Get PRACTICAL INFORMATION Guide for Fiat Doblo Van 2000-2009

On driver’s side there is a button A-

fig. 109 for automatic operation.

Press the button for longer than one

second: the window will stop when it

reaches the end of its travel (or until

the button is pressed again).

SIDE DOORS

In Doblò Cargo versions, the side

sliding door is fitted with a catch which

stops it when it is fully open: to release

the catch, simply push the door against

the catch and pull it forwards force-

fully.

Check that it is safe to

open a door before doing

so.

In any case, always make sure that

the door is correctly fastened in the

door open catch.

Make sure that the left-

hand sliding side door is

completely closed before

Improper use of the

electric windows can be

refuelling (see “At the filling sta-

tion” in this chapter). You could

damage the door and the sliding

lock system which comes into

play when the fuel flap is open.

dangerous. Before and

Do not leave the vehicle

parked on a steep slope

with the sliding door

open. An involuntary knock could

release the door and make it

slide.

during their operation ensure

that any passengers are not at

risk from the moving glass either

by personal objects getting

caught in the mechanism or by

being injured by it directly. Al-

ways remove the ignition key

when you get out of the vehicle

to prevent the electric windows

being operated accidentally and

constituting a danger to the peo-

ple left in the vehicle.

You cannot open the

left-hand sliding side door

When leaving the vehi-

cle parked with the sliding

doors open, always check

while refuelling when the

flap is open (see “At the filling

station” in this chapter).

that the door hooks are properly

fastened into the retaining device

to ensure it remains fully open.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

75

Opening/closing from

the outside

(Fiat Doblò Cargo versions)

Closing: close the door making it

sliding forward, then press once the

lever at “LOCK” as shown in fig. 111.

Closing: pull the handle as shown by

the arrow fig. 110, thus releasing the

lock and make the door slide forward.

Opening: turn the key to 2-fig. 110

and pull the handle in the direction of

the arrow then, make the door slide

backward to the stop limit catch.

Opening/closing from the

outside (Fiat Doblò Passenger

Transport/Combi versions)

Opening/closing from the inside

(Fiat Doblò Passenger

Transport/Combi versions)

Opening: pull the handle as shown

by the arrow fig. 110 and make the

door slide backward.

Opening: pull the release lever A-

fig. 112 and make the door slide back-

ward.

Closing: use the external handle and

push the door forward. Turn the key

to 1- fig. 110.

Closing: pull the release lever A and

make the door slide forward; lock the

door by pressing the handle button B.

Opening/closing from the inside

(Fiat Doblò Cargo versions)

Opening: pull the opening lever fig.

111 and make the door slide back-

ward to the stop limit catch.

K

2

1

fig. 110

fig. 111

fig. 112

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

76

CHILD LOCK

REAR DOUBLE DOORS

When open to 180°, the

doors are not blocked. Do

not use this system when

the vehicle is parts on a slope or

when it is windy.

To prevent opening the sliding side

doors from the inside.

The double rear doors are fitted with

a catch which stops the opening at an

angle of approximately 90°.

Engage by inserting the tip of the ig-

nition key as shown in fig. 113 and

turning it.

Position 1 - device off.

Position 2 - device on.

Opening the first door from the

outside 1-fig. 114

The device will be engaged even if

the doors are unlocked electrically.

The catch system is de-

signed to ensure the best

comfort in use. An acci-

dental knock or gust of wind

could release the doors and make

them close.

Turn the key to position 2-fig.

115 and pull the door handle in the di-

rection of the arrow.

Closing the first door from the

outside 1-fig. 114

When children are pre-

sent in the vehicle this de-

vice should always be

used.

Turn the key to position 1-fig. 115.

It is possible to increase the

opening angle of the two doors to

facilitate loading and unloading

operations. Force the doors

open. This will allow opening the

doors by approximately 180°.

1

2

fig. 113

fig. 114

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

77

Close the right-hand

door 2-fig. 114 complete-

ly first and then close the

left-hand door 1-fig. 114. Never

close both doors at the same

time.

Opening the second door

2-fig. 114

The swing doors (where provided)

are fitted with a device A-fig.117a

that limits their opening.

After opening the first door, pull han-

dle A-fig. 117 in the direction of the

arrow.

Take care not to move the rod from

its housing; if it is moved by accident

a fig. 117b, restore it to the correct

position b fig. 117b.

IMPORTANT Only use the handle

A-fig. 117 in the direction shown in

the figure.

Opening the first door from the

inside 1-fig. 114

A

Lift lever A-fig. 116 in the direction

of the arrow.

fig. 116

fig. 117a

1

A

2

fig. 115

fig. 117

fig. 117b

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

78

TAILGATE

If you are travelling in

areas where refuelling

IMPORTANT Adjust the height of

the dipped headlight beam when trav-

elling at night with a rather heavy load

in the boot (see “Headlights” in this

chapter).

can be difficult and you

Opening/closing the tailgate

want to carry a can of petrol, fol-

low the law in force. Use a ho-

mologated can and secure it ad-

equately. Even given these pre-

cautions, the risk of fire in the

event of an accident is increased.

To open the tailgate from the out-

side, turn the ignition key in lock

fig. 118 and pull handle A in the di-

rection of the arrow.

Make sure the load does not exceed

the values shown in “Weights” para-

graph, “Technical specifications” chap-

ter for correct operation of the head-

light adjustment device.

The opening of the boot is made eas-

ier by the gas-filed struts on each side.

IMPORTANT Fit the key well into

the lock before turning it.

When using the boot,

make sure the load you

Do not knock the tailgate

into objects on the roof

rack when you open it.

You will be able to open the tailgate

with the key only if you remove the

key from the lock after turning it by 45

degrees.

are carrying does not ex-

ceed the permitted weight (see

“Technical specifications”). Also

ensure the items in the boot are

arranged properly to prevent

them being thrown forwards and

injuring passengers should you

brake sharply. Do not travel with

the tailgate open: exhaust gas

could filter into the passenger

compartment.

To close, lower the tailgate until the

lock clicks.

Do not use the key as a

handle to open the tail-

gate. You could damage it.

CENTRAL DOOR LOCKING

SYSTEM

From the outside

With the doors closed, fit and turn

the key in one of the front door locks.

fig. 118

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

79

From the inside

Tipping the entire seat

BOOT

With the doors closed, press (to

lock) or lift (to unlock) one of the side

door knobs (Fiat Doblò Passengers

Transport versions). Alternatively, ei-

ther press “LOCK” (to lock) or pull

(to unlock) the front and side door

handles (Fiat Doblò Cargo versions).

The seat back and cushion release

devices are in the points shown in fig.

119.

EXTENDING THE BOOT

Split seat

Lift knobs A-fig. 119 and tip the seat

back forwards.

Before setting off, make sure that the

seats in the direction of travel and per-

fectly fastened to the anchoring. On-

ly in this position can be seat belts be

used correctly.

To tip the entire seat, lift the cush-

ion with lever B-fig. 120.

The side door knobs will lock or un-

lock only the specific door.

IMPORTANT If one of the doors

is not shut properly or there is a fail-

ure in the system, the central locking

(where provided) feature will cut out

and after some attempts the device

stops working for about two minutes.

In these two minutes, the doors can

be locked or unlocked manually with-

out the electrical system coming into

play. After the two minutes, the con-

trol unit is ready to receive commands

once more.

The boot can be extended com-

pletely or partially.

A

fig. 119

If the cause of the failure is removed,

the device will start working proper-

ly, otherwise it will cut out once more.

B

fig. 120

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

80

Tipping part of the left seat

To remove the rear window

shelf

2) Lift part A-fig. 124 of the shelf

and place it on part B.

To tip the left-hand side of the seat

back:

3) Fasten the two parts by means of

rubber fasteners C-fig. 125.

The shelf is split into to parts

fig. 124. Proceed as follows to re-

move the entire shelf:

– remove the head restraint (if pro-

vided);

1) Open the rear doors or the tail-

gate.

– lift knob A-fig. 121 then tip the en-

tire seat fig. 122.

Refit head restraints back into the

seats A-fig. 123.

fig. 122

fig. 124

C

A

fig. 121

fig. 123

fig. 125

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

81

4) Lift part B-fig. 126 making the

shelf slide along the available space be-

hind the seat so that the upper part is

fastened to the rear window shelf and

the lower central part to the seat.

IMPORTANT Check and adjust

the height of the dipped headlight

beam when travelling at night with a

rather heavy load in the boot (see

“Headlights” in this section).

7-seat versions

To extend the boot, proceed as fol-

lows:

– remove head restraints;

If the seat is down, proceed as fol-

lows:

To take the seat back to normal po-

sition:

– release the right locking lever B-

fig. 127 moving it to 1 (“released

lever”); do the same on the left side

then lower the seat back and tip the

seat forward. This operation is made

friendly by two springs. Make sure the

seat is completely tipped.

5) Remove the shelf and arrange it

crosswise between the front seat

backs and the tipped seat on the rear

seat.

1) Check that the seat belt webbing

is correctly fitted in its bracket.

2) Take the cushion to its horizontal

position and check that it is correctly

fastened.

To refit the shelf, refit central catch-

es D-fig. 124 and tip first part B and

then part A, make sure shelves are

properly secured.

– refit head restraints back into the

seats C-fig. 128.

3) Tip the seat back backwards and

check that it is correctly fastened.

B

fig. 126

fig. 127

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

82

It is absolutely forbidden

to use the third row seat

To re-position the seat:

To remove the seat in order to in-

crease the boot space, tilt the seat and

remove the tool bag (keep it on the

vehicle) then use lever D-fig. 128 to

release catches.

– seat back anchoring levers, both

right and left B-fig. 127 must be at 1

(released); otherwise move both

levers to position 1;

for transporting loads

when the seat back is tilted. Load

could be projected forward

against the seat back of the sec-

ond row seats thus causing in-

juries to passengers fig. 127a.

Reverse the above operations for re-

fitting.

– raise first the seat back (without se-

curing it) then secure the entire seat

to the floor anchorings and then se-

cure the seat back.

To increase the boot space you can

also tilt the second rear row as fol-

lows:

– tilt side seats (as described in para-

graph “access to the third row rear

seats”);

Always check that seats

are anchored to the floor

before securing the seat

backs.

fig. 127a

fig. 128

fig. 129

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

83

– tilt the central seat back pulling

To re-position the seats, release the

belts C-fig. 131, tilt the side seats and

the central seat cushion then pull band

A-fig. 129 to tilt the seat back and an-

chor it to the proper brackets.

ANCHORING THE LOAD

band A-fig. 129 upwards;

A boot mat is provided (optional for

Fiat Doblò Cargo base versions). To

fasten the load, fastening hooks are

provided (quantity varying according

to versions) fig. 132 secured to the

floor and that can be accessed direct-

ly also if the mat is fitted.

– pull the bands B-fig. 130 and tilt

the seat completely;

– secure tilted seats by the proper

belts C-fig. 131 (one per seat) to the

front headrests.

IMPORTANT Do not travel with

second row seats tipped and third row

seats set in normal position of use, a

buzzer will sound to indicate the

wrong seat position.

It is absolutely forbidden

to travel with the second

row seats tipped and pas-

sengers seated on the third row

seats (as specified on the seat la-

bel).

fig. 130

fig. 131

fig. 132

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

84

3) Press the fastener A-fig. 134, as

When the engine is hot,

mind your hands when

BONNET

shown in the figure.

working inside the engine

4) Open the bonnet and release the

rod A-fig. 135 from its clip at the

same time. Then B on the bonnet.

To open the bonnet

compartment to avoid burning

yourself. Never put your hands

near the fan: it could start up even

without the key in the switch.

Wait until the engine cools down.

This should only be done

when the vehicle is sta-

tionary. Before opening

Take care that scarves,

ties or loose clothing do

not accidentally come

the bonnet, check the windscreen

wiper arms are not lifted from

the windscreen.

Important. The bonnet

might fall violently if the

support rod is not posi-

tioned properly.

near moving parts; they could be-

come entangled with serious dan-

ger for the wearer.

1) Pull the yellow lever A-fig. 133

in the direction of the arrow.

2) Raise the bonnet slightly until lo-

cating the release lever.

B

A

fig. 133

fig. 134

fig. 135

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

85

To close the bonnet

After travelling a few

kilometres, check that

the attachment fastening

ROOF RACK/SKI

RACK

1) Hold the bonnet up with one hand

and, with the other, remove rod A-

fig. 135 from recess B and replace it

in its clip.

screws are tight.

PRESETTING

To use the roof racks you shall re-

2) Lower the bonnet until it is about

20 cm above the engine compartment,

and then let it drop, ensuring that it

is fully closed and not just held in po-

sition by the safety catch.

move the caps set in points fig. 136.

Distribute the load even-

ly and when driving, bear

in mind the increased

sensitivity of the vehicle to side

wind.

Attach the roof rack bar brackets to

the fasteners.

IMPORTANT Always follow the

instructions provided with the kit

carefully. The bars should be fitted by

skilled personnel.

If the bonnet does not close properly

do not push it down but open it again

and repeat the above procedure.

Never exceed the max.

permissible loads (see

section “Technical speci-

fications”).

For safety reasons the

bonnet must be closed

properly to avoid its

opening while the vehicle is trav-

elling. Therefore, always check it

is properly closed and the catch

engaged. Should you notice that

the catch is not perfectly engaged

when travelling, stop the vehicle

immediately and close the bon-

net.

Strictly comply with cur-

rent law regulations con-

cerning max. overall di-

mensions.

fig. 136

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

86

To use the rear ramp fig. 137,

strictly follow the instructions shown

on the plate applied on the left side

of the boot.

IMPORTANT Max. rear ramp car-

rying capacity is 250 kg.

LOADING RAMPS

Loading ramps are available at Lin-

eaccessori Fiat.

Loading with ramps

shall be only carried out

with the vehicle station-

ary and handbrake engaged.

Never move the vehicle

with ramps extracted.

Before restarting the ve-

hicle always check that ramps are

properly secured into their hous-

ings.

fig. 137

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

87

To use the side ramp, fig. 138,

open the side sliding door, take han-

dle A and take out the ramp as shown

by the arrow until locking it.

SLANT COMPENSATION

HEADLIGHTS

The vehicle is fitted with an electri-

cal device for correcting the headlight

slant. The device can be operated with

ignition key at MAR and dipped

beams on.

ADJUSTING THE

HEADLIGHT BEAM

IMPORTANT Max. side ramp car-

rying capacity is 60 kg.

When you have finished, take handle

A and refit the side ramp into its hous-

ing making it sliding as shown by the

arrow fig. 138.

The correct positioning of the head-

light beams is very important for the

comfort and safety, not only of the

person driving the vehicle but also all

other road users.

When the vehicle is loaded, it

“slopes” backwards. This means that

the headlight beam rises. In this case,

it is necessary to return it to the cor-

rect position.

This is also covered by a specific law.

To ensure you and other drivers

have the best visibility conditions when

travelling with the headlights on, the

headlights must be set properly.

Proceed as follows:

– hold button B-fig. 139 pressed to

increase by one position (e.g.: 0➟1,

1➟2, 2➟3);

Have the headlight positioning

checked at a Fiat Dealership and ad-

justed if necessary.

– hold button A pressed to decrease

by one position (e.g.: 3➟2, 2➟1, 1➟0).

Display C shows the positions dur-

ing the adjustment.

70

A

B

C

1 ^Δ

y

0

7

22: 1 1

fig. 138

fig. 139

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

88

Correct positions as a function

of the load

If a failure occurs, and consequently

the anti-lock function is not effective,

the braking system will continue to

work as usual.

ABS

The vehicle can be fitted with an ABS

braking system, which prevents the

wheels from locking when braking,

makes the most of road grip and gives

the best control when emergency

braking under difficult road conditions.

0 - one or two occupants in the

front seats.

If you have never driven a vehicle

with ABS before, you should practice

using the system on slippery terrain,

obviously with the necessary safety

precautions and keeping to the High-

way Code of the country you are in.

It is also a good idea to read the fol-

lowing information carefully.

1 - five occupants.

2 - five occupants + load in boot.

3 - driver + maximum permissible

The driver can tell the ABS system

has come into play because the brake

pedal pulsates slightly and the system

gets noisier.

load stowed in boot.

Check the headlight

beam position every time

you change the load to be

carried.

The advantage in using the ABS sys-

tem is that it continues to give you

maximum manoeuvrability even when

braking hard in conditions of poor grip

by preventing the wheels locking.

This should not be interpreted as a

fault in the brakes; on the contrary it

is a sign that the ABS system is work-

ing: it tells the driver that the vehicle

is travelling at the limit of its road grip

and that he should alter his speed to

fit the type of road surface.

HEADLIGHT ADJUSTMENT

ABROAD

You should, however, not expect the

braking distance to always decrease:

for example surfaces with gravel or

fresh snow on a slippery road will in

fact increase the braking distance.

The ABS system is an addition to the

basic braking system. If there is a mal-

function, the system turns off auto-

matically and only the ordinary brakes

continue to work.

Headlights are orientated as to drive

inside the country of origin before sell-

ing the vehicle. When travelling in

countries with opposite driving direc-

tion, you need to cover the headlight

areas according to the Road Code of

the country you are travelling in.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

89

To exploit the ABS system to the full

in the event of necessity, you should

take heed of the following advice:

If there is a fault, the in-

strument panel warning

light > will come on. At

this point, reduce speed and go to

a Fiat Dealership to have your ve-

hicle checked and put right im-

mediately.

If you follow these tips you will be

able to brake better in any situation.

IMPORTANT Vehicles fitted with

may only be fitted with wheel rims,

tyres and brake pads of the make and

model approved by the vehicle man-

ufacturer.

The system is completed with an

EBD electronic brake force distribu-

tor which increases the brake system

performance and employs the ABS

control unit and sensors.

The ABS exploits the

road hold available as

much as possible but can-

not increase it. You should always

drive carefully on slippery sur-

faces and avoid any unnecessary

risks.

Braking while cornering always re-

quires extreme care even when using

ABS.

The most important advice to follow

is this

The vehicle is fitted with

an electronic braking de-

vice (EBD). The > and

When the ABS cuts in,

and you feel the brake

pedal pulsating, do not re-

x warning light will come on at

the same time when the engine

is running to indicate that there

is an EBD system failure. In this

case violent braking may be ac-

companied by early rear wheel

locking with the possibility of

skidding. Drive the vehicle ex-

tremely carefully to the nearest

Fiat Dealership to have the sys-

tem checked.

If the ABS system cuts in

it is a sign that the grip

between the tyre and the

road surface has reached the lim-

it: you must slow down to match

the speed to the road grip avail-

able.

move your foot, but keep it

pressed. In doing so you will stop

in the shortest amount of space

possible under the current road

conditions.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

90

Warning light > alone,

with the engine running,

The cushion immediately inflates,

placing itself as a protection between

the body of the front occupants and

the structure that could cause injuries.

Immediately after, the cushion deflates.

FRONT AND SIDE

AIRBAGS

normally indicates a fault

in the ABS system only. In this

case, the braking system is still ef-

ficient, though without the anti-

locking device. Under these con-

ditions, performance of the EBD

system may be reduced. Also in

this case, you are advised to go

immediately to the nearest Fiat

Dealership, driving in such a way

to avoid sharp braking to have

the system checked.

The vehicle can be fitted with front

air bags for the driver and passenger

and with side bags.

The front air bag (driver and pas-

senger) is not a replacement of but

complementary to the use of belts,

which should always be worn, as spec-

ified by law in Europe and most non-

European countries.

FRONT AIRBAGS

Front airbags (driver and passenger)

have been designed to protect the oc-

cupants in the event of head-on crash-

es of medium-high severity, by plac-

ing the cushion between the occupant

and the steering wheel or dashboard.

In case of crash, a person not wear-

ing the seat belt moves forward and

may come into contact with the cush-

ion while it is still inflating. Under this

circumstance the protection offered

by the airbag is reduced.

Front airbags are designed to protect

vehicle’s occupants in front crashes

and therefore non-activation in other

types of collisions (side collisions, rear

shunts, roll-overs, etc.) is not a system

malfunction.

Front airbags may not activate in the

following situations:

If the x brake fluid low

warning light comes on,

stop the vehicle immedi-

– in collisions against highly de-

formable objects not affecting the ve-

hicle front surface (e.g. bumper colli-

sion against guard rail);

ately and contact the nearest Fi-

at Dealership. Fluid leaks from

the hydraulic system, in fact, can

compromise brake system oper-

ation, both traditional systems

and systems with ABS.

In case of crash, an electronic con-

trol unit, when required, triggers the

inflation of the cushion according to

the severity of the collision.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

91

– in case of wedging under other ve-

hicles or protective barriers (for ex-

ample under a truck or guard rail), the

air bag is not triggered as it offers no

additional protection compared with

the seat belts, consequently it would

be pointless.

At their maximum inflation, their vol-

ume fills most of the space between

the steering wheel and the driver and

between the dashboard and the pas-

senger.

DRIVER’S FRONT AIR BAG

fig. 140

It consists of an instant-inflating cush-

ion contained in a special recess in the

centre of the steering wheel.

In minor crashes (for which the re-

straining action of the seat belts is suf-

ficient), the air bags are not deployed.

Also in this case it is of vital impor-

tance to wear the seat belts since in

case of front crash they guarantee

proper positioning of the occupant.

PASSENGER’S FRONT AIR

BAG fig. 141

Therefore, failure to come into ac-

tion in the above circumstance does

not mean that the system is not work-

ing properly.

It consists of an instant-inflating cush-

ion contained in a special recess in the

dashboard; its volume is bigger than

the driver’s one.

Do not apply stickers or

other objects to the

steering wheel or to the

air bag cover on the passenger’s

side or on the side roof lining.

Never put objects on the dash-

board on passenger side since

they could interfere with proper

air bag inflation.

The driver and passenger front

airbags have been designed and cali-

brated to protect a person wearing

seat belts.

fig. 140

fig. 141

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

92

SERIOUS DANGER:

With passenger’s

Manual deactivation

IMPORTANT Operate the switch

only with engine off and ignition key

removed.

The passenger side airbag can be de-

activated if it is absolutely necessary to

carry a child in the front passenger

seat.

air bag active (ON),

never place child’s seats with the

cradle facing backwards since the

air bag activation could cause to

the child serious injuries, even

mortal. In the case of need, al-

ways deactivate the passenger’s

air bag when a child’s seat is

placed on the front seat. The

front passenger’s seat shall be ad-

justed in the most backward po-

sition to prevent any contact be-

tween child’s seat and dashboard.

Even if not compulsory by law,

you are recommended to reac-

tivate the air bag immediately as

soon as child transport is no

longer necessary.

The switch fig. 142 has two posi-

tions:

Deactivation / reactivation shall be

carried out with ignition device at

STOP. Turn the specific switch fig.

142 on the dashboard on passenger

side with the ignition key.

– Passenger front airbag on: (position

ON P ): instrument panel warning

light

off. Do not carry children on

F

the front seat.

– Passenger front airbag off: (position

OFF F ): instrument panel warning

light F on. A child can be carried on

the front seat with a suitable restraint

system.

Warning light F on the cluster

stays on permanently until the pas-

senger’s airbag is reactivated.

Deactivation of the passenger’s front

air bag does not inhibit operation of

the side air bag.

ON

OFF

PASS.

AIR BAG

fig. 142

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

93

SIDE BAG

When the airbag inflates it emits a

small amount of dusts. These dusts are

harmless and is not the beginning of a

fire; then the unfold cushion surface

and the vehicle interiors can be cov-

ered by a dusty remains: this dust can

irritate skin and eyes. In case of con-

tact, wash yourself using neutral soap

and water.

After an accident which triggered the

airbags, go to a Fiat Dealership to

have the entire safety system, the elec-

tronic control unit, the seat belts and

the pretensioners replaced. The Deal-

ership will also check the intactness of

the electrical system.

It consists of an instant-inflation cush-

ion housed in the back rest of the

front seat to increase protection of

the occupants’ chest in the event of a

side crash of medium-high severity.

Any diagnostic, repair or replace-

ment operations concerning the airbag

system must exclusively be carried out

at a Fiat Dealership.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The front and/or side airbags can be

triggered if the vehicle is subjected to

strong knocks or impacts underneath,

e.g. violent crashes into steps, kerbs or

fixed projections from the ground,

falling to large holes or dips in the road.

The air bag system has a validity of

14 years as to the pyrotechnic charge,

and 10 years as to the coil contact (see

the plate in the glove compartment).

As this date approaches, contact Fi-

at Dealership to have it replaced.

If you are having the vehicle

scrapped, have the airbag system de-

activated at a Fiat Dealership first.

If the vehicle changes hand, the new

owner must be made aware of the in-

dications given above and be given this

Owner Handbook.

fig. 143

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

94

Pretensioners, front airbags and side

airbags are triggered by the electron-

ic control unit according to different

types of impacts. Missed triggering of

the system, consequently, does not in-

dicate a fault in the system.

When the passenger’s

front airbag is active (pas-

senger front airbag deac-

The front air bag is trig-

gered for shocks greater

in magnitude that the

tivation switch at ON), the

pretensioners. For impacts be-

tween these two thresholds, it is

therefore normal that only the

pretensioners are triggered.

F

warning light will come on for ap-

proximately four seconds and

flash for other four seconds when

the ignition key is turned to MAR

to remind the driver than the

passenger’s front and side airbags

(where fitted) will be fired in the

event of a crash. The warning

light should go out immediately

afterwards.

If when turning the key

to MAR the warning light

If an attempt has been

made to steal the vehicle,

Do not apply stickers or

other objects to the

¬ does not turn on or if it

or if it has actually been

steering wheel or to the

stays on when travelling there

could be a failure in safety sys-

tems; in this event air bags or

pretensioners could not trigger in

case of impact or, in a minor

number of cases, they could trig-

ger accidentally. Contact Fiat

Dealership immediately to have

the system checked.

stolen or has been vandalised in

any way or subjected to flooding,

have the airbag system checked

over at a Fiat Dealership.

dashboard on the passenger’s

side. Do not travel with objects

on your lap or in front of you nor

with a pipe, pencil or similar be-

tween your lips; you could seri-

ously hurt yourself if the airbag

inflates in a collision.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

95

Always drive with both

hands on the rim of the

It is important to re-

member that the airbag

The correct operation of

front airbags, side airbags

and pretensioners is en-

sured only if the vehicle is not

overloaded.

steering wheel so that the

can be fired if the ignition

airbag is free to inflate during a

head-on collision, and protect

you from serious injury. Do not

drive with your body bending to-

wards the steering wheel, but sit

in an upright position with your

back resting against the seat.

key is fitted and at MAR also if

the engine is not running and the

vehicle it is hit by another vehicle

travelling at suitable speed. As a

consequence, Fiat recommends

sitting children in their specific

restraint systems on the back

seat, which is the most protected

position possible. On the con-

trary, the airbags will not be fired

if the vehicle is crashed into when

the key is not inserted or turned.

Consequently, in this case, the

fact that the system is not fired

does not indicate a fault.

Do not wash the seat

back in vehicles with side

airbags with pressurised

steam or water in automatic seat

washing stations.

The airbag does not re-

place seat belts but rather

Do not cover the back-

rest of front seats with

trims or covers that are

not suitable to be used with side

bags.

increases their effective-

ness. Furthermore, the airbag is

not fired in the event of low

speed front collisions, side colli-

sions, rear-end shunts and roll-

overs. In these cases, the passen-

gers are only protected by the

seat belts which for this reason

must always be fastened.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

96

Contact a Fiat Dealer-

ship as soon as possible if

EOBD SYSTEM

SOUND SYSTEM

the U warning light ei-

The EOBD system (European On

Board Diagnosis) allows continuos di-

agnosis of the components of the ve-

hicle correlated with emissions.

If the “Sound System” has not been

requested, the vehicle features an odd-

ment compartment on the dashboard.

ther does not come on when the

key is turned to MAR or comes

on, with fixed or flashing light,

when travelling. Warning light U

operation can be checked by

means of special equipment by

traffic agents. Always comply

with the traffic regulations in

force in the country where you

are travelling.

Furthermore, the system warns the

driver of deterioration concerning the

emission system components by

means of the U warning light on the

instrument panel.

Contact a Fiat Dealer-

ship if you want to install

a sound system after pur-

chasing your vehicle. Their staff

will advise you on how to safe-

guard the life of the battery. Ex-

cessive idle intake can damage

the battery and invalid the bat-

tery warranty as well.

The objective is to:

– monitor system efficiency;

– warn when failures can increase

emissions over the threshold estab-

lished by the European regulations;

IMPORTANT After eliminating the

problem, your Fiat Dealership will

run a bench test to fully check the sys-

tem. In some cases, a long road test

may be required.

LIGHT PRESETTING

– warn of the need to replace dete-

riorated components.

The system consists of the following:

– sound system power wires;

Furthermore, the system is equipped

with a connector for interfacing with

specific tools used to read the error

codes stored in the control unit mem-

ory along with a set of diagnostic and

engine specific parameters.

– wires for front speakers on the

dashboard, doors (where provided)

and rear speakers for passengers

transport versions;

– sound system compartment;

– aerial wire and aerial.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

97

HEAVY PRESETTING

Speakers

CELLULAR PHONE

SET-UP

The system consists of the following:

– sound system power wires;

– two mid-range speakers on dash-

board, diameter 100 mm, power 30W

max each.

The system set-up consists of:

– wires for front speakers on the

dashboard;

– two woofer speakers on front

doors, diameter 165 mm, power 40W

max each (Panorama versions only).

– a dual-purpose aerial (sound sys-

tem + cellular phone), on the vehicle

roof;

– 2 speakers on the dashboard;

– wires for door speakers (where

provided);

– two full-range elliptic speakers on

rear window shelf, 95 x 154 mm, pow-

er 20W max each (Panorama versions

only).

– a dual-purpose aerial connection

wires and ten-pin connector wiring

fig. 146.

– 2 door speakers;

– 2 rear speakers (for passengers

transport versions);

– a double coil speaker (sound sys-

tem + cellular telephone), located on

the passenger side dashboard.

Sound system installation

– wires for rear speakers;

– sound system compartment;

– aerial wire and aerial.

To fit the sound system, remove the

oddment compartment shown in fig.

145. To remove the compartment,

press it upwards and then pull it out

towards the inside of the vehicle.

4 3

10

2 1

6 5

9

8 7

fig. 144

fig. 145

fig. 146

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

98

Maximum power to be

applied to the aerial is

20W.

Have the cellular telephone and the

connections performed by a Fiat

Dealership only.

Purchase a free-hands kit

which is compatible for

your cellular telephone.

In Fiat Doblò passengers Transport

versions, use a screwdriver in the

point shown in fig. 147 to reach the

ten pin connector. Lift the central tun-

nel cover and remove the connector.

Wiring diagram:

1 Sound system mute function.

2 Spare.

In Fiat Doblò Cargo versions, loosen

the screws shown in fig. 148 in the

glove compartment to reach the ten

pin connector. Use a screwdriver in

the pre-cut point and remove the con-

nector.

Have the cellular tele-

phone installed and con-

nected to the setup sys-

3 Cellular phone input earth signal.

4 Cellular phone INPUT signal.

tem in the vehicle by a Fiat Deal-

ership only. This will ensure the

best results and prevent any

problems which could effect ve-

hicle safety.

5 Dual-purpose speaker on the front

passenger side door (+).

6 Dual-purpose speaker on the front

passenger side door (-).

7 Ignition switch power (+15).

8 Spare.

9 Battery power (+).

10 Earth.

fig. 147

fig. 148

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

99

Fiat Auto S.p.A. authorizes the in-

stallation of transceivers provided that

installation is carried out at a special-

ized shop, workmanlike performed

and in compliance with manufacturer's

specifications.

RADIO TRANSMITTERS AND

CELLULAR TELEPHONES

ACCESSORIES

PURCHASED BY THE

OWNER

Radio transceiver equipment (e.g.: e-

tacs mobile phones, HAM radio sys-

tems and the like) shall not be used in-

side the vehicle unless a separate aer-

ial is mounted on the roof.

If after buying the car, you decide to

install electrical accessories that re-

quire a permanent electric supply

(alarm, satellite antitheft system, etc.)

or accessories that in any case

burden the electric supply, contact

Fiat Dealership, whose qualified

personnel, besides suggesting the

most suitable devices belonging to

Lineaccessori Fiat, will also evalu-

ate the overall electric absorption,

checking whether the car’s electric sys-

tem is able to withstand the load re-

quired, or whether it needs to be in-

tegrated with a more powerful battery.

IMPORTANT Installation of de-

vices resulting in modifications of car

characteristics may cause driving li-

cense seizing by traffic agents and al-

so the lapse of the warranty as con-

cerns defects due to the abovemen-

tioned modification or traceable back

to it directly or indirectly.

IMPORTANT The use of similar

devices inside the passenger compart-

ment (without separated aerial) pro-

duces radio-frequency electromag-

netic fields which, amplified by the res-

onance effects inside the passenger

compartment, may cause electrical

systems equipping the vehicle to mal-

function. This could compromise safe-

ty in addition to constituting a poten-

tial hazard for the passengers.

Fiat Auto S.p.A. declines all re-

sponsibility for damages caused by the

installation of non-genuine accessories

or not recommended by Fiat Auto

S.p.A. and installed not in compliance

with the specified requirements.

In addition, transmission and recep-

tion of these devices may be affected

by the shielding effect of the vehicle

body.

INSTALLATION OF

ELECTRIC/ ELECTRONIC

DEVICES

As concerns EC-approved mobile

phones (GSM, GPRS, UMTS), strictly

comply with the instructions for use

provided by the mobile phone’s man-

ufacturer.

Electric/electronic devices installed

after buying the car or in aftermarket

shall bear the and marking:

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

100

– becomes continuous when the dis-

tance between the vehicle and the ob-

stacle is less that 30 cm and stops im-

mediately if the distance raises;

Detection distances:

PARKING SENSORS

(where provided)

Central ray ................................130 cm

Corner action range ................ 60 cm

Min/max range ................... 25/180 cm

Parking sensors are located in the

rear bumper to detect and inform the

driver (through an intermittent

acoustic signal) about the presence of

obstacles behind the vehicle.

– is constant if the distance is unvar-

ied.

If several sensors signal an obstacle,

the control unit checks and indicates

the closest one.

IMPORTANT In the event of a

parking sensor system failure, you will

hear an alarm signal when you engage

reverse gear.

The system will automatically cut out

also when reverse gear is engaged af-

ter a distance of 50 or after exceeding

the speed of 30 km/h.

ACTIVATION

Sensors will activate automatically

when engaging reverse gear.

The sensors are shaped to fit into the

bumpers and optimise scanning angles.

The frequency of the acoustic alarm

will increase as the distance between

the vehicle and the obstacle decreas-

es.

For proper operation,

the parking sensors shall

BUZZER WARNINGS

always be clean from

When the reverse gear is engaged an

intermittent acoustic signal is auto-

matically activated (short beep to sig-

nal system activation).

mud, dirt, snow or ice. Therefore

keep the rear bumpers clean to

prevent irregular operation of

the parking sensors.

The acoustic signal frequency:

– becomes louder as the reduction

of distance between the vehicle and

the obstacle decreases;

fig. 149

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

101

PETROL ENGINES

DIESEL ENGINES

AT THE FILLING

STATION

Use only unleaded petrol.

To prevent errors, the diameter of

the fuel tank filler is too small to in-

troduce a lead petrol pump filler.

Use diesel fuel for motor

vehicles complying with

European specifications

Use petrol with a rated octane num-

ber (R.O.N.) not lower than 95.

EN590 only. The use of other

products or mixtures may dam-

age the engine beyond repair and

invalidate the warranty. If the

tank is accidentally filled with oth-

er types of fuel, do not start the

engine and drain the tank. If the

engine has run even for a very

short time, you will also need to

drain the fuel supply circuit.

Make sure that the left-

hand sliding side door is

completely closed before

IMPORTANT An inefficient cat-

alytic converter will allow harmful ex-

haust fumes to be emitted and thus

contribute to air pollution.

refuelling. You could damage the

door and the sliding lock system

which comes into play when the

fuel flap is open.

IMPORTANT Never put even the

tiniest amount of leaded petrol in the

fuel tank of your vehicle even in an

emergency. You would damage the

catalytic converter beyond repair.

You cannot open the

left-hand sliding side door

while refuelling when the

flap is open.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

102

If the outside temperature is very

low, the diesel thickens due to the for-

mation of paraffin and could clog the

fuel filter.

FUEL FILLER CAP fig. 150

To open:

1) Turn the cap by approximately half

a turn anticlockwise and remove it.

Make sure that the left-

hand sliding side door is

completely closed before

In order to avoid these problems, dif-

ferent types of diesel are distributed

according to the season: summer type,

winter type and arctic type (cold

mountain areas).

IMPORTANT The hermetic clo-

sure may cause a slight pressure in the

tank: a slight hissing when turning the

cap is quite normal.

refuelling. You could damage the

door and the sliding lock system

which comes into play when the

fuel flap is open.

2) While you are filling up, place the

cap on the fuel filler flap as illustrated

in the figure.

If refuelling with diesel fuel not ade-

quate, you are recommended to add

TUTELA DIESEL ART to the fuel,

in the proportions written on the con-

tainer. Pour the antifreeze into the fu-

el tank before the fuel.

To close:

The cap has a bayonet coupling. In-

sert the cap and turn it clockwise un-

til it clicks once or more.

You cannot open the

left-hand sliding side door

while refuelling when the

flap is open.

REFUELLING

To guarantee full tank filling, carry

out two refuelling operations after the

first click of the fuel delivery gun.

Avoid further topping up operations

that could cause damages to the fuel

system.

fig. 150

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

103

On certain versions the cap has a

mechanical lock to be opened using

the door key.

The devices for curtailing diesel en-

gine emissions are:

PROTECTING THE

ENVIRONMENT

– an oxidising catalytic converter;

Protecting the environment has been

the guiding principle in the design of

the Fiat Doblò right from the start.

The result is the use of materials and

creation of devices that can reduce or

considerably curtail harmful influences

on the environment.

– an exhaust gas recirculation system

(E.G.R.).

– diesel particulate filter (DPF)

– Lambda probes (where provided).

Consequently, the Fiat Doblò is ready

to travel well ahead of the most strin-

gent international pollution control

standards.

Do not put naked flames

or lighted cigarettes near

the fuel filler hole as there

is a danger of fire. Do not bend

too close to the hole either so as

not to breathe in harmful

vapours.

The devices for curtailing petrol en-

gine emissions are the following:

– a three-way catalytic converter;

– Lambda sensors (oxygen sensors);

– a fuel evaporation system.

IMPORTANT If required, replace

the fuel cap with another genuine cap

to avoid affecting the efficiency of the

fuel vapour recovery system.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

104

DIESEL PARTICULATE

FILTER (DPF) (for Multijet

versions 1.3 85 HP and 1.9 120

HP)

Since this filter physically traps partic-

ulates, it shall be cleaned (reclaimed) at

regular intervals by burning carbon par-

ticles.

Reclaiming procedure is controlled

automatically by the engine control unit

according to the filter conditions and

the conditions of use of the vehicle.

The Diesel Particulate Filter is a me-

chanical filter, integral with the exhaust

system, that physically traps particulates

present in the exhaust gases of Diesel

engines.

During reclaiming the following phe-

nomena could take place: idling slight

increase, fan activation, slight smoke in-

crease, high exhaust temperatures.

These situations shall not be considered

as faults and they do not affect vehicle

performance and environment.

The diesel particular filter has been

adopted to eliminate almost totally par-

ticulates in compliance with current /

future law regulations.

During normal use of the vehicle, the

engine control unit records a set of da-

ta (e.g.: travel time, type of route, tem-

peratures, etc.) and it will then calcu-

late how much particulates has been

trapped by the filter.

If the dedicated message is displayed,

refer to paragraph “Warning lights and

messages”.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR VEHICLE

105

DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE

3) Press the clutch pedal fully down,

HOW TO START DIESEL

VERSIONS

ENGINE

without pressing the accelerator.

STARTING

4) Turn the ignition key to AVV

and let it go the moment the engine

starts.

1) Ensure that the handbrake is up.

2) Put the gear lever into neutral.

It is dangerous to let the

3) Turn the ignition key to MAR. In-

strument panel warning lights U, m

and ¢ (Y) will come on.

If the engine does not start at the

first attempt, return the ignition key

to STOP before trying to start the

engine again.

engine run in a garage or

other closed area. The

engine consumes oxygen and

gives off carbon dioxide, carbon

monoxide and other poisonous

fumes.

4) Wait for warning lights U and ¢

(Y) to turn off.

If the warning lights ¢ (Y) and U

stay on when the ignition key is at

MAR, turn the key to STOP and

then to MAR again; if the warning light

stays on, try with the other keys pro-

vided.

5) Wait for the instrument panel

warning light m to go out. The hot-

ter the engine is, the quicker this will

happen.

Do not touch the high

voltage cables (spark plug

leads) when the engine is

running.

6) Press the clutch pedal down to

the floor without touching the accel-

erator.

If you are still unable to start the en-

gine, perform the emergency start-up

procedure (see section “In an emer-

gency”) and go to a Fiat Dealership.

7) Turn the key to AVV immedi-

ately after the m warning light goes

out. If you wait to long, you will lose

the benefit of the work done by the

glow plugs.

STARTING PROCEDURE FOR

PETROL VERSIONS

IMPORTANT Never leave the ig-

nition key at MAR when the engine is

off.

1) Ensure that the handbrake is up.

2) Put the gear lever into neutral.

DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE

106

The warning light m

will flash (for approxi-

HOW TO WARM UP THE

ENGINE AFTER IS HAS JUST

STARTED (petrol and diesel

versions)

Catalysed vehicles must

not be bump started

(pushed, towed or coast-

ed downhill) as this could cause

fuel to flow into the catalytic ex-

haust system and damage it be-

yond repair.

mately 60 seconds) at

start-up or during prolonged

cranking to signal a fault in the

glow plug heating system. You

can use the vehicle as usual if the

engine starts but you should con-

tact a Fiat Dealership as soon as

possible to have problem seen to.

– Begin to move forward slowly let-

ting the engine turn at medium revs.

Do not accelerate abruptly.

– Do not push the engine to its lim-

it for the first few kilometres. You are

recommended to wait until the

coolant temperature gauge starts

moving.

Remember that until

the engine has started the

brake booster and hy-

If the engine does not start at the

first attempt, return the ignition key

to STOP before trying to start the

engine again.

EMERGENCY START-UP

draulic power steering systems

will not work and a greater effort

will therefore be required to de-

press the brake pedal or turn the

steering wheel.

If the Fiat CODE system fails to

recognise that code transmitted by the

ignition key (instrument panel warning

light ¢ (Y) on) the emergency start-

up can be performed by using the

CODE card code.

If with key at MAR warning light ¢

(Y) stays on, turn the key to STOP

and then to MAR again; if the warn-

ing light stays on, try with the other

keys provided.

See section “In an emergency”.

If you still cannot start the engine, get

in touch with Fiat Dealership.

IMPORTANT Never leave the ig-

nition key at MAR when the engine is

off.

DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE

107

STOPPING THE ENGINE

HANDBRAKE

PARKING

Turn the key to STOP while the

engine is idling.

The handbrake lever is located be-

tween the two front seats.

Switch off the engine, pull up the

handbrake and engage a gear (1st gear

or reverse, according to whether the

vehicle is facing up or downhill) and

leave the wheels turned. If the vehi-

cle is left on a steep slope, wedges or

a rock should be used to lock the

wheels.

Pull the handbrake lever upwards un-

til the vehicle cannot be moved. Four

or five clicks are generally enough

when the vehicle is on level ground

while nine or ten may be required if

the vehicle is on a steep slope or laden.

IMPORTANT If this is not the

case, take the vehicle to a Fiat Deal-

ership to have the handbrake adjust-

ed.

Do not leave the ignition key at

A quick burst on the ac-

celerator before turning

off the engine serves ab-

solutely no practical purpose and

wastes fuel.

MAR to prevent draining the battery.

Always remove the key when you

leave the vehicle.

Instrument panel warning light x

will come on when the handbrake

lever is pulled up and the ignition key

is at MAR.

Never leave children un-

supervised in the vehicle.

To release the handbrake:

1) Slightly lift the handbrake and

press release button A-fig.1.

IMPORTANT After a taxing drive

you should allow the engine to “catch

its breath” before turning it off by let-

ting it idle to allow the temperature in

the engine compartment to fall.

2) Keep the button pressed in and

lower the lever. Warning light x will

go out.

A

3) Press the brake pedal when car-

rying out this operation to prevent the

vehicle moving accidentally.

fig. 1

DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE

108

HOW TO USE

THE GEARS

To engage reverse (R) from neutral:

You must press the

clutch fully down to

Press the clutch fully before shifting

the gear stick into one of the positions

shown in the diagram in fig. 2 (the di-

agram is also on the gear lever knob).

– shift the lever to the right and back.

change gear properly. It is

therefore essential that there is

nothing under the pedals. Make

sure that mats are lying flat and

do not get in the way of pedals.

For version 1.4 8V and 1.6 16V, to en-

gage reverse (R) from neutral, raise

collar A-fig. 3 set under the knob and

move the lever rightwards and then

backwards at the same time.

IMPORTANT Only engage the re-

verse gear when the vehicle is com-

pletely stationary. With the engine

running, wait for at least 2 seconds

with the clutch pedal pressed to avoid

damaging the gears and scratching.

fig. 2

fig. 3

DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE

109

CONTAINING RUNNING COSTS AND POLLUTION

Some suggestions which may help

you to keep the running costs of the

vehicle down and lower the amount

of toxic emissions released into the at-

mosphere are given below.

Tyres

transporting particularly large objects,

use a trailer, where possible.

Tyre pressure should be checked at

least once every four weeks: if the

pressure is too low fuel consumption

increases as the resistance to the

rolling movement of the tyre is

greater. In this state, tyre wear is in-

creased and handling suffers which will

effect safety.

Electric devices

Use electric devices for the neces-

sary time only. The heated rear win-

dow, fog lights, windscreen wipers,

heater fan require large amounts of

electricity and increasing the request

for power will also increase fuel con-

sumption (up to +25% when driving in

towns).

GENERAL

CONSIDERATIONS

Vehicle maintenance

Unnecessary loads

The overall state of the vehicle is an

important factor which has a marked

influence over fuel consumption and

driving comfort and on the life span of

your vehicle. For this reason care

should be taken to maintain your ve-

hicle by carrying out the necessary

checks and regulations in accordance

with the specifications given in the

SERVICE SCHEDULE (see sections:

spark plugs, idling, air cleaners, diesel

fuel filter, timing).

Do not travel with too much load in

the boot. The weight of the vehicle

and its trim greatly effects consump-

tion and stability.

Climate control system

The climate control system is an ad-

ditional load which greatly effects the

engine leading to higher consumption

(up to +20% in average). When the

temperature outside allows, use the

air vents where possible.

Roof rack/ski rack

Remove the roof rack or the ski rack

from the roof as soon as they are no

longer used.

These accessories reduce the aero-

dynamic penetration of the vehicle and

will increase consumption. When

Aerodynamic accessories

The use of non-certified aerodynamic

items may adversely affect air drag and

consumption levels.

DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE

110

DRIVING STYLE

Starting

tion, emissions and wear and tear on

the engine.

CONDITIONS OF USE

Cold starting

Top speed

Do not warm the engine when the

vehicle is stationary or at high or low

revs: in this way the engine will warm

up gradually increasing consumption

and emissions. You should drive off

slowly straight away avoiding high revs

so that the engine will warm up more

quickly.

Frequent cold starting will not enable

the engine to reach optimal running

temperature. It follows, therefore, that

consumption will be higher (from +15

to +30% in towns) as will the pro-

duction of toxic emissions.

Fuel consumption increases consid-

erably as speed increases. For exam-

ple, when accelerating from 90 to 120

km/h, fuel consumption increases up

to approximately +30%. Your speed

should be kept as even as possible and

superfluous braking and acceleration

avoided as this increases both con-

sumption and emissions. A “smooth”

driving style should be adopted by at-

tempting to anticipate manoeuvres to

avoid imminent danger and to keep a

safe distance from the vehicle in front

to avoid braking sharply.

Traffic situations and road

conditions

Unnecessary actions

Heavy traffic and higher consumption

are synonymous: for example, when

driving slowly with frequent use of

lower gears or in towns where there

are numerous traffic lights.

Avoid revving the engine when

stopped at traffic lights or before

switching off the engine and avoid dou-

bling the clutch as these actions have

no purpose of modern vehicles and

serve only to increase consumption

and pollution.

Also twisting roads, mountain roads

and rough road surfaces pay a heavy toll

on consumption.

Acceleration

Accelerating violently increasing the

revs will greatly effect consumption

and emission: acceleration should be

gradual and not exceed the maximum

torque.

Gear selection

Traffic hold-ups

As soon as the traffic and road con-

ditions allow it, shift to a higher gear.

Using a lower gear to liven up accel-

eration greatly increases consumption.

In the same way, improper use of the

higher gears will increase consump-

During prolonged stops (traffic lights,

level crossings, etc.) the engine should

be switched off.

DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE

111

If the engine begins to “loose its

smoothness”, when travelling, contin-

ue your journey but reduce the de-

mands you are making on the engine

and have the vehicle seen to at a Fi-

at Dealership as soon as possible.

CHEAP RUNNING

THAT RESPECTS THE ENVIRONMENT

Environmental protection has been

one of the guiding principles in the

production of the Fiat Doblò. It is no

accident that its pollution control

equipment is much more effective than

that required by current legislation.

LOOKING

AFTER EMISSION

CONTROL DEVICES

When the instrument panel fuel re-

serve warning light comes on, fill up as

soon as possible. A low level of fuel

can cause an uneven supply of fuel to

the engine with the inevitable increase

in the temperature of the exhaust gas

and serious damage to the catalytic

converter.

The correct use of pollution control

devices not only ensures respect for

the environment but also has an effect

on the vehicle’s performance. Keeping

these devices in good condition is

therefore a fundamental rule for dri-

ving that is easy on your pocket and

on the environment too.

Nonetheless, the environment can-

not get by without a concerted effort

from everyone.

By following a few simple rules you

can avoid harming the environment

and often cut down fuel consumption

at the same time.

Never run the engine with one or

more spark plugs disconnected, even

for testing purposes.

The first step to take is to follow the

SERVICE SCHEDULE to the letter.

On this subject, a few useful tips have

been given below to supplement those

marked by symbol #, at various points

of the handbook.

If your vehicle has a petrol engine use

only unleaded petrol.

Do not warm up the engine by let-

ting it idle for a while before moving

off unless the outside temperature is

very low and, even in this case, only

do so for less than 30 seconds.

If you have trouble starting, do not

keep turning the ignition key for long

periods. Be especially careful to avoid

bump starting the vehicle by pushing,

towing or rolling downhill: these are

all manoeuvres that can damage the

catalytic exhaust. Use an auxiliary bat-

tery for start-ups only.

You are asked to read both the for-

mer and the latter carefully.

Do not install other heat shields and

do not remove those already fitted to

the catalytic converter and exhaust

pipe.

DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE

112

Do not allow anything to

be sprayed onto the cat-

alytic converter, lambda

Engage a low gear when driving

downhill rather than constantly brak-

ing.

TOWING TRAILERS

IMPORTANT NOTES

sensor and exhaust pipe.

The weight the trailer exerts on the

vehicle’s tow hitch coupling reduces

the vehicle’s payload by the same

amount.

The vehicle must be fitted with a ho-

mologated tow hitch and suitable elec-

trical system for towing a caravan or

trailer. Installation must be carried out

by skilled personnel who will issue

documentation authorising circulation

on the road.

To make sure the maximum towable

weight is not exceeded (given in the

log book) account should be taken of

the fully laden trailer, including acces-

sories and personal belongings.

When functioning nor-

mally the catalytic con-

verter reaches high tem-

Install any specific and/or additional

rear-view mirrors in accordance with

the Highway Code.

peratures. For this reason do not

park the vehicle over inflamma-

ble material (grass, dry leaves,

pine needles etc.): fire hazard.

Respect the speed limit for towing

trailers in the country you are travel-

ling in. In any case, do not exceed a

maximum speed of 100 km/h.

Remember that towing a trailer

makes it harder for the vehicle to

climb the maximum gradients speci-

fied.

Ignoring the above rules

may lead to fire.

DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE

113

The ABS system will not

control the trailer braking

The tow hitch must comply with the

current regulation, with reference to

Directive 94/20/EC and amendments.

In addition to the electrical connec-

tion, only the lead for powering an

electric brake and the lead to power

a light inside the trailer not exceed-

ing 15W may be connected to the ve-

hicle’s electrical system.

system.

Great

care

should therefore be taken when

driving on slippery road surfaces.

Install a tow hitch which is suitable

for the towing capacity of the vehicle.

Use a unified coupling for the elec-

trical connections. The coupling is gen-

erally fitted on a specific mount fas-

tened to the tow hitch.

For connections use the preset con-

trol unit with battery cable no less

than 2,5 mm².

Under no circumstances

modify the vehicle’s brak-

For electrical connection, a 7 or 13

pole 12VDC coupling must be used

(CUNA/UNI and ISO/DIN standards).

Follow the instructions provided by

the manufacturer of the vehicle and/or

the tow hitch.

FITTING DIAGRAM

ing system for trailer

The trailer tow hitch is to be fixed in

the points indicated (see diagram fig.

4).

braking control. The trailer’s

braking system must be com-

pletely independent of the vehi-

cle’s hydraulic system.

The plate 1 must have a minimum

thickness of 6 mm. The fastening

points 2 will be equipped with shims

16 x 2 mm. The tow hitch structure

is fastened in the points shown with Ø

by means of six M8 screws and four

M10 screws.

Use the specific trailer light fusebox

for electrical connections.

An electric brake should be supplied

directly by the battery through a cable

with a cross section of no less than 2.5

mm².

TOW HITCH INSTALLATION

The towing device should be fas-

tened to the body by specialised per-

sonnel according to any additional

and/or integrative information supplied

by the Manufacturer of the device.

Fasten the tow hitch to the body and

trim the bumper with the frame pro-

vided with the assembly kit.

After fitting the tow hitch, the emp-

ty vehicle weight will increase by ap-

proximately 15.5 kg.

DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE

114

After 1000 km check that the tow

hitch fastening screws are perfectly

closed. Have this operation carried

out at Fiat Dealership.

SEC. A-A

IMPORTANT A clearly visible

plate of a suitable size and made of

suitable material bearing the following:

Ground line

MAX LOAD ON BALL COUPLING

60 kg.

M10 screw

Existing

hole

Three M8

screws

Existing nuts

M10 screw

Existing hole

Standard ball

Three M8

screws

Existing nuts

After assembly, seal the

holes to prevent exhaust

fumes from entering the

vehicle.

M10 screw

Existing hole

M10 screw

fig. 4

DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE

115

We recommend using Lineaccessori

Fiat snow chains.

With

chains

SNOW CHAINS

mounted keep

your speed down.

Use of snow chains should be in

compliance with local regulations.

Check the tautness of the chains af-

ter driving some twenty to thirty me-

tres.

Do not exceed 50 km/h. Avoid

holes in the road; do not mount

steps or kerbs. Do not drive long

stretches of snow-free road with

the chains mounted, as this can

damage the vehicle and the road

surface too.

Snow chains should only be applied

to the driving wheels (front wheels).

Tyres on which

chains can be fitted

Type of snow chains to be used

Refer to the following

table for information on

the wheels where snow

chains can be fitted. Follow the

prescriptions.

185/65 R15

Reduced clearance snow chains maximum projection

off wheel equal to 12 mm.

175/75 R14

175/70 R14

DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE

116

The winter features of these tyres

are reduced considerably when the

tread depth is below 4 mm. In this

case, they should be replaced.

IMPORTANT When snow tyres

are used with a max. speed index be-

low the one that can be reached by

the vehicle (increased by 5%), place a

notice in the passenger compartment,

plainly in the driver’s view which states

the max. permissible speed of the

snow tyres (as per EC Directive).

SNOW TYRES

These tyres have been specially de-

signed for driving on snow or ice, to

be fitted in place of the standard tyres.

Due to the snow tyre features, un-

der normal conditions of use or on

long motorway journeys, the perfor-

mance of these tyres is lower than that

of standard tyres.

Use snow tyres of the same size as

the standard tyres provided with the

vehicle.

All four tyres should be the same

(brand and track) to ensure greater

safety when driving and braking and

better driveability.

Fiat Dealership will be happy to

provide advice concerning the most

suitable type of tyre for the customer’s

requirements.

It is therefore necessary to limit their

use to the purposes for which they are

certified.

Remember that it is inappropriate to

change the direction of rotation of

tyres.

For the type of tyre to be used, in-

flation pressures and the specifications

of snow tyres, follow the instructions

given at paragraph “Wheels” in section

“Technical Specifications”.

The max. speed for

snow tyres with “T”

marking , is 190 km/h. The

Road Traffic Code speed limits

must however be always strictly

observed.

DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE

117

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PRACTICAL INFORMATION for Your Fiat Doblo Van 2000-2009

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