2014 OPEL ASTRA SALOON Owners Manual

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.

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.

Vehicle care1619Danger
The ignition system and Xenon
headlights use extremely high
voltage. Do not touch.
The caps for topping up the engine oil, the coolant, the washing fluid and theoil dipstick handle are yellow for ease
of identification.
Bonnet
Opening
Pull the release lever and return it to
its original position.
Lift the safety catch upwards and
open the bonnet.
Air intake 3 131.
Secure the bonnet support.
Closing 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.
Engine oil
Check the engine oil level manuallyon a regular basis to prevent damage
to the engine. Ensure that the correct specification of oil is used.
Recommended fluids and lubricants
3 208.
Check with the vehicle on a level
surface. The engine must be at
operating temperature and switched
off for at least 5 minutes.
Pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean, insert it to the stop on the handle, pull
it out and read the engine oil level.
Insert the dipstick to the stop on the
handle and make half a turn.

162Vehicle care
Different dipsticks are used
depending on engine variant.When the engine oil level has
dropped to the MIN mark, top up
engine oil.
We recommend the use of the same
grade of engine oil that was used at
last change.
The engine oil level must not exceed
the MAX mark on the dipstick.Caution
Overfilled engine oil must be
drained or suctioned out.
Capacities 3 224.
Fit the cap on straight and tighten it.
Engine coolant The coolant provides freeze
protection down to approx. -28 °C.
Caution
Only use approved antifreeze.

Vehicle care163
Coolant levelCaution
Too low a coolant level can causeengine damage.
When the cooling system is cold, the
coolant level should be just above the
KALT/COLD mark. Top up if the level
is low.
9 Warning
Allow the engine to cool before
opening the cap. Carefully open
the cap, relieving the pressure
slowly.
Top up with antifreeze. If no
antifreeze is available, use clean tap
water or distilled water. Install the cap
tightly. Have the antifreeze
concentration checked and have the
cause of the coolant loss remedied by a workshop.
Washer fluid
Fill with clean water mixed with a
suitable quantity of windscreen
washer fluid which contains
antifreeze.
Brakes A squealing noise indicates that the
brake lining is at its minimum
thickness. Continued driving is
possible but have the brake lining
replaced as soon as possible.
Once new brake linings are installed,
do not brake unnecessarily hard for
the first few journeys.

164Vehicle careBrake fluid9Warning
Brake fluid is poisonous and
corrosive. Avoid contact with eyes, skin, fabrics and painted surfaces.
The brake fluid level must be betweenthe MIN and the MAX marks.
When topping up, ensure maximum cleanliness as contamination of the
brake fluid can lead to brake system
malfunctions. Have the cause of the
loss of brake fluid remedied by a
workshop.
Only use high-performance brake
fluid approved for the vehicle. Brake
and clutch fluid 3 164.
Vehicle battery
The vehicle battery is maintenance-
free provided that the driving profile
allows sufficient charging of the
battery. Short-distance-driving and
frequent engine starts can discharge
the battery. Avoid the use of
unnecessary electrical consumers.
Batteries do not belong in household
waste. They must be disposed of at
an appropriate recycling collection
point.
Laying up the vehicle for more than
4 weeks can lead to battery
discharge. Disconnect the clamp from the negative terminal of the vehicle
battery.
Ensure the ignition is switched off
before connecting or disconnecting
the vehicle battery.
Vehicle battery discharge protection
3 123.
Warning label
Meaning of symbols: ■ No sparks, naked flames or smoking.
■ Always shield eyes. Explosive gases can cause blindness or
injury.
■ Keep the vehicle battery out of the reach of children.

Vehicle care165
■ The vehicle battery containssulphuric acid which could cause
blindness or serious burn injuries.
■ See the Owner's Manual for further
information.
■ Explosive gas may be present in the vicinity of the vehicle battery.
Diesel fuel system
bleeding
If the tank has been run dry, the diesel
fuel system must be bled. Switch on
the ignition three times for
15 seconds at a time. Then crank the
engine for a maximum of 40 seconds. Repeat this process after
no less than 5 seconds. If the engine
fails to start, seek the assistance of a
workshop.Wiper blade replacement
Service setting for front
windscreen wipers
Switch off the ignition but do not
remove ignition key or open driver's
door.
Within 4 seconds, push the wiper
lever down and release as soon as
the wipers are vertical.
Wiper blades on the windscreen
Lift the wiper arm, tilt wiper blade at a
90° to the wiper arm and remove to
the side.

166Vehicle care
Wiper blade on the rear window
Lift the wiper arm. Disengage the
wiper blade and remove.
Bulb replacement
Switch off the ignition and switch off
the relevant switch or close the doors.
Only hold a new bulb at the base! Do
not touch the bulb glass with bare
hands.
Use only the same bulb type for
replacement.
The bulbs of the front outer lights are
replaced through openings in the
front wheel housing: turn wheels in away that allows access, release catch
and remove cover.
To replace bulbs on the right side of
the engine compartment, detach the
air hose from the air filter. On the left
side, detach the plug to the fuse box.
Halogen headlights
Headlights have separate systems forhigh beam 1 (inner bulbs) and low
beam 2 (outer bulbs).
Low beam 1. Replace bulbs through the opening in the wheel housing.