2013 Lancia Flavia Owner handbook (in English)

Engine power may also be reduced to
help the vehicle maintain the desired
path. ESC uses sensors in the vehicle
to determine the vehicle path in-
tended by the driver and compares it
to the actual path of the vehicle. When
the actual path does not match the
intended path, ESC applies the brake
of the appropriate wheel to assist in
counteracting the oversteer or under-
steer condition.
 Over-steer - when the vehicle isturning more than appropriate for
the steering wheel position.
 Under-steer - when the vehicle is turning less than appropriate for
the steering wheel position.WARNING!
The Electronic Stability Control
(ESC) cannot prevent the natural
laws of physics from acting on the
vehicle, nor can it increase the trac-
tion afforded by prevailing road
conditions. ESC cannot prevent ac-
cidents, including those resulting
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
from excessive speed in turns, driv-
ing on very slippery surfaces, or
hydroplaning. ESC also cannot
prevent accidents resulting from
loss of vehicle control due to inap-
propriate driver input for the con-
ditions. Only a safe, attentive, and
skillful driver can prevent acci-
dents. The capabilities of an ESC
equipped vehicle must never be ex-
ploited in a reckless or dangerous
manner which could jeopardize the
user’s safety or the safety of others.
ESC Operating Modes
All ESC equipped vehicles can choose
the following ESC operating modes:
ESC On
This is the normal operating mode for
ESC. Whenever the vehicle is started
the ESC system will be in this mode.
This mode should be used for almost
all driving situations. ESC should
only be turned to “Partial Off” for
specific reasons as noted below. Partial ESC Mode
This mode is entered by momentarily
pressing the “ESC Off” switch (located
in the lower switch bank below the
heater/air conditioning controls). When
in “Partial Off” mode, the TCS portion
of ESC, except for the limited slip fea-
ture described in the TCS section, has
been disabled and the “ESC Activation/
Malfunction Indicator Light” will be il-
luminated. All other stability features of
ESC function normally, with the excep-
tion of engine power reduction. This
mode is intended to be used if the ve-
hicle is in deep snow, sand, or gravel
conditions and more wheel spin than
ESC would normally allow is required
to gain traction.
ESC Off Switch
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To turn ESC on again, momentarily
press the “ESC Off” switch. This will
restore the normal “ESC On” mode of
operation.WARNING!
In partial ESC mode, the engine
power reduction feature of ESC is
disabled. Therefore, enhanced ve-
hicle stability offered by the ESC
system is reduced.
NOTE: To improve the vehicle's
traction when driving with snow
chains, or starting off in deep
snow, sand or gravel, it may be
desirable to switch to the “Partial
Off” mode by pressing the “ESC
Off” switch. Once the situation re-
quiring ESC to be switched to the
“Partial Off” mode is overcome,
turn ESC on again by momentarily
pressing the “ESC Off” switch.
This may be done while the vehicle
is in motion.
ESC ACTIVATION/
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR
LIGHT AND ESC OFF
INDICATOR LIGHT
The “ESC Activation/
Malfunction Indicator Light”
in the instrument cluster will
come on when the ignition
switch is turned to the ON position. It
should go out with the engine running.
If the “ESC Activation/Malfunction In-
dicator Light” comes on continuously
with the engine running, a malfunction
has been detected in the ESC system. If
this light remains on after several igni-
tion cycles, and the vehicle has been
driven several miles (kilometers) at
speeds greater than 48 km/h, see your
authorized dealer as soon as possible to
have the problem diagnosed and
corrected.
The “ESC Activation/Malfunction Indi-
cator Light” (located in the instrument
cluster) starts to flash as soon as the
tires lose traction and the ESC system
becomes active. The “ESC Activation/
Malfunction Indicator Light” also
flashes when TCS is active. If the “ESC Activation/Malfunction Indicator
Light” begins to flash during accelera-
tion, ease up on the accelerator and
apply as little throttle as possible. Be
sure to adapt your speed and driving to
the prevailing road conditions.
NOTE:
The “ESC Activation/Malfunction
Indicator Light” and the “ESC
OFF Indicator Light” come on
momentarily each time the igni-
tion switch is turned ON.Each time the ignition is turned ON,
the ESC system will be ON even if it
was turned off previously. The ESC system will make buzz-
ing or clicking sounds when it is
active. This is normal; the
sounds will stop when ESC be-
comes inactive following the
maneuver that caused the ESC
activation.
The “ESC OFF Indicator
Light” indicates the Elec-
tronic Stability Control
(ESC) is off.
156

TIRES — GENERAL
INFORMATION
TIRE PRESSURE
Proper tire inflation pressure is essen-
tial to the safe and satisfactory opera-
tion of your vehicle. Three primary
areas are affected by improper tire
pressure:
SafetyWARNING!
 Improperly inflated tires are dan-gerous and can cause collisions.
 Under-inflation increases tire
flexing and can result in over-
heating and tire failure.
 Over-inflation reduces a tire's ability to cushion shock. Objects
on the road and chuckholes can
cause damage that result in tire
failure.
 Over-inflated or under-inflated
tires can affect vehicle handling
and can fail suddenly, resulting in
loss of vehicle control.
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
 Unequal tire pressures can cause steering problems. You could lose
control of your vehicle.
 Unequal tire pressures from one side of the vehicle to the other can
cause the vehicle to drift to the
right or left.
 Always drive with each tire in- flated to the recommended cold
tire inflation pressure.
Economy
Improper inflation pressures can
cause uneven wear patterns to de-
velop across the tire tread. These ab-
normal wear patterns will reduce
tread life resulting in a need for earlier
tire replacement. Under-inflation also
increases tire rolling resistance result-
ing in higher fuel consumption.
Ride Comfort And Vehicle
Stability
Proper tire inflation contributes to a
comfortable ride. Over-inflation pro-
duces a jarring and uncomfortable
ride. TIRE INFLATION
PRESSURES
The proper cold tire inflation pressure
is listed on the driver's side B-Pillar or
rear edge of the driver's side door.
Some vehicles may have Supplemen-
tal Tire Pressure Information for ve-
hicle loads that are less than the maxi-
mum loaded vehicle condition. These
pressure conditions will be found in
the “Supplemental Tire Pressure In-
formation” section of this manual.
The pressure should be checked and
adjusted as well as inspecting for signs
of tire wear or visible damage at least
once a month. Use a good quality
pocket-type gauge to check tire pres-
sure. Do not make a visual judgement
when determining proper inflation.
Radial tires may look properly in-
flated even when they are under-
inflated.
157

CAUTION!
After inspecting or adjusting the
tire pressure, always reinstall the
valve stem cap. This will prevent
moisture and dirt from entering the
valve stem, which could damage
the valve stem.
Inflation pressures specified on the
placard are always “cold tire inflation
pressure.” Cold tire inflation pressure
is defined as the tire pressure after the
vehicle has not been driven for at least
three hours, or driven less than
1.6 km after a three hour period. The
cold tire inflation pressure must not
exceed the maximum inflation pres-
sure molded into the tire sidewall.
Check tire pressures more often if
subject to a wide range of outdoor
temperatures, as tire pressures vary
with temperature changes.
Tire pressures change by approxi-
mately 7 kPa per 7°C of air tempera-
ture change. Keep this in mind when
checking tire pressure inside a garage,
especially in the winter. Example: If garage temperature =
20°C and the outside temperature =
0°C then the cold tire inflation pres-
sure should be increased by 21 kPa,
which equals 7 kPa for every 7°C for
this outside temperature condition.
Tire pressure may increase from 13 to
40 kPa during operation. DO NOT
reduce this normal pressure build up
or your tire pressure will be too low.
Tire Pressures For High Speed
Operation
The manufacturer advocates driving
at safe speeds within posted speed
limits. Where speed limits or condi-
tions are such that the vehicle can be
driven at high speeds, maintaining
correct tire inflation pressure is very
important. Increased tire pressure
and reduced vehicle loading may be
required for high-speed vehicle op-
eration. Refer to original equipment
or an authorized tire dealer for recom-
mended safe operating speeds, load-
ing and cold tire inflation pressures.
WARNING!
High speed driving with your ve-
hicle under maximum load is dan-
gerous. The added strain on your
tires could cause them to fail. You
could have a serious collision. Do
not drive a vehicle loaded to the
maximum capacity at continuous
speeds above 120 km/h.
RADIAL-PLY TIRESWARNING!
Combining radial ply tires with
other types of tires on your vehicle
will cause your vehicle to handle
poorly. The instability could cause
a collision. Always use radial ply
tires in sets of four. Never combine
them with other types of tires.
Cuts and punctures in radial tires are
repairable only in the tread area be-
cause of sidewall flexing. Consult
your authorized tire dealer for radial
tire repairs.
158

TIRE SPINNING
When stuck in mud, sand, snow, or icy
conditions, do not spin your vehicle's
wheels faster than 48 km/h or for
longer than 30 seconds continuously
without stopping.
Refer to “Freeing A Stuck Vehicle” in
“What To Do In Emergencies” for fur-
ther information.WARNING!
Fast spinning tires can be danger-
ous. Forces generated by excessive
wheel speeds may cause tire dam-
age or failure. A tire could explode
and injure someone. Do not spin
your vehicle's wheels faster than
48 km/h or for more than 30 sec-
onds continuously when you are
stuck, and do not let anyone near a
spinning wheel, no matter what the
speed.TREAD WEAR
INDICATORS
Tread wear indicators are in the origi-
nal equipment tires to help you in
determining when your tires should
be replaced.
These indicators are molded into the
bottom of the tread grooves. They will
appear as bands when the tread depth
becomes 2 mm. When the tread is
worn to the tread wear indicators, the
tire should be replaced. LIFE OF TIRE
The service life of a tire is dependent
upon varying factors including but
not limited to:
 Driving style
 Tire pressure
 Distance driven
WARNING!
Tires and spare tire should be re-
placed after six years, regardless of
the remaining tread. Failure to fol-
low this warning can result in sud-
den tire failure. You could lose con-
trol and have a collision resulting in
serious injury or death.
Keep dismounted tires in a cool, dry
place with as little exposure to light as
possible. Protect tires from contact
with oil, grease, and gasoline.
1 — Worn Tire
2 — New Tire
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REPLACEMENT TIRES
The tires on your new vehicle provide
a balance of many characteristics.
They should be inspected regularly
for wear and correct cold tire inflation
pressure. The manufacturer strongly
recommends that you use tires
equivalent to the originals in size,
quality and performance when re-
placement is needed (refer to the
paragraph on “Tread Wear Indica-
tors”). Refer to the “Tire and Loading
Information” placard for the size des-
ignation of your tire. The Load Index
and Speed Symbol for your tire will be
found on registration Document/log
book.
It is recommended to replace the two
front tires or two rear tires as a pair.
Replacing just one tire can seriously
affect your vehicle’s handling. If you
ever replace a wheel, make sure that
the wheel’s specifications match those
of the original wheels.It is recommended you contact your
original equipment or an authorized
tire dealer with any questions you
may have on tire specifications or ca-
pability. Failure to use equivalent re-
placement tires may adversely affect
the safety, handling, and ride of your
vehicle.
WARNING!
Do not use a tire, wheel size or
rating other than that specified for
your vehicle. Some combinations
of unapproved tires and wheels
may change suspension dimen-
sions and performance character-
istics, resulting in changes to
steering, handling, and braking of
your vehicle. This can cause un-
predictable handling and stress to
steering and suspension compo-
nents. You could lose control and
have a collision resulting in serious
injury or death. Use only the tire
and wheel sizes with load ratings
approved for your vehicle.
(Continued)
WARNING!
(Continued)
Never use a tire with a smaller load
index or capacity, other than what
was originally equipped on your ve-
hicle. Using a tire with a smaller
load index could result in tire over-
loading and failure. You could lose
control and have a collision.Failure to equip your vehicle with
tires having adequate speed capa-
bility can result in sudden tire fail-
ure and loss of vehicle control.CAUTION!Replacing original tires with tires of a
different size may result in false
speedometer and odometer readings.TIRE CHAINSUse of Security Chain Company (SCC)
Super Z6 low profile (P/N SZ-139) or
equivalent are recommended on 215/55
R18 95H tires with 18 x 7.0 wheels,
40 mm offset.
160

CAUTION!
To avoid damage to your vehicle or
tires, observe the following precau-
tions:
Because of restricted chain clear-
ance between tires and other sus-
pension components, it is impor-
tant that only chains in good
condition are used. Broken chains
can cause serious damage. Stop
the vehicle immediately if noise
occurs that could indicate chain
breakage. Remove the damaged
parts of the chain before further
use. Do not exceed 70 km/h.
 Drive cautiously and avoid severeturns and large bumps, especially
with a loaded vehicle.
 Install chains on the front wheels as tightly as possible and then
retighten after driving about
0.8 km.
 Do not drive for prolonged peri- ods of time on dry pavement.
(Continued)
CAUTION!(Continued)
Observe the tire chain manufactur-
er's instructions on the method of
installation, operating speed, and
conditions for use. Always use the
lower suggested operating speed of
the chain manufacturer, if different
from the speed recommended by
the vehicle manufacturer.
This notice applies to all chain trac-
tion devices, including link and cable
(radial) chains.
TIRE ROTATION
RECOMMENDATIONS
Tires on the front and rear axles of
vehicles operate at different loads and
perform different steering, driving,
and braking functions. For these rea-
sons, they wear at unequal rates.These effects can be reduced by timely
rotation of tires. The benefits of rota-
tion are especially worthwhile with ag-
gressive tread designs such as those on
all season type tires. Rotation will in-
crease tread life, help to maintain mud,
snow, and wet traction levels, and con-
tribute to a smooth, quiet ride.
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule”
for the proper maintenance intervals.
The reasons for any rapid or unusual
wear should be corrected prior to ro-
tation being performed.
TIRE PRESSURE
MONITOR SYSTEM
(TPMS)
The Tire Pressure Monitor System
(TPMS) will warn the driver of a low
tire pressure based on the vehicle rec-
ommended cold placard pressure.
The tire pressure will vary with tem-
perature by about 7 kPa for every
7°C. This means that when the out-
side temperature decreases, the tire
pressure will decrease. Tire pressure
should always be set based on cold
inflation tire pressure. This is defined
as the tire pressure after the vehicle
has not been driven for at least three
hours, or driven less than 1.6 km after
a three hour period. The cold tire in-
flation pressure must not exceed the
maximum inflation pressure molded
into the tire sidewall. Refer to “Tires –
General Information” in “Starting
161

and Operating” for information on
how to properly inflate the vehicle’s
tires. The tire pressure will also in-
crease as the vehicle is driven - this is
normal and there should be no adjust-
ment for this increased pressure.
The TPM System will warn the driver
of a low tire pressure if the tire pres-
sure falls below the low-pressure
warning limit for any reason, includ-
ing low temperature effects and natu-
ral pressure loss through the tire.
The TPM System will continue to
warn the driver of low tire pressure as
long as the condition exists, and will
not turn off until the tire pressure is at
or above the recommended cold plac-
ard pressure. Once the low tire pres-
sure warning (Tire Pressure Monitor-
ing Telltale Light) illuminates, you
must increase the tire pressure to the
recommended cold placard pressure
in order for the “Tire Pressure Moni-
toring Telltale Light” to turn off. The
system will automatically update and
the “Tire Pressure Monitoring TelltaleLight” will turn off once the system
receives the updated tire pressures.
The vehicle may need to be driven for
up to 20 minutes above 24 km/h in
order for the TPMS to receive this
information.
For example, your vehicle may have a
recommended cold (parked for more
than three hours) placard pressure of
207 kPa. If the ambient temperature
is 20°C and the measured tire pres-
sure is 186 kPa, a temperature drop to
­7°C will decrease the tire pressure to
approximately 158 kPa. This tire
pressure is sufficiently low enough to
turn ON the “Tire Pressure Monitor-
ing Telltale Light.” Driving the ve-
hicle may cause the tire pressure to
rise to approximately 186 kPa, but
the “Tire Pressure Monitoring Telltale
Light” will still be ON. In this situa-
tion, the “Tire Pressure Monitoring
Telltale Light” will turn OFF only
after the tires are inflated to the vehi-
cle’s recommended cold placard pres-
sure value.
CAUTION!
The TPMS has been optimized for
the original equipment tires and
wheels. TPMS pressures and
warning have been established for
the tire size equipped on your ve-
hicle. Undesirable system opera-
tion or sensor damage may result
when using replacement equip-
ment that is not of the same size,
type, and/or style. Aftermarket
wheels can cause sensor damage.
Do not use aftermarket tire seal-
ants or balance beads if your ve-
hicle is equipped with a TPMS, as
damage to the sensors may result. After inspecting or adjusting the
tire pressure, always reinstall the
valve stem cap. This will prevent
moisture and dirt from entering
the valve stem, which could dam-
age the Tire Pressure Monitoring
Sensor.
162