engine Abarth Grande Punto 2010 Owner handbook (in English)

ESP SYSTEM
(Electronic Stability
Program)
The ESP system is an electronic system
controlling the car stability in the event of
tyre grip loss.
The ESP system is therefore particularly
useful when grip conditions of the road sur-
faces changes.
In addition to the ESP system, ASR system
and Hill Holder, (for versions/markets,
where provided) also the MSR system (ad-
justing the engine braking torque) and the
HBA system (improving the braking force
during emergency braking) are provided.
ABS SYSTEM INTERVENTION
It is signalled by the blinking of the warn-
ing light
áon the instrument panel, to in-
form the driver that the car is in critical
stability and grip conditions.
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SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
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INDEX
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BRAKE ASSIST
(emergency braking assistance
integral with ESP)
(for versions/markets, where
provided)
The system, which cannot be cut out, rec-
ognizes emergency braking (on the ground
of the brake pedal operation speed) and
considerably increases the pressure in the
brake circuit thus supporting the driver to
obtain prompt and effective braking.
Brake Assist is deactivated on the versions
equipped with ESP, in the event of ESP sys-
tem failure (indicated by warning light
áswitching on together with the message
on the multifunction display, where pro-
vided).
When the ABS cuts in, and
you feel the brake pedal pul-
sating, do not remove your foot, but
keep it pressed; in doing so you will
stop in the shortest amount of space
possible under the current road con-
ditions.
WARNING

ESP SYSTEM ACTIVATION
The ESP system is automatically activat-
ed when the car is started and cannot be
de-activated.
FAILURE INDICATIONS
In the event of failure, the ESP system is
automatically disconnected, the warning
light
á, comes on with fixed light on the
instrument panel, together with the mes-
sage on the multifunction display (where
provided) (see section “Warning lights and
messages”) and with the button led ASR
OFF. In this case contact a Abarth Deal-
ership as soon as possible.
Performance of the ESP sys-
tem, in terms of active safe-
ty should not induce the driver to take
pointless and unnecessary risks. The
style of driving must in any case al-
ways be adapted to the conditions of
the road surface, visibility and traffic.
Road safety is always the driver’s re-
sponsibility.
WARNING
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SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IIN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
HILL HOLDER SYSTEM
This system is an integral part of the ESP
system and it is provided to facilitate start-
ing on slopes.
It will activate automatically with the fol-
lowing conditions:
❒uphill: vehicle stationary on a road with
a gradient of more than 5%, engine run-
ning, brake pressed and gearbox in neu-
tral or gear other than reverse engaged;
❒downhill: vehicle stationary on a road
with a gradient of more than 5%, engine
running, brake pressed and reverse gear
engaged.

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SAFETY
DEVICES
CORRECT USE
OF THE CAR
WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
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INDEX
DASHBOARD
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FAILURE INDICATIONS
System failure is indicated by the turning
on of warning light *on the instrument
panel with digital display and warning light
áon the instrument panel with multi-
function display (where provided) (see
section “Warning lights and messages”).
IMPORANT The Hill Holder system is not
a parking brake therefore, never leave the
car without having engaged the handbrake,
turned the engine off and engaged the first
speed.
For correct operation of the
ESP and ASR systems, the
tyres must absolutely be of the same
brand and type on all wheels, in per-
fect conditions and, above all, of
type, brand and size specified.
WARNINGAt pickup the ESP system control unit will
keep brake force on wheels until reaching
the torque suitable for starting, or in any
case for max. 2 seconds in order to pass
easily from the brake pedal to the accel-
erator pedal.
After two seconds without starting, the
system will deactivate automatically by re-
leasing gradually the brake force.
At releasing, the typical brake disengage-
ment noise indicating that the car is go-
ing to move will be heard.

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SAFETY
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WARNING
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TECHNICAL
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INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
For correct operation of the
ESP and ASR systems, the
tyres must absolutely be of the same
brand and type on all wheels, in per-
fect conditions and, above all, of
type, brand and size specified.
WARNINGASR SYSTEM (Antislip Regulator)
The ASR function controls car drive and
cuts in automatically every time one or
both driving wheels slip.
According to slipping conditions, two dif-
ferent control systems are activated:
❒if slipping involves both driving wheels,
the ASR function intervenes reducing
the power transmitted by the engine;
❒if the slipping involves only one driving
wheel, the ASR system cuts in auto-
matically braking the wheel that is slip-
ping. The action of the ASR is particularly help-
ful in the following circumstances:
❒ slipping of the inner wheel due to the
effect of dynamic load changes or ex-
cessive acceleration;
❒ too much power transmitted to the
wheels also in relation to the conditions
of the road surface;
❒ acceleration on slippery, snowy or
frozen surfaces;
❒ in the case of loss of grip on a wet sur-
face (aquaplaning).

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SAFETY
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MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
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INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
MSR system (engine braking
torque control)
It is an integral part of the ASR system that
in case of sudden gear shifting, cuts in pro-
viding torque to the engine thus prevent-
ing excessive driving wheel drive that, spe-
cially in poor grip conditions, can lead to
loss of stability.
Switching the systemon/off fig. 96
The ASR system switches on automatically
each time the engine is started.
When travelling, the ASR can be switched
off and on again pressing button Aset on
the dashboard fig. 96.
fig. 96F0M078Ab
When the ASR is switched off this is
shown by the lighting up of the led on the
button and by relevant message on the
multifunction display, where provided.
If the ASR is switched off when travelling,
it will turn on again automatically the next
time the engine is started.
When travelling on snowy roads with
snow chains, it may be helpful to turn the
ASR off: in fact, in these conditions, slip-
ping of the driving wheels when moving off
makes it possible to obtain better drive.

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SAFETY
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WARNING
LIGHTS AND
MESSAGES
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EMERGENCY
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MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
The performance of the sys-
tem, in terms of active safe-
ty should not induce the driver to take
pointless and unnecessary risks. The
style of driving must in any case al-
ways be adapted to the conditions of
the road surface, visibility an traffic.
Road safety is always the driver’s re-
sponsibility.
WARNING
For correct operation of the ASR system,
the tyres must absolutely be of the same
brand and type on all wheels, in perfect
conditions and, above all, of type, brand
and size specified.
FAILURE INDICATIONS
In the event of malfunctioning, the ASR
system is automatically disconnected and
the warning light
áwill come with fixed
light on the instrument panel together
with the message on the multifunction dis-
play, where provided, (see section “Warn-
ing lights and messages”). In this case con-
tact Abarth Dealership as soon as possi-
ble.
EOBD SYSTEM
The EOBD system (European On Board
Diagnosis) allows continuous diagnosis of
the components of the car correlated with
emissions.
It also alerts the driver, by turning on the
warning light
Uon the instrument pan-
el (together with relevant message on the
multifunction display, where provided)
(see section “Warning lights and mes-
sages”), when these conditions are no
longer in peak conditions.
The objective is:
❒to keep the system efficiency under con-
trol;
❒warn when a fault causes emissions lev-
els to increase;
❒warn of the need to replace deteriorat-
ed components.
The system also has a diagnostic connec-
tor that can be interfaced with appropriate
tools, which makes it possible to read the
error codes stored in the control unit, to-
gether with a series of specific parameters
for engine operation and diagnosis. This
check can also be carried out by the traf-
fic police.IMPORTANT After eliminating the incon-
venience, to check the system completely,
Abarth Dealerships are obliged to run a
bench test and, if necessary, road tests
which may also call for a long journey.
If turning the ignition key to
MAR, the warning light
Udoes not turn on or if, while
travelling it turns on glowing
steadily or flashing (together with the
message on the multifunction display,
where provided), contact Abarth Deal-
ership as soon as possible. Warning
light
Uoperation can be checked by
means of special equipment by traffic
agents. Always comply with the traffic
regulations in force in the country
where you are travelling.

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SAFETY
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MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
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INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
TYRE PRESSURE
MONITORING
SYSTEM - T.P.M.S.
(for versions/markets,
where provided)
The car can be equipped with the T.P.M.S.
(Tyre Pressure Monitoring System). This
system consists of a radio-frequency sen-
sor, installed on each wheel (on the rim
inside the tyre) that sends pressure infor-
mation to the control unit.IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT
THE T.P.M.S. SYSTEM
Failure indications will not be stored and
therefore will not be displayed when turn-
ing the engine off and on again. If failure
persists, the control unit will send warn-
ing indications to the instrument panel on-
ly after a few seconds when the car is
moving.
IMPORTANT Strong radio- frequency
noises could inhibit regular operation of
the T.P.M.S. system. This condition is in-
dicated by a dedicated message on the dis-
play that will disappear automatically as
soon as radio-frequency noises will stop
to disturb the system.
Pay the utmost attention
when checking or inflating
tyres. Excessive pressure impairs road
holding, increases suspension and
wheel stress and causes abnormal
tyre wear.
WARNING
Tyre pressure should be
checked with tyres rested
and cold. Should it become necessary
for whatever reason to check pressure
with hot tyres, do not reduce pressure
although it is higher than the pre-
scribed value but repeat the check
when tyres are cold.
WARNING
The T.P.M.S. system helps
the driver to monitor tyre
pressure since the driver is the always
responsible for proper inflation pres-
sure of tyres and spare wheel (see
paragraph “Wheels” in section “Car
Maintenance”).
WARNING
T.P.M.S. system cannot indi-
cate sudden tyre pressure
drops (e.g.: tyre burst). In this event,
brake the car cautiously and avoid
sudden steering.
WARNING

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SAFETY
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INDEX
DASHBOARD
AND CONTROLS
SPORT BOOST
The vehicle is equipped with a system al-
lowing to choose between two driving
modes: normal and sporting.
Pressing the SPORT BOOST button fig.
98sporting drive will be selected. This
type of drive is featured by major accel-
eration readiness and higher effort re-
quired on the steering-wheel for a suitable
drive control and feeling.
Moreover, pressing the SPORT BOOST
button the overboost function will be
started.
Switching this function on, the engine’s
electronic control unit allows, based on
the accelerator foot pedal’s position and
for a limited time, to reach maximum
pressure level within the supercharger
and, as a consequence, to increase the en-
gine torque in respect to the normal
achievable value.
This function is particularly useful in case
maximum performance is required for a
short time (for example in phase of over-
taking).
When the SPORT BOOST is on, the mes-
sage “SPORT” will be displayed on the in-
strument panel’s display. Press the rele-
vant button again to switch off the SPORT
BOOST and reset normal driving mode. IMPORTANT While parking and exe-
cuting a higher number of steering ma-
neuvers, steering may get harder; this is
normal as due to the intervention of the
system protecting the electrical engine
from overheating and therefore no repair
operation is required. Once the maneu-
ver is completed, power steering will be
working normally again.
Acceleration
Sudden acceleration is extremely disad-
vantageous in terms of consumption and
emissions: gradually and smoothly accel-
erate to contain consumption.
Using the SPORT BOOST, consumption
is slightly higher than the standard de-
clared values.
IMPORTANT Pressing the SPORT BOOST
button, the function takes nearly 5 seconds
to start.
IMPORTANT In phase of acceleration,
with SPORT BOOST on, it is possible to
experience jerks in driving as this is char-
acteristic of sporting drive.
fig. 98F0M074Ab
fig. 99F0M081Ab

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PROTECTING THE
ENVIRONMENT
The devices for curtailing emissions are
the following:
❒ three-way catalytic converter;
❒Lambda sensor;
❒fuel evaporation system.
In addition, do not let the engine run, even
for a test, with one or more spark plugs
disconnected.
Do not put naked flames or
lighted cigarettes near the
fuel filler hole as there is a danger of
fire. Do not bend too close to the hole
either so as not to breathe in harmful
vapours.
WARNING
Refuelling
To guarantee full tank filling, carry out two
refuelling operations after the first click of
the fuel delivery gun. Avoid further top-
ping up operations that could cause dam-
ages to the fuel system.
During normal service the
catalyst reaches high tem-
peratures. Do not therefore park the
car over inflammable materials (grass,
dry leaves, pine needles, etc.): fire
hazard.
WARNING

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SAFETY
DEVICES
IMPORTANT Correct backrest fastening
is guaranteed when the “red band” on the
backrest folding levers is no longer visible.
The “red band” actually indicates that the
backrest is not properly secured. Make
sure the backrest is properly repositioned,
you should hear the locking click.
IMPORTANT After putting the seats back
to their travelling position, restore the
seat belt position to make them ready for
use.
S.B.R. SYSTEM
The car is fitted with the S.B.R. system
(Seat Belt Reminder), consisting of a
buzzer which, together with the turning
on of warning light
panel, warns the driver to fasten the seat
belt.
The buzzer can be deactivated (until the
next engine stop) as follows:
❒ fasten the driver’s and passenger’s seat
belt;
❒turn the ignition key to MAR;
❒wait for over 20 seconds and then re-
lease one of the seat belts.
For permanent deactivation, contact
Abarth Dealership.
With multifunction display, the S.B.R. sys-
tem can also be reset through the set-up
menu.
Remember that in the event
of a violent collision, back
seat passengers not wearing seat belts
also represent a serious danger for
the front seat passengers.
WARNING
Make sure the backrest is
properly secured at both
sides to prevent it moves forward in
the event of sharp braking causing in-
juries to passengers.
WARNINGfig. 3F0M0042m