
142 Driving and operation
Picture no: 18230s.tif
Manoeuvring the vehicle
To manoeuvre the vehicle back and forth
during attempts to park or in garage
entrances the creeping movement can be
utilised by releasing the foot brake.
Never actuate accelerator and brake
pedals simultaneously.
To prevent damage, the manual
transmission automated deactivates the
"creep function" when the temperature of
the automatic clutch is extremely high. Vehicle storage
Apply the handbrake and remove the key
from the ignition. The most recently
engaged gear (indicator in transmission
display) remains engaged. With
N, no gear
is engaged.
When the ignition is switched off the
manual transmission automated no longer
responds to movement of the selector
lever.
Lock the vehicle. Otherwise the battery
may become discharged if the vehicle is
parked for long periods.
If the hand brake has not been applied, the
control indicator R flashes for a few
seconds after the ignition is switched off.
With the engine off and the hand brake not
applied, when the driver ’s door is opened a
warning buzzer sounds and the control
indicator R flashes; switch on ignition,
engage gear, switch off ignition and apply
hand brake.
Picture no: 18231s.tif
Fault
To prevent damage to the automated
manual transmission, the clutch is closed
automatically at high clutch temperatures.
Warning light A lights up in the event of a
fault. Continued driving is possible, but
manual mode can no longer be used for
changing gear.
If "F" also appears in the transmission
display, continued driving is not possible.
Have cause of fault remedied by a
workshop. The system’s integrated self
diagnostics allow faults to be quickly
remedied.
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148 Driving and operation
Picture no: 18231s.tif
Fault
If there is a fault, warning lamp A lights
up. Gear shifting is no longer automatic. It
is possible to continue driving.
Have cause of fault remedied by a
workshop.
2nd gear is not available. Manual shifting:
Picture no: 18235s.tif
Interruption of power supply
If there is an electrical power failure, the
selector lever cannot be moved out of
position P.
If the battery is flat, start the car using
jump leads 3191.
If the battery is not the cause of the fault,
release selector lever:
1. Apply hand brake.
2. Release selector lever panelling from centre console at front, roll upward and
rotate to the left.
Picture no: 18236s.tif
3. Push the yellow catch forward with a
screwdriver and move the selector lever
out of P.
4. Mount selector lever trim on centre console and refit.
Re-selecting P locks the system again.
Have cause of power supply interruption
remedied by a workshop.
1 =1st gear
2 =3rd gear
3, D =4th gear
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151
Driving and operation
Saving fuel, protecting
the environment Trend-setting technology
Environmentally friendly and mainly
recyclable materials were used when your
vehicle was being developed and
manufactured. The production methods
used to make your vehicle are also
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 asbestos and cadmium
are not used. The refrigerant in the air
conditioning system 3 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 availabl
e at www.opel.com.
Energy and environment-conscious
driving
z High noise levels and exhaust emissions
are often a result of driving without due
attention to saving energy and
protecting the environment.
z You should therefore drive with energy in
mind: "more miles – less fuel".
Reduce the noise level and exhaust
emissions by adopting an environment-
conscious driving style. This is extremely
worthwhile and improves the 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
3256.
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,
exhaust emission, the amount of
pollutant in the exhaust and the amount
of noise.
z Drive off as soon as possible after
starting.
Uniform speed
z Hectic driving significantly increases fuel
consumption, the exhaust emissions, the
proportion of pollutant in the exhaust
gas and the noise level.
z Do not accelerate and brake
unnecessarily. Drive at uniform speed,
watching the road.
Avoid frequent starting off and stopping
e.g. at traffic 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 one
minute, it is worthwhile switching off the
engine. Five minutes of idling
corresponds to approximately one
kilometre of driving.
Back to overview

152 Driving and operationOverrun
zThe fuel supply is shut off automatically
on overrun, e.g. when descending steep
hills or when braking 3150.
z To enable the overrun cut-off to come
into action and save fuel, do not
accelerate or declutch during overrun.
Correct gear selection
z High revs increase engine wear and fuel
consumption.
z Do not race your engine. Avoid driving at
high engine speeds.
Making use of the tachometer helps to
save fuel. Drive in a low engine speed
range for each gear as much as possible
with uniform engine speeds. Drive as
often as possible in top gear, select the
next higher gear as soon as possible,
and only change down when the engine
is no longer running perfectly smoothly.
High speed
z The higher the speed, the higher the
consumption and the noise level. At top
speed, you consume a great deal of fuel
and produce excessive noise and
exhaust emissions. z
Slightly releasing th e accelerator pedal
results in distinct fu el savings with no
major loss of speed.
Drive at no more than around three
quarters of maximum speed and you will
use up to 50 % less fuel, without losing a
great deal of time.
Tyre pressure
z Inadequate tyre pressure, leading to
higher road resistance, costs money in
two ways: for more fuel and increased
tyre wear.
z Regular checks (every 14 days) pay off.
Electrical loads
z The power consumption of electrical
equipment increases fuel consumption.
z Switch off all additional consumers (e.g.
air conditioning 3, heated rear window)
when not needed.
Roof racks, ski-holders
z Roof loads can increase fuel consumption
by approximately 1l/100 km due to air
resistance.
z Remove them if they are not being used. Repair and maintenance
z
Improper repairs or adjustment and
maintenance work can increase fuel
consumption. Do not carry out work on
the engine yourself.
You may out of ignorance infringe
environmental laws by not disposing of
materials properly.
Appropriate parts might not be recycled.
Contact with some of the materials
involved may pose a health hazard.
z We recommend that repair and
maintenance be entrusted to your Opel
Partner.
Extreme driving conditions
z Driving up steep slopes, cornering,
driving on poor roads and driving in ice
and snow all increase fuel consumption.
Fuel consumption increases dramatically
in urban traffic and at low temperatures,
especially on short trips when the engine
operating temperature is not reached.
z Following the instructions given above
will minimise consumption under these
conditions.
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153
Driving and operation
Fuels, refuelling Fuel consumption
Fuel consumption is determined under
specific driving conditions – see page
3256.
Special equipment increases the weight of
the vehicle. As a result, they can increase
fuel consumption and reduce the specified
maximum speed.
For the first few thousand kilometres,
friction between the engine and
transmission components is higher. This
increases fuel consumption.
Fuel for petrol engines
Only use unleaded fuel that complies
with DIN EN 228.
Fuels with ethanol content greater than 5 %
may only be used if the vehicle has been
specifically developed and approved for
these fuels.
Use fuel with the recommended octane
rating (value in bold 3254). Use of fuel
with too low an octane rating can reduce
engine power and torque and will slightly
increase fuel consumption. Fuel for diesel engines
Only use diesel fuel that complies
with DIN EN 590. The fuel must have
low sulphur content (maximum 50 ppm).
Do not use marine diesel oils, heating oils
or entirely or partially plant-based diesel
fuels, such as rape seed oil or bio diesel,
Aquazole and similar diesel-water
emulsions. Diesel fuels must not be diluted
with fuels for petrol engines.
The flow and filterabilit
y of diesel fuel are
temperature-dependent. When
temperatures are low, refuel with diesel fuel
with guaranteed wi nter properties.
Picture no: 18309s.tif
Fuel filler cap
Only a Opel Genuine fuel filler cap provides
full functionality. Di esel-engined vehicles
have special fuel filler caps.
Refuelling
Caution
Use of fuel with too low an octane rating
could lead to uncontrolled combustion
and engine damage.
9
Warning
Before refuelling, switch off engine and
any external heater s with combustion
chambers 3 (identified by sticker on tank
flap). Switch off any mobile phones.
Follow the operating and safety instruc-
tions of the filling stat ion when refueling.
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156 Driving and operation
Picture no: 18251s.tif
Control indicator
Z for exhaust
Illuminates when the ignition is switched on
and during the start attempt. Goes off
shortly after the engine starts running.
Illumination whilst the engine is running
indicates a fault in the emission control
system. The permissible emission limits
may be exceeded. Contact a workshop for
assistance immediately.
Illumination with the engine running
indicates a fault that can cause damage to
the catalytic converter. It is possible to
continue driving without causing damage
by slowing down until the flashing stops
and the control indicator illuminates.
Contact a workshop for assistance
immediately.
Picture no: 18231s.tif
Control indicator
A
for engine electronics
Illuminates for a few seconds after the
ignition is switched on.
If it illuminates when the engine is running,
there is a fault in engine or transmission
electronics. The electr onic system switches
to an emergency runni ng programme. Fuel
consumption may be increased and the
driveability of the vehicle may be impaired.
In some cases the fault can be remedied by
switching the engine off and starting it
again. If the control indicator continues to
illuminate whilst the en gine is running,
contact a workshop for assistance in
remedying the cause of the fault. If it illuminates briefly, but does not recur, it
is of no significance.
If
A lights up, this could mean that there
is water in the diesel fuel filter 3. A
message appears at the same time on the
service display 391. Have the fuel filter
checked for possible water contamination
by a workshop.
If it flashes after the ignition is switched on,
there is a fault in the immobiliser system.
The engine cannot be started 327.
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159
Driving and operation
Drive Control Systems Electronic Stability Program
(ESP
®Plus
) 3
ESP®
Plus
improves driving stability when
necessary in any driving situation
regardless of the type of road surface or
tyre grip. It also prevents the drive wheels
from spinning.
As soon as the vehicle starts to swerve
(understeer/oversteer), engine output is
reduced and the wheels are braked
individually. This considerably improves
the driving stability of the vehicle on
slippery road surfaces.
ESP®
Plus
is ready for operation as soon as
the ignition is switched on and control
indicator v goes out.
When the ESP®
Plus
comes into action,
v flashes. The vehicle is now in
a critical situation;
ESP®
Plus
allows you to keep control of the
vehicle and reminds you to match your
speed to the road conditions.
Picture no: 18252s.tif
Control indicator
v
The warning lamp lights up for a few
seconds when the ignition is switched on.
The system is now ready for operation.
Flashing during driving:
This shows the system has come into
action. The engine output may be reduced
(the sound of the engine changes) and the
vehicle may be braked automatically to a
small degree.
Illuminates while driving:
The system is switched off 3 or a fault is
present. Continued driving is possible.
However, directional control may
deteriorate depending on the road surface
conditions.
Switch on ESP®
Plus
again and have cause
of fault remedied by a workshop. The self-
diagnosis that is integrated in the system
will help you to find a solution quickly.
9
Warning
Do not let this special safety feature
tempt you into taking risks when driving.
ESP®
Plus
does not negate the laws of
physics.
Adapt speed to the road conditions.
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160 Driving and operation
Picture no: 18470s.tif
Switching off
3
ESP®
Plus
can be deactivated by pressing
button v 3 .
Switching off is indicated by the control
indicator v lighting up in the
instrument. Also appears on the service
display ESPoff391.
Pressing the v button again or turning on
the ignition switches the ESP®
Plus
on again. Cruise control
3
Cruise control can store and maintain
speeds between 30 and 200 km/h.
Deviation from the stored speed may occur
when driving up or downhill.
For safety reasons the cruise control
system cannot be activated until the foot
brake has been operated, otherwise the
control indicator flashes m.
Cruise control is operated with switch m, g,
and button 0 on the turn signal stalk.
Do not use the 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
3, engage
cruise control only in D, or with manual
transmission automated 3 in automatic
mode only.
9
Warning
If the vehicle has run-flat tyres 3 the
ESP®
Plus
must not be deactivated with
depressurised tyres.
9
Warning
When the cruise control is active, reac-
tion times may be increased due to the
different position of the feet.
Back to overview