2014 VAUXHALL ANTARA towing

Lighting109Rear fog lights
Operated with the r button.
Control indicator r illuminates in the
instrument cluster when the rear fog light is switched on.
The rear fog light can only be
switched on when the ignition is on
and the light switch is in position 9,
or the front fog lights are on and the
light switch is in position 8.
Light switch in position AUTO:
switching on rear fog light will switch
on low beam and sidelights
automatically.
The vehicle rear fog light is
deactivated when towing.
Parking lights
When the vehicle is parked, the
parking lights on one side can be
activated:
1. Set light switch to 7 or AUTO .
2. Switch off ignition.
3. Move turn signal lever all the way up (right parking lights) or down
(left parking lights).
Confirmed by a signal tone and the
corresponding turn signal control
indicator.
To deactivate, switch on the ignition or move the turn signal lever in the
opposite direction.
Reversing lights The reversing lights come on when
the ignition is on and reverse gear is
selected.
Centre high-mounted brake light
Illuminates when the brakes are
applied, acting as a third stop light, to supplement the brake lights.
Misted light covers The inside of the light housing may
mist up briefly in poor, wet and cold weather conditions, in heavy rain or
after washing. The mist disappears
quickly by itself; to help switch on the
headlights.

128Driving and operating
may be a fault in the diesel particle
filter 3 84. Cleaning is not possible,
seek the assistance of a workshop
immediately.Caution
If the cleaning process is
interrupted, there is a risk of
provoking severe engine damage.
Cleaning takes place quickest at high engine speeds and loads.
Do not switch off the engine until the
cleaning process is complete. This is
indicated by the extinguished control
indicator %.
Catalytic converter
The catalytic converter reduces the
amount of harmful substances in the
exhaust gases.
Caution
Fuel grades other than those listed on pages 3 143, 3 202 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.
Malfunction indicator light 3 84.
Automatic transmission
The automatic transmission permits
automatic gearshifting (automatic
mode) or manual gearshifting
(manual mode).
Transmission display
The mode or selected gear is shown
in the transmission display.
P=park positionR=reverse gearN=neutral

Driving and operating131
Activation
In automatic mode, press button
s ; control indicator s
illuminates in the instrument cluster 3 88.
The settings of certain electronic
systems are adapted to reduce fuel
consumption:
■ The engine reacts less quickly to the accelerator pedal.
■ Automatic upshift points occur sooner and downshift points occur
later.
■ The transmission locks itself to the engine at cruising speeds, to
improve efficiency and increase
power and torque.
■ The fuel supply is automatically cut-
off more quickly during vehicle
deceleration. Overrun cut-off
3 124.
Do not use fuel economy mode whilst towing, e.g. a trailer.Deactivation
Fuel economy mode is switched off
by pressing button s again;
control indicator s extinguishes in
the instrument cluster.
Fault
In the event of a fault in the automatic
transmission, control indicator Z
illuminates in the instrument cluster 3 84 . Automatic shifting may be much
harsher than normal or, in the case of
a serious fault, cancelled altogether.
Have the cause of the fault remedied
by a workshop.
If control indicator g illuminates in
the instrument cluster when the
engine is running, this may indicate a
fault in the transmission electronics
3 84. The electronics switch to the
emergency running programme, fuel
consumption may increase and the
driveability of the vehicle may be
affected. Seek the assistance of a
workshop.Interruption of power
supply
The clutch is not disengaged if the
vehicle battery is discharged and a
gear has been selected. The vehicle
cannot move. The selector lever
cannot be moved out of position P or
N .
If the battery is discharged, start the
vehicle using jump leads 3 187.
If the battery is not the cause of the
fault, release the selector lever:
1. Switch off ignition and remove the
key.
2. Depress and hold foot brake.

134Driving and operating
Towing the vehicle 3 188.
Driving through water
Do not exceed the maximum wading
depth 3 204.
Check the depth of water: choose the
lowest entry and departure angles
before entering. Maintain a steady
engine speed, to help prevent water
from entering the exhaust system, but do not exceed 3 mph, to avoid
splashing the water.
Drive with the flow wherever possible,
not against it. If you have to drive
against the flow, try to drive at an
angle to it, so that the leading corner
of the vehicle will help deflect water
from the engine compartment. Avoid
splashing the water - if the ignition
system becomes wet, the engine may
stall.
Avoid water entering the air intake
system. If water enters the air intake
system, engine seizure with severe
costly damage may result.
Test the brakes after leaving the
water - wet brakes are less effective
than dry ones. Perform the serviceoperations for wading , involving
checks for water contamination, at
the earliest opportunity.
Service checks after wading
Check for the ingress of water into the following:
■ Brake fluid reservoir
■ Air cleaner element
■ Engine
■ Transmission
■ Axles
■ Interior of vehicle
Renew any lubricating oil or hydraulic
fluid that has a milky appearance,
indicating contamination with water.
Cleaning
Clean the vehicle thoroughly and as
soon as possible after driving off-
road.
Do not let mud remain dry on any part
of the vehicle as it becomes abrasive
and can damage paint, glass, seals,
bearings and brake components. If
left to build up, mud can seriously
affect the airflow through and overmechanical components and cause
localised overheating and failure of
parts, especially in the engine
compartment.
Ensure the radiator core and the area between the radiator and intercooler/
oil cooler (where installed) is cleaned, to maintain proper cooling air flow.
Check the radiator and cooler cores
for blockage (sand, silt etc.).
Check the tyre treads.
Clean and check the mechanical
parts of the vehicle, particularly the following areas:
■ Driveshafts, including sealing bellows
■ Front brake calipers, pads and discs
■ Front suspension
■ Clutch fork sealing bellows
■ Rear brake calipers, pads and discs
■ Rear suspension
■ Fuel tank and underguard
■ Breathers, axles and fuel tank
■ Load sensing valve

146Driving and operatingTrailer hitch
General information
The coupling ball bar is kept in a bag,
fastened with a strap and is stowed
below the floor cover in the load
compartment.
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.
Control indicator á illuminates in the
instrument cluster when a trailer is
connected to the vehicle 3 90.
Driving characteristics and
towing tips In the case of trailers with brakes,
attach the break-away stopping cable
to the eye - not to the coupling ball
bar.If no eye is available, loop cable
around coupling ball bar. Ensure
cable is crossed under the vertical
coupling socket to ensure the trailer
nose cannot drop to the ground if it
becomes separated from the trailer
hitch. Do not allow the cable to drag
along the ground and always allow
enough slack to permit full turning.
Follow the instructions supplied with
the towing equipment.
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, the use of a
friction-type stabiliser is strongly
recommended.
Do not drive faster than 50 mph, even
in countries where higher speeds are
permitted. When driving uphill, do not drive faster than 20 mph in 1st gear,
or 30 mph in 2nd gear.
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 3 207.
Trailer towing Trailer loads
The permissible trailer loads are
vehicle-dependent 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.
When the trailer load is being
checked, therefore, only the trailer
wheels - and not the jockey wheel -
must be standing on the weighing
apparatus.
The permissible trailer loads are
specified in the vehicle documents. In general, they are valid for gradients
up to max. 12 %.

Driving and operating147
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 plate
3 198.
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 (80 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.
When measuring the vertical coupling load, ensure the drawbar of the
loaded trailer is at the same height as
it will be when the trailer is coupled
with the towing vehicle loaded. This is
particularly important for trailers with
tandem axle.
Rear axle load When the trailer is coupled and the
towing vehicle is fully loaded
(including all occupants), the
permissible rear axle load (see
identification plate or vehicle
documents) must not be exceeded.
National regulations regarding
maximum speeds for vehicles towing a trailer must be observed.Towing equipmentCaution
When operating without a trailer,
remove the coupling ball bar.
Towing equipment with
detachable coupling ball bar The coupling ball bar is kept in a bag,
fastened with a strap and is stowed
below the floor cover in the load
compartment.
Fitting the coupling ball bar

Driving and operating1499Warning
Towing a trailer is permitted only
when the coupling ball bar is fitted correctly. If the coupling ball bar
cannot be properly attached, seek the assistance of a workshop.
Eye for break-away stopping cable
In the case of trailers with brakes,
attach the break-away stopping cable
to the eye - not to the coupling ball
bar.
Dismounting the coupling ball bar
Unlock coupling ball bar and remove
key. Push lever to the left, towards the
coupling ball bar and turn it
downwards. Pull coupling ball bar out of coupling housing.
Remove any rust or dirt from area
around the coupling housing and
coupling ball bar connection before
inserting sealing plug in the hole.
Place the coupling ball bar in the bag supplied, fasten it with the strap and
stow it below the floor cover in the
load compartment.
Do not use steam-jet cleaners or
other high-pressure cleaners to clean
the coupling ball bar.
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. While system is working keep steering wheel as still as possible.
Trailer stability assist (TSA) is a
function of the Electronic Stability
Control 3 137.

150Vehicle careVehicle careGeneral Information...................150
Vehicle checks ........................... 151
Bulb replacement .......................159
Electrical system ........................165
Vehicle tools .............................. 173
Wheels and tyres .......................175
Jump starting ............................. 187
Towing ....................................... 188
Appearance care .......................190General Information
Accessories and vehicle
modifications
We recommend the use of 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
If the vehicle is to be stored for several months:
■ Wash and wax the vehicle.
■ Have the wax in the engine compartment and underbody
checked.
■ Clean and preserve the rubber seals.
■ Change the engine oil.
■ Drain the washer fluid reservoir.
■ Check the coolant antifreeze and corrosion protection.
■ Adjust tyre pressure to the value specified for full load.
■ Park the vehicle in a dry, well ventilated place. Engage first orreverse gear or move selector lever
to P. Prevent the vehicle from
rolling.
■ Do not apply the electrical parking brake.