2016 FIAT 124 SPIDER Owners Manual

Warning light What it means
KEY INDICATOR LIGHT
Warning light flashing
When the push button start is pressed from ON to ACC or OFF, the warning light may flash for
approximately 30 seconds indicating that the remaining battery power of the key is low. Replace
with a new battery before the key becomes unusable.
Blue warning light
Warning light What it means
MAIN BEAM HEADLIGHTS
The warning light switches on when the main beam headlights are turned on.
LOW ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE INDICATOR LIGHT
(for versions/markets where provided)
The light illuminates continuously when the engine coolant temperature is low and turns off after
the engine is warm.
If the low engine coolant temperature indicator light remains illuminated after the engine has
been sufficiently warmed up, the temperature sensor could have a malfunction. Contact a
Dealership.
63

Warning light (red color) on dashboard trim
Warning light What it means
SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT
The seat belt warning light 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 warning light 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.
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.
Passenger occupant classification system: to allow the passenger occupant classification
sensor to function properly, do not place and sit on an additional seat cushion on the
passenger's seat. The sensor may not function properly because the additional seat cushion
could cause sensor interference.
Warning light (amber color) on dashboard trim
Warning light What it means
PASSENGER AIR BAG DEACTIVATION INDICATOR LIGHT
The light turns on when the ignition is switched on for an operation check, and turns off a few
seconds later or when the engine is started. If the light does not turn on or remains turned on,
contact a Fiat Dealership.
64
KNOWING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL

MESSAGE INDICATED ON
DISPLAY
(versions with Radio 7”)
If a message is displayed in the center
display, take appropriate action (in a
calm manner) according to the
displayed message.
If the following messages are displayed
in the centre display, a vehicle system
may be malfunctioning:
Engine Coolant Temperature
High: displays if the engine coolant
temperature has increased excessively.
Changing System Malfunction:
displays if the charging system has a
malfunction.
Temperature Warning: the
following message is displayed when
the temperature around the centre
display is high. Lowering the
temperature in the cabin or the
temperature around the centre display
by avoiding direct sunlight is
recommended.
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
contact a Fiat Dealership.
WARNING SOUND IS
ACTIVATED
A warning sound is activated in
following cases:
Lights-on reminder;
Air Bag/seat belt pretensioner
system;
Active bonnet (where provided);
Ignition not switched off (STOP);
Key removed from vehicle;
Request switch inoperable (versions
with advanced keyless function);
Key left-in-boot compartment
(versions with advanced keyless
function);
Key left-in-vehicle (versions with
advanced keyless function);
Vehicle speed alarm (where
provided);
Tire inflation pressure warning beep
(where provided);
Outside temperature (where
provided);
Electronic steering lock;
Speed limiter (where provided);
120 km/h warning (where provided).
WARNING
61)Never tamper with the air
bag/pretensioner systems and always
contact a Fiat Dealership perform all
servicing and repairs. Self-servicing or
tampering with the systems is dangerous.
An air bag/pretensioner could accidentally
activate or become disabled causing
serious injury or death.62)Do not drive the vehicle with the active
bonnet warning light turned on or flashing.
Driving the vehicle with the active hood
warning light turned on or flashing is
dangerous as the active hood mechanism
may not activate normally and function as
intended in the event the vehicle were to
contact a pedestrian.
63)If the TPMS warning light illuminates or
flashes, or the tire pressure warning beep
sound is heard, decrease vehicle speed
immediately and avoid sudden
maneuvering and braking. If the warning
light illuminates or flashes, or the tire
pressure warning beep sound is heard, it is
dangerous to drive the vehicle at high
speeds, or perform sudden maneuvering
or braking. Vehicle drivability could worsen
and result in an accident. To determine if
you have a slow leak or a flat, pull over to a
safe position where you can check the
visual condition of the tire and determine if
you have enough air to proceed to a place
where air may be added and the system
monitored again by Fiat Dealership or a tire
repair station.
64)Do not ignore the TPMS warning light.
Ignoring the TPMS warning light is
dangerous, even if you know why it is
illuminated. Have the problem taken care of
as soon as possible before it develops into
a more serious situation that could lead to
tire failure and a dangerous accident.
65

SAFETY
The chapter that you are about to read
is very important: it describes the safety
systems with which the vehicle is
equipped and provides instructions on
how to use them correctly.ACTIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS......67
AUXILIARY DRIVING SYSTEMS....71
OCCUPANT PROTECTION
SYSTEMS.................75
SEATBELTS................76
SBA SYSTEM (Seat Belt Alert).....79
SEAT BELT PRETENSIONER AND
LOAD LIMITING SYSTEMS.......79
CHILD-RESTRAINT PRECAUTIONS .80
SUPPLEMENTARY RESTRAINT
SYSTEM SRS - AIR BAG........93
RECORDING OF VEHICLE DATA . .106
CONSTANT MONITORING......107
66
SAFETY

ACTIVE SAFETY
SYSTEMS
The vehicle has the following active
safety systems:
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System);
TCS (Traction Contol System);
DSC (Dynamic Stability Control);
Active bonnet (active pedestrian
protection).
For the operation of the systems, see
the following pages.
ABS SYSTEM (Antilock
Brake System)
65) 66) 67) 68)
The ABS control unit continuously
monitors the speed of each wheel. If
one wheel is about to lock up, the ABS
responds by automatically releasing
and reapplying that wheel's brake.
The driver will feel a slight vibration in
the brake pedal and may hear a
chattering noise from the brake system.
This is normal ABS system operation.
Continue to depress the brake pedal
without pumping the brakes.
The warning light turns on when the
system has a malfunction. Refer to
“Warning lights and messages”
paragraph in “Knowing the instrument
panel” chapter.
NOTE Braking distances may be longer
on loose surfaces (snow or gravel, forexample) which usually have a hard
foundation. A vehicle with a normal
braking system may require less
distance to stop under these conditions
because the tires will build up a wedge
of surface layer when the wheels skid.
NOTE The sound of the ABS operating
may be heard when starting the engine
or immediately after starting the vehicle,
however, it does not indicate a
malfunction.
TCS SYSTEM (Traction
Control System)
69) 70) 71)
The Traction Control System (TCS)
enhances traction and safety by
controlling engine torque and braking.
When the TCS detects driving wheel
slippage, it lowers engine torque and
operates the brakes to prevent loss of
traction.
This means that on a slick surface, the
engine adjusts automatically to provide
optimum power to the drive wheels,
limiting wheel spin and loss of traction.
The warning light turns on when the
system has a malfunction. Refer to
“Warning lights and messages”
paragraph in “Knowing the instrument
panel” chapter.TCS / DSC indicator light
The
indicator light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition is switched
ON.
If the TCS or DSC is operating, the
indicator light flashes.
If the
light stays on, the TCS, DSC or
the brake assist system may have a
malfunction and they may not operate
correctly. Contact a Fiat Dealership.
IMPORTANT In addition to the warning
light flashing, a slight labouring sound
will come from the engine. This
indicates that the TCS/DSC is
operating properly.
IMPORTANT On slippery surfaces, such
as fresh snow, it will be impossible to
achieve high rpm when the TCS is on.
DSC SYSTEM (Dynamic
Stability Control)
72) 73) 74)
The Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
automatically controls braking and
engine torque in conjunction with
systems such as ABS and TCS to help
control side slip when driving on
slippery surfaces, or during sudden or
evasive manoeuvring, enhancing vehicle
safety. Refer to “ABS system (Antilock
Brake System)” and “TCS system
(Traction Control System)”.
67

DSC operation is possible at speeds
greater than 20 km/h.
The warning light turns on when the
system has a malfunction. Refer to
“Warning lights and messages”
paragraph in “Knowing the instrument
panel” chapter.
NOTE The DSC may not operate
correctly unless the following are
observed:
use tires of the correct size specified
for your vehicle on all four wheels;
use tires of the same manufacturer,
brand and tread pattern on all four
wheels;
do not mix worn tires.
IMPORTANT The DSC may not operate
correctly when tire chains are used or a
temporary spare tire is installed
because the tire diameter changes.
TCS / DSC indicator light
The
indicator light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition is switched
ON. If the TCS or DSC is operating, the
indicator light flashes.
If the light stays on, the TCS, DSC or
the brake assist system may have a
malfunction and they may not operate
correctly. Take your vehicle to a Fiat
Dealership.DSC OFF indicator light
The
indicator light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition is switched
ON. It also illuminates when the DSC
OFF switch is pressed and TCS/DSC is
switched off.
If the light remains illuminated and the
TCS/DSC is not switched off, contact a
Fiat Dealership. The DSC may have a
malfunction.
DSC OFF switch
Press the switch fig. 56 to turn off the
TCS/DSC. The
warning light in the
instrument cluster will illuminate.
Press the switch again to turn the TCS/
DSC back on. The DSC OFF indicator
light will turn off.
IMPORTANT When DSC is on and you
attempt to free the vehicle when it is
stuck, or drive it out of freshly fallen
snow, the TCS (part of the DSCsystem) will activate. Depressing the
accelerator will not increase engine
power and freeing the vehicle may be
difficult. When this happens, turn off the
TCS/DSC.
IMPORTANT If the TCS/DSC is off
when the engine is turned off, it
automatically activates when the
ignition is switched ON.
IMPORTANT Leaving the TCS/DSC on
will provide the best traction.
IMPORTANT If the switch is pressed
and held for 10 seconds or more, the
DSC OFF switch malfunction detection
function operates and the DSC system
activates automatically. The DSC OFF
indicator light turns off while the DSC
system is operative.
ACTIVE BONNET
PRECAUTIONS
75)
In the unlikely event that the vehicle
were to hit a pedestrian and a certain
amount of impact is applied to the front
of the vehicle, impact to the head of the
pedestrian if it were to hit the bonnet is
lessened by the rear area of the bonnet
raising instantly to maintain a wide
space between it and the parts in the
engine compartment.
If the sensor 1 fig. 57 installed to the
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68
SAFETY

back of the front bumper detects a
certain amount of impact by a collision
with a pedestrian or other obstruction
while the vehicle is being driven at a
speed sufficient to activate the system,
the system is activated and the bonnet
is raised (3 = active bonnet warning
light/4 = electronic control unit).
IMPORTANT Do not touch the actuator
2 fig. 57 directly after the active bonnet
has activated. Otherwise, it could result
in a burn as the actuator is hot directly
after the activation.
Operation and handlingAlways make sure that the bonnet is
closed completely before driving.
Otherwise, the system may not operate
normally.
The system may not operate for
about 8 seconds after the ignition is
switched ON.
Use tires of the same specified size
on all four wheels. If tires with different
sizes are used, the system may not
operate normally.
If something hits the area around the
front bumper, the sensor could be
damaged even if the active bonnet
does not activate. Contact a Fiat
Dealership to have the vehicle
inspected.
Do not remove or repair parts or
wiring for the active bonnet. In addition,
do not test the system’s circuitry using
an electric tester. Otherwise, the active
bonnet may activate mistakenly or not
operate normally. Contact a Fiat
Dealership when repairs or replacement
servicing is required.
Do not replace the front bumper,
bonnet, suspension, aero parts, or
wheels with non-genuine FCA parts.
Otherwise, the system may not operate
normally.
Do not install non-genuine FCA
accessories to the front bumper. In
addition, do not install objects on thebonnet. Otherwise, the system may not
operate normally.
Do not close the bonnet excessively
or apply a load to the actuator.
Otherwise, the actuator could be
damaged and cause the system to not
operate normally.
Do not modify the suspension. If the
vehicle height or the damping force of
the suspensions is changed, the
system may not operate normally.
When equipping parts, contact a Fiat
Dealership. If parts are installed
incorrectly, the active bonnet may not
activate normally due to the inability to
detect an impact.
When disposing of the vehicle,
contact a Fiat Dealership. If the vehicle
is not handled correctly, it could result in
injury.
The active bonnet cannot be reused
if it has been activated. Contact a Fiat
Dealership.
If the active bonnet activates
The active bonnet activates under the
following conditions:
if the front of the vehicle hits a
pedestrian or obstruction while the
vehicle is being driven at a speed
sufficient to activate the system, the
system will activate if a certain amount
of impact is applied in a collision even
though no trace may remain on the
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69

front bumper. In addition, it may
activate depending on the level of
impact from even a light object, small
animal, or other small object;
the system may also activate if the
lower part of the vehicle or the front
bumper receives an impact from one of
the following situations:
– the vehicle hits a curb;
– the vehicle falls into a deep ditch or
hole;
– the vehicle bounces and hits the
ground;
– the front, bottom part of the vehicle
contacts the slope of a parking
garage, the surface of an even,
undulating road, or a protruding or
fallen object on the road.
Situations in which the active
bonnet may not activate
The active bonnet may not active in the
following situations as an impact would
be difficult to detect:
the pedestrian gets hit at an angle or
by the side areas on the left and right of
the front bumper;
the vehicle hits a pedestrian who is
carrying something such as a bag
which can absorb the impact.
Situations in which the system does
not activate
The active bonnet does not activate
under the following conditions:
the front bumper gets hit while the
vehicle is being driven at a speed
insufficient to activate the system;
the vehicle gets hit from the side or
the rear;
the vehicle rolls or turns over (the
active bonnet may operate depending
on the accident conditions).
WARNING
65)Do not rely on ABS as a substitute for
safe driving. The ABS cannot compensate
for unsafe and reckless driving, excessive
speed, tailgating (following another vehicle
too closely), driving on ice and snow, and
hydroplaning (reduced tire friction and road
contact because of water on the road
surface). You can still have an accident.
66)When the ABS intervenes and you feel
the brake pedal pulsating, do not reduce
the pressure, but hold it down firmly and
confidently; in doing so you will brake in the
shortest distance possible, depending on
the current road conditions.
67)For the correct operation of the ABS,
the tyres must of necessity be the same
make and type on all wheels, in perfect
condition and, above all, of the prescribed
type and dimensions.
68)If the ABS intervenes, this indicates
that the grip of the tyres on the road is
nearing its limit: you must slow down to a
speed compatible with the available grip.69)Do not rely on the Traction Control
System (TCS) as a substitute for safe
driving. The Traction Control System (TCS)
cannot compensate for unsafe and
reckless driving, excessive speed, tailgating
(following another vehicle too closely), and
hydroplaning (reduced tire friction and road
contact because of water on the road
surface). You can still have an accident.
70)Use snow tires or tire chains and drive
at reduced speeds when roads are
covered with ice and/or snow. Driving
without proper traction devices on snow
and/or ice-covered roads is dangerous.
The Traction Control System (TCS) alone
cannot provide adequate traction and you
could still have an accident.
71)The capability of the TCS must never
be tested irresponsibly and dangerously, in
such a way as to compromise personal
safety and the safety of others.
72)Do not rely on the DSC as a substitute
for safe driving: the Dynamic Stability
Control (DSC) cannot compensate for
unsafe and reckless driving, excessive
speed, tailgating (following another vehicle
too closely), and hydroplaning (reduced tire
friction and road contact because of water
on the road surface). You can still have an
accident.
73)For the correct operation of the DSC
system, the tyres must necessarily be of
the same make and type on all wheels, in
perfect condition and, above all, of the
prescribed type and size.
74)The capability of the DSC system must
never be tested irresponsibly and
dangerously, in such a way as to
compromise personal safety and the safety
of others.
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SAFETY