Fiat 500L 2013 User guide

The data contained in this publication is intended merely as a guide. FIAT reserves the right to modify the models and
versions described in this booklet at any time for technical and commercial reasons.
If you have any further questions please consult your FIAT dealer.
Printed in recycled paper without chlorine. OWNER HANDBOOK
FIAT500L
ENGLISH
COP 500L UM GB SISTEMA 15-06-2012 8:30 Pagina 1

We really know your car because we invented, designed and built it: we really know every single detail.
At Fiat Service authorised workshops you can find technicians directly trained by us,
offering quality and professionalism for all service operations.
Fiat workshops are always close to you for the regular servicing operations, season checks
and practical recommendations by our experts.
With Fiat Genuine Parts you keep the reliability, comfort and performance features
of your new car unchanged in time: that's why you bought it for.
Always ask for Genuine Parts for the components used on our cars; we recommend them because
they come from our steady commitment in research and development of highly innovative technologies.
For all these reasons: rely on Genuine Parts, because they are the only ones designed
by Fiat for your car.
SAFETY:
BRAKING SYSTEM
ENVIRONMENT: PARTICULATE FILTERS,
CLIMATE CONTROL MAINTENANCE
COMFORT: SUSPENSION
AND WINDSCREEN WIPERS
PERFORMANCE: SPARK PLUGS,
INJECTORS AND BATTERIES
LINEACCESSORI
ROOF RACK BARS, WHEEL RIMS
WHY CHOOSING
GENUINE PARTS
COP 500L UM GB SISTEMA 15-06-2012 8:30 Pagina 2

Dear Customer,
We would like to congratulate and thank you for choosing a Fiat 500L.
We have written this handbook to help you get to know all the features of your car and use it in the best possible way.
You are recommended to read it right through before taking to the road for the first time.
It contains important information, advice and instructions for the use of the car which will help you get the very best out
of your Fiat. The handbook also provides a description of special features and tips as well as essential information for
correct care, maintenance, safe car driving and use and preservation of your Fiat over time.
Carefully read the warnings and indications marked with the following symbols:
personal safety;
car safety;
environmental protection.
The enclosed Warranty Booklet lists the services that Fiat offers to its Customers:
❒the Warranty Certificate with terms and conditions for maintaining its validity;
❒the range of additional services available to Fiat Customers.
We are sure that these will help you familiarise with your new car and appreciate it and the care provided by the people
at Fiat.
Enjoy reading. Happy motoring!
This Owner Handbook describes all the versions of the Fiat 500L. As a consequence,
you should only consider the information which is related to the trim level, engine
and version that you have purchased.All data contained in this publication are purely
indicative. Fiat Group Automobiles can modify the specifications of the vehicle
model described in this publication at any time, for technical or commercial
reasons. For further information, contact a Fiat Dealership.

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION!
REFUELLING
Petrol engines: only refuel with unleaded petrol
with octane rating (RON) not less than 95 in
compliance with the European specification
EN228.
The use of petrol that does not conform to the
above-mentioned specification will cause the
EOBD warning light to switch on and the
irregular operation of the engine.
Diesel engines: only refuel with diesel for
motor vehicles in compliance with the European
specification EN590. The use of other products
or mixtures may damage the engine beyond
repair and consequently invalidate the warranty.
STARTING THE ENGINE
Make sure that the handbrake is engaged; place
the gear lever in neutral. Fully depress the clutch
pedal, without pressing the accelerator, then
turn the ignition key to MAR-ON and wait for
the warning light to switch off (and
warning light for diesel versions); turn the
ignition key to AVV and release it as soon as
the engine starts.
PARKING ON FLAMMABLE MATERIAL
The catalytic converter develops high
temperatures during operation. Do not park the
car on grass, dry leaves, pine needles or other
flammable material: fire hazard.
RESPECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
The car is fitted with a system that allows
continuous diagnosis of the components related
to emissions to ensure increased respect for
the environment.
ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES
If, after buying the car, you decide to add
electrical accessories (with the risk of gradually
draining the battery), contact a Fiat Dealership.
They will calculate the overall electrical
requirement and check that the car’s electrical
system can support the required load.
SCHEDULED SERVICING
Correct maintenance of the car is essential for
ensuring that it maintains its performance and its
safety features, its environmental friendliness
and low running costs for a long time to come.
THE OWNER MANUAL CONTAINS…
… important information, advice and warnings
for correct use, driving safety and maintenance of
your car over time. Special attention must be
paid to the symbols provided (personal safety)
(environmental protection) (car integrity).

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CAR
DASHBOARD
The presence and position of the controls, instruments and indicators may vary according to the different
versions.
1. Adjustable and directable air diffusers 2. Radio controls on the steering wheel (for versions/markets, where provided)
3. Exterior light control stalk 4. Instrument panel 5. Windscreen wiper/rear window wiper/trip computer control stalk
6. Adjustable and directable centre air vents 7. Fixed upper air vent 8. Passenger front airbag 9. Upper glove
compartment (for versions/markets, where provided the compartment may be conditioned) 10. Storage compartment
11. Lower glove compartment 12. Control buttons 13. Heating/ventilation system or manual climate control (for
versions/markets, where provided) or automatic dual zone climate control (for versions/markets, where provided)
14. USB port/AUX socket (for versions/markets, where provided) 15. UConnect
vided) or radio system setup 16. Ignition switch 17. Driver front airbag 18. Cruise Control/Speed Limiter lever (for
versions/markets, where provided)
fig. 1 F0Y0042
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™
(for versions/markets, where pro-

CONTROL PANEL
AND INSTRUMENTS
Instrument background colour and type may vary according to the version.
The warning lights and are only present on Diesel versions. On diesel versions, the maximum engine
speed (red range on the rev counter) corresponds to 5000 rpm.
VERSIONS WITH MULTIFUNCTION DISPLAY
A. Speedometer (speed indicator) B. Multifunction display C. Rev counter D. Fuel level gauge with reserve warning light
E. Engine coolant temperature gauge with overheating warning light
fig. 2 F0Y1107
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VERSIONS WITH RECONFIGURABLE MULTIFUNCTIONAL DISPLAY
A. Speedometer (speed indicator) B. Reconfigurable multifunction display C. Rev counter D. Fuel level gauge with reserve
warning light E. Engine coolant temperature gauge with overheating warning light
fig. 3 F0Y1108
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SPEEDOMETER (SPEED INDICATOR)
Shows the car speed (speedometer).
REV COUNTER
This indicates the engine rpm.
FUEL LEVEL GAUGE
This shows the amount of fuel left in the fuel tank.
E - tank empty
F - tank full
The warning light A fig. 4 (on certain versions
together with the message on the display) switches
on to indicate that approximately 6 to 8 litres of fuel
are left in the tank; in these circumstances refuel at
the earliest opportunity.
Do not travel with the fuel tank almost empty: the
gaps in fuel delivery could damage the catalyst.
IMPORTANT The needle will point to E and warning
light A will flash to indicate a fault in the system. If
this is the case, go to a Fiat Dealership to have
the system checked.
ENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE
INDICATOR
The needle shows the temperature of the engine
coolant and starts supplying indications when the
fluid temperature exceeds approx. 50°C.
Under normal conditions, the needle assumes
different positions within the scale depending on the
usage conditions.
C - Low engine coolant temperature.
H - High engine coolant temperature.
The warning light B fig. 4 may switch on (with a
message on the display for some versions) to indicate
that the coolant temperature is too high; in this
case, stop the engine and contact a Fiat Dealership.
If the needle for the engine coolant
temperature reaches the red area, stop
the engine immediately and contact a Fiat
Dealership.
fig. 4 F0Y0118
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DISPLAY
The car may be provided with a multifunction or
reconfigurable multifunction display that shows useful
information, according to the previous settings,
when driving.
With the ignition key removed, the display activates
and shows the time and total milometer reading
(in km or miles) for a few seconds when a front door
is opened/closed.
NOTE With a very low outside temperature (below
0°C) it may take longer than normal for information
to appear on the display.
MULTIFUNCTION DISPLAY "STANDARD"
SCREEN
The following information is shown on the display
fig. 5:
ADate
BActivation of Dualdrive electric power steering
(CITY indication) or of ECO driving mode (ECO
indication)
CGear Shift Indicator (for versions/markets, where
provided)
DHeadlight alignment position (only with dipped
headlights on)
EOdometer (display of distance travelled in
kilometres/miles)
FTime (always displayed, even with key removed and
doors closed)
GStart&Stop function indication (for versions/
markets where provided)
HOutside temperature (for versions/markets, where
provided)
I"Speed limiter" display (for versions/markets, where
provided)
fig. 5 F0Y1101
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RECONFIGURABLE MULTIFUNCTION
DISPLAY "STANDARD" SCREEN
Versions without "Speed Limiter"
The following information appears on the display
fig. 6:
ATime
BDate or trip distance display in kilometres
(or miles)
COutside temperature (for versions/markets, where
provided)
DGear Shift Indicator (for versions/markets, where
provided)
EOdometer (display of distance travelled in
kilometres/miles)
FHeadlight alignment position (only with dipped
headlights on)
GCar status indication (e.g. doors open, possible ice
on road, etc.)
On some versions the display shows the turbine
pressure fig. 7.
fig. 6 F0Y1102 fig. 7 F0Y0186
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Versions with "Speed Limiter"
(for versions/markets, where provided)
The following information appears on the display
fig. 8:
ATime
BDate or trip distance display in kilometres
(or miles)
CGear Shift Indicator (for versions/markets, where
provided) or Start&Stop function indication (for
versions/markets, where provided)
D"Speed limiter" display (for versions/markets,
where provided)
EOdometer (display of distance travelled in
kilometres/miles)
FHeadlight alignment position (only with dipped
headlights on)
GOutside temperature (for versions/markets, where
provided)
HCar status indication (e.g. doors open, possible ice
on road, etc.)
fig. 8 F0Y1103
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GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR
The GSI (Gear Shift Indicator) system advises the
driver to change gear through a specific indication on
the instrument panel fig. 9.
Through the GSI, the driver is notified that changing
gear will allow a reduction in fuel consumption.
When the SHIFT UP icon ( SHIFT) is shown on the
display, the GSI is advising the driver to engage a
higher gear, while the SHIFT DOWN ( SHIFT) icon
advises the driver to engage a lower gear.
The indication on the instrument panel remains on
until the driver changes gear or the driving
conditions return to a situation where changing gear
is not required to reduce consumption.
CONTROL BUTTONS
NOTE Buttons and fig. 10 are described in
the following pages. The buttons are and on
some versions.
To scroll up through the screen and the related
options or to increase the displayed value.
Press briefly to access the menu and/or go to next
screen or confirm the desired menu selection.
Hold down to go back to the standard screen.
To scroll down through the displayed menu and the
related options or to decrease the value displayed.
Buttons and activate different functions
according to the following situations:
❒within the menu, they allow you to scroll up and
down;
❒during setting operations, they increase or
decrease the displayed value.
fig. 9 F0Y1104
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SETUP MENU
The menu comprises a series of options which can
be selected using buttons and to access the
different selection and setting operations (Setup)
indicated below. Some options have a submenu.
The menu can be activated by briefly pressing the
button.
The menu comprises the following options:
❒MENU
❒LIGHTING
❒HEADLIGHT ALIGNMENT (for versions/markets,
where provided)
❒SPEED BEEP
❒HEADLIGHT SENSOR (for versions/markets
where provided)
❒CORNERING LIGHTS (for versions/markets,
where available)
❒RAIN SENSOR (for versions/markets, where
provided)
❒TRIP B ACTIVATION/DATA
❒SET TIME
❒SET DATE
❒AUTOCLOSE
❒MEASUREMENT UNIT
❒LANGUAGE
❒WARNINGS VOLUME
❒BELT BUZZER
❒SERVICE
❒AIRBAG/PASSENGER BAG (for versions/markets,
where provided)
❒DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (for versions/
markets, where provided)
❒CITY BRAKE C./COLLISION MITIGATION
(for versions/markets, where provided)
❒EXIT MENU
fig. 10 F0Y0035
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Selecting an option from the main menu without a
submenu:
❒briefly press the button to select the main menu
option to be set;
❒press buttons or (with single presses) to
select the new setting;
❒briefly press the button to store the new setting
and to go back to the same main menu option
selected previously.
Selecting an option from the main menu with a
submenu:
❒briefly press the button to display the first
submenu option;
❒press buttons or (with single presses) to
scroll through all the submenu options;
❒briefly press the button to select the displayed
submenu option and to open the relevant setup
menu;
❒press buttons or (with single presses) to
select the new setting for this submenu option;
❒briefly press button to store the new setting and
at the same time go back to the previously
selected menu option.
MENU ITEMS
Menu
This option allows you to access the Setup Menu.
Press the or button to select the various
Menu items.
Hold down the button to return to the standard
screen.
Lighting
(Interior light adjustment)
(with side lights on only)
With the side lights on, this function is used to set
the brightness of the instrument panel, uconnect™
system controls (for versions/markets where
provided) and automatic climate control system
controls (for versions/markets where provided) to 8
levels.
Proceed as follows to adjust the brightness:
❒press button briefly. The level set previously
flashes on the display;
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❒press button or to set the required
brightness level;
❒press the button briefly to return to the menu
screen or hold the button down to return to the
standard screen without saving.
Note With uconnect™ system (for versions/
markets where provided), some Menu items are
shown and managed on the display of the latter and
not on the instrument panel display (refer to the
uconnect™ supplement).

Note On versions with reconfigurable multifunction
display adjustment can be made both with lights off
("daytime" mode brightness level) and with lights
on ("nighttime" mode brightness level).
Headlamp alignment (Headlamp alignment
corrector position adjustment)
(for versions/markets, where provided)
This function allows the headlamp alignment
corrector position to be adjusted (on 4 levels).
To carry out the adjustment, proceed as follows:
❒press button briefly. The level set previously
flashes on the display;
❒press button or to adjust the position;
❒press the button briefly to return to the menu
screen or hold the button down to return to the
standard screen without storing.
Speed Beep (Speed limit)
This function is used to set the car speed limit (km/h
or mph); the driver is immediately alerted when
this limit is exceeded.
To set the desired speed limit, proceed as follows:
❒briefly press the button: the display will show
the text "Speed Beep";
❒press button or to select speed limit
activation (On) or deactivation (Off);
❒if the function is on, press or to select the
desired speed limit and then press to confirm.
Note Setting is possible between 30 and 200 km/h,
or 20 and 125 mph, according to the previously
set unit. See the "Measurement unit (Measurement
unit adjustment)" paragraph described below. The
setting will increase/decrease by 5 units each time
button / is pressed. Hold down the
/ button to automatically increase/decrease
the setting rapidly. Complete the adjustment with
single presses of the button when you approach the
desired value.
❒press the button briefly to return to the menu
screen or hold the button down to return to the
standard screen without storing.
To cancel the setting, proceed as follows:
❒briefly press the button: "On" will flash on the
display;
❒press button : "Off" will flash on the display;
❒press the button briefly to return to the menu
screen or give the button a long press to return
to the standard screen without storing.
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Headlight sensor
(Automatic headlight/dusk sensor sensitivity
adjustment)
(for versions/markets, where provided)
This function is used to turn the headlights on or off
according to external light conditions.
The dusk sensor sensitivity can be adjusted according
to 3 levels (level 1 = minimum sensitivity, level 2 =
medium sensitivity, level 3 = maximum sensitivity);
the greater the sensitivity set, the less the external
light variation needed to turn on the lights (e.g. with
a setting on level 3 at sunset the headlights switch
on earlier than in levels 1 and 2).
Proceed as follows to set:
❒press button briefly. The level set previously
flashes on the display;
❒press the or button to make the
adjustment;
❒press the button briefly to return to the menu
screen or hold the button down to return to the
standard screen without storing.
Cornering lights
(Activation/deactivation of cornering lights)
(for versions/markets, where provided)
This function activates/deactivates ("On"/"Off") the
cornering lights (see the description in the “Exterior
lights” paragraph).
Proceed as follows to activate/deactivate the lights:
❒press button briefly. "On" or "Off" flash on
the display, according to what has been previously
set;
❒press or to make your choice;
❒press the button briefly to return to the menu
screen or hold the button down to return to the
standard screen without storing.
Rain sensor
(Rain sensor sensitivity adjustment)
(for versions/markets, where provided)
This function allows you to adjust the rain sensor
sensitivity to 4 levels.
To set the required sensitivity level, proceed as
follows:
❒press button briefly. The sensitivity “level” set
previously flashes on the display;
❒press the or button to make the
adjustment;
❒press the button briefly to return to the menu
screen or hold the button down to return to the
standard screen without storing.
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Activation/Trip B data
(Activating Trip B)
With this function it is possible to activate ("On") or
deactivate ("Off") the Trip B display (partial trip).
For more information see the "Trip computer"
paragraph.
For activation/deactivation, proceed as follows:
❒press the button briefly to make the display flash
On or Off according to the previous setting;
❒press the or button to make the
adjustment;
❒press the button briefly to return to the menu
screen or give the button a long press to return
to the standard screen without storing.
Time adjustment (Clock adjustment)
This function enables the clock to be set through
two submenus: “Time” and “Format”.
To carry out the adjustment, proceed as follows:
❒press button briefly. The display shows the two
submenus "Time" and "Format";
❒press the or button to switch between
the two submenus;
❒once you have selected the submenu to be
changed, press the button briefly;
❒if the "Time" submenu is selected and button is
pressed briefly, "hours" will flash on the display.
Press the or button to make the
adjustment;
❒pressing the button briefly again: the "minutes"
flash on the display. Press the or button
to make the adjustment;
❒if the "Format" submenu is selected and button
is pressed briefly, the display mode will flash
on the display. Press the or button to
select "12h" or "24h" mode. When you have
carried out the required settings, briefly press the
button to go back to the submenu screen or
hold the button down to go back to the main
menu screen without storing the new settings.
Hold down the button again to return to the
standard screen or to the main menu according to
the menu items where you are in.
IMPORTANT The setting will increase or decrease
by one unit each time the button or is
pressed. Keeping the button pressed causes an
automatic rapid speed increase/decrease. Complete
the setting by briefly pressing the button when
you approach the required value.
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Set date (Setting the date)
Using this function it is possible to update the date
(year - month - day).
To carry out the adjustment, proceed as follows:
❒press button briefly. The "year" flashes on the
display;
❒press the or button to make the
adjustment;
❒press button briefly. The "month" flashes on the
display;
❒press the or button to make the
adjustment;
❒press button briefly. The "day" flashes on the
display;
❒press the or button to make the
adjustment;
❒press the button briefly to return to the menu
screen or give the button a long press to return
to the standard screen without storing.
IMPORTANT The setting will increase or decrease
by one unit each time the button or is
pressed. Keeping the button pressed causes an
automatic rapid speed increase/decrease. Complete
the setting by briefly pressing the button when
you approach the required value.
Autoclose
(Automatic door lock operation with car
running)
If this function is On, it automatically locks the doors
when a speed of 20 km/h is exceeded.
Proceed as follows to activate or deactivate this
function:
❒press button briefly. "On" or "Off" flash on the
display, according to what has been previously set;
❒press or to make your choice;
❒press the button briefly to return to the
submenu screen or hold the button down
to return to the main menu screen without saving;
❒hold down the button again to return to the
standard screen or to the main menu according
to the menu items where you are in.
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