2017 FIAT 500E sensor

E-Park is activated when the driver pushes the PARK
button. An electric motor activates the parking pawl
and locks the single-speed transmission when the ve-
hicle is placed into PARK. This will prevent any un-
wanted movement of the vehicle.
NOTE:The engagement of the E-Park can be heard
when there is no noise in the interior of the vehicle, this
is a normal condition.
Climate Control (HVAC System)
Your 500e is equipped with an Automatic Temperature
Control (ATC) HVAC system. This HVAC system uti-
lizes a humidity sensor, cabin sensor, and ambient
temperature sensor to choose operation mode and
control cabin comfort. These components allow the
controller to operate the HVAC system in a very effi-
cient manner to maximize driving range.
Your 500e also uses an electric air heater to provide heat
to the cabin.
Electric Air Conditioning Compressor
Your 500e uses an electric air conditioning compressor.
The air conditioning compressor is powered by the high
voltage battery system and is used to cool the vehicle
occupants and the high voltage battery while the ve-
hicle is being driven or when it is being charged.
The high voltage battery may require cooling to keep
the vehicle running. The air conditioning compressor
will activate without any input from the occupant.
NOTE: The AC system helps cool the high voltage
battery. If the air conditioning system should require
service, see your Authorized Dealer as soon as possible.
Electric Power Steering
Your vehicle is equipped with an Electric Power Steer-
ing (EPS) system. The power steering system requires
no maintenance and operates without the use of power
steering fluid.
12 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!(Continued)
•Do not use the Automatic Locking Mode to re-
strain occupants who are wearing the seat belt or
children who are using booster seats. The locked
mode is only used to install rear-facing or
forward-facing child restraints that have a har-
ness for restraining the child.
Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS)
Some of the safety features described in this section
may be standard equipment on some models, or may be
optional equipment on others. If you are not sure, ask
your authorized dealer.
The air bag system must be ready to protect you in a
collision. The Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
monitors the internal circuits and interconnecting wir-
ing associated with the electrical Air Bag System Com-
ponents. Your vehicle may be equipped with the fol-
lowing Air Bag System Components:
Air Bag System Components
• Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
• Air Bag Warning Light
•Steering Wheel and Column
• Instrument Panel
• Knee Impact Bolsters
• Driver and Front Passenger Air Bags
• Supplemental Side Air Bags
• Supplemental Knee Air Bags
• Front and Side Impact Sensors
• Seat Belt Pretensioners
• Seat Track Position Sensors
• Seat Belt Buckle Switch
Air Bag Warning Light
The ORC monitors the readiness of the elec-
tronic parts of the air bag system whenever
the ignition switch is in the AVV/START or
MAR/ACC/ON/RUN position. If the igni-
tion switch is in the STOP/OFF/LOCK position or in
the ACC position, the air bag system is not on and the
air bags will not inflate.
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 49

The driver front air bag is mounted in the center of the
steering wheel. The passenger front air bag is mounted
in the instrument panel, above the glove compartment.
The words “SRS AIRBAG” or “AIRBAG” are embossed
on the air bag covers.WARNING!
•Being too close to the steering wheel or instru-
ment panel during front air bag deployment
could cause serious injury, including death. Air
bags need room to inflate. Sit back, comfortably
extending your arms to reach the steering wheel
or instrument panel.
• Never place a rear-facing child restraint in front of
an air bag. A deploying passenger front air bag
can cause death or serious injury to a child 12
years or younger, including a child in a rear-
facing child restraint.
• Only use a rear-facing child restraint in a vehicle
with a rear seat.
Driver And Passenger Front Air Bag Features
The Advanced Front Air Bag system has multistage
driver and front passenger air bags. This system pro-
vides output appropriate to the severity and type of
collision as determined by the Occupant Restraint Con-
troller (ORC), which may receive information from the
front impact sensors (if equipped) or other system
components.Front Air Bag And Knee Bolster Locations
1 — Driver And Passenger Front Air Bags
2 — Passenger Knee Impact Bolster
3 — Driver Knee Impact Bolster/Supplemental Driver Knee Air
Bag
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THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 51

The first stage inflator is triggered immediately during
an impact that requires air bag deployment. A low
energy output is used in less severe collisions. A higher
energy output is used for more severe collisions.
This vehicle may be equipped with a driver and/or
front passenger seat belt buckle switch that detects
whether the driver or front passenger seat belt is
buckled. The seat belt buckle switch may adjust the
inflation rate of the Advanced Front Air Bags.
This vehicle may be equipped with driver and/or front
passenger seat track position sensors that may adjust
the inflation rate of the Advanced Front Air Bags based
upon seat position.
WARNING!
•No objects should be placed over or near the air
bag on the instrument panel or steering wheel
because any such objects could cause harm if the
vehicle is in a collision severe enough to cause the
air bag to inflate.
• Do not put anything on or around the air bag
covers or attempt to open them manually. You
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
may damage the air bags and you could be
injured because the air bags may no longer be
functional. The protective covers for the air bag
cushions are designed to open only when the air
bags are inflating.
• Relying on the air bags alone could lead to more
severe injuries in a collision. The air bags work
with your seat belt to restrain you properly. In
some collisions, air bags won’t deploy at all.
Always wear your seat belts even though you
have air bags.
Front Air Bag Operation
Front Air Bags are designed to provide additional
protection by supplementing the seat belts. Front air
bags are not expected to reduce the risk of injury in rear,
side, or rollover collisions. The front air bags will not
deploy in all frontal collisions, including some that may
produce substantial vehicle damage — for example,
some pole collisions, truck underrides, and angle offset
collisions.
52 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE

On the other hand, depending on the type and location
of impact, front air bags may deploy in crashes with
little vehicle front-end damage but that produce a
severe initial deceleration.
Because air bag sensors measure vehicle deceleration
over time, vehicle speed and damage by themselves are
not good indicators of whether or not an air bag should
have deployed.
Seat belts are necessary for your protection in all
collisions, and also are needed to help keep you in
position, away from an inflating air bag.
When the ORC detects a collision requiring the front air
bags, it signals the inflator units. A large quantity of
non-toxic gas is generated to inflate the front air bags.
The steering wheel hub trim cover and the upper right
side of the instrument panel separate and fold out of the
way as the air bags inflate to their full size. The front air
bags fully inflate in less time than it takes to blink your
eyes. The front air bags then quickly deflate while
helping to restrain the driver and front passenger.Knee Impact Bolsters
The Knee Impact Bolsters help protect the knees of the
driver and front passenger, and position the front
occupants for improved interaction with the front air
bags.
WARNING!
•Do not drill, cut, or tamper with the knee impact
bolsters in any way.
• Do not mount any accessories to the knee impact
bolsters such as alarm lights, stereos, citizen band
radios, etc.
Supplemental Driver Knee Air Bag
This vehicle is equipped with a Supplemental Driver
Knee Air Bag mounted in the instrument panel below
the steering column. The Supplemental Driver Knee Air
Bag provides enhanced protection during a frontal
impact by working together with the seat belts, preten-
sioners, and front air bags.
2
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 53

SABICs may help reduce the risk of head and other
injuries to front and rear seat outboard occupants in
certain side impacts, in addition to the injury reduction
potential provided by the seat belts and body structure.
The SABIC deploys downward, covering the side win-
dows. An inflating SABIC pushes the outside edge of
the headliner out of the way and covers the window.
The SABICs inflate with enough force to injure occu-
pants if they are not belted and seated properly, or if
items are positioned in the area where the SABICsinflate. Children are at an even greater risk of injury
from a deploying air bag.
WARNING!
•
Do not stack luggage or other cargo up high
enough to block the deployment of the SABICs.
The trim covering above the side windows where
the SABIC and its deployment path are located
should remain free from any obstructions.
• In order for the SABICs to work as intended, do
not install any accessory items in your vehicle
which could alter the roof. Do not add an after-
market sunroof to your vehicle. Do not add roof
racks that require permanent attachments (bolts
or screws) for installation on the vehicle roof. Do
not drill into the roof of the vehicle for any
reason.
The SABICs and SABs (Side Air Bags) are designed to
activate in certain side impacts. The Occupant Restraint
Controller (ORC) determines whether the deployment
of the Side Air Bags in a particular impact event is
appropriate, based on the severity and type of collision.
The side impact sensors aid the ORC in determining the
appropriate response to impact events. The system is
Supplemental Side Air Bag Inflatable Curtain (SABIC) Label Location
2
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 55

WARNING!(Continued)
•Relying on the Side Air Bags alone could lead to
more severe injuries in a collision. The Side Air
Bags work with your seat belt to restrain you
properly. In some collisions, Side Air Bags won’t
deploy at all. Always wear your seat belt even
though you have Side Air Bags.
NOTE: Air bag covers may not be obvious in the
interior trim, but they will open during air bag deploy-
ment.
The SABICs may help reduce the risk of partial or
complete ejection of vehicle occupants through side
windows in certain side impact events.
The Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) monitors the
internal circuits and interconnecting wiring associated
with electrical Air Bag System Components listed be-
low:
Air Bag System Components
• Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC)
• Air Bag Warning Light
•Steering Wheel and Column •
Instrument Panel
• Knee Impact Bolsters
• Driver and Front Passenger Air Bags
• Supplemental Side Air Bags
• Supplemental Knee Air Bags
• Front and Side Impact Sensors
• Seat Belt Pretensioners
• Seat Track Position Sensors
• Seat Belt Buckle Switch
If A Deployment Occurs
The front air bags are designed to deflate immediately
after deployment.
NOTE: Front and/or side air bags will not deploy in all
collisions. This does not mean something is wrong with
the air bag system.
If you do have a collision which deploys the air bags,
any or all of the following may occur:
• The air bag material may sometimes cause abrasions
and/or skin reddening to the occupants as the air
bags deploy and unfold. The abrasions are similar to
2
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 57

▫Dimmer Control ......................97
▫ Ambient Light .......................98
▫ Fog Lights — If Equipped ...............98
 WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHERS .....98
▫ Front Windshield Wiper Operation .........98
▫ Rear Windshield Wiper ................100
 TILT STEERING COLUMN — IF EQUIPPED . .101
 SPEED CONTROL .....................101
▫ To Activate ........................ .102
▫ To Set A Desired Speed ................102
▫ To Deactivate ...................... .102
▫ To Resume Speed ....................103
▫ To Vary The Speed Setting ..............103
▫ To Accelerate For Passing ..............104
 REAR PARK ASSIST ....................104
▫ Rear Park Assist Sensors ...............104
▫ Rear Park Assist Audible Alerts ..........105
▫ Failure Indications ....................106 ▫
Cleaning The Rear Park Assist System ......106
▫ Park Assist System Usage Precautions ......107
 POWER SUNROOF — IF EQUIPPED .......108
▫ To Open .......................... .109
▫ To Close .......................... .109
▫ Pinch Protect Feature ..................109
▫ Wind Buffeting ..................... .109
▫ Emergency Operation ..................110
▫ Sun Shade — If Equipped ..............110
 ELECTRICAL POWER OUTLETS ..........110
 CIGAR

LIGHTER — IF EQUIPPED .........112
 CUPHOLDERS .......................113
 STORAGE ...........................114
▫ Glove Compartment ...................114
 CARGO AREA FEATURES ...............114
 REAR WINDOW FEATURES .............115
▫ Rear Window Defroster ................115
82 UNDERSTANDING THE FEATURES OF YOUR VEHICLE