2006 SKODA OCTAVIA heating

Ignition lock
Fig. 94
Positions of the vehicle key in
the ignition lock
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 91.
Petrol engines
Ignition switched off, engine off, the steering can be locked
Ignition switched on
Starting engine
Diesel engines Fuel supply interrupted, ignition switched off, engine switched off, the steer-
ing can be locked.
Heating glow plugs on, ignition switched on
Starting engine
To lock the steering , with the ignition key withdrawn, turn the steering wheel
until the steering locking pin engages audibly.
If the steering is locked and the key cannot or can only be turned with difficulty
into the position 2
» Fig. 94, move the steering wheel back and forth and the
steering lock will unlock. ÐStarting engine
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 91.
Vehicles with a diesel engine are equipped with a glow plug system. The pre-
glow warning light  comes on after the ignition has been switched on. The en-
gine should be started immediately after the preglow warning light goes out.
ä 1
2
3
1
2
3
ä You should not switch on any major electrical components during the heating
period otherwise the vehicle battery will be drained unnecessarily.
Procedure for starting the engine
› Before starting the engine, place the gearshift lever into neutral or place the se-
lector lever in the position P or N and firmly put on the handbrake.
› Fully depress and hold the clutch pedal, switch on the ignition 2
» Fig. 94 on
page 93 and start 3
- do not operate the accelerator. Depress the clutch pedal
until the engine starts.
› Let go of the key as soon as the engine starts. After letting go, the vehicle key
will return to position 2
.
› If the engine does not start within 10
seconds, abort the start-up process and
turn the key to position 1
. Repeat the start-up process after approx. half a mi-
nute.
› Release the handbrake before starting off.
The engine will not start if the clutch pedal is not depressed.
The following is displayed in the information display:
Depress clutch to start!
The following is shown in the information display of the information cluster:
CLUTCH Ð Switching the engine off
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 91.
Switch off the engine by turning the ignition key into position 1
» Fig. 94
on
page 93. Ð Brakes and brake assist systems
ä
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Information for braking 94
Handbrake 95
Stabilisation Control (ESC) 95
£
ä
93
Starting-off and Driving

Antilock brake system (ABS) 96
Traction control system (TCS) 96
Electronic Differential Lock (EDS and XDS) 97
WARNING
■ The brake booster only operates when the engine is running. Greater physi-
cal effort for braking is required when the engine is switched off - risk of acci-
dent!
■ Depress the clutch pedal when stopping or braking a vehicle with a petrol
engine and manual transmission in the low rev range. If you fail to do so, the
functionality of the brake booster can be impaired - risk of accident!
■ If a front spoiler, full wheel trim, etc. is mounted retrospectively, it must be
ensured that the air supply to the front wheel brakes is not reduced. Other-
wise, the functionality of the brake system could be impaired - risk of acci-
dent! ■ Please note that the handbrake must be fully released. A handbrake which
is only partially released can result in the rear brakes overheating, which can
have a negative effect on the operation of the brake system - risk of accident!
■ Never leave children unattended in the vehicle. The children might, for ex-
ample, release the handbrake or take the vehicle out of gear. The vehicle
might then move off - risk of accident!
■ A lack of fuel can cause irregular engine running or cause the engine to shut
down. The brake assist systems would then be without function - risk of acci-
dent! ■ Adjust the speed and driving style to the current visibility, weather, road and
traffic conditions. The increased safety offered by the brake assist systems
must not tempt you to take greater risks than otherwise - risk of an accident!
■ The normal braking system is still fully functional if there is an ABS fault.
Visit a ŠKODA specialist garage immediately and adjust your style of driving
according to the damage to the ABS as you will not know how great the dam-
age is and the limitation it is placing on the braking efficiency. CAUTION
■ Observe the recommendations on the new brake pads » page 139.
■ Never let the brakes slip with light pressure on the pedal if braking is not neces-
sary. This causes the brakes to overheat and can also result in a longer braking
distance and excessive wear.
■ All four wheels must be fitted with the same tyres approved by the manufactur-
er to ensure the brake assist systems operate correctly. Note
■ If the brakes are applied in full and the control unit for the braking system con-
siders the situation to be dangerous for the following traffic, the brake light
flashes automatically. After the speed was reduced below around 10 km/h or the
vehicle was stopped, the brake light stops flashing and the hazard warning light
system switches on. The hazard warning light system is switched off automatical-
ly after accelerating or driving off again. ■ Before negotiating a steep downhill section, reduce the speed, shift down into
the next lower gear (manual gearbox) or select a lower drive position (automatic
gearbox). As a result, the braking effect of the engine will be used, reducing the
load on the brakes. Any additional braking should be completed intermittently,
not continuously. ■ Changes to the vehicle (e.g. to the engine, brakes, chassis or another combina-
tion of tyres and wheels) can influence the functionality of the brake assist sys-
tems »
page 177, Accessories, changes and replacement of parts .
■ If a fault occurs in the ABS system, the ESC, ASR and EDL also do not work. A
warning light  »

page 22 comes on if a fault occurs in the ABS system. Ð Information for braking
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 93.
Wear-and-tear
The wear of the brake pads is dependent on the operating conditions and driving
style. The brake pads wear more quickly if a lot of journeys are completed in
towns and over short distances or if a very sporty style of driving is adopted. If
operated under severe conditions, the thickness of the brake pads must be
checked by a ŠKODA specialist garage before the next service appointment.
Wet roads or road salt
The performance of the brakes can be delayed as the brake discs and brake pads
may be moist or have a coating of ice or layer of salt on them in winter. The
brakes are cleaned and dried by applying the brakes several times.
Corrosion
Corrosion on the brake discs and dirt on the bake pads occur if the vehicle has
been parked for a long period and if you do not make much use of the braking
system. If the brake system is not used much or if there is corrosion on the sur-
face, we recommend cleaning the brake discs by firmly applying the brakes from a
fairly high speed. £
ä
94 Using the system

Automatic gearbox
Automatic gearbox
ä
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Introductory information 102
Starting-off and driving 103
Selector lever positions 103
Manual shifting of gears (Tiptronic) 104
Selector lever lock 105
Kickdown function 105
Dynamic shift programme 105
Emergency programme 106
Selector lever-emergency unlocking 106
WARNING
■ Do not depress the accelerator if changing the position of the selector lever
when the vehicle is stationary and the engine is running - risk of accident!
■ Never move the selector lever into position R or P when driving - risk of an
accident!
■ When the engine is running and the vehicle is stationary, it is necessary to
hold the car with the brake pedal in all the positions of the selector lever (ex-
cept P and N) since the power transmission is never completely interrupted,
also not when the engine is idling - the vehicle creeps.
■ The selector lever must be placed into position P and the handbrake firmly
applied before the bonnet can be opened and work on the running engine can
be completed - risk of accident! The safety guidelines must always be ob-
served » page 158 , Engine compartment . WARNING (Continued)
■ If stopping on a hill (downhill gradient), never try to maintain the vehicle sta-
tionary with the gear engaged by means of the
“accelerator pedal”, i.e. by let-
ting the clutch slip. This can lead to overheating of the clutch. If there is a risk
of overheating of the clutch due to overload, the clutch is opened automati-
cally and the vehicle rolls backward - risk of accident!
■ If you have to stop on a slope, depress and hold the brake pedal to prevent
the vehicle from rolling back.
■ On a smooth or slippery road surface using the kickdown function can cause
the driven wheels to spin - risk of skidding! CAUTION
■ The double clutch on the automatic gearbox DSG is equipped with an overload
protection. If the uphill function is used when the vehicle is stationary or driving
slowly uphill, the thermal stress on the clutches is increased. ■ If the clutch system overheats, the symbol  is shown in the information dis-
play along with the message Gearbox overheated. Stop! Owner's man.! appears.
An audible signal sounds as a warning signal. Stop the vehicle, switch off the en-
gine, and wait until the symbol  disappears - risk of gearbox damage! You can
continue your journey as soon as the symbol disappears. Ð Introductory information
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 102.
Shifting up and down through the gears is performed automatically. The gearbox
can also be switched to
Tiptronic mode. This mode makes it possible for you to
also shift gears manually » page 104.
The engine can only be started when the selector lever is in position P or N . If
the selector lever is not in the P or N positions when locking the steering, switch-
ing the ignition on or off or when leaving the engine on, the following message
will appear in the Information display Move selector lever to position P/N! or, in
the instrument cluster display:  P/N
.
At temperatures below -10 °C the engine can only be started in the selector lever
position P 1)
. £
ä
1)
Applies to DSG.
102 Using the system

Immediately reduce your speed as soon as even the slightest swaying of the trail-
er is detected. Never attempt to stop the trailer from “swaying” by accelerating.
Brakes
Apply the brakes in good time! If the trailer is fitted with a trailer brake, apply the
brakes gently at first, then brake firmly. This will avoid brake jolts resulting from
the trailer wheels locking. On downhill sections shift down a gear in good time to
also use the engine as a brake.
Trailer stabilisation
The trailer stabilisation is an extension of the stabilisation control that works in
conjunction with the counter-steering assistance to reduce the amount the trail-
er "sways". After turning on the ignition, the ESC warning light  in the instru-
ment cluster lights up for about 2 seconds longer than the ABS warning light.
Prerequisites for stabilising the trailer.
› The towing device is factory-fitted or a compatible towing device has been ret-
rofitted.
› The ESC is active. The warning light
 or  in the instrument cluster is not illu-
minated.
› The trailer is electrically connected to the towing vehicle by means of the trailer
socket.
› The speed is higher than approx. 60 km/h.
› Trailers must have a fixed drawbar.
› The ESC works for both braked and unbraked trailers.
Trailer is connected to the anti-theft alarm system. › If the vehicle is factory-fitted with an anti-theft alarm system and a towing de-
vice.
› If the trailer is electrically connected to the towing vehicle by means of the trail-
er socket.
› If the electrical system of the vehicle and trailer is fully functional.
› If the vehicle is locked with the car key and the anti-theft alarm system is acti-
vated.
When the vehicle is locked, the alarm is activated as soon as the electrical con-
nection to the trailer is interrupted.
Always deactivate the anti-theft alarm system before a trailer is connected/dis-
connected. Otherwise, the anti-theft alarm system could accidentally be trig-
gered » page 31 , Anti-theft alarm system . Engine overheating
If the needle for the coolant temperature gauge moves into the right-hand area
or the red area of the scale, the speed must be reduced immediately. Stop and
switch off the engine if the warning light
 in the instrument cluster starts to
flash. Wait a few minutes and check the level of coolant in the coolant expansion
bottle » page 163, Checking the coolant level .
The following guidelines must be observed » page 20, Coolant temperature/cool-
ant level  .
The coolant temperature can be reduced by switching on the heating. WARNING
■ The increased safety offered by the trailer stabilisation must not tempt you
to take greater risks than otherwise. ■ Adapt your speed to the conditions of the road surface and to the traffic sit-
uation.
■ Improper or incorrectly connected electric cables can energise the trailer and
cause functional faults to the vehicle's entire electrical system as well as acci-
dents and severe injuries.
■ Any work on the electrical system must be carried out only by ŠKODA spe-
cialist garages.
■ Never directly connect the trailer's electrical system with the electrical con-
nections for the tail lights or other current sources. CAUTION
■ The trailer stabilisation need not be able to correctly detect all of driving situa-
tions.
■ Trailers that sway slightly are not always detected by the trailer stabilisation
and thus are not stabilised accordingly.
■ Release the pressure on the accelerator pedal if the system is being regulated.
■ Avoid abrupt and sudden driving/braking manoeuvres.
■ When the ball rod is removed, the mounting shaft must be sealed with an ap-
propriate cover. This prevents foreign matter from penetrating into the mounting
shaft. See the fitting instructions for the towing device. £
146 Driving Tips

General Maintenance
Taking care of and cleaning the vehicle
Taking care of your vehicle
ä
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Washing the vehicle 149
Automatic car wash systems 149
Washing by hand 149
Washing with a high-pressure cleaner 149
Preserving and polishing the vehicle paintwork 150
Chrome parts 150
Paint damage 150
Plastic parts 150
De-icing windows and exterior mirrors 151
Radio reception and aerial 151
Headlight lenses 151
Rubber seals 151
Door lock cylinders 151
Wheels 152
Underbody protection 152
Protection of hollow spaces 152
Artificial leather and materials 153
Fabric covers on electrically heated seats 153
Natural leather 153
Seat belts 154
Regular and proper care help to retain the efficiency and value of your vehicle. It
may also be one of the requirements for the acceptance of warranty claims relat-
ing to corrosion damage and paint defects on the bodywork.
We recommend using care products from
ŠKODA Original Accessories that are
available from ŠKODA Service Partners. The instructions for use on the package
must be observed. WARNING
■ Care products may be harmful to your health if not used according to the in-
structions.
■ Always store care products in a safe place, out of the reach of children - risk
of poisoning! ■ When washing your vehicle in the winter: Water and ice in the brake system
can affect the braking efficiency - risk of accident! ■ Only wash the vehicle when the ignition is switched off - risk of accident!
■ Protect your hands and arms from sharp-edged metal parts when cleaning
the underfloor, the inside of the wheel housings or the wheel trims - risk of
cuts!
■ Air fresheners and scents can be hazardous to heath when the temperature
inside the vehicle is high. CAUTION
■ Be sure to check clothing for colourfastness to avoid any damage or visible
stains on the material (leather), panels and textiles.
■ Cleaners containing solvents can damage the material being cleaned.
■ Do not wash your vehicle in bright sunlight - risk of paint damage.
■ If washing the vehicle in the winter using a hose or high-pressure cleaner, en-
sure that the jet of water is not aimed directly at the locking cylinders or the
door/panel joints - risk of freezing!
■ Do not use any insect sponges, rough kitchen sponges or similar cleaning prod-
ucts - risk of damaging the surface of paintwork.
■ Do not stick any stickers on the inside of the rear windows, the rear side win-
dows and in the vicinity of the heating elements on the windscreen or near the
window aerial. These may get damaged. With regard to the antenna, they may in-
terfere with the radio or navigation system.
■ Do not clean the inside of the windows with sharp-edged objects or corrosive
and acidic cleaning agents - risk of damaging the heating elements or window
aerial.
■ Do not attach scents and air fresheners to the dashboard - risk of damage to
the dashboard.
■ To avoid damaging the parking aid sensors while cleaning with high-pressure
cleaners or steam jets, the sensors must only be directly sprayed for short periods
while a minimum distance of 10
cm must be observed.
■ Do not clean the roof trim with a brush - risk of damage to the trim surface. £
148 General Maintenance

Artificial leather and materials
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 148.
The artificial leather can be cleaned using a damp cloth. If this does not prove to
be adequate, these parts can only be treated with special
solvent-free plastic
cleaning and care products .
Clean upholstery cover materials and cloth trims on doors, boot cover, etc. using
specific cleaning agents, e.g., dry foam. Use a soft sponge, brush, or commercially
available microfibre cloth. Use a cloth and a specific cleaning agent to clean the
roof trim.
Some clothing materials, such as dark denim, do, in part, not have sufficient col-
our fastness. This can cause damage or clearly visible discolouration to seat cov-
ers (fabric or leather) even when used correctly. This particularly applies to light
seat covers (fabric or leather). This is not a defect in the seat cover, but poor col-
our fastness of the clothing textiles. ÐFabric covers on electrically heated seats
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 148.
Do not clean the seat covers
using moisture as this can damage the seat heating
system.
Use a specific cleaning agent such as dry foam or similar to clean the covers. ÐNatural leather
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 148.
Depending on the amount of wear-and-tear, the leather should be cleaned on a
regular basis.
Normal cleaning
Clean soiled areas of the leather with slightly moistened cotton or woollen cloth.
ä
ä
ä
Severe soiling
Ensure that the leather is not soaked through at any point and that no water gets
into the stitching of the seams.
Dry off the leather with a soft, dry cloth.
Removing stains
Remove fresh water-based stains (e.g., coffee, tea, juices, blood) with an absorb-
ent cloth or household cleaning paper. A specific cleaning agent is required for
dried-on stains.
Remove fresh grease-based stains (e.g. butter, mayonnaise, chocolate, etc.) with
an absorbent cloth, household cleaning paper, or use a suitable cleaner if the
stain has not yet penetrated into the surface.
Use a grease solvent for grease stains which have dried in .
Remove specific stains (e.g. ball-point pens, marker pen, nail varnish, dispersion
paint, shoe polish, etc.) with a special stain remover suitable for leather.
Leather care
Treat the leather roughly every six months with a suitable leather care product.
Apply only a small amount of the cleaning and care product.
Dry off the leather with a soft, dry cloth. CAUTION
■ Avoid leaving the vehicle for lengthy periods in bright sunlight to avoid the
leather from bleaching. If the vehicle is parked in the open for lengthy periods,
protect the leather from direct sunlight by covering it.
■ Sharp-edged objects on items of clothing such as zip fasteners, rivets, sharp-
edged belts, jewellery and pendants may leave permanent scratches or signs of
rubbing on the surface.
■ The use of a mechanical steering wheel lock may damage the leather surface of
the steering wheel. Note
■ Use a care cream with light blocker and impregnation effect on a regular basis
and each time after cleaning. The cream nourishes the leather, allows it to
breathe and keeps it supple and also provides moisture. It also creates surface
protection. ■ Clean the leather every 2 to 3 months, remove any fresh stains as they occur. £
153
Taking care of and cleaning the vehicle

Inspecting and replenishing
Fuel
ä
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Refuelling 155
Unleaded petrol 156
Ethanol E85 157
Diesel fuel 158
The correct type of fuel for your vehicle and the tyre size and inflation pressure
are specified on the inside of the fuel filler flap » Fig. 129 on page 155 - . WARNING
The national legal requirements must be observed if carrying a spare canister
in the vehicle. We do not recommend carrying any fuel canisters in your vehi-
cle for safety reasons. In the event of an accident, the canister might be dam-
aged and fuel may leak out - risk of fire! CAUTION
■ Never drive until the fuel tank is completely empty! The irregular supply of fuel
can cause misfiring, which can result in considerable damage to parts of the en-
gine and exhaust system. ■ Immediately remove any fuel that has spilled onto the vehicle's paintwork - risk
of paint damage! Ð Refuelling
Fig. 129
Right rear side of the vehicle: Open fuel filler flap/fuel filler flap
with cap unscrewed
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 155.
The filler flap is automatically unlocked or locked with the central locking.
Open fuel filler flap
›
Press in the middle of the left area of the fuel filler flap
» Fig. 129 -  .
› Unscrew the filler cap by turning it to the left and place the cap onto the top of
the fuel filler flap » Fig. 129 - .
Closing the filler cap
› Turn the filler cap to the right until it clicks into place.
› Close the fuel filler flap until it clicks into place.
Check that the fuel filler flap is closed properly. CAUTION
■ Before refuelling it is necessary to switch off the auxiliary heating system (aux-
iliary heating and ventilation).
■ The fuel tank is full just as soon as the pump nozzle switches off for the first
time, provided the nozzle has been operated properly. Do not continue filling the
fuel tank otherwise the expansion volume is filled up. £
ä
155
Inspecting and replenishing

■
Fuels with metallic content may not be used. There is a risk of causing consider-
able damage to parts of the engine or exhaust system!
■ The use of unsuitable fuel additives can cause considerable damage to parts of
the engine or the exhaust system. ÐEthanol E85
Fig. 130
MultiFuel - power socket
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 155.
Only valid for vehicles with the 1.6/75°kW MultiFuel engine.
Biofuel Ethanol E85 consists of 85 % bioethanol and 15 % unleaded petrol com-
plying with the standard (DIN) EN°228.
Biofuel Ethanol E85 in accordance with the standard (DIN) EN
228 can be mixed in
any desired ratio with unleaded petrol.
Drive the vehicle for at least 5 minutes without interruption, if biofuel Ethanol
E85 has been refuelled, so that the engine control unit can determine the share
of the biofuel in the fuel. During this period do not drive at top speed of your ve-
hicle or high engine speeds and not at full throttle. During this process decrease
the idling speed.
Operation in winter
If you use biofuel Ethanol E85 at very low temperatures, it is necessary to preheat
the engine before an engine start.
The power socket for the engine preheating is located in the front bumper next
to the fog light » Fig. 130.
ä The outside temperature
Duration of engine preheating
Below -10 °C We recommend up to 1 hour
Below -15 ℃ at least 1 hours.
Below -25 °C at least 2 hours. If an engine preheating is not possible at outside temperatures below -10 °C, the
share of unleaded petrol complying with EN 228 must be as high as possible.
Thus the cold start property of the engine is clearly improved.
If there is biofuel Ethanol E85 in the tank and the engine is not preheated, it can
lead at temperatures below -15 °C to very poor or no starting of the engine. CAUTION
■ Just filling the tank once with diesel fuel that does not comply with the stand-
ard, can cause severe damage to parts of the engine, the fuel and exhaust sys-
tem!
■ If you park the car for a lengthy period, fill with petrol complying with (DIN) EN
°228, because Ethanol E85 can contain low quantities of impurities, which can
lead to corrosion. For the sake of the environment
■ If you use Ethanol E85, the CO
2 emission of your vehicle is lowered up to 5 %.
■ The use of engine preheating at temperatures below -10 °C has a positive effect
on the fuel consumption and thus on the environment. Note
■ When operating with Ethanol E85, the fuel consumption increases by approx 33
%, as a lower quantity of energy is contained in the bioethanol than in unleaded
petrol. ■ Biofuel Ethanol E85 contains only a low quantity of additives in contrast to un-
leaded petrol. Therefore we recommend to fill up the tank with unleaded petrol
complying with EN 228 every 15 000 km (e.g. before the oil change) and run it
empty, so that the engine remains clean.
■ The interval of 15 000 km applies for the oil change.
■ An extension cable used for connecting to the electrical network is located in
the luggage compartment. Ð
157
Inspecting and replenishing