FIAT BRAVO 2013 2.G Owners Manual
Page 161 of 299
PARKINGProceed as follows:
❒stop the engine and engage the handbrake;
❒engage a gear (on a slope, engage first gear if the
car is facing uphill or reverse if it is facing
downhill) and leave the wheels steered.
If the car is parked on a steep slope, it is also
advisable to block the wheels with a wedge or
stone. Do not leave the ignition key on MAR-ON
to avoid draining the battery. Always remove the
key when you leave the car.
HANDBRAKE
The handbrake is located between the front seats.
Pull the lever upwards to operate the handbrake,
until the car is braked.
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 a Fiat
Dealership to have the handbrake adjusted.
For cars equipped with a front armrest, lift this up
to ensure that it does not interfere with the action
of the handbrake.
WARNING
Never leave children in the unattended
car. Always remove the ignition key
when leaving the car and take it out with you.
When the handbrake is on and the ignition key is at
MAR-ON position, the warning light
will come
on in the instrument panel.
Proceed as follows to release the handbrake:
❒slightly lift the lever and press release button A
fig. 136;
❒keep button A pressed and lower the lever. The
warning light in the instrument panel will
switch off.
Press the brake pedal when carrying out this
operation to prevent the car from moving
accidentally.fig. 136
F0Q0628
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USING THE GEARBOXTo engage the gears, press the clutch pedal fully and
put the gear lever into the required position (the
diagram is shown on the knob fig. 137, fig. 138 and
fig. 139).To engage 6th gear (1.4 16V, 1.4 T-JET, 1.4 Turbo
MultiAir, 1.6 MultiJet, 2.0 MultiJet versions), operate
the lever by pressing it to the right in order to
avoid engaging 4th gear by mistake. The same
applies to the shift from 6th to 5th gear.
IMPORTANT Reverse can only be engaged when
the car is completely stationary. With the engine
running, wait for at least 2 seconds with the clutch
pedal fully pressed before engaging reverse to
prevent damage to the gears and grating.
To engage reverse R from neutral, lift sliding ring A
fig. 137, A fig. 138 or A fig. 139 and, at the same
time:
❒move the lever to the right and then backwards
(1.4 16V, 1.6 MultiJet versions);
or
❒shift the lever to the left and forward (versions
1.4 T-JET, 1.4 MultiAir, 2.0 MultiJet) fig. 139.
fig. 137
F0Q0734
fig. 138
F0Q0602
fig. 139
F0Q0783
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WARNING
Press the clutch pedal fully to change
gears correctly. It is therefore essential
that there is nothing under the pedals: make
sure the mats are lying flat and do not get
in the way of the pedals.Do not drive with your hand resting on
the gear lever as the force exerted,
even if slight , could lead over time to
premature wear on the gearbox internal
components
FUEL SAVINGSHere are some useful tips to save fuel and minimise
harmful emissions of CO
2and other pollutants
(nitric oxides, unburnt hydrocarbons, fine dusts
etc…).
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
The general factors that affect fuel consumption are
listed below.
Car maintenance
Have checks and adjustments carried out in
accordance with the “Scheduled Servicing Plan”.
Ty r e s
Check the pressure of the tyres routinely at an
interval of no more than 4 weeks: if the pressure is
too low, consumption levels increase as resistance
to rolling is higher.
Unnecessary loads
Do not travel with an overloaded boot. The weight
of the car (especially when driving in town) and
its ride greatly affects consumption and stability.
Roof rack/ski rack
Remove the roof rack or the ski rack from the roof
after use. These accessories lower aerodynamic
penetration and adversely affect consumption
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levels. When transporting particularly large objects,
use a trailer if possible.
Electric devices
Use electric devices only for the amount of time
needed. The heated rear window, additional
headlights, windscreen wipers and heater fan need a
considerable amount of energy, therefore
increasing fuel consumption (by up to 25% in the
urban cycle).
Climate control system
Air conditioning leads to higher fuel consumption
(on average up to +20%). If the temperature
outside permits, try and use the air vents.
Devices for aerodynamic control
The use of non-certified spoilers may adversely
affect air drag and fuel consumption.
DRIVING STYLE
The main driving styles that affect fuel consumption
are listed below.
Starting
Do not warm the engine with the car at a standstill
or at idle or high speed: under these conditions
the engine warms up much more slowly, increasing
electrical consumption and emissions. It istherefore advisable to move off immediately, slowly,
avoiding high speeds: in this way the engine will
warm faster.
Unnecessary actions
Avoid accelerating when starting at traffic lights or
before switching off the engine. This and also
double declutching is absolutely pointless on
modern cars and also increases consumption and
pollution.
Gear selection
As soon as the conditions of the traffic and road
allow, use a higher gear. Using a low gear for faster
acceleration will increase consumption.
In the same way improper use of a high gear
increases consumption, emissions an engine wear.
Max. speed
Fuel consumption considerably increases as speed
increases. Avoiding unnecessary braking and
acceleration, which cost in terms of both fuel and
emissions.
Acceleration
Accelerating violently severely affects consumption
and emissions: acceleration should be gradual and
should not exceed the maximum torque.
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CONDITIONS OF USE
The main usage conditions that negatively affect
fuel consumption are listed below.
Cold starting
Short journeys and frequent cold starts do not
allow the engine to reach optimum operating
temperature. This results in a significant increase in
consumption levels (from +15 to +30% on the
urban cycle) and emissions.
Traffic and road conditions
Rather high consumption levels are linked to
situations with heavy traffic, for instance when
travelling in queues with frequent use of the lower
gears or in cities with many traffic lights. Winding
mountain roads and rough road surfaces also
adversely affect consumption.
Traffic hold-ups
During prolonged hold-ups (e.g. level crossings) the
engine should be switched off.
TOWING TRAILERSIMPORTANT NOTES
For towing caravans or trailers the car must be
fitted with a certified tow hook and an adequate
electric system. Installation should be carried
out by specialised personnel who will issue the
required papers for travelling on roads.
Install any specific and/or additional rear view
mirrors as specified by the Highway Code.
Remember that when towing a trailer, steep hills
are harder to climb, braking distances increase and
overtaking takes longer depending on the overall
weight.
Engage a low gear when driving downhill, rather
than constantly using the brake.
The weight the trailer exerts on the car tow hook
reduces the car's loading capacity by the same
amount. To make sure that the maximum towable
weight is not exceeded (given in the car registration
document) account should be taken of the fully
laden trailer, including accessories and luggage.
Respect the speed limits specific to each country
for vehicles towing trailers.
In any case, the maximum speed must not exceed
80 km/h.
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WARNING
The ABS with which the car may be
equipped will not control the braking
system of the trailer. Particular caution is
required on slippery roads.
WARNING
Never modify the braking system of the
car to control the trailer brake.The
trailer braking system must be fully
independent of the car ’s hydraulic system.
INSTALLING THE TOW HOOK
The towing device should be fastened to the
bodywork by specialised personnel according to any
additional and/or integrative information supplied
by the Manufacturer of the device. The towing
device must meet current regulations with
reference to Directive 94/20/EEC and subsequent
amendments. For any version the towing device
used must be right for the towable weight of the
car on which it is to be installed.
IMPORTANT The use of auxiliary loads other than
external lights (electric brake, winch, etc.) must
be used with engine running.For the electric connection a unified connector
should be used, which is generally placed on a
special bracket fastened to the towing device, and a
special ECU should be installed on the car to
control the trailer's exterior lights.
7 or 13-pole 12 V DC connections should be used
(CUNA/UNI and ISO/DIN Standards). Follow
any instructions provided by the car manufacturer
and/or the towing device manufacturer.
An electric brake or winch should be powered
directly by the battery through a cable with a
cross-section of no less than 2.5 mm
2.
IMPORTANT Electric brakes or other devices must
be used with engine running.
In addition to the electrical branches, the vehicle's
electrical system can be connected only to the
supply cable for an electric brake and to the cable
for an internal trailer light, though not more than
15 W. For connections use the preset control unit
with battery cable no less than 2.5 mm2.
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SNOW TYRESUse snow tyres of the same size as the normal
tyres provided with the car.
A Fiat Dealership will be happy to provide advice
concerning the most suitable type of tyre for
the customer's requirements.
For the type of tyre to be used, inflation pressures
and the specifications of snow tyres, follow the
instructions given in paragraph "Wheels" in section
"Technical specifications".
The winter features of these tyres are reduced
considerably when the tread depth is below 4 mm.
Replace them in this case.
Due to snow tyre features, under normal
conditions of use or on long motorway journeys,
the performance of these tyres is much lower than
that of standard tyres. Their usage should therefore
be restricted in accordance with their type
approval.IMPORTANT When using snow tyres with a
maximum speed index below the one that can be
reached by the car (increased by 5%), place a notice
in the passenger compartment, plainly in view,
which states the maximum speed allowed by the
snow tyres (as per EC Directive).
All four tyres should be the same (brand and track)
to ensure greater safety when driving and braking
and better driveability.
Remember that you should not change the rotation
direction of the tyres.
WARNING
The maximum speed for snow tyres
marked “Q” is 160 km/h, while it is 190
km/h for “T” tyres and 210 km/h for "H" tyres.
You should, however, always stick to the speed
limits of the Road Traffic Code.
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SNOW CHAINSThe use of snow chains should be in compliance
with local regulations.
The snow chains may be applied only onto the front
wheel tyres (drive wheels).
Check the tension of the snow chains after the first
few metres have been driven.
Use reduced size snow chains:
– on 195/65 R15” and 205/55 R16” tyres, use
reduced size snow chains with a maximum
projection of 9 mm beyond the tyre profile;
– on 225/45 R17” tyres, use reduced size snow
chains with a maximum projection of 7 mm beyond
the tyre profile.IMPORTANT Snow chains cannot be fitted to the
space-saver spare wheel. If the front tyre has a
puncture, replace a rear wheel with the spare wheel
and move the rear wheel to the front axle. This
way with two normal drive wheels, snow chains can
be fitted to them to solve an emergency.
IMPORTANT 225/40 R18 92V tyres cannot be
fitted with chains. Snow chains may cause
interference with the surrounding elements.
Keep your speed down when snow chains
are fitted; do not exceed 50 km/h. Avoid
potholes, steps and pavements and avoid
driving for long distances on roads not covered
with snow to prevent damaging the car and
the roadbed.
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CAR INACTIVITYIf the car is to be left inactive for longer than a
month, the following precautions should be
observed:
❒park the car in covered, dry and if possible
well-ventilated premises and slightly open the
windows;
❒engage a gear and disengage the handbrake;
❒disconnect the negative battery terminal and
check charge (see paragraph “Battery - Charge
and electrolyte level check” in chapter
“Maintenance and care”);
❒clean and protect the painted parts using
protective wax;
❒clean and protect the shiny metal parts using
special compounds available commercially;❒sprinkle talcum powder on the rubber
windscreen and rear window wiper blades and lift
them off the glass;
❒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 at intervals;
❒do not drain the engine cooling system.
IMPORTANT Where relevant, switch off the car
alarm with the remote control.
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WARNING LIGHTS AND MESSAGES
WARNING LIGHTS AND MESSAGESGENERAL WARNINGS
Warning lights are accompanied by a specific
message and/or acoustic warning where provided
by the control panel. These indications areconcise
and precautionaryand, as such, must not be
considered as exhaustive and/or an alternative to
the information contained in this Owner
Handbook, which you are advised to read carefully
in all cases. In the event of a failure indication,
always refer to the contents of this chapter.
IMPORTANT Failure indications displayed are
divided into two categories:very seriousandless
seriousfailures.
Very seriousfailures are indicated by a repeated
and prolonged warning "cycle".
Less seriousfailures are indicated by a shorter
warning "cycle".
The display cycle of both failure types can be
stopped by pressing theMODEbutton. The
warning light (or symbol in the display) will remain
on until the cause of the malfunction is eliminated.
BRAKE FLUID LOW (red) /
HANDBRAKE ENGAGED (red)
Turning the key to the MAR-ON position the
warning light switches on, but it should switch off
after a few seconds.
LOW BRAKE FLUID LEVEL
The warning light switches on when the level of the
brake fluid in the reservoir falls below the
minimum level due to a possible leak in the circuit.
On some versions the display shows the dedicated
message.
WARNING
If the
warning light switches on
while driving, stop immediately and
contact a Fiat Dealership.
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