Get Starting And Operating -> Automatic Transmission Guide for Fiat 500 L 4 Door First Generation (2012-2022)

STARTING AND OPERATING 177

CAUTION!

WARNING!

If the Brake Warning Light remains on with the park-

ing brake released, a brake system malfunction is

indicated. Have the brake system serviced by an au-

thorized dealer immediately.

• 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.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

6

CAUTION!

• 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.

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.

• When leaving the vehicle, always remove the igni-

tion key from the vehicle and lock the vehicle.

NOTE: You must press and hold the brake pedal while

shifting out of PARK.

(Continued)

178 STARTING AND OPERATING

Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System

WARNING! (Continued)

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 (and the lock button on the gear selector) must be

pressed.

• 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.

Six-Speed Automatic Transmission

The transmission gear range (PRND) is displayed both

beside the gear selector and in the instrument cluster. To

select a gear range, press the lock button on the gear

selector and move the selector rearward or forward. You

must also press the brake pedal to shift the transmission

out of PARK. Select the DRIVE range for normal driving.

Key Ignition Park Interlock

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.

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).

STARTING AND OPERATING 179

in the Autostick position will manually select the transmis-

sion gear. Refer to ЉAutoStickЉ in this section for further

information.

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.

6

Gear Ranges

Transmission Gear Selector

Do not depress the accelerator pedal when shifting from

PARK or NEUTRAL into another gear range.

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.

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.

The transmission gear selector provides PARK, REVERSE,

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

Manual shifts can be made using the AutoStick shift

control. Moving the gear selector into the AutoStick (+/-)

position (beside the DRIVE position) activates AutoStick

mode, providing manual shift control and displaying the

current gear in the instrument cluster (as 1, 2, 3, etc).

Toggling the gear selector forward (-) or rearward (+) while

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.

180 STARTING AND OPERATING

When parking on a level surface, you may shift the

transmission into PARK first, and then apply the parking

brake.

WARNING! (Continued)

• 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 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.

• 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.

• Remove the ignition key.

WARNING!

• 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.

(Continued)

STARTING AND OPERATING 181

NOTE: If the transmission in not correctly shifted into

PARK (P) a message on the instrument cluster will be

displayed, repeat the procedure as necessary.

WARNING! (Continued)

• When exiting the vehicle, always remove the ignition

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

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.

The following indicators should be used to ensure that you

have properly engaged the transmission into the PARK

position:

• When shifting into PARK, push the lock button on the

gear selector and firmly move the gear selector all the

way forward until it stops and is fully seated.

6

• 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)

CAUTION!

This range is for moving the vehicle backward. Shift into

REVERSE only after the vehicle has come to a complete

stop.

• 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.

182 STARTING AND OPERATING

NEUTRAL (N)

DRIVE (D)

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.

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.

WARNING!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

STARTING AND OPERATING 183

Instrument Cluster Messages

4. Wait approximately 10 seconds.

Dedicated messages will be displayed in the instrument

cluster to alert the driver when certain unusual conditions

occur.

5. Restart the engine.

6. Shift into the desired gear range. If the problem is no

longer detected, the transmission will return to normal

operation.

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.

PARK, REVERSE, and NEUTRAL will continue to operate.

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.

NOTE: Even if the transmission can be reset, we recom-

mend that you visit an authorized dealer at your earliest

possible convenience. An authorized dealer has diagnostic

equipment to assess the condition of your transmission. If

the transmission cannot be reset, authorized dealer service

is required.

6

AUTOSTICK

AutoStick is a driver-interactive transmission feature pro-

viding manual shift control, giving you more control of the

vehicle. AutoStick allows you to maximize engine braking,

eliminate undesirable upshifts and downshifts, and im-

prove overall vehicle performance. This system can also

provide you with more control during passing, city driv-

ing, cold slippery conditions, mountain driving, and many

other situations.

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 ignition OFF.

Starting And Operating -> Automatic Transmission for Your Fiat 500 L 4 Door First Generation (2012-2022)

Related Topics

Starting And Operating

Popular Owner Manuals

Latest Owner Manuals