2012 Lancia Flavia warning

In unusual situations involving
grossly malfunctioning engine opera-
tion, a scorching odor may suggest
severe and abnormal catalyst over-
heating. If this occurs, stop the ve-
hicle, turn off the engine and allow it
to cool. Service, including a tune-up
to manufacturer's specifications,
should be obtained immediately.
To minimize the possibility of cata-
lytic converter damage:
 Do not shut off the engine or inter- rupt the ignition, when the trans-
mission is in gear and the vehicle is
in motion.
 Do not try to start the engine by pushing or towing the vehicle.
 Do not idle the engine with any spark plug wires disconnected or
removed, such as when diagnostic
testing, or for prolonged periods
during very rough idle or malfunc-
tioning operating conditions. COOLING SYSTEM
WARNING!
 When working near the radiator
cooling fan, disconnect the fan
motor lead or turn the ignition
switch to the LOCK position. The
fan is temperature controlled and
can start at anytime the ignition
switch is in the ON position.
 You or others can be badly burned
by hot engine coolant (antifreeze)
or steam from your radiator. If
you see or hear steam coming
from under the hood, do not open
the hood until the radiator has
had time to cool. Never try to open
a cooling system pressure cap
when the radiator is hot.
CAUTION!
Car maintenance should be done at
a LANCIA Dealership. For routine
and minor maintenance operations
you wish to carry out yourself, we do
recommend you have the proper
equipment, genuine LANCIA spare
parts and the necessary fluids; do
not however carry out these opera-
tions if you have no experience.
Coolant ChecksCheck engine coolant (antifreeze) pro-
tection every 12 months (before the on-
set of freezing weather, where appli-
cable). If the engine coolant (antifreeze)
is dirty or rusty in appearance, the sys-
tem should be drained, flushed, and re-
filled with fresh engine coolant (anti-
freeze). Check the front of the A/C
condenser for any accumulation of bugs,
leaves, etc. If dirty, clean by gently
spraying water from a garden hose ver-
tically down the face of the condenser.Check the coolant recovery bottle
tubing for brittle rubber, cracking,
tears, cuts, and tightness of the con-
nection at the bottle and radiator. In-
spect the entire system for leaks.
190

NOTE:
Mixing engine coolant (antifreeze)
types will decrease the life of the
engine coolant (antifreeze) and
will require more frequent coolant
changes.
Cooling System Pressure Cap
The cap must be fully tightened to
prevent loss of engine coolant (anti-
freeze), and to ensure that the engine
coolant (antifreeze) will return to the
radiator from the coolant recovery
bottle.
The cap should be inspected and
cleaned if there is any accumulation
of foreign material on the sealing sur-
faces.
WARNING!
 The warning words “DO NOTOPEN HOT” on the cooling sys-
tem pressure cap are a safety pre-
caution. Never add engine coolant
(antifreeze) when the engine is
overheated. Do not loosen or re-
move the cap to cool an over-
heated engine. Heat causes pres-
sure to build up in the cooling
system. To prevent scalding or in-
jury, do not remove the pressure
cap while the system is hot or un-
der pressure.
 Do not use a pressure cap other
than the one specified for your
vehicle. Personal injury or engine
damage may result.
Disposal Of Used Engine Coolant
Used ethylene glycol based engine
coolant (antifreeze) is a regulated
substance requiring proper disposal.
Check with your local authorities to
determine the disposal rules for your
community. To prevent ingestion by
animals or children, do not store eth-
ylene glycol based engine coolant (an-
tifreeze) in open containers or allow it to remain in puddles on the ground. If
ingested by a child or pet, seek emer-
gency assistance immediately. Clean
up any ground spills immediately.
Coolant Level
Four-Cylinder Engines –
the cool-
ant bottle provides a quick visual
method for determining that the en-
gine coolant (antifreeze) level is ad-
equate. With the engine idling and
warm to normal operating tempera-
ture, the level of the engine coolant
(antifreeze) in the bottle should be
between the “ADD” and “FULL”
lines, shown on the bottle.
The radiator normally remains com-
pletely full, so there is no need to
remove the radiator cap unless check-
ing for engine coolant (antifreeze)
freeze point or replacing coolant. Ad-
vise your service attendant of this. As
long as the engine operating tempera-
ture is satisfactory, the coolant bottle
need only be checked once a month.
When additional engine coolant (an-
tifreeze) is needed to maintain the
proper level, it should be added to the
coolant bottle. Do not overfill.
192

Points To Remember
NOTE:
When the vehicle is stopped after a
few kilometers of operation, you
may observe vapor coming from
the front of the engine compart-
ment. This is normally a result of
moisture from rain, snow, or high
humidity accumulating on the ra-
diator and being vaporized when
the thermostat opens, allowing hot
engine coolant (antifreeze) to enter
the radiator.
If an examination of your engine com-
partment shows no evidence of radia-
tor or hose leaks, the vehicle may be
safely driven. The vapor will soon dis-
sipate.
 Do not overfill the coolant recoverybottle.
 Check engine coolant (antifreeze) freeze point in the radiator and in
the coolant recovery bottle. If en-
gine coolant (antifreeze) needs to
be added, the contents of the cool-
ant recovery bottle must also be
protected against freezing.  If frequent engine coolant (anti-
freeze) additions are required, or if
the level in the coolant recovery
bottle does not drop when the en-
gine cools, the cooling system
should be pressure tested for leaks.
 Maintain engine coolant (anti- freeze) concentration at 50% en-
gine coolant (antifreeze) (mini-
mum) and distilled water for
proper corrosion protection of your
engine, which contains aluminum
components.
 Make sure that the radiator and coolant recovery bottle overflow
hoses are not kinked or obstructed.
 Keep the front of the radiator clean. If your vehicle is equipped with air
conditioning, keep the front of the
condenser clean.
 Do not change the thermostat for Summer or Winter operation. If re-
placement is ever necessary, install
ONLY the correct type thermostat.
Other designs may result in unsat-
isfactory cooling performance, poor
gas mileage, and increased emis-
sions. BRAKE SYSTEM
In order to assure brake system per-
formance, all brake system compo-
nents should be inspected periodi-
cally. Refer to the “Maintenance
Schedule” for the proper maintenance
intervals.
WARNING!
Riding the brakes can lead to brake
failure and possibly a collision. Driv-
ing with your foot resting or riding
on the brake pedal can result in ab-
normally high brake temperatures,
excessive lining wear, and possible
brake damage. You would not have
your full braking capacity in an
emergency.CAUTION!
Car maintenance should be done at
a LANCIA Dealership. For routine
and minor maintenance operations
you wish to carry out yourself, we do
recommend you have the proper
equipment, genuine LANCIA spare
parts and the necessary fluids; do
not however carry out these opera-
tions if you have no experience.
193

Master Cylinder – Brake Fluid
Level Check
Check the fluid level in the master
cylinder immediately if the brake sys-
tem warning light indicates system
failure.
Check the fluid level in the master
cylinder when performing underhood
services.
Clean the top of the master cylinder
area before removing the cap. If nec-
essary, add fluid to bring the fluid
level up to the requirements described
on the brake fluid reservoir.
Overfilling of fluid is not recom-
mended because it may cause leaking
in the system.
Fluid level can be expected to fall as
the brake pads wear. Brake fluid level
should be checked when pads are re-
placed. However, low fluid level may
be caused by a leak and a checkup
may be needed.
Use only manufacturer's recom-
mended brake fluid. Refer to “Fluids,
Lubricants, and Genuine Parts” in
“Maintaining Your Vehicle” for fur-
ther information.
WARNING!
 Use the manufacturer’s recom- mended brake fluid or a quality-
equivalent product. Refer to “Flu-
ids, Lubricants, and Genuine
Parts” in “Maintaining Your Ve-
hicle” for further information. Us-
ing the wrong type of brake fluid
can severely damage your brake
system and/or impair its perfor-
mance.
 To avoid contamination from for-
eign matter or moisture, use only
new brake fluid or fluid that has
been in a tightly closed container.
Keep the master cylinder reservoir
cap secured at all times. Brake
fluid in a open container absorbs
moisture from the air resulting in
a lower boiling point. This may
cause it to boil unexpectedly dur-
ing hard or prolonged braking,
resulting in sudden brake failure.
This could result in a collision.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
 Overfilling the brake fluid reser-
voir can result in spilling brake
fluid on hot engine parts, causing
the brake fluid to catch fire. Brake
fluid can also damage painted and
vinyl surfaces, care should be
taken to avoid its contact with
these surfaces.
 Do not allow petroleum based
fluid to contaminate the brake
fluid. Brake seal components
could be damaged, causing partial
or complete brake failure. This
could result in a collision.
AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
The automatic transmission and dif-
ferential assembly are contained
within a single housing.
The fluid level in the automatic trans-
mission should be checked whenever
the vehicle is serviced. Operation with
an improper fluid level will greatly
reduce the life of the transmission and
the fluid.
194

 If you carry special cargo such aschemicals, fertilizers, de-icer salt,
etc., be sure that such materials are
well packaged and sealed.
 If a lot of driving is done on gravel roads, consider mud or stone
shields behind each wheel.
 Use Touch Up Paint or equivalent on scratches as soon as possible.
Your authorized dealer has touch
up paint to match the color of your
vehicle.
Wheel And Wheel Trim Care
All wheels and wheel trim, especially
aluminum and chrome-plated wheels
should be cleaned regularly with a
mild soap and water to prevent corro-
sion. To remove heavy soil and/or ex-
cessive brake dust, use a nonabrasive,
non-acidic cleaner. Do not use scour-
ing pads, steel wool, a bristle brush, or
metal polishes. Do not use oven
cleaner. Avoid automatic car washes
that use acidic solutions or harsh
brushes that may damage the wheels’
protective finish. Interior Care
Interior trim should be cleaned start-
ing with a damp cloth. Do not use
harsh cleaners.
Your leather upholstery can be best
preserved by regular cleaning with a
damp soft cloth. Small particles of
dirt can act as an abrasive and dam-
age the leather upholstery and should
be removed promptly with a damp
cloth. Stubborn soils can be removed
easily with a soft cloth and appropri-
ate products. Care should be taken to
avoid soaking your leather upholstery
with any liquid. Please do not use
polishes, oils, cleaning fluids, sol-
vents, detergents, or ammonia-based
cleaners to clean your leather uphol-
stery. Application of a leather condi-
tioner is not required to maintain the
original condition.
WARNING!
Do not use volatile solvents for
cleaning purposes. Many are poten-
tially flammable, and if used in
closed areas they may cause respira-
tory harm.Cleaning Headlights
Your vehicle has plastic headlights
that are lighter and less susceptible to
stone breakage than glass headlights.
Plastic is not as scratch resistant as
glass and therefore different lens clean-
ing procedures must be followed.To minimize the possibility of scratch-
ing the lenses and reducing light out-
put, avoid wiping with a dry cloth. To
remove road dirt, wash with a mild
soap solution followed by rinsing.
Do not use abrasive cleaning compo-
nents, solvents, steel wool or other
aggressive material to clean the
lenses.
Glass Surfaces
All glass surfaces should be cleaned
on a regular basis with any commer-
cial household-type glass cleaner.
Never use an abrasive type cleaner.
Use caution when cleaning the inside
rear window equipped with electric
defrosters or the right rear quarter
window equipped with the radio an-
tenna. Do not use scrapers or other
sharp instrument that may scratch
the elements.
197

Thousands Of Kilometers24 48 72 96 120 144 168 192
Months 12 24 36 48 60 72 84 96
Check operation of lighting system (headlamps, direction
indicators, hazard warning lights, luggage compartment,
passenger compartment, glove compartment, instrument
panel warning lights, etc.).        
Check operation of windshield washer system and adjust
jets if necessary.        
Check windshield/rear window wiper blade position/
wear.        
Check cleanliness of hood and tailgate locks and cleanli-
ness and lubrication of linkages.        
Visually inspect condition of: exterior bodywork, under-
body protection, pipes and hoses (exhaust - fuel system -
brakes), rubber elements (boots, sleeves, bushes, etc.).        
Check conditions and wear of front disc brake pads.        
Check conditions and wear of rear disc brake pads.        
Check and, if necessary, top up fluid levels (brakes, wind-
shield washer, battery, engine coolant, etc.).        
Visually inspect the condition of accessory drive belt/s. 
Check the handbrake lever stroke and adjust it, if neces-
sary. 

Check exhaust gas emissions.        
Check engine management system operation (via diag-
nostic socket).        
Change the automatic transmission fluid and filter. 
Replace spark plugs. 
213

Thousands Of Kilometers24 48 72 96 120 144 168 192
Months 12 24 36 48 60 72 84 96
Replace air filter cartridge.    
Change engine oil and replace oil filter.*
Change brake fluid (or every 24 months).  
Replace pollen filter.        
* The engine oil and the oil filter must
be changed when the instrument
panel warning light comes on or in
any case every 12 months.
Periodic Checks
Every 1 000 km or before long jour-
neys, check and, if necessary, restore:
 engine coolant;
 brake fluid;
 windshield washer fluid level;
 tire inflation pressure and condi- tion;
 operation of lighting system (head- lights, direction indicators, hazard
warning lights, etc.);
 operation of windshield washer/ wiper system and positioning/wear
of windshield/rear window wiper
blades. Every
3 000 km, check and top up, if
required, the engine oil level.
Heavy-Duty Use Of The Car
If the car is used mainly under one of
the following conditions:
 towing a trailer or caravan;
 dusty roads;
 short, repeated journeys (less than 7-8 km) at sub-zero outside tem-
peratures;
 engine often idling or driving long distances at low speeds or long pe-
riods of idleness.
You should perform the following in-
spections more frequently than shown
on the Scheduled Servicing Plan:
 check front disc brake pad condi- tions and wear;  check cleanliness of hood and trunk
locks, cleanliness and lubrication of
linkage;
 visually inspect conditions of: en- gine, transmission, pipes and hoses
(exhaust - fuel system - brakes) and
rubber elements (boots - sleeves -
bushes - etc.);
 check battery charge and battery fluid level (electrolyte);
 visually inspect condition of the ac- cessory drive belts;
 check and, if necessary, change en- gine oil and replace oil filter;
 check and, if necessary, replace pol- len filter;
 check and, if necessary, replace air cleaner.
214

About Your Brakes . . . . . . . . . 145
ABS
(Anti-Lock Brake System) . . . 146
Adding Engine Coolant
(Antifreeze) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Adding Washer Fluid . . . . . . . 188
Additives, Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Air Cleaner, Engine
(Engine Air Cleaner Filter) . . . 184
Air Conditioner
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Air Conditioning Filter . . . 128,186
Air Conditioning Refrigerant . . 186
Air Conditioning
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124,186
Air Conditioning, Operating
Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Air Pressure, Tires . . . . . . . . . 151
Airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Airbag Deployment . . . . . . . . . 34
Airbag Light . . . . 32,33,36,46,108
Airbag Maintenance . . . . . . . . . 35
Airbag, Side . . . . . . . . . . 31,32,33
Airbag, Window
(Side Curtain) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Alarm (Security Alarm) . . . . . . 14
Alarm System
(Security Alarm) . . . . . . . . 14,112Alterations/Modifications,
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Anti-Lock Warning Light . . . . 146
Anti-Theft Security Alarm
(Theft Alarm) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Antifreeze
(Engine Coolant) . . . . . . . 191,206
Disposal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Appearance Care . . . . . . . . . . 196
Ashtray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Auto Down Power Windows . . . 19
Auto Unlock, Doors . . . . . . . . . 18
Automatic Door Locks . . . . . . . 18
Automatic Headlights . . . . . . . 91
Automatic Oil Change
Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . 110,117
Automatic Temperature
Control (ATC) . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Automatic Transaxle . . . . . 12,134 Adding Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Selection Of Lubricant . . . . 207
Automatic Transmission . . 135,194 Adding Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Fluid and Filter Changes . . . 195
Fluid Level Check . . . . . . . 195
Fluid Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Gear Ranges . . . . . . . . . . . 137 Special Additives . . . . . . . . 195
Autostick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Keyless Transmitter
Replacement (RKE) . . . . . . . 17
Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Belts, Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23,45
Body Mechanism
Lubrication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Brake Assist System . . . . . . . . 148
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Brake System . . . . . . . . . . . . 193 Anti-Lock (ABS) . . . . . . . . 146
Fluid Check . . . . . . . . 194,207
Master Cylinder . . . . . . . . . 194
Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . 108
Brake, Parking . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Brake/Transmission
Interlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Break-In Recommendations,
New Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . 203
Bulbs, Light . . . . . . . . . . . 47,203
Calibration, Compass . . . . . . . 118
216