29
STEERING WHEEL LOCK
2)
Engagement:when the key is in
position STOP, remove the key and
turn the steering wheel until it is locked.
Disengagement:move the steering
wheel slightly as you turn the ignition
key to MAR.
Height adjustment: operate lever
B-fig. 13 to lift or lower the rear part of
the cushion to achieve the most
comfortable driving position.
Backrest folding: To fold the
backrest over, adjust lever D-fig. 14
(movement 1) and push the backrest
forwards until it locks (movement 2);
release lever D and, pushing the
backrest, slide the seat forwards
(movement 3).
13DVDF0S013c
SEATS 3) 4) 2)
FRONT SEATS
Longitudinal adjustment: lift lever
A-fig. 11 and push the seat forwards
and backwards to reach the required
position.
Backrest angle adjustment: rotate
the knob C-fig. 12.
11DVDF0S012c
12DVDF0S014c
KNOWING YOUR CAR
30
Driver and passenger sides
with position memory:
to restore the seat to its original
position, slide the seat backwards
pushing the backrest until the seat
locks (movement 4), adjust lever D-fig.
14 (movement 5) and raise the
backrest (movement 6) until the locking
movement can be heard.
Passenger side with no position
memory: to restore the seat to its
original position, slide the seat
backwards pushing the backrest until
the desired position is reached
(movement 4), adjust lever D-fig.14
(movement 5) and raise the backrest
(movement 6) until the locking
movement can be heard.
14DVDF0S015c
HEAD RESTRAINTS
3) 5)
ADJUSTMENTS
Upward adjustment:raise the head
restraint until it clicks into place.
Downwards adjustment:press
button A fig.15 and A fig.16 and lower
the head restraint.
IMPORTANT When the rear seats are
in use, the head restraints must always
be in the position of use.
15DVDF0S015c
16DVDF0S015c
101
OCCUPANT
PROTECTION
SYSTEMS
Some of the most important safety
equipment of the vehicle comprise 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 head restraint
adjustment see the “Head restraints”
paragraph in the
“Knowing your vehicle”
chapter.
SEAT BELTS AND
PRETENSIONERS
22) 12)
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.
Using the seat belts
The belt should be worn keeping the
torso straight and rested against the
backrest.
To fasten the seat belts, hold tongue A
fig. 60 and insert it into buckle B until it
locks into place.
On removal, if the belt jams, let it
rewind for a short stretch, then pull it
out again without jerking.
SAFETY
SAFETY
102
Press button C fig. 67 to release the
belt.
Guide the belt while it is rewinding to
prevent it from twisting.
The retractor may lock when the
vehicle is parked on a steep slope: this
is perfectly normal.
Furthermore, the reel 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.
NOTE Wear the rear seat belts as
shown in fig. 68.
67DVDF0S041c
IMPORTANT When putting the seats
back to their normal position, make
sure the seat belts are positioned so
they are ready to use.
SBR SYSTEM
(for versions/markets, where provided)
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).
NOTE Contact a Fiat Dealership to
deactivate this acoustic warning
permanently. The acoustic warning can
be reactivated at any time through the
display Setup Menu.
68DVDF0S0056c
Seat belts warning
light operation
The system warns the driver and the
front passenger if their seat belt is not
fastened, as follows:
❒ flashing
about 100 seconds.
❒ once the cycle has finished, the
warning light remains on constantly
until the seat belts are fastened.
PRE-TENSIONERS
The car is equipped with front seat belt
pretensioners, which in the event of a
major frontal impact guarantee the
perfect adherence of the seat belts to
the occupant’s bodies before the
retention action begins.
SAFETY
104
SEAT BELTS
MAINTENANCE
For keeping the seat belts in efficient
conditions, carefully observe the
following warnings:
❒ always use the seat belt with the
strap well stretched and not twisted;
make sure that it is free to run
without obstructions;
❒ check seat belt operation as
follows: attach the seat belt and pull
it hard;
❒ replace the seat belt after an
accident of a certain severity even if
it does not appear to be damaged.
Always replace the seat belt if the
pretensioners were deployed;
❒ prevent the retractors from getting
wet: their correct operation is only
guaranteed if water does not get
inside;
❒ replace the seat belt when showing
significant wear or cut signs. Each seat belt must be used by only
one person. Never travel with a child
sitting on the passenger’s lap and a
single belt to protect them both.
In general, do not place any objects
between the person and the belt
fig. 71.
70DVDF0S043c
71DVDF0S044c
CHILD PROTECTION
SYSTEMS
CARRYING CHILDREN
SAFELY
23), 24 12)
For optimal protection in the event of
an impact, all occupants must be
seated and wearing adequate restraint
systems, including newborn and other
children.
This prescription is compulsory in all
EC countries according to EC Directive
2003/20/EC.
Children below the height of 1.50
metres and up to 12 years must be
protected with suitable restraint
systems and be seated on the rear
seats.
Statistics on accidents indicate that the
rear seats offer greater safety for
children.
Compared with an adult, a child’s head
is larger and heavier in proportion to
their body and the child’s muscular and
bone structures are not fully developed.
107
PASSENGER SEAT COMPLIANCE WITH
REGULATIONS ON UNIVERSAL CHILD SEAT USE
Fiat 500 complies with the new European Directive 2000/3/EC which governs the
arrangement possibilities for child restraints on the various seats of the car as
shown in the following table:
GroupWeight
groupFront passenger ()
Airbag onAirbag offRear passenger
Group 0, 0+ up to 13 kg X U U
Group 1 9-18 kg X U U
Group 2 15-25 kg U U U
Group 3 22-36 kg U U U
U = suitable for child restraint systems of the “Universal” category, according to European
Standard EEC-R44 for the specified Groups”.
X = restraint system not suitable for children in this weight category.
(
) IMPORTANT: NEVER fit rearward facing child restraint systems on the front seat
with an active passenger side airbag. Deactivate the respective airbag to install a rearward facing
child restraint system
(see instructions in the “Supplementary Restraint System
(SRS) - Airbag” paragraph).
INSTALLING AN
ISOFIX CHILD
RESTRAINT SYSTEM
24)
The vehicle is equipped with ISOFIX
anchorages, a new standard which
makes fitting a child restraint system
quick, simple and safe.
The ISOFIX system lets you install the
ISOFIX child restraining system without
using the car seat belts but connecting
them directly to the carseat with three
anchors in the car.
Traditional child restraint systems can
be fitted alongside ISOFIX child restraint
systems on different seats in the same
vehicle.
109
PASSENGER SEAT COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS ON ISOFIX CHILD
RESTRAINT SYSTEM USE
The table below shows the various installation possibilities for Isofix child restraint systems on seats fitted with Isofix attachments
in accordance with European standard ECE 16.
Weight groupChild restraint system
orientationIsofix size classIsofix position
Rear side
Group 0 up to 10 kg Facing backwards E X
Group 0+ up to 13 kg Facing backwards E X
Facing backwards D X
Facing backwards C X
Group 1 from 9 to 18 kg Facing backwards D X
Facing backwards C X
Facing forwards B IUF
Facing forwards B1 IUF
Facing forwards A IUF (*)
X: Isofix position not suitable for Isofix child restraint system in this weight group and/or size class.
IUF: Suitable for forward facing Isofix child restraint systems in the Universal category and type-approved for the use in the weight group.
(*): This Isofix position is not suitable for Isofix child restraint systems in this group of weight and/or size class.
SAFETY
110
SUITABILITY OF PASSENGER SEATS FOR USE WITH i-SIZE
CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS (for versions/markets, where provided)
The following table, according to European standard ECE 129, indicates the possibility of i-Size child restraint system installation.
DeviceFront
passengerRear right passenger
i-Size child restraint system ISO/R2 X i-U(*) X ISO/F2 X i-U(*) X
X: seat not suitable for Universal i-Size child restraint systems.
i-U(*): installation only possible by moving the corresponding front seat forward. In this configuration, the seat must not be occupied.
Rear left passenger
i-Size POSITIONS IN THE VEHICLE