General information
Attention! Incorrect and untimely adjustment of the air pressure in the tires entails internal destruction of the tire cord and can cause the wheel to break while driving!
Maintaining the correct tire pressure (including and spare wheel) increases their service life, helps save fuel and improves overall driving comfort. The tire pressure rating plate is located on the fuel filler cap. Always check the pressure on cold tires - before driving the car, after the car has been parked for 3 or more hours or when passing them no more 1.6 km. If you check the pressure on warm or hot tires, this will lead to an overestimation of the pressure gauge due to the thermal expansion of the tires. In this case, the pressure should never be released, as after the tire cools down, it will be below normal.
Checking pressure with a manometer
Unscrew the protective cap from the inflation valve protruding from the wheel disk or from the hub cap, then firmly press the pressure gauge nozzle onto the valve. Read the readings of the device and compare them with the recommended ones. Remember to replace the protective cap to prevent dirt and moisture from entering the nipple mechanism. Check the pressure in all four tires and, if necessary, inflate them to the recommended pressure.
Remember to maintain the required pressure in the spare tire. Tire pressure should be checked at least once every 14 days, as well as during maintenance (including spare wheel). When checking, use a special pressure gauge, or a pressure gauge built into the compressor at a service station.
Note: It is recommended to have an accurate pressure gauge in your glove box - the readings of the pressure gauges built into the nozzles of the air hoses at gas stations should not be trusted.
In addition, air pressures must be checked before every long trip.
Tire pressure monitoring systems
Attention! The tire pressure drop monitoring system does not replace manual control with a calibrated pressure gauge!
A corresponding sensor is built into each wheel. The tire pressure monitoring system continuously monitors the air pressure and speed of all four wheels while driving. In the event of a drop in pressure in one of the tires, the diameter of this wheel decreases, and it rotates faster than the other wheels. On the instrument cluster in the field of the service indication display, an icon warning of a drop in tire pressure should be highlighted in yellow or red - while the arrows indicate wheels with insufficient pressure (see illustration 27.1). Depending on the situation, check and correct the tire pressure, or replace the damaged wheel with a spare.
27.1 Tire pressure drop pictogram - the arrow indicates a wheel with a pressure below the standard
In addition, the sensors take pressure readings in each tire every minute and transmit them to the control unit. If one or more tires deviate from the specified pressure values, a corresponding message is displayed on the information display (see below).
Note: Current tire pressures can be shown on the graphic information display on models equipped with an on-board computer.
The system is activated after the ignition is switched on and allows detection of a pressure drop at vehicle speed 30 km/h and above and operates on the condition that all tires are inflated to the prescribed pressure and all four wheel sensors are in good condition.
The system automatically determines the change in tire pressure depending on the degree of vehicle loading.
In the event of failures and malfunctions in the air pressure drop control system, the corresponding icon will be displayed in the field of the service indication display (see Section 16).
Note: The appearance of this icon can be caused, among other things, by installing a wheel without a pressure sensor.
Warning messages
Depending on the version, messages can be displayed in the information display using abbreviations. To remove a warning message from the display screen, you must confirm receipt by pressing the corresponding button. The following are examples of informational messages:
«tight pressure check rear leftturn (value in bar)» (see illustration 27.2) - the graphical information display simultaneously shows a diagram showing the rear left wheel and the current tire pressure.
27.2 Warning message for minor deviations in tire pressure
Note: On the color information display, this message appears on a yellow background. If there is a slight deviation in pressure, it is necessary to reduce the speed of movement and, being careful, you can continue driving - at the earliest opportunity, check the tire pressure with a verified pressure gauge and, if necessary, make appropriate adjustments. «Attention! Front left tyre pressure loss (value in bar)» - the graphic information display will simultaneously display a diagram showing the front left wheel and the current tire pressure (see illustration 27.3).
27.3 Warning message in the event of a dangerous deviation in tire pressure
Note: On the color information display, this message appears on a red background.
This message warns of a significant deviation or a complete drop in tire pressure - move the car out of traffic as soon as possible without disturbing other cars, stop and check the tires! If necessary, install a spare wheel or repair the tire.
General instructions for operating the system
The spare wheel is not equipped with a pressure sensor. When it is installed, pressure control for this wheel is not available - an icon is displayed in the field of the service indication display, warning of a failure in the system (see Section 16). For the remaining wheels, the system continues to function.
When using a complete set of wheels not equipped with tire pressure monitoring system sensors (e.g. when installing a set of winter tires), no error message is displayed. The tire pressure monitoring system does not function.
If the user wishes, the sensors of the tire pressure monitoring system can be installed on wheels that are not equipped with them - contact the service station specialists.
To manually check the tire pressure using a pressure gauge, you need to screw a special adapter / special universal device onto the valve, stored in a clip on the inside of the fuel filler cap.
At each tire change, the valve spools and o-rings of the tire pressure monitoring system should be replaced.
When using commercially available liquid tire pressure systems or repair kits, system malfunctions are possible - consult an Opel workshop beforehand.
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