Fiat 500 Manual page 134

The ECO and AUTO functions are
activated automatically whenever the
engine is started.
CONTROL LEVER
46) 47)
The control lever (A) fig. 121 on the
dashboard is of the multi-stable floating
type, in other words it has three stable
and three unstable positions.
The three stable positions correspond
to neutral (N), reverse (R) and the
central position located between the
unstable positions (+) and (-).
The unstable positions, in other
words those that are abandoned as
soon as the lever is released, are the
positions for requesting a higher gear
(+), requesting a lower gear (–) and
requesting automatic operating mode
(A/M).
Returning to manual mode is achieved
by moving the lever back to A/M
position.
The lever can be moved with or without
the brake pedal pressed with the
vehicle stationary and the key removed.
The system does not carry out any
action after the lever has been moved
and remains in the gear memorised
before the key was removed.
WARNING With the engine started,
any error between the lever position
and the gear actually engaged is
signalled by a buzzer until consistency
is restored.
MANUAL OPERATION
(MANUAL)
In this operating mode, the driver is
responsible for choosing the best gear
ratio to engage, depending on the car
operating conditions.
To change gear, proceed as follows:
move the lever to position (+) to
engage a higher gear;
or
move the lever to position (–) to
engage a lower gear.
If the gear change request may
adversely affect the correct operation
of the engine and the transmission,
the system will not allow it. In such
cases the system will warn the driver of
the impossibility of changing gear by
means of a buzzer.
The system will also automatically
change down if the engine is idling (e.g.
during deceleration).
STEERING WHEEL PADDLES
(for versions/markets, where provided)
47) 45)
Shifting can be managed sequentially
via the shift paddles on the steering
wheel fig. 122.
122
To use the steering wheel paddles,
the gear lever must be in the middle
position between + and –:
pulling lever + (towards driver):
engage higher gear (see example
fig. 123);
pull the paddle – (towards driver):
shift down.
123
NOTE Shifting up (or down) is only
permitted if the engine rpm allow it.
F0S0577
F0S1015
125