OPEL MERIVA 2017 Owners Manual

Driving and operating169Checking the tensioning of the
coupling ball bar
● Red marking on rotary knob must
point towards green marking on
coupling ball bar.
● The gap between the rotary knob
and the coupling ball bar must be approx. 5 mm.
Otherwise, the coupling ball bar must be tensioned before being inserted:
Pull out rotary knob and turn
clockwise as far as it will go.
Inserting the coupling ball bar
Insert the tensioned coupling ball bar
in the opening and push firmly
upwards until it audibly engages.
The rotary handle snaps back into its
original position resting against the
coupling ball bar without a gap.9 Warning
Do not touch rotary handle during
insertion.
Lock the coupling ball bar by turning the key clockwise. Remove the key
and close the protective flap.
Eye for break-away stopping cable

170Driving and operatingAttach 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.9Warning
Towing a trailer is permitted only
when a coupling ball bar is fitted correctly. If the coupling ball bardoes not engage correctly, seekthe assistance of a workshop.
Dismounting the detachable
coupling ball bar
Open the protective flap and turn the
key clockwise 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.

Vehicle care171Vehicle careGeneral Information...................172
Accessories and vehicle modifications .......................... 172
Vehicle storage ........................172
End-of-life vehicle recovery .....172
Vehicle checks ........................... 173
Performing work ......................173
Bonnet ..................................... 173
Engine oil ................................. 174
Engine coolant ......................... 175
Power steering fluid .................176
Washer fluid ............................ 176
Brakes ..................................... 176
Brake fluid ............................... 176
Vehicle battery ......................... 177
Diesel fuel system bleeding .....179
Wiper blade replacement ........179
Bulb replacement .......................180
Halogen headlights ..................180
Adaptive forward lighting .........182
Fog lights ................................. 184
Front turn signal lights .............184
Tail lights ................................. 185
Side turn signal lights ..............188
Number plate light ...................188Interior lights ............................ 189
Instrument panel illumination ...189
Electrical system ........................189
Fuses ....................................... 189
Engine compartment fuse box . 191
Instrument panel fuse box .......193
Load compartment fuse box ....194
Vehicle tools .............................. 195
Tools ........................................ 195
Wheels and tyres .......................196
Winter tyres ............................. 196
Tyre designations ....................196
Tyre pressure .......................... 197
Tyre pressure monitoring system .................................... 198
Tread depth ............................. 201
Changing tyre and wheel size . 201
Wheel covers ........................... 202
Tyre chains .............................. 202
Tyre repair kit .......................... 202
Wheel changing .......................207
Spare wheel ............................ 210
Jump starting ............................. 213
Towing ....................................... 214
Towing the vehicle ...................214
Towing another vehicle ...........215Appearance care .......................216
Exterior care ............................ 216
Interior care ............................. 218

172Vehicle careGeneral 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.
Do not make any modifications to the electrical system, e.g. changes of
electronic control units (chip tuning).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.
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. Only entrust this work to an
authorised recycling centre.

Vehicle care173Gas 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 uses
extremely high voltage. Do not
touch.
Bonnet
Opening
Pull the release lever and return it to
its original position.

174Vehicle care
Press the safety catch 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 3 221.
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,
insert it to the stop on the handle, pull
out and read the engine oil level.
Insert dipstick to the stop on the
handle and make half a turn.
Different dipsticks are used
depending on engine variant.

Vehicle care175
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 3 234.
Fit the cap on straight and tighten it.
Engine coolant The coolant provides freeze
protection down to approx. -28 °C.
Caution
Only use approved antifreeze.
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.
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

176Vehicle carethe coolant concentration checked
and have the cause of the coolant
loss remedied by a workshop.
Power steering fluidCaution
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
must not be checked. If an unusual
noise sounds during steering or the
power steering reacts conspicuous
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
a sudden drop in temperature.
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.

Vehicle care177
The brake fluid level must be betweenthe MIN and the MAX marks.
When topping up, ensure maximum cleanliness as contamination of the
brake fluid can lead to brake system
malfunctions. Have the cause of the
loss of brake fluid remedied by a
workshop.
Only use high-performance brake
fluid approved for the vehicle.
Brake and clutch fluid 3 221.
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.
Vehicle battery discharge protection
3 128.
Replacing the vehicle battery
Note
Any deviation from the instructions
given in this paragraph may lead to
a temporary deactivation 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.
In vehicles with an AGM (Absorptive
Glass Mat) battery, make sure to
have the battery replaced with
another AGM battery.

178Vehicle care
An AGM battery can be identified by
the label on the battery. We
recommend the use of an original
Opel vehicle battery.
Note
Using an AGM vehicle battery
different from the original Opel
vehicle battery may result in a lower performance.
9 Warning
When fitting a battery with a length
deviating from the original one, itis essential to ensure a proper
fitting of the buffer element.
We recommend that you have the
vehicle battery replaced by a
workshop.
Stop-start system 3 142.
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 3 213.
Warning label