applied, the vehicle has not stopped
completely, or the clutch pedal is
released.
IMPORTANT While Hill Launch Assist is
operating, the brake pedal may feel stiff
and vibrate, however, this does not
indicate a malfunction.
IMPORTANT Hill Launch Assist does
not operate while the TCS/DSC
indicator light is illuminated. Refer to
“Warning lights and messages”
paragraph in “Knowing the instrument
panel” chapter.
IMPORTANT Hill Launch Assist (HLA)
does not turn off even if the DSC OFF
switch is pressed to turn off the
TCS/DSC.
IMPORTANT For vehicles with an
automatic transmission although the Hill
Launch Assist does not operate during
idling stop, the vehicle roll prevention
function operates to prevent vehicle roll.
IMPORTANT Do not rely completely on
Hill Launch Assist. Hill Launch Assist is
an auxiliary device for accelerating from
a stop on a slope. The system only
operates for about two seconds and
therefore, relying only on the system,
when accelerating from a stop is
dangerous because the vehicle may
move (roll) unexpectedly and cause anaccident. The vehicle could roll
depending on the vehicle's load or if it
is towing something. In addition, for
vehicles with a manual transmission,
the vehicle could still roll depending on
how the clutch pedal or the accelerator
pedal is operated. Always confirm the
safety around the vehicle before starting
to drive the vehicle.
WARNING
76)The presence of the TPMS does not
permit the driver to neglect regular checks
of the tire pressure, including for the spare
wheel, and correct maintenance: the
system is not used to signal a possible fault
to a tire. Tire pressure must be checked
with tires rested and cold. Should it
become necessary for whatever reason to
check pressure with warm tires, do not
reduce pressure even though it is higher
than the prescribed value. Repeat the
check when the tires are cold.
77)Replacing the normal tires with winter
tires and vice versa requires an inspection
of the TPMS, which should be carried out
only by a Fiat Dealership.
78)Changes in outside temperature may
cause tire pressures to vary. The system
may temporarily indicate insufficient
pressure. In this case check the tire
inflation pressure with the tires cold and, if
necessary top up the inflation pressure.
OCCUPANT
PROTECTION
SYSTEMS
The most important safety equipment
of the vehicle comprise the following
protection systems:
seat belts;
SBA (Seat Belt Alert) system;
head restraints;
child restraint systems;
front air bags and side air bags.
Read the information given the following
pages with the utmost care.
It is of fundamental importance that the
protection systems are used in the
correct way to guarantee the maximum
possible safety level for the driver and
the passengers.
75
USING THE SEAT BELTS
81) 82) 83) 84) 85)
Fastening the seat belt
1 fig. 61: seat belt tongue;
2 : seat belt buckle.
Position the lap belt as low as possible
1 fig. 62, not on the abdominal area 2,
then adjust the shoulder belt 3 so that it
fits snugly against your body.Unfastening the seat belt
Depress the button 1 fig. 63 on the seat
belt buckle. If the belt does not fully
retract, pull it out and check for kinks or
twists. Then make sure it remains
untwisted as it retracts.
IMPORTANT If a belt does not fully
retract, inspect it for kinks and twists. If
it is still not retracting properly, have it
inspected: contact a Fiat Dealership.
IMPORTANT Always wear the seat belt
with it correctly routed in its guide 1
fig. 64. Wearing a seat belt without the
seat belt routed in its guide is
dangerous because the seat belt would
not be able to provide adequate
protection in an accident, which could
result in serious injury.SEAT BELT WARNING
SYSTEMS
If it detects that the occupant seat belt
is unfastened, the warning light or beep
alerts the occupant.
Refer to “Warning lights and messages”
paragraph in “Knowing the instrument
panel” chapter.
Refer to “Seat belt warning beep” in
“Knowing the instrument panel”
chapter.
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2
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SBA SYSTEM
(Seat Belt Alert)
SEAT BELT WARNING
LIGHT
The LED on dashboard trim turns on if
the driver or passenger's seat is
occupied and the seat belt is not
fastened with the ignition switched ON.
If the driver or passenger's seat belt is
unfastened (only when the passenger
seat is occupied) and the vehicle is
driven at a speed faster than about
20 km/h, the
LED flashes. After a
short time, the LED stops flashing, but
remains illuminated.
If a seat belt remains unfastened, the
LED flashes again for a given period of
time. In this case, fasten the seat belt.
If the driver or passenger's seat belt is
unfastened after the LED turns on, and
the vehicle speed exceeds 20 km/h, the
LED flashes again.
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.
79
passenger seat with the air bag system
activated. In the event of an impact the
air bag activation may cause fatal
injuries to the transported child.
To reduce the chance of injuries caused
by deployment of the passenger air
bag, the passenger occupant
classification sensor work as a part of
the supplementary restraint system.
This system deactivates the passenger
front and side air bags and also the
passenger seat belt pretensioner
system when the passenger air bag
deactivation OFF indicator light
illuminates.
When an infant or small child sits on the
passenger seat, the system shuts off
the passenger front and side air bags
and seat belt pretensioner system, so
make sure the passenger air bag
deactivation OFF indicator light
illuminates. For more details, refer to
"Passenger occupant classification
sensor" in “Front Air Bags” paragraph.IMPORTANT A seat belt or
child-restraint system can become very
hot in a closed vehicle during warm
weather. To avoid burning yourself or a
child, check them before you or your
child touches them.
NOTE Your vehicle is equipped with
ISOFIX anchors for attachment of
ISOFIX child-restraint systems. When
using these anchors to secure a
child-restraint system, refer to “Using
ISOFIX anchor” paragraph in this
chapter.
81
held, the seat will move suddenly and
could cause injury.
Proceed as follows:
open the convertible top;
make sure the ignition is switched
off;
slide the passenger seat as far back
as possible. You may need to move the
seat forward slightly and recline the
back of the seat, in order to assist in
the fittment of some child-restraint
systems;
make sure the seatback is securely
latched by pushing it back until it is fully
locked;
expand the area between the seat
bottom and the seatback slightly to
verify the locations of the ISOFIX anchor
fig. 71.
IMPORTANT The markings above the
ISOFIX anchors indicate the locations ofthe ISOFIX anchors for the attachment
of a child restraint system.
secure the child restraint system
using the ISOFIX anchor, following the
child restraint system manufacturer's
instruction;
switch the ignition ON and make
sure the OFF passenger air bag
deactivation indicator light illuminates
after installing a child restraint system
on the passenger seat (see “Passenger
Air Bag deactivation indicator lights”
paragraph). If the passenger air bag
OFF deactivation indicator light
fig. 72 does not illuminate, remove the
child restraint system, switch the
ignition to OFF, and then reinstall the
child restraint system;
if your child restraint system came
equipped with a tether, that probably
means it is very important to properly
secure the tether for child safety. Please
carefully follow the child restraint
system manufacturer's instructions
when installing tethers.
WARNING
92)Use the correct size child-restraint
system. For effective protection in vehicle
accidents and sudden stops, a child must
be properly restrained using a seat belt or
child-restraint system depending on age
and size. If not, the child could be seriously
injured or even killed in an accident.
93)Follow the manufacturer's instructions
and always keep the child-restraint system
buckled down. An unsecured
child-restraint system is dangerous. In a
sudden stop or a collision it could move
causing serious injury or death to the child
or other occupants. Make sure any
child-restraint system is properly secured in
place according to the child-restraint
system manufacturer's instructions. When
not in use, remove it from the vehicle or
fasten it with a seat belt, or latch it down to
BOTH ISOFIX anchors, and attach the
corresponding tether anchor.
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90
SAFETY
94)Always secure a child in a proper
child-restraint system. Holding a child in
your arms while the vehicle is moving is
extremely dangerous. No matter how
strong the person may be, he or she
cannot hold onto a child in a sudden stop
or collision and it could result in serious
injury or death to the child or other
occupants. Even in a moderate accident,
the child may be exposed to air bag forces
that could result in serious injury or death
to the child, or the child may be slammed
into an adult, causing injury to both child
and adult.
95)Always make sure the passenger air
bag deactivation OFF indicator light is
illuminated when using a child restraint
system. Seating a child in a child restraint
system that is installed on the passenger
seat with the passenger air bag
deactivation OFF indicator light not
illuminated is extremely dangerous. In an
accident, an air bag could inflate and
cause serious injuries or even death to the
child seated in the child restraint system.
Always make sure the passenger air bag
deactivation OFF indicator light is
illuminated.
96)Extreme Hazard! Never use a
rear-facing child-restraint system on the
passenger seat with an air bag that could
deploy: NEVER use a rearward facing child
restraint on a seat protected by an ACTIVE
AIRBAG in front of it, DEATH or SERIOUS
INJURY to the CHILD can occur. Vehicles
with a passenger air bag have a warning
label attached as shown below. This
warning label is displayed in compliance
with regulations.97)Even in a moderate collision, the
child-restraint system can be hit by a
deploying air bag and moved violently
backward resulting in serious injury or
death to the child. If your vehicle is
equipped with a passenger occupant
classification system, always make sure the
passenger air bag deactivation OFF
indicator light is illuminated, when installing
a rear-facing child restraint system on the
passenger seat.
98)Before installing child-restraint system
on the passenger seat, move the
passenger seat as far back as possible.
The rearmost position may not be suitable
for the installation of some child-restraint
systems. In a collision, the force of a
deploying air bag could cause serious
injury or death to the child. Make sure the
passenger air bag deactivation OFF
indicator light is illuminated.99)Seating a child in a child-restraint
system on the passenger seat is
dangerous under certain conditions. Your
vehicle is equipped with passenger
occupant classification sensor. Even with
the passenger occupant classification
sensor, if you must use the passenger seat
to seat a child, using a child restraint
system on the passenger seat under the
following conditions increases the danger
of the passenger air bag deploying and
could result in serious injury or death to the
child. The passenger air bag deactivation
OFF indicator light does not illuminate
when seating a child in the child-restraint
system / 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 / An additional electrical
device, such as a seat warmer is installed
to the surface of the passenger seat.
91
100)Do not allow a child or anyone to lean
over or against the side window of a
vehicle with side air bags. It is dangerous
to allow anyone to lean over or against the
side window, the area of the passenger
seat from which the side air bags deploy,
even if a child-restraint system is used. The
impact of inflation from a side air bag could
cause serious injury or death to an out of
position child. Furthermore, leaning over or
against the door could block the side air
bags and eliminate the advantages of
supplementary protection. Because the
side air bag deploys from the outer
shoulder of the seat, do not allow the child
to lean over or against the side window,
even if the child is seated in a
child-restraint system.
101)Never use one seat belt on more than
one person at a time. Using one seat belt
for more than one person at a time is
dangerous. A seat belt used in this way
cannot spread the impact forces properly
and the two passengers could be crushed
together and seriously injured or even
killed. Never use one belt for more than
one person at a time and always operate
the vehicle with each occupant properly
restrained.
102)Use the tether and tether anchor only
for a child-restraint system. Child restraint
system anchorages are designed to
withstand only those loads imposed by
correctly installed child-restraint systems.
Under no circumstances are they to be
used for adult seat belts, harnesses, or for
attaching other items or equipment to the
vehicle.103)Always install a rear-facing child seat
in the correct seat position. Installing a
rear-facing child seat without first
consulting the table “Child restraint system
suitability for various seat positions” is
dangerous. A rear-facing child seat
installed on the wrong seat position cannot
be properly secured. In a collision, the child
could hit something or someone in the
vehicle and be seriously injured or even
killed.
104)Never use a rear-facing child-restraint
system on the passenger seat protected
by an air bag. Extreme Hazard! Do not use
a rearward facing child restraint on a seat
protected by an airbag in front of it! The
child-restraint system can be hit by the
deploying air bag and knocked out of
position. A child in the child-restraint
system could be seriously injured or killed.
If your vehicle is equipped with a
passenger occupant classification system,
always make sure the passenger air bag
deactivation OFF indicator light is
illuminated, if installing a rear-facing
child-restraint system on the passenger
seat is unavoidable.
105)Never install a front-facing child seat
in the wrong seat position: Installing a
front-facing child seat without first
consulting the table “Child restraint system
suitability for various seat positions” is
dangerous. A front-facing child seat
installed in the wrong seat position cannot
be properly secured. In a collision, the child
could hit something or someone in the
vehicle and be seriously injured or even
killed. Make sure the passenger air bag
deactivation OFF indicator light is
illuminated.106)Before installing child-restraint system
on the passenger seat, move the
passenger seat as far back as possible: In
a collision, the force of a deploying air bag
could cause serious injury or death to the
child. Make sure the passenger air bag
deactivation OFF indicator light is
illuminated.
107)Always attach the tether strap to the
correct tether anchor position. Attaching
the tether strap to the incorrect tether
anchor position is dangerous. In a collision,
the tether strap could come off and loosen
the child restraint system. If the child
restraint system moves it could result in
death or injury to the child.
108)Always route the tether strap between
the head restraint and the seat back.
Routing the tether strap on top of the head
restraint is dangerous. In a collision the
tether strap could slide off the head
restraint and loosen the child restraint
system. The child restraint system could
move which may result in death or injury to
the child.
109)Follow the manufacturer's instructions
for the use of the child-restraint system. An
unsecured child restraint system is
dangerous. In a sudden stop or a collision
it could move causing serious injury or
death to the child or other occupants.
Make sure any child restraint system is
properly secured in place according to the
manufacturer's instructions.
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SAFETY
SUPPLEMENTARY RESTRAINT SYSTEM COMPONENTS
1Driver/Passenger inflators and air bags
2Crash sensors and diagnostic module (SAS unit)
3Seat belt pretensioners
4Front air bag sensors
5Side crash sensors
6Air bag/seat belt pretensioner system warning light
7Side inflators and air bags
8Passenger air bag deactivation indicator light
9Passenger occupant classification sensor
10Passenger occupant classification module
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SAFETY