2009 OPEL ANTARA transmission

Driving and operation120
Fault Z
If a fault occurs in the automatic
transmission, control indicator Z will
illuminate in the instrument panel.
Automatic shifting may be much harsher
than normal or, in the case of a serious
fault, cancelled altogether.
Consult a workshop as soon as possible to
have the cause of the fault eliminated. Interruption of power supply
The clutch is not disengaged if the vehicle
battery is discharged and a gear has been
selected. The vehicle cannot move.
If the battery is flat, the selector lever
cannot be moved out of position
P or N.
Start the vehicle using jump leads -
see page 172. If the cause of the interruption to the power
supply is not a discharged battery, release
selector lever:
Have cause of power supply interruption
remedied immediately. Consult a
workshop.
1. Turn off ignition and remove key.
2. Depress and hold foot brake.
3. Remove cap on console with a suitable
screwdriver.
4. Insert ignition key and press gently into shift lock release slot.
5. Shift to neutral (N).
6. Remove key from shift lock release slot.
7. Start engine and shift to chosen gear.
8. Reinstall cap on console.

Driving and operation122
Always exercise caution when in slippery
conditions (caused by sand, gravel, water,
snow or ice on the road), in order to
maintain vehicle control.
Use the accelerator to control the vehicle -
keep brake pedal use to a minimum.
zDo not slip the clutch.
z Do not spin the wheels.
z Do not make exaggerated or jerky
steering movements.
Driving a vehicle in snow and ice should be
undertaken with extreme caution:
z Select a gear suitable for the conditions.
z Start the vehicle moving with minimal
engine revs, low gear and combined
clutch and accelerator control.
z Change to a higher gear as quickly as
possible, to keep the engine revs low.
z With automatic transmission 3, select
drive range D and press button n, to
activate the Winter program. Off-road driving
During off-road drivin
g, you will encounter
a variety of driving conditions and
circumstances too numerous to list here.
Always use good judgement and common
sense. If you feel uncomfortable about
tackling a given situation, do not attempt
it.
Avoid protruding objects (such as rocks or
tree stumps) that may damage the
underbody and tyres of your vehicle.
Test the brakes after operating in mud, to
clear excess mud from the braking
surfaces.
Gripping the steering wheel
Terrain conditions can cause rapid and
unexpected movement in the steering,
especially rough terrain. Preparation
The duration, distance and conditions of
the off-road activity determine the extent
of the preparation th
at is required. The
following are given as guidelines.
Know the area where you will be driving,
either by inspection or from terrain maps.
Decide your route in advance and ensure
that it is a vehicular right of way
1).
Make a thorough check of the vehicle.
Check the following:
z Oil, water, fuel, brake and clutch fluid
levels,
z Drive belts,
z Windscreen wipers and washer system,
z Lamps.
Maintenance - see pages 126, 206.
9 Warning
Be ready to deal with these movements
by having a firm grip on the outer rim of
the steering wheel with the thumbs
outside the spokes, to guard against
injury from kickback.
1)Observe national regulations.

Driving and operation126
Maintenance
Certain maintenance operations, e.g.
changes of engine oil, oil filter, air cleaner
element and brake pads, are required
more frequently for severe operating
conditions, e.g. driving on unsurfaced
roads, during thick dust or mud
accumulation, etc.
If the vehicle is driven off-road to a great
extent, the chassis will need regular
inspection.
Your Opel Partner will inform you which
additional service is required between the
normal service intervals, after
consideration of the specific operating
conditions of your vehicle.
Further information - see page 206.
Service checks after wading
After wading, check for the ingress of water
into the following:
zBrake fluid reservoir,
z Air cleaner element,
z Engine,
z Transmission,
z Axles,
z Interior of vehicle.
Renew any lubricating oil or hydraulic fluid
that has a milky appearance, indicating
contamination with water. All Wheel Drive summary
Do
z
Check fuel and tyres, water and oil levels
before venturing off-road.
z Survey on foot before driving off-road,
especially when traversing hillsides,
wading, driving in deep snow and over
ridges.
z Select the correct gear for the conditions.
z Use the engine’s power of acceleration
and deceleration with the correct gear,
to control the vehicle.
z Keep a firm grip on the outer rim of the
steering wheel - keep your thumbs away
from the spokes.
z Drive carefully and be prepared for
emergencies.
z Drive slower under crosswind conditions.
z Approach obstacles and conditions
off-road at the correct angles and with
sufficient momentum to negotiate the
obstacle, but do not put undue strain on
the vehicle.
z Use caution - if you are not sure, do not
do it. Don’tz
Do not venture off-road unless you are
certain that the conditions are capable
of being negotiated safely by you and
your vehicle.
z Do not take unnecessary risks.
z Do not use the brakes excessively, to
maintain steering control.
z Do not change gear on difficult terrain -
depressing the clutch may cause the
vehicle to stop because of drag on the
wheels - or accelerate backwards or
forwards when on a hill.
z Do not ride or slip the clutch.
z Do not spin the wheels if stuck in mud,
sand or snow - they will only dig in
deeper.
z Do not drive at an excessive speed,
especially into corners. Your All Wheel
Drive vehicle has a higher centre of
gravity than conventional vehicles.
Sudden changes of direction can lead to
loss of control.

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 operation131
Fuels, refuelling
Fuel consumption
Optional equipment (e.g. wide tyres,
towing equipment) increases the kerb
weight and, in some cases, also the
permissible Gross Vehicle Weight.
This in turn increases fuel consumption and
reduces the maximum speed of the vehicle.
When the vehicle is new, there is increased
friction between the engine and
transmission components lasting for
several thousand kilometres. This also
increases fuel consumption. Fuel for petrol engines
Commercially available high-quality fuels
are suitable (see page 217). Fuel quality
has a decisive influence on the power
output, driveability and life of the engine.
The additives contained in the fuel play an
important role in this
regard. You should
therefore use only high-quality fuels
containing additives.
Petrol with too low an octane number can
cause pinking. Opel cannot be held liable
for resulting damage.
Petrol with a higher octane number can
always be used.
A dispensing pump for leaded fuel cannot
be inserted in the fuel tank of a vehicle that
must be operated on unleaded fuel only.
Use of petrol with an octane rating of 95
will ensure economical driving Fuel for diesel engines
Diesel engines must be operated only on
commercially available diesel fuel meeting
the specifications of DIN EN 590.
Marine diesel fuel, fuel oils, diesel fuels,
which are entirely or partially plant based
such as rape seed oil or bio-diesel,
Aquazole and similar diesel-water
emulsions must not be used.
The flow and filterability of diesel fuels are
insufficient at low temperatures, as a result
of crystallized paraffins.
Diesel fuels with improved low-
temperature properties are therefore
available on the market during the winter
months. Make sure that you use winter fuel
before the start of the cold weather
season.
Use of diesel fuels with manufacturer-
guaranteed winter properties eliminates
the need for additives.

Driving and operation140
Cruise control 3
Cruise control can store and maintain
speeds over approx. 30 km/h (20 mph).
Deviation from the stored speed may occur
when driving uphill or downhill.
For safety reasons, cruise control cannot
be activated until the foot brake has been
depressed once.
Cruise control is operated with buttons
d, c and e on the turn signal lever. Do not use cruise control if it is not
advisable to maintain a constant speed
(e.g. in situations presenting a danger to
yourself and other road users, in heavy
traffic or on winding, slippery or greasy
roads).
With automatic transmission, only use
cruise control while in
D.
When cruise control is active, reaction
times may be increased, due to the
different position of the feet.
Control indicator for cruise control
When driving, control indicator m will
illuminate when the syst em is switched on
and the desired vehicle speed is stored.
Illuminated in yellow;
cruise control is ready for operation by
pressing the
ebutton.
Illuminated in green;
cruise control speed is set by pressing the
d button.
9 Warning
The driver is always responsible for
ensuring that vehicle speed is
appropriate for the speed limit and
driving conditions - even if cruise control
is engaged.
Failure to follow the instructions could
lead to injuries or endanger life.

Driving and operation141
To activatePress the e button to turn cruise control
on. Accelerate to the desired speed, press
the
d button and release it; the current
speed is stored and maintained. The
accelerator pedal can be released after
setting cruise control speed.
Vehicle speed can be increased
temporarily for overtaking purposes,
by depressing the accelerator pedal.
When the accelerator pe dal is released, the
previously stored speed is resumed. Increase speed
With cruise control active, press and hold
the c button and release it when the
desired vehicle speed is reached.
To increase the speed in steps of
2 km/h (1.2 mph), tap the
c button
and release it.
When the
c button is released, the
current speed is stored and maintained.
Alternatively, use the accelerator pedal to
increase vehicle speed, press the
d
button and release it, then release the
accelerator pedal.
When the
d button and the accelerator
pedal are released, the current speed is
stored and maintained.
Decrease speed
With cruise control active, press and hold
the d button and release it when the
desired vehicle speed is reached.
To decrease the speed in steps of
2 km/h (1.2 mph), tap the
d button
and release it.
When the
d button is released, the
current speed is stored and maintained. To deactivate
Switch off cruise control when not needed,
to avoid accidental activation.
Press
e button to turn cruise control off.
Control indicator m extinguishes and the
vehicle slowly decelerates. To continue
driving, depress the accelerator pedal in
the usual manner.
For safety reasons, cruise control
deactivates under certain driving
conditions.
For example:
z If the vehicle speed drops below 30 km/h
(20 mph), or
z If the brake pedal is depressed, or
z If the clutch pedal 3 is depressed, or
z If the automatic transmission 3 selector
lever is in N, or
z If the traction control aspect of the
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) comes
into action, to limit wheel spin.
Resuming the stored speed
Press the c button at speeds above
30 km/h (20 mph); the speed selected
before cruise control was switched off, is
resumed.
The value of the stored speed is deleted
when the ignition is switched off or the
ebutton is pressed.