
Towing a trailer
194
be found in your vehicle registration documents or in the brochure -
Technical Data .
Distribution of the load
Distribute the load in the trailer in such a way that any heavy items are
located as close as possible to the axle. Secure the items to prevent them
slipping.
Tyre pressure
Correct the tyre inflation pressure on your vehicle for that of “fully laden”,
⇒ page 226. The inflation pressure of the tyres fitted to the trailer adjust
in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendation.
Exterior mirrors
You have to have additional exterior mirrors fitted if you are not able to see
the traffic behind the trailer with the standard rear-view mirrors. Both exte-
rior mirrors should be attached to folding arms. Adjust the mirrors so that
they provide you with an adequate field of view to the rear.
Headlights
Before starting off with a hitched trailer, also check the setting of the head-
lights. Alter the setting as necessary with the aid of the headlight beam
adjuster ⇒page 58.
Detachable ball head
The ball rod is detachable on vehicles with towing device and suppliable
from Škoda original accessories. It is stowed together with separate fitting
instructions in the spare wheel well in the luggage compartment of the
vehicle.
Note
•We recommend that you also have your vehicle inspected between
service intervals if you tow a trailer frequently.
•The handbrake on the towing vehicle must be put on when coupling
and decoupling the trailer.
Driving Tips
Particular caution is required when towing a trailer.
– Do not, as far as possible, drive with your vehicle unladen and the trailer laden.
– Do not make full use of the legal maximum speeds. This applies in particular to downhill sections.
– Apply the brakes in good time.
– Keep a check on the coolant temperature gauge if the outside temperature is high.
Distribution of weight
The distribution of the weight is very poor if your vehicle is unladen and
the trailer is laden. Maintain a particularly low speed if you cannot avoid
driving with this combination.
Driving speed
Do not drive faster than 80 km/hour for safety reasons. This also applies
for countries in which higher speeds are allowed.
The fact that the driving stability of the vehicle + trailer combination
reduces with increasing speed means that the legally allowed speed
should not be used when there are unfavourable road, weather or wind
conditions, particularly near accident black spots.
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Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle
200
Chrome parts
First clean the chrome parts with a damp clotch and then polish them with
a soft, dry cloth. If it does not prove to be adequate, use a chrome care
product from Škoda original accessories.
Caution
Do not polish the chrome parts in a dusty environment, otherwise they can
be scratched.
Paint damage
Slight damage to paintwork such as scratches, scuffs or traces of chip
damage must be treated immediately before any corrosion can result.
You can of course have this work carried out by a Škoda Service Partner.
Škoda Service Partners have a range of matching touch-up pens or
spray cans available in the colour of your vehicle.
The paint number of the original paintwork of your vehicle is indicated on
the vehicle data sticker ⇒page 263.
Any corrosion which has already have formed must be removed thor-
oughly. Apply a corrosion protection primer and then the paint to the
affected point. You can of course have this work carried out by a Škoda
Service Partner.
Plastic parts
External plastic parts are cleaned by normal washing. Plastic parts and
synthetic leather can also be treated with special solvent-free plastic cleaning agents
if a damp cloth is not sufficient. Paint care products are
not suitable for plastic parts.
Caution
Solvent-free cleaners attack the material and can damage it.
Windows
Only use a plastic ice scraper for removing snow and ice from the
windows and mirrors. You should not move the ice scraper forward and
backward but in one direction on the window which you are cleaning in
order to avoid any damage to the surface of the glass.
You can best remove residues of rubber, oil, grease, wax or silicone by
using a special window cleaner or a special silicone remover.
You should also clean the windows regularly from the inside.
Do not use window leathers which you have used to polish the vehicle
body to dry off the windows. Residues of preservatives in the window
leather can dirty the window and reduce visibility.
Do not affix any stickers over the inside of the rear window to avoid
damage to the heating elements of the rear window heater .
We recommend using a preservative from Škoda genuine accessories
offered by your Škoda dealer.
Caution
Never remove snow or ice from the glass parts with warm or hot water -
risk of formation of cracks in the glass!
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Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle
202
Underbody protection
The underside of your vehicle is protected for life against chemical and
mechanical influences.
One cannot, however, completely rule out damage to the protective layer
when driving so we recommend that you inspect the protective layer on
the underside of your vehicle and on the chassis at certain intervals - this
is best done at the beginning and end of the winter - and to touch up any
damaged areas.
Škoda Service Partners have suitable spray products available as well
as the necessary equipment and are familiar with the instructions for use.
We therefore recommend to have repairs and additional corrosion protec-
tion measures preferably carried out by a Škoda Service Partner.
WARNING
Never use additional underbody protection or corrosion-protection
agents for the exhaust pipes, catalytic converters or heat shields.
Such substances might ignite when driving - risk of fire!
Protection of hollow spaces
All the cavities of your vehicle which are at risk from corrosion are
protected for life by a layer of protective wax applied in the factory.
This wax protection does not require to be inspected or re-treated. Please
remove any small amount of wax which flows out of the cavities at high
temperatures with a plastic scraper and clean the spot using petroleum
cleaner.
WARNING
Safety and environmental protection regulations should observed
when using petroleum cleaner to remove wax - a risk of fire!
Engine compartment
Good corrosion protection is very important, particularly in winter when
one often drives over its salt-strewn roads. One should therefore clean the
entire engine compartment before and after the salt spreading period, in
order to prevent the salt from being destructive.
Škoda Service Partners have the cleaning agents recommended by the
manufacturer and also the required equipment.
WARNING
•It is necessary to observe the guidelines given in the chapter
before working on the engine compartment ⇒page 210.
•Let the engine cool down before cleaning the engine compart-
ment.
Caution
•Engine cleaning may be only be undertaken when the ignition is off.
•It is recommended to cover the generator before washing the engine
compartment.
For the sake of the environment
The dirty water produced by washing the engine has washed away petrol,
and residues of grease and oil and should therefore be cleaned by an oil
separator. This is why engine washing should only be undertaken in a
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Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle
204
–Eliminate special stains (e.g. ball-point pens, felt pen, nail
varnish, dispersion paint, shoe cream etc.) with a special stain
remover suitable for leather.
Leather care
– Treat the leather every six months with the leather care product available from Škoda Service Partners.
– Apply only a small amount of the care product.
– Dry the leather off with a soft cloth
We recommend that you consult your Škoda Service Partner, if you have
any questions regarding cleaning and care of the leather interior.
Caution
•You must on no account treat the leather with solvents (e.g. gasoline,
turpentine), floor wax, shoe cream or such like.
•Avoid leaving your vehicle for lengthy periods in bright sunlight in order
to avoid bleaching the leather. If you leave your vehicle parked in the open
for lengthy periods, protect the leather from the direct rays of the sun by
covering it over.
•Sharp-edged objects on items of clothing such as zip fasteners, rivets,
sharp-edged belts may leave permanent scratches or signs of rubbing on
the surface.
Note
•Use a care cream with light blocker and impregnation effect regularly
and each time after cleaning the leather. 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 fresh soiling each time
this occurs.
•Remove fresh stains such as those from ball-point pens, ink, lipstick,
shoe cream etc., as quickly as possible.
•Care also for the leather dye. Refreshen areas which have lost their
colour with a special coloured leather cream as required.
Seat belts
– Keep the seat belts clean!
– Wash seat belts which have become soiled using a mild soapy solution.
– Inspect the seat belts regularly to ensure they are in good condition.
Belt webbing which has become severely soiled may prevent the inertia
reel from reeling up the belt properly.
WARNING
•The seat belts must not be removed for cleaning.
•Never clean the seat belts chemically as dry cleaning may
destroy the fabric. The seat belts must also not be allowed to come
into contact with corrosive liquids (such as acids etc.).
•We recommend that seat belts which have damage to the
webbing, the connections, the inertia reel or the lock should be
replaced by a Škoda Service Partner.
•Inertia reel belts must be comple tely dried before being reeled
up.
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