
ELD (Electronic Locking
Differential) SYSTEM
(Panda Cross and Panda 4x4 versions)
The ELD system allows the drive force
to be evenly distributed over the same
axle when one or both wheels are
slipping. The ELD acts by braking the
wheels with poor grip (or those slipping
more than the others), thereby
transferring the drive force to those
which have greater grip on the ground.
The system operates at speeds below
50 km/h. Above this speed, it is
automatically deactivated and it is
reactivated when the speed falls below
50 km/h.
The activation of the ELD system
involves the following functions being
switched on:
inhibition of the ASR function, in
order to fully exploit the engine torque;
differential lock effect on the front
and rear axles, via the braking system,
to improve drive on uneven surfaces.
Enabling the system
To arrange operation of the ELD system
press button A fig. 48 (4x4 versions)
or turn the ring nut fig. 49 to the right
(Cross versions) and keep it in this
position until LED 2 on the selector
lights up.System intervention
The
warning light on the instrument
panel flashes to signal that the system
has intervened.If the space-saver wheel is used
If the space-saver wheel is used, the
control unit for 4x4 drive detects its
presence (via the wheel speed signals)
and reduces the intervention of the
four-wheel drive mode to a minimum,
while guaranteeing the agility of the
vehicle. No fault/alarm signal is
displayed on the instrument panel or on
the display.
Disabling the system
To disable the system, press button A
fig. 48 (4x4 versions) or turn the ring nut
fig. 49 to the left (Cross versions) and
keep it in this position until LED 1
on the selector lights up.
HDC (Hill Descent
Control) SYSTEM
(Panda Cross versions)
It is an integral part of the ESC system
and is aimed at keeping the vehicle at a
constant speed during a descent,
operating autonomously on the brakes
in various ways at the same time. In this
way the HDC function helps the driver
when facing steep gradient roads in
low-grip and/or rough ground
conditions.
Noise and vibrations coming from the
wheel sides (brakes) when the HDC
system is activated are normal.
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SAFETY

IMPORTANT If the speed exceeds 25
km/h and is below 50 km/h, the HDC
system intervention set-up is
deactivated but is ready for being
reactivated when the speed drops back
below 25 km/h. In this case the
indication on the instrument panel turns
off and the LED on the ring nut stays
on. If vehicle speed exceeds 50 km/h,
the HDC system completely
deactivates and each individual action
made by the system on the brakes
is blocked. To reactivate it, turn the ring
nut again when the speed is again
below 25 km/h.
WARNING
44)The ABS exploits the grip available to
the full, but it cannot improve it. Therefore,
you should take great care when driving
on slippery surfaces, without taking
unnecessary risks.
45)When the ABS cuts in and you feel the
brake pedal pulsating, do not raise your
foot, but keep it pressed; in doing so you
will stop in the shortest amount of space
possible depending on the current road
conditions.
46)If the ABS intervenes, this indicates
that the grip of the tyres on the road is
nearing its limit. You must slow down to a
speed compatible with the available grip.47)For maximum efficiency of the braking
system, a bedding-in period of about
500 km is required: during this period it is
advisable to avoid sharp, repeated and
prolonged braking.
48)The ABS cannot alter the natural laws
of physics, and cannot increase grip which
depends on the condition of the road.
49)The ABS cannot prevent accidents,
including those due to excessive speed on
corners, driving on low-grip surfaces or
aquaplaning.
50)The capability of the ABS must never
be tested irresponsibly and dangerously, in
such a way as to compromise personal
safety and the safety of others.
51)For the correct operation of the ABS,
the tyres must of necessity be the same
make and type on all wheels, in perfect
condition and, above all, of the prescribed
type and dimensions.
52)When the Mechanical Brake Assist
intervenes, noises may be heard from the
system. This is normal. In any case, keep
the brake pedal firmly depressed while
braking.
53)For the correct operation of the ESC
system, the tyres must of necessity be the
same make and type on all wheels, in
perfect condition and, above all, of the
prescribed type and size.
54)The ESC functions even when the
space-saver wheel is being used. Always
remember that the space-saver wheel,
being smaller than the original wheel,
provides less grip.55)Do not take unnecessary risks, even if
your vehicle is fitted with an ESC system.
Your driving style must always be suited to
the road conditions, visibility and traffic.
The driver is always responsible for road
safety.
56)The ESC system cannot alter the
natural laws of physics, and cannot
increase grip which depends on the
condition of the road.
57)The ESC system cannot prevent
accidents, including those due to excessive
speed on corners, driving on low-grip
surfaces or aquaplaning.
58)The capability of the ESC system must
never be tested irresponsibly and
dangerously, in such a way as to
compromise personal safety and the safety
of others.
59)For the correct operation of the ASR
system, the tyres must of necessity be the
same make and type on all wheels, in
perfect condition and, above all, of the
prescribed type and size.
60)Do not take unnecessary risks, even if
your vehicle is fitted with an ASR system.
Your driving style must always be suited to
the road conditions, visibility and traffic.
The driver is ultimately responsible for road
safety.
61)The ASR system cannot alter the
natural laws of physics, and cannot
increase grip which depends on the
condition of the road.
62)The ASR system cannot prevent
accidents, including those due to excessive
speed on corners, driving on low-grip
surfaces or aquaplaning.
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SAFETY

34)Do not tamper nor operate on the laser
sensor. Do not close the openings in the
aesthetic cover located under the interior
rear view mirror. In the event of a sensor
failure, contact a Fiat Dealership.
35)Do not cover the operating range of the
sensor with stickers or other objects. Also
pay attention to other objects on the
bonnet (e.g. a layer of snow) and make
sure they do not interfere with the light
emitted by the laser.
36)If a trailer or a vehicle is towed the
system must be deactivated with the
display Setup Menu.OCCUPANT
PROTECTION
SYSTEMS
The most important safety equipment
of the vehicle comprises the following
protection systems:
seat belts;
SBR (Seat Belt Reminder) system;
head restraints;
child restraint systems;
front airbags and side bags.
Read the information given the
following pages with the utmost care. It
is of fundamental importance that the
protection systems are used in the
correct way to guarantee the maximum
possible safety level for the driver and
the passengers.
For the description of the headrest
adjustment see the "Headrests"
paragraph in the "Knowing your
vehicle" chapter.
SEAT BELTS
USING THE SEAT BELTS
All vehicle seats are equipped with seat
belts with three anchor points and a
retractor. The retractor mechanism
operates locking the belt in the event of
sharp braking or strong deceleration
due to an impact. This allows the belt
strap to slide freely and to adapt to the
body of the occupant. In the event of
an accident, the belt will lock reducing
the risk of impact inside the passenger
compartment and of being projected
outside the vehicle.
The driver is responsible for respecting,
and ensuring that all the other
occupants of the vehicle also respect,
the local laws in force in relation to
the use of the seat belts.
Always fasten the seat belts before
setting off.
The belt should be worn keeping the
torso straight and rested against the
backrest.
To fasten the seat belts, hold tongue A
fig. 55 and insert it into buckle B, until
it clicks into place. On removal, if the
belt jams, let it rewind for a short
stretch, then pull it out again without
jerking.
69

To unfasten the seat belts, press button
C. Guide the seat belt with your hand
while it is rewinding, to prevent it from
twisting. Through the retractor, the
belt automatically adapts to the body of
the passenger wearing it, allowing
freedom of movement.
78)The retractor may lock when the vehicle
is parked on a steep slope: this is
perfectly normal. Furthermore, the
retractor mechanism locks the belt if it
is pulled sharply or in the event of
sudden braking, collisions and
high-speed bends.
The rear seat is fitted with inertia seat
belts with three anchor points and a
retractor. Wear the rear seat belts
as shown in fig. 56 (4-seater versions)
or fig. 57 (5-seater versions).
79) 80) 81)
IMPORTANT When putting the back
seat to its normal position, make sure
the seat belts are positioned so they are
ready to use.ADJUSTING THE SEAT
BELT HEIGHT
(for versions/markets, where provided)
82) 83)Four different adjustments in height are
provided. To adjust, press button A
fig. 58 and raise or lower handle B.
Always adjust the height of the seat belt
to fit the person wearing it: this
precaution could greatly reduce the risk
of injury in the case of collision.
Correct adjustment is obtained when
the belt passes approximately half way
between the shoulder and the neck.
For some versions, front seat belts have
just one fixed anchor point located on
the door pillar.
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SAFETY

WARNING
78)Never press button C fig. 55 when
travelling.
79)Remember that in the event of an
accident, the rear seat passengers not
wearing seat belts are exposed to a very
serious risk and also represent a serious
danger for the front seat occupants.
80)The rear central seat belt (for
versions/markets where provided) is
provided with a service buckle. Do not use
the seat belt with the service buckle not
fastened. In this case there is a high risk of
injury or death in the event of an accident.
Before using the belt, always make sure
that the service buckle is correctly
fastened.
81)The rear left and right side belts are
provided with an adjustment device for the
metal tongue position (metal hook). Adjust
the tongue position with respect to the seat
belt to improve comfort and reduce noise
inside the passenger compartment.
82)Make height adjustment of the seat
belts when the car is stationary.
83)After height adjustment, always check
that the cursor to which the ring is fastened
is locked in one of the preset positions. To
do this, with button A fig. 58released,
exert further pressure downwards to allow
the locking device to click if the grip has
not been released in one of the possible
positions.
SBR (Seat Belt
Reminder) SYSTEM
The SBR system warns the passengers
of the front and rear (for versions/
markets, where provided) seats if their
seat belt is not fastened.
The system signals unfastened seat
belts with visual warnings (warning
lights on in the instrument panel and
icons on the display) and an acoustic
signal (see the following paragraphs).
Contact a Fiat Dealership to deactivate
this acoustic warning permanently.
The acoustic warning can be
reactivated at any time through the
display Setup Menu.
Seat belts warning light operation
The icons shown on the display fig.
59 indicate:
1: front left seat belt;
2: rear left seat belt;
3: rear central seat belt;
4: rear right seat belt;
5: front right seat belt;
A: seat belt not fastened;
B: seat belt fastened;
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WARNING
116)It is dangerous to run the engine in
enclosed areas. The engine takes in
oxygen and releases carbon dioxide,
carbon monoxide and other toxic gases.
117)Remember that the brake servo
and power steering are not operational until
the engine has been started, therefore
you need to apply much more force than
usual to the brake pedal and steering
wheel.
118)If the engine fails to start with a gear
engaged, the potentially dangerous
situation due to the fact that the gearbox is
automatically placed in neutral will be
signalled by an acoustic signal.
WARNING
38)If the warning lightflashes for 60
seconds after starting or during an
extended towing period, this indicates a
problem in the glow plug preheating
system. You can use the vehicle as usual if
the engine starts but you should contact
a Fiat Dealership as soon as possible.
39)It is advisable not to demand maximum
performance from your vehicle (e.g.
excessive acceleration, long distances at
maximum rpm, excessively intense braking,
etc.) when it is first used.
40)When the engine is off, do not leave
the key turned to MAR to prevent
unnecessary electrical consumption from
draining the battery.41)Never bump start the engine by
pushing, towing or coasting downhill. This
could cause fuel to flow into the catalytic
converter and damage it beyond repair.
42)There must therefore always be some
petrol in the tank to protect the petrol
pump and to guarantee temporary
switching from LPG or Methane to petrol
operation, if high performance is required.
43)A quick burst on the accelerator
before stopping the engine serves no
practical purpose; it wastes fuel and is
especially damaging to turbocharged
engines.
PARKING THE
VEHICLE
When parking and leaving the car,
proceed as follows:
engage a gear (1st gear if facing
uphill or reverse if facing downhill) and
leave the wheels turned;
stop the engine and engage the
handbrake;
always remove the ignition key.
Block the wheels with a wedge or a
stone if the car is parked on a steep
slope.
On versions equipped with Dualogic
transmission, wait for the letter P to be
displayed before releasing the brake
pedal.
WARNING Never leave the car with the
gearbox in neutral (or, on versions
equipped with Dualogic transmission,
before putting the gear lever in the
P position).
Handbrake
194) 195) 196)
The handbrake lever is located between
the two front seats.
Handbrake engagement: pull lever A
fig. 77 upwards until the vehicle is
braked.
93

Handbrake disengagement: slightly
raise lever A and hold button B
pressed, checking that the
warning
light switches off in the instrument
panel.
WARNING
119)Never leave children unattended in
the car. Always remove the key from the
ignition when leaving the car and take
it with you.
120)The car should be braked after a few
clicks of the lever, if it is not, contact a
Fiat Dealership to have it adjusted.
121)In the case of parking manoeuvres on
roads on a gradient, the front wheels
must be steered towards the pavement
(when parking downhill), or in the opposite
direction if the vehicle is parked uphill.
Block the wheels with a wedge or a stone if
the car is parked on a steep slope.
MANUAL GEARBOX
122)44)
To engage the gears, press the clutch
pedal fully and put the gear lever into
the required position (the diagram
for gear engagement is shown on the
knob fig. 78).
For 0.9 TwinAir, 0.9 TwinAir Turbo and
1.2 8v 69 HP versions: to engage
reverse R from neutral, raise ring A fig.
78 underneath the knob and, at the
same time, shift the lever to the right
and then backwards.
For version 1.3 16v MultiJet: to engage
reverse R from neutral position, shift
the lever to the right and then back.IMPORTANT Reverse can only be
engaged when the vehicle is completely
stationary. With the engine running,
wait for at least 2 seconds with the
clutch pedal fully pressed before
engaging reverse to prevent damage to
the gears and grating.
IMPORTANT The clutch pedal should
be used only for gear changes. Do
not drive with your foot resting on the
clutch pedal, however lightly. For
versions/markets where provided, the
electronic clutch pedal control could cut
in, interpreting the incorrect driving
style as a fault.
WARNING
122)Depress the clutch pedal fully to
change gear correctly. It is therefore
essential that there is nothing under the
pedals: make sure the mats are lying
flat and do not get in the way of the
pedals.
WARNING
44)Do not drive with your hand resting on
the gear lever as the force exerted, even
if slight, could lead over time to premature
wear of the internal gearbox components.
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STARTING AND DRIVING

IMPORTANT During parking
manoeuvres requiring a lot of steering,
the steering may become harder; this is
normal and is due to the intervention
of the system to protect the electric
steering motor from overheating so no
intervention is required. When the
vehicle is used again later on,
the power steering will work normally.
WARNING
123)It is absolutely forbidden to carry out
any after-market operation involving
steering system or steering column
modifications (e.g. installation of anti-theft
device) that could adversely affect
performance and safety, invalidate the
warranty and also result in non-compliance
of the vehicle with type-approval
requirements.124)Before servicing the vehicle, switch off
the engine and remove the key from the
ignition switch to activate the steering lock.
This is especially important when the
vehicle wheels are not touching the
ground. If this is not possible (for example if
the key needs to be turned to MAR or the
engine must be running), remove the
main fuse that protects the electric power
steering.
ECO FUNCTION
(for versions/markets, where provided)
To activate the function press the ECO
button fig. 83.
When the ECO function is active, the
car is set for driving characterised
by reduced fuel consumption. When
the function is active, the
corresponding LED on the button
switches on.
This function stays in the memory and,
when the vehicle is started again, the
system keeps the setting it had before
the engine was stopped. Press the
ECO button again to deactivate the
function and restore the normal driving
setting.
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STARTING AND DRIVING