Spec OPEL ASTRA K 2020 Service Manual

Driving and operating217Driving characteristics and
towing tips
Before attaching a trailer, lubricate
the coupling ball. However, do not do
so if a stabiliser, which acts on the
coupling ball, is being used to reduce snaking movements.
During trailer towing do not exceed a
speed of 80 km/h. A maximum speed
of 100 km/h is only appropriate if an
oscillation damper is used and the
permissible gross trailer weight does
not exceed the vehicle’s curb weight.
For trailers with low driving stability
and caravan trailers, the use of an
oscillation damper is strongly
recommended.
If the trailer starts snaking, drive more slowly, do not attempt to correct the
steering and brake sharply if
necessary.
When driving downhill, drive in the
same gear as if driving uphill and
drive at a similar speed.
Adjust tyre pressure to the value
specified for full load 3 285.Trailer towing
Trailer loads The permissible trailer loads are
vehicle and engine-dependent
maximum values which must not be
exceeded. The actual trailer load is the difference between the actual
gross weight of the trailer and the
actual coupling socket load with the
trailer coupled.
The permissible trailer loads are
specified in the vehicle documents. In general, they are valid for gradients
up to 12%.
The permissible trailer load applies
up to the specified incline and at sea
level. Since engine power decreases
as altitude increases due to the air
becoming thinner, therefore reducing
climbing ability, the permissible gross
train weight also decreases by 10%
for every 1000 m of altitude. The
gross train weight does not have to be reduced when driving on roads with
slight inclines (less than 8%, e.g.
motorways).The permissible gross train weight
must not be exceeded. This weight is
specified on the identification plate
3 276.
Vertical coupling load
The vertical coupling load is the load
exerted by the trailer on the coupling
ball. It can be varied by changing the
weight distribution when loading the
trailer.
The maximum permissible vertical
coupling load is specified on the
towing equipment identification plate
and in the vehicle documents. Always aim for the maximum load, especially in the case of heavy trailers. The
vertical coupling load should never
fall below 25 kg.
Rear axle load When the trailer is coupled and the
towing vehicle fully loaded, the
permissible rear axle load (see
identification plate or vehicle
documents) may be exceeded by 40 kg. If the permissible rear axle load
is exceeded, a maximum speed of
100 km/h applies.

222Vehicle careVehicle careGeneral Information...................222
Accessories and vehicle modifications .......................... 222
Vehicle storage ........................223
End-of-life vehicle recovery .....223
Vehicle checks ........................... 224
Performing work ......................224
Bonnet ..................................... 224
Engine oil ................................. 225
Engine coolant ......................... 226
Washer fluid ............................ 227
Brakes ..................................... 227
Brake fluid ............................... 227
Vehicle battery ......................... 228
Diesel fuel system bleeding .....229
Wiper blade replacement ........230
Bulb replacement .......................230
Halogen headlights ..................230
Front fog lights ......................... 232
Tail lights ................................. 233
Side turn lights ......................... 239
Number plate light ...................240
Interior lights ............................ 240
Electrical system ........................241
Fuses ....................................... 241Engine compartment fuse box . 242
Instrument panel fuse box .......244
Load compartment fuse box ....245
Vehicle tools .............................. 247
Tools ........................................ 247
Wheels and tyres .......................249
Winter tyres ............................. 249
Tyre designations ....................249
Tyre pressure .......................... 249
Tyre pressure monitoring system .................................... 251
Tread depth ............................. 253
Changing tyre and wheel size . 254
Wheel covers ........................... 254
Tyre chains .............................. 255
Tyre repair kit .......................... 255
Wheel changing .......................258
Spare wheel ............................ 259
Jump starting ............................. 263
Towing ....................................... 265
Towing the vehicle ...................265
Towing another vehicle ...........266
Appearance care .......................267
Exterior care ............................ 267
Interior care ............................. 269
Floor mats ............................... 269General Information
Accessories and vehiclemodifications
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, fuel consumption, CO 2
emissions and other emissions of the
vehicle. They may also invalidate the
vehicle operating permit.

Vehicle care223Caution
When transporting the vehicle on
a train or on a recovery vehicle, the
mud flaps might be damaged.
Number plate mounting
To ensure a proper functionality of the
radar system, do not use a number
plate support on the front bumper.
Vehicle storage Storage for a long period of timeIf 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. Note 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. Initialize the power
windows 3 43.
● Check tyre pressure.
● Fill up the washer fluid reservoir.
● Check the engine oil level.
● Check the coolant level.
● Fit the number plate if necessary.
Number plate mounting 3 222.
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.

Vehicle care225If 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 let it 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
3 273.
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 5 minutes.
Pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean,
reinsert fully, pull out and read the
engine oil level.
Different dipsticks are used
depending on engine variant.

Vehicle care233
2. Disengage the plug connector bypressing the retaining lug.
3. Remove and replace the bulb unit
and attach the plug connector.
Note that the bulb and the socket
are one unit and have to be
changed together.
4. Insert the bulb socket into the light
assembly by turning clockwise
and engage.
5. Mount the light assembly by tightening the screws.
6. Attach the faceplate and tighten the screw.
Tail lights
5-door Hatchback
1. Release the cover on the respective side and remove it.
2. Vehicles with tyre repair kit: To replace bulbs on the right side,
first unscrew the plastic nut and
take out the insert with the sealant
bottle.
3. Unscrew the plastic securing nut from the inside by hand.

236Vehicle careOn version with LED tail lights, theposition of the retaining lugs is
slightly different.
6. Remove and replace the bulb:
Tail light ( 1)
Rear fog light ( 2) (left side)
Reverse light ( 2) (right side)
On version with LED tail lights
only reverse light bulb ( 1) can be
removed and replaced.
7. Insert the bulb carrier into the tail light assembly. Attach plug to the
light assembly. Fit light assembly
on the tailgate and tighten the
screw from the inside. Attach
cover.
Depending on the version, tail lights are designed as LEDs. In case of failure, have LEDs replaced by aworkshop.
Sports Tourer
1. Release and open the cover on the respective side.

Vehicle care241Electrical system
Fuses Data on the replacement fuse must
match the data on the defective fuse.
There are three fuse boxes in the
vehicle:
● engine compartment
● instrument panel
● load compartment
Before replacing a fuse, turn off the
respective switch and the ignition.
A blown fuse can be recognized by its melted wire.Caution
Do not replace the fuse until the
cause of the fault has been
remedied.
Some functions are protected by
several fuses.
Fuses may also be inserted without
existence of a function.
Fuse extractor
A fuse extractor may be located in the
fuse box in the engine compartment.
The extractor has two sides, each
side is designed for a different type of fuses.
Grab the fuse with the fuse extractor
and withdraw the fuse.

Vehicle care249Wheels and tyres
Tyre condition, wheel condition
Drive over edges slowly and at right
angles if possible. Driving over sharp
edges can cause tyre and wheel
damage. Do not trap tyres on the kerb when parking.
Regularly check the wheels for
damage. Seek the assistance of a
workshop in the event of damage or
unusual wear.
Winter tyres
Winter tyres improve driving safety at temperatures below 7 °C and should
therefore be fitted on all wheels.
In accordance with country-specific
regulations, affix the speed sticker in
the driver's field of view.
All tyre sizes are permitted as winter
tyres 3 285.Tyre designations
E.g. 215/50 R 16 95 H215:Tyre width, mm50:Cross-section ratio (tyre height
to tyre width), %R:Belt type: RadialRF:Type: RunFlat16:Wheel diameter, inches95:Load index e.g. 95 is
equivalent to 690 kgH:Speed code letter
Speed code letter:
Q:up to 160 km/hS:up to 180 km/hT:up to 190 km/hH:up to 210 km/hV:up to 240 km/hW:up to 270 km/h
Choose a tyre appropriate for the
maximum speed of this vehicle. Refer to the EEC Certificate of Conformity
provided with the vehicle or other national registration documents.
Optional equipment could reduce the
maximum speed of the vehicle.
Directional tyres
Directional tyres should be mountedso that they rotate in the correct
direction. The proper rotation
direction is indicated by a symbol (e.g. an arrow) on the sidewall.
Tyre pressure
Check the pressure of cold tyres at
least every 14 days and before any
long journey. Do not forget the spare
wheel.
This also applies to vehicles with tyre
pressure monitoring system.
Tyre pressure 3 285.

250Vehicle careThe tyre pressure information labelon the left door frame indicates the
original equipment tyres and the
correspondent tyre pressures.
The tyre pressure data refers to cold
tyres. It applies to summer and winter tyres.
Always inflate the spare tyre to the
pressure specified for full load.
The ECO tyre pressure serves to
achieve the smallest amount of fuel
consumption possible.
Make sure tyre loading setting
matches the current tyre pressure.
Tyre loading 3 251.
Incorrect tyre pressures will impair
safety, vehicle handling, comfort and fuel economy and will increase tyre
wear.
Tyre pressures differ depending on
various options.
For the correct tyre pressure value,
follow the procedure below:
● Identify the engine identifier code.Engine data 3 280.
● Identify the respective tyre. ● The tyre pressure tables show all
possible tyre combinations
3 285.
For the tyres approved for your
vehicle, refer to the EEC Certificate of Conformity provided with your vehicle
or other national registration
documents.
The driver is responsible for correct
adjustment of tyre pressure.9 Warning
If the pressure is too low, this can
result in considerable tyre warm-
up and internal damage, leading to tread separation and even to tyre
blow-out at high speeds.
9 Warning
For specific tyres the
recommended tyre pressure as
shown in the tyre pressure table may exceed the maximum tyre
pressure as indicated on the tyre.
Never exceed the maximum tyre
pressure as indicated on the tyre.
If the tyre pressure must be reduced
or increased on a vehicle with tyre
pressure monitoring system, switch
off ignition.
Temperature dependency
The tyre pressure depends on the
temperature of the tyre. During
driving, tyre temperature and
pressure increase. Tyre pressure
values provided on the tyre
information label and tyre pressure
chart are valid for cold tyres, which means at 20 °C.
The pressure increases by nearly
10 kPa for a 10 °C temperature
increase. This must be considered
when warm tyres are checked.
The tyre pressure value displayed in
the Driver Information Centre shows
the real tyre pressure. A cooled down tyre will show a decreased value,which does not indicate an air leak.

254Vehicle care
The legally permissible minimum
tread depth (1.6 mm) has been
reached when the tread has worn
down as far as one of the tread wear
indicators (TWI). Their position is
indicated by markings on the
sidewall.
If there is more wear at the front than
the rear, swap round front wheels and rear wheels periodically. Ensure that
the direction of rotation of the wheels
remains the same.
Tyres age, even if they are not used.
We recommend tyre replacement
every 6 years.
Changing tyre and wheel
size
If tyres of a different size than those
fitted at the factory are used, it may be necessary to reprogramme the
nominal tyre pressure and make
other vehicle modifications.
After converting to a different tyre
size, have the label with tyre
pressures replaced and the tyre
pressure monitoring system
reinitialised 3 251.9 Warning
The use of unsuitable tyres or
wheels may lead to accidents and will invalidate the vehicle
operating permit.
Wheel covers
Wheel covers and tyres that are
factory approved for the respective
vehicle and comply with all of the
relevant wheel and tyre combination
requirements must be used.
If the wheel covers and tyres used are
not factory approved, the tyres must
not have a rim protection ridge.
Wheel covers must not impair brake
cooling.9 Warning
Use of unsuitable tyres or wheel
covers could lead to sudden
pressure loss and thereby
accidents.
Vehicles with steel wheels: When
using locking wheel nuts, do not
attach wheel covers.