2017 FIAT 500L engine overheat

HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS
The Hazard Warning flasher switch is located on the
instrument panel below the radio.Push the switch to turn on the Hazard Warning
flashers. When the switch is activated, all direc-
tional turn signals will flash on and off to warn oncom-
ing traffic of an emergency. Push the switch a second
time to turn off the Hazard Warning flashers.
Do not use this emergency warning system when the
vehicle is in motion. Use it when your vehicle is
disabled and it is creating a safety hazard for other
motorists.
If it is necessary to leave the vehicle to go for service, the
Hazard Warning flashers will continue to operate with
the ignition key removed and the vehicle locked.
NOTE: With extended use, the Hazard Warning flash-
ers may wear down your battery.
IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS
In any of the following situations, you can reduce the
potential for overheating by taking the appropriate
action.
• On the highways — slow down. •
In city traffic — while stopped, place the transmis-
sion in NEUTRAL, but do not increase engine idle
speed.
NOTE: There are steps that you can take to slow down
an impending overheat condition:
• If your air conditioner (A/C) is on, turn it off. The
A/C system adds heat to the engine cooling system
and turning the A/C off can help remove this heat.
• You can also turn the temperature control to maxi-
mum heat, the mode control to floor and the blower
control to high. This allows the heater core to act as a
supplement to the radiator and aids in removing heat
from the engine cooling system.
WARNING!
You or others can be badly burned by hot engine
coolant (antifreeze) or steam from your radiator. If
you see or hear steam coming from under the hood,
do not open the hood until the radiator has had time
to cool. Never try to open a cooling system pressure
cap when the radiator or coolant bottle is hot.
274 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

3. Disconnect the positive(+)jumper cable from the
positive (+)post of the booster battery.
4. Disconnect the opposite end of the positive (+)
jumper cable from the positive (+)post of the dis-
charged vehicle.
NOTE: The negative (-)battery cable must be con-
nected to the negative (-)post of the battery.
Follow these steps to connect the negative (-)battery
cable:
1. Connect the negative (-)battery terminal to the
negative (-)post of the battery.
2. Push inward on the negative (-)battery cable termi-
nal release lever to the closed position.
If frequent jump-starting is required to start your ve-
hicle, you should have the battery and charging system
inspected at your authorized dealer.
CAUTION!
Accessories plugged into the vehicle power outlets
draw power from the vehicle’s battery, even when
(Continued)
CAUTION! (Continued)
not in use (i.e., cellular devices, etc.). Eventually, if
plugged in long enough without engine operation,
the vehicle’s battery will discharge sufficiently to
degrade battery life and/or prevent the engine from
starting.
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. Then, shift back and forth between DRIVE
and REVERSE, 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.
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
(Continued)
6
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 289

CAUTION!(Continued)
for at least one minute after every five rocking-
motion cycles. This will minimize overheating and
reduce the risk of transmission failure during pro-
longed efforts to free a stuck vehicle.
NOTE: Push the ESC Off switch, to place the Elec-
tronic Stability Control (ESC) system in Partial Off
mode, before rocking the vehicle. Refer to “Electronic
Brake Control” in “Starting And Operating” for further
information. Once the vehicle has been freed, push the
ESC Off switch again to restore ESC Onmode.
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
vehicle’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.
CAUTION!
•When “rocking” a stuck vehicle by shifting be-
tween DRIVE and REVERSE, do not spin the
wheels faster than 15 mph (24 km/h), or drivetrain
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 transmission shifting occurring).
GEAR SELECTOR OVERRIDE
If a malfunction occurs and the gear selector cannot be
moved out of the PARK position, you can use the
following procedure to temporarily move the gear
selector:
1. Turn the engine OFF.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake.
290 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

CAUTION!
•The catalytic converter requires the use of un-
leaded fuel only. Leaded gasoline will destroy the
effectiveness of the catalyst as an emissions con-
trol device and may seriously reduce engine per-
formance and cause serious damage to the engine.
• Damage to the catalytic converter can result if
your vehicle is not kept in proper operating
condition. In the event of engine malfunction,
particularly involving engine misfire or other
apparent loss of performance, have your vehicle
serviced promptly. Continued operation of your
vehicle with a severe malfunction could cause the
converter to overheat, resulting in possible dam-
age to the converter and vehicle.
Under normal operating conditions, the catalytic con-
verter will not require maintenance. However, it is
important to keep the engine properly tuned to assure
proper catalyst operation and prevent possible catalyst
damage. NOTE:
Intentional tampering with emissions control
systems can result in civil penalties being assessed
against you.
In unusual situations involving grossly malfunctioning
engine operation, a scorching odor may suggest severe
and abnormal catalyst overheating. If this occurs, stop
the vehicle, turn off the engine and allow it to cool.
Service, including a tune-up to manufacturer’s specifi-
cations, should be obtained immediately.
To minimize the possibility of catalytic converter dam-
age:
• Do not shut off the engine or interrupt the ignition,
when the transmission is in gear and the vehicle is in
motion.
• Do not try to start the engine by pushing or towing
the vehicle.
• Do not idle the engine with any spark plug wires
disconnected or removed, such as when diagnostic
testing, or for prolonged periods during very rough
idle or malfunctioning operating conditions.
7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 313

The cap should be inspected and cleaned if there is any
accumulation of foreign material on the sealing sur-
faces.
WARNING!
•Do not open hot engine cooling system. Never
add engine coolant (antifreeze) when the engine
is overheated. Do not loosen or remove the cap to
cool an overheated engine. Heat causes pressure
to build up in the cooling system. To prevent
scalding or injury, do not remove the pressure cap
while the system is hot or under pressure.
• Do not use a pressure cap other than the one
specified for your vehicle. Personal injury or
engine damage may result.
Disposal Of Used Engine Coolant
Used ethylene glycol-based engine coolant (antifreeze)
is a regulated substance requiring proper disposal.
Check with your local authorities to determine the
disposal rules for your community. To prevent ingestion
by animals or children, do not store ethylene glycol-
based engine coolant in open containers or allow it to remain in puddles on the ground. If ingested by a child
or pet, seek emergency assistance immediately. Clean
up any ground spills immediately.
Coolant Level
The coolant expansion bottle provides a quick visual
method for determining that the coolant level is ad-
equate. With the engine off and cold, the level of the
engine coolant (antifreeze) in the bottle should be
between the “MIN” and “MAX” marks.
As long as the engine operating temperature is satisfac-
tory, the coolant bottle need only be checked once a
month.
When additional engine coolant (antifreeze) is needed
to maintain the proper level, it should be added to the
coolant bottle. Do not overfill.
Points To Remember
NOTE:
When the vehicle is stopped after a few miles/
kilometers of operation, you may observe vapor coming
from the front of the engine compartment. This is
normally a result of moisture from rain, snow, or high
humidity accumulating on the radiator and being va-
porized when the thermostat opens, allowing hot en-
gine coolant (antifreeze) to enter the radiator.
7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 317

Towing............................ .292
Emergency Trunk Release ...................24
Engine Air Cleaner ..........................304
Break-In Recommendations ................65
Checking Oil Level .....................302
Compartment ........................ .299
Cooling ............................ .314
Exhaust Gas Caution .................67, 269
Fails To Start ........................ .219
Flooded, Starting ..................... .219
Fuel Requirements .....................266
Oil .............................302, 339
Oil Filler Cap ........................ .303
Oil Filter ............................304
Oil Selection ..........................303
Overheating ..........................274
Starting ............................ .218
Enhanced Accident Response Feature ..........294
Ethanol ...............................267
Exhaust Gas Caution ...................67, 269
Exhaust System .......................67, 312
Exterior Lights ...........................70 Filters
Air Cleaner ..........................304
Air Conditioning ...................205, 306
Engine Fuel ..........................340
Engine Oil .......................... .304
Engine Oil Disposal ....................304
Flashers Turn Signal ........................70, 150
Flooded Engine Starting ...................219
Fluid, Brake ............................342
Fluid Capacities ........................ .339
Fluid Leaks .............................70
Fluid Level Checks Automatic Transmission .................320
Fluids, Lubricants And Genuine Parts ..........340
Fog Lights .............................. 9
3
Fold And Tumble Rear Seat ..................83
Freeing A Stuck Vehicle ....................289
Fuel ................................. .266
Adding ............................ .269
Additives ............................268
Capacity ............................339
Clean Air ............................266
Ethanol ............................ .267
Gasoline ............................26610
INDEX 359

Manual, Service........................ .353
Master Cylinder (Brakes) ...................318
Methanol ............................. .267
Mirrors ................................74
Automatic Dimming .....................74
Electric Powered .......................76
Electric Remote ........................76
Heated ..............................77
Rearview .............................74
Modifications/Alterations, Vehicle ..............7
Monitor, Tire Pressure System ...............262
MTBE/ETBE .......................... .267
Multi-Function Control Lever ................91
New Vehicle Break-In Period .................65
Occupant Restraints .......................26
Octane Rating, Gasoline (Fuel) ...............266
Oil Change Indicator ..................... .154
Oil Change Indicator, Reset .................154
Oil, Engine ..................... .302, 339, 340
Capacity ............................339
Change Interval .......................303
Checking ............................302
Disposal ............................ .304Filter
...............................304
Filter Disposal ........................304
Materials Added To ....................304
Pressure Warning Light ..................140
Recommendation ...................303, 339
Viscosity ............................303
Oil Filter, Change ........................304
Oil Filter, Selection .......................304
Oil Pressure Light ........................140
Onboard Diagnostic System .................300
Opener, Garage Door (HomeLink) ............110
Operating Precautions .....................300
Operator Manual (Owner’s Manual) ............4
Overheating, Engine ..................... .274
Owner’s Manual (Operator Manual) .........4,353
Paint Care ............................ .321
Parking Brake.......................... .230
ParkSense

System, Rear ....................103
Passing Light ............................91
Placard, Tire And Loading Information ......245, 246
Power Mirrors ..............................76
Sunroof .............................117
Windows .............................22
362 INDEX