steering FIAT SEICENTO 2007 1.G User Guide

57GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
Do not apply stickers or
other objects to the
steering wheel or to the
passenger's air bag cover or on
the side roof lining. Never apply
objects on the dashboard on pas-
senger side (e.g. mobile phones)
since they could interfere with
proper passenger air bag inflation
and cause severe injuries. – car wedging under other vehicles
or protective barriers (for
example under a truck or guard
rail);
as it offers no additional protection
compared with the seat belts, conse-
quently, it would be pointless. There-
fore, failure to come into action in the
above circumstances does not mean
that the system is not working prop-
erly.FRONT AIRBAG
PASSENGER SIDEThe passenger side airbag was de-
signed and calibrated to protect a per-
son wearing seat belts.
When fully inflated, the bag will fill
most of the space between the dash-
board and the passenger.
Manual deactivation
The passenger side airbag can be de-
activated if it is absolutely necessary
to carry a child in the front passenger
seat.
Turn the specific control switch un-
der the middle of the dashboard be-
tween the sound system compart-
ment and the oddment compartment
fig. 81with the ignition key to deac-
tivate the airbag. SERIOUS DAN-
GER: Never place
cradle child’s seats
on the front passenger seat of
cars fitted with passenger air bag.
Air bag activation could cause se-
rious injuries, even mortal. In the
case of need, always deactivate
the passenger’s air bag when a
child’s seat is placed on the front
seat. The front passenger’s seat
shall be adjusted in the most
backward position to prevent any
contact between child’s seat and
dashboard. Even if not compul-
sory by law, you are recom-
mended to reactivate the air bag
immediately as soon as child
transport is no longer necessary.
fig. 81
P4Q00183

59GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
If the ¬warning light
does not turn on when
turning the ignition key
to MAR or if it stays on when
travelling, this could indicate a
failure in safety retaining sys-
tems; under this condition air
bags or pretensioners could not
trigger in the event of collision
or, in a restricted number of
cases, they could trigger acci-
dentally. Stop the car and con-
tact Fiat Dealership to have the
system checked immediately. Do not travel with ob-
jects on your lap or in
front of you. Do not hold
a pipe, a pencil or similar be-
tween your lips. You could seri-
ously hurt yourself if the airbag
inflates in a collision.
The warning light
Fshould come on for ap-
proximately four seconds
and then flash for other four sec-
onds when the passenger side
airbag deactivation switch is
turned to ON and the ignition
key is turned to MAR to remind
you that the passenger side
airbag will be fired in the event of
an accident. The warning light
should then go out. Always drive with both
hands on the rims of the
steering wheel so that the
airbag is free to inflate during a
head-on collision and protection
yourself from serious injury. Do
not drive with your body bending
towards the steering wheel but
sit in an upright position with
your back resting against the
seat. If an attempt has been
made to steal the car or if
it has actually been stolen
or vandalised in any way or sub-
jected to flooding, have the
airbag system checked at a Fiat
Dealership.
Please note that airbags
can be triggered when
the engine is running also
if the car is stationary and an-
other vehicle crashes into it at
suitably high speed. As a conse-
quence, never sit children in the
front seat, also when the car is
still. On the other hand, the
airbags will not be fired if the car
is stationary and the key is not
turned. Missed operation in these
circumstances does not indicate
a fault.

61GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
ELECTRICAL POWER
STEERING SYSTEM
IMPORTANT The electrical
power steering system only works
when the ignition key is at MAR.
A new electrically controlled power
steering system called EPAS (Electri-
cal Power Assisted Steering) is fitted
in the Fiat 600.
The EPAS system is operated by an
electric motor and consists of only
two parts: a steering column with
built-in electric motor and an elec-
tronic control unit.
The control unit processes the data
from the various sensors located in
the car and converts the signals into
commands for the power steering
motor to reduce the effect on the
steering wheel both when parking and
when cornering.
P4Q00503
fig. 82
1)Electronic power assisted steering control unit;
2)Car speed sensor;
3)Injection control unit;
4)Electric power steering motor;
5)Electrical power steering unit.

62GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
The system is programmed at the
factory to ensure variable degrees of
assistance according to the require-
ments. In other words, power is in-
creased for parking and reduced as
the car’s speed increases.
The EPAS system only works when
the engine is running to avoid deploy-
ing the battery accidentally. Further-
more, it is equipped with a self-test
function to detect faults and incorrect
signals.
IMPORTANTThe steering wheel
may stiffen slightly in parking manoeu-
vres requiring a great deal of steering:
this is normal and caused by the
power steering motor overheat pro-
tection system tripping. The problem
does not require servicing and the
electric power steering system will
work normally the next time the car
is used.If the warning light comes on, see
chapter
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR,
paragraph
WARNING LIGHTS.
FIAT 600 VAN
The version herein illustrated differs
from Fiat 600 saloon described in this
handbook for the different size of the
boot and the availability of two front
seats only.
Load recommendations
Fiat 600 Van has been designed and
approved on the basis of several set
maximum values:
– kerb weight
– payload
– gross vehicle weight
– total weight on the front axle
– total weight on the rear axle
– towable weight.
Each of these limits must be borne
in mind and must never be exceeded
under any circumstances. It is absolutely forbidden
to carry out whatever af-
ter-market operation in-
volving steering system or steer-
ing column modifications (e.g.: in-
stallation of anti-theft Device)
that could badly affect perfor-
mance and safety, cause the lapse
of warranty and also result in
non-compliance of the car with
homologation requirements.

71DRIVING YOUR CAR
EMERGENCY START-UP
If the Fiat CODE system fails to
recognise that code transmitted by
the ignition key (instrument panel
warning light ¢on) the emergency
start-up can be performed by using
the CODE card code.
See the
INANEMERGENCY. A quick burst on the ac-
celerator before turning
off the engine serves ab-
solutely no practical purpose and
wastes fuel.
IMPORTANTAfter a taxing drive
it is better to allow the engine to
“catch its breath” before turning it off,
by letting it idle to allow the temper-
ature in the engine compartment to
fall.
PARKING
Switch off the engine, pull up the
handbrake and put the car in 1st gear
if the car is pointing uphill, reverse if
downhill.
If the car is parked on a steep gradi-
ent it is a good idea to use a stone or
wedge to block the wheels.
Do not leave the ignition key at
MARbecause it drains the battery.
Always remove the key when you
leave the car. Bump starting by push-
ing, towing or rolling
downhill must be avoided
at all costs. This way of starting
could cause a rush of fuel into the
catalytic exhaust pipe and dam-
age it beyond repair.
Remember that as long
as the engine is not run-
ning, the power brakes
and power steering do not work.
You therefore have to use con-
siderably more effort on both the
brake pedal and the steering
wheel. SWITCHING OFF
THE ENGINE
Turn the key to STOPwhile the
engine is idling.
Never leave unsuper-
vised children in the car.

72DRIVING YOUR CAR
HANDBRAKE
The handbrake lever is between the
front seats.
Pull the handbrake lever upwards
until the car cannot be moved. Four
or five clicks are generally enough
when the car is on level ground while
nine or ten may be required if the car
is on a steep slope or laden. IMPORTANTIf this is not the
case, go to a Fiat Dealership to
have the handbrake adjusted.
Instrument panel warning light x
will come on when the handbrake
lever is pulled up and the ignition key
is at MAR.
To release the handbrake:
1)Slightly lift the hand brake and
press release button A-fig. 1;
2)keep the button pressed in and
lower the lever. Warning light xwill
go out;
3)to prevent accidental movement
of the car, this procedure should be
carried out with the brake pedal
pressed down.
STEERING LOCK LEVER
Use the brake pedal to lock the bot-
tom end. HOW TO USE
THE GEARS
The lever positions for the different
gears are shown in fig. 2(this diagram
is also on the gear knob).
Press the clutch fully.
To put the car in reverse (R), wait
until the car has stopped and, from
neutral: move the lever to the right
and back.
fig. 1
P4Q00078
fig. 2
P4Q00079

73DRIVING YOUR CAR
IMPORTANT Reverse gear can
only be engaged when the car is com-
pletely stationary. With the engine
running, before engaging the reverse
gear, wait for at least two seconds
with the clutch pedal pressed fully
down to avoid damaging or grating the
gears. SAFE DRIVING
In designing the Fiat 600, Fiat has
made every effort to come up with a
car able to provide driver and pas-
sengers with top-class levels of safety.
Nevertheless it is always the behav-
iour of the person at the wheel that
determines road safety.
Below you will find some simple tips
to help you travel in safety under dif-
ferent conditions. You will no doubt
be familiar with many of them already
but it will be useful to read them all
carefully.
BEFORE GETTING BEHIND
THE WHEEL
– Make sure all lights including the
headlights are working properly.
– Adjust the position of the seats,
steering wheel, inside and outside rear
view mirrors properly for the best
driving position.
– Carefully adjust the head restraints
so the back of the head and not the
nape of the neck is supported. – Make sure that nothing (mats etc.)
gets in the way of the pedals when
they are pushed down.
– Make sure that any child restraint
systems (child seats, carriers etc.) are
properly fixed preferably on the back
seat.
– Place any objects in the boot in
such a way that they cannot be
thrown forwards in the event of an
accident.
– Do not eat a heavy meal before
travelling. Light eating will help keep
your reflexes prompt. Above all, do
not have anything alcoholic to drink.
Periodically, remember to check:
– tyre pressure and condition
– level of battery electrolyte
– engine oil level
– coolant level and condition of the
system
– brake fluid level
– windscreen washer fluid level. To change the gear
properly (with mechani-
cal clutch) you must push
the clutch pedal fully down. It is
therefore essential that there is
nothing under the pedals. Make
sure mats are lying flat and do
not get in the way of the pedals.

74DRIVING YOUR CAR
WHEN TRAVELLING
– The first rule of safe driving is pru-
dence.
– Prudence also means putting your-
self into a position where you can pre-
dict wrong or imprudent behaviour
from other drivers.
– Stick closely to the rules of the
road in the particular country where
the vehicle is being driven and, above
all, do not exceed speed limits.
– Ensure that, besides yourself, all
the other passengers in the car have
their seat belts fastened, that children
are sitting in the appropriate child
seats and any animals in the car are
placed in suitable compartments.
– You should be physically fit and
mentally alert before setting out on
long journeys. Always fasten both front
and back seat belts and
those of any child seats.
Travelling with the seat belts un-
fastened increases the risk of in-
jury or death if you are in a colli-
sion.
Driving while drunk or
under the influence of
drugs or certain medi-
cines is dangerous for both you
and other road users.
Water, ice or salt on
road surfaces can deposit
on brake disks, reducing
braking efficiency on the first
braking.
Consider that fitting ex-
tra spoilers, alloy rims or
non standard wheel caps
can reduce ventilation of the
brakes and reduce their effi-
ciency under conditions of violent
or repeated braking or long
downhill travel.
Do not drive with ob-
jects on the floor in front
of the driver’s seat: they
could get caught under the ped-
als making braking or accelerat-
ing impossible. Pay attention to the
mats: even a minor prob-
lem to the braking sys-
tem may require increases brake
pedal stroke with respect to nor-
mal.
– Do not drive too many hours at a
time but stop at intervals to stretch
your legs and recover your energies.
– Constantly change the air in the
passenger compartment.
– Never coast downhill (i.e. with the
engine off): if you do, you lose the aid
of the engine brake, brakes booster
and power steering, so that braking
and steering require greater effort.

85DRIVING YOUR CAR
SNOW CHAINS
The use of snow chains is regulated
by the legislation in force in the coun-
try the car is driven in.
The chains may only be applied to
the drive wheel tyres (front wheels).
Use only low profile chains (maxi-
mum height off the tyre: 12 mm).
We recommend using Lineaccessori
Fiat snow chains.
Check the tautness of the chains af-
ter driving some ten metres.Keep you speed down
when snow chains have
been fitted to the wheels.
Avoid potholes, steps and pave-
ments, and do not drive for long
stretches on snow-free roads,
otherwise you risk damaging the
tyres, suspension and steering.
IMPORTANTDo not fit snow
chains on a space-saver spare wheel.
If a front wheel (drive wheel) is punc-
tured and you require snow chains to
proceed, take a standard wheel from
the rear axle and fit the space-saver
spare wheel in its place. Having fitted
two standard wheels on the front
drive axle, you can use snow chains,
thus solving the emergency situation.

89IN AN EMERGENCY
BUMP STARTING IF A TYRE IS
PUNCTURED
General instructions
Observe the instructions on this and
the following pages to use the jack and
space-saver spare wheel correctly. The space-saver spare
wheel is vehicle-specific.
Never use the wheel on
other models. Never fit other
model spare wheels on your car.
If you change the type of wheels
(alloy rims instead of steel rims)
you will have to change the en-
tire set of fastening bolts with an-
other set of suitably sized bolts.
Only use the spare-saver wheel
for emergencies. Do not exceed
80 km/h with the spare wheel fit-
ted. When driving with a space-
saver spare wheel fitted, the dri-
ving performance of your car
may change. Avoid accelerating
or braking suddenly, steering
abruptly or fast cornering.
A space-saver spare wheel has a
maximum life of 3,000 km after
which is must be replaced with a
wheel of the same type. Do not bump start by
pushing, towing or coast-
ing downhill. This way of
starting could cause a rush of fuel
into the catalytic exhaust pipe
and damage it beyond repair.
Remember that until
the engine has started
the brake booster and
power steering systems will not
work and a greater effort will
therefore be required to press
the brake pedal or turn the
steering wheel.
Alert other drivers that
the car is stationary in
compliance with local
regulations: hazard warning
lights, warning triangle etc.
Any passengers on board should
leave the car, especially if it is
heavily laden. Passengers should
stay away from oncoming traffic
while the wheel is being changed.
If the wheel is being changed on
a steep or badly surfaced road,
place wedges or other suitable
material under the wheels to
stop the car.