
Intelligent Technology155
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
WARNING
•Never switch off the engine before the vehicle is stationary.
•The brake booster only operates when the engine is running. Greater physical effort for braking is required when engine is switched off. Because if you do not stop as normal, this can cause an accident and severe injuries.
Antilock brake system (ABS)*
ABS prevents the wheels locking when braking.
General
The ABS contributes significantly to enhancing the active safety of your vehicle. Compared to a car not fitted with the ABS brake system, you are able to retain optimal steering ability even during a full brake application on a slippery road surface because the wheels do not lock up.
You must not expect, however, that the braking distance will be shorter under all circumstances as a result of the ABS. The braking distance for example on gravel and fresh snow, when you should anyway be driving slowly and cautiously, will be longer.
Operating principle
As soon as the vehicle speed has increased to about 20 km/hour an automatic test procedure is conducted during which you will be able to hear a pumping noise for about 1 second.
The brake pressure will be reduced on a wheel which is rotating at a speed which is too low for the speed of the vehicle and tending to lock. This control cycle is notice-able from a pulsating movement of the brake pedal which is accompanied by noises. This is consciously intended to provide the driver with the information that the wheels are tending to lock (ABS control range). You must always keep the brake pedal depressed to enable the ABS to optimally control the brake application in this braking range. Never interrupt the application of the brakes!
WARNING
•The ABS can also not overcome the physical limits of your vehicle. Please do not forget this, particularly when driving on icy or wet road surfaces. If the ABS is operating within the control range, adapt your speed immediately to the conditions of the road surface and the traffic situation. The increased safety offered by the ABS must not tempt you to take greater risks than otherwise - risk of an accident!
•The normal braking system is still fully functional if there is an ABS fault. Visit a specialist garage as quickly as possible and adjust your style of driving to take account of the ABS fault in the meantime since you will not know how great the damage is.
Note
•A warning light comes on if a fault occurs in the ABS system ⇒page 27.
•Changes to vehicle (e.g. on engine, on the brakes, on chassis or other assign-ment of tyres and wheels) can influence the function of the ABS ⇒page 200, “Accessories, changes and replacement of parts”.
Brake Assist*
During a severe brake application (e.g. if a hazard exists), the Brake Assist increases the braking force and thus makes it possible to rapidly produce the pressure required in the brake system.
The majority of drivers do apply the brakes in good time in dangerous situations, but do not depress the brake pedal with sufficient pressure. Consequently, it is not possible for the car to achieve its maximum deceleration and the car covers a greater distance than necessary.
The Brake Assist is activated by the very quick operation of the brake pedal. In such cases, a much greater braking pressure exists than during a normal brake applica-tion. This makes it possible, even with a relatively low resistance of the brake pedal, to produce an adequate pressure in the brake system in the shortest possible time, which is required for maximum deceleration of the car. You must apply the brake
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Intelligent Technology156
pedal firmly and hold it in this position in order to achieve the shortest possible braking distance.
The Brake Assist is able to help you achieve a shorter braking distance in emergency situations by rapidly producing the pressure required in the brake system. It fully exploits the attributes of the ABS. After you release the brake pedal, the function of the Brake Assist is automatically switched off and the brakes operate in the normal way.
The Brake Assist is part of the ESP system. If a fault occurs in the ESP, the Brake Assist function is also not available. Further information on the ESP ⇒page 151.
WARNING
•The Brake Assist is also not able to overcome the physical limits of your car in terms of the braking distance required.
•Adapt your speed to the conditions of the road surface and to the traffic situation.
•The increased safety offered by the Brake Assist must not tempt you to take a greater safety risk than otherwise.
Electrohydraulic power steering
The power steering enables you to steer the vehicle with less physical force.
The steering characteristics can be changed by a specialist garage.
You will place great stresses on the power steering system if the steering is turned to full lock when the vehicle is stationary. Turning the steering to full lock in such a situation will be accompanied by noises.
It is still possible to fully steer the vehicle if the power steering fails or if the engine is not running (vehicle being towed in). The only difference is that greater physical effort is required.
It is possible that the hydraulic pump of the power steering will not run due to the low vehicle network voltage if the battery has gone flat and the engine must started with the help off jump leads. This condition will be indicated by lighting up of the warning light.
The power steering operates again if the battery is charged to a specific range when engine is running. It also operates again, if the engine can be started with its own battery.
Caution
Do not leave the steering at full lock for more than 15 seconds when the engine is running - risk of damaging the power steering!
Note
Have the steering inspected as soon as possible by a specialist garage if there is a leak or fault in the system.
Tyre inflation pressure-control system*
The tyre inflation pressure-control system compares with the aid of the ABS sensors the speed and also the rolling circumference of the individual wheels. If the infla-tion pressure and therefore the rolling circumference of a wheel has changed signif-icantly, the warning light lights up in the dash panel ⇒page 26. The tyre inflation pressure-control system functions late or too sensitively if:
•the structure of the tyre is damaged,
•the vehicle is loaded to one side or with a load on the roof,
Fig. 160 Button for setting the tyre inflation pressure control value
NKO A05F 20.book Page 156 Wednesday, April 2, 2008 1:02 PM

Wheels and Tyres196
WARNING
•You must have your tyres replaced with new ones at the latest when the wear indicators have been worn down. The legally permissible minimum tread depth should be observed.
•Worn tyres do not provide the necessary adhesion to the road surface at high speeds on wet roads. One could experience “aquaplaning” (uncon-trolled movements of the vehicle - “swimming” on a wet road surface).
Changing wheels around
If significantly greater wear is present on the front tyres, we recommend changing the front wheels around with the rear wheels. You will then obtain approximately the same life for all the tyres.
It may be advantageous to swap the tyres over “crosswise” when certain types of wear characteristic arise on the running surface of the tyres (but not in the case of unidirectional tyres). Škoda Service Partners can provide you with details.
We recommend that you change the wheels around every 10 000 km in order to achieve even wear on all wheels and to obtain optimal tyre life.
New tyres and wheels
Tyres and wheel rims are important design elements. One should therefore use the tyres and wheel rims which have been released for use by Škoda Auto. They are exactly matched to the vehicle type and therefore contribute significantly to good road holding and safe driving characteristics ⇒.
Only fit radial tyres of the same type on all 4 wheels, size (rolling circumference) and, if possible, the same tread pattern on one axle.
Škoda Service Partners have access to the most current information about which tyres we have released for use on your vehicle.
We recommend that you have any work relating to tyres or wheels carried out by your Škoda Service Partner. Your dealer has all of the necessary special tools and replacement parts available plus the required specialist knowledge and is also in a
position to properly dispose of the old tyres. A large number of Škoda Service Part-ners also have an attractive range of tyres and wheels available.
The tyre/wheel combinations which are approved for your vehicle are indicated in your vehicle documents. Approval and licensing may differ according to the legis-lation prevailing in individual countries.
Proper knowledge of the tyre data makes it easier for you to select the correct type of tyre. Tyres do, for example, have the following inscription on their walls:
185 / 65 R 14 86 T
What this means is:
The following speed restrictions apply to tyres.
185Tyre w idt h in mm
65Height/width ratio in %
RCode letter for the type of tyre - R adial
14Diameter of wheel in inches
86Load index
TSpeed symbol
Speed symbolPermissible maximum speed
Q160 km/h
R170 km/h
S180 km/h
T190 km/h
H210 km/h
V240 km/h
W270 km/h
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Accessories, changes and replacement of parts200
Accessories, changes and replacement of parts
Accessories and replacement parts
Škoda vehicles have been built according to the latest discoveries in safety engi-neering. Thus one should not change the condition in which the vehicle was deliv-ered from the manufacturer without some thought.
The following guidelines should be observed when a vehicle is to be retrofitted with accessories, have technical changes made to it or a par t has to be replaced at some time in the future.
•Advise should always be obtained from a Škoda Service Partner before buying any accessories and before making any technical changes ⇒.
•This is particularly the case when accessories are bought in a foreign country.
•Škoda Genuine Accessories which have been released for use and Skoda orig-inal parts can be obtained from Škoda Service Partners. They will install them professionally and correctly.
•All Škoda original accessories which are listed in the catalogue of original acces-sories such as transport systems, child seats, light alloy wheels etc., are homolo-gized.
•Radios, aerials and other electrical accessories should only be installed by an authorised workshop.
•The guidelines issued by Škoda Auto a.s. must be observed when making tech-nical changes.
•This is to ensure that no technical damage occurs to the vehicle, that travelling and operating safety are maintained and that the chnages are permissible. Škoda Service Partners undertake this work professionally or refer it to an specialist company in special cases.
Any damage which is done caused by technical changes made without consulting a Skoda a.s. dealer is excluded from the guarantee.
WARNING
•We advise you, in your own interest, to only use Škoda Genuine Accesso-ries and Škoda original parts which have been expressly approved for use on your Škoda. Reliability, safety and suitabiliity have been established for these Škoda original parts.
•We cannot guarantee suitability of installation into your vehicle of other products despite keeping a constant eye on market developments (also not in the case where there is an attestation or permission can be produced).
Technical changes
Interference on the electronic components and their software can lead to opera-tional faults. This interference can also impair not directly affected systems because of the networking of the electronic components. This means that the operating safety of your vehicle can be considerably jeopardized, a greater wear of vehicle parts can occur and finally the vehicle registration documents expire.
We trust that you will understand that your Škoda Service Partner cannot be liable for damage resulting from unprofessional work.
We therefore recommend that you have all work carried out with Škoda original parts at your authorised Škoda Service Partners.
WARNING
Work or modifications on your vehicle, which have been carried out unpro-fessionally, can cause operational faults - risk of accident!
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Breakdown assistance203
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
•The spare wheel provided with a car fitted with unidirectional tyres has different dimensions. The wheel is provided with a warning sticker.
•After fitting on the wheel, the warning sticker must not be concealed (e.g. by the wheel trim).
•Do not drive with this spare wheel at more than 80 km/h - risk of accident. Avoid accelerating at full throttle, sharp braking and fast cornering.
•The inflation pressure for this spare wheel is identical to the inflation pressure of the standard tyres.
•Use this spare wheel only to reach the nearest specialist garage as it is not intended for continuous use.
Changing a wheel
Preliminary work
The following steps should be carried out before actually changing the
wheel.
– If it is necessary to change a wheel, park the vehicle as far away as
possible from the traffic flow. The place you choose should be level.
– Have all the occupants get out. While changing a wheel, the occu-
pants of the vehicle should not stand on the road (e.g. behind a crash
barrier).
– Apply the handbrake firmly.
–Engage 1st gear or if your vehicle is fitted with an automatic gearbox,
position the selector lever into position P.
– If a trailer is coupled, uncouple it.
– Take the vehicle tool kit and the spare wheel ⇒page 202 out of the
luggage compartment.
WARNING
•If you find yourself in flowing traffic switch on the hazard warning lights system and place the warning triangle on the side of the road at the prescribed distance from your vehicle while observing all national legal provisions. In this way you are protecting not only yourself but also other road users.
•Never start the engine with the vehicle sitting on the raised jack - danger of suffering injury!
Caution
If you have to change a wheel on a slope first block the opposite wheel with a stone or similar object in order to secure the vehicle from unexpectedly rolling away.
Note
Comply with the national legal regulations.
Changing a wheel
Always change a wheel on a level surface as far as possible.
– Take off the full wheel trim* ⇒page 204 or the caps ⇒page 205.
– In the case of light alloy wheels remove the wheel trim cap
⇒page 205.
– Slacken the wheel bolts ⇒page 206.
– Jack up the vehicle until the wheel to be changed is clear of the ground
⇒page 206.
– Unscrew the wheel bolts and place them on a clean surface (cloth,
paper etc.).
– Take off the wheel.
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Fuses and light bulbs217
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Bulbs
Replacing bulbs
The relevant lamp must always be switched off before a light bulb is replaced.
Do not take hold of the glass bulb with naked fingers (even the smallest amount of dirt reduces the working life of the light bulb). Use a clean cloth, serviette or some-thing similar.
Defect light bulbs should only be replaced with light bulbs of the same type. The designation is located on the light socket or the glass bulb.
Changing certain bulbs is not something which you can do yourself, but requires to be done by a specialist. Other parts of the vehicle must be removed in order to change the light bulbs. This applies, in particular, to bulbs which can only be reached from the engine compartment.
We therefore recommend that you have any bulbs changed by a Škoda Service Partner or, in exceptional cases, by calling on other professional assistance.
Please note that the engine compartment is a hazardous area ⇒page 181, “Working in the engine compartment”.
We recommend that you carry the set of light bulbs with you which was delivered in your vehicle. Replacement light bulbs 9) are available at a Škoda Service Partner.
The set of light bulbs can be stowed in the locable box in the spare wheel.
Overview of bulbs
No.Power consumerAmperes
1Dynamo175
2Interior80
3Electrical auxiliary heating system60
4ABS or TCS or ESP40
5Electrohydraulic power steering50
6Glow plugs50
7ABS or TCS or ESP25
8The radiator fan30
9The air conditioning system5
10The radiator fan40
11Central control unit5
12Automatic gearboxelectrical auxiliary heating system530
9)Replacement light bulbs are, on the other hand, part of the basic equipping of the vehicle insome countries.
Front headlightReflectorModule
Low beam and main beamH4H7
Parking lightsW5W
Tu r n s i g n a l sPY21W
Fog lightsHB4
Fog lights with turning lightH8
Rear light unitBulb
Reversing lightP21W
Tu r n s i g n a l sPY21W
Brake lightsP21W
Rear fog lightP21W
Parking lights2 x W5W
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Index243
Index
A
Abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
ABS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Adjusting seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56, 122
Adjusting the steering wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Air conditioning system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Air outlet vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Deployment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Front airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Head airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Side airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Airbag system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Alternator
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Antilock brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Antilock brake system - ABS
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Anti-theft alarm system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Ashtray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Auto Check Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Auto Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Automatic gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Emergency programme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Kickdown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Tiptronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Automatic vehicle wash systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Automatic wiper/washer system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Avoiding damage to your vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
B
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22, 189
change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Inspecting the electrolyte level . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Operation in winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Before setting off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Belt tensioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Belt tensioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Bicycle carrier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Bluetooth™ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Bonnet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Boot lid
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Brake
Handbrake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Brake booster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Brake pads
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Brake system
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Button on the driver's door
Central locking system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
C
Car jack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Car state . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Catalytic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
CD changer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Central locking system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
unlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Changing a wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Changing the engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Changing wheels around . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Charging the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Check engine oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Child safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Side airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Child safety lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
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