Dear Customer,
We would like to congratulate and thank you for choosing an Abarth 124 Spider.
We have written this handbook to help you get to know all the features of your vehicle and use it in the best possible way.
Here you will find information, advice and important warnings regarding use of your vehicle and how to achieve the best
performance from the technical features of your vehicle.
You are advised to read it right through before taking to the road for the first time, to become familiar with the controls and
above all with those concerning brakes, steering and gearbox; at the same time, you can understand the vehicle behaviour on
different road surfaces.
This document also provides a description of special features and tips, as well as essential information for the safe driving, care
and maintenance of your vehicle over time.
After reading it, you are advised to keep the handbook inside the vehicle, for an easy reference and for making sure it remains
on board the vehicle should it be sold.
In the attached Warranty Booklet you will also find a description of the Services that Abarth offers to its customers, the Warranty
Certificate and the detail of the terms and conditions for maintaining its validity.
We are sure that these will help you to get in touch with and appreciate your new vehicle and the service provided by the
people at Abarth.
Enjoy reading. Happy motoring!
IMPORTANT This Owner Handbook describes all versions of the vehicle; please consider only the information
relevant to your vehicle’s trim level, engine and version. All data contained in this publication are purely indicative.
FCA Italy S.p.A. can modify the vehicle model described in this publication at any time, for technical or commercial
purposes. For further information, contact an Abarth Dealership.
ODOMETER / TRIP METER
The display mode can be changed from
odometer to “Trip meter A” to “Trip
meter B” and then back to odometer by
pressing the selector 1 fig. 53 while one
of them is displayed. The selected
mode will be displayed.
Trip meter
The trip meter can record the total
distance of two trips. One is recorded in
“Trip A”, and the other is recorded in
“Trip B”.
For instance, “Trip A” can record the
distance from the point of origin, and
“Trip B” can record the distance from
where the fuel tank is filled.
Use this meter to measure trip
distances and to compute fuel
consumption.If the fuel economy data is reset using
the fuel economy monitor, or Trip A is
reset using the trip meter when the
function which synchronizes the fuel
economy monitor and the trip meter is
on, the fuel economy data and Trip A
are reset simultaneously.
NOTE Only the trip meters record
tenths of kilometers (miles).
Trip meter reset
The trip meter will be erased when the
power supply is interrupted (blown fuse
or the battery is disconnected) or when
the vehicle is driven over 9999.9 km
(mile).
INSTRUMENT PANEL
ILLUMINATION
Brightness adjustment
The brightness of the instrument cluster
and dashboard illuminations can be
adjusted by rotating the knob 1 fig. 54:
the brightness decreasesby
rotating the knob to the left. A beep
sound will be heard when the knob has
been rotated to the maximum dim
position;
the brightness increasesby
rotating the knob to the right.
Cancelling illumination dimmer
Rotate the knob to the right until a beep
sound is heard while the instrument
cluster is dimmed with the ignition
switched ON. If the instrument cluster's
visibility is reduced due to glare from
surrounding brightness, cancel the
illumination dimmer.
When the illumination dimmer is
canceled, the instrument cluster cannot
be dimmed even if the position lights
are turned on. When the illumination
dimmer is canceled, the screen in the
center display switches to constant
display of the daytime screen.
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KNOWING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL
TRIP COMPUTER AND
INFO SWITCH
The following information can be
selected by pressing the INFO switch
fig. 55 with the ignition switched ON:
Distance-to-empty (approximate
distance you can travel on the available
fuel);
Average fuel economy;
Current fuel economy;
Average vehicle speed;
Vehicle speed alarm (where
provided).
If you have any problems with your trip
computer, contact an Abarth
Dealership.
Vehicle speed alarm mode
(where provided)
In this mode, the current setting for the
vehicle speed alarm is displayed. You
can change the vehicle speed setting at
which the warning is triggered.
IMPORTANT The vehicle speed alarm
display is activated at the same time
the beep sound is heard. The set
vehicle speed flashes several times.
The vehicle speed alarm can be set
using the INFO switch.
The vehicle speed alarm function can
be set between 30 and 250 km/h.
IMPORTANT Always set the vehicle
speed according to the laws and
regulations of the country/city in which
the vehicle is driven. In addition, always
verify the speed of the vehicle using the
speedometer.
The vehicle speed alarm can be set
using the following procedure:
press the INFO switch to display the
vehicle speed alarm mode;
press the INFO switch continuously
until a beep sound is heard. The set
vehicle speed display flashes the third
digit (hundredths place) fig. 56;
press the INFO switch and set the
third digit (hundredths place) to the
desired vehicle speed. The numerical
value changes each time the INFO
switch is pressed;
press the INFO switch continuously
until a beep sound is heard. The set
vehicle speed display flashes the lower
two digits (tenths and ones place)
fig. 57;
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press the INFO switch and set the
two lower digits (tenths and ones place)
to the desired vehicle speed. The
numerical value changes each time the
INFO switch is pressed;
press the INFO switch continuously
until a beep sound is heard. The set
vehicle speed is displayed on the
vehicle speed alarm screen.
GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR
(where provided)
The gear shift indicator supports you to
obtain optimum fuel economy and
smooth driving.
It displays the selected gear position 1
fig. 58 in the instrument cluster as well
as notifies the driver to change to the
most suitable gear position
2 corresponding to the actual driving
condition.
Indication Condition
NumeralThe selected gear
position is displayed
and numeralShift up or down to
the indicated gear
position is
recommended
IMPORTANT Do not rely solely on the
shift-up/shift-down recommendations
by indications. The actual driving
situation might require shift operations
different from indication. To avoid the
risk of accidents, the road and traffic
conditions have to be judged correctly
by the driver before shifting.
Versions with manual transmission
The gear shift indicator turns off when
the following operations are performed:
the vehicle is stopped;
the vehicle is put in neutral;
the vehicle is driven in reverse;
the clutch is not fully engaged when
accelerating from a stop;
the clutch pedal remains depressed
for 2 seconds or longer while driving.
Versions with automatic
transmission
The gear shift indicator turns off when
the following operations are performed:
the vehicle is stopped;
manual shift mode is cancelled.
Manually shifting up(versions with automatic transmission)
Using selector lever: to shift up to a
higher gear, tap the selector lever back
+ once.
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KNOWING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL
Warning light What it means What to do
TCS / DSC SYSTEM INDICATOR LIGHT
The warning light turns on when the in case of
intervention of TCS/DSC systems. This means
that the vehicle is in critical stability and grip
conditions.
DSC OFF INDICATOR LIGHT
This indicator light stays on for a few seconds
when the ignition is switched ON. It also
illuminates when the DSC OFF switch is
pressed and TCS/DSC is switched off. Refer
to “DSC OFF switch” in “Active safety
systems” paragraph (“Safety” chapter).If the light remains illuminated and the
TCS/DSC is not switched off, take your
vehicle to an Abarth Dealership. The DSC may
have a malfunction.
REAR FOG LIGHT INDICATOR LIGHT
The warning light switches on when the rear
fog light is turned on.
ADJUSTABLE SPEED LIMITER MAIN
INDICATOR LIGHT (where provided)
The warning light switches on when the
MODE switch on steering wheel is pressed
and the adjustable speed limiter is activated
(see “Speed limiter” paragraph in “Starting and
driving” chapter).
WRENCH INDICATOR LIGHT
(where provided)
When the ignition is switched ON, the wrench
indicator light is illuminated and then turns off
after a few seconds.The wrench indicator light turns on when the
preset maintenance period arrives. Verify the
content and perform maintenance. Refer to
“Maintenance monitor” paragraph in this
chapter.
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SEAT BELTS
SEAT BELT
PRECAUTIONS
81) 82)
Seat belts help to decrease the
possibility of severe injury during
accidents and sudden stops. FCA
recommends that the driver and
passengers always wear seat belts.
All the seats have lap/shoulder belts.
These belts have retractors with inertia
locks that keep them out of the way
when not in use.
The locks allow the belts to remain
comfortable on users, but they will lock
in position during a collision.
Belt retraction may become difficult if
the belts and seat belt guides
fig. 61 are soiled, so try to keep them
clean.
Pregnant women and persons with
serious medical conditions
Pregnant women should always wear
seat belts. Ask your doctor for specific
recommendations.
The lap belt should be worn SNUGLY
AND AS LOW AS POSSIBLE OVER
THE HIPS. The shoulder belt should be
worn across your shoulder properly, but
never across the stomach area fig. 62.
Persons with serious medical
conditions also should wear seat belts.
Check with your doctor for any special
instructions regarding specific medical
conditions.
Emergency locking mode
When the seat belt is fastened, it will
always be in the emergency locking
mode.
In the emergency locking mode, the
belt remains comfortable on theoccupant and the retractor will lock in
position during a collision.
If the belt is locked and cannot be
pulled out, retract the belt once, and
then try pulling it out slowly. If this fails,
pull the belt strongly one time and
loosen, then pull it out again slowly.
USING THE SEAT BELTS
83) 84) 85) 86) 87) 88) 89)
Fastening the seat belt
1: seat belt tongue fig. 63;
2: seat belt buckle.
Position the lap belt as low as possible
1 fig. 64, not on the abdominal area 2,
then adjust the shoulder belt 3 so that it
fits snugly against your body.
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SAFETY
SEAT BELT
PRETENSIONER AND
LOAD LIMITING
SYSTEMS
PRETENSIONERS
90) 91) 92) 93)
For optimum protection, the driver and
passenger seat belts are equipped with
pretensioner and load limiting systems.
For both these systems to work
properly you must wear the seat belt
properly.
When a collision is detected, the
pretensioners deploy simultaneously
with the air bags. For deployment
details, refer to the “SRS air bag
deployment criteria” paragraph in this
chapter.
The seat belt retractors remove slack
quickly as the air bags are expanding.
Any time the air bags and seat belt
pretensioners have fired they must be
replaced.A system malfunction or operation
conditions are indicated by a warning.
Refer to “Warning lights and messages”
and “Warning sound is activated”
paragraph in “Knowing the instrument
panel” chapter.
In addition, the pretensioner system for
the passenger, like the front and side
passenger air bag, is designed to only
deploy when the passenger occupant
classification sensor detects a
passenger sitting on the passenger's
seat. For details, refer to the passenger
occupant classification sensor.
IMPORTANT The pretensioner system
may not operate depending on the type
of the collision. For details, refer to the
“SRS Air Bag deployment criteria”
paragraph.
IMPORTANT Some smoke (non-toxic
gas) will be released when the air bags
and pretensioners deploy. This does
not indicate a fire. This gas normally
has no effect on occupants, however,
those with sensitive skin may
experience slight skin irritation. If
residue from the deployment of the air
bags or the pretensioner system gets
on the skin or in the eyes, wash it off as
soon as possible.
LOAD LIMITER
The load limiting system releases belt
webbing in a controlled manner to
reduce belt force on the occupant's
chest.
While the most severe load on a seat
belt occurs in frontal collisions, the load
limiter has an automatic mechanical
function and can activate in any
accident mode with sufficient occupant
movement.
Even if the pretensioners have not fired,
the load limiting function must be
checked by Abarth Dealership.
WARNING
90)Wear seat belts only as recommended
in this Owner Handbook. Incorrect
positioning of the driver and passenger
seat belts is dangerous. Without proper
positioning, the pretensioner and load
limiting systems cannot provide adequate
protection in an accident and this could
result in serious injury. For more details
about wearing seat belts, refer to
"Fastening the seat belts".
85
accelerator pedal when driving in D
range, 5th gear/6th gear, the gear may
shift to M4/M5.
Manually shifting up / down
Using selector lever
To shift upto a higher gear, tap the
selector lever back+once.To shift
downto a lower gear, tap the selector
lever forward–once.
Using steering shift switch
146)
To shift up to a higher gear with the
steering shift switches, pull the UP
switch+/OFFfig. 92 toward you once
with your fingers. To shift down to a
lower gear with the steering shift
switches, pull the DOWN switch–
toward you once with your fingers.
Second gear fixed mode
When the selector lever is moved back
while the vehicle speed is about 2 km/h
or less, the gearbox is set in the second
gear. The gear is set in second while in
this mode for easier acceleration from a
stop and driving on slippery roads such
as snow-covered roads.
SHIFT GEAR (SHIFTING)
SPEED LIMIT
When the selector lever is operated
within the range of the speed limit, the
gear is shifted.
Shift up
The gear does not shift up while the
vehicle speed is lower than the speed
limit.
Shift down
The gear does not shift down while the
vehicle speed exceeds the speed limit.
If the vehicle speed exceeds the speed
limit and the gear does not shift down,
the gear position indication flashes
2 times to notify the driver that the gear
cannot be shifted.
Kickdown
When the accelerator pedal is
depressed fully while driving, the gear
shifts down.
However, the gears do not kickdown
while the DSC is turned off.NOTE The gear also shifts down using
kickdown while in the second gear fixed
mode.
Auto-shift down
The gear shifts down automatically
depending on the vehicle speed during
deceleration.
NOTE If the vehicle comes to a stop
while in the second gear fixed mode,
the gear remains in second.
DIRECT MODE(where provided)
Direct mode can be used for
temporarily switching gears by
operating the steering shift switch while
the vehicle is being driven with the
selector lever in the D range.
Direct mode is cancelled under the
following conditions:
the UP switch (+/OFF) is pulled
rearward for a certain amount of time or
longer;
the vehicle is driven for a certain
amount of time or longer (time differs
depending on the driving conditions
while operating);
the vehicle is stopped or moving at a
slow speed.
IMPORTANT Shifting up and down
while in direct mode may not be
possible depending on the vehicle
speed. In addition, because direct9207040110-124-007AB
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