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
It consists of an instantly inflating bag
contained in a special recess at the
centre of the steering wheel fig. 98.
PASSENGER SIDE FRONT
AIRBAG
(for versions/markets, where provided)
This consists of an instantly inflating
bag contained in a special recess in the
dashboard fig. 99 which has a larger
volume than that of the driver.
85)
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE
AIRBAG AND CHILD
RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
Rearward-facing child restraint systems
must NEVER be fitted on the front
seat with an active passenger's 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 fig. 100 stuck on the
passenger side sun visor.Manual deactivation of
front passenger airbag
and chest-pelvis side
bag
(for versions/markets, where provided)
If a child must necessarily be carried on
the front seat in a rear-facing child
restraint system, the front passenger
airbag and chest-pelvis side bag (for
versions/markets, where provided) can
be deactivated.
IMPORTANT To manually deactivate the
front passenger airbag and chest-pelvis
side bag (for versions/markets where
provided), refer to the "Display"
paragraph in the "Knowing the
instrument panel" chapter.
When the passenger front airbag and
chest-pelvis side bag (for versions/
markets where provided) are activated
again, the warning light switches off.
The warning light
on the central
dashboard fig. 101 shows the
passenger protection status.
When the vehicle is started (key in MAR
position), the warning light turns on
for approx. 8 seconds, provided that at
least 5 seconds have elapsed from
the previous switching off. If not,
contact a Fiat Dealership.
98F0T0052
99F0T0033
100F0T0950
91
If the vehicle 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 vehicle off, wait at least 5 seconds
and switch it on again.
During the first 8 seconds, the
activation of the warning light does not
actually show the passenger protection
status, but only checks its correct
operation.
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.
Passenger's protection active: the
LED is off.
Passenger protection deactivated:
the
LED switches on with a steady
light.
101F0T0505
92
SAFETY
PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG AND CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEMS: WARNING
102F1A0387
93
WARNING
84)Do not apply stickers or other objects
to the steering wheel, the dashboard in the
passenger side airbag area and 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.
85)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.
SIDE BAGS
(for versions/markets, where provided)
On some versions, the vehicle may
be fitted with driver and passenger
chest-pelvis protection side bags.
Side bags protect occupants from side
collisions of medium/high severity by
placing the bag between the occupant
and the internal parts of the side
structure of the vehicle.
Non-activation of side bags in other
types of collisions (front collisions, rear
shunts, roll-overs, etc.) is not a system
malfunction.
An electronic control unit causes the
bags to inflate in the event of a side-on
collision. The bags inflate
instantaneously, placing themselves
between the occupant's body and the
structures which could cause injury.
They deflate immediately afterwards.
Side bags are not a replacement of, but
rather a complement to, seat belts,
which you are recommended to wear at
all times, as specified by law in Europe
and most non-European countries.
For this reason, the seat belt must be
worn at all times. In the case of side
collisions, the seat belts hold the
occupant in the correct position and
prevent them from being thrown out of
the car by a very violent collision.SIDE BAGS
(for versions/markets, where provided)
It consists of an instantly inflating bag
housed in the front seat backrest fig.
103. It protects the chest and the pelvis
of the occupants in the event of side
collisions of medium-high severity.
IMPORTANT In the event of a
side crash, the system provides best
protection if the passenger sits on
the seat in a correct position,
thus allowing correct side bag
deployment.
IMPORTANT Do not wash the seats
with water or pressurised steam (wash
by hand or at automatic seat washing
stations).
103F0T0180
94
SAFETY
IMPORTANT NOTES
The front airbags and/or side bags (for
versions/markets, where provided)
may be deployed if the vehicle is
subject to heavy knocks or accidents
involving the underbody area, such
as for example violent shocks against
steps, kerbs or low obstacles, or the
vehicle falling into big potholes or
depressions in the road.
A small amount of dust will be released
when the airbags are deployed. The
dust is not harmful and does not
indicate the beginning of a fire.
Furthermore, the surface of the
deployed bag and the interior of the
vehicle may be covered in a dusty
residue: this may irritate your skin and
eyes. Wash with mild soap and water in
the event of exposure.
Should an accident occur in which any
of the safety devices are activated,
take the vehicle to a Fiat Dealership to
have the activated devices replaced
and to have the whole system checked.
Every control, repair and replacement
operation concerning the airbags must
be carried out only at Fiat Dealerships.If you are having the vehicle scrapped,
have the airbag system deactivated at a
Fiat Dealership first. If the vehicle
changes ownership, the new owner
must be informed of the method of use
of airbags and the above warnings
and also be given this "Owner
Handbook".
Pretensioners, front airbags and front
side bags are deployed differently
according to the type of collision.
Failure to activate one or more of the
devices does not indicate a system
malfunction.
86) 87) 88) 89) 90) 91) 92) 93) 94) 95)
WARNING
86)There may be an anomaly in the
restraint systems if the warning light
does not light up when the key is turn
to MAR or remains on while driving (on
some versions with a message on the
display). In this case, the airbags or the
pretensioners may not be activated in the
case of an accident or (in a lesser number
of cases) they may be activated incorrectly.
Contact a Fiat Dealership immediately to
have the system checked.
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.88)In some versions, in the event of a LED
failure (located on the dashboard
panel), thewarning light on the
instrument panel turns on and the
passenger side airbags are deactivated.
89)On cars with side bags, do not cover
the front seat backrests with extra covers.
90)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.
91)If the ignition device is at MAR, even if
the engine is switched off, airbags may
be deployed when the vehicle is stationary
and hit by another vehicle. Therefore,
even if the car is stationary, when an active
front passenger airbag is fitted, DO NOT
install rear 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 ignition device is
set 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.
95
92)Have the airbag system checked by a
Fiat Dealership if the car was stolen, if theft
was attempted, or if the car was subjected
to vandalism or flooding.
93)When the ignition key is turned to MAR,
the
warning light (with front passenger
side airbag activated) on the central
dashboard switches on and flashes for a
few seconds as a reminder that the
passenger airbag will be deployed in the
event of a crash, then it should switch off.
94)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.
95)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.
96
SAFETY
STARTING THE
ENGINE
The vehicle is fitted with an electronic
engine lock device: if the engine fails to
start, see the paragraph “The Fiat
CODE system” in section “Know your
vehicle”.
On some versions, the Start&Stop
system will be activated every time the
vehicle is started, even though it was
deactivated before switching the vehicle
off.
96) 97)
13) 14) 18) 19)
PROCEDURE FOR
PETROL VERSIONS
Proceed as follows:
engage the handbrake;
put the gear lever into neutral;
fully depress the clutch pedal
without touching the accelerator;
turn the ignition key to AVV and
release it as soon as the engine starts.PROCEDURE FOR DIESEL
VERSIONS
Proceed as follows:
engage the handbrake;
put the gear lever into neutral;
turn the ignition key to MAR
position: the
warning light will light
up on instrument panel;
wait for the warning lightsand
to turn off, which will happen faster
the warmer the engine is;
fully depress the clutch pedal
without touching the accelerator;
turn the ignition key to the AVV
position as soon as the warning light
turns off. Waiting too long will waste
the heating work carried out by the
plugs.
Release the key as soon as the engine
starts.
With cold engine, the accelerator must
be entirely released when turning the
ignition key to position AVV.
15)
PROCEDURE FOR
NATURAL POWER
VERSIONS
The engine always starts up on petrol
independently of the previously
selected mode.
16)
PROCEDURE FOR
VERSIONS WITH
COMFORT-MATIC
TRANSMISSION
The system allows the engine to be
started both with a gear engaged and
with the transmission in neutral (N).
Always press the brake pedal with the
gear engaged.
It is advisable to place the gear lever in
neutral (N) before starting the engine.
17)
IMPORTANT If the engine does not
start at the first attempt, return the
ignition key to STOP before repeating
the starting procedure. If the warning
light remains on together with warning
light
when the ignition key is at
MAR, turn the key to STOP and then
back to MAR; if the warning light stays
on, try with the other keys provided
with the vehicle. If you still cannot start
the engine, perform an emergency
start (see “Emergency starting” in the
“In an emergency” section) and go to a
Fiat Dealership.
98
STARTING AND DRIVING
IMPORTANT If start-up is requested
with the gearbox faulty, carry out the
"Delayed start-up" procedure (see
associated messages): turn the key to
the AVV position for at least 7 seconds
with the brake depressed and the
engine will start. The system will be in
recovery mode (maximum permitted
gear: 3
rd, Automatic mode not
available). If the engine does not start,
contact a Fiat Dealership.
STARTING THE VEHICLE
(COMFORT-MATIC
TRANSMISSION)
Starting is allowed in both 1
stgear and
2ndgear (recommended on road
surfaces with poor grip) and also in
reverse gear (R).
IMPORTANT It is advisable to operate
the handbrake when setting off on a
steep hill.
To engage 1
stgear:
press the brake pedal;
with the lever in (N)or(R), move the
lever to the middle position;
with the lever already in the middle,
move the lever towards+;
release the brake pedal and press
the accelerator pedal (fully depressing
the pedal quickly to the end of travel
position for a "lively" departure).To engage 2
stgear:
press the brake pedal;
with the lever in (N)or(R) , move the
lever to the middle position and then
towards+;
with the lever already in the middle,
move the lever once towards+;
release the brake pedal and press
the accelerator pedal.
When setting off on a medium-steep
incline, it is advisable to use the
handbrake.
To engage reverse (R):
press the brake pedal;
IMPORTANT With the vehicle running,
the request is accepted and executed if
the vehicle speed drops below 3 km/h
within 1.5 seconds from the request:
if the request is not executed, the
system will keep the gear engaged or, if
the speed of the car drops below 10
km/h, will put the transmission in
neutral (N) and the manoeuvre will have
to be repeated.
Put the lever in (R);
release the brake pedal and press
the accelerator pedal.
WARNING
96)It is dangerous to run the engine in
enclosed areas. The engine consumes
oxygen and engine exhaust contains
carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and
other toxic gasses.
97)Remember that the brake servo and
electrical power steering system are not
operational until the engine is started,
therefore a greater effort will be required to
press the brake pedal or turn the steering
wheel.
WARNING
13)It is advisable not to demand maximum
performance from your vehicle (e.g.
excessive acceleration, long distances at
high speeds, excessive intense braking,
etc.) during the initial period of use.
14)When the engine is switched off never
leave the key turned to MAR-ON to prevent
useless current absorption from draining
the battery.
15)If the warning light
flashes for 60
seconds after starting or during an
extended towing period, this indicates a
problem in the glow plug preheating
system. Use the vehicle normally if the
engine starts, but contact a Fiat Dealership
as soon as possible.
99