253
Remember that until the
engine has started, the
brake booster and power
steering systems will not work
and a greater effort will therefore
be required to press the brake
pedal and turn the steering
wheel. For cars equipped with
turbosupercharger in
particular, but generally
for any kind of cars, avoid abrupt
accelerations immediately before
turning the engine off. A quick
burst on the accelerator serves
absolutely no practical purpose,
wastes fuel and may damage seri-
ously the turbosupercharger
rotor bearings.EMERGENCY START-UP
If the Lancia CODE system fails to
recognise that code transmitted by
the ignition key (symbol Ytogeth-
er with message “VEHICLE PRO-
TECTION SYSTEM FAULT” on the
multifunction display) the emer-
gency start-up can be performed by
using the CODE card code.
For the correct procedure see chap-
ter “In an emergency”.
Before opening the lug-
gage compartment bonnet
to reload the battery or to
connect an auxiliary battery,
carefully read and comply with
the instructions contained in the
paragraph “If battery is to be dis-
connected” in the chapter “In an
emergency”.Never bump start the
engine (by pushing, tow-
ing or coasting downhill)
as this could cause fuel to flow
into the catalytic exhaust system
and damage it beyond repair.
IMPORTANTIf the engine turns
off while the car is running, the
Lancia CODE symbol Yand the
message “VEHICLE PROTECTION
SYSTEM FAULT” may appear on
the multifunction display when the
engine starts again. In this case
check that the warning light switch-
es off when turning the engine off
and on again with the car stationary.
Otherwise contact aLancia
Dealership.
254
Never leave unsuper-
vised children in the car;
always remove the keys
and take them with you when you
leave the car.
If the CID device is
inside the car, the engine
can be started: therefore,
we recommend that you take the
greatest care since, in this cir-
cumstances, the engine could be
started unlawfully or by children
left unattended inside the car.PARKING
To park the car, proceed as fol-
lows:
– Stop the engine.
– Check for electric parking brake
engagement.
– Engage the 1
stgear if the car is
facing uphill or reverse if facing
downhill.
– In automatic gearbox versions
put selector to P.
– Leave the front wheels steered so
to stop the car immediately if the
parking brake is accidentally
released.
On versions equipped with sunroof
(where provided), the upper part of
the sunroof incorporates a set of
solar cells that feed the climate con-
trol system fan at first speed when
the car is parked to reduce the tem-
perature inside the passenger com-
partment.Never leave the ignition
key at MAR when the
engine is off to prevent
draining the battery.
IMPORTANTBest operation of
the fan when the car is parked is
obtained by closing completely the
windows and sunroof. Furthermore,
to check operation at first speed of
the fan, disengage air vents and set
air distribution from central dash-
board vents only before leaving the
car.
255
SAFE DRIVING
In designing THESIS, LANCIA has
made every effort to come up with a
car able to provide driver and pas-
senger with top-class levels of safety.
Nevertheless it is always the behav-
iour of the person at the wheel that
determines road safety.
Below you will find some simple
tips to help you travel in safety
under different conditions. You will
no doubt be familiar with many of
them already, but it will be useful to
read them all carefully.
BEFORE GETTING BEHIND
THE WHEEL
– Make sure all lights, including
the headlights, are working proper-
ly.
– Adjust the position of the seats,
steering wheel, driving and door
mirrors properly for the best driving
position.
– Carefully adjust the head
restraints so that the back of the
head and not the nape of the neck is
supported.Make sure that nothing (mats etc.)
gets in the way of the pedals when
they are pushed down.
– Make sure that any child
restraint systems (child seats, carri-
ers etc.) are properly fixed on the
rear seat.
– Place any objects in the boot in
such a way that they cannot be
thrown forwards in the event of an
accident.
– Do not eat a heavy meal before
travelling. Light eating will help
keep your reflexes prompt. Above
all, do not have anything alcoholic to
drink.
Periodically, remember to check:
– tyre pressure and conditions;
– engine oil level;
– coolant level and cooling system
conditions;
– brake fluid level;
– power steering fluid level;
– windscreen washer fluid level. WHEN TRAVELLING
– The first rule of safe driving is
prudence.
– Prudence also means putting
yourself into a position where you
can predict wrong or imprudent
behaviour from other drivers.
– Stick closely to the rules of the
road in the particular country where
the vehicle is being driven and,
above all, do not exceed speed limits.
– Ensure that, besides yourself, all
the other passengers in the vehicle
have their seat belts fastened, that
children are sitting in the appropri-
ate child seats and any animals in
the car are placed in suitable com-
partments.
– You should be physically fit and
mentally alert before setting out on
long journeys.
256
Make sure that any mats
are appropriate in size:
any hindrance, even
slight, to the braking system may
require a higher pedal stroke
than normal.
Water, ice and salt on
the road may deposit on
brake disks, reducing
braking efficiency the first time
they are used.Driving while drunk or
under the influence of
drugs or certain medi-
cines is dangerous both for you
and other road users.
Always fasten both front
and back seat belts,
including child restraint
systems if there are children trav-
elling with you. Travelling with
seat belts unfastened increases
the risk of injury or death if you
are involved in a collision. Take care when fitting
additional spoilers, alloy
rims and wheel caps: they
might reduce ventilation of the
brakes, thus their efficiency dur-
ing abrupt braking or long down-
hill slopes.
Never drive with objects
on the floor in front of the
driver’s seat: they might
get stuck under the pedals mak-
ing it impossible to accelerate or
brake.
257
– Keep a greater safety distance
from the cars in front of you than
during daylight hours: it is hard to
judge how fast other cars are going
when all you can see are their lights.
– Only use main beam headlights
when you are driving outside town
and when you are sure they do not
annoy other drivers.
– Dip your headlights as soon as
you see cars coming in the other
direction and pass them with the
headlights dipped.
– Keep all lights clean.
– Be careful of animals crossing the
road when driving in the country.
DRIVING IN THE RAIN
Rain and wet road surfaces spell
danger.
All manoeuvres are more difficult
on a wet road because the grip of the
wheels on the tarmac is greatly
reduced. This is why braking dis-
tances are much longer and road-
holding is lower.Here is some advice for driving in
the rain:
– Reduce speed and maintain a
greater safety distance from the cars
in front.
– If it is raining particularly heavi-
ly, visibility is also reduced. In these
cases, switch on the dipped head-
lights even if it is still daylight so you
can be seen more easily.
– Do not drive through puddles at
speed and hold on tightly to the
wheel if you do: a puddle taken at
high speed might cause you to lose
control of the car (“aquaplaning”).
– Move the ventilation controls to
the position for demisting the win-
dows (see the section “Getting to
know your car”), so to avoid visibil-
ity problems.
– Periodically check the condition
of the windscreen wiper blades. – Do not drive too many hours at a
time but stop at intervals to stretch
your legs and recoup your energy.
– Make sure the air in the car is
being changed continuously.
– Never coast downhill (i.e.: with
the engine off): if you do, you lose
the aid of engine braking and power
brakes so that braking requires
greater effort.
DRIVING AT NIGHT
There are the main rules to follow
when you are driving at night.
– Drive especially carefully: it is
harder to drive at night.
– Slow down especially if the road
is not lit.
– At the first signs of sleepiness,
stop: continuing would be a risk for
yourself and everybody else. Only
start driving again when you have
had enough rest.
259
DRIVING ON SNOW AND ICE
– Here are some tips for driving in
these conditions:
– Keep your speed down.
– Use winter tyres or snow chains
for driving on snow covered roads;
see the respective paragraphs in this
chapter.
– Prevalently use the engine brake
and avoid sudden braking.
– Do not accelerate suddenly and
avoid swerving.
– In winter, even apparently dry
roads may have icy patches. Be care-
ful therefore when driving over
stretches that do not get much expo-
sure to the sun or are lined with trees
or rocks where ice might not have
melted.
– Keep a good distance from the
vehicles in front.DRIVING WITH ABS
The ABS is a braking system that
essentially offers two advantages:
1) It prevents wheel lock and con-
sequent skidding in emergency
stops, particularly when the road
does not offer much grip.
2) It makes possible to brake and
steer at the same time so you can
avoid unexpected obstacles and
direct the car where you want while
braking.
To get the most out of ABS:
– During emergency stops or when
grip conditions are very poor, you
will feel a slight pulsation on the
brake pedal. This is the sign that the
ABS is working. Do not release the
brake pedal but continue to press so
as not to interrupt the braking
action.– The ABS prevents the wheels
from locking, but it does not
increase actual grip conditions
between tyre and road. Therefore,
even if your car is fitted with ABS,
keep a safe distance from the car in
front of you and keep your speed
down when driving into bends.
ABS serves to increase your control
over the car, not to enable you to go
faster.
268
Snow chains cannot be
fitted on 225/50R17 (94W),
225/50ZR17 (94W) and
245/40ZR18 tyres, since they
interfere with the front suspension.Keep your speed
down when snow
chains are fitted.
Do not exceed 50 km/h. Avoid
potholes, steps and pavements
and do not drive for long dis-
tances on roads not covered with
snow to prevent damaging the car
and the roadbed.
Disconnect the ASR sys-
tem when snow chains
are fitted. Press the ASR-
OFF button: button led on.
SNOW CHAINS
The use of snow chains is regulated
by the legislation in force in the
country the car is driven in.
Snow chains must only be applied
to the driving wheels (front wheels).
Versions
2.0 TB
2.4 - 2.4 CAE
2.4 JTD
2.4 JTD 20V2.4 JTD 20VCAE
3.0 V6 CAE
3.2 V6 CAE
Refer to the following
table for information on
the wheels where snow
chains can be fitted; follow the
prescriptions.
We recommend to contact a
Lancia Dealershipbefore buying
or installing snow chains.
Check the tautness of the chains
after driving some ten metres.
Tyres on which chains
can be fitted
215/60 R16 95W
215/60 ZR16 95W
215/60 R16 95H M+S
215/60 R16 95W
215/60 ZR16 95W
215/60 R16 95H M+S
215/60 R16 95W
215/60 ZR16 95W
215/60 R16 95H M+S
215/60 R16 95W
215/60 ZR16 95W
215/60 R16 95H M+S
Type of snow chains to
be used
Low profile snow chains with
maximum height off the tyre
of 10mm
273
7) Start the engine.
8) When the engine has started,
remove the leads in the reverse order
to before: D,C,Band finally A.
IMPORTANTIf the engine fails to
start after a few attempts, do not keep
turning the key but have the car seen
to at aLancia Dealership.
9) Put the cover back on the bat-
tery positive terminal by fitting the
lock flanges in.
10) Put the cover back and retight-
en the knob.
11) Close the boot tailgate.IMPORTANTWhen the tailgate is
closed, the boot latch is not locked.
To lock it, turn the metal insert of
the key anticlockwise in the latch.
Do not carry out this
procedure if you lack
experience: if it is not
done correctly it can cause very
intense electrical discharges and
the battery might even explode.
Do not to put naked flames or
lighted cigarettes near the battery
and do not cause sparks: risk of
explosion and fire.
Never use a battery
charger to jump start the
engine: you could damage
the electronic system, with spe-
cial reference to ignition and
injection control unit.
BUMP STARTING
Do not bump start by pushing,
towing or coasting downhill. This
way of starting could cause a rush of
fuel into the catalytic converter and
damage it beyond repair.
Remember that ifthe engine is not
running, the brake booster and the
power steering will not work. You
therefore have to use considerably
more effort on both the brake pedal
and the steering wheel.
Never connect the nega-
tive terminals of the two
batteries directly: sparks
could ignite the flammable gas
from the battery. If the auxiliary
battery is installed on another
car, prevent accidental contact
between the metal parts of the
two vehicles.