2018 VAUXHALL ASTRA J GTC Owner's Manual

Vehicle care199End-of-life vehicle recovery
Information on end-of-life vehicle
recovery centres and the recycling of
end-of-life vehicles is available on our website, where legally required. Only
entrust this work to an authorised
recycling centre.
Gas vehicles must be recycled by a
service centre authorised for gas
vehicles.Vehicle checks
Performing work9 Warning
Only perform engine compartment
checks when the ignition is off.
The cooling fan may start
operating even if the ignition is off.
9 Danger
The ignition system and Xenon
headlights use extremely high
voltage. Do not touch.
Bonnet
Opening
Pull the release lever and return it to
its original position.

200Vehicle care
Move the safety catch sideways to theleft vehicle side and open the bonnet.
Secure the bonnet support.
If the bonnet is opened during an
Autostop, the engine will be restarted automatically for safety reasons.
Closing
Before closing the bonnet, press the
support into the holder.
Lower the bonnet and allow it to fall
into the latch from a low height
(20-25 cm). Check that the bonnet is engaged.Caution
Do not press the bonnet into the
latch, to avoid dents.
Engine oil
Check the engine oil level manually
on a regular basis to prevent damage
to the engine. Ensure that the correct specification of oil is used.
Recommended fluids and lubricants
3 252.
The maximum engine oil
consumption is 0.6 l per 1000 km.
Check with the vehicle on a level
surface. The engine must be at
operating temperature and switched
off for at least five minutes.Caution
It is the owner's responsibility to
maintain the proper level of an
appropriate quality oil in the
engine.
Pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean,
reinsert it fully, pull out and read the
engine oil level.
Different dipsticks are used
depending on engine variant.

Vehicle care201
When the engine oil level has
dropped to the MIN mark, top up
engine oil.
We recommend the use of the same
grade of engine oil that was used at
last change.
The engine oil level must not exceed
the MAX mark on the dipstick.Caution
Overfilled engine oil must be
drained or suctioned out.
Capacities 3 268.
Fit the cap on straight and tighten it.
Engine coolant The coolant provides freeze
protection down to approx. -28 °C. In
cold regions with very low
temperatures, the factory filled
coolant provides frost protection
down to approx. -37 °C.
Caution
Only use approved antifreeze.
Coolant and antifreeze 3 252.
Coolant levelCaution
Too low a coolant level can cause
engine damage.
If the cooling system is cold, the
coolant level should be above the
filling line mark. Top up if the level is
low.

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 care203Caution
Only washer fluid with a sufficient
antifreeze concentration provides
protection at low temperatures or
after a sudden drop in
temperature.
Use of washer fluid containing
isopropanol can damage exterior
lamps.
Washer fluid 3 252.
Brakes In the event of minimum thickness ofthe brake lining, a squealing noise
sounds during braking.
Continued driving is possible but
have the brake lining replaced as
soon as possible.
Once new brake linings are installed,
do not brake unnecessarily hard for
the first few journeys.
Brake fluid9 Warning
Brake fluid is poisonous and
corrosive. Avoid contact with eyes, skin, fabrics and painted surfaces.
The brake fluid level must be betweenthe MIN and MAX marks.
If fluid level is below MIN seek the
assistance of a workshop.
Brake and clutch fluid 3 252.
Vehicle battery
The vehicle battery is maintenance-
free provided that the driving profile
allows sufficient charging of the
battery. Short-distance-driving and
frequent engine starts can discharge
the battery. Avoid the use of
unnecessary electrical consumers.
Batteries do not belong in household
waste. They must be disposed of at
an appropriate recycling collection
point.
Laying up the vehicle for more than
four weeks can lead to battery
discharge. Disconnect the clamp from the negative terminal of the vehicle
battery.
Ensure the ignition is switched off
before connecting or disconnecting
the vehicle battery.

204Vehicle careVehicle battery discharge protection
3 126.
Disconnecting the battery
If the vehicle's battery is to be
disconnected (e.g. for maintenance
work), the alarm siren must be
deactivated as follows: Switch the
ignition on then off, then disconnect
the vehicle's battery within
15 seconds.
Replacing the vehicle battery Notice
Any deviation from the instructions
given in this section may lead to
temporary deactivation or
disturbance of the stop-start system.
When the vehicle battery is being
replaced, please ensure that there
are no open ventilation holes in the
vicinity of the positive terminal. If a
ventilation hole is open in this area, it
must be closed off with a dummy cap,
and the ventilation in the vicinity of the
negative terminal must be opened.
Only use vehicle batteries that allow the fuse box to be mounted above the
vehicle battery.Ensure that the battery is always replaced by the same type of battery.
We recommend that you have the
vehicle battery replaced by a
workshop.
Stop-start system 3 140.
Charging the vehicle battery9 Warning
On vehicles with stop-start
system, ensure that the charging potential does not exceed
14.6 volts when using a battery
charger. Otherwise the vehicle
battery might be damaged.
Jump starting 3 244.
Warning label
Meaning of symbols:
● No sparks, naked flames or smoking.
● Always shield eyes. Explosive gases can cause blindness or
injury.
● Keep the vehicle battery out of reach of children.
● The vehicle battery contains sulphuric acid which could cause
blindness or serious burn
injuries.

Vehicle care205● See the Owner's Manual forfurther information.
● Explosive gas may be present in the vicinity of the vehicle battery.
Diesel fuel system bleeding If the tank has been run dry, the diesel
fuel system must be bled. Switch on the ignition three times for
15 seconds at a time. Then crank the
engine for a maximum of
40 seconds. Repeat this process after
no less than five seconds. If the
engine fails to start, seek the
assistance of a workshop.Wiper blade replacement
Lift the wiper arm until it stays in the
raised position, press button to
disengage the wiper blade and
remove.
Attach the wiper blade slightly angled
to the wiper arm and push until it
engages.
Lower wiper arm carefully.
Wiper blade on the rear window
Lift wiper arm. Disengage wiper blade as shown in illustration and remove.
Attach the wiper blade slightly angled
to the wiper arm and push until it
engages.
Lower wiper arm carefully.

206Vehicle careBulb replacement
Switch off the ignition and switch off
the relevant switch or close the doors.
Only hold a new bulb at the base. Do not touch the bulb glass with bare
hands.
Use only the same bulb type for
replacement.
Replace headlight bulbs from within
the engine compartment.
Bulb check After a bulb replacement switch on
the ignition, operate and check the
lights.Halogen headlights
4-door saloon
Halogen headlights with separate
bulbs for low beam and high beam.
Low beam (1) outer bulb.
High beam (2) inner bulb.
Sidelight/Daytime running light (3) .
Low beam (1)
1. Rotate the cap (1) anticlockwise
and remove it.