Opel Meriva (2017 year). Manual - part 11

166

Driving and operating

For the values specific for your

vehicle, refer to the EEC Certificate of

Conformity provided with your vehicle

or other national registration

documents.

General information

The official fuel consumption and

specific CO

2

 emission figures quoted

relate to the EU base model with

standard equipment.
Fuel consumption data and CO

2

emission data are determined

according to regulation R (EC) No.

715/2007 (in the version respectively

applicable), taking into consideration

the vehicle weight in running order, as

specified by the regulation.
The figures are provided only for the

purpose of comparison between

different vehicle variants and must

not be taken as a guarantee for the

actual fuel consumption of a

particular vehicle. Additional

equipment may result in slightly

higher results than the stated

consumption and CO

2

 figures.

Furthermore, fuel consumption is

dependent on personal driving style

as well as road and traffic conditions.

Trailer hitch

General information

Only use towing equipment that has

been approved for your vehicle.

Entrust retrofitting of towing

equipment to a workshop. It may be

necessary to make changes that

affect the cooling system, heat

shields or other equipment.
The bulb outage detection function for

trailer brake light cannot detect a

partial bulb outage, e.g. in case of four

times five watt bulbs, the function only

detects lamp outage when only a

single five Watt lamp remains or none

remain.
Fitting of towing equipment could

cover the opening of the towing eye.

If this is the case use the coupling ball

bar for towing. Always keep the

coupling ball bar in the vehicle when

not in use.

Driving and operating

167

Driving characteristics and

towing tips

Before attaching a trailer, lubricate

the coupling ball. However, do not do

so if a stabiliser, which acts on the

coupling ball, is being used to reduce

snaking movements.
For trailers with low driving stability

and caravan trailers with a permitted

gross vehicle weight of more than

1100 kg the use of a stabiliser is

strongly recommended when driving

above 80 km/h.
If the trailer starts snaking, drive more

slowly, do not attempt to correct the

steering and brake sharply if

necessary.
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 3 235.

Trailer towing

Trailer loads

9 Warning

Vehicles with engine A13DTE:
Use of towing equipment is

permissible for attaching

compatible bicycle carriers only.

Do not use towing equipment for

trailer towing.

The permissible trailer loads are

vehicle and engine-dependent

maximum values which must not be

exceeded. The actual trailer load is

the difference between the actual

gross weight of the trailer and the

actual coupling socket load with the

trailer coupled.
The permissible trailer loads are

specified in the vehicle documents. In

general, they are valid for gradients

up to max. 12%.
The permitted trailer load applies up

to the specified incline and up to an

altitude of 1000 metres above sea

level. Since engine power decreases

as altitude increases due to the air

becoming thinner, therefore reducing

climbing ability, the permissible gross

train weight also decreases by 10%

for every 1000 metres of additional

altitude. The gross train weight does

not have to be reduced when driving

on roads with slight inclines (less than

8%, e.g. motorways).
The permissible gross train weight

must not be exceeded. This weight is

specified on the identification plate

3

 224.

Vertical coupling load

The vertical coupling load is the load

exerted by the trailer on the coupling

ball. It can be varied by changing the

weight distribution when loading the

trailer.
The maximum permissible vertical

coupling load (75 kg) is specified on

the towing equipment identification

plate and in the vehicle documents.

Always aim for the maximum load,

especially in the case of heavy

trailers. The vertical coupling load

should never fall below 25 kg.

168

Driving and operating

Rear axle load

When the trailer is coupled and the

towing vehicle fully loaded, the

permissible rear axle load (see

identification plate or vehicle

documents) may be exceeded by

80 kg (vehicles with LPG system:

110 kg), the gross vehicle weight

rating may be exceeded by 70 kg

(vehicles with LPG system: 95 kg). If

the permissible rear axle load is

exceeded, a maximum speed of

100 km/h applies.

Towing equipment

Caution

When operating without a trailer,

remove the coupling ball bar.

Stowage of the detachable

coupling ball bar

The bag with the coupling ball bar is

stowed in the rear stowage

compartment on the floor.
Run the strap through the lashing eye

and tighten the strap to secure the

bag.

Fitting the detachable coupling

ball bar

Disengage and fold down the socket.

Remove the sealing plug from the

opening for the coupling ball bar and

stow it.

Driving and operating

169

Checking the tensioning of the

coupling ball bar

● Red marking on rotary knob must

point towards green marking on

coupling ball bar.

● The gap between the rotary knob

and the coupling ball bar must be

approx. 5 mm.

Otherwise, the coupling ball bar must

be tensioned before being inserted:

Pull out rotary knob and turn

clockwise as far as it will go.

Inserting the coupling ball bar

Insert the tensioned coupling ball bar

in the opening and push firmly

upwards until it audibly engages.
The rotary handle snaps back into its

original position resting against the

coupling ball bar without a gap.

9 Warning

Do not touch rotary handle during

insertion.

Lock the coupling ball bar by turning

the key clockwise. Remove the key

and close the protective flap.

Eye for break-away stopping cable

170

Driving and operating

Attach breakaway stopping cable to

eye.

Check that the coupling ball bar is

correctly installed

● Green marking on rotary knob

must point towards green

marking on coupling ball bar.

● There must be no gap between

the rotary handle and the

coupling ball bar.

● The coupling ball bar must be

firmly engaged in the opening.

● The coupling ball bar must be

locked and the key removed.

9 Warning

Towing a trailer is permitted only

when a coupling ball bar is fitted

correctly. If the coupling ball bar

does not engage correctly, seek

the assistance of a workshop.

Dismounting the detachable

coupling ball bar

Open the protective flap and turn the

key clockwise to unlock the coupling

ball bar.
Pull out rotary handle and turn

clockwise as far as it will go. Pull out

coupling ball bar downwards.
Insert sealing plug in opening. Fold

away socket.

Vehicle care

171

Vehicle care

General Information ................... 172

Accessories and vehicle

modifications .......................... 172

Vehicle storage ........................ 172

End-of-life vehicle recovery ..... 172

Vehicle checks ........................... 173

Performing work ...................... 173

Bonnet ..................................... 173

Engine oil ................................. 174

Engine coolant ......................... 175

Power steering fluid ................. 176

Washer fluid ............................ 176

Brakes ..................................... 176

Brake fluid ............................... 176

Vehicle battery ......................... 177

Diesel fuel system bleeding ..... 179

Wiper blade replacement ........ 179

Bulb replacement ....................... 180

Halogen headlights .................. 180

Adaptive forward lighting ......... 182

Fog lights ................................. 184

Front turn signal lights ............. 184

Tail lights ................................. 185

Side turn signal lights .............. 188

Number plate light ................... 188

Interior lights ............................ 189

Instrument panel illumination ... 189

Electrical system ........................ 189

Fuses ....................................... 189

Engine compartment fuse box . 191

Instrument panel fuse box ....... 193

Load compartment fuse box .... 194

Vehicle tools .............................. 195

Tools ........................................ 195

Wheels and tyres ....................... 196

Winter tyres ............................. 196

Tyre designations .................... 196

Tyre pressure .......................... 197

Tyre pressure monitoring

system .................................... 198

Tread depth ............................. 201

Changing tyre and wheel size . 201

Wheel covers ........................... 202

Tyre chains .............................. 202

Tyre repair kit .......................... 202

Wheel changing ....................... 207

Spare wheel ............................ 210

Jump starting ............................. 213
Towing ....................................... 214

Towing the vehicle ................... 214

Towing another vehicle ........... 215

Appearance care ....................... 216

Exterior care ............................ 216

Interior care ............................. 218

172

Vehicle care

General Information

Accessories and vehicle

modifications

We recommend the use of genuine

parts and accessories and factory

approved parts specific for your

vehicle type. We cannot assess or

guarantee reliability of other products

- even if they have a regulatory or

otherwise granted approval.
Do not make any modifications to the

electrical system, e.g. changes of

electronic control units (chip tuning).

Caution

When transporting the vehicle on

a train or on a recovery vehicle, the

mud flaps might be damaged.

Vehicle storage

Storage for a long period of time

If the vehicle is to be stored for several

months:

● Wash and wax the vehicle.
● Have the wax in the engine

compartment and underbody

checked.

● Clean and preserve the rubber

seals.

● Fill up fuel tank completely.
● Change the engine oil.
● Drain the washer fluid reservoir.
● Check the coolant antifreeze and

corrosion protection.

● Adjust tyre pressure to the value

specified for full load.

● Park the vehicle in a dry, well

ventilated place. Engage first or

reverse gear or set selector lever

to P. Prevent the vehicle from

rolling.

● Do not apply the parking brake.

● Open the bonnet, close all doors

and lock the vehicle.

● Disconnect the clamp from the

negative terminal of the vehicle

battery. Beware that all systems

are not functional, e.g. anti-theft

alarm system.

Putting back into operation

When the vehicle is to be put back into

operation:

● Connect the clamp to the

negative terminal of the vehicle

battery. Activate the electronics

of the power windows.

● Check tyre pressure.
● Fill up the washer fluid reservoir.
● Check the engine oil level.
● Check the coolant level.
● Fit the number plate if necessary.

End-of-life vehicle recovery

Information on end-of-life vehicle

recovery centres and the recycling of

end-of-life vehicles is available on our

website. Only entrust this work to an

authorised recycling centre.

Vehicle care

173

Gas vehicles must be recycled by a

service centre authorised for gas

vehicles.

Vehicle checks

Performing work

9 Warning

Only perform engine compartment

checks when the ignition is off.
The cooling fan may start

operating even if the ignition is off.

9 Danger

The ignition system uses

extremely high voltage. Do not

touch.

Bonnet

Opening

Pull the release lever and return it to

its original position.

174

Vehicle care

Press the safety catch and open the

bonnet.

Secure the bonnet support.

If the bonnet is opened during an

Autostop, the engine will be restarted

automatically for safety reasons.

Closing

Before closing the bonnet, press the

support into the holder.
Lower the bonnet and allow it to fall

into the latch from a low height

(20-25 cm). Check that the bonnet is

engaged.

Caution

Do not press the bonnet into the

latch, to avoid dents.

Engine oil

Check the engine oil level manually

on a regular basis to prevent damage

to the engine.
Ensure that the correct specification

of oil is used. Recommended fluids

and lubricants 3 221.
The maximum engine oil

consumption is 0.6 l per 1000 km.

Check with the vehicle on a level

surface. The engine must be at

operating temperature and switched

off for at least five minutes.
Pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean,

insert it to the stop on the handle, pull

out and read the engine oil level.
Insert dipstick to the stop on the

handle and make half a turn.

Different dipsticks are used

depending on engine variant.

Vehicle care

175

When the engine oil level has

dropped to the MIN mark, top up

engine oil.

We recommend the use of the same

grade of engine oil that was used at

last change.
The engine oil level must not exceed

the MAX mark on the dipstick.

Caution

Overfilled engine oil must be

drained or suctioned out.

Capacities 3 234.
Fit the cap on straight and tighten it.

Engine coolant

The coolant provides freeze

protection down to approx. -28 °C.

Caution

Only use approved antifreeze.

Coolant level

Caution

Too low a coolant level can cause

engine damage.

If the cooling system is cold, the

coolant level should be above the

filling line mark. Top up if the level is

low.

9 Warning

Allow the engine to cool before

opening the cap. Carefully open

the cap, relieving the pressure

slowly.

To top up use a 1:1 mixture of

approved coolant concentrate mixed

with clean tap water. If no coolant

concentrate is available, use clean

tap water. Install the cap tightly. Have

176

Vehicle care

the coolant concentration checked

and have the cause of the coolant

loss remedied by a workshop.

Power steering fluid

Caution

Extremely small amounts of

contamination can cause steering

system damage and cause it to not

work properly. Do not allow

contaminates to contact the fluid

side of the reservoir cap/dipstick or

from entering the reservoir.

Power steering fluid level normally

must not be checked. If an unusual

noise sounds during steering or the

power steering reacts conspicuous

seek the assistance of a workshop.

Washer fluid

Fill with clean water mixed with a

suitable quantity of approved

windscreen washer fluid which

contains antifreeze.

Caution

Only washer fluid with a sufficient

antifreeze concentration provides

protection at low temperatures or

a sudden drop in temperature.

Brakes

In the event of minimum thickness of

the brake lining, a squealing noise

sounds during braking.
Continued driving is possible but

have the brake lining replaced as

soon as possible.
Once new brake linings are installed,

do not brake unnecessarily hard for

the first few journeys.

Brake fluid

9 Warning

Brake fluid is poisonous and

corrosive. Avoid contact with eyes,

skin, fabrics and painted surfaces.

Vehicle care

177

The brake fluid level must be between

the MIN and the MAX marks.
When topping up, ensure maximum

cleanliness as contamination of the

brake fluid can lead to brake system

malfunctions. Have the cause of the

loss of brake fluid remedied by a

workshop.
Only use high-performance brake

fluid approved for the vehicle.
Brake and clutch fluid 3 221.

Vehicle battery

The vehicle battery is maintenance-

free provided that the driving profile

allows sufficient charging of the

battery. Short-distance-driving and

frequent engine starts can discharge

the battery. Avoid the use of

unnecessary electrical consumers.

Batteries do not belong in household

waste. They must be disposed of at

an appropriate recycling collection

point.
Laying up the vehicle for more than

four weeks can lead to battery

discharge. Disconnect the clamp from

the negative terminal of the vehicle

battery.
Ensure the ignition is switched off

before connecting or disconnecting

the vehicle battery.
Vehicle battery discharge protection

3

 128.

Replacing the vehicle battery

Note

Any deviation from the instructions

given in this paragraph may lead to

a temporary deactivation of the stop-

start system.

When the vehicle battery is being

replaced, please ensure that there

are no open ventilation holes in the

vicinity of the positive terminal. If a

ventilation hole is open in this area, it

must be closed off with a dummy cap,

and the ventilation in the vicinity of the

negative terminal must be opened.
Only use vehicle batteries that allow

the fuse box to be mounted above the

vehicle battery.
In vehicles with an AGM (Absorptive

Glass Mat) battery, make sure to

have the battery replaced with

another AGM battery.

178

Vehicle care

An AGM battery can be identified by

the label on the battery. We

recommend the use of an original

Opel vehicle battery.

Note

Using an AGM vehicle battery

different from the original Opel

vehicle battery may result in a lower

performance.

9 Warning

When fitting a battery with a length

deviating from the original one, it

is essential to ensure a proper

fitting of the buffer element.

We recommend that you have the

vehicle battery replaced by a

workshop.
Stop-start system 3 142.

Charging the vehicle battery

9 Warning

On vehicles with stop-start

system, ensure that the charging

potential does not exceed

14.6 volts when using a battery

charger. Otherwise the vehicle

battery might be damaged.

Jump starting 3 213.

Warning label

Vehicle care

179

Meaning of symbols:

● No sparks, naked flames or

smoking.

● Always shield eyes. Explosive

gases can cause blindness or

injury.

● Keep the vehicle battery out of

reach of children.

● The vehicle battery contains

sulphuric acid which could cause

blindness or serious burn

injuries.

● See the Owner's Manual for

further information.

● Explosive gas may be present in

the vicinity of the vehicle battery.

Diesel fuel system bleeding

If the tank has been run dry, the diesel

fuel system must be bled. Switch on

the ignition three times for

15 seconds at a time. Then crank the

engine for a maximum of

40 seconds. Repeat this process after

no less than 5 seconds. If the engine

fails to start, seek the assistance of a

workshop.

Wiper blade replacement

Wiper blades on the windscreen

Lift the wiper arm, press button to

disengage the wiper blade and

remove.
Attach the wiper blade slightly angled

to the wiper arm and push until it

engages.
Lower wiper arm carefully.

Wiper blade on the rear window

Lift wiper arm. Disengage wiper blade

as shown in illustration and remove.
Attach the wiper blade slightly angled

to the wiper arm and push until it

engages.
Lower wiper arm carefully.

180

Vehicle care

Bulb replacement

Switch off the ignition and switch off

the relevant switch or close the doors.
Only hold a new bulb at the base. Do

not touch the bulb glass with bare

hands.
Use only the same bulb type for

replacement.
Replace headlight bulbs from within

the engine compartment.

Halogen headlights

Headlights have separate systems for

low beam 1 (outer bulbs) and high

beam 2 (inner bulbs).

Low beam

1. Rotate the cap 1 anticlockwise

and remove it.

2. Push the bulb holder upwards and

withdraw the bulb holder from the

reflector.

3. Detach the bulb from the bulb

holder and replace the bulb.

Vehicle care

181

4. Insert the bulb holder into the

reflector.

5. Fit the cap and rotate clockwise.

High beam

1. Rotate the cap 2 anticlockwise

and remove it.

2. Detach the plug from the bulb.

3. Disengage the spring clip and

then swivel it backwards.

4. Remove and replace the bulb.
5. Swivel the spring clip forwards

and engage.

6. Attach the plug to the bulb.
7. Fit the cap and rotate clockwise.

Sidelight/Daytime running light

1. Rotate the bulb holder

anticlockwise and remove it.