2009 OPEL MERIVA warning

157
Driving and operation
Winter tyres 3
Notes on fitting new tyres 3 154.
Restrictions 3228.
Winter tyres improve driving safety at
temperatures below 7 C.
The design of summer tyres means they
have limited qualities for winter driving.
In accordance with country-specific
regulations, affix the speed sticker 3 in the
driver’s field of view.
If you use the spare wheel when it is fitted
with a summer tyre, the vehicle’s
driveability may be affected, especially on
slippery road surfaces. Obtain a
replacement for the faulty tyre as soon as
possible, and have the wheel balanced
and fitted to the vehicle.
Wheel covers 3
Use of wheel trims and tyres that approved
by Opel for the vehicle in question and
thereby fulfil all requirements for the wheel
and tyre combination.
If the wheel trims and tyres used are not
Opel-approved, the ty res must not have a
beaded edge. Wheel trims must not impair brake cooling.
Remove the wheel trims if fitting tyre
chains
3.
Picture no: 6459u.tif
Tyre chains 3
Restrictions and further information 3 228.
Tyre chains are only permitted on the
driven wheels (front axle). They must be
fitted to the tyres symmetrically in order to
achieve a concentric fit.
Always use fine mesh chains that add no
more than 10 mm to the tyre tread and the
inboard sides (including chain lock).
9 Warning
Use of unsuitable tyres or wheel trims
could lead to sudden loss of air and
thereby accidents.

158 Driving and operationRemove the wheel trims if using tyre chains
3174.
Tyre chains may only be used at speeds up
to 50 km/h. When travelling on roads that
are free of snow, they may only be used for
brief periods.
Tyre chains must not be used on the
temporary spare wheel. If you need to use
tyre chains after suffering a flat front tyre,
fit the temporary spare on the rear axle
and transfer one of the rear wheels to the
front axle.
Roof rack
3
For safety reasons and to avoid roof
damage we recommend using the Opel
roof rack system that is approved for your
vehicle.
Follow the usage instructions for the roof
rack.
Remove the roof rack when not in use.
Disengage covers concealing roof rack
mounts by pushing sliders in direction of
arrow (e.g. with coin) and remove. To close
roof rack mounts, insert covers at front and
engage sliders at rear.
Driving hints 3 135
Towing 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
3232.
9 Warning
Damage may lead to tyre blowout.

160 Driving and operation
Picture no: 12417t.tif
Otherwise, the coupling ball bar must be
tensioned before it is inserted into the
coupling housing:
zUnlock coupling ball bar by turning key
to position 1 3 159, Fig. 12416 T.
z Pull out rotary knob and turn clockwise
as far as it will go, see Fig.
Picture no: 12418t.tif
Inserting the coupling ball bar

Insert the tensioned coupling ball bar in the
housing and push firmly upwards until it
audibly engages.
The rotary handle snaps back into its home
position resting against the coupling ball
bar (no gap).
Picture no: 16484s.tif
Lock the coupling ball bar in position by
turning key to position 2 3 159,
Fig. 12416 T. Remove the key and press the
protective flap into place.
When the coupling ball bar is locked the
turn knob can no longer be pulled out.
9 Warning
Do not touch rotary handle during
insertion.

161
Driving and operation
Check that the coupling ball bar is correctly installedzGreen marking on rotary knob must
point towards white ma rking on coupling
ball bar
z There must be no gap between the
rotary handle and the 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: 12421t.tif
Eye for break-away stopping cable
In the case of trailers/caravans with brakes,
attach breakaway stopping cable to eye.
Picture no: 13670t.tif
Dismounting the coupling ball bar
Open the protective flap and turn the key
to position 1 to unlock the coupling ball bar
3 159, Fig. 12416 T.
Pull out rotary handle and turn clockwise
as far as it will go. Pull out coupling ball bar
downwards.
Insert the sealing plug in the opening for
the coupling ball bar. Close the socket
3 159, Fig. 15271 S.
9 Warning
Towing a caravan/trailer is only
permitted with a properly fitted coupling
ball bar. If the coupling ball bar cannot
be correctly fitted, please contact a
workshop for assistance.

165
Self-help, vehicle care
Self-help, vehicle care
Diesel fuel system, bleeding If the tank is allowed to run dry, the diesel
fuel system must be bled. Turn over the
ignition three times for 15 seconds at a
time. Then start the engine for a maximum
of 40 seconds
1). Repeat this process after
no less than 5 seconds. If the engine fails to
start, seek the assistance of a workshop.
Picture no: 16109s.tif
Bonnet Pull the release lever lo cated on the driver’s
side below the instru ment panel and push
it back to its original position.
Diesel fuel system, bleeding ............... 165
Bonnet .................................................. 165
Starting the engine with jump
leads 3............................................. 166
Towing .................................................. 168
Warning triangle ¨ 3,
First-aid kit +3................................. 171
Jack £ 3 and vehicle tools 3............ 171
Spare wheel 3...................................... 172
Changing wheels ................................. 174
Tyre repair kit 3................................... 178
Electrical system .................................. 181
Fuses and the most important circuits they protect ....................................... 182
Bulb replacement ................................ 185
Vehicle care.......................................... 196
1)For technical reasons, only 30 seconds are
possible on engines Y 17 DT and Z 17 DTH

166 Self-help, vehicle care
Picture no: 17883s.tif
Pull the safety catch and open the bonnet.
Any dirt or snow on the bonnet can slide
down toward the windscreen when the
bonnet is opened and block the air intake
3127.
Picture no: 14733s.tif
Secure the bonnet support. Before closing
the bonnet, press the support into the
holder.
Lower the bonnet and allow it to drop into
the catch. Check that the bonnet is
engaged.
Starting the engine with jump
leads
3
Do not use a rapid charger or push or two
the vehicle to get it started.
A vehicle with a discha rged battery can be
started using jump leads and the battery of
another vehicle.
9 Warning
Starting the engine with jump leads must
be carried out with the utmost caution.
Any deviation from the following
instruction may lead to injury or damage
due to the explosion of the batteries and
to damage of the electrics in both
vehicles.

171
Self-help, vehicle care
Picture no: 16140s.tif
Warning triangle
¨ 3
,
First-aid kit
+3

The warning triangle and first aid cushion
are strapped with a rubber band in the
compartment on the le ft of the luggage
compartment beneath the floor covering.
Picture no: 14201s.tif
To open, remove the luggage
compartment cover 3 3 55, lift the floor
using the handle and raise toward the
front.
Picture no: 14203s.tif
Jack
£
3 and vehicle tools
3
Vehicles with spare wheel 3
The jack and vehicle tools are stowed in a
bag underneath the spare wheel in the
luggage compartment.
The jack 3 and the vehicle tools 3 have
been specially developed for your vehicle
and must only be used on that vehicle.
Only use jack for changing wheels.

174 Self-help, vehicle careChanging wheels There may be a tyre repair kit instead of a
spare wheel 3178.
Make the following preparations and
observe the following information:
z Park the vehicle on a level, firm and non-
skid surface. The front wheels must be in
the straight-ahead position.
z Switch on the hazard warning flashers,
apply the hand brake, engage first gear
or reverse.
z Erect warning triangle as specified.
Warning triangle 3171.
z Remove the spare wheel 3 172.
z Never change more than one wheel at
once.
z Use the jack 3 only to change wheels. z
If the ground on which the vehicle is
standing is soft, a solid board (max. 1 cm
thick) should be placed under the jack 3.
z Block the wheel diagonally opposite the
wheel to be changed by placing wedge
blocks or equivalent in front and behind
the wheel. z
No people or animals may be in the
vehicle when it is jacked up.
z Never crawl under a jacked-up vehicle.
z Do not start the vehicle when it is raised
on the jack.
z Before screwing in the wheel bolts, clean
them and lightly coat the taper of each
wheel bolt with comm ercially available
grease.