brakes FIAT 124 SPIDER 2021 Owner handbook (in English)

Dear Customer,
We would like to congratulate and thank you for choosing a Fiat 124 Spider.
We have written this handbook to help you get to know all the features of your vehicle and use it in the best possible way.
Here you will find information, advice and important warnings regarding use of your vehicle and how to achieve the best
performance from the technical features of your vehicle.
You are advised to read it right through before taking to the road for the first time, to become familiar with the controls and
above all with those concerning brakes, steering and gearbox.
This document also provides a description of special features and tips, as well as essential information for the safe driving, care
and maintenance of your vehicle over time.
After reading it, you are advised to keep the handbook inside the vehicle, for an easy reference and for making sure it remains
on board the vehicle should it be sold.
In the attached Warranty Booklet you will also find a description of the Services that FCA offers to its customers, the Warranty
Certificate and the detail of the terms and conditions for maintaining its validity.
We are sure that these will help you to get in touch with and appreciate your new vehicle and the service provided by the
people at FCA.
Enjoy reading. Happy motoring!
IMPORTANT This Owner Handbook describes all versions of the vehicle; please consider only the information
relevant to your vehicle’s trim level, engine and version. All data contained in this publication are purely indicative.
FCA Italy S.p.A. can modify the vehicle model described in this publication at any time, for technical or commercial
purposes. For further information, contact a Fiat Dealership.

WARNING LIGHTS ON INSTRUMENT PANEL
Red warning lights
Warning light What it means What to do
PARKING BRAKE WARNING - WARNING
LIGHT INSPECTION / LOW BRAKE FLUID
LEVEL WARNING
Parking brake warning / Warning light
inspection
The light illuminates when the parking brake is
applied with the ignition switched to START or
ON. It turns off when the parking brake is fully
released.
Low brake fluid level warning
If the brake warning light remains illuminated
even though the parking brake is released, the
brake fluid may be low or there could be a
problem with the brake system.
IMPORTANT Do not drive with the brake
system warning light illuminated. Contact a
Fiat Dealership to have the brakes inspected
as soon as possible. Driving with the brake
system warning light illuminated is dangerous.
It indicates that your brakes may not work at
all or that they could completely fail at any
time. If this light remains illuminated, after
checking that the parking brake is fully
released, have the brakes inspected
immediately.
IMPORTANT In addition, the effectiveness of
the braking may diminish so you may need to
depress the brake pedal more strongly than
normal to stop the vehicle.Stop the vehicle in a safe place immediately
and contact a Fiat Dealership.
55

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)

PARKING BRAKE
143) 144) 145)
IMPORTANT Driving with the parking
brake on will cause excessive wear of
the brake parts.
Setting the parking brake
Depress the brake pedal and then firmly
pull the parking brake lever fully
upwards with sufficient force to hold the
vehicle in a stationary position.
Releasing the parking brake
Depress the brake pedal and pull the
parking brake lever 1 upwards fig. 86,
then press the release button 2. While
holding the button, lower the parking
brake lever all the way down to the
released position.Brake Assist
During emergency braking situations
when it is necessary to depress the
brake pedal with greater force, the
brake assist system provides braking
assistance, thus enhancing braking
performance.
When the brake pedal is depressed
hard or depressed more quickly, the
brakes apply more firmly.
NOTE When the brake pedal is
depressed hard or depressed more
quickly, the pedal will feel softer but the
brakes will apply more firmly. This is a
normal effect of the brake assist
operation and does not indicate a
malfunction.
NOTE When the brake pedal is
depressed hard or depressed more
quickly, a motor/pump operation noise
may be heard. This is a normal effect of
the brake assist and does not indicate a
malfunction.
NOTE The brake assist equipment does
not supersede the functionality of the
vehicle's main braking system.
WARNING
143)In the case of parking manoeuvres on
roads on a gradient, the front wheels must
be steered towards the pavement (when
parking downhill), or in the opposite
direction if the vehicle is parked uphill. If the
vehicle is parked on a steep slope, it is
advisable to block the wheels with a wedge
or stone.
144)Never leave children unattended in
the vehicle. Keep away the key when
leaving the vehicle and take it with you.
145)Do not drive with worn disc pads.
Driving with worn disc pads is dangerous.
The brakes could fail and cause a serious
accident. As soon as you hear a
screeching noise contact a Fiat Dealership.
8605050102-12A-001
117

AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
(where provided)
VARIOUS LOCKOUTS
To shift from P to R you must depress
the brake pedal and hold in the
lock-release button to shift (the ignition
must be switched ON).
To shift from R to N, from N to D (or D
to N), from D to M (or M to D) and from
M to + and - the selector lever can be
shifted freely into any position.
To shift from N to R and from R to P
you must hold in the lock-release
button fig. 88 to shift.
GEAR LEVER POSITIONS
P (Park)
149) 150)
P locks the transmission and prevents
the rear wheels from rotating. The
selector lever must be in P or N to
operate the starter.
IMPORTANT Shifting into P, N or R
while the vehicle is moving can damage
your transmission.IMPORTANT Shifting into a driving gear
or reverse when the engine is running
faster than idle can damage the
transmission.
R (Reverse)
In position R, the vehicle moves only
backward. You must be at a complete
stop before shifting to or from R, except
under rare circumstances.
With Parking Sensor system: when
the selector lever is shifted to the R
position with the ignition switched ON,
the parking sensor system is activated
and a beep sound is heard.
N (Neutral)
151)
In N, the wheels and transmission are
not locked. The vehicle will roll freely
even on the slightest incline unless the
parking brake or brakes are on.
IMPORTANT Do not shift into N when
driving the vehicle. Doing so can cause
transaxle damage. Apply the parking
brake or depress the brake pedal
before moving the selector lever from N
to prevent the vehicle from moving
unexpectedly.
D (Drive)
D is the normal driving position. From a
stop, the transmission will automatically
shift through a 6-gear sequence.
8805210200-LHD12AT-001
119

SHIFT GEAR (SHIFTING)
SPEED LIMIT
When the selector lever is operated
within the range of the speed limit, the
gear is shifted.
Shift up
The gear does not shift up while the
vehicle speed is lower than the speed
limit.
Shift down
The gear does not shift down while the
vehicle speed exceeds the speed limit.
If the vehicle speed exceeds the speed
limit and the gear does not shift down,
the gear position indication flashes
2 times to notify the driver that the gear
cannot be shifted.
Kickdown
When the accelerator pedal is
depressed fully while driving, the gear
shifts down.
However, the gears do not kickdown
while the DSC is turned off.
NOTE The gear also shifts down using
kickdown while in the second gear fixed
mode.Auto-shift down
The gear shifts down automatically
depending on the vehicle speed during
deceleration.
NOTE If the vehicle comes to a stop
while in the second gear fixed mode,
the gear remains in second.
DIRECT MODE(where provided)
Direct mode can be used for
temporarily switching gears by
operating the steering shift switch while
the vehicle is being driven with the
selector lever in the D range.
Direct mode is cancelled (released)
under the following conditions:
the UP switch (+/OFF) is pulled
rearward for a certain amount of time or
longer;
the vehicle is driven for a certain
amount of time or longer (time differs
depending on the driving conditions
while operating);
the vehicle is stopped or moving at a
slow speed.
IMPORTANT Shifting up and down
while in direct mode may not be
possible depending on the vehicle
speed. In addition, because direct
mode is cancelled (released) depending
on the rate of acceleration or if the
accelerator is fully depressed, use ofthe manual shift mode is recommended
if you need to drive the vehicle in a
particular gear for long periods.
DRIVING TIPS
152) 153)
Passing
For extra power when passing another
vehicle or climbing steep grades,
depress the accelerator fully. The
transmission will shift to a lower gear,
depending on vehicle speed.
Climbing steep grades from a stop
To climb a steep grade from a stopped
position depress the brake pedal, shift
to D or M1, depending on the load
weight and grade steepness, release
the brake pedal while gradually
accelerating.
Descending steep grades
When descending a steep grade, shift
to lower gears, depending on load
weight and grade steepness.
Descend slowly, using the brakes only
occasionally to prevent them from
overheating.
121

151
WARNING
175)If the fuse blows again contact a Fiat
Dealership.
176)Never replace a fuse with another
with a higher amp rating; DANGER OF
FIRE.
177)Contact a Fiat Dealership if a safety
system (airbags, brakes), power unit
system (engine, gearbox) or steering
system general protection fuse blows.
178)Do not replace the main fuse and
multiplex slow blow fuse by yourself.
Contact a Fiat Dealership to perform the
replacement. Replacing these fuses by
yourself is dangerous because they are
high current fuses. Incorrect replacement
could cause an electrical shock or a short
circuit resulting in a fire.
179)Before replacing a fuse, make sure
that the ignition device is in OFF position
and that all the other services are switched
off and/or deactivated.
IMPORTANT
32)Never replace a fuse with metal wires
or anything else.
33)If it is necessary to wash the engine
compartment, take care not to directly hit
the junction unit and the window wiper
motors with the water jet.

EMERGENCY
TOWING
TOWING DESCRIPTION
Proper lifting and towing are necessary
to prevent damage to the vehicle.
Government and local laws must be
followed.
A towed vehicle usually should have its
drive wheels (rear wheels) off the
ground. If excessive damage or other
conditions prevent this, use wheel
dollies.
When towing with the rear wheels on
the ground, release the parking brake.
IMPORTANT Do not tow the vehicle
pointed backward with driving wheels
on the ground. This may cause internal
damage to the transmission.
IMPORTANT Do not tow with sling-type
equipment. This could damage your
vehicle. Use wheel-lift or flatbed
equipment.
If towing service is not available in an
emergency, the vehicle may be towed
with all four wheels on the ground using
the towing hook at the front of the
vehicle. Only tow the vehicle on paved
surfaces for short distances at low
speeds.
Follow these instructions when towing
the vehicle with all wheels on the
ground:
shift to neutral (manual transmission),
or the N position (automatic
transmission);
switch the ignition to ACC;
release the parking brake.
NOTE Remember that power assist for
the brakes and steering will not be
available when the engine is not
running.
161