Wheels and Tyres
230
Wheel bolts
Wheels and wheel bolts are matched to each other in terms of design.
Each time you fit other wheels - e.g. light alloy wheels or wheels with
winter tyres - you must therefore also use the matching wheel bolts of the
correct length and shape of spherical cap. This is essential to ensure that
the wheels are tightly fitted and that the brake system operates properly.
If you retrofit wheel trims (or have this done), please also ensure that an
adequate flow of air remains assured for cooling the brake system.
Škoda dealers are instructed in the technical possibilities which exist
regarding converting or retrofitting wheels, tyres and wheel trim.
WARNING
•In case of incorrect treatment of the wheel bolts, the wheel can
loosen when the car is moving - risk of accident!
•The wheel bolts must be clean and must turn easily. However,
they must never be treated with grease or oil.
•If the wheel bolts are tightened to a too low tightening torque,
the rim can lossen when the car is moving - risk of accident! A tight-
ening torque which is too high can damage the bolts and threads
and this can result in perman ent deformation of the contact
surfaces on the rims.
Caution
The prescribed tightening torque of the wheel bolts for steel and light alloy
wheels is 120 Nm.
Winter tyres
The handling of your vehicle will be significantly improved when driving on
wintry roads and at temperatures below 7 °C if you fit winter tyres.
Summer tyres do not offer the same grip on ice and snow because of their
construction (width, rubber blend, tread pattern). This applies in particular
to vehicles which are equipped with low-profile tyres or high-speed
tyres (code index V, W or Y on wall of tyre).
Winter tyres must be mounted on all four wheels to obtain the best
handling characteristics.
Only use radial winter tyres.
You must only fit those types of winter tyre which are approved for your
vehicle. The permissible sizes of winter tyres are stated in your vehicle
documents. Approvals may differ because of national legislation.
Please remember that the tyres should be inflated to 20 kPa (0.2 bar)
more than is the case for summer tyres ⇒page 226.
Winter tyres no longer offer the same winter performance once the tyre
tread has worn down to a depth of about 4 mm.
Ageing also causes winter tyres to lose most of their winter performance
properties - even in cases where the remaining tread depth is still clearly
more than 4 mm.
Speed restrictions apply to winter tyres as well as to summer tyres
⇒ .
You can fit winter tyres of a lower speed category to your vehicle provided
that you also do not drive faster than the permissible maximum speed for
such tyres, even if the possible maximum speed of your vehicle is higher.
The corresponding tyre category can damage the tyres when exceeding
the permissible maximum speed.
Please pay attention to the notes if you decide to fit winter tyres
⇒ page 225.
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238
•Do not drive with this spare wheel at more than 80 km/h - risk of acci-
dent. Avoid accelerating at full throttle, sharp braking and fast cornering.
•The inflation pressure for this spare wheel is identical to the inflation
pressure of the standard tyres.
•Use this spare wheel only to reach the nearest service station as it is
not intended for continuous use.
Changing a wheel
Preliminary work
The following steps should be carried out before actually
changing the wheel.
– If it is necessary to change a wheel, park the vehicle as far away as possible from the traffic flow. The place you choose
should be level.
– Have all the occupants get out. While changing a wheel, the
occupants of the vehicle should not stand on the road (it is
better behind a crash barrier).
– Apply the handbrake firmly.
– Engage 1st gear or if your vehicle is fitted with an automatic
gearbox, position the selector lever into position P .
– If a trailer is coupled, uncouple it.
– Take the vehicle tool kit and the spare wheel ⇒ page 237
out of the luggage compartment.
WARNING
•If you find yourself in flowing traffic switch on the hazard
warning lights system and place the warning triangle on the side of
the road at the prescribed distance from your vehicle while
observing all national legal provisions. In this way you are
protecting not only yourself but also other road users.
•Never start the engine with the vehicle sitting on the raised jack
- danger of suffering injury!
Caution
If you have to change a wheel on a slope first block the opposite wheel
with a stone or similar object in order to secure the vehicle from unexpect-
edly rolling away.
Note
Comply with the national legal regulations.
Changing a wheel
Always change a wheel on a level surface as far as possible.
– Take off the full wheel trim* ⇒page 239 or the caps
⇒ page 241.
– In the case of light alloy wheels remove the wheel trim cap ⇒page 240.
– Slacken the wheel bolts ⇒page 241.
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Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
– Jack up the vehicle until the wheel is clear of the ground
⇒page 242.
– Unscrew the wheel bolts and place them on a clean surface (cloth, paper etc.).
– Take off the wheel.
– Fit on the spare wheel and tighten the wheel bolts slightly.
– Lower the car.
– Tighten the wheel bolts firmly, alternately and diagonally using the wheel wrench ⇒page 241.
– Mount the full wheel trim/wheel trim cap or the caps.
Note
•All bolts must be clean and must turn easily.
•You must never grease or oil the wheel bolts!
•When fitting on unidirectional tyres, ensure that the tyres rotate in the
correct direction ⇒page 225.
Subsequent steps
After changing the wheel, you must perform the following steps.
– Stow and attach the replaced wheel in the spare wheel well.
– Stow the vehicle tool kit in the space provided. –
Check the tyre pressure on the spare wheel just mounted as
soon as possible.
– Have the tightening torque of the wheel bolts checked with
a torque wrench as soon as possible. The tightening torque for
steel and light alloy wheels must be 120 Nm.
– Have the defective tyre repaired as soon as possible.
WARNING
It is necessary to observe the guidelines given on ⇒page 228,
“New tyres and wheels” if the vehicle is subsequently fitted with
tyres which are different to those it was fitted with at the works.
Note
•If you find, when changing the wheel, that the wheel bolts are corroded
and difficult to turn, the bolts must be replaced before checking the tight-
ening torque.
•Drive cautiously and only at a moderate speed to a workshop where
the tightening torque can be checked.
Full wheel trim*
Removing
– Hook the clamp (found in the vehicle toolkit) into the reinforced edge of the full wheel trim.
– Push the wheel key through the clamp, support the wheel key at the tyre and pull off the wheel trim.
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244
– Screw in the wheel bolts and tighten them slightly with the aid
of the hexagon socket.
– Unscrew the assembly pin and screw in the remaining wheel bolt also slightly.
The wheel bolts must be clean and must turn easily.
The hexagon socket in the handle of the screwdriver makes it simpler to
fit on the wheel bolts. The reversible blade should be pulled out for this
step.
When fitting on unidirectional tyres, ensure that the tyres rotate in the
correct direction ⇒ page 231.
Note
Do not use the hexagon socket in the handle of the screwdriver for slack-
ening or tightening the wheel bolts.
Securing wheels against being stolen
You need a special adapter for slackening the safety
wheel bolts.
– Pull off the full wheel trim/cap from the wheel hub or cap from
the safety wheel bolt.
– Push the adapter with its toothed side into the inner toothing of the safety wheel bolt right down in such a way
that only the outer hexagon is jutting out ⇒fig. 184.
– Push the wheel wrench fully onto the adapter .
– Slacken the wheel bolt, or tighten it firmly ⇒page 230.
– Reinstall the full wheel trim/wheel cap after removing the adapter or place the cap onto the safety wheel bolt.
Fig. 184 Safety wheel
bolt with adapter
AB
AA
AB
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Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
out the battery being ignited by the strong spark which results from
the engine being started.
•Do not affix the cable end to parts of the fuel and brake
system.
•Run the jump-start cables so that they cannot be caught by any
rotating parts in the engine compartment.
•Do not bend over the batteries - risk of caustic burns!
•The vent screws of the battery cells must be tightened firmly.
•Keep any sources of ignition (naked flame, smouldering ciga-
rettes etc.) away from the battery - risk of an explosion!
Tow-starting and towing vehicle
General
Please pay attention to the following instructions if you are going
to use a tow rope:
Driver of the towing vehicle
– Do not drive off until the tow rope is taught.
– Release the clutch particularly gently when starting off or depress the accelerator particularly gently if your vehicle is
fitted with an automatic gearbox. Driver of the towed vehicle
– Switch the ignition on so that the steering wheel is not blocked
and you can also operate the turn signal lights, the headlight
flasher, the windscreen wipers and windscreen washer
system.
– Take the vehicle out of gear or move the selector lever into position N if your vehicle is fitted with an automatic gearbox.
– Note that the brake servo unit and power steering only operate if the engine is running. You will require significantly greater
physical force to depress the brake pedal and to steer the
vehicle if the engine is not running.
– Ensure that the tow rope is always kept taught.
Tow rope or tow bar
A tow bar is safest way of towing a vehicle and also minimizes any
shocks. You can use a tow rope only if a suitable tow bar is not available.
The tow rope must be elastic to protect the vehicle. Thus one should only
use plastic fibre rope or a rope made out of a similarly elastic material.
Attach the tow rope or the tow bar only to the towing eyes provided for
this purpose ⇒page 248, “Front towing eye” and ⇒page 248, “Rear
towing eye”.
Driving style
Towing another vehicle requires a certain amount of practice. Both drivers
should be familiar with the particular points about towing a vehicle.
Unskilled drivers should not attempt to tow in another vehicle or to be
towed in.
One should be constantly vigilant not to allow impermissibly high towing
forces or jerky loadings. There is always a risk of excessive stresses and
WARNING (continued)
A4
Fuses and light bulbs
250
Fuses and light bulbs
Electric fuses
Replacing fuses
Defect fuses must be replaced.
Individual electrical circuits are protected by fuses. The fuses are
located on the left side of the dash panel behind the safety cover.
– Switch the ignition off and also the electrical component
affected.
– Use a screwdriver to take off the fuse cover ⇒fig. 187.
– Find out which fuse belongs to the component which is not operating ⇒page 251, “Fuse assignment”. – Take the plastic clip out of the fixture in the fuse cover, insert
it onto the fuse in question, and pull it out.
– Defect fuses can be detected by their melted metal strips. Replace the defect fuse by a new fuse of the same ampere
number.
– Fit on the fuse cover again.
We recommend that you carry the box of replacement fuses with you
which was delivered in your vehicle. Replacement fuses 4) are available
at Škoda dealers.
Colour coding of fuses
Fig. 187 Left side of
the dash panel: fuse
cover
4)Replacement fuses are, on the other hand, part of the basic equipping of the ve-
hicle in some countries.
ColourMaximum amperage
light brown5
brown7,5
red10
blue15
yellow20
white25
green30
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Caution
•Never attempt to “repair” fuses and also do not replace them with a
fuse of a higher amperage - risk of fire! This may also cause damage at
another part of the electrical system.
•Have the electrical system checked as quickly as possible by a Škoda
dealer if a newly inserted fuse blows again after a short time.
Fuse assignment
Certain electrical components are only standard on certain vehicle model
versions or only suppliable as optional equipment for certain models.
Fig. 188 Schematic
representation of fuse
carrier
No.Ampere s
1Heatable windscreen washing nozzles5
2Turn signals10
3Not assigned
4Licence plate light5
5
Instrument cluster - warning lights, seat heaters, cruise
control system, exterior mirror adjustment, lighting of
controls and switches, outside temperature display, air
conditioning, audible parking aid, navigation system,
multifunction steering wheel
10
6Heating of the external mirror5
7ABS, EDS, ASR, ESP, cruise control system, engine
electronics10
8Automatic headlight beam adjustment5
9Parking aid5
10CD changer, mobile phone, multifunction steering
wheel5
11Electrically adjustable seats5
12Power supply for diagnostic socket10
13Brake lights10
14Central locking control unit, interior lighting10
15Instrument cluster, air conditioning, automatic gearbox,
exterior mirror adjustment memory and navigation sys-
tem10
16ESP5
17Two-way radio system, special vehicles (police etc.)10
Fuses and light bulbs
252
The power windows and the power seats are protected by automatic
circuit breakers which switch on again automatically after a few seconds
after the overload has been eliminated - e.g. frozen windows.
Bulbs
Changing bulbs
The relevant lamp must always be switched off before a light bulb is
replaced.
Do not take hold of the glass bulb with naked fingers (even the smallest
amount of dirt reduces the working life of the light bulb). Use a clean cloth,
serviette or something similar.
Defect light bulbs should only be replaced with light bulbs of the same
type. The designation is located on the light socket or the glass bulb.
Changing certain bulbs is not something which you can do yourself, but
requires to be done by a specialist. Other parts of the vehcle must be
18Right main beam10
19Left main beam10
20Low beam on the right15
21Low beam on the left15
22Parking light on the right5
23Parking light on the left5
24Windscreen washer system, windscreen wiper pump
and intermittent switch25
25Fan for fresh air, the air conditioning unit, Climatronic30
26Rear window heating, recirculated air mode30
27Not assigned
28Fuel pump, diesel additional pump20
29Engine control20
30Electric sliding/tilting roof20
31Reversing lights, cruise control system, automatic
gearbox, automatic dimming interior mirror15
32Engine control, cruise control system20
33Cigarette lighter15
34Engine control15
35Trailer socket30
36Fog lights15
37Radio, navigation 20
38Central locking system15
No.Ampere
s
39Hazard warning light system15
40Horn25
41Not assigned
42ESP25
43Engine control15
44Seat heaters30
No.Amperes