2004 SKODA OCTAVIA TOUR ignition

108SAFETYSwitching on airbag
Switch the ignition off.

Use the ignition key to turn the airbag
switch - arrow - into the „ON“ position. The
ignition key must be in the horizontal posi-
tion.

Check whether the airbag warning light
in the interior lighting (front) goes out when
the ignition is switched on.
After activating the airbag and then switch-
ing on the ignition, the airbag warning light
comes on for about 3 seconds.
Warning
The driver of the car is responsible
for ensuring that the airbag is deac-
tivated or activated.
„Airbag OFF“ warning light
(airbag deactivated)*The warning light is located in the front in-
terior lighting of the car.
Each time the ignition is switched on, the
warning light comes on in the dash panel
for a few seconds (self diagnosis).
The warning light comes on if the passen-
ger- side airbag or also the side airbag has
been deactivated.
If the warning light in the instrument panel
flashes, there is a fault in the airbag sys-
tem. Contact a Škoda Dealer immediately
to have this rectified Warning
If the warning light flashes:


There is a risk of the passenger-
side airbag being deployed in the
event of an accident. For this reason,
do not install a child seat on the front
passenger seat.

If the front passenger seat is oc-
cupied, there is a risk of the airbag
being deployed unexpectedly and
also causing possible injuries to the
occupant of the front passenger seat.

120DRIVING TIPS

Do not switch off the ignition when driv-
ing.

Do not overfill engine with oil - see page
140.

Do not tow start vehicle for more than
50 m - see page 179.
Warning
Due to the high temperatures which
can occur in catalytic converters in
very unfavourable conditions, the
vehicle should not be parked in such
a way that the catalytic converter can
come into contact with inflammable
materials.
Note
Even if the emission control system is op-
erating perfectly properly, there may be a
sulphurous exhaust smell in certain engine
operating conditions. This depends on the
sulphur content in the fuel being used.
Quite often this can be remedied by select-
ing another brand of fuel or filling up with
unleaded premium petrol.
Trouble-free operation of the
emission
control system is decisive for environmen-
tally friendly operation of the vehicle.
That is why it is important to note the fol-
lowing points:

Vehicles fitted with a catalytic converter
must only be driven on unleaded petrol -
see page 128.

Never drive until the fuel tank is comple-
tely empty on vehicles fitted with a catalytic
converter. The irregular fuel supply can
cause misfiring. This allows unburnt fuel in-
to the exhaust system which can cause
overheating and damage to the catalytic
converter.

If misfiring, a loss of power and rough
engine running occur when driving, this
may be caused by a fault in the ignition
system. In this case, uncombusted fuel can
get into the exhaust system and thus pass
to the atmosphere. In addition, the catalytic
converter may be damaged as a result of
overheating. Reduce your speed immedi-
ately and have the fault rectified at the near-
est Škoda Dealer. General notes


The wear of the brake pads depends to
a great extent on the driving conditions and
your style of driving. Consequently, it may
also be necessary to have the thickness of
the brake pads inspected at a Škoda Dealer
between the intervals stated in the Service
Schedule, particularly if your car is driven
frequently in towns or over short distances,
or in a very sporty manner.

Change down in good time when driv-
ing downhill, in order to make use of the
engine braking effect. This relieves the
strain on the brake system. When the bra-
kes are applied, do not keep them on con-
tinuously, apply and release the brakes al-
ternately.

Under certain operating conditions, for
example after driving through water, after
heavy rain or after washing the vehicle, the
braking effect may be retarded by wet, or
in winter iced-up brake discs and pads - the
brakes must be dried out first by applying
the footbrake.
Brakes

134GENERAL MAINTENANCECleaning engine compartmentWarning
Before carrying out any work in the
engine compartment, it is essential
to read the Notes on page 137.
Good corrosion protection is very important,
particularly in winter when road salts are fre-
quently used. For this reason, the entire en-
gine compartment and the plenum chamber
should be thoroughly cleaned before and af-
ter the winter months and then treated with a
wax preserver so that the road salt cannot
produce any harmful effects.
The ignition must be switched off before
washing the engine.
It is recommended to cover over the al-
ternator before washing the engine com-
partment.
As petrol, grease and oil residues are washed off when cleaning the
engine, the dirty water has to be cleaned in an oil separator. For this reason, anengine wash should only be carried outin a workshop or at a service station (if
these are appropriately equipped).
Škoda Dealers have available the factory-
recommended cleaning and wax treatment
products and are equipped with the nec-
essary facilities.Underbody sealantThe underside of your car is durably protec-
ted against chemical and mechanical influ-
ences.
As it is not possible, however, to totally rule
out the likelihood of the underbody sealant
being damaged from driving, it is recom-
mended to have the protective layer on the
underside of the car touched up at certain
intervals. This is best done before the start
of the winter and in the spring.
Škoda Dealers have available the suitable
sealant products and the equipment nec-
essary and are acquainted with the instruc-
tions for use. For this reason, it is best to
have any touch-up work or additional cor-
rosion protection measures carried out by
your Škoda Dealer.
No underbody sealant should be applied to
the heat shields of the catalytic converter
and to the exhaust pipes because of the
high temperatures in the area of the cata-
lytic converter (risk of fire). It is also not
permitted to remove the heat shields.
Cavity protectionAll the cavities of the vehicle which are at
risk from corrosion are durably protected
before the car leaves the factory.
The cavity protection does not require to
be inspected or touched up. If any wax flo-
ws out of the cavities at high outside tem-
peratures, this can be removed with a plas-
tic scraper. Any stains can be removed with
white spirits.
Pay attention to the relevant safetyand environmental protection regu-
lations if white spirits is used to remove
wax and stains.

137
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Warning
Particular care is required when per-
forming work in the engine compart-
ment!

Never open the bonnet if you see
that steam or coolant is escaping
from the engine compartment - risk
of scalding!
You must wait long enough, until the
steam or coolant has stopped escap-
ing.

Switch off engine and withdraw ig-
nition key.

Apply handbrake properly.

Move gearshift into Neutral (on
models with automatic gearbox mo-
ve selector lever into position „P“).

Allow engine to cool down.

If the engine is still warm:
- do not place your hand into the ra- diator fan, it might start suddenly.
- do not open filler cap of coolant reservoir as cooling system is
pressurized - risk of scalding.

Avoid short circuits in the electri-
cal system - particularly at the bat-
tery!

If you wish to work under the ve-
hicle, you must secure the vehicle
from rolling away and support it with
suitable supporting blocks: the car
jack is not sufficient for this - risk of
injury!

If it is necessary to carry out test
work when engine is running, there
is an additional risk from rotating
parts - e.g. ribbed belt, alternator,
radiator fan etc. - and from the high-
voltage ignition system.

Never touch the electrical cables
of the ignition system.

Absolutely avoid any jewellery,
loose items of clothing or long hair
from getting into the rotating parts of
the engine - Hazard! Therefore re-
move any jewellery beforehand, tie
up your hair and wear tight fitting
clothing.
It is essential to comply with all the
warning information given in this
manual and with the general rules of
safety when carrying out work on the
engine.
When topping up fluids, ensure that no mix-
ups occur otherwise this may cause severe
operating problems!
The floor below the car should be
inspected regularly in order to de-
tect leaks in good time. If patches of oil or other fluids are visible, the car shouldbe taken to a Škoda Dealer for an inspec-
tion.

144GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Drained coolant should not nor-mally be re-used but should be dis-
posed of by complying with environmen- tal protection regulations.
Radiator fanThe radiator fan is driven by an electric mo-
tor and controlled by a thermostatic switch
in line with the coolant temperature.
Warning
After the engine has been switched
off, the fan may continue running for
a while - even if the ignition is swit-
ched off. It may also start to run again
suddenly after a short time if
- the coolant temperature increases due to heat build-up
- when the engine is hot and the en- gine compartment is heated addi-
tionally by strong sunlight.
Special care should therefore be
taken when working in the engine
compartment.
Brake fluidThe brake fluid reservoir is located in the
left of the engine compartment.Checking fluid levelThe fluid level should always be between
the „MAX“ and „MIN“ markings on the re-
servoir.
A slight drop in the fluid level occurs when
driving as a result of wear and tear and au-
tomatic slack adjustment of the brake pads.
This is perfectly normal.
Warning
The coolant additive and the coolant
are poisonous! Do not breathe in
coolant vapours, do not swallow
coolant, avoid contact with eyes and
skin.
If coolant splashes into your eye,
rinse out immediately with clear wa-
ter and contact a doctor.
If coolant is swallowed, you should
likewise contact a doctor. The cool-
ant additive should therefore be
safely stored in the original contain-
ers out of the reach of children.
If the coolant has to be drained out
of the cooling system of the car at
any time, it should be collected,
marked and likewise stored in a safe
place.

148GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Used batteries are harmful to
the environment and should
therefore be disposed of by
contacting your Škoda Dea-
ler.

When disconnecting the battery
from the electrical system, first of all
disconnect the negative cable (-) and
then the positive cable (+).
The battery must not be disconnec-
ted when the ignition is switched on
and the engine is running otherwise
the electrical system (electronic
components) will be damaged.

When re-connecting the battery,
first of all connect the positive cable
(+) and then the negative cable (-).
The connection cables must on no
account be mixed up - risk of fire in
the wiring!

Never use a battery which is dam-
aged - risk of explosion! Immediately
replace a damaged battery.

Never charge a frozen or thawed
battery - risk of explosion and caus-
tic burns. Replace a frozen battery.
Do not expose the battery to direct sun-
light to protect the housing from ultra-
violet rays.
Ensure that the battery acid does not
come into contact with the paintwork
otherwise the paintwork might be dam-
aged.
Checking electrolyte levelIn normal operating conditions the battery
requires practically no maintenance. It is
nevertheless recommended to inspect the
electrolyte level from time to time. It should
always be between the „MIN“ and „MAX“
markings on the front and back of the bat-
tery. If the electrolyte level has dropped
below the „MIN“ marking, top up the rel-
evant battery cells to the „MAX“ marking
with distilled water .
It is recommended to have the electrolyte
level and density inspected and corrected
by a Škoda Dealer.
Battery with charge state indicator
(magic eye)*The magic eye is located on the top of the
battery. This „magic eye“ alters its colour
depending on the charge state and elec-
trolyte level of the battery. The colour indi-
cated serves as a diagnostic aid for Škoda
Dealerships.
Knock gently on the magic eye before
checking the battery.

149
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Driving in winterThe battery is exposed to particular stresses
in winter. In addition, at low temperatures, it
is only capable of providing part of the start-
ing power which it has at normal tempera-
tures.A discharged battery may already freeze
at a few degrees below zero.
We therefore recommend having the bat-
tery inspected and, if necessary, charged
before the start of the winter. This is best
done by a Škoda Dealer.Charging batterySwitch off the ignition and all electrical com-
ponents before charging the battery.
It is not normally necessary to disconnect
the cables from the electrical system when
charging with low amperages (e.g. with a
mini charger). Always follow the instructions
of the charger manufacturer in this case.
Recharge the battery by using a charg-
ing current of 1/10 of the battery rated
capacity in A (or less) until the battery is
fully charged.
A battery charger with a constant charg-
ing voltage of 14.4 V can also be used
for recharging; the recharging duration
is max. 30 hours, according to battery
discharge. Both connection cables should be taken
off
, however, for quick-charging (only in
exceptional cases), in other words charg-
ing with high amperages.
Pay attention to the following points:

The vent plugs of the battery should
not be opened for charging.

Never charge a frozen or thawed bat-
tery - risk of explosion and caustic
burns! Replace a frozen battery.

The power cable of the charger should
not be plugged in until after the terminal
clamps of the charger have been properly
connected to the battery terminals:
red terminal
= positive (+)
black terminal
= negative (-).

After charging, install battery and re-con-
nect correctly - first of all positive (+), then
negative cable (-).
If the indication in the window is green, the
battery is properly charged. If, on the other
hand, the indication is dark, the battery re-
quires to be charged.
If the magic eye is colourless or yellow, this
indicates insufficient electrolyte level.
Please have the battery checked by a
Škoda dealer.
The battery must be topped up with distilled
water. If the battery is 5 years or older, we
recommend replacing it. Have the electro-
lyte level inspected and adjusted to the
correct level by a Škoda dealer.

150GENERAL MAINTENANCEAfter connecting the battery- restore operation of the convenience sys-tem - see page 16
- set the time - see page 50
- if the radio is protected by a code, set the code - see operating instructions of
car radio
The data of the multifunction display are
erased - see page 50.Replacing batteryIf the battery has to be replaced, the new
battery should have the same capacity, volt-
age (12 volts), amperage, design and have
a plug seal. Škoda Dealers have available
a range of suitable batteries.
Because of the disposal problem in- volved with old batteries, it is best
to have the battery replaced by a Škoda Dealer. Batteries contain substancessuch as sulphuric acid and lead andmust on no account be disposed of in
domestic refuse.
Spark plugsThe spark plugs are replaced as part of the
Škoda Inspection Service.

Should it be necessary to replace the
spark plugs between the Inspection Service
intervals, proceed as follows:Spark plugs and ignition system are matched
to the engine and thus contribute to an ex-
haust with low emission levels.Only the spark plugs selected for the par-
ticular engine should be used in order to
avoid operational problems, engine dam-
age and any infringement of legal require-
ments in respect of emission levels or ra-
dio interference from the spark plugs. Par-
ticularly important aspects are the number
of electrodes, the thermal value and radio
interference suppression.

Spark plugs may also be subject to tech-
nical modifications at short notice. It is
therefore recommended to purchase them
only from Škoda Dealers as they are always
informed of the up-to-date situation.
Ribbed belt
The ribbed belt is one of the components
of the car which is subjected to the most
stress. It is therefore necessary to place
particularly high quality requirements in res-
pect of the belts.

When replacing a ribbed belt, it is not
sufficient to use any ribbed belt of whatever
size. For safety reasons, use only the
ribbed belts selected for your car.

Ribbed belts may also be subject to
technical modifications at short notice. It is
therefore recommended to purchase them
only from Škoda Dealers and to also have
the belts changed there as they are always
informed of the up-to-date situation.