2013 Lancia Thema Owner handbook (in English)

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 engine coolant (antifreeze)
changes.
Cooling System Pressure Cap
The cap must be fully tightened to
prevent loss of engine coolant (anti-
freeze), 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 surfaces.
WARNING!
 The warning words “DO NOTOPEN 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
system. To prevent scalding or in-
jury, do not remove the pressure
cap while the system is hot or
under 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 Engine 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
ethylene glycol-based engine coolant
(antifreeze) in open containers or allow 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 OFF and cold, the level of the
coolant in the bottle should be be-
tween 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 engine cool-
ant (antifreeze). Advise your service
attendant of this. As long as the en-
gine operating temperature is satis-
factory, the coolant bottle need only
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.
283

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
compartment. This is normally a
result of moisture from rain, or
high humidity accumulating on
the radiator and being vaporized
when the thermostat opens, allow-
ing 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 engine coolant (antifreeze)
freeze point in the radiator and in
the coolant recovery bottle. If engine
coolant (antifreeze) needs to be
added, contents of coolant recovery
bottle must also be protected 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 (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 unsat-
isfactory engine coolant (anti-
freeze) performance, poor gas mile-
age, and increased emissions. BRAKE SYSTEM
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
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
(Continued)
284

CAUTION!(Continued)
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
cylinder immediately if the brake sys-
tem warning light indicates system
failure.
Check the fluid level in the master
cylinder when performing underhood
services.
Clean the top of the master cylinder
area before removing the cap. Add
fluid to bring the level up to the
“MAX” mark on the side of the master
cylinder reservoir.
Add enough fluid to bring the level up
to the requirements described on the
brake fluid reservoir. With disc
brakes, fluid level can be expected to
fall as the brake pads wear. 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.
WARNING!
 Use only manufacturer's recom-
mended brake fluid. Refer to
“Fluids, Lubricants, and Genuine
Parts” in “Maintaining Your Ve-
hicle” for further information.
Using the wrong type of brake
fluid can severely damage your
brake system and/or impair its
performance. The proper type of
brake fluid for your vehicle is also
identified on the original factory
installed hydraulic master cylin-
der reservoir.
 To avoid contamination from for-
eign matter or moisture, use only
new brake fluid or fluid that has
been in a tightly closed container.
Keep the master cylinder reser-
voir cap secured at all times.
Brake fluid in a open container
(Continued)
WARNING!(Continued)
absorbs moisture from the air re-
sulting in a lower boiling point.
This may cause it to boil unex-
pectedly during hard or pro-
longed braking, resulting in sud-
den brake failure. This could
result in a accident.
 Overfilling the brake fluid reser- voir can result in spilling brake
fluid on hot engine parts, causing
the brake fluid to catch fire.
Brake fluid can also damage
painted and vinyl surfaces, care
should be taken to avoid its con-
tact with these surfaces.
 Do not allow petroleum based
fluid to contaminate the brake
fluid. Brake seal components
could be damaged, causing par-
tial or complete brake failure.
This could result in an accident.
285

AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
Selection Of Lubricant
It is important to use the proper trans-
mission fluid to ensure optimum
transmission performance and life.
Use only the manufacturer’s recom-
mended transmission fluid. Refer to
“Fluids, Lubricants, and Genuine
Parts” in “Maintaining Your Vehicle”
for fluid specifications. It is important
to maintain the transmission fluid at
the correct level using the recom-
mended fluid. No chemical flushes
should be used in any transmission;
only the approved lubricant should be
used.CAUTION!
Using a transmission fluid other
than the manufacturer’s recom-
mended fluid may cause deteriora-
tion in transmission shift quality
and/or torque converter shudder,
and will require more frequent fluid
and filter changes. Refer to “Fluids,(Continued)
CAUTION!(Continued)
Lubricants, and Genuine Parts” in
“Maintaining Your Vehicle” for
fluid specifications.
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 for
diagnosing fluid leaks. Avoid using
transmission sealers as they may ad-
versely affect seals.CAUTION!
Using a transmission fluid other
than the manufacturer's recom-
mended fluid may cause deteriora-
tion in transmission shift quality
and/or torque converter shudder.
Using a transmission fluid other
than that recommended by the
manufacturer, and will require
more frequent fluid and filter
(Continued)
CAUTION! (Continued)changes. Refer to “Fluids, Lubri-
cants, and Genuine Parts” in
“Maintaining Your Vehicle” for
further fluid specification.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 ad-
just the fluid level accurately.
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 special service tools.
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.
286

CAUTION!
 Using a transmission fluid otherthan the manufacturer's recom-
mended fluid may cause deterio-
ration in transmission shift qual-
ity and/or torque converter
shudder. Using a transmission
fluid other than that recom-
mended by the manufacturer,
and will require more frequent
fluid and filter changes. Refer to
“Fluids, Lubricants, and Genuine
Parts” in “Maintaining Your Ve-
hicle” for fluid specifications.
 If a transmission fluid leak oc-
curs, visit your authorized dealer
immediately. Transmission dam-
age may occur. Your authorized
dealer has the proper tools to ad-
just 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.
ALL WHEEL DRIVE (AWD)
(for versions/markets,
where provided)
The all wheel drive system consists of
a transfer case and front differential.
The exterior surface of these compo-
nents should be inspected for evi-
dence of fluid leaks. Confirmed leaks
should be repaired as soon as possible.
The transfer case fluid fill/inspection
plug is located in the middle of the
rear housing. To inspect the transfer
case fluid level, remove the fill/
inspection plug. The fluid level should
be even with the bottom of the hole.
Use this plug to add fluid as required. The front differential fill plug is lo-
cated on the outer cover near the half-
shaft attachment. To inspect the dif-
ferential fluid level, remove the fill
plug. The fluid level should be even
with or slightly below the bottom of
the hole.
REAR AXLE
For normal service, periodic fluid
level checks are not required. When
the vehicle is serviced for other rea-
sons the exterior surfaces of the axle
assembly should be inspected. If gear
oil leakage is suspected inspect the
fluid level. Refer to “Fluids, Lubri-
cants, and Genuine Parts” in “Main-
taining Your Vehicle” for further in-
formation.
Fluid Level Check
Check the fluid level by removing the
fill plug on the axle. The fluid level
should be at the bottom of the fill
hole. Add fluid, if necessary, to main-
tain the proper level. Refer to “Fluids,
Lubricants, and Genuine Parts” in
“Maintaining Your Vehicle” for fur-
ther information.
287

Change Axle Fluid
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule”
for the proper maintenance intervals.
APPEARANCE CARE AND
PROTECTION FROM
CORROSION
Protection Of Body And Paint
From Corrosion
Vehicle body care requirements vary
according to geographic locations and
usage. Chemicals that are sprayed on
trees and road surfaces during other
seasons, are highly corrosive to the
metal in your vehicle. Outside park-
ing, which exposes your vehicle to air-
borne contaminants, road surfaces on
which the vehicle is operated, extreme
hot or cold weather and other extreme
conditions will have an adverse effect
on paint, metal trim, and underbody
protection.
The following maintenance recom-
mendations will enable you to obtain
maximum benefit from the corrosion
resistance built into your vehicle.What Causes Corrosion?
Corrosion is the result of deterioration
or removal of paint and protective
coatings from your vehicle.
The most common causes are:
 Road salt, dirt and moisture accu-
mulation.
 Stone and gravel impact.
 Insects, tree sap and tar.
 Salt in the air near seacoast localities.
 Atmospheric fallout/industrial pol- lutants.
Washing
 Wash your vehicle regularly. Al- ways wash your vehicle in the shade
using a mild car wash soap, and
rinse the panels completely with
clear water.
 Use a high quality cleaner wax to protect your paint finish. Take care
never to scratch the paint.  Avoid using abrasive compounds
and power buffing that may dimin-
ish the gloss or thin out the paint
finish.
CAUTION!
Do not use abrasive or strong clean-
ing materials such as steel wool or
scouring powder that will scratch
metal and painted surfaces.
Special Care
 If you drive on salted or dusty roads or if you drive near the ocean, hose
off the undercarriage at least once a
month.
 It is important that the drain holes in the lower edges of the doors,
rocker panels, and cargo area be
kept clear and open.
 If you detect any stone chips or scratches in the paint, touch them
up immediately. The cost of such
repairs is considered the responsi-
bility of the owner.
288

 If your vehicle is damaged due to anaccident or similar cause, which de-
stroys the paint and protective
coating, have your vehicle repaired
as soon as possible. The cost of such
repairs is considered the responsi-
bility of the owner.
 If you carry special cargo such as chemicals, fertilizers, de-icer salt,
etc., be sure that such materials are
well packaged and sealed.
 If a lot of driving is done on gravel roads, consider mud or stone
shields behind each wheel.
 Use Touch Up Paint or equivalent on scratches as soon as possible.
Your authorized dealer has touch
up paint to match the color of your
vehicle.
Wheel And Wheel Trim Care
All wheels and wheel trim, especially
aluminum and chrome-plated wheels
should be cleaned regularly with a
mild soap and water to prevent corro-
sion. To remove heavy soil and/or ex-
cessive brake dust, use a nonabrasive, non-acidic cleaner. Do not use scour-
ing pads, steel wool, a bristle brush, or
metal polishes. Do not use oven
cleaner. Avoid automatic car washes
that use acidic solutions or harsh
brushes that may damage the wheels’
protective finish.
Stain Repel Fabric Cleaning
Procedure (for versions/markets,
where provided)
Stain Repel seats may be cleaned in
the following manner:
 Remove as much of the stain as
possible by blotting with a clean,
dry towel.
 Blot any remaining stain with a clean, damp towel.
 For tough stains, apply a mild soap solution to a clean, damp cloth and
remove the stain. Use a fresh, damp
towel to remove soap residue.
 Do not use any harsh solvents or any other form of protectants on
Stain Repel products. Interior Care
Interior trim should be cleaned start-
ing with a damp cloth. Do not use
harsh cleaners.
Your leather upholstery can be best
preserved by regular cleaning with a
damp soft cloth. Small particles of
dirt can act as an abrasive and dam-
age the leather upholstery and should
be removed promptly with a damp
cloth. Stubborn soils can be removed
easily with a soft cloth and appropri-
ate products. Care should be taken to
avoid soaking your leather upholstery
with any liquid. Please do not use
polishes, oils, cleaning fluids, sol-
vents, detergents, or ammonia-based
cleaners to clean your leather uphol-
stery. Application of a leather condi-
tioner is not required to maintain the
original condition.
WARNING!
Do not use volatile solvents for
cleaning purposes. Many are poten-
tially flammable, and if used in
closed areas they may cause respi-
ratory harm.
289

Cleaning Headlights
Your vehicle has plastic headlights
that are lighter and less susceptible to
stone breakage than glass headlights.Plastic is not as scratch resistant as
glass and therefore different lens clean-
ing procedures must be followed.To minimize the possibility of scratch-
ing the lenses and reducing light out-
put, avoid wiping with a dry cloth. To
remove road dirt, wash with a mild
soap solution followed by rinsing.Do not use abrasive cleaning compo-
nents, solvents, steel wool or other ag-
gressive material to clean the lenses.Glass Surfaces
All glass surfaces should be cleaned
on a regular basis with any commer-
cial household-type glass cleaner.
Never use an abrasive type cleaner.
Use caution when cleaning the inside
rear window equipped with an elec-
tric defroster. Do not use scrapers or
other sharp instruments that may
scratch the elements.When cleaning the rear view mirror,
spray cleaner on the towel or rag that
you are using. Do not spray cleaner
directly on the mirror.
Cleaning Plastic Instrument
Cluster Lenses
The lenses in front of the instruments
in this vehicle are molded in clear
plastic. When cleaning the lenses,
care must be taken to avoid scratch-
ing the plastic.
1. Clean with a wet soft rag. A mild
soap solution may be used, but do not
use high alcohol content or abrasive
cleaners. If soap is used, wipe clean
with a clean damp rag.
2. Dry with a soft cloth.
Seat Belt Maintenance
Do not bleach, dye, or clean the belts
with chemical solvents or abrasive
cleaners. This will weaken the fabric.
Sun damage can also weaken the fabric.If the belts need cleaning, use a mild
soap solution, or lukewarm water. Do
not remove the belts from the vehicle
to wash them.Replace the belts if they appear frayed
or worn or if the buckles do not work
properly.
Cleaning The Center Console
Cupholders
Clean with a damp cloth or towel using
a mild detergent with the cupholder in
the center console.NOTE: The cupholder cannot be
removed.
FUSES
Integrated Power ModuleThe Integrated Power Module is lo-
cated in the engine compartment. This
module contains fuses and relays.
Integrated Power Module
290