maintenance OPEL MERIVA 2009 Owner's Manual

212 Service and maintenanceDiesel fuel filter On the event of engine oil change, have
fuel filter checked for possible water
residue by a workshop.
Illumination of A indicates water in the
fuel filter 3.
Have fuel filter checked at shorter intervals
if the vehicle is subjected to extreme
operating conditions such as high humidity
(primarily in coastal areas), extremely high
or low outside temperatures and
substantially varying daytime and
night-time temperatures.
Coolant The coolant provid es anti-freeze
protection down to approx. -28 C. .
Picture no: 17905s.tif
Antifreeze and corrosion protection
Have the concentration of the radiator
contents tested by a workshop before
winter starts. The amount of antifreeze
must provide protection down to
approx. -28 C. A lower antifreeze
concentration will reduce the amount of
protection from fros t and corrosion. Add
antifreeze if necessary.
If coolant loss is topped up with water,
have concentration checked and add
antifreeze if necessary.
Caution
Only use approved anti-freeze.
Coolant additives used to give
additional protection against corrosion
and prevention against small leaks can
lead to functional problems. No liability
is accepted for damage caused by using
coolant additives.
9 Warning
Antifreeze is a danger to health; it must
therefore be kept in the original
container and out of the reach of
children.

213
Service and maintenance
Picture no: 17904s.tif
Coolant level
In a closed cooling system, there is hardly
any loss.
If the cooling system is cold, the coolant
should lie above the KALT/COLD mark.
Top up if the level is low. Top up with anti-freeze. If no anti-freeze is
available, fill with clean tap water or
distilled water. Have the anti-freeze
concentration checked.
Have the cause of coolant loss rectified by
a workshop.
Fit the cap on straight and tighten it.
Brakes A screeching noise indicates that the brake
lining is at its minimum thickness.
Continued driving is possible. Have the
brake lining replace as soon as possible.
Once new brake lining is fitted, do not
brake unnecessarily hard for the
first 200 km.
9 Warning
Allow the engine to cool before opening
the cap. Carefully open the cap,
relieving the overpressure slowly.
Caution
Too low a coolant level can cause
engine damage.

214 Service and maintenance
Picture no: 14765s.tif
Brake fluid The brake fluid level must be between
theMIN and the MAX marks. When topping up, ensure maximum
cleanliness as contamination of the brake
fluid can lead to func
tion problems in the
braking system.
Only use approved high performance
brake fluids. Only us e brake fluid DOT4.
After correcting the brake fluid level, have
the cause of the loss of brake fluid
remedied by a workshop. Brake fluid change
Brake fluid is hygroscopic, i.e. it absorbs
water. If the brakes become hot, such as
when driving on long downhill stretches,
vapour bubbles can occur in the water,
which can have an extremely adverse
effect on braking power (depending on the
proportion of water).
Keep to the specified intervals.
9 Warning
Brake fluid is poisonous and corrosive.
Do not allow it to come into contact with
eyes, skin, fabrics or painted surfaces.
9 Warning
Have the brake fluid change performed
by a workshop. Please comply with the
legal environmental and health
regulations – concerning the disposal
of brake fluid.

215
Service and maintenance
Picture no: 13328j.tif
Windscreen wiper replacement Wiper blades on the windscreen
Lift wiper arm. Move release lever and
detach wiper blade.
Picture no: 9392t.tif
Wiper blade on the rear window 3
Lift wiper arm. Disengage wiper blade as
shown in illustration and remove.
Picture no: 14245s.tif
Windscreen and headlamp
washer systems
3
Reservoir for windscreen washing system
and rear window washing system in engine
compartment beneath the right-hand
windscreen wiper.

216 Service and maintenance
Picture no: 14246s.tif
In vehicles with headlamp washing
system 3 Opening for refilling is in engine
compartment behind the right-hand
headlamp.
Fill with clean water mixed with cleaner
and anti-freeze.
Make sure there is sufficient anti-freeze
protection.
When closing the reservoir, press the lid
firmly over the beaded edge all the way
round.
Picture no: 13488a.tif
Battery The vehicle battery is maintenance-free.
Batteries do not belong in household
waste. They must be disposed of at an
appropriate recycling collection point.
The retrofitting of electrical or electronic
accessories may subject the battery to
additional loading and cause it to become
discharged. Please seek advice concerning
the technical options, such as installing a
more powerful battery. Laying up the vehicle for more than
4 weeks can lead to battery discharge.
Disconnect the negative terminal of the
vehicle battery.
Ensure the ignition is switched off before
connecting or disconnecting the vehicle
battery.
Protecting electronic components In order to prevent faults in electronic
components in the electrical system, never
connect or disconnect battery with engine
running or ignition sw
itched on. Never start
engine with battery disconnected, e.g.
when starting using jump leads.
To avoid damaging th e vehicle, do not
make any modifications to the electrical
system, e. g. connecting additional
consumers or tampering with electronic
control units (chip tuning).
9 Warning
Electronic ignition systems generate very
high voltages. Do not touch the ignition
system; high voltage can be fatal.

217
Service and maintenance
Laying the vehicle up for a long
period of time If the vehicle is to be laid up for several
months, the following work should be
undertaken to prevent damage.
zWash and wax the vehicle 3196.
z Have the wax in the engine
compartment and underbody checked.
z Clean and preserve rubber seals.
z Change engine oil.
z Check antifreeze and corrosion
protection 3 212.
z Check coolant level, add antifreeze if
necessary 3213.
z Empty windscreen washer system and
headlamp washer system.
z Increase tyre pressure to value given for
full load 3228. z
Park vehicle in dry and well ventilated
place. Select first gear or reverse gear,
and with manual transmission
automated 3 move selector lever to
middle position before switching ignition
off. Use wedges or something similar to
prevent vehicle from rolling.
z Do not apply hand brake.
z Disconnect the clamp from the negative
terminal of the vehicle battery.
Putting the vehicle back into
servicePerform the following work before
recommissioning the vehicle:
zConnect the clamp to the negative
terminal of the vehicle battery.
z Check tyre pressure 3228.
z Top up windscreen washer system 3215.
z Check engine oil level 3210.
z Check coolant level 3213.
z Fit the number plate if necessary.

237
Index
KKeyextending .............................................. 26
ignition lock ..................................... 16, 27
Locking doors............................28, 30, 36
Starting .................................................. 27
Starting the engine ............................... 16
Keys ........................................................... 26LLanguage selection .................................. 95
Lashing eyes ............................................. 57
Leather trim ............................................ 197
Light switch ............................................... 11
Lighting ............................................. 11, 102 Driving abroad .................................... 110
Loading .....................................58, 162, 226
Loading the vehicle .................................. 58
Locking doors ...........................2, 28, 30, 36
Locking from the inside ............................ 30
Lubricants ............................................... 210
Luggage compartment Bulb replacement................................ 195
Cover...................................................... 55
Extension ......................................... 32, 53
Lighting ............................................... 109
Loading .................................58, 162, 226
Luggage compartment cover ................. 55
Lumbar support ........................................ 45
MMain beam ................................................ 11 Bulb replacement ....................... 187, 188
Control indicator ................................... 84
Maintenance Air conditioning system...................... 128
Antifreeze protection ......................... 212
Brake fluid ........................................... 214
Brakes .................................................. 213
Catalytic converter ............................. 145
Engine oil ............................................. 210
Fuel consumption ............................... 138
Tyre pressure............................... 154, 228
Tyres .................................................... 155
Manual transmission ........................ 14, 134
Mirrors ................................................... 4, 38
Misted windows ......................118, 121, 124
Mobile telephone.................................... 113
Muffler, see Exhaust system .................. 144NNumber plate lamps Bulb replacement ............................... 193
Number plate lighting............................ 193
Number plates ........................................ 217OOctane numbers ............................. 220, 221
Odometer .................................................. 87
Oil ............................................................ 207 Additives ............................................. 207
Top up ................................................. 207
Viscosity............................................... 207 Oil consumption ..................... 210, 220, 221
Oil level.................................................... 210
Oil pressure ............................................... 84
Opel Service ............................................ 199
Operating temperature ......................... 136
Outside temperature gauge ................... 91
Overrun ........................................... 136, 138
PPaintwork damage................................. 197
Park pilot ................................................. 150
Parking lamps........................................... 11
Bulb replacement ............................... 189
Pedals...................................................... 136
Performance ........................................... 222
Pollen filter .............................................. 127
Power assisted steering, see electronic power steering ................ 86
Power steering, see electronic power steering ........................................ 86
Preheating ................................................ 86
Pushing, towing .............................. 142, 166QQuickheat ............................................... 127RRadio ................................................. 24, 111
Radio equipment (CB) ........................... 113
Radio reception ...................................... 111
Radio remote control ............................... 28
Reading lamps ....................................... 109
Rear lamp cluster ................................... 102 Bulb replacement ............................... 191