2012 Lancia Flavia Owner handbook (in English)

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

Selection Of Lubricant
It is important that the proper lubri-
cant is used in the transmission to
assure optimum transmission perfor-
mance. Use the manufacturer’s rec-
ommended transmission fluid or a
quality-equivalent product. Refer to
“Fluids, Lubricants, and Genuine
Parts” in “Maintaining Your Vehicle”
for further information. It is impor-
tant that the transmission fluid be
maintained at the prescribed level us-
ing the recommended fluid.CAUTION!Using a transmission fluid other than
the manufacturer's recommended
fluid or a quality-equivalent product
may cause deterioration in transmis-
sion shift quality and/or torque con-
verter shudder. Using a transmission
fluid other than the manufactur er's
recommended fluid or a quality-
equivalent product will require more
frequent fluid and filter changes. Re-
fer to “Fluids, Lubricants, and Genu-
ine Parts” in “Maintaining Your Ve-
hicle” for further information.
Special Additives
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF)
is an engineered product and its per-
formance may be impaired by supple-
mental additives. Therefore, do not
add any fluid additives to the trans-
mission. The only exception to this
policy is the use of special dyes to aid
in detecting fluid leaks. In addition,
avoid using transmission sealers as
they may adversely affect seals.CAUTION!
Do not use chemical flushes in your
transmission as the chemicals can
damage your transmission compo-
nents. Such damage is not covered
by the New Vehicle Limited War-
ranty.
Fluid Level Check
Routine fluid level checks are not re-
quired, therefore the transmission has
no dipstick. Your authorized dealer
can check your transmission fluid
level using a special service dipstick. If you notice fluid leakage or trans-
mission malfunction, visit your au-
thorized dealer immediately to have
the transmission fluid level checked.
Operating the vehicle with an im-
proper fluid level can cause severe
transmission damage.
Transmission Fluid And Filter
Changes
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule”
for the proper maintenance intervals.
In addition, change the fluid and filter
if the transmission is disassembled for
any reason.
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.
195

APPEARANCE CARE AND
PROTECTION FROM
CORROSION
Protection Of Body And Paint
From Corrosion
Vehicle body care requirements vary
according to geographic locations and
usage. Chemicals that make roads
passable in snow and ice and those
that are sprayed on trees and road
surfaces during other seasons are
highly corrosive to the metal in your
vehicle. Outside parking, which ex-
poses your vehicle to airborne con-
taminants, road surfaces on which the
vehicle is operated, extreme hot or
cold weather and other extreme con-
ditions will have an adverse effect on
paint, metal trim, and underbody
protection.
The following maintenance recom-
mendations will enable you to obtain
maximum benefit from the corrosion
resistance built into your vehicle.
What Causes Corrosion?
Corrosion is the result of deterioration
or removal of paint and protective
coatings from your vehicle.The most common causes are:
 Road salt, dirt, and moisture accu-
mulation.
 Stone and gravel impact.
 Insects, tree sap, and tar.
 Salt in the air near seacoast locali- ties.
 Atmospheric fallout/industrial pol- lutants.
Washing
 Wash your vehicle regularly. Al- ways wash your vehicle in the shade
using a mild car wash soap, and
rinse the panels completely with
clear water.
 Use a high quality cleaner wax to remove road film, stains and to pro-
tect your paint finish. Take care
never to scratch the paint.
 Avoid using abrasive compounds and power buffing that may dimin-
ish the gloss or thin out the paint
finish.
CAUTION!
Do not use abrasive or strong clean-
ing materials such as steel wool or
scouring powder that will scratch
metal and painted surfaces.
Special Care
 If you drive on salted or dusty roads or if you drive near the ocean, hose
off the undercarriage at least once a
month.
 It is important that the drain holes in the lower edges of the doors,
rocker panels, and trunk be kept
clear and open.
 If you detect any stone chips or scratches in the paint, touch them
up immediately. The cost of such
repairs is considered the responsi-
bility of the owner.
 If your vehicle is damaged due to an accident or similar cause, which de-
stroys the paint and protective
coating, have your vehicle repaired
as soon as possible. The cost of such
repairs is considered the responsi-
bility of the owner.
196

 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

When cleaning the rear view mirror,
spray cleaner on the towel or rag that
you are using. Do not spray cleaner
directly on the mirror.
Cleaning Plastic Instrument
Cluster Lenses
The lenses in front of the instruments
in this vehicle are molded in clear
plastic. When cleaning the lenses,
care must be taken to avoid scratch-
ing the plastic.
1. Clean with a wet, soft rag. A mild
soap solution may be used, but do not
use high alcohol content or abrasive
cleaners. If soap is used, wipe clean
with a clean damp rag.
2. Dry with a soft cloth.
Seat Belt Maintenance
Do not bleach, dye, or clean the belts
with chemical solvents or abrasive
cleaners. This will weaken the fabric.
Sun damage can also weaken the fab-
ric.
If the belts need cleaning, use a mild
soap solution or lukewarm water. Do
not remove the belts from the car to
wash them. Dry with a soft cloth.Replace the belts if they appear frayed
or worn or if the buckles do not work
properly.
CLEANING CENTER
CONSOLE CUPHOLDERS
Removal
Grab the rubber portion of the cup-
holder and lift upward.
Cleaning
Soak the rubber cupholder liner in a
mixture of medium hot tap water and
one teaspoon of mild liquid dish soap.
Let soak for approximately one hour.
After one hour pull the liner from the
water and dip it back into the water
about six times. This will loosen any
remaining debris. Rinse the liner thor-
oughly under warm running water.
Shake the excess water from the liner
and dry the outer surfaces with a
clean soft cloth.
Installation
Align the liner in the cupholder and
press down firmly.
CONVERTIBLE TOP CARE
CAUTION!
Failure to follow these cautions may
cause interior water damage, stains
or mildew on the top material:
 Avoid high-pressure car washes,
as they can damage the top mate-
rial. Also, increased water pres-
sure may force past the weather
strips.
 Remove any standing water from
the top and dry the surface before
opening it. Operating the top,
opening a door or lowering a win-
dow while the top is wet may al-
low water to drip into the vehicles
interior.
 Use care when washing the ve-
hicle, water pressure directed at
the weather strip seals may cause
water to leak into the vehicles in-
terior.
198

Immediate removal of any contami-
nant is recommended. Regular wash-
ing of the top will enhance its life and
appearance, and make successive
cleanings easier. Do not subject the
top to excessive heat. Frequently
vacuum the top and storage compart-
ment.
Washing
Hand washing is highly recom-
mended. Automatic car washing
equipment can damage the top mate-
rial. If you must use an automatic car
wash, soft cloth systems are preferred.CAUTION!
Avoid high-pressure car washes, as
they can damage the top material.
Also, increased water pressure may
force water past the weather strips.
General Cleaning
Careful vacuuming of the top before
washing is helpful in removing dust
and other foreign particles. Wash in
partial shade instead of direct sun.
Wet the entire vehicle before washing
the top. The top should be washed
with a soft, natural bristle scrub brush, and a mild soap solution such
as liquid dishwashing soap. Do not
use detergent.
CAUTION!
Never use an abrasive type cleaner
or bleaches. Cleaners should not
contain silicones, organic solvents,
petroleum distillates, or plasticizers.
Always wait until the top is thor-
oughly dry before lowering it into
the storage area.
Scrub in all directions, covering an
area of about two square feet at a
time. Avoid heavy scrubbing. Rinse
the entire vehicle with water to re-
move all soap and dirt from the top
fabric and to prevent streaking on
painted and chrome surfaces. Allow
the top to dry before lowering. Vacu-
uming the top with a wet/dry shop
vacuum will decrease the top's drying
time, ensure removal of all dirt, and
delete streaks in the material. Mul-
tiple cleanings may be necessary to
remove stubborn stains. If stains per-
sist, contact your local dealership for
further suggestions. Additional Cleaning Procedure
For additional cleaning assistance in
removing stubborn stains, apply ap-
propriate cleaners to the complete
stain, extending 50 mm beyond the
stain. With a soft bristle brush, scrub
in all directions over the stain. Avoid
heavy scrubbing. Rinse the area with
warm water. If the stain is still appar-
ent, repeat the cleaning procedure.
When the stain is no longer showing,
rinse the complete top with warm wa-
ter. Let the top dry before lowering it.
Protection
For appearance purposes, you may
wish to protect your cloth top periodi-
cally. A fabric protectant is suggested.
The top should be clean and dry be-
fore application of the protectant.
CAUTION!
Avoid getting the fabric protectant
on the surrounding weather strips,
moldings, paint, or glass. Damage to
these items might occur.
199

WEATHER STRIP CARE –
SOFT AND HARD TOP
Lubricate all top and door glass
weather strips periodically with a
weather strip lubricant to keep them
soft and pliable.FUSES
INTEGRATED POWER
MODULE
The Integrated Power Module is lo-
cated in the engine compartment near
the air cleaner assembly. This center
contains cartridge fuses and mini
fuses. A label that identifies each
component may be printed on the in-
side of the cover. Refer to the graphic
below for FUSES/TIPM location.
Cavity
Cartridge Fuse Mini Fuse Description
1 40 Amp Green —Power Top Module
2 —20 Amp Yellow Brake Vacuum Pump
3 —10 Amp RedCenter High Mounted Stop Light (CHMSL)/
Brake Switch
4 —10 Amp Red Ignition Switch
5 —20 Amp Yellow Trailer Tow (when present)
6 —10 Amp Red Power Mirror Switch/Climate Controls
7 —30 Amp Green Ignition Off Draw (IOD) Sense 1
8 —30 Amp Green Ignition Off Draw (IOD) Sense 2
9 40 Amp Green Battery Feed – Power Seats (for versions/
markets, where provided)
10 —20 Amp Yellow Instrument Panel/Power Locks/Interior
Lights
11 —15 Amp Lt Blue Selectable Power Outlet (Inside Center Arm
Rest)
12 —20 Amp Yellow —
13 —20 Amp Yellow Ignition/Cigar Lighter
Integrated Power Module
200

CavityCartridge Fuse Mini Fuse Description
14 —10 Amp Red Instrument Panel
15 40 Amp Green —Radiator Fan Relay
16 —15 Amp Lt. Blue Sunroof (for versions/markets, where pro-
vided)
17 —10 Amp RedWireless Control Module (WCM)/Clock/
Steering Control Module (SCM)
18 40 Amp Green —Auto Shutdown (ASD) Relay
19 —20 Amp Yellow Audio Amplifier (for versions/markets,
where provided)
20 —15 Amp Lt. Blue Radio
21 —10 Amp Red Siren (for versions/markets, where provided)
22 —10 Amp RedIgnition Run – Climate Controls/Hot Cup-
holder (for versions/markets, where pro-
vided)
23 —15 Amp Lt. Blue Auto Shutdown (ASD) Relay 3
24 —25 Amp Natural Sunroof (for versions/markets, where pro-
vided)
25 —10 Amp RedIgnition Run — Heated Mirrors (for
versions/markets, where provided)
26 —15 Amp Lt. Blue Auto Shutdown (ASD) Relay 2
27 —10 Amp RedIgnition Run – Occupant Classification Mod-
ule (OCM)/Occupant Restraint Controller
(ORC)
28 —10 Amp RedIgnition Run — Occupant Classification
Module (OCM)/Occupant Restraint Control-
ler (ORC)
29 — —Hot Car (No Fuse Required)
30 —20 Amp Yellow Ignition Run – Heated Seats (for versions/
markets, where provided)
201