Lancia DELTA. Service Manual - part 12

184

STARTING AND DRIVING

STARTING THE ENGINE

The car is fitted with an electronic engine lock device: if
the engine fails to start, see the “Lancia CODE system”
paragraph in chapter 1.

In the first period of use, we recommend
avoiding excessive stress for the car (for in-
stance excessive accelerations, extended trav-

el at maximum speed, sudden braking etc.).

With engine off, do not leave the key in the ig-
nition switch on MAR to prevent draining the
battery.

It is dangerous to let the engine run in en-
closed spaces. The engine takes in oxygen and
releases carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide

and other toxic gases. 

Remember that the brake servo and electri-
cal power steering system are not operational
until the engine is started, therefore a greater

effort will be required to press the brake pedal or
turn the steering wheel.

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STARTING AND DRIVING

185

3

Proceed as follows:
❍ engage the handbrake;
❍ put the gear lever into neutral;
❍ turn the ignition key to MAR: the 

m

and

Y

warn-

ing lights on the instrument panel will turn on;

❍ wait for the warning lights 

Y

and

m

to turn off. The

hotter the engine is, the quicker this will happen;

❍ fully depress the clutch pedal without operating the ac-

celerator;

❍ turn the ignition key to AVV as soon as the 

m

warn-

ing light goes out. Waiting too long will waste the heat-
ing work carried out by the glow plugs.

Release the key as soon as the engine starts.

IMPORTANT With cold engine, the accelerator pedal shall
be completely released while turning the ignition key to
AVV.

If the engine does not start at the first attempt, turn the
ignition key to STOP again before repeating the procedure.
If instrument panel 

Y

warning light remains lit when the

ignition key is turned to MAR, turn the key to STOP and
then back to MAR; if the warning light remains lit, try the
other keys provided with the vehicle. Contact a Lancia Deal-
ership if you still cannot start the engine.

The 

m

warning light will flash for 60 sec-

onds after starting or during prolonged
cranking to indicate a fault with the glow

plug pre-heating system. Use the car normally if the
engine starts and go to a Lancia Dealership as soon
as possible.

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186

STARTING AND DRIVING

Never bump start the engine by pushing, tow-
ing or coasting downhill. This could cause fu-
el to flow into the catalytic converter and

damage it beyond repair.

HOW TO WARM UP THE ENGINE 
AFTER IT HAS JUST STARTED 

Proceed as follows:

❍ drive off slowly, letting the engine turn at medium

speed. Do not accelerate abruptly; 

❍ do not demand maximum performance for the first few

kilometres. Wait until the engine coolant gauge starts
moving.

ENGINE SWITCHING OFF 

Turn the ignition key to STOP while the engine is idling.

IMPORTANT After a demanding drive, you should al-
low the engine to “catch its breath” before turning it off
by letting it idle to allow the temperature in the engine
compartment to fall.

A quick burst on the accelerator before turn-
ing off the engine serves absolutely no prac-
tical purpose; it wastes fuel and is especially

damaging to turbocharged engines.

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STARTING AND DRIVING

187

3

HANDBRAKE

The handbrake lever is located between the front seats. 
Pull the lever upwards to operate the handbrake, until the
car is braked.

The car should be braked after a few clicks
of the lever; if it is not, contact a Lancia Deal-
ership to have it adjusted.

When the handbrake is on and the ignition key is at MAR,
the instrument panel x warning light will come on.
Proceed as follows to release the handbrake:
❍ slightly lift the lever and press release button A - fig. 1;
❍ keep button A pressed and lower the lever. The x

warning light on the instrument panel turns off.

Press the brake pedal when carrying out this operation
to prevent the car from moving accidentally. 

PARKING

Proceed as follows:
❍ stop the engine and engage the handbrake;
❍ engage a gear (on a slope, engage first gear if the car

is facing uphill or reverse if it is facing downhill) and
leave the wheels steered.

Block the wheels with a wedge or a stone if the car is
parked on a steep slope. 
Do not leave the ignition key on MAR to avoid draining
the battery. Always remove the key when you leave the
car.
Never leave children unattended in the car. Always remove
the ignition key when leaving the car and take it out with
you.

fig. 1

L0E0072m

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188

STARTING AND DRIVING

USING THE GEARBOX 

To engage the gears, press the clutch pedal fully and shift
the gear lever into the required position (the gear diagram
varies according to the different versions and is shown
on the knob or on the plate below the lever fig. 2).
To engage 6

th

gear, operate the lever by pressing it towards

the right in order to avoid engaging 4

th

gear by mistake.

The same goes for changing from 6

th

to 5

th

.

IMPORTANT The car can only be put into reverse gear
when it has stopped moving completely. With the engine
running, wait at least 2 seconds before engaging reverse
gear with the clutch pedal fully depress in order to avoid
damaging or grinding the gears.

fig. 2

L0E0073m

To engage reverse gear R from neutral, raise sliding ring
A under the knob and at the same time move the gear lever
to the left and then forwards.
To engage reverse R from neutral, lift the sliding ring A
under the knob and move the gear lever to the right and
then backwards.

IMPORTANT The clutch pedal should be used only to
change gear. Do not drive with your foot resting on the
clutch pedal, however lightly. For versions/markets where
provided, the electronic clutch pedal control could cut in,
interpreting the incorrect driving style as a fault. 

Press the clutch pedal fully to change gears
correctly. Therefore, the floor area under the
pedal unit should be clear: ensure that any

mats are flat and do not interfere with the pedals.

Do not drive with your hand resting on the
gear lever, because this pressure, even if light,
can wear out the internal components of the

gearbox over time.

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STARTING AND DRIVING

189

3

SAVING FUEL

Some useful tips are given below for saving fuel and re-
ducing harmful emissions of CO

2

and other pollutants (ni-

trogen oxides, unburnt hydrocarbons, Particulate Matter
(PM), etc.).

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

Car maintenance

Have checks and adjustments carried out in accordance
with the “Scheduled Servicing Plan”.

Tyres

Check the pressure of the tyres routinely at an interval of
no more than 4 weeks: if the pressure is too low, con-
sumption levels increase as resistance to rolling is higher.

Unnecessary loads

Do not travel with an overloaded luggage compartment.
The weight of the car (especially when driving in town)
and its ride greatly affect consumption and stability.

Accessories installed on longitudinal bars

Remove accessories like: roof racks, ski racks, luggage con-
tainer, etc. from the roof if they are no longer used. These
accessories lower aerodynamic penetration and adverse-
ly affect consumption levels. When transporting particu-
larly large objects, use a trailer if possible.

Electric devices

Use electrical devices only for the amount of time needed.
The heated rear window, additional headlights, wind-
screen/rear window wipers and heater fan need a con-
siderable amount of energy, therefore increasing fuel con-
sumption (by up to 25% in the urban cycle).

Climate control system

Using the climate control system leads to higher fuel con-
sumption (on average up to +20%). If the temperature
outside permits, try and use the ventilation only.

Devices for aerodynamic control

The use of non-certified devices for aerodynamic control
may adversely affect air drag and consumption levels.

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190

STARTING AND DRIVING

DRIVING STYLE

Cranking

Do not warm up the engine at low or high revs when the
car is stationary: under these conditions the engine warms
up much more slowly, increasing consumption and emis-
sions. It is therefore advisable to move off immediately,
slowly, avoiding high speeds: in this way the engine will
warm up more quickly.

Unnecessary actions

Avoid revving up when at traffic lights or before stopping
the engine. The latter action, like double-declutching, is
completely unnecessary and causes increased fuel con-
sumption and pollution.

Gear selection

As soon as the conditions of the traffic and road permit,
use a higher gear. Using a low gear for faster accelera-
tion will increase consumption.
In the same way improper use of a high gear increases con-
sumption, emissions and engine wear.

Max. speed

Fuel consumption considerably increases as speed in-
creases. Maintain a constant speed, avoiding unnecessary
braking and acceleration, which cost in terms of both fu-
el consumption and emissions.

Acceleration

Accelerating violently will greatly affect consumption and
emissions: acceleration should be gradual.

CONDITIONS OF USE

Cold starting

Short journeys and frequent cold starts do not allow the
engine to reach optimum operating temperature. This re-
sults in a significant increase in consumption levels (from
+15 to +30% on the urban cycle) and emissions.

Traffic and road conditions

Rather high fuel consumption is caused by heavy traffic,
for instance when travelling in a queue with frequent use
of low gears or in large towns with many traffic lights.
Mountain and rough roads also have a negative effect on
fuel consumption.

Stops in traffic

During prolonged stops (e.g. level crossings) the engine
should be switched off.

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STARTING AND DRIVING

191

3

TOWING TRAILERS

IMPORTANT

For towing caravans or trailers the car must be fitted with
a certified tow hook and an adequate electrical system. In-
stallation should be carried out by specialised personnel
who will issue the required papers for travelling on roads.
Install any specific and/or additional door mirrors as spec-
ified by the Highway Code. 
Remember that when towing a trailer, steep hills are hard-
er to climb, braking spaces increase and overtaking takes
longer depending on the overall weight.
Engage a low gear when driving downhill, rather than con-
stantly using the brake.
The weight the trailer exerts on the car tow hook reduces
the car’s loading capacity by the same amount. To make
sure that the maximum towable weight is not exceeded
(given in the car registration document) account should
be taken of the fully laden trailer, including accessories
and luggage.
Do not exceed the speed limits specific to each country you
are driving in, in the case of vehicles towing trailers. In
any case, the top speed must not exceed 100 km/h.

The ABS with which the vehicle may be
equipped does not control the braking system
of the trailer. Take specific care when trav-

elling on slippery roads.

Never modify the braking system of the car
to control the trailer brake. The trailer brak-
ing system must be fully independent from

the hydraulic system of the car.

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192

STARTING AND DRIVING

IMPORTANT When using snow tyres with a maximum
speed index below the one that can be reached by the car
(increased by 5%), place a notice in the passenger com-
partment, plainly in view, which states the maximum
speed allowed by the snow tyres (as per EC Directive).
All four tyres should be the same (brand and track) to en-
sure greater safety when driving and braking and better
driveability.
Remember that it is inadvisable to change the rotation di-
rection of tyres.

The maximum speed for snow tyres marked
“Q” is 160 km/h; in any case, make sure you
comply with the regulations of the highway

code.

SNOW TYRES

Use snow tyres of the same size as the normal tyres pro-
vided with the car.
A Lancia Dealership will be happy to provide advice con-
cerning the most suitable type of tyre for your require-
ments.
For the type of snow tyre to fit, the inflation pressures and
specifications, follow the instructions in the “Wheels” para-
graph in chapter “6” very carefully. The winter features of
these tyres are reduced considerably when the tread depth
is below 4 mm. Replace them in this case. 
Due to snow tyre characteristics, under normal conditions
of use or on long motorway journeys, the performance of
these tyres is lower than that of standard tyres. Limit per-
formance according to the use for which they were certified.

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193

3

Keep your speed down when snow chains are
fitted. Do not exceed 50 km/h. Avoid potholes,
steps and pavements and also avoid driving

long distances on roads not covered with snow in
order to prevent damaging the car and the roadbed.

SNOW CHAINS

The use of snow chains should be in compliance with lo-
cal regulations.
The snow chains may be applied only onto the front wheel
(drive wheels). 
Check the tension of the snow chains after the first few
metres have been driven.

IMPORTANT Snow chains cannot be fitted to the space-
saver wheel. So, if a front (drive) wheel is punctured and
chains are needed, a rear wheel should be fitted to the front
of the car and the space-saver wheel should be fitted to
the rear. In this way, with two normal drive wheels at the
front, snow chains can be fitted. 

CAR INACTIVITY

If the car is to be left inactive for longer than a month, the
following precautions should be followed:
❍ park the car in a covered, dry and, if possible, well-

ventilated place;

❍ engage a gear;
❍ check that the handbrake is not engaged;
❍ disconnect the negative battery terminal;
❍ clean and protect the painted parts of the vehicle with

protective wax;

❍ clean and protect the shiny metal parts using special

compounds commercially available;

❍ sprinkle talcum powder on the rubber windscreen and

rear window wiper blades and lift them off the glass;

❍ open the windows slightly;
❍ cover the car with a fabric or perforated plastic sheet.

Do not use sheets of non-perforated plastic as they do
not allow moisture on the car body to evaporate;

❍ inflate tyres to a pressure of +0.5 bar above the nor-

mal specified pressure and check regularly;

❍ do not drain the engine cooling system.

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194

STARTING AND DRIVING

blank page

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4

    

IN AN EMERGENCY

195

Starting the engine  .................................................................. 196

Fix&Go Automatic kit .............................................................. 198

Replacing a wheel  ................................................................... 203

Replacing a bulb  ..................................................................... 211

Replacing an exterior bulb ....................................................... 214

Replacing an interior bulb  ....................................................... 219

Replacing fuses  ....................................................................... 223

Battery recharging ................................................................... 230

Lifting the car  ......................................................................... 231

Towing the car  ........................................................................ 231

In an emergency we recommend that you call the freephone number found in the 

Warranty Booklet. It is also possible to go to the www.lancia.com 

website to find the closest Lancia Dealership.

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196

IN AN EMERGENCY

STARTING THE ENGINE

Go to a Lancia Dealership immediately if instrument pan-
el 

Y

warning light remains on constantly.

JUMP STARTING fig. 1

If the battery is flat, the engine may be started using an
auxiliary battery with the same capacity or a little high-
er than the flat one.

fig. 1

L0E0074m

Strictly avoid using a rapid battery charger
for jump starting: this could damage the elec-
tronic systems and the engine fuel supply and

ignition control units.

This starting procedure must be carried out
by expert personnel as incorrect manoeuvres
can cause electrical discharges of consider-

able intensity. Furthermore, battery fluid is poiso-
nous and corrosive: avoid contact with skin and
eyes. Keep naked flames away from the battery. No
smoking. Do not cause sparks.

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IN AN EMERGENCY

197

4

Proceed as follows to start the car:
❍ connect the positive terminals (+ sign close to the ter-

minal) of both batteries using a lead;

❍ with a second lead, connect the negative terminal –

of the auxiliary battery to an earthing point E on the
engine or the gearbox of the car to be started;

❍ start the engine;
❍ when the engine has been started, follow the sequence

above in reverse order to remove the leads.

If after a few attempts the engine does not start, do not
persist but contact a Lancia Dealership.

IMPORTANT Do not directly connect the negative ter-
minals of the two batteries: any sparks may ignite the ex-
plosive gas which could come out of the battery. If the aux-
iliary battery is installed on another car, prevent any con-
tact between metal parts of the two cars.

BUMP STARTING

Never bump start the engine by pushing, towing or coast-
ing downhill.
This could cause fuel to flow into the catalytic converter
and damage it beyond repair.

IMPORTANT Remember that the brake servo and elec-
trical power steering system (where provided) are not op-
erational until the engine is started, a greater effort will
therefore be required to press the brake pedal or turn the
steering wheel.

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198

IN AN EMERGENCY

❍ a compressor D - fig. 2 including a pressure gauge and

connectors, found in the compartment;

❍ a pair of protective gloves located in the side com-

partment of the compressor;

❍ adapters for inflating different elements.
The quick tyre repair kit also contains a screwdriver and
a tow hook.

fig. 3

L0E0076m

FIX & GO AUTOMATIC KIT

The Fix & Go Automatic quick tyre repair kit is located
in the luggage compartment.
The kit fig. 2 includes:
❍ a bottle A containing sealant and fitted with:

– filler pipe B;
– an adhesive label C with the message “max. 80

km/h” to be applied in a position clearly visible by
the driver (on the dashboard) after repairing the tyre;

❍ informative leaflet (see fig. 3), used to ensure the cor-

rect use of the quick tyre repair kit and then given to
the personnel who will be handling the treated tyre;

fig. 2

L0E0075m

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IN AN EMERGENCY

199

4

Punctures caused by foreign bodies can be re-
paired if the damage does not exceed 4 mm
on the tread and on the shoulder of the tyre. 

Give the booklet to the personnel who will be
handling the tyre treated with the repair kit. 

Punctures on the sides of the tyre cannot be
repaired. Do not use the quick tyre repair kit
if the tyre is damaged as the vehicle has run

on a flat tyre.

If the wheel rim is damaged (the channel is
so deformed as to cause air leakage) it can-
not be repaired. Do not remove foreign bod-

ies (screws or nails) from the tyre.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The sealant of the quick tyre repair kit is effective with
external temperatures between –20°C and  +50°C. 
The sealant has an expiry date. 

Never operate the compressor for longer than
20 consecutive minutes. Risk of overheating.
The quick tyre repair kit is not suitable for a

definitive repair. Tyres may only be repaired tem-
porarily. 

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