2020 FIAT 500 warning

SEAT BELTS
All vehicle seats are equipped with seat
belts with three anchor points and a
retractor.
The reel mechanism operates locking
the belt in the event of sharp braking or
strong deceleration due to an impact.
This allows the belt strap to slide freely
and to adapt to the body of the
occupant. In the event of an accident,
the belt will lock reducing the risk of
impact inside the passenger
compartment and of being projected
outside the car.
The driver is responsible for respecting,
and ensuring that all the other
occupants of the vehicle also respect,
the local laws in force in relation to
the use of the seat belts.
Always fasten the seat belts before
setting off.
USING THE SEAT BELTS
The belt should be worn keeping the
torso straight and rested against the
backrest.
To fasten the seat belts, hold tongue A
fig. 53 and insert it into buckle B, until
it clicks into place.
On removal, if the belt jams, let it rewind
for a short stretch, then pull it out
again without jerking.
Press the button C fig. 53 to release the
belt.Guide the belt while it is rewinding to
prevent it from twisting. Through the
retractor, the belt automatically adapts
to the body of the passenger wearing it,
allowing freedom of movement.
The retractor may lock when the car is
parked on a steep slope: this is
perfectly normal. Furthermore, the reel
mechanism locks the belt if it is pulled
sharply or in the event of sudden
braking, collisions and high-speed
bends.
The rear seat is fitted with inertia seat
belts with three anchoring points and a
retractor.
Wear the rear seat belts as shown in
fig. 54.
IMPORTANT When putting the back
seat to its normal position, make sure
the seat belts are positioned so they are
ready to use.
83) 84)
WARNING
83)Never press button C fig. 53 when
travelling.
84)Remember that in the event of an
accident, the rear seat passengers not
wearing seat belts are exposed to a very
serious risk and also represent a serious
danger for the front seat occupants.
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SAFETY

SBR SYSTEM (Seat
Belt Reminder)
(for versions/markets, where provided)
The SBR system warns the passengers
of the front and rear (for versions/
markets, where provided) seats if their
seat belt is not fastened.
The system warnings unfastened seat
belts with visual warnings (warning
lights on in the instrument panel and
icons on the display) and an acoustic
warning (see the following paragraphs).
NOTE Contact a Fiat Dealership to
deactivate this acoustic warning
permanently. The acoustic warning can
be reactivated at any time through the
display Setup Menu.
Seat belts warning light operation
The system warns the driver and the
front passenger if their seat belt is
not fastened, as follows:
flashingwarning light and
intermittent acoustic warning for about
100 seconds.
once the cycle has finished, the
warning light remains on constantly until
the seat belts are fastened.
PRE-TENSIONERS
The car is equipped with front seat
belts pretensioners, that reduce slack in
the belts in the event of a severe frontal
collision. This guarantees the perfect
adherence of the seat belts to the
occupants' bodies before the
restraining action begins.
It is evident that the pretensioners have
operated when the belt withdraws
towards the retractor. This car is also
equipped with a second pretensioner
(fitted in the kick plate area). Its
activation is signalled by the shortening
of the metal cable.
A slight discharge of smoke may be
produced during the activation of the
pretensioner which is not harmful and
does not involve any fire hazard.
The pretensioner does not require any
maintenance or lubrication: any
changes to its original conditions will
invalidate its efficiency.
If, due to unusual natural events (floods,
sea storms, etc.), the device has been
affected by water or mud, have it
replaced.
IMPORTANT To obtain the highest
degree of protection from the action of
the pretensioner, wear the seat belt
tight to the chest and pelvis.
85) 86) 87)
35)
LOAD LIMITERS
To increase occupant safety, the
retractors of the safety belts contain a
load limiter to dose the force acting
on the chest and shoulders during the
belt restraining action in the case of
frontal collisions.
GENERAL
INSTRUCTIONS FOR
USING THE SEAT BELTS
88)
Seat belts are also to be worn by
pregnant women: the risk of injury in
the case of impact is greatly reduced
for them and the unborn child if they
are wearing a seat belt.
Pregnant women must position the
lower part of the belt very low down so
that it passes over the pelvis and under
the abdomen (see fig. 55).
While pregnancy increases, the driver
must adjust both seat and steering
wheel to have full control over the
vehicle (pedals and steering wheel
should be easily accessed).
The maximum clearance should be
kept between the abdomen and the
steering wheel.
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The seat belt strap must not be twisted.
The upper part must pass over the
shoulder and cross the chest
diagonally. The lower part must adhere
to the pelvis rather than the
passenger’s abdomen (as shown in fig.
56) . Never use devices (clips, clamps,
etc.) that hold the seat belt away from
your body.Each seat belt must be used by only
one person. Never travel with a child
sitting on the passenger's lap and
a single belt to protect them both fig.
57. In general, do not place any objects
between the person and the belt.
SEAT BELTS
MAINTENANCE
For keeping the seat belts in efficient
conditions, carefully observe the
following warnings:
always use the seat belt with the
strap well stretched and not twisted;
make sure that it is free to run without
obstructions;
check seat belt operation as follows:
attach the seat belt and pull it hard;
replace the seat belt after an
accident of a certain severity even if it
does not appear to be damaged.
Always replace the seat belt if
the pretensioners were deployed;
prevent the retractors from getting
wet: their correct operation is only
guaranteed if water does not get inside
replace the seat belt when it shows
wear or cuts.
WARNING
85)The pretensioner may be used only
once. Contact a Fiat Dealership to have it
replaced after it has been deployed.
86)For maximum safety, keep the back of
your seat upright, lean back into it and
make sure the seat belt fits closely across
your chest and pelvis. Always fasten the
seat belts on both the front and the rear
seats! Travelling without wearing seat belts
will increase the risk of serious injury or
even death in the event of an accident.
87)Removing or tampering with seat belt
and pretensioner components is strictly
prohibited. Any intervention on these
components must be performed by
qualified and authorised technicians.
Always go to a Fiat Dealership.
88)If the seat belt has been subjected to a
high level of stress, for example after an
accident, it must be completely replaced
together with the anchorages, anchorage
fixing screws and pretensioner. In fact,
even if the seat belt has no visible defects,
it could have lost its resilience.55F0S0415
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SAFETY

WARNING
35)Operations which lead to impacts,
vibrations or localised heating (over 100°C
for a maximum of six hours) in the area
around the pretensioner may damage or
deploy it. Contact a Fiat Dealership should
intervention be necessary on these
components.
CHILD PROTECTION
SYSTEMS
CARRYING CHILDREN
SAFELY
89) 90) 91) 92)
For optimal protection in the event of an
impact, all occupants must be seated
and wearing adequate restraint
systems, including newborn and other
children! This prescription is
compulsory in all EC countries
according to EC Directive 2003/20/EC.
Children below the height of 1.50
metres and up to 12 years must be
protected with suitable restraint
systems and be seated on the rear
seats.
Statistics on accidents indicate that the
rear seats offer greater safety for
children.
Compared with an adult, a child's head
is larger and heavier in proportion to
their body and the child's muscular and
bone structures are not fully developed.
Therefore, correct restraint systems
other than adult seat belts are
necessary to reduce as much as
possible the risk of injuries in the event
of an accident, braking or sudden
manoeuvre.Children must be seated safely and
comfortably. As far as the
characteristics of the child seats used
allow, you are advised to keep children
in rear facing child seats for as long
as possible (at least until 3–4 years old),
since this is the most protected
position in the event of an impact.
The choice of the most suitable child
restraint system depends on the weight
and size of the child. There are various
types of child restraint systems, which
can be secured to the car by means
of the seat belts or with the ISOFIX
anchorages.
It is recommended to always choose
the restraint system most suitable
for the child; for this reason always refer
to the Owner Handbook provided with
the child restraint system, to be sure
that it is of the right type for the children
it is intended for.
For correct installation on the car, some
universal child restraint systems require
an accessory (base) sold separately
by the restraint system's producer.
Therefore, FCA advises customers to
check that their chosen child restraint
system can be installed on their vehicle
by performing a trial installation, on
the vendor's premises, before
purchase.
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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
permanent switching on of the specific
warning light 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
anchorages or the seat belt with which
the child restraint system was
connected.
The rear headrest can be removed if
needed to install a child restraint
system. The headrest must always be
fitted in the car if the seat is used by an
adult passenger or a child sitting in a
restraint system without a backrest.
WARNING
89)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.90)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).
91)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 and side airbags must be
deactivated through the display main
menu, verifying deactivation by checking
that the warning light
located in the
central part of the dashboard has switched
on. Move the passenger's seat as far
back as possible to avoid contact between
the child seat and the dashboard.
92)Do not move the front or rear seat if a
child is seated on it or on the dedicated
child restraint system.
93)Child restraint systems with Isofix
attachments are available for a safe
anchoring to the seat without using the car
seat belts. For this type of seats see
paragraph "Installation of an Isofix child
restraint system" in this chapter.
94)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.
88
SAFETY

Driver knee bag
(for versions/markets, where provided)
It consists of an instantly inflating bag
contained in a special compartment
C under the lower steering column
guard fig. 70 at the driver's knee level. It
provides further protection to the driver
in the event of a frontal impact.
Deactivating the passenger side
airbags: front airbag and front side
bag
106) 107) 108)
(for versions/markets, where provided)
Warning light A fig. 71 in the centre
of the dashboard will stay on constantly
until the passenger's airbag and the
front side bag are reactivated (for
versions/markets, where provided).IMPORTANT To manually deactivate the
passenger side front airbag and the
front side bag (for versions/markets,
where provided), see paragraph
"Display" in the "Knowing the
instrument panel" chapter.
SIDE BAGS - WINDOW
BAGS
To help increase occupants protection
in the event of a side impact, the car
is equipped with front side bags (for
versions/markets, where provided) and
window bag (for versions/markets,
where provided).
Side bags protect occupants from
side-on crashes of medium/high
severity by placing the bag between the
occupant and the internal parts of the
side structure of the car.Non-activation of side bags in other
types of collisions (front collisions, rear
shunts, roll-overs, etc.) is not a system
malfunction.
Side bag
These comprise two instantly inflating
bags located in the front seat backrests
fig. 72 which protect the pelvis, chest
and shoulder area of the occupants
in the event of a side impact of
medium/high severity.
Window bag
These comprise two window bags
located behind the side lining of the
roof and covered by special trim fig. 73.
They are designed to protect the head
of front and rear side occupants in
the event of side collisions, thanks to
the wide surface of the bags.
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SAFETY

Important notes
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.
The front airbags and/or side bags may
be deployed if the car is subject to
heavy knocks or accidents involving the
underbody area, such as for example
violent shocks against steps,
pavements or low obstacles, the car
falling in big holes or dips 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 car
may be covered by a dusty residue:
this may irritate skin and eyes. Wash
with neutral soap and water in the
event of exposure
Every control, repair and replacement
operation concerning the airbags must
only be carried out at a Fiat Dealership.
If the car is scrapped, have the system
deactivated at a Fiat Dealership.
Pretensioners, front airbags and side
bags are deployed according to
different logics on the basis of the type
of crash. Failure to activate one or
more of the devices does not indicate a
system malfunction.
Should an accident occur in which any
of the safety devices are activated,
take the car to a Fiat Dealership to have
the activated devices replaced and to
have the whole system checked.
109) 110) 111) 112) 113) 114) 115) 116) 117) 118)
119) 120)
WARNING
102)Do not apply stickers or other objects
on the steering wheel, on the dashboard
in the passenger side airbag area, on
the side upholstery on the roof and on the
seats. Never put objects (e.g. mobile
phones) on the passenger's side
dashboard since they could interfere with
correct inflation of the airbag and also
cause serious injury to the passengers.
103)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.
104)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.
105)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. 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.
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106)In some versions, in the event of a
LEDfailure (located on the dashboard
panel), thewarning light on the
instrument panel turns on and the
passenger side airbags are deactivated.
107)The
warning light indicates the
passenger side airbag protection status. If
the warning light is off, passenger side
protection is active: to deactivate it, use the
Setup Menu (in this case the LED lights
up). When the car is started (ignition key
turned to MAR position), the warning light
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
warning light may remain off. In this case,
to check correct warning light operation,
switch the engine off, wait for at least 5
seconds and switch the engine on again.
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. When the
ignition key is turned to MAR, the
warning light switches for few seconds,
then if the passenger airbag protection is
active it should switch off.
108)If a child must be carried on the front
seat in a rearward facing child restraint
system, it is compulsory to deactivate the
passenger side front airbag, making sure
that it is deactivated by checking the
dedicated warning light on the instrument
panel. Move the passenger's seat as far
back as possible to avoid contact between
the child restraint system and the
dashboard.109)Malfunction of the
warning light is
indicated by the activation of an airbag
failure symbol and a dedicated message
on the instrument panel display (or, for
versions where provided, by the activation
of a blinking generic failure warning light). In
this case, the
warning light may not
indicate failures in the restraint systems.
Contact a Fiat Dealership immediately
to have the system checked.
110)Do not use seatcovers on front seats
featuring side airbags.
111)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.
112)If the car has been stolen or in the
case of attempt to steal it, if it has been
subjected to vandalism or floods, have the
airbag system checked by a Fiat
Dealership.113)The airbags may also be deployed
when the car is not moving, if the key is in
the ignition and turned to MAR-ON 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.
114)When the ignition key is turned to
MAR, the
warning light switches for few
seconds, then if the passenger airbag
protection is active it should switch off.
115)Do not wash the seats with water or
pressurised steam (wash by hand or at
automatic seat washing stations).
116)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.
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SAFETY