184IN AN EMERGENCY
ENGINE STARTING
Go to a Lancia Dealership immediately if instrument
panel warning light
Yremains on constantly.
JUMP STARTING fig. 1
If the battery is flat, the engine may be started using an
auxiliary battery with the same capacity or a little higher
than the flat one.
fig. 1L0E0074m
Strictly avoid using a rapid battery charger
for jump starting: this could damage the
electronic systems and the engine fuel sup-
ply and ignition control units.
This starting procedure must be carried out
by expert personnel as incorrect manoeu-
vres can cause electrical discharges of con-
siderable intensity. Furthermore, battery fluid is
poisonous and corrosive: avoid contact with your
skin and eyes. Keep naked flames away from the
battery. No smoking. Do not cause sparks.
240SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
If the car must remain unused for a long
time at very low temperature, remove the
battery and bring it to a warm place, to
avoid freezing.
When you must perform any operation on
the battery or near it, always protect your
eyes with special goggles.
Incorrect assembly of electric and electronic
devices may cause severe damage to your
car. Contact a Lancia Dealership if you
want to install accessories (alarms, mobile phone,
etc.): they will suggest the most suitable devices
and advise you if a higher capacity battery needs
to be installed.
Batteries contain substances that can be very
dangerous for the environment. It is advis-
able to have the battery replaced by a Lan-
cia Dealership where it will be disposed of with re-
spect for the environment and according to legal
regulation.
SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE241
5
USEFUL ADVICE FOR EXTENDING
THE LIFE OF YOUR BATTERY
To avoid draining your battery and make it last longer,
observe the following instructions:
❍when you park the car, ensure the doors, tailgate and
bonnet are closed properly, to prevent any light from
remaining on inside the passenger’s compartment;
❍turn off the roof lights, although the car does have an
automatic system for switching off internal lights;
❍do not leave devices (e.g. car radio, hazard lights, etc.)
switched on for a long time when the engine is not
running;
❍before performing any operation on the electrical sys-
tem, disconnect the negative battery cable;
❍battery terminals should always be perfectly tight-
ened.
IMPORTANT If the charge level remains under 50% for
a long time, the battery is damaged by sulphation, re-
ducing its capacity and starting attitude.The battery will also be more at risk of freezing (this can
happen as early as −10 °C). In the case of prolonged idle-
ness, refer to the paragraph “Car inactivity”, in chapter
“3”.
If you decide to install electrical accessories after the car
has been purchased which require a permanent electric
power supply (alarm, etc.) or accessories which have
a serious impact on the electrical balance, seek assistance
from a Lancia Dealership because their qualified staff will
suggest the most suitable Lancia Lineaccessori devices
and assess the overall electric consumption, checking
whether the car’s electrical system can cope or whether
a more powerful battery is required.
Since these devices continue to consume energy even when
the engine is off, they gradually run down the battery.
