towing Lancia Thema 2012 Owner handbook (in English)

RECREATIONAL
TOWING (BEHIND
MOTORHOME, ETC.)
Recreational towing (with all four
wheels on the ground, or using a tow
dolly) isNOT ALLOWED. The only
acceptable method for towing this ve-
hicle (behind another vehicle) is on a
vehicle trailer with all four wheels
OFF the ground.CAUTION!
Towing this vehicle in violation of
the above requirements can cause
severe transmission damage. Such
damage is not covered by the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty.
237

6
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
 HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
 IF YOUR ENGINE OVERHEATS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
 TIREFIT KIT (for versions/markets, where provided) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
 TIREFIT STORAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
 TIREFIT KIT COMPONENTS AND OPERATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
 TIREFIT USAGE PRECAUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . 242
 SEALING A TIRE WITH TIREFIT . . . . . . . . . 243
 JUMP-STARTING PROCEDURES . . . . . . . . . . . . 246  PREPARATIONS FOR JUMP-START . . . . . . . 246
 JUMP-STARTING PROCEDURE . . . . . . . . . . . 247
 FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
 TOW EYES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
 SHIFT LEVER OVERRIDE — 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
 MANUAL PARK RELEASE — 8 SPEED TRANSMISSION (3.6L Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
 TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE . . . . . . . . . . . 251  Without The Ignition Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
239

CAUTION!
 When “rocking” a stuck vehicleby moving between DRIVE and
REVERSE, do not spin the wheels
faster than 24 km/h, or drivetrain
damage may result.
 Revving the engine or spinning
the wheels too fast may lead to
transmission overheating and
failure. It can also damage the
tires. Do not spin the wheels above
48 km/h while in gear (no trans-
mission shifting occurring).WARNING!
Fast spinning tires can be danger-
ous. Forces generated by excessive
wheel speeds may cause damage, or
even failure, of the axle and tires. A
tire could explode and injure some-
one. 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
and do not let anyone near a spin-
ning wheel, no matter what the
speed. TOW EYES
Your vehicle is equipped with tow
eyes, which are mounted in the front
and the rear.
CAUTION!
Tow eyes are for emergency use only,
to rescue a vehicle stranded off road.
Do not use tow eyes for tow truck
hookup or highway towing. You
could damage your vehicle. Tow
straps are recommended when tow-
ing the vehicle; chains may cause
vehicle damage.WARNING!
Stand clear of vehicles when pulling
with tow eyes. Tow straps and chains
may break, causing serious injury.
SHIFT LEVER
OVERRIDE — 5 SPEED
TRANSMISSION
If a malfunction occurs and the shift
lever cannot be moved out of the
PARK position, you can use the fol-
lowing procedure to temporarily
move the shift lever: 1. Firmly apply the parking brake.
2. Remove the rubber tray from the
storage bin located to the right of the
shift lever. The override access port is
near the bottom of the bin to the right
of the shift lever gate.
3. Turn the ignition switch to the ON/
RUN position without starting the en-
gine (engine OFF).
4. Press and maintain firm pressure
on the brake pedal.
5. Using a screwdriver or similar tool,
press and hold the override tab
through the access port on the center
console.
6. Move the shift lever to the NEU-
TRAL position.
Shift Lever Override
249

To Reset The Manual Park Re-
lease:
1. Push the latch (at the base of the
lever, on the rear side) rearward
(away from the lever) to unlatch the
lever.2. Rotate the Manual Park Release
lever forward and down, to its original
position, until the locking tab snaps
into place to secure the lever.
3. Pull up gently on the tether strap
to confirm that the lever is locked in
its stowed position.4. Tuck the tether strap into the base
of the console. Reinstall the console
storage bin.
TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE
Towing Condition Wheels OFF the Ground ALL MODELS
Flat Tow NONEIf transmission is operable:
 Transmission in
NEUTRAL
 48 km/h maxspeed
 24 km maxdistance (5-speed trans)
 48 km maxdistance (8-speed trans)
Wheel Lift
Front
Rear OK
Flatbed ALLBEST METHOD
Proper towing or lifting equipment is
required to prevent damage to your
vehicle. Use only tow bars and other
equipment designed for the purpose,
following equipment manufacturer’s
instructions. Use of safety chains is
mandatory. Attach a tow bar or other
towing device to main structural
members of the vehicle, not to bum-
pers or associated brackets. State and
local laws applying to vehicles under
tow must be observed. If you must use the accessories (wip-
ers, defrosters, etc.) while being
towed, the ignition must be in the
ON/RUN position, not the ACC posi-
tion.
If the
vehicle's battery is discharged,
see “Shift Lever Override” in “What
To Do In Emergencies” for instruc-
tions on shifting the automatic trans-
mission out of the PARK position for
towing.
CAUTION!
 Do not use sling type equipment when towing. Damage to the fas-
cia will occur.
 When securing the vehicle to a
flatbed truck, do not attach to
front or rear suspension compo-
nents. Damage to your vehicle
may result from improper towing.
(Continued)
251

CAUTION!(Continued)
 Do not push or tow this vehicle
with another vehicle as damage to
the bumper fascia and transmis-
sion may result.
 If the vehicle being towed requires
steering. the ignition switch must
be in the ON/RUN position, not
the LOCK or ACC positions.
The manufacturer does not recom-
mend that you tow this vehicle on a
tow dolly. Vehicle damage may occur.
The manufacturer recommends tow-
ing your vehicle with all four wheels
OFF the ground using a flatbed.
If flatbed equipment is not available,
and the transmission is operable, the
vehicle may be flat towed (with all
four wheels on the ground) under the
following conditions:
 The shift lever must be in NEU- TRAL.  The distance to be traveled must
not exceed 24 km for 5-speed
transmission, or 48 km for 8-speed
transmission.
 The towing speed must not exceed 48 km/h.
If the transmission is not operable, or
the vehicle must be towed faster than
48 km/h or farther than 24 km for
5-speed transmission, or 48 km for
8-speed transmission, tow with the
rear wheels OFF the ground (on a
flatbed, or with the rear wheels raised
using a wheel lift and the transmission
in NEUTRAL).
CAUTION!
Failure to follow these towing meth-
ods can cause severe transmission
damage. Such damage is not covered
by the New Vehicle Limited War-
ranty. Without The Ignition Key
Special care must be taken when the
vehicle is towed with the ignition in
the OFF position. The only approved
method of towing without the ignition
key is with a flatbed truck. Proper
towing equipment is necessary to pre-
vent damage to the vehicle.
252

ONBOARD DIAGNOSTIC
SYSTEM — OBD II
Your vehicle is equipped with a so-
phisticated onboard diagnostic sys-
tem called OBD II. This system moni-
tors the performance of the emissions,
engine, and automatic transmission
control systems. When these systems
are operating properly, your vehicle
will provide excellent performance
and fuel economy, as well as engine
emissions well within current govern-
ment regulations.
If any of these systems require service,
the OBD II system will turn on the
“Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL).”
It will also store diagnostic codes and
other information to assist your ser-
vice technician in making repairs. Al-
though your vehicle will usually be
drivable and not need towing, see
your authorized dealer for service as
soon as possible.
CAUTION!
 Prolonged driving with the MILon could cause further damage to
the emissions control system. It
could also affect fuel economy
and driveability. The vehicle must
be serviced before any emissions
tests can be performed.
 If the MIL is flashing while the
engine is running, severe catalytic
converter damage and power loss
will soon occur. Immediate service
is required.
REPLACEMENT PARTS
Use of genuine parts for normal/
scheduled maintenance and repairs is
highly recommended to ensure the de-
signed performance.
Damage or failures caused by the use
of parts which are not quality-
equivalent to genuine parts for main-
tenance and repairs will not be cov-
ered by the manufacturer’s warranty. MAINTENANCE
PROCEDURES
The pages that follow contain the
re-
quired maintenance services deter-
mined by the engineers who designed
your vehicle.
Besides those maintenance items
specified in the fixed maintenance
schedule, there are other components
which may require servicing or re-
placement in the future.
CAUTION!
 Failure to properly maintain your vehicle or perform repairs and
service when necessary could re-
sult in more costly repairs, dam-
age to other components or nega-
tively impact vehicle
performance. Immediately have
potential malfunctions examined
by an authorized dealership or
qualified repair center.
(Continued)
257

NOTE:
Intentional tampering with emis-
sions control systems can result in
civil penalties being assessed
against you.WARNING!
A hot exhaust system can start a fire
if you park over materials that can
burn. Such materials might be grass
or leaves coming into contact with
your exhaust system. Do not park or
operate your vehicle in areas where
your exhaust system can contact
anything that can burn.
In unusual situations involving
grossly malfunctioning engine opera-
tion, a scorching odor may indicate
severe and abnormal catalyst over-
heating. If this should occur, safely
bring the vehicle to a complete stop,
shut the engine OFF, and allow the
vehicle to cool. Thereafter, obtain ser-
vice, including a tune-up to manufac-
tur er's specifications immediately.
To minimize the possibility of catalyst
damage:  Do not shut off the engine or inter
-
rupt the ignition when the trans-
mission is in gear and the vehicle is
in motion.
 Do not try to start the engine by pushing or towing the vehicle.
 Do not idle the engine with any spark plug wires disconnected or
removed, such as when diagnostic
testing, or for prolonged periods
during very rough idling or mal-
functioning operating conditions.
COOLING SYSTEM
WARNING!
 When working near the radiator cooling fan, disconnect the fan
motor lead or turn the ignition
switch to the LOCK position . The
fan is temperature controlled and
can start at any time the ignition
switch is in the ON position.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
 You or others can be badly burned
by hot engine coolant (antifreeze)
or steam from your radiator. If
you see or hear steam coming
from under the hood, do not open
the hood until the radiator has
had time to cool. Never try to open
a cooling system pressure cap
when the radiator is hot.CAUTION!
Car maintenance should be done at
a LANCIA Dealership. For routine
and minor maintenance operations
you wish to carry out yourself, we do
recommend you have the proper
equipment, genuine LANCIA spare
parts and the necessary fluids; do
not however carry out these opera-
tions if you have no experience.
Coolant Checks
Check engine coolant (antifreeze)
protection every 12 months (before
the onset of freezing weather, where
applicable). If the engine coolant (an-
tifreeze) is dirty or rusty in appear-
ance, the system should be drained,
265

Thousands Of Kilometers24 48 72 96 120 144 168 192
Months 12 24 36 48 60 72 84 96
Replace spark plugs. 
Replace air filter cartridge.    
Change engine oil and replace oil filter. Every 12.000 km or 12 months whichever comes first
Change brake fluid (or every 24 months). 
Replace pollen filter.        
(*) Change the automatic transmis-
sion fluid and filter(s) at 96 000 km
or 48 months if using your vehicle for
any of the following: city driving,
short (less than 7-8 km) and repeated
journeys, or frequent trailer or cara-
van towing.
Periodic Checks
Every 1 000 km or before long jour-
neys, check and, if necessary, restore:
 engine coolant;
 brake fluid;
 windshield washer fluid level;
 tire inflation pressure and condi- tion;
 operation of lighting system (head- lights, direction indicators, hazard
warning lights, etc.);  operation of windshield washer/
wiper system and positioning/wear
of windshield/rear window wiper
blades.
Every 3 000 km, check and top up, if
required, the engine oil level.
Heavy-Duty Use Of The Car
If the car is used mainly under one of
the following conditions:
 towing a trailer or caravan;
 dusty roads;
 short, repeated journeys (less than 7-8 km) at sub-zero outside tem-
peratures;
 engine often idling or driving long distances at low speeds or long pe-
riods of idleness. You should perform the following in-
spections more frequently than shown
on the Scheduled Servicing Plan:
 check front disc brake pad condi-
tions and wear;
 check cleanliness of hood and trunk locks, cleanliness and lubrication of
linkage;
 visually inspect conditions of: en- gine, transmission, pipes and hoses
(exhaust - fuel system - brakes) and
rubber elements (boots - sleeves -
bushes - etc.);
 check battery charge and battery fluid level (electrolyte);
 visually inspect condition of the ac- cessory drive belts;
 check and, if necessary, change en- gine oil and replace oil filter;
292

(*) Change the automatic transmis-
sion fluid and filter(s) at 100 000 km
or 60 months if using your vehicle for
any of the following: city driving,
short (less than 7-8 km) and repeated
journeys, or frequent trailer or cara-
van towing.
(**) The actual oil and oil filter re-
placement interval depends on the car
usage conditions and is indicated by a
warning light or message on the in-
strument panel, or in any case every
12 months.
Periodic Checks
Every1 000 km or before long jour-
neys, check and, if necessary, restore:
 engine coolant;
 brake fluid;
 windshield washer fluid level;
 tire inflation pressure and condi- tion;  operation of lighting system (head-
lights, direction indicators, hazard
warning lights, etc.);
 operation of windshield washer/ wiper system and positioning/wear
of windshield/rear window wiper
blades.
Every 3 000 km, check and top up, if
required, the engine oil level.
Heavy-Duty Use Of The Car
If the car is used mainly under one of
the following conditions:
 towing a trailer or caravan;
 dusty roads;
 short, repeated journeys (less than 7-8 km) at sub-zero outside tem-
peratures;
 engine often idling or driving long distances at low speeds or long pe-
riods of idleness. You should perform the following in-
spections more frequently than shown
on the Scheduled Servicing Plan:
 check front disc brake pad condi-
tions and wear;
 check cleanliness of hood and trunk locks, cleanliness and lubrication of
linkage;
 visually inspect conditions of: en- gine, transmission, pipes and hoses
(exhaust - fuel system - brakes) and
rubber elements (boots - sleeves -
bushes - etc.);
 check battery charge and battery fluid level (electrolyte);
 visually inspect condition of the ac- cessory drive belts;
 check and, if necessary, change en- gine oil and replace oil filter;
 check and, if necessary, replace pol- len filter;
 check and, if necessary, replace air cleaner filter.
295

Through Flowing, Rising, or
Shallow Standing Water . . . 204
Driving to Achieve Maximum
Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Electric Rear Window
Defrost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Electric Remote Mirrors . . . . . . 64
Electrical Power Outlets . . . . . 140
Electronic Brake Control
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Anti-Lock Brake System . . . 209
Brake Assist System . . . . . . 209
Traction Control System . . . 209
Electronic Power Distribution
Center (Fuses) . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Electronic Speed Control
(Cruise Control) . . . . . . . 115,117
Electronic Stability Control
(ESC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Electronic Vehicle Information
Center (EVIC) . . . . . . . . 134,159
Emergency Deck Lid Release . . 25
Emergency Trunk Release . . . . 25
Emergency, In Case of Freeing Vehicle When
Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Hazard Warning Flasher . . . 240
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . 246 Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Break-In Recommendations . . 50
Compartment . . . . . . . 255,256
Compartment
Identification . . . . . . . . 255,256
Coolant (Antifreeze) . . . 265,284
Cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Exhaust Gas Caution . . . . . . 51
Fails to Start . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Flooded, Starting . . . . . . . . 192
Fuel Requirements . . . . . . . 223
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . 246
Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . 258,283,284
Oil Change Interval . . . 164,258
Oil Disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Oil Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Oil Selection . . . . . 258,259,283
Oil Synthetic . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Temperature Gauge . . . . . . 159
Enhanced Accident Response
Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Entry System, Illuminated . . . . 16
Ethanol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Event Data Recorder . . . . . . . . 41 Exhaust Gas Caution . . . . . 51,264
Exhaust System . . . . . . . . 51,264
Exterior Folding Mirrors . . . . . . 63
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . 104
Exterior Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Filler Location Fuel . . . . . . . . 156
Filters
Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Air Conditioning . . . . . 185,261
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . 259,284
Flash-To-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Flashers Hazard Warning . . . . . . . . . 240
Turn Signal . . . . . . . 53,107,154
Flooded Engine Starting . . . . . 192
Floor Console . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Fluid Capacities . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Fluid Leaks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Fluid Level Checks Automatic Transmission . . . 270
Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . 265
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Fluid, Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Fluids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Fluids, Lubricants and
Genuine Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Fog Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
300