Wheels and Tyres217
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
used in exceptional cases and only th en when adopting an appropriately cautious style of driving.
•Do not, where possible, replace individual tyres but at least replace them on both wheels of a given axle at the same time. Always fit the tyres with the deeper tread depth to the front wheels.
For the sake of the environment
Old tyres must be disposed of in conf ormity with the appropriate regulations.
Note
It is not normally possible to fit wheels from other models of cars for technical reasons. This may also apply in certain circumstances to the wheels of the same type of vehicle.
Wheel bolts
Wheels and wheel bolts are matched to each other in terms of design. Each time you fit other wheels - e.g. light allo y 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 essentia l 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.
The Škoda Service Partners are instructed in the technical possibilities which exist regarding converting or retrofitting wheels, tyres and wheel trim.
WARNING
•In case of incorrect treatment of th e 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 tightening torque which is too high can damage the bolts and threads and this can result in permanent 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 vehi cle will be significantly improved when driving on wintry roads if you fit winter tyres. Summer tyres do not offer the same grip on ice, snow and at temperatures below 7 °C because of their construction (width, rubber blend, tread pattern). This applie s in particular to vehicles which are equipped with low-profile tyres or high-speed tyres (code index H, V or W on wall of tyre).
Winter tyres must be mounted on all four wheels to obtain the best handling characteristics.
You must only fit those types of winter ty re which are approved for your vehicle. The permissible sizes of winter tyres are stated in your vehicle documents. Approvals may differ becaus e 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 214.
WARNING (continued)
NKO A05Fabia 20.book Page 217 Tuesday, September 26, 2006 8:38 AM
Breakdown assistance222
Note
•The fire extinguisher must comply with the relevant and valid legal require- ments.
•Pay attention to the expiration date of the fire extinguisher. If the fire extin- guisher is used after the expiration da te, its proper function is no longer assured.
•The fire extinguisher is only supplied in certain countries within the scope of delivery.
Vehicle tool kit
The vehicle tool kit and the lifting jack ar e stored in a locable plastic box in the spare wheel ⇒fig. 154. There is also space here for the removable ball for the trailer towing device.
The vehicle tool kit contains the foll owing parts (depending on equipment fitted):
•Torx wrench,
•Wheel wrench,
•Hook for pulling off a full wheel trim,
•To w i n g e y e ,
•Adapter for the wheel bolts lock.
After using the lifting jack, screw in the arm of the lifting jack fully before placing it back in its stowage area.
WARNING
•The hexagon socket in the handle of the screwdriver should only be used to fit on the wheel bolts. Neve r use the hexagon socket of the screw- driver for tightening the wheel bolt s because you will not be able to achieve the necessary tightening torque with the hexagon socket - risk of accident!
•The factory-supplied lifting jack is only intended for your model of vehicle. On no account attempt to lift a heavier vehicle or other loads - risk of injury!
•Ensure that the vehicle tool kit is safely attached in the luggage compartment.
Tyre repair kit*
The tyre repair kit is intended for the repair of minor tyre defects. The tyre repair kit contains a compressor, inflation bottle, operating instructions and accesso-ries.
Fig. 154 Luggage compartment: Storage compartment for vehicle too kit
NKO A05Fabia 20.book Page 222 Tuesday, September 26, 2006 8:38 AM
Breakdown assistance224
–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 222 out of
the luggage compartment.
WARNING
•If you find yourself in flowing traffic switch on the hazard warning lights system and place the warning tria ngle on the side of the road at the prescribed distance from your vehicl e 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 vehi cle 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 unexpectedly 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 225 or the caps ⇒page 226.
– In the case of light alloy wheels remove the wheel trim cap
⇒ page 226.
– Slacken the wheel bolts ⇒page 227.
– Jack up the vehicle until the wheel to be changed is clear of the
ground ⇒page 227.
– 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 227.
– Mount the full wheel trim/wh eel 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 213.
Subsequent steps
After changing the wheel, you must perform the following steps.
NKO A05Fabia 20.book Page 224 Tuesday, September 26, 2006 8:38 AM
Breakdown assistance225
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
– 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 observ e the guidelines given on ⇒page 215, “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 re placed before checking the tightening torque.
•Drive cautiously and only at a moderate speed to a workshop where the tightening torque can be checked.
Full wheel trim*
Pulling off
– Hook the clamp found in the vehicle tool kit into the reinforced
edge of the full wheel trim.
– Push the wheel key through the clamp, support the wheel key on
the tyre and pull off the wheel trim ⇒fig. 156.
Installing
– First press the full wheel trim onto the wheel at the valve opening
provided. Then press the full wheel trim into the wheel in such a
way that its entire circumfere nce locks correctly in place.
Caution
•Use the pressure of your hand, do no t knock on the full wheel trim! Heavy knocks mainly on the points where the full wheel trim has not been inserted
Fig. 156 Removing the full wheel trim
NKO A05Fabia 20.book Page 225 Tuesday, September 26, 2006 8:38 AM
Breakdown assistance226
into the wheel, can result in damage to the guide and centering elements of the full wheel trim.
•First check for yourself that the theft-deterrent wheel bolt is located ⇒ page 228, “Securing wheels against being stolen*” in the hole in the area of the valve before fitting the full wheel trim onto a steel wheel which is attached with a theft-deterrent wheel bolt.
Wheel trim caps*
Pulling off
– Carefully ⇒fig. 157 lever off the wheel trim cap using the removal
hook .
Wheel bolts with caps*
The caps are designed to protect the wheel bolts.
Pulling off
–Insert the plastic clip (in the car tool kit) sufficiently far onto the
cap until the inner catches of the clip are positioned at the collar of
the cap.
– Pull the cap off with the plastic clip ⇒fig. 158.
Installing
– Insert the caps onto the bolts.
Fig. 157 Pulling off the wheel trim cap
Fig. 158 Changing a wheel: Pull off cap from the wheel bolt
NKO A05Fabia 20.book Page 226 Tuesday, September 26, 2006 8:38 AM
Breakdown assistance227
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Slackening and tightening wheel bolts
Slacken the wheel bolts before jacking up the vehicle.
Slackening wheel bolts
– Insert the wheel wrench fully onto the wheel bolt 5).
– Grasp the end of the wrench and turn the bolt about one turn to
the left ⇒fig. 159.
Tightening wheel bolts
– Insert the wheel wrench fully onto the wheel bolt 5).
– Grasp the end of the wrench and turn the bolt to the right until it is
tight.
WARNING
Slacken the wheel bolts only a little (about one turn) as long as the vehicle has not yet been jacked up - risk of an accident!.
Note
•apply pressure carefully with your foot to the end of the wheel wrench if it proves difficult to slacken the wheel bolts. Hold tight on the vehicle when doing this and ensure that you have a steady position.
Raise vehicle
You have to raise the vehicle with a lifting jack in order to be
able to take off the wheel.
– Position the lifting jack by select ing the jacking point - lower sill -
which is closest to the wheel to be removed ⇒fig. 160.5)Use the appropriate adapter for slackening and tightening the safety wheel bolts ⇒ page 228.
Fig. 159 Changing a wheel: Slackening wheel bolts
Fig. 160 Changing a wheel: Points for posi-tioning car jack
NKO A05Fabia 20.book Page 227 Tuesday, September 26, 2006 8:38 AM
Breakdown assistance228
– Position the lifting jack below the jacking point and move it up until
its claw is positioned directly below the vertical web of the lower
sill.
– Align the lifting jack so that its claw grasps the web of the lower sill
and the moving base plate of the jack is resting flat against
firm ground.
– Turn the lifting jack up further unt il the wheel is just clear of the
ground.
Ground below the lifting jack which is soft and slippery can cause the vehicle to slip off the jack. It is therefor e always necessary to place the lifting jack on a solid surface or use a wide and stable base. Use a non-slip base (e.g. a rubber foot mat) if the surface is smooth, such as cobbled stones, a tiled floor, etc.
WARNING
•Always raise the vehicle with the doors closed - risk of injury.
•Take suitable measures to prevent the base of the lifting jack from slipping off - risk of injury!
•Place the lifting jack only on a solid and even surface.
•Not positioning the lifting jack at the specified points can result in damage to the vehicle. The jack can also slip off if it does not have suffi- cient grip - risk of injury!
•Never start the engine if the vehicl e is lifted - risk of accident.
•Never lie under the vehicle if the vehicle is only lifted with the vehicle lifting jack.
•It is important to support the vehicle with suitable supporting blocks if you wish to work under the lifted vehicle - risk of injury!
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.
– Insert the adapter with its toothed side fully into the inner
toothing of the safety wheel bolt right down in such a way that
only the outer hexagon is jutting out ⇒fig. 161.
– Insert the wheel wrench fully onto the adapter .
– Slacken the wheel bolt, or tighten it firmly ⇒page 227.
– Reinstall the full wheel trim/wheel cap after removing the adapter
or place the cap onto the safety wheel bolt.
AAAB
Fig. 161 Safety wheel bolt with adapter
AB
AA
AB
NKO A05Fabia 20.book Page 228 Tuesday, September 26, 2006 8:38 AM
Breakdown assistance229
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
– Have the tightening torque checked with a torque wrench as
soon as possible. Steel and light alloy wheels must be tightened to
a tightening torque of 120 Nm.
The safety wheel bolts on vehicles fitted with them (one safety wheel bolt per wheel) can only be loosened or tighte n up by using the adapter provided.
It is meaningful to note the code num ber hammered into the rear side of the adapter or the rear side of the safety wheel bolts. You can obtain a replacement adapter from a Škoda Service Partner, if necessary, by quoting this number.
We recommend that you always carry th e adapter for the wheel bolts with you in the vehicle. It should be stowed in the vehicle tool kit.
Caution
•Damage can occur to the adapter and sa fety wheel bolt if the safety wheel bolt is tightened up too much.
•On steel wheels, the theft-deterrent whee l bolt must always be installed in the hole, which is close to the valve. Otherwise the full wheel trim cannot be mounted and the full wheel trim can be damaged during the assembly.
Note
The set of safety wheel bolts can be obtained from a Škoda Service Partner.
Jump-starting
Initial steps
You can use the battery of another vehicle for jump-starting yours if the engine does not start because the battery on yo ur vehicle is flat. You will require jump- start cables for this purpose.
Both batteries must have a rated voltage of 12 V. The capacity (Ah) of the battery supplying the power must not be si gnificantly less than the capacity of the discharged battery in your vehicle.
Jump-start cables
Only use jump-start cables which have an adequately large cross-section and insulated terminal clamps. Please pay attention to the manufacturer's instruc- tions.
Positive cable - colour coding in the majority of cases red.
Negative cable - colour coding in the majority of cases black.
WARNING
•A discharged battery may already freeze at temperatures just below 0°C. In case of frozen battery carry out no jump-starting - risk of explo- sion! Also after thawing of the battery there is a risk of caustic burns due to leaking acid. Replac e the frozen battery.
•Please pay attention to the warning instructions relating to working in the engine compartment ⇒page 198.
Note
•There must not be any contact between the two vehicles otherwise current may flow as soon as the negative terminals are connected.
NKO A05Fabia 20.book Page 229 Tuesday, September 26, 2006 8:38 AM