27
CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENT
Luggage compartmentTo ensure proper handling of your car, al-
ways distribute any load which you carry
(passengers and luggage).
Heavy objects should be transported as
close as possible to the rear suspension,
or even better between the front and rear.
In addition, please ensure that the heater
elements of the rear window are not dam-
aged by objects rubbing against them.
In the event of an accident, there is such a
high kinetic energy, which is produced by
small and light objects that they can cause
severe injuries.
The magnitude of the kinetic energy de-
pends on the speed at which the vehicle is
travelling and on the weight of the object.
The speed at which the vehicle is travel-
ling is in this case the more significant fac-
tor.
Example: In the event of a frontal collision
at a speed of 50 km/h, an unsecured ob-
ject with a weight of 4.5 kg produces an
energy, which corresponds to 20 times its
own weight.
This means that it results in a weight of
approx. 90 kg.
You can imagine the injuries that can oc-
cur, if this „bullet“ is flying through the inte-
rior compartment and hits an occupant.Warning
Store the objects in the luggage
compartment and attach them to the
lashing eyes.
Loose objects in the passenger
compartment can be thrown forward
during a sudden manoeuvre or in case
of an accident and they can injure the
occupants or other oncoming traffic.
This risk is still increased, if the ob-
jects, which are flying around, are hit
by a deployed airbag.
In this case, the objects, which are
thrown back, can injure the occu-
pants - hazard!
Never drive with the tailgate ajar
or even open otherwise exhaust
gases will be drawn into the interior!
Please note that when you trans-
port heavy items, this results in a
change in the centre of gravity of the
vehicle and thus affects the handling.
You should therefore adjust your
style of driving and speed to match,
and also alter the setting of the head-
lights, if necessary.
29
CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENT
Lashing ringsLashing rings (see arrows) are fitted on
both sides of the luggage compartment to
secure items of luggage.Warning
Any items carried in the luggage
compartment should be properly at-
tached so that they cannot move
when driving and braking.If the items of luggage or objects are
attached to the lashing eyes with un-
suitable or damaged lashing straps,
injuries can occur in the event of brak-
ing manoeuvres or accidents.In order to prevent the items of lug-
gage being thrown forward, always
use suitable lashing straps which are
firmly attached to the lashing eyes.
Never attach a child seat to the lash-
ing eyes. Securing rings in Octavia
The securing rings are located in the load
area of the boot, or you can use hooks
which you fit into the openings in the body -
see illustration.
Securing eyes in Octavia Estate
The securing rings are located in the load
area of the boot, or you can use the hooks
of the luggage compartment nets - see il-
lustration.
30CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENTLuggage compartment net*It is also possible to attach a security net
to the rings in the boot for lashing down
small items.
Example for attaching vertical double net
(bag) in Octavia - see illustration.Example for attaching vertical double net
in Octavia - see illustration.
Example for attaching partition net in
Octavia Estate - see illustration.
33
CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENT
The luggage area is installed in the reverse
order:
Insert the supporting bars B into the
original position. Attach in the rings of the
body by turning the plug-in rings C about
90° to the left.
Place the still folded luggage area onto
the supporting bars B. Then pull luggage
area apart.
Secure luggage area by turning the lock-
ing pins A about 90° to the right.
Warning
When installing luggage area, ensure
that the supporting bars and the
raised luggage area are correctly at-
tached. Otherwise, the occupants of
the car may be at risk of injury.
Lining luggage compartment with
increased load areaThe luggage compartment can be lined with
an increased load area.
Raise part of the load area with hooks
and secure it by inserting into the slots
-arrows-.
Net partition Estate*The net partition can be used either behind
the rear seats or behind the front seats.
Remove the luggage compartment cover
before installing the net partition - refer to
page 32 of the Owner’s Manual.Use of net partition behind rear
seatsUnrolling
Grasp the net partition at plate A and pull it
out of housing B at an angle of about 45°
in the direction of the tailgate. Place the one
end of the top cross rod into the mount C
in the roof member. Now push the cross rod
forward slightly and fit the other end of the
rod into mount C of the other roof member.
44CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENTFor all models:Position 1
To lock the steering wheel , withdraw key
and turn wheel until you hear the locking
pin engage.
Warning
Do not withdraw key from lock until
vehicle is stationary! The steering
lock might otherwise unintentionally
engaged.
Note
If you forget to switch off the side lights or
a turn signal light, an audible signal will
sound after you switch off the ignition or
withdraw the key and then open the driv-
er’s door.
Position 2
If the key is difficult to turn in the lock or
cannot be turned to this position at all, move
the steering wheel back and forward slightly
to release the locking pin. Warning
If the vehicle is allowed to roll, the
ignition key must be in position 2 in
the lock - ignition on. This position
is also indicated by the warning
lights coming on. Failure to turn the
ignition key into this position can
result in the steering locking uninten-
tionally.
Do not withdraw the ignition key un-
til after the vehicle has come to a stop
and has been properly secured to
prevent it moving by applying the
handbrake or engaging a gear.
Position 3
The starter is operated when the key is
turned into this position. The ignition key
must be turned back each time into posi-
tion „1“ before again attempting to start the
engine. The starter repeat lockout in the ig-
nition lock prevents the starter again being
operated when engine is already running.
When the key is in this position, the main/
low beam headlights and other major elec-
trical components which are on, are then
switched off.
The starter may only be operated (ignition
key position 3), if the engine is not run-
ning. If the starter is immediately operated
after switching off the engine, the starter
or the engine can be damaged.
Starting engineGeneral notesWarning
Never run the engine in non-venti-
lated or enclosed areas, the exhaust
gases of the engine contain besides
the odourless and colourless carbon
monoxide a poisonous gas - hazard!
Carbon monoxide can cause uncon-
sciousness and death.
Never leave your vehicle unattended
with the engine running.
Before starting, move gear lever into
Neutral (selector lever of automatic gear-
box into position „P“ or „N“ ) and apply
handbrake firmly.
On models with a manual gearbox, de-
press the clutch pedal when operating
starter so that the starter only has to crank
the engine.
As soon as engine starts, release igni-
tion key immediately - otherwise the starter
may suffer damage.
After starting a cold engine, it may sound
noisy for a moment or two because the oil
pressure has to build up in the hydraulic
tappets first.
Do not warm engine up by running it with vehicle stationary. Drive off
straight away.
125
DRIVING TIPS
Technical requirements
If the car is supplied with a factory-fitted
towing bracket, all that is technically and
legally necessary for towing a trailer has
already been taken into account.
If the trailer to be towed has a 7-pin con-
nector, you can obtain an adapter cable
from Škoda Dealers.
Škoda Dealers are acquainted with the
details of retrofitting a towing bracket and
modifying the cooling system. You should
therefore have a towing bracket fitted by a
Škoda Dealer. Operating instructions
The permissible trailer weights must on
no account be exceeded.
The trailer weights stated are only ap-
plicable for altitudes up to 1000 m above
mean sea level (MSL). As the engine out-
put and thus the climbing ability drops due
to the decreasing air density, the weight of
vehicle and trailer must also be reduced by
10 % for each further 1000 m or part the-
reof.
Take this fact into account when driving at
high altitudes.
You should make full use of the maxi-
mum permissible drawbar weight indicated
on the ball head of the towing bracket, but
do not exceed it.
The load carried in the trailer should be
distributed so that any heavy objects are
placed as close as possible to the axle,
taking into account the permissible trailer
weight and drawbar load. The objects
should also be secured to prevent them
slipping.
Select the tyre pressure of the car for full
loads and also check the pressure of the
trailer tyres.
The headlight beam control of the car
should be set to match the particular load
conditions.
The handbrake of the car should be ap-
plied when hitching up and unhitching the
trailer.
Inspect the ball head to ensure that
it is properly locked each time before
setting off.
The inspection is performed by turn-
ing the closed locking lever down-
wards.
If the locking lever can only be turned
approx. 5°, the locking mechanism is
OK.
After the inspection pull the locking
lever back again to its stop.
The towing device must not be used,
if it does not wish to close or the
locking lever turns slightly in the clo-
sed position.
137
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Warning
Particular care is required when per-
forming work in the engine compart-
ment!
Never open the bonnet if you see
that steam or coolant is escaping
from the engine compartment - risk
of scalding!
You must wait long enough, until the
steam or coolant has stopped escap-
ing.
Switch off engine and withdraw ig-
nition key.
Apply handbrake properly.
Move gearshift into Neutral (on
models with automatic gearbox mo-
ve selector lever into position „P“).
Allow engine to cool down.
If the engine is still warm:
- do not place your hand into the ra- diator fan, it might start suddenly.
- do not open filler cap of coolant reservoir as cooling system is
pressurized - risk of scalding.
Avoid short circuits in the electri-
cal system - particularly at the bat-
tery!
If you wish to work under the ve-
hicle, you must secure the vehicle
from rolling away and support it with
suitable supporting blocks: the car
jack is not sufficient for this - risk of
injury!
If it is necessary to carry out test
work when engine is running, there
is an additional risk from rotating
parts - e.g. ribbed belt, alternator,
radiator fan etc. - and from the high-
voltage ignition system.
Never touch the electrical cables
of the ignition system.
Absolutely avoid any jewellery,
loose items of clothing or long hair
from getting into the rotating parts of
the engine - Hazard! Therefore re-
move any jewellery beforehand, tie
up your hair and wear tight fitting
clothing.
It is essential to comply with all the
warning information given in this
manual and with the general rules of
safety when carrying out work on the
engine.
When topping up fluids, ensure that no mix-
ups occur otherwise this may cause severe
operating problems!
The floor below the car should be
inspected regularly in order to de-
tect leaks in good time. If patches of oil or other fluids are visible, the car shouldbe taken to a Škoda Dealer for an inspec-
tion.
152GENERAL MAINTENANCEReplacing windscreen wiper bladesTaking off wiper blade
Fold windscreen wiper arm forward and
position wiper blade horizontally.
Press the securing spring (arrow A) and
at the same time push wiper blade toward
windscreen (arrow B). Caution! The wind-
screen may be damaged when this is done.
Attaching wiper blade
The securing spring must be heard to en-
gage in the windscreen wiper arm.
Replacing windscreen wiper blade of
rear window (Octavia)*Removing wiper blade
Raise windscreen wiper arm.
Grasp the top part of the windscreen
wiper arm with your hand.
Grasp the wiper blade with your other
hand, as close to the middle as possible,
and remove the wiper blade by moving the
arm in direction of arrow B.
Attaching wiper blade
Connect the windscreen wiper arm and the
wiper blade by pushing the two parts to-
gether - see arrow A.
Dust, odor and pollen filter*The dust, odor and pollen filter for the heat-
ing and ventilation system is located on the
right in the plenum chamber below a two-
section cover. The filter should be replaced
as stated in the Service Schedule. The fil-
ter should also be replaced earlier if the air
flow is severely reduced.
The filter should be replaced by a Škoda
Dealer as part of the Inspection Service.