2017 Abarth 500 ECU

remove the parcel shelf, by releasing
it from its two side pins and pulling it
out.
check that the seat belt is fully
extended and not twisted
operate lever 1 or 2 fig. 15 to release
the left hand or right hand part of the
backrest respectively and guide it onto
the cushion.IMPORTANT To return the backrest to
its correct position, we recommend
operating from the outside through the
doors.
Total extension
Tilting the rear seat completely forwards
allows maximum loading volume.
Proceed as follows:
remove the rear seat head restraints
(where provided)
remove the parcel shelf, by releasing
it from its two side pins and pulling it
out.
check that the seat belts are
correctly extended and not twisted
operate the levers 1 and 2 fig. 15 to
release the backrests and guide them
onto the cushion.Repositioning the rear seat
Raise the backrests and push them
back until the locking click of both
retainers is heard.
Position the seat belt buckles upwards
and set the cushion to the position of
normal use.
IMPORTANT To return the backrest to
its correct position, we recommend
operating from the outside through the
doors.
IMPORTANT When returning the
backrest to its normal position, make
sure that it is correctly fastened and
that you hear the lock click. Make sure
the backrest is properly secured at both
sides to prevent it moving forward in
the event of sharp braking that may
cause injuries to passengers
WARNING
8)All adjustments must be made with the
car stationary.
9)If a side bag is fitted, it is dangerous to
use seat covers not available from
Lineaccessori Abarth.
13AB0A0049C
14AB0A0050C
12
15AB0A0014C
17

10)Once you have released the
adjustment lever, always check that the
seat is locked on the guides by trying
to move it back and forth. If the seat is not
locked into place, it may unexpectedly
slide and cause the driver to lose control of
the car.
11)Make sure the backrests are properly
secured at both sides to prevent them from
moving forward, in the event of sharp
braking, with possible impact with of the
passengers.
WARNING
2)The fabric upholstery of the seats has
been designed to withstand long-term
wear deriving from normal use of the car.
Some precautions are however required.
Avoid prolonged and/or excessive rubbing
against clothing accessories such as
metal buckles and Velcro strips which, by
applying a high pressure on the fabric in
a small area, could cause it to break,
thereby damaging the upholstery.
3)Before tilting the backrest, remove any
objects on the seat cushion.
HEAD RESTRAINTS
REAR
(where provided)
To extract the rear head restraints press
buttons 2 and 3 fig. 16 at the side of
the two supports simultaneously and lift
them out upwards. The rear head
restraints must be lifted out with the
backrest released and tilted toward the
passenger compartment or with the
tailgate open. To bring the head
restraint to the correct position, lift it
until you hear it click.
To lower the head restraint, press
button 2 fig. 16.
IMPORTANT If the rear seats are used,
always set the head restraints in the
"completely raised" position.
STEERING WHEEL
The steering wheel can be adjusted
vertically.
To adjust the position bring the lever fig.
17 down to position B after which the
steering wheel can be adjusted to
the most suitable position and
subsequently locked in this position by
bringing lever to position A.
12) 13)
16AB0A0017C
17AB0A0018C
18
KNOWING YOUR CAR

With the top completely open, it is
advisable to keep the spoiler lowered to
limit wind noise inside the passenger
compartment.
Raising the spoiler will reduce the flow
of air to the rear seats.
WARNING
22)Keep hands away from the top
mechanism while opening and closing the
top or if the top stops in a position before
completing the cycle to prevent damage
and injury.
23)Keep children away from the area in
which the top is folding during opening or
closing operations.24)When leaving the car, always remove
the key from the ignition device to avoid the
risk of injury due to accidental operation
of the soft top: improper use of the roof
can be dangerous. Before and during
operation, always check that no-one is at
risk of being injured by the moving soft top
roof or by objects getting caught and
dragged by it.
WARNING
9)Never open the top in presence of snow
or ice to prevent damage.
10)Do not place objects on the rear
window shelf to prevent damage while the
top is closing.
11)Loads may not be secured on the
vehicle roof.
ENGINE BONNET
OPENING
Proceed as follows:
pull lever 1 fig. 39 in the direction
indicated by the arrow;
move the lever 2 fig. 40 to the right
as shown in the figure;
lift the bonnet and, at the same time,
release the supporting rod 3 fig. 41
from its catch 4, then insert the end of
the rod into housing 5 in the bonnet
(large hole) and push to safety position
(small hole), as shown in the figure.
25) 26) 27) 29)
38AB0A0330C
39AB0A0051C
34
KNOWING YOUR CAR

CLOSING
Proceed as follows:
hold the bonnet up with one hand
and with the other remove the stay
3 fig. 41 from the housing 5 and put it
back in its locking device 4;
lower the bonnet to approximately
20 centimetres above the engine
compartment and let it come down.
Make sure that the bonnet is
completely closed and not just secured
in safety position. If it is not perfectly
closed, do not try to press the bonnet
down but open it and repeat the
procedure.
28)
WARNING
25)The bonnet may drop suddenly if the
supporting rod is not positioned correctly.
Only perform these operations when the
car is stationary.
26)Be careful working inside engine
compartment when the engine is hot to
avoid burning yourself. Do not place your
hands near the engine fan as it may be
activated even when the key is removed.
Wait until the engine has cooled.
27)Be very careful not to allow scarves,
neckties and other loose articles of clothing
from touching, even accidentally, any
moving parts. This may cause the clothing
to be pulled into the part, resulting in
serious injury to the wearer.28)For safety reasons, the bonnet must
always be properly closed while the car is
travelling. Therefore, always make sure that
it is closed properly and that the lock is
engaged. If you notice when driving that
the bonnet has not been properly locked,
stop immediately and close the bonnet
correctly.
29)Use both hands to lift the bonnet.
Before lifting, check that the windscreen
wiper arms are not raised from the
windscreen, that the vehicle is stationary
and that the handbrake is engaged.
2
40AB0A0052C
5
3
4
41AB0A0053C
35

WARNING
30)Never exceed the maximum allowed
load in the luggage compartment, see
chapter “Technical specifications”. Also
make sure that the objects you place in the
luggage compartment have been properly
secured, to avoid them from being thrown
forward consequent to sudden braking
and injuring your passengers.
31)If you are travelling in areas with few
filling stations and you want to transport
fuel in a spare tank, comply with the law by
using only an approved, suitably secured
tank. In the event of a collision the fire
risk is increased all the same.
32)Do not drive with the tailgate open as
exhaust fumes may enter the vehicle.
WARNING
12)Be careful not to hit objects on the
storage shelf when you open the tailgate.
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77)If the seat belt has been subjected to a
high level of stress, for example after an
accident, it must be completely replaced
together with the anchorages, anchorage
fixing screws and pretensioner. In fact,
even if the seat belt has no visible defects,
it could have lost its resilience.
WARNING
14)Operations which lead to impacts,
vibrations or localised heating (over 100°C
for a maximum of six hours) in the area
around the pretensioner may damage or
deploy it. Contact an Abarth Dealership
should intervention be necessary on these
components.
CHILD PROTECTION
SYSTEMS
CARRYING CHILDREN
SAFELY
78) 79) 80) 81) 91)
For optimal protection in the event of an
impact, all occupants must be seated
and wearing adequate restraint
systems, including newborn and
children!
This prescription is compulsory in all EC
countries according to EC Directive
2003/20/EC.
Children below the height of 1.50
metres and up to 12 years must be
protected with suitable restraint
systems and be seated on the rear
seats.
Statistics on accidents indicate that the
rear seats offer greater safety for
children.
Compared with an adult, a child's head
is larger and heavier in proportion to
their body and the child's muscular and
bone structures are not fully developed.
Therefore, correct restraint systems
other than adult seat belts are
necessary to reduce as much as
possible the risk of injuries in case of
accident, braking or sudden
manoeuvre.Children must be seated safely and
comfortably. Depending on the
characteristics of the child restraint
systems used, you are advised to keep
children in rearward facing child
restraint systems for as long as
possible (at least until 3-4 years old),
since this is the most protected position
in the event of an impact.
The choice of the most suitable child
restraint system depends on the weight
and size of the child. There are various
types of child restraint systems, which
can be secured to the vehicle by means
of the seat belts or with the ISOFIX
anchorages.
It is recommended to always choose
the restraint system most suitable
for the child; for this reason always refer
to the Owner Handbook provided with
the child restraint system, to be sure
that it is of the right type for the children
it is intended for.
In Europe the characteristics of child
restraint systems are ruled by the
regulation ECE-R44, dividing them into
five weight groups:
Group Weight groups
Group 0up to 10 kg in
weight
Group 0+up to 13 kg in
weight
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Group Weight groups
Group 1 9 - 18 kg
Group 2 15 - 25 kg
Group 3 22 - 36 kg
All restraint devices must bear the
certification data, together with the
control mark, on a label solidly fixed to
the child restraint system which must
never be removed.
Lineaccessori Abarth offers child
restraint systems for each weight
group. These devices are
recommended having been specifically
designed for Abarth cars.
FITTING A CHILD
RESTRAINT SYSTEM
WITH SEAT BELTS
82) 83) 84) 85)
The Universal child restraint systems
installed with the seat belts only are
type-approved on the basis of the ECE
R44 standard and are divided into
various weight groups.
WARNING The figures are indicative
and provided for assembly purposes
only. Fit the child restraint system
according to the instructions, which
must be included.WARNING Following an accident of a
certain gravity, it is recommended to
replace both the child restraint system
and the seat belt to which it was
bound.
GROUP 0 and 0+
Babies up to 13 kg must be carried
with a rear facing child restraint system
of a type as shown in fig. 57 which,
supporting the head, does not induce
stress on the neck in the event of
sudden decelerations.
The child restraint system is secured by
the vehicle seat belts, as shown in fig.
57 and it must restrain the child in
turn with its own belts.
GROUP 1
Children of weight from 9 to 18 kg may
be transported in forward facing child
restraint systems fig. 58.GROUP 2
Children from 15 to 25 kg may be
restrained directly by the car seat belts
fig. 59.
In this case, the child restraint system is
used to position the child correctly
with respect to the seat belts so that
the diagonal belt section crosses the
child’s chest and not the neck, and the
lower part is snug on the pelvis not
the abdomen.
57AB0A0063C
9-18 kg
58AB0A0064C
59AB0A0065C
68
SAFETY

Main recommendations to carry
children safely
Install the child restraint systems on
the rear seat, which is the most
protected position in the event of an
impact.
Keep children in rear facing child
restraint systems for as long as
possible, at least until 2 years old.
Should a rearward facing child
restraint system be installed on the rear
seats, it is advisable to position it as
far forward as the position of the front
seat allows.
If the passenger's front airbag is
deactivated always check the
permanent switching on of the
warning light to make sure that it
has actually been deactivated.
Carefully follow the instructions
supplied with the child restraint system.
Keep the instructions in the vehicle
along with the other documents and
this handbook. Do not use second-
hand child restraint systems without
instructions.
Only one child is to be strapped into
each restraint system; never carry two
children simultaneously.
Always check that the seat belts do
not rest on the child’s neck.
Always check that the seat belt is
well fastened by pulling on it.
While travelling, do not let the child
sit incorrectly or unfasten the belts.
Never allow a child to put the belt's
diagonal section under an arm or
behind their back.
Never carry children on your lap,
even newborns. No one can hold
a child in the case of an accident.
In the event of an accident, replace
the child restraint system with a new
one. In addition, and depending on the
type of child restraint system installed,
replace the isofix anchorages or the
seat belt with which the child restraint
system was connected.
WARNING
78)SEVERE DANGER. When an active
passenger airbag is fitted, DO NOT install
rear facing child restraint systems on
the front seat. Deployment of the airbag in
an accident could cause fatal injuries to
the child regardless of the severity of
the impact. It is advisable to always carry
children in a child restraint system on
the rear seat, which is the most protected
position in the event of a collision.
79)On the sun visor there is a label with
suitable symbols reminding the user that it
is compulsory to deactivate the airbag if
a rearward facing child restraint system is
fitted. Always comply with the instructions
on the passenger side sun visor (see the
"Front airbags" paragraph).80)Should it be necessary to carry a child
on the passenger side front seat in a rear
facing child restraint system, the passenger
side front and side airbags must be
deactivated through the display main
menu, verifying deactivation by checking
that the
warning light located in the
central part of the dashboard has switched
on. Move the passenger's seat as far
back as possible to avoid contact between
the child seat and the dashboard.
81)Do not move the front or rear seat if a
child is seated on it or on the dedicated
child restraint system.
82)Child restraint systems with ISOFIX
attachments are available for safely
anchoring to the seat without using the car
seat belts. See paragraph "Installing an
Isofix child carseat" for the fitting
instructions.
83)Incorrect fitting of the child restraint
system may result in an inefficient
protection system. In the event of an
accident the child restraint system may
become loose and the child may be
injured, even fatally. When fitting a restraint
system for newborns or children, strictly
comply with the instructions provided
by the Manufacturer.
84)When the child restraint system is not
used, secure it with the seat belt or with
the ISOFIX anchorages, or remove it from
the vehicle. Do not leave it unsecured
inside the passenger compartment. In this
way, in the event of sudden braking or
an accident, it will not cause injuries to the
occupants.
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