Get Driving and operating -> Trailer hitch Guide for Vauxhall Astra 4 Door Seventh Generation (2016-2021)

Driving and operating

213

and may cause engine stalling, poor

starting or damage on the fuel

injection system.

Fuel for diesel engines

Caution

Use of fuel that does not comply to

EN 590 or similar can lead to

engine powerloss, increased wear

or engine damage and may affect

your warranty.

Refuelling

Only use diesel fuel that complies

with EN 590 and which has a sulphur

concentration of max. 10 ppm.

Fuels with a biodiesel (compliant with

EN 14214) content of max. 7% by

volume may be used (e.g. named

B7).

Do not use marine diesel oils, heating

oils, Aquazole and similar diesel-

water emulsions. Diesel fuels must

not be diluted with fuels for petrol

engines.

Low temperature operation

At temperatures below 0° C, some

diesel products with biodiesel blends

may clog, freeze or gel, which may

affect the fuel supply system. Starting

and engine operation may not work

properly. Make sure to fill winter

grade diesel fuel at ambient

If travelling in countries outside the

European Union occasional use of

Euro-Diesel fuel with a sulphur

concentration below 50 ppm is

possible.

9 Danger

Before refuelling, switch off

ignition and any external heaters

with combustion chambers.

Follow the operating and safety

instructions of the filling station

when refuelling.

Caution

temperatures below 0°C.

Frequent usage of diesel fuel

containing more than 15 ppm

sulphur will cause severe engine

damage.

Arctic grade diesel fuel can be used

in extreme cold temperatures below

-20° C. Using this fuel grade in warm

or hot climates is not recommended

214

Driving and operating

9 Danger

Fuel is flammable and explosive.

No smoking. No naked flames or

sparks.

If you can smell fuel in your

vehicle, have the cause of this

remedied immediately by a

workshop.

A label with symbols at the fuel filler

flap is indicating the allowed fuel

types. In Europe the pump nozzles of

the filling stations are marked with

these symbols. Refuel only the

allowed fuel type.

The fuel filler flap can only be opened

if the vehicle is unlocked. Release the

fuel filler flap by pushing the flap.

The fuel filler cap can be retained in

the bracket on the fuel filler flap.

Place the nozzle in straight position to

the filler neck and press with slight

force to insert.

Petrol and Diesel refuelling

To open, turn the cap slowly

anticlockwise.

Caution

To refuel, switch on pump nozzle.

After the automatic cut-off, the tank

can be topped up by operating the

pump nozzle a maximum of two more

times.

In case of misfuelling, do not

switch on ignition.

Fuel filler flap is located at right rear

side of the vehicle.

Caution

Wipe off any overflowing fuel

immediately.

Driving and operating

215

To close, turn the fuel filler cap

clockwise until it clicks.

After topping-up, clean funnel from

fuel remains and stow it away.

Trailer hitch

Close the flap and engage.

General information

Fuel filler cap

Only use genuine fuel filler caps.

Diesel-engined vehicles have special

fuel filler caps.

Only use towing equipment that has

been approved for your vehicle.

Entrust retrofitting of towing

Misfuel inhibitor

9 Warning

equipment to a workshop. It may be

necessary to make changes that

affect the cooling system, heat

shields or other equipment.

Do not try to open the flap of the

fuel filler neck manually on

vehicles with misfuel inhibitor.

The bulb outage detection function for

trailer brake light cannot detect a

partial bulb outage. E.g. in case of

four bulbs with a power of 5 W each,

the function only detects light outage

when only a single 5 W bulb 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.

Disregarding this could lead to

trapping of the fingers.

The misfuel inhibitor ensures that the

flap of the fuel filler neck can only be

opened by using the suitable fuel

nozzle or a funnel for emergency

refilling.

In case of an emergency, refill with a

canister. A funnel must be used to

open the cap of the filler neck.

The funnel may be stowed in the load

compartment or the glovebox.

Place the funnel in straight position to

the filler neck and press with slight

force to insert.

216

Driving and operating

The permissible gross train weight

must not be exceeded. This weight is

specified on the identification plate

3 274.

Driving characteristics and

towing tips

Trailer towing

Trailer loads

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.

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 12%.

The permissible trailer load applies

up to the specified incline and at 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 m of altitude. The

gross train weight does not have to be

reduced when driving on roads with

slight inclines (less than 8%, e.g.

motorways).

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 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.

During trailer towing do not exceed a

speed of 50 mph. A maximum speed

of 60 mph is only appropriate if an

oscillation damper is used and the

permissible gross trailer weight does

not exceed the vehicle's curb weight.

For trailers with low driving stability

and caravan trailers, the use of an

oscillation damper is strongly

recommended.

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.

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

40 kg. If the permissible rear axle load

is exceeded, a maximum speed of

60 mph applies.

Adjust tyre pressure to the value

specified for full load 3 283.

Driving and operating

217

On Sports Tourer remove cover from

rear bumper by pushing.

Towing equipment

Caution

When operating without a trailer,

remove the coupling ball bar.

Stowage of coupling ball bar

The bag with the coupling ball bar is

stowed on the rear floor cover in the

load compartment.

Place the strap through the rear right

lashing eye, wrap around twice and

tighten the strap to secure the bag.

Illustration shows Sports Tourer.

Fitting the coupling ball bar

Disengage and fold down the

connecting socket. Remove the

sealing plug from the opening for the

coupling ball bar and stow it.

Illustration shows 5-door hatchback.

218

Driving and operating

Checking the tensioning of 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 to position e. Remove the key

and close the protective flap.

●

Pull out rotary knob and turn

clockwise as far as it will go.

●

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. 6 mm.

Inserting the coupling ball bar

Eye for break-away stopping cable

The key must be in position c.

Otherwise, the coupling ball bar must

be tensioned before being inserted:

●

Unlock coupling ball bar by

turning key to position c.

Driving and operating

219

Illustration shows 5-door hatchback.

●

The coupling ball bar must be

firmly engaged in the opening.

The coupling ball bar must be

locked and the key removed.

Open the protective flap and turn the

key to position c 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.

9 Warning

Insert sealing plug in opening.

Fold away connecting socket.

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 coupling ball bar

Illustration shows Sports Tourer.

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.

On Sports Tourer insert cover into

rear bumper as shown in the

illustration.

●

There must be no gap between

the rotary handle and the

coupling ball bar.

220

Driving and operating

Stow the coupling ball bar in the bag

and secure by fixing the strap through

the rear right lashing eye. Wrap

around twice and tighten the strap to

secure the bag.

Trailer stability assist

If the system detects snaking

movements, engine power is reduced

and the vehicle/trailer combination is

selectively braked until the snaking

ceases. While system is working keep

steering wheel as still as possible.

Trailer stability assist is a function of

the Electronic Stability Control 3 173.

Driving and operating -> Trailer hitch for Your Vauxhall Astra 4 Door Seventh Generation (2016-2021)

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