2016 FIAT 500X Owners Manual

6. Move the shift lever to the NEUTRAL position.
7. The vehicle may then be started in NEUTRAL.
8. Reinstall the shift lever bezel.
IGNITION KEY REMOVAL OVERRIDE
This vehicle is equipped with a Key Ignition Park Inter-
lock which requires the transmission to be in PARK
before the ignition switch can be turned to the STOP/
OFF (key removal) position. To remove the key manually,
proceed as follows:
1. Make sure the vehicle is in a safe location and set theElectric Park Brake.
2. Unlock the steering column, and pull the tilt/ telescoping control handle down.
3. Pull the steering wheel outward until it is in the end of the travel position, then lock the steering column in
position and push the control handle up until fully
engaged.
4. Using the special tool supplied (located in the tool bag), remove the screws in the lower steering column
trim cover and remove it.
Shift Lever Override Location8
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 415

5. With one hand, pull down on the release tab and withthe other, pull out the ignition key.
Special ToolLower Steering Column Cover
1 — Trim Screws
416 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

6. Once the key is removed, reinstall the steering columncover.
Release Tab LocationRelease Tab Direction8
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 417

FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE
If your vehicle becomes stuck in mud, sand or snow, it
can often be moved using a rocking motion. Turn the
steering wheel right and left to clear the area around the
front wheels. For vehicles with automatic transmission,
push and hold the lock button on the shift lever. Then
shift back and forth between DRIVE and REVERSE (with
automatic transmission) or 2ND GEAR and REVERSE
(with manual transmission), while gently pressing the
accelerator.
Use the least amount of accelerator pedal pressure that
will maintain the rocking motion without spinning the
wheels or racing the engine.
For Vehicles With Automatic Transmission:
Shifts between DRIVE and REVERSE can only be
achieved at wheel speeds of 5 mph (8 km/h) or less.Whenever the transmission remains in NEUTRAL for
more than two seconds, you must push the brake pedal
to engage DRIVE or REVERSE.
NOTE:
Push the ESC Off switch (if necessary), to place
the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system in Partial
Off mode, before rocking the vehicle. Refer to “Elec-
tronic Brake Control” in “Starting And Operating” for
further information. Once the vehicle has been freed,
push the ESC Off switch again to restore ESC On
mode.
CAUTION!
• Racing the engine or spinning the wheels may lead
to transmission overheating and failure. Allow the
engine to idle with the transmission in NEUTRAL
for at least one minute after every five rocking-
motion cycles. This will minimize overheating and
(Continued)
418 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

CAUTION!(Continued)
reduce the risk of clutch or transmission failure
during prolonged efforts to free a stuck vehicle.
• When “rocking” a stuck vehicle by shifting be-
tween DRIVE/2nd gear and REVERSE, do not spin
the wheels faster than 15 mph (24 km/h), or drive-
train damage may result.
• Revving the engine or spinning the wheels too fast
may lead to transmission overheating and failure.
It can also damage the tires. Do not spin the wheels
above 30 mph (48 km/h) while in gear (no trans-
mission shifting occurring).
WARNING!
Fast spinning tires can be dangerous. Forces gener-
ated by excessive wheel speeds may cause damage, or
even failure, of the axle and tires. A tire could
explode and injure someone. Do not spin your vehi-
cle’s wheels faster than 30 mph (48 km/h) or for
longer than 30 seconds continuously without stop-
ping when you are stuck and do not let anyone near
a spinning wheel, no matter what the speed.
TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE
This section describes procedures for towing a disabled
vehicle using a commercial towing service.8
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 419

FWD MODELSALL WHEEL DRIVE
Towing
Condition Wheels
OFF the Ground AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION MANUAL TRANSMIS-
SION AUTOMATIC/MANUAL
TRANSMISSION AWD
Flat Tow NONE NOT ALLOWED NOT ALLOWED NOT ALLOWED
Wheel Lift or Dolly To w Rear
NOT ALLOWED NOT ALLOWED NOT ALLOWED
Front OK OKNOT ALLOWED
Flatbed ALL BEST METHOD BEST METHODOK
Proper towing or lifting equipment is required to prevent
damage to your vehicle. Use only tow bars and other
equipment designed for this purpose, following equip-
ment manufacturer ’s instructions. Use of safety chains is
mandatory. Attach a tow bar or other towing device to
main structural members of the vehicle, not to bumpers
or associated brackets. State and local laws regarding
vehicles under tow must be observed. NOTE:
•
You must ensure that the Auto Park Brake feature is
disabled before towing this vehicle, to avoid inadver-
tent Electric Park Brake engagement. The Auto Park
Brake feature is enabled or disabled via the customer
programmable features in the Uconnect Settings.
• Vehicles with a discharged battery or total electrical
failure when the Electric Park Brake (EPB) is engaged,
420 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

will need a wheel dolly or jack to raise the rear wheels
off the ground when moving the vehicle onto a flatbed.
If you must use the accessories (wipers, defrosters, etc.)
while being towed, the ignition must be in the MAR/
RUN position.
NOTE: The Safehold feature will engage the Electric Park
Brake whenever the driver’s door is opened (if the
ignition is ON, transmission is not in PARK, and brake
pedal is released). If you are towing this vehicle with the
ignition in the MAR/RUN position, you must manually
disable the Electric Park Brake each time the driver’s
door is opened, by pressing the brake pedal and then
releasing the EPB.
If the key fob is unavailable, or the vehicle’s battery is
discharged, refer to “Shift Lever Override” in this section
for instructions on shifting the transmission out of PARK
so that the vehicle can be moved.CAUTION!
• Do not use sling type equipment when towing.
Vehicle damage may occur.
• When securing the vehicle to a flat bed truck, do
not attach to front or rear suspension components.
Damage to your vehicle may result from improper
towing.
Front Wheel Drive (FWD) Models
The manufacturer recommends towing your vehicle with
all four wheels OFF the ground on a flatbed.
If flatbed equipment is not available, this vehicle must
towed with the front wheels OFF the ground (using a
towing dolly, or wheel lift equipment with the front
wheels raised).
8
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY 421

NOTE:Ensure that the Electric Park Brake is released,
and remains released, while being towed.
CAUTION!
Towing this vehicle in violation of the above require-
ments can cause severe transmission damage. Dam-
age from improper towing is not covered under the
New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
All Wheel Drive (AWD) Models
The manufacturer requires towing with all four wheels
OFF the ground. Acceptable methods are to tow the
vehicle on a flatbed, or with one end of the vehicle raised
and the opposite end on a towing dolly.
CAUTION!
• DO NOT tow this vehicle with ANY of its wheels
on the ground. Damage to the drivetrain will result.
• Front or rear wheel lifts must not be used. Internal
damage to the transmission or power transfer unit
will occur if a front or rear wheel lift is used when
towing.
• Towing this vehicle in violation of the above re-
quirements can cause severe transmission and/or
power transfer unit damage. Damage from im-
proper towing is not covered under the New Ve-
hicle Limited Warranty.
TOW EYE USAGE — IF EQUIPPED
Your vehicle is equipped with a tow eye that can be used
to tow a disabled vehicle.
422 IN CASE OF EMERGENCY