Get STARTING AND OPERATING -> AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ? IF EQUIPPED Guide for Fiat 500 C 2 Door Second Generation (2016-2020)

170 STARTING AND OPERATING

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION — IF EQUIPPED

WARNING! (Continued)

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 trans-

mission gear selector.

• Do not leave the ignition key in or near the vehicle

(or in a location accessible to children). A child could

operate power windows, other controls, or move the

vehicle.

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 re-

verse. 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 come to a

complete stop, then apply the parking brake, shift

the transmission into PARK, turn the engine OFF,

and remove the ignition key. Once the key is re-

moved, the transmission is locked in PARK, securing

the vehicle against unwanted movement.

• When leaving the vehicle, always remove the igni-

tion key from the vehicle and lock the vehicle.

• Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with

access to an unlocked vehicle. Allowing children to

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.

NOTE: You must press and hold the brake pedal while

shifting out of PARK.

(Continued)

STARTING AND OPERATING 171

Key Ignition Park Interlock

The electronically-controlled transmission adapts its shift

schedule based on driver inputs, along with environmental

and road conditions. The transmission electronics are self-

calibrating; therefore, the first few shifts on a new vehicle

may be somewhat abrupt. This is a normal condition, and

precision shifts will develop within a few hundred miles

(kilometers).

This vehicle is equipped with a Key Ignition Park Interlock

which requires the transmission to be in PARK before the

ignition can be turned to the LOCK/OFF (key removal)

position. The key can only be removed from the ignition

when the ignition is in the LOCK/OFF position, and once

removed, the transmission is locked in PARK.

Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System

6

This vehicle is equipped with a Brake Transmission Shift

Interlock System (BTSI) that holds the transmission gear

selector in PARK unless the brakes are applied. To shift the

transmission out of PARK, the ignition must be in the

ON/RUN mode (engine running or not), and the brake

pedal must be pressed.

Six-Speed Automatic Transmission

The transmission gear position display (located in the

instrument cluster) indicates the transmission gear range.

You must press the brake pedal to move the gear selector

out of PARK (Refer to “Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock

System” in this section). To drive, move the gear selector

from PARK or NEUTRAL to the DRIVE position.

Gear Selector

Only shift from DRIVE to PARK or REVERSE when the

accelerator pedal is released and the vehicle is stopped. Be

sure to keep your foot on the brake pedal when shifting

between these gears.

172 STARTING AND OPERATING

The transmission gear selector provides PARK, REVERSE,

NEUTRAL, DRIVE, and AutoStick (+/–) shift positions.

Manual shifts can be made using the AutoStick shift

control. Toggling the gear selector forward (-) or rearward

(+) while in the AutoStick position (beside the DRIVE

position) will manually select the transmission gear, and

will display the current gear in the instrument cluster as 1,

2, 3, etc. Refer to ꢀAutoStickꢀ in this section for further

information.

PARK (P)

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 exiting the vehicle in this

range.

When parking on a level surface, you may shift the

transmission into PARK first, and then apply the parking

brake.

NOTE: If the gear selector cannot be moved to the PARK,

REVERSE, or NEUTRAL position (when pushed forward)

it is probably in the AutoStick (+/-) position (beside the

DRIVE position). In AutoStick mode, the transmission gear

(1, 2, 3, etc.) is displayed in the instrument cluster. Move

the gear selector to the right (into the DRIVE [D] position)

for access to PARK, REVERSE, and NEUTRAL.

When parking on a hill, apply the parking brake before

shifting the transmission to PARK, otherwise the load on

the transmission locking mechanism may make it difficult

to move the gear selector 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.

When exiting the vehicle, always:

• Apply the parking brake.

• Shift the transmission into PARK.

• Turn the engine OFF.

Gear Ranges

Do not depress the accelerator pedal when shifting from

PARK or NEUTRAL into another gear range.

NOTE: After selecting any gear range, wait a moment to

allow the selected gear to engage before accelerating. This

is especially important when the engine is cold.

• Remove the ignition key.

STARTING AND OPERATING 173

WARNING!

WARNING! (Continued)

running. Before exiting a vehicle always come to a

complete stop, then apply the parking brake, shift

the transmission into PARK, turn the engine OFF,

and remove the ignition key. Once the key is re-

moved, the transmission is locked in PARK, securing

the vehicle against unwanted movement.

• Never use the PARK position as a substitute for the

parking brake. Always apply the parking brake fully

when exiting the vehicle 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 exit-

ing 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 re-

verse. 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.

• When exiting the vehicle, always remove the ignition

key from the vehicle and lock the vehicle.

6

• 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 trans-

mission gear selector.

• Do not leave the ignition key in or near the vehicle

(or in a location accessible to children). A child could

operate power windows, other controls, or move the

vehicle.

• 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

(Continued)

174 STARTING AND OPERATING

NEUTRAL (N)

CAUTION!

Use this range when the vehicle is standing for prolonged

periods with the engine running. The engine may be

started in this range. Apply the parking brake and shift the

transmission into PARK if you must exit the vehicle.

• Before moving the transmission gear selector out of

PARK, you must turn the ignition 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.

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.

The following indicators should be used to ensure that you

have properly engaged the transmission into the PARK

position:

• When shifting into PARK, firmly move the gear selector

all the way forward and to the left until it stops and is

fully seated.

CAUTION!

Towing the vehicle, coasting, or driving for any other

reason with the transmission in NEUTRAL can cause

severe transmission damage. Refer to “Recreational

Towing” in “Starting And Operating” and “Towing A

Disabled Vehicle” in “In Case Of Emergency” for

further information.

• Look at the transmission gear position display and

verify that it indicates the PARK position (P).

• With brake pedal released, verify that the gear selector

will not move out of PARK.

REVERSE (R)

This range is for moving the vehicle backward. Shift into

REVERSE only after the vehicle has come to a complete stop.

STARTING AND OPERATING 175

DRIVE (D)

Instrument Cluster Messages

This range should be used for most city and highway

driving. It provides the smoothest upshifts and downshifts,

and the best fuel economy. The transmission automatically

upshifts through all forward gears. The DRIVE position

provides optimum driving characteristics under all normal

operating conditions.

Dedicated messages will be displayed in the instrument

cluster to alert the driver when certain unusual conditions

occur.

Transmission Limp Home Mode

Transmission function is monitored electronically for ab-

normal conditions. If a condition is detected that could

result in transmission damage, Transmission Limp Home

Mode is activated. In this mode, the transmission remains

in a fixed gear regardless of which forward gear is selected.

The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) may be illuminated.

Limp Home Mode allows the vehicle to be driven to an

authorized dealer for service without damaging the trans-

mission.

When frequent transmission shifting occurs (such as when

operating the vehicle under heavy loading conditions, in

hilly terrain, or traveling into strong head winds), use the

AutoStick shift control (refer to AutoStick in this section for

further information) to select a lower gear. Under these

conditions, using a lower gear will improve performance

and extend transmission life by reducing excessive shifting

and heat buildup.

6

In the event of a momentary problem, the transmission can

be reset to regain all forward gears by performing the

following steps:

If the transmission temperature exceeds normal operating

limits, the transmission controller will expand the range of

torque converter clutch engagement. This is done to pre-

vent transmission damage due to overheating.

1. Stop the vehicle.

During cold temperatures, transmission operation may be

modified depending on engine coolant temperature. Nor-

mal operation will resume once the engine temperature has

risen to a suitable level.

2. Shift the transmission into PARK.

3. Turn the ignition OFF.

STARTING AND OPERATING -> AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ? IF EQUIPPED for Your Fiat 500 C 2 Door Second Generation (2016-2020)

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