brake OPEL CORSA 2009 Owner's Manual

143
Driving and operation
Picture no: 18308s.tif
Interruption of power supply
The clutch is not disengaged if there is an
interruption of the power supply when a
gear is engaged. The vehicle cannot move.
If the battery is flat, start the car using
jump leads 3191. If the cause of the power supply
interruption is not a flat battery, contact a
workshop for assistance. If the vehicle has
to be moved out of flowing traffic,
disengage clutch as follows:
1. Apply hand brake and switch off
ignition.
2. Open bonnet and engage support.
3. Clean transmission around the cap (see Fig.) so that no dirt can get into
the opening when the cap is removed.
4. Rotate cap to slacken and remove by lifting upwards – see figure.
5. Turn the adjusting screw clockwise using a flathead screwdriver (vehicle
tools 3 3198) until clear resistance can
be felt. The clutch has now been
disengaged. 6. Fit cleaned cap again. The cap must be
in full contact with the housing.
Contact a workshop for assistance
immediately.
Caution
Do not turn any further after feeling
resistance, since this can damage the
manual transmission automated.
Caution
Towing the vehicle and starting the
engine is not permitted when the clutch
has been released in this way, although
the vehicle can be moved a short dis-
tance.
Back to overview

145
Driving and operation
Picture no: 18233s.tif
Selector lever positions P, R, N and D The selector lever can only be moved
from
P when the ignition is switched on
and the foot brake depressed (selector
lever lock).
To engage P or R, push button on selector
lever.
The engine can only be started with lever in
position P or N . When position N is selected,
press foot brake or engage hand brake
before starting.
Do not accelerate while engaging a gear.
Never depress the accelerator pedal and
brake pedal at the same time.
When a gear is engaged, the vehicle slowly
begins to creep when the brake is released. Gears 3, 2, 1
Press button on selector lever to
engage
3or 1.
Only select 3, 2 or 1 to prevent automatic
upshifting or as an aid in engine braking.
P Park position. Fron t wheels blocked.
Engage only when the vehicle is
stationary and the hand brake is
applied.
R Reverse gear. Engage only when
vehicle is stationary.
N Neutral.
D Continuous mode for normal driving
conditions in 1st to highest gear.
3, 2, 1 Transmission does not shift above
the selected gear.
Back to overview

147
Driving and operation
Engine braking
In order to utilise the engine braking
effect when driving downhill, select drive
range 3,2 or, if necessary, 1 in good time.
Gear 1 has the greatest braking effect. If
gear 1 is selected at too great a speed
the transmission remains in 2nd until the
shifting point for 1st gear is achieved by
braking, for example.
"Rocking the car"
If it becomes necessary to rock the vehicle
to free it from sand, mud, snow or a hole,
move the selector lever from D to R
repeatedly. Do not race the engine and
avoid sudden acceleration.
Picture no: 18230s.tif
Manoeuvring the vehicle
To manoeuvre the vehicle back and forth
during attempts to park or in garage
entrances, the vehicle’s creeping
movement can be utilis ed by releasing the
brake pedal.
Never actuate accelerator and brake
pedals simultaneously. Stopping the vehicle
The selector lever can be left in the chosen
gear with the engine running.
When stopping on gr
adients engage hand
brake or depress brake pedal. To prevent
overheating of the transmission, do not
increase engine revolutions to ensure
smooth idling while standing if a gear has
been selected.
Switch off engine if stopping for a lengthy
period, e.g. in traffic jams or at level
crossings.
Before leaving the car, apply the hand
brake first, then select P. Remove the
ignition key. Lock the vehicle. Otherwise
the battery may become discharged if the
vehicle is parked for long periods.
The ignition key can only be removed when
the selector lever is in position P.
Back to overview

148 Driving and operation
Picture no: 18231s.tif
Fault
If there is a fault, warning lamp A lights
up. Gear shifting is no longer automatic. It
is possible to continue driving.
Have cause of fault remedied by a
workshop.
2nd gear is not available. Manual shifting:
Picture no: 18235s.tif
Interruption of power supply
If there is an electrical power failure, the
selector lever cannot be moved out of
position P.
If the battery is flat, start the car using
jump leads 3191.
If the battery is not the cause of the fault,
release selector lever:
1. Apply hand brake.
2. Release selector lever panelling from centre console at front, roll upward and
rotate to the left.
Picture no: 18236s.tif
3. Push the yellow catch forward with a
screwdriver and move the selector lever
out of P.
4. Mount selector lever trim on centre console and refit.
Re-selecting P locks the system again.
Have cause of power supply interruption
remedied by a workshop.
1 =1st gear
2 =3rd gear
3, D =4th gear
Back to overview

149
Driving and operation
Driving hints The first 1000 km
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 about
3/4
of the available pedal travel in all gears.
Do not drive faster than three quarters of
maximum speed.
Do not brake unnecessarily hard for the
first 200 km.
During the first drive smoke may develop
because of wax and oil evaporating on the
exhaust system. Park the vehicle in the
open for a while after the first drive and
avoid inhaling the fumes.
Fuel and engine oil consumption is higher
than normal during the running-in period.
Never coast with engine not running
Many units will not function in this situation
(e.g. brake servo unit, electro-hydraulic
power steering). Driving in this manner is a
danger to yourself and others. Brake servo unit
When the engine is not running, the brake
servo unit is no longer effective once the
brake pedal has been depressed once or
twice. Braking effect is not reduced, but
significantly greater force is required for
braking.
Electro-hydraulic power assisted steering
If the power assisted steering fails when
being towed with the engine switched off,
the vehicle can still be steered, but
considerably more force is required.
Driving in mountainous terrain or with a
trailer/caravan
The cooling fan is elec
trically operated. Its
cooling power is therefore independent of
the engine speed.
Since a considerable amount of heat is
generated at high engine speeds and less
at slower speeds, do not shift down when
climbing hills whilst the vehicle is still coping
with the gradient in the higher gear. Driving with a roof load
Do not exceed the permissible roof load
3
173, 3259. For reasons of safety,
distribute the load evenly and secure it
properly with retaining straps. Adjust tyre
pressure to load conditions. Do not drive
faster than 120 km/h. Check and re-tighten
the straps frequently. Observe country-
specific regulations.
Switching off the engine
When you switch off, fans in the engine
compartment may continue running for a
time to cool the engine.
If the engine temperature is very high, e.g.
after driving in mountainous terrain: allow
the engine to idle for approximately two
minutes in order to prevent heat
accumulation.
Vehicles with turbocharged engine
After running at high engine speeds or
high engine loads, operate the engine
briefly at a low load or run in neutral for
approx. 30 seconds befo re switching off
in order to protect the turbocharger.
Back to overview

151
Driving and operation
Saving fuel, protecting
the environment Trend-setting technology
Environmentally friendly and mainly
recyclable materials were used when your
vehicle was being developed and
manufactured. The production methods
used to make your vehicle are also
environmentally-compatible.
Recycling of production wastes keeps the
circulation of material closed. Reduction of
energy and water requirements also helps
to conserve natural resources.
A highly advanced design means that your
vehicle can be easily disassembled at the
end of its working life, and the individual
materials separated for subsequent re-use.
Materials such as asbestos and cadmium
are not used. The refrigerant in the air
conditioning system 3 is CFC-free.
New painting techniques employ water as
a solvent. End-of-life vehicle recovery
Information on end-of-life vehicle recovery
centres and the recycling of end-of-life
vehicles is availabl
e at www.opel.com.
Energy and environment-conscious
driving
z High noise levels and exhaust emissions
are often a result of driving without due
attention to saving energy and
protecting the environment.
z You should therefore drive with energy in
mind: "more miles – less fuel".
Reduce the noise level and exhaust
emissions by adopting an environment-
conscious driving style. This is extremely
worthwhile and improves the quality of
life.
Fuel consumption depends to a great
extent on your own personal driving
style. The following hints are intended to
help you consume fuel at a rate that is as
close as possible to the specified levels
3256.
Check your vehicle’s fuel consumption
every time you refuel. This facilitates
early detection of any irregularities
causing increased fuel consumption. Warming up
z
Full throttle and warming up at idle
speed increase wear, fuel consumption,
exhaust emission, the amount of
pollutant in the exhaust and the amount
of noise.
z Drive off as soon as possible after
starting.
Uniform speed
z Hectic driving significantly increases fuel
consumption, the exhaust emissions, the
proportion of pollutant in the exhaust
gas and the noise level.
z Do not accelerate and brake
unnecessarily. Drive at uniform speed,
watching the road.
Avoid frequent starting off and stopping
e.g. at traffic lights, in short distance
traffic and in queues of traffic by means
of clever planning. Select roads with
good traffic flow.
Idling
z The engine also consumes fuel when
idling.
z If you have to wait for more than one
minute, it is worthwhile switching off the
engine. Five minutes of idling
corresponds to approximately one
kilometre of driving.
Back to overview

159
Driving and operation
Drive Control Systems Electronic Stability Program
(ESP
®Plus
) 3
ESP®
Plus
improves driving stability when
necessary in any driving situation
regardless of the type of road surface or
tyre grip. It also prevents the drive wheels
from spinning.
As soon as the vehicle starts to swerve
(understeer/oversteer), engine output is
reduced and the wheels are braked
individually. This considerably improves
the driving stability of the vehicle on
slippery road surfaces.
ESP®
Plus
is ready for operation as soon as
the ignition is switched on and control
indicator v goes out.
When the ESP®
Plus
comes into action,
v flashes. The vehicle is now in
a critical situation;
ESP®
Plus
allows you to keep control of the
vehicle and reminds you to match your
speed to the road conditions.
Picture no: 18252s.tif
Control indicator
v
The warning lamp lights up for a few
seconds when the ignition is switched on.
The system is now ready for operation.
Flashing during driving:
This shows the system has come into
action. The engine output may be reduced
(the sound of the engine changes) and the
vehicle may be braked automatically to a
small degree.
Illuminates while driving:
The system is switched off 3 or a fault is
present. Continued driving is possible.
However, directional control may
deteriorate depending on the road surface
conditions.
Switch on ESP®
Plus
again and have cause
of fault remedied by a workshop. The self-
diagnosis that is integrated in the system
will help you to find a solution quickly.
9
Warning
Do not let this special safety feature
tempt you into taking risks when driving.
ESP®
Plus
does not negate the laws of
physics.
Adapt speed to the road conditions.
Back to overview

160 Driving and operation
Picture no: 18470s.tif
Switching off
3
ESP®
Plus
can be deactivated by pressing
button v 3 .
Switching off is indicated by the control
indicator v lighting up in the
instrument. Also appears on the service
display ESPoff391.
Pressing the v button again or turning on
the ignition switches the ESP®
Plus
on again. Cruise control
3
Cruise control can store and maintain
speeds between 30 and 200 km/h.
Deviation from the stored speed may occur
when driving up or downhill.
For safety reasons the cruise control
system cannot be activated until the foot
brake has been operated, otherwise the
control indicator flashes m.
Cruise control is operated with switch m, g,
and button 0 on the turn signal stalk.
Do not use the cruise control if it is not
advisable to maintain a constant speed
(e.g. in situations presenting a danger to
yourself and other road users, in heavy
traffic or on winding, slippery or greasy
roads). With automatic transmission
3, engage
cruise control only in D, or with manual
transmission automated 3 in automatic
mode only.
9
Warning
If the vehicle has run-flat tyres 3 the
ESP®
Plus
must not be deactivated with
depressurised tyres.
9
Warning
When the cruise control is active, reac-
tion times may be increased due to the
different position of the feet.
Back to overview

161
Driving and operation
Picture no: 18253s.tif
Control indicator
m
When driving, the control indicator m
illuminates as soon as the cruise control is
switched on.
If the cruise control is switched on before
the brake has been applied once, the
control indicator flashes m.
Picture no: 18168s.tif
To activate Turn switch m up and release. The current
speed is stored and maintained. The
accelerator pedal may be released.
Vehicle speed can be increased by
depressing the accelerator pedal. When
the accelerator pedal is released, the
previously stored speed is resumed.
Increase When cruise control is engaged, turn
switch m upwards and hold, or turn briefly
several times: continuous or stepwise
increase of the speed in 2 km/h increments.
After releasing, the current speed is stored
and maintained. Decelerate
When cruise control is engaged, turn
switch
g downwards and hold, or turn
briefly several times: continuous or
stepwise reduction of the speed in 2 km/h
increments.
After releasing, the current speed is stored
and maintained.
To deactivate Tap button 0: this switches the cruise
control off. Warning lamp m goes out.
Automatic deactivation:
z Vehicle speed below approx. 30 km/h.
z The brake pedal is depressed.
z The clutch pedal is depressed 3.
z Selector lever for automatic
transmission 3 or manual
transmission automated 3 in N.
Stored speedThe speed is saved until the ignition is
switched off.
To reset the saved speed at over 30 km/h,
turn switch g downwards.
Back to overview

165
Driving and operation
Picture no: 17206t.tif
Hydraulic brake system The foot brake comprises two independent
brake circuits.
If a brake circuit fails, the vehicle can still be
braked using the other brake circuit.
However, the brake pedal must be
depressed a considerable way before any
braking effect occurs, and much more
force is required. The braking distance is
longer. Contact a workshop for assistance
before continuing to drive. To ensure that full
pedal travel can be
utilised, especially in case of a fault in one
of the brake circuits, there must be no mats
in the vicinity of the pedals 3150.
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. This is especially important
to bear in mind when towing.
The brake fluid level should be checked
regularly. If the brake fluid level is too low
and the hand brake is not applied, control
indicator R on the instrument panel
illuminates 389.
Picture no: 18257s.tif
Brake system control indicator R
The control indicator lights up when the
ignition is switched on when the hand
brake is applied or when the brake or
clutch fluid level is too low. Brake fluid
level 3246.
For vehicles with manual transmission
automated 3, the control indicator flashes
for a few seconds when the ignition is
turned off when the hand brake is not
applied.
9
Warning
If the control indicator illuminates when
the hand brake is released, stop driving
immediately. Contact a workshop for
assistance.
Back to overview