67
Instruments
Picture no: 18529s.tif
Flashes when the ignition is onFault in the electronic immobiliser system;
the engine cannot be started 321.Z
Exhaust emission
Control indicator lights up and/or flashes
yellow
It illuminates when the ignition is switched
on and goes out shortly after the engine
starts.
Illuminates when the engine is running
Fault in emission control system. The
permissible emission limits may be
exceeded. Contact a workshop for
assistance immediately.
Picture no:
If it flashes when the engine is running:Fault that could lead to catalytic converter
damage. Ease up on the throttle until the
flashing stops 3115. Seek the immediate
assistance of a workshop. v
Airbag systems 3, Belt tensioners
Control indicator lights up red
Illuminates when the engine is runningFault in the airbag or belt tensioner system
350, 359.
I
Engine oil pressure
Control indicator lights up red
It illuminates when the ignition is switched
on and goes out shortly after the engine
starts.
Illuminates when the engine is running
1. Depress clutch 3.
2. Set manual transmission to neutral, or
with manual transmission automated 3
place selector lever in N.
3. Move out of the flow of traffic as quickly
as possible without impeding other
vehicles.
4. Switch off ignition.
Contact a workshop for assistance. Caution
Engine lubrication may be interrupted.
This may result in damage to the engine
and/or locking of the drive wheels.
9 Warning
When the engine is off, considerably
more force is needed to brake and steer.
Do not remove key until vehicle has
come to a standstill, otherwise the
steering column lock could engage
unexpectedly.
70 Instruments
Picture no: 18529s.tif
S
Engine oil level 3
Control indicator lights up yellow.
The engine oil level is checked
automatically.
Illuminates when the engine is running
Engine oil level too low. Check engine oil
level and top up engine oil if necessary
3175.
Picture no:
EPS
1)
Electric power steering 3
Control indicator lights up yellow.
Fault in the electric power steering. It is still
possible to drive. Although it is still possible
to steer the vehicle, it is significantly more
difficult. Contact a workshop for
assistance.
1)EPS
= Electric
Power
Steering.
Y
Fuel level 3
Control indicator lights up and/or flashes
yellow
Lamps
Level in fuel tank too low.
Flashes
Fuel level is used up, fuel immediately.
Never let the tank run dry!
Erratic fuel supply can cause the catalytic
converter to overheat 3114.
Diesel engines: Bleed the fuel system if the
fuel tank is allowed to run dry 3128.
100 Driving and operationDriving and operation
Manual transmission
automated
3
The Easytronic transmission permits
manual (manual mode) or automatic gear
shifting (automatic mode), both with
automatic clutch control.
Picture no: 12478s.tif
Transmission display
Shows the mode and current gear.
If the Winter programme is activated, T is
illuminated. Manual transmission automated3... 100
Manual transmission ........................... 105
Driving hints ......................................... 106
Saving Fuel, Protecting the
Environment ...................................... 108
Fuels, refuelling .................................... 110
Catalytic converter, engine exhaust .. 114
Hydraulic brake system ...................... 118
Anti-lock Braking System (ABSu)3 119
Hand brake .......................................... 120
Brake assist .......................................... 120
Wheels, tyres ........................................ 121
Roof racks 3......................................... 125
Towing equipment 3........................... 126
Caravan/trailer towing ........................ 126
102 Driving and operation
Picture no: 12466s.tif
Selector lever in A/M
Switch between Automatic and Manual
mode.
In manual mode, a gear can be selected
manually by tapping the selector lever to
the
+ or
- position. The transmission display
indicates the current gear.
If the engine speed is too low the manual
transmission automated will automatically
shift to a lower gear even in Manual mode.
This prevents the engine from stalling. Selector lever in + or -
If a higher gear is selected when the
running speed is too low, or a lower gear
when the speed is too high, no shift is
carried out. This prevents the engine from
running at too low or too high revs.
Gears can be skipped by jogging the
selector lever repeatedly at short intervals.
When the vehicle is in automatic mode,
manual transmission automated switches
to manual mode when the selector lever is
tapped to position
+ or
-. The transmission
display indicates the current gear.
Selector lever in R
Reverse gear. Engage only when vehicle is
stationary.
Press knob on selector lever, select R, "R"
appears in gear display.
If R is selected when the vehicle is in motion,
"R" flashes in the transmission display and
no gear is engaged. Stopping the vehicle
In automatic or manual mode, first gear is
automatically engaged (second gear if the
Winter programme is engaged) and the
clutch is released when the vehicle is
stationary. In R, reverse gear remains
engaged.
If a warning signal sounds when the
driver’s door is opened (foot brake not
depressed), move the selector lever to N
and apply the hand brake.
When stopping on gradients, engage the
hand brake or depress the brake pedal. To
prevent overheating of the clutch, do not
increase engine speed to ensure smooth
idling when in gear.
Switch off engine if stopping for a lengthy
period, e.g. in traffic jams or at level
crossings.
Electronically controlled driving
programmes in automatic mode
zFollowing a cold start, the operating
temperature programme keeps engine
speed high to quickly and automatically
bring the catalytic converter to the
required temperature.
zAdaptive programmes automatically
change to other gears to suit the driving
conditions, such as if the vehicle is
towing a caravan/trailer, has a high
payload, or is being driven on inclines.
+
Shift to a higher gear.
-
Shift to a lower gear.
107
Driving and operation
Save energy – more kilometres
Please observe the running-in hints on the
previous page and the tips for saving
energy on the following pages.
Good, technically correct and economical
driving ensures maximum durability and
performance for your vehicle.
Overrun cut-off
The fuel supply is automatically cut off
during overrun, e.g. when the vehicle is
driven with a gear engaged but no throttle
application. Overrun cut-off is deactivated
if catalytic converter temperature is high.
Vehicles with turbocharged engine
Flow-generated noises may be audible if
the accelerator is released quickly on
account of air flow in the turbocharger.
Engine speed
Drive in a low engine speed range for each
gear as much as possible. Warming up
Allow the engine to warm up while driving.
Do not warm it up by letting it run at idling
speed. Do not apply full throttle until the
engine has reached operating
temperature.
In automatic mode, the manual
transmission automated 3 does not shift to
the higher gears after a cold start until
higher engine speeds are reached. This
allows the catalytic converter to quickly
reach the temperature that is required for
optimum pollutant reduction.
Correct gear selection
Do not race your engine whilst in neutral or
with a low gear selected. Driving too fast in
individual gears as well as stop-and-go
traffic increases engine wear and fuel
consumption.
Change down
When decreasing speed, shift down into
the next lowest gear. Do not slip the clutch
with a high-revving engine. This is
especially important when hill climbing. Cooling fan
The cooling fan is controlled via a
thermoswitch and therefore only runs if
necessary.
The cooling fan automatically switches on
when the diesel particle filter is being
cleaned 3 depending on the engine.
Pedals
Do not place any objects in the foot well
which could slip under the pedals and
inhibit the pedal travel.
To ensure the pedal travel is uninhibited,
there must be no mats in the area of the
pedals.
Battery care
When driving slowly or when the vehicle is
stationary, e.g. in slow urban traffic, stop-
and-go traffic or traffic jams, turn off all
unnecessary electrical loads where
possible (e.g. heated rear window, heated
front seats, etc.).
Declutch when starting in order to relieve
the strain on the starter and the battery.
114 Driving and operationIf the natural gas tank is then not refilled,
petrol operation must be manually
selected the next time the engine is started.
This is necessary in order to prevent
damage to the catalytic converter
(overheating due to irregular fuel supply).
If the switch is pressed several times within
a brief period of time, a changeover
inhibitor is activated. The engine continues
with the current type of fuel. The inhibitor
remains active until the ignition is switched
off.
Minor power and torque losses are to
be expected during petrol operation,
therefore adjust driving style (e.g.
overtaking) and vehicle load (e.g. through
trailer load) accordingly.
Every 6 months, run the petrol tank down
to the reserve zone before refuelling. This is
necessary for petrol operation to obtain
the required system functionality and fuel
quality.Note:
Refuel and operate only w i t h f u e l o f a t l e a s t
95 octane (RON). Upon accidental
refuelling with petrol of an
octane rating (RON) less than 95, avoid
driving with fuel load (e.g. heavy
acceleration, full throttle), allow the tank to
reach the reserve zone and refuel with the
correct petrol.
In order to prevent corrosion in the tank,
please refuel the vehicle to the maximum
level at regular intervals.
Picture no: 6448u.tif
Catalytic converter, engine
exhaust Catalytic converter
The catalytic converter reduces the
amount of harmful substances in the
exhaust gas, such as carbon monoxide
(CO), hydrocarbons, (CH) and nitrous
oxide (NO
x).
Fuel grades other than those listed on
3110, 184 (e. g. LRP = Lead Replacement
Petrol or leaded fuel) could damage the
catalytic converter or electronic
components.
Caution
Damage to the catalytic converter or the
vehicle may result if the following points
are not observed.
115
Driving and operation
zIn the event of misfiring, uneven engine
running, a clear reduction in engine
performance or other unusual problems,
have the cause of the fault rectified by a
workshop as soon as possible. In an
emergency, driving can be continued for
a short period, keeping vehicle speed
and engine speed low.
zIf unburnt fuel enters the catalytic
converter of a petrol engine, this may
result in overheating and irreparable
damage to the catalytic converter.
You should therefore avoid
unnecessarily long use of the starter
when starting off, running the tank dry
and starting the engine by pushing or
towing.
Picture no: 18087s.tif
Controlling exhaust emission
Design measures, primarily in the fuel
injection system and ignition system zones
in combination with the catalytic converter,
the amount of hazardous substances in the
exhaust emissions, such as carbon
monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (CH) and
nitrogen oxides (NO
x), are reduced to a
minimum.
Picture no: 11717s.tif
Exhaust gas control indicator
Z
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.
118 Driving and operationMaintenance
Have all maintenance work carried out at
the specified intervals. We recommend
that you entrust this work to your Opel
Partner, who has proper equipment and
trained personnel available. Electronic
testing systems permit rapid diagnosis and
remedy of faults. This way you can be
certain that all components of the vehicle’s
electrical, injection and ignition systems
operate correctly, that your vehicle has a
low level of pollutant emission and that the
catalytic converter system will have a long
service life.
You are thereby making an important
contribution towards keeping the air clean
and compliance with emissions legislation.
Checking and adjustment of the fuel-
injection and ignition systems is part of the
scope of inspection. For this reason you
should have all maintenance work carried
out at the intervals specified in your Service
and Warranty Booklet.
Picture no: 11629s.tif
Hydraulic brake system The foot brake comprises two independent
brake circuits.
If a brake circuit fails, the vehicle can still be
braked using the other brake circuit.
However, the brake pedal must be
depressed a considerable way before any
braking effect occurs, and much more
force is required. The braking distance is
longer. Contact a workshop for assistance
before continuing to drive. To ensure the full pedal travel can be
utilised, especially in case of a fault in one
of the brake circuits, there must be no mats
in the vicinity of the pedals 3107.
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. This is especially important
to bear in mind when towing.
The brake fluid level should be checked
regularly. If the brake fluid level is too low
and the hand brake is not applied, control
indicator R on the instrument panel lights
up 369.