warning Lancia Thema 2013 Owner handbook (in English)

The Electronic Brake Force Distribu-
tion (EBD) prevents the rear wheels
from over-braking and provides
greater control of available braking
forces applied to the rear axle.
When the vehicle is driven over
11 km/h, you may also hear a slight
clicking sound as well as some related
motor noises. These noises are the sys-
tem performing its self check cycle to
ensure that the ABS is working prop-
erly. This self check occurs each time
the vehicle is started and accelerated
past 11 km/h.
ABS is activated during braking un-
der certain road or stopping condi-
tions. ABS-inducing conditions can
include ice, snow, gravel, bumps, rail-
road tracks, loose debris, or panic
stops.
You also may experience the following
when the brake system goes into Anti-
Lock:
 The ABS motor running (it maycontinue to run for a short time
after the stop),  The clicking sound of solenoid
valves,
 Brake pedal pulsations, and
 A slight drop or fall away of the brake pedal at the end of the stop.
These are all normal characteristics of
ABS.
WARNING!
 The ABS contains sophisticated electronic equipment that may be
susceptible to interference caused
by improperly installed or high
output radio transmitting equip-
ment. This interference can cause
possible loss of anti-lock braking
capability. Installation of such
equipment should be performed
by qualified professionals.
 Pumping of the Anti-Lock Brakes will diminish their effectiveness
and may lead to a collision.
Pumping makes the stopping dis-
tance longer. Just press firmly on
your brake pedal when you need
to slow down or stop.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
The ABS cannot prevent the natu-
ral laws of physics from acting on
the vehicle, nor can it increase
braking or steering efficiency be-
yond that afforded by the condi-
tion of the vehicle brakes and tires
or the traction afforded. The ABS cannot prevent colli- sions, including those resulting
from excessive speed in turns,
following another vehicle too
closely, or hydroplaning.
The capabilities of an ABS
equipped vehicle must never be
exploited in a reckless or danger-
ous manner that could jeopardize
the user's safety or the safety of
others.
All vehicle wheels and tires must be
the same size and type and tires must
be properly inflated to produce accu-
rate signals for the computer.
215

ELECTRONIC BRAKE
CONTROL SYSTEM
Your vehicle is equipped with an ad-
vanced electronic brake control sys-
tem that include Anti-Lock Brake
System (ABS), Traction Control Sys-
tem (TCS), Brake Assist System
(BAS), and the Electronic Stability
Control (ESC). All four of these sys-
tems work together to enhance vehicle
stability and control in various driv-
ing conditions.Also, your vehicle may be equipped
with Hill Start Assist (HSA), Ready
Alert Braking, and Rain Brake Support.ANTI-LOCK BRAKE
SYSTEM (ABS)
This system aids the driver in main-
taining vehicle control under adverse
braking conditions by controlling hy-
draulic brake pressure. This prevents
wheel lock-up to help avoid skidding
on slippery surfaces during braking.
Refer to “Anti-Lock Brake System” in
“Starting and Operating” for further
information.
WARNING!
The ABS cannot prevent the natu-
ral laws of physics from acting on
the vehicle, nor can it increase the
traction afforded by prevailing
road conditions. The ABS cannot
prevent collisions, including those
resulting from excessive speed in
turns, driving on very slippery sur-
faces, or hydroplaning. The capa-
bilities of an ABS-equipped vehicle
must never be exploited in a reck-
less or dangerous manner that
could jeopardize the user's safety or
the safety of others.
TRACTION CONTROL
SYSTEM (TCS)
This system monitors the amount of
wheel spin of each driven wheel. If
wheel spin is detected, brake pressure
is applied to the slipping wheel(s) and
engine power is reduced to provide
enhanced acceleration and stability. BRAKE ASSIST SYSTEM
(BAS)
This system complements the ABS by
optimizing the vehicle braking capa-
bility during emergency brake ma-
neuvers. This system detects an emer-
gency braking situation by sensing
the rate and amount of brake applica-
tion and then applies optimum pres-
sure to the brakes. This can help re-
duce braking distances.
Applying the brakes very quickly re-
sults in the best BAS assistance. To
receive the benefits of this system, you
must apply continuous brake pedal
pressure during the stopping se-
quence. Do not reduce brake pedal
pressure unless braking is no longer
desired. Once the brake pedal is re-
leased, the BAS is deactivated.
WARNING!
The BAS cannot prevent the natu-
ral laws of physics from acting on
the vehicle, nor can it increase the
traction afforded by prevailing
road conditions. The BAS cannot
(Continued)
216

WARNING!(Continued)
prevent collisions, including those
resulting from excessive speed in
turns, driving on very slippery sur-
faces, or hydroplaning. The capa-
bilities of a BAS-equipped vehicle
must never be exploited in a reck-
less or dangerous manner that
could jeopardize the user's safety or
the safety of others.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY
CONTROL (ESC)
This system enhances directional con-
trol and stability of the vehicle under
various driving conditions. The ESC
corrects for oversteering and under-
steering the vehicle by applying the
brake of the appropriate wheel. En-
gine power may also be reduced to
assist in counteracting the condition
of oversteer or understeer and help
the vehicle maintain the desired path.
The ESC uses sensors in the vehicle to
determine the path that the driver
intends to steer the vehicle and com-
pares it to the actual path of the ve-
hicle. When the actual path does not match the intended path, the ESC
applies the brake of the appropriate
wheel to assist in counteracting the
condition of oversteer or understeer.
 Oversteer - when the vehicle is
turning more than appropriate for
the steering wheel position.
 Understeer - when the vehicle is turning less than appropriate for
the steering wheel position.
WARNING!
The Electronic Stability Control
(ESC) cannot prevent the natural
laws of physics from acting on the
vehicle, nor can it increase the trac-
tion afforded by prevailing road
conditions. ESC cannot prevent ac-
cidents, including those resulting
from excessive speed in turns, driv-
ing on very slippery surfaces, or
hydroplaning. Only a safe, atten-
tive, and skillful driver can prevent
accidents. The capabilities of an
ESC equipped vehicle must never
be exploited in a reckless or danger-
ous manner which could jeopardize
the user’s safety or the safety of
others. ESC Operating Modes
The ESC system has two available
operating modes:
ESC On
This is the normal operating mode for
the ESC. Whenever the vehicle is
started, the ESC system will be in this
mode. This mode should be used for
most driving conditions. The ESC
should only be turned OFF for spe-
cific reasons as noted in the following
paragraphs.
Partial Off
The “Partial Off” mode is intended
for times when a more spirited driving
experience is desired. It is also in-
tended for driving in deep snow, sand,
or gravel. This mode disables the TCS
portion of the ESC and raises the
threshold for ESC activation, which
allows for more wheel spin than what
ESC normally allows.
The “ESC Off” switch is located on the
switch bank in the center of the instru-
ment panel. To enter the “Partial Off”
mode, momentarily press the “ESC
217

Off” switch and the “ESC Activation/
Malfunction Indicator Light” will illu-
minate. To turn the ESC on again, mo-
mentarily press the “ESC Off” switch
and the “ESC Activation/Malfunction
Indicator Light” will turn off.NOTE:
 When in “Partial Off” mode, theTCS functionality of ESC, (ex-
cept for the limited slip feature
described in the TCS section),
has been disabled and the “ESC
Off Indicator Light” will be illu-
minated. All other stability fea-
tures of ESC function normally.
When in “Partial Off” mode, the
engine power reduction feature
of TCS is disabled, and the en-
hanced vehicle stability offered
by the ESC system is reduced.
 To improve the vehicle's traction when driving with snow chains,
or when starting off in deep
snow, sand, or gravel, it may be
desirable to switch to the “Par-
tial Off” mode by momentarily
pressing the “ESC Off” switch. Once the situation requiring
“Partial Off” mode is overcome,
turn the ESC on again by mo-
mentarily pressing the “ESC Off”
switch. This may be done while
the vehicle is in motion.
HILL START ASSIST (HSA)
The HSA system is designed to assist
the driver when starting a vehicle
from a stop on a hill. HSA will main-
tain the level of brake pressure the
driver applied for a short period of
time after the driver takes their foot
off of the brake pedal. If the driver
does not apply the throttle during this
short period of time, the system will
release brake pressure and the vehicle
will roll down the hill. The system will
release brake pressure in proportion
to the amount of throttle applied as
the vehicle starts to move in the in-
tended direction of travel.
WARNING!There may be situations on minor
hills (i.e., less than 8%), with a
loaded vehicle, or while pulling a
(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)trailer, when the system will not
activate and slight rolling may occur.
This could cause a collision with
another vehicle or object. Always
remember the driver is responsible
for braking the vehicle.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.
218

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
activate and slight rolling may oc-
cur. This could cause a collision
with another vehicle or object. Al-
ways remember the driver is re-
sponsible 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
released, there may not be enough
brake pressure to hold the vehicle
and trailer on a hill and this could
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
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. Failure to fol-
low 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. Al-
ways remember to use the park-
ing brake while parking on a hill
and that the driver is responsible
for braking the vehicle. NOTE:
The HSA system may also
be turned on and off if the vehicle
is equipped with the Electronic
Vehicle Information Center (EVIC).
Refer to “Electronic Vehicle Infor-
mation Center (EVIC)” in “Under-
standing Your Instrument Panel”
for further information.
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.
219

WARNING!
Overloading of your tires is danger-
ous. Overloading can cause tire
failure, affect vehicle handling, and
increase your stopping distance.(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
Use tires of the recommended load
capacity for your vehicle. Never
overload them.
227

TIRES — GENERAL
INFORMATION
TIRE PRESSURE
Proper tire inflation pressure is essen-
tial to the safe and satisfactory opera-
tion of your vehicle. Three primary
areas are affected by improper tire
pressure:
SafetyWARNING!
 Improperly inflated tires are dan-gerous and can cause collisions.
 Under-inflation increases tire
flexing and can result in over-
heating and tire failure.
 Over-inflation reduces a tire's ability to cushion shock. Objects
on the road and chuckholes can
cause damage that result in tire
failure.
 Over-inflated or under-inflated
tires can affect vehicle handling
and can fail suddenly, resulting in
loss of vehicle control.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
 Unequal tire pressures can cause steering problems. You could lose
control of your vehicle.
 Unequal tire pressures from one side of the vehicle to the other can
cause the vehicle to drift to the
right or left.
 Always drive with each tire in- flated to the recommended cold
tire inflation pressure.
Economy
Improper inflation pressures can
cause uneven wear patterns to de-
velop across the tire tread. These ab-
normal wear patterns will reduce
tread life resulting in a need for earlier
tire replacement. Under-inflation also
increases tire rolling resistance result-
ing in higher fuel consumption.
Ride Comfort And Vehicle
Stability
Proper tire inflation contributes to a
comfortable ride. Over-inflation pro-
duces a jarring and uncomfortable
ride. TIRE INFLATION
PRESSURES
The proper cold tire inflation pressure
is listed on the driver's side “B” Pillar
or rear edge of the driver's side door.
Some vehicles may have Supplemen-
tal Tire Pressure Information for ve-
hicle loads that are less than the maxi-
mum loaded vehicle condition. If
needed, these pressure conditions will
be found in the “Supplemental Tire
Pressure Information” section of this
manual.
The pressure should be checked and
adjusted as well as inspecting for signs
of tire wear or visible damage at least
once a month. Use a good quality
pocket-type gauge to check tire pres-
sure. Do not make a visual judgement
when determining proper inflation.
Radial tires may look properly in-
flated even when they are under-
inflated.
228

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
condition.
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 ve-
hicle under maximum load is dan-
gerous. The added strain on your
tires could cause them to fail. You
could have a serious collision. Do
not drive a vehicle loaded to the
maximum capacity 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.
229

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 com-
pact spare by looking at the spare tire
description on the Tire and Loading
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 designation.
Example: T145/80D18 103M.T, S = Temporary Spare TireSince this tire has limited tread life the
original equipment tire should be re-
paired (or replaced) and reinstalled on
your vehicle at the first opportunity.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 ve-
hicle 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 Information Placard lo-
cated on the driver’s side door
opening. Replace (or repair) the
original equipment tire at the first
opportunity and reinstall it on your
vehicle. Failure to do so could result
in loss of vehicle control.
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.
230

WARNING!
Fast spinning tires can be danger-
ous. Forces generated by excessive
wheel speeds may cause tire dam-
age 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 sec-
onds continuously when you are
stuck, and do not let anyone near a
spinning wheel, no matter what the
speed.TREAD WEAR INDICATORSTread 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
follow this warning can result in
sudden tire failure. You could lose
control and have a collision result-
ing 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 to always respect the
sizes of the tires given in the Registra-
tion Documentation/Certificate and
that you use tires equivalent to the
originals in size, quality and perfor-
mance when replacement is needed.
(Refer to the paragraph on “Tread
Wear Indicators”). Refer to the “Tire
and Loading Information” placard
for the size designation 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 Information 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
1 — Worn Tire
2 — New Tire
231