2018 VAUXHALL ASTRA J GTC power steering

138Driving and operatingDriving hints
Control of the vehicle
Never coast with engine not
running (except during Autostop)
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. All
systems function during an Autostop,
but there will be a controlled reduction
in power steering assist and vehicle
speed is reduced.
Stop-start system 3 140.
Idle boost
If charging of the vehicle battery is
required due to battery condition, the
power output of the generator must
be increased. This will be achieved by an idle boost which may be audible.
A message is displayed in the Driver
Information Centre.Pedals
To ensure the pedal travel is
uninhibited, there must be no mats in
the area of the pedals.
Use only floor mats which fit properly and are fixed by the retainers on the
driver's side.
Steering
If power steering assist is lost
because the engine stops or due to a system malfunction, the vehicle can
be steered but may require increased
effort.
Control indicator c 3 87.Caution
Vehicles equipped with hydraulic
power steering:
If the steering wheel is turned until it reaches the end of its travel, and
is held in that position for more
than 15 seconds, damage may
occur to the power steering
system and there may be loss of
power steering assist.
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.
During the running-in period fuel and engine oil consumption may be
higher and the cleaning process of the diesel particle filter may take
place more often. Autostop may be
inhibited to allow for charging the
battery.
Diesel particle filter 3 144.

Driving and operating139Ignition switch positions0:ignition off1:steering wheel lock released,
ignition off2:ignition on, for diesel engine:
preheating3:starting
Retained power off
The following electronic systems can
work until the driver's door is opened
or at the latest for ten minutes after the ignition is switched off:
● power windows
● sunroof
● power outlets
Power to the Infotainment system will continue to operate for 30 minutes or
until the key is removed from the ignition switch, regardless of whether
any door will be opened.
Starting the engine
Manual transmission: operate clutch.
Automatic transmission: operate
brake and move the selector lever to
P or N.
Do not operate the accelerator pedal.
Diesel engine: turn the key to position 2 for preheating until control
indicator ! extinguishes.
Turn the key briefly to position 3 and
release: an automatic procedure
operates the starter with a short delay
as long as the engine is running, see
Automatic Starter Control.
Before restarting or to switch off the
engine, turn the key back to position
0 .
During an Autostop, the engine can
be started by depressing the clutch
pedal.
Starting the vehicle at low
temperatures
Starting the engine without additional
heaters is possible down to -25 °С for diesel engines and -30 °C for petrol
engines. Required is an engine oil
with the correct viscosity, the correct
fuel, performed services and a
sufficiently charged vehicle battery.
With temperatures below -30 °C the
automatic transmission needs a
warming phase of approx. five
minutes. The selector lever must be
in position P.

Driving and operating141The engine will be switched off whilethe ignition stays on.
An Autostop is indicated by the
needle at the AUTOSTOP position in
the tachometer.
During an Autostop, the heating and
brake performance will be
maintained.
Caution
The power steering assist may be
reduced during an Autostop.
Conditions for an Autostop
The stop-start system checks if each
of the following conditions is fulfilled:
● The stop-start system is not manually deactivated.
● The bonnet is fully closed.
● The driver's door is closed or the driver's seat belt is fastened.
● The vehicle battery is sufficiently charged and in good condition.
● The engine is warmed-up.
● The engine coolant temperature is not too high.
● The engine exhaust temperature is not too high, e.g. after driving
with high engine load.
● The ambient temperature is above -5 °C.
● The climate control system allows an Autostop.
● The brake vacuum is sufficient.
● The self-cleaning function of the diesel particle filter is not active.
● The vehicle was driven at least at
walking speed since the last
Autostop.Otherwise an Autostop will be
inhibited.
Certain settings of the climate control
system may inhibit an Autostop. See
" Climate control " chapter for more
details 3 130.
Immediately after motorway driving,
an Autostop may be inhibited.
New vehicle running-in 3 138.
Vehicle battery discharge protection
To ensure reliable engine restarts,
several battery discharge protection
features are implemented as part of
the stop-start system.
Power saving measures
During an Autostop, several electric
features, e.g. auxiliary electric heater
or heated rear window are disabled or switched into a power saving mode.
The fan speed of the climate control
system is reduced to save power.
Restart of the engine by the driver
Depress the clutch pedal to restart the
engine.

196Driving and operatingAttach breakaway stopping cable to
eye.
Check that the coupling ball bar is correctly installed
● Green marking on rotary knob must point towards green
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.9Warning
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.
Dismounting the coupling ball bar
Open the protective flap and turn the
key to position c 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.
All versions except 3-door hatchback:
Attach the rear side of the cover into
the recess of the bumper and fold the
front side upward.
Press fastenings outward.
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 3 153.

Vehicle care197Vehicle careGeneral Information...................198
Accessories and vehicle modifications .......................... 198
Vehicle storage ........................198
End-of-life vehicle recovery .....199
Vehicle checks ........................... 199
Performing work ......................199
Bonnet ..................................... 199
Engine oil ................................. 200
Engine coolant ......................... 201
Power steering fluid .................202
Washer fluid ............................ 202
Brakes ..................................... 203
Brake fluid ............................... 203
Vehicle battery ......................... 203
Diesel fuel system bleeding .....205
Wiper blade replacement ........205
Bulb replacement .......................206
Halogen headlights ..................206
Adaptive forward lighting .........209
Fog lights ................................. 210
Front turn signal lights .............212
Tail lights ................................. 214
Side turn signal lights ..............217
Number plate light ...................219Interior lights ............................ 219
Instrument panel illumination ...219
Electrical system ........................220
Fuses ....................................... 220
Engine compartment fuse box . 221
Instrument panel fuse box .......223
Load compartment fuse box ....224
Vehicle tools .............................. 225
Tools ........................................ 225
Wheels and tyres .......................227
Winter tyres ............................. 227
Tyre designations ....................227
Tyre pressure .......................... 227
Tyre pressure monitoring system .................................... 229
Tread depth ............................. 232
Changing tyre and wheel size . 232
Wheel covers ........................... 233
Tyre chains .............................. 233
Tyre repair kit .......................... 233
Wheel changing .......................236
Spare wheel ............................ 240
Jump starting ............................. 244
Towing ....................................... 245
Towing the vehicle ...................245
Towing another vehicle ...........246Appearance care .......................247
Exterior care ............................ 247
Interior care ............................. 250

202Vehicle care9Warning
Allow the engine to cool before
opening the cap. Carefully open
the cap, relieving the pressure
slowly.
To top up, use a 1:1 mixture of
approved coolant concentrate mixed
with clean tap water. If no coolant
concentrate is available, use clean
tap water. Install the cap tightly. Have
the coolant concentration checked
and have the cause of the coolant
loss remedied by a workshop.
Power steering fluid
Caution
Extremely small amounts of
contamination can cause steering
system damage and cause it to not work properly. Do not allow
contaminates to contact the fluid
side of the reservoir cap/dipstick or
from entering the reservoir.
Power steering fluid level normally
does not have to be checked. If an
unusual noise sounds during steering or the power steering reacts
unusually, seek the assistance of a workshop.
Washer fluid
Fill with clean water mixed with a
suitable quantity of approved
windscreen washer fluid which
contains antifreeze.

Vehicle care225No.Circuit1–2Trailer outlet3Parking assist4–5–6–7Power seat8–9–10–11Trailer module/Trailer socket12Trailer module13Trailer outlet14Rear seat/Electrical folding15–16Interior mirror17Power outletNo.Circuit18–19Steering wheel heating20Sunroof21Heated front seats22–23–24–25–26Deactivated logistic mode27–28–29–30–31Amplifier/Subwoofer32Active damping system/Lane
departure warningVehicle tools
Tools
Vehicles without spare wheel Some tools and the towing eye are
located in a tool box in the load
compartment below the floor cover.

288Glovebox ..................................... 58
Graphic-Info-Display, Colour- Info-Display .............................. 95
H Halogen headlights ....................206
Hand brake ......................... 150, 151
Hazard warning flashers ............121
Headlight flash ........................... 116
Headlight range adjustment ......117
Headlights................................... 114 Headlights when driving abroad 117
Head restraint adjustment .............8
Head restraints ............................ 37
Heated mirrors ............................. 30
Heated rear window ..................... 34
Heated steering wheel .................71
Heating ........................................ 45
Heating and ventilation system . 127
Height adjustable rear floor cover 65
High beam ........................... 90, 116
High beam assist ..................90, 116
Hill start assist ........................... 152
Horn ....................................... 15, 72
I
Identification plate .....................255
Ignition switch positions .............139
Immobiliser ............................ 29, 90
Indicators ...................................... 78
Information displays...................... 91Instrument cluster ........................78
Instrument panel fuse box .........223
Instrument panel illumination .....219
Instrument panel illumination control .................................... 123
Instrument panel overview ........... 11
Interactive driving system ...........155
Interior care ............................... 250
Interior lighting ............................ 123
Interior lights ...................... 123, 219
Interior mirrors .............................. 31
Interruption of power supply ......148
Introduction .................................... 3
J Jump starting ............................. 244
K Key, memorised settings ..............22
Keys ............................................. 20
Keys, locks ................................... 20
L Lane departure warning .......87, 185
Lashing eyes ............................... 66
Lighting features .........................125
Light switch ................................ 114
Load compartment ................25, 62
Load compartment cover .............64
Load compartment fuse box ......224
Loading information .....................68Low fuel ....................................... 89
Low washer fluid ..........................90
LPG .............................. 79, 188, 257
M
Malfunction indicator light ............86
Manual anti-dazzle ......................31
Manual mode ............................. 147
Manual seat adjustment ...............40
Manual transmission .................. 149
Manual windows ..........................32
Memorised settings ......................22
Midlevel-Display ........................... 91
Mirror adjustment ........................... 9
Misted light covers .....................123
N New vehicle running-in ..............138
Number plate light .....................219
O
Object detection systems ...........173
Odometer ..................................... 78
Oil, engine .......................... 252, 257
OnStar ........................................ 108
Operate pedal ............................... 86
Outside temperature ....................74
Overrun cut-off ........................... 140