Get Starting And Operating -> Automatic Transmission ? If Equipped Guide for Fiat 500 SUV First Generation (2007-2019)

STARTING AND OPERATING 191

When turning a corner or driving up a steep grade,

downshift early so that the engine will not be overbur-

dened.

WARNING! (Continued)

• When leaving 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 transmission 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 con-

trols, or move the vehicle.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION — IF EQUIPPED

WARNING!

5

• 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

CAUTION!

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 parking brake, shift the transmission into

PARK, turn the engine OFF, and remove the

ignition key. Once the key is removed, the trans-

mission 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.

(Continued)

192 STARTING AND OPERATING

Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock System

CAUTION! (Continued)

This vehicle is equipped with a Brake Transmission

Shift Interlock System (BTSI) that holds the transmis-

sion gear selector in PARK unless the brakes are ap-

plied. To shift the transmission out of PARK, the igni-

tion must be turned to the ON/RUN mode (engine

running or not) and the brake pedal must be pressed.

• Do not shift between PARK, REVERSE, NEU-

TRAL, 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.

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.

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 provides a

precise shift schedule. 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 193

DRIVE position) will manually select the transmission

gear, and will display the current gear in the instrument

cluster as 1, 2, 3, etc.

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.

5

Gear Selector

Gear Ranges

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.

DO NOT race the engine 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.

The transmission gear selector has PARK, REVERSE,

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

Manual shifts can be made using the AutoStick shift

control (refer to “AutoStick” in this section for further

information). Toggling the gear selector forward (-) or

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

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 leaving the

vehicle in this range.

194 STARTING AND OPERATING

When parking on a level surface, you may shift the

transmission into PARK first, and then apply the park-

ing 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 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 parking brake, shift the transmission into

PARK, turn the engine OFF, and remove the

ignition key. Once the key is removed, the trans-

mission is locked in PARK, securing the vehicle

against unwanted movement.

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.

• 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 195

WARNING! (Continued)

CAUTION! (Continued)

• When leaving 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 transmission 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 con-

trols, or move the vehicle.

• DO NOT race the engine when shifting from

PARK or NEUTRAL into another gear range, as

this can damage the drivetrain.

The following indicators should be used to ensure that

you have engaged the transmission into the PARK

position:

5

• 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.

• Look at the transmission gear position display and

verify that it indicates the PARK position (P).

• With brake pedal released, verify that the gear selec-

tor will not move out of PARK.

CAUTION!

REVERSE (R)

• 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.

This range is for moving the vehicle backward. Shift

into REVERSE only after the vehicle has come to a

complete stop.

NEUTRAL (N)

Use this range when the vehicle is standing for pro-

longed periods with the engine running. The engine

(Continued)

196 STARTING AND OPERATING

may be started in this range. Apply the parking brake

and shift the transmission into PARK if you must leave

the vehicle.

automatically upshifts through all forward gears. The

DRIVE position provides optimum driving characteris-

tics under all normal operating conditions.

When frequent transmission shifting occurs (such as

when operating the vehicle under heavy loading con-

ditions, 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 trans-

mission life by reducing excessive shifting and heat

buildup.

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 traf-

fic or road conditions. You might lose control of the

vehicle and have a collision.

CAUTION!

If the transmission temperature exceeds normal operat-

ing limits, the transmission controller will expand the

range of torque converter clutch engagement. This is

done to prevent transmission damage due to overheat-

ing.

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 “What To Do

In Emergencies” for further information.

During cold temperatures, transmission operation may

be modified depending on engine coolant temperature.

Normal operation will resume once the engine tempera-

ture has risen to a suitable level.

DRIVE (D)

This range should be used for most city and highway

driving. It provides the smoothest upshifts and down-

shifts, and the best fuel economy. The transmission

STARTING AND OPERATING 197

Instrument Cluster Messages

4. Wait approximately 10 seconds.

Dedicated messages will be displayed in the instrument

cluster to alert the driver when certain unusual condi-

tions occur.

5. Restart the engine.

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

longer detected, the transmission will return to nor-

mal operation.

Transmission Limp Home Mode

Transmission function is monitored electronically for

abnormal 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 third gear regardless of which

forward gear is selected. PARK, REVERSE, and NEU-

TRAL will continue to operate. The Malfunction Indi-

cator Light (MIL) may be illuminated. Limp Home

Mode allows the vehicle to be driven to an authorized

dealer for service without damaging the transmission.

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

ommend that you visit your authorized dealer at your

earliest possible convenience. Your authorized dealer

has diagnostic equipment to determine if the problem

could recur.

5

If the transmission cannot be reset, authorized dealer

service is required.

AUTOSTICK

AutoStick is a driver-interactive transmission feature

providing manual shift control, giving you more control

of the vehicle. AutoStick allows you to maximize engine

braking, eliminate undesirable upshifts and downshifts,

and improve overall vehicle performance. This system

can also provide you with more control during passing,

city driving, cold slippery conditions, mountain driv-

ing, 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 to the OFF position.

Starting And Operating -> Automatic Transmission ? If Equipped for Your Fiat 500 SUV First Generation (2007-2019)

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