2014 OPEL ASTRA SALOON trailer

96Instruments and controlsTurn signal
O illuminates or flashes green.
Illuminates The control indicator illuminates
briefly when the parking lights are
switched on.
Flashes
The control indicator flashes if a turn
signal or the hazard warning flashers
are activated.
Rapid flashing: failure of a direction
indicator lamp or associated fuse,
failure of direction indicator lamp on
trailer.
Bulb replacement 3 166. Fuses
3 181.
Turn signals 3 120.
Seat belt reminder X illuminates or flashes red.
Illuminates After the ignition is switched on until
the seat belt is fastened.Flashes
After starting off until the seat belt is
fastened.
Fastening the seat belt 3 55.
Airbag, belt tensioners and
anti-roll bars v illuminates red.
When the ignition is switched on, the
control indicator illuminates for
approx. 4 seconds. If it does not
illuminate, does not go out after
4 seconds or illuminates whilst
driving, there is a fault in the belt
tensioner, the airbags, the deployable
anti-roll bars or the seat occupancy
recognition system. The systems may fail to trigger in the event of an
accident.
Deployment of the belt tensioners,
airbags or deployable anti-roll bars is
indicated by continuous illumination
of v.9 Warning
Have the cause of the fault
remedied immediately by a
workshop.
Airbag system, belt tensioners 3 57,
3 54.
Seat occupancy
recognition y illuminates or flashes yellow.
Illuminated
If the vehicle is equipped with seat occupancy recognition, y illuminates
for approx. 4 seconds after the
ignition is switched on.
If a child restraint system with
transponders is detected, y remains
illuminated. Only then a child restraint system with transponders may be
used on the front passenger seat as
the front passenger airbag systems
are deactivated 3 60.

Instruments and controls111Lighting
Important exterior lights, including
cables and fuses, are monitored. In
trailer mode, trailer lighting is also
monitored. Trailers with LED lighting
must have an adapter that enables
light monitoring as with conventional
bulbs.
The failed lighting will be indicated in
the information display or the
message InSP2 will appear in the
instrument panel display.
Anti-theft alarm system
System fault in anti-theft alarm
system. Have the cause of the fault
remedied by a workshop.
Tyre pressure
On vehicles with tyre pressure
monitoring system, if there is low tyre pressure, information which tyre to
check appears on the display.
Reduce speed and check tyre
pressure at the next opportunity. Tyre
pressure monitoring system 3 191.
Check tyre pressure 3 190, 3 225.
If there is a considerable loss of
pressure, a corresponding message
appears indicating the tyre.
Steer out of flow of traffic as quickly as possible without endangering
other vehicles. Stop and check the
tyres. Mount the spare wheel 3 196.
If run-flat tyres are fitted, maximum
speed is 80 km/h. Information 3 189.
Tyre pressure monitoring system
3 191.
Washer fluid level
Low washer fluid level. Top up
washer fluid 3 163.

132Driving and operatingDriving and operatingDriving hints............................... 132
Starting and operating ...............132
Engine exhaust .......................... 135
Automatic transmission .............. 136
Manual transmission ..................141
Manual transmission automa‐
ted .............................................. 142
Brakes ........................................ 146
Ride control systems .................147
Cruise control ............................. 149
Object detection systems ........... 150
Fuel ............................................ 151
Trailer hitch ................................ 154Driving hints
Control of the vehicleNever coast with engine not
running
Many systems will not function in this
situation (e.g. brake servo unit, power
steering). Driving in this manner is a
danger to yourself and others.
Pedals To ensure the pedal travel is
uninhibited, there must be no mats in
the area of the pedals.Starting and operating
New vehicle running-in Do not brake unnecessarily hard for
the first few journeys.
During the first drive, smoke may
occur because of wax and oil
evaporating off the exhaust system.
Park the vehicle in the open for a
while after the first drive and avoid
inhaling the fumes.
Fuel and engine oil consumption may be higher during the running-in
period.

Driving and operating151
Note
Attached parts in the detection area
cause system malfunction.
Activation
When reverse gear is engaged, the
system switches itself on
automatically.
The system can also be activated at
low speed by pressing the r button.
An obstacle is indicated by buzzers.
The interval between the buzzers
becomes shorter as the vehicle gets closer to the obstacle. When the
distance is less than 30 cm, the buzzer is continuous.
9 Warning
Under certain circumstances,
various reflective surfaces on
objects or clothing as well as
external noise sources may cause the system to fail to detect
obstacles.
Deactivation
Deactivate the system by pressing
the r button.
The system deactivates automatically
when reverse gear is disengaged.
Towing equipment The system automatically detects
factory-fitted towing equipment.
When towing, plugging the trailer
cable into the socket automatically
switches the parking assist off.
Fuel
Fuel for petrol engines
Only use unleaded fuel that complies
with European standard EN 228 or
E DIN 51626-1 or equivalent.
Your engine is capable to run with
E10 fuel that fulfills these standards.
E10 fuel contains up to 10 %
bioethanol.
Use fuel with the recommended
octane rating 3 216. Use of fuel with
too low an octane rating can reduce
engine power and torque and slightly increases fuel consumption.Caution
Do not use fuel or fuel additives
that contain metallic compounds
such as manganese-based
additives. This may cause engine
damage.

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.

Driving and operating155Trailer towingTrailer loads
The permissible trailer loads are
vehicle and engine-dependent
maximum values which must not be
exceeded. The actual trailer load is
the difference between the actual
gross weight of the trailer and the
actual coupling socket load with the
trailer coupled.
The permissible trailer loads are
specified in the vehicle documents. In general, they are valid for gradients
up to max. 12 %.
The permitted trailer load applies up
to the specified incline and up to an
altitude of 1000 metres above sea
level. Since engine power decreases
as altitude increases due to the air
becoming thinner, therefore reducing
climbing ability, the permissible gross
train weight also decreases by 10 %
for every 1000 metres of additional
altitude. The gross train weight does
not have to be reduced when driving
on roads with slight inclines (less than
8 %, e. g. motorways).The permissible gross train weight
must not be exceeded. This weight is specified on the identification plate3 212.
Vertical coupling load
The vertical coupling load is the load
exerted by the trailer on the coupling
ball. It can be varied by changing the
weight distribution when loading the
trailer.
The maximum permissible vertical
coupling load (75 kg) is specified on
the towing equipment identification
plate and in the vehicle documents.
Always aim for the maximum load,
especially in the case of heavy
trailers. The vertical coupling load
should never fall below 25 kg.Rear axle load
When the trailer is coupled and the
towing vehicle fully loaded, the
permissible rear axle load (see
identification plate or vehicle
documents) may be exceeded by
65 kg and the permissible gross
vehicle weight by 45 kg for the
Saloon. For the Station wagon, the
permissible rear axle load may be
exceeded by 60 kg and the
permissible gross vehicle weight by
30 kg. If the permissible rear axle load
is exceeded, a maximum speed of
100 km/h applies.
Towing equipmentCaution
When operating without a trailer,
remove the coupling ball bar.

Driving and operating157
■ Pull out rotary knob and turnclockwise as far as it will go.
Inserting the coupling ball bar
Insert the tensioned coupling ball bar
in the opening and push firmly
upwards until it audibly engages.
The rotary handle snaps back into its
original position resting against the
coupling ball bar without a gap.9 Warning
Do not touch rotary handle during
insertion.
Lock the coupling ball bar by turning
the key to position e ( 2). Remove the
key and close the protective flap.
Eye for break-away stopping cable
Attach break-away stopping cable to
eye.
Check that the coupling ball bar is
correctly installed
■ Green marking on rotary knob must
point towards white marking on
coupling ball bar.
■ There must be no gap between the
rotary handle and the coupling ball
bar.
■ The coupling ball bar must be firmly
engaged in the opening.
■ The coupling ball bar must be locked and the key removed.9 Warning
Towing a trailer is permitted only
when a coupling ball bar is fitted correctly. If the coupling ball bardoes not engage correctly, seekthe assistance of a workshop.

158Driving and operating
Dismounting the coupling ballbar
Open the protective flap and turn the
key to position c ( 1) to unlock the
coupling ball bar.
Pull out rotary handle and turn
clockwise as far as it will go. Pull out
coupling ball bar downwards.
Insert sealing plug in opening. Fold away socket.
Trailer stability assist
If the system detects snaking
movements, engine power is reduced
and the vehicle/trailer combination is selectively braked until the snaking
ceases.
Trailer stability assistant (TSA) is a
function of the Electronic Stability
Program (ESP® Plus
) 3 147.