2017 FIAT SPIDER ABARTH heating

Paddle Mode — If
Equipped
Tapping one of the steering
wheel-mounted shift paddles (+/-), if
equipped, while the gear selector is in
DRIVE (D), will activate Paddle Mode (a
temporary manual mode). The current
gear will be displayed in the instrument
cluster, with the "M" also illuminated.
The transmission will revert back to
normal operation (if the gear selector
remains in DRIVE) after a period of time,
depending on accelerator pedal activity.
Note: Because Paddle mode is only
temporary, use of the MANUAL (M)
position is recommended if you need to
drive the vehicle in a particular gear for
long periods.
Driving Tips
Overtaking
For extra power when passing another
vehicle or climbing steep grades, press
the accelerator fully. The transmission
will shift to a lower gear, depending on
vehicle speed.
Note:
The accelerator pedal may initially
feel heavy as it is being pressed, then
feel lighter as it is pressed further. This
change in pedal force controls whether
or not kickdown should be performed. While the gear selector is in the
MANUAL (M) position and the Dynamic
Stability Control (DSC) is turned off,
manual shift mode does not switch to
automatic shift mode even if the
accelerator pedal is completely
pressed. Tap the gear selector forward
or rearward to select the appropriate
gear.
Climbing steep grades from a stop
To climb a steep grade from a stopped
position:
1. Press the brake pedal.
2. Shift to DRIVE (D) or M1, depending
on the load weight and grade
steepness.
3. Release the brake pedal while
gradually accelerating.
Descending steep grades
When descending a steep grade, shift
to lower gears, depending on load
weight and grade steepness.
Descend slowly, using the brakes only
occasionally to prevent them from
overheating. SPORT MODE The Sport mode increases steering
feedback to the driver with slight
increase in effort and changes the
transmission shift schedules for more
aggressive shifting. This driving mode is
useful while driving on twisty roads
where more steering precision is
desired in spirited cornering.
To activate Sport mode, toggle the
Sport Mode button forward and hold for
approximately 2 seconds. You will see
“Sport” illuminate in the Instrument
Panel cluster. 05210101-12A-001AB
SPORT Button
158
STARTING AND OPERATING

For more traction in starting on
slippery surfaces such as ice or packed
snow, use sand, rock salt, chains,
carpeting, or other nonslip material
under the rear wheels.
Note: Use snow chains only on the
rear wheels.
Floor Mat Safety
Information
Always use floor mats designed to fit
the footwell of your vehicle. Use only
floor mats that leave the pedal area
unobstructed and that are firmly
secured so that they cannot slip out of
position and interfere with the pedals or
impair safe operation of your vehicle in
other ways. Warning!An improperly attached, damaged, folded,
or stacked floor mat, or damaged floor mat
fasteners may cause your floor mat to
interfere with the accelerator, brake, or
clutch pedals and cause a loss of vehicle
control. To prevent SERIOUS INJURY or
DEATH:
ALWAYS securely attach your floor
mat using the floor mat fasteners. DO NOT
install your floor mat upside down or turn
your floor mat over. Lightly pull to confirm
mat is secured using the floor mat
fasteners on a regular basis.
ALWAYS REMOVE THE EXISTING
FLOOR MAT FROM THE VEHICLE
before installing any other floor mat.
NEVER install or stack an additional floor
mat on top of an existing floor mat.
ONLY install floor mats designed to fit
your vehicle. NEVER install a floor mat that
cannot be properly attached and secured
to your vehicle. If a floor mat needs to be
replaced, only use a FCA approved floor
mat for the specific make, model, and year
of your vehicle.
ONLY use the driver’s side floor mat on
the driver’s side floor area. To check for
interference, with the vehicle properly
parked with the engine off, fully depress the
accelerator, the brake, and the clutch pedal
(if present) to check for interference. If your
floor mat interferes with the operation of
any pedal, or is not secure to the floor,
remove the floor mat from the vehicle and
place the floor mat in your trunk. ONLY use the passenger’s side floor mat
on the passenger’s side floor area.
ALWAYS make sure objects cannot fall
or slide into the driver’s side floor area
when the vehicle is moving. Objects can
become trapped under accelerator, brake,
or clutch pedals and could cause a loss of
vehicle control.
NEVER place any objects under the floor
mat (e.g., towels, keys, etc.). These objects
could change the position of the floor mat
and may cause interference with the
accelerator, brake, or clutch pedals.
If the vehicle carpet has been removed
and re-installed, always properly attach
carpet to the floor and check the floor mat
fasteners are secure to the vehicle carpet.
Fully depress each pedal to check for
interference with the accelerator, brake, or
clutch pedals then re-install the floor mats.
It is recommended to only use mild soap
and water to clean your floor mats. After
cleaning, always check your floor mat has
been properly installed and is secured to
your vehicle using the floor mat fasteners
by lightly pulling mat.
Rocking The Vehicle
Note: Too much rocking may cause
engine overheating, transmission failure,
and tire damage.
If you must rock the vehicle to free it
from snow, sand or mud, depress the
accelerator slightly and slowly move the
gear selector from 1 (D) to R.04090400-USA-001
Floor Mat Retention Post Location
179

Warning!Fast spinning tires can be dangerous.
Forces generated 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 stopping 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 between 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).
Winter Driving
Carry emergency gear, including tire
chains, window scraper, flares, a small
shovel, jumper leads, and a small bag
of sand or salt. Contact an authorized dealer to check
the following:
Have the proper ratio of antifreeze in
the radiator.
Inspect the battery and its leads.
Cold reduces battery capacity.
Use an engine oil appropriate for the
lowest ambient temperatures that the
vehicle will be driven in.
Inspect the ignition system for
damage and loose connections.
Use winter windshield washer fluid
that will not freeze.
Note:
Remove snow before driving. Snow
left on the windshield is dangerous as
it could obstruct vision.
Drive slowly. Braking performance
can be adversely affected if snow or
ice adheres to the brake components.
If this situation occurs, drive the vehicle
slowly, releasing the accelerator pedal
and lightly applying the brakes several
times until the brake performance
returns to normal.
Do not open or close the soft top when
the temperature is 41 °F (5 °C) or less.
The material of the soft top could be
damaged by freezing. Do not apply excessive force to a
window scraper when removing ice or
frozen snow on the mirror glass and
windshield.
Never use warm or hot water for
removing snow or ice from windows
and mirrors as it could result in the
glass cracking.
Snow Tires
If your vehicle is equipped with the tire
pressure monitoring system (vehicle
with run-flat tires), the system may not
function correctly when using tires with
steel wire reinforcement in the
sidewalls.
Use Snow Tires on all Four Wheels :
Do not exceed the maximum
permissible speed for your snow tires or
legal speed limits.
When snow tires are used, select the
specified size and pressure.
Tire Chains
Check local regulations before using tire
chains.
If your vehicle is equipped with the
TPMS system, the system may not
function correctly when using tire
chains.
180
STARTING AND OPERATING

IF YOUR ENGINE
OVERHEATS If Your Engine Overheats
In any of the following situations, you
can reduce the potential for overheating
by taking the appropriate action.
On highways — slow down.
In city traffic — while stopped, place
the transmission 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 maximum 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.
Caution!Driving with a hot cooling system could
damage your vehicle. If temperature gauge
reads “H”, pull over and stop the vehicle.
Idle the vehicle with the air conditioner
turned off until the pointer drops back into
the normal range. If the pointer remains on
the “H”, turn the engine off immediately,
and call for service. If Steam Is Coming From The
Engine Compartment:
Do not go near the front of the vehicle.
Stop the engine. Wait until the steam
dissipates, then open the hood and
start the engine.
If Neither Coolant Nor Steam Is
Escaping:
Open the hood and idle the engine until
it cools.
Note:
If the cooling fan does not operate
while the engine is running, the engine
temperature will increase. Stop the
engine and contact an authorized
dealer.
If the engine continues to overheat
or frequently overheats, have the
cooling system inspected. The engine
could be seriously damaged unless
repairs are made. Contact an
authorized dealer.
219

Tires — General
Information
Tire Pressure Proper tire inflation pressure is essential
to the safe and satisfactory operation of
your vehicle. Four primary areas are
affected by improper tire pressure:
Safety and Vehicle Stability
Economy
Tread Wear
Ride Comfort
Safety
Warning!Improperly inflated tires are dangerous
and can cause collisions.
Underinflation increases tire flexing and
can result in overheating and tire failure.
Overinflation reduces a tire's ability to
cushion shock. Objects on the road and
chuckholes can cause damage that result
in tire failure.
Overinflated or underinflated tires can
affect vehicle handling and can fail
suddenly, resulting in loss of vehicle
control.
Unequal tire pressures can cause
steering problems. You could lose control
of your vehicle. Unequal tire pressures from one side of
the vehicle to the other can cause the
vehicle to drift to the right or left.
Always drive with each tire inflated to the
recommended cold tire inflation pressure.
Both under-inflation and over-inflation
affect the stability of the vehicle and can
produce a feeling of sluggish response
or over responsiveness in the steering.
Note:
Unequal tire pressures from side to
side may cause erratic and
unpredictable steering response.
Unequal tire pressure from side to
side may cause the vehicle to drift left
or right.
Fuel Economy
Underinflated tires will increase tire
rolling resistance resulting in higher fuel
consumption.
Tread Wear
Improper cold tire inflation pressures
can cause abnormal wear patterns and
reduced tread life, resulting in the need
for earlier tire replacement.
Ride Comfort And Vehicle Stability
Proper tire inflation contributes to a
comfortable ride. Over-inflation
produces a jarring and uncomfortable
ride. Tire Inflation Pressures The proper cold tire inflation pressure is
listed on the driver's side B-Pillar or rear
edge of the driver's side door.
At least once a month:
Check and adjust tire pressure with a
good quality pocket-type pressure
gauge. Do not make a visual judgement
when determining proper inflation. Tires
may look properly inflated even when
they are under-inflated.
Inspect tires for signs of tire wear or
visible damage.
Caution!After inspecting or adjusting the tire
pressure, always reinstall the valve stem
cap. This will prevent moisture and dirt
from entering the valve stem, which could
damage the valve stem.
Inflation pressures specified on the
placard are always “cold tire inflation
pressure”. Cold tire inflation pressure is
defined as the tire pressure after the
vehicle has not been driven for at least
three hours, or driven less than 1 mile
(1.6 km) after sitting for a minimum of
three hours. The cold tire inflation
pressure must not exceed the
maximum inflation pressure molded into
the tire sidewall.
246
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE

Electronic Brake Control System
Traction Control System ..... .112
Electronic Speed Control (Cruise
Control) ................ .159
Emergency fuel filler door release . .176
Emergency Key ..............16
Emergency, In Case Of ........ .208
Hazard Warning Flasher ..... .184
Jacking ......... .203,204,237
Jump Starting ........... .217
Overheating ............ .219
Towing ............. .220,221
Emission control system .........74
Emission Control System
Maintenance ............. .110
Engine .................. .269
Exhaust Gas Caution ....... .175
Fails To Start ............ .218
Flooded, Starting ......... .218
Jump Starting ........... .217
Overheating ............ .219
Starting ............. .20,218
Engine compartment ......... .231
Engine coolant (level check) ..... .232
Engine oil (level check) ........ .232
Environment protection systems ....74
Essential information ............3
Ethanol .................. .173
Event Data Recorder ......... .145 Exhaust Gas Caution ......... .175
Exterior Lights ...............38
Flash-To-Pass ...............40
Flashers
Hazard Warning .......... .184
Turn Signal ...............41
Flooded Engine Starting ....... .218
Fluid And Lubricants ......... .276
Fluid Capacities ............ .275
Fog Lights ..................41
Follow Me Home .............40
Front lights (light bulbs) ........
.187
Fr
ont Wipers
Wiper Operation ...........42
Fuel
Additives .............. .174
Clean Air .............. .173
Ethanol ............... .173
Materials Added .......... .174
Methanol .............. .173
Fuel Consumption Display ........85
Fuel Economy Monitor ..........84
Fuel filler cap .............. .175
Fuel filler door .............. .175
Fuse block (engine compartment) . .197
Fuse block (interior) .......... .201
Fuses (interior) ............. .195
Fuses (underhood) ........... .196 Gasoline, Clean Air .......... .173
Gasoline, Reformulated ....... .173
Gear selector positions ........ .154
GVWR .................. .176
Hazard Warning Flasher ....... .184
Hazardous driving ........... .178
Head Restraints ..............34
Headlight ..................38
Headlights
Adjusting The Headlight Abroad .......................42
High Beam ...............40
Passing .................40
Heavy-duty use of the vehicle
(scheduled servicing) ....... .225
HomeLink (Garage Door Opener) . . .58
Hood Release ...............68
How to use this manual ..........3
Identification Data ........... .266
Inside Rearview Mirror ..........36
Instrument Cluster Display
Information Display ....... .76,77
Interior Lights ................62
Interiors ................. .262
Internal Equipment ............60
Jack Location .............. .203
Jack Operation ....... .203,204,237
Jump Starting .............. .217

KeyFob...................14
Emergency Key ............14
Programming Additional Key
Fobs ...................24
Key-In Reminder ..............20
Lane Change And Turn Signals ....41
Lane Change Assist ............41
Lap/Shoulder Belts ....... .123,125
Leaving Home Light System ......42
Life Of Tires ............... .248
Lights
Daytime Running ...........40
Fog ...................41
Hazard Warning Flasher ..... .184
Passing .................40
Turn Signal ...............41
Loading Vehicle ............ .176
Tires ................. .242
Locks
PowerDoor ........... .26,31
Maintaining the finish ......... .257
Maintenance Monitor ...........81
Maintenance procedures ....... .235
Malfunction Indicator Light (Check
Engine) ................ .110
Manual Climate Control System ....48
Heating .................50
Manual transmission ......... .152 Manual, Service ............ .283
Methanol ................. .173
Mirrors....................35
Automatic Dimming .........36
Electric Remote ............37
Exterior Folding ............37
Outside .................35
Rearview ................36
Occupant Restraints ......... .122
Onboard Diagnostic System .... .109
Operating Precautions ........ .109
Outside Rearview Mirrors ..... .35,36
Overhead light (bulb replacement) . .194
Overheating, Engine .......... .219
Overloading ............... .182
Owner's Manual (Operator
Manual) ................ .283
Paint damage touch-up ....... .259
Parking Brake ..............
.151
Passing
Light ................ 40
Performance .............. .278
Periodic checks (scheduled
servicing) ............... .225
Personal Settings ........... .105
Personalization Features ....... .105
Placard, Tire And Loading
Information .............. .242
Plastic part maintenance ....... .261 Power
Brakes ................ .150
Door Locks ........... .26,31
Mirrors .................37
Pregnant Women And Seat Belts . .124
Pretensioners
Seat Belts ............. .127
Protection from atmospheric
agents (bodywork) ......... .256
Radar Sensors ............. .162
Radial Ply Tires ............. .247
Radio Frequency
General Information ....... .19,23
Radio transmitter and mobile
phones ...................5
Rear Camera .............. .167
Rear lights (light bulbs) ........ .187
Rear Park Assist System ....... .163
Rearview Mirrors ..............36
Recommended Tire Inflation
Pressure ............... .267
Recorder, Event Data ......... .145
Recreational towing .......... .178
Reformulated Gasoline ........ .173
Refueling procedure .......... .175
Refueling the vehicle ......... .173
Reminder, Seat Belt .......... .127
Replacement Tires ........... .248
Replacing a bulb ............ .184
INDEX