FIAT 500C 2013 2.G Owners Manual

STARTING AND OPERATING
CONTENTS
!STARTING PROCEDURES................223
▫Manual Transmission – If Equipped........223
▫Automatic Transmission – If Equipped......223
▫Normal Starting.......................223
▫Cold Weather Operation................224
▫If Engine Fails To Start.................224
▫After Starting........................225
!MANUAL TRANSMISSION — IF EQUIPPED . .226
▫Five-Speed Manual Transmission...........226
▫Recommended Shift Speeds..............228
▫Downshifting........................228
!AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION — IF
EQUIPPED...........................229
▫Key Ignition Park Interlock...............230
▫Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System . . .231
▫Six-Speed Automatic Transmission.........231
▫Gear Ranges.........................232
!AUTOSTICK® — IF EQUIPPED............237
▫Operation...........................237
!DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES.........239
5

▫Acceleration.........................239
▫Traction............................239
!DRIVING THROUGH WATER.............240
▫Flowing/Rising Water..................240
▫Shallow Standing Water.................240
!POWER STEERING.....................242
!PARKING BRAKE......................244
!SPORT MODE.........................246
▫Manual Transmission – If Equipped........246
▫Automatic Transmission – If Equipped......247
!BRAKE SYSTEM.......................248
▫Four-Wheel Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) . . .248
!ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM . . . .249
▫Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)............250
▫Brake Assist System (BAS)...............250
▫Traction Control System (TCS)............251
▫Hill Start Assist (HSA).................251
▫Electronic Stability Control (ESC)..........252
▫ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator Light
And ESC OFF Indicator Light............255
!TIRE SAFETY INFORMATION.............257
▫Tire Markings........................257
▫Tire Identification Number (TIN)...........260
▫Tire Terminology And Definitions..........262
▫Tire Loading And Tire Pressure...........263
!TIRES — GENERAL INFORMATION........268
220 STARTING AND OPERATING

▫Tire Pressure........................268
▫Tire Inflation Pressures.................269
▫Tire Pressures For High Speed Operation . . . .270
▫Radial Ply Tires......................271
▫All Season Tires – If Equipped............272
▫Summer Or Three Season Tires – If Equipped . . .272
▫Snow Tires..........................272
▫Spare Tire Matching Original Equipped Tire
And Wheel – If Equipped................273
▫Compact Spare Tire....................273
▫Tire Spinning........................274
▫Tread Wear Indicators..................274
▫Life Of Tire.........................275
▫Replacement Tires.....................276
!TIRE CHAINS.........................277
!TIRE ROTATION RECOMMENDATIONS.....279
!TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING
SYSTEM (TPMS).......................280
▫Base System.........................282
▫Enhanced System– If Equipped............285
▫General Information...................285
!FUEL REQUIREMENTS..................285
!FUEL REQUIREMENTS – 1.4L Turbo........286
▫Reformulated Gasoline.................286
▫Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends..............287
▫E-85 Usage In Non-Flex Fuel Vehicles.......287
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 221

▫MMT In Gasoline.....................288
▫Materials Added To Fuel................288
▫Fuel System Cautions...................289
▫Carbon Monoxide Warnings.............290
!ADDING FUEL........................291
▫Fuel Filler Cap (Gas Cap)...............291
▫Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message............292
!TRAILER TOWING.....................292
!RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND
MOTORHOME, ETC.)...................293
▫Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle . .293
222 STARTING AND OPERATING

STARTING PROCEDURES
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust both
inside and outside mirrors, and fasten your seat belts.
WARNING!
•Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle.
•Allowing children to be in a vehicle unattended is
dangerous for a number of reasons. A child or
others could be seriously or fatally injured. Chil-
dren should be warned not to touch the parking
brake, brake pedal or the shift lever.
•Do not leave the key fob in or near the vehicle (or
in a location accessible to children), and do not
leave the ignition in the ACC or ON/RUN position.
A child could operate power windows, other con-
trols, or move the vehicle.
Manual Transmission – If Equipped
Apply the parking brake, place the shift lever in NEU-
TRAL, and press the clutch pedal before starting the
vehicle. This vehicle is equipped with a clutch interlock-
ing ignition system. It will not start unless the clutch
pedal is pressed to the floor.
Automatic Transmission – If Equipped
The shift lever must be in the PARK or NEUTRAL
position before you can start the engine. Apply the brakes
before shifting to any driving gear.
NOTE:You must press the brake pedal before shifting
out of PARK.
Normal Starting
NOTE:Normal starting of either a cold or a warm
engine is obtained without pumping or pressing the
accelerator pedal.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 223

Turn the ignition switch to the AVV (START) position and
release it when the engine starts. If the engine fails to start
within 10 seconds, turn the ignition switch to the STOP
(OFF/LOCK) position, wait 10 to 15 seconds, then repeat
the “Normal Starting” procedure.
Cold Weather Operation
To prevent possible engine damage while starting at low
temperatures, this vehicle will inhibit engine cranking
when the ambient temperature is less than –22° F (–30° C)
and the oil temperature sensor reading indicates an
engine block heater has not been used. An externally-
powered electric engine block heater is available as
optional equipment or from your authorized studio.
The message “plug in engine heater” will be displayed in the
instrument cluster when the ambient temperature is below
5° F (–15° C) at the time the engine is shut off as a reminder
to avoid possible crank delays at the next cold start.
CAUTION!
Use of the recommended SAE 5W-30 oil and adher-
ing to the prescribed oil change intervals is important
to prevent engine damage and ensure satisfactory
starting in cold conditions.
If Engine Fails To Start
WARNING!
Never pour fuel or other flammable liquids into the
throttle body air inlet opening in an attempt to start
the vehicle. This could result in a flash fire causing
serious personal injury.
224 STARTING AND OPERATING

CAUTION!
•Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to get it
started. Vehicles equipped with an automatic trans-
mission cannot be started this way. Unburned fuel
could enter the catalytic converter and once the
engine has started, ignite and damage the converter
and vehicle.
•To prevent damage to the starter, do not continu-
ously crank the engine for more than 15 seconds at
a time. Wait 10 to 15 seconds before trying again.
After Starting
The idle speed is controlled automatically and it will
decrease as the engine warms up.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 225

MANUAL TRANSMISSION — IF EQUIPPED
Five-Speed Manual Transmission
WARNING!
You or others could be injured if you leave the
vehicle unattended without having the parking
brake fully applied. The parking brake should al-
ways be applied when the driver is not in the vehicle,
especially on an incline.
Fully press the clutch pedal before you shift gears. As you
release the clutch pedal, lightly press the accelerator
pedal.
Shift Lever
226 STARTING AND OPERATING

NOTE:To shift into REVERSE from NEUTRAL, lift the
ring under the knob and, at the same time move the
gearshift lever to the right and then backward.
Use each gear in numerical order; do not skip a gear. Be
sure the transmission is in first gear, not third, when
starting from a standing position. Damage to the clutch
can result from starting in third gear.
For most city driving, you will find it easier to use only
the lower gears. For steady highway driving with light
accelerations, fifth gear is recommended.
Never drive with your foot resting on the clutch pedal,
and never try to hold the vehicle on a hill with the clutch
pedal partially engaged. This will cause abnormal wear
on the clutch.
REVERSE gear is not synchronized and the vehicle must
be at a complete stop to shift into REVERSE gear. When
selecting REVERSE gear, the driver should pause (ap-
proximately 2 seconds) after pushing in the clutch pedal
and prior to shifting into REVERSE which allows gears to
stop spinning. Should an unwanted clash noise be pro-
duced, the pause length should be increased.
NOTE:
•Clashing REVERSE gear, especially if vehicle is mov-
ing, can result in transmission damage.
•During cold weather, until the transmission lubricant
is warm, you may experience slightly higher shift
efforts. This is normal and not harmful to the trans-
mission.
5
STARTING AND OPERATING 227

Recommended Shift Speeds
To use your manual transmission for optimal fuel
economy, it should be upshifted as listed in the following
table.
Manual Transmission Recommended Shift Speeds
Units In mph (km/h)
Engine
Size
Accel-
eration
Rate
1to2 2to3 3to4 4to5
1.4L/
1.4L
Turbo
Engine
Accel 14
(23)
23
(37)
29
(47)
38
(61)
Cruise 12
(19)
18
(29)
25
(40)
32
(52)
Downshifting
Proper downshifting will improve fuel economy and
prolong engine life.
CAUTION!
If you skip a gear while downshifting or downshift
at too high of a vehicle speed, these conditions may
cause the engine to overspeed if too low of a gear is
selected and the clutch pedal is released. Damage to
the clutch and the transmission can result from
skipping a gear while downshifting or downshifting
at too high of a vehicle speed even if the clutch pedal
is held pressed (i.e., not released).
To maintain a safe speed and prolong brake life, shift
down to second or first gear when descending a steep
grade.
228 STARTING AND OPERATING