Advertisement

Advertisement

Starting And Operating -> Power Steering for Your Fiat 500 SUV First Generation (2007-2019)

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  
202 STARTING AND OPERATING  
If the Steering icon, and the ЉSERVICE POWER STEER-  
ING - ASSIST OFFЉ messages are displayed on the  
instrument cluster screen, the vehicle needs to be taken  
to an authorized dealer for service. Refer to “Instrument  
Cluster Display” in “Understanding Your Instrument  
Panel” for further information.  
NOTE:  
Even if the power steering assistance is no longer  
operational, it is still possible to steer the vehicle.  
Under these conditions there will be a substantial  
increase in steering effort, especially at low speeds  
and during parking maneuvers.  
Parking Brake  
When the parking brake is applied with the ignition  
switch in the MAR (ACC/ON/RUN) position, the  
Brake Warning Light in the instrument cluster will  
illuminate.  
If the condition persists, see your authorized dealer  
for service.  
PARKING BRAKE  
When parking on a hill, it is important to turn the front  
wheels toward the curb on a downhill grade and away  
from the curb on an uphill grade. The parking brake  
should always be applied whenever the driver is not in  
the vehicle.  
Before leaving the vehicle, make sure that the parking  
brake is fully applied. Also, be certain to leave the  
manual transmission in REVERSE or first gear.  
The parking brake lever is located in the center console.  
To apply the parking brake, pull the lever up as firmly  
as possible. To release the parking brake, pull the lever  
up slightly, press the center button, then lower the lever  
completely.