2012 Lancia Thema automatic transmission

in PARK whenever the ignition switch
is in the OFF position.
BRAKE/TRANSMISSION
SHIFT INTERLOCK
SYSTEM
This vehicle is equipped with a Brake
Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI)
that holds the shift lever in the PARK
position unless the brakes are applied.
To move the shift lever out of the
PARK position, the ignition switch
must be turned to the ON/RUN or
START position (engine running or
not) and the brake pedal must be
pressed.
EIGHT-SPEED AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION – 3.6L
ENGINE
The transmission gear display
(PRND) (located in the instrument
panel cluster) indicates the transmis-
sion gear range. Transmission gear
state is also indicated in the display in
the shift knob. The shift lever is
spring-loaded and returns to a home
position when it is released. To select a
gear range, press the lock button on
the shift lever and move the lever rear-ward or forward. You must also press
the brake pedal to shift the transmis-
sion out of the PARK position (refer to
“Brake/Transmission Shift Interlock
System” in this section). To shift past
multiple gear ranges at once (such as
PARK to DRIVE), move the lever past
the first (or second) detent. Select the
DRIVE range for normal driving.
The electronically-controlled trans-
mission provides a precise shift sched-
ule. The transmission electronics are
self-calibrating; therefore, the first
few shifts on a new vehicle may be
somewhat abrupt. This is a normal
condition, and precision shifts will de-
velop within a few hundred kilome-
ters.
Shifting from DRIVE to PARK or RE-
VERSE should be done only after the
accelerator pedal is released and the
vehicle is stopped. Be sure to keep
your foot on the brake pedal when
moving the shift lever between these
gears.
The shift lever has PARK, REVERSE,
NEUTRAL, DRIVE, and LOW shift
positions. Using the LOW position
manually downshifts the transmission
to a lower gear based on vehicle speed.
GEAR RANGES
DO NOT race the engine when shift-
ing from PARK or NEUTRAL into
another gear range.
PARK
This range supplements the parking
brake by locking the transmission.
The engine can be started in this
range. Never attempt to use PARK
while the vehicle is in motion. Apply
the parking brake when leaving the
vehicle in this range.
When parking on a level surface, you
may place the shift lever in the PARK
position first, and then apply the
parking brake.
When parking on a hill, apply the
parking brake before placing the shift
lever in PARK. As an added precau-
tion, turn the front wheels toward the
curb on a downhill grade and away
from the curb on an uphill grade.
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until it stops. When released, the
lever will return to its home posi-
tion.
 With brake pedal released, look at the shift lever position display and
verify that it indicates the PARK
position.
REVERSE
This range is for moving the vehicle
backward. Shift into REVERSE only
after the vehicle has come to a com-
plete stop.
NEUTRAL
Use this range when the vehicle is
standing for prolonged periods with
engine running. The engine may be
started in this range. Set the parking
brake and shift the transmission into
PARK if you must leave the vehicle.WARNING!
Do not coast in NEUTRAL and
never turn off the ignition to coast
down a hill. These are unsafe prac-
tices that limit your response to
changing traffic or road conditions.
You might lose control of the vehicle
and have a collision.
CAUTION!
Towing the vehicle, coasting, or
driving for any other reason with the
transmission in NEUTRAL can re-
sult in severe transmission damage.
Refer to “Recreational Towing” in
“Starting And Operating” and
“Towing A Disabled Vehicle” in
“What To Do In Emergencies” for
further information.
DRIVE
This range should be used for most
city and highway driving. It provides
the smoothest upshifts and down-
shifts, and the best fuel economy. The
transmission automatically upshifts
through all forward gears. The
DRIVE position provides optimum
driving characteristics under all nor-
mal operating conditions.
During extremely cold temperatures
(­30°C or below), transmission op-
eration may be modified depending
on engine and transmission tempera-
ture as well as vehicle speed. Normal
operation will resume once the trans-
mission temperature has risen to a
suitable level. LOW
This range should be used for engine
braking when descending very steep
grades. In this range, the transmission
will downshift for increased engine
braking. To switch between DRIVE
and LOW modes, tap the shift lever
rearward. LOW mode is only acces-
sible from DRIVE.
Transmission Limp Home Mode
Transmission function is monitored
electronically for abnormal condi-
tions. If a condition is detected that
could result in transmission damage,
Transmission Limp Home Mode is ac-
tivated. In this mode, the transmis-
sion may operate only in certain
gears, or may not shift at all. Vehicle
performance may be severely de-
graded and the engine may stall. In
some situations, the transmission may
not re-engage if the engine is turned
off and restarted. The Malfunction In-
dicator Light (MIL) may be illumi-
nated. A message in the instrument
cluster will inform the driver of the
more serious conditions, and indicate
what actions may be necessary.
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In the event of a momentary problem,
the transmission can be reset to regain
all forward gears by performing the
following steps.
NOTE:
In cases where the instrument
cluster message indicates the
transmission may not re-engage
after engine shutdown, perform
this procedure only in a desired
location (preferably, at your au-
thorized dealer).
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Shift the transmission into PARK,
if possible.
3. Turn the engine OFF.
4. Wait approximately 30 seconds.
5. Restart the engine.
6. Shift into the desired gear range. If
the problem is no longer detected, the
transmission will return to normal op-
eration.
NOTE:
Even if the transmission can be
reset, we recommend that you visit
your authorized dealer at yourearliest possible convenience.
Your authorized dealer has diag-
nostic equipment to determine if
the problem could recur.
If the transmission cannot be reset,
authorized dealer service is required.
FIVE-SPEED AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION – 3.0L
DIESEL ENGINE
The shift lever position display (lo-
cated in the instrument panel cluster)
indicates the transmission gear range.
You must press the brake pedal to
move the shift lever out of the PARK
position (refer to “Brake/
Transmission Shift Interlock System”
in this section). To drive, move the
shift lever from PARK or NEUTRAL
to the DRIVE position.
The electronically-controlled trans-
mission provides a precise shift sched-
ule. The transmission electronics are
self-calibrating; therefore, the first
few shifts on a new vehicle may be
somewhat abrupt. This is a normal
condition, and precision shifts will de-
velop within a few hundred kilome-
ters.Shifting from DRIVE to PARK or RE-
VERSE should be done only after the
accelerator pedal is released and the
vehicle is stopped. Be sure to keep
your foot on the brake pedal when
moving the shift lever between these
gears.
The transmission shift lever has only
PARK, REVERSE, NEUTRAL, and
DRIVE shift positions. Manual shifts
can be made using the “AutoStick®”
shift control (refer to “AutoStick®” in
this section). Moving the shift lever to
the left or right (-/+) while in the
DRIVE position will manually select
the transmission gear, and will display
that gear in the instrument cluster as
5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
Shift Lever
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WARNING!(Continued)
 Do not leave the key fob in or near
the vehicle, and do not leave Key-
less Enter-N-Go in the ACC or
ON/RUN mode. A child could op-
erate power windows, other con-
trols, or move the vehicle.CAUTION!
 Before moving the shift lever outof PARK, you must turn the igni-
tion switch from the LOCK/OFF
position to the ON/RUN position,
and also press the brake pedal.
Otherwise, damage to the shift le-
ver could result.
 DO NOT race the engine when
shifting from PARK or NEUTRAL
into another gear range, as this
can damage the drivetrain.
The following indicators should be
used to ensure that you have engaged
the shift lever into the PARK position:
 When shifting into PARK, move the shift lever all the way forward and
to the left until it stops and is fully
seated.  Look at the shift lever position dis-
play and verify that it indicates the
PARK position.
 With brake pedal released, verify that the shift lever will not move out
of PARK.
REVERSE
This range is for moving the vehicle
backward. Shift into REVERSE only
after the vehicle has come to a com-
plete stop.
NEUTRAL
Use this range when the vehicle is
standing for prolonged periods with
engine running. The engine may be
started in this range. Set the parking
brake and shift the transmission into
PARK if you must leave the vehicle.
WARNING!
Do not coast in NEUTRAL and
never turn off the ignition to coast
down a hill. These are unsafe prac-
tices that limit your response to
changing traffic or road conditions.
You might lose control of the vehicle
and have a collision.
CAUTION!
Towing the vehicle, coasting, or
driving for any other reason with the
transmission in NEUTRAL can re-
sult in severe transmission damage.
Refer to “Recreational Towing” in
“Starting And Operating” and
“Towing A Disabled Vehicle” in
“What To Do In Emergencies” for
further information.
DRIVE
This range should be used for most
city and highway driving. It provides
the smoothest upshifts and down-
shifts, and the best fuel economy. The
transmission automatically upshifts
through underdrive first, second, and
third gears, direct fourth gear and
overdrive fifth gear. The DRIVE posi-
tion provides optimum driving char-
acteristics under all normal operating
conditions.
When frequent transmission shifting
occurs (such as when operating the
vehicle under heavy loading condi-
tions, in hilly terrain, traveling into
strong head winds, or while towing
heavy trailers), use the “AutoStick®”
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mode (refer to “AutoStick®” in this
section) to select a lower gear. Under
these conditions, using a lower gear
will improve performance and extend
transmission life by reducing exces-
sive shifting and heat buildup.
Transmission Limp Home Mode
Transmission function is monitored
electronically for abnormal condi-
tions. If a condition is detected that
could result in transmission damage,
Transmission Limp Home Mode is ac-
tivated. In this mode, the transmis-
sion remains in the current gear until
the vehicle is brought to a stop. After
the vehicle has stopped, the transmis-
sion will remain in second gear re-
gardless of which forward gear is se-
lected. PARK, REVERSE, and
NEUTRAL will continue to operate.
The Malfunction Indicator Light
(MIL) may be illuminated. Limp
Home Mode allows the vehicle to be
driven to an authorized dealer for ser-
vice without damaging the transmis-
sion.In the event of a momentary problem,
the transmission can be reset to regain
all forward gears by performing the
following steps:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Shift the transmission into PARK.
3. Turn the engine OFF.
4. Wait approximately 10 seconds.
5. Restart the engine.
6. Shift into the desired gear range. If
the problem is no longer detected, the
transmission will return to normal op-
eration.
NOTE:
Even if the transmission can be
reset, we recommend that you visit
your authorized dealer at your
earliest possible convenience.
Your authorized dealer has diag-
nostic equipment to determine if
the problem could recur.
If the transmission cannot be reset,
authorized dealer service is required.
Overdrive Operation
The automatic transmission includes
an electronically controlled Overdrive(fifth gear). The transmission will au-
tomatically shift into the Overdrive
gear if the following conditions are
present:
 the shift lever is in the DRIVE po-
sition,
 vehicle speed is sufficiently high, and
 the driver is not heavily pressing the accelerator.
AUTOSTICK®
AutoStick® is a driver-interactive
transmission feature that offers
manual gear shifting to provide you
with more control of the vehicle.
AutoStick® allows you to maximize
engine braking, eliminate undesirable
upshifts and downshifts, and improve
overall vehicle performance.
This system can also provide you with
more control during passing, city
driving, cold slippery conditions,
mountain driving, trailer towing, and
many other situations.
202

OPERATION – 3.0L DIESEL
ENGINE
When the shift lever is in the DRIVE
position, the transmission will operate
automatically, shifting between the
five available gears. To engage
AutoStick®, simply move the shift le-
ver to the right or left (+/-) while in
the DRIVE position, or tap one of the
steering wheel-mounted shift paddles
(+/-), for versions/markets, where
provided. When AutoStick® is active,
the current transmission gear is dis-
played in the instrument cluster. In
AutoStick® mode, the transmission
will shift up or down when (+/-) is
manually selected by the driver (using
the shift lever, or the shift paddles [for
versions/markets, where provided]),
unless an engine lugging or overspeed
condition would result. It will remain
in the selected gear until another up-
shift or downshift is chosen, except as
described below.
 If AutoStick® is engaged while inDRIVE mode, the transmission will
automatically shift up when maxi-
mum engine speed is reached.  If AutoStick® is engaged while in
SPORT mode, the transmission will
remain in the selected gear even
when maximum engine speed is
reached. The transmission will up-
shift only when commanded by the
driver.
 The transmission will automati- cally downshift as the vehicle slows
down (to prevent engine lugging)
and will display the current gear.
 The transmission will automati- cally downshift to first gear when
coming to a stop. After a stop, the
driver should manually upshift (+)
the transmission as the vehicle is
accelerated.
 Heavily pressing the accelerator pedal will generate an automatic
downshift (for improved accelera-
tion) when reasonable.
 You can start out in first or second gear. Tapping (+) (at a stop) will
allow starting in second gear. Start-
ing out in second gear is helpful in
snowy or icy conditions.  The system will ignore attempts to
upshift at too low of a vehicle speed.
 Avoid using speed control when AutoStick® is engaged.
 Transmission shifting will be more crisp/abrupt when AutoStick® is
engaged.
To disengage AutoStick® mode, hold
the shift lever to the right or press and
hold the (+) shift paddle (for
versions/markets, where provided)
until “D” is once again displayed in
the instrument cluster. You can shift
in or out of the AutoStick® mode at
any time without taking your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
WARNING!
Do not downshift for additional en-
gine braking on a slippery surface.
The drive wheels could lose their
grip and the vehicle could skid,
causing a collision or personal in-
jury.
203

TRAILER TOWING WEIGHTS (MAXIMUM TRAILER WEIGHT RATINGS)
The following chart provides the maximum trailer weight ratings towable for your given drivetrain.
Engine/TransmissionFrontal AreaMax. GTW
(Gross Trailer Wt.) Max. Tongue Wt.
(See Note)
3.6L Automatic 2.04 sq m1 725 kg 86 kg
3.0L Diesel Automatic 2.97 sq m1 996 kg 100 kg
Refer to local laws for maximum trailer towing speeds
NOTE: The trailer tongue weight must be considered as part of the combined weight of occupants and cargo,
and it should never exceed the weight referenced on the “Tire and Loading Information” placard. Refer to
“Tire Safety Information” in “Starting and Operating” for further information.
TRAILER AND TONGUE
WEIGHT
Always load a trailer with 60% to
65% of the weight in the front of the
trailer. This places 5% of the Gross
Trailer Weight (GTW) on the tow
hitch of your vehicle. Loads balanced
over the wheels or heavier in the rear
can cause the trailer to sway severely
side to side which will cause loss of
control of the vehicle and trailer. Fail-
ure to load trailers heavier in front is
the cause of many trailer collisions.
Never exceed the maximum tongue
weight stamped on your bumper or
trailer hitch. Consider the following items when
computing the weight on the rear axle
of the vehicle:
 The tongue weight of the trailer.
 The weight of any other type of
cargo or equipment put in or on
your vehicle.  The weight of the driver and all
passengers.
NOTE:
Remember that everything put into
or on the trailer adds to the load on
your vehicle. Also, additional
factory-installed options or
dealer-installed options must be
considered as part of the total load
on your vehicle. Refer to the “Tire
and Loading Information” placard
for the maximum combined weight
of occupants and cargo for your
vehicle.
231

TOWING REQUIREMENTS
To promote proper break-in of your
new vehicle drivetrain components
the following guidelines are recom-
mended:CAUTION!
 Do not tow a trailer at all duringthe first 805 km the new vehicle is
driven. The engine, axle or other
parts could be damaged.
 Then, during the first 805 km that
a trailer is towed, do not drive
over 80 km/h and do not make
starts at full throttle. This helps
the engine and other parts of the
vehicle wear in at the heavier
loads.WARNING!
Improper towing can lead to an in-
jury collision. Follow these guide-
lines to make your trailer towing as
safe as possible:
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
 Make certain that the load is se-
cured in the trailer and it will not
shift during travel. When traile-
ring cargo that is not fully se-
cured, dynamic load shifts can oc-
cur that may be difficult for the
driver to control. You could lose
control of your vehicle and have a
collision.
 When hauling cargo or towing a
trailer, do not overload your ve-
hicle or trailer. Overloading can
cause a loss of control, poor per-
formance, or damage to brakes,
axle, engine, transmission, steer-
ing, suspension, chassis structure,
or tires.
 Safety chains must always be used
between your vehicle and trailer.
Always connect the chains to the
frame or hook retainers of the ve-
hicle hitch. Cross the chains under
the trailer tongue and allow
enough slack for turning corners.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
 Vehicles with trailers should not
be parked on a grade. When park-
ing, apply the parking brake on
the tow vehicle. Put the tow ve-
hicle automatic transmission in
PARK. Always, block or "chock"
the trailer wheels.
 GCWR must not be exceeded.
 Total weight must be distrib-
uted between the tow vehicle
and the trailer such that the
following four ratings are not
exceeded:
1. Max loading as defined on the
“Tire and Loading Information”
placard.
2. GTW
3. GAWR
4. Tongue weight rating for the
trailer hitch utilized. (This require-
ment may limit the ability to always
achieve the 10% to 15% range of
tongue weight as a percentage of
total trailer weight.)
Towing Requirements – Tires
Do not attempt to tow a trailer while using a compact spare tire.
232