Tyres FIAT DUCATO 244 2005 3.G Owners Manual

89GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
Warning light >alone,
with the engine running,
normally indicates a fault in the
ABS system only. In this case, the
braking system is still efficient,
though without the anti-locking de-
vice. Under these conditions, per-
formance of the EBD system may
be reduced. In this case too, you are
advised to go immediately to the
nearest Fiat Dealership, driving in
such a way to avoid sharp braking
to have the system checked over.
WARNING
If the xbrake fluid low
warning light comes on,
stop the vehicle immediately and
contact the nearest Fiat Dealership.
Fluid leaks from the hydraulic sys-
tem, in fact, can compromise brake
system operation, both traditional
systems and systems with ABS.
WARNING
Braking while cornering always re-
quires extreme care even when using
ABS.
The most important advice to follow
is this:
If you follow these tips you will be
able to brake better in any situation.
IMPORTANTVehicles fitted with
ABS shall only be fitted with wheel rims,
tyres and brake pads of the make and
model approved by the vehicle manu-
facturer.The system is completed with an elec-
tronic brakeforce distributor called
EBD which improves braking system
performance by means of the ABSsys-
tem control unit and sensors.
When the ABS cuts in, and
you feel the brake pedal
pulsating, do not remove your foot,
but keep it pressed. In doing so you
will stop in the shortest amount of
space possible under the current
road conditions.
WARNING
The vehicle is fitted with an
electronic brakeforce dis-
tributor (EBD). The >and x
warning lights come on at the same
time when the engine is running to
indicate that there is an EBD sys-
tem failure. In this case violent
braking may be accompanied by
early rear wheel locking with the
possibility of skidding. Drive ex-
tremely carefully to the nearest Fi-
at Dealership to have the system
checked.
WARNING

97GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE
SWITCHING THE ASR
SYSTEM ON AND OFF
The ASR function switches on auto-
matically each time the engine is
started.
When travelling the device can be
switched off and on again pressing
switch A-fig. 143 on the centre con-
sole.
Function deactivation is indicated by
the instrument panel warning light A-
fig. 144coming on. If the ASR func-
tion is turned off when travelling, it
will be restored at the following start-
up.For correct operation of the ASR
system the tyres must absolutely be of
the same brand and type on all
wheels, in perfect conditions and,
above all, of the specified type, brand
and size.
IMPORTANTWhen travelling on
snowy road with snow chains, it may
be helpful to turn the ASR device off:
in fact, in these conditions, slipping of
the driving wheels when moving off
makes it possible to obtain better
drive.
fig. 143
F0D0206m
ASR system failure indication
In the event of malfunctioning, the
ASR system is automatically discon-
nected and the warning light Von
the instrument panel comes on with
fixed light.
Press once button A-fig. 143to
check that the signalled information is
correct:
– button pressed, the warning light
goes off, no ASR system faults are de-
tected;
– button pressed, the warning light
stays on, ASR system fault detected.
In this case the vehicle will go o as a
vehicle not equipped with this system.
Anyway, you are recommended to go
to a Fiat Dealershipas soon as pos-
sible.
fig. 144
F0D0251m

119GETTING THE BEST OUT OF YOUR VEHICLE
Manual sequential programme
This function enables manual se-
quential use of the gearbox merely
moving the selector lever to the left.
Each time the lever is pressed only
one gear is shifted: more than one shift
cannot be obtained.
To avoid overevving or excessively
low engine rpm, the control unit in-
hibits requests for gearshifting that
would cause such situations.
Winter driving programme
This programme is engaged by press-
ing button WINTERnear the
gearshift lever,
in case of driving wheel skidding and
it changes to specific gears.
Starting is possible only in 2
ndgear.
On snowy roads use however snow
chains and/or tyres.
The WINTERfunction shall always
be off on slopes.Engine warming up programme
This programme allows the engine to
reach normal operating temperature
in the shortest time possible (de-
pending on the outside temperature)
highering the gearshifting points, in re-
lation to engine temperature.
The programme engages automati-
cally after starting, if the engine tem-
perature is below 30 °C and it remains
active up to 34 °C.
Excessive gearbox oil
temperature programme
This is activated when the gearbox
oil temperature reaches 120 °C and it
remains active down to 117 °C.
To facilitate oil cooling, this pro-
gramme inhibits gearshifting, either up
or down. It is however possible to use
the manual programme.
SAFE DRIVING
In designing Ducato, Fiat has made
every effort to come up with a vehicle
able to provide driver and passengers
with top-class levels of safety. Never-
theless it is always the behaviour of the
person at the wheel that determines
road safety.
In the following pages you will find
some simple tips to help you travel in
safety under different conditions. You
will no doubt be familiar with many of
them already but it will be useful to
read them all carefully.

124GETTING THE BEST OUT OF YOUR VEHICLE
To get the most out of ABS:
– During emergency stops or when
grip conditions are poor, you will feel
a slight pulsation on the brake pedal.
This is the sign that the ABS is work-
ing. Do not release the brake pedal but
continue to press so as not to inter-
rupt the braking action;
– ABS enables you to brake and steer
at the same time. If you meet an un-
expected obstacle you can therefore
steer around it;
– the ABS prevents the wheels from
locking but it does not increase actu-
al grip conditions between tyre and
road. Therefore, even if your vehicle
is fitted with ABS, keep a safe distance
from the vehicle in front of you and
keep your speed down when driving
into bends.
ABS serves to increase your control
over the vehicle, not to enable you to
go faster.Some suggestions which may help
you to keep the running costs of the
vehicle down and lower the amount
of toxic emissions released into the at-
mosphere are given below.
GENERAL
CONSIDERATIONS
Vehicle maintenance
Carry out the checks and adjust-
ments/regulations specified in the
“Service Schedule”.
Tyres
Check tyre inflation pressure regu-
larly. Tyres should be checked at least
once every four weeks: if the pressure
is too low, fuel consumption increas-
es as the resistance to the rolling
movement of the tyre is greater.Unnecessary loads
Do not travel with too much load.
The weight of the vehicle (specially in
urban traffic) and its trim greatly ef-
fects consumption and stability.
Roof rack/ski rack
Remove the roof or ski racks from
the vehicle as soon as they are no
longer needed. These accessories re-
duce the aerodynamic penetration of
the vehicle and will increase con-
sumption. When transporting partic-
ularly large objects, use a trailer,
where possible.CONTAINING RUNNING COSTS

132GETTING THE BEST OUT OF YOUR VEHICLE
SNOW TYRES
Use snow tyres specified in the
“Snow tyres” table in section “Tech-
nical Specifications”.
Fiat Dealershipwill be happy to
provide advice concerning the most
suitable type of tyre for the customer’s
requirements.
For the type of tyre to be used, in-
flation pressures and the specifications
of snow tyres, follow the instructions
given at paragraph “Wheels” in section
“Technical Specifications”.The winter features of these tyres
are reduced considerably when the
tread depth is below 4 mm. In this
case, they should be replaced.
Due to the snow tyre features, un-
der normal conditions of use or on
long motorway journeys, the perfor-
mance of these tyres is lower than that
of normal tyres.
It is therefore necessary to limit their
use to the purposes for which they are
certified.
IMPORTANT When snow tyres
are used with a max. speed index be-
low the one that can be reached by
the vehicle (increased by 5%), place a
notice in the passenger compartment,
plainly in the driver’s view which states
the max. permissible speed of the
snow tyres (as per EC Directive).All four tyres should be the same
(brand and track) to ensure greater
safety when driving and braking and
better driveability.
Remember that it is inappropriate to
change the direction of rotation of
tyres.
The max. speed for snow
tyres with “Q” marking is
160 km/h. The Road Traffic Code
speed limits must however be al-
ways strictly observed.
WARNING

133GETTING THE BEST OUT OF YOUR VEHICLE
SNOW CHAINS
The use of snow chains is regulated
by the legislation in force in the coun-
try the vehicle is driven in.
The chains may only be applied to
the drive wheel tyres (front wheels).We recommend using Lineaccessori
Fiat snow chains.
Check the tautness of the chains af-
ter driving some twenty to thirty me-
tres.With chains
mounted keep
your speed down.
Do not exceed 50 kph. Avoid
holes in the road; do not mount
steps or kerbs. Do not drive long
stretches of snow-free road with
the chains mounted, as this can
damage the vehicle and the road
surface too.
Versions
11
15
MAXI
Tyres on which
chains can be fitted
195/70 R15C
205/70 R15C
215/70 R15 Camping
205/70 R15C
215/70 R15 Camping
215/75 R16C
205/75 R16C
215/75 R16 CampingTypes of snow chains
to be used
Snow chains with
reduced size with max.
protrusion beyond the
tyre profile of 15 mm
For rim size refer to “Wheels” in section “Technical Specifications”.
Refer to the following table
for information on the
wheels where snow chains can be
fitted. Follow the prescriptions.
WARNING

134GETTING THE BEST OUT OF YOUR VEHICLE
VEHICLE STORAGE
The following precautions should be
taken if the vehicle will not be used for
several months:
– park the vehicle in covered, dry and
if possible well-ventilated premises;
– engage a gear;
– remove the cables from the battery
(first remove the cable to the negative
terminal) and check the battery
charge. If the vehicle is to be stored
for long periods the charge of the bat-
tery should be checked every month
and recharged if it falls below 12.5 V;– make sure the handbrake is not en-
gaged;
– clean and protect the painted parts
using protective wax;
– clean and protect the shiny metal
parts using special compounds readi-
ly available;
– sprinkle talcum powder on the rub-
ber windscreen and rear window
wiper blades and lift them off the glass;
– slightly open the windows;
– cover the vehicle with a cloth or
perforated plastic sheet. Do not use
sheets of non-perforated plastic as
they do not allow moisture on the ve-
hicle body to evaporate;– inflate the tyres to 0.5 bar above
the normal specified pressure and
check it at intervals;
– do not drain the engine cooling sys-
tem.
IMPORTANTWhere relevant,
switch off the electronic vehicle alarm
with the remote control and deacti-
vate the system by turning the emer-
gency key to OFF (see “Electronic
alarm” in section “Getting to know
your vehicle”).

178VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
WHEELS AND
TYRES
Check the pressure of each tyre, in-
cluding the spare, every two weeks
and before long journeys.
The pressure must be checked when
the tyre is rested and cold.
It is normal for pressure to rise
when you are driving. If you have to
check or restore the pressure when
the tyres are warm, remember that
the pressure value must be 0.3 bar
above the specified value.
See “Wheels” in “Technical specifi-
cations” chapter for the correct tyre
inflation pressure.Wrong pressure causes uneven
wear of the tyres fig. 17:
A- correct pressure: tyre wears
evenly
B- under-inflated tyre: shoulder
tread wear
C- over-inflated tyre: centre tread
wear.IMPORTANTAs far as possible
avoid sharp braking and screech starts.
Be careful not to hit the kerb, pot-
holes or other obstacles. Driving for
long stretches over bumpy roads can
damage the tyres.
Periodically check that the tyres have
no cuts in the side wall, abnormal
swelling or irregular tyre wear. If any
of these occur, have the vehicle seen
to at a Fiat Dealership.
Avoid overloading your vehicle: this
can seriously damage wheels or tyres.
If you get a flat tyre, stop immedi-
ately and change it so as not to dam-
age the tyre, the wheel, the suspen-
sion and the steering.
fig. 17
F0D0027m
If the pressure is too low,
the tyre overheats and this
can cause it serious damage.
WARNING
Tyre pressure must be cor-
rect to ensure good road
holding.
WARNING
Tyres must be replaced when the
tread wears down to 1.6 mm. In any
case, comply with the laws in the coun-
try where the vehicle is being driven.

179VEHICLE MAINTENANCE
Tyres age even if they are not used
very much. Cracking of the tread rub-
ber and the side walls are a sign of this
ageing. In any case, if the tyres have
been fitted for more than six years
they should be examined by an expert
who can judge whether they are still
fit for use. Remember to check the
spare tyre particularly carefully too.
If a replacement is necessary, always
use new tyres and avoid using ones
the origin of which you are not cer-
tain about.
The Ducato uses tubeless tyres. Un-
der no circumstances use an inner
tube with these tyres.
If you replace a tyre it is a good idea
to change the inflation valve, too.To ensure the front and rear tyres all
wear evenly, you are advised to change
the tyres over every 10 - 15 thousand
kilometres keeping them on the same
side of the vehicle so as not to reverse
the direction of rotation.RUBBER TUBING
Follow the Service Schedule carefully
in the case of braking and fuel supply
system rubber tubing.
Ozone, high temperatures and long
absence of fluid in the system can in
fact cause the hardening and cracking
of the pipes with possible loss of fluid.
A careful check is therefore essential.
Do not change the tyres
over in criss-cross fashion
by moving a tyre from the left-hand
side of the vehicle to the right and
vice versa.
WARNING
Never submit alloy rims to
repainting treatments re-
quiring to use temperatures ex-
ceeding 150°C since the mechani-
cal properties of the wheels could
be impaired.
WARNING

218TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
WHEELS
RIMS AND TYRES
Printed steel rims with ventilated
disk.
Tubeless tyres with radial carcass.
The homologated tyres are listed in
the log book.
IMPORTANT In the event of dis-
crepancies between the information
provided in this Owner Handbook and
the Log Book, consider the specifica-
tions shown in the Log Book only.
To ensure safety of the vehicle in
movement, it must be fitted with tyres
of the same make and type on all
wheels.
IMPORTANT Do not use inner
tubes with tubeless tyres.SPARE WHEEL
Printed steel rim.
Tubeless tyre (same as those fitted).
SNOW CHAINS
Only use low profile chains, see
“Snow chains”.
WHEEL GEOMETRY
Front wheel toe-in measured from
rim to rim: – 2 ± 1 mm.
The values refer to the vehicle in run-
ning order.
STEERING
Energy-absorbing jointed steering
column and wheel.
Height adjustable steering wheel.
Permanently lubricated rack and pin-
ion.
Hydraulic power steering.
Minimum turning circle:
– short wheelbase ................ 11 m
– medium wheelbase ............ 12.1 m
– long wheelbase .................. 13,7 m
Number of steering wheel turns lock
to lock ......................................... 3.52
Do not hold the power as-
sisted steering wheel with
the engine running for longer than
15 seconds. It will make a noise and
you could damage the system.
WARNING