warning FIAT 500X 2014 2.G Owners Manual

▫CNG And LP Fuel System Modifications . . . .263
▫ MMT In Gasoline ....................263
▫ Materials Added To Fuel ...............264
▫ Fuel System Cautions ..................264
▫ Carbon Monoxide Warnings ............265
 ADDING FUEL ...................... .265
 VEHICLE LOADING ...................268
▫ Certification Label ...................268
 DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES ........270
▫ Acceleration ....................... .270
▫ Traction .......................... .270
 DRIVING THROUGH WATER ............271
▫ Flowing/Rising Water .................271 ▫
Shallow Standing Water ................271
 POWER STEERING ....................272
 TRAILER TOWING ....................273
▫ Common Towing Definitions ............273
▫ Trailer Hitch Classification ..............276
▫ Trailer Towing Weights (Maximum Trailer
Weight Ratings) .....................277
▫ Trailer And Tongue Weight .............277
▫ Towing Requirements .................278
▫ Towing Tips ....................... .283
 RECREATIONAL TOWING (BEHIND
MOTORHOME, ETC.) ..................284
▫ Towing This Vehicle Behind Another Vehicle .284
7
STARTING AND OPERATING 213

STARTING THE ENGINE
Before starting your vehicle, adjust your seat, adjust the
inside and outside mirrors, fasten your seat belt, and if
present, instruct all other occupants to buckle their 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 gear selector.
• 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 ON or RUN mode. A
child could operate power windows, other con-
trols, or move the vehicle.
Start the engine with the gear selector in the NEUTRAL
or PARK position. Apply the brake before shifting to
any driving range. Manual Transmission
Proceed as follows:
1. Set the Electric Park Brake (EPB) and put the gear
selector in the NEUTRAL position.
2. Press the clutch pedal to the floor, without pressing the accelerator.
3. Cycle the ignition to the START mode and release it as soon as the engine is started.
4. If the engine does not start, place the ignition in the OFF mode and wait 10-15 seconds before attempting
to restart the engine.
Automatic Transmission
Proceed as follows:
1. Set the Electric Park Brake (EPB) and put the gear selector in the PARK or NEUTRAL position.
2. Press on the brake pedal, without pressing the accel- erator.
3. Cycle the ignition to the START mode and release it as soon as the engine is started.
214 STARTING AND OPERATING

4. If the engine does not start, place the ignition in theOFF mode and wait 10-15 seconds before attempting
to restart the engine.
Tip Start Feature
Do not press the accelerator. Cycle the ignition switch
briefly to the START mode and release it. The starter
motor will continue to run but will automatically dis-
engage when the engine is running.
If Engine Fails To Start
WARNING!
Never pour fuel or other flammable liquid into the
throttle body air inlet opening in an attempt to start
the vehicle. This could result in flash fire causing
serious personal injury.
If the engine fails to start after you have followed the
Normal Starting orExtreme Cold Weather proce-
dure, and has not experienced an extended park condi-
tion as identified in Extended Park Starting procedure
it may be flooded. Push the accelerator pedal all the
way to the floor and hold it there. Crank the engine for
no more than 15 seconds. This should clear any excess
fuel in case the engine is flooded. Leave the ignition RUN mode, release the accelerator pedal and repeat the
“Normal Starting” procedure.
WARNING!
•
Never pour fuel or other flammable liquid into
the throttle body air inlet opening in an attempt
to start the vehicle. This could result in flash fire
causing serious personal injury.
• Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to get
it started. Vehicles equipped with an automatic
transmission cannot be started this way. Un-
burned fuel could enter the catalytic converter
and once the engine has started, ignite and dam-
age the converter and vehicle.
• If the vehicle has a discharged battery, booster
cables may be used to obtain a start from a
booster battery or the battery in another vehicle.
This type of start can be dangerous if done
improperly. Refer to “Jump-Starting” in “In Case
Of Emergency” for further information.
7
STARTING AND OPERATING 215

To apply the EPB manually, pull up on the switch
momentarily. You may hear a slight whirring sound
from the back of the vehicle while the EPB engages.
Once the parking brake is fully engaged, the BRAKE
warning lamp in the instrument cluster and an indica-
tor on the switch will illuminate. If your foot is on the
brake pedal while you apply the EPB, you may notice a
small amount of brake pedal movement. The EPB can
be applied even when the ignition switch is in the OFF
mode but the BRAKE warning lamp will not illuminate,
however, it can only be released when the ignition is in
the RUN mode.NOTE:
The EPB fault lamp will illuminate if the EPB
switch is held for longer than 20 seconds in either the
released or applied position. The light will extinguish
upon releasing the switch.
If the Auto Park Brake feature is enabled, the EPB will
automatically engage whenever the transmission is
placed into PARK, or with a manual transmission, when
the ignition switch is in the STOP/OFF position. If your
foot is on the brake pedal, you may notice a small
amount of brake pedal movement while the EPB is
engaging.
The EPB will be automatically released if the driver ’s
seat belt is buckled and driver’s intention to start (in
forward or reverse direction) is recognized by the
system
To release the EPB manually, the ignition must be in the
RUN mode. Put your foot on the brake pedal, then push
the EPB switch down momentarily. You may hear a
slight whirring sound from the back of the vehicle while
the parking brake disengages. You may also notice a
small amount of movement in the brake pedal. Once the
EPB is fully disengaged, the BRAKE warning lamp in
the instrument cluster and the LED indicator on the
switch will extinguish.
Electric Park Brake Switch7
STARTING AND OPERATING 219

NOTE:
•When parking on a hill, it is important to turn the
front wheels toward the curb on a downhill grade
and away from the curb on an uphill grade. Apply
the EPB before placing the gear selector in PARK,
otherwise the load on the transmission locking
mechanism may make it difficult to move the gear
selector out of PARK. The EPB should always be
applied whenever the driver is not in the vehicle.
• If the clutch pedal is released at the same time the gas
pedal is pressed, the EPB will be automatically
released (manual transmissions only).
WARNING!
• When leaving the vehicle, always remove the key
fob from the ignition and lock your vehicle.
• 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. Children should be
warned not to touch the parking brake, brake
pedal or the transmission gear selector.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•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 ON or RUN mode. A
child could operate power windows, other con-
trols, or move the vehicle.
• Be sure the parking brake is fully disengaged
before driving; failure to do so can lead to brake
failure and a collision.
• Always fully apply the parking brake when leav-
ing your vehicle, or it may roll and cause damage
or injury. Also be certain to leave the transmission
in PARK. Failure to do so may allow the vehicle to
roll and cause damage or injury.
CAUTION!
If the Brake System Warning Light remains on with
the parking brake released, a brake system mal-
function is indicated. Have the brake system ser-
viced by an authorized dealer immediately.
If exceptional circumstances should make it necessary
to engage the EPB while the vehicle is in motion,
maintain upward pressure on the EPB switch for as
220 STARTING AND OPERATING

long as engagement is desired. The brake warning lamp
could illuminate in case of the hydraulic system is not
available. The rear stop lamps will also be illuminated
automatically while the vehicle remains in motion.
To disengage the EPB while the vehicle is in motion,
release the switch. If the vehicle is brought to a com-
plete stop using the EPB, when the vehicle reaches
approximately 1.9 mph (3 km/h) the EPB will remain
engaged.
WARNING!
Driving the vehicle with the parking brake en-
gaged, or repeated use of the parking brake to slow
the vehicle may cause serious damage to the brake
system. Be sure the parking brake is fully disen-
gaged before driving; failure to do so can lead to
brake failure and a collision.
In the unlikely event of a malfunction of the EPB
system, a yellow EPB fault lamp will illuminate. This
may be accompanied by the Brake warning lamp flash-
ing. In this status some EPB functionalities may be deactivated. In this event, urgent service of the EPB
system is required. Do not rely on the EPB to hold the
vehicle stationary.
Auto Park Brake
The EPB can be programmed to be applied automati-
cally whenever the vehicle speed is below 1.9 mph
(3 km/h) and the automatic transmission is placed in
PARK, or with a manual transmission, whenever the
ignition is in the OFF mode. Auto Park Brake is enabled
and disabled by customer selection through the Cus-
tomer Programmable Features section of the Uconnect
Settings.
Any single Auto Park Brake application can be by-
passed by pushing the EPB switch to the release posi-
tion while the transmission is placed in PARK (auto-
matic transmission) and the ignition is in the RUN
mode. In some cases, in case of Automatic or Dual
clutch transmission, when the ignition is in the OFF
mode EPB can automatically apply even if it has been
previously disabled
7
STARTING AND OPERATING 221

Service Mode has requirements that must be met in
order to be activated:
•The vehicle must be at a standstill.
• The parking brake must be disabled.
• The transmission must be in park or neutral.
• The EPB switch not activated.
• The ignition is in the ON mode.
• The brake pedal not pressed.
While in service mode, the EPB fault lamp will flash
continuously while the ignition is cycled ON.
NOTE: A dedicated message will appear in the instru-
ment cluster if Brake Service Mode cannot be activated.
When brake service work is complete, the following
steps must be followed to reset the parking brake
system to normal operation:
• Ensure the vehicle is at a standstill.
• Press the brake pedal with moderate force.
• Apply the EPB Switch. NOTE:
A dedicated message will appear in the instru-
ment cluster if Brake Service Mode cannot be deacti-
vated.
WARNING!
You can be badly injured working on or around a
motor vehicle. Do only that service work for which
you have the knowledge and the right equipment.
If you have any doubt about your ability to perform
a service job, take your vehicle to a competent
mechanic.
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
always be applied when the driver is not in the
vehicle, especially on an incline.
7
STARTING AND OPERATING 223

Recommended Vehicle Shift Speeds
To utilize your manual transmission efficiently for fuel
economy and performance, it should be upshifted as
listed in the recommended shift speed chart. Shift at thevehicle speeds listed for acceleration. When heavily
loaded or pulling a trailer, these recommended up-shift
speeds may not apply.
Manual Transmission Shift Speeds in MPH (KM/H)
All Engines Gear Selection 2 to 3 3 to 44 to 5 5 to 6
Accel. 24 (39)34 (55)47 (76) 56 (90)
Cruise 19 (31)27 (43)37 (60) 41 (66)
Downshifting
Moving from a high gear down to a lower gear is
recommended to preserve brakes when driving down
steep hills. In addition, downshifting at the right time
provides better acceleration when you desire to resume
speed. Downshift progressively. Do not skip gears to
avoid overspeeding the engine and clutch.
WARNING!
Do not downshift for additional engine braking on
a slippery surface. The drive wheels could lose their
grip, and the vehicle could skid.
CAUTION!
•Skipping gears and downshifting into lower
gears at higher vehicle speeds can damage the
engine and clutch systems, Any attempt to shift
into lower gear with clutch pedal depressed may
result damage to the clutch system. Shifting into
lower gear and releasing the clutch may result in
engine damage.
• When descending a hill, be very careful to down-
shift one gear at a time to prevent overspeeding
the engine which can cause engine damage,
and/or clutch damage, even if the clutch pedal is
pressed. If transfer case is in low range the vehicle
(Continued)
7
STARTING AND OPERATING 225

REVERSE when the vehicle is stopped or moving at low
speeds (refer toBrake/Transmission Shift Interlock
System in this section). Select the DRIVE range for
normal driving.
WARNING!
• It is dangerous to shift out of PARK or NEUTRAL
if the engine speed is higher than idle speed. If
your foot is not firmly pressing the brake pedal,
the vehicle could accelerate quickly forward or in
reverse. You could lose control of the vehicle and
hit someone or something. Only shift into gear
when the engine is idling normally and your foot
is firmly pressing the brake pedal.
• Unintended movement of a vehicle could injure
those in or near the vehicle. As with all vehicles,
you should never exit a vehicle while the engine
is running. Before exiting a vehicle, always apply
the parking brake, shift the transmission into
PARK, and turn the ignition OFF. When the
ignition is in the OFF mode, the transmission is
locked in PARK, securing the vehicle against
unwanted movement.
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•When leaving the vehicle, always make sure the
ignition is in the OFF mode, remove the key fob
from the vehicle, and lock the vehicle.
• 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. Children should be
warned not to touch the parking brake, brake
pedal or the transmission gear selector.
• 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 mode.
A child could operate power windows, other
controls, or move the vehicle.
CAUTION!
Damage to the transmission may occur if the fol-
lowing precautions are not observed:
• Shift into or out of PARK or REVERSE only after
the vehicle has come to a complete stop.
(Continued)
7
STARTING AND OPERATING 227

When exiting the vehicle, always:
•Apply the parking brake.
• Shift the transmission into PARK.
• Turn the engine OFF.
• Remove the key fob.
WARNING!
•Never use the PARK position as a substitute for
the parking brake. Always apply the parking
brake fully when exiting the vehicle to guard
against vehicle movement and possible injury or
damage.
• Your vehicle could move and injure you and
others if it is not in PARK. Check by trying to
move the transmission gear selector out of PARK
with the brake pedal released. Make sure the
transmission is in PARK before leaving the ve-
hicle.
• It is dangerous to shift out of PARK or NEUTRAL
if the engine speed is higher than idle speed. If
your foot is not firmly pressing the brake pedal,
the vehicle could accelerate quickly forward or in
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
reverse. You could lose control of the vehicle and
hit someone or something. Only shift into gear
when the engine is idling normally and your foot
is firmly pressing the brake pedal.
• Unintended movement of a vehicle could injure
those in or near the vehicle. As with all vehicles,
you should never exit a vehicle while the engine
is running. Before exiting a vehicle, always apply
the parking brake, shift the transmission into
PARK, and turn the ignition OFF. When the
ignition is in the OFF mode, the transmission is
locked in PARK, securing the vehicle against
unwanted movement.
• When leaving the vehicle, always make sure the
ignition is in the OFF mode, remove the key fob
from the vehicle, and lock the vehicle.
• 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. Children should be
(Continued)
230 STARTING AND OPERATING