Drive Systems - Opel Automobile Owner's Manual

128 Driving and operating

Drive systems

All-wheel drive
All-wheel drive is an active-on-
demand system that engages
automatically, with no action required
by the driver. Depending on the
driving environment, the vehicle
switches between two-wheel drive
and four-wheel drive, to give the
vehicle more traction and stability
when necessary.
If the front wheels begin to slip, the
rear wheels will automatically begin to
drive the vehicle as required. More
torque is transferred to the wheels
that have the most traction, so the
vehicle has optimum grip at all times.
There may be a slight engagement
noise during hard use.
As well as enabling the vehicle to be
driven off-road, this system also
enables the vehicle to be driven on
normal roads without incurring
excessive tyre and drivetrain wear or
causing poor control.
Ensure tyres (including the spare) are
inflated to the correct pressure
3 195 and are suitable for the
prevailing road conditions. For
optimum system performance, the
vehicle's tyres should not have
varying degrees of wear.
If control indicator B flashes in the
instrument cluster during driving, All-
wheel drive is temporarily disabled. If
B flashes continuously, there is a fault
in the system; seek the assistance of
a workshop.
All-wheel drive control indicator B
3 83.
On-road driving
The increased traction of All-wheel
drive vehicles offers greater driving
control in adverse road conditions,
particularly heavy snow and ice.
However, All-wheel drive vehicles are
not "skid-proof" and do not decrease
stopping distances.
All-wheel drive vehicles have a higher
centre of gravity than conventional
vehicles. Always approach curves at
an appropriate driving speed. Do not
attempt to go as fast through turns as
you might in a conventional vehicle.
Strong crosswinds can affect the
normal steering of the vehicle. Drive
slower under strong crosswind
conditions.
Off-road driving
■ Avoid protruding objects (such as
rocks or tree stumps) that may
damage the underbody and tyres of
your vehicle.
■ Test the brakes after operating in
mud, to clear excess mud from the
braking surfaces.
■ Grip the steering wheel when
travelling over rough terrain.
Terrain conditions can cause rapid
and unexpected movement in the
steering.
The ground clearance, ramp angle,
angle of approach and departure and
wading depth need to be considered,
especially in hilly conditions and
when wading, to prevent the vehicle
becoming stuck and possibly
damaged.
Vehicle dimensions 3 193.