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.
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STARTING AND DRIVING
119)For vehicles equipped with the shift
paddles, do not use the left- and right-hand
shift paddles at the same time. Doing so
could cause a shift of gear ratio that you do
not expect.
120)If the selector lever position display
blinks while you are driving, it is likely that a
safety device is operating because of a
malfunction in the automatic transmission.
Have the vehicle inspected by a Fiat
Dealership as soon as possible.
121)If the lamp comes on, reduce the
engine speed and stop the vehicle in a safe
area. Then set the selector lever to “P”
(PARK) position and idle the engine until the
warning lamp goes off. When the warning
lamp goes off, resume normal driving. If the
warning lamp does not go off, we
recommend you to have your vehicle
inspected by a Fiat Dealership.
122)Before selecting a gear with the
engine running and the vehicle stationary,
fully depress the brake pedal to prevent the
vehicle from creeping. The vehicle will begin
to move as soon as the gear is engaged,
especially when the engine speed is high,
at fast idle or with the air conditioner
operating, the brakes should only be
released when you are ready to drive away.
123)Depress the brake pedal with the right
foot at all times. Using the left foot could
cause driver movement delay in case of an
emergency.
124)To prevent sudden acceleration, never
race the engine when shifting from the “P”
(PARK) or “N” (NEUTRAL) position.
125)Operating the accelerator pedal while
the other foot is resting on the brake pedal
will affect braking efficiency and may cause
premature wear of brake pads.126)Use the selector lever in the correct
shift position in accordance with driving
conditions. Never coast downhill backward
with the selector lever in the {“D” (DRIVE) or
sports mode} or coast forward with the
selector lever in the “R” (REVERSE)
position. The engine may stop and the
unexpected increase in brake pedal effort
and steering wheel weight could lead to an
accident.
127)Do not race the engine with brake
pedal pressed when the vehicle is
stationary. This can damage the A/T. Also,
when you depress the accelerator pedal
while holding down the brake pedal with
the selector lever in the “P” (PARK), “N”
(NEUTRAL) or “D” (DRIVE) position, the
engine revolutions may not rise as high as
when performing the same operation with
the selector lever in the “N” (NEUTRAL)
position.
128)Never hold the vehicle stationary on a
hill using the accelerator pedal (without
using the brake pedal). Always apply the
parking brake and/or service brakes.EASY SELECT 4WD
(where provided)
Shifting to rear-wheel drive or 4-wheel
drive can be made by operating the
drive mode selector (A). Set the drive
mode-selector to an appropriate
position according to the road surface
conditions. In addition, the 2WD/4WD
operation indicator lamp and the
low-range indicator lamp indicates the
drive mode-selector setting state. Refer
to “2WD/4WD operation indicator lamp
and low-range indicator lamp”.
270AHA103635
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STARTING AND DRIVING
pedal as constant as possible, and
drive at low speed.
142) 143)
232)
NOTE Avoid sudden braking,
acceleration, and turning; such
operations could result in the vehicle
becoming stuck.
NOTE 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.
NOTE 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.
NOTE 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,
operation should be at a low speed. If
possible, get out of the vehicle and
check the conditions ahead before
proceeding.NOTE 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.
233) 234)
NOTE Choose as smooth a slope as
possible with few stones or other
obstacles.
NOTE 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.
235)
NOTE 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.NOTE Before descending a grade, it is
necessary to choose the appropriate
gear. Avoid changing gears or
depressing the clutch while descending
the grade.
NOTE 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.
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
179
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.
144) 145)
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, contact a Fiat
Dealership as soon as possible to have
the brakes checked.
Remove the insects, dried grass, etc.
clogging the radiator core and the A/T
oil cooler.
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
ingress of water is found, dry the carpet
etc.
Inspect the headlamps. If the
headlamp bulb is flooded with water,
have the headlamp drained off.
IMPORTANT
140)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.
141)Avoid sudden braking, sudden
acceleration, and sharp turning; such
operations could cause skidding and
spinouts.142)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.
143)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”.
144)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.
145)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.
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STARTING AND DRIVING
147)
Jacking up a 4-wheel drive vehicles
236)
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.
IMPORTANT
146)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, 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.
147)Transport the vehicle with the driving
wheels on a carriage (Type C or D) as
illustrated. Never try to tow 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.
WARNING
236)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 according to the service
booklet.
238)
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.
237)................................0
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.
287AHE100182
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STARTING AND DRIVING
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.
239)
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.
240)
IMPORTANT
148)Avoid driving habits that cause heavy
braking and never “ride” the brakes by
resting your foot on the brake pedal while
driving. It causes bake overheating and
fade.
WARNING
237)Do not turn off the engine while your
vehicle is in motion. If you turn off the
engine while driving, the power assistance
for the braking system will stop working
and your brakes will not work effectively.
238)If the power assist is lost or if either
brake hydraulic system stops working
properly, have your vehicle checked
immediately.
239)Do not leave any objects near the
brake pedal or let a floor mat slide under it;
doing so could prevent the full pedal stroke
that would be necessary in an emergency.
Make sure that the pedal can be operated
freely at all times. Make sure the floor mat
is securely held in place.
240)Driving with worn brake pads will
make it harder to stop, and can cause an
accident.
CRUISE CONTROL
(where provided)
Cruise control is an automatic speed
control system that keeps a set speed.
It can be activated at approximately
40 km/h or more.
241) 242)
149) 150) 151)
NOTE Cruise control may not be able
to keep your speed on uphills or
downhills. Your speed may decrease on
a steep uphill. You may use the
accelerator pedal if you want to stay at
your set speed. Your speed may
increase to more than the set speed on
183
a steep downhill. You have to use the
brake to control your speed. As a
result, the set speed driving is
deactivated.
WARNING
318)Towing must not be made for getting
past significant obstacles on the road (e.g.
heaps of snow or material on the road
surface).
319)Towing must be made exclusively on
roads/streets; the device must not be used
to recover the vehicle if it got off the road.
320)As your vehicle is equipped with ESC,
if the vehicle is towed with the ignition
switch in the “ON” position or the operation
mode in ON and only the front wheels or
only the rear wheels raised off the ground,
the active traction control system may
operate, resulting in an accident.
321)Avoid sudden braking, acceleration
and steering wheel movements; such
driving operation could cause damage to
the towing hook or towing rope. People in
the vicinity could be injured as a result.322)When going down a long slope, the
brakes may overheat, reducing
effectiveness. Have your vehicle transport
by a tow truck.
323)The person in the vehicle being towed
must pay attention to the brake lamps of
the towing vehicle and make sure the rope
never becomes slack.
324)Do not use flexible cables for towing
and avoid jerking. During towing
operations, make sure that the fastened
joint does not damage adjoining
components.
325)When towing the vehicle comply with
the specific rules of the Highway Code
regarding the towing device and the
behaviour on the road.
326)Do not start the engine while towing
the vehicle.
327)Towing must be made exclusively on
roads/streets; the device must not be used
to recover the vehicle if it got off the road.
328)Towing must not be made for getting
past significant obstacles on the road (e.g.
heaps of snow or material on the road
surface).
329)Towing must take place with the two
vehicles (one towing, the other towed)
aligned as much as possible; towing by
roadside assistance vehicles, too, must
take place with the two vehicles aligned as
much as possible.
IMPORTANT
169)This vehicle must not be towed by a
tow truck using sling lift type equipment
(Type A) as illustrated fig. 405. Using a sling
lift will damage the bumper and front end.
170)On 4WD vehicles, be sure to set the
drive mode-selector to “2H” position and
transport the vehicle with the driving wheels
on a carriage (Type D or E) as illustrated.
Never try to tow with the drive
mode-selector in “4H” or “4L” positions
(easy select 4WD), “4H”, “4HLc” or “4LLc”
positions (super select 4WD II) and with the
front or rear wheels on the ground (Type B
or C) as illustrated. This could result in the
driving system damage or vehicle may
jump at the carriage. If you cannot set the
drive mode-selector to “2H” position or the
transmission is malfunctioning or damaged,
transport the vehicle with the all wheels on
a carriage (Type D or E) as illustrated.
171)On 2WD vehicles, if the transmission
is malfunctioning or damaged, transport the
vehicle with the driving wheels on a
carriage (Type C, D or E) as illustrated.
172)If you tow the vehicles with automatic
transmission with the driving wheels on the
ground (Type B) as illustrated, make sure
that the towing speed and distance given
below are never exceeded, causing
damage to the transmission. Towing speed:
30 km/h Towing distance: 80 km For the
towing speed and the towing distance,
follow the local driving laws and
regulations.
173)On vehicles with manual transmission,
do not tow the vehicle with the rear wheels
on the ground (Type B) as illustrated.
408AHZ101027
225
174)Never tow an automatic transmission
vehicle with the front wheels up (and the
rear wheels on the ground) (Type B) when
the automatic transmission fluid level is low.
This may cause serious and expensive
damage to the transmission.
175)When the engine is not running, the
brake booster and power steering pump do
not operate. This means higher brake
depression force and higher steering effort
are required. Therefore, vehicle operation is
very difficult.
176)Do not leave the ignition switch in the
“LOCK” position or the operation mode in
OFF. The steering wheel will lock, causing
loss of control.
177)On vehicles with super select 4WD II,
when you are going to tow another vehicle,
set the drive mode-selector to “4H”
position. Selecting “2H” drive may 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.OPERATION UNDER
ADVERSE DRIVING
CONDITIONS
On a flooded road
Avoid flooded roads. In the event
driving flooded roads, doing so may
cause the following serious damage to
the vehicle.
Engine stalling
Short in electrical components
Engine damage caused by water
immersion
After driving flooded roads, be sure to
have an inspection at a Fiat Dealership
and take the necessary measures or
repair.
When driving in rain, or water-covered
roads, or through a car wash, water
could enter the brake discs, resulting in
temporarily ineffective brakes. In such
cases, lightly depress the brake pedal
to see if the brakes operate properly. If
they do not, lightly depress the pedal
several times while driving in order to
dry the brake pads.
On a wet road
When driving in rain or on a road with
many puddles a layer of water may
form between the tyres and the road
surface. This reduces a tyre’s frictional
resistance on the road, resulting in loss
of steering stability and braking
capability.To cope with this, observe the following
items:
(a) Drive your vehicle at a slow speed.
(b) Do not drive on worn tyres.
(c) Always maintain the specified tyre
inflation pressures.
On a snow-covered or frozen road
When driving on a snow-covered or
frozen road, it is recommended that you
use snow tyres or snow traction device
(tyre chains). Refer to the “Snow tyres”
and “Snow traction device (tyre chains)”
sections.
Avoid high-speed operation, sudden
acceleration, abrupt brake application
and sharp cornering.
Depressing the brake pedal during
travel on snowy or icy roads may cause
tyre slippage and skidding. When
traction between the tyres and the road
is reduced the wheels may skid and the
vehicle cannot readily be brought to a
stop by conventional braking
techniques. Braking will differ,
depending upon whether you have
anti-lock brake system (ABS). If you do
have ABS, brake by pressing the brake
pedal hard, and keeping it pressed. If
you do not have ABS, pump the brake
pedal with short rapid jabs, each time
fully applying and fully releasing for
greatest effect.
Allow extra distance between your
vehicle and the vehicle in front of you,
and avoid sudden braking.
226
IN AN EMERGENCY