42CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENTTow-starting
If your car is fitted with an automatic gear-
box, it is not possible to start the engine by
tow-starting or pushing the car - see page
178.
If the battery is discharged, jump-starting
cables can be used for connecting the bat-
tery of another car to start the engine - see
page 177.
Towing car
It is essential to refer to the information on
page 179 if it is necessary to tow in the car.
Drive programsThe automatic gearbox features various dri-
ve programs. Depending on your style of
driving or the driving situation, an econo-
my , in other words consumption-oriented
program, or a sport program is selected.
The program is selected automatically
depending on how the accelerator pedal is
operated.
If the accelerator pedal is depressed slow-
ly , the gearbox selects the economy pro-
gram. This of fers improved fuel economy .
If the accelerator pedal is depressed rap-
idly , the gearbox selects the sport program. Kickdown
The kickdown facility makes it possible to
achieve maximum acceleration. If the ac-
celerator pedal is depressed as far as the
stop, the automatic gearbox shifts down into
a lower gear in line with the speed of the
car and of the engine. The gearbox waits
until engine speed has reached the maxi-
mum specified speed in each case before
shifting up into the next higher gear.
146GENERAL MAINTENANCEBatteryThe battery is located in the engine com-
partment.
If the vehicle has not been driven for more
than 4 weeks, the battery will discharge be-
cause some electrical components (e.g.
control units) also use current in standstill.
In order to avoid the battery discharging dis-
connect the negative cable (-) of the bat-
tery or continuously recharge the battery.
For jump-starting car with another battery,
see the section „Do-It-Yourself“.Warning
Pay attention to the following warn-
ing instructions and safety regula-
tions when carrying out work on the
battery.
Access to battery Pull out the catch on the side of the bat-
tery cover (see arrow) slightly. Lift the bat-
tery cover up and out - see arrow A.
Warning
Pay attention to the following warn-
ing instructions and safety regula-
tions when carrying out work on the
battery.
Removing battery Pull the cable cover 1 up and out in di-
rection of arrow.
Disconnect the battery from the vehicle
electrical system - pay attention to the
Notes on page 148.
Press the catch (arrows B) on the side
of the holder 2 of the fuse carrier. Open the
holder and fuse carrier by raising it (arrow
C ).
Remove the screw 3 from the battery
holder and take out the fuse plate.
Push the battery forward slightly (toward
the headlamp) and then lift it up and out.
177
DO-IT-YOURSELF
Interior light (rear)*Insert a screwdriver between light and
headlining - see arrow. Carefully press out
the light.
Turn the socket in the rear of the light to
the left and take out.
Pull faulty bulb out of the socket.
Insert new bulb.
Insert the socket again into the light and
turn fully to the right.
Insert light first of all at the side oppo-
site the arrow and then press into the head-
lining.
Jump-startingIf the engine does not start because the
battery is discharged, it is possible to use
jump-start cables to start the car with the
battery of another vehicle. Pay attention to
the following points in this case:
Both batteries should have a rated volt-
age of 12 V. The capacity (Ah) of the bat-
tery supplying the power must not be sig-
nificantly less than the capacity of the dis-
charged battery.
Only jump-start cables with an ad-
equately large cross-section should be
used. Pay attention to the instructions of
the cable manufacturer.
We recommend purchasing the jump-
start cable as a Genuine Škoda Accessory
or in sales outlets of the battery manufac-
turer.
Use only jump-start cables with insulated
clamps. A discharged battery may already freeze
if there is only slight frost. Before con-
necting the jump-start cables, it is es-
sential to thaw out a frozen battery oth-
erwise it might explode.
Run the engine of the vehicle supplying
the current.
It is essential to connect the jump-start
cables in the following sequence:
1. One end of the ( +) cable (usually red) to
the ( +) terminal of the discharged battery.
2. Other end of the red ( +) cable to the ( +)
terminal of the battery supplying the cur-
rent.
3. One end of the ( -) cable (usually black)
to the ( -) terminal of the battery supplying
the current.
4. Other end of the black ( -) cable to a solid
metal part bolted to engine block or to the
engine block itself.
178DO-IT-YOURSELFA - Discharged battery
B - Battery supplying current
Warning
Do not connect the cable to the nega-
tive terminal (-) of the discharged
battery. This can produce sparks
when the engine is started which
might ignite the gas flowing out of
the battery.
Do not affix the cable end 4 to parts
of the fuel and brake system. Warning
The non-insulated parts of the ca-
ble clamps must not touch one an-
other on any account. In addition, the
jump-start cable attached to the posi-
tive terminal of the battery must not
come into contact with electrically
conducting parts of the vehicle - risk
of short circuit!
Route the jump-start cables so
that they cannot come into contact
with rotating parts in the engine com-
partment.
Do not bend over the batteries -
risk of acid burns!
Keep sources of ignition (naked
flames, burning cigarettes etc.) well
away from the battery - risk of explo-
sion!
Start the engine as described in the sec-
tion „Starting engine“.
If the engine does not start right away,
do not crank the starter for more than 10
seconds and then wait about 30 seconds
before making a further attempt.
Once the engine is running, disconnect
both cables in exactly the reverse order.
Tow-starting/towingThe towing eyes are located at the rear right
below the bumper and at the front - see
arrow.
A tow rope or tow bar should be attached
only to these towing eyes.
Remove a ventilation grille before using
the front towing eye. Ventilation grille is held
in place with plastic spring catches in the
area of the arrow. Ventilation grille can be
removed by hand.
Grasp the top part of the grille, press
grille off in direction of arrow 1 and take out
in direction of arrow 2.
After using the towing eye, insert the
ventilation grille into the guides and press
on.
179
DO-IT-YOURSELF
It is not recommended to tow-start the
vehicle (despite observing the instruc-
tions which are given in the Owner’s
Manual) in view of the fact that severe
engine damage may result in certain cir-
cumstances.
It is best to attempt to start the engine
by using jump-starting cables - refer to
page 177 of the Owner’s Manual - or to
call on the services of SERVICE Mobil.
General information
The tow rope should be elastic so that
there is no strain on either vehicle. It is best
to use only plastic fibre ropes or ropes
made of a similarly elastic material. It is
important to ensure that no impermissible
pulling forces and no sudden shock loads
occur. If attempting to tow a car which is
not on a paved road, there is always a risk
of the parts of the car to which the tow rope
is attached being subjected to excessive
stress and damaged.
Before attempting to start the engine
by tow-starting the car, always use the
battery of another vehicle as a jump-
starting aid if possible - see page 177. It is essential to pay attention to the follo-
wing points when tow-starting and to-
wing the car:
Observe any legal regulations regarding
towing another vehicle.
Both drivers should be acquainted with
the special features of towing a vehicle.
Persons not familiar with towing a vehicle
should not attempt to tow-start or tow a car.
If a tow rope is used, the driver of the
towing vehicle should engage the clutch
particularly softly when moving off and shift-
ing gears.
The driver of the towed car should en-
sure that the tow rope is always taught.
The ignition of the towed car should be
switched on so that the steering wheel is
not blocked and the turn signal lights, the
windscreen wipers, horn, lights and other
electrical components can be switched on.
As the brake servo unit only operates
when the engine is running, note that suffi-
ciently greater force is required to depress
the brake pedal when the engine is not run-
ning and the steering is also much more
difficult to operate.
For technical reasons, it is not possible
to tow-start a car fitted with an automatic
gearbox.
In the event of a defect in the gearbox,
your vehicle no longer contains lubri-
cant, the car must be towed with the
driving wheels lifted or on a special
transporter or trailer.