2014 OPEL ASTRA SALOON Owners Manual

Driving and operating135Engine exhaust9Danger
Engine exhaust gases contain
poisonous carbon monoxide,
which is colourless and odourless and could be fatal if inhaled.
If exhaust gases enter the interior
of the vehicle, open the windows.
Have the cause of the fault
rectified by a workshop.
Avoid driving with an open load
compartment, otherwise exhaust
gases could enter the vehicle.
Diesel particle filter
The diesel particle filter system filters
harmful soot particles out of the
exhaust gases. The system includes
a self-cleaning function that runs
automatically during driving. The filter
is cleaned by burning off the soot
particles at high temperature. This
process takes place automatically
under set driving conditions and may
take up to 25 minutes. Fuel
consumption may be higher during
this period. The emission of smells
and smoke during this process is
normal.
Under certain driving conditions, e.g.
short distances, the system cannot
clean itself automatically.
If the filter requires cleaning and
previous driving conditions did not
enable automatic cleaning, control
indicator ! flashes. Continue driving,
keeping engine speed above 2000
revolutions per minute. Shift down if
necessary. Diesel particle filter
cleaning is then started.
Stopping the journey or switching off
the engine during cleaning is not
recommended.
Caution
If the cleaning process is
interrupted more than once, there
is a great risk of provoking severe
engine damage.
Cleaning takes place quickest at high
engine speeds and loads.

136Driving and operating
The control indicator ! extinguishes
as soon as the self-cleaning
operation is complete.
Catalytic converter
The catalytic converter reduces the
amount of harmful substances in the
exhaust gases.
Caution
Fuel grades other than those listed on pages 3 151, 3 216 could
damage the catalytic converter or
electronic components.
Unburnt petrol will overheat and
damage the catalytic converter.
Therefore avoid excessive use of the starter, running the fuel tank
dry and starting the engine by
pushing or towing.
In the event of misfiring, uneven
engine running, a 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.
Automatic transmission
The automatic transmission makes
automatic shifting possible
(automatic mode) and the version
with ActiveSelect also makes manual
shifting possible (manual mode).
Transmission display
The mode or selected gear is shown
in the transmission display.

Driving and operating137Selector leverP=park position, Front wheels
locked, engage only when the
vehicle is stationary and the
parking brake is appliedR=reverse gear, engage only
when vehicle is stationaryN=neutralD=automatic mode with all gears
The selector lever can only be moved out of P or N when the ignition is on
and the foot brake is depressed
(selector lever lock).
When the selector lever is in N, the
selector lever lock is activated after a
delay and only if the vehicle is
stationary.When the selector lever is in the P or
N position, control indicator j in the
gear indicator strip illuminates red
when the selector lever is locked. If
the selector lever is not in the P
position when the ignition is switched
off, control indicator j and P in the
gear indicator strip flash.
To engage P or R, push button on
selector lever.
When position N is selected, press
foot brake or engage parking brake
before starting.

138Driving and operating
Do not accelerate while engaging a
gear. Never depress the accelerator
pedal and brake pedal at the same
time.
When a gear is engaged, the vehicle
slowly begins to creep when the
brake is released.
Gears 3, 2, 13, 2, 1=Transmission does not
shift above the selected
gear.
Press button on selector lever to
engage 3 or 1.
Only select 3, 2 or 1 to prevent
automatic upshifting or as an aid in
engine braking.
Engine braking
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 D and R in a repeat
pattern. Do not race the engine and
avoid sudden acceleration.
Parking
Apply the parking brake and engage P .
The ignition key can only be removed
when the selector lever is in position
P .Manual mode
Move selector lever out of position D
towards the left and then forwards or backwards.
+=Shift to a higher gear.-=Shift to a lower gear.
If a higher gear is selected when
vehicle speed is too low, or a lower
gear when vehicle speed is too high,
the shift is not executed.
If engine speed is too low, the
transmission automatically shifts to a
lower gear above a specific vehicle
speed.

Driving and operating139
No automatic shifting to a higher geartakes place at a high engine speed.
For reasons of safety, kickdown is
also available in manual mode.
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 automatic neutral shift function
automatically shifts to idling when
the vehicle is stopped with a
forward gear engaged.
■ The adaptive programme tailors gearshifting to the driving
conditions, e.g. greater load or
gradients.
■ When Sport mode is engaged, the vehicle shifts at higher engine
speeds (unless cruise control is
on). Sport mode 3 148.Winter programme T
Activate the Winter programme to
assist starting off on a slippery road surface.
Activation on vehicles without manual
mode
Press the T button with P, R , N , D or
3 engaged. The vehicle starts off in
3rd gear.
Activation on vehicles with manual mode
In automatic mode, press the T
button. Depending on road
conditions, the vehicles starts off in 2nd or 3rd gear.
Deactivation
The Winter programme is switched off by:
■ pressing the T button again
■ manually selecting 2 or 1
■ changing to manual mode
■ turning off the ignition
■ or if the transmission oil temperature is too high

140Driving and operating
Kickdown
If the accelerator pedal is pressed
past the pressure point, the
transmission shifts to a lower gear depending on engine speed.
Fault
In the event of a fault, A illuminates.
The transmission no longer shifts
automatically. Continued travel is
possible with manual shifting.
Have the cause of the fault remedied
by a workshop.
Version without manual mode
2nd gear is not available. Manual
shifting:1=1st gear2=3rd gear3, D=4th gear
Version with manual mode
Only the highest gear is available.
Depending on the fault, 2nd gear may also be available in manual mode.
Interruption of power
supply
In the event of an interruption of
power supply, the selector lever
cannot be moved out of the P or N
position.
If the battery is discharged, start the
vehicle using jump leads 3 200.
If the battery is not the cause of the
fault, release selector lever:
1. Apply parking brake.2. Release selector lever trim from centre console at rear, fold
upwards and rotate to the left.

Driving and operating141
3. Push the yellow catch forwardwith a screwdriver and move theselector lever out of P.
4. Mount selector lever trim on centre console and refit.
Reselecting P causes locking again.
Have a workshop eliminate the cause
of the power loss.
Manual transmission
To engage reverse, with the vehicle
stationary wait 3 seconds after
depressing the clutch pedal and then
pull up the button on the selector lever and engage the gear.
If the gear does not engage, set the
lever to neutral, release the clutch
pedal and depress again; then repeat
gear selection.
Do not grind the clutch unnecessarily. When operating, depress the clutchpedal completely. Do not use the
pedal as a foot rest.
Caution
It is inadvisable to drive with hand
resting on the selector lever.

142Driving and operatingManual transmission
automated
The Easytronic transmission permits manual (manual mode) or automatic
gear shifting (automatic mode), both
with automatic clutch control.
Transmission display
Shows the mode and current gear.
The display flashes for a few seconds
when A, M or R is selected with the
engine running and the foot brake not
activated.
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 cluster, "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.