wheel FIAT PUNTO 2012 Owner handbook (in English)

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ABS SYSTEM
If you have never driven a vehicle with
ABS before, it is advisable to perform
a few tests on slippery ground, naturally in
conditions of safety and respecting the
highway code of the country where you
are driving. Read the following informa-
tion carefully.
ABS is an integral part of the braking sys-
tem which prevents, whatever the road
conditions and force applied to the brake
pedal, the wheels from locking and con-
sequently sliding under braking, thus en-
suring that the vehicle remains under con-
trol even during emergency braking.
The system is completed by EBD (Elec-
tronic Brakeforce Distribution), which dis-
tributes the braking action between front
and rear wheels.
IMPORTANT For the maximum efficien-
cy of the braking system, a bedding-in pe-
riod of about 500 km is needed (for a new
vehicle or after having replaced the brake
pads/discs): during this period it is better
to avoid sharp, repeated and prolonged
braking.The ABS gets the most from
the available grip, but it can-
not improve it; you should therefore
take every care when driving on slip-
pery surfaces and not take unneces-
sary risks.
WARNING
SYSTEM INTERVENTION
The driver can tell the ABS system has
been activated because the brake pedal
pulsates slightly and the system gets nois-
ier: this means that the car speed should
be altered to fit the type of road surface.
MECHANICAL BRAKE ASSIST
(emergency braking assistance)
(for versions/markets, where provided)
This system (which cannot be deactivat-
ed) recognises emergency braking condi-
tions according to the speed of operation
of the brake pedal and provides an addi-
tional hydraulic braking pressure to sup-
port that provided by the driver. This al-
lows faster and more powerful operation
of the braking system.
IMPORTANT When the Mechanical
Brake Assist is activated noises can be
heard from the system. This is normal.
Anyway, while braking keep the brake
pedal depressed.
If the ABS cuts in, it is a sign
that the grip between tyre
and the road surface has reached the
limit: you must slow down to match
the speed to the road grip available.
WARNING
FAILURE INDICATIONS
ABS failure
This is indicated by the
>warning light
on the instrument panel together with the
dedicated message on the multifunction
display (for versions/markets, where pro-
vided) coming on (see “Warning lights and
messages” section).
In this case, the braking system will work
as normal, but without the extra capacity
offered by the ABS system. Drive care-
fully to the nearest Fiat Dealership to have
the system checked.
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ESP SYSTEM (Electronic
Stability Program)
(for versions/markets, where provided)
This is an electronic system that controls
car stability in the event of tyre grip loss,
helping to maintain directional control.
The ESP system is therefore particularly
useful when road surface grip changes.
In addition to the ESP system, ASR system
and Hill Holder, the MSR system (adjusting
the engine braking torque) and the HBA
system (improving the braking force dur-
ing emergency braking) are also provided
(for versions/markets, where provided).
SYSTEM INTERVENTION
This is signalled by the flashing of warn-
ing light
áon the instrument panel, to in-
form the driver that the car is in critical
stability and grip conditions.
When the ABS cuts in and
you feel the brake pedal pul-
sating, do not remove your foot, but
keep the pedal pushed down; in do-
ing so you, will stop in the shortest
distance possible under the road con-
ditions at the time.
WARNINGEBD failure
This is indicated by the
>and xwarn-
ing lights on the instrument panel togeth-
er with the dedicated message on the mul-
tifunction display (for versions/markets,
where provided) coming on (see “Warn-
ing lights and messages” section).
In this case, the rear wheels may sudden-
ly lock and the vehicle may swerve when
braking sharply. Drive carefully to the
nearest Fiat Dealership to have the system
checked.
If only the xwarning light
on the instrument panel
lights up (together with a message in
the multifunction display, for ver-
sions/markets, where provided) stop
the vehicle immediately and contact
the nearest Fiat Dealership. Fluid
leaking from the hydraulic system will
compromise the operation of the
braking system, whether it is of the
conventional type or with ABS.
WARNING
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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 a failure, the ESP will be au-
tomatically switched off and the
áwarn-
ing light will come on permanently on the
instrument panel along with a message on
the multifunction display (for versions/
markets, where provided) (see “Warning
lights and messages” section). The LED on
the ASR OFF button will also light up.
Contact a Fiat Dealership as soon as pos-
sible if this happens.
HYDRAULIC BRAKE ASSIST
(integrated ESP emergency
braking assistance)
(for versions/markets, where provided)
This system (which is compulsory) recog-
nises emergency braking according to the
speed of operation of the brake pedal and
provides additional hydraulic braking pres-
sure to support that applied by the driver.
This allows faster and more powerful op-
eration of the braking system.
The Hydraulic Brake Assist is deactivat-
ed on versions equipped with ESP, in the
event of an ESP system failure (indicated
by warning light
áswitching on together
with the message in the multifunctional
display, for versions/markets, where pro-
vided).
Do not take unnecessary
risks, even if your vehicle is
fitted with an ESP system. Your dri-
ving style must always be suited to the
road conditions, visibility and traffic.
The driver is always ultimately re-
sponsible for road safety.
WARNING
HILL HOLDER SYSTEM
This is an integral part of the ESP system,
making hill-starts easier.
It is automatically activated in the follow-
ing conditions:
❒uphill: vehicle stationary on a road with
a gradient higher than 5%, engine run-
ning, brake pedal pressed 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 re-
verse gear engaged.
At pick-up, the ESP system control unit
will maintain the braking pressure at the
wheels until the necessary engine torque
for moving away is reached or, in any case,
for a maximum of 2 seconds in order to
move easily from the brake pedal to the
accelerator pedal. If the vehicle has not departed after this
time, the system will deactivate automat-
ically by gradually releasing the brake
force.
At release, the typical brake disengage-
ment noise indicating that the car is go-
ing to move will be heard.
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 (for versions/markets,
where provided) (see section “Warning
lights and messages”).
IMPORTANT The Hill Holder system is
not a parking brake; therefore, never leave
the vehicle without having engaged the
handbrake, turned the engine off and se-
lected 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 condi-
tion and, above all, of the type, make
and size recommended.
WARNING
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MSR system
(engine braking regulation)
This is an integral part of the ASR system
that, in case of sudden gear shifting, cuts
in to provide torque to the engine, thus
preventing excessive driving wheel drag
that, especially in poor grip conditions, can
lead to loss of stability.
Switching the system on/off fig. 97
The ASR system switches on automatically
each time the engine is started.
When travelling, the ASR can be switched
off and on again by pressing button Alo-
cated on the dashboard fig. 97. If the system is off, the LED on the button
lights up together with a message shown
on the multifunction display (for versions/
markets, 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, the
driving wheels skidding when moving off
makes it possible to get better traction.
For the correct operation of
the ESP and ASR systems,
the tyres must be the same make and
type on all wheels, in perfect condi-
tion and, above all, of the type, make
and size recommended.
WARNING
fig. 97
ASR OFF
F0M0109m
ASR SYSTEM (Anti-slip Regulator)
This function controls car drive and cuts
in automatically every time one or both
driving wheels skid.
Depending on how skiddy the road is,
two different control systems are acti-
vated:
❒if the skidding involves both drive
wheels, the ASR function intervenes
by reducing the power transmitted by
the engine;
❒if the skidding involves only one dri-
ving wheel, the ASR system cuts in by
automatically braking the wheel that
is sliding.
The ASR system is particularly helpful in
the following circumstances:
❒skidding of the inner wheel when cor-
nering due to the effect of dynamic
load changes or excessive acceleration;
❒too much power transmitted to the
wheels in relation to the conditions of
the road surface;
❒acceleration on slippery, snowy or
icy surfaces;
❒loss of grip on a wet surface (aqua-
planing).
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76
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Do not take unnecessary
risks, even if your vehicle is
fitted with this system. Your driving
style must always be suited to the
road conditions, visibility and traffic.
The driver is always responsible for
road safety.
WARNING
For correct operation of the ASR system,
the tyres must be of the same brand and
type on all wheels, in perfect conditions
and, above all, of the type, brand and size
recommended.
FAILURE INDICATIONS
In the event of a failure, the ASR system
will be automatically switched off and
warning light
áwill appear permanently
on the instrument panel along with a mes-
sage on the multifunction display (for ver-
sions/markets, where provided) (see
“Warning lights and messages”). In this
case, contact a Fiat Dealership as soon as
possible.
EOBD SYSTEM
The EOBD (European On Board Diagno-
sis) system allows continuous diagnostics
of the emission-related components of the
car.
It also alerts the driver, by turning on the
Uwarning light on the instrument panel
(together with a relevant message in the
multifunction display, for versions/mar-
kets, where provided) (see “Warning
lights and messages” section), when these
components are no longer in peak con-
dition.
The goal of the system 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 non-per-
forming components.
The system also has a connector that can
be interfaced with appropriate equipment,
which makes it possible to read the er-
ror 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 traffic
authorities. IMPORTANT After resolving the prob-
lem, to check the system completely, Fi-
at Dealerships are obliged to run a bench
test and, if necessary, road tests which
may call for a long journey.
If, when the ignition key is
turned to the MAR position,
the
Uwarning light either
does not come on or, when
driving, it comes on permanently or
flashes (along with a message in the
multifunction display for versions/mar -
kets, where provided), contact a Fiat
Dealership as soon as possible. The
operation of the Uwarning light may
be checked by traffic police using ap-
propriate equipment. Follow the laws
in force in the country where you are
driving.
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“DUALDRIVE”
ELECTRIC
POWER
STEERING SYSTEM
The car is equipped with an electrically
controlled power steering system called
“Dualdrive”, working only with the igni-
tion key at MARand the engine running,
that customises steering force according
to the driving conditions.
ACTIVATION/DEACTIVATION
(CITY function)
To activate/deactivate the function, press
the button on the dashboard.
Activation is indicated by:
❒the word CITYon the instrument
panel (for versions with multifunction
display);
❒the word CITY lit up on the button
after it has been pressed fig. 98.When the CITY
function is on, the steer-
ing wheel effort is lighter, making parking
easier: therefore, this function is particu-
larly useful for driving in city centres.
For the Sport version, this function guar-
antees improved driving comfort because
the accelerator pedal is better calibrated
for gradual acceleration/deceleration.
fig. 98F0M0621m
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FAILURE INDICATIONS
Any failure of the electric power steering
system is indicated by instrument panel
warning light
gcoming on together with
a message on the multifunction display (for
versions/markets, where provided) (see
section “Warning lights and messages”).
In the event of electric power steering sys-
tem failure, the car can be driven with me-
chanical steering.
IMPORTANT In some circumstances, fac-
tors independent of the electric power
steering could cause the
gwarning light
in the instrument panel to come on.
In this case, stop the car immediately,
switch off the engine for about 20 seconds
and then restart the car. If the warning
light
gis still on, along with the message
on the multifunction display (for ver-
sions/markets, where provided), contact
a Fiat Dealership. IMPORTANT The steering may become
stiffer during parking manoeuvres that re-
quire a lot of turns of the wheel. This is
normal and is caused by the electric con-
trol motor overheating protection system.
No repairs are needed. The power steer-
ing system will start working properly
again the next time the car is used.
It is absolutely forbidden to
carry out any after-market
operation involving steering system or
steering column modifications (e.g. in-
stallation of anti-theft device) that
could badly affect performance and
safety, invalidate the warranty and
also result in the car failing to com-
ply with regulations.
WARNING
Before servicing the car,
switch off the engine and re-
move the key from the ignition to ac-
tivate the steering lock. This is espe-
cially important when the car wheels
are not touching the ground. If this
is not possible (for example if the key
needs to be turned to MAR or the en-
gine must be running), remove the
main fuse that protects the electric
power steering.
WARNING
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RADIO TRANSMITTERS
AND MOBILE PHONES
Radio transmitter equipment (vehicle mo-
bile phones, CB radios, amateur radio etc.)
shall not be used inside the car unless
a separate aerial is mounted on the roof.
IMPORTANT The use of these devices in-
side the passenger compartment (without
a separate aerial) may cause the vehicle
electrical systems to malfunction. This
could compromise safety in addition to
constituting a potential hazard for pas-
sengers’ health.
In addition, transmission and reception of
these devices may be affected by the
shielding effect of the car body.
With regard to EC-approved mobile
phones (GSM, GPRS, UMTS), you should
adhere strictly to the instructions provid-
ed by the mobile phone’s manufacturer.
Take care when fitting addi-
tional spoilers, alloy wheels
or non-standard wheel hubs: they
could reduce the ventilation of the
brakes and affect efficiency under
sharp, repeated braking or on long
descents. Make sure that nothing ob-
structs the pedals (mats, etc.)
WARNINGINSTALLING ELECTRICAL/
ELECTRONIC DEVICES
Electrical and electronic devices installed
after buying the car in the context of af-
ter-sales service must carry the following
label:
Fiat Auto S.p.A. authorises the installation
of transceiving devices provided that they
are installed by a specialised centre ac-
cording to rules of good engineering prac-
tice in compliance with the manufacturer’s
instructions.
IMPORTANT Traffic police may not al-
low the car on the road if devices have
been installed which modify the features
of the car. This may also cause invalida-
tion of warranty in relation to faults
caused by the change or either directly or
indirectly related to it.
Fiat Auto S.p.A. shall not be liable for dam-
age caused by the installation of acces-
sories either not supplied or recom-
mended by Fiat Auto S.p.A. and/or not
installed in compliance with the provided
instructions.
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SAFETY
FRONT AIRBAGS
The car is fitted with front airbags for the
driver and the passenger, and with a knee
bag on the driver’s side (for versions/mar -
kets, where provided).
The front driver/passenger airbags and the
driver’s knee bag (for versions/markets,
where provided) have been designed to
protect the occupants of the front seats
in the event of head-on crashes of medi-
um/high severity, by placing the bag be-
tween the occupant and the steering
wheel or dashboard.
Non-activation in other types of crash
(side-on collisions, rear shunts, roll-overs,
etc.) is therefore not a sign of system mal-
function.
An electronic control unit causes the bag
to inflate in the event of a head-on 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 driver/passenger airbags and the
driver’s knee bag (for versions/markets,
where provided) are not a replacement
for, but rather complement the use of,
seat belts, which should always be worn,
as specified by law in Europe and most
non-European countries. The volume of the front airbags at maxi-
mum inflation fills most of the space
between the steering wheel and the dri-
ver and between the dashboard and the
passenger.
In the event of an impact, someone not
wearing a seat belt will move forward and
come into contact with the bag which is
still in the opening stage. The protection
offered by the bag is reduced in such
a case.
Front airbags may not be activated in the
following situations:
❒in collisions against highly strainable ob-
jects that do not affect the front surface
of the car (e.g. bumper collision against
guard rail, piles of gravel etc.);
❒jamming of the car underneath other
vehicles or protective barriers (e.g. un-
derneath a truck or a guard rail); in this
case, the bags would offer no addition-
al protection with respect to the seat
belt and their deployment is unneces-
sary. In these cases, non-deployment of
the airbag does not necessarily indicate
a system malfunction.
Do not apply stickers or oth-
er objects on the steering
wheel, passenger side airbag cover or
upper side upholstery. Do not place
objects (e.g. mobile 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 airbags are not deployed in the event
of minor collisions (for which the with-
holding action of the seat belts is suffi-
cient). For this reason, the seat belt must
be worn at all times. In the case of side-
on collisions, the seat belts hold occupants
in the correct position and prevent them
from being thrown out of the car by a very
violent collision.
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SAFETY
WARNING: Do not put child seats facing backwards on
the front seat if the passen-
ger’s airbag is enabled
(ON). Deployment of the
airbag in an accident could
cause fatal injuries to the baby.
Should it be absolutely necessary to
place a child seat on the front seat,
always deactivate the passenger
airbag. Also, the passenger seat
should be as far back as possible to
avoid contact between the child seat
and the dashboard. Although this is
not mandatory by law, the airbag
should be immediately reactivated
when children are no longer carried
to ensure better protection for adults.
WARNING
FRONT AIRBAG ON
PASSENGER’S SIDE fig. 16
This consists of an instant-inflating bag
contained in a special compartment in the
dashboard: this bag has a larger volume
than that of the driver’s.
fig. 15F0M0627mfig. 16F0M0053m
FRONT AIRBAG ON DRIVER’S
SIDE fig. 15
This consists of an instant-inflating bag
contained in a special compartment in the
centre of the steering wheel.
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