Opel Karl (2019 year). Manual - part 7

102

Climate control

Press A/C again to switch off cooling.
The air conditioning system cools and

dehumidifies (dries) as soon as the

outside temperature is slightly above

the freezing point. Therefore

condensation may form and drip from

under the vehicle.
If no cooling or drying is required,

switch off the cooling system for fuel

saving reasons.
Activated cooling might inhibit

Autostops.
Stop-start system 3 107.

Air recirculation mode 4

Press 4 to activate air recirculation

mode. The LED in the button

illuminates to indicate activation.
Press 4 again to deactivate air

recirculation mode.

9 Warning

The exchange of fresh air is

reduced in air recirculation mode.

In operation without cooling, the

air humidity increases, so the

windows may mist up from inside.

The quality of the passenger

compartment air deteriorates,

which may cause the vehicle

occupants to feel drowsy.

In warm and very humid ambient air

conditions, the windscreen may mist

up from outside when cold air is

directed towards it. If windscreen

mists up from outside, activate

windscreen wiper.

Maximum cooling

Briefly open the windows so that hot

air can disperse quickly.

● Switch on cooling A/C.
● Switch on Air recirculation

system 4.

● Set temperature control to

coldest level.

● Set fan speed to highest level.
● Set air distribution control to M.
● Open all vents.

Air vents

Adjustable air vents

At least one air vent must be open

while the cooling is on.

Direct the flow of air by tilting the slats.

9 Warning

Do not attach any objects to the

slats of the air vents. Risk of

damage and injury in case of an

accident.

Climate control

103

Fixed air vents

Additional air vents are located

beneath the windscreen and door

windows and in the foot wells.

Maintenance

Air intake

The air intake in front of the

windscreen in the engine

compartment must be kept clear to

allow air intake. Remove any leaves,

dirt or snow.

Air conditioning regular

operation

In order to ensure continuously

efficient performance, cooling must

be operated for a few minutes once a

month, irrespective of the weather

and time of year. Operation with

cooling is not possible when the

outside temperature is too low.

Service

For optimal cooling performance, it is

recommended to annually check the

climate control system, starting

three years after initial vehicle

registration, including:

● functionality and pressure test
● heating functionality
● leakage check
● check of drive belts
● cleaning of condenser and

evaporator drainage

● performance check

Note

Refrigerant R-134a contains

fluorinated greenhouse gases.

104

Driving and operating

Driving and

operating

Driving hints ............................... 104

Control of the vehicle ............... 104

Steering ................................... 105

Starting and operating ............... 105

New vehicle running-in ............ 105

Ignition switch positions ........... 105

Retained power off .................. 106

Starting the engine .................. 107

Overrun cut-off ........................ 107

Stop-start system .................... 107

Parking .................................... 109

Engine exhaust .......................... 110

Catalytic converter ................... 110

Manual transmission .................. 111
Brakes ........................................ 112

Antilock brake system ............. 112

Parking brake .......................... 113

Brake assist ............................. 113

Hill start assist ......................... 113

Ride control systems ................. 114

Traction Control system .......... 114

Electronic Stability Control ...... 115

City mode ................................ 115

Driver assistance systems ......... 117

Cruise control .......................... 117

Speed limiter ........................... 118

Parking assist .......................... 119

Lane departure warning .......... 121

Fuel ............................................ 122

Fuel for petrol engines ............. 122

Refuelling ................................ 123

Driving 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.
All systems function during an

Autostop.
Stop-start system 3 107.

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 appears in the Driver

Information Centre.

Pedals

To ensure the pedal travel is

uninhibited, there must be no mats in

the area of the pedals.

Driving and operating

105

Use only floor mats, which fit properly

and are fixed by the retainers on the

driver side.

Driving downhill

Engage a gear when driving downhill

to ensure that sufficient brake

pressure is available.

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 72.

Caution

Vehicle equipped with electric

power steering:
If the steering wheel is turned until

it reaches the end of its travel and

is held against that position for an

extended period of time, power

steering assistance may be

reduced.

If the steering assistance is used

for an extended period of time,

power assistance may be

reduced.
Power steering assistance should

return back to normal when the

system has cooled down.

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.
Autostop may be inhibited to allow for

charging of the vehicle battery.

Ignition switch positions

Turn key:

106

Driving and operating

0 : ignition off: Some functions

remain active until key is

removed or driver's door is

opened, provided the ignition was

on previously

1 : accessory power mode: Steering

wheel lock released, some

electrical functions are operable,

ignition is off

2 : ignition on power mode: Ignition

is on. Control indicators

illuminate and most electrical

functions are operable. To turn

the key from position 2 to 1 or 0,

first push the key all the way in

towards the steering column

3 : engine start: Release key after

starting procedure begins

To turn off the vehicle:

1. Make sure the vehicle is stopped.

2. Push the key all the way in

towards the steering column, then

turn the key to position 0.

3. Remove the key.
4. Apply the parking brake.

Steering wheel lock

The steering wheel is automatically

locked when the key is removed.

9 Danger

Never remove the key from

ignition switch during driving as

this will cause steering wheel lock.

Retained power off

The following electronic systems are

operable until the driver's door is

opened or at the latest for

10 minutes after the ignition is

switched off:

● power windows
● power outlets
● power sunroof

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 is opened.

Driving and operating

107

Starting the engine

Turn key to position 1 to release the

steering wheel lock.
Operate clutch and brake pedal.
Do not operate the accelerator pedal.
Turn key briefly to position 3 and

release: an automatic procedure

operates the starter after a brief

delay, until 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

The start of the engine without

additional heaters is possible down to

-30 °C.
Required is an engine oil with the

correct viscosity, the correct fuel,

performed services and a sufficiently

charged vehicle battery.

Automatic starter control

This function controls the engine

starting procedure. The driver does

not need to hold the key in position 3.

Once applied, the system will go on

starting automatically until the engine

is running. Because of the checking

procedure, the engine starts running

after a short delay.
Possible reasons for a non-starting

engine:

● clutch pedal not operated
● timeout occurred

Turbo engine warm-up

Upon start-up, engine available

torque may be limited for a short time,

especially when the engine

temperature is cold. The limitation is

to allow the lubrication system to fully

protect the engine.

Overrun cut-off

The fuel supply is automatically cut off

during overrun, i.e. when the vehicle

is driven with a gear engaged but

accelerator is released.
Depending on driving conditions, the

overrun cut-off may be deactivated.

Stop-start system

The stop-start system helps to save

fuel and to reduce the exhaust

emissions. When conditions allow, it

switches off the engine as soon as the

vehicle is at a low speed or at a

standstill, e.g. at a traffic light or in a

traffic jam.
The engine is started automatically as

soon as the clutch is depressed.

108

Driving and operating

A vehicle battery sensor ensures that

an Autostop is only performed if the

vehicle battery is sufficiently charged

for a restart.

Activation

The stop-start system is available as

soon as the engine is started, the

vehicle starts-off and the conditions

as stated below in this section are

fulfilled.

Deactivation

Deactivate the stop-start system

manually by pressing Ï. The

deactivation is indicated when the

LED in the button extinguishes.

Autostop

If the vehicle is at a low speed or at a

standstill, activate an Autostop as

follows:

● Depress the clutch pedal.
● Set the lever in neutral.
● Release the clutch pedal.

The engine will be switched off while

the ignition stays on.

Indication

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.

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.

Driving and operating

109

● The brake vacuum is sufficient.
● 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 further

information 3 99.
Immediately after motorway driving

an Autostop may be inhibited.
New vehicle running-in 3 105.

Vehicle battery discharge protection

To ensure reliable engine restarts,

several vehicle battery discharge

protection features are implemented

as part of the stop-start system.

Power saving measures

During an Autostop, several electrical

features, e.g., the rear window

heating, 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.
If the selector lever is shifted out of

neutral before depressing the clutch

pedal first, control indicator -

illuminates or is shown as a symbol in

the Driver Information Centre.
Control indicator - 3 71.

Restart of the engine by the stop-

start system

The selector lever must be in neutral

to enable an automatic restart.
If one of the following conditions

occurs during an Autostop, the

engine will be restarted automatically

by the stop-start system:

● The stop-start system is

manually deactivated.

● The bonnet is opened.
● The driver's seat belt is

unfastened and the driver's door

is opened.

● The engine temperature is too

low.

● The charging level of the vehicle

battery is below a defined level.

● The brake vacuum is not

sufficient.

● The vehicle is driven at least at

walking speed.

● The climate control system

requests an engine start.

● The air conditioning is manually

switched on.

If the bonnet is not fully closed, a

warning message is displayed in the

Driver Information Centre.
If an electrical accessory, e.g. a

portable CD player, is connected to

the power outlet, a brief power drop

during restart might be noticeable.

Parking

9 Warning

● Do not park the vehicle on an

easily ignitable surface. The

high temperature of the

exhaust system could ignite the

surface.

110

Driving and operating

● 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.

● Switch off the engine.
● If the vehicle is on a level

surface or uphill slope, engage

first gear before removing the

ignition key. On an uphill slope,

turn the front wheels away from

the kerb.
If the vehicle is on a downhill

slope, engage reverse gear

before removing the ignition

key. Turn the front wheels

towards the kerb.

● Close the windows and the

sunroof.

● Remove the ignition key from

the ignition switch. Turn the

steering wheel until the

steering wheel lock is felt to

engage.

● Lock the vehicle.
● Activate the anti-theft alarm

system.

● The engine cooling fans may run

after the engine has been

switched off 3 128.

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

approx. 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.

Engine exhaust

9 Danger

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.

Catalytic converter

The catalytic converter reduces the

amount of harmful substances in the

exhaust gases.

Driving and operating

111

Caution

Fuel grades other than those listed

on pages 3 122, 3 171 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.

Manual transmission

To engage reverse, depress the

clutch pedal and engage the reverse

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.

Caution

It is not advisable to drive with the

hand resting on the selector lever.

Upshift indication 3 72.
Stop-start system 3 107.

112

Driving and operating

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 the 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 71.

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 72.

Adaptive brake light

During full braking, all three brake

lights flash for the duration of ABS

control.

Fault

9 Warning

If there is a fault in the ABS, the

wheels may be liable to lock due

to braking that is heavier than

normal. The advantages of ABS

are no longer available. During

hard braking, the vehicle can no

longer be steered and may

swerve.

Have the cause of the fault remedied

by a workshop.

Driving and operating

113

Parking brake

Manual parking brake

9 Warning

Always apply parking brake firmly

without operating the release

button, and apply as firmly as

possible on a downhill or uphill

slope.
To release the parking brake, pull

the lever up slightly, press the

release button and fully lower the

lever.

To reduce the operating forces of

the parking brake, depress the

brake pedal at the same time.

Control indicator R 3 71.

Brake assist

If the brake pedal is depressed

quickly and forcefully, maximum

brake force is automatically applied

(full braking).
Maintain steady pressure on the

brake pedal for as long as full braking

is required. Maximum brake force is

automatically reduced when the

brake pedal is released.

Hill start assist

The system helps prevent unintended

movement when driving away on

inclines.
When releasing the brake pedal after

stopping on an incline, the brakes

remain on for a further 2 seconds. The

brakes release automatically as soon

as the vehicle begins to accelerate or

the 2 seconds holding time is over.

The hill start assist is only active when

the engine is running.

114

Driving and operating

Ride control systems

Traction Control system

The Traction Control system (TC) is a

component of the Electronic Stability

Control (ESC).
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 start 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 the 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.

Deactivation

TC can be switched off when spinning

of drive wheels is required: press t

briefly.

Control indicator k illuminates.
When TC is deactivated, ESC

remains active.
TC is reactivated by pressing t again.
TC is also reactivated the next time

the ignition is switched on.

Fault

If there is a fault in the system the

control indicator b illuminates

continuously and a warning code

appears in the Driver Information

Centre. The system is not

operational.
Have the cause of the fault remedied

by a workshop.

Driving and operating

115

Electronic Stability Control

Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

improves driving stability when

necessary, regardless of the type of

road surface or tyre grip.
As soon as the vehicle starts to

swerve (understeer / oversteer),

engine output is reduced and the

wheels are braked individually.
ESC operates in combination with the

Traction Control system (TC). It

prevents the drive wheels from

spinning.

ESC is operational after each engine

start as soon as the control indicator

b

 extinguishes.

When ESC 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 72.

Deactivation

For very high-performance driving

ESC can be deactivated:
Press and hold t for a minimum of

5 seconds. Control indicator t

illuminates.

ESC is reactivated by pressing t

again. If the TC system was

previously disabled, both TC and

ESC are reactivated. k and t

extinguish when TC and ESC are

reactivated.
ESC is also reactivated the next time

the ignition is switched on.

Fault

If there is a fault in the system, the

control indicator b illuminates

continuously and a warning code

appears in the Driver Information

Centre. The system is not

operational.
Have the cause of the fault remedied

by a workshop.

City mode

City mode is a feature which enables

increased steering assistance during

lower speed conditions, e.g. city

traffic or parking. Steering assistance

is increased for greater convenience.

116

Driving and operating

Activation

Press B when engine is running. The

system works from standstill up to

60 km/h, and also in reverse gear.

Above this speed, the system

changes to normal mode. When

activated, City mode engages

automatically below 60 km/h.
An illuminated LED in the City mode

button indicates that the system is

active and a message pops-up in the

Driver Information Centre.
City mode remains active during an

Autostop, but is only operational

when the engine is running.
Stop-start system 3 107.

Deactivation

Press B. The LED in the button

extinguishes.
Each time the engine is started, City

mode is deactivated.

Overload

If the steering in City mode is heavily

loaded, e.g. in long parking

manoeuvres or heavy city traffic, the

system is deactivated for overheat

protection. Steering operates in

normal mode until City mode

activates automatically.

Fault

In the event of a fault in the system,

control indicator c illuminates.
Vehicle messages 3 81.

Driving and operating

117

Driver assistance

systems

9 Warning

Driver assistance systems are

developed to support the driver

and not to replace the driver's

attention.
The driver accepts full

responsibility when driving the

vehicle.
When using driver assistance

systems, always take care

regarding the current traffic

situation.

Cruise control

The cruise control can store and

maintain speeds of approx. 25 km/h

to 170 km/h. Deviations from the

stored speeds may occur when

driving uphill or downhill.
For safety reasons, the cruise control

cannot be activated until the brake

pedal has been operated once.

Activating in first gear is not possible.

Do not use the cruise control if it is not

advisable to maintain a constant

speed.
Control indicator m 3 74.

Switching on the system

Press m; control indicator m in

instrument cluster illuminates white.

Activation of the functionality

Accelerate to the desired speed and

turn thumb wheel to SET/-, the

current speed is stored and

maintained. Control indicator m in

instrument cluster illuminates green.

Set speed is indicated on the display.

Accelerator pedal can be released.
Vehicle speed can be increased by

depressing the accelerator pedal.

When the accelerator pedal is

released, the previously stored speed

is resumed.
Cruise control remains activated

while gearshifting.

Increase speed

With cruise control active, hold thumb

wheel turned to RES/+ or briefly turn

to RES/+ repeatedly: speed

increases continuously or in small

increments.
Alternatively accelerate to the desired

speed and store by turning to SET/-.