2012 Lancia Delta Owner handbook (in English)

SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE247
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.

248SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
WHEELS AND TYRES
Check the pressure of each tyre, including the space-saver
wheel, approximately every two weeks and before long
journeys: the pressure should be checked with the tyre
rested and cold.
It is normal for the pressure to increase as the car is used;
see the “Wheels” paragraph in chapter “6” for the cor-
rect tyre inflation pressure.
Incorrect pressure causes abnormal tyre wear fig. 5:
A normal pressure: tread evenly worn.
B low pressure: tread particularly worn at the edges.
C high pressure: tread particularly worn in the centre.
The tyres must be replaced when the tread is less than
1.6 mm thick. In all cases, follow the laws in force in
the country where you are driving.
fig. 5L0E0096m
IMPORTANT NOTES
❍Where possible, avoid braking suddenly, wheel-spin-
ning and crashing into curbs, potholes or other ob-
stacles. Driving for long stretches over bumpy roads
can damage the tyres;
❍check the tyres regularly for cuts on the sides, swelling
or irregular tread wear. Go to a Lancia Dealership
if required.
❍avoid overloading the car when travelling: this may
cause serious damage to the wheels and tyres;
❍if a tyre is punctured, stop immediately and change
it to avoid damage to the tyre, wheel rim, suspension
and steering system;
❍the tyre ages even if rarely used. Cracks in the tread
and on the sidewalls are a sign of ageing. Have the
tyres checked by skilled personnel if they have been
fitted for longer than six years. Remember to check
the space-saver wheel very carefully;

SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE249
5
❍when replacing the tyres, always fit new tyres, avoid-
ing those of dubious origin;
❍If a tyre is replaced, you should also change the in-
flation valve;
❍to allow even wear between the front and rear tyres,
it is advisable to switch them every 10-15 thousand
kilometres, keeping them on the same side of the car
so as not to reverse the direction of rotation.
Remember that the road holding qualities of
your car also depend on the correct inflation
pressure of the tyres.
If the pressure is too low the tyre will get
overheated, with the risk of serious damage
to the tyre.
Avoid moving the tyres from the right side
of the vehicle to the left side and vice versa.
Do not repaint alloy wheel rims at temper-
atures higher than 150 °C. The mechanical
specifications of the wheels might be ad-
versely affected.

250SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
RUBBER HOSES
As far as the brake system and fuel rubber hoses are con-
cerned, follow the “Scheduled Servicing Programme” in
this chapter carefully.
Ozone, high temperatures and prolonged lack of fluid in
the system may cause hardening and cracking of the
hoses, with possible leaks. Careful checking is therefore
necessary.
WINDSCREEN/REAR WINDOW
WIPER
BLADES
Periodically clean the rubber part using special products;
TUTELA PROFESSIONAL SC 35 is recommended.
Replace the blades if the rubber edge is deformed or worn.
In any case, it is advisable to replace them approximately
once a year.
A few simple precautions can reduce the possibility of
damage to the blades:
❍make sure that the rubber part is not frozen to the
windscreen in sub-zero temperatures. Use an an-
tifreeze product to release it if required;
❍remove any snow from the glass: in addition to pro-
tecting the blades, this prevents effort from the motor
and overheating;
❍do not operate the windscreen and the rear screen
wipers on dry glass.
Driving with worn wiper blades is a seri-
ous hazard, because visibility is reduced
in bad weather.

SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE251
5
Changing the windscreen wiper blades fig. 6
Proceed as follows:
❍lift the windscreen wiper arm and position the blade
so that it forms an angle of 90° with the arm;
❍press tab A and remove the blade from the arm;
❍insert the new blade making sure it is locked into
place.
fig. 6L0E0097m
Changing the rear window wiper blade fig. 7
Proceed as follows:
❍raise the cover A and remove the arm from the car,
slackening the nut B that fastens it to the pivot pin;
❍fit the new arm, positioning it correctly, and fully
tighten the nut;
❍lower the cover.
fig. 7L0E0098m

252SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
SPRAY NOZZLES
Windscreen washer fig. 8
If the jet of fluid is inadequate, firstly check that there is
fluid in the reservoir (see “Checking fluid levels” in this
chapter).
Then check that the nozzle holes are not clogged, if nec-
essary clean them using a needle.
The windscreen jets are directed by adjusting the nozzle
angle.
The jets should be directed at about a third of the height
from the top edge of the windscreen.
IMPORTANT In versions with a sun roof, make sure that
the sun roof is closed before operating the front jets.
fig. 8L0E0099m
Rear window washer fig. 9
The rear window washer jets are fixed. The nozzle holder
is on the rear window.
fig. 9L0E0100m

SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE253
5
BODYWORK
PROTECTION FROM ATMOSPHERIC AGENTS
The main causes of corrosion are the following:
❍atmospheric pollution;
❍salty air and humidity (coastal areas, or hot humid
climates);
❍seasonal environmental conditions.
The abrasive action of wind-borne atmospheric dust and
sand, as well as mud and gravel raised by other cars is
also not to be underestimated.
On your car, Lancia has implemented the best manufac-
turing technologies to effectively protect the bodywork
against corrosion.These include:
❍paint products and systems which give the car a spe-
cial resistance to corrosion and abrasion;
❍use of galvanised (or pre-treated) steel sheets with
high resistance to corrosion;
❍spraying the underbody, engine compartment, wheel
arch internal parts and other elements with highly
protective wax-based products;
❍spraying protective plastic materials in the most ex-
posed areas: underdoor, inner wing parts, edges, etc.;
❍using “open” boxed sections to prevent condensation
and pockets of moisture from causing rust inside.
BODY AND UNDERBODY WARRANTY
Your car is covered by warranty against perforation due
to rust of any original element of the structure or body.
For the general terms of this warranty, refer to the War-
ranty Booklet.

254SERVICING AND MAINTENANCE
Dry the less visible parts particularly carefully, such as
the door frames, bonnet and the headlight frames, where
water may stagnate more easily. The car should not be
taken to a closed area immediately, but left outside so that
residual water can evaporate.
Do not wash the car after it has been left in the sun or
with the bonnet hot: this may alter the shine of the paint-
work.
Exterior plastic parts must be cleaned in the same way as
the rest of the car.
Where possible, do not park under trees; the resinous
substance that many species release give the paint a dull
appearance and increase the possibility of triggering rust-
ing processes. ADVICE FOR PRESERVING THE BODYWORK
Paint
Paintwork does not only serve an aesthetic purpose, but
also protects the underlying sheet metal.
Touch up abrasions and scratches immediately to prevent
rust formation. Use only original paint products for
touch-ups (see “Bodywork paint identification plate” in
the “Technical specifications” section).
Normal maintenance of paintwork consists in washing
the car: the frequency depends on the conditions and en-
vironment where the car is used. For example, in highly
polluted areas, or if the roads are sprayed with salt, it is
wise to wash the car more frequently.
To correctly wash the vehicle, proceed as follows:
❍if taking your car through an automatic car wash, re-
move the aerial from the roof to avoid damaging it;
❍in washing stations keep the steam jet/high pressure
washing nozzles at least 40 cm away from the body-
work to prevent damage. It should be remembered
that the build up of water can damage the car over
a period of time;
❍wash the body using a low pressure jet of water;
❍wipe a sponge with a slightly soapy solution over the
bodywork, frequently rinsing the sponge;
❍rinse well with water and dry with a jet of air or a
chamois leather.