handbrake Abarth Punto 2012 Owner handbook (in English)

REFUELLINGOnly refuel with unleaded petrol with octane rating
(RON) not less than 95 conforming to the European
specification EN 228.
The use of petrol that does not conform to the
above-mentioned specification will cause the EOBD
warning light to come on and the irregular operation
of the engine.
STARTING THE ENGINE Make sure that the handbrake is engaged; set the
gearshift lever to neutral; fully depress the clutch
without pressing the accelerator, then turn the ignition
key to AVV and release it as soon as the engine has
started.
PARKING ON FLAMMABLE MATERIAL The catalytic converter develops high temperatures
during operation. Do not park the car on grass, dry
leaves, pine needles or other flammable material: fire
hazard.
RESPECTING THE ENVIRONMENT The car is fitted with a system that allows continuous
diagnosis of the components linked to emissions to
ensure better respect for the environment. ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES
If, after buying the car, you decide to add electrical
accessories (with the risk of gradually draining the
battery), contact an Abarth Dealership. They can
calculate the overall electrical requirement and check
that the vehicle electric system can support the
required load.
CODE card Keep the card in a safe place, not in the car.
Make sure you have the electronic code written on
the CODE card with you at all times.
SCHEDULED SERVICING Correct car servicing is essential for ensuring it stays in
tip-top condition and safeguards its safety features, its
environmental friendliness and low running costs for
a long time to come.
THE OWNER HANDBOOK CONTAINS… ... important information and warnings on the correct
use and maintenance of your car over time as well as
safe driving tips. Pay special attention to the symbols
"(personal safety) #(car safety) !(environmental
protection).
VERY IMPORTANT
K


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KNOWING
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fig. 9F0U010Ab
If the ignition device has been tampered
with (e.g. an attempted theft), have it
checked over by an Abarth Dealership as soon
as possible.
WARNING
When getting out of the car, always
remove the key to prevent someone
from accidentally activating the controls.
Remember to engage the handbrake. If the car
is parked on a slope uphill, engage the first
gear; if the car is facing downhill, engage the
reverse gear. Never leave children unattended
in the car.
WARNING
IGNITION
The key can be turned to 3 different positions fig. 9:
❒STOP: engine off, key can be extracted, steering
locked. Some electrical devices (e.g. sound system,
central door locking system, etc.) may work.
❒MAR: driving position. All electric devices can
operate.
❒AVV: engine starting (temporary position).
The ignition switch is fitted with an electronic safety
system that requires the ignition key to be turned back
to STOP if the engine will not start, before the starting
operation can be repeated.
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WARNING LIGHTS AND MESSAGES
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MAINTENANCE AND CARE
TECHNICAL
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CONTENTS
F0U051Abfig. 50
F0U050Abfig. 51
SIDE ODDMENTS COMPARTMENT
The storage compartment A-fig. 50 is located on the
dashboard, to the left of the steering wheel.
To open and close the compartment, use handle B-fig. 51.
F0U052Abfig. 52
COMPARTMENT IN CENTRAL CONSOLE
Compartment A-fig. 52 is located on the central console
in front of the handbrake.
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F0U057Abfig. 56
CAN HOLDER fig. 56
There are two cup/can holders on the central console
(behind the handbrake).
F0U058Abfig. 57
CARD HOLDERS fig. 57
The central console has slots where you can keep
telephone cards, tickets, CDs.
CIGAR LIGHTER fig. 58
(for versions/markets where provided)
This is located on the central tunnel in front of the
handbrake. Press button A to switch on the cigar lighter
when the ignition key is turned to MAR.
After about 15 seconds the button will return to its
original position automatically and the cigar lighter is
ready for use. For versions/markets where provided,
there may be a power socket in place of the cigar
lighter.
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WARNING LIGHTS
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MAINTENANCE
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
HILL HOLDER SYSTEM
This system is an integral part of the ESP system and it is
provided to facilitate starting on slopes.
It is automatically activated in the following conditions:
❒ uphill: vehicle stationary on a road with a gradient
higher than 5%, engine running, brake pedal
depressed and gearbox in neutral or gear other than
reverse;
❒ downhill: vehicle stationary on a road with a gradient
higher than 5%, engine running, brake pedal pressed
and reverse gear engaged.
When setting off, the ESP system control unit maintains
the braking pressure at the wheels until the engine
torque required for departure is reached, or for a
maximum of 1 second, allowing your right foot to be
moved easily from the brake pedal to the accelerator.
If the vehicle has not departed after this time, the
system will deactivate automatically, gradually releasing
the brake force.
At release, the typical brake disengagement noise
indicating that the car is going to move will be heard. Failure indications
A system fault is indicated by the switching on of the
warning light
áand by the dedicated message on the
reconfigurable multifunction display (see section
“Warning lights and messages”).
IMPORTANT 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 first gear.
For the correct operation of the ESP and
ASR systems, the tyres must be the same
make and type on all wheels, in perfect
condition and, above all, of the type, make and
size specified.
WARNING
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HOW TO WARM UP THE ENGINE AFTER IT
HAS JUST STARTED
Proceed as follows:
❒drive off slowly, letting the engine turn at medium
speed. Do not accelerate abruptly;
❒do not demand maximum performance for the first
few kilometres. Wait until the engine coolant gauge
starts moving.
132
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WARNING LIGHTS AND MESSAGES
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CONTENTS
Remember that the brake servo and
power steering are not operational until
the engine has been started, so you need
to apply much more force than usual to the
brake pedal and steering wheel.
Never start the engine by pushing, towing
or driving downhill. This could cause a
flow of fuel into the catalytic converter
and damage it beyond repair.
Proceed as follows:
❒engage the handbrake;
❒put the gear lever into neutral;
❒fully depress the clutch pedal without moving the
accelerator;
❒turn the ignition key to AVV and release it as soon
as the engine starts.
If the engine does not start at the first attempt, return
the ignition key to STOP before repeating the starting
procedure.
If, when the ignition key is at MAR, the instrument panel
warning light
Yremains on together with warning light
U, turn the key to STOP and then back to MAR; if the
warning light remains on, try the other keys provided
with the vehicle.
IMPORTANT If the instrument panel warning light
Ystays on permanently, contact an Abarth Dealership
immediately.
IMPORTANT Never leave the ignition key to MAR
when the engine is off.
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133
STOPPING THE ENGINE
Turn the ignition key to STOP while the engine is idling.
IMPORTANT After a taxing drive, you should allow the
engine to “catch its breath” before turning it off by
letting it idle to allow the temperature in the engine
compartment to fall.
KNOWING
YOUR VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
MAINTENANCE
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
A quick burst on the accelerator before
turning off the engine serves absolutely
no practical purpose, it wastes fuel and is
damaging especially to turbocharged engines.
F0U124Abfig. 124
PARKING THE VEHICLE
Proceed as follows:
❒Stop the engine and engage the handbrake;
❒Engage a gear (on a slope, engage first gear if the
vehicle is faced uphill or reverse if it is facing
downhill) and leave the wheels steered.
Block the wheels with a wedge or a stone if the car is
parked on a steep slope. Do not leave the key in the
ignition switch to prevent draining the battery. Always
remove the key when you leave the vehicle.
Never leave children unattended in the
car. Always remove the ignition key
when leaving the car and take it with you.
WARNING
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SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
F0U125Abfig. 125
USING THE MANUAL GEARBOX
To engage the gears, press the clutch pedal fully and put
the gear lever into one of the required positions (the
diagram is shown on the knob fig. 125).
To engage 6
thgear, operate the lever by pressing it
towards the right in order to avoid engaging 4thgear by
mistake. The same applies to the shift from 6thto 5th
gear.
IMPORTANT The car can only be put into reverse gear
when it has stopped moving completely.
To engage reverse R from neutral, proceed as follows:
raise sliding ring A-fig. 125 under the knob and at the
same time move the gear lever to the left and then
forwards.
HANDBRAKE fig. 124
The handbrake lever is located to the left of the driver’s
seat. Pull the handbrake lever upwards until the car
cannot be moved. Four or five clicks are generally
enough when the car is on level ground while nine or
ten may be required if the car is on a steep slope and
laden.
IMPORTANT If this is not the case, contact an Abarth
Dealership to have the handbrake adjusted.
When the handbrake is engaged and the ignition key is
in
MARposition, the warning light xon the instrument
panel will turn on.
Proceed as follows to release the handbrake:
❒slightly lift the handbrake and press the release
button
A;
❒keep button Apressed and lower the lever. The
warning light
xon the instrument panel will turn off.
Press the brake pedal when carrying out this operation
to prevent the car from moving accidentally.
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SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
❒slightly open the windows;
❒cover the car with a cloth or perforated plastic
sheet. Do not use sheets of non-perforated plastic
as they do not allow moisture on the car body to
evaporate;
❒inflate tyres to +0.5 bar above the standard
specified pressure and check it periodically;
❒if you don’t disconnect the battery from the
electrical system, check its charge every month and
recharge it if the indicator shows a dark colour
without the central green area;
❒do not drain the engine cooling system.
IMPORTANT Where relevant, switch off the car alarm
with the remote control.
CAR INACTIVITY
If the car is to be left inactive for longer than a month,
the following precautions should be followed:
❒park the car in covered, dry and if possible well-
ventilated premises;
❒engage a gear;
❒check that the handbrake is not engaged;
❒disconnect the negative battery terminal and check
battery charge. Repeat this check once every three
months during storage. Recharge if the optical
indicator shows a dark colour without the central
green area;
❒clean and protect the painted parts using protective
wax;
❒clean and protect the shiny metal parts using special
compounds commercially available;
❒sprinkle talcum powder on the rubber windscreen
and rear window wiper blades and lift them off the
glass;
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141
WARNING LIGHTS AND MESSAGES
GENERAL WARNINGS
Switching on of some warning lights/symbols is
associated to a specific message and/or warning buzzer.
These indications are indicative and precautionary and
as such must not be considered as exhaustive and/or
alternative to the information contained in the Owner
Handbook, which you are recommended to read
carefully in all cases. Always refer to the information in
this chapter in the event of a failure indication.
IMPORTANT The fault indicators appearing on the
reconfigurable multifunction display are divided into two
categories: very serious and less serious faults.
Very serious faults prompt a prolonged cycle of signals.
Less serious faults prompt a shorter cycle of signals.
Press MENU ESC to stop the warning cycle in both
cases.
The instrument panel warning lights will stay on until the
causes of the fault are eliminated.
KNOWING
YOUR VEHICLE
SAFETY
STARTING
AND DRIVING
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
MAINTENANCE
AND CARE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
CONTENTS
WARNING LIGHTS AND MESSAGES
If the warning light xturns on when
travelling (with the message on the
display) stop the car immediately and contact
an Abarth Dealership.
WARNING
BRAKE FLUID
LOW (red)
HANDBRAKE ENGAGED (red)
When the key is turned to the MAR position the
warning light comes on but should go out after a few
seconds.
Low brake fluid level
The warning light comes on when the level of the brake
fluid in the reservoir falls below the minimum level due
to a possible leak in the circuit.
The display will show a dedicated message.
x
Handbrake on
The warning light turns on when the handbrake is
engaged.
On some versions there is also an associated warning
buzzer if the car is moving.
IMPORTANT If the warning light turns on when
travelling, check that the handbrake is not engaged.
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