engine OPEL MERIVA 2009 Owner's Manual

122 Climate controlElectronic climate control
system
3
Provides a the greatest amount of comfort
in the interior regardless of the weather,
outside temperature or season.
To ensure a constant and comfortable
climate in the vehicle, the temperature of
the inflowing air, the air-flow rate and the
air distribution are changed automatically
according to climatic conditions outside
the vehicle.
The climate is regulated automatically
based on personal settings.
Picture no: 16500s.tif
Temperature changes due to external
influences, such as direct sunlight, are
automatically compensated.
When cooling (air conditioning
compressor) is active, air is cooled and
dehumidified.
The pollen filter removes dust, soot, pollen
and spores from the inflowing outside air.
Picture no:
When set to automatic mode, the climate
control system provides the optimal
settings for almost all conditions. If
necessary, climate control system settings
can be modified manually.
The climate control system is only
operational when the engine is running.
If you wish the climate control system 3 to
operate correctly, do not cover the sensor
on the instrument panel.
Cooling (air conditioning compressor)
switches off automatically at low outside
temperatures.

126 Climate control
Picture no: 16506s.tif
Manual air recirculation mode
The air recirculation system prevents the
entry of outside air and the air in the
passenger compartment is circulated. Press button
4, % appears in the air
conditioning display.
To switch off manual air circulation: press
button 4 again.
Picture no: 16507s.tif
Air conditioning with the engine not
running
When the vehicle is stopped and the
ignition off, the residu al heat or cooling in
the system can be used for climate control
in passenger compartment, e.g. when
stopped at a level crossing.
Press AUTO with the ignition off. The
preselected temperature appears in the air
conditioning display. The temperature can
be adjusted with the left-hand rotary knob.
Residual climate control can only operate
for a limited period of time. To cancel,
press the AUTO button.
9 Warning
The exchange of fresh air is reduced in
air circulation mode. The quality of the
passenger compartment air
deteriorates which may cause the
vehicle occupants to feel drowsy. In
operation without cooling the air
humidity increases, so the windows may
mist up. Consequently, the air circulation
system should only be run for short
periods of time.

127
Climate control
Auxiliary heater Depending on outside temperature and
engine temperature, the passenger
compartment of vehicles with Quickheat 3
electric auxiliary heating is warmed up
more quickly.
Diesel-engined vehicles have a fuel-
powered auxiliary heater 3.
Picture no: 14147s.tif
Air intake The air intakes in front of the windscreen on
the far right and left sides of the engine
compartment must be kept clear to allow
air intake. Remove any leaves, dirt or snow. Air outletDo not cover the air outlets when storing
items in the luggage compartment storage
compartments.
Pollen filter The pollen filter cleans dust, soot, pollen
and spores from the air entering from
outside. The active carbon layer 3
eliminates most odours and noxious
environmental gases from the air.

130 Driving and operation
Picture no: 18386s.tif
Starting the engine
When starting the engine, activate the
footbrake at the same time. The engine
can only be started in position N and with
the footbrake activated. The transmission
display shows "N". If the footbrake is not
activated, the control light j 3 in the
instrument panel illuminates and "N"
flashes in the transmission display, the
engine cannot be started.
If no brake lights are operational, the
engine will not start.
Picture no: 14175s.tif
Operation of manual transmission
automated using selector lever
Always move the selector lever all the way
to the stop. Note the gear or mode
indicator in the transmission display.
Move selector lever toward N
Neutral. Selector lever in
o (centre position)
Once the selector lever has been moved
from N to position o (centre position) with
the foot brake operated, the Easytronic is
in automatic mode and first gear has been
selected (second gear with winter
programme enabled). "A" appears in the
transmission display.
When the foot brake is released the vehicle
starts to "creep". If the foot brake is not
operated, "A" flashes. Start off by pressing
the accelerator immediately or more
selector lever back to N and repeat
procedure with foot brake operated.
In Automatic mode, selection of other
gears is automatic irrespective of driving
conditions.

131
Driving and operation
Picture no: 14175s.tif
Selector lever in A/M
Switch between Automatic and Manual
mode.
In manual mode, gears can be selected
manually by moving the selector lever
to
+or
-. The currect gear is indicated in
the transmission display.
If the engine speed is too low the manual
transmission automated will automatically
shift to a lower gear even in Manual mode.
This prevents the engine from stalling. Selector lever in + or -
If a higher gear is selected when the
running speed is too low, or a lower gear
when the speed is too high, the gear
selection will not take place. This prevents
the engine from running at too low or too
high revs.
Gears can be skipped by jogging the
selector lever repeatedly
at short intervals.
When the vehicle is in automatic mode, the
manual transmission automated shifts to
manual mode by moving the selector lever
to position
+ or
-. The correct gear is
indicated on the transmission display.
Selector lever in R
Reverse gear. Engage only when vehicle is
stationary.
Press button on selector lever, select R. The
transmission display shows "R".
If R is selected when the vehicle is in motion,
"R" flashes in the transmission display and
no gear is engaged. Stopping the vehicle
In Automatic or Manual mode, when the
vehicle has stopped first gear (with Winter
mode engaged, second gear) is engaged
automatically and the
clutch released. In R
reverse remains engaged.
If a warning signal sounds when the
driver’s door is opened (foot brake not
depressed), move the selector lever to N
and apply the hand brake.
When stopping on gradients, engage the
hand brake or depress the brake pedal. To
prevent overheating of the clutch, do not
increase engine speed to ensure smooth
idling when in gear.
Switch off engine if stopping for a lengthy
period, e.g. in traffic jams or at level
crossings.
Electronically controlled driving
programmes in automatic mode
z Following a cold start, the operating
temperature program automatically
increases the engine revolutions to bring
the catalytic converter to the required
temperature.
z The adaptive program automatically
selects the gear according to the driving
conditions, e.g. increased load and
gradients.
+
Shift to a higher gear.
-
Shift to a lower gear.

132 Driving and operation
Picture no: 17889s.tif
Winter programme T
In the event of difficulties starting off on
slippery roads, press button T ("A" and T
appear on the transmission display). The
manual transmission automated switches
to automatic mode and the vehicle sets off
in second gear.
The Winter programme is switched off by:
z pressing the T button again.
z turning off the ignition.
z switching to Manual mode.
z when clutch temperature is too high.
Picture no: 13322a.tif
Kickdown
If the accelerator pedal is pressed past the
pressure point, the transmission shifts to a
lower gear depending on engine speed.
During kickdown no manual gear shifting is
possible.
When the engine speed approaches its
upper limit, the transmission shifts to a
higher gear during kickdown even in
Manual mode.
Without kickdown this automatic shift is
not effected in Manual mode. Engine braking
Automatic mode:
When driving downhill, the manual
transmission automated does not shift into
higher gears until a fairly high engine
speed has been reached. When braking,
the manual transmission automated shifts
down in good time.
Manual mode:To utilise the engine br
aking effect, select a
lower gear in good time when driving
downhill.
"Rocking the car"
The selector lever should only be moved
between o (centre position) and R
repeatedly if it beco mes necessary to rock
the vehicle to free it from sand, mud, snow
or a hole. Do not race the engine and avoid
sudden acceleration.

134 Driving and operation
Picture no: 14721s.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 3166.
If the cause is not a flat battery, contact a
workshop for assistance. If the vehicle has
to be moved out of flowing traffic,
disengage clutch.
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
3 171) 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.
Picture no: 15270s.tif
Manual transmissionTo engage reverse, with the vehicle
stationary wait 3 seconds after declutching
and then pull up the bu tton on the selector
lever and engage the gear.
If the gear does not engage, set the lever in
neutral, release the clutch pedal and
depress again; then re peat gear selection.
Do not grind the clutch unnecessarily.
When operating, depress the clutch pedal
completely. Do not use the pedal as a foot
rest (increases clutch wear).
Caution
Do not turn beyond the resistance, since
this can damage the Easytronic.
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
distance.

135
Driving and operation
Driving hintsThe first 1000 km
Drive your vehicle at various speeds. Do
not use full throttle. Never allow the engine
to labour at low revs.
Drive moderately. In all gears, only depress
the accelerator pedal around
3/4 of the way
down.
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, power steering 3).
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.
Electric power steering
3
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
226. 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 retighten 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
3
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 before switching off in
order to protect the turbocharger.

136 Driving and operationSave energy – more kilometres
Please observe the running-in hints on the
previous page and the tips for energy
saving on the following pages.
Good, technically correct and economical
driving ensures maximum durability and
performance for your vehicle.
Overrun cut-off
The fuel supply is automatically cut off
during overrun, e.g. when the vehicle is
driven with a gear engaged but no throttle
application. Overrun cut-off is deactivated
if catalytic converter temperature is high.
Vehicles with turbocharged engine
3
Flow-generated noises may be audible if
the accelerator is released quickly on
account of air flow in the turbocharger.
Engine speed
Drive in a low engine speed range for each
gear as much as possible. Warming up
Allow the engine to wa
rm up while driving.
Do not warm it up by letting it ru n at idling
speed. Do not apply full throttle until the
engine has reached operating
temperature.
After a cold start, the manual transmission
automated 3 does not switch to higher
gears until the speed increases when it is in
automatic mode. This allows the catalytic
converter to reach th e temperature quickly
which is required for optimum emission
reduction.
Correct gear selection
Do not race your engine whilst in neutral or
with a low gear selected. Driving too fast in
individual gears as well as stop-and-go
traffic increases engine wear and fuel
consumption.
Change down
When decreasing speed, shift down into
the next lowest gear. Do not slip the clutch
with a high-revving engine. This is
especially important when hill climbing. Cooling fan
The cooling fan is controlled via a
thermoswitch and therefore only runs if
necessary.
The cooling fan automatically switches on
when the diesel particle filter is being
cleaned
3 depending on the engine.
Pedals
Do not place any objects in the foot well
which could slip under the pedals and
inhibit the pedal travel.
To ensure the pedal travel is uninhibited,
there must be no mats in the area of the
pedals.
Battery care
When driving slowly or when the vehicle is
stationary, e.g. in slow urban traffic, stop-
and-go traffic or traffic jams, turn off all
unnecessary electrical loads where
possible (e.g. heated rear window, heated
front seats, etc.).
Declutch when starting in order to relieve
the strain on the starter and the battery.

137
Driving and operation
Saving fuel, protecting the
environmentTrend-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
3224.
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 immediately after starting.
Warm up the engine by running it at
moderate engine speeds.
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.