Lancia THESIS. Service Manual - part 16

252

IMPORTANT Energy-absorbing

devices (climate control system,
heated rear window etc.) are auto-
matically disconnected at starting.

If the engine does not start at the

first attempt, return the ignition key
to STOP before trying to start the
engine again.

If starting is particularly diffi-

cult,(with the Lancia CODE system
working properly) do not keep try-
ing too many times.

Use an auxiliary battery only if the

battery has insufficient charge.
Never use a battery charger to start
the engine. 

ENGINE WARMING UP

– Begin to move forward slowly let-

ting the engine turn at medium revs.
Do not accelerate abruptly.

– Do not push the engine to its limit

for the first few kilometers. You are
recommended to wait until the
coolant temperature has reached 50
to 60 °C.

STOPPING THE ENGINE

– Release the accelerator pedal and

wait until the engine is idling.

– Turn the ignition key to STOP

and turn the engine off. For versions
with electronic automatic gearbox,
put the selector to P before turning
the engine off. 

IMPORTANT After a taxing drive

you should allow the engine to
“catch its breath” before turning it
off by letting it idle to allow the tem-
perature in the engine compartment
to fall.

253

Remember that until the

engine has started, the
brake booster and power

steering systems will not work
and a greater effort will therefore
be required to press the brake
pedal and turn the steering
wheel.

For cars equipped with

turbosupercharger in
particular, but generally

for any kind of cars, avoid abrupt
accelerations immediately before
turning the engine off. A quick
burst on the accelerator serves
absolutely no practical purpose,
wastes fuel and may damage seri-
ously the turbosupercharger
rotor bearings.

EMERGENCY START-UP

If the Lancia CODE system fails to

recognise that code transmitted by
the ignition key (symbol 

Y togeth-

er with message “VEHICLE PRO-
TECTION SYSTEM FAULT” on the
multifunction display) the emer-
gency start-up can be performed by
using the CODE card code.

For the correct procedure see chap-

ter “In an emergency”.

Before opening the lug-

gage compartment bonnet
to reload the battery or to

connect an auxiliary battery,
carefully read and comply with
the instructions contained in the
paragraph “If battery is to be dis-
connected” in the chapter “In an
emergency”.

Never bump start the

engine (by pushing, tow-
ing or coasting downhill)

as this could cause fuel to flow
into the catalytic exhaust system
and damage it beyond repair.

IMPORTANT If the engine turns

off while the car is running, the
Lancia CODE symbol 

Y and the

message “VEHICLE PROTECTION
SYSTEM FAULT” may appear on
the multifunction display when the
engine starts again. In this case
check that the warning light switch-
es off when turning the engine off
and on again with the car stationary.
Otherwise contact a

Lancia

Dealership.

254

Never leave unsuper-

vised children in the car;
always remove the keys

and take them with you when you
leave the car.

If the CID device is

inside the car, the engine
can be started: therefore,

we recommend that you take the
greatest care since, in this cir-
cumstances, the engine could be
started unlawfully or by children
left unattended inside the car.

PARKING

To park the car, proceed as fol-

lows:

– Stop the engine.

– Check for electric parking brake

engagement.

– Engage the 1

st

gear if the car is

facing uphill or reverse if facing
downhill.

– In automatic gearbox versions

put selector to P.

– Leave the front wheels steered so

to stop the car immediately if the
parking brake is accidentally
released.

On versions equipped with sunroof

(where provided), the upper part of
the sunroof incorporates a set of
solar cells that feed the climate con-
trol system fan at first speed when
the car is parked to reduce the tem-
perature inside the passenger com-
partment.

Never leave the ignition

key at MAR when the
engine is off to prevent

draining the battery.

IMPORTANT Best operation of

the fan when the car is parked is
obtained by closing completely the
windows and sunroof. Furthermore,
to check operation at first speed of
the fan, disengage air vents and set
air distribution from central dash-
board vents only before leaving the
car.

255

SAFE DRIVING

In designing THESIS, LANCIA has

made every effort to come up with a
car able to provide driver and pas-
senger with top-class levels of safety.
Nevertheless it is always the behav-
iour of the person at the wheel that
determines road safety. 

Below you will find some simple

tips to help you travel in safety
under different conditions. You will
no doubt be familiar with many of
them already, but it will be useful to
read them all carefully.

BEFORE GETTING BEHIND
THE WHEEL

– Make sure all lights, including

the headlights, are working proper-
ly.

– Adjust the position of the seats,

steering wheel, driving and door
mirrors properly for the best driving
position.

– Carefully adjust the head

restraints so that the back of the
head and not the nape of the neck is
supported.

Make sure that nothing (mats etc.)

gets in the way of the pedals when
they are pushed down.

– Make sure that any child

restraint systems (child seats, carri-
ers etc.) are properly fixed on the
rear seat. 

– Place any objects in the boot in

such a way that they cannot be
thrown forwards in the event of an
accident.

– Do not eat a heavy meal before

travelling. Light eating will help
keep your reflexes prompt. Above
all, do not have anything alcoholic to
drink.

Periodically, remember to check:

– tyre pressure and conditions;

– engine oil level;

– coolant level and cooling system

conditions;

– brake fluid level;

– power steering fluid level;

– windscreen washer fluid level. 

WHEN TRAVELLING

– The first rule of safe driving is

prudence.

– Prudence also means putting

yourself into a position where you
can predict wrong or imprudent
behaviour from other drivers.

– Stick closely to the rules of the

road in the particular country where
the vehicle is being driven and,
above all, do not exceed speed limits.

– Ensure that, besides yourself, all

the other passengers in the vehicle
have their seat belts fastened, that
children are sitting in the appropri-
ate child seats and any animals in
the car are placed in suitable com-
partments.

– You should be physically fit and

mentally alert before setting out on
long journeys. 

256

Make sure that any mats

are appropriate in size:
any hindrance, even

slight, to the braking system may
require a higher pedal stroke
than normal.

Water, ice and salt on

the road may deposit on
brake disks, reducing

braking efficiency the first time
they are used.

Driving while drunk or

under the influence of
drugs or certain medi-

cines is dangerous both for you
and other road users. 

Always fasten both front

and back seat belts,
including child restraint

systems if there are children trav-
elling with you. Travelling with
seat belts unfastened increases
the risk of injury or death if you
are involved in a collision. 

Take care when fitting

additional spoilers, alloy
rims and wheel caps: they

might reduce ventilation of the
brakes, thus their efficiency dur-
ing abrupt braking or long down-
hill slopes. 

Never drive with objects

on the floor in front of the
driver’s seat: they might

get stuck under the pedals mak-
ing it impossible to accelerate or
brake.

257

– Keep a greater safety distance

from the cars in front of you than
during daylight hours: it is hard to
judge how fast other cars are going
when all you can see are their lights. 

– Only use main beam headlights

when you are driving outside town
and when you are sure they do not
annoy other drivers. 

– Dip your headlights as soon as

you see cars coming in the other
direction and pass them with the
headlights dipped.

– Keep all lights clean.

– Be careful of animals crossing the

road when driving in the country.

DRIVING IN THE RAIN

Rain and wet road surfaces spell

danger.

All manoeuvres are more difficult

on a wet road because the grip of the
wheels on the tarmac is greatly
reduced. This is why braking dis-
tances are much longer and road-
holding is lower.

Here is some advice for driving in

the rain:

– Reduce speed and maintain a

greater safety distance from the cars
in front.

– If it is raining particularly heavi-

ly, visibility is also reduced. In these
cases, switch on the dipped head-
lights even if it is still daylight so you
can be seen more easily.

– Do not drive through puddles at

speed and hold on tightly to the
wheel if you do: a puddle taken at
high speed might cause you to lose
control of the car (“aquaplaning”).

– Move the ventilation controls to

the position for demisting the win-
dows (see the section “Getting to
know your car”), so to avoid visibil-
ity problems.

– Periodically check the condition

of the windscreen wiper blades.

– Do not drive too many hours at a

time but stop at intervals to stretch
your legs and recoup your energy.

– Make sure the air in the car is

being changed continuously.

– Never coast downhill (i.e.: with

the engine off): if you do, you lose
the aid of engine braking and power
brakes so that braking requires
greater effort.

DRIVING AT NIGHT

There are the main rules to follow

when you are driving at night.

– Drive especially carefully: it is

harder to drive at night.

– Slow down especially if the road

is not lit.

– At the first signs of sleepiness,

stop: continuing would be a risk for
yourself and everybody else. Only
start driving again when you have
had enough rest.

258

DRIVING IN FOG

If the fog is thick, do not start out

on a journey unless you absolutely
have to. If driving in mist, blanket
fog or when there is danger of fog
patches:

– Keep your speed down.

– Turn on the dipped headlights,

rear fog lights and front fog lights
even during the day. Do not drive
with your headlights at main beam.

IMPORTANT On stretches of road

with good visibility, switch off your
rear fog lights; the brightness of
these lights could annoy the people
travelling in the cars behind.

– Remember that fog also means

the tarmac is very wet and therefore
manoeuvres of all kinds are more
difficult and stopping distances are
longer.

– Keep a good distance from the

cars in front of you.

– As far as possible, avoid spurts of

speed or sudden decelerations. 

– Do not overtake other vehicles if

you can help it.

– If you are forced to stop your car

(breakdown, limited visibility etc.),
try to stop off the road. Turn on the
hazard lights and, if possible, the
dipped beam headlights.
Rhythmically sound the horn if you
realise another car is coming. 

DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS

– When driving downhill use the

engine braking effect by engaging a
low gear so as not to overheat the
brakes.

– Under no circumstances should

you drive downhill with the engine
off or with the gear in neutral, let
alone with the ignition key out.

– Drive at a moderate speed with-

out cutting corners.

– Remember that overtaking while

going uphill is slower and therefore
requires more free road. If you are
being overtaken while driving
uphill, make it easier for the other
vehicle to pass.

259

DRIVING ON SNOW AND ICE

– Here are some tips for driving in

these conditions:

– Keep your speed down.

– Use winter tyres or snow chains

for driving on snow covered roads;
see the respective paragraphs in this
chapter.

– Prevalently use the engine brake

and avoid sudden braking.

– Do not accelerate suddenly and

avoid swerving.

– In winter, even apparently dry

roads may have icy patches. Be care-
ful therefore when driving over
stretches that do not get much expo-
sure to the sun or are lined with trees
or rocks where ice might not have
melted.

– Keep a good distance from the

vehicles in front.

DRIVING WITH ABS

The ABS is a braking system that

essentially offers two advantages:

1) It prevents wheel lock and con-

sequent skidding in emergency
stops, particularly when the road
does not offer much grip.

2) It makes possible to brake and

steer at the same time so you can
avoid unexpected obstacles and
direct the car where you want while
braking.

To get the most out of ABS:

– During emergency stops or when

grip conditions are very poor, you
will feel a slight pulsation on the
brake pedal. This is the sign that the
ABS is working. Do not release the
brake pedal but continue to press so
as not to interrupt the braking
action.

– The ABS prevents the wheels

from locking, but it does not
increase actual grip conditions
between tyre and road. Therefore,
even if your car is fitted with ABS,
keep a safe distance from the car in
front of you and keep your speed
down when driving into bends.

ABS serves to increase your control

over the car, not to enable you to go
faster.

260

CONTAINING RUNNING COSTS AND 
POLLUTION

Some suggestions which may help

you to keep the running costs of the
car down and lower the amount of
toxic emissions released into the
atmosphere are given below.

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

Car maintenance

The overall state of the car is an

important factor which has a
marked influence over fuel con-
sumption and driving comfort and
on the life span of your car. For this
reason care should be taken to main-
tain your car by carrying out the
necessary checks and regulations in
accordance with the specifications
given in the “Service Schedule” (see
sections: spark plugs, air cleaners,
timing...).

Tyres

Tyre pressure should be checked at

least once every four weeks: if the
pressure is too low fuel consumption
increases as the resistance to the
rolling movement of the tyre is
greater. In this state, tyre wear is
increased and handling suffers,
which will effect safety.

Unnecessary loads

Do not travel with too much load in

the boot. The weight of the car (in
town traffic above all), and its trim
greatly effect consumption and sta-
bility.

Roof rack/ski rack

Remove the roof or ski racks from

the car as soon as they are no longer
needed. These accessories reduce the
aerodynamic penetration of the car
and will increase consumption.
When transporting particularly
large objects, use a trailer, where
possible.

Electrical devices

Use electrical devices for the neces-

sary time only. The heated rear win-
dow, fog lights, windscreen wipers,
heater fan require large amounts of
electricity and increasing the request
for power will also increase fuel con-
sumption (up to +25% when driving
in towns).

Climate control system

The climate control system is an

additional load which greatly effects
the engine leading to higher con-
sumption (up to +20% in average).
When the temperature outside
allows, use the air vents where pos-
sible.

261

Gear selections

As soon as the traffic and road con-

ditions allow it, shift to a higher
gear. Using a lower gear to liven up
acceleration greatly increases con-
sumption. In the same way, improp-
er use of the higher gears will
increase consumption, emissions
and wear and tear on the engine.

Top speeds

Fuel consumption increases con-

siderably as speed increases. For
example, when accelerating from 90
to 120 km/h, fuel consumption
increases up to approximately
+30%. Your speed should be kept as
even as possible and superfluous
braking and acceleration avoided, as
this increases both consumption and
emissions. A “smooth” driving style
should be adopted by attempting to
anticipate manoeuvres to avoid
imminent danger, and to keep a safe
distance from the vehicle in front to
avoid braking sharply

Acceleration

Accelerating violently increasing

the revs will greatly effect consump-
tion and emissions: acceleration
should be gradual and not exceed
the maximum torque.

CONDITIONS OF USE

Cold starting

Frequent cold starting will not

enable the engine to reach optimal
running temperature. It follows,
therefore, that consumption will be
higher (from +15 to +30% in towns)
as will the production of toxic emis-
sions.

Spoilers

The use of optional extras which

are not certified for specific use on
the car may reduce the aerodynamic
penetration of the car and increase
consumption.

DRIVING STYLE

Starting

Do not warm the engine when the

car is stationary or at high or low
revs: in this way the engine will
warm up gradually increasing con-
sumption and emissions. You should
drive off slowly straight away avoid-
ing high revs so that the engine will
warm up more quickly.

Unnecessary actions

Avoid revving the engine when

stopped at traffic lights or before
switching off the engine and avoid
doubling the clutch as these actions
have no purpose on modern vehicles
and serve only to increase consump-
tion and pollution. 

262

Traffic and road conditions

Heavy traffic and higher consump-

tion are synonymous, for example
when driving slowly with frequent
use of lower gears or in towns where
there are numerous traffic lights.

Winding roads, mountain roads

and bumpy roads also have a nega-
tive effect on consumption.

Enforced halts

During prolonged stops (level

crossings, etc.) the engine should be
switched off.

Environmental protection has been

one of the guiding principles in the
production of the THESIS.

It is not accident that its pollution

control equipment is much more
effective than that required by cur-
rent legislation.

Nonetheless, the environment can-

not get by without a concerted effort
from everyone.

By following a few simple rules you

can avoid harming the environment
and often cut down fuel consump-
tion at the same time. On this sub-
ject, a few useful tips have been
given below to supplement those
marked by symbol 

#, at various

points of the handbook.

You are asked to read both the for-

mer and the latter carefully.

CHEAP RUNNING THAT RESPECTS THE
ENVIRONMENT

LOOKING AFTER EMISSION
CONTROL DEVICES

The correct use of pollution control

devices not only ensures respect for
the environment but also has an
effect on the car’s performance.
Keeping these devices in good condi-
tion is therefore a fundamental rule
for driving that is easy on your
pocket and on the environment too.

The first step is to follow the

“Service Schedule” to the letter.
Only use unleaded petrol for petrol
engines (95 RON), for JTD versions
only diesel fuel (EN590 specifica-
tion).

263

Ignoring the above rules

may lead to fire. 

When functioning nor-

mally, the catalytic con-
verter reaches high tem-

peratures. For this reason, do not
park the car over inflammable
material (grass, dry leaves, pine
needles, etc.): fire hazard. 

Do not allow anything to

be sprayed onto the cat-
alytic converter, lambda

sensor and exhaust pipe. 

Do not install other heat

shields and do not remove
those already fitted to the

catalytic converter and exhaust
pipe.

Never run the engine with the

spark plugs disconnected even for
testing purposes. Do not warm up
the engine by letting it idle for a
while before moving off unless the
outside temperature is very low and,
even in this case, only do so for less
than 30 seconds.

If you have trouble starting, do not

keep turning the ignition key for
long periods. Be especially careful to
avoid bump starting the car by
pushing, towing or rolling downhill:
these are all manoeuvres that can
damage the catalytic exhaust sys-
tem. Use an auxiliary battery for
start-ups only.

If the engine begins to “lose its

smoothness” when travelling, con-
tinue your journey but reduce the
demands you are making on the
engine and have the car seen at a
Lancia Dealership as soon as you
can.

When the instrument panel fuel

reserve warning light comes on, fill
up as soon as possible. A low level of
fuel can cause an uneven supply of
fuel to the engine with the inevitable
increase in the temperature of the
exhaust gas and serious damages to
the catalytic converter.

264

TOWING A 
TRAILER

GENERAL NOTES 

The car must be fitted with a

homologated tow hitch and suitable
electrical system for towing a cara-
van or a trailer. Have the tow hitch
fitted by an expert who will issue
specific documentation for use on
roads.

Fit special and/or additional

rearview mirrors in accordance with
the highway code.

Remember that towing a trailer

makes it harder for the car to climb
the maximum gradients specified,
increases braking and overtaking
distance, proportionally to the over-
all weight of the trailer.

Engage a low gear when driving

downhill rather than constantly
braking.

The weight the trailer exerts on the

car’s tow hitch coupling reduces the
car’s loading capacity by the same
amount. In order to be sure you are
not exceeding the maximum towing
weight (as specified in the registra-
tion book), you have to take into
account the trailer’s fully laden
weight, including accessories and
personal luggage.

Do not exceed the speed limits for

towing a trailer in the country you
are driving in. In any case, do not
exceed the top speed of 100 km/h.

Trailer electrical connection shall

only be performed with ignition key
at STOP or removed.

When trailer electrical connection

is on and you switch on the rear fog
lights, only the trailer rear fog lights
will come on.

The ABS system will not

control the trailing brak-
ing system. Great care

should therefore be taken when
driving on slippery road surfaces. 

Under no circumstances

modify the car’s braking
system for trailer braking

control. The trailer’s braking sys-
tem must be completely indepen-
dent of the car’s hydraulic sys-
tem.

The rear parking sensors

are automatically deacti-
vated when the plug of the

trailer’s electrical cable is insert-
ed in the car’s tow hitch socket.
The rear sensors activate auto-
matically when the trailer’s plug is
disconnected.

265

TOW HITCH INSTALLATION

The tow hitch must be fixed to the

body by an expert in accordance
with the following instructions and
respecting the additional and/or
integrative information provided by
the tow hitch manufacturer.

The tow hitch to be fitted must

comply with the current regulations
in force, with reference to Directive
94/20/EEC and subsequent modifi-
cations.

Use a tow hitch suited for the max-

imum towable load of the car ver-
sion on which the tow hitch is to be
fitted.

Use a unified coupling for the elec-

trical connections. The coupling is
generally fitted on a specific mount
fastened to the tow hitch. A specific
trailer lights control unit shall be
installed on the car.

For the electric connections, a 7

pole 12VDC coupling must be used
(CUNA/UNI and ISO/DIN stan-
dards). Follow the instructions pro-
vided by the manufacturer of the car
and/or the tow hitch.

The electrical brake (where rele-

vant) or other device (electrical
winch, etc.) must be powered direct-
ly from the battery by means of a
lead with a cross-section area no
smaller than 2.5 mm

2

.

IMPORTANT Use the electrical

brake or winch only when the engine
is running.

In addition to the electrical connec-

tions, only the power wire for an
additional electrical brake and for
internal trailer lighting with a power
not exceeding 15W can be connect-
ed to the car’s electrical system.

For connections use the specific

control unit with battery cable not
less than 2.5 mm

2

.

INSTALLATION DIAGRAM (fig. 1)

Fasten the tow hitch in the points

marked with (1) using 18 M10
screws and, in the points marked
with (2) use four M8 screws.

Fasten the tow hitch to the body

avoiding any type of drilling and
trimming of the rear bumpers that
remains visible when the tow hitch is
removed.

IMPORTANT Fasten a tag in a

clearly visible position at the same
height as the tow hitch. The tag is
compulsory. It must be adequately
sized, made of suitable material and
carry the following information: 

MAX LOAD ON BALL COUPLING

75 kg.

After assembly, seal the  fastening

screws holes to prevent exhaust fumes
from entering the passenger compart-
ment.

266

fig. 1

L0A0264b

267

WINTER TYRES

These tyres have been specifically

designed for use on snow and ice
and should be fitted in place of the
existing tyres.

Use only the homologated tyres

listed in log book.

Lancia Dealerships will be glad

to provide advice on the most suit-
able type of tyres according to your
needs.

For information on the tyres to be

fitted, inflation pressure and winter
tyre specifications, follow the pre-
scriptions given in “Technical speci-
fications”.

The performance of winter tyres is

greatly reduced when the tread
depth is less than 4mm. In this situ-
ation it would be safer to have them
replaced.

Due to winter tyre features, under

normal conditions of use or on long
motorway journeys, the perfor-
mance of these tyres is lower than
that of standard tyres.

The use of these tyres should there-

fore be limited to the conditions for
which they were designed and certi-
fied.

IMPORTANT When using winter

tyres with a maximum speed index
below the one that can be reached
by the car (increased by 5%), place
a suitable notice in the passenger
compartment to inform the driver of
the top speed at which the winter
tyre can run (as per EC Directive).

All four tyres should be the same

(brand and track), to ensure greater
safety when driving, braking and
cornering.

Remember that it is inappropriate

to change the direction of rotation of
tyres.

The maximum speed for winter

tyres with “Q” marking is 160
km/h, with “T” marking is 190
km/h, whereas with “H” marking is
210 km/h. Always respect the high-
way code speed limit.