2021 Fiat 500X Transmission Instruction

The transmission system is one of the primary contributors to the 2021 Fiat 500X’s dynamic character. The 2021 Fiat 500X offers a captivating blend of Italian flair and versatile performance. This compact SUV is equipped with a modern and efficient transmission system designed to provide a responsive and seamless driving experience. The 2021 Fiat 500X transmission plays a crucial role in delivering power to the wheels, assuring a well-balanced combination of fuel economy and performance. In this introduction, we will discuss the available transmissions for the 2021 Fiat 500X and how they affect the driving experience as a whole.

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NOTE:
You must press and hold the brake pedal while shifting out of PARK. The transmission gear range (PRND) is displayed both beside the gear selector and in the instrument cluster. To select a gear range, push the lock button on the gear selector and move the lever rearward or forward. You must also press the brake pedal to shift the transmission out of PARK (or NEUTRAL, when the vehicle is stopped or moving at low speeds). Select the DRIVE range for normal driving.

WARNING

1. It is dangerous to shift out of PARK or NEUTRAL if the engine speed is higher than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly pressing the brake pedal, the vehicle could accelerate quickly forward or in reverse. You could lose control of the vehicle and hit someone or something. Only shift into gear when the engine is idling normally and your foot is firmly pressing the brake pedal.
2. Unintended movement of a vehicle could injure those in or near the vehicle. As with all vehicles, you should never exit a vehicle while the engine is running. Before exiting a vehicle, always come to a complete stop, then apply the parking brake, shift the transmission into PARK, and turn the ignition OFF. When the ignition is in the OFF position, the transmission is locked in PARK, securing the vehicle against unwanted movement.
3. When exiting the vehicle, always make sure the ignition is in the OFF position, remove the key fob from the vehicle, and lock the vehicle.
4. Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle. Allowing children to be in a vehicle unattended is dangerous for a number of reasons. A child or others could be seriously or fatally injured. Children should be warned not to touch the parking brake, brake pedal or transmission gear selector.
5. Do not leave the key fob in or near the vehicle (or in a location accessible to children), and do not leave the ignition in the ON or RUN position. A child could operate power windows, other controls, or move the vehicle.

CAUTION

1. Shift into or out of PARK or REVERSE only after the vehicle has come to a complete stop.
2. Do not shift between PARK, REVERSE, NEUTRAL, or DRIVE when the engine is above idle speed.
3. Before shifting into any gear, make sure your foot is firmly pressing the brake pedal.

GEAR SELECTOR

The transmission gear selector has PARK, REVERSE, NEUTRAL, DRIVE, and AutoStick (+/-) shift positions. Manual shifts can be made using the AutoStick shift control. Toggling the gear selector forward (-) or rearward (+) while in the AutoStick position (beside the DRIVE position) will manually select the transmission gear, and will display the current gear in the instrument cluster as 1, 2, 3, etc.

NOTE:
If the gear selector cannot be moved to the PARK, REVERSE, or NEUTRAL position (when pushed forward) it is probably in the AutoStick (+/-) position (beside the DRIVE position). In AutoStick mode, the transmission gear (1, 2, 3, etc.) is displayed in the instrument cluster. Move the gear selector to the right (into the DRIVE [D] position) for access to PARK, REVERSE, and NEUTRAL.
The electronically-controlled transmission adapts its shift schedule based on driver inputs, along with environmental and road conditions. The transmission electronics are self-calibrating; therefore, the first few shifts on a new vehicle may be somewhat abrupt. This is a normal condition, and precision shifts will develop within a few hundred miles (kilometers). The 9-speed transmission has been developed to meet the needs of current and future FWD/AWD vehicles. Software and calibration is refined to optimize the customer’s driving experience and fuel economy. By design, some vehicle and driveline combinations utilize 9th gear only in very specific driving situations and conditions.

Gear Selector Lock Button
Only shift from DRIVE to PARK or REVERSE when the accelerator pedal is released and the vehicle is stopped. Be sure to keep your foot on the brake pedal when shifting between these gears.
Do not press the accelerator pedal when shifting from PARK or NEUTRAL into another gear range.

CAUTION
After selecting any gear range, wait a moment to allow the selected gear to engage before accelerating. This is especially important when the engine is cold.

GEAR RANGES

PARK (P)
The engine can be started in this range. Never attempt to use PARK while the vehicle is in motion.
When parking on a hill, apply the EPB before shifting the transmission to PARK, otherwise the load on the transmission locking mechanism may make it difficult to move the gear selector out of PARK. As an added precaution, turn the front wheels toward the curb on a downhill grade and away from the curb on an uphill grade.

When exiting the vehicle, always:

1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Shift the transmission into PARK.
3. Turn the engine off.
4. Remove the key fob.

WARNING

1. Never use the PARK position as a substitute for the parking brake. Always apply the parking brake fully when exiting the vehicle to guard against vehicle movement and possible injury or damage.
2. Your vehicle could move and injure you and others if it is not in PARK. Check by trying to move the transmission gear selector out of PARK with the brake pedal released. Make sure the transmission is in PARK before exiting the vehicle.
3. It is dangerous to shift out of PARK or NEUTRAL if the engine speed is higher than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly pressing the brake pedal, the vehicle could accelerate quickly forward or in reverse. You could lose control of the vehicle and hit someone or something. Only shift into gear when the engine is idling normally and your foot is firmly pressing the brake pedal.
4. Unintended movement of a vehicle could injure those in or near the vehicle. As with all vehicles, you should never exit a vehicle while the engine is running. Before exiting a vehicle, always come to a complete stop, then apply the parking brake, shift the transmission into PARK, and turn the ignition OFF. When the ignition is in the OFF position, the transmission is locked in PARK, securing the vehicle against unwanted movement.
5. When exiting the vehicle, always make sure the ignition is in the OFF position, remove the key fob from the vehicle, and lock the vehicle.
6. Never leave children alone in a vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle. Allowing children to be in a vehicle unattended is dangerous for a number of reasons. A child or others could be seriously or fatally injured. Children should be warned not to touch the parking brake, brake pedal or transmission gear selector.
7. Do not leave the key fob in or near the vehicle (or in a location accessible to children), and do not leave the ignition in the ON or RUN position. A child could operate power windows, other controls, or move the vehicle.

CAUTION

1. Before moving the transmission gear selector out of PARK, you must turn the ignition to the ON/RUN position and also press the brake pedal. Otherwise, damage to the gear selector could result.
2. DO NOT race the engine when shifting from PARK or NEUTRAL into another gear range, as this can damage the drivetrain.

The following indicators should be used to ensure that you have properly engaged the transmission into the PARK position:

1. When shifting into PARK, push the lock button on the gear selector, and firmly move the gear selector all the way forward until it stops and is fully seated.
2. Look at the transmission gear position display and verify that it indicates the PARK position (P), and is not blinking.
3. With the brake pedal released, verify that the gear selector will not move out of PARK.

REVERSE (R)
This range is for moving the vehicle backwards. Shift into REVERSE only after the vehicle has come to a complete stop.

NEUTRAL (N)
Use this range when the vehicle is standing for prolonged periods with the engine running. The engine may be started in this range. Apply the Electric Park Brake and shift the transmission into PARK if you must exit the vehicle.

WARNING
Do not coast in NEUTRAL and never turn off the ignition to coast down a hill. These are unsafe practices that limit your response to changing traffic or road conditions. You might lose control of the vehicle and have a collision.

CAUTION
Towing the vehicle, coasting, or driving for any other reason with the transmission in NEUTRAL can cause severe transmission damage.
For Recreational Towing.
For Towing A Disabled Vehicle.

DRIVE (D)
This range should be used for most city and highway driving. It provides the smoothest upshifts and downshifts, and the best fuel economy. The transmission automatically upshifts through all forward gears.
When frequent transmission shifting occurs (such as when operating the vehicle under heavy loading conditions, in hilly terrain, travelling into strong headwinds or while towing a heavy trailer), use the AutoStick shift control to select a lower gear. Under these conditions, using a lower gear will improve performance and extend transmission life by reducing excessive shifting and heat buildup.
If the transmission temperature exceeds normal operating limits, the transmission controller may modify the transmission shift schedule, reduce engine torque, and/or expand the range of torque converter clutch engagement. This is done to prevent transmission damage due to overheating.

If the transmission becomes extremely hot, the Transmission Temperature Warning Light may illuminate and the transmission may operate differently until the transmission cools down.
During cold temperatures, transmission operation may be modified depending on engine and transmission temperature as well as vehicle speed. This feature improves warm-up time of the engine and transmission to achieve maximum efficiency. Engagement of the torque converter clutch, and shifts into EIGHTH or NINTH gear, are inhibited until the transmission fluid is warm. Normal operation will resume once the transmission temperature has risen to a suitable level.

AutoStick
AutoStick is a driver-interactive transmission feature providing manual shift control, giving you more control of the vehicle. AutoStick allows you to maximize engine braking, eliminate undesirable upshifts and downshifts, and improve overall vehicle performance. This system can also provide you with more control during passing, city driving, cold slippery conditions, mountain driving, trailer towing and many other situations.

Operation
When the gear selector is in the AutoStick position (beside the DRIVE position), it can be moved forward and rearward. This allows the driver to manually select the transmission gear being used. Moving the gear selector forward (-) triggers a downshift, and rearward (+) an upshift. The current gear is displayed in the instrument cluster.

NOTE:
In AutoStick mode, the transmission will only shift up or down when the driver moves the gear selector rearward (+) or forward (-), except as follows:

1. The transmission will automatically upshift lower and higher when necessary to prevent engine overspeed.
2. The transmission will automatically downshift as the vehicle slows (to prevent engine lugging) and will display the current gear.
3. The transmission will automatically downshift to FIRST or SECOND gear (depending on model) when coming to a stop. After a stop, the driver should manually upshift (+) the transmission as the vehicle is accelerated.
4. You can start out (from a stop) in FIRST or SECOND gear. Starting out in SECOND gear can be helpful in snow or icy conditions. Tap the gear selector forward or rearward to select the desired gear after the vehicle is brought to a stop.
5. If a requested downshift would cause the engine to overspeed, that shift will not occur.
6. The system will ignore attempts to upshift at too low of a vehicle speed.
7. Avoid using Cruise Control when AutoStick is engaged because the transmission will not shift automatically.
8. Transmission shifting will be more noticeable when AutoStick is enabled.
9. The system may revert to automatic shift mode if a fault or overheating condition is detected.

To disengage AutoStick mode, return the gear selector to the DRIVE position. You can shift in or out of the AutoStick position at any time without taking your foot off the accelerator pedal.

WARNING
Do not downshift for additional engine braking on a slippery surface. The drive wheels could lose their grip and the vehicle could skid, causing a collision or personal injury.

TRANSMISSION LIMP HOME MODE

The transmission function is electronically monitored for abnormal conditions. If a condition is detected that could result in transmission damage, Transmission Limp Home Mode is activated. In this mode, the transmission may operate only in a fixed gear, or may remain in NEUTRAL. The Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) may be illuminated. Limp Home Mode may allow the vehicle to be driven to an authorized dealer for service without damaging the transmission. In the event of a momentary problem, the transmission can be reset to regain all forward gears by performing the following steps:

1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Shift the transmission into PARK.
3. Turn the ignition OFF.
4. Wait approximately 10 seconds.
5. Restart the engine.
6. Shift into the desired gear range. If the problem is no longer detected, the transmission will return to normal operation.

NOTE:
Even if the transmission can be reset, we recommend that you visit an authorized dealer at your earliest possible convenience. An authorized dealer has diagnostic equipment to assess the condition of your transmission. If the transmission cannot be reset, authorized dealer service is required.

IGNITION PARK INTERLOCK

This vehicle is equipped with an Ignition Park Interlock, which requires the transmission to be in PARK before the ignition can be turned to the OFF position. Also, the transmission is locked in PARK whenever the ignition is in the OFF position.

BRAKE TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK (BTSI) SYSTEM
This vehicle is equipped with a BTSI that holds the transmission gear selector in PARK unless the brakes are applied. To shift the transmission out of PARK, the ignition must be in the RUN position (engine running or not) and the brake pedal must be pressed. The brake pedal must also be pressed before pushing the button on the gear selector to shift from NEUTRAL into DRIVE or REVERSE when the vehicle is stopped or moving at low speeds.

FAQs

Useful Link

View Full PDF: 2021 Fiat 500X Owner’s Manual| Auto User Guide
2021 Fiat 500X All-Wheel Drive (AWD) Guide