2018 FIAT 500 Owner handbook (in English)

191
21) VEHICLE REFUELLING
•Do not bring naked flames or lit cigarettes near to the fuel tank
opening: fire risk. Keep your face away from the fuel filler to
prevent breathing in harmful vapours.
•During normal service the catalyst reaches high temperatures;
therefore do not park the car over inflammable materials (grass,
dry leaves, pine needles, etc.): fire hazard.
•Do not use a mobile phone near the refuelling pump: risk of fire.
22) SEAT BELTS - PRETENSIONERS
•Do not press the seat belt release button while the vehicle is
moving.
•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.
•The pretensioner may be used only once. Contact a Fiat
Dealership to have it replaced after it has been deployed.
•For maximum safety, keep the backrest upright, lean back into
it and make sure the seat belt fits closely across your chest and
pelvis. Always fasten the seat belts on both the front and the rear
seats.
•Travelling without wearing seat belts will increase the risk of
serious injury and even death in the event of an accident.
•Removing or tampering with seat belt and pretensioner
components is strictly prohibited. Any intervention on these
components must be performed by qualified and authorised
technicians. Always go to a Fiat Dealership.
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PERSONAL SAFETY
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19) START&STOP SYSTEM
•When replacing the battery, always go to a Fiat Dealership.
Replace the battery with one of the same type (HEAVY DUTY)
and with the same specifications.
•Before opening the bonnet, make sure that the vehicle is
switched off and the key is in the STOP position.
Please follow the instructions on the decal near the front
crossmember. It is advisable to extract the key when there are
other people in the car.
The car should always be left after the key has been removed
or turned to the STOP position. When refuelling, make sure
that the car is switched off with the key in the STOP position.
•For cars with Dualogic gearbox, if the engine is
automatically stopped on a slope, the engine should be
restarted by moving the gear lever
to + or – without –releasing the brake pedal.
For vehicles with Dualogic transmission, where the Hill Holder
function is present, in case of stop downhill the motor does
not cut off automatically, so as to make the Hill Holder
function - which is active only when the engine is running -
available.
•If climate comfort is to be favoured, the Start&Stop system
can be disabled, for a continuous operation of the climate
control system.
20) ACCESSORIES PURCHASED BY THE OWNER
Take care when fitting additional spoilers, alloy wheels or non-
standard wheel hubs: they could reduce the ventilation of the
brakes and affect efficiency under sharp, repeated braking or
on long descents. Make sure that nothing obstructs the pedal
stroke (mats, etc.).

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
192
24) ISOFIX CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM FITTING
•Fit the child restraint system according to the instructions, which
must be included.
•Child restraint systems with ISOFIX attachments are available for
safely anchoring to the seat without using the car seat belts. For
this type of seats see paragraph “Installation of an Isofix child
restraint system” in the “Safety” chapter.
•If a Universal ISOFIX child restraint system is not fixed to all three
anchorages, it will not be able to protect the child correctly. In a
crash, the child could be seriously or fatally injured.
•Fit the child restraint system when the car is stationary. The child
restraint system is correctly fixed to the brackets when you hear the
click. Always follow the instructions for assembly, disassembly and
positioning that the manufacturer of the car seat is required
to provide with it.
•Should it be necessary to carry a child on the passenger side front
seat in a rear facing child restraint system, the passenger side front
airbag and side bag must be deactivated through the display main
menu, verifying deactivation by checking that the warning light has
switched on in the
“central part of the dashboard. Move the
passenger’s seat as far back as possible to avoid contact between
the child seat and the dashboard.
•Incorrect fitting of the child restraint system may result in an
inefficient protection system. In the event of an accident the child
restraint system may become loose and the child may be injured,
even fatally. When fitting a restraint system for newborns or children,
strictly comply with the instructions provided by the Manufacturer.
•When the child restraint system is not used, secure it with the seat
belt or with the ISOFIX anchorages, or remove it from the vehicle.
Do not leave it unsecured inside the passenger compartment. In this
way, in the case of sudden braking or an accident, it will not cause
injuries to the occupants.
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PERSONAL SAFETY
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•If the belt has been sharply pulled, for example as the result
of an accident, the seat belt, together with the anchoring
devices, the anchoring device fixing screws and the
pretensioner must be completely replaced. Even if the belt
does not present any exterior signs of wear or damage, it may
have lost its restraining properties.
23) CARRYING CHILDREN SAFELY
SERIOUS DANGER: When an active passenger airbag is fitted,
DO NOT install rear facing child restraint systems on
the front seat.
Deployment of the airbag in an accident could cause fatal
injuries to the child regardless of the severity of the impact.
It is advisable to always carry children in a child restraint
system on one of the rear seats, which is the most protected
position in the event of a collision.
•If a child must be carried on the front seat in a rearward
facing child restraint system, it is compulsory to deactivate the
passenger side front airbag, making sure that it is deactivated by
checking the dedicated warning light on the instrument panel (see
“Passenger front airbag” in the “Front airbags” section). Move the
passenger’s seat as far back as possible to avoid contact
between the child seat and the dashboard.
•On both sides of the sun visor there is a label advising that it is
compulsory to deactivate the airbag if a rearward facing child
restraint system is fitted.
Always comply with the instructions on the passenger’s side sun
visor (see the “Front airbag” paragraph).
•Do not move the front or rear seat if a child is seated on it or on
the dedicated child restraint system.

193
•After installing a child restraint system, do not move the seat:
always remove the child restraint system before making any
adjustment.
•Always make sure that the chest section of the seat belt does
not pass under the arms or behind the back of the child. In the
event of an accident the seat belt will not be able to secure the
child, with the risk of injury, including fatal injury. Therefore the
child must always wear the seat belt correctly.
•Do not use the same lower anchorage to install more than one
child restraint system.
25) AIR BAG
•Do not apply stickers or other objects on the steering wheel,
on the dashboard in the passenger side airbag area, on the
side upholstery on the roof and on the seats. Never put
objects (e.g. mobile phones) on the passenger’s
side of the dashboard since they could interfere with proper
airbag inflation and also cause serious injury to the
passengers.
• SERIOUS DANGER: When there is an active passenger
airbag, DO NOT install rearward facing child restraint systems
on the front seat.
Deployment of the airbag in an accident could cause fatal
injuries to the child regardless of the severity of the impact. It is
advisable to always carry children in a child restraint system on
the rear seat, which is the most protected position in the event
of a collision.
•When an active passenger airbag is fitted, DO NOT install
rear facing child restraint systems on the front seat.
Deployment of the airbag in an accident could cause fatal
injuries to the child regardless of the severity of the impact. •Do not rest your head, arms or elbows on the door, windows
or the area in which the window bag is located to avoid possible
injury during airbag inflation. Never lean your head,
arms or elbows out of the window.
•If when turning the key to MAR the warning light
¬does not
turn on or if it stays on when travelling, there could be a failure in
the safety systems; in this event airbags or pretensioners may not
be deployed in the event of impact or, in a lower number of
cases, they deploy accidentally.
Contact a Fiat Dealership immediately to have the system
checked.
•Do not cover the front seat backrests with extra covers if they
are equipped with side bags.
•Do not travel carrying objects in your lap, in front of your chest
or between your lips (pipe, pencils, etc.):
they could cause severe injury if the airbag is deployed.
•Always drive keeping your hands on the steering wheel rim so
the airbag can inflate freely if necessary. Do not drive with your
body bent forward. Keep your back straight against the backrest.
•If the car has been stolen or in the case of attempt to steal it, if
it has been subjected to vandalism or floods, have the airbag
system checked by a Fiat Dealership.
•The airbags may also be deployed when the car is not moving,
if the key is in the ignition and turned to MAR or when the engine
is off, if the car is hit by another moving vehicle. Therefore, even if
the vehicle is stationary, when an active front passenger airbag is
fitted, DO NOT install rearward facing child restraint systems on
the front passenger seat.
Deployment of the airbag following an impact could cause fatal
injuries to the child.
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PERSONAL SAFETY
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
194
Therefore, always deactivate the passenger 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 key is turned 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.
•Do not wash the seats with water or pressurised steam
(wash by hand or at automatic seat washing stations).
• The front airbag is designed to be deployed for impacts of a
greater intensity than for the pretensioners. For impacts whose
intensity falls between the two levels, normally, only the
pretensioners will be activated.
•Do not affix rigid objects to the garment hooks or support
handles.
•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.
•In some versions, in case of a LED
“fault (located on the
plate of the instrument panel), the warning light ¬on the
instrument panel turns on and the passenger side airbags are
deactivated. •Malfunction of the
¬warning light is indicated by the activation
of an airbag fault symbol and a dedicated message on the
instrument panel display (or, for versions where provided, by the
activation of a blinking generic fault warning light).
In this case, the warning light
¬may not indicate failures in the
retaining systems. Contact a Fiat Dealership immediately to have
the system checked.
•The
“warning light indicates the passenger side airbag
protection status. If the warning light is off, passenger side
protection is active: to deactivate it, use the Setup Menu (in this
case the LED lights up). When the vehicle is started (ignition key
turned to MAR position), the warning light turns on for about 8
seconds, provided that at least 5 seconds have elapsed from
when it was switched off. If not, contact a Fiat Dealership. If the
engine is switched off/on again in less than 5 seconds the
warning light may remain off. In this case, to check correct
warning light operation, switch the engine off, wait for at least 5
seconds and switch the engine on again. The warning light may
light up with various intensity levels depending on the vehicle
conditions. The intensity may also vary during the same key
cycle.
•When the ignition key is turned to MAR, the
“warning light
switches for few seconds, then if the passenger airbag protection
is active it should switch off.
26) STARTING THE ENGINE
•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.
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PERSONAL SAFETY
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195
•Remember that the servo-brake and power steering are not
operational until the engine has been started, therefore much
effort than usual is required on the brake pedal and steering
wheel.
•For vehicles featuring a Dualogic gearbox, if the engine is not
started with a gear engaged, a warning is sounded to notify
the driver of the potential danger due to the gear being
automatically put into neutral.
•This starting procedure must be performed by expert
personnel because incorrect actions could cause electrical
discharge of considerable intensity. Furthermore, battery fluid
is poisonous and corrosive: avoid contact with skin and eyes.
Keep naked flames and lighted cigarettes away from the
battery and do not cause sparks.
•Remove any metal objects (e.g. rings, watches, bracelets),
that might cause an accidental electrical contact and cause
serious injury.
•Do not attempt to charge a frozen battery: it must be thawed
first, otherwise it may explode.
If freezing has occurred, the battery should be checked by
skilled personnel to make sure that the internal elements are
not damaged and that the body is not cracked, with the risk of
leaking poisonous and corrosive acid.
27) HANDBRAKE
• The car should be braked after a few clicks of the lever, if it is
not, contact a Fiat Dealership to have it adjusted.
• Never leave children in the unattended car. Always remove
the ignition key when leaving the car and take it out with you. • 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.
28) USING THE MANUAL GEARBOX
Press the clutch pedal fully to change gears 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.
29) TOWING TRAILERS
•The ABS with which the car is equipped will not control the
braking system of the trailer. Particular caution is required on
slippery roads.
•Do not, under any circumstances, modify the vehicle braking
system to control the trailer breaking system.
The towing braking system must be completely independent of the
vehicle’s hydraulic system.
30) SNOW TYRES
The maximum speed for snow tyres marked
“Q” is 160 km/h, while it is 190 km/h for “T” tyres and 210 km/h for
“H” tyres.
The highway code speed limits must however always be complied
with.
31) WARNING LIGHTS AND MESSAGES
•If the warning light
xturns on when travelling (on certain
versions together with the message on the display) stop the car
immediately and contact a Fiat Dealership.
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PERSONAL SAFETY
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
196
The engine can be stopped even if the DPF warning light is on:
however, repeated interruptions of the regeneration process could
cause premature deterioration of the engine oil.
For this reason, always wait until the warning light switches off
before stopping the engine as described above. Do not complete
the DPF regeneration process when the vehicle is stopped.
•Water in the fuel circuit may severely damage the injection
system and cause irregular engine operation. If the warning light
or the symbol
Eturns on (together with a message on the display
for some versions), contact a Fiat Dealership as soon as possible
to have the system bled. If the above indication occurs
immediately after refuelling, water may have entered the tank: turn
the engine off immediately and contact a Fiat Dealership.
• If the system signals a pressure decrease on a specific tyre, it is
recommended to check the pressure on all four tyres. The iTPMS
does not relieve the driver from the obligation to check the tyre
pressure every month; it is not to be considered a system to
replace maintenance or a safety system. Tyre pressure must be
checked with tyres cold. Should it become necessary for whatever
reason to check pressure with warm tyres, do not reduce
pressure even though it is higher than the prescribed value, but
repeat the check when tyres are cold.
• The iTPMS cannot indicate sudden tyre pressure drops
(for example when a tyre bursts). In this case, stop the vehicle,
braking with caution and avoiding abrupt steering.
The system only warns that the tyre pressure is low: it is not able
to inflate them. Insufficient tyre inflation increases fuel
consumption, reduces the tread duration and may affect the
capacity to drive safely.
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PERSONAL SAFETY
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•If when turning the key to MAR the warning light ¬does not
turn on or if it stays on when travelling there could be a failure in
safety systems;
in this event airbags or pretensioners may not be deployed in
case of impact or, in a minor number of cases, they may be
deployed accidentally. Contact a Fiat Dealership immediately to
have the system checked.
•A fault to the
¬warning light is indicated, according to the
version, by the ¬symbol appearing on the display or by the èwarning light blinking. In this case, warning light ¬may not
indicate failures in the retaining systems. Before continuing,
contact a Fiat Dealership immediately to have the system
checked.
•The blinking
èwarning light on indicates possible ¬warning light faults. In this case, warning light ¬may not
indicate failures in the retaining systems. Contact a Fiat
Dealership immediately to have the system checked.
•If the warning light
vturns on when the car is travelling
(on certain versions together with the message on the display),
stop the car immediately and contact a Fiat Dealership.
•If the
vwarning light (or v, for versions/markets, where
provided) switches on, the degraded engine oil must be changed
as soon as possible, and never more than 500 km from the first
time that the warning light switches on. Failure to observe the
above may result in severe damage to the engine and invalidate
the warranty. The activation of this warning light is not related to
the amount of oil in the engine. Therefore, never top up with oil
when the warning light starts flashing.
•The driving speed must always be suitable for traffic and
weather conditions and the driver must always comply with the
Highway Code.

197(CONTINUES)
32) CHANGING A WHEEL
•The space-saver wheel (for versions/markets, where
provided) is specific to your car, do not use it on other models,
or use the space-saver wheel of other models on your car.
The space-saver wheel must only be used in an emergency.
Never use it for more than strictly necessary and never exceed
80 km/h.
•On the space-saver wheel there is an orange label,
summarising the main warnings regarding space-saver wheel
usage restrictions. Never remove or cover the label. The label
contains the following indications in four languages: “Warning!
For temporary use only! 80 km/h max! Replace with standard
wheel as soon as possible. Never cover this indication.” Never
apply a wheel cap on a space-saver wheel.
•If you change the type of wheel (alloy rims instead of
steel rims and vice versa) you will have to change the entire set
of fastening bolts with another set of suitably sized bolts.
•Alert other drivers that the car is stationary in compliance
with local regulations: hazard warning lights, warning triangle,
etc. Any passengers on board should leave the car, especially
if it is heavily laden. Passengers should stay away from on-
coming traffic while the wheel is being changed. On hills or
uneven roads, use chocks or appropriate objects to block the
wheels of the vehicle.
•The driving features of the car may change when a space-
saver wheel is fitted. Avoid violent acceleration and braking,
abrupt steering and fast cornering.
The total life of a space-saver wheel is approximately 3,000
km, after which it must be replaced by another wheel of the
same type. Never install a traditional tyre on a rim designed to
be used as a space-saver wheel.
PERSONAL SAFETY
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Have the wheel repaired and refitted as soon as possible. Using
two or more space-saver wheels at the same time is forbidden.
Do not apply grease to the bolt threads before fitting: they could
come unscrewed.
•Snow chains cannot be fitted to the space-saver wheel.
So, if a front (drive) wheel is punctured and chains are needed,
a rear wheel should be fitted to the front of the car and the
space-saver wheel should be fitted to the rear. In this way,
equipped with two normal drive wheels at the front, they can be
fitted with snow chains, thus resolving the emergency situation.
•If the hub cap is not fitted correctly, it may come off when the
car is travelling.
Never tamper with the inflation valve.
Never introduce tools of any kind between rim and tyre. Check
tyre and space-saver wheel pressures regularly, complying with
the values given in the “Technical specifications” chapter.
•The jack is a tool developed and designed only for changing a
wheel, if a tyre gets punctured or damaged, on the vehicle with
which it is supplied or on other vehicles of the same model.
Any other use, e.g. to jack up other vehicle models or different
things, is strictly prohibited. Never use it to carry out
maintenance or repairs under the vehicle or to change
summer/winter wheels and vice versa.
Never go under the raised vehicle. If any work under the vehicle
is necessary, contact the Fiat Service Network. Incorrect
placing of the jack can cause the vehicle to drop: use it only in
the positions indicated.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
198
PERSONAL SAFETY
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Do not use the jack for loads higher than the one shown on its
label. Never start the engine with vehicle raised. If the vehicle is
raised more than necessary, everything can become more
unstable, with the risk of the vehicle dropping violently.
Thus, lift the vehicle only as needed in order to access the
spare tyre.
33) FIX&GO QUICK TYRE REPAIR KIT
•The information required by the applicable regulation is
indicated on the Fix&Go kit package label. Carefully read the
label on the cartridge before use, avoid improper use. The kit
should be used by adults and cannot be used by children.
IMPORTANT: Do not exceed 80 km/h. Avoid sudden
acceleration or braking. The kit provides a temporary repair,
therefore the tyre must be examined and repaired by a
specialist as soon as possible. Before using the kit, ensure that
the tyre is not excessively damaged and that the rim is in good
condition, otherwise do not use it and call roadside assistance.
Do not remove foreign bodies from the tyre. Do not let the
compressor turned on for more than 20 consecutive minutes -
overheating hazard.
34) CHANGING A BULB
•Modifications or repairs to the electric system that are not
carried out properly or do not take the system technical
specifications into account can cause malfunctions leading to
the risk of fire.
•Halogen bulbs contain pressurised gas, in the case of
breakage they may burst causing glass fragments to be
projected outwards.
•Due to the high power supply voltage, gas discharge bulbs
(Xenon) should only be replaced by specialised personnel:
danger of death! Contact a Fiat Dealership.35) REPLACING FUSES
•If the replaced fuse blows again, contact a Fiat Dealership.
•Never replace a fuse with metal wires or anything else.
•Never replace a fuse with another with a higher amp rating; RISK
OF FIRE.
•If a general fuse (MEGA-FUSE, MIDI-FUSE,
MAXI-FUSE) blows contact a Fiat Dealership.
•Before replacing a fuse, make sure that the ignition key has
been removed and that all the other services are switched off
and/or disengaged.
•Contact Fiat Dealership if a safety system (airbags, brakes),
engine system
(engine, gearbox) or steering system general protection fuse
blows.
36) BATTERY RECHARGING
•Battery fluid is poisonous and corrosive:
avoid contact with your skin and eyes. The battery should be
charged in a well ventilated place, away from naked flames or
possible sources of sparks: danger of explosion and fire.
•Do not attempt to charge a frozen battery: it must be thawed
first, otherwise it may explode.
If freezing has occurred, the battery should be checked by skilled
personnel to make sure that the internal elements are not
damaged and that the body is not cracked, with the risk of leaking
poisonous and corrosive acid.
37) TOWING THE CAR
•Before tightening the ring clean the threaded housing thoroughly.
Make sure that the ring is fully fastened in the housing before
towing the car.
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