towing FIAT DUCATO 2015 3.G Owners Manual

OPERATION WITH
TRAILER
Parking sensor operation is
automatically deactivated when the
electric cable plug of the trailer is
inserted into the vehicle tow hook
socket.
The sensors are automatically
reactivated when the trailer's cable plug
is removed.
17)
86)
IMPORTANT If you wish to leave the
tow hook fitted without towing a trailer,
it is advisable to contact a Fiat
Dealership for the relevant system
update operations because the tow
hook could be detected as an obstacle
by the central sensors.
When using special washing equipment
such as high pressure jets or steam
cleaning, clean the sensors very quickly
keeping the jet more than 10 cm away.IMPORTANT
INFORMATION
❒Do not apply stickers to the sensors.
❒When parking, take the utmost
care over obstacles that may be
above or under the sensor.
❒Objects close to the vehicle, in
certain circumstances are not
detected and could therefore cause
damage to the vehicle or be
damaged.
The following conditions may influence
the performance of the parking
assistance system:
❒Reduced sensor sensitivity and a
reduction in the parking assistance
system performance could be due to
the presence on the surface of the
sensor of: ice, snow, mud, thick
paint.
❒The sensor may detect a non-
existent obstacle (echo noise) due to
mechanical noises, for example
when washing the vehicle, in case of
rain, strong wind, hail.
❒The signals sent by the sensors can
also be altered by the presence of
ultrasonic systems (e.g. pneumatic
brake systems or pneumatic drills)
near the vehicle.❒The performance of the parking
assistance system may also be
affected by the position of the
sensors. For example by a change in
the ride setting (caused by the wear
of the shock absorbers, suspension),
changing the tyres, overloading the
vehicle and carrying out specific
tuning operations that require the
vehicle to be lowered.
❒Detection of obstacles in the upper
part of the vehicle (particularly in the
case of vans or chassis cabs) may
not be guaranteed because the
system detects obstacles that could
strike the lower part of the vehicle.
IMPORTANT
17) The sensor must be clean of
mud, dirt, snow or ice in order for
the system to operate correctly.
Be careful not to scratch or
damage the sensors while
cleaning them. Avoid using dry,
rough or hard cloths. The sensors
must be washed using clean
water, with the addition of car
shampoo if necessary.
101

STARTING AND DRIVING
Let’s get to the "heart" of the vehicle:
seeing how you can exploit all of its
potential to the full.
We’ll look at how to drive it safely in any
situation, so that it can be a welcome
companion, with our comfort and
our wallets in mind.STARTING THE ENGINE .................184
PARKING ........................................185
USING THE GEARBOX ...................186
LOADING ADVICE...........................187
SAVING FUEL .................................188
TOWING TRAILERS ........................190
SNOW TYRES ................................198
SNOW CHAINS...............................198
PROLONGED VEHICLE
INACTIVITY .....................................199
183

30) Remember that the brake servo
and power steering are not
operational until the engine has
been started, so you need to apply
much more force than usual to
the brake pedal and steering
wheel.
31) Never start the engine by
pushing, towing or driving
downhill. This could cause fuel to
flow into the catalytic converter
and damage it beyond repair.
32) A quick burst on the accelerator
before turning off the engine
serves absolutely no practical
purpose; it wastes fuel and is
especially damaging to
turbocharged engines.
33) In some cases, when the engine
switches off, the fan could
activate for max. 120 seconds.
WARNING
134) 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.
PARKING
Proceed as follows:
❒stop the engine and engage the
handbrake;
❒engage a gear (on a slope, engage
first gear if the car is facing uphill or
reverse if it is facing downhill) and
leave the wheels steered.
If the vehicle is parked on a steep
slope, it is advisable to block the
wheels with a wedge or stone.
Do not leave the key in the ignition as
this drains the battery. Always remove
the key when you leave the car.
135)
HANDBRAKE
The handbrake lever is located to the
left of the driver's seat fig. 172. Pull the
lever upwards to engage the handbrake
and ensure that the vehicle does not
move.
IMPORTANT Make sure that the
handbrake is engaged in such a way as
to ensure the stationing of the vehicle,
especially in the case of steep slopes
and full load.IMPORTANT If this is not the case,
contact a Fiat Dealership to have the
handbrake adjusted. If the lever travel
gets longer, contact a Fiat Dealership.
When the handbrake lever is engaged
and the ignition key is in MAR-ON
position, the instrument panel warning
light
will switch on.
Proceed as follows to release the
handbrake:
❒slightly lift the lever and press release
button A;
❒keep button A pressed and lower the
lever.
The
warning light in the instrument
panel will switch off.
Press the brake pedal when carrying
out this operation to prevent the vehicle
from moving accidentally.
172F1A0162
185

Traffic and road
conditions
Rather high consumption levels are
linked to situations with heavy traffic, for
instance when travelling in queues
with frequent use of the lower gears or
in cities with many traffic lights. Winding
mountain roads and rough road
surfaces also adversely affect
consumption.
Stops in traffic
During prolonged hold-ups (e.g. level
crossings) the engine should be
switched off.TOWING TRAILERS
IMPORTANT
INFORMATION
The vehicle must be provided with a
type-approved tow hook and adequate
electrical system to tow caravans or
trailers. Installation should be carried
out by specialised personnel who
will issue the required papers for
travelling on roads.
Install any specific and/or additional
door mirrors as specified by the
Highway Code.
Remember that when towing a trailer,
steep hills are harder to climb, the
braking spaces increase and overtaking
takes longer depending on the overall
weight.
Engage a low gear when driving
downhill, rather than constantly using
the brake.
The weight of the trailer on the vehicle
tow hook will reduce the loading
capacity of the vehicle by the same
amount. Consider the weight of the
trailer fully laden, including accessories
and luggage, to make sure you do
not exceed the maximum towable
weight (shown on the vehicle
registration document).Do not exceed the speed limits specific
to each country you are driving in, in
the case of vehicles towing trailers.
In any case, the top speed must not
exceed 100 km/h.
You are advised to fit a suitable
stabiliser to the trailer drawbar.
In the vehicles equipped with parking
sensors, after fitting the tow hook
malfunctioning warnings may be
displayed, as some parts (tow bar, ball
tow hook) may be within the sensor
detection range. In this case the
detection range must be adjusted or
the parking assistance function must be
deactivated.
140) 141)
INSTALLING THE TOW
HOOK
The towing device should be fastened
to the body by specialised personnel
according to any additional and/or
integrative information supplied by the
Manufacturer of the device.
The towing device must meet current
regulations with reference to Directive
94/20/EC and subsequent
amendments.
For any version the towing device used
must match the towable weight of the
vehicle on which it is to be installed.
190
STARTING AND DRIVING

For the electric connection a standard
connector should be used which is
generally placed on a special bracket
normally fastened to the towing device,
and a special ECU for external trailer
light control must be installed on the
vehicle. For the electrical connection, 7
or 13 pin 12 V DC connections are to
be used (CUNA/UNI and ISO/DIN
Standards). Follow the instructions
provided by the vehicle manufacturer
and/or the tow hitch manufacturer.
An electric brake (or electric winch)
should be supplied directly by the
battery through a cable with a cross
section of no less than 2.5 mm
2.
IMPORTANT Electric brakes or other
devices must be used with engine
running.
In addition to the electrical branches,
the vehicle's electric system can only
be connected to the supply cable for an
electric brake and to the cable for an
internal light, though not above 15
W. For connections use the preset
control unit with battery cable no less
than 2.5 mm
2.IMPORTANT The trailer tow hook
contributes to the length of the vehicle.
When installing on long wheelbase
versions, it is only possible to install
removable tow hooks because the total
vehicle length limit of 6 metres is
exceeded.
If no trailer is fitted, the hook must be
removed from the attachment base and
it must not exceed the vehicle's
original length.
IMPORTANT If you wish to leave the
tow hook fitted without towing a trailer,
it is advisable to contact a Fiat
Dealership for the relevant system
update operations because the tow
hook could be detected as an obstacle
by the central sensors.Installation diagram for
Van versions fig. 174
The tow hook structure must be
fastened in the points shown by the
symbol Ø using a total of 6 M10x1.25
screws and 4 M12 screws.
The internal back plates must be at
least 5 mm thick. MAX LOAD ON
BALL: 100/120 kg according to the
payload (see “Weights” table in the
“Technical data” section).
142)
To install a tow hook, the bumpers
must be trimmed as described in the
supplier's installation kit.
191

IN AN EMERGENCY
A punctured tyre or a burnt-out bulb?
At times, a problem may interfere
with our journey.
The pages on emergencies can help
you to deal with critical situations
independently and with calm.
In an emergency we recommend that
you call the freephone number found in
the Warranty Booklet.
It is also possible to call the 00 800
3428 0000 freephone number to
search the nearest Fiat Dealership.STARTING THE ENGINE .................202
REPLACING A WHEEL ...................203
FIX & GO AUTOMATIC QUICK
TYRE REPAIR KIT ...........................208
CHANGING A BULB .......................212
REPLACING AN EXTERIOR BULB ..216
CHANGING AN INTERIOR BULB ....221
REPLACING FUSES........................222
BATTERY RECHARGING ................232
LIFTING THE VEHICLE....................233
TOWING THE VEHICLE ..................233
201

STARTING THE
ENGINE
Go to a Fiat Dealership immediately if
warning light
stays on constantly on
the instrument panel.
JUMP STARTING
If the battery is flat, it is possible to start
the engine using an auxiliary battery
with the same capacity or a little higher
than the flat one.
It is advisable to contact a Fiat
Dealership to check/replace the battery.
145)
Proceed as follows to start the vehicle:
❒raise the flap A fig. 179 to gain
access to the positive battery
terminal.
❒connect the positive terminals (sign +
near the terminal) of the two batteries
with a jump lead;
❒use a second cable to connect the
negative terminal (–) of the auxiliary
battery to the earth point as shown in
fig. 180;
❒start the engine;
❒when the engine has been started,
remove the cables reversing the
order above.If after a few attempts the engine does
not start, do not persist but contact
the nearest Fiat Dealership.
IMPORTANT Do not directly connect
the negative terminals of the two
batteries: sparks could ignite explosive
gas released from the battery. If the
auxiliary battery is installed on another
vehicle, avoid any metal parts on the
latter and the vehicle with the flat
battery from accidentally coming into
contact.
BUMP STARTING
Never bump start the engine by
pushing, towing or driving downhill.
This could cause fuel to flow into the
catalytic converter and damage it
beyond repair.
179F1A0351
180F1A0352
202
IN AN EMERGENCY

175) Do not attempt to charge a
frozen battery: it must be thawed
first, otherwise it may explode.
If freezing has occurred, the
battery should be checked by
skilled personnel to make sure
that the internal elements are not
damaged and that the body is
not cracked, with the risk of
leaking poisonous and corrosive
acid.LIFTING THE
VEHICLE
If the vehicle needs to be lifted, go to a
Fiat Dealership which is equipped
with the arm hoist or workshop lift.
The vehicle must only be lifted laterally
by placing the ends of the arms or
workshop lift in the areas shown in fig.
235.
TOWING THE
VEHICLE
176) 177) 178) 179) 180) 181) 182) 183) 184)
The vehicle is equipped with two rings
for attaching the tow hook.
235F1A0366
236F1A0221
237F1A0222
233

The front ring is located in the tool box
beneath the passenger side seat. On
versions with Fix&Go kit and without
spare wheel, the tool box is available
only on request for versions/markets
where provided.In the absence of the tool box the
vehicle front tow hook is housed in the
on-board documentation container,
together with the Owner Handbook.
To use it, proceed as follows:
❒Open the flap A and remove it as
illustrated in fig. 236;
❒turn retaining knob B fig. 236
anticlockwise and remove it to allow
the box fig. 237 to come out;
❒take the screwdriver provided from
the box and prise up at the point
shown to raise the cap C fig. 239;
❒take the tow ring D from the box and
screw it onto the threaded pin fig.
239.
The rear ring B fig. 240 is located at the
point shown in the diagram.
WARNING
176) Screw on the tow hook and
check that it stops at the end
of travel position.
177) Before towing, switch off the
steering lock (see "Starting
device" paragraph under the
"Knowing your car" section).
178) Remember that the brake servo
and the electric power steering
are not available during towing
operations. Significantly greater
force must be exerted on the
brake pedal and on the steering
wheel to operate them.
179) Do not use flexible cables for
towing and avoid jerking. During
towing operations, make sure that
the fastened joint does not
damage adjoining components.
238F1A0344
239F1A0223
240F1A0224
234
IN AN EMERGENCY

180) When towing the vehicle
comply with the specific rules of
the Highway Code regarding
the towing device and the
behaviour on the road.
181) Do not start the engine while
towing the vehicle.
182) Towing must be made
exclusively on roads/streets; the
device must not be used to
recover the vehicle if it got off the
road.
183) Towing must not be made for
getting past significant obstacles
on the road (e.g. heaps of snow
or material on the road surface).
184) Towing must take place with
the two vehicles (one towing,
the other towed) aligned as much
as possible; towing by roadside
assistance vehicles, too, must
take place with the two vehicles
aligned as much as possible
235