Fiat Multipla 2007 User Manual
FIATMULTIPLA
NATURAL POWER
This enclosure deals with the Fiat
Multipla petrol-natural gas version.
Refer to the Fiat Multipla Owner
Handbook for any subject not covered
by this supplement.
INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................... 3
FUNCTIONAL DIAGRAM OF THE SYSTEM ....................................... 6
BOTTLES ....................................................................................................... 7
SOLENOID VALVE/SAFETY DEVICES ................................................... 8
PIPES ............................................................................................................... 9
PRESSURE REDUCER/REGULATOR ...................................................... 9
NATURAL GAS INJECTORS .................................................................... 9
NATURAL GAS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT ............................ 9
NATURAL GAS/PETROL SWITCH ........................................................ 10
NATURAL GAS AMOUNT INDICATOR.............................................. 11
FUEL CUT-OFF SWITCH ......................................................................... 12
ENGINE STARTING ................................................................................... 12
TO THE FILLING STATION .................................................................... 13
IF A TYRE IS PUNCTURED ....................................................................... 14
BOTTLE IDENTIFICATION DATA ........................................................ 15
BOTTLE INSPECTION .............................................................................. 15
SERVICE SCHEDULE ................................................................................... 16
BODYWORK VERSION CODES ............................................................ 17
ENGINE ......................................................................................................... 17
FUEL FEED/IGNITION ............................................................................... 18
IGNITION ..................................................................................................... 18
COOLING SYSTEM .................................................................................... 18
PERFORMANCE ........................................................................................... 18
WEIGHTS ....................................................................................................... 19
DIMENSIONS ............................................................................................... 20
FUELLING AND FILLING ......................................................................... 21
FUEL CONSUMPTION .............................................................................. 22
EMISSIONS .......................................................................................... 23
CO
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FUSES .............................................................................................................. 23
INTRODUCTION
The Fiat Multipla “Natural power” version features
two fuel feed systems: one for petrol, one for natural
gas.
The two systems are independent from each other;
the natural gas system is of the sequential, timed
Multipoint type.
One single starting system, that is the petrol one, is
available.
What is natural gas?
Natural gas is a mixture of gas used as a primary
power source.
Methane is the main component of natural gas; for this
reason, natural gas is usually reffered to as “methane”
in Italy, even though it contains other hydrocarbons
and inert gases in small amounts.
Natural gas is extracted in a gaseous state and carried
to the place of utilization through gas pipelines;
supplies are abundant and well distributed worldwide.
Methane is a fuel that has a low impact on the
environment as, it significantly reduces the
contribution of exhaust fumes to the greenhouse
effect and pollution.
Natural gas Multipoint injection system
This is an original product of the research work
carried out by Fiat in the field of alternative fuel,
realized in close co-operation with qualified suppliers
in the natural gas field.
By matching the natural gas features with highly
sophisticated techniques for electronic petrol engine
control, significant results have been obtained as far as
driveability, exhaust emissions and consumption are
concerned.
The natural gas Multipoint injection system ensures
the same engine driveability features as with petrol
fuelling.
In any case, it should be reminded that, under any
driving condition, the engine power and torque
features are, during natural gas fuelling, reduced by
approximately 10% compared with petrol fuelling.
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Selecting the type of fuel feed
The Natural Power Fiat Multipla has been designed to be normally fuelled
by natural gas.
When the natural gas is running out and the pressure inside the bottle is
nearing the limit of correct operation, switching to petrol fuelling will
take place automatically.
The engine will always be started by petrol fuelling (in order to keep this
type of feed efficient), with automatic switching to natural gas fuelling
after a few seconds.
For this reason, petrol should always be found in the tank.
The control button located on the dashboard (A), represented by
ideograph K, makes it possible to select petrol fuelling. Automatic
switching to natural gas fuelling will not take place in case petrol has run
out.
Manual selection of the operating mode will be actuated only if the
engine speed is lower than 2,000 rpm.
4
Passive safety
The Natural Power Fiat Multipla features the same
passive safety characteristics as the other versions.
In particular, the natural gas bottle position and
mounts have been designed so as to pass the crash
tests in accordance with the Fiat safety standards.
The flow of the natural gas coming out of the bottle is
regulated by a solenoid valve that is open only when
the engine is fuelled by natural gas.
The solenoid valve unit includes the protections in
case of excessive flow (in the event that the high
pressure system is broken, the natural gas flow will be
reduced to non-hazardous values) and excessive
temperature (a fuse plugnut allows natural gas to be
discharged as fast as possible when the temperature
exceeds 110°C).
The solenoid valve is connected to the Fire
Protection System (inertia switch or fuel cut-off
switch).
Active safety
The Natural Power Fiat Multipla features the same ac-
tive safety characteristics as the other versions.
WARNING
The Natural Power Fiat Multipla is equipped with a high-pressure natural gas
system designed to operated at 200 nominal bar.
It is dangerous to force the system with higher pressures. When the vehicle has to
be towed or lifted, strictly follow the instructions of the basic handbook (refer to
“Towing the vehicle”), to avoid damaging the natural gas system components.
In case of natural gas system failure, contact the Fiat Dealership only.
Do not modify the natural gas system configuration or components: they have
been especially designed for Natural Power Fiat Multipla only. Using other
components or materials may cause vehicle malfunction and affect the vehicle’s
safety. In case of “furnace” painting, the bottles shall be removed from the vehicle
and subsequently fitted back into place by the Fiar Dealership.
Although the natural gas system is equipped with various safety devices, it is
recommended that the manual tap of every single bottle is turned off every time
the vehicle is either put away for a long time or transported on other vehicles or
operated in emergency situations following a failure or accident.
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FUNCTIONAL DIAGRAM OF THE SYSTEM
Description of the system’s functional diagram
1 - Pressure reducer/regulator
2 - Natural gas injector holder manifold
3 - Petrol injector holder manifold
4 - Reducer heating by-pass
5 - Electronic control unit for petrol injection system
6 - Three natural gas bottles
7 - Safety devices and solenoid valve units
8 - Petrol tank
9 - Petrol fill-up and natural gas refill pipe unions
10 - Electronic control unit for natural gas injection
system
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BOTTLES
Three bottles are available, which contain the natural gas in a compressed
gaseous state (pressure: 200 nominal bar at 15°C).
The three bottles are housed and firmly secured under the platform;
moreover, they are protected by a special guard to avoid possible
damage.
The natural gas (stored in the high-pressure bottles) flows into a special
pipe until it reaches the pressure reducer/regulator that feeds the four
low-pressure (approximately 9 bar) natural gas injectors.
Bottle approval
The Methane gas bottles are certified according to ECE Regulation n.110
The gas bottles must be checked, according to the ECE
Regulation procedure n° 110, every 4 years as from, the vehicle
registration date, or according to specific provisions made by
single States (see Page15).
The plates delivered by the Depot with the relevant on-board
documentation indicate the expected for the first test/inspection of the
gas bottles.
The employees assigned to the Methane supply are not
authorised to fill the gas bottles with the test date expired.
IMPORTANT!If a vehicle has been registered in a country other
than Italy, the certification/identification data and the natural
gas bottle check/inspection procedures shall conform to the
national law regulations of that particular country.
In any case, it must be specified that, the life cycle of the gas
bottles is 20 years from the date of production as in ECE
Regulation n° 110.
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SAFETY DEVICES/SOLENOID VALVE
A solenoid valve has been screwed onto each bottle, which cuts off the
natural gas flow towards the engine feed circuit.
The solenoid valve is open when:
❐
the switching button is in the “Natural gas” position
❐
the pressure inside the bottle is enough for functioning
❐
the engine is running
❐
the inertia switch has not tripped.
The solenoid valve unit features the following safety devices:
1) Fuse plugnut: in case of anomalous overtemperature (higher than
110°C), this device will fully eliminate any overpressure hazard by
causing the natural gas contained in the bottle to flow outwards as fast
as possible.
2) Excessive flow: this device comes into operation in case of pipe
breakage, by reducing the natural gas outgoing flow to non-hazardous
values. The flow relief valve is placed in such a position that it can
operate even when the solenoid valve body is broken following a
collision.
3) Manual cock: it is positioned upstream the solenoid valve.
It separates the bottle from the natural gas system to allow the
maintenance operations to be carried out.
To turn cock (A) off, rotate clockwise (position 1).
To turn the cock on, rotate counterclockwise (position 2).
4) Non-return valve, positioned on the pipe running from the filling pipe
union, to prevent the natural gas from flowing back.
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