Instruments, controls91
The desired stop watch display can be
selected from the Optionsmenu3:
Driving Time excl. Stops
The time the vehicle is in motion is
recorded. Stationary ti me is not included.
Driving Time incl. Stops
The time the vehicle is in motion is
recorded. The time the vehicle is stationary
with the key in the ignition switch is
included.
Travel Time
Measurement of the time from manual
activation via Start to manual deactivation
via Reset .
Display of current tyre pressure 3
Select menu item Tyres from the Board
Computer menu.
The current pressure of each tyre is
displayed.
Further information – see page 144.
Check control 3
In vehicles with tyre pressure monitoring
system 3, if tyre pressure is too low, the
display indicates which tyre to check, e.g.:
Tyre pressure
check rear
right tyre
(value in bar)
Check tyre pressure at next opportunity
using suitable gauge.
Tyre pressure monitoring system 3 –
see page 144.
Tyre pressure – see page 224.
In vehicles with tyre pressure monitoring
system 3, if there is a major loss of pressure
in a tyre, the display indicates the tyre at
fault, e.g.:
Attention!
Rear left tyre
pressure loss
(value in bar)
Stop immediately and check tyre.
Tyre pressure monitoring system 3 –
see page 144.
Tyre pressure – see page 224.
Ü Board Computer
BC 1
BC 2
Timer
Tyres
Lighting94
Lighting
Exterior lamps
Turn light switch:
In positions 8 and 9, the tail lamps,
license plate lamps and instrument panel
lamps are also on. Daytime running lamps
3
Come on automatically when engine is
started.
They will turn off wh en the parking lamps
or dipped beam are on, or when the engine
is stopped.
Follow the regulations of the country in
which you are driving when using daytime
running lamps and front fog lamps.
Driving abroad - see page 100.
Lamps on reminder
If the driver’s door is opened when the light
switch is in position 8 or 9 and the
ignition is off, a warning chime will sound.
If the lamps are then switched off and back
on again, the warning chime will not sound.
Wiper activated lighting 3
With light switch in AUTO position,
if windscreen wipers are operated for
8 cycles or more, the exterior lamps
illuminate automatically.
Approach lighting 3
Depending upon outside light conditions,
when you press q on the remote control,
the hazard warning lamps flash twice and
the exterior lamps illuminate for approx.
20 seconds.
Main beam, headlamp flash ............. 95
Automatic dipped beam activation
3 95
Turn signal lamps ............................... 95
Front fog lamps >............................. 96
Fog tail lamp r.................................. 96
Reversing lamps.................................. 96
Centre high-mounted stop lamp ....... 96
Hazard warning lamps ...................... 97
Headlamp range adjustment q........ 97
Peripheral lighting .............................. 98
Instrument illumination, information display illumination .......................... 98
Interior courtesy lamps....................... 98
Battery discharge protection ............. 100
Headlamps when driving abroad ..... 100 7
=Off
8 = Parking lamps
9 = Dipped beam or main
beam
AUTO = Automatic dipped beam
activation 3
Climate control110
Cooling
Operational only with engine running and
with the fan switched on:
Control indicator in the button illuminates
when air conditioning is enabled and
extinguishes when the system is switched
off.
Cooling switches off automatically at low
outside temperatures.
Engine power and performance may be
affected when the system is on.
If the fan is switched off, the air
conditioning system will not operate. Once activated, the air conditioning
system is operated via the normal heating
and ventilation controls.
Even with air conditioning on, if
temperature rotary knob is set to warm, the
vehicle will still produce warm air in the
passenger compartment.
To improve efficiency of the air
conditioning, always close the windows,
to prevent chilled air from escaping.
Switching on the air conditioning will assist
in windscreen demisting. In very hot
temperatures, before starting the engine,
allow hot air to escape from the vehicle by
opening the windows and sun roof
3.
When the air conditioning system is
switched on, at least one of the adjustable
centre or side air vents must be open, so
that the evaporator does not ice up due to
lack of air movement.
Driving in stop-and-go traffic may reduce
the effectiveness of the air conditioning
system.
Using the air conditioning system when
driving up long hills or in heavy traffic
can cause engine overheating. If engine
coolant temperature warning control
indicator W illuminates in instrument
panel, turn off air co nditioning and allow
engine to idle for a few minutes (see
page 71). Normal cooling
z
Press button n
(to switch on air co nditioning system).
z Turn air recirculation mode 4 off.
z Set air distribution rotary knob to
position M or L.
z Turn temperature rotary knob to blue
area for cooling.
z Set fan to desired speed.
z Open air vents as required.
Press button
n=On
Press button n again = Off
Driving and operation117
Manual mode
Move selector lever out of position D (to the
left) into manual gate, then forwards or
backwards.
Tip selector lever in the appropriate
direction. It then returns to centre position.
Gearshifting in manual mode can be
achieved whilst accelerating.
If the engine speed is too low, the
transmission will automatically shift to a
lower gear, even in manual mode. This
prevents the engine from stalling.
After stopping, 1st gear is automatically
selected.
No automatic shifting to a higher gear
takes place at high engine speeds. When upshifting in manual mode, take
heed of prevailing road conditions,
keeping engine speed below the red zone.
Downshifts must be made in accordance
with vehicle speed.
Gears can be skipped by moving the
selector lever repeated
ly at short intervals.
When starting on slippery surfaces, move
selector lever forwards to engage 2nd
gear.
The selected gear is displayed in the
transmission display.
For safety reasons, kickdown is also
available in manual mode - see page 118.
To move back to D, push selector lever
back to the right. Winter program
In the event of difficult
ies starting-off on icy
and slippery surfac es, press button n;
control indicator
0 is illuminated in the
instrument panel and the vehicle sets off in
3rd gear, to reduce slipping and loss of
traction.
Winter program is switched off by:
z pressing button n again
(control indicator
0 will extinguish in
instrument panel),
z turning off the ignition.
If the vehicle is switched to manual mode
while Winter program is active, the Winter
program is switched off.
Driving and operation127
Driving hints
The first 1000 km (600 miles)
Drive your vehicle at various speeds. Do
not use full throttle. Never allow the engine
to labour at low revs.
Make good use of all gears. Depress the
accelerator pedal a maximum of around
three quarters of the available pedal travel
in all gears and drive ranges.
Do not drive faster than three quarters of
maximum speed.
Avoid quick starts, su dden acceleration
and prolonged high-speed driving, to
avoid engine damage and to conserve
fuel.
Do not brake unnecessarily hard for the
first 200 km (125 miles).
If possible, avoid towing another vehicle.
Never coast with engine not running
Many units may then not function (e.g.
brake servo unit, power steering, airbag
system). Driving in this manner is a danger
to yourself and others. Brake servo unit
With the engine not running, the brake
servo unit is no longer effective once the
brake pedal has been depressed once or
twice. The braking effect is not reduced,
but substantially greater foot pressure is
necessary to stop the vehicle.
Power steering
Never leave the steering wheel on full lock
when the vehicle is stationary, as this may
damage the power steering pump.
If the power steering should fail - e.g. when
the vehicle is being towed with the engine
switched off - the vehicle can still be
properly steered, but considerably greater
effort is necessary.
Driving in mountainous terrain or with a
caravan/trailer
Electrically driven fan; the fan cooling
capacity is not dependent on engine
speed. It is not necessary, therefore, when
driving uphill to shif
t down into a lower
gear if the vehicle can climb in a higher
gear. Driving in extreme conditions
When driving in hazard
ous conditions, e.g.
in snow, ice, mud, sand or water, drive
slowly and cautiously to allow for greater
braking distances.
If stuck, use 2nd gear (automatic
transmission in drive range 2) to avoid
spinning the front wheels.
Use sand, tyre chains or other non-slip
materials to provide traction when stuck in
snow, mud or ice.
Driving through water
Before attempting to drive through water,
check the depth. If the depth is slightly
lower than the underbody of your vehicle,
do not attempt to drive through it.
Driving too quickly through water can
cause water to enter the engine through
the air intake, causing severe damage.
Drive slowly, in a high engine rpm in as low
a gear as possible.
Driving with a roof load
Do not exceed the permissible roof load -
see page 221. For safety reasons,
distribute the load evenly and secure it
tightly with straps so that it cannot slip. Set
the tyre pressure to the value given for full
load. Do not drive faster than 120 km/h
(75 mph). Check and retighten straps at
frequent intervals.
Driving and operation128
Switching off the engine
If the engine temperature is very high, e.g.
after driving in mountainous terrain: allow
engine to idle for approx. 2 minutes, in
order to prevent heat accumulation.
When you switch off, fans in the engine
compartment may continue running for a
time, to cool the engine.
Vehicles with turbocharger 3
In order to protect the turbocharger, after
running at high engine speeds or high
engine loads, operate the engine briefly at
a low load or run in neutral for approx.
30 seconds before switching off.
Save energy – more kilometres/miles
Please observe the running-in hints on the
previous page and the tips for energy
saving on the following pages.
Good, technically correct and economical
driving ensures maximum durability and
performance for your vehicle.
Overrun
The fuel supply is automatically shut off
during overrun, e.g. when the vehicle is
being driven down long gradients or during
braking. To enable the overrun cut-off to
come into action, do not accelerate or
declutch during overrun. Engine rpm
Under all driving conditions, drive in a
favourable engine speed range.
Warming up
Allow engine to warm up while driving. Do
not warm it up by le
tting it run at idling
speed. Do not apply full throttle until
engine reaches operating temperature.
After a cold start, automatic
transmission 3 does not shift into higher
gears until higher engine speeds have been
reached. This allows the catalytic converter
to quickly reach the temperature required
for optimum pollutant reduction.
Correct gear selection
Do not race your engine whilst in neutral or
with a low gear selected. Driving too fast in
individual gears or drive ranges as well as
stop-and-go traffic in crease engine wear
and fuel consumption.
Change down
When decreasing speed, shift down into
the next lowest gear. Do not slip the clutch
with a high-revving engine. This is
especially important when hill climbing. Clutch operation
3
Always depress the clutch pedal hard to
the floor, to prevent shifting difficulties and
transmission damage. There must be no
mats in the area of the pedals.
When driving, do not use the clutch pedal
as a foot rest; this will cause substantial
clutch wear.
Pedals
Do not place any objects in the footwell
which could slip under the pedals and
inhibit the pedal travel.
To ensure the pedal travel is uninhibited,
there must be no mats in the area of the
pedals.
When driving, do not use the brake pedal
as a foot rest; this will cause substantial
wear to brake components and cause
overheating, resultin g in longer braking
distances.
Battery care whilst driving
When driving slowly or when the vehicle
is stationary, e.g. in slow urban traffic,
stop-and-go traffic or traffic jams, turn off
all unnecessary electrical loads where
possible (e.g. heated rear window,
auxiliary headlamps).
When starting the engine, depress the
clutch pedal so that transmission
resistance is elimin ated and the starter
motor and battery are relieved.
Driving and operation129
Save fuel, protect the
environment
Trend-setting technology
When developing and manufacturing your
vehicle, Opel used environment-friendly
and, in the main, recyclable materials. The
production methods used to make your
vehicle are likewise environmentally-
compatible.
Recycling of production wastes keeps the
circulation of material closed. Reduction of
energy and water requirements also helps
to conserve natural resources.
A highly advanced design means that your
vehicle can be easily disassembled at the
end of its working life, and the individual
materials separated for subsequent re-use.
Materials such as as bestos and cadmium
are not used. The refrigerant in the air
conditioning system is CFC-free.
New painting techniques employ water as
a solvent. End-of-life vehicle recovery
Information on end-of-life vehicle recovery
centres and the recycling of end-of-life
vehicles is available at www.opel.com.
Drive in an energy and
environment-conscious way
z
High fuel consumption, noise levels and
exhaust emissions are often caused by a
driving style that is not energy and
environment-conscious.
z You should therefore drive with energy in
mind: "more kilometres/miles with less
fuel".
z Reduce the noise level and exhaust
emissions by adopting an environment-
conscious driving style. This is extremely
worthwhile and improves quality of life.
Fuel consumption depends to a great
extent on your own personal driving style.
The following hints are intended to help
you consume fuel at a rate that is as close
as possible to the specified levels.
Check your vehicle’s fuel consumption
every time you refuel. This facilitates early
detection of any irregularities causing
increased fuel consumption. Warming up
z
Full throttle and warming up at idle
speed increase wear, fuel consumption,
fuel emission, the amount of pollutant in
the exhaust and the amount of noise.
z Drive off immediately after starting.
Warm up the engine by running it at
moderate engine speeds.
Uniform speed
z Hectic driving significantly increases fuel
consumption, the quantity of emission
and the proportion of pollutant in the
exhaust.
z Do not accelerate and brake
unnecessarily. Drive at uniform speed.
Avoid frequent starting-off and
stopping, e.g. at tra ffic lights, in short
distance traffic and in queues of traffic,
by means of clever planning. Select
roads with good traffic flow.
Idling
z The engine also consumes fuel when
idling.
z If you have to wait for more than
1 minute, it is worthwhile switching off
the engine. Five minutes of idling
corresponds to approx. one kilometre
(0.6 miles) of driving.
z Idling for more than 5 minutes can cause
excessive temperatures and damage to
the exhaust system.
Driving and operation133
Catalytic converter, exhaust
emissions
Catalytic converter for petrol engines
Leaded fuel will damage the catalytic
converter and parts of the electronic
system, thereby rendering them
inoperative.
On vehicles with a catalytic converter, the
fuel tank filler neck is of a narrow design so
that a dispensing pump for leaded fuel
cannot be inserted. Damage to the catalytic converter or the
vehicle may result if the following points
are not observed:
z
If the engine misfires or runs roughly
after a cold start, the engine power has
reduced significantly or other unusual
operating problems occur that indicate
a fault in the ignition system, please
contact a workshop as quickly as
possible. Drive at a slower speed and
with less engine revs for a short time,
if necessary.
z If unburned fuel enters the catalytic
converter, this may re sult in overheating
and irreparable damage to the catalytic
converter.
You should therefore avoid frequent cold
starts, unnecessarily long use of the
starter when setting off, running the tank
dry (an irregular fuel supply leads to
overheating) and starting the engine by
pushing or towing.
z If the control indicator for exhaust
emissions Z flashes, lift your foot off the
accelerator until th e control indicator
stops flashing and is steadily lit. Contact
a workshop immediately.
Control indicator Z for exhaust
emissions - see pages 74, 134. Catalytic converter for diesel engines
Damage to the catalytic converter or the
vehicle may result if the following points
are not observed:
Consult a workshop as quickly as possible
in the event of irregular engine running, a
significant loss of engine power or other
unusual malfunctions. If necessary, driving
may be continued for a
short time at a low
speed and with a low engine speed.