2012 Lancia Flavia service interval

INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on selecting your
new LANCIA vehicle. Be assured that
it represents precision workmanship,
distinctive styling, and high quality -
all essentials that are traditional to
our vehicles.
Before you start to drive this vehicle,
read this Owner's Manual and all the
supplements. Be sure you are familiar
with all vehicle controls, particularly
those used for braking, steering, and
transmission shifting. Learn how your
vehicle handles on different road sur-
faces. Your driving skills will improve
with experience, but as in driving any
vehicle, take it easy as you begin. Al-
ways observe local laws wherever you
drive.
NOTE:
After reviewing the owner infor-
mation, it should be stored in the
vehicle for convenient referencing
and remain with the vehicle when
sold.
Failure to operate this vehicle cor-
rectly may result in loss of control or a
collision.Operating this vehicle at excessive
speeds or while intoxicated may result
in loss of control, collision with other
vehicles or objects, going off the road,
or overturning; any of which may lead
to serious injury or death. Also, failure
to use seat belts subjects the driver
and passengers to a greater risk of
injury or death.
To keep your vehicle running at its
best, have your vehicle serviced at
recommended intervals by an autho-
rized dealer who has the qualified per-
sonnel, special tools, and equipment
to perform all service.
The manufacturer and its distributors
are vitally interested in your complete
satisfaction with this vehicle. If you
encounter a service or warranty prob-
lem, which is not resolved to your
satisfaction, discuss the matter with
your dealer's management.
Your authorized dealer will be happy
to assist you with any questions about
your vehicle.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
ALL MATERIAL CONTAINED IN
THIS PUBLICATION IS BASED ON
THE LATEST INFORMATION
AVAILABLE AT TIME OF PUBLI-
CATION APPROVAL. THE RIGHT
IS RESERVED TO PUBLISH REVI-
SIONS AT ANY TIME.
This Owner's Manual has been pre-
pared with the assistance of service
and engineering specialists to ac-
quaint you with the operation and
maintenance of your new vehicle. It is
supplemented by a Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet and various
customer-oriented documents. You
are urged to read these publications
carefully. Following the instructions
and recommendations in this Owner's
Manual will help assure safe and en-
joyable operation of your vehicle.
After you have read the Owner’s
Manual, it should be stored in the
vehicle for convenient reference and
remain with the vehicle when sold.
4

Air Bag Warning LightYou will want to have the
air bags ready to inflate for
your protection in a colli-
sion. The Air Bag Warning
Light monitors the internal circuits
and interconnecting wiring associated
with air bag system electrical compo-
nents. While the air bag system is
designed to be maintenance free, if
any of the following occurs, have an
authorized dealer service the air bag
system immediately.
 The Air Bag Warning Light does not come on during the four to eight
seconds when the ignition switch is
first turned to the ON/RUN posi-
tion.
 The Air Bag Warning Light remains on after the four to eight-second
interval.
 The Air Bag Warning Light comes on intermittently or remains on
while driving.
NOTE:
If the speedometer, tachometer, or
any engine related gauges are not
working, the Occupant Restraint Controller (ORC) may also be dis-
abled. The air bags may not be
ready to inflate for your protec-
tion. Promptly check the fuse
block for blown fuses. Refer to the
label located on the inside of the
fuse block cover for the proper air
bag fuses. See your authorized
dealer if the fuse is good.
EVENT DATA RECORDER
(EDR)
This vehicle is equipped with an event
data recorder (EDR). The main pur-
pose of an EDR is to record, in certain
crash or near crash-like situations,
such as an air bag deployment or hit-
ting a road obstacle, data that will
assist in understanding how a vehi-
cle’s systems performed. The EDR is
designed to record data related to ve-
hicle dynamics and safety systems for
a short period of time, typically
30 seconds or less. The EDR in this
vehicle is designed to record such data
as:
 How various systems in your ve-
hicle were operating;  Whether or not the driver and pas-
senger safety belts were buckled/
fastened;
 How far (if at all) the driver was depressing the accelerator and/or
brake pedal; and,
 How fast the vehicle was traveling.
These data can help provide a better
understanding of the circumstances in
which crashes and injuries occur.
NOTE:
EDR data are recorded by your ve-
hicle only if a non-trivial crash
situation occurs; no data are re-
corded by the EDR under normal
driving conditions and no per-
sonal data (e.g., name, gender, age,
and crash location) are recorded.
However, other parties, such as
law enforcement, could combine
the EDR data with the type of per-
sonally identifying data routinely
acquired during a crash investiga-
tion.
To read data recorded by an EDR,
special equipment is required, and ac-
cess to the vehicle or the EDR is
needed. In addition to the vehicle36

Vacation Storage
Anytime you store your vehicle, or
keep it out of service (i.e., vacation)
for two weeks or more, run the air
conditioning system at idle for about
five minutes in the fresh air and high
blower settings. This will ensure ad-
equate system lubrication to minimize
the possibility of compressor damage
when the system is started again.
Window Fogging
Interior fogging on the windshield can
be quickly removed by turning the
mode selector to Defrost. The Defrost/
Floor mode can be used to maintain a
clear windshield and provide suffi-
cient heating. If side window fogging
becomes a problem, increase blower
speed. Vehicle windows tend to fog on
the inside in mild but rainy or humid
weather.NOTE:
Recirculate without A/C should
not be used for long periods as
fogging may occur.
Side Window Demisters
A side window demister outlet is lo-
cated at each end of the instrument
panel. These non-adjustable outlets
direct air toward the side windows
when the system is in the FLOOR,
MIX, or DEFROST mode. The air is
directed at the area of the windows
through which you view the outside
mirrors.
Outside Air Intake
Make sure the air intake, located di-
rectly in front of the windshield, is
free of obstructions such as leaves.
Leaves collected in the air intake may
reduce airflow, and if they enter the
plenum, they could plug the water
drains. In winter months, make sure
the air intake is clear of ice, slush, and
snow.A/C Air Filter
The A/C Filter prevents most dust
and pollen from entering the cabin.
The filter acts on air coming from
outside the vehicle and recirculated
air within the passenger compart-
ment. Refer to “Maintenance Proce-
dures” in “Maintaining Your Vehicle”
for A/C Air Filter service information
or see your authorized dealer for ser-
vice. Refer to “Maintenance Sched-
ules” for filter service intervals.
128

POWER STEERING
The standard power steering system
will give you good vehicle response
and increased ease of maneuverability
in tight spaces. The system will pro-
vide mechanical steering capability if
power assist is lost.
If for some reason the power assist is
interrupted, it will still be possible to
steer your vehicle. Under these condi-
tions, you will observe a substantial
increase in steering effort, especially
at very low vehicle speeds and during
parking maneuvers.
NOTE:
 Increased noise levels at the endof the steering wheel travel are
considered normal and do not
indicate that there is a problem
with the power steering system.
 Upon initial start-up in cold weather, the power steering
pump may make noise for a
short amount of time. This is due
to the cold, thick fluid in the
steering system. This noise
should be considered normal,
and it does not in any way dam-
age the steering system.
WARNING!
Continued operation with reduced
power steering assist could pose a
safety risk to yourself and others.
Service should be obtained as soon
as possible.CAUTION!
Prolonged operation of the steering
system at the end of the steering
wheel travel will increase the steer-
ing fluid temperature and it should
be avoided when possible. Damage
to the power steering pump may oc-
cur.
POWER STEERING FLUID
CHECK
Checking the power steering fluid
level at a defined service interval is
not required. The fluid should only be
checked if a leak is suspected, abnor-
mal noises are apparent, and/or the
system is not functioning as antici-
pated. Coordinate inspection efforts
through an authorized dealer.
CAUTION!
Do not use chemical flushes in your
power steering system as the chemi-
cals can damage your power steering
components. Such damage is not
covered by the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty.WARNING!
Fluid level should be checked on a
level surface and with the engine off
to prevent injury from moving parts
and to ensure accurate fluid level
reading. Do not overfill. Use only
manufactur er's recommended
power steering fluid.
If necessary, add fluid to restore to the
proper indicated level. With a clean
cloth, wipe any spilled fluid from all
surfaces. Refer to “Fluids, Lubri-
cants, and Genuine Parts” in “Main-
taining Your Vehicle” for further in-
formation.
144

The engine oil filler cap also shows the
recommended engine oil viscosity for
your vehicle. For information on en-
gine oil filler cap location, refer to
“Engine Compartment” in “Main-
taining Your Vehicle” for further in-
formation.
Synthetic Engine Oils
You may use synthetic engine oils pro-
vided the recommended oil quality
requirements are met, and the recom-
mended maintenance intervals for oil
and filter changes are followed.
Materials Added To Engine Oil
Do not add any supplemental materi-
als, other than leak detection dyes, to
the engine oil. Engine oil is an engi-
neered product and its performance
may be impaired by supplemental ad-
ditives.
Disposing Of Used Engine Oil And
Oil Filters
Care should be taken in disposing of
used engine oil and oil filters from
your vehicle. Used oil and oil filters,
indiscriminately discarded, can pres-
ent a problem to the environment.
Contact your authorized dealer, ser-vice station, or governmental agency
for advice on how and where used oil
and oil filters can be safely discarded
in your area.
ENGINE OIL FILTER
The engine oil filter should be re-
placed with a new filter at every en-
gine oil change.
Engine Oil Filter Selection
The manufactur
er's engines have a
full-flow type disposable oil filter. Use
a filter of this type for replacement.
The quality of replacement filters var-
ies considerably. Only high-quality
filters should be used to assure most
efficient service. LANCIA engine oil
filters are high-quality oil filters and
are recommended.
ENGINE AIR CLEANER
FILTER
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule”
for the proper maintenance intervals.
WARNING!
The air induction system (air
cleaner, hoses, etc.) can provide a
measure of protection in the case of
engine backfire. Do not remove the
air induction system (air cleaner,
hoses, etc.) unless such removal is
necessary for repair or maintenance.
Make sure that no one is near the
engine compartment before starting
the vehicle with the air induction
system (air cleaner, hoses, etc.) re-
moved. Failure to do so can result in
serious personal injury.
Engine Air Cleaner Filter
Selection
The quality of replacement engine air
cleaner filters varies considerably.
Only high quality filters should be
used to assure most efficient service.
LANCIA engine air cleaner filters are
a high quality filter and are recom-
mended.
184

AIR CONDITIONER
MAINTENANCE
For best possible performance, your
air conditioner should be checked and
serviced by an authorized dealer at
the start of each warm season. This
service should include cleaning of the
condenser fins and a performance
test. Drive belt tension should also be
checked at this time.CAUTION!
Do not use chemical flushes in your
air conditioning system as the
chemicals can damage your air con-
ditioning components. Such damage
is not covered by the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty.
WARNING!
 Use only refrigerants and com-pressor lubricants approved by
the manufacturer for your air con-
ditioning system. Some unap-
proved refrigerants are flammable
and can explode, injuring you.
Other unapproved refrigerants or
lubricants can cause the system to
fail, requiring costly repairs.
 The air conditioning system con-
tains refrigerant under high pres-
sure. To avoid risk of personal in-
jury or damage to the system,
adding refrigerant or any repair
requiring lines to be disconnected
should be done by an experienced
technician.
Refrigerant Recovery And
Recycling
R-134a air conditioning refrigerant is
a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) that is
endorsed by the Environmental Pro-
tection Agency and is an ozone-saving
product. However, the manufacturer
recommends that air conditioning
service be performed by authorized dealers or other service facilities using
recovery and recycling equipment.
NOTE:
Use only manufacturer approved
A/C System Sealers, Stop Leak
Products, Seal Conditioners, Com-
pressor Oil, and Refrigerants.
A/C AIR FILTER
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule”
for the proper maintenance intervals.
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.WARNING!
Do not remove the A/C Air Filter
while the blower is operating or per-
sonal injury may result.
186

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

MAINTENANCE
SCHEDULE
The Scheduled Maintenance services
listed in this manual must be done at
the times or mileages specified to pro-
tect your vehicle warranty and ensure
the best vehicle performance and reli-
ability. More frequent maintenance
may be needed for vehicles in severe
operating conditions, such as dusty
areas and very short trip driving. In-
spection and service should also be
done anytime a malfunction is sus-
pected.
The oil change indicator system will
remind you that it is time to take your
vehicle in for scheduled maintenance.On Electronic Vehicle Information
Center (EVIC) equipped vehicles “Oil
Change Required” will be displayed
in the EVIC and a single chime will
sound, indicating that an oil change is
necessary.
NOTE:
 The oil change indicator mes-
sage will not monitor the time
since the last oil change. Change
your vehicles oil if it has been
12 months since your last oil
change even if the oil change in-
dicator message is NOT illumi-
nated.  Under no circumstances should
oil change intervals exceed
12 000 km or 12 months, which-
ever comes first.
Your authorized dealer will reset the
oil change indicator message after
completing the scheduled oil change.
CAUTION!
Failure to perform the required
maintenance items may result in
damage to the vehicle.
Thousands Of Kilometers 24 48 72 96 120 144 168 192
Months 12 24 36 48 60 72 84 96
Flush and replace the engine coolant (or at 60 months). 
Inspect and replace PCV valve if necessary. 
Check battery charge status and possibly recharge.        
Check tire condition/wear and adjust pressure, if neces-
sary.        
212