2009 OPEL ZAFIRA Owners Manual

Driving and operating
137
If the Winter programme is activated,
T is illuminated.
Starting the engine
Depress the foot brake when starting
the engine. If the foot brake is not
depressed, j illuminates in the
instrument, "N" flashes in the
transmission display and the engine
cannot be started.
Starting is not possible if all brake
lights fail.
When
the foot brake is depressed, the
transmission automatically shifts to
N upon start. There may be a slight
delay. Selector lever
Always move the selector lever in the
appropriate direction as far as it will
go. Upon release, it automatically
returns to the centre position.
N
= Neutral.
A = Switch between automatic and
manual mode. The
transmission display shows A
or M.
R = Reverse gear. Engage only
when vehicle is stationary.
+ = Shift to a higher gear.
- = Shift to a lower gear. Starting off
Depress
the foot brake and move the
selector lever to A, + or -. The
transmission is in automatic mode
and first gear is engaged. If R is
selected, reverse gear is engaged.
The vehicle starts to move when the
brake is released.
To start off without depressing the
foot brake, accelerate immediately
after engaging a gear.
If neither the accelerator nor the
brake pedal are depressed, no gear
is engaged and A or R flashes for
a brief time in the display.
Stopping the vehicle
In A, first gear is engaged and the
clutch is released when the vehicle is
stopped. In R , reverse gear remains
engaged.
Engine braking
Automatic mode
When driving downhill, the manual
transmission automated does not
shift into higher gears until a fairly

138
Driving and operating
high engine speed has been reached.
It shifts down in good time when
braking.
Manual mode
To utilise the engine braking effect,
select
a lower gear in good time when
driving downhill.
Rocking the vehicle
Rocking the vehicle is only
permissible if the vehicle is stuck in
sand, mud or snow. Move the selector
lever between R and A in a repeat
pattern. Do not race the engine and
avoid sudden acceleration.
Parking
Apply the hand brake. The most
recently engaged gear (see
transmission display) remains
engaged. With N, no gear is engaged.
When the ignition is switched off the
transmission no longer responds to
movement of the selector lever. Manual mode
If a higher gear is selected when the
engine speed is too low, or a lower
gear when the speed is too high, the
shift is not executed. This prevents
the engine from running at too low or
too high an engine speed.
If engine speed is too low, the
transmission automatically shifts to
a lower gear.
If engine speed is too high, the
transmission
only switches to a higher
gear via kickdown.
When + or - is selected in automatic
mode, the transmission switches to
manual mode and shifts accordingly.
Electronic driving
programmes
■ Following a cold start, the operating
temperature programme increases
engine speed to quickly bring the
catalytic converter to the required
temperature. ■ The adaptive programme tailors
gearshifting to the driving
conditions, e.g. greater load or
gradients.
■ When Sport
mode is engaged, shift
times are reduced and the
transmission shifts at higher engine
speeds (unless cruise control is
on). Sport mode 3 143.
Winter programme T Activate the Winter programme if you
have problems starting off on
a slippery road surface.

Driving and operating
139
Activation
Press the T button. The transmission
switches to automatic mode. The
vehicle starts off in 2nd gear. Sport
mode is deactivated.
Deactivation
The Winter programme is switched off
by:
■ pressing the T button again
■ turning off the ignition,
■ switching to manual mode (when switched back to automatic mode,
the Winter programme is again
active)
■ when clutch temperature is too high Kickdown
If the accelerator pedal is pressed
past the pressure point, the
transmission shifts to a lower gear
depending on engine speed.
Fault
To prevent damage to the manual
transmission

automated, the clutch is
engaged automatically at high clutch
temperatures.
A illuminates in the event of a fault.
Continued driving is possible. Manual
mode cannot be used for shifting. If F appears in the transmission
display, continued driving is not
possible.
Have the cause of the fault remedied
by a workshop.
Interruption of power
supply
The clutch is not disengaged if there
is an interruption of the power supply
when a gear is engaged. The vehicle
cannot move.
If the battery is discharged, start the
vehicle using jump leads 3 185.
If the cause of the fault is not
a discharged battery, seek the
assistance of a workshop.

140
Driving and operatingIf the vehicle must be moved out of
the flow of traffic, disengage the
clutch as follows:
1.
Apply hand brake and switch offignition.
2. Open the bonnet 3 155.
3. Clean the transmission around the cap so that no dirt can get into
the opening when the cap is
removed.
4. Rotate cap to slacken and remove by lifting upwards. 5. Using a flat-head screwdriver,
turn
the adjusting screw under the
cap clockwise until clear
resistance can be felt. The clutch
has now been disengaged.
6. Refit cleaned cap. The cap must be in full contact with the housing. Caution
Do not turn beyond the resistance
since this could damage the
transmission.
Caution
Towing the vehicle and starting
the engine is not permitted when
the

clutch has been disengaged in
this way, although the vehicle can
be moved a short distance. Seek the immediate assistance of
a workshop. Brakes
The brake system comprises two
independent brake circuits.
If a brake circuit fails, the vehicle can
still be braked using the other brake
circuit. However, braking effect is
achieved only when you depress the
brake pedal firmly. You need to use
considerably more force for this. The
braking distance is extended. Seek
the assistance of a workshop before
continuing your journey.
When the engine is not running, the
support of the brake servo unit
disappears

once the brake pedal has
been depressed once or twice.
Braking effect is not reduced, but
braking requires significantly greater
force. It is especially important to bear
this in mind when being towed.
Control indicator R 3 89.
Antilock brake system
Antilock brake system (ABS)
prevents the wheels from locking.

Driving and operating
141
ABS starts to regulate brake pressure
as soon as a wheel shows a tendency
to lock. The vehicle remains
steerable, even during hard braking.
ABS control is made apparent though
a pulse in the brake pedal and the
noise of the regulation process.
For optimum braking, keep the brake
pedal fully depressed throughout the
braking process, despite the fact that
the pedal is pulsating. Do not reduce
the pressure on the pedal.
Control indicator u 3 89.
Adaptive brake lamp
During full braking, all three brake
lamps flash for the duration of ABS
control. Fault
9
Warning If there is a fault in the ABS, the
wheels may be liable to lock due
to braking that is heavier than
normal. The advantages of ABS
are no longer available. During
hard braking, the vehicle can no
longer be steered and may
swerve.
Have the cause of the fault remedied
by a workshop. Parking brake
Always apply hand brake firmly
without operating the release button,
and apply as firmly as possible on
a downhill or uphill slope.
To release the hand brake, pull the
lever up slightly, press the release
button and fully lower the lever.
To

reduce the operating forces of the
hand brake, depress the foot brake at
the same time.
Control indicator R 3 89.

142
Driving and operating
Brake assist
If the brake pedal is depressed
quickly and forcefully, maximum
brake force is automatically applied
(full braking).
Maintain steady pressure on the
brake
pedal for as long as full braking
is required. Maximum brake force is
automatically reduced when the
brake pedal is released.
Hill start assist
The system helps pull away on
inclines. After releasing the brake
pedal, if the hand brake is not applied
the brakes are released after a 2-
second delay. Ride control systems
Electronic stability
program
Electronic stability program
(ESP®
Plus
) improves driving stability
when necessary, 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 operational as soon as
control indicator v extinguishes.
When ESP® Plus
comes into action v
flashes. 9
Warning Do not let this special safety
feature tempt you into taking risks
when driving.
Adapt speed to the road
conditions.
Control indicator
v 3 89.
Deactivation ESP®
Plus
can be deactivated when
Sport mode is engaged for high-
performance driving:

Driving and operating
143
Hold the SPORT button depressed
for about 4 seconds. Control indicator
v illuminates. ESPoff also appears in
the service display. 9
Warning Do not deactivate ESP®
Plus
if
a
run-flat tyre 3 has lost pressure.ESP®
Plus
is reactivated by pressing
the SPORT

button. ESPon appears in
the service display. ESP® Plus
is also
reactivated the next time the ignition
is switched on.
Sport mode 3 143.
Interactive driving system
Interactive driving system (IDS Plus
)
combines the electronic stability
program (ESP® Plus
) with the antilock
brake system (ABS) and continuous
damping control (CDC) to improve
driving dynamics and vehicle safety. Sport mode
Suspension and steering become
more direct and provide better
contact with the road surface. The
engine reacts more quickly to
accelerator pedal movements.
Automatic

gear changing is also more
responsive.
Control indicator IDSPlus
3 91.
Activation Press SPORT button.
Control indicator
1 3 89. Winter programme activation not
possible.
Deactivation
Briefly press the SPORT button.
Sport mode is deactivated the next
time the ignition is switched on or if
the Winter programme is activated.
Continuous damping
control
Continuous damping control (CDC)
changes suspension with damping
adaptation
of each shock absorber to
the current driving situation and road
conditions.
When Sport mode is engaged, the
damping control is adapted to
a sportier driving style.
Control indicator IDS+ 3 91.

144
Driving and operating
Automatic level control The rear level of the vehicle is
automatically adjusted to the load
conditions while driving. Suspension
and ground clearance are increased,
which improves driving conditions.
The automatic level control is
activated after the vehicle has been
driven for some distance, depending
on the vehicle loading and the road
conditions.
Do
not use full payload in the event of
a fault. Have the cause of the fault
remedied by a workshop. Cruise control
The cruise control can store and
maintain

speeds of approx. 30 to 200
km/h. Deviations from the stored
speeds may occur when driving uphill
or downhill.
For safety reasons the cruise control
cannot be activated until the foot
brake has been operated once. Do not use the cruise control if it is not
advisable to maintain a constant
speed. With automatic transmission or
manual
transmission automated, only
activate cruise control in automatic
mode.
Control indicator m 3 93.
Activation
Briefly press the m button: the current
speed is stored and maintained.
Vehicle speed can be increased by
depressing the accelerator pedal.
When the accelerator pedal is
released, the previously stored speed
is resumed.
The speed is saved until the ignition
is switched off.
To resume the saved speed, briefly
press the g button at a speed above
30 km/h.
Increase
With cruise control active, hold down
button m or briefly press it repeatedly:
speed is increased continuously or in
small increments.
When button m is released the
current speed is stored and
maintained.