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148Driving and operating9Warning
Do not let this special safety
feature tempt you into taking risks
when driving.
Adapt speed to the road
conditions.
Control indicator v 3 99.
Deactivation
ESP® Plus
can be deactivated when
Sport mode is engaged for high-
performance driving:
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 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 3 148.
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 IDS+ 3 100.
Activation
Press SPORT button.
Control indicator 1 3 98.
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154Driving and operating
higher fuel consumption and
CO 2 emission levels and a lower
maximum speed.Trailer hitch
General information
Only use towing equipment that has
been approved for your vehicle.
Entrust retrofitting of towing
equipment to a workshop. It may be
necessary to make changes that
affect the cooling system, heat
shields or other equipment.
Do not mount towing equipment to
vehicles with Z 20 LEH engine.
Fitting of towing equipment could
cover the opening of the towing eye.
If this is the case, use the coupling ball bar for towing. Always keep the
coupling ball bar in the vehicle.
Installation dimensions of factory-
fitted towing equipment 3 232.Driving characteristics and
towing tips Before attaching a trailer, lubricate
the coupling ball. However, do not do
so if a stabiliser, which acts on the
coupling ball, is being used to reduce snaking movements.
For trailers with low driving stability
and trailers with a permitted gross
vehicle weight of more than 1300 kg
(Saloon) /1200 kg (Station wagon) a
speed of 80 km/h must not be
exceeded; the use of a stabiliser is
recommended.
If the trailer starts snaking, drive more
slowly, do not attempt to correct the
steering and brake sharply if
necessary.
When driving downhill, drive in the
same gear as if driving uphill and
drive at a similar speed.
Adjust tyre pressure to the value
specified for full load 3 225.
Page 161 of 245

Vehicle care159Vehicle careGeneral Information...................159
Vehicle checks ........................... 160
Bulb replacement .......................166
Electrical system ........................181
Vehicle tools .............................. 187
Wheels and tyres .......................188
Jump starting ............................. 200
Towing ....................................... 201
Appearance care .......................203General Information
Accessories and vehicle
modifications
We recommend using genuine parts and accessories and factory
approved parts specific for your
vehicle type. We cannot assess or guarantee reliability of other products
- even if they have a regulatory or
otherwise granted approval.
Do not make any modifications to the electrical system, e.g. changes of
electronic control units (chip tuning).Caution
When transporting the vehicle on
a train or on a recovery vehicle, the
mud flaps might be damaged.
Vehicle storage
Storage for a long period of time
The following must be done if the
vehicle should be stored for several months:
■ Wash and wax the vehicle.
■ Have the wax in the engine compartment and underbody
checked.
■ Clean and preserve rubber seals.
■ Fill up fuel tank completely.
■ Change engine oil.
■ Drain washer fluid reservoir.
■ Check coolant antifreeze.
■ Adjust tyre pressure to the value specified for full load.
■ Park vehicle in dry, well ventilated place. Engage first or reverse gear
or set selector lever to P. Prevent
the vehicle from rolling.
■ Do not apply parking brake.
Page 162 of 245
160Vehicle care
■ Open bonnet, close all doors andlock the vehicle.
■ Disconnect the clamp from the negative terminal of the vehicle
battery. Be aware that all systems
are non-operational, e.g. the anti-
theft alarm system.
Putting back into operation The following must be done if the
vehicle is put back into operation:
■ Connect the clamp to the negative terminal of the vehicle battery.
Activate the electronics of the
power windows.
■ Check tyre pressure.
■ Fill up the washer fluid reservoir.
■ Check the engine oil level.
■ Check the coolant level.
■ Fit the number plate if necessary.End-of-life vehicle
recovery
Information about end-of-life vehicle
recovery centres and the recycling of
end-of-life vehicles is available on our website. Only entrust this work to an
authorised recycling centre.Vehicle checks
Performing work9 Warning
Only perform engine compartment
checks when the ignition is off.
The cooling fan may start
operating even if the ignition is off.
Page 188 of 245
186Vehicle care
Fuse box version BNo.Circuit1Front power windows2–3Instruments4Heating, air conditioning
system, electronic climate
control5Airbags6–7–8–9–10–11Heated rear window12Rear window wiper13Parking assist14Heating, air conditioning system15–No.Circuit16Seat occupancy recognition,
Open&Start system17Rain sensor, tyre pressure
monitoring system, interior
mirror18Instruments, switches19–20CDC21Heated exterior mirrors22Sun roof23Rear power windows24Diagnostics plug25–26Electrical foldable exterior
mirrors27Ultrasonic sensor, anti-theft
alarm system28–
Page 191 of 245

Vehicle care189
Tyres of size 185/65 R 15,
195/60 R 15, 195/65 R 15 and
205/55 R 16 can be used as winter
tyres.
Tyres of size 205/50 R17 must only
be used as winter tyres.
Tyres of size 215/45 R 17,
225/45 R 17, 225/40 R 18 1)
,
225/40 ZR18 and 235/35 R 19 must not be used as winter tyres.
Saloon, Station wagon, Van: tyres of
size 215/45 R 17 are only approved
as winter tyres if the vehicle was equipped with 18-inch wheels in the
factory.
Winter tyres may only be used on the Astra OPC on special alloy wheels
approved by Opel.
Run-flat winter tyres may only be
used on factory approved alloy
wheels.
In accordance with country-specific
regulations, affix the speed sticker in
the driver's field of view.Run-flat tyres
Run-flat tyres have reinforced, self-
supporting sidewalls, which ensure
that the tyres always have a certain
amount of driveability, even when
there is no pressure.
Run-flat tyres are only permitted on
vehicles with electronic stability
program and tyre pressure monitoring system or deflation detection system.Caution
Check tyre pressures regularly
even if run-flat tyres are fitted.
Depending on tyre manufacturer, run-
flat tyres can be identified from a
marking on the tyre wall. E.g.
ROF=RunonFlat for Goodyear orSSR=Self Supporting Runflat Tyre
for Continental.
Use of run-flat tyres is only permitted
in combination with factory approved
alloy wheels.
Do not use a tyre repair kit.
The ECO tyre pressure must not be
used.
Run-flat tyres must not be combined
with standard tyres.
If converting to standard tyres, note
that the vehicle is not equipped with a spare wheel or tyre repair kit.
Driving with a damaged tyre
A loss in tyre pressure is indicated by
the tyre pressure monitoring system
or the deflation detection system.
If a tyre has no pressure, continued
driving is possible
■ at a speed of max. 80 km/h
■ up to a distance of 80 km9 Warning
The vehicle will be more difficult to
steer and handle. Braking
distance will be longer.
Adapt driving style and speed to the changed conditions.
1) Astra OPC: Permitted as winter tyres without tyre chains.
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190Vehicle careTyre designationsE.g. 195/65 R 15 91 H195=Tyre width, mm65=Cross-section ratio (tyre
height to tyre width), %R=Belt type: RadialRF=Type: RunFlat15=Wheel diameter, inches91=Load index e.g. 91 is
equivalent to 618 kgH=Speed code letter
Speed code letter:
Q=up to 160 km/hS=up to 180 km/hT=up to 190 km/hH=up to 210 km/hV=up to 240 km/hW=up to 270 km/h
Tyre pressure
Check the pressure of cold tyres at
least every 14 days and before any
long journey. Do not forget the spare
wheel. This also applies to vehicles
with tyre pressure monitoring.
Remove the valve cap key from the
fuel filler flap and use it to unscrew the
valve cap.
On vehicles with tyre pressure
monitoring system, screw the adapter
to the valve.
Tyre pressure 3 225 and on the label
on the inside of the fuel filler flap.
The tyre pressure data refer to cold
tyres. It applies to summer and winter tyres.
Always inflate the spare wheel to the
pressure specified for full load.
The ECO tyre pressure serves to
achieve the smallest amount of fuel
consumption possible. It must not be used with run-flat tyres.
Incorrect tyre pressures will impair
safety, vehicle handling, comfort and
fuel economy and will increase tyre
wear.
Tyre pressures differ depending on
various options. For the correct tyre
pressure value, follow the procedure
below:
1. Identify drive axle and body style.
2. Identify the engine identifier code.
Engine data 3 216.
3. Identify the respective tyre.
Page 193 of 245

Vehicle care191
The tyre pressure tables show all
possible tyre combinations 3 225.
For the tyres approved for your
vehicle, refer to the EEC Certificate of Conformity provided with your vehicle
or other national registration
documents.
The driver is responsible for correct
adjustment of tyre pressure.9 Warning
If the pressure is too low, this can
result in considerable tyre warm-
up and internal damage, leading to tread separation and even to tyre
blow-out at high speeds.
Tyre pressure monitoring
system
The tyre pressure monitoring system
continually checks the pressure of all
four wheels when vehicle speed
exceeds a certain limit.
All wheels must be equipped with
pressure sensors and the tyres must
have the prescribed pressure.
Otherwise, the tyre pressure will be monitored by the deflation detection
system 3 191.
Note
In countries where the tyre pressure
monitoring system is legally
required, the use of wheels without
pressure sensors will invalidate the
vehicle type approval.
The current tyre pressures can be
shown in the Info-Display 3 116.
Vehicle messages, tyre pressure
3 111.
Control indicator w 3 99.
If a complete set of wheels without
sensors is mounted (e.g. four winter
tyres), no error message will be
displayed. The tyre pressure
monitoring system is not operational.
Retrofitting of sensors is possible.
The use of commercially available
liquid tyre repair kits can impair the
function of the system. Factory-
approved systems can be used.
External high-power radio equipment
could disrupt the tyre pressure
monitoring system.System initialisation
After a wheel change, the system
must be initialised: inflate the tyres to
the prescribed pressure, switch on
the ignition, then press and hold the
DDS button for approx. 4 seconds;
control indicator w flashes three
times.
Tyre deflation detection
system
The tyre deflation detection system
continually checks the rotation speed
of all four tyres.