TRACTION PLUS
SYSTEM
(for versions/markets, where provided)
Traction Plus is a driving aid, useful
for setting off in poor grip conditions
(snow, ice, mud, etc.) which allows the
drive force to be distributed in the
best way over the front axle when one
wheel is slipping.
Traction Plus acts by braking the
wheels with poor grip (or those slipping
more than the others), thereby
transferring the drive force to those
which have greater grip on the ground.
This function can be activated manually
by pressing the button "fig. 82 on the
side control panel and operates under
50 km/h. Over this speed, it is
automatically deactivated (the LED on
the button is still on) and it is
reactivated again when the speed is
below 50 km/h.Traction Plus operation
The system is deactivated when
starting. To activate the "Traction Plus"
system, press the button T+ fig. 82:
the LED on the button switches on.
The activation of the Traction Plus
system involves the following functions
being switched on:
inhibition of the ASR function, in
order to fully exploit the engine torque;
the differential locking effect on
the front axle, through the braking
system, to improve traction on irregular
grounds.
If the Traction Plus system is faulty, the
warning light on the instrument
panel switches on constantly.
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, side airbag (for versions/
markets, where provided).
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.
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SAFETY
SUITABILITY OF PASSENGER SEATS FOR THE USE OF CHILD RESTRAINT
SYSTEMS
The vehicles designed to carry people (homologation M1) comply with the new European Directive 2000/3/EC which governs
the arrangement possibilities for child restraint systems on the seats of the vehicle as shown in the following table:
Group Weight range Front passenger Rear passenger
Airbag enabled Airbag deactivated
Group 0, 0+ up to 13 kgXUU
Group 1 9 - 18 kgXUU
Group 2 15 - 25 kgUUU
Group 3 22–36 kgUUU
X Seat not suitable for children in this weight category.
U suitable for child restraint systems in the "Universal" category, according to European Standard ECE-R44 for the specified "Groups".
WARNING
73)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 the rear seat, which is the most protected position in the event of a collision.
74)Should it be necessary to carry a child on the passenger side front seat in a rearward-facing child restraint system, the passenger side
front airbag and side bag (for versions/markets, where provided) must be deactivated through the Setup menu. Deactivation should be
verified by checking whether the
warning light is switched on in the central dashboard. Move the passenger's seat as far back as possible
to avoid contact between the child seat and the dashboard.
75)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).
76)Do not move the front or rear seat if a child is seated on it or on the dedicated child restraint system.
77)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.
85
Below is a summary of
the main safety rules to
be followed when
carrying children
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.
If the passenger's front airbag is
deactivated always check the
warning light always lighted on the
central dashboard to make sure that
it has actually been deactivated fig. 97.
Carefully follow the instructions
supplied with the child restraint system.
Keep the instructions in the vehicle
along with the other papers and this
handbook. Do not use second-hand
child restraint systems 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 vehicle 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 anchorages 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 headrest must
always be fitted in the vehicle if the seat
is used by an adult passenger or a
child sitting in a restraint system without
a backrest.
WARNING
82)Fit the child restraint system only when
the vehicle is stationary. The child restraint
system is correctly fixed to the brackets
when you hear the click. Follow the
instructions for positioning, fitting and
removing which the child restraint system
manufacturer must supply together with
the restraint system. 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.
83)Do not use the same lower anchorage
to install more than one child restraint
system.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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