Page 161 of 276

160SAFETY
DRIVER’S KNEE AIR BAG fig, 9
(for versions/markets, where provided)
This consists of an instant-inflating cushion housed into
a special compartment provided for the purpose under the
lower steering column guard at driver’s knee level. It is de-
signed to give further protection in the event of frontal
crash.MANUAL DEACTIVATION OF PASSENGER’S
FRONT AIR BAG AND SIDE BAG
Should it be absolutely necessary to carry a child on the
front seat, the passenger’s front air bag and the Side Bag
can be deactivated.
The instrument panel warning light
“will stay on glow-
ing steadily until the passenger’s front air bag and the Side
Bag is reactivated.
IMPORTANT To manually deactivate the passenger’s front
air bag and the Side Bag (for versions/markets, where pro-
vided), refer to paragraphs “Multifunctional display” and
“Reconfigurable multifunctional display” in section “Get-
ting to know your car”.
SEVERE DANGER: Do not arrange child
seats facing backwards if the passenger’s
front airbag is on. Deployment of the airbag
in an accident could cause fatal injuries to
the baby. Always deactivate the passenger’s
airbag when placing a child seat on the front seat.
Move the passenger’s seat as far back as possible to
avoid contact between the child seat and the dash-
board. Although this is not mandatory by law, the
airbag should be immediately reactivated when
children are no longer carried to ensure better pro-
tection to adults.
fig. 9L0E0069m
143-164 Delta 4ed gb 12-02-2010 10:20 Pagina 160
Page 162 of 276
SAFETY161
2
SIDE AIRBAGS
(Side bag - Window bag)
SIDE BAG fig. 10
This consists of an instant-inflating cushion housed in the
front seat backrest. It protects the chest and the hips of
the passengers in the event of a side impact of medium-
high severity.WINDOW BAGS fig. 11
It is formed by two "curtain" window bags are located be-
hind the side roof upholstery and are covered by special
trimming. They were designed to protect the head of front
and rear passengers in case of side collisions, thanks to the
wide cushion inflation surface.
IMPORTANT In the event of a side crash, the system pro-
vides best protection if the passenger sits on the seat in a
correct position, thus allowing correct window bag de-
ployment.
fig. 10L0E0070mfig. 11L0E0071m
143-164 Delta 4ed gb 12-02-2010 10:20 Pagina 161
Page 163 of 276

162SAFETY
IMPORTANT The front and /or side air bags may activate
in the event of sharp knocks to the underbody of the ve-
hicle (e.g. impact with steps, pavements, potholes or road
bumps etc.).
IMPORTANT A small amount of dust will be released
when the airbags are deployed. The dust is not harmful
and is not the result of a fire. Furthermore, the surface of
the deployed bag and the interior of the car may be cov-
ered in a dusty residue: This dust may irritate the skin and
the eyes. Wash with mild soap and water in the event of
exposure. The expiry date of the explosive charge and the
clock wire are shown on a specific label on the door edge.
Refer to the Lancia Dealership when it’s time to replace
them.
Do not rest your head, arms or elbows on the
door, on the windows and on the window bag
area to avoid injuries during inflation. Nev-
er lean your head, arms or elbows out of window.
IMPORTANT Pretensioners, front airbags and side bags
are deployed according to different logics on the basis of
the type of collision. Non-deployment of one of the devices
does not necessarily indicate a system malfunction.
IMPORTANT If any safety device has activated due to
an accident, refer to a Lancia Dealership to replace them
and check system integrity.
Airbag checking, repair and replacement must only be car-
ried out c/o a Lancia Dealership. If you are having the car
scrapped, have the airbag system deactivated at a Lan-
cia Dealership first. If the car changes ownership, the new
owner must be informed of how to use the airbags and the
above warnings: s/he must also be given this “Owner’s
Handbook”.
143-164 Delta 4ed gb 12-02-2010 10:20 Pagina 162
Page 164 of 276

SAFETY163
2
GENERAL WARNINGS
If when turning the key to MAR the warning
light¬does not turn on or stays on during
car travel (together with the message on the
multifunctional display, where provided), a fail-
ure may have occurred in the restraint systems. In
this case the airbags or pretensioners may not be
deployed after an impact or, in a minor number of
cases, they may be deployed accidentally. Contact
a Lancia Dealership immediately to have the sys-
tem checked before driving off.
Do not cover the front seat backrest with covers if
a Side-bag is fitted.
Do not travel with objects in your lap, in front
of your chest, or between your lips (pipes,
pencils, etc.). In the event of crash with airbag
activation, you may be seriously injured.
Always drive keeping your hands on the
steering wheel crown so that, in the event of
airbag activation, it can inflate without find-
ing obstacles. Do not drive with your body bent for-
ward. Keep the backrest an upright position, cor-
rectly resting your back on it.
If someone tried to steal or damage your car,
and in the event of floods, have the air bag
system checked by a Lancia Dealership.
143-164 Delta 4ed gb 12-02-2010 10:20 Pagina 163
Page 165 of 276

164SAFETY
With ignition key inserted and turned to
MAR, the air bags can activate even if the en-
gine is off and the car is at a standstill, if it
is hit by another vehicle. For this reason, children
must never sit on the front seat, even if the car is not
moving. We remind you that if the key is inserted
and turned to STOP, no safety device (air bag or
pretensioner) activates following a collision; non-
deployment in such cases is consequently not the
sign of a fault.
When the key is turned to MAR, the warn-
ing light “turns on, blinking for a few sec-
onds, to remind you that the passenger air
bag will activate in the event of a collision, then it
turns off.
Do not wash the seats with pressurized wa-
ter or steam (manually or at the automatic
washing stations).
The front airbags deploy in the event of more
severe collisions than those required for de-
ploying the pretensioners. For collisions in
the range between the two activation thresholds,
pretensioner activation is normal.
Do not hook rigid objects to clothes hangers
and support handles.
The airbag does not replace the seat belts, it
increases their effectiveness. Furthermore,
since front airbags are not deployed in low
speed collisions, side collisions, rear-end shunts
or roll-overs, the passengers are only protected by
the seat belts which must be fastened at all times.
143-164 Delta 4ed gb 12-02-2010 10:20 Pagina 164
Page 166 of 276
STARTING UP AND DRIVING165
3
Starting the engine .......................................................................... 166
Handbrake ...................................................................................... 168
Using the manual gearbox ............................................................... 169
Reducing running costs..................................................................... 170
Towing trailers ................................................................................. 172
Snow tyres ....................................................................................... 173
Snow chains .................................................................................... 174
Storing the car ................................................................................. 174
165-174 Delta 3ed gb 11-11-2009 12:10 Pagina 165
Page 167 of 276

166STARTING UP AND DRIVING
STARTING THE ENGINE
The car is provided with an electronic engine lock device:
refer to “The Lancia CODE system” paragraph in chap-
ter “1” if you cannot start the engine.
The engine may be noisier during the first few seconds
of operation, particularly after a long period of inactivi-
ty. This does not impair functionality and reliability and
is typical of hydraulic tappets: the distribution system
selected for the petrol engine of your car in order to lim-
it the maintenance required.
In the first period of use, we recommend
avoiding excessive stress for the car (for in-
stance excessive accelerations, extended trav-
el at maximum speed, sudden braking etc.).
With engine off, do not leave the key in the ig-
nition switch on MAR to prevent draining the
battery.
Is is dangerous to let the engine run in en-
closed spaces. The engine depletes oxygen and
discharges carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide
and other toxic gases.
Remember that the brake servo and electric
power steering are not operational until the
engine has been started, therefore more effort
than usual is required on the brake pedal and steer-
ing wheel.
165-174 Delta 3ed gb 11-11-2009 12:10 Pagina 166
Page 168 of 276

STARTING UP AND DRIVING167
3
STARTING PROCEDURE FOR PETROL
VERSIONS
Proceed as follows:
❍engage the handbrake;
❍put the gear lever into neutral;
❍press the clutch pedal down to the floor without touch-
ing the accelerator;
❍turn the ignition key to AVV and release it the moment
the engine starts.
If the engine does not start at the first attempt, return
the ignition key to STOP before repeating the procedure.
If, when the ignition key is at MAR the
Ywarning light
remains lit together with warning light U, turn the key
to STOP and then back to MAR; if the warning light re-
mains lit, try with the other keys provided with the car.
Contact a Lancia Dealership if you still cannot start the
engine.
PROCEDURE FOR DIESEL VERSIONS
Proceed as follows:
❍engage the handbrake;
❍put the gear lever into neutral;
❍turn the ignition key to MAR: instrument panel warn-
ing lights
mandYwill light up;
❍wait for warning lights
Yandm, to turn off. The
hotter the engine is, the quicker this will happen;❍press the clutch pedal down to the floor without touch-
ing the accelerator;
❍turn the ignition key to AVV as soon as the
mwarn-
ing light goes out. Waiting too long will waste the work
done by the glow plugs.
Release the key as soon as the engine starts.
IMPORTANT When the engine is cold, the accelerator
pedal must be completely released when the key is turned
to AVV.
If the engine does not start at the first attempt, return the
ignition key to STOP before repeating the procedure. If,
when the ignition key is at MAR the
Ywarning light re-
mains lit, turn the key to STOP and then back to MAR; if
the warning light remains lit, try with the other keys pro-
vided with the car. Contact a Lancia Dealership if you still
cannot start the engine.
Warning light mwill blink for 60 seconds
after starting or during prolonged cranking
to indicate a fault in the glow plug preheat-
ing system. Use the car normally if the engine starts
and contact the Lancia Dealership as soon as pos-
sible.
165-174 Delta 3ed gb 11-11-2009 12:10 Pagina 167