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Starting And Operating -> Driving Through Water for Your Fiat 500 SUV First Generation (2007-2019)

STARTING AND OPERATING 199  
Traction  
WARNING!  
When driving on wet or slushy roads, it is possible for  
a wedge of water to build up between the tire and road  
surface. This is known as hydroplaning, and may cause  
partial or complete loss of vehicle control and stopping  
ability. To reduce this possibility, the following precau-  
tions should be observed:  
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.  
DRIVING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES  
Acceleration  
5
Slow down during rainstorms or when the roads are  
slushy.  
Rapid acceleration on snow covered, wet, or other  
slippery surfaces may cause the driving wheels to pull  
erratically to the right or left. This phenomenon occurs  
when there is a difference in the surface traction under  
the front (driving) wheels.  
Slow down if the road has standing water or  
puddles.  
Replace the tires when tread wear indicators first  
become visible.  
Keep tires properly inflated.  
WARNING!  
Maintain sufficient distance between your vehicle  
and the vehicle in front of you to avoid a collision in  
a sudden stop.  
Rapid acceleration on slippery surfaces is danger-  
ous. Unequal traction can cause sudden pulling of  
the front wheels. You could lose control of the  
vehicle and possibly have a collision. Accelerate  
slowly and carefully whenever there is likely to be  
poor traction (ice, snow, wet, mud, loose sand, etc.).  
DRIVING THROUGH WATER  
Driving through water more than a few inches/  
centimeters deep will require extra caution to ensure  
safety and prevent damage to your vehicle.  
200 STARTING AND OPERATING  
Flowing/Rising Water  
WARNING! (Continued)  
Driving through standing water limits your vehi-  
cle’s braking capabilities, which increases stop-  
ping distances. Therefore, after driving through  
standing water, drive slowly and lightly press on  
the brake pedal several times to dry the brakes.  
Failure to follow these warnings may result in  
injuries that are serious or fatal to you, your  
passengers, and others around you.  
WARNING!  
Do not drive on or across a road or path where water  
is flowing and/or rising (as in storm run-off). Flow-  
ing water can wear away the road or path’s surface  
and cause your vehicle to sink into deeper water.  
Furthermore, flowing and/or rising water can carry  
your vehicle away swiftly. Failure to follow this  
warning may result in injuries that are serious or  
fatal to you, your passengers, and others around  
you.  
CAUTION!  
Always check the depth of the standing water  
before driving through it. Never drive through  
standing water that is deeper than the bottom of  
the tire rims mounted on the vehicle.  
Determine the condition of the road or the path  
that is under water and if there are any obstacles  
in the way before driving through the standing  
water.  
Shallow Standing Water  
Although your vehicle is capable of driving through  
shallow standing water, consider the following Cau-  
tions and Warnings before doing so.  
WARNING!  
Driving through standing water limits your vehi-  
cle’s traction capabilities. Do not exceed 5 mph  
(8 km/h) when driving through standing water.  
Do not exceed 5 mph (8 km/h) when driving  
through standing water. This will minimize wave  
effects.  
(Continued)  
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STARTING AND OPERATING 201  
prevents it from providing assist, you will still have the  
ability to steer the vehicle manually.  
CAUTION! (Continued)  
Driving through standing water may cause dam-  
age to your vehicle’s drivetrain components. Al-  
ways inspect your vehicle’s fluids (i.e., engine oil,  
transmission, axle, etc.) for signs of contamination  
(i.e., fluid that is milky or foamy in appearance)  
after driving through standing water. Do not  
continue to operate the vehicle if any fluid ap-  
pears contaminated, as this may result in further  
damage. Such damage is not covered by the New  
Vehicle Limited Warranty.  
Getting water inside your vehicle’s engine can  
cause it to lock up and stall out, and cause serious  
internal damage to the engine. Such damage is  
not covered by the New Vehicle Limited War-  
ranty.  
WARNING!  
Continued operation with reduced or no power  
steering assist could pose a safety risk to yourself  
and others. Service should be obtained as soon as  
possible.  
5
If the Steering icon is flashing, it indicates that the  
vehicle needs to be taken to an authorized dealer for  
service. It is likely the vehicle has lost power steering  
assistance.  
If the Steering icon is displayed and the “SERVICE  
POWER STEERING” message is displayed on the in-  
strument cluster screen, they indicate that extreme  
steering maneuvers may have occurred which caused  
an over temperature condition in the power steering  
system. Once driving conditions are safe, pull over and  
let the vehicle idle for a few moments until the icon and  
message turn off. Refer to “Instrument Cluster Display”  
in “Understanding Your Instrument Panel” for further  
information.  
POWER STEERING  
The electric power steering system will give you good  
vehicle response and increased ease of maneuverability  
in tight spaces. The system will vary its assist to provide  
light efforts while parking and good feel while driving.  
If the electric steering system experiences a fault that