2018 FIAT 500L Owner handbook (in English)

Main recommendations to carry
children safely
Install the child restraint systems on
the rear seat, which is the most
protected position in the event of an
impact.
Keep children in rearward facing
child restraint systems for as long as
possible, until 3–4 years old if possible.
Should a rearward facing child
restraint system be installed on the rear
seats, it is advisable to position it as
far forward as the position of the front
seat allows.
If the passenger's front airbag is
deactivated always check the LED
on the trim located on the
dashboard to make sure that it has
actually been deactivated.
Carefully follow the instructions
supplied with the child restraint system.
Keep the instructions in the vehicle
along with the other documents and
this handbook. Do not use second-
hand child seats without instructions.
Only one child is to be strapped into
each restraint system; never carry two
children using one child restraint
system.
Always check that the seat belts do
not rest on the child’s neck.
Always check that the seat belt is
well fastened by pulling on it.
While travelling, do not let the child
sit incorrectly or unfasten the belts.
Never allow a child to put the belt's
diagonal section under an arm or
behind their back.
Never carry children on your lap,
even newborns. No-one can hold
a child in the case of a crash.
If the car has been involved in a road
accident, replace the child restraint
system with a new one. In addition, and
depending on the type of child restraint
system installed, replace the ISOFIX
anchors or the seat belt with which the
child restraint system was connected.
The rear head restraint can be
removed if needed to install a child
restraint system. The head restraint
must always be present in the vehicle
and fitted if the seat is used by an adult
passenger or a child sitting in a restraint
system without backrest.
WARNING
75)SEVERE DANGER When a front
passenger airbag is fitted, do not install
rearward facing child restraint systems on
the front passenger seat. Deployment of
the airbag in a crash could cause fatal
injuries to the child regardless of the
severity of the collision. 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.
76)On the sun visor there is a label with
suitable symbols reminding the user 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 side sun visor (see the
"Supplementary Restraint System (SRS)
- Airbag" paragraph).
77)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
(see the "Display" paragraph, "Knowing
the dashboard" chapter), verifying
deactivation by checking whether the
OFF LED has switched on in the trim
located on the dashboard. Move the
passenger's seat as far back as possible to
avoid contact between the child seat and
the dashboard.
78)Do not move the front or rear seat if a
child is seated on it or on the dedicated
child restraint system.
95

79)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.
80)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.
81)After installing a child restraint system,
do not move the seat: always remove
the child restraint system before making
any adjustment.
82)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.
83)Do not use the same lower anchoring
to install more than one child restraint
system.
84)If a Universal ISOFIX child seat system
is not fixed to all three anchorages, it will
not be able to protect the child correctly. In
an accident, the child could be seriously
or fatally injured.85)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. Follow the instructions
for assembly, disassembly and positioning
that the Manufacturer must supply with
the child restraint system.SUPPLEMENTARY
RESTRAINT SYSTEM
(SRS) - AIRBAG
The car is equipped with:
driver front airbag;
passenger front airbag;
driver side knee bag (for versions/
markets, where provided);
front side bags for pelvis, chest and
shoulder protection of driver and
passenger (for versions/markets, where
provided);
side bags for head protection of
front seat passengers and rear side
seat passengers (window bag).
FRONT AIRBAGS
The front driver/passenger airbags and
the driver's knee bag (for versions/
markets, where provided) protect the
front seat occupants in the event of
frontal impacts of medium/high severity,
by placing the bag between the
occupant and the steering wheel or
dashboard.
Non-activation in other types of crash
(side-on collisions, rear shunts,
roll-overs, etc...) is therefore not a sign
of system malfunction.
96
SAFETY

Driver and passenger front airbags are
not a replacement of but
complementary to the seat belts, which
should always be worn, as specified
by law in Europe and most non-
European countries.
In a crash, those not wearing a seat
belt are projected forwards and may
come into contact with the bag which is
still inflating. The protection offered by
the bag is compromised in these
circumstances.
Front airbags may not activate in the
following situations:
frontal impacts against highly
deformable objects not involving the
front surface of the car (e.g. wing
collision against guard rail, etc.);
car wedging under other cars or
protective barriers (e.g. trucks or guard
rails).
Failure to deploy in the conditions
described above is due to the fact that
the airbags may not provide any
additional protection compared with
seat belts, so their activation would be
inappropriate. In these cases,
non-deployment does not indicate a
system malfunction.The driver's and passenger's front
airbags have been designed and
calibrated to protect front seat
occupants wearing seat belts. At their
maximum inflation, their volume fills
most of the space between the steering
wheel and the driver and between the
dashboard and the passenger.
The airbags are not deployed in the
event of minor frontal impacts (for
which the restraining action of the seat
belts is sufficient). Seat belts must
always be worn. In the event of a frontal
collision, they ensure the correct
positioning of the occupant.
Front airbag driver's side
86) 87)
This consists of an instantly inflating
bag contained in a special
compartment in the centre of the
steering wheel fig. 86.Passenger front airbag
88)
This consists of an instantly inflating
bag contained in a special recess in the
dashboard fig. 87; this bag has a larger
volume than that of the driver's.
Passenger's front airbag and child
restraint systems
89) 90) 91) 92)
Rearward-facing child restraint systems
mustNEVERbe fitted on the front
seat with an active passenger side
airbag since in the event of an impact
the airbag activation may cause fatal
injuries to the transported child.
ALWAYScomply with the instructions
on the label stuck on the passenger
side sun visor fig. 88.
86F0Y0613C
87F0Y0113C
97

Driver knee bag
(for versions/markets, where provided)
It is located in a specific compartment
arranged under the dashboard under
a specific cover fig. 89. It provides
additional protection in the event of a
frontal impact.Deactivation of passenger side
airbags: front airbag and side bag
for pelvis-chest-shoulder
protection (for versions/markets,
where provided)
If a child must be carried on the front
seat in backward-facing child restraint
system, it is necessary to deactivate the
passenger side front airbag and front
side bag for pelvis, chest and shoulder
protection (for versions/markets, where
provided).
To deactivate the airbags use the
display Setup Menu (see the
instructions in the "Display" paragraph,
"Knowing the instrument panel"
chapter).
The
fig. 90 LED is on the instrument
panel: turning the key to the MAR,
the LED will light up for a few seconds.
If not, contact a Fiat Dealership.During the first seconds, the activation
of the LED does not actually show
the passenger protection status, but
only checks its correct operation. After
a check lasting a few seconds, the
LED will indicate the status of the
passenger airbag protection
(passenger protection off: LED light
on fixed /passenger protection
on:LED off).
88F0Y0708C
89F0Y0207C
90F0Y0650C
98
SAFETY

PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAG AND CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS: WARNING
91F0Y0709C
99

SIDE BAGS
To help increase occupant protection in
the event of certain side impact
collisions, the vehicle is equipped with
front side bags (for versions/markets,
where provided) and window bags.
Side bag
(for versions/markets, where provided)
These comprise two types of bags
located in the front seat backrests fig.
92 which protect the pelvic, chest
and shoulder area of the occupants in
the event of a side impact of
medium-high severity.
Window bag
This consists of a "curtain" bag housed
behind the roof side linings and covered
by special trims fig. 93.It is designed to protect the head of
front and rear occupants in the event of
a side collision, thanks to the wide
cushion inflation surface.
The deployment of side bags in the
event of side impacts of low severity is
not required.
In the event of a side impact, the
system provides best protection if the
passenger sits on the seat in a correct
position, thus allowing correct window
bag deployment.
Important notes
93) 94) 95) 96) 97) 98) 99) 100) 101)
Do not wash the seats with water or
pressurised steam (wash by hand or at
automatic seat washing stations).
The front airbags and/or side bags may
be deployed in the event of sharp
impacts to the underbody of the car
(e.g. impact with steps, pavements,
potholes or road bumps etc.).When the airbag deploys it emits a
small amount of dust: the dust is
harmless and does not indicate the
beginning of a fire. The dust may irritate
the skin and eyes however: in this
case, wash with neutral soap
and water.
Airbag checking, repair and
replacement must be carried out at a
Fiat Dealership.
If the car is scrapped, have the airbag
system deactivated at a Fiat Dealership.
Pretensioners and airbags are
deployed in different ways on the basis
of the type of collision. Failure to
activate one or more of the devices
does not indicate a system malfunction.
WARNING
86)Do not apply stickers or other objects
on the steering wheel, on the dashboard in
the passenger side airbag area, on side
upholstery on the roof or on the seats.
Never put objects (e.g. mobile phones) on
the passenger side of the dashboard
since they could interfere with correct
inflation of the passenger airbag and also
cause serious injury to the passengers.
87)Always drive with your hands on the
rim of the steering wheel so that the airbag
can inflate freely if required. Do not drive
bent over the steering wheel, but rather sit
upright with your back firmly resting against
the seat back.
92F0Y0090C
93F0Y0206C
100
SAFETY

88)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 a crash could cause fatal injuries to the
child regardless of the severity of the
collision. 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.
89)To deactivate the airbags using the
instrument panel display menu, see the
description in the "Knowing the instrument
panel" chapter, "Setup Menu" paragraph.
90)Do not affix rigid objects to the garment
hooks or support handles.
91)Do not rest your head, arms or elbows
on the door, on the windows or in the
window bag area to prevent injury during
deployment.
92)Never lean your head, arms or elbows
out of the window.
93)If, when the key is turned to MAR, the
warning light does not switch on or
stays on whilst driving, a fault may have
occurred in the restraint systems. In this
case the airbags or pretensioners may not
be deployed in an impact or, in a lower
number of cases, they may be deployed
accidentally. Contact a Fiat Dealership
immediately to have the system checked.94)On some versions, in the event of
warning light failure, thewarning
light switches on and the explosive charges
of the passenger airbag are deactivated.
95)On vehicles with side bags, do not
cover the front seat backrests with extra
covers.
96)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.
97)If the car has been stolen or in
the event of an attempt to steal it, if it has
been subjected to vandalism or floods,
have the airbag system checked by a Fiat
Dealership.
98)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. 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 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.
99)The
LED warning light indicates the
passenger airbag protection status. If the
LED is off, passenger side protection is
active: to deactivate it, use the Setup Menu
(in this case the LED lights up). When the
engine is started (ignition key turned to
MAR position), the LED 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 LED
may remain off. In this case, to check
correct LED operation, switch the engine
off, wait for at least 5 seconds and switch
the engine on again. The LED may light
up with various intensity levels depending
on the vehicle conditions. The intensity may
also vary during the same key cycle.
100)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.
101)The airbag does not replace seat
belts but increases their efficiency.
Because front airbags are not deployed for
low-speed crashes, side collisions,
rear-end shunts or rollovers, occupants are
protected, in addition to any side bags,
only by their seat belts, which must
therefore always be fastened.
101

STARTING AND DRIVING
Let’s get to the core of the vehicle:
seeing how you can exploit all of its
potential to the full.
We’ll look at how to drive it safely in any
situation, so that it can be a welcome
companion, with our comfort and
our wallets in mind.STARTING THE ENGINE .................103
WHEN PARKED ..............................104
HANDBRAKE ..................................105
USING THE MANUAL GEARBOX ....105
USING THE DUALOGIC
GEARBOX.......................................106
START&STOP SYSTEM ..................108
CRUISE CONTROL (CONSTANT
SPEED REGULATOR) .....................109
SPEED LIMITER ..............................111
MODE SELECTOR ..........................112
PARKING SENSORS.......................115
REAR BACKUP CAMERA
(PARKVIEW® REAR BACKUP
CAMERA) ........................................116
TOWING TRAILERS ........................117
REFUELLING THE VEHICLE ...........118
102
STARTING AND DRIVING