2021 Fiat 500X Lights and Wipers

The lighting and wiper system in the 2021 Fiat 500X is very advanced, which makes the car safer and easier to use. This system is made to improve visibility and easily adjust to different driving situations. It has a number of new and innovative features. The headlights use high-tech features like automatic high-beam control to provide the best lighting while minimizing glare for passing traffic. For added convenience, the windshield wipers have rain-sensing technology that lets them change speed based on the amount of rain. This lets drivers see the road ahead clearly. This mix of cutting-edge lighting and windshield features not only makes the 2021 Fiat 500X safer, but it also makes driving it more fun and easy, no matter the time of day or weather.

EXTERIOR LIGHTS

HEADLIGHT SWITCH

The headlight switch is located on the left side of the instrument panel. The headlight switch controls the operation of the headlights, parking lights, daytime running lights, fog lights and the dimming of the instrument cluster and interior lighting.

1. Rotate Headlight Control
2. Ambient Lighting Control
3. Instrument Panel Dimmer Control
4. Front Fog Light Switch

Turning on the headlights will illuminate the instrument cluster and the controls located on the instrument panel.

NOTE: On vehicles sold in Canada, both the rear position lights and Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) will turn on when the headlight switch is rotated to the O (off) position.

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS (DRLS) — IF EQUIPPED

The Daytime Running Lights (DRLs), if enabled through Uconnect Settings, will turn on when the ignition is placed in the ON/RUN position and the park brake is not applied.

NOTE

• For vehicles sold in Canada, the Daytime Running Lights will automatically deactivate when the front fog lights are turned on.
• On some vehicles, the Daytime Running Lights may deactivate, or reduce intensity, on one side of the vehicle (when a turn signal is activated on that side), or on both sides of the vehicle (when the hazard warning lights are activated).

HIGH BEAMS

 

To activate the high beam headlights, push the multifunction lever forward (toward the front of the vehicle), and an indicator will illuminate in the instrument cluster display. To deactivate the high beam headlights, pull the multifunction lever rearward (toward the rear of the vehicle).

NOTE: The headlights must be on for the high beams to activate.

FLASH-TO-PASS

You can signal another vehicle with your headlights by lightly pulling the multifunction lever toward you. This will cause the high beam headlights to turn on, and remain on, until the lever is released.

AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS — IF EQUIPPED

This system automatically turns the headlights on or off according to ambient light levels. To turn the system on, rotate the headlight switch clockwise to the last detent (AUTO position) for automatic headlight operation. To turn the automatic system off, move the headlight switch out of the AUTO position.

NOTE: The ignition must be in the ON/RUN or START position before the headlights will come on in the automatic mode.

Light Sensor

• The light sensor is equipped with an infrared LED, located on the windshield. It detects changes in light intensity outside the vehicle, based on the sensitivity of light set by using the Menu on the display or on the Uconnect system.
• The higher the sensitivity, the lesser the amount of external light required for controlling the lighting.

PARKING LIGHTS

• Rotate the headlight switch to the first position to turn on the parking lights. The parking light indicator in the cluster will illuminate.

HEADLIGHT TIME DELAY

• This feature provides the safety of headlight illumination for up to 90 seconds when leaving your vehicle in an unlit area.
• The time delay of the headlights is programmable between 0, 30, 60 and 90 seconds within Uconnect Settings.

Headlight Delay Activation

• To activate the delay feature, place the ignition in the OFF position while the headlights are still on.
• Then, turn off the headlights within two minutes.
• The delay interval begins when the headlight switch is turned off.

Headlight Delay Deactivation

• The feature is disabled by turning on the headlights, the parking lights or by placing the ignition in the ON/RUN position.
• If you shut off the lights before the ignition is turned on, they will turn off in the normal manner.

NOTE: The lights must be turned off within two minutes of placing the ignition in the OFF position to activate this feature.

FRONT FOG LIGHTS — IF EQUIPPED

The front fog light switch is built into the headlight switch.

To activate the front fog lights, turn on the parking lights or the low beam headlights and push the fog light button on the headlight switch. To turn off the front fog lights, push the headlight switch a second time or turn off the headlight switch. An indicator light in the instrument cluster illuminates when the fog lights are turned on.

NOTE

• The fog lights will operate with the low beam headlights or parking lights on. Selecting the high beam headlights will turn off the fog lights.
• The fog lights also function as cornering lights. Therefore there will be times when only one light is on.
• If the ignition is placed in the OFF position with the fog lights on, they will remain on when the ignition is placed back in the ON/RUN position.
• For vehicles sold in Canada, if the selector is moved to the parking lights position and the front fog lights are activated, the DRL will be deactivated and the front parking lights will be activated. Once the front fog lights are deactivated, the DRL will be activated again.

TURN SIGNALS

• Move the multifunction lever up or down to activate the turn signals. The arrows on each side of the instrument cluster display flash to show proper operation.

LANE CHANGE ASSIST

• Lightly push the multifunction lever up or down, without moving beyond the detent, and the turn signal will flash five times then automatically turn off.

COURTESY LIGHTS/APPROACHING LIGHTS

The courtesy lights feature allows you to activate the low beam, parking lights, and side marker lights for 25 seconds when the vehicle is unlocked. The courtesy lights feature can be activated or deactivated through the Uconnect Settings. When a door is open with the feature active, the activation of the lights is extended for 10 seconds. The feature is disabled when the vehicle is locked or when the ignition is placed in the ON/RUN position.

INTERIOR LIGHTS

FRONT COURTESY LIGHT

The courtesy lights will automatically turn on when the door is open or closed. The light switches in the overhead console are for reading lamps.

1. Courtesy/Reading Lights
2. Light Switches

Push the driver or passenger light switch to operate the reading lamps individually.

NOTE

• Before exiting the vehicle, make sure that the interior lights are turned off. This will prevent the battery from discharging once the doors are closed.
• If a light is left on it will automatically be turned off after approximately 15 minutes after the ignition is in the OFF position.

Dome Light Timing

• The dome light will automatically illuminate when the doors are unlocked, the doors are opened or after the doors are closed.

Timing Entering The Vehicle

The dome lights illuminate in the following ways:

• When the doors are unlocked, the dome light will illuminate for approximately 27 seconds.
• When one of the doors is opened, the dome light will illuminate for approximately three minutes.
• When the doors are closed, the dome light will automatically shut off after approximately 27 seconds.

NOTE: The timing stops once the ignition is placed in the ON/RUN position.

The dome light will turn off under any of the following conditions:

• The dome light is disabled when the ignition is placed in the ON/RUN position.
• The dome lights will turn off automatically when the doors are locked.
• The dome lights will automatically turn off after approximately 15 minutes of inactivity to preserve the battery.

Timing Exiting The Vehicle

The dome light will illuminate under the following conditions when the ignition is placed in the OFF position:

• The dome light will illuminate for 27 seconds after the key fob is removed from the vehicle.
• The opening of one of the doors (approximately three minutes).
• After closing a door (approximately 27 seconds).

The dome light timing is disabled when the doors are locked.

Dimmer Controls

Rotate the ambient dimmer control upward or downward to increase or decrease the brightness of the ambient light located in the overhead console, lower instrument panel lights, and cubby bin lights. With the parking lights or headlights on, rotate the instrument panel dimmer control upward or downward to increase or decrease the brightness of the instrument panel. At the top detent of the instrument panel dimmer, all the interior lights will also illuminate. At the bottom most setting of the thumb wheel, all the interior lights will be turned to their lowest dimmable setting.

1. Ambient Light Control (If Equipped)
2. Instrument Panel Dimmer

Rear Dome Light — If Equipped

• Push the switch on the rear dome light once to turn the light on, the light will remain on at all times.
• Push the switch a second time to turn the light off, the light will remain off until a door is opened.

Retractable Roof Lights

• For vehicles equipped with a retractable roof, there are two interior lights located below the grab handles of the rear doors.
• The lights come on by opening any of the doors.

CARGO AREA LIGHTS

• An interior light is located on the left side panel in the cargo area.
• This light automatically turns on/off when the liftgate is opened and closed, regardless of the position of the ignition.

NOTE: In order to preserve the life of the battery, the light will turn off after 15 minutes.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WASHERS

The windshield wiper/washer controls are located on the lever on the right side of the steering column. The front wipers are operated by rotating a switch, located on the end of the lever.

CAUTION: Always remove any buildup of snow that prevents the windshield wiper blades from returning to the park position. If the windshield wiper switch is turned off, and the blades cannot return to the park position, damage to the wiper motor may occur.

WINDSHIELD WIPER OPERATION

Rotate the windshield wiper knob to one of the first two detent positions for intermittent settings, the third detent for low wiper operation and the fourth for high wiper operation.

Windshield Washers

• To use the washer, pull the lever toward you and hold. If the lever is pulled while in the intermittent setting, the wipers will turn on and operate for several wipe cycles after the lever is released, and then resume the intermittent interval previously selected.
• If the lever is pulled while the wipers are in the off position, the wipers will operate for several wipe cycles, then turn off.

WARNING: Sudden loss of visibility through the windshield could lead to a collision. You might not see other vehicles or other obstacles. To avoid sudden icing of the windshield during freezing weather,warm the windshield with the defroster before and during windshield washer use.

Mist

• Push the lever upward to the Mist position and release for a single wiping cycle.

NOTE: The Mist feature does not activate the washer pump; therefore, no washer fluid will be sprayed on the windshield. The washer function must be used in order to spray the windshield with washer fluid. For information on wiper care and replacement.

RAIN SENSING WIPERS — IF EQUIPPED

This feature senses moisture on the windshield and automatically activates the wipers. Rotate the end of the multifunction lever to one of two detent positions for intermittent settings to activate this feature.

NOTE: If the end of the multifunction lever rotates from the O (off) position to the first intermittent setting or from the first intermittent setting to the second intermittent setting, the wipers will perform a round up to clean the windshield.

The sensitivity of the system can be adjusted with the multifunction lever. Wiper delay position one is the least sensitive, and wiper delay position two is the most sensitive. Place the wiper switch in the O (off) position when not using the system.

NOTE

• The Rain Sensing feature will not operate when the wiper switch is in the low or high-speed position.
• The Rain Sensing feature may not function properly when ice or dried salt water is present on the windshield.
• Use of products containing wax or silicone may reduce Rain Sensing performance.
• The Rain Sensing feature can be turned on and off through Uconnect Settings.

The Rain Sensing system has protection features for the wiper blades and arms, and will not operate under the following conditions:

• Low Ambient Temperature: When the ignition is first placed in the ON/RUN position, the Rain Sensing system will not operate until the wiper switch is moved, vehicle speed is greater than 0 mph (0 km/h), or the outside temperature is greater than 32°F (0°C).
• Transmission In NEUTRAL Position: When the ignition is in the ON/RUN position, and the automatic transmission is in the NEUTRAL position, the Rain Sensing system will not operate until the wiper switch is moved, the vehicle speed is greater than 3 mph (5 km/h), or the gear selector is moved out of the NEUTRAL position.
• Remote Start Mode Inhibit: On vehicles equipped with the Remote Start system, rain-sensing wipers are not operational when the vehicle is in the Remote Start mode. Once the operator is in the vehicle and has placed the ignition switch in the ON/RUN position, rain-sensing wiper operation can resume, if it has been selected, and no other inhibit conditions exist.
• Rain Sensing Wipers — Inhibition: When the user changes the ignition position from OFF to ON/RUN with the windshield wiper lever already in the intermittent position, no wipe cycle is performed for safety reasons. This temporary inhibition avoids accidental activations of the wiping (e.g. during the hand washing of the windshield, blocking the blades in ice/snow conditions).

The user can activate the Rain Sensing Wipers in three ways:

• Moving the lever from the O (off) position to the intermittent position.
• One Mist command actuation.
• The vehicle speed exceeds 3 mph (5 km/h) and the rain sensor detects the presence of rain.

REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER

The rear wiper/washer controls are located on the windshield wiper lever on the right side of the steering column. The rear wiper/washer is operated by rotating a switch, located at the middle of the lever.

NOTE: If the front wiper is moving and the vehicle is shifted in REVERSE, the rear wiper will perform one round up to clean the rear window.

Rotate the center portion of the lever upward to the first detent for intermittent operation and to the second detent for continuous rear wiper operation.

To use the washer, push the lever forward and hold while spray is desired. If the lever is pushed while in the intermittent setting, the wiper will turn on and operate for several wipe cycles after the end of the lever is released, and then resume the intermittent interval previously selected.

NOTE

• As a protective measure, the pump will stop if the switch is held for more than 30 seconds. Once the lever is released, the pump will resume normal operation.
• If the lever is pushed while the wiper is in the off position, the wiper will operate for several wipe cycles, then turn off.
• If the rear wiper is operating when the ignition is placed in the OFF position, the wiper will automatically return to the park position.

CAUTION: Failure to follow these cautions can cause damage to the heating elements:

• Use care when washing the inside of the rear window. Do not use abrasive window cleaners on the interior surface of the window. Use a soft cloth and a mild washing solution, wiping parallel to the heating elements. Labels can be peeled off after soaking with warm water.
• Do not use scrapers, sharp instruments, or abrasive window cleaners on the interior surface of the window.
• Keep all objects a safe distance from the window.

WINDSHIELD WIPER DE-ICER — IF EQUIPPED

Your vehicle may be equipped with a Windshield Wiper De-Icer feature that may be activated under the following conditions:

• Activation By Rear Defrost: The Windshield Wiper De-Icer will be activated automatically when the rear defrost is turned on and the ambient temperature is below 40°F (4.4°C).
• Activation By Remote Start Operation: When Remote Start is active and the outside ambient temperature is less than 40°F (4.4°C), the Windshield Wiper De-Icer will be enabled. Exiting Remote Start will resume its previous operation. If the Windshield Wiper De-Icer was active, the timer and operation will continue.

FAQ