AND CARE
INDEX
ABS system................68
Accessory socket.............37
Active bonnet................69
Active safety systems...........68
Advanced Keyless Entry System....14
AFS (Adaptive Front Lighting
System)..................27
Attaching the tow hooks........156
Auto-wiper control............28
Automatic climate control system.......................34
Automatic lighting.............25
Automatic transmission.........113
Auxiliary driving systems.........72
Battery (maintenance).........168
Battery charging procedure......171
Battery recharging............170
Bodywork (care and
maintenance).............173
Bonnet....................40
Boot lid...................38
Boot lid (opening).............38
Brake Assist................111
Brake/clutch fluid (level check). . . .168
Checking levels.............166
Child restraint system suitability
for various seat position.......86
Child seat installation position.....85
Child-restraint precautions.......81Child-restraint system types......84
Climate control system..........30
CO2 emissions..............190
Coming Home light system.......25
Constant monitoring..........108
Control panel and instruments.....47
Convertible Top (lowering)........42
Convertible Top (Soft Top)........42
Cruise Control..............117
Dashboard..................8
Dimensions................183
Doors.....................16
Double locking system..........16
Drive selection..............116
Driver Air Bag................96
DRL (Daytime Running Lights).....24
DSC system................68
Emergency flap opening.......125
Emergency stop signal system. . . .132
Emergency towing............157
Engine...................179
Engine compartment..........166
Engine coolant (level check)......167
Engine oil (level check).........167
Essential information............3
Exterior lights................24
Flash to pass...............24
Fluid capacities..............184
Fluids and lubricants..........185Front fog lights...............25
Fuel consumption............189
Fuel filler cap...............125
Fuse block (engine compartment)......................143
Fuse block (left side of the vehicle)......................146
Fuses (under the bonnet)........142
Fuses (vehicle's left side)........141
Gear lever positions..........113
Gear Shift Indicator............51
Hazard warning lights.........132
Hazard warning lights (control). . . .132
Head restraints...............21
Headlight washer.............29
Headlights..................24
Heated seats................19
Heavy-dute use of the vehicle
(scheduled servicing)........161
High beams.................24
HLA function................75
How the SRS Air bags work......96
How to use this manual..........3
Identification data............178
Ignition switch...............11
Immobilizer system............14
INFO switch.................50
Installing child restraint systems....90
Interior care................175
Interiors..................175
Internal equipment............37