2004 SKODA OCTAVIA TOUR light
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133
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
WheelsSteel wheels
The wheels and the wheel covers should
also be thoroughly washed during the regu-
lar washing of the car. This prevents brake
abrasion, dirt and road salt forming depos-
its. Stubborn brake abrasion which adheres
to the wheels can be removed with an in-
dustrial dust remover. Damage to the
paintwork should be touched up before any
rust can form.
Light alloy wheels*
Regular care is required in order to retain
the decorative appearance of light alloy
wheels over a long period. It is particularly
necessary to thoroughly wash off road salt
and brake abrasion at least every two
weeks otherwise the light alloy finish will
suffer damage. After washing the wheels,
treat them with an acid-free cleaning prod-
uct for light alloy wheels. It is also neces-
sary to thoroughly rub hard wax into the
wheels about every three months. Do not
use paint polish or other abrasive products.
Damage to the paintwork of light-alloy
wheels should be touched up straightaway.Note
If the wheels are very dirty, this can re-
sult in imbalance. This causes vibra-
tions which are transmitted to the steer-
ing column and in addition results in pre-
mature wear.
Warning
Please note, when cleaning the wheels,
that moisture can affect the braking ac-
tion.HeadlightsPlease do not use any aggressive clean-
ing or chemical solvent products - risk of
damage to the plastic lenses.
Please use soap and clean warm water.
Do not clean the headlights dry or use any
sharp objects for cleaning the plastic
lenses. Otherwise, this can cause damage
to the protective paintwork and conse-
quently lead to formation of cracks on the
headlight lenses, e.g. through effect of
chemical products.
In addition, it is recommended to treat leat-
her which is subject to normal wear-and-
tear every six months with the leather care
product available from a Škoda Dealer. This
product should be applied very sparingly.
Leave for a short time and then wipe dry
with a soft cloth.
„Alcantara“ upholstery*Do not use any cleaning products for
leather for cleaning „Alcantara“ cloth.
Removing dust and dirt
Use a slightly moistened soft washing cloth
to wipe off the „Alcantara“ upholstery or
treat it with a suitable shampoo.
Removing stains
Moisten a soft cloth with water or diluted
alcohol and dab the stain working from the
edge into the middle.Seat covers for electric seat heater *Please
do not clean the seat covers wet.
The seat heater might otherwise be dam-
aged.
Please use special cleaning products, dry
foam, or similar for cleaning the seat cov-
ers.
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135
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
BonnetTo unlock the bonnet, pull lever below the
instrument panel on the driver’s side.
The bonnet jumps out of its lock as a result
of the spring pressure.
Note
Before opening the bonnet, ensure that the
windscreen wiper arms are not folded for-
ward otherwise the paintwork may be dam-
aged. Warning
For safety reasons, the bonnet must
always be properly closed when ve-
hicle is moving. Always check there-
fore after closing the bonnet that the
lock is engaged.
Should you notice that the bonnet lock is
not properly engaged when driving, stop the
car immediately and close the bonnet.
To open
bonnet, grasp it at the bottom of
the radiator grille, raise slightly, push the
hook in direction of arrow and raise bon-
net.
Take bonnet prop out of its catch and in-
sert it into the opening provided - see illus-
tration (on right).
To close, raise bonnet slightly and release
bonnet prop. Press prop into the fixture at
the front-end panel. Allow bonnet to drop
into the lock from a height of about 20 - 30
cm - do not press on bonnet to close it!
Page 144 of 189
143
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Loss of coolantA loss of coolant is first and foremost an
indication of a leak. In this case, the cool-
ing system should be inspected by a Škoda
Dealer. It is not sufficient merely to top up
the coolant.
If there is no leak in the system, losses may
also occur if the coolant boils as a result of
overheating and is forced out of the cool-
ing system.
If it is not possible to find and rectify the
cause of overheating, contact a Škoda
Dealer as soon as possible - otherwise
major engine damage may result.Topping up coolantFirst of all, switch off the engine and allow
it to cool down. Then, place a rag around
the cap of the expansion reservoir and
carefully unscrew the cap.Warning
Do not open the cap of the expansion
reservoir when the engine is hot -
risk of scalding. The cooling system
is pressurized!
Checking coolant levelThe coolant reservoir is located in the right
of the engine compartment.
The coolant level can be correctly checked
only when the engine is not running.
When the engine is cold, the coolant in the
expansion reservoir must be in the area of
the „ MIN“ mark and the crosshatched area.
When the engine is warm, the coolant level
may be slightly above the crosshatched
area. If, in exceptional cases, it is only possible
to top up the system with water, the correct
mixture concentration should be restored
without delay by using the specified cool-
ant additive.
If there is a major loss of coolant, do not
pour in coolant until the engine has cooled
down to avoid any engine damage.
Do not top up beyond the crosshatched
area!
Excess coolant is forced out of the cooling
system by the pressure relief valve in the
cap of the expansion reservoir when the
coolant heats up.
Screw the reservoir cap tight!
If the event that you do not have enough
coolant,
do not drive any further. Switch
off the engine and contact a Škoda Dealer
for professional assistance, otherwise there
is a risk of serious engine damage.
Page 145 of 189
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.
Page 146 of 189
145
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
If the fluid level drops significantly within a
short time, however, or if it drops below the
„MIN“ marking, there may be a leak in the
brake system. Insufficient brake fluid level
in the reservoir is indicated by the brake
warning light coming on, see also page 61.
In such a case, contact a Škoda Dealer
without delay and have the brake sys-
tem inspected.
Warning
Read and observe the warning notes
before working in the engine com-
partment - see page 137.
If the fluid level has dropped below
the MIN marking, do not drive any
further - risk of accident! Contact a
Škoda dealer to obtain professional
assistance.
Replacing brake fluidBrake fluid is hygroscopic and conse-
quently absorbs moisture from the sur-
rounding air over the course of time. An
excessive content of water in the brake fluid
can also in the long term be a cause of
corrosion in the brake system. In addition,
the boiling point of the brake fluid is con-
siderably reduced. For this reason, the
brake fluid must be renewed every two
years.
Warning
When the brake fluid becomes too
old, vapour bubbles may form in the
brake system when the brakes are
used hard. The efficiency of the
brakes and thus the vehicle safety is
then seriously affected.
Use only fresh brake fluid conforming with
Specification FMVSS 116 DOT 4, which is
approved by the factory. Warning
Brake fluid is poisonous!
It must therefore only be stored in the
closed original container and, in par-
ticular, out of the reach of children.
Please also note that brake fluid attacks the
paintwork of the car.
Because of the disposal problem, the special tools and specialist
knowledge required, it is best to have the brake fluid change carried out by aŠkoda Dealer.
It is recommended to have the brake fluid
change carried out as part of an Inspec-
tion Service.
Page 147 of 189
146GENERAL MAINTENANCEBatteryThe battery is located in the engine com-
partment.
If the vehicle has not been driven for more
than 4 weeks, the battery will discharge be-
cause some electrical components (e.g.
control units) also use current in standstill.
In order to avoid the battery discharging dis-
connect the negative cable (-) of the bat-
tery or continuously recharge the battery.
For jump-starting car with another battery,
see the section „Do-It-Yourself“.Warning
Pay attention to the following warn-
ing instructions and safety regula-
tions when carrying out work on the
battery.
Access to battery Pull out the catch on the side of the bat-
tery cover (see arrow) slightly. Lift the bat-
tery cover up and out - see arrow A.
Warning
Pay attention to the following warn-
ing instructions and safety regula-
tions when carrying out work on the
battery.
Removing battery Pull the cable cover 1 up and out in di-
rection of arrow.
Disconnect the battery from the vehicle
electrical system - pay attention to the
Notes on page 148.
Press the catch (arrows B) on the side
of the holder 2 of the fuse carrier. Open the
holder and fuse carrier by raising it (arrow
C ).
Remove the screw 3 from the battery
holder and take out the fuse plate.
Push the battery forward slightly (toward
the headlamp) and then lift it up and out.
Page 148 of 189
147
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Wear eye protection. Pro-
tect your eyes, skin and
clothing from sprays from
particles which contain
acid or lead.
Battery acid is extremely
caustic. Wear protective
gloves and eye protec-
tion. Do not tilt the bat-
tery otherwise acid may flow out of
the vent openings. If acid splashes
into your eyes, rinse them immedi-
ately for a few minutes with clear
water and then contact a doctor with-
out delay. If acid splashes onto your
skin or clothing, neutralise it imme-
diately with soap suds and wash off
with plenty of water. If you swallow
acid, contact a doctor without delay. A highly explosive hydro-
gen is produced when bat-
teries are charged, which
in combination with air pro-
duces an explosive gas mixture.
No fire, sparks, naked flames
or smoking. Avoid sparks
when handling cables and
electrical equipment. Avoid
short circuits. Risk of injury from high-
powered sparks.
It is essential to disconnect the
negative cable at the battery before
performing any work on the electri-
cal system. When changing bulbs, it
is sufficient only to switch off the
light.
Installation is carried out in the reverse
order. When re-connecting the battery, re-
fer to the Notes on page 148.
It is not recommended to remove and in-
stall the battery (even if the instructions
in the Owner’s Manual are followed) be-
cause severe damage to the battery and
fuse box may result in certain circum-
stances. Contact your Škoda Dealership
for this work. Keep acid and battery away
from children.
Page 149 of 189
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.