manual transmission FIAT SPIDER ABARTH 2017 User Guide
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: FIAT, Model Year: 2017, Model line: SPIDER ABARTH, Model: FIAT SPIDER ABARTH 2017Pages: 292, PDF Size: 9.24 MB
Page 151 of 292

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
Page 152 of 292

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.
150
STARTING AND OPERATING
Page 153 of 292

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
Page 154 of 292

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
152
STARTING AND OPERATING
Page 156 of 292

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
Page 157 of 292

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
Page 159 of 292

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
Page 160 of 292

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
158
STARTING AND OPERATING
Page 162 of 292

Deactivating Speed Control
Push the OFF/CAN button. The
warning light (amber) in the
instrument cluster turns off.
When a speed has been set :the
warning light (green) in the
instrument cluster is illuminated, push
and hold the OFF/CAN button or push
the OFF/CAN button twice to
deactivate.
When a speed has not been set :the
warning light (amber) in the
instrument cluster is illuminated, push
the OFF/CAN button to deactivate.
Setting A Desired Speed
Proceed as follows:
1. Activate the Speed Control device
by pushing the ON button. The cruise
warning light (amber) illuminates.
2. Accelerate to the desired speed,
which must be more than 25 mph
(40 km/h).
3. Set the Speed Control by pushing
the SET (-) button at the desired speed.
The Speed Control is set at the
moment the SET (-) button is pushed.
Release the accelerator pedal
simultaneously. The
warning light
(green) illuminates.
Note: The Speed Control setting
cannot be performed under the
following conditions: Automatic transmission: the gear
selector is in the PARK or NEUTRAL
position.
Manual transmission: the gear
selector is in the NEUTRAL position or
when the clutch is disengaged (clutch
is depressed).
The parking brake is applied.
Release the SET (-) button at the
desired speed, otherwise the speed will
continue decreasing while the SET (-)
button is pushed and held (except
when the accelerator pedal is
depressed).
Note:
Release the SET (-) button at the
desired speed, otherwise the speed
will continue decreasing while the SET
(-) button is pushed and held (except
when the accelerator pedal is
depressed).
On a steep grade, the vehicle may
momentarily slow down while
ascending, or speed up while
descending.
The Speed Control will cancel if the
vehicle speed decreases below
16 mph (25 km/h) when climbing a
steep incline.
The Speed Control may cancel at
about 9 mph (15 km/h) below the
preset speed such as when climbing a
long, steep incline. The vehicle’s set speed is displayed in
the instrument cluster.
Increasing Speed
To increase speed using the Speed
Control buttons:
Push the RES (+) button and hold it ,
your vehicle will accelerate. Release the
button at the desired speed.
Push the RES (+) button and release
it immediately , to adjust the set speed.
Multiple pushes of the button will
increase the set speed according to the
number of times it is pushed.
Increasing speed with a single RES
(+) button operation:
If the instrument cluster display for
vehicle speed is indicated in mph:
speed will increase in 1 mph
increments.
If the instrument cluster display for
vehicle speed is indicated in km/h:
speed will increase in 1 km/h
increments.
To increase speed using
accelerator pedal:
Press the accelerator pedal to
accelerate to the desired speed.
Push the SET (-) button and release it
immediately. This new set speed will be
saved.
160
STARTING AND OPERATING
Page 163 of 292

Note: Accelerate the vehicle to speed
up temporarily with the accelerator
pedal when the Speed Control is on.
Increasing the speed will not interfere
with, or change the set speed. Take
your foot off the accelerator to return to
the set speed.
Decreasing Speed
To decrease speed using the Speed
Control buttons:
Push the SET (-) button and hold it ,
the vehicle will gradually slow down.
Release the button at the desired
speed.
Push the SET (-) button and release
it immediately to adjust the set speed.
Multiple button pushes will decrease
the set speed according to the number
of times it is pushed.
Decreasing speed with a single SET
(-) button operation:
If the instrument cluster display for
vehicle speed is indicated in mph: the
speed will decrease in 1 mph
increments.
If the instrument cluster display for
vehicle speed is indicated in km/h: the
speed will decrease in 1 km/h
increments. Resume Speed
If any other method besides the
OFF/CAN button was used to cancel
cruising speed (such as applying the
brake pedal or pressing in the clutch
pedal) and the system is still activated,
the most recent set speed will
automatically resume when the RES (+)
button is pushed.
If vehicle speed is below 25 mph
(40 km/h), increase the vehicle speed
up to 16 mph (25 km/h) or more and
push RES (+) button.
Temporarily Canceling
The System
Warning!Leaving the Speed Control system on
when not in use is dangerous. You could
accidentally set the system or cause it to
go faster than you want. You could lose
control and have an accident. Always leave
the system OFF when you are not using it.
To temporarily cancel the system, use
one of these methods:
Slightly press the brake pedal.
Press the clutch pedal (if equipped
with a manual transmission). Push OFF/CAN button.
If the RES (+) button is pushed when
the vehicle speed is 25 mph (40 km/h)
or higher, the system reverts to the
previously set speed.
Note: If any of the following conditions
occur, the Speed Control system is
temporarily canceled:
The parking brake is applied.
Automatic Transmission: the
gear selector is in the PARK or
NEUTRAL position.
Manual Transmission: the gear
selector is in the NEUTRAL position.
Automatic Transmission: the
Speed Control cannot be canceled
while driving in manual mode (gear
selector shifted from D to M position).
Therefore, engine braking will not be
applied even if the transmission is
shifted down to a lower gear. If
deceleration is required, lower the set
speed or press the brake pedal.
When the Speed Control system is
temporarily canceled, the speed cannot
be reset.
161