2011 Lancia Delta Owner handbook (in English)

168SAFETY
Never travel with objects on your lap, in
front of your chest or with something be-
tween your lips like a pipe or pencil, etc. In
the event of an impact where the air bags are de-
ployed this could cause serious injury.
Always keep your hands in the correct po-
sition on the steering wheel whilst driving so
that if the air bags are activated they can in-
flate properly. Do not drive with your body bent
forward. Keep the backrest in an upright position,
resting your back on it correctly.
If someone has tried to steal or damage your
car, and in the event of floods, have the air
bag system checked by a Lancia Dealership.
GENERAL WARNINGS
If when turning the key to MAR the warning
light¬does not turn on or if it stays on when
travelling, there could be a failure in the
safety systems; in this event air bags or preten-
sioners may not be deployed in case of impact or,
in a lower number of cases, they deploy acciden-
tally. Contact a Lancia Dealership immediately to
have the system checked.
Do not cover the front seat backrests with covers
if side bags are fitted.

2
SAFETY169
With ignition key inserted, on MAR, even if
the engine is off, the air bags can activate
with the car stopped, 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 re-
mind you that if the key is inserted and turned to
STOP, no safety device (air bag or pretensioner) is
activated 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, flashing 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 jets or steam (manually or at automatic
washing stations).
The front air bags 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 alone is normal.
Do not hook rigid objects to clothes hangers
and support handles.
The airbag does not replace seat belts; it in-
creases their effectiveness. Furthermore,
since front air bags 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.

170SAFETY
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STARTING AND DRIVING171
3
Engine starting ............................................................................172
Handbrake ..................................................................................175
Using the manual gearbox ...........................................................176
Fuel savings ................................................................................177
Towing trailers ............................................................................179
Snow tyres ..................................................................................180
Snow chains ................................................................................181
Car inactivity ..............................................................................181

172STARTING AND DRIVING
ENGINE STARTING
The car is fitted with an electronic engine lock device: if
the engine fails to start, see the paragraph on “Lancia
CODE system” in chapter “1”.
The engine may be noisier during the first few seconds of
operation, especially after a long period of inactivity. This
characteristic feature of the hydraulic tappet system does
not compromise functionality or reliability: the system
devised for your car was designed to limit maintenance
interventions.
In the first period of use, we recommend
avoiding excessive stress for the car (for in-
stance excessive accelerations, extended
travel at maximum speed, sudden braking etc.).
With engine off, do not leave the key in the
ignition switch on MAR–ON to prevent
draining the battery.
It is dangerous to let the engine run in en-
closed spaces. The engine consumes oxygen
and engine exhaust contains carbon dioxide,
carbon monoxide and other toxic gasses.
Remember that the brake servo and power
steering are not operational until the engine
has been started, therefore much effort than
usual is required on the brake pedal and steering
wheel.
STARTING PROCEDURE FOR PETROL VERSIONS
Proceed as follows:
❍engage the handbrake;
❍put the gear lever into neutral;
❍fully depress the clutch pedal without operating the
accelerator;
❍turn the ignition key to AVV and release it as soon
as the engine starts.

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STARTING AND DRIVING173
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 turned to MAR, the instru-
ment panel warning light
Yremains on together with
warning light U, turn the key to STOP and then back to
MAR; if the warning light remains on, try the other keys
provided with the vehicle.
Contact a Lancia Dealership if you still cannot start the
engine.
STARTING PROCEDURE FOR DIESEL VERSIONS
Proceed as follows:
❍engage the handbrake;
❍put the gear lever into neutral;
❍turn the ignition key to MAR: the warning lights
mandYon the instrument panel will turn on;
❍wait for the warning lights
Yandmto turn off.
The hotter the engine is, the quicker this will happen;
❍fully depress the clutch pedal without operating the
accelerator;
❍turn the ignition key to AVV as soon as warning light
mgoes out. Waiting too long will waste the work
done by the glow plugs.
Release the key as soon as the engine starts.IMPORTANT With the engine cold, the accelerator pedal
must be fully released when you turn the ignition key to
AV V.
If the engine does not start at the first attempt, return the
ignition key to STOP before repeating the procedure. If
instrument panel warning light
Yremains lit when the
ignition key is turned to MAR, turn the key to STOP and
then back to MAR; if the warning light remains lit, try the
other keys provided with the vehicle. Contact a Lancia
Dealership if you still cannot start the engine.
Warning light mwill flash for 60 seconds
after starting or during prolonged cranking
to indicate a fault with the glow plug heat-
ing system. You can use the car as usual if the en-
gine starts but you should contact a Lancia Deal-
ership as soon as possible.

174STARTING AND DRIVING
Never bump start the engine by pushing,
towing or coasting downhill. This could
cause a flow of fuel into the catalytic con-
verter and damage it beyond repair.
HOW TO WARM UP THE ENGINE
AFTER IT HAS JUST STARTED
Proceed as follows:
❍drive off slowly, letting the engine turn at medium
speed. Do not accelerate abruptly;
❍do not demand maximum performance for the first
few kilometres. Wait until the engine coolant gauge
starts moving.STOPPING THE ENGINE
Turn the ignition key to STOP while the engine is idling.
IMPORTANT After a taxing drive, you should allow the
engine to “catch its breath” before turning it off by let-
ting it idle to allow the temperature in the engine com-
partment to fall.
A quick burst on the accelerator before turn-
ing off the engine serves absolutely no prac-
tical purpose, it wastes fuel and is damag-
ing especially to turbocharged engines.

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STARTING AND DRIVING175
HANDBRAKE
The handbrake lever is located between the two front
seats.
Pull the lever upwards to operate the handbrake, until
the vehicle is braked.
The car should be braked after a few clicks
of the lever; if it is not, contact a Lancia
Dealership to have it adjusted.
When the handbrake is on and the ignition key is at MAR,
the instrument panel warning light xwill come on.
Proceed as follows to release the handbrake:
❍slightly lift the handbrake and press release button
A-fig. 1;
❍keep button A pressed and lower the lever. The warn-
ing light xon the instrument panel will turn off.
Press the brake pedal when carrying out this operation
to prevent the car from moving accidentally. PARKING THE VEHICLE
Proceed as follows:
❍stop the engine and engage the handbrake;
❍engage a gear (on a slope, engage first gear if the car
is facing uphill or reverse if it is facing downhill) and
leave the wheels steered.
If the car is parked on a steep slope, it is also advisable
to block the wheels with a wedge or stone.
Do not leave the ignition key turned to MAR to prevent
draining the battery. Always remove the key when you
leave the car.
Never leave children in the unattended car. Always re-
move the ignition key when leaving the car and take it
out with you.
fig. 1L0E0072m