OPEL MERIVA 2017 Owners Manual

Driving and operating139Driving and
operatingDriving hints ............................... 139
Control of the vehicle ...............139
Steering ................................... 140
Starting and operating ...............140
New vehicle running-in ............140
Ignition switch positions ...........140
Retained power off ..................140
Starting the engine ..................141
Overrun cut-off ........................ 142
Stop-start system ....................142
Parking .................................... 144
Engine exhaust .......................... 145
Diesel particle filter ..................145
Catalytic converter ...................146
Automatic transmission ..............146
Transmission display ...............146
Selector lever .......................... 147
Manual mode ........................... 148
Electronic driving programmes 148
Fault ........................................ 148
Interruption of power supply ....148
Manual transmission ..................149Brakes........................................ 150
Antilock brake system .............150
Parking brake .......................... 151
Brake assist ............................. 152
Hill start assist ......................... 152
Ride control systems .................153
Traction Control system ..........153
Electronic Stability Control ......153
Driver assistance systems .........154
Cruise control .......................... 154
Parking assist .......................... 156
Rear view camera ...................158
Fuel ............................................ 160
Fuel for petrol engines .............160
Fuel for diesel engines ............160
Fuel for liquid gas operation ....160
Refuelling ................................ 162
Fuel consumption - CO 2-
Emissions ............................... 165
Trailer hitch ................................ 166
General information .................166
Driving characteristics and towing tips .............................. 167
Trailer towing ........................... 167
Towing equipment ...................168Driving hints
Control of the vehicle
Never coast with engine not
running (except during Autostop)
Many systems will not function in this
situation (e.g. brake servo unit, power steering). Driving in this manner is a
danger to yourself and others. All
systems function during an Autostop,
but there will be a controlled reduction
in power steering assist and vehicle
speed is reduced.
Stop-start system 3 142.
Idle boost
If charging of the vehicle battery is
required due to vehicle battery
condition, the power output of the
generator must be increased. This will be achieved by an idle boost whichmay be audible.
On vehicles with Uplevel-Display or
Uplevel-Combi-Display, a message
appears in the Driver Information
Centre.

140Driving and operatingPedals
To ensure the pedal travel is
uninhibited, there must be no mats in
the area of the pedals.
Use only floor mats, which fit properly and are fixed by the retainers on the
driver side.
Steering If power steering assist is lost
because the engine stops or due to a system malfunction, the vehicle can
be steered but may require a higher
or lower steering effort.
Control indicator c 3 97.Caution
Vehicles equipped with hydraulic
power steering:
If the steering wheel is turned until it reaches the end of its travel, and
is held in that position for more
than 15 seconds, damage may
occur to the power steering
system and there may be loss of
power steering assist.
Starting and operating
New vehicle running-in
Do not brake unnecessarily hard for
the first few journeys.
During the first drive, smoke may
occur because of wax and oil
evaporating off the exhaust system.
Park the vehicle in the open for a
while after the first drive and avoid
inhaling the fumes.
During the running-in period fuel and engine oil consumption may be
higher and the cleaning process of the diesel particle filter may take
place more often. Autostop may be
inhibited to allow for charging the
vehicle battery.
Diesel particle filter 3 145.Ignition switch positions0:ignition off1:steering wheel lock released,
ignition off2:ignition on, for diesel engine:
preheating3:starting
Retained power off
The following electronic systems can
work until the driver's door is opened
or at the latest for 10 minutes after the
ignition is switched off:
● power windows
● power outlets

Driving and operating141Power to the Infotainment system will
continue to operate for 30 minutes or until the key is removed from theignition, regardless of whether anydoor is opened.
Starting the engine
Manual transmission: operate clutch.
Automatic transmission: operate
brake and move the selector lever to
P or N.
Do not operate accelerator pedal.
Diesel engine: turn the key to position 2 for preheating until control
indicator ! extinguishes.
Turn the key briefly to position 3 and
release: an automatic procedure operates the starter with a short delay
as long as the engine is running, see
Automatic Starter Control.
Before restarting or to switch off the
engine, turn the key back to position
0 .
During an Autostop, the engine can
be started by depressing the clutch
pedal.
Starting the vehicle at low
temperatures
The start of the engine without
additional heaters is possible down to
-25 °С for diesel engines and -30 °C
for petrol engines. Required is an
engine oil with the correct viscosity,
the correct fuel, performed services
and a sufficiently charged vehicle
battery. With temperatures below
-30 °C the automatic transmission
needs a warming phase of approx.
five minutes. The selector lever must
be in position P.Automatic Starter Control
This function controls the engine
starting procedure. The driver does
not have to hold the key in position 3.
Once applied, the system will go on starting automatically until the engine
is running. Because of the checking
procedure, the engine starts running
after a short delay.
Possible reasons for a non-starting
engine:
● clutch pedal not operated (manual transmission)
● brake pedal not operated or selector lever not in P or N
(automatic transmission)
● timeout occurred
Turbo engine warm-up
Upon start-up, engine available
torque may be limited for a short time, especially when the engine
temperature is cold. The limitation is
to allow the lubrication system to fully
protect the engine.

142Driving and operatingOverrun cut-off
The fuel supply is automatically cut off
during overrun, i.e. when the vehicle
is driven with a gear engaged but
accelerator is released.
Stop-start system The stop-start system helps to save
fuel and to reduce the exhaust
emissions. When conditions allow, it
switches off the engine as soon as the
vehicle is at a low speed or at a
standstill, e.g. at a traffic light or in a
traffic jam. It starts the engine
automatically as soon as the clutch is depressed. A vehicle battery sensor
ensures that an Autostop is only
performed if the vehicle battery is
sufficiently charged for a restart.
Activation The stop-start system is available as
soon as the engine is started, the
vehicle starts-off and the conditions
as stated below in this section are
fulfilled.Deactivation
Deactivate the stop-start system
manually by pressing eco. The
deactivation is indicated when the
LED in the button extinguishes.
Autostop If the vehicle is at a low speed or at a
standstill, activate an Autostop as
follows:
● Depress the clutch pedal.
● Move the selector lever to neutral.
● Release the clutch pedal.
The engine will be switched off while
the ignition stays on.
An Autostop is indicated by the
needle at the AUTOSTOP position in
the tachometer.
During an Autostop, the heating and
brake performance will be
maintained.
Caution
The steering assist will be reduced
during an Autostop.

Driving and operating143Conditions for an Autostop
The stop-start system checks if each
of the following conditions is fulfilled:
● The stop-start system is not manually deactivated.
● The bonnet is fully closed.
● The driver's door is closed or the driver's seat belt is fastened.
● The vehicle battery is sufficiently charged and in good condition.
● The engine is warmed up.
● The engine coolant temperature is not too high.
● The engine exhaust temperature is not too high, e.g. after driving
with high engine load.
● The ambient temperature is above -5 °C.
● The defrost selection does not inhibit an Autostop.
● The climate control system allows an Autostop.
● The brake vacuum is sufficient.● The self-cleaning function of the diesel particle filter is not active.
● The vehicle was driven at least at
walking speed since the last
Autostop.
Otherwise an Autostop will be
inhibited.
An Autostop may become less
available as the ambient temperature
approaches the freezing point.
Certain settings of the climate control
system may inhibit an Autostop. See
" Climate control " chapter for further
information 3 132.
Immediately after motorway driving
an Autostop may be inhibited.
New vehicle running-in 3 140.
Vehicle battery discharge protection
To ensure reliable engine restarts,
several vehicle battery discharge
protection features are implemented
as part of the stop-start system.
Power saving measures
During an Autostop, several electrical
features such as auxiliary electric
heater or rear window heating aredisabled or switched into a power
saving mode. The fan speed of the
climate control system is reduced to
save power.
Restart of the engine by the driver
Depress the clutch pedal to restart the
engine.
The engine start is indicated by the
needle at the idle speed position in
the tachometer.
If the selector lever is shifted out of
neutral before depressing the clutch
first, control indicator - illuminates
or is shown as a symbol in the Driver Information Centre.
Control indicator - 3 96.
Restart of the engine by the stop- start system
The selector lever must be in neutral to enable an automatic restart.
If one of the following conditions occurs during an Autostop, the
engine will be restarted automatically by the stop-start system.

144Driving and operating● The stop-start system ismanually deactivated.
● The bonnet is opened.
● The driver's seat belt is unfastened and the driver's door
is opened.
● The engine temperature is too low.
● The charging level of the vehicle battery is below a defined level.
● The brake vacuum is not sufficient.
● The vehicle is driven at least at walking speed.
● The climate control system requests an engine start.
● The air conditioning is manually switched on.
If the bonnet is not fully closed, a
warning message is displayed in the
Driver Information Centre.
If an electrical accessory, e.g. a
portable CD player, is connected to
the power outlet, a brief power drop
during the restart might be noticeable.Parking9 Warning
● Do not park the vehicle on an
easily ignitable surface. The
high temperature of the
exhaust system could ignite the
surface.
● Always apply parking brake. Pull switch m for approx.
one second.
The electric parking brake is
applied when control indicator
m illuminates 3 96.
● Switch off the engine. ● If the vehicle is on a level surface or uphill slope, engage
first gear or set the selector
lever to position P before
removing the ignition key. On
an uphill slope, turn the front
wheels away from the kerb.
If the vehicle is on a downhill
slope, engage reverse gear or
set the selector lever to position P before removing the ignition
key. Turn the front wheels
towards the kerb.
● Close the windows.
● Remove the ignition key from the ignition switch. Turn the
steering wheel until the
steering wheel lock is felt to
engage.
For vehicles with automatic
transmission, the key can only
be removed when the selector
lever is in position P.
Lock the vehicle and activate the anti-
theft alarm system.
Note
In the event of an accident with
airbag deployment, the engine is
turned off automatically if the vehicle comes to a standstill within a certain
time.

Driving and operating145Engine exhaust9Danger
Engine exhaust gases contain
poisonous carbon monoxide,
which is colourless and odourless and could be fatal if inhaled.
If exhaust gases enter the interior
of the vehicle, open the windows.
Have the cause of the fault
rectified by a workshop.
Avoid driving with an open load
compartment, otherwise exhaust
gases could enter the vehicle.
Diesel particle filter
The diesel particle filter system filters
harmful soot particles out of the
exhaust gases. The system includes
a self-cleaning function that runs
automatically during driving without
any notification. The filter is cleaned
by periodically burning off the soot
particles at high temperature. This
process takes place automatically
under set driving conditions and may
take up to 25 minutes. Typically it
needs between 7 and 12 minutes.
Autostop is not available and fuel
consumption may be higher during
this period. The emission of smells
and smoke during this process is
normal.
Under certain driving conditions, e.g.
short distances, the system cannot
clean itself automatically.
If the cleaning of the filter is required
and if previous driving conditions did
not enable automatic cleaning, it will
be indicated by control indicator %.
Simultaneously Diesel partic. filter is
full continue driving or warning
code 55 appears in the Driver
Information Centre.
% illuminates when diesel particle
filter is full. Start cleaning process as
soon as possible.
% flashes when diesel particle filter
has reached the maximum filling
level. Start cleaning process
immediately to avoid damage to the
engine.
Cleaning process To activate cleaning process,
continue driving, keeping engine
speed above 2000 revolutions per
minute. Shift down if necessary.
Diesel particle filter cleaning is then
started.
If control indicator g illuminates
additionally, cleaning is not possible,
seek the assistance of a workshop.Caution
If the cleaning process is
interrupted, there is a risk of
provoking severe engine damage.
Cleaning takes place quickest at high
engine speeds and loads.

146Driving and operatingControl indicator % extinguishes as
soon as the self-cleaning operation is
complete.
Catalytic converter
The catalytic converter reduces the
amount of harmful substances in the
exhaust gases.Caution
Fuel grades other than those listed on pages 3 160, 3 228 could
damage the catalytic converter or
electronic components.
Unburnt petrol will overheat and
damage the catalytic converter.
Therefore avoid excessive use of the starter, running the fuel tank
dry and starting the engine by
pushing or towing.
In the event of misfiring, uneven
engine running, a reduction in engine
performance or other unusual
problems, have the cause of the fault
rectified by a workshop as soon as
possible. In an emergency, driving
can be continued for a short period,
keeping vehicle speed and engine
speed low.Automatic transmission
The automatic transmission permits
automatic gearshifting (automatic
mode) or manual gearshifting
(manual mode).
Transmission display
The mode or selected gear is shown
in the transmission display.

Driving and operating147Selector leverP:park position, wheels are locked,engage only when the vehicle is
stationary and the parking brake
is appliedR:reverse gear, engage only when
the vehicle is stationaryN:neutralD:automatic mode with all gears
The selector lever is locked in P and
can only be moved when the ignition
is on and the brake pedal is applied.
Without brake pedal applied, the
control indicator j illuminates.
If the selector lever is not in P when
the ignition is switched off, the control
indicator j and P flash.
To engage P or R, press the release
button.
The engine can only be started with the lever in position P or N. When
position N is selected, press the brake
pedal or apply the parking 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.
Engine braking To utilise the engine braking effect,select a lower gear in good time when
driving downhill, see manual mode.
Rocking the vehicle
Rocking the vehicle is only
permissible if the vehicle is stuck in
sand, mud or snow. Move the selector
lever between D and R in a repeat
pattern. Do not race the engine and
avoid sudden acceleration.
Parking
Apply the parking brake and engage
P .
The ignition key can only be removed
when the selector lever is in position
P .

148Driving and operatingManual mode
Move selector lever out of position D
towards the left and then forwards or backwards.
<:shift to a higher gear]:shift to a lower gear
If a higher gear is selected when
vehicle speed is too low, or a lower
gear when vehicle speed is too high,
the shift is not executed. This can
cause a message in the Driver
Information Centre.
In manual mode, no automatic
shifting to a higher gear takes place
at high engine revolutions.
Electronic driving
programmes
● Following a cold start, the operating temperature
programme increases engine
speed to quickly bring the
catalytic converter to the required
temperature.
● The automatic neutral shift function automatically shifts to
idling when the vehicle is stopped with a forward gear engaged and
the brake pedal is pressed.
● Special programmes automatically adapt the shiftingpoints when driving up inclines or
down hills.
Kickdown If the accelerator pedal is pressed
down completely in automatic mode,
the transmission shifts to a lower gear
depending on engine speed.Fault
In the event of a fault, g illuminates.
Additionally a code number or a
vehicle message is displayed in the
Driver Information Centre. Vehicle
messages 3 106.
The transmission no longer shifts automatically. Continued travel is
possible with manual shifting.
Only the highest gear is available.
Depending on the fault, second gear
may also be available in manual
mode. Shift only when vehicle is at a
standstill.
Have the cause of the fault remedied
by a workshop.
Interruption of power supply
In the event of an interruption of
power supply, the selector lever
cannot be moved out of the P
position. The ignition key cannot be
removed from the ignition switch.
If the vehicle battery is discharged,
start the vehicle using jump leads
3 213.