ESP FIAT FREEMONT 2013 Owner handbook (in English)

Prolonged driving with the MIL on
could cause further damage to the emis-
sion control system. It could also affect
fuel economy and drivability.The vehicle must be
serviced before any emissions tests can be per-
formed.
 If the MIL is flashing while the engine is run-
ning, severe catalytic converter damage and
power loss will soon occur. Immediate service is
required.
LOOSE FUEL FILLER CAP MESSAGE (for
versions/markets, where provided)
If the vehicle diagnostic system determines that the
fuel filler cap is loose, improperly installed, or damaged,
a “Check Gascap” message will display in the Electronic
Vehicle Information Center (EVIC). If this occurs,
tighten the fuel filler cap properly and press the TRIP
ODOMETER button to turn off the message. If the
problem continues, the message will appear the next
time the vehicle is started.
A loose, improperly installed, or damaged fuel filler cap
may also turn on the MIL. POWER STEERING
The standard power steering system will give you good
vehicle response and increased ease of maneuverability
in tight spaces. The system will provide mechanical
steering capability if power assist is lost.
If for some reason the power assist is interrupted, it
will still be possible to steer your vehicle. Under these
conditions, you will observe a substantial increase in
steering effort, especially at very low vehicle speeds
and during parking maneuvers.
NOTE:
 Increased noise levels at the end of the steering
wheel travel are considered normal and do not
indicate that there is a problem with the power
steering system.
 Upon initial start-up in cold weather, the power steering pump may make noise for a short amount of
time. This is due to the cold, thick fluid in the
steering system. This noise should be considered
normal, and it does not in any way damage the
steering system.
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The TPMS has been optimized for the
original equipment tires and wheels.
TPMS pressures and warning have been
established for the tire size equipped on your
vehicle. Undesirable system operation or sensor
damage may result when using replacement
equipment that is not of the same size, type,
and/or style.Aftermarket wheels can cause sensor
damage. Do not use aftermarket tire sealants or
balance beads if your vehicle is equipped with a
TPMS, as damage to the sensors may result .
 After inspecting or adjusting the tire pressure,
always reinstall the valve stem cap.This will pre-
vent moisture and dirt from entering the valve
stem, which could damage theTire Pressure Moni-
toring Sensor.
NOTE:
 The TPMS is not intended to replace normal tire care and maintenance, or to provide warning of a tire
failure or condition.
 The TPMS should not be used as a tire pressure gauge while adjusting your tire pressure.
 Driving on a significantly under-inflated tire causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Under-inflation also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle’s handling and
stopping ability.
 The TPMS is not a substitute for proper tire mainte- nance, and it is the driver’s responsibility to maintain
correct tire pressure using an accurate tire pressure
gauge, even if under-inflation has not reached the
level to trigger illumination of the Tire Pressure
Monitoring Telltale Light.
 Seasonal temperature changes will affect tire pres- sure, and the TPMS will monitor the actual tire
pressure in the tire.
BASE SYSTEM
The Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) uses wire-
less technology with wheel rim mounted electronic
sensors to monitor tire pressure levels. Sensors,
mounted to each wheel as part of the valve stem,
transmit tire pressure readings to the receiver module.
NOTE: It is particularly important for you to check
the tire pressure in all of the tires on your vehicle
monthly and to maintain the proper pressure.
The TPMS consists of the following components:
 Receiver Module
 Four Tire Pressure Monitoring Sensors
 Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale Light
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could provide a false indication that an obstacle is
behind the fascia/bumper.
 Objects such as bicycle carriers, trailer hitches, etc., must not be placed within 30 cm from the rear
fascia/bumper while driving the vehicle. Failure to do
so can result in the system misinterpreting a close
object as a sensor problem, causing the “SERVICE
PARK ASSIST” message to be displayed in the EVIC.
 ParkSense
®is only a parking aid and it
is unable to recognize every obstacle,
including small obstacles. Parking curbs
might be temporarily detected or not detected at
all. Obstacles located above or below the sensors
will not be detected when they are in close prox-
imity.
 The vehicle must be driven slowly when using
ParkSense
®
in order to be able to stop in time
when an obstacle is detected. It is recommended
that the driver looks over his/her shoulder when
using ParkSense
®.
WARNING!
 Dr
ivers must be careful when backing
up even when using the Rear Park Assist
system. Always check carefully behind your ve-
hicle, look behind you, and be sure to check for
pedestrians, animals, other vehicles, obstruc-
tions, and blind spots before backing up.You are
responsible for safety and must continue to pay
attention to your surroundings. Failure to do so
can result in serious injury or death.
 Before using the Rear Park Assist system, it is
strongly recommended that the ball mount and
hitch ball assembly is disconnected from the ve-
hicle when the vehicle is not used for towing.
Failure to do so can result in injury or damage to
vehicles or obstacles because the hitch ball will
be much closer to the obstacle than the rear
fascia when the loudspeaker sounds the continu-
ous tone. Also, the sensors could detect the ball
mount and hitch ball assembly, depending on its
size and shape, giving a false indication that an
obstacle is behind the vehicle.
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WARNING!
Drivers must be careful when backing up
e
ven when using the ParkView
®
Rear
Back Up Camera. Always check carefully behind
your vehicle, and be sure to check for pedestri-
ans, animals, other vehicles, obstructions, or blind
spots before backing up. You are responsible for
the safety of your surroundings and must con-
tinue to pay attention while backing up. Failure
to do so can result in serious injury or death.
 To avoid vehicle damage, ParkView
®
should only be used as a parking aid.The
ParkView
®camera is unable to view ev-
ery obstacle or object in your drive path.
 To avoid vehicle damage, the vehicle must be
driven slowly when using ParkView
®to be able to
stop in time when an obstacle is seen. It is recom-
mended that the driver look frequently over his/
her shoulder when using ParkView®. NOTE:
If snow, ice, mud, or any foreign substance
builds up on the camera lens, clean the lens, rinse with
water, and dry with a soft cloth. Do not cover the lens.
TURNING PARKVIEW
®ON OR OFF —
WITH TOUCH SCREEN RADIO
1. Turn the Radio on.
2. Press the “More” soft-key.
3. Press the “Settings” soft-key.
4. Press the “Safety & Driving Assistance” soft-key.
5. Press the check box soft key next to “Parkview
®
Backup Camera” to enable/disable.
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(Continued)
 Do not attempt to modify any part of your
Active Hood system.The Active Hood may deploy
accidentally or may not function properly if
modifications are made. Take your vehicle to an
authorized dealer for any hood service.
 Drivers must be aware of pedestrians. Always
be sure to check for pedestrians, animals, other
vehicles, and obstructions.You are responsible for
safety and must continue to pay attention to
your surroundings. Failure to do so can result in
serious injury or death.
ENHANCED SEAT BELT USE REMINDER
SYSTEM (BELTALERT
®)
BeltAlert
®is a feature intended to remind the driver
and front passenger (if equipped with front passenger
BeltAlert®) to fasten their seatbelts. The feature is
active whenever the ignition is on. If the driver or front
seat passenger is unbelted, the Seat Belt Reminder
Light will turn on and remain on until both front
seatbelts are fastened.
The BeltAlert
®
warning sequence begins after the
vehicle speed is over 8 km/h, by blinking the Seat Belt
Reminder Light and sounding an intermittent chime.
Once the sequence starts, it will continue for the
entire duration or until the respective seatbelts are
fastened. After the sequence completes, the Seatbelt Reminder Light remains illuminated until the respective
seatbelts are fastened. The driver should instruct all
other occupants to fasten their seatbelts. If a front
seatbelt is unbuckled while traveling at speeds greater
than 8 km/h, BeltAlert
®will provide both audio and
visual notification.
The front passenger seat BeltAlert
®is not active when
the front passenger seat is unoccupied. BeltAlert
®may
be triggered when an animal or heavy object is on the
front passenger seat or when the seat is folded flat (if
equipped). It is recommended that pets be restrained
in the rear seat in pet harnesses or pet carriers that are
secured by seat belts, and cargo is properly stowed.
BeltAlert
®can be enabled or disabled by your autho-
rized dealer. FIAT Group Automobiles S.p.A. does not
recommend deactivating BeltAlert
®.
NOTE: Although BeltAlert
®has been deactivated,
the Seat Belt Reminder Light will continue to illuminate
while the driver’s or front passenger (if equipped with
BeltAlert
®) seat belt remains unfastened.
SEAT BELTS AND PREGNANT WOMEN
We recommend that pregnant women use the seat
belts throughout their pregnancy. Keeping the mother
safe is the best way to keep the baby safe.
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trim cover and the upper right side of the instrument
panel separate and fold out of the way as the air bags
inflate to their full size. The air bags fully inflate in about
50 to 70 milliseconds. This is about half of the time it
takes to blink your eyes. The air bags then quickly
deflate while helping to restrain the driver and front
passenger.
The Advanced Front Air Bag gas is vented through the
vent holes in the sides of the air bag. In this way, the air
bags do not interfere with your control of the vehicle.
Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bag
(SAB) Inflator Units
The Supplemental Seat-Mounted Side Air Bags (SAB)
are designed to activate only in certain side collisions.
The ORC determines if a side collision requires the
side air bags to inflate, based on the severity and type of
collision.
Based on the severity and type of collision, the side air
bag inflator on the crash side of the vehicle may be
triggered, releasing a quantity of non-toxic gas. The
inflating SAB exits through the seat seam into the space
between the occupant and the door. The SAB fully
inflate in about 10 milliseconds. The side air bag moves
at a very high speed and with such a high force that it
could injure you if you are not seated properly, or ifitems are positioned in the area where the side air bag
inflates. This especially applies to children.
Supplemental Side Air Bag Inflatable Curtain
(SABIC) Inflator Units
During collisions where the impact is confined to a
particular area of the side of the vehicle, the ORC may
deploy the SABIC air bags, depending on the severity
and type of collision. In these events, the ORC will
deploy the SABIC only on the impact side of the
vehicle.
A quantity of non-toxic gas is generated to inflate the
side curtain air bag. The inflating side curtain air bag
pushes the outside edge of the headliner out of the way
and covers the window. The air bag inflates in about 30
milliseconds (about one-quarter of the time that it
takes to blink your eyes) with enough force to injure
you if you are not belted and seated properly, or if
items are positioned in the area where the side curtain
air bag inflates. This especially applies to children. The
side curtain air bag is only about 9 cm thick when it is
inflated.
Because air bag sensors estimate deceleration over
time, vehicle speed and damage are not good indicators
of whether or not an air bag should have deployed.
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NOTE:In a rollover the pretensioners and/or SAB
and SABIC air bags may deploy on both sides of the
vehicle.
Front And Side Impact Sensors
In front and side impacts, impact sensors can aid the
ORC in determining appropriate response to impact
events.
Enhanced Accident Response System
In the event of an impact causing air bag deployment, if
the communication network remains intact, and the
power remains intact, depending on the nature of the
event the ORC will determine whether to have the
Enhanced Accident Response System perform the fol-
lowing functions:
 Cut off fuel to the engine.
 Flash hazard lights as long as the battery has power or until the ignition is cycled off.
 Turn on the interior lights, which remain on as long as the battery has power or until the ignition key is
removed.
 Unlock the doors automatically.
In order to reset the Enhanced Accident Response
System functions after an event, the ignition switch
must be changed from IGN ON to IGN OFF. If A Deployment Occurs
The Advanced Front Air Bags are designed to deflate
immediately after deployment.
NOTE:
Front and/or side air bags will not deploy in
all collisions. This does not mean something is wrong
with the air bag system.
If you do have a collision which deploys the air bags, any
or all of the following may occur:
 The nylon air bag material may sometimes cause abrasions and/or skin reddening to the driver and
front passenger as the air bags deploy and unfold.
The abrasions are similar to friction rope burns or
those you might get sliding along a carpet or gymna-
sium floor. They are not caused by contact with
chemicals. They are not permanent and normally
heal quickly. However, if you haven't healed signifi-
cantly within a few days, or if you have any blistering,
see your doctor immediately.
 As the air bags deflate, you may see some smoke-like particles. The particles are a normal by-product of
the process that generates the non-toxic gas used for
air bag inflation. These airborne particles may irritate
the skin, eyes, nose, or throat. If you have skin or eye
irritation, rinse the area with cool water. For nose or
throat irritation, move to fresh air. If the irritation
continues, see your doctor. If these particles settle
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MANUAL TRANSMISSION (for
versions/markets, where
provided)
WARNING!
You or others could be injured if you
leav
e the vehicle unattended without
having the parking brake fully applied.The park-
ing brake should always 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 accelera-
tor pedal. (fig. 139) 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.
For most city driving you will find it easier to use only
the lower gears. For steady highway driving with light
accelerations, sixth gear is recommended.
Never drive with your foot resting on the clutch pedal,
or try to hold the vehicle on a hill with the clutch pedal
partially engaged. This will cause abnormal wear on the
clutch.
To shift into REVERSE, pull up on the ring just below
the gear shift knob and then move into the REVERSE
(R) position.
Never shift into REVERSE until the vehicle has come to
a complete stop.
NOTE:
During cold weather, until the transmission
lubricant is warm, you may experience slightly higher
shift efforts. This is normal and not harmful to the
transmission.
(fig. 139) Shift Pattern (Six-Speed)
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turned to the ON/RUN position (engine running or
not) and the brake pedal must be pressed.
GEAR RANGES
DO NOT race the engine when shifting from PARK or
NEUTRAL into another gear range.
NOTE:After selecting any gear range, wait a mo-
ment to allow the selected gear to engage before
accelerating. This is especially important when the
engine is cold.
PARK
This range supplements the parking brake by locking
the transmission. The engine can be started in this
range. Never attempt to use PARK while the vehicle is
in motion. Apply the parking brake when leaving the
vehicle in this range.
When parking on a level surface, you may place the
shift lever in PARK first, and then apply the parking
brake.
When parking on a hill, apply the parking brake before
placing the shift lever in PARK, otherwise the load on
the transmission locking mechanism may make it diffi-
cult to move the shift lever out of PARK. As an added
precaution, turn the front wheels toward the curb on a
downhill grade and away from the curb on an uphill
grade.
WARNING!
 N
ever use the PARK position as a
substitute for the parking brake. Always
apply the parking brake fully when parked to
guard against vehicle movement and possible
injury or damage.
 Your vehicle could move and injure you and
others if it is not completely in PARK. Check by
trying to move the shift lever rearward (with the
brake pedal released) after you have placed it in
PARK. Make sure the transmission is in PARK
before leaving the vehicle.
 It is dangerous to move the shift lever 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 con-
trol 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.
(Continued)
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Transmission Limp Home Mode
Transmission function is monitored electronically for
abnormal conditions. If a condition is detected that
could result in transmission damage, Transmission
Limp Home Mode is activated. In this mode, the trans-
mission remains in second gear regardless of which
forward gear is selected. PARK, REVERSE, and NEU-
TRAL will continue to operate. The Malfunction Indi-
cator Light (MIL) may be illuminated. Limp Home Mode
allows the vehicle to be driven to an authorized dealer
for service without damaging the transmission.
In the event of a momentary problem, the transmission
can be reset to regain all forward gears by performing
the following steps:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Shift the transmission into PARK.
3. Turn the engine OFF.
4. Wait approximately 10 seconds.
5. Restart the engine.
6. Shift into the desired gear range. If the problem is nolonger detected, the transmission will return to
normal operation. NOTE:
Even if the transmission can be reset, we
recommend that you visit your authorized dealer at
your earliest possible convenience. Your authorized
dealer has diagnostic equipment to determine if the
problem could recur.
If the transmission cannot be reset, authorized dealer
service is required.
Override Operation
The automatic transmission includes an electronically
controlled Overdrive (fourth gear). The transmission
will automatically shift into Overdrive if the following
conditions are present:
 the shift lever is in the DRIVE position,
 the transmission fluid has reached an adequate tem- perature,
 the engine coolant has reached an adequate tem- perature, and
 vehicle speed is sufficiently high, and
 the driver is not heavily pressing the accelerator.
Torque Converter Clutch
A feature designed to improve fuel economy has been
included in the automatic transmission on your vehicle.
A clutch within the torque converter engages auto-
matically at calibrated speeds. This may result in a
slightly different feeling or response during normal
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