2013 Lancia Flavia maintenance

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 chemi-
cals can damage your air condition-
ing components. Such damage is not
covered by the New Vehicle Limited
Warranty.WARNING!
Use only refrigerants and compres-
sor lubricants approved by the
manufacturer for your air condi-
tioning system. Some unapproved
refrigerants are flammable and can
explode, injuring you. Other unap-
proved refrigerants or lubricants
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)can cause the system to fail, requir-
ing costly repairs. The air conditioning system con-
tains refrigerant under high pres-
sure. To avoid risk of personal
injury 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
dealer or other service facilities using
recovery and recycling equipment.
NOTE: Use only manufacturer
approved A/C system sealers, stop
leak products, seal conditioners,
compressor 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
personal injury may result.
The A/C Air Filter is located in the
fresh air inlet behind the glove box.
Perform the following procedure to
replace the filter:
1. Open the glove box and remove all
contents.
2. Push in on the sides of the glove
box and lower the door.
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3. Disconnect the glove box door
dampener from the slot on the side of
the box. This is done by grasping the
dampener connector (on the outside
of the box) and the end of the connec-
tor pin (on the inside of the box) with
your thumb and forefinger and pull-
ing outward while lightly lifting up-
ward on the door with your other
hand. Once disconnected, the damp-
ener will retract underneath the in-
strument panel if you release it.
4. Pivot the glove box downward.
5. Disengage the two retaining tabs
that secure the filter cover to the
HVAC housing and remove the cover.6. Remove the A/C Air Filter by pull-
ing it straight out of the housing.
7. Install the A/C Air Filter with the
arrow on the filter pointing toward
the floor. When installing the filter
cover, make sure the retaining tabs
fully engage the cover.
CAUTION!
The A/C air filter is identified with
an arrow to indicate airflow direc-
tion through the filter. Failure to
install the filter properly will result
in the need to replace it more often.
8. Reinstall the glove box door
dampener and glove box.
BODY LUBRICATION
Locks and all body pivot points, in-
cluding such items as seat tracks, door
hinge pivot points and rollers, and
hood hinges, should be lubricated pe-
riodically with a lithium based grease
to assure quiet, easy operation and to
protect against rust and wear. Prior to
the application of any lubricant, the parts concerned should be wiped
clean to remove dust and grit; after
lubricating excess oil and grease
should be removed. Particular atten-
tion should also be given to hood
latching components to ensure proper
function. When performing other un-
derhood services, the hood latch, re-
lease mechanism and safety catch
should be cleaned and lubricated.
The external lock cylinders should be
lubricated twice a year, preferably in
the Fall and Spring. Apply a small
amount of a high quality lubricant
directly into the lock cylinder.
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.
A/C Air Filter Replacement
195

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 non-abrasive cleaner or use the
washer solvent. This will remove ac-
cumulations of salt, waxes, or road
film and help reduce streaking and
smearing.Operation of the wipers on dry glass for
long periods may cause deterioration of
the wiper blades. Always use washer
fluid when using the wipers to remove
salt or dirt from a dry windshield.Avoid using the wiper blades to re-
move frost or ice from the windshield.
Make sure that they are not frozen to
the glass before turning them on to
avoid damaging the blade.
NOTE: Life expectancy of wiper
blades varies depending on geo-
graphical area and frequency of
use. Poor performance of blades
may be present with chattering,
marks, water lines or wet spots.If any of these conditions are pres-
ent, clean the wiper blades or re-
place as necessary.
ADDING WASHER FLUID
The windshield washer and the rear
window washer share the same fluid
reservoir. The fluid reservoir is lo-
cated in the engine compartment. Be
sure to check the fluid level in the
reservoir 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 the 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.
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 solution.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.
EXHAUST SYSTEM
The best protection against carbon
monoxide entry into the vehicle body
is a properly maintained engine ex-
haust system.
196

If you notice a change in the sound of
the exhaust system; or if the exhaust
fumes can be detected inside the ve-
hicle; or when the underside or rear of
the vehicle is damaged; have an au-
thorized technician inspect the com-
plete exhaust system and adjacent
body areas for broken, damaged, de-
teriorated, or mispositioned parts.
Open seams or loose connections
could permit exhaust fumes to seep
into the passenger compartment. In
addition, have the exhaust system in-
spected each time the vehicle is raised
for lubrication or oil change. Replace
as required.WARNING!
Exhaust gases can injure or kill.
They contain carbon monoxide
(CO), which is colorless and odor-
less. Breathing it can make you un-
conscious and can eventually poi-
son you. To avoid breathing CO,
refer to “Safety Tips/Exhaust Gas”
in “Things To Know Before Start-
ing Your Vehicle” for further infor-
mation.
CAUTION!
 The catalytic converter requiresthe use of unleaded fuel only.
Leaded gasoline will destroy the
effectiveness of the catalyst as an
emissions control device and may
seriously reduce engine perfor-
mance and cause serious damage
to the engine.
 Damage to the catalytic converter can result if your vehicle is not
kept in proper operating condi-
tion. In the event of engine mal-
function, particularly involving
engine misfire or other apparent
loss of performance, have your
vehicle serviced promptly. Con-
tinued operation of your vehicle
with a severe malfunction could
cause the converter to overheat,
resulting in possible damage to
the converter and vehicle.
Under normal operating conditions,
the catalytic converter will not require
maintenance. However, it is impor-
tant to keep the engine properly tuned
to assure proper catalyst operation
and prevent possible catalyst damage. NOTE:
Intentional tampering with
emissions control systems can re-
sult in civil penalties being assessed
against you.
In unusual situations involving grossly
malfunctioning engine operation, a
scorching odor may suggest severe and
abnormal catalyst overheating. If this
occurs, stop the vehicle, turn off the
engine and allow it to cool. Service,
including a tune-up to manufacturer's
specifications, should be obtained im-
mediately.
To minimize the possibility of cata-
lytic converter damage:
 Do not shut off the engine or inter- rupt the ignition, when the trans-
mission is in gear and the vehicle is
in motion.
 Do not try to start the engine by pushing or towing the vehicle.
 Do not idle the engine with any spark plug wires disconnected or
removed, such as when diagnostic
testing, or for prolonged periods
during very rough idle or malfunc-
tioning operating conditions.
197

COOLING SYSTEMWARNING!
 When working near the radiatorcooling fan, disconnect the fan
motor lead or turn the ignition
switch to the LOCK position. The
fan is temperature controlled and
can start at anytime the ignition
switch is in the ON position.
 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 radia-
tor 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
(Continued)
CAUTION!(Continued)
parts and the necessary fluids; do
not however carry out these opera-
tions if you have no experience.
Coolant Checks
Check 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 engine
coolant (antifreeze). Check the front
of the A/C condenser for any accumu-
lation of bugs, leaves, etc. If dirty,
clean by gently spraying water from a
garden hose vertically down the face
of the condenser.
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. Cooling System – Drain, Flush,
And Refill
If the engine coolant (antifreeze) is
dirty or contains a considerable
amount of sediment, clean and flush
with a reliable cooling system cleaner.
Follow with a thorough rinsing to re-
move all deposits and chemicals.
Properly dispose of old engine coolant
(antifreeze).
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule”
for the proper maintenance intervals.
Selection Of Coolant
Use the manufacturer’s recommended
coolant or a quality-equivalent prod-
uct. Refer to “Fluids, Lubricants, and
Genuine Parts” in “Maintaining Your
Vehicle” for further information.
198

CAUTION!
 Mixing of engine coolant (anti-freeze) other than specified en-
gine coolant (antifreeze), may re-
sult in engine damage and may
decrease corrosion protection. If a
non-specified engine coolant (an-
tifreeze) is introduced into the
cooling system in an emergency, it
should be replaced with the speci-
fied engine coolant (antifreeze) as
soon as possible.
Do not use plain water alone or
alcohol-based engine coolant (an-
tifreeze) products. Do not use ad-
ditional rust inhibitors or antirust
products, as they may not be com-
patible with the radiator engine
coolant (antifreeze) and may plug
the radiator. This vehicle has not been de- signed for use with Propylene
Glycol based engine coolant (an-
tifreeze). Use of Propylene Glycol
based engine coolant (antifreeze)
is not recommended. Adding Coolant
Your vehicle has been built with an
improved engine coolant (antifreeze)
that allows extended maintenance in-
tervals. This engine coolant (anti-
freeze) can be used up to ten years or
240 000 km before replacement. To
prevent reducing this extended main-
tenance period, it is important that
you use the same engine coolant (an-
tifreeze) throughout the life of your
vehicle.
When adding engine coolant (anti-
freeze):
Use only high purity water such as
distilled or deionized water when
mixing the water/engine coolant (an-
tifreeze) solution. The use of lower
quality water will reduce the amount
of corrosion protection in the engine
cooling system.
Please note that it is the owner's respon-
sibility to maintain the proper level of
protection against freezing according to
the temperatures occurring in the area
where the vehicle is operated.
NOTE: Mixing engine coolant
(antifreeze) types will decrease the
life of the engine coolant (anti-
freeze) and will require more fre-
quent coolant changes.
Cooling System Pressure Cap
The cap must be fully tightened to
prevent loss of engine coolant (anti-
freeze), and to ensure that the 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 surfaces.WARNING!
 The warning words “DO NOT
OPEN HOT” on the cooling sys-
tem pressure cap are a safety pre-
caution. Never add engine cool-
ant (antifreeze) when the engine
is overheated. Do not loosen or
remove the cap to cool an over-
heated engine. Heat causes pres-
sure to build up in the cooling
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199

 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 (antifreeze)
concentration at 50% engine coolant
(antifreeze) (minimum) and dis-
tilled water for proper corrosion pro-
tection of your engine, which con-
tains 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, 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 unsatis-
factory cooling performance, poor
gas mileage, and increased emissions.
BRAKE SYSTEMIn order to assure brake system perfor-
mance, all brake system components
should be inspected periodically. Refer
to the “Maintenance Schedule” for the
proper maintenance intervals.WARNING!
Riding the brakes can lead to brake
failure and possibly a collision.
Driving with your foot resting or
riding on the brake pedal can result
in abnormally high brake tempera-
tures, excessive lining wear, and
possible 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. Master Cylinder – Brake Fluid
Level Check
Check the fluid level in the master cyl-
inder immediately if the brake system
warning light indicates system failure.
Check the fluid level in the master cyl-
inder when performing underhood ser-
vices.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.
201

Special Additives
The manufacturer strongly recom-
mends against using any special addi-
tives in the transmission. Automatic
Transmission Fluid (ATF) is an engi-
neered product and its performance
may be impaired by supplemental ad-
ditives. Therefore, do not add any
fluid additives to the transmission.
The only exception to this policy is the
use of special dyes for diagnosing
fluid leaks. 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 Warranty.
Fluid Level Check
The fluid level is preset at the factory
and does not require adjustment un-
der normal operating conditions.
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.CAUTION!
If a transmission fluid leak occurs,
visit your authorized dealer imme-
diately. Severe transmission dam-
age may occur. Your authorized
dealer has the proper tools to adjust
the fluid level accurately.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.
203