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, otherwise the load on
the transmission locking mechanism
may make it difficult to move the shift
lever out of PARK. As an added pre-
caution, turn the front wheels toward
the curb on a downhill grade, and
away from the curb on an uphill
grade.
WARNING!
Never use the PARK position as asubstitute for the parking brake.
Always apply the parking brake
fully when parked to guard
against vehicle movement and
possible injury or damage.
Your vehicle could move and in-
jure you and others if it is not
completely in PARK. Check by
trying to move the shift lever rear-
ward (with the brake pedal re-
leased) after you have placed it in
PARK. Make sure the transmis-
sion is in PARK before leaving the
vehicle.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
It is dangerous to move the shift
lever out of PARK or NEUTRAL if
the engine speed is higher than
idle speed. If your foot is not
firmly pressing the brake pedal,
the vehicle could accelerate
quickly forward or in reverse. You
could lose control of the vehicle
and hit someone or something.
Only shift into gear when the en-
gine is idling normally and your
foot is firmly pressing the brake
pedal.
Unintended movement of a ve-
hicle could injure those in or near
the vehicle. As with all vehicles,
you should never exit a vehicle
while the engine is running. Be-
fore exiting a vehicle, always ap-
ply the parking brake, shift the
transmission into PARK, and re-
move the key fob. Once the key
fob is removed, the shift lever is
locked in the PARK position, se-
curing the vehicle against un-
wanted movement.
(Continued)
232
SHALLOW STANDING
WATER
Although your vehicle is capable of
driving through shallow standing wa-
ter, consider the following Caution
and Warning before doing so.CAUTION!
Always check the depth of thestanding water before driving
through it. Never drive through
standing water that is deeper than
the bottom of the tire rims
mounted on the vehicle.
Determine the condition of the
road or the path that is under
water and if there are any ob-
stacles in the way before driving
through the standing water.
Do not exceed 8 km/h when driv-
ing through standing water. This
will minimize wave effects.
(Continued)
CAUTION!(Continued)
Driving through standing water
may cause damage to your vehi-
cle’s drivetrain components. Al-
ways inspect your vehicle’s fluids
(i.e., engine oil, transmission,
axle, etc.) for signs of contamina-
tion (i.e., fluid that is milky or
foamy in appearance) after driv-
ing through standing water. Do
not continue to operate the vehicle
if any fluid appears contami-
nated, as this may result in further
damage. Such damage is not cov-
ered by the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty.
Getting water inside your vehi-
cle’s engine can cause it to lock up
and stall out, and cause serious
internal damage to the engine.
Such damage is not covered by the
New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
WARNING!
Driving through standing waterlimits your vehicle’s traction ca-
pabilities. Do not exceed 8 km/h
when driving through standing
water.
Driving through standing water
limits your vehicle’s braking ca-
pabilities, which increases stop-
ping distances. Therefore, after
driving through standing water,
drive slowly and lightly press on
the brake pedal several times to
dry the brakes.
Getting water inside your vehi-
cle’s engine can cause it to lock up
and stall out, and leave you
stranded.
Failure to follow these warnings
may result in injuries that are se-
rious or fatal to you, your passen-
gers, and others around you.
237
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.
PARKING BRAKE
Before leaving the vehicle, make sure
that the parking brake is fully applied
and place the shift lever in the PARK
position.
238
CAUTION!(Continued)
Car maintenance should be done
at a LANCIA Dealership. For rou-
tine and minor maintenance op-
erations you wish to carry out
yourself, we do recommend you
have the proper equipment, genu-
ine LANCIA spare parts and the
necessary fluids; do not however
carry out these operations if you
have no experience.
Your vehicle has been built with
improved fluids that protect the
performance and durability of
your vehicle and also allow ex-
tended maintenance intervals. Do
not use chemical flushes in these
components as the chemicals can
damage your engine, transmis-
sion, power steering or air condi-
tioning. Such damage is not cov-
ered by the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty. If a flush is needed be-
cause of component malfunction,
use only the specified fluid for the
flushing procedure. ENGINE OIL
Checking Oil Level
To assure proper engine lubrication,
the engine oil must be maintained at
the correct level. Check the oil level at
regular intervals, such as every fuel
stop.
The best time to check the engine oil
level is about five minutes after a fully
warmed engine is shut off or before
starting the engine after it has sat
overnight.
Checking the oil while the vehicle is
on level ground will improve the ac-
curacy of the oil level readings. Main-
tain the oil level between the MIN and
MAX markings on the dipstick. Add-
ing one quart of oil when the reading
is at the MIN mark will result in a
MAX reading on these engines.
CAUTION!
Overfilling or underfilling will cause
oil aeration or loss of oil pressure.
This could damage your engine.
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.
Change Engine Oil – All Engines
The oil change indicator system will
remind you that it is time to take your
vehicle in for scheduled maintenance.
Refer to “Maintenance Schedule” for
further information on this system.
Engine Oil Selection – 3.6L
Engine
SAE 5W-30 SELENIA K Power fully
synthetic engine oil that meets FIAT
Classification 9.55535, API SN, IL-
SAC GF-5 or equivalent.
Engine Oil Selection – 2.8L Diesel
Engine
SAE Grade 5W-30 SELENIA MUL-
TIPOWER C3 fully synthetic engine
288
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.
WINDSHIELD WIPER
BLADES
Clean the rubber edges of the wiper
blades and the windshield periodi-
cally with a sponge or soft cloth and a
mild nonabrasive cleaner. This will
remove accumulations of salt or road
film.
Operation of the wipers on dry glass
for long periods may cause deteriora-
tion of the wiper blades. Always use
washer fluid when using the wipers to
remove salt or dirt from a dry wind-
shield.
Avoid using the wiper blades to re-
move frost or ice from the windshield.
Keep the blade rubber out of contact with petroleum products such as en-
gine oil, gasoline, etc.
NOTE:
Life expectancy of wiper blades
varies depending on geographical
area and frequency of use. Ex-
amples of poor blade performance
include chattering, marks, water
lines, and wet spots. If any of these
conditions are present, clean the
wiper blades or replace as neces-
sary.
Adding Washer Fluid
The windshield, rear window, and
headlamp washers share a common
fluid reservoir. It is located in the en-
gine compartment and should be
checked at regular intervals. Fill the
reservoir with windshield washer sol-
vent (not radiator antifreeze) and op-
erate the system for a few seconds to
flush out any residual water.
When refilling the washer fluid reser-
voir, apply some washer fluid to a
cloth or towel and wipe the wiper
blades clean. This will help blade per-
formance.
To prevent freeze-up of your wind-
shield washer system in cold weather,
select a solution or mixture that meets
or exceeds the temperature range of
your climate. This rating information
can be found on most washer fluid
containers.
The washer fluid reservoir will hold
4 Liters of fluid when the Low Washer
Fluid Light illuminates.
WARNING!
Commercially available windshield
washer solvents are flammable.
They could ignite and burn you.
Care must be exercised when filling
or working around the washer solu-
tion.
After the engine has warmed, operate
the defroster for a few minutes to re-
duce the possibility of smearing or
freezing the fluid on the cold wind-
shield. Use All Weather Windshield
Washer Solution or equivalent, used
with water as directed on the con-
tainer, aids cleaning action, reduces
the freezing point to avoid line clog-
ging, and is not harmful to paint or
trim.
294
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.
COOLING SYSTEMWARNING!
When working near the radiator cooling fan, disconnect the fan
motor lead or turn the ignition
switch to the OFF position. The
fan is temperature controlled and
can start at anytime the ignition
switch is in the ON position.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
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 Checks
Check the engine coolant (antifreeze)
protection every 12 months (before
the onset of freezing weather, where
applicable). If the engine coolant (an-
tifreeze) is dirty or rusty in appear-
ance, the system should be drained, flushed and refilled with fresh cool-
ant. Check the front of the A/C con-
denser for any accumulation of bugs,
leaves, etc. If dirty, clean by gently
spraying water from a garden hose
vertically down the face of the con-
denser.
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.
With the engine at normal operating
temperature (but not running), check
the cooling system pressure cap for
proper vacuum sealing by draining a
small amount of engine coolant (anti-
freeze) from the radiator drain cock.
If the cap is sealing properly, the en-
gine coolant (antifreeze) will begin to
drain from the coolant recovery
bottle. DO NOT REMOVE THE
COOLANT PRESSURE CAP WHEN
THE COOLING SYSTEM IS HOT.
295
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 the loss of engine coolant (an-
tifreeze), and to ensure that 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 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
(antifreeze) in open containers or al- low it to remain in puddles on the
ground. If ingested by a child or pet,
seek emergency assistance immedi-
ately. Clean up any ground spills im-
mediately.
Coolant Level
The coolant bottle provides a quick
visual method for determining that
the coolant level is adequate. With the
engine cold, the level of the engine
coolant (antifreeze) in the coolant re-
covery bottle should be between the
ranges indicated 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 the engine
coolant (antifreeze). Advise your ser-
vice attendant of this. As long as the
engine operating temperature is satis-
factory, the coolant bottle only needs
to 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.
297
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 the engine coolant (anti- freeze) freeze point in the radiator
and in the coolant recovery bottle.
If engine coolant (antifreeze) needs
to be added, contents of the coolant
recovery bottle must also be pro-
tected 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, also 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 coolant performance,
poor gas mileage, and increased
emissions. BRAKES
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 an accident.
Driving with your foot resting or rid-
ing on the brake pedal can result in
abnormally high brake tempera-
tures, excessive lining wear, and pos-
sible 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.
298