2018 FIAT 500L Owner handbook (in English)

When the power steering is on, the
steering wheel effort is lighter, making
parking easier: therefore, this function is
particularly useful for driving in city
centres.
WARNING
32)It is absolutely forbidden to carry out
any after-market operation involving
steering system or steering column
modifications (e.g. installation of anti-theft
device) that could adversely affect
performance and safety, invalidate the
warranty and also result in the car not
meeting type-approval requirements.
33)Before performing any maintenance
operations, always turn off the engine and
remove the key from the ignition to lock the
steering column (especially when the car
wheels are not touching the ground). If this
is not possible (for example if the key
needs to be turned to MAR or the engine
must be running), remove the main fuse
that protects the electric power steering.
VERSION WITH LPG
SYSTEM
34) 35) 36)
16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22)
INTRODUCTION
The LPG version features two fuel
supply systems: one for petrol and one
for LPG.
PASSIVE SAFETY /
ACTIVE SAFETY
If the car is parked for a long time or
needs to moved in an emergency
(because of a fault or an accident),
proceed as follows:
undo the fixing devices A fig. 52,
then remove the cover B;
close the LPG cock rotating the ring
nut C fig. 53 clockwise. Refit the cover
and retighten the fastening devices A.LPG TANK
The car has a (pressurised) tank A fig.
54 for storing LPG in a liquid state
located in the spare wheel
compartment with suitable protection.
LPG tank certification
The LPG tank is certified in accordance
with the regulations in force.
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In Italy, the tank has a life of 10 years
starting from the car registration date. If
the vehicle has been registered in a
country other than Italy, the duration
and the testing/inspection procedures
of the LPG tank can vary depending on
the national laws of that country. In all
case, when the time limit for your
country has expired, go to a Fiat Dealer
to have the tank replaced.
SELECTION OF
PETROL/LPG SUPPLY
TYPE
The fig. 55 button (petrol/LPG switch)
allows you to select running on petrol or
LPG.
If, during LPG operation, the same runs
out, the car switches to petrol
automatically and all the bars near the
letters LPG on the display switch off.
This condition persists until the next
LPG refuelling.The engine always starts up on petrol,
with automatic switching to LPG when
the best conditions are achieved
(engine water temperature, minimum
engine rpm limit) for switching to LPG.
REFUELLING
LPG
Maximum refuelling capacity (including
reserve): 38.4 litres. The figure already
takes into account the 80% tank filling
limit and the residual fluid required
for priming; this figure represents the
maximum permitted capacity.In
addition, this value may, in different
refuelling situations, give rise to
variations as a result of: differences
between the supply pressures of
the pumps, pumps with different
supply/stopping specifications,
tank not in reserve condition.
IMPORTANT In order to avoid
inconsistent information by the LPG
gauge on the instrument panel, it is
recommended to refill with at least 10
litres each time.
WARNING
34)Note that in some countries (including
Italy) there are legal restrictions in force
for parking/garaging motor vehicles fuelled
by gas that is denser than air; LPG comes
under this category.
35)Do not switch between the two
operating modes whilst starting the engine.
36)If gas is smelt, switch from LPG
operation to petrol operation and
immediately go to a Fiat Dealership to have
the vehicle checked and possible system
faults excluded.
WARNING
16)The car is equipped with a specifically
designed gaseous LPG injection system:
it is therefore absolutely forbidden to
alter the configuration of the system or its
components. The use of other
components or materials could cause
malfunctions and lead to a reduction
in safety; therefore, in the case of
problems, contact a Fiat Dealership. When
towing or lifting the vehicle, follow the
instructions in the main handbook under
the paragraph on "Towing the vehicle"
to prevent damage to the gas system
parts.
17)The system operates at temperatures
ranging between -20°C and 100°C.
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KNOWING YOUR CAR

18)When painting in an oven, the LPG
tank must be removed from the car and
later refitted by a Fiat Dealership. Although
the LPG system has numerous safety
features, it is advisable to proceed
as follows every time the vehicle is not in
use for a long period or moved in an
emergency as a result of a breakdown or
accident: unscrew the devices fastening
the cover of the LPG tank, then remove it.
Close the LPG cock rotating the ring nut
clockwise (see "Passive safety / active
safety"). Refit the cover and retighten the
fastening devices.
19)Only use LPG for motor vehicles.
20)It is strictly forbidden to use any
additive in the LPG. Periodically (at least
once every six months) it is advisable to let
the LPG in the tank run out and, at the
first refuelling, to check that it does not
exceed the maximum capacity of 38.4 litres
(reserve included) (with a tolerance of 2
litres excess). If the level is above 38.4 litres
(reserve included) contact a Fiat
Dealership immediately.
21)When switching is requested, metallic
noise from the valves which pressurise
the circuit can be heard. For the switching
logic described above, a delay between the
valve ticking and the switching off of the
instrument panel indication is completely
normal.22)In particular usage conditions, such as
starting and operation at low ambient
temperature or LPG supply with low
propane content, the system may switch
temporarily to petrol operation, without
a visual indication of switching on the
instrument panel. In the event of low LPG
levels in the tank or request for high
performance (e.g. overtaking, car fully
laden, steep hills) the system may
automatically switch to petrol operation to
guarantee the engine power requested; the
green warning light on the instrument
panel switches on to indicate this. When
the above conditions are no longer
present, the system automatically restores
LPG operation; the green warning light
switches off. To achieve the automatic
switching described above, make sure that
there is always enough fuel in the petrol
tank.VERSION WITH
METHANE SYSTEM
(Natural Power)
37) 38) 39) 40)
23) 24) 25) 26) 27)
INTRODUCTION
The "Natural Power" version features
two fuel systems, one for petrol and
one for natural gas (methane).
CYLINDERS
The car is provided with two cylinders
(total capacity approximately 84 litres)
located under the floor (fig. 56 and
fig. 57) and protected by two specific
guards containing compressed
methane in gaseous state (200 bar
nominal pressure at 15°C).
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The methane, stored in the cylinders at
high pressure, flows through a
dedicated pipe to reach the pressure
regulator/reduction unit which supplies
the two methane injectors at low
pressure (about 9 bar).
Cylinder capacity: about 14 kg. The
total volume of cylinders is about 84
litres.IMPORTANT In order to avoid
inconsistent information by the
methane gauge on the instrument
panel, it is recommended to refill with at
least 10 litres each time.
Cylinder certification
The cylinders are certified according to
ECE Regulation Procedure no. 110,
and must be inspected every 4 years
according to ECE Regulation Procedure
no. 110 from the car registration date
or in accordance with specific
regulations in individual countries.
The plates provided by the Dealership
with the on board documentation
contain the date for the first inspection
of the cylinders.Methane refuelling
stations are not authorised to refill
the cylinders when the inspection
date has expired.
IMPORTANT If the car has been
registered in a country other than Italy,
the certification data, identification
and inspection procedures for
the methane cylinders should comply
with the legislation in that country.
In any case, remember that the life of
the cylinders is 20 years from the
production date as set out in ECE
Regulation no. 110.SELECTION OF
PETROL/METHANE
SUPPLY TYPE
The engine always starts up on petrol,
with automatic switching to methane
when the best conditions are achieved
(engine water temperature, minimum
engine rpm limit) for switching to
methane.
Therefore, there must always be some
petrol in the tank (at least 1/4 full), in
order not to compromise the operation
of the fuel pump.
If you want to run on petrol, press the
fig. 58 button: this can be done both
when the car is stationary with the
engine running or while driving.
The switching on of the LED located on
the button and of the green warning
light
on the instrument panel
indicates that the switching request has
taken place correctly.
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KNOWING YOUR CAR

To guarantee switching in full safety, the
actual change to the chosen fuel
system takes place depending on the
car usage conditions; it may not
therefore be immediate.
In addition, when starting at outside
temperatures below approximately
-10°C, the switching times from petrol
to methane increase to allow the
pressure regulator/reduction unit to
heat up.
WARNING
37)The car is equipped with a high-
pressure methane system designed to
operate at 200 rated bar. It is dangerous to
force the system to run at higher
pressures. When towing or lifting the car,
follow the instructions in the "Towing
the car" paragraph to prevent damage to
the methane system parts. If there is a fault
in the methane system, only contact a
Fiat Dealership. Do not modify
configuration or components of the
methane system; they have been designed
exclusively for this car. The use of other
components or materials could cause
malfunctions and prejudice safety.38)When oven painting, the cylinders must
be removed from the vehicle and
subsequently refitted by a Fiat Dealership.
Although the methane system has
numerous safety features, it is advisable to
close the manual cocks for the cylinders
every time the car is not in use for a long
period, transported on other cars or moved
in an emergency as a result of a fault or
accident.
39)Do not switch between the two
operating modes whilst starting the engine.
40)If gas is smelled, switch from methane
operation to petrol operation and
immediately go to a Fiat Dealership to have
the vehicle checked and possible system
faults excluded.
WARNING
23)If, during methane operation, the same
runs out, the car switches to petrol
automatically and all the bars near the
letters CNG on the display switch off. This
display remains until the next methane
refuelling.
24)Regardless of the last fuel system
used, at the following engine starting, after
the initial petrol stage, the system will
automatically switch to methane.
25)When switching from petrol to methane
is requested, a metal noise from the valves
which pressurise the circuit can be heard,
as it happens while starting the car. For the
switching logics described above, a delay
between the valve ticking and the switching
off of the green warning light
is
absolutely normal.26)In particular usage conditions, such as
starting and operation at low ambient
temperature, the system may switch
temporarily to petrol operation, without
indicating the performed switching. In the
event of low methane levels in the tank
or request for high performance (e.g.
overtaking, car fully laden, steep hills) the
system may automatically switch to petrol
operation to guarantee the engine power
requested; the green icon
switches
on to indicate this. When the above
conditions are no longer present, the
system automatically restores methane
operation. The green warning light
turns
off. To achieve the automatic switching
described above, make sure that there is
always enough fuel in the petrol tank.
27)The other plates (provided with the
vehicle documents) show the date when
the first cylinder inspection/test is due.
Methane refuelling stations are not
authorised to refill the cylinders when the
inspection date has expired.
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KNOWING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL
This section of the handbook gives you
all the information you need to
understand, interpret and use the
instrument panel correctly.DASHBOARD AND INSTRUMENT
PANEL ............................................ 45
DISPLAY ......................................... 47
WARNING LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES .................................... 50
-Red warning lights............................ 50
-Amber warning lights........................ 55
-Green warning lights........................ 60
-Blue warning lights........................... 60
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KNOWING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL

DASHBOARD AND INSTRUMENT PANEL
The instrument background colour and type may vary according to the versions.
A. Speedometer / B. Digital fuel level gauge / C. Display / D. Digital engine coolant thermometer / E. Tachometer
The warning lights on the instrument panel may change according to the version/trim level (e.g. LPG, Natural Power, Dualogic
gearbox, etc.) of the vehicle. The
warning light is present on Diesel versions only. On Diesel versions, the maximum engine
speed (red range on the rev counter) corresponds to 7000 rpm.
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RIGHT-HAND DRIVE VERSIONS
A. Speedometer / B. Digital fuel level gauge / C. Display / D. Digital engine coolant thermometer / E. Tachometer
The warning lights on the instrument panel may change according to the version/trim level (e.g. LPG, Natural Power, Dualogic
gearbox, etc.) of the vehicle. The
warning light is present on Diesel versions only. On Diesel versions, the maximum engine
speed (red range on the rev counter) corresponds to 7000 rpm.
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KNOWING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL