2006 SKODA ROOMSTER Owner's Manual

Inspecting and Replenishing
216
You can increase the amount of antifreeze in the coolant if a higher
concentration of antifreeze is necessary for climatic reasons but only up
to 60% (antifreeze protection down to approx. -40°C). The antifreeze
protection tails off above that concentration.
Vehicles exported to countries with a cold climate (e.g. Sweden, Norway,
Finland) are already factory-filled with a coolant which offers antifreeze
protection down to about -35°C. In these countries the concentration of
coolant additive should be at least 50 %.
Coolant
The cooling system is filled at the works with coolant (purple in colour),
which complies with the specification TL-VW 774 F.
We recommend that you use the antifreeze agent - G12 PLUS (purple in
colour).
We recommend that you contact your Škoda Service Partner if you have
any questions regarding the coolant or if you wish to fill up with a different
coolant.
Your Škoda Service Partner can also supply you with the correct coolant
additives.
Caution
•Other coolant additives may cause operational problems which,
in particular, involves significantly reducing the anticorrosion effect.
•Any faults or problems resulting from corrosion may cause a loss
of coolant and, as a consequence of this, result in major engine
damage.
Inspecting the coolant level
The coolant expansion bottle is located in the engine compart-
ment on the right.
– Switch the engine off.
– Open the bonnet ⇒ in “Working in the engine compart-
ment” on page 210.
– Check the level of coolant in the coolant expansion bottle ⇒fig. 158 . The coolant level when the engine is cold must lie
between the “MIN” and “MAX” markings. The level may also
rise slightly above the “MAX” marking when the engine is
warm.
If the coolant level in the reservoir is too low, this is indicated by the
warning light in the instrument cluster  ⇒ page 31. We nevertheless
Fig. 158 Engine
compartment: Coolant
expansion bottle
NKO 20 A05.book Page 216 Wednesday, June 21, 2006 1:42 PM

Inspecting and Replenishing217
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
recommend inspecting the coolant level directly at the reservoir from time
to time.
Loss of coolant
A loss of coolant is first and foremost an
indication of a leak in the
system. You should not merely top up the coolant in the reservoir. It is also
important to have the cooling system inspected without delay by a
specialist garage.
Losses can only occur through the pressure relief in the cap of the coolant
expansion bottle which is completely free of leaks if the coolant boils as a
result of overheating and is forced out of the cooling system.
WARNING
Read and observe the warning notes ⇒page 210, “Working in the
engine compartment” before working in the engine compartment.
Caution
One should contact a specialist garage as soon as possible if the source
of overheating itself cannot be determined and removed, since there may
be grave damage to the engine.
Replenishing the coolant
– Switch the engine off.
– Allow the engine to cool down.
– Place a cloth over the cap of the coolant expansion reservoir ⇒page 216, fig. 158 and unscrew the cap carefully by
turning it to the left ⇒. – Top up the coolant.
– Screw the cap tight until it is heard to lock.
The coolant which you use for replenishing the system, must comply with
one specific specification
⇒page 215, “Coolant”. Do not use an alterna-
tive additive if the coolant additive G12 PLUS is not available in excep-
tional cases. Just top up the system with water and as soon as possible
arrange adjustment to correct the mixing ratio of water and coolant addi-
tive again by a specialist garage.
Only use fresh coolant for topping up the system.
Do not fill up over the “MAX” marking! Excess coolant which is heated up
is forced out of the cooling system through the pressure relief valve in the
cap of the coolant compensation bottle.
Wait until the engine has cooled down for a system which has suffered a
major loss of coolant before pouring in coolant. This is necessary to avoid
engine damage.
WARNING
•The cooling system is pressurized! Do not open the cap of the
coolant expansion bottle if the engine is still hot - risk of scalding!
•The coolant additive and thus all of the coolant is harmful to
your health. Avoid contact with the coolant. Coolant vapours are
also harmful to the he alth. It is important, therefore, to always
safely store any coolant additive in its original container out of the
reach of children - risk of poisoning!
•If any splashes of coolant get into your eyes, rinse out your eyes
immediately with clear water and contact a doctor as soon as
possible.
•You should also consult a doctor without delay if you have inad-
vertently swallowed coolant.
NKO 20 A05.book Page 217 Wednesday, June 21, 2006 1:42 PM

Inspecting and Replenishing
218
Caution
Do not continue your journey if for some reason it is not possible
under the conditions prevailing to top up with coolant. Switch the
engine off and obtain professional assistance from a specialist garage,
otherwise it could lead to severe engine damage.
For the sake of the environment
Do not re-use coolant if it is necessary to drain the coolant in the system.
It should be collected and disposed of in compliance with environmental
protection regulations.
Radiator fan
The radiator fan may switch on suddenly.
The radiator fan is driven by an electric motor and controlled by a thermo-
stat according to the coolant temperature.
The radiator fan may continue running for up to 10 minutes after the
engine has been switched off - even if the ignition is also off. It may also
switch on suddenly after a certain time, if
•the coolant temperature has risen because of an accumulation of heat
or
•the warm engine compartment is heated up additionally by strong
sunlight.
WARNING
You must therefore be aware when working in the engine compart-
ment that the fan may switch on suddenly - risk of injury!
Brake fluid
Inspecting the brake fluid level
The brake fluid reservoir is located on the left of the engine
compartment. The brake fluid reservoir on right-hand steering
models is positioned on the other side of the engine compart-
ment.
– Switch the engine off.
– Open the bonnet ⇒ in “Working in the engine compart-
ment” on page 210.
– Inspect the brake fluid level in the reservoir ⇒fig. 159 . The
level must be between the “MIN” and “MAX” markings.
Fig. 159 Engine
compartment: Brake
fluid reservoir
NKO 20 A05.book Page 218 Wednesday, June 21, 2006 1:42 PM

Inspecting and Replenishing219
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
A slight drop in the fluid level results when driving due to normal wear-and-
tear and automatic adjustment of the brake pads, and is perfectly normal.
There may be an indication of a leak in the brake system, however, if the
fluid level drops significantly within a short time or if it drops below the
“MIN” marking. A situation where the brake fluid level is too low is indi-
cated by the warning light
 lighting up in the instrument cluster
⇒ page 36. In this case stop the car immediately and do not drive any
further! Contact a Škoda Dealer to obtain professional assistance.
WARNING
•Read and observe the warning notes ⇒page 210, “Working in
the engine compartment” before working in the engine compart-
ment.
•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 fluid
Brake fluid absorbs moisture. This causes the fluid to absorb moisture
from the surrounding air over a period of time. Excessive water in the
brake fluid may be the cause of corrosion in the brake system. The water
content also lowers the boiling point of the brake fluid. This is why brake
fluid must be replaced every two years.
One may only use new genuine brake fluid from Škoda Auto a.s. The
specification for the brake fluid is “FMVSS 116 DOT 4”.
We recommend that you have the brake fluid replaced by a Škoda
Service Partner as part of an Inspection Service.
WARNING
•Using old brake fluid can result in severe stress on the brakes
because of the formation of vapour bubbles in the brake system.
This greatly impairs the braking efficiency and thus also the safety
of your vehicle.
•Brake fluid is toxic! It must therefore be kept safely in closed
original containers and well away from children and unauthorized
persons.
Caution
Brake fluid damages the paintwork of the vehicle.
For the sake of the environment
In view of the problems involved with proper disposal of brake fluid, the
special tools and the professional knowledge required, we recommend
you have the brake fluid replaced by a Škoda Service Partner.
NKO 20 A05.book Page 219 Wednesday, June 21, 2006 1:42 PM

Inspecting and Replenishing
220
Battery
Working on the battery
The battery is located in the engine compartment below a plastic
box.
– Unlock the interlock on the positive terminal side of the battery
⇒fig. 160 .
– Open the cover in direction of arrow.
– The installation of the battery cover on the positive terminal side takes place in the reverse order.
Removal and installation of the battery is not recommended since it can,
under certain circumstances, lead to major damage to the battery and
fuse boxes. Contact a specialist garage. There is a risk of injuries, scalding, accidents and burns when carrying out
any work on the battery and on the electrical system. For this reason, it is
essential to comply with the warning instructions
⇒ stated below and
with the general applicable rules of safety.
WARNING
•The battery acid is strongly corrosive and must, therefore, be
handled with the greatest of care. Always wear protective gloves,
eye and skin protection when handling batteries. Corrosive fumes
in the air irritate the air passages and lead to conjunctivitis and
inflammation of the air passages in the lungs. Battery acid
corrodes dental enamel and creates deep wounds after contact
with the skin which take a long time to heal. Repeated contact with
diluted acids causes skin diseases (inflammations, ulcers, slin
cracks). Acids coming into contact with water are diluted accompa-
nied by significant development of heat.
•Do not tilt the battery otherwise battery electrolyte may flow out
of the battery vent openings. Protect the eyes with safety glasses
or a shield! There is the danger of suffering blindness! If any
battery electrolyte gets into your eye, rinse out your eye immedi-
ately with clear water for several minutes. Contact a doctor without
delay.
•Splashes of acid on your skin or clothes should be neutralised
as soon as possible using soap suds and then rinsed with plenty
of water. Contact a doctor immediately if you swallow battery elec-
trolyte.
•Keep batteries out of the reach of children.
•Hydrogen is released when you charge a battery and a highly
explosive gas mixture is produced. An explosion can be caused
through sparkling over during unclamping or loosening of the
cable plug while the ignition is on.
•Bridging of the poles will create a short circuit (e.g. through
metal objects, cables). Possible consequences of a short circuit:
Fig. 160 The battery:
Open up the cover
NKO 20 A05.book Page 220 Wednesday, June 21, 2006 1:42 PM

Inspecting and Replenishing221
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Melting of lead struts, explosion and burning of the battery, jets of
acid spurting out.
•It is prohibited to work with a naked flame and light, to smoke or
to carry out any activities which produce sparks. Avoid creating
sparks when working with cables and electrical devices. Strong
sparking represents a risk of injury.
•Before carrying out any work on the electrical system, switch
off the engine, the ignition as well as all electrical components and
disconnect the negative cable (-) on the battery. If you wish to
replace a bulb it is sufficient to switch off the appropriate light.
•Never charge a frozen or thawed battery - risk of explosion and
caustic burns! Replace a frozen battery.
•Never use a battery which is damaged - risk of explosion! Imme-
diately replace a damaged battery.
Caution
•You must only disconnect the battery if the ignition is switched off,
otherwise the electrical system (electronic components) of the vehicle
may be damaged. When disconnecting the battery from the electrical
system of the vehicle, first disconnect the negative terminal (-) of the
battery. Then disconnect the positive terminal (+).
•When reconnecting the battery, first connect the positive terminal (+)
and only then the negative terminal (-) of the battery. You must on no
account connect the cables wrongly - risk of a cable fire.
•Ensure that battery acid does not come into contact with the vehicle
body otherwise damage could occur to the paintwork.
•Do not place the battery in direct daylight in order to protect the battery
housing from the effects of ultra-violet light.
For the sake of the environment
A removed battery is a special type of waste which is harmful to the envi-
ronment - we recommend that you contact your Škoda Service Partner
regarding disposing of the battery.
Note
•Please also refer to the guidelines ⇒page 223, “Disconnecting and
reconnecting the battery”, also after connecting the battery.
Battery with a charge level indicator, the so-called
magic eye*
There is a so-called magic eye ⇒fig. 161 located on the top of the battery.
The “magic eye” changes its colour in line with the charge state of and
electrolyte level in the battery.
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 161 Battery with a
charge level indicator
NKO 20 A05.book Page 221 Wednesday, June 21, 2006 1:42 PM

Inspecting and Replenishing
222
Air bubbles can influence the colour of the “magic eye”. For this reason
carefully knock on the “magic eye” before carrying out the check.
•Green colour - the battery is adequately charged.
•Dark colour - the battery has to be charged
•Colourless or yellow colour - we recommend you have the battery
checked by a Škoda Service Partner.
Batteries, which are more than 5 years old, must be replaced. We recom-
mend you have the electrolyte level inspected and adjusted to the correct
level or the battery replaced if necessary by a Škoda Service Partner.
Caution
If the vehicle has not been driven for more than 3 to 4 weeks, the battery
will discharge because certain electrical components consume electricity
(e.g. control units) also in idle state. You can prevent the discharging of
the battery by disconnecting the negative terminal or charging the battery
constantly with a very low charging current. Please also refer to the notes
when working on the battery ⇒page 220, “Working on the battery”.
Inspecting the electrolyte level
The battery is practically maintenance-free under normal operating
conditions. We do, however, recommend that you have the electrolyte
level inspected from time to time by a Škoda Service Partner when outside
temperatures are high or when driving on long trips. You should also
check the electrolyte level ⇒page 222 each time the battery is charged.
The battery acid level will also be checked as part of the Inspection
Service.
Operation in winter
The battery has to provide greater amounts of electricity during the winter.
It also has only part of the initial power output at low temperatures that it
has at normal temperatures.
A discharged battery may already freeze at temperatures just below
0°C.
We therefore recommend that you have the battery checked by a Škoda
Service Partner before the start of the winter, and recharged if
necessary.
Charging the battery
A properly charged battery is essential for reliably starting
the engine.
– Read the warning notes ⇒ in “Working on the battery” on
page 220 and ⇒.
– Switch the ignition and all electrical components off.
– Only for “quick-charging”: Disconnect both battery cables (first of all “negative”, then “positive”).
– Carefully attach the terminal clamps of the charger to the battery terminals (red = “positive”, black = “negative”).
– You can now plug the mains cable of the charger into the power socket and switch on the charger.
– When charging is completed: switch the charger off and unplug the mains cable from the power socket.
NKO 20 A05.book Page 222 Wednesday, June 21, 2006 1:42 PM

Inspecting and Replenishing223
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
– Only then should you disconnect the terminal clamps of the
charger.
– Reconnect the cables to the battery (first of all “positive”, then “negative”).
It is not normally necessary to disconnect the cables of the battery if you
recharge the battery using low amperages (as for example from a mini-
charger ). Please also refer to the instructions from the charger manufac-
turer.
A charging current of 0.1 of the total battery capacity (or lower) is that
which should be used until full charging is achieved.
It is, however, necessary to disconnect both cables before charging the
battery with high amperages, so-called “ quick-charging”.
“Quick-charging” a battery is dangerous ⇒ in “Working on the battery”
on page 220. It requires a special charger and appropriate knowledge. We
therefore recommend that you have your battery quick-charged only by
your Škoda Service Partner.
A discharged battery may already freeze at temperatures just below 0°C
⇒ . We recommend that you no longer use a battery which has thawed
out because the casing of the battery may be cracked through the forma-
tion of ice and this would allow battery electrolyte to flow out.
The vent plugs of the battery should not be opened for charging.
WARNING
Never charge a frozen or thawed battery - risk of explosion and
caustic burns! Replace a frozen battery.
Disconnecting and reconnecting the battery
On disconnecting and reconnecting the battery the following functions are
initially deactivated or are no longer able to operate fault-free.
We recommend having the vehicle checked by a Škoda Service Partner
to ensure full functionality of all electrical systems.
Replacing the battery
You should only replace a battery with a new battery of the same capacity,
voltage (12 V), amperage and of the same size. Škoda Service Partners
have a range of suitable batteries available.
We recommend that you only have an old battery disposed of by your
Škoda Service Partner since it does require special disposal.
For the sake of the environment
Batteries contain poisonous substances such as sulphuric acid and lead.
They must be disposed of in accordance with local environmental protec-
tion regulations and on no account as domestic waste.
OperationOperating measure
Electrical power window (operational
faults)⇒page 53
Enter radio code numbersee Radio Operating Instruc-
tions
Set hours⇒page 17
Data in the multi-functional indicator* are
deleted.⇒page 17
NKO 20 A05.book Page 223 Wednesday, June 21, 2006 1:42 PM