2006 SKODA ROOMSTER ignition

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
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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.
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Breakdown assistance245
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. 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 246, “Front towing eye” and ⇒page 247, “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
NKO 20 A05.book Page 245 Wednesday, June 21, 2006 1:42 PM

Breakdown assistance
248
– Switch on the ignition.
– Wait until both vehicles are moving then release the clutch pedal slowly.
– Depress the clutch pedal fully when the engine fires and take the vehicle out of gear.
WARNING
There is high risk of having an accident when tow-starting a
vehicle, when for example the towed vehicle runs into the towing
vehicle.
Caution
Vehicles which are fitted with a catalytic converter should not be tow-
started over a distance of more than 50 metres. Unburnt fuel may get into
the catalytic converter and damage it.
Towing in a vehicle fitted with a manual gearbox
Please refer to the notes ⇒page 245.
The car can be towed in with a tow bar or a tow rope or with the front or
rear wheels raised. The maximum towing speed is 50 km/h.
Towing of a vehicle with an automatic gearbox
Please refer to the notes ⇒page 245. The car can be towed in with a tow bar or a tow rope. Refer at the same
time to the following guidelines:
•Move
selector lever into N .
•The maximum towing speed is 50 km/h.
•The maximum permissible towing distance is 50 km. The gear oil
pump does not operate when the engine is not running and the gear would
not be adequately lubricated at higher speeds and over longer towing
distance.
Caution
If the vehicle is towed in by a recovery vehicle, it should only be towed in
with the front wheels raised. If the vehicle is raised at rear, the automatic
gearbox is damaged!
Note
The vehicle must be transported on a special vehicle or trailer if it is not
possible to tow in the vehicle in the way described or if the towing distance
is greater than 50 km.
NKO 20 A05.book Page 248 Wednesday, June 21, 2006 1:42 PM

Fuses and light bulbs249
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Fuses and light bulbs
Electric fuses
Replacing fuses in the dash panel
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.
– Carefully swivel the cover in the direction of arrow and pull it out ⇒fig. 178 . – Find out which fuse belongs to the component which is not
operating ⇒page 250, “Fuse assignment in the dash panel”.
– Take the plastic clip out of its fixture in the fuse cover, insert it onto the respective fuse and pull out this fuse.
– Defect fuses can be detected by their melted metal strips. Replace the defect fuse by a new fuse of the same ampere
number.
– Insert the fuse cover into the dash panel in such a way that the guide lugs are guided into the openings of the dash panel and
then lock them by pressing.
We recommend that you carry the box of replacement fuses with you
which was delivered in your vehicle. You can obtain replacement fuses7)
from a Škoda Service Partner.
Colour coding of fuses
Fig. 178 Bottom side
of the dash panel: fuse
cover
7)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
NKO 20 A05.book Page 249 Wednesday, June 21, 2006 1:42 PM

Index267
Environmental compatibility . . . . . . . . . 187, 191
ESP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Exhaust gas Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Exhaust gas inspection Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Explanations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Exterior mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Exterior mirror heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
F
Fastening elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
First-aid box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Fixing net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Fog lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57, 257 Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Fog lights with integrated turning light . . . . . . 57
Folding seats forwards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Force limiter of the power windows . . . . . . . . 53
Front airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Front armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Front headlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205 Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Fuel gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Petrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Fuel consumption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20, 187 Saving energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187 Fuel gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Fuel reserve
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Full wheel trim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Fuse Assignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
G
Gauges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Gearbox mechanical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
General view Cockpit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Glow plug system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
H
Handbrake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Hazard warning light system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Head airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Head restraint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Headlight cleaning system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Headlight flasher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Headlights Fog lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Headlight cleaning system . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Heated windscreen washer nozzles . . . . . . . 63 Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Heating the front seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
I
Ignition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Ignition lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Immobiliser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Information display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Interior light Luggage compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Interior lighting front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Interior monitor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Intermittent wiping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
ISOFIX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
ISOFIX system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
J
Jacking points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Jump-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243, 244
K
Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
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