2016.25 VAUXHALL ASTRA J Owner's Manual

Driving and operating159Functionality check
When the vehicle is not moving, the
electric parking brake might be
applied automatically. This is done to
check the system.
Fault
Failure mode of electric parking brake
is indicated by a control indicator j
and by a vehicle message which is
displayed in the Driver Information Centre. Vehicle messages 3 104.
Apply electric parking brake: pull and hold the switch m for more than
five seconds. If control indicator m
illuminates, electric parking brake is
applied.
Release electric parking brake: push and hold the switch m for more than
two seconds. If control indicator m
extinguishes, electric parking brake is
released.
Control indicator m flashes: electric
parking brake is not fully applied or
released. When continuously
flashing, release electric parking
brake and retry applying.Brake assist
If brake pedal is depressed quickly
and forcefully, maximum brake force
is automatically applied.
Operation of brake assist might
become apparent by a pulse in the
brake pedal and a greater resistance when depressing the brake pedal.
Maintain steady pressure on the
brake pedal as long as full braking is
required. Maximum brake force is
automatically reduced when brake
pedal is released.
Hill start assist The system helps prevent unintendedmovement when driving away on
inclines.
When releasing the brake pedal after
stopping on an incline, brakes remain
on for further two seconds. The
brakes release automatically as soon
as the vehicle begins to accelerate.Ride control systems
Traction Control systemThe Traction Control system (TC) is a
component of the Electronic Stability
Control (ESC).
TC improves driving stability when
necessary, regardless of the type of
road surface or tyre grip, by
preventing the drive wheels from
spinning.
As soon as the drive wheels starts to spin, engine output is reduced and
the wheel spinning the most is braked
individually. This considerably
improves the driving stability of the
vehicle on slippery road surfaces.
TC is operational after each engine
start as soon as the control indicator
b extinguishes.
When TC operates b flashes.

160Driving and operating9Warning
Do not let this special safety
feature tempt you into taking risks
when driving.
Adapt speed to the road
conditions.
Control indicator b 3 94.
Deactivation
TC can be switched off when spinning of drive wheels is required: press b
briefly.
Control indicator k illuminates.
A status message appears in the
Driver Information Centre when TC is
deactivated.
When TC is deactivated, ESC
remains active but with higher control threshold.
TC is reactivated by pressing b
again. A status message pops up in the Driver Information Centre when
TC is reactivated.
TC is also reactivated the next time
the ignition is switched on.
Fault
If there is a fault in the system the
control indicator b illuminates
continuously and a message appears in the Driver Information Centre. The
system is not operational.
Have the cause of the fault remedied
by a workshop.
Electronic Stability Control
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
improves driving stability when
necessary, regardless of the type of
road surface or tyre grip.
As soon as the vehicle starts to
swerve (understeer/oversteer),
engine output is reduced and the wheels are braked individually.
ESC operates in combination with the Traction Control system (TC). It
prevents the drive wheels from
spinning.
A special feature Torque distribution allocates the torque between the
drive wheels before ESC operation.
When cornering the curve inner
wheels are braked individually and
additionally engine torque will be
delivered to the outer wheel. This
reduces the tendency of understeer
and improves traction when cornering
fast.

Driving and operating161
ESC is operational after each engine
start as soon as the control indicator
b extinguishes.
When ESC operates b flashes.
9 Warning
Do not let this special safety
feature tempt you into taking risks
when driving.
Adapt speed to the road
conditions.
Control indicator b 3 94.
Deactivation
ESC and TC can be deactivated:
● hold b pressed for a minimum of
five seconds: ESC and TC are
both deactivated. k and n
illuminate and status messages appear in the Driver Information
Centre.
● To deactivate only Traction control system press button b
briefly: TC is inactive but ESC
remains active, k illuminates. A
status message appears in the
Driver Information Centre when
TC is deactivated.
ESC is reactivated by pressing the
b button again. If the TC system was
previously disabled, both TC and
ESC are reactivated. k and n
extinguishes when TC and ESC are
reactivated.
ESC is also reactivated the next time
the ignition is switched on.
Fault
If there is a fault in the system the
control indicator b illuminates
continuously and a message appears in the Driver Information Centre. The
system is not operational.

162Driving and operatingHave the cause of the fault remedied
by a workshop.
Sport mode
Sport mode adapts the settings of
some vehicle systems to a sportier driving style.
● The engine reacts more quickly to the accelerator pedal.
● Steering reacts more direct to provide better contact with the
road surface.
● Shift points of automatic transmission occur later.
ActivationPress SPORT when engine is
running.
LED in the button lights up when sport
mode is active and a status message appears in the Driver Information
Centre.
Deactivation
Briefly press SPORT. Sport mode is
deactivated the next time the ignition
is switched on.Driver assistance
systems9 Warning
Driver assistance systems are
developed to support the driver
and not to replace the driver's
attention.
The driver accepts full
responsibility when driving the
vehicle.
When using driver assistance
systems, always take care
regarding the current traffic
situation.
Cruise control
The cruise control can store and
maintain speeds of approx. 20 mph to maximum vehicle speed. Deviations
from the stored speeds may occur
when driving uphill or downhill.
For safety reasons, the cruise control cannot be activated until the foot
brake has been operated once.
Activating in first gear is not possible.

Driving and operating163
Do not use the cruise control if it is notadvisable to maintain a constant
speed.
Illustrations show different versions.
On vehicles with automatic
transmission or manual transmission
automated cruise control can be
activated in automatic mode and
manual mode.
Control indicator m 3 96.
Switching on
Press m; control indicator m in
instrument cluster illuminates white.
Activation
Accelerate to the desired speed and
turn thumb wheel to SET/-, the
current speed is stored and
maintained. Control indicator m in
instrument cluster illuminates green.
Set speed is indicated on the display. Accelerator pedal can be released.
Vehicle speed can be increased by depressing the accelerator pedal.
When the accelerator pedal is
released, the previously stored speed
is resumed.
Cruise control remains activated
while gearshifting.
Increase speed With cruise control active, hold thumb
wheel turned to RES/+ or briefly turn
to RES/+ repeatedly: speed
increases continuously or in small
increments.
Alternatively accelerate to the desired speed and store by turning to SET/-.

164Driving and operating
Reduce speedWith cruise control active, hold thumb
wheel turned to SET/- or briefly turn to
SET/- repeatedly: speed decreases
continuously or in small increments.
Deactivation Press y; control indicator m in
instrument cluster illuminates white. Cruise control is deactivated. Last
stored speed remains in memory for
later speed resume.
Automatic deactivation:
● Vehicle speed is below approx. 20 mph.
● Vehicle speed drops more than 15 mph below the set speed.
● The brake pedal is depressed.
● The clutch pedal is depressed for
a few seconds.
● The selector lever is in N.
● Engine speed is in a very low range.
● The Traction Control system or Electronic Stability Control is
operating.
● Parking brake is applied.
● Simultaneous pressing RES/+
and brake pedal deactivates
cruise control and will delete
stored speed.
Resume stored speed
Turn thumb wheel to RES/+ at a
speed above 20 mph. The stored
speed will be obtained.Switching off
Press m, control indicator m in
instrument cluster extinguishes. The
stored speed is deleted.
Pressing L to activate the speed
limiter or switching off the ignition also switches off cruise control and
deletes the stored speed.
Speed limiter
The speed limiter prevents the
vehicle exceeding a preset maximum
speed.
The maximum speed can be set at
speeds above 15 mph up to
125 mph.
The driver can only accelerate up to
the preset speed. Deviations from the
limited speed may occur when driving
downhill.
The preset speed limit is displayed in
the Driver Information Centre when
the system is active.

Driving and operating165Activation
Illustrations show different versions.
Press L. If cruise control has been
activated before, it is switched off when speed limiter is activated and
control indicator m extinguishes.
Set speed limit Accelerate to the desired speed and
briefly turn thumb wheel to SET/-: the
current speed is stored as maximum speed. Speed limit is displayed in the
Driver Information Centre.
Change speed limit
With speed limiter active, hold or
briefly turn thumb wheel to RES/+ to
increase or SET/- to decrease the
desired maximum speed.
Exceeding the speed limit
When exceeding the limited speed
without driver input, the speed will
flash in the Driver Information Centre
and a chime sounds during this
period.
In the event of an emergency, it is
possible to exceed the speed limit by
depressing the accelerator pedal
firmly nearly to the final point. In this
case no chime appears.
Release the accelerator pedal and the speed limiter function is
reactivated once a speed lower than
the limit speed is obtained.
Deactivation Press y: speed limiter is deactivated
and the vehicle can be driven without
speed limit.
The limited speed will be stored and
is indicated in brackets in the Driver
Information Centre. Additionally, a
corresponding message appears.
Resume limit speed Turn thumb wheel to RES/+. The
stored speed limit will be obtained.

166Driving and operatingSwitching off
Press L, the speed limit indication
extinguishes in the Driver Information Centre. The stored speed is deleted.
By pressing m to activate cruise
control, speed limiter is also
deactivated and the stored speed is
deleted.
By switching off the ignition, speed
limiter is also deactivated, but the
speed limit will be stored for next
speed limiter activation.
Forward collision alert
The forward collision alert can help to
avoid or reduce the harm caused by
front-end crashes.
Forward collision alert uses the front
camera system in the windscreen to
detect a vehicle directly ahead, in
your path, within a distance of approx. 60 metres.
A vehicle ahead is indicated by
control indicator A.
If a vehicle directly ahead is
approached too quickly, a warning
chime and alert in the Driver
Information Centre is provided.
Additionally the driver gets notified by
a flashing red LED stripe which is
projected on the windscreen in the
driver's field of view.
A precondition is that forward collision
alert is not deactivated by pressing
V .
Activation
Forward collision alert operates
automatically above 5 mph, if it is not
deactivated by pressing V, see
below.
Selecting the alert sensitivity
The alert sensitivity can be set to
near, medium or far.
Press V, the current setting is shown
on the Driver Information Centre.
Press V repeatedly to change the
alert sensitivity. The selected setting
is also displayed in the Driver
Information Centre.