towing OPEL MERIVA 2009 User Guide

163
Driving and operation
Coupling socket load
The coupling socket load is the load
exerted by the trailer/caravan on the
coupling ball. It can be varied by changing
the weight distribution when loading the
trailer/caravan.
The maximum permissible coupling socket
load (55 kg) of the towing vehicle is
specified on the towing equipment
identification plate and in the vehicle
documents. This must always be complied
with, particularly in the case of heavy
caravans/trailers. The coupling socket load
should be no less than 25 kg.
When measuring the coupling socket load,
make sure that the drawbar of the loaded
trailer/caravan is at the same height as it
will be when the trailer/caravan is coupled
with the towing vehicle loaded. Particularly
important for trailers/caravans with
tandem axle. Rear axle load during towing
With the trailer connected and the towing
vehicle fully loaded including all
occupants, the permitted rear axle load
(specified on the identification plate and
vehicle documents) must be exceeded by
no more than 25 kg and the maximum
permitted gross vehicle weight by no more
than 30 kg. If the maximum permitted rear
axle load is exceeded, a maximum speed
of 100 km/h applies, and 80 km/h for
commercial vehicles.
Driving characteristics, towing tips
Before attaching th
e trailer/caravan,
lubricate the ball of the trailer/caravan
towing device. However, do not lubricate
the ball if a stabiliser, which acts on the
coupling ball, is being used to damp
hunting.
Check caravan/traile r lighting before
starting to drive. The fog tail lamps on the
vehicle are deactivated when towing a
caravan or trailer.
Trailers with LED turn signals must have a
provision enables lamp monitoring for
commercial bulbs.
Handling is greatly influenced by the
loading of the trailer/caravan. Loads
should therefore be secured so that they
cannot slip and be placed in the centre of
the trailer/caravan if possible, i.e. above
the axle.
In the case of trailers with low driving
stability, do not exceed a speed of 80 km/h;
the use of a friction-type stabiliser is
strongly recommended.

164 Driving and operationIf the trailer/caravan starts to sway, drive
more slowly, do not attempt to correct the
steering and brake sharply if necessary.
If it is necessary to apply the brakes fully,
depress the brake pedal as hard as
possible.
Remember that the braking distance for
vehicles towing carava ns/trailers with and
without brake is always greater than that
for vehicles not towing a caravan/trailer.
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 3228. Starting on inclines
For vehicles with ma
nual transmission,
the most favourable engine speed
when starting off on an incline is
between 2500 and 3000 rpm for petrol
engines and between 2000 and 2500 rpm
for diesel engines. Hold engine speed
constant, engage clutch gradually (let slip)
– release hand brake – and open throttle. If
possible, the engine speed should not drop
during this procedure.
For vehicles with ma nual transmission
automated 3 in Automatic mode simply
apply full gas. Before starting off under extreme
operating conditions, switch off
unnecessary consumers.

165
Self-help, vehicle care
Self-help, vehicle care
Diesel fuel system, bleeding If the tank is allowed to run dry, the diesel
fuel system must be bled. Turn over the
ignition three times for 15 seconds at a
time. Then start the engine for a maximum
of 40 seconds
1). Repeat this process after
no less than 5 seconds. If the engine fails to
start, seek the assistance of a workshop.
Picture no: 16109s.tif
Bonnet Pull the release lever lo cated on the driver’s
side below the instru ment panel and push
it back to its original position.
Diesel fuel system, bleeding ............... 165
Bonnet .................................................. 165
Starting the engine with jump
leads 3............................................. 166
Towing .................................................. 168
Warning triangle ¨ 3,
First-aid kit +3................................. 171
Jack £ 3 and vehicle tools 3............ 171
Spare wheel 3...................................... 172
Changing wheels ................................. 174
Tyre repair kit 3................................... 178
Electrical system .................................. 181
Fuses and the most important circuits they protect ....................................... 182
Bulb replacement ................................ 185
Vehicle care.......................................... 196
1)For technical reasons, only 30 seconds are
possible on engines Y 17 DT and Z 17 DTH

168 Self-help, vehicle careRoute the leads so that they cannot catch
on rotating parts in the engine
compartment.
To start the engine:
1. Start the engine of the vehicle providing the jump start.
2. After 5 minutes, start the other engine. Start attempts shou ld be made at
intervals of 1 minute not last longer
than 15 seconds.
3. Allow both engines to idle for approx. 3 minutes with the leads connected.
4. Switch on electrical consumers (e.g. light, heated rear window) of the vehicle
receiving the jump start.
5. Reverse above sequence exactly when removing leads.
Picture no: 17896s.tif
Towing Towing your own vehicle
Disengage cap at bottom and remove
downwards.
Picture no: 14198s.tif
The towing eye is in the tool kit 3 in the
luggage compartment underneath the
spare wheel 3, see Fig. above, or for
versions with tyre repair kit 3, in the
storage compartment underneath the floor
cover, see Fig. 17918 S.

169
Self-help, vehicle care
Picture no: 17918s.tif
Screw in the towing eye anticlockwise as far
as it will go until it stops in a horizontal
position.
Attach a tow rope 3 – or better still a tow
rod 3 – to the eye.
The towing eye may only be used for
towing and not for recovery of the vehicle. Switch on ignition to release steering
column lock and to permit operation of
brake lamps, horn an
d windscreen wipers.
Gear lever in neutral.
Picture no: 17897s.tif
When the engine is not running,
considerably more force is needed to brake
and steer.
To prevent the entry of exhaust fumes from
the towing vehicle, switch on the air
recirculation 3 and close the windows.
Contact a workshop for assistance.
Caution
Drive slowly. Do not drive jerkily.
Excessive tractive force can damage
the vehicle.

170 Self-help, vehicle careIf the automatic clutch has been manually
disengaged in vehicles with manual
automated transmission 3 towing is not
permitted 3134. In this case, contact a
workshop for assistance immediately.
After towing, unscrew towing eye by
rotating clockwise and insert and close the
cap.
Picture no: 14199s.tif
Towing another vehicle
Attach a tow rope 3 – or better still a tow
rod 3 – to the rear towing eye on the right
side of the vehicle underbody, but never to
the rear axle.
Picture no: 17898s.tif
On some versions, the towing eye is located
behind a cover.
Slacken the screw a quarter turn with a
screwdriver (see Fig.) and remove the
cover.
The towing eye may only be used for
towing and not for recovery of the vehicle.
After towing, fit cover 3 and secure with
bolt.
Caution
Drive slowly. Do not drive jerkily.
Excessive tractive force can damage the
vehicle.

184 Self-help, vehicle care
Picture no: 14436s.tif Picture no:
No. Circuit
42 Engine cooling, lighting
43 Left parking lamp
44 Right parking lamp
45 Fog tail lamp
46 Fog lamps
47 Towing equipment, accessory
socket
48 Diesel filter heater
49 –
50 Diesel filter heater
No. Circuit
51 Left dipped beam:
Xenon headlamp
Halogen headlamp
52 Right dipped beam:
Xenon headlamp
Halogen headlamp
53 Sun roof, electric windows, radio
54 Main beam (left)
55 Main beam (right)
56 –
Picture no: 14213s.tif
Fuse box in engine compartment
The fuse box is at the front left of the
engine compartment.
Disengage cover of fuse box from lug and
lift off.
Some circuits may be protected by several
fuses.
9 Warning
Turn off engine before opening fuse
box, risk of injury.

198 Self-help, vehicle careWindows and windscreen wiper blades
Use a soft lint-free cloth or chamois leather
together with window cleaner and insect
remover.
When cleaning the rear window, make sure
the heating element inside the window is
not damaged.
For mechanical removal of ice, use a sharp-
edged ice scraper. Pre ss the scraper firmly
against the glass so that no dirt can get
under it and scratch the glass.
Clean smearing wiper blades with a soft
cloth and window cleaner. Locks
The locks are lubricated with a high-quality
locking cylinder grease
in the factory. Only
use de-icer in urgent cases, since it has a
de-greasing effect and affects the
operation of the locks. Have the locks re-
greased in a workshop after using de-icer.
Engine compartment
Look after areas in the engine
compartment that are painted in the same
colour as the vehicle like any other
paintwork.
It is advisable to wash the engine
compartment before and after winter and
preserve it with wax. Cover alternator and
brake fluid reservoir with plastic sheets
before washing the engine.
When washing the engine with a steam-jet
cleaner, do not direct the steam jet at
components of the Anti-lock Braking
System 3, the automatic air conditioning
system 3 or the belt drive and its
components.
After an engine wash, have all engine room
components preserved thoroughly by a
workshop using protective wax.
Do not use high-pressure jet cleaners. Underbody
Some areas of the vehicle underbody have
a PVC undercoating while other critical
areas have a durable protective wax
coating.
After the underbody is washed, check the
underbody and have more protective wax
applied if necessary.
Bitumen/rubber materials could damage
the PVC coating. Have underbody work
carried out by a workshop.
Before and after winter, wash the
underbody and have the protective wax
coating checked.
Towing equipment
Do not clean the coupling ball bar with a
steam-jet or high-pressure jet cleaner.

206 Service and maintenanceAdditional service workAdditional work ⊕
Additional work is not always necessary at
each service, but can be carried out at the
same time as a regular service.
T h e c o s t o f th i s t y p e o f w o r k i s n o t i n c l ud e d
in the charge for a regular service and will
be invoiced separately. It is, however, more
c o s t - e f f e c t i v e t o h a v e t h i s w o r k d o n e a t t h e
same time as a scheduled service rather
than have it done separately.
Hard driving conditions o
Conditions are considered hard when one
or more of the following situations occurs
more frequently:
z cold start,
z stop and go,
z caravan/trailer towing,
z inclines or steep climbs,
z poor road conditions,
z sand and dust,
z extreme temperature fluctuations.
Police vehicles, taxis and driving school
vehicles are classified as being subjected to
hard driving conditions. With hard driving conditions it might be
necessary to carry out certain service work
more frequently than the scheduled
intervals.
We recommend seeking technical advice
with regard to servic
ing requirements for
your particular driving circumstances.
Recommended fluids and
lubricants Only use products which have been tested
and approved. Damage caused by using
operating materials which have not been
approved is not covere d by the guarantee.
9 Warning
Operating materials are dangerous and
must be handled carefully. If swallowed,
seek medical help immediately. Do not
breath in fumes and avoid contact with
the skin. Keep away from children.
These materials are forbidden to
contaminate waste water, surface
water, groundwater or soil. Dispose of
empty containers correctly. Always
remember that operating materials are
dangerous.

218 Technical DataTechnical Data
Vehicle dataThe technical data is determined in
accordance with European Community
standards. We reserve the right to make
modifications. Specifications in the vehicle
documents always have priority over those
given in this manual.
Picture no: 14247s.tif
The identification plate is affixed to the
front right door frame.
Vehicle data ......................................... 218
Engine data.......................................... 220
Performance......................................... 222
Fuel consumption, CO
2 -emissions .....
224
Weights, payload and roof load ........ 226
Tyres ..................................................... 228
Capacities ............................................ 230
Dimensions ........................................... 231
Mounting dimensions of towing equipment 3...................................... 232