ABS FIAT 124 SPIDER 2019 Owner handbook (in English)

HOW TO USE THIS MANUAL
ESSENTIAL INFORMATION
Each time directions are given in the instructions (left/right or forward/backwards), these must be intended as referred to the
point of view of an occupant in the driver's seat. Special cases not complying with this rule will be properly specified in the text.
The figures in the Owner Handbook are provided by way of example only: this might imply that some details of the image do
not correspond to the actual arrangement of your vehicle. In addition, the Handbook has been conceived considering vehicles
with steering wheel on the left side; it is therefore possible that on vehicles with steering wheel on the right side, the position of
some controls or elements is not exactly mirror-like with respect to the figure.
To identify the chapter with the information needed you can consult the index at the end of this Owner Handbook.
Chapters can be rapidly identified by graphic tabs, at the side of each odd page. A key showing the order of the chapter and
the corresponding tab symbols appears on another page.
SYMBOLS
While reading this Owner Handbook you will find a series ofWARNINGSto prevent procedures that could damage your
vehicle.
There are alsoPRECAUTIONSthat must be carefully followed to prevent incorrect use of the components of the vehicle,
which could cause accidents or injuries.
Therefore, allWARNINGSandPRECAUTIONSmust always be carefully followed.
WARNINGSandPRECAUTIONSare recalled in the text with the following symbols:
personal safety
vehicle safety
environmental protection

STEERING WHEEL
STEERING WHEEL
ADJUSTMENT
35) 36) 37)
To change the angle of the steering
wheel:
stop the vehicle, and then pull down
the lock release lever 1 under the
steering column fig. 12;
tilt the steering wheel to the desired
positions, then push the lever up to lock
the column;
attempt to push the steering wheel
up and down to make sure it's locked
before driving.
WARNING
35)Any adjustment of the steering wheel
position must be carried out only with the
vehicle stationary and the engine turned
off. Adjusting the steering wheel while the
vehicle is moving is dangerous. Moving it
can very easily cause the driver to abruptly
turn to the left or right. This can lead to loss
of control or an accident.
36)It is absolutely forbidden to carry out
any aftermarket operation involving steering
system or steering column modifications
(e.g. installation of antitheft device) that
could adversely affect performance and
safety, invalidate the warranty and also
result in the vehicle not meeting
type-approval requirements.
37)Before exiting the vehicle, ALWAYS
engage the parking brake, steer the
wheels, engage the first gear if uphill and
the reverse if downhill. If the vehicle is
parked on a steep slope, chock the wheels
with wedges or stones. When leaving the
vehicle, always lock all the doors by
pressing the button on the key.
MIRRORS
OUTSIDE MIRRORS
38)
Driver's side wide angle mirror
The wide angle mirror has two
curvatures on its surface separated by
a region line 1 fig. 13 into outer and
inner regions.
The inner region is a standard convex
mirror whereas the outer region allows
for a wider range of visibility within the
same sweep. This combination allows
for better assurance when making lane
changes.
Objects appearing in the outer region
are actually further away than they are
in the inner region.
1204050101-12A-001
1304060101-12A-001
22
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

MAINTENANCE
MONITOR
(where provided)
Versions with Radio 7”
Proceed as follows:
select the iconon the home
screen to display the “Applications”
screen;
select “Maintenance” to display the
maintenance list screen;
switch the tab and select the setting
item you want to change: “Scheduled”,
“Tire rotation”, “Oil Change”.
You can customize settings in the setup
display as follows:
Scheduled
Tire rotation
Oil Change
For each function are available following
items: “Setting”/“Time (months)”/
“Distance (km or mile)”/“Reset”.
Only for “Oil Change” you can also set
“Oil life (%)”.
WARNING LIGHTS
AND MESSAGES
IMPORTANT The indication of the
warning light in the instrument panel is
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 advised to
read carefully in all cases. Always refer
to the information in this chapter in the
event of a failure indication.
IMPORTANT The instrument panel
warning light will stay on until the cause
of the failure is eliminated.
Vehicles with Radio 7”
The details for some warnings can be
viewed on the centre display.
Proceed as follows:
If the warning light is turned on,
select
icon on the home screen to
display the application screen;
SelectVehicle Status Monitor;
select “Warning Guidance”to
display the current warnings;
select the applicable warning to view
the warning details.
For the following warning/indicator
lights:
Master warning light;
Brake system warning light;
ABS warning light;
Charging system warning light;
Engine oil warning light;
Check engine light;
High engine coolant temperature
warning light;
Automatic transmission warning light;
Power steering malfunction indicator
light;
Air Bag/Seat Belt pretensioner
system warning light;
Active bonnet warning light;
Seat belt warning light;
Door-ajar warning light;
Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
warning light;
KEY warning light;
LED headlight KEY warning light;
Wrench indicator light;
TCS/DSC indicator light;
DSC OFF indicator light;
Security indicator light;
Passenger Air Bag deactivation
indicator light (where provided).
The light turns on when the ignition is
switched on for an operation check,
and turns off a few seconds later or
when the engine is started. If the light
does not turn on or remains turned on,
have the vehicle inspected at Fiat
Dealership.
Only for “Brake system warning
light”: the light turns on continuously
when the parking brake is applied.
54
KNOWING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL

Warning light What it means What to do
EBD (Electronic Brake-force Distribution)
SYSTEM WARNING
If the EBD (Electronic Brake-force Distribution)
control unit determines that some
components are operating incorrectly, the
control unit may illuminate the brake system
warning light and the ABS warning light
simultaneously. The problem is likely to be the
electronic brake force distribution system.Stop the vehicle in a safe place immediately
and contact a Fiat Dealership.
IMPORTANT Do not drive with both the ABS
warning light and brake warning light
illuminated. Contact a Fiat Dealership to have
the brakes inspected as soon as possible.
Driving when the brake system warning light
and ABS warning light are illuminated
simultaneously is dangerous. When both lights
are illuminated, the rear wheels could lock
more quickly in an emergency stop than under
normal circumstances.
CHARGING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT
If the warning light illuminates while driving, it
indicates a malfunction of the alternator or of
the charging system. Drive to the side of the
road and park off the right-of-way.Stop the vehicle in a safe place immediately
and contact a Fiat Dealership.
IMPORTANT Do not continue driving when the
charging system warning light is illuminated
because the engine could stop unexpectedly.
ENGINE OIL WARNING LIGHT
This warning light indicates low engine oil
pressure.
IMPORTANT Do not run the engine if the oil
pressure is low. Otherwise, it could result in
extensive engine damage.
IMPORTANT Do not run the engine if the oil
level is low. Otherwise, it could result in
extensive engine damage.
If the light remains illuminated even though the
oil level is normal or after adding oil, stop the
engine immediately and contact a Fiat
Dealership.If the light illuminates or the warning indication
is displayed while driving:
drive to the side of the road and park off
the right-of-way on level ground;
turn off the engine and wait 5 minutes for
the oil to drain back into the sump;
inspect the engine oil level. If it's low, add
the appropriate amount of engine oil while
being careful not to overfill;
start the engine and check the warning
light.
DOOR-AJAR WARNING LIGHT
The light turns on if any door is not closed
securely.Close the door securely.
56
KNOWING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL

Amber warning lights
Warning light What it means What to do
ABS WARNING LIGHT
If the ABS warning light stays on while you're
driving, the ABS control unit has detected a
system malfunction. If this occurs, your brakes
will function normally as if the vehicle had no
ABS.
NOTE When the engine is jump-started to
charge the battery, uneven rpm occurs and
the ABS warning light may illuminate. If this
occurs, it is the result of the weak battery and
does not indicate an ABS malfunction.
Recharge the battery.
NOTE The brake assist system does not
operate while the ABS warning light is
illuminated.Contact a Fiat Dealership as soon as possible.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT
If this light illuminates while driving, the vehicle
may have a problem. It is important to note the
driving conditions when the light illuminated.
The check engine light may illuminate in the
following cases:
the engine's electrical system has a
problem;
the emission control system has a
problem;
the fuel tank level being very low or
approaching empty;
the phonic wheel learning, following
disconnection of the battery, did not
complete successfully.
Contact a Fiat Dealership as soon as possible.
60
KNOWING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL

ACTIVE SAFETY
SYSTEMS
The vehicle has the following active
safety systems:
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System);
TCS (Traction Contol System);
DSC (Dynamic Stability Control);
Active bonnet (active pedestrian
protection).
For the operation of the systems, see
the following pages.
ABS SYSTEM (Antilock
Brake System)
The ABS control unit continuously
monitors the speed of each wheel. If
one wheel is about to lock up, the ABS
responds by automatically releasing
and reapplying that wheel's brake.
The driver will feel a slight vibration in
the brake pedal and may hear a
chattering noise from the brake system.
This is normal ABS system operation.
Continue to depress the brake pedal
without pumping the brakes.
The warning light turns on when the
system has a malfunction. Refer to
“Warning lights and messages”
paragraph in “Knowing the instrument
panel” chapter.
NOTE Braking distances may be longer
on loose surfaces (snow or gravel, forexample) which usually have a hard
foundation. A vehicle with a normal
braking system may require less
distance to stop under these conditions
because the tires will build up a wedge
of surface layer when the wheels skid.
NOTE The sound of the ABS operating
may be heard when starting the engine
or immediately after starting the vehicle,
however, it does not indicate a
malfunction.
TCS SYSTEM (Traction
Control System)
72) 73) 74)
The Traction Control System (TCS)
enhances traction and safety by
controlling engine torque and braking.
When the TCS detects driving wheel
slippage, it lowers engine torque and
operates the brakes to prevent loss of
traction.
This means that on a slick surface, the
engine adjusts automatically to provide
optimum power to the drive wheels,
limiting wheel spin and loss of traction.
The warning light turns on when the
system has a malfunction. Refer to
“Warning lights and messages”
paragraph in “Knowing the instrument
panel” chapter.
NOTE To turn off the TCS, press theDSC OFF switch (refer to “DSC OFF
switch” in this chapter).
TCS / DSC indicator light
The
indicator light stays on for a few
seconds when the ignition is switched
ON.
If the TCS or DSC is operating, the
indicator light flashes.
If the
light stays on, the TCS, DSC or
the brake assist system may have a
malfunction and they may not operate
correctly. Contact a Fiat Dealership.
IMPORTANT In addition to the warning
light flashing, a slight labouring sound
will come from the engine. This
indicates that the TCS/DSC is
operating properly.
IMPORTANT On slippery surfaces, such
as fresh snow, it will be impossible to
achieve high rpm when the TCS is on.
DSC SYSTEM (Dynamic
Stability Control)
75) 76) 77)
The Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
automatically controls braking and
engine torque in conjunction with
systems such as ABS and TCS to help
control side slip when driving on
slippery surfaces, or during sudden or
evasive manoeuvring, enhancing vehicle
safety. Refer to “ABS system (Antilock
73
68) 69) 70)71)

front bumper. In addition, it may
activate depending on the level of
impact from even a light object, small
animal, or other small object;
the system may also activate if the
lower part of the vehicle or the front
bumper receives an impact from one of
the following situations:
– the vehicle hits a curb;
– the vehicle falls into a deep ditch or
hole;
– the vehicle bounces and hits the
ground;
– the front, bottom part of the vehicle
contacts the slope of a parking
garage, the surface of an even,
undulating road, or a protruding or
fallen object on the road.
Situations in which the active
bonnet may not activate
The active bonnet may not active in the
following situations as an impact would
be difficult to detect:
the pedestrian gets hit at an angle or
by the side areas on the left and right of
the front bumper;
the vehicle hits a pedestrian who is
carrying something such as a bag
which can absorb the impact.Situations in which the system does
not activate
The active bonnet does not activate
under the following conditions:
the front bumper gets hit while the
vehicle is being driven at a speed
insufficient to activate the system;
the vehicle gets hit from the side or
the rear;
the vehicle rolls or turns over (the
active bonnet may operate depending
on the accident conditions).
WARNING
68)Do not rely on ABS as a substitute for
safe driving. The ABS cannot compensate
for unsafe and reckless driving, excessive
speed, tailgating (following another vehicle
too closely), driving on ice and snow, and
hydroplaning (reduced tire friction and road
contact because of water on the road
surface). You can still have an accident.
69)When the ABS intervenes and you feel
the brake pedal pulsating, do not reduce
the pressure, but hold it down firmly and
confidently; in doing so you will brake in the
shortest distance possible, depending on
the current road conditions.
70)For the correct operation of the ABS,
the tyres must of necessity be the same
make and type on all wheels, in perfect
condition and, above all, of the prescribed
type and dimensions.71)If the ABS intervenes, this indicates
that the grip of the tyres on the road is
nearing its limit: you must slow down to a
speed compatible with the available grip.
72)Do not rely on the Traction Control
System (TCS) as a substitute for safe
driving. The Traction Control System (TCS)
cannot compensate for unsafe and
reckless driving, excessive speed, tailgating
(following another vehicle too closely), and
hydroplaning (reduced tire friction and road
contact because of water on the road
surface). You can still have an accident.
73)Use snow tires or tire chains and drive
at reduced speeds when roads are
covered with ice and/or snow. Driving
without proper traction devices on snow
and/or ice-covered roads is dangerous.
The Traction Control System (TCS) alone
cannot provide adequate traction and you
could still have an accident.
74)The capability of the TCS must never
be tested irresponsibly and dangerously, in
such a way as to compromise personal
safety and the safety of others.
75)Do not rely on the DSC as a substitute
for safe driving: the Dynamic Stability
Control (DSC) cannot compensate for
unsafe and reckless driving, excessive
speed, tailgating (following another vehicle
too closely), and hydroplaning (reduced tire
friction and road contact because of water
on the road surface). You can still have an
accident.
76)For the correct operation of the DSC
system, the tyres must necessarily be of
the same make and type on all wheels, in
perfect condition and, above all, of the
prescribed type and size.
76
SAFETY

77)The capability of the DSC system must
never be tested irresponsibly and
dangerously, in such a way as to
compromise personal safety and the safety
of others.
78)If the active bonnet has activated,
always contact a Fiat Dealership. If the
bonnet release handle is pulled after the
active bonnet has activated, the bonnet will
rise even further. If the vehicle is driven with
the bonnet raised it will obstruct visibility
and could result in an accident. In addition,
do not attempt to push the bonnet back
down. Otherwise, it could deform the
bonnet or cause injury because the
activated bonnet cannot be lowered
manually. Before driving the vehicle contact
a Fiat Dealership after the active bonnet
has activated, make sure that the raised
bonnet does not obstruct vision and drive
the vehicle at a low speed.AUXILIARY DRIVING
SYSTEMS
TPMS (Tire Pressure
Monitoring System)
79) 80) 81)
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS) monitors the air pressure of all
four tires. If the air pressure of one or
more tires is too low, the system warns
the driver by indicating the tire pressure
monitoring system warning light
in
the instrument cluster and operating a
beep sound. The system monitors the
tire pressures indirectly using the data
sent from the ABS wheel speed
sensors.
To allow the system to operate
correctly, the system needs to be
initialized with the specified tire pressure
(value on the tire pressure label). Refer
to “Tire Pressure Monitoring System
Initialization” in this paragraph.
The warning light flashes when the
system has a malfunction. Refer to
“Warning lights and messages”
paragraph in “Knowing the instrument
panel” chapter.
IMPORTANT Each tire, including the
spare (where provided), should be
checked monthly when cold and
inflated to the inflation pressure
recommended by the vehiclemanufacturer on the vehicle placard or
tire inflation pressure label (if your
vehicle has tires of a different size than
the size indicated on the vehicle placard
or tire inflation pressure label, you
should determine the proper tire
inflation pressure for those tires).
IMPORTANT As an added safety
feature, your vehicle has been equipped
with a TPMS system that illuminates a
low tire pressure telltale when one or
more of your tires is significantly
under-inflated. Accordingly, when the
low tire pressure telltale illuminates, you
should stop and check your tires as
soon as possible, and inflate them to
the proper pressure. Driving on a
significantly under-inflated tire causes
the tire to overheat and can lead to tire
failure. Under-inflation also reduces fuel
efficiency and tire tread life, and may
affect the vehicle's handling and
stopping ability.
IMPORTANT Please note that the
TPMS is not a substitute for proper tire
maintenance, and it is the driver's
responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if under-inflation has not
reached the level to trigger illumination
of the TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped
with a TPMS malfunction indicator to
77

WARNING
83)Always wear your seat belt and make
sure all occupants are properly restrained.
Not wearing a seat belt is extremely
dangerous. During a collision, occupants
not wearing seat belts could hit someone
or things inside the vehicle or even be
thrown out of the vehicle. They could be
seriously injured or even killed. In the same
collision, occupants wearing seat belts
would be much safer.
84)Do not wear twisted seat belts. Twisted
seat belts are dangerous. In a collision, the
full width of the belt is not available to
absorb the impact. This puts more force on
the bones beneath the belt, which could
cause serious injury or death. So, if your
seat belt is twisted, you must straighten
the seat belt to remove any twists and to
allow the full width of the belt to be used.
85)Never use one seat belt on more than
one person at a time. Using one seat belt
for more than one person at a time is
dangerous. A seat belt used in this way
cannot spread the impact forces properly
and the two passengers could be crushed
together and seriously injured or even
killed. Never use one belt for more than
one person at a time and always operate
the vehicle with each occupant properly
restrained.86)Do not operate a vehicle with a
damaged seat belt. Using a damaged seat
belt is dangerous. An accident could
damage the belt webbing of the seat belt in
use. A damaged seat belt cannot provide
adequate protection in a collision. Contact
a Fiat Dealership to inspect all seat belt
systems in use during an accident before
they are used again.
87)Have your seat belts changed
immediately if the pretensioner or load
limiter has been expended. Always have an
expert repairer, we recommend a Fiat
Dealership immediately inspect the seat
belt pretensioners and air bags after any
collision. Like the air bags, the seat belt
pretensioners and load limiters will only
function once and must be replaced after
any collision that caused them to deploy. If
the seat belt pretensioners and load
limiters are not replaced, the risk of injury in
a collision will increase.
88)Positioning the shoulder portion of the
seat belt. Improper positioning of the
shoulder portion of the seat belt is
dangerous. Always make sure the shoulder
portion of the seat belt is positioned across
your shoulder and near your neck, but
never under your arm, on your neck, or on
your upper arm.
89)Positioning the lap portion of the seat
belt. The lap portion of the seat belt worn
too high is dangerous. In a collision, this
would concentrate the impact force directly
on the abdominal area, causing serious
injury. Wear the lap portion of the belt
snugly and as low as possible.90)Instructions for use of seat belt
assemblies. Seat belts are designed to
bear upon the bony structure of the body,
and should be worn low across the front of
the pelvis or the pelvis, chest and
shoulders, as applicable; wearing the lap
section of the belt across the abdominal
area must be avoided. Seat belts should
be adjusted as firmly as possible,
consistent with comfort, to provide the
protection for which they have been
designed. A slack belt will greatly reduce
the protection afforded to the wearer. Care
should be taken to avoid contamination of
the webbing with polishes, oils and
chemicals, and particularly battery acid.
Cleaning may safely be carried out using
mild soap and water. The belt should be
replaced if webbing becomes frayed,
contaminated or damaged. It is essential to
replace the entire assembly after it has
been worn in a severe impact even if
damage to the assembly is not obvious.
Belts should not be worn with straps
twisted. Each belt assembly must only be
used by one occupant; it is dangerous to
put a belt around a child being carried on
the occupant's lap.
91)No modifications or additions should
be made by the user which will either
prevent the seat belt adjusting devices
from operating to remove slack, or prevent
the seat belt assembly from being adjusted
to remove slack.
84
SAFETY

STARTING THE
ENGINE
140) 141) 142)
24)
Before starting the engine, adjust the
seat, the interior rear view mirrors, the
door mirrors and fasten the seat belt
correctly.
Never press the accelerator pedal for
starting the engine.
For starting procedure see “Starting the
engine” in “Getting to know your
vehicle” chapter.
STOPPING THE ENGINE
Proceed as follows:
park the car in a position that is not
dangerous for oncoming traffic; engage
a gear (versions with manual
transmission) or position the gear lever
to P (Parking) (versions with automatic
transmission);
turn the ignition device to STOP with
the engine idling.
WARNING
140)It is dangerous to run the engine in
enclosed areas. The engine takes in
oxygen and releases carbon dioxide,
carbon monoxide and other toxic gases.
141)The brake servo is not active until the
engine is started, so you would need to
apply much more force than usual to the
brake pedal.
142)Do not start the engine by pushing,
towing or driving downhill. These
manoeuvres may damage the catalytic
converter.
IMPORTANT
24)A quick burst on the accelerator before
turning off the engine serves absolutely no
practical purpose; it wastes fuel and is
damaging for the engine.
PARKING
Keep away the key when leaving the
vehicle and take it with you.
When parking and leaving the vehicle,
proceed as follows:
engage a gear (first gear if facing
uphill or reverse if facing downhill) and
leave the wheels turned;
stop the engine and engage the
handbrake.
Block the wheels with a wedge or a
stone if the car is parked on a steep
slope.
On versions equipped with automatic
transmission, before releasing the brake
pedal, wait for letter P to be displayed.
IMPORTANT NEVER leave the vehicle
with the gearbox in neutral (or, on
versions equipped with automatic
transmission, before placing the gear
lever at P).
116
STARTING AND OPERATING