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PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG AND CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS: IMPORTANT
fig. 122F1A0387
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SIDE BAGS
(for versions/markets, where provided)
On some versions, the vehicle may be fitted with
driver and passenger's front side bags.
Side bags protect occupants from side-on crashes of
medium/high severity by placing the bag between
the occupant and the internal parts of the side
structure of the vehicle.
Non-activation of side bags in other types of
collisions (front collisions, rear shunts, roll-overs,
etc.) is not a system malfunction.
An electronic control unit causes the bags to inflate
in the event of a side-on collision. The bags inflate
instantaneously, placing themselves between the
occupant's body and the structures which could
cause injury. They deflate immediately afterwards.
Side bags are not a replacement of, but rather a
complement to, seat belts, which you are
recommended to wear at all times, as specified by
law in Europe and most non-European countries.
For this reason, the seat belt must be worn at all
times. In the case of side-on collisions, the seat belts
hold occupants in the correct position and prevent
them from being thrown out of the car by a very
violent collision.SIDE BAGS
(for versions/markets, where provided)
It consists of an instantly inflating bag housed in the
front seat backrest fig. 123. It protects the chest
and the pelvis of the passengers in the event of side
crashes of medium-high severity.
IMPORTANT In the event of a side crash, the system
provides best protection if the passenger sits on
the seat in a correct position, thus allowing correct
side bag deployment.
IMPORTANT Do not wash the seats with water or
pressurised steam (wash by hand or at automatic
seat washing stations).
fig. 123F0T0180
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IMPORTANT NOTES
The front airbags and/or side bags (for versions/
markets, where provided) may be deployed if the
vehicle is subject to heavy knocks or accidents
involving the underbody area, such as for example
violent shocks against steps, kerbs or low obstacles,
or the vehicle falling into big potholes or depressions
in the road.
A small amount of dust will be released when the
airbags are deployed. The dust is not harmful and
does not indicate the beginning of a fire.
Furthermore, the surface of the deployed bag and
the interior of the vehicle may be covered in a dusty
residue: this may irritate your skin and eyes. Wash
with mild soap and water in the event of exposure.
Should an accident occur in which any of the safety
devices are activated, take the vehicle to a Fiat
Dealership to have the activated devices replaced and
to have the whole system checked.
Every control, repair and replacement operation
concerning the airbags must be carried out only at
Fiat Dealerships.
If you are having the vehicle scrapped, have the airbag
system deactivated at a Fiat Dealership first. If the
vehicle changes ownership, the new owner must be
informed of the method of use of airbags and the
above warnings and also be given this "Owner's
Handbook".
Pretensioners, front airbags and front side bags are
deployed differently according to the type ofcollision. Failure to activate one or more of the
devices does not indicate a system malfunction.
WARNING
There may be a fault in the retaining
systems if the warning light
does not
light up when the key is turn on or remains on
while travelling (on some versions with a
message on the display). In this case, the airbags
or the pretensioners may not be activated in
the case of an accident or (in a lesser number of
cases) they may be activated incorrectly.
Contact a Fiat Dealership immediately to have
the system checked.
WARNING
Always drive with your hands on the rim
of the steering wheel so that the airbag
can inflate freely if required. Do not drive with
your body bent forward. Keep your back
straight against the backrest .
WARNING
In some versions, in case of a LED
failure (located on the plate of the
instrument panel), the
warning light on the
instrument panel turns on and the passenger
side airbags are deactivated.
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WARNING
On cars with side bags, do not cover the
front seat backrests with extra covers.
WARNING
Do not travel carrying objects in your
lap, in front of your chest or between
your lips (pipe, pencils, etc .): they could cause
severe injur y if the airbag is deployed.
WARNING
If the ignition device is at MAR, even if
the engine is switched off, airbags may
be deployed when the vehicle is stationary and
hit by another vehicle.Therefore, even if the
car is stationar y, when an active front passenger
airbag is fitted, DO NOT install rear facing
child restraint systems on the front passenger
seat . Deployment of the airbag following an
impact could cause fatal injuries to the child.
Therefore, always deactivate the passenger side
airbag when a rearward facing child restraint
system is installed on the front passenger seat .
The front passenger seat must also be
positioned back as far as possible in order to
prevent the child restraint system from coming
into contact with the dashboard. Immediately
reactivate the passenger airbag as soon as
the child restraint system has been removed.
Also remember that , if the ignition device is set
to STOP, none of the safety devices (airbags
or pretensioners) will be deployed in the event
of collision. Non-deployment in such cases
does not indicate a system malfunction.
WARNING
Have the airbag system checked by a
Fiat Dealership if the car was stolen, if
theft was attempted, or if the car was subjected
to vandalism or flooding.
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WARNING
When the ignition key is turned to MAR,
the
warning light (with front
passenger side airbag activated) on the central
dashboard switches on and flashes for a few
seconds as a reminder that the passenger airbag
will be deployed in the event of a crash, then it
should switch off.
WARNING
The airbag deployment threshold is
higher than that of the pretensioners.
For collisions in the range between the two
thresholds, it is normal for only the
pretensioners to be activated.
WARNING
The airbag does not replace seat belts
but increases their efficiency.
Furthermore, since front airbags are not
deployed in low-speed frontal impacts, side
impacts, rear shunts or roll-overs, the
passengers are protected only by the seat belts
which must therefore be fastened at all
times.
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STARTING AND DRIVING
STARTING THE ENGINE
The vehicle is fitted with an immobiliser: if the engine
fails to start, see the paragraph on “The Fiat CODE
system” in the “Knowing your vehicle” section.
The engine may be noisier during the first few
seconds of operation, particularly after a long period
of inactivity. This is due to the hydraulic tappets,
the timing system chosen for petrol engine versions
to reduce the number of servicing interventions,
and affects neither functionality nor reliability.
It is advisable not to demand maximum
performance from your vehicle (e.g.
excessive acceleration, long distances at
high speeds, excessive intense braking, etc .) during
the initial period of use.
When the engine is switched off never
leave the key on (at MAR) to prevent
unnecessary consumption and draining
the battery.
WARNING
It is dangerous to have the engine
running indoors.The engine takes in
oxygen and discharges carbon dioxide, carbon
monoxide and other toxic gases.
WARNING
Remember that the brake booster and
electric power steering are not
operational until the engine has been started,
so you need to apply much more force than
usual to the brake pedal and steering wheel.
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STARTING PROCEDURE FOR PETROL
VERSIONS
Proceed as follows:
apply the handbrake;
put the gear lever into neutral;
press the clutch pedal down to the floor without
touching the accelerator;
turn the ignition key to AVV and let it go the
moment the engine starts.
If the engine does not start at the first attempt,
return the ignition key to STOP before repeating the
procedure.
If the
warning light remains on together with
warning light
when the ignition key is at MAR,
turn the key to STOP and then back to MAR; if the
warning light stays on, try with the other keys
provided with the car.
If you still cannot start the engine, perform an
emergency start (see “Emergency starting” in the “In
an emergency” section) and go to a Fiat Dealership.STARTING PROCEDURE FOR DIESEL
VERSIONS
Proceed as follows:
apply the handbrake;
put the gear lever into neutral;
turn the key on (MAR position): instrument panel
warning light
will light up;
wait for the warning lightsandto go out.
The hotter the engine is, the quicker this will
happen;
press the clutch pedal down to the floor without
touching the accelerator;
turn the ignition key to AVV as soon as the
warning light goes out. Waiting too long will
waste the heating work carried out by the glow
plugs.
Release the key as soon as the engine starts.
IMPORTANT With the engine cold, the accelerator
pedal must be fully released when you turn the
ignition key to AVV.
If the engine does not start at the first attempt,
return the ignition key to STOP before repeating the
procedure.
If the
warning light stays on when the ignition key
is at MAR, turn the key to STOP and then back to
MAR; if the warning light remains on, try with the
other keys provided with the car.
Contact a Fiat Dealership if the engine still does not
start.
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Warning lightwill blink for 60 seconds
after starting or during prolonged
cranking to indicate a fault to the glow
plug heating system. Use the vehicle normally if
the engine starts, but go to a Fiat Dealership
as soon as possible.
HOW TO WARM UP THE ENGINE AFTER IT
HAS JUST STARTED
Proceed as follows:
drive off slowly, letting the engine turn at medium
revs. Do not accelerate abruptly;
do not demand to performance for the first few
kilometres. Wait until the engine coolant gauge
starts moving.
EMERGENCY STARTING
Go to a Fiat Dealership immediately if warning light
comes on steady on the instrument panel.
Never jump start the engine by pushing,
towing or coasting downhill.This could
cause fuel to flow into the catalytic
conver ter and damage it beyond repair.STOPPING THE ENGINE
Turn the ignition key to STOP while the engine is
idling.
IMPORTANT After a long drive, you should allow
the engine to “catch its breath” before turning it off
by letting it idle to allow the temperature in the
engine compartment to fall.
A quick burst on the accelerator before
turning off the engine serves absolutely no
practical purpose, it wastes fuel and is
especially damaging to turbocharged engines.
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