towing Lancia Thema 2012 Owner handbook (in English)

until it stops. When released, the
lever will return to its home posi-
tion.
 With brake pedal released, look at the shift lever position display and
verify that it indicates the PARK
position.
REVERSE
This range is for moving the vehicle
backward. Shift into REVERSE only
after the vehicle has come to a com-
plete stop.
NEUTRAL
Use this range when the vehicle is
standing for prolonged periods with
engine running. The engine may be
started in this range. Set the parking
brake and shift the transmission into
PARK if you must leave the vehicle.WARNING!
Do not coast in NEUTRAL and
never turn off the ignition to coast
down a hill. These are unsafe prac-
tices 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 re-
sult in severe transmission damage.
Refer to “Recreational Towing” in
“Starting And Operating” and
“Towing A Disabled Vehicle” in
“What To Do In Emergencies” for
further information.
DRIVE
This range should be used for most
city and highway driving. It provides
the smoothest upshifts and down-
shifts, and the best fuel economy. The
transmission automatically upshifts
through all forward gears. The
DRIVE position provides optimum
driving characteristics under all nor-
mal operating conditions.
During extremely cold temperatures
(­30°C or below), transmission op-
eration may be modified depending
on engine and transmission tempera-
ture as well as vehicle speed. Normal
operation will resume once the trans-
mission temperature has risen to a
suitable level. LOW
This range should be used for engine
braking when descending very steep
grades. In this range, the transmission
will downshift for increased engine
braking. To switch between DRIVE
and LOW modes, tap the shift lever
rearward. LOW mode is only acces-
sible from DRIVE.
Transmission Limp Home Mode
Transmission function is monitored
electronically for abnormal condi-
tions. If a condition is detected that
could result in transmission damage,
Transmission Limp Home Mode is ac-
tivated. In this mode, the transmis-
sion may operate only in certain
gears, or may not shift at all. Vehicle
performance may be severely de-
graded and the engine may stall. In
some situations, the transmission may
not re-engage if the engine is turned
off and restarted. The Malfunction In-
dicator Light (MIL) may be illumi-
nated. A message in the instrument
cluster will inform the driver of the
more serious conditions, and indicate
what actions may be necessary.
198

WARNING!(Continued)
 Do not leave the key fob in or near
the vehicle, and do not leave Key-
less Enter-N-Go in the ACC or
ON/RUN mode. A child could op-
erate power windows, other con-
trols, or move the vehicle.CAUTION!
 Before moving the shift lever outof PARK, you must turn the igni-
tion switch from the LOCK/OFF
position to the ON/RUN position,
and also press the brake pedal.
Otherwise, damage to the shift le-
ver could result.
 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 engaged
the shift lever into the PARK position:
 When shifting into PARK, move the shift lever all the way forward and
to the left until it stops and is fully
seated.  Look at the shift lever position dis-
play and verify that it indicates the
PARK position.
 With brake pedal released, verify that the shift lever will not move out
of PARK.
REVERSE
This range is for moving the vehicle
backward. Shift into REVERSE only
after the vehicle has come to a com-
plete stop.
NEUTRAL
Use this range when the vehicle is
standing for prolonged periods with
engine running. The engine may be
started in this range. Set the parking
brake and shift the transmission into
PARK if you must leave the vehicle.
WARNING!
Do not coast in NEUTRAL and
never turn off the ignition to coast
down a hill. These are unsafe prac-
tices 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 re-
sult in severe transmission damage.
Refer to “Recreational Towing” in
“Starting And Operating” and
“Towing A Disabled Vehicle” in
“What To Do In Emergencies” for
further information.
DRIVE
This range should be used for most
city and highway driving. It provides
the smoothest upshifts and down-
shifts, and the best fuel economy. The
transmission automatically upshifts
through underdrive first, second, and
third gears, direct fourth gear and
overdrive fifth gear. The DRIVE posi-
tion provides optimum driving char-
acteristics under all normal operating
conditions.
When frequent transmission shifting
occurs (such as when operating the
vehicle under heavy loading condi-
tions, in hilly terrain, traveling into
strong head winds, or while towing
heavy trailers), use the “AutoStick®”
201

mode (refer to “AutoStick®” in this
section) to select a lower gear. Under
these conditions, using a lower gear
will improve performance and extend
transmission life by reducing exces-
sive shifting and heat buildup.
Transmission Limp Home Mode
Transmission function is monitored
electronically for abnormal condi-
tions. If a condition is detected that
could result in transmission damage,
Transmission Limp Home Mode is ac-
tivated. In this mode, the transmis-
sion remains in the current gear until
the vehicle is brought to a stop. After
the vehicle has stopped, the transmis-
sion will remain in second gear re-
gardless of which forward gear is se-
lected. PARK, REVERSE, and
NEUTRAL will continue to operate.
The Malfunction Indicator Light
(MIL) may be illuminated. Limp
Home Mode allows the vehicle to be
driven to an authorized dealer for ser-
vice without damaging the transmis-
sion.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 engine 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 op-
eration.
NOTE:
Even if the transmission can be
reset, we recommend that you visit
your authorized dealer at your
earliest possible convenience.
Your authorized dealer has diag-
nostic equipment to determine if
the problem could recur.
If the transmission cannot be reset,
authorized dealer service is required.
Overdrive Operation
The automatic transmission includes
an electronically controlled Overdrive(fifth gear). The transmission will au-
tomatically shift into the Overdrive
gear if the following conditions are
present:
 the shift lever is in the DRIVE po-
sition,
 vehicle speed is sufficiently high, and
 the driver is not heavily pressing the accelerator.
AUTOSTICK®
AutoStick® is a driver-interactive
transmission feature that offers
manual gear shifting to provide you
with 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.
202

HSA Activation Criteria
The following criteria must be met in
order for HSA to activate:
 Vehicle must be stopped.
 Vehicle must be on a 6% (approxi-mate) grade or greater hill.
 Gear selection matches vehicle up- hill direction (i.e., vehicle facing
uphill is in forward gear; vehicle
backing uphill is in REVERSE
gear).
HSA will work in REVERSE and all
forward gears when the activation cri-
teria have been met. The system will
not activate if the vehicle is placed in
NEUTRAL or PARK.WARNING!
There may be situations on minor
hills (i.e., less than 8%), with a
loaded vehicle, or while pulling a
trailer, when the system will not ac-
tivate and slight rolling may occur.
This could cause a collision with an-
other vehicle or object. Always re-
member the driver is responsible for
braking the vehicle. Towing With HSA
HSA will provide assistance when
starting on a grade when pulling a
trailer.
WARNING!
 If you use a trailer brake control-
ler with your trailer, your trailer
brakes may be activated and de-
activated with the brake switch. If
so, when the brake pedal is re-
leased, there may not be enough
brake pressure to hold the vehicle
and trailer on a hill and this could
cause a collision with another ve-
hicle or object behind you. In or-
der to avoid rolling down the hill
while resuming acceleration,
manually activate the trailer
brake prior to releasing the brake
pedal. Always remember the
driver is responsible for braking
the vehicle.
 HSA is not a parking brake. Al-
ways apply the parking brake
fully when leaving your vehicle.
Also, be certain to leave the trans-
mission in PARK.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
 Failure to follow these warnings
may cause the vehicle to roll down
the incline and could collide with
another vehicle, object or person,
and cause serious or fatal injury.
Always remember to use the park-
ing brake while parking on a hill
and that the driver is responsible
for braking the vehicle.
HSA Off
If you wish to turn off the HSA sys-
tem, it can be done using the Cus-
tomer Programmable Features in the
Uconnect Touch™ System. Refer to
“Uconnect TOUCH™ SETTINGS” in
“Understanding Your Instrument
Panel” for further information.
READY ALERT BRAKING
Ready Alert Braking may reduce the
time required to reach full braking
during emergency braking situations.
It anticipates when an emergency
braking situation may occur by moni-
toring how fast the throttle is released
by the driver. When the throttle is
released very quickly, Ready Alert
Braking applies a small amount of
212

vice as long as you do not exceed the
GVWR and the front and rear GAWR.
The best way to figure out the total
weight of your vehicle is to weigh it
when it is fully loaded and ready for
operation. Weigh it on a commercial
scale to ensure that it is not over the
GVWR.
Figure out the weight on the front and
rear of the vehicle separately. It is
important that you distribute the load
evenly over the front and rear axles.
Overloading can cause potential
safety hazards and shorten useful ser-
vice life. Heavier axles or suspension
components do not necessarily in-
crease thevehicle's GVWR.
LOADING
To load your vehicle properly, first
figure out its empty weight, axle-by-
axle and side-by-side. Store heavier
items down low and be sure you dis-
tribute their weight as evenly as pos-
sible. Stow all loose items securely
before driving. If weighing the loaded
vehicle shows that you have exceeded
either GAWR, but the total load is
within the specified GVWR, you must redistribute the weight. Improper
weight distribution can have an ad-
verse effect on the way your vehicle
steers and handles and the way the
brakes operate.
NOTE:
 Refer to the “Vehicle Certifica-
tion Label” affixed to the rear of
the driver's door for your vehi-
cle's GVWR and GAWRs.
 Refer to the “Tire Placard” for your vehicle's proper tire pres-
sure.
TRAILER TOWING
In this section, you will find safety tips
and information on limits to the type
of towing you can reasonably do with
your vehicle. Before towing a trailer,
carefully review this information to
tow your load as efficiently and safely
as possible.
To maintain warranty coverage, fol-
low the requirements and recommen-
dations in this manual concerning ve-
hicles used for trailer towing. COMMON TOWING
DEFINITIONS
The following trailer towing related
definitions will assist you in under-
standing the following information:
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR)
The GVWR is the total allowable
weight of your vehicle. This includes
driver, passengers, cargo, and tongue
weight. The total load must be limited
so that you do not exceed the GVWR.
Refer to “Vehicle Loading/Vehicle
Certification Label” in “Starting and
Operating” for further information.
Gross Trailer Weight (GTW)
The GTW is the weight of the trailer
plus the weight of all cargo, consum-
ables, and equipment (permanent or
temporary) loaded in or on the trailer
in its "loaded and ready for opera-
tion" condition.
The recommended way to measure
GTW is to put your fully loaded trailer
on a vehicle scale. The entire weight of
the trailer must be supported by the
scale.
228

Gross Combination Weight Rating
(GCWR)
The GCWR is the total permissible
weight of your vehicle and trailer
when weighed in combination.
NOTE:
The GCWR rating includes a 68 kg
allowance for the presence of a
driver.
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)
The GAWR is the maximum capacity
of the front and rear axles. Distribute
the load over the front and rear axles
evenly. Make sure that you do not
exceed either front or rear GAWR.
Refer to “Vehicle Loading/Vehicle
Certification Label” in “Starting and
Operating” for further information.WARNING!
It is important that you do not ex-
ceed the maximum front or rear
GAWR. A dangerous driving condi-
tion can result if either rating is ex-
ceeded. You could lose control of the
vehicle and have a collision.Tongue Weight (TW)
The tongue weight is the downward
force exerted on the hitch ball by the
trailer. In most cases, it should not be
more than 5% of the trailer load. You
must consider this as part of the load
on your vehicle.
Frontal Area
The frontal area is the maximum
height multiplied by the maximum
width of the front of a trailer.
Trailer Sway Control
The trailer sway control is a telescop-
ing link that can be installed between
the hitch receiver and the trailer
tongue that typically provides adjust-
able friction associated with the tele-
scoping motion to dampen any un-
wanted trailer swaying motions while
traveling.
Weight-Carrying Hitch
A weight-carrying hitch supports the
trailer tongue weight, just as if it were
luggage located at a hitch ball or some
other connecting point of the vehicle.
These kinds of hitches are the most
popular on the market today and they are commonly used to tow small- and
medium-sized trailers.
Weight-Distributing Hitch
A weight-distributing system works
by applying leverage through spring
(load) bars. They are typically used
for heavier loads to distribute trailer
tongue weight to the tow
vehicle's
front axle and the trailer axle(s).
When used in accordance with the
manufacturer's directions, it provides
for a more level ride, offering more
consistent steering and brake control
thereby enhancing towing safety. The
addition of a friction / hydraulic sway
control also dampens sway caused by
traffic and crosswinds and contrib-
utes positively to tow vehicle and
trailer stability. Trailer sway control
and a weight distributing (load equal-
izing) hitch are recommended for
heavier Tongue Weights (TW) and
may be required depending on vehicle
and trailer configuration / loading to
comply with Gross Axle Weight Rat-
ing (GAWR) requirements.
229

TRAILER TOWING WEIGHTS (MAXIMUM TRAILER WEIGHT RATINGS)
The following chart provides the maximum trailer weight ratings towable for your given drivetrain.
Engine/TransmissionFrontal AreaMax. GTW
(Gross Trailer Wt.) Max. Tongue Wt.
(See Note)
3.6L Automatic 2.04 sq m1 725 kg 86 kg
3.0L Diesel Automatic 2.97 sq m1 996 kg 100 kg
Refer to local laws for maximum trailer towing speeds
NOTE: The trailer tongue weight must be considered as part of the combined weight of occupants and cargo,
and it should never exceed the weight referenced on the “Tire and Loading Information” placard. Refer to
“Tire Safety Information” in “Starting and Operating” for further information.
TRAILER AND TONGUE
WEIGHT
Always load a trailer with 60% to
65% of the weight in the front of the
trailer. This places 5% of the Gross
Trailer Weight (GTW) on the tow
hitch of your vehicle. Loads balanced
over the wheels or heavier in the rear
can cause the trailer to sway severely
side to side which will cause loss of
control of the vehicle and trailer. Fail-
ure to load trailers heavier in front is
the cause of many trailer collisions.
Never exceed the maximum tongue
weight stamped on your bumper or
trailer hitch. Consider the following items when
computing the weight on the rear axle
of the vehicle:
 The tongue weight of the trailer.
 The weight of any other type of
cargo or equipment put in or on
your vehicle.  The weight of the driver and all
passengers.
NOTE:
Remember that everything put into
or on the trailer adds to the load on
your vehicle. Also, additional
factory-installed options or
dealer-installed options must be
considered as part of the total load
on your vehicle. Refer to the “Tire
and Loading Information” placard
for the maximum combined weight
of occupants and cargo for your
vehicle.
231

TOWING REQUIREMENTS
To promote proper break-in of your
new vehicle drivetrain components
the following guidelines are recom-
mended:CAUTION!
 Do not tow a trailer at all duringthe first 805 km the new vehicle is
driven. The engine, axle or other
parts could be damaged.
 Then, during the first 805 km that
a trailer is towed, do not drive
over 80 km/h and do not make
starts at full throttle. This helps
the engine and other parts of the
vehicle wear in at the heavier
loads.WARNING!
Improper towing can lead to an in-
jury collision. Follow these guide-
lines to make your trailer towing as
safe as possible:
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
 Make certain that the load is se-
cured in the trailer and it will not
shift during travel. When traile-
ring cargo that is not fully se-
cured, dynamic load shifts can oc-
cur that may be difficult for the
driver to control. You could lose
control of your vehicle and have a
collision.
 When hauling cargo or towing a
trailer, do not overload your ve-
hicle or trailer. Overloading can
cause a loss of control, poor per-
formance, or damage to brakes,
axle, engine, transmission, steer-
ing, suspension, chassis structure,
or tires.
 Safety chains must always be used
between your vehicle and trailer.
Always connect the chains to the
frame or hook retainers of the ve-
hicle hitch. Cross the chains under
the trailer tongue and allow
enough slack for turning corners.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
 Vehicles with trailers should not
be parked on a grade. When park-
ing, apply the parking brake on
the tow vehicle. Put the tow ve-
hicle automatic transmission in
PARK. Always, block or "chock"
the trailer wheels.
 GCWR must not be exceeded.
 Total weight must be distrib-
uted between the tow vehicle
and the trailer such that the
following four ratings are not
exceeded:
1. Max loading as defined on the
“Tire and Loading Information”
placard.
2. GTW
3. GAWR
4. Tongue weight rating for the
trailer hitch utilized. (This require-
ment may limit the ability to always
achieve the 10% to 15% range of
tongue weight as a percentage of
total trailer weight.)
Towing Requirements – Tires
Do not attempt to tow a trailer while using a compact spare tire.
232

Proper tire inflation pressures areessential to the safe and satisfac-
tory operation of your vehicle. Re-
fer to “Tires – General Informa-
tion” in “Starting and Operating”
for information on tire pressures
and for proper tire inflation proce-
dures.
Check the trailer tires for proper tire inflation pressures before
trailer usage.
Check for signs of tire wear or vis-
ible tire damage before towing a
trailer. Refer to “Tires – General
Information” in “Starting and Op-
erating” for information on tread
wear indicators and for the proper
inspection procedure.
When replacing tires, refer to “Tires – General Information” in
“Starting and Operating” for infor -
mation on replacement tires and
for the proper tire replacement pro-
cedures. Replacing tires with a
higher load carrying capacity will
not increase the vehicle's GVWR
and GAWR limits. Towing Requirements – Trailer
Brakes
Do
notinterconnect the hydraulic
brake system or vacuum system of
your vehicle with that of the trailer.
This could cause inadequate brak-
ing and possible personal injury.
An electronically actuated trailer brake controller is required when
towing a trailer with electronically
actuated brakes. When towing a
trailer equipped with a hydraulic
surge actuated brake system, an
electronic brake controller is not
required.
Trailer brakes are recommended for trailers over 454 kg and r e-
quired for trailers in excess of
907 kg.
CAUTION!
If the trailer weighs more than
454 kg loaded, it should have its
own brakes, and they should be of
adequate capacity. Failure to do this
could lead to accelerated brake lin-
ing wear, higher brake pedal effort,
and longer stopping distances.
WARNING!
 Do not connect trailer brakes to your vehicle's hydraulic brake
lines. It can overload your brake
system and cause it to fail. You
might not have brakes when you
need them and could have an col-
lision.
 Towing any trailer will increase
your stopping distance. When
towing, you should allow for ad-
ditional space between your ve-
hicle and the vehicle in front of
you. Failure to do so could result
in a collision.
Towing Requirements – Trailer
Lights And Wiring
Whenever you pull a trailer, regard-
less of the trailer size, stoplights and
turn signals on the trailer are required
for motoring safety.
The Trailer Tow Package may include
a 7-pin or a 13-pin wiring harness.
Use a factory approved trailer harness
and connector.
NOTE:
Do not cut or splice wiring into the
vehicles wiring harness. 233

Pin
Number Function Wire
Color
5 Right Rear
Position, SideMarker
Lights, and
Rear Registra- tion Plate
Illumination
Device.
b
Brown
6 Stoplights Red
7 Left Rear Position, SideMarker
Lights, and
Rear Registra-
tion Plate
Illumination Device.
b
Black
8 Reverse lights Red/ Black
9 Permanent
Power Supply(+12V) Brown/
White
10 Power Supply Controlled byIgnition
Switch
(+12V) Red
Pin
Number Function Wire
Color
11
a
Return for
Contact (Pin) 10 White
12 Reserve for Future Alloca-
tion Red/Blue
13
a
Return for
Contact (Pin) 9 White
Note: The allocation pin 12 has
been changed from “Coding for
coupled Trailer” to “Reserve for
Future Allocation.”
aThe three return circuits shall not
be connected electrically in the
trailer.bThe rear position registration
plate illumination device shall be
connected such that no light of the
device has a common connection
with both pins 5 and 7.
TOWING TIPS
Before setting out on a trip, practice
turning, stopping, and backing up the
trailer in an area located away from
heavy traffic. Automatic Transmission
The DRIVE range can be selected
when towing. However, if frequent
shifting occurs while in this range,
select a lower gear range using the
AutoStick® shift control (for
versions/markets, where provided).
NOTE:
Selecting a lower gear range while
operating the vehicle under heavy
operating conditions will improve
performance and extend transmis-
sion life by reducing excessive
shifting and heat buildup. This ac-
tion will also provide better engine
braking.
If you REGULARLY tow a trailer for
more than 45 minutes of continuous
operation, then change the automatic
transmission fluid and filter accord-
ing to the interval specified for “po-
lice, taxi, fleet, or frequent trailer tow-
ing.” Refer to the “Maintenance
Schedule” for the proper maintenance
intervals.
235