FIAT Idea - Manual (Page 84)

83
SAFETY DEVICES
CORRECT USE OF THE CAR
W
ARNING
LIGHTS AND MESSAGES
IN AN
EMERGENCY
CAR
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICA
TIONS
INDEX
DASHBOARD AND CONTROLS
ABS SYSTEM
If this is the first car with ABS you drive,
get familiar with it by some preliminary
“driving tests” on poor grip roadbeds, ob-
viously under safety conditions and in
compliance with the traffic regulations of
the Country you are driving in. Read care-
fully the following instructions.
The car is fitted with an ABS braking sys-
tem, which prevents the wheels from lock-
ing when braking, makes the most of road
grip and gives the best control when
emergency braking under difficult road
conditions.
System is completed by EBD (Electronic
Braking Force Distribution), which dis-
tributes the braking action between front
and rear wheels.
IMPORTANT To have the maximum ef-
ficiency of the braking system, it is neces-
sary a setting period of about 500 km: dur-
ing this period it is better to avoid sharp,
repeated and prolonged brakes.
ABS INTERVENTION
The driver can tell the ABS system has
come into action because the brake ped-
al pulsates slightly and the system gets
noisier: it means that the car speed should
be altered to fit the type of road surface.
If the ABS system cuts in, it is a sign that
the grip between tyre and the road sur-
face has reached the limit: you must slow
down to match the speed to the road grip
available.
FAILURE WARNINGS
ABS failure
If there is a fault, the instrument panel
warning light > will come on together
with the message (where provided) on the
reconfigurable multifunction display (see
the “Warning lights” chapter).
In this case the braking system is still effi-
cient, though without the aid of the ABS
system. Drive carefully to the closest Fiat
Dealership to have the system checked.
EBD failure
It is signalled by lighting up of instrument
panel warning lights > and
x together
with the message (where provided) on the
reconfigurable multifunction display (see
the “Warning lights” chapter).
In this case with sharp braking the rear
wheels might lock too early, with the pos-
sibility of skidding. Drive extremely care-
fully to the nearest Fiat Dealership to have
the system checked.
If the ABS system cuts in, it
is a sign that the grip be-
tween tyre and the road surface has
reached the limit: you must slow
down to match the speed to the road
grip available.
WARNING
The ABS exploits the tyre-
road grip at the best, but it
cannot improve it; you should there-
fore take every care when driving on
slippery surfaces without taking un-
necessary risks.
WARNING
036-092 idea GB 1 ed 10-07-2008 16:12 Pagina 83