2009 OPEL ANTARA steering

Driving and operation119
Parking
Before leaving the vehicle:
zDepress and hold foot brake,
z Apply hand brake,
z Move selector lever to position P,
z Turn key to LOCK position,
z Remove ignition key,
z Engage steering column lock,
z Lock the vehicle.
When the ignition is switched off, the
automatic transmission no longer responds
to movements of the selector lever. Rocking the vehicle
If it becomes necessary to rock the vehicle
to free it from water, ice, sand, mud, snow
or a dip, observe the following:
Check there are no objects or people in the
vicinity before attempting to rock the
vehicle.
Turn the steering wheel fully from left to
right to clear the area around the front
tyres.
Move the selector lever between
R and a
forward gear in a repeat pattern while
applying light pressure to the accelerator
pedal when the vehicle is in gear.
Do not spin the wheels or race the engine
and avoid sudden acceleration.
This applies only in the exceptional
circumstances mentioned above.
If the vehicle cannot be released after
rocking the vehicle several times, your
vehicle may need to be towed.
Towing - see page 174. Manoeuvring the vehicle
To manoeuvre the vehicle back and forth
during attempts to park or in garage
entrances, the creeping movement can be
utilized by releasing the foot brake.
Never actuate the accelerator and brake
pedals simultaneously.

Driving and operation121
All Wheel Drive
All Wheel Drive (AWD) is an active-on-
demand system that engages
automatically, with no action required by
the driver. Depending on the driving
environment, the vehicle switches between
two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, to
give the vehicle more traction and stability
when necessary.
If the front wheels begin to slip, the rear
wheels will automatically begin to drive the
vehicle as required.
More torque is transferred to the wheels
that have the most traction, so the vehicle
has optimum grip at all times.
There may be a slight engagement noise
during hard use.
As well as enabling the vehicle to be driven
off-road, this system also enables the
vehicle to be driven on normal roads
without incurring excessive tyre and
drivetrain wear or causing poor control. All Wheel Drive control indicator
When the ignition is switched on,
control indicator
B illuminates for approx.
4 seconds. The system is ready for
operation when the control indicator
extinguishes.
If the control indicator flashes during
driving, All Wheel Drive is temporarily
disabled.
If it flashes briefly then extinguishes, this is
normal and does not indicate a fault.
If the control indicator flashes
continuously, there is a fault in the system.
Consult a workshop as soon as possible. On-road driving
The increased traction
of All Wheel Drive
vehicles offers greate r driving control in
adverse road condit ions, particularly
heavy snow and ice. However, All Wheel
Drive vehicles are not "skid-proof" and do
not decrease stopping distances.
All Wheel Drive vehicles have a higher
centre of gravity than conventional
vehicles. Always approach curves at an
appropriate driving speed. Do not attempt
to go as fast through turns as you might in
a conventional vehicle.
Strong crosswinds can affect the normal
steering of the vehicle. Drive slower under
strong crosswind conditions.

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 operation169
Driving characteristics, towing tips
In the case of caravans/trailers with
brakes3, attach the breakaway stopping
cable to the eye 3 or loop around coupling
ball bar if no eye is available.
Ensure cable is crossed under the coupling
socket to ensure the caravan/trailer nose
cannot drop to the ground if it becomes
separated from the trailer hitch.
Do not allow the cable to drag along the
ground and always allow enough slack to
permit full turning. Fo llow the instructions
supplied with the towing equipment.
Before coupling the caravan/trailer,
lubricate the ball of the caravan/trailer
towing device. However, do not do so if a
stabilizer which acts on the coupling ball is
being used to damp rolling motions.
Handling is greatly influenced by the
loading of the caravan/trailer. Loads
should therefore be secured so that they
cannot slip and should be placed in the
centre of the caravan/trailer if possible,
i.e. above the axle.
Opel genuine parts an d accessories which
can be subsequently fitted aid trailer
operation, e.g. larg e mirrors for wide
caravans/trailers. In the case of caravans/trailers with low
directional stability, it is advisable to use a
friction-type stabilizer to damp rolling
motions.
Do not drive faster than 80 km/h (50 mph),
even in countries where higher speeds are
permitted.
When driving uphill, do not drive faster
than 30 km/h (20 mph) in 1st gear, or
50 km/h (30 mph) in 2nd gear.
Make sure that you have enough room
when cornering and avoid sudden
manoeuvres.
If the caravan/trailer starts to sway, drive
more slowly, do not attempt to correct the
steering and brake sharply if necessary.
If it is necessary to apply the brakes fully,
depress the brake pedal as hard as
possible.
The cooling fan is electrically operated.
The fan cooling capacity is not, therefore,
dependent on engine speed. It is not
necessary, when drivin
g uphill, to shift
down into a lower gear if the vehicle can
climb in a higher gear. When coupled to a caravan/trailer, the
vehicle requires more
braking effort when
driving down long grad ients, so select the
same gear as you would when driving
uphill and drive at roughly the same speed.
Automatic transmission in automatic mode
will select the drivin g program with the
optimum engine braking effect.
Remember that brak ing distances for
vehicles towing carava ns/trailers with and
without brakes is always greater than for
vehicles not towing a caravan/trailer. For
caravans/trailers with brakes, follow the
instructions carefully. Do not make any
modifications to the brake system.
Always check lamps on caravans/trailers
before towing. Ensure national regulations
are observed.
The fog tail lamp on the vehicle is
deactivated when towing a caravan/
trailer.
When reversing, if possible, have someone
provide assistance.
Drive slowly and shift down into a lower
gear when descending steep gradients
rather than holding the foot brake
depressed, to avoid overheating and
reduced brake efficiency.

Self-help, vehicle care174
zDo not connect leads to negative
terminal of discharged battery.
z The last connection point should be as
far away from the discharged battery as
possible.
z Route leads so they cannot catch on
rotating parts in engine compartment.
z Start the engine of the vehicle providing
the jump start.
z After 5 minutes, start the other engine.
Start attempts shou ld be made at
intervals of 1 minute and should not last
longer than 15 seconds.
z After starting, allow both engines to idle
for approx. 3 minutes with leads
connected.
z In order to avoid excess voltage in the
electrical system, before removing a
lead, switch on an electrical consumer
(e.g. lamps, heated rear window) in the
vehicle receiving the jump start.
z Operate discharged vehicle for approx.
20 minutes to allow for recharging.
z Reverse above sequence exactly when
removing leads.
Towing
Towing the vehicle
Attach a tow rope 3 - or better still a tow
rod 3 - to the front towing eye (located
under the front bumper). Do not tow the
vehicle from the rear.
The front towing eye must only be used for
towing and not recovering the vehicle. Place gearshift lever in neutral. Switch on
the ignition to release the steering column
lock and to permit operation of the brake
lamps and windscreen wipers.
Drive off slowly and avoid jerky
movements. Impermissible tractive forces
could damage
the vehicles.
9 Warning
Care must be taken to ensure that the
leads do not inadvertently contact metal
surfaces within the compartment area.
9 Warning
Never lift vehicle using the towing eye.
9 Warning
More brake pedal pressure is necessary
when braking since the brake servo unit is
operative only when engine is running.
Considerably greater steering force is
necessary since this unit is operative only
when the engine is running.

Self-help, vehicle care175
Keep tow rope 3 clear of front bumper,
and ensure it is secure ly fixed to the towing
eye at both ends. Pull on the tow rope 3 to
check.
To prevent entry of exhaust fumes from
towing vehicle, switch on air recirculation
mode (see page 109) and close the
windows.
Never let passengers ride in a vehicle that
is being towed.
Never tow a vehicle with damaged parts
that are not secured to the vehicle or if
wheels, brakes or steering are damaged.
Do not tow the vehicle with a tow rope 3 or
tow rod 3 for extended periods, to avoid
damage to the vehicle. Only tow in this
manner on hard-surfaced roads.
For vehicles with automatic transmission 3:
use flatbed or wheel lift equipment only.
Towing can cause severe damage to the
transmission.
Seek the assistance of a workshop. Towing service
Entrust your vehicle only to the towing
service of your choice and obtain an
estimate on towing costs before employing
any towing service. This will prevent
unnecessary expense and possible
insurance problems during claim
processing.
Use flatbed equipment whenever possible.
If vehicle is to be towed using a wheel lift,
tow with all wheels off the road, using a
towing dolly.
Never use sling-type equipment to tow the
vehicle or tow the vehicle with the front or
rear wheels on the road, to avoid causing
serious damage to the vehicle.
Place the gearshift lever in neutral
(automatic transmission 3
in N), switch on
hazard warning lamps, turn key to ignition
switch position ACC and release the
hand brake before towing the vehicle. Towing another vehicle
In emergency situations only, attach a tow
rope
3 - or better still a tow rod 3 - to the
rear towing eye.
The rear towing eye attachment 3 is stored
below the floor cover in the luggage
compartment.
Remove the cover located on the rear
bumper by pressing the lower part of the
cover.