2018.5 OPEL ASTRA K warning

166Driving and operatingIf an electrical accessory, e.g. a
portable CD player, is connected to
the power outlet, a brief power drop
during the restart might be noticeable.
Note
If a trailer or a bike carrier is
attached, early Autostop and late
restart is deactivated.
Parking9 Warning
● Do not park the vehicle on an
easily ignitable surface. The
high temperature of the
exhaust system could ignite the
surface.
● Always apply the parking brake. Activate the manual
parking brake without pressing the release button. Apply as
firmly as possible on a downhill slope or uphill slope. Depress
brake pedal at the same time to
reduce operating force.
For vehicles with electric
parking brake, pull switch m for
a minimum of one second until
control indicator m illuminates
constantly and electric parking
brake is applied 3 111.
● Switch off the engine. ● If the vehicle is on a level surface or uphill slope, engage
first gear or set the selector
lever to position P before
removing the ignition key or
switching off ignition on
vehicles with power button. On
an uphill slope, turn the front
wheels away from the kerb.
If the vehicle is on a downhill
slope, engage reverse gear or
set the selector lever to position
P before removing the ignition
key or switching off ignition on
vehicles with power button.
Turn the front wheels towards
the kerb.
● Close the windows and the sunroof.
● Remove the ignition key from the ignition switch or switch off
ignition on vehicles with powerbutton. Turn the steering wheel until the steering wheel lock is
felt to engage.
For vehicles with automatic
transmission, the key can only
be removed when the selector
lever is in position P.
For vehicles with manual
transmission automated, the key can only be removed from
the ignition switch when the
parking brake is applied.
● Lock the vehicle.
● Activate the anti-theft alarm system.
● The engine cooling fans may run
after the engine has been
switched off 3 233.
Caution
After running at high engine
speeds or with high engine loads,
operate the engine briefly at a low load or run in neutral for

Driving and operating167approx. 30 seconds before
switching off, in order to protect
the turbocharger.
Note
In the event of an accident with
airbag deployment, the engine is
switched off automatically if the
vehicle comes to a standstill within a
certain time.
Emergency operation under
extreme cold temperatures
9 Warning
This emergency operation may
only be carried out in case of
extremely cold temperatures and if the vehicle is parked on a levelsurface.
In countries with extreme cold
temperatures it may be necessary to
park the vehicle without applied
parking brake.
This is an emergency operation to
avoid freezing of the parking brake.
Vehicles equipped with manual
transmission automated, electric
parking brake and power button
On vehicles with manual transmission
automated the ignition can only be
switched off if the parking brake is
applied. Therefore the following items must be carried out to release the
electric parking brake:
1. Apply electric parking brake and switch off ignition.
2. Switch on ignition by pressing and
holding Engine Start/Stop for six
seconds without operating brake
pedal.
3. Press brake pedal and release electric parking brake.
4. Switch off ignition.
Vehicles equipped with manual
transmission automated, electric
parking brake and ignition switch
On vehicles with manual transmission
automated the ignition can only be
switched off if the parking brake is
applied. Therefore the following items
must be carried out to release the
electric parking brake:1. Apply electric parking brake and switch off ignition.
2. Press brake pedal and release electric parking brake.
3. Remove key from ignition switch.

168Driving and operatingEngine exhaust9Danger
Engine exhaust gases contain
poisonous carbon monoxide,
which is colourless and odourless and could be fatal if inhaled.
If exhaust gases enter the interior
of the vehicle, open the windows.
Have the cause of the fault
rectified by a workshop.
Avoid driving with an open load
compartment, otherwise exhaust
gases could enter the vehicle.
Diesel particle filter
Automatic cleaning process
The diesel particle filter system filters
harmful soot particles out of the
exhaust gases. The system includes
a self-cleaning function that runs
automatically during driving without
any notification. The filter is cleaned
by periodically burning off the soot
particles at high temperature. This
process takes place automatically
under set driving conditions and may take up to 25 minutes. Typically it
needs between seven and twelve
minutes. Autostop is not available
and fuel consumption may be higher
during this period. The emission of
smells and smoke during this process is normal.
System requires cleaning
Under certain driving conditions, e.g.
driving short distances, the system
cannot clean itself automatically.
If cleaning of the filter is required and if previous driving conditions did not
enable automatic cleaning, it will beindicated by illumination of % and a
warning message in the Driver
Information Centre.
% illuminates along with a warning
message illuminates when diesel
particle filter is full. Start cleaning process as soon as possible.
% flashes along with a warning
message when diesel particle filter
has reached the maximum filling
level. Start cleaning process
immediately to avoid damage to the
engine.
Activate self-cleaning process
To activate cleaning process,
continue driving, keep engine speed
above 2000 rpm. Shift down if
necessary. Diesel particle filter
cleaning is then started.
Cleaning takes place quickest at high
engine speeds and loads.
Control indicator % extinguishes as
soon as the self-cleaning operation is complete. Keep on driving until self-
cleaning operation is complete.

Driving and operating169Caution
If possible, do not interrupt
cleaning process. Drive until
cleaning is completed to avoid the need for service or repair by a
workshop.
Cleaning process not possible
If cleaning is not possible for anyreasons, control indicator Z
illuminates and a warning message
appears in the Driver Information
Centre. Engine power may be
reduced. Seek the assistance of a
workshop immediately.
Catalytic converter
The catalytic converter reduces the
amount of harmful substances in the
exhaust gases.
Caution
Fuel grades other than those listed on pages 3 221, 3 289 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.
AdBlue
General information
The selective catalytic reduction
(BlueInjection) is a method to
substantially reduce the nitrogen
oxides in the exhaust emission. This
is achieved by injecting a Diesel
Exhaust Fluid (DEF) into the exhaust
system. The ammonia released by
the fluid reacts with nitrous gases
(NO x) from the exhaust and turns it
into nitrogen and water.
The designation of this fluid is AdBlue
® . It is a non-toxic, non-flammable,
colourless and odourless fluid which
consists of 32% urea and 68% water.9Warning
Avoid contact of your eyes or skin
with AdBlue.
In case of eye or skin contact,
rinse off with water.

170Driving and operatingCaution
Avoid contact of the paintwork withAdBlue.
In case of contact, rinse off with water.
AdBlue freezes at a temperature of
approx. -11 °C. As the vehicle is
equipped with an AdBlue pre-heater,
the emissions reduction at low
temperatures is ensured. The AdBlue
pre-heater works automatically.
The typical AdBlue consumption is
approx. two litres per 1000 km, but
can also be higher depending on
driving behaviour (e.g. high load or
towing).
AdBlue tank
At a remaining volume of approx. five litres, there is a liquid level switch. Warning messages are displayed
only below that threshold. Tank
volume 3 296.
Level warnings
Depending on the calculated range of
AdBlue, different messages are
displayed in the Driver Information
Centre. The messages and the
restrictions are a legal requirement.
The first possible warning is AdBlue
Range: 2400 km .
This warning will show up once briefly with the calculated range. Driving is
possible without any restrictions.
The next warning level is entered with
a range below 1750 km. The
message with the current range will always be displayed when ignition is
switched on and needs to be
confirmed 3 116 . Refill AdBlue before
entering the next warning level.
At an AdBlue range below 900 km,
the following warning messages are
alternately displayed and cannot be
dismissed:
● AdBlue Low Refill Now
● Engine Restart Prevented in 900
km .
Additionally, control indicator Y
flashes continuously.Note
In case of high AdBlue consumption,
the Driver Information Centre may
display this warning without the
previous warning stages.
The last warning level is entered
when the AdBlue tank is empty.
Restart of the engine is not possible.
The following warning messages are
alternately displayed and cannot be
dismissed:
● AdBlue Empty Refill Now
● Engine Will Not Restart .
Additionally, control indicator Y
flashes continuously.
With active prevention of an engine
start, the following message will be
displayed:
Refill AdBlue To Start Vehicle .
The tank must be refilled completely
with AdBlue, otherwise restarting of the engine is not possible.
3 296

Driving and operating171High emission warningsIf the exhaust emission rises above a
certain value, warnings similar to the
range warnings will be displayed in
the Driver Information Centre.
Requests to have the exhaust system checked and finally the
announcement of the prevention of
an engine restart are displayed.
These restrictions are a legal
requirement.
Consult a workshop for assistance.
Refilling AdBlueCaution
Only use AdBlue that complies
with European standards
DIN 70 070 and ISO 22241-1.
Do not use additives.
Do not dilute AdBlue.
Otherwise the selective catalytic
reduction system could be
damaged.
Note
Whenever a filling pump with a
nozzle for passenger cars is not
available at a filling station, use only
AdBlue bottles or canisters with a
sealed refill adapter for refilling, to
prevent splashback and overspill,
and in order to ensure that the fumes
from the tank are captured and do
not emerge. AdBlue in bottles or
canisters is available in many filling
stations and can be purchased e.g. at Opel dealers and other retail
outlets.
Since AdBlue has a limited
durability, check the date of expiry
before refilling.
Note
The refilling of AdBlue is only
detected by the system when the
above mentioned liquid level switch
in the tank is activated.
In case AdBlue refill is not
successfully detected:1. Continuously drive the vehicle for 10 minutes making sure that
vehicle speed is always higher
than 20 km/h.
2. If AdBlue refill is detected successfully, AdBlue supply-
driven limitations will disappear.
If AdBlue refill is still not detected,
seek the assistance of a workshop.
If AdBlue must be refilled at
temperatures below -11 °C, the
refilling of AdBlue may not be
detected by the system. In this
event, park the vehicle in a space
with a higher ambient temperature
until AdBlue is liquefied.
Note
When unscrewing the protective cap from the filler neck, ammonia fumes
may emerge. Do not inhale as the
fumes have a pungent smell. The
fumes are not harmful by inhalation.
The AdBlue tank should be filled
completely. This must be done if the
warning message regarding
prevention of an engine restart is
already displayed.

176Driving and operatingManual transmission
To engage reverse, depress the
clutch pedal and then press the
release button on the selector lever
and engage the gear.
If the gear does not engage, set the
lever to neutral, release the clutch
pedal and depress again; then repeat
gear selection.
Do not slip the clutch unnecessarily.
When operating, depress the clutch
pedal completely. Do not use the
pedal as a foot rest.
When clutch slip is detected for a specific time, the engine power will be reduced. A warning is displayed in the
Driver Information Centre. Release
the clutch.Caution
It is not advisable to drive with the hand resting on the selector lever.
Gear shift indication 3 112.
Stop-start system 3 163.
Manual transmission
automated
The automated manual transmission permits manual gearshifting (manual
mode) or automatic gearshifting
(automatic mode), both with
automatic clutch control.
Manual shifting is possible by tapping the selector lever in manual mode.
Note
When unlocking or opening a
vehicle door, a sound may be
audible caused by the hydraulic
system.

178Driving and operatingThe vehicle starts to move when the
brake pedal is released.
To start-off without depressing the
brake pedal, accelerate immediately
after engaging a gear as long as D or
R flashes.
If neither the accelerator nor the
brake pedal are depressed, no gear
is engaged and D or R flashes for a
brief time in the display.
Stopping the vehicle
In D, first gear is engaged and the
clutch is released when the vehicle is stopped. In R, reverse gear remains
engaged.
Engine braking
Automatic mode
When driving downhill, the manual
transmission automated does not
shift into higher gears until a fairly
high engine speed has been reached.
It shifts down in good time when
braking.Manual mode
To utilise the engine braking effect, select a lower gear in good time when driving downhill. Changing into
manual mode is only possible while
the engine is running or during an
Autostop.
Rocking the vehicle Rocking the vehicle is only
permissible if the vehicle is stuck in
sand, mud or snow. Move the selector
lever between R and D in a repeat
pattern. Do not race the engine and
avoid sudden acceleration.
Parking The most recently engaged gear (seetransmission display) remains
engaged when switching off ignition.
With N, no gear is engaged.
Therefore always apply the parking
brake when switching off ignition. If
parking brake is not applied, P flashes
in the transmission display and the
key cannot be removed from the
ignition switch. P stops flashing in the
transmission display as soon as the
parking brake is slightly applied.When the ignition is switched off, the
transmission no longer responds to
movement of the selector lever.
Emergency operation to avoid
freezing of the parking brake 3 166.
Manual mode
If a higher gear is selected when the engine speed is too low, or a lower
gear when the speed is too high, the
shift is not executed. This prevents
the engine from running at too low or
too high an engine speed. A warning
message is displayed in the Driver
Information Centre. Vehicle
messages 3 124.
If engine speed is too low, the
transmission automatically shifts to a
lower gear.
When + or - is selected in automatic
mode, the transmission switches to
manual mode and shifts accordingly.
Gear shift indication
The symbol R or S with a number
beside is indicated when gearshifting
is recommended for fuel saving
reasons.