184 Driving and operationTowing equipment
3
Only use towing equipment that has been
approved for your vehicle. Ask a workshop
to retrofit towing equipment. It may be
necessary to make changes that affect the
cooling system, heat shields or other
equipment.
Mounting dimensions of towing equipment
3269.
Stowage of coupling ball bar
The coupling ball bar is stowed in a bag in
the spare wheel well and secured to the
lashing eyes in the luggage compartment
3 187.
Picture no: 18389s.tif
Fitting the coupling ball bar
Push both bolts inwards and remove the
cover on the bumper.
Picture no: 18390s.tif
Fold down socket. Pull sealing plug out of
coupling ball bar opening. Place cover and
coupling ball bar in luggage compartment.
Caution
The coupling ball bar is to be removed
when not towing.
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186 Driving and operation
Picture no: 18394s.tif
Green marking on the rotary lever is visible.
Lock coupling ball bar and remove key. Check that the coupling ball bar is correctly
installedz
Green marking on the rotary lever is
visible.
z There must be no gap between the
rotary handle and th e coupling ball bar.
z The coupling ball bar must be firmly
engaged in the opening.
z The coupling ball bar must be locked
and the key removed.
Picture no: 18397s.tif
Eye for break-away stopping cable
In the case of trailers/caravans with brakes,
attach breakaway stopping cable to eye.
9
Warning
Towing a caravan/trailer is only per-
mitted with a properly fitted coupling
ball bar. If the coupling ball bar cannot
be correctly fitted, please contact a
workshop for assistance.
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187
Driving and operation
Picture no: 18395s.tif
Dismounting the coupling ball bar
Place the key in the lock and unlock the
coupling ball bar.
Push the rotary lever onto the coupling ball
bar and rotate right while pressed down
until it engages. Pull out the ball bar
downwards.
Insert sealing plug in opening for coupling
ball bar. Close socket 3184, Fig. 18390 S.
Place cover on bumper and push both
bolts outwards.
Picture no: 18396s.tif
Stowage of coupling ball bar
Fit protective cap 3 over rotary lever with
key.
Stow coupling ball bar in bag and place in
spare wheel well, and se cure bag to lashing
eyes in luggage compartment.
Lashing eyes 356
Caravan/trailer towingCaravan and trailer loads
1)
The permissible caravan/trailer loads are
vehicle and engine-dependent maximum
values which must not be exceeded. The
actual caravan/trailer load is the difference
between the actual gross weight of the
caravan/trailer and the actual coupling
socket load with the caravan/trailer
coupled.
The permissible caravan/trailer loads are
specified in the vehicle documents. In
general, they are valid for gradients up to
maximum 12 %. 1)Observe national regulations.
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188 Driving and operationThe permitted caravan/trailer load applies
up to the specified incline and up to an
altitude of 1000 metres above sea level.
Since engine power decreases as altitude
increases because of the air becoming
thinner, therefore reducing climbing ability,
the permitted towing weight also
decreases by 10 % for every 1000 metres of
additional altitude. The towing weight
does not have to be reduced when driving
on roads with slight inclines (less than 8 %,
e. g. motorways).
The permissible gross train weight must not
be exceeded. This weight is specified on
the identification plate 3250. Coupling socket load
The coupling socket load is the load
exerted by the trailer/caravan on the
coupling ball. It can be varied by changing
the weight distributi
on when loading the
trailer/caravan.
The maximum permitted coupling socket
load (vehicles with engine Z 12 XEP: 45 kg,
other versions: 55 kg) of the towing vehicle
is noted on the identification plate of the
trailer towing device and specified in the
vehicle documents. This must always be
complied with, partic ularly when towing
heavy trailers. The coupling socket load
must never be less than 25 kg.
When measuring the coupling socket load,
make sure that the drawbar of the loaded
trailer/caravan is at the same height as it
will be when the trailer/caravan is coupled
with the towing vehicl e loaded. Particularly
important for trailers/caravans with
tandem axle. Rear axle load during towing
With the trailer attached and the towing
vehicle fully loaded, including all the
passengers, the permitted rear axle load
(specified on identifica
tion plate and vehicle
documents) for passenger vehicles may be
exceeded by 45 kg and the permitted total
load may be exceeded by 50 kg.
For vans the permitted rear axle load may
be exceeded by 25 kg. The permitted total
load may be exceeded by the following
amounts with the engines specified below:
Trailer operation is not permitted for vans
with tyre size 215/45 R 17.
If the permitted rear axle load is exceeded
a maximum speed of 100 km/h applies. If
lower national maximum speeds are
specified for trailer operation, they must be
complied with. Z 10 XEP 30 kg
Z 12 XEP 15 kg
Z 13 DTH 40 kg
Z 13 DTJ 35 kg
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207
Self-help, vehicle care
12. Dismantle the tyre repair kit. When removing the sealant bottle from the
holder, press the ratchet on the holder.
Screw the tyre filler tube onto the free
connector on the sealant bottle. This
prevents the sealant from escaping.
Stow the tyre repair kit in the luggage
compartment.
13. Wipe away any sealant spill with a cloth.
14. Fold away warning triangle 3, store in
luggage compartment 3196.
15. Apply the sticker on the sealant bottle showing the maximum permitted speed
within the line of sight of the driver.
Sticker 3205, Fig. 17469 T. 16. Continue driving immediately so that
the sealant is distributed evenly
inside the tyre. After approx. 10 km
(after 10 minutes at the latest), stop
and check the tyre pressure. To do this,
screw an air tube directly to the tyre
valve and compressor.
If tyre pressure is more than 1.3 bar,
adjust to the prescribed value. Repeat
the procedure until there is no more
pressure loss.
If the tyre pressure has dropped
below 1.3 bar, the vehicle must not
be used. Contact a workshop for
assistance.
17. Stow the tyre repair kit behind the cover on the right in the side trim in the
luggage compartment. To close, lower
the cover and engage in the trim. Important
The driving comfort of the repaired tyre is
severely affected, therefore have this tyre
replaced.
If the compressor makes abnormal noises
or heats up greatly, switch it off for at
least 30 minutes.
The integrated safety valve opens at a
pressure of 7 bar.
Protect the compressor from moisture and
rain.
The sealant can only be stored for
approx. 4 years. After this time, the sealing
properties can no longer be guaranteed.
Heed the expiration
date on the sealant
bottle.
Replace the used sealant bottle. Dispose of
the bottle as prescrib ed by applicable laws.
The compressor and sealant can be used
from approx. -30 C.
The adapter 3 supplied may be used to
pump up other objects, such as balls,
airbeds, dinghies.
When using the tyre repair kit, no consumer
may be connected to the front accessory
socket at the same time.
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230 Self-help, vehicle careWindows
Use a soft lint-free cloth or chamois leather
together with window cleaner and insect
remover.
When cleaning the rear window, make sure
the heating element inside the window is
not damaged.
For mechanical removal of ice, use a sharp-
edged ice scraper. Press the scraper firmly
against the glass so that no dirt can get
under it and scratch the glass.
Clean smearing wiper blades with a soft
cloth and window cleaner.
Sun roof 3
Never clean with solvents or abrasives,
fuels, aggressive agents (e.g. paintwork
cleaner, solutions containing acetone,
etc.), acidic or strongly alkaline agents or
scourers.
No stickers may be applied to the sun roof. Locks
The locks are lubricated with a high-quality
locking cylinder grease
in the factory. Only
use de-icer in urgent cases, since it has a
de-greasing effect and affects the
operation of the locks. Have the locks re-
greased in a workshop after using de-icer.
Engine compartment
Clean painted surfaces in the engine
compartment like any other painted
surface.
It is advisable to wash the engine
compartment before and after winter and
preserve it with wax. Cover alternator and
brake fluid reservoir with plastic sheets
before washing the engine.
When washing the engine with a steam-jet
cleaner, do not direct the steam jet at
components of the anti-lock brake system,
the air conditioning system, the climate
control system, belt drive or the fuse box.
After an engine wash, have all engine room
components preserved thoroughly by a
workshop using protective wax.
Do not use high-pressure jet cleaners. Underbody
Some areas of the vehicle underbody have
a PVC undercoating while other critical
areas have a durable protective wax
coating.
After the underbody is washed, check the
underbody and have more protective wax
applied if necessary.
Bitumen/rubber materials could damage
the PVC coating. Have underbody work
carried out by a workshop.
Before and after winter, wash the
underbody and have the protective wax
coating checked.
Towing equipment
Do not clean the coupling ball bar with a
steam-jet or high-pressure jet cleaner.
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269
Technical Data
Trailer hitch installation
dimensions
Removable coupling ball bar,
passenger vehicle, van All measurements refer to Opel-approved
towing equipment.
9
Warning
Only use towing equipment approved
for your vehicle. We recommend
entrusting retrofitting of towing equip-
ment to your workshop.
Dimension mm
A 267
B 81
C 700
D 528.5
E 532.5
F 473.5
G 418
H 422
I 9
J 51
K 96
L 255M
351
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