Lancia Thema 2012 Owner handbook (in English)

CAUTION!
After inspecting or adjusting the tire
pressure, always reinstall the valve
stem cap. This will prevent moisture
and dirt from entering the valve
stem, which could damage the valve
stem.
Inflation pressures specified on the
placard are always “cold tire inflation
pressure.” Cold tire inflation pressure
is defined as the tire pressure after the
vehicle has not been driven for at least
three hours, or driven less than
1.6 km after a three hour period. The
cold tire inflation pressure must not
exceed the maximum inflation pres-
sure molded into the tire sidewall.
Check tire pressures more often if
subject to a wide range of outdoor
temperatures, as tire pressures vary
with temperature changes.
Tire pressures change by approxi-
mately 0.07 BAR per 7°C of air tem-
perature change. Keep this in mind
when checking tire pressure inside a
garage, especially in the Winter. Example: If garage temperature =
20°C and the outside temperature =
0°C then the cold tire inflation pres-
sure should be increased by 0.21
BAR, which equals 0.07 kPa for every
7°C for this outside temperature con-
dition.
Tire pressure may increase from 0.13
to 0.4 BAR during operation. DO
NOT reduce this normal pressure
build up or your tire pressure will be
too low.
TIRE PRESSURES FOR
HIGH SPEED OPERATION
The manufacturer advocates driving
at safe speeds within posted speed
limits. Where speed limits or condi-
tions are such that the vehicle can be
driven at high speeds, maintaining
correct tire inflation pressure is very
important. Increased tire pressure
and reduced vehicle loading may be
required for high-speed vehicle op-
eration. Refer to original equipment
or an authorized tire dealer for recom-
mended safe operating speeds, load-
ing and cold tire inflation pressures.
WARNING!
High speed driving with your vehicle
under maximum load is dangerous.
The added strain on your tires could
cause them to fail. You could have a
serious collision. Do not drive a ve-
hicle loaded to the maximum capac-
ity at continuous speeds above
120 km/h.
RADIAL PLY TIRESWARNING!
Combining radial ply tires with
other types of tires on your vehicle
will cause your vehicle to handle
poorly. The instability could cause a
collision. Always use radial ply tires
in sets of four. Never combine them
with other types of tires.
Cuts and punctures in radial tires are
repairable only in the tread area be-
cause of sidewall flexing. Consult
your authorized tire dealer for radial
tire repairs.
215

COMPACT SPARE TIRE (for
versions/markets, where
provided)
The compact spare is for temporary
emergency use only. You can identify
if your vehicle is equipped with a
compact spare by looking at the spare
tire description on the Tire and Load-
ing Information Placard located on
the driver’s side door opening or on
the sidewall of the tire. Compact spare
tire descriptions begin with the letter
“T” or “S” preceding the size desig-
nation. Example: T145/80D18
103M.
T, S = Temporary Spare Tire
Since this tire has limited tread life the
original equipment tire should be re-
paired (or replaced) and reinstalled
on your vehicle at the first opportu-
nity.
Do not install a wheel cover or at-
tempt to mount a conventional tire on
the compact spare wheel, since the
wheel is designed specifically for the
compact spare tire. Do not install
more than one compact spare tire and
wheel on the vehicle at any given time
WARNING!
Compact spares are for temporary
emergency use only. With these
spares, do not drive more than
50 mph (80 km/h). Temporary use
spares have limited tread life. When
the tread is worn to the tread wear
indicators, the temporary use spare
tire needs to be replaced. Be sure to
follow the warnings, which apply to
your spare. Failure to do so could
result in spare tire failure and loss of
vehicle control.
LIMITED-USE SPARE (for
versions/markets, where
provided)
The limited-use spare tire is for tem-
porary emergency use only. This tire is
identified by a label located on the
limited-use spare wheel. This label
contains the driving limitations for
this spare. This tire may look like the
original equipped tire on the front or
rear axle of your vehicle, but it is not.
Installation of this limited-use spare
tire affects vehicle handling. Since it is
not the same as your original equip-
ment tire, replace (or repair) the origi- nal equipment tire and reinstall on the
vehicle at the first opportunity.
WARNING!
Limited-use spares are for emer-
gency use only. Installation of this
limited-use spare tire affects vehicle
handling. With this tire, do not drive
more than the speed listed on the
limit-use spare wheel. Keep inflated
to the cold tire inflation pressure
listed on your Tire and Loading In-
formation Placard located on the
driver’s side door opening. Replace
(or repair) the original equipment
tire at the first opportunity and rein-
stall it on your vehicle. Failure to do
so could result in loss of vehicle con-
trol.
TIRE SPINNING
When stuck in mud, sand, snow, or ice
conditions, do not spin your vehicle's
wheels faster than 48 km/h or for
longer than 30 seconds continuously
without stopping when you are stuck.
216

WARNING!
Fast spinning tires can be danger-
ous. Forces generated by excessive
wheel speeds may cause tire damage
or failure. A tire could explode and
injure someone. Do not spin your
vehicle's wheels faster than 48 km/h
or for more than 30 seconds con-
tinuously when you are stuck, and
do not let anyone near a spinning
wheel, no matter what the speed.
TREAD WEAR
INDICATORS
Tread wear indicators are in the origi-
nal equipment tires to help you in
determining when your tires should
be replaced. These indicators are molded into the
bottom of the tread grooves. They will
appear as bands when the tread depth
becomes 2 mm. When the tread is
worn to the tread wear indicators, the
tire should be replaced.
LIFE OF TIRE
The service life of a tire is dependent
upon varying factors including, but
not limited to:
 Driving style
 Tire pressure
 Distance driven
WARNING!
Tires and the spare tire should be
replaced after six years, regardless of
the remaining tread. Failure to fol-
low this warning can result in sud-
den tire failure. You could lose con-
trol and have a collision resulting in
serious injury or death.
Keep dismounted tires in a cool, dry
place with as little exposure to light as
possible. Protect tires from contact
with oil, grease, and gasoline. REPLACEMENT TIRES
The tires on your new vehicle provide
a balance of many characteristics.
They should be inspected regularly
for wear and correct cold tire inflation
pressure. The manufacturer strongly
recommends that you use tires
equivalent to the originals in size,
quality and performance when re-
placement is needed. (Refer to the
paragraph on “Tread Wear Indica-
tors”). Refer to the “Tire and Loading
Information” placard for the size des-
ignation of your tire. The Load Index
and Speed Symbol for your tire will be
found on the original equipment tire
sidewall. See the Tire Sizing Chart
example found in the Tire Safety In-
formation section of this manual for
more information relating to the Load
Index and Speed Symbol of a tire.
It is recommended to replace the two
front tires or two rear tires as a pair.
Replacing just one tire can seriously
affect your vehicle’s handling. If you
ever replace a wheel, make sure that
the wheel’s specifications match those
of the original wheels.
1 — Worn Tire
2 — New Tire
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It is recommended you contact your
original equipment or an authorized
tire dealer with any questions you
may have on tire specifications or ca-
pability. Failure to use equivalent re-
placement tires may adversely affect
the safety, handling, and ride of your
vehicle.WARNING!
 Do not use a tire, wheel size orrating other than that specified
for your vehicle. Some combina-
tions of unapproved tires and
wheels may change suspension di-
mensions and performance char-
acteristics, resulting in changes to
steering, handling, and braking of
your vehicle. This can cause un-
predictable handling and stress to
steering and suspension compo-
nents. You could lose control and
have a collision resulting in seri-
ous injury or death. Use only the
tire and wheel sizes with load rat-
ings approved for your vehicle.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
 Never use a tire with a smaller
load index or capacity, other than
what was originally equipped on
your vehicle. Using a tire with a
smaller load index could result in
tire overloading and failure. You
could lose control and have a col-
lision.
 Failure to equip your vehicle with
tires having adequate speed capa-
bility can result in sudden tire fail-
ure and loss of vehicle control.CAUTION!
Replacing original tires with tires of
a different size may result in false
speedometer and odometer read-
ings.
TIRE CHAINS
Use of Security Chain Company
(SCC) Super Z6 SZ143 or Iceman Z6
IZ-643 cables or equivalent are rec-
ommended on 225/65R17 tires.
NOTE:
Do not use tire chains on a com-
pact spare tire.
CAUTION!
To avoid damage to your vehicle or
tires, observe the following precau-
tions:
 Use chains on 225/65R17 tires only.
 Because of restricted chain clear-
ance between tires and other sus-
pension components, it is impor-
tant that only chains in good
condition are used. Broken chains
can cause serious damage. Stop
the vehicle immediately if noise
occurs that could indicate chain
breakage. Remove the damaged
parts of the chain before further
use.
 Install chains on the rear wheels
as tightly as possible and then re-
tighten after driving about
0.8 km.
 Do not exceed 48 km/h.
 Drive cautiously and avoid severe
turns and large bumps, especially
with a loaded vehicle.
 Use on rear wheels only.
 Do not drive for prolonged period
on dry pavement.
(Continued)
218

CAUTION!(Continued)
 Observe the tire chain manufac-
tur er's instructions on the method
of installation, operating speed,
and conditions for use. Always use
the lower suggested operating
speed of the chain manufacturer if
different from the speed r ecom-
mended by the manufacture.
NOTE:
In order to avoid damage to tires,
chains, and your vehicle do not
drive for a prolonged period on dry
pavement. Observe the tire chain
manufacturer's instructions on
method of installation, operating
speed, and conditions for usage.
Always use the lower suggested oper-
ating speed if both the chain manu-
facturer and vehicle manufacturer
suggest a maximum speed. This no-
tice applies to all chain traction de-
vices, including link and cable (ra-
dial) chains. TIRE ROTATION
RECOMMENDATIONS
Tires on the front and rear axles of
vehicles operate at different loads and
perform different steering, driving,
and braking functions. For these rea-
sons, they wear at unequal rates.
These effects can be reduced by timely
rotation of tires. The benefits of rota-
tion are especially worthwhile with ag-
gressive tread designs such as those on
all season type tires. Rotation will in-
crease tread life, help to maintain mud,
snow and wet traction levels, and con-
tribute to a smooth, quiet ride.Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule”
for the proper maintenance intervals.
The reasons for any rapid or unusual
wear should be corrected prior to ro-
tation being performed.
TIRE PRESSURE
MONITOR SYSTEM
(TPMS)
The Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS) will warn the driver of a low
tire pressure based on the vehicle rec-
ommended cold placard pressure.The tire pressure will vary with tem-
perature by about 0.069 BAR for ev-
ery 6.5°C. This means that when the
outside temperature decreases, the
tire pressure will decrease. Tire pres-
sure should always be set based on
cold inflation tire pressure. This is
defined as the tire pressure after the
vehicle has not been driven for at least
three hours, or driven less than
1.6 km after a three hour period. The
cold tire inflation pressure must not
exceed the maximum inflation pres-
sure molded into the tire sidewall. Re-
fer to “Tires – General Information”
in “Starting and Operating” for infor-
mation on how to properly inflate the
vehicle’s tires. The tire pressure will
also increase as the vehicle is driven -
this is normal and there should be no
adjustment for this increased pres-
sure.
The TPMS will warn the driver of a
low tire pressure if the tire pressure
falls below the low-pressure warning
limit for any reason, including low
temperature effects and natural pres-
sure loss through the tire.
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The TPMS will continue to warn the
driver of low tire pressure as long as
the condition exists, and will not turn
off until the tire pressure is at or above
the recommended cold placard pres-
sure. Once the low tire pressure warn-
ing (Tire Pressure Monitoring [TPM]
Telltale Light) illuminates, you must
increase the tire pressure to the rec-
ommended cold placard pressure in
order for the TPM Telltale Light to
turn off. The system will automati-
cally update and the TPM Telltale
Light will turn off once the system
receives the updated tire pressures.
The vehicle may need to be driven for
up to 20 minutes above 24 km/h in
order for the TPMS to receive this
information.
For example, your vehicle may have a
recommended cold (parked for more
than three hours) placard pressure of
2.07 BAR. If the ambient temperature
is 20°C and the measured tire pres-
sure is 1.86 BAR, a temperature drop
to ­7°C will decrease the tire pressure
to approximately 1.58 BAR. This tire
pressure is sufficiently low enough to
turn ON the TPM Telltale Light. Driv-ing the vehicle may cause the tire
pressure to rise to approximately 1.86
BAR, but the TPM Telltale Light will
still be ON. In this situation, the TPM
Telltale Light will turn OFF only after
the tires are inflated to the vehicle’s
recommended cold placard pressure
value.
CAUTION!
 The TPMS has been optimized for
the original equipment tires and
wheels. TPMS pressures and
warning have been established for
the tire size equipped on your ve-
hicle. Undesirable system opera-
tion or sensor damage may result
when using replacement equip-
ment that is not of the same size,
type, and/or style. Aftermarket
wheels can cause sensor damage.
Do not use aftermarket tire seal-
ants or balance beads if your ve-
hicle is equipped with a TPMS, as
damage to the sensors may result.
(Continued)
CAUTION!(Continued)
 After inspecting or adjusting the
tire pressure, always reinstall the
valve stem cap. This will prevent
moisture and dirt from entering
the valve stem, which could dam-
age the TPM sensor.
NOTE:
 The TPMS is not intended to re- place normal tire care and
maintenance or to provide
warning of a tire failure or con-
dition.
 The TPMS should not be used as a tire pressure gauge while ad-
justing your tire pressure.
 Driving on a significantly under- inflated tire causes the tire to
overheat and can lead to tire
failure. Under-inflation also re-
duces fuel efficiency and tire
tread life, and may affect the ve-
hicle’s handling and stopping
ability.
 The TPMS is not a substitute for proper tire maintenance, and it
is the driver’s responsibility to
maintain correct tire pressure
220

using an accurate tire pressure
gauge, even if under-inflation
has not reached the level to trig-
ger illumination of the TPM
Telltale Light.
 Seasonal temperature changes will affect tire pressure, and the
TPMS will monitor the actual
tire pressure in the tire.
PREMIUM SYSTEM
The Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS) uses wireless technology with
wheel rim mounted electronic sensors
to monitor tire pressure levels. Sen-
sors mounted to each wheel as part of
the valve stem transmit tire pressure
readings to the receiver module.
NOTE:
It is particularly important for you
to check the tire pressure in all of
the tires on your vehicle monthly
and to maintain the proper pres-
sure.
The TPMS consists of the following
components:
 Receiver module,
 Four TPM sensors,  Various TPMS messages, which
display in the Electronic Vehicle In-
formation Center (EVIC), and
 TPM Telltale Light
Tire Pressure Monitoring Low
Pressure Warnings The TPM Telltale Light will il-
luminate in the instrument
cluster and a chime will sound
when tire pressure is low in one or
more of the four active road tires. In
addition, the EVIC will display a
"LOW TIRE" message and a graphic
showing the pressure values of each
tire with the low tire pressure values
flashing.
Should this occur, you should stop as
soon as possible and inflate the tires
with a low pressure condition (those
flashing in the EVIC graphic) to the
vehicle’s recommended cold placard
pressure inflation value. Once the sys-
tem receives the updated tire pres-
sures, the system will automatically
update, the graphic display in the
EVIC will stop flashing, and the TPM
Telltale Light will turn off. The ve-
hicle may need to be driven for up to 20 minutes above 24 km/h in order
for the TPMS to receive this informa-
tion.
Service TPMS Warning
If a system fault is detected, the TPM
Telltale Light will flash on and off for
75 seconds and then remain on solid.
The system fault will also sound a
chime. In addition, the EVIC will dis-
play a "SERVICE TPM SYSTEM"
message for a minimum of five sec-
onds and then display dashes (- -) in
place of the pressure value to indicate
which sensor is not being received.
If the ignition switch is cycled, this
sequence will repeat, providing the
system fault still exists. If the system
fault no longer exists, the TPM Tell-
tale Light will no longer flash, and the
"SERVICE TPM SYSTEM" message
will no longer display, and a pressure
value will display in place of the
dashes. A system fault can occur due
to any of the following:
1. Signal interference due to elec-
tronic devices or driving next to facili-
ties emitting the same radio frequen-
cies as the TPM sensors.
221

2. Installing aftermarket window
tinting that contains materials that
may block radio wave signals.
3. Accumulation of snow or ice
around the wheels or wheel housings.
4. Using tire chains on the vehicle.
5. Using wheels/tires not equipped
with TPM sensors.
The EVIC will also display a "SER-
VICE TPM SYSTEM" message for a
minimum of five seconds when a sys-
tem fault related to an incorrect sen-
sor location fault is detected. In this
case, the "SERVICE TPM SYSTEM"
message is then followed with a
graphic display with pressure values
still shown. This indicates that the
pressure values are still being received
from the TPM sensors but they may
not be located in the correct vehicle
position. The system still needs to be
serviced as long as the "SERVICE
TPM SYSTEM" message is displayed.Vehicles With Compact Spare
1. The compact spare tire does not
have a TPM sensor. Therefore, the
TPMS will not monitor the pressure in
the compact spare tire.
2. If you install the compact spare
tire in place of a road tire that has a
pressure below the low-pressure
warning limit, upon the next ignition
switch cycle, the TPM Telltale Light
will remain ON and a chime will
sound. In addition, the graphic in the
EVIC will still display a flashing pres-
sure value.
3. After driving the vehicle for up to
20 minutes above 24 km/h, the TPM
Telltale Light will flash on and off for
75 seconds and then remain on solid.
In addition, the EVIC will display a
"SERVICE TPM SYSTEM" message
for a minimum of five seconds and
then display dashes (- -) in place of
the pressure value.
4. For each subsequent ignition
switch cycle, a chime will sound, the
TPM Telltale Light will flash on and
off for 75 seconds and then remain on
solid, and the EVIC will display a"SERVICE TPM SYSTEM" message
for a minimum of five seconds and
then display dashes (- -) in place of
the pressure value.
5. Once you repair or replace the
original road tire and reinstall it on
the vehicle in place of the compact
spare, the TPMS will update auto-
matically. In addition, the TPM Tell-
tale Light will turn OFF and the
graphic in the EVIC will display a new
pressure value instead of dashes (- -),
as long as no tire pressure is below the
low-pressure warning limit in any of
the four active road tires. The vehicle
may need to be driven for up to
20 minutes above 24 km/h in order
for the TPMS to receive this informa-
tion.
TPMS DEACTIVATION
The TPMS can be deactivated if re-
placing all four wheel and tire assem-
blies (road tires) with wheel and tire
assemblies that do not have TPMS
Sensors, such as when installing win-
ter wheel and tire assemblies on your
vehicle To deactivate the TPMS, first,
replace all four wheel and tire assem-
blies (road tires) with tires not
222

equipped with Tire Pressure Monitor-
ing (TPM) Sensors. Then, drive the
vehicle for 20 minutes above
24 km/h. The TPMS will chime, the
“TPM Telltale Light” will flash on
and off for 75 seconds and then re-
main on and the Electronic Vehicle
Information Center (EVIC) will dis-
play the “SERVICE TPM SYSTEM”
message and then display dashes (--)
in place of the pressure values. Begin-
ning with the next ignition switch
cycle, the TPMS will no longer chime
or display the “SERVICE TPM SYS-
TEM” message in the EVIC but
dashes (--) will remain in place of the
pressure values.
To reactivate the TPMS, replace all
four wheel and tire assemblies (road
tires) with tires equipped with TPM
sensors. Then, drive the vehicle for up
to 20 minutes above 24 km/h. The
TPMS will chime, the “TPM Telltale
Light” will flash on and off for 75 sec-
onds and then turn off, and the Elec-
tronic Vehicle Information Center
(EVIC) will display the “SERVICE
TPM SYSTEM” message. The EVIC
will also display pressure values inplace of the dashes. On the next igni-
tion switch cycle the “SERVICE TPM
SYSTEM” message will no longer be
displayed as long as no system fault
exists.
FUEL REQUIREMENTS
— GASOLINE ENGINES
3.6L ENGINE
All engines are designed to meet all
emissions regulations and provide ex-
cellent fuel economy and performance
when using high quality unleaded
gasoline with a minimum research oc-
tane rating of 91. The use of premium
gasoline is not recommended, as it
will not provide any benefit over regu-
lar gasoline in these engines.
Light spark knock at low engine
speeds is not harmful to your engine.
However, continued heavy spark
knock at high speeds can cause dam-
age, and immediate service is re-
quired. Poor quality gasoline can
cause problems such as hard starting,
stalling, and hesitations. If you expe-
rience these symptoms, try another
brand of gasoline before considering
service for the vehicle.
Over 40 auto manufacturers world-
wide have issued and endorsed consis-
tent gasoline specifications (the World-
wide Fuel Charter, WWFC) which
define fuel properties necessary to de-
liver enhanced emissions, perfor-
mance, and durability for your vehicle.
The manufacturer recommends the use
of gasoline that meets the WWFC
specifications if they are available.Besides using unleaded gasoline with
the proper octane rating, gasolines
that contain detergents, corrosion and
stability additives are recommended.
Using gasolines that have these addi-
tives may help improve fuel economy,
reduce emissions, and maintain ve-
hicle performance.Poor quality gasoline can cause prob-
lems such as hard starting, stalling and
stumble. If you experience these prob-
lems, try another brand of gasoline be-
fore considering service for the vehicle.Methanol
(Methyl or Wood Alcohol) is used in a
variety of concentrations when
blended with unleaded gasoline. You
may find fuels containing 3% or more
223

Methanol along with other alcohols
called cosolvents. Problems that re-
sult from using Methanol/gasoline or
E-85 Ethanol blends are not the re-
sponsibility of the manufacturer.
While MTBE is an oxygenate made
from Methanol, it does not have the
negative effects of Methanol.CAUTION!
Do not use gasolines containing
Methanol or E-85 Ethanol. Use of
these blends may result in starting
and driveability problems and may
damage critical fuel system compo-
nents.
Ethanol
The manufacturer recommends that
your vehicle be operated on fuel con-
taining no more than 10% Ethanol.
Purchasing your fuel from a reputable
supplier may reduce the risk of ex-
ceeding this 10% limit and/or of re-
ceiving fuel with abnormal properties.
It should also be noted that an in-
crease in fuel consumption should be
expected when using Ethanol-
blended fuels, due to the lower energy
content of Ethanol. Problems that result from using
Methanol/gasoline or E-85 Ethanol
blends are not the responsibility of the
manufacturer. While MTBE is an oxy-
genate made from Methanol, it does
not have the negative effects of
Methanol.
CAUTION!
Use of fuel with Ethanol content
higher than 10% may result in en-
gine malfunction, starting and oper-
ating difficulties and materials deg-
radation. These adverse effects
could result in permanent damage to
your vehicle.
Clean Air Gasoline
Many gasolines are now being
blended that contribute to cleaner air,
especially in those areas where air
pollution levels are high. These new
blends provide a cleaner burning fuel
and some are referred to as “reformu-
lated gasoline.”
The manufacturer supports these ef-
forts toward cleaner air. You can help
by using these blends as they become
available. MMT In Gasoline
MMT is a manganese containing me-
tallic additive that is blended into
some gasoline to increase octane.
Gasoline blended with MMT provides
no performance advantage beyond
gasoline of the same octane number
without MMT. Gasoline blended with
MMT reduces spark plug life and re-
duces emission system performance in
some vehicles. The manufacturer rec-
ommends that gasoline without MMT
be used in your vehicle. The MMT
content of gasoline may not be indi-
cated on the gasoline pump; therefore,
you should ask your gasoline retailer
whether or not his/her gasoline con-
tains MMT.
Materials Added To Fuel
Besides using unleaded gasoline with
the proper octane rating, gasolines
that contain detergents, corrosion and
stability additives are recommended.
Using gasolines that have these addi-
tives will help improve fuel economy,
reduce emissions, and maintain ve-
hicle performance.
Indiscriminate use of fuel system
cleaning agents should be avoided.
224