FIAT SPIDER ABARTH 2017 Owners Manual

STARTING THE
ENGINE Starting The Engine
Before starting the engine, adjust the
seat, the interior rear view mirrors, and
the door mirrors, and fasten the seat
belt correctly.
Warning!When leaving the vehicle, always remove
the key fob from the vehicle 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.
Do not leave the key fob in or near the
vehicle, or in a location accessible to
children, and do not leave the ignition of a
vehicle equipped with Advanced Keyless
Entry in the ACC or ON/RUN mode. A child
could operate power windows, other
controls, or move the vehicle.
Do not leave children or animals inside
parked vehicles in hot weather. Interior heat
build-up may cause serious injury or death. Never press the accelerator pedal for
starting the engine.
Models Equipped With A
Manual Transmission
Proceed as follows:
1. Engage the parking brake and place
the gear selector in NEUTRAL.
2. Place the start button in the ACC
mode.
3. Fully depress the clutch pedal
without touching the accelerator.
4. Place the start button in the ON
mode, push and release it as soon as
the engine starts. If the engine does not
start within 10 seconds, push the start
button to OFF mode and wait for
10-15 seconds before repeating the
starting procedure.
Models Equipped With
An Automatic
Transmission
Proceed as follows:
1. Engage the parking brake and place
the gear selector to P (PARK) or N
(NEUTRAL).
2. Fully depress the brake pedal
without touching the accelerator.
3. Place the start button in the ACC
mode. 4. Place the start button in the ON
mode, push and release it as soon as
the engine starts. If the engine does not
start within 10 seconds, push the start
button to OFF mode and wait for
10-15 seconds before repeating the
starting procedure.
Cold Weather Operation
Regarding Cold Start Disable
When the ambient temperature is
extremely low, the engine may not
crank even when the engine starting
procedure is performed. At this time,
the Cold Start Disable Indicator light in
the instrument cluster flashes. However,
this does not indicate a problem.
Perform the necessary procedures (see
“Warning lights And Messages”
paragraph in “Getting To Know Your
Instrument Panel” chapter).
Regarding Ice Breaker
When the ambient temperature is low,
the start of cranking may be delayed
after engine starting procedure is
performed. At this time, the Cold Start
Disable Indicator light in the instrument
cluster illumintes. However, this does
not indicate a problem.
Refer to your authorized dealer
regarding other related parts which are
to be input such as function name,
operating scenario (condition) of each
function, indicator operation, and user
operation/procedure information.
149

Extended Park Starting
Note: Extended Park condition occurs
when the vehicle has not been started
or driven for at least 30 days.
1. Install a battery charger or jumper
cables to the battery to ensure a full
battery charge during the crank cycle.
2. Place the ignition in the START
mode and release it when the engine
starts.
3. If the engine fails to start within
10 seconds, place the ignition in the
STOP (OFF/LOCK) mode, wait five
seconds to allow the starter to cool,
then repeat the Extended Park Starting
procedure.
4. If the engine fails to start after eight
attempts, allow the starter to cool for at
least 10 minutes, then repeat the
procedure.
Caution!To prevent damage to the starter, do not
crank continuously for more than
10 seconds at a time. Wait 10 to
15 seconds before trying again. After Starting —
Warming Up The Engine
Proceed as follows:
1. Travel slowly, letting the engine run
at a reduced RPM, without accelerating
suddenly.
2. It is recommended to wait until the
digital engine coolant temperature
indicator starts moving before
demanding full performance.
Stopping The Engine
Proceed as follows:
1. Park the car in a position that is not
dangerous for oncoming traffic, if
equipped with manual transmission
place gear selector in FIRST (1st) or
REVERSE (R) gear, if equipped with
automatic transmission place the gear
selector to PARK (P).
2. Push and release the ignition button
to STOP the engine. BRAKE SYSTEM This vehicle has power-assisted brakes
that adjust automatically through
normal use. Should power-assist fail,
you can stop by applying greater force
than normal to the brake pedal. But the
distance required to stop will be greater
than usual.
Note: Always depress the brake pedal
with the right foot. Applying the brakes
with the unaccustomed left foot could
slow your reaction time to an
emergency situation resulting in
insufficient braking operation.
Do not drive with your foot held on the
clutch pedal or brake pedal, or hold the
clutch pedal depressed halfway
unnecessarily. Doing so could result in
the following:
The clutch and brake parts will wear
out more quickly.
The brakes can overheat and
adversely affect brake performance.
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STARTING AND OPERATING

Warning!Riding the brakes can lead to brake
failure and possibly a collision. Driving with
your foot resting or riding on the brake
pedal can result in abnormally high brake
temperatures, excessive lining wear, and
possible brake damage. You would not
have your full braking capacity in an
emergency.
Driving a vehicle with the “Brake
Warning Light” on is dangerous. A
significant decrease in braking performance
or vehicle stability during braking may
occur. It will take you longer to stop the
vehicle or will make your vehicle harder to
control. You could have a collision. Have
the vehicle checked immediately.
Caution!Wear shoes appropriate for driving in order
to avoid your shoe contacting the brake
pedal when depressing the accelerator
pedal.
Parking Brake
Note: Driving with the parking brake on
will cause excessive wear of the brake
parts. 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. Children should
be warned not to touch the park 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. A child could operate power
windows, other controls, or move the
vehicle.
Be sure the park brake is fully
disengaged before driving; failure to do so
can lead to brake failure and a collision.
Always fully apply the park brake when
leaving your vehicle, or it may roll and
cause damage or injury. Also be certain to
leave a manual transmission in REVERSE
(R) or FIRST (1st) gear. Failure to do so may
allow the vehicle to roll and cause damage
or injury.
Setting the Parking Brake
Depress the brake pedal and then firmly
pull the parking brake lever fully
upwards with sufficient force to hold the
vehicle in a stationary position. Releasing the Parking Brake
Depress the brake pedal and pull the
parking brake lever upwards, then
press the release button. While holding
the button, lower the parking brake
lever all the way down to the released
position.
Warning Light
The warning light turns on when the
system has a malfunction. Refer to
“Warning Lights And Messages” in
“Getting To Know Your Instrument
Panel” for further information. 05050102-12A-001AB
Parking Brake
1 — Parking Brake Lever
2 — Parking Brake Release Button
151

Brake Pad Wear Indicator
When the disc brake pads become
worn, the built-in wear indicators
contact the rotors. This causes a
screeching noise to warn that the pads
should be replaced. When you hear this
noise contact your authorized dealer as
soon as possible.
Brake Assist
During emergency braking situations
when it is necessary to depress the
brake pedal with greater force, the
brake assist system provides braking
assistance, thus enhancing braking
performance. When the brake pedal is
depressed hard or depressed more
quickly, the brakes apply more firmly.
Note:
When the brake pedal is depressed
hard or depressed more quickly, the
pedal will feel softer but the brakes will
apply more firmly. This is a normal
effect of the brake assist operation and
does not indicate a malfunction.
When the brake pedal is depressed
hard or depressed more quickly, a
motor/pump operation noise may be
heard. This is a normal effect of the
brake assist and does not indicate a
malfunction.
The brake assist equipment does
not supersede the functionality of the
vehicle's main braking system. MANUAL
TRANSMISSION Manual Transmission
Warning!You or others could be injured if you leave
the vehicle unattended without having the
park brake fully applied. The park brake
should always be applied when the driver
is not in the vehicle, especially on an
incline.
Caution!Never drive with your foot resting on the
clutch pedal, or attempt to hold the vehicle
on a hill with the clutch pedal partially
engaged, as this will cause abnormal wear
on the clutch.
To engage the gears, press the clutch
pedal fully and put the gear selector
into the required position. The diagram
for gear engagement is shown on the
knob. Depress the clutch pedal all the way
down while shifting, then release it
slowly.
Your vehicle is equipped with a device
to prevent shifting to REVERSE (R) by
mistake. Push the gear selector
downward and shift to REVERSE (R).
A natural driving posture can be
achieved by lightly gripping the gear
selector from the side without having to
rest your elbow on the center console.
If shifting to REVERSE (R) is difficult,
shift back into neutral, release the
clutch pedal, and try again. 05987654-12A-001AB
Gear Selector
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With Parking Sensor System
When the gear selector is shifted to the
REVERSE (R) position with the ignition
placed in the ON mode, the parking
sensor system is activated an audible
sound is heard.
Caution!Keep your foot off the clutch pedal
except when shifting gears. Also, do not
use the clutch to hold the vehicle on an hill
or grade. Riding the clutch will cause
needless clutch wear and damage.
Do not apply any excessive lateral force
to the gear selector when changing from
fifth to fourth gear. This could lead to the
accidental selection of second gear, which
could result in damage to the transmission.
Make sure the vehicle comes to a
complete stop before shifting to REVERSE
(R). Shifting to REVERSE (R) while the
vehicle is still moving may damage the
transmission.
Reverse can only be engaged when the
vehicle is completely stationary. With the
engine running, wait at least two seconds
with the clutch pedal fully pressed before
engaging reverse to prevent damage to the
gears. AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION — IF
EQUIPPED Shift Interlock
This vehicle is equipped with an
interlock system that holds the
transmission gear selector in PARK (P)
unless the brakes are applied. To shift
the transmission out of PARK (P), the
ignition must be placed in the ON/RUN
mode (engine running or not) and the
brake pedal must be pressed.
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 park
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 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 following precautions are not observed:
Shift into or out of PARK or REVERSE
only after the vehicle has come to a
complete stop.
Do not shift between PARK, REVERSE,
NEUTRAL, or DRIVE when the engine is
above idle speed.
Before shifting into any gear, make sure
your foot is firmly pressing the brake pedal.
153

The gear selector must be in PARK (P)
or NEUTRAL (N) to operate the starter.
The transmission gear selector has
PARK (P), REVERSE (R), NEUTRAL (N),
DRIVE (D), and MANUAL (M)(+/–) shift
positions.
The transmission may be shifted freely
from REVERSE (R), to NEUTRAL (N), to
DRIVE (D), to MANUAL (M)(+/–).
Note: Even if you intend to use the
automatic transmission functions as a
traditional automatic, you should also
be aware that you can inadvertently
shift into manual shift mode and an inappropriate gear may be retained as
the vehicle speed increases. If you
notice the engine speed going higher or
hear the engine racing, confirm you
have not accidentally slipped into
manual shift mode (refer to “Manual
Shift Mode” paragraph in this section).
Shift Position Indication
The gear selector position (PRNDM) is
illuminated when the ignition is placed
in the ON mode.
Note: If one of the following actions is
performed, the gear selector position is
displayed for five minutes even if the
ignition is placed in a mode other than
ON.
The ignition is placed in the OFF
mode.
The driver's door is opened.
Gear Position Indication
In MANUAL (M) shift mode, the “M” of
the shift position indication illuminates
and the number of the selected gear is
displayed.
Gear Selector Positions
PARK (P)
PARK (P) locks the transmission and
prevents the driveshaft from rotating. Warning! Never use the PARK position as a
substitute for the park brake. Always apply
the park 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 in PARK. Check by
trying to move the gear selector out of
PARK with the brake pedal released. Make
sure the transmission is in PARK before
leaving the vehicle.
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 park
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.05210200-LHD12AT-001AB
Gear Selector And Pattern
154
STARTING AND OPERATING

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 park 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!Before moving the transmission gear
selector out of PARK, you must place the
ignition from the LOCK/OFF mode to the
ON/RUN mode, and also press the brake
pedal. Otherwise, damage to the gear
selector could result.
DO NOT race the engine when shifting
from PARK or NEUTRAL into another gear
range, as this can damage the drivetrain.
Note:
Shifting into PARK (P), NEUTRAL
(N) or REVERSE (R) while the vehicle is
moving can damage your
transmission. Shifting into DRIVE (D) or REVERSE
(R) when the engine is running faster
than idle can damage the
transmission.
REVERSE (R)
This range is for moving the vehicle
backward. Shift into REVERSE only
after the vehicle has come to a
complete stop.
With Parking Sensor system : when
the gear selector is shifted to the
REVERSE (R) position with the ignition
placed in the ON mode, the parking
sensor system is activated and an
audible sound is heard.
NEUTRAL (N)
In NEUTRAL (N), the wheels and
transmission are not locked. The vehicle
will roll freely even on the slightest
incline unless the parking brake or
brakes are applied.
Warning!Do not coast in NEUTRAL and never turn
off the ignition to coast down a hill. These
are unsafe practices that limit your
response to changing traffic or road
conditions. You might lose control of the
vehicle and have a collision. Note: Do not shift into NEUTRAL (N)
when driving the vehicle. Doing so will
damage the transmission. Press the
parking brake or depress the brake
pedal before moving the gear selector
from NEUTRAL (N) to prevent the
vehicle from moving unexpectedly.
DRIVE (D)
DRIVE (D) is the normal driving position.
From a stop, the transmission will
automatically shift through all available
gears.
MANUAL (M)
MANUAL (M) is the manual shift mode
position. Gears can be shifted up or
down by operating the gear selector.
(Refer to “Manual Shift Mode”
paragraph in this section).
Warning!Do not downshift for additional engine
braking on a slippery surface. The drive
wheels could lose their grip and the vehicle
could skid, causing a collision or personal
injury.
155

Active Adaptive Shift
(AAS)
Active Adaptive Shift (AAS)
automatically controls the transmission
shift points to best suit the road
conditions and driver input. This
improves driving feel.
The transmission may switch to AAS
mode when driving up and down
slopes, cornering, driving at high
elevations, or depressing the
accelerator pedal quickly while the gear
selector is in the DRIVE (D) position.
Depending on the road and driving
conditions/vehicle operations, gear
shifting could be delayed or not occur,
however, this does not indicate a
problem because the AAS mode will
maintain the optimum gear position.
Shift-Lock System
The shift-lock system prevents shifting
out of PARK (P) unless the brake pedal
is depressed.
To shift from PARK (P):
1. Depress and hold the brake pedal.
2. Turn the ignition to the ON/RUN
mode.
3. Press and hold the lock-release
button on the gear selector.
4. Move the gear selector. When the ignition is in the ACC or OFF
mode, the gear selector cannot be
shifted from PARK (P).
The ignition cannot be placed in the
OFF mode if the gear selector is not in
PARK (P).
Shift Lock Override
If the gear selector will not move from
PARK (P) using the proper shift
procedure, continue to press the brake
pedal and proceed as follows:
1. Remove the shift lock override cover
using a cloth wrapped flat head
screwdriver.
2. Insert a screwdriver or similar tool
into the Override Access Hole, and
push the override button down. 3. Push and hold the lock release
button on the gear selector and move
the gear selector.
4. Take the vehicle to an authorized
dealer.
For Some Models
Proceed as follows:
1. Push the lock release button on the
gear selector while also pushing down
on the Shift Lock Override button.
2. Move the gear selector.
3. Take the vehicle to an authorized
dealer. 05210206-12A-002
Shift Lock Override Access Hole 005210206-122-001
Shift Lock Override
156
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Manual Shift Mode
The manual shift mode gives you the
feel of driving a manual transmission
vehicle by allowing you to operate the
gear selector manually.
This allows you to control engine rpm
and torque to the drive wheels much
like a manual transmission when more
control is desired.
To change to MANUAL (M) shift mode,
shift the gear selector from DRIVE (D) to
MANUAL (M). To return to automatic
shift mode, shift the gear selector from
MANUAL (M) to DRIVE (D).
You can shift between DRIVE (D) and
MANUAL (M) mode at any time, without
taking your foot off the accelerator.
Note:
If you change to manual shift mode
when the vehicle is stopped, the gear
will shift to M1.
If you change to manual shift mode
while the vehicle is moving it will remain
in the current gear until a manual shift
request is made. Indicators
Manual Shift Mode Indication
In manual shift mode, the “M” of the
shift position indication in the
instrument panel illuminates.
Gear Position Indication
The numeral for the selected gear
illuminates. Manually Shifting Up/Down
To shift up to a higher gear, tap the
gear selector rearward once (or tap the
[+] shift paddle on the steering wheel, if
equipped).
To shift down to a lower gear, tap the
gear selector forward once (or tap the
[-] shift paddle on the steering wheel, if
equipped).
Note:
If a requested downshift would
cause the engine to over-speed, that
shift will not occur.
The system will ignore attempts to
upshift at too low of a vehicle speed.
Do not drive the vehicle with the
tachometer needle in the red zone
while in manual shift mode.
During deceleration, the
transmission may automatically shift
down depending on vehicle speed.
You can start out, from a stop, in
first or second gear. Tapping the gear
selector rearward (+) (at a stop) will
allow starting in second gear. Starting
out in second gear can be helpful in
snowy or icy conditions. 05210207-12A-002AB
Instrument Panel
1 — Manual Shift Mode Indication
2 — Gear Position Indication
157

Paddle Mode — If
Equipped
Tapping one of the steering
wheel-mounted shift paddles (+/-), if
equipped, while the gear selector is in
DRIVE (D), will activate Paddle Mode (a
temporary manual mode). The current
gear will be displayed in the instrument
cluster, with the "M" also illuminated.
The transmission will revert back to
normal operation (if the gear selector
remains in DRIVE) after a period of time,
depending on accelerator pedal activity.
Note: Because Paddle mode is only
temporary, use of the MANUAL (M)
position is recommended if you need to
drive the vehicle in a particular gear for
long periods.
Driving Tips
Overtaking
For extra power when passing another
vehicle or climbing steep grades, press
the accelerator fully. The transmission
will shift to a lower gear, depending on
vehicle speed.
Note:
The accelerator pedal may initially
feel heavy as it is being pressed, then
feel lighter as it is pressed further. This
change in pedal force controls whether
or not kickdown should be performed. While the gear selector is in the
MANUAL (M) position and the Dynamic
Stability Control (DSC) is turned off,
manual shift mode does not switch to
automatic shift mode even if the
accelerator pedal is completely
pressed. Tap the gear selector forward
or rearward to select the appropriate
gear.
Climbing steep grades from a stop
To climb a steep grade from a stopped
position:
1. Press the brake pedal.
2. Shift to DRIVE (D) or M1, depending
on the load weight and grade
steepness.
3. Release the brake pedal while
gradually accelerating.
Descending steep grades
When descending a steep grade, shift
to lower gears, depending on load
weight and grade steepness.
Descend slowly, using the brakes only
occasionally to prevent them from
overheating. SPORT MODE The Sport mode increases steering
feedback to the driver with slight
increase in effort and changes the
transmission shift schedules for more
aggressive shifting. This driving mode is
useful while driving on twisty roads
where more steering precision is
desired in spirited cornering.
To activate Sport mode, toggle the
Sport Mode button forward and hold for
approximately 2 seconds. You will see
“Sport” illuminate in the Instrument
Panel cluster. 05210101-12A-001AB
SPORT Button
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