Abarth 500 2012 Owner handbook (in English)

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SAFETY
DEVICES
PASSENGER SEAT COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS ON
CHILD’S SEAT USE
The Abarth complies with the new European Directive 2000/3/EC which gov-
erns the arrangement possibilities for child restraints on the various seats of the car
as shown in the following table:
Passenger PassengerGroup Weight ranges front rear
Group 0, 0+ up to 13 kg U U
Group 1 9-18 kg U U
Group 2 15-25 kg U U
Group 3 22-36 kg U U
Key:
U = suitable for child restraint systems of the “Universal” category, according to Eu-
ropean Standard ECE-R44 for the specified “Groups”.Below is a summary of the rules of safety
to be followed for carrying children:
❒Install the child seats on the rear seat,
which is the most protected position in
the event of an accident.
❒If the passenger’s air bag is deactivated,
always check the amber warning light
“on the instrument panel to make
sure that it has actually been deactivat-
ed.
❒Carefully follow the instructions sup-
plied with the child restraint system
which are mandatory by law. Keep the
instructions in the car along with the
other papers and this handbook. Do
not use child seats without instructions.
❒Always check the seat belt is well fas-
tened by pulling the belt.

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❒Only one child is to be strapped to each
retaining system.
❒Always check the seat belts do not fit
around the child’s throat.
❒While travelling, do not let the child sit
incorrectly or release the belts.
❒Never carry children on your lap, even
newborns. No-one can hold a child in
the case of an accident.
❒In case of an accident, replace the
child’s seat with a new one.
Do not arrange child seats on
the front seat in cars fitted
with passenger’s airbag. Children must
never travel on the front seat.
WARNING
The Lineaccessori Abarth includes the
Universal Isofix “Duo Plus” child seat.
For any further installation/use detail, re-
fer to the “Instructions Manual” of the
child seat.
ISOFIX CHILD
RESTRAINT
ASSEMBLY SETUP
This car is preset for mounting the Uni-
versal Isofix child restraint system, a new
European standardised system for carry-
ing children safely.
It is possible to mount at the same time
both the traditional restraint system and
Isofix one. An example of child seat is
shown in fig. 9. The Universal Isofix child’s
seat covers weight group: 1. The other
weight groups are covered by the specif-
ic Isofix child seat, which can be used on-
ly if specifically designed, tested and ho-
mologated for this car (see car list pro-
vided with the child seat).
Due to its different anchoring system, the
child’s seat shall be anchored to the prop-
er lower metal rings A-fig. 10, set be-
tween rear seat back and cushion. After
removing the rear shelf, secure the up-
per belt (provided with the child’s seat) to
ring B-fig. 11set between the rear back-
rest and the boot floor.
Remember that in case of Universal Isofix
child’s seat, you can only use all those
seats approved with the marking ECE
R44/03 “Universal Isofix”.
fig. 9F0S068Ab

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Fit the child seat when the
car is stationary. The child
seat is correctly anchored to the
brackets when you hear the click. Fol-
low the instructions for assembly, dis-
assembly and positioning that the
manufacturer must supply with the
child seat.
WARNING
fig. 10F0S069Ab
fig. 11F0S070Ab
E
E
D
C
D
C
B
B1
A
IUF: suitable for Isofix child restraining systems facing forwards, of universal class (pro-
vided with top third attachment), approved for use in the weight group.
IL: suitable for selected Isofix child restraining systems, specific and approved for this
kind of car. It is possible to fit the seat moving the front seat forward.
X: Isofix position not suitable for Isofix child restraining systems in this weight group
and/or size class. PASSENGER SEAT COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS ON
UNIVERSAL ISOFIX CHILD’S SEAT USE
The table below, according to ECE 16 European Directive, shows the different instal-
lation possibilities of Isofix restraint systems on seats fitted with Universal Isofix fas-
teners.
Weight group Orientation Class Isofix positionchild seat Isofix size rear side
Group 0 - 0 to 10 kg
Group 0+ - 0 to 13 kg
Group I to 9
up to 18 kg
X
X
X
X
X
X
IUF
IUF
X Facing backwards
Facing backwards
Facing backwards
Facing backwards
Facing backwards
Facing backwards
Facing forwards
Facing forwards
Facing forwards

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SAFETY
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AIRBAGS
The car is provided with front air bags for
the driver and the passenger, driver’s
knees air bag and side bags - window bags.
FRONT AIRBAGS
The front airbags (driver’s, passenger’s,
driver’s knees air bags) have been designed
to protect the occupants in the event of
head-on crashes of medium-high severity,
by placing the cushion between the occu-
pant and the steering wheel or dashboard.
Front air bags are designed to protect
car’s occupants in front crashes and there-
fore non-activation in other types of col-
lisions (side collisions, rear shunts, roll-
overs, etc.) is not a system malfunction.
An electronic control unit will make the
bag inflate in the event of a frontal crash.
The bag will inflate instantaneously placing
itself between the front occupant’s body
and the structures which could cause in-
jury. It will deflate immediately afterwards.
The front airbags (driver’s, passenger’s,
driver’s knees air bags) are not a replace-
ment of but complementary to the belts,
which you are recommended to always
wear, as specified by law in Europe and
most non-European countries.In the event of a collision, a person not
wearing a seat belt may be thrown forward
and come into contact with the bag before
it has fully opened. The protection offered
by the cushion is reduced in such a case.
Front air bags may not be activated in the
following situations:
❒in collisions against highly deformable
objects not affecting the car front sur-
face (e.g. bumper collision against guard
rail, etc.);
❒car penetration under other vehicles or
protective barriers (e.g. trucks or guard
rails);
they could not provide any additional pro-
tection compared with seat belts, so their
activation would be improper. No de-
ployment in such cases is consequently not
the sign of a fault.
Do not apply stickers or oth-
er objects on the steering
wheel, on the dashboard in the pas-
senger side airbag area, on side up-
holstery on roof and on the seats. Do
not place objects (e.g. cell phones) on
the passenger side dashboard because
these could interfere with the correct
opening of the airbag and cause se-
vere injury to occupants.
WARNING
The front airbags (driver’s, passenger’s,
driver’s knees air bags) are designed and
calibrated to protect the front seat pas-
sengers who wear the safety belts.
Their volume at the moment of maximum
inflation fills most space between the
steering wheel and the driver, between
the lower post guard and the knees on
passenger side and between the dash-
board and the passenger.
The airbags are not deployed in the event
of front collisions of low severity (for
which the withholding action of the seat
belts is sufficient). Safety belts must always
be used. In the event of frontal crash they
ensure the correct positioning of the oc-
cupant.

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SEVERE DANGER: Do not
arrange child seats facing
backwards if the passenger’s
front airbag is on. Deploy-
ment of the airbag in an ac-
cident could cause fatal in-
juries to the baby. Always deactivate
the passenger’s airbag when placing
a child seat on the front seat. Move
the passenger’s seat as far back as
possible to avoid contact between the
cradle and the dashboard. Although
this is not mandatory by law, the
airbag should be immediately reacti-
vated when children are no longer
carried to ensure better protection to
adults.
WARNING
DRIVER’S FRONT AIR BAG fig. 12
It consists of an instant-inflating cushion
contained in a special recess in the cen-
tre of the steering wheel.
fig. 12F0S071Abfig. 13F0S072Ab
PASSENGER’S FRONT AIR BAG
fig. 13
It consists of an instant-inflating cushion
contained into a special recess in the dash-
board, this cushion has a volume bigger
than that of the driver.

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DRIVER’S KNEES AIR BAG fig. 14
It consists of an instant-inflating cushion
housed into a special compartment pro-
vided for the purpose under the lower
post guard at driver’s knees level, designed
to give further protection in the event of
frontal crash.MANUAL DEACTIVATION OF
PASSENGER’S FRONT AIR BAG
AND SIDE BAG
Should it be absolutely necessary to car-
ry a child on the front seat, the passenger’s
front air bag and the Side Bag can be de-
activated.
The instrument panel warning light
“will
stay on glowing steadily until reactivating
the passenger’s front air bag and the Side
Bag.
WARNING To deactivate the passenger’s
front air bag and the Side Bag, refer to
paragraphs “Digital display” and “Multi-
functional display” in section “Your car”.
SIDE BAGS -
WINDOW BAGS
SIDE BAG fig. 15
It consists of an instant-inflating cushion
housed in the front seat backrest. It pro-
tects the chest and the hips of the pas-
sengers in the event of side crash of medi-
um-high severity.
fig. 14F0S073Ab

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SAFETY
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Do not rest the head, the
arms or the elbows on the
door, on the windows and on the win-
dow bag area to avoid injuries dur-
ing inflation.
Never lean head, arms and elbows
out of window.
WARNINGWINDOW BAGS fig. 16
They consist of two “curtain” cushions
housed behind the side upholstery of the
roof and covered by specific finishing to
protect the head of the front passengers
in the event of side crash, thanks to their
wide surface.IMPORTANT The best protection in the
event of side crash is achieved maintaining
a correct position on the seat. This allows
the correct deployment of the window
bag.
IMPORTANT The front air bags and/or
side bags may be deployed also if the car
is subject to heavy knocks or accidents in-
volving the underbody area, such as vio-
lent shocks against steps, kerbs or low ob-
stacles, falling of the car in big holes or sags
in the road.
IMPORTANT A small amount of dust will
be released when the airbags are de-
ployed. The dust is not harmful and does
not indicate the beginning of a fire. Fur-
thermore, the surface of the deployed bag
and the interior of the car may be covered
in a dusty residue: this dust may irritate
the skin and the eyes. Wash with mild
soap and water in the event of exposure.
The expiration date of the explosive
charge and the clock wire are shown on a
specific label on the door edge. Refer to
the Abarth Dealership when it’s time to
replace them.
fig. 16F0S075Ab
fig. 15F0S074Ab
IMPORTANT If any safety device has ac-
tivated due to an accident, refer to the
Abarth Dealership to replace them and
check system integrity.
Every control, repair and replacement op-
erations concerning the air bags must on-
ly be carried out c/o Abarth Dealership. If
you are having the car scrapped, have the
air bag system deactivated at a Abarth
Dealership first. If the car changes own-
ership, the new owner must be informed
of the method of use of air bags and the
above warnings and also be given this
“Owner Handbook”.
IMPORTANT Pretensioners, front airbags
and side bags are deployed according to
different logics on the basis of the type of
collision. Non deployment of one of the
devices does not therefore indicate a sys-
tem fault.

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GENERAL WARNINGS
If when turning the key to
MAR the warning light ¬does not turn on or if it stays on when
travelling (together with the message
on the multifunctional display, where
provided) there could be a failure in
safety systems; in this event air bags
or pretensioners may not be deployed
in case of impact or, in a minor num-
ber of cases, they may be deployed
accidentally. Contact Abarth Dealer-
ship immediately to have the system
checked before driving off.
WARNING
Do not cover the front seat
backrest with covers if a
Side-bag is fitted.
WARNING
Do not travel with objects in
your lap, in front of your
chest, or keeping between your lips
pipes, pencils, etc.. In the event of
crash with airbag activation, you may
be seriously injured.
WARNING
Always drive keeping your
hands on the steering wheel
crown so that, in the event of airbag
activation, it can inflate without find-
ing obstacles. Do not drive with your
body bent forward. Keep the backrest
in straight position, resting correctly
your back on it.
WARNINGWith ignition key inserted,
on MAR, even if the engine
is off, the air bags can activate also
with the car stopped, if it is hit by an-
other vehicle. For this reason, children
must never sit on the front seat, even
if the car is not moving. We remind
you that if the key is inserted on
STOP, no safety device (air bag or
pretensioner) activates following a
collision; no deployment in such cas-
es is consequently not the sign of a
fault.
WARNING
It someone tried to steal or
damage your car, and in the
event of floods, have the air bag sys-
tem checked by the Abarth Dealer-
ship.
WARNING

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CORRECT USE
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SAFETY
DEVICES
Do not wash the seats with
pressurized water or steam
(manually or at the automatic wash-
ing stations).
WARNING
Front air bag activation if
foreseen in case of more se-
vere collisions compared with pre-
tensioner activation. For collisions in
the range between the two activation
thresholds, the fact that only the pre-
tensioners activate is normal.
WARNING
Do not hook rigid objects to
cloth hangers and to the
support handles.
WARNING
The air bag does not replace
the safety belts, it increases
their effectiveness. Furthermore, since
front airbags are not deployed in low
speed collisions, side collisions, rear-
end shunts or roll-overs, the occu-
pants are only protected by the seat
belts which must be fastened at all
times.
WARNING
Rotating the key on MAR,
the warning light “turns on,
blinking for a few seconds, to remind
that the passenger air bag will acti-
vate in the event of a collision, then
it turns off.
WARNING

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CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
STARTING THE ENGINE ................................................. 80
HANDBRAKE ....................................................................... 81
USING THE MANUAL GEARBOX ................................. 82
CONTAINING RUNNING COSTS................................. 82
SNOW TYRES....................................................................... 84
SNOW CHAINS................................................................... 85
CAR INACTIVITY ............................................................... 85
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