Opel Astra GTC (2018 year). Manual - part 13

198

Driving and operating

Attach 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.

9 Warning

Towing a trailer is permitted only

when a coupling ball bar is fitted

correctly. If the coupling ball bar

does not engage correctly, seek

the 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 3 155.

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199

Vehicle care

General Information ................... 200

Accessories and vehicle

modifications .......................... 200

Vehicle storage ........................ 200

End-of-life vehicle recovery ..... 201

Vehicle checks ........................... 201

Performing work ...................... 201

Bonnet ..................................... 201

Engine oil ................................. 202

Engine coolant ......................... 203

Power steering fluid ................. 204

Washer fluid ............................ 204

Brakes ..................................... 205

Brake fluid ............................... 205

Vehicle battery ......................... 205

Diesel fuel system bleeding ..... 207

Wiper blade replacement ........ 207

Bulb replacement ....................... 208

Halogen headlights .................. 208

Adaptive forward lighting ......... 211

Fog lights ................................. 212

Front turn signal lights ............. 214

Tail lights ................................. 216

Side turn signal lights .............. 219

Number plate light ................... 221

Interior lights ............................ 221

Instrument panel illumination ... 221

Electrical system ........................ 222

Fuses ....................................... 222

Engine compartment fuse box . 223

Instrument panel fuse box ....... 225

Load compartment fuse box .... 226

Vehicle tools .............................. 227

Tools ........................................ 227

Wheels and tyres ....................... 229

Winter tyres ............................. 229

Tyre designations .................... 229

Tyre pressure .......................... 229

Tyre pressure monitoring

system .................................... 231

Tread depth ............................. 234

Changing tyre and wheel size . 234

Wheel covers ........................... 235

Tyre chains .............................. 235

Tyre repair kit .......................... 235

Wheel changing ....................... 238

Spare wheel ............................ 242

Jump starting ............................. 246
Towing ....................................... 247

Towing the vehicle ................... 247

Towing another vehicle ........... 248

Appearance care ....................... 249

Exterior care ............................ 249

Interior care ............................. 252

200

Vehicle care

General 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.

Caution

When transporting the vehicle on

a train or on a recovery vehicle, the

mud flaps might be damaged.

Vehicle storage

Storage for a long period of time

If the vehicle is to be stored for several

months:

● Wash and wax the vehicle.
● Have the wax in the engine

compartment and underbody

checked.

● Clean and preserve the rubber

seals.

● Fill up fuel tank completely.
● Change the engine oil.
● Drain the washer fluid reservoir.
● Check the coolant antifreeze and

corrosion protection.

● Adjust tyre pressure to the value

specified for full load.

● Park the vehicle in a dry, well

ventilated place. Engage first or

reverse gear or set selector lever

to P. Prevent the vehicle from

rolling.

● Do not apply the parking brake.
● Open the bonnet, close all doors

and lock the vehicle.

● Disconnect the clamp from the

negative terminal of the vehicle

battery. Beware that all systems

are not functional, e.g. anti-theft

alarm system.

Putting back into operation

When the vehicle is to be put back into

operation:

● Connect the clamp to the

negative terminal of the vehicle

battery. Activate the electronics

of the power windows.

● Check tyre pressure.
● Fill up the washer fluid reservoir.
● Check the engine oil level.
● Check the coolant level.
● Fit the number plate if necessary.

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201

End-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 work

9 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.

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Vehicle care

Move the safety catch sideways to the

left 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

 254.

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.

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.

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203

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 3 270.
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 3 254.

Coolant level

Caution

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.

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Vehicle care

9 Warning

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.

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205

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 3 254.

Brakes

In the event of minimum thickness of

the 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 fluid

9 Warning

Brake fluid is poisonous and

corrosive. Avoid contact with eyes,

skin, fabrics and painted surfaces.

The brake fluid level must be between

the MIN and MAX marks.
If fluid level is below MIN seek the

assistance of a workshop.
Brake and clutch fluid 3 254.

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.

206

Vehicle care

Vehicle battery discharge protection

3

 128.

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

Note

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 3 142.

Charging the vehicle battery

9 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 3 246.

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.

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207

● See the Owner's Manual for

further 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.

208

Vehicle care

Bulb 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 notchback

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.

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209

2. Rotate the bulb holder

anticlockwise to disengage.

Withdraw the bulb holder from the

reflector.

3. Detach the bulb from the bulb

holder and replace the bulb.

4. Insert the bulb holder, engaging

the two lugs into the reflector and

rotate clockwise to secure.

5. Fit the cap and rotate clockwise.

High beam (2)

1. Rotate the cap (2) anticlockwise

and remove it.

2. Rotate the bulb holder

anticlockwise to disengage.

Withdraw the bulb holder from the

reflector.

3. Detach the bulb from the bulb

holder and replace the bulb.

4. Insert the bulb holder, engaging

the two lugs into the reflector and

rotate clockwise to secure.

5. Fit the cap and rotate clockwise.

Sidelights/Daytime running light (3)

1. Rotate the cap (3) anticlockwise

and remove it. Use the

screwdriver to rotate the cap.

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Vehicle care

2. Press latches together and

withdraw the bulb holder from the

reflector.

3. Remove the bulb from the socket

and replace the bulb.

4. Insert the bulb holder into the

reflector. Fit the cap and rotate

clockwise.

3-door hatchback

Bi-Halogen Headlight (1) with one

bulb for low and high beam.
Sidelight/Daytime running light (2).

Low/High beam (1)

1. Rotate the cap (1) anticlockwise

and remove it.

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211

2. Rotate the bulb holder

anticlockwise to disengage.

Withdraw the bulb holder from the

reflector.

3. Disengage the bulb holder from

the plug connector by pressing

the retaining lug.

4. Replace the bulb and connect

bulb holder with the plug

connector.

5. Insert the bulb holder, engaging

the two lugs into the reflector and

rotate clockwise to secure.

6. Fit the cap and rotate clockwise.

Sidelight/Daytime running light (2)

1. Rotate bulb socket (2)

anticlockwise to disengage.

Withdraw the bulb socket from the

reflector.

2. Remove the bulb from the socket

by pulling.

3. Replace and insert new bulb into

socket.

4. Insert the bulb socket into the

reflector and turn clockwise.

Adaptive forward lighting

9 Danger

Adaptive forward lighting system

uses Xenon headlights.
Xenon headlights work under

extremely high electrical voltage.

Do not touch. Have bulbs replaced

by a workshop.

Sidelight/Daytime running lights are

designed as Light Emitting Diodes

(LEDs) and cannot be changed.
Bulbs for corner lighting can be

changed.

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Vehicle care

Corner lighting

1. Rotate the cap anticlockwise and

remove it.

2. Rotate the bulb holder

anticlockwise to disengage.

Withdraw the bulb holder from the

reflector.

3. Disengage the bulb from the plug

connector by pulling.

4. Replace the bulb and connect

bulb holder with the plug

connector.

5. Insert the bulb holder, engaging

the two lugs into the reflector and

rotate clockwise to secure.

6. Fit the cap and rotate clockwise.

Fog lights

3-door hatchback

1. Disengage the cover with a

screwdriver in the recess and

remove the cover.

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213

2. Unscrew both screws and remove

light assembly from the bumper.

3. Turn the bulb socket

anticlockwise and remove it from

the reflector housing.

4. Disengage the bulb socket from

the plug connector by pressing

the retaining lug.

5. Remove and replace the bulb

socket with bulb and attach the

plug connector.

6. Insert the bulb socket into the

reflector housing by turning

clockwise and engage.

7. Mount the light assembly by

tightening both screws.

8. Assemble and engage the cover.

4-door notchback

1. Release both caps with a

screwdriver at the marked area.