Page 165 of 245
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.
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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.
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188Vehicle care
TwinTop
The tools for emergency operation of
the convertible hardtop are stowed in
the glove compartment.Wheels and tyres
Tyre condition, wheel condition
Drive over edges slowly and at right
angles if possible. Driving over sharp
edges can cause tyre and wheel
damage. Do not trap tyres on the kerb when parking.
Regularly check the wheels for
damage. Seek the assistance of a
workshop in the event of damage or
unusual wear.
Tyres
Tyres of size 225/45 R 17 are only
permitted if the vehicle is equipped
with electronic stability program.Astra OPC "Nürburgring
Edition" with tyres 225/40 ZR 18
This model is factory-fitted with high-
performance sports tyres, size
225/40 ZR 18. These tyres are
approved for use on public roads but
have typical racing characteristics
and a correspondingly shallow tread.
The tyres provide sportily oriented
and experienced drivers with better
performance at faster speeds on dry
road surfaces but can cause the
vehicle to break away without
warning if this limit is exceeded. Avoid adopting a risky driving style because
of this improved performance. In wet conditions adapt your driving style
and speed to the shallow tread.
Winter tyres Winter tyres improve driving safety at
temperatures below 7 °C and should
therefore be fitted on all wheels.
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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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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.
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192Vehicle care
If a tyre loses pressure the control
indicator w illuminates red. Stop
immediately and check tyre pressure.
Control indicator w 3 99.
System initialisation
After tyre pressure correction or
wheel change, the system must be
initialised: Switch on the ignition,
press and hold the DDS button for
approx. 4 seconds, control indicator
w flashes three times.
Tread depth
Check tread depth at regular
intervals.
Tyres should be replaced for safety
reasons at a tread depth of 2-3 mm
(4 mm for winter tyres).
The legally permissible minimum
tread depth (1.6 mm) has been
reached when the tread has worn
down as far as one of the tread wear
indicators (TWI). Their position is
indicated by markings on the
sidewall.
If there is more wear at the front than
the rear, swap round front wheels and rear wheels periodically.
Tyres age, even if they are not used.
We recommend tyre replacement
every 6 years.
Changing tyre and wheel
size If tyres of a different size than those
fitted at the factory are used, it may be necessary to reprogram the
speedometer and make other vehicle
modifications.
After converting to a different tyre
size, have the label with tyre
pressures replaced.9 Warning
Use of unsuitable tyres or wheels
may lead to accidents and will
invalidate the vehicle type
approval.
Page 195 of 245

Vehicle care193Wheel coversWheel covers and tyres that are
factory approved for the respective
vehicle and comply with all of the
relevant wheel and tyre combination
requirements must be used.
If the wheel covers and tyres used are
not factory approved, the tyres must
not have a rim protection ridge.
Wheel covers must not impair brake
cooling.
Remove the wheel covers if tyre
chains are to be installed.9 Warning
Use of unsuitable tyres or wheel
covers could lead to sudden
pressure loss and thereby
accidents.
Tyre chains
Tyre chains are only permitted on the
front wheels.
Always use fine mesh chains that add no more than 10 mm to the tyre tread
and the inboard sides (including chain lock).
9 Warning
Damage may lead to tyre blowout.
Tyre chains are permitted on tyres of
size 185/65 R 15, 195/60 R 15,
195/65 R 15, 205/55 R 16 and
205/50 R17.
Tyre chains are not permitted on tyres of size 225/45 R 17, 225/40 R 18,
225/40 ZR18 and 235/35 R 19 2)
.
Saloon, Station wagon, Van: tyre chains are only approved on tyres of
size 215/45 R 17 if the vehicle was
equipped with 18-inch wheels in the
factory.
The use of tyre chains is not permitted on the temporary spare wheel.
Tyre repair kit Minor damage to the tyre tread can be
repaired with the tyre repair kit.
Do not remove foreign bodies from
the tyres.
Tyre damage exceeding 4 mm or that
is near the rim cannot be repaired with the tyre repair kit.2) Just permitted with limitation steering angle.
Page 196 of 245
194Vehicle care9Warning
Do not drive faster than 80 km/h.
Do not use for a lengthy period.
Steering and handling may be
affected.
If you have a flat tyre:
Apply parking brake and engage first
gear, reverse gear or P.
The tyre repair kit is in the stowage
compartment under the floor cover in
the load compartment.
1. Take the pouch with the tyre repair kit from the compartment.
Carefully remove the components
from the pouch.
2. Remove the compressor.
3. Remove the electrical connection cable and air hose from the
stowage compartments on the
underside of the compressor.
4. Screw the compressor air hose to
the connection on the sealant
bottle.
5. Fit the sealant bottle into the retainer on the compressor.
Set the compressor near the tyre
in such a way that the sealant
bottle is upright.