engine OPEL AGILA 2009 Owner's Manual

8-6Climate controls
Maintenance
Air intake
The air intakes in front of the
windscreen in the engine
compartment must be kept clear to
allow air intake. Remove any leaves,
dirt or snow.
Pollen filter
The pollen filter cleans dust, soot,
pollen and spores from the air
entering from outside. Replace the pollen filter at the
intervals given in the chapter “Service
and maintenance” 311-2.

9-1 Driving and operating
Driving and
operatingStarting the vehicle
Driving hints
During the first 1000 km (600 miles),
drive your vehicle at various speeds.
Do not use full throttle. Never allow
the engine to labour at low revs.
Make good use of all gears. Depress
the accelerator pedal a maximum of
around three quarters of the available
pedal travel in all gears and drive
ranges.
Do not brake unnecessarily hard for
the first 200 km (125 miles).
When the vehicle is driven for the first
time, wax and oil on the exhaust
system may evaporate, producing
smoke-like emissions which should
not be inhaled. Allow wax and oil to
evaporate while the vehicle is in the
open air.
Never coast with engine not running
as many units may then not function
(e.g. brake servo unit, power
steering, airbag system). Driving in
this manner is a danger to yourself
and others.Pedals
To ensure the pedal travel is
uninhibited, there must be no mats in
the area of the pedals.
Ignition positionsStarting the vehicle ............... 9-1
Transmission ........................ 9-3
Engine exhaust..................... 9-7
Brakes .................................. 9-9
Ride control systems ............ 9-10
Fuel ...................................... 9-12
LOCK = Ignition off
ACC = Steering unlocked,
ignition off
ON = Ignition on, with
diesel engine:
preheating
START = Start (transmission in
neutral)

9-2Driving and operating
To release the steering column lock,
turn ignition key to position ACC and
rotate steering wheel slightly.
Before starting-off, check:
„Tyre pressures and condition.
„Engine oil level and fluid levels in
engine compartment 3 10-3.
„All windows, mirrors, exterior
lighting and license plates are free
from dirt, snow and ice and are
operational.
„Objects are securely located and
will not be thrown forward in the
event of sudden braking.
„Seats, seat belts and mirrors are
correctly adjusted.
„All gauges and control indicators.
„Brake operation.
Starting the engine
With manual transmission in neutral,
depress clutch and foot brake,
(automatic transmission 3 in P or N),
do not accelerate.
Petrol engines: Turn key to START
and release it.
Diesel engines: Turn key to ON,
when preheating control indicator N
extinguishes, turn key to START and
release it.
Preheating system switches on only if
outside temperature is low.
Key returns automatically to ON
position when released.Start attempts should not last longer
than 15 seconds. If engine does not
start, wait 15 seconds before
repeating starting procedure. If
necessary, depress accelerator
before repeating starting procedure.
Parking the vehicle
„Apply the parking brake firmly
without actuating the release
button. On a downhill or uphill
slope, apply as firmly as possible.
Depress foot brake at the same
time to reduce operating forces.
„Push key into ignition switch before
turning to LOCK position and
removing (vehicles with automatic
transmission3: depress foot brake
and shift into P). Turn steering
wheel until lock is felt to engage
(anti-theft protection).
„If the vehicle is parked on a level
surface or a hill, select 1st gear
before switching the ignition off,
(vehicles with automatic
transmission 3: shift into P). Also
turn front wheels away from kerb if
parked on an uphill slope.

9-3 Driving and operating
„If the vehicle is parked on a
downhill slope, select reverse gear
before switching the ignition off,
(vehicles with automatic
transmission 3: shift into P). Also
turn front wheels towards kerb.
„Switch off exterior lamps, otherwise
the headlamp warning device will
sound when the driver’s door is
opened.
„Cooling fans may run on after the
engine has been switched off 3
10-1.
Parking over things that
burn
Do not park vehicle on easily ignitable
surfaces as the hot exhaust system
temperatures could cause the
surface to ignite.
Transmission
Automatic transmission 3
The engine can only be started when
the selector lever is in position P or N.
When starting in P or N, depress foot
brake before selecting a gear, then
release the parking brake.
Do not accelerate whilst gearshifting.
If a gear has been selected and the
foot brake is released without
accelerating, the vehicle will "creep".
Never operate the foot brake and
accelerator simultaneously.
Selecting D puts the transmission in
automatic mode.
Only select 3, 2 or L to prevent
automatic upshifting above the
selected gear or as an aid to engine
braking.
The selected gear is shown in the
transmission display.
Transmission display
Displays the selected mode or
current gear.

9-4Driving and operating
Selector lever settings
Selector lever can only be moved out
of P or N with the ignition switched on
and the foot brake depressed.
Never shift to P or R while the vehicle
is moving.
Gears 3, 2, L
The transmission does not shift
above the selected gear.
The current gear appears in the
transmission display.
Kickdown
Depress accelerator pedal past the
pressure point and hold in position;
below certain speeds, the
transmission shifts down into a lower
gear.
Engine braking assistance
In order to utilize the engine braking
effect when driving downhill, select
drive range 3, 2 or, if necessary, L in
good time. P Park position. Front wheels
locked. Only engage when the
vehicle is stationary and the
parking brake is applied. "P"
appears in the transmission
display.
R Reverse gear. Only engage
when the vehicle is stationary.
"R" appears in the
transmission display.
N Neutral or idle. "N" appears in
the transmission display.
D Drive position for normal
driving in 1st gear to 4th gear.
"D" appears in the
transmission display.
3 Transmission shifts
automatically up to 3rd gear
only. The current gear appears
in the transmission display.
2 2nd gear only. The current
gear appears in the
transmission display.
L 1st gear only. The current gear
appears in the transmission
display.

9-5 Driving and operating
Stopping the vehicle
Engage parking brake and move
selector lever to position P. It will not
be possible to turn the ignition key to
the LOCK position unless the selector
lever is in positionP.
Rocking the vehicle
If it becomes necessary to rock the
vehicle to free it from water, ice, sand,
mud, snow or a dip, observe the
following:
Move the selector lever between R
and a forward gear in a repeat pattern
while applying light pressure to the
accelerator pedal when the vehicle is
in gear.
Do not spin the wheels or race the
engine and avoid sudden
acceleration.
Manoeuvring the vehicle
To manoeuvre the vehicle back and
forth during attempts to park or in
garage entrances, the creeping
movement can be utilized by
releasing the foot brake.
Never actuate the accelerator and
brake pedals simultaneously.
Fault
If there is a problem with the
automatic transmission, control
indicator
s flashes. The transmission
no longer shifts automatically.
Seek the assistance of a workshop to
rectify the cause of the fault.
Interruption of power supply
If the vehicle battery is flat, the
selector lever cannot be moved out of
position P.
Start the vehicle using jump leads 3
10-26.

9-6Driving and operating
If the battery is not the cause of the
fault, release selector lever as
follows:This procedure is for emergency use
only. If repeated use of this procedure
is necessary, or the procedure does
not work as described, seek the
assistance of a workshop.
Manual transmission
Reverse: with the vehicle stationary,
wait 3 seconds after declutching
before engaging gear. If the gear
does not engage, set the lever in
neutral, release the clutch pedal and
depress again; then repeat gear
selection.When driving, do not use the clutch
pedal as a foot rest; this will cause
substantial clutch wear.
1. Apply the parking brake.
2. Switch off engine then turn
key to ignition switch position
ACC or ON.
3. Remove cap concealing
release button and using a
suitable tool, push the button.
Then move selector lever.
On variants with SHIFT LOCK
button3, push button and
move selector lever.

9-7 Driving and operating
Engine exhaust
Diesel particle filter (DPF) 3
The diesel particle filter removes
polluting soot particles out of the
exhaust.
The system contains a self-cleaning
function at certain intervals. The filter
is cleaned by burning the soot
particles at high temperature. This
procedure runs automatically under
certain vehicle conditions and can
take up to 30 minutes, during which
time fuel consumption may increase.
The smell and the noise that occur
are normal.
Self-cleaning may begin
automatically during idling; engine
speed increases and cooling fan
operates automatically.The system cannot automatically
clean itself under certain vehicle
conditions, such as driving short
distances.
If control indicator 8 illuminates, you
should continue driving, and as soon
as the road and traffic situation
permits it, increase speed to more
than 75 km/h (50 mph) and diesel
particle filter cleaning will start.
Cleaning is quicker at faster speeds
and under load. The control indicator
extinguishes as soon as cleaning is
complete.We recommend that you do not turn
the ignition off during cleaning.
If regeneration of the diesel particle
filter is not successful or possible,
control indicator A may illuminate
and the vehicle goes into limp home
mode: interrupt your journey and
seek the assistance of a workshop
immediately.

9-8Driving and operating
Catalytic converter
Controlling exhaust emission
The catalytic converter reduces to a
minimum the proportion of noxious
materials in the exhaust, such as
carbon monoxide (CO),
hydrocarbons (CH) and nitrogen
oxides (NO
x).
Leaded fuel will damage the catalytic
converter and parts of the electronic
system, thereby rendering them
inoperative.„If the engine misfires or runs
roughly after a cold start, the
engine power has reduced
significantly or other unusual
operating problems occur that
indicate a fault in the ignition
system, seek the assistance of a
workshop as quickly as possible.
Drive at a slower speed and with
less engine revs for a short time, if
necessary.
„If unburned fuel enters the catalytic
converter, this may result in
overheating and irreparable
damage to the catalytic converter.
You should therefore avoid
frequent cold starts, unnecessarily
long use of the starter when setting
off, running the tank dry (an
irregular fuel supply leads to
overheating) and starting the
engine by pushing or towing.„If the control indicator for exhaust
emissions Z illuminates whilst
driving, seek the assistance of a
workshop immediately. Control
indicatorZ for exhaust emissions
35-11.
Exhaust gases
Caution
Damage to the catalytic converter or
the vehicle may result if the following
points are not observed.
9 Danger
Engine exhaust gases contain
poisonous carbon monoxide,
which has no colour or odour and
can be lethal if inhaled.
If exhaust fumes penetrate the
vehicle interior, open the windows
and seek the assistance of a
workshop immediately.

9-9 Driving and operating
Brakes
Foot brake
The brake system comprises two
separate brake circuits.
If one brake circuit should fail, the
vehicle can still be braked with the
second remaining circuit.
If this happens, the brake pedal must
be fully depressed with greater pedal
pressure. The distance required for
braking will be greater. Seek the
assistance of a workshop.
In order to utilise the full pedal travel,
particularly in the event of a brake
circuit fault, there must be no mats in
the area of the pedals 3 9-1.
With the engine stopped, the brake
servo assistance is discontinued after
the brake pedal has been depressed
once or twice. The braking effect is
not reduced, but increased foot
pressure will be necessary. Take
extra care if the vehicle is being
towed.
Brake system control indicator 3 5-9.
Anti-lock Brake System
(ABS) u
The ABS prevents the wheels from
locking during heavy braking.
It starts to regulate braking pressure
as soon as a wheel shows a tendency
to lock. The vehicle remains
steerable, even during heavy braking,
e.g. on bends or when swerving to
avoid an obstacle. Even in the case of
extreme braking, ABS makes it
possible to drive round obstacles
without releasing the foot brake.
ABS control indicator 3 5-9.
Fault
Have the cause of the fault remedied
by a workshop.
Parking brake
Always apply the parking brake firmly
without actuating the release button.
Apply as fully as possible on uphill or
downhill inclines.
To release the parking brake, press
and hold the button, pull the lever up
slightly and lower lever while holding
the button in.
To reduce the operating forces of the
parking brake, depress the foot brake
at the same time.
Brake system control indicator 3 5-9.
Caution
If there is a fault in the ABS, the
wheels may lock during heavy
braking. This may cause the vehicle
to swerve.