2019 OPEL ASTRA J brakes

16In briefStarting off
Check before starting off ● Tyre pressure and condition 3 160, 3 186.
● Engine oil level and fluid levels 3 141.
● All windows, mirrors, exterior lighting and number plates are
free from dirt, snow and ice and
are operational.
● Proper position of mirrors, seats, and seat belts 3 25, 3 32,
3 37.
● Brake function at low speed, particularly if the brakes are wet.Starting the engine
● Turn key to position 1.
● Move the steering wheel slightly to release the steering wheel
lock.
● Operate clutch and brake.
● Automatic transmission in P or N.
● Do not operate accelerator pedal.
● Turn key to position 3 and
release.
Starting the engine 3 117.
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
approx. one second.
The electric parking brake is
applied when control indicator
m illuminates 3 69.
● Switch off the engine.
● If the vehicle is on a level surface or uphill slope, engage
first gear or set the selector

Driving and operating115Driving and
operatingDriving hints ............................... 115
Control of the vehicle ...............115
Steering ................................... 116
Starting and operating ...............116
New vehicle running-in ............116
Ignition switch positions ...........116
Retained power off ..................116
Starting the engine ..................117
Overrun cut-off ........................ 117
Parking .................................... 118
Engine exhaust .......................... 119
Exhaust filter ............................ 119
Catalytic converter ...................120
Automatic transmission ..............121
Transmission display ...............121
Selector lever .......................... 121
Manual mode ........................... 122
Electronic driving programmes 123
Fault ........................................ 123
Interruption of power supply ....123
Manual transmission ..................124
Brakes ........................................ 125
Antilock brake system .............125Parking brake .......................... 126
Brake assist ............................. 127
Hill start assist ......................... 128
Ride control systems .................128
Traction Control system ..........128
Electronic Stability Control ......129
Driver assistance systems .........130
Cruise control .......................... 130
Speed limiter ........................... 131
Parking assist .......................... 133
Fuel ............................................ 135
Fuel for petrol engines .............135
Refuelling ................................ 136Driving hints
Control of the vehicle Never coast with engine not
running
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.
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.

Driving and operating125Caution
It is not advisable to drive with thehand resting on the selector lever.
Upshift indication 3 70.
Brakes
The brake system comprises two independent brake circuits.
If a brake circuit fails, the vehicle can
still be braked using the other brake
circuit. However, braking effect is
achieved only when the brake pedal
is depressed firmly. Considerably
more force is needed for this. The
braking distance is extended. Seek
the assistance of a workshop before
continuing your journey.
When the engine is not running, the
support of the brake servo unit
disappears once the brake pedal has
been depressed once or twice.
Braking effect is not reduced, but
braking requires significantly greater
force. It is especially important to bear this in mind when being towed.
Control indicator R 3 69.
Antilock brake system
Antilock brake system (ABS)
prevents the wheels from locking.ABS starts to regulate brake pressure as soon as a wheel shows a tendency to lock. The vehicle remains
steerable, even during hard braking.
ABS control is made apparent
through a pulse in the brake pedal
and the noise of the regulation
process.
For optimum braking, keep the brake
pedal fully depressed throughout the
braking process, despite the fact that
the pedal is pulsating. Do not reduce
the pressure on the pedal.
After starting off the system performs
a self-test which may be audible.
Control indicator u 3 70.
Adaptive brake light
During full braking, all three brake
lights flash for the duration of ABS
control.

128Driving and operatingHill start assistThe system helps prevent unintendedmovement when driving away on
inclines.
When releasing the brake pedal after
stopping on an incline, the brakes
remain on for a 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) 3 129.
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 control indicator b
extinguishes.
When TC 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 71.
Deactivation
TC can be switched off when spinning of drive wheels is required:

138Vehicle careVehicle careGeneral Information...................138
Accessories and vehicle modifications .......................... 138
Vehicle storage ........................139
End-of-life vehicle recovery .....139
Vehicle checks ........................... 140
Performing work ......................140
Bonnet ..................................... 140
Engine oil ................................. 141
Engine coolant ......................... 142
Power steering fluid .................142
Washer fluid ............................ 143
Brakes ..................................... 143
Brake fluid ............................... 143
Vehicle battery ......................... 144
Wiper blade replacement ........145
Bulb replacement .......................145
Halogen headlights ..................146
Adaptive forward lighting .........148
Front fog lights ......................... 149
Front turn lights .......................150
Tail lights ................................. 151
Side turn lights ......................... 152
Number plate light ...................153Interior lights ............................ 153
Instrument panel illumination ...153
Electrical system ........................154
Fuses ....................................... 154
Engine compartment fuse box . 155
Instrument panel fuse box .......157
Load compartment fuse box ....158
Vehicle tools .............................. 159
Tools ........................................ 159
Wheels and tyres .......................159
Winter tyres ............................. 159
Tyre designations ....................160
Tyre pressure .......................... 160
Tyre pressure monitoring system .................................... 161
Tread depth ............................. 164
Changing tyre and wheel size . 165
Wheel covers ........................... 165
Tyre chains .............................. 165
Wheel changing .......................166
Spare wheel ............................ 167
Jump starting ............................. 170
Towing ....................................... 172
Towing the vehicle ...................172
Towing another vehicle ...........173
Appearance care .......................174
Exterior care ............................ 174
Interior care ............................. 176General 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.
Any modification, conversion or other
changes made to standard vehicle specifications (including, without
limitation, software modifications,
modifications of the electronic control units) may invalidate the warranty
offered by Opel. Furthermore, such
changes may affect driver assistance
systems, may impact fuel
consumption, CO 2 emissions and
other emissions of the vehicle and
cause the vehicle to no longer
conform to the operating permit,
impacting the validity of your vehicle
registration.

Vehicle care143Power 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.
Caution
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 3 178.
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 3 178.

194Customer informationOperating data in the vehicleControl units process data for
operation of the vehicle.
This data includes, e.g.: ● vehicle status information (e.g. speed, movement delay, lateral
acceleration, wheel rotation rate, "seat belts fastened" display)
● ambient conditions (e.g. temperature, rain sensor,
distance sensor)
As a rule such data is transient, not
stored for longer than an operational
cycle, and only processed on board the vehicle itself. Control units often
include data storage (including the
vehicle key). This is used to allow
information to be documented
temporarily or permanently on vehicle
condition, component stress,
maintenance requirements and
technical events and errors.Depending on technical equipment
level, the data stored is as follows:
● system component operating states (e.g. fill level, tyre
pressure, battery status)
● faults and defects in important system components (e.g. lights,
brakes)
● system reactions in special driving situations (e.g. triggering
of an airbag, actuation of the
stability control systems)
● information on events damaging the vehicle
● for electric vehicles the amount of
charge in the high-voltage
battery, estimated range
In special cases (e.g. if the vehicle
has detected a malfunction), it may be
necessary to save data that would
otherwise just be volatile.
When you use services (e.g. repairs,
maintenance), the operating data
saved can be read together with the
vehicle identification number and
used where necessary. Staff working
for the service network ( e.g. garages,
manufacturers) or third parties (e.g.breakdown services) can read the
data from the vehicle. The same
applies to warranty work and quality
assurance measures.
Data is generally read via the OBD
(On-Board Diagnostics) port
prescribed by law in the vehicle. The operating data which is read out,
documents the technical condition of
the vehicle or individual components
and assists with fault diagnosis,
compliance with warranty obligations
and quality improvement. This data,
in particular information on
component stress, technical events,
operator errors and other faults, is
transmitted to the manufacturer
where appropriate, together with the
vehicle identification number. The
manufacturer is also subject to
product liability. The manufacturer
potentially also uses operating data
from vehicles for product recalls. This
data can also be used to check
customer warranty and guarantee
claims.
Fault memories in the vehicle can be
reset by a service company when
carrying out servicing or repairs or at
your request.

198IndexAAccessories and vehicle modifications .......................... 138
Adaptive forward lighting 73, 97, 148
Adjustable air vents ...................113
Airbag and belt tensioners ...........68
Airbag deactivation ................41, 68
Airbag system .............................. 39
Air conditioning regular operation ................................ 114
Air conditioning system .............. 107
Air intake .................................... 113
Air vents...................................... 113
Antilock brake system ................ 125
Antilock brake system (ABS) .......70
Anti-theft locking system .............. 24 Appearance care ........................174
Armrest ................................... 35, 36
Armrest storage ........................... 50
Automatic anti-dazzle ..................27
Automatic light control .................94
Automatic locking ........................22
Automatic transmission .............121
B Battery discharge protection ......105
Battery voltage ............................. 81
Belts.............................................. 36 Bonnet ....................................... 140
Brake and clutch fluid .................178Brake and clutch system .............69
Brake assist ............................... 127
Brake fluid .................................. 143
Brakes ............................... 125, 143
Breakdown.................................. 172
Bulb replacement ....................... 145
C
Catalytic converter .....................120
Central locking system ................20
Centre console lighting ..............104
Centre console storage ...............50
Changing tyre and wheel size ...165
Charging system .......................... 68
Child locks ................................... 22
Child restraint installation locations ................................... 45
Child restraints.............................. 43
Child restraint systems ................43
Climate control ............................. 14
Climate control systems .............106
Clock............................................. 60
Code ............................................. 79
Control indicators.......................... 65
Control of the vehicle .................115
Controls ........................................ 57
Convex shape .............................. 25
Coolant and antifreeze ...............178
Cruise control ...................... 73, 130