
ECONOMICAL
DRIVING
For economical driving, there are some
technical requirements that have to be
met. The prerequisite for low fuel
consumption is a properly adjusted
engine. In order to achieve longer life of
the vehicle and the most economical
operation, we recommend you to have
the vehicle checked at regular intervals
in accordance with the service
standards.
Fuel economy and generation of
exhaust gas and noise are highly
influenced by personal driving habits as
well as the particular operating
conditions. The following points should
be observed in order to minimize wear
of brakes, tyres and engine as well as
to reduce environmental pollution.
Starting the engine
Avoid sudden acceleration and sudden
starts, as they will increase fuel
consumption.
Shifting
Shift only at an appropriate speed and
engine speed. Always use the highest
shift position possible.
The transfer shift lever or the drive
modeselector should be set to “2H”
when driving 4WD vehicles on normal
roads and express ways to obtain best
possible fuel economy.City traffic
Frequent starting and stopping
increases the average fuel
consumption. Use roads with smooth
traffic flow whenever possible. When
driving on congested roads, avoid use
of a low shift position at high engine
speeds.
Idling
The vehicle consumes fuel even during
idling. Avoid extended idling whenever
possible.
Speed
At higher the vehicle speed, more fuel is
consumed. Avoid driving at full speed.
Even a slight release of the accelerator
pedal will save a significant amount of
fuel.
Tyre inflation pressure
Check the tyre inflation pressures at
regular intervals. Low tyre inflation
pressure increases road resistance and
fuel consumption. In addition, low tyre
pressures adversely affect tyre wear
and driving stability.Cargo loads
Do not drive with unnecessary articles
in the luggage compartment. Especially
during city driving where frequent
starting and stopping is necessary, the
increased weight of the vehicle will
greatly affect fuel consumption. Also
avoid driving with unnecessary luggage
or carriers, etc., on the roof; the
increased air resistance will increase
fuel consumption.
Cold engine starting
Starting of a cold engine consumes
more fuel. Unnecessary fuel
consumption is also caused by keeping
a hot engine running. After the engine is
started, commence driving as soon as
possible.
Cooler or air conditioning
The use of the air conditioner will
increase the fuel consumption.
133

PARKING BRAKE
To park the vehicle, first bring it to a
complete stop, fully apply the parking
brake sufficiently to hold the vehicle.
To apply
Firmly depress and hold the brake
pedal, then pull the lever up (A) without
pushing the button at the end of hand
grip.
76)
NOTE Apply sufficient force to the
parking brake lever to hold the vehicle
stationary after the foot brake is
released.
NOTE If the parking brake does not
hold the vehicle stationary after the foot
brake is released, have your vehicle
checked immediately.To release
Firmly depress and hold the brake
pedal, then pull the lever up slightly (A).
Push the button at the end of hand grip
(B).
Lower the lever fully (C).
77) 78)
NOTE To prevent the parking brake
from being released unintentionally, the
lever must be pulled up slightly before it
can be pushed down. Simply pressing
the button does not enable the lever to
be pushed down.
IMPORTANT
76)When you intend to apply the parking
brake, firmly press the brake pedal to bring
the vehicle to a complete stop before
pulling the parking brake lever. Pulling the
parking brake lever with the vehicle moving
could make the rear wheels lock up,
thereby making the vehicle unstable. It
could also make the parking brake
malfunction.
77)Before driving, be sure that the parking
brake is fully released and brake warning
lamp is off. If a vehicle is driven without
releasing the parking brake, the brake will
be overheated, resulting in ineffective
braking and possible brake failure.
78)If the brake warning lamp does not
extinguish when the parking brake is fully
released, the brake system may be an
abnormal. Have your vehicle checked
immediately. For details, refer to “Brake
warning lamp”.
A
225AA0001018
AB
C
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139

Minor noises may be heard on engine
startup. These will disappear as the
engine warms up.
Stopping the engine
Except for vehicles equipped with
the keyless operation system
1. Bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
2. Fully engage the parking brake while
depressing the brake pedal.
3. For vehicles equipped with M/T, turn
the ignition switch to the “LOCK”
position to stop the engine, and then
move the gearshift lever to the 1st (on a
uphill) or “R” (Reverse) (on a downhill)
position. For vehicles equipped with
A/T, place the selector lever in the “P”
(PARK) position, and stop the engine.
For vehicles equipped with the
keyless operation system
204)
If you have to bring the engine to an
emergency stop while driving, press
and hold the engine switch for
3 seconds or more, or press it quickly
3 times or more. The engine will stop
and the operation mode will go to ACC.
Do not stop the engine with the selector
lever in any position other than the “P”
(PARK) position (A/T). If the engine is
stopped with the selector lever in any
position other than the “P” (PARK)
position, the operation mode will go to
ACC rather than OFF. Put the operationmode in OFF after placing the selector
lever in the “P” (PARK) position.
1. Stop the vehicle
2. Fully engage the parking brake while
depressing the brake pedal.
3. On vehicles with M/T, press the
engine switch to stop the engine, move
the gearshift lever to the 1st (on a uphill)
or “R” (Reverse) (on a downhill) position.
On vehicles with A/T, move the selector
lever to the “P” (PARK) position, press
the engine switch to stop the engine.
Fuel injection amount learning
process
To keep exhaust emissions and engine
noise low, the engine very occasionally
performs a learning process for the fuel
injection amount.
The engine sounds slightly different
from usual while the learning process is
taking place. The change in the engine
sound does not indicate a fault.
If the keyless operation key is not
operating properly
Insert the keyless operation key into the
key slot. Starting the engine and
changing the operation mode should be
now possible.
Remove the keyless operation key from
the key slot after starting the engine or
changing the operation mode.Do not insert into the key slot anything
other than the keyless operation key.
This could cause damage or a
malfunction.
Remove the object or additional key
from the keyless operation key before
inserting the key into the key slot. The
vehicle may not be able to receive the
registered ID code from the registered
key. Therefore, the engine may not start
and the operation mode may not
change.
The keyless operation key is fixed, if the
key is inserted in the key slot as
illustrated. When pulling out the key, pull
out in the state.
229AHA103547
144
STARTING AND DRIVING

Driving on sandy or muddy roads
Set the drive mode-selector to “4H” or
“4L” position (Easy select 4WD), “4HLc”
or “4LLc” position (Super select 4WD II)
and then gradually depress the
accelerator pedal for a smooth start.
Keep the pressure on the accelerator
pedal as constant as possible, and
drive at low speed.
115) 116)
218)
Avoid sudden braking, acceleration,
and turning; such operations could
result in the vehicle becoming stuck.
If the vehicle becomes stuck in sandy
or muddy roads, it can often be moved
a rocking motion. Move the selector
lever rhythmically between the “D”
(DRIVE) and “R” (REVERSE) position
(with manual transmission, between 1st
and Reverse), while applying slight
pressure to the accelerator pedal.
It is recommended to start the vehicle
with parking brake partially, but not
completely, applied by slightly pulling
the parking brake lever. After the vehicle
has become free, do not forget to
release the parking brake.
If it is necessary to drive in extremely
muddy conditions, the use of tyre
chains is recommended. Because the
extent of muddy conditions is difficult to
judge and the vehicle could become
bogged down very deeply, operationshould be at a low speed. If possible,
get out of the vehicle and check the
conditions ahead before proceeding.
Driving over roads in coastal areas or
roads on which anti-skid preparations
have been spread can cause rust on
the vehicle; wash the vehicle thoroughly
as soon as possible after such use.
Climbing sharp grades
Set the drive mode-selector to “4L”
position (Easy select 4WD), “4LLc”
position (Super select 4WD II) to
maximize the engine torque.
219) 220)
Choose as smooth a slope as possible
with few stones or other obstacles.
Before attempting to drive up the slope,
walk up it to confirm that the vehicle
can handle the grade.Descending sharp grades
Set the drive mode-selector to “4L”
position (Easy select 4WD), “4LLc”
position (Super select 4WD II), use the
engine brake (downshifting) and
descend slowly.
221)
When descending a sharp grade, if the
brakes are applied suddenly because of
an obstacle encountered, control of the
vehicle could be lost. Before
descending the slope, walk down it and
confirm the path.
Before descending a grade, it is
necessary to choose the appropriate
gear. Avoid changing gears or
depressing the clutch while descending
the grade.
Fiat. is not responsible to the operator
for any damage or injury caused or
liability incurred by the improper and
negligent operation of a vehicle. All
techniques of vehicle operation
described herein depend on the skill
and experience of the operator and
other participating parties and any
deviation from the recommended
operation instructions above is at their
own risk.
171

Turning sharp corners
When turning a sharp corner in “4H” or
“4L” position (Easy select 4WD), “4HLc”
or “4LLc” position (Super select 4WD II)
at low speed, a slight difference in
steering may be experienced similar to
as if the brakes were applied. This is
called tight corner braking and results
from each of the 4 tyres being at a
different distance from the corner.
Crossing a stream
4-wheel drive vehicles are not
necessarily waterproof. If the electrical
circuits become wet, further operation
of the vehicle will be impossible;
therefore, avoid crossing streams
unless absolutely necessary. If crossing
a stream is unavoidable, use the
following procedure:
Check depths of a stream and
geographical features before
attempting to cross a stream and
ford the stream where the water is
as shallow as practicable.Set the
drive mode-selector to “4L”
position (Easy select 4WD), “4LLc”
position (Super select 4WD II).Drive
slowly at a speed of approximately
5 km/h to avoid splashing too
much water.
117) 118)
Inspection and maintenance
following rough road operation
After operating the vehicle in rough road
conditions, be sure to perform the
following inspection and maintenance
procedures:
Check that the vehicle has not been
damaged by rocks, gravel, etc.
Carefully wash the vehicle with water.
Drive the vehicle slowly while lightly
depressing the brake pedal in order to
dry out the brakes. If the brakes still do
not function properly, we recommend
you to have the brakes checked as
soon as possible.
Remove the insects, dried grass, etc.
clogging the radiator core.
After crossing a stream, be sure to have
the following items inspected at a Fiat
Dealership and take the necessary
measures:
Check the brake system and, if
necessary, have it serviced.
Check the engine, transmission,
transfer, and differential oil or grease
level and turbidity. If the oil or grease is
milky, it indicates water contamination.
Replace it with new oil or grease.
Grease the propeller shaft.
Check the inside of the vehicle. If
water is found, dry the carpet etc.
Inspect the headlamps. If the
headlamp bulb is flooded with water,
have the headlamp drained off.
IMPORTANT
113)Selecting “4H” or “4L” position (Easy
select 4WD), “4HLc” or “4LLc” position
(Super select 4WD II) to drive on dry paved
road will increase the fuel consumption with
possible noise generation and early tyre
wear. It may also increase the differential oil
temperature, resulting in possible damage
to the driving system. Further, the drive
train will be subjected to excessive loading,
possibly leading to oil leakage, component
seizure, or other serious faults.
114)Avoid sudden braking, sudden
acceleration, and sharp turning; such
operations could cause skidding and
spinouts.
115)Do not force the vehicle or drive
recklessly on sandy surfaces. In
comparison with normal road surfaces, the
engine and other drive-system components
are put under excessive strain when driving
on such a surface, and this could lead to
accidents.
116)If any of following conditions occur
while the vehicle is being driven,
immediately park your vehicle in a safe
place and follow these procedures: the
needle in the temperature gauge
approaches the overheating zone. Refer to
“Engine overheating”; automatic
transmission fluid temperature warning
lamp comes on. Refer to “When the A/T
(automatic transmission) fluid temperature
warning lamp comes on”.
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STARTING AND DRIVING

117)Never cross a stream where the water
is deep. Do not change gears while
crossing the stream. Frequent crossing of
streams can adversely affect the life span
of the vehicle; we recommend you to take
the necessary measures to prepare,
inspect, and repair the vehicle.
118)After crossing a stream, apply the
brakes to be sure they are functioning
properly. If the brakes are wet and not
functioning properly, dry them out by
driving slowly while lightly depressing the
brake pedal. Inspect each part of the
vehicle carefully.
WARNING
218)When attempting to rock your vehicle
out of a stuck position, be sure that the
area around the vehicle is clear of people
and physical objects. The rocking motion
may cause the vehicle to suddenly launch
forward or backward, causing injury or
damage to nearby people or objects.
219)Go straight up. Do not try to traverse
across a steep slope.
220)If you begin to lose traction, ease off
the accelerator pedal and gently turn the
steering wheel alternatively left and right to
regain adequate traction again.
221)Avoid snaking down a sharp grade.
Descend the grade as straight as possible.
CAUTIONS ON
HANDLING OF
4 WHEEL DRIVE
VEHICLES
Tyres and wheels
Since the driving torque can be applied
to the 4 wheels, the performance of the
vehicle when operating in 4-wheel drive
is greatly affected by the condition of
the tyres.
Pay close attention to the tyres.
Install specified tyres on all wheels.
Refer to “Tyres and wheels”.
Be sure to the appropriate tyre
inflation pressure according to no cargo
or cargo. Refer to “Tyre inflation
pressures”.
Be sure to fit all 4 tyres and wheels of
the same size and type. When
replacement of any of the tyres or
wheels is necessary, replace all of them.
All tyres should be rotated whenever
the wear difference between the front
and rear tyres is recognizable.
Good vehicle performance cannot be
expected if there is a difference in wear
between tyres. Refer to “Tyre rotation”.
Check the tyre inflation pressure
regularly.
119)
Towing
If towing is necessary, we recommend
you to have it done by a Fiat Dealership
or a commercial tow truck service. In
the following cases, transport the
vehicle using a tow truck.
The engine runs but the vehicle does
not move or abnormal noise is
produced.
Inspection of the vehicle’s underside
reveals that oil or some other fluid is
leaking.
Only when you cannot receive a towing
service from a Fiat Dealership or
commercial tow truck service, tow your
vehicle carefully in accordance with the
instructions given in “Towing”.
173

120)
Jacking up a 4-wheel drive vehicles
222)
Clutch operation
Quick or slight clutch engagement
made while the engine is running at
high speed will cause damage to the
clutch and transmission because the
tractive force is very great. Operate the
pedal slowly and positively.Limited-slip differential
A limited-slip differential is applied for
the rear wheel differential only. The
features of this limited-slip differential
are described below:
Just as with a conventional differential,
the wheel on one side is allowed to turn
at a different speed from the wheel on
the other side when the vehicle is
cornering. The difference between the
limited-slip differential and a
conventional differential is that if the
wheel on one side of the vehicle loses
traction, a greater amount of torque is
applied to the wheel on the other side
to improve traction.
Even if there is a difference in the
amount of traction the wheels can get,
if both of them are spinning, the
limited-slip differential will not be
effective.
121) 122)
IMPORTANT
119)Always use tyres of the same size,
same type, and same brand which have no
wear differences. Using the tyres which
differ in size, type, brands or the degree of
wear or the inappropriate tyre inflation
pressure, will increase the differential oil
temperature and may be impossible to shift
the transfer, resulting in possible damage to
the driving system. Further, the drive train
will be subjected to excessive loading,
possibly leading to oil leakage, component
seizure, or other serious faults.
120)Be sure to set the drive mode-selector
to “2H” position and transport the vehicle
with the driving wheels on a carriage (Type
C or D) as illustrated. Never try to tow with
the drive mode-selector in “4H” or “4L”
position (Easy select 4WD), “4H”, “4HLc” or
“4LLc” position (Super select 4WD II) and
with the front or rear wheels on the ground
(Type A or B) as illustrated. This could result
in damage to the drivetrain, or unstable
towing. If you cannot set the drive
mode-selector to “2H” position or the
transmission is malfunctioning or damaged,
transport the vehicle with all the wheels on
a carriage (Type C or D) as illustrated.
121)Never start the engine while one of the
rear wheels is jacked up and the other in
contact with the ground; doing so may
cause the vehicle to jump forward.
122)When attempting to extract the
vehicle from snow, mud, etc., and the
engine is run continuously at high speed,
the limited-slip differential will be adversely
affected.
B
C
D
A
263AHE100182
174
STARTING AND DRIVING

WARNING
222)Do not crank the engine while jacking
up the vehicle. The tyre on the ground may
turn and the vehicle may roll off the jack.
BRAKING SYSTEM
All the parts of the brake system are
critical to safety. We recommend you to
have the vehicle checked at regular
intervals.
123)
Brake system
The service brake is divided into two
brake circuits. And your vehicle is
equipped with power brakes. If one
brake circuit fails, the other is available
to stop the vehicle. If your vehicle
should lose the power assist for some
reason, the brakes will still work.
In these situations even if the brake
pedal moves down to the very end of
its possible stroke or resists being
depressed, keep depressing the brake
pedal down harder and further than
usual; stop driving as soon as possible
and have the brake system repaired.
223) 224)
Warning lamp
The brake warning lamp illuminates to
indicate a fault in the braking system.
Refer to “Brake warning lamp”.When brakes are wet
Check the brake system while driving at
a low speed immediately after starting,
especially when the brakes are wet, to
confirm they work normally.
A film of water can be formed on the
brake discs or brake drums and
prevent normal braking after driving in
heavy rain or through large puddles, or
after the vehicle is washed. If this
occurs, dry the brakes out by driving
slowly while lightly depressing the brake
pedal.
When driving downhill
It is important to take advantage of the
engine braking by shifting to a lower
shift position while driving on steep
downhill roads in order to prevent the
brakes from overheating.
225)
Brake pads and linings
Avoid hard braking situations. New
brakes need to be broken-in by
moderate use for the first 200 km.
The disc brakes are provided with a
warning device which emits a shrieking
metallic sound while braking if the brake
pads have reached their wear limit. If
you hear this sound, have the brake
pads replaced.
226)
175