2008 SKODA ROOMSTER lights

Driving and the Environment156
Sensitive use of the accelerator will not only significantly reduce fuel consumption but also positively influence environmen tal pollution and wear of your vehicle.
You should avoid fully exploi ting the top speed of your vehicle wherever possible. Fuel consumption, pollutant emissions and vehicle noises increase disproportion- ally at high speeds.
The ⇒page 155, fig. 150 shows the ratio of fuel consumption to the speed of your vehicle. You will cut your fuel consumption by half if you only make use three-quar- ters of the possible top speed of your vehicle.
Reducing idling
Idling also costs fuel.
It is worthwhile switching off the engine in a traffic jam or when waiting at a level crossing or at traffic lights with a length y red phase. Even after just 30 - 40 seconds you will have saved more fuel than that is needed when you start the engine up again.
If an engine is only idling it takes much longer for it to reach its normal operating temperature. Wear-and-tear and pollutant em issions, though, are particularly high in the warming-up phase. This is why you should drive off right after starting the engine. Do avoid high engine revolutions at this time, however.
Regular servicing
A poorly tuned engine consumes an unnecessarily high amount of
fuel.
Having your vehicle serviced regularly at a specialist garge enables you to satisfy one of the requirements for economical motoring even before you set off on your journey. Keeping your vehicle properly servic ed not only has a positive effect on the safety of your vehicle and maintaining its value, but also saves on fuel.
A poorly tuned engine can result in a fu el consumption which is 10% higher than normal.
The foreseen maintenance work should be undertaken exactly according to the Service schedule by a specialist garage.
Also check the oil level after refueling. Oil consumption is dependent to a consid- erable extent on the load and speed of the engine. Oil consumption could be as high as 0.5 litres/1 000 km depending on your style of driving.
It is quite normal that a new engine ha s a higher oil consumption at first, and reaches its lowest level only after a certain running in time. It is therefore not possible to correctly assess the oil cons umption of a new vehicle until after you have driven about 5 000 km.
For the sake of the environment
•You can achieve additional improvements in your fuel economy by using high- lubricity oils.
•Check the ground below your car at regula r intervals to detect any leakages in good time. Please have your vehicle inspected by a specialist garge if you find any stains caused by oil or other fluids on the floor.
Avoid driving short distances
Short distances result in an above-average high fuel consumption.
– Avoid driving a distance of no more than 4 km if the engine is cold.
The engine and catalytic converter mu st first have reached their optimal operating temperature in order to effectively reduce fuel consumption and pollutant emis- sions.
Fig. 151 Fuel consump- tion in litres/100 km at different temperatures
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Driving and the Environment158
•Reduced fuel consumption and exhaust emission CO2
•Minimum fuel leakage during accidents
•Reduced noise
Choice of materials
•extensive use of recyclable material
•Air conditioning filled wi th CFC-free refrigerant
•no cadmium
•no asbestos
•Reduction in the “vaporisation” of plastics
Manufacture
•solvent-free cavity protection
•solvent-free protection of the vehicle for transportation from the production plant to the customer
•The use of solvent-free adhesives
•No CFCs used in the production process
•without use of mercury
•Use of water-soluble paints
Trade-in and recycling of old cars
Škoda Auto meets the requirements of the brand and its products regarding envi- ronment and ressource protection. All new Škoda vehicles can be utilized up to 95 % and always 4) be returned. In a lot of countries sufficient trade-in networks have been created, where you can trade-in your vehicle. After you trade-in your vehicle, you will receive a confirmation stating the recycling in accordance with environmental regulations.
Vehicles with special built-on types
Technical documents regarding changes carried out on the vehicle must be kept by the vehicle user, in or der to hand over later to the old car user. This ensures the recycling in accordance with environmental regulations.
Note
Detailed information about the trade-in and recycling of old cars is available from your Škoda Service Partner.
Motoring abroad
General
Other circumstances may exist abroad.
It is also possible, in ce rtain countries, that the Škoda Service Partner network is limited or has not been established yet. This is the reason why obtaining certain spare parts may be somewhat complicate d and specialist garage personnel may only be able to ma ke li mite d re pa irs. Škoda Auto a.s. i n the Czech Republic and rele - vant importers are happy to provide info rmation about technical aspects of the vehicle, required maintenance work and possibilities for getting repairs done.
Unleaded petrol
A vehicle fitted with a petrol engine must always be refuelled with unleaded petrol ⇒ page 154. The automobile associations can provide you with information regarding the locations of filling stations which offer unleaded petrol.
Headlights
The low beam of your headlights is set asym metrically. It illuminates the side of the road on which you are driving to a greater extent. If you drive abroad on the other side of the road, you wi ll dazzle oncoming traffic.
It is necessary in order to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic to stick a sticker over a certain part of the headlights.
Headlight stickers can be obtained as a spare part from the Skoda Service Partners.
Headlights with module are designed for driving in countries with traffic on the right or on the left. Have this done always at a Škoda Service Partner.4)subject to fulfilment of the national legal regulations
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Driving and the Environment159
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Note
You can obtain further information regarding masking over or converting the head- lights from your Škoda Service Partner.
Avoiding damage to your vehicle
When driving on poor roads and lanes or when driving over kerbstones, steep ramps etc., you must pay particular attent ion to ensuring that any low-slung parts of the vehicle, such as spoiler and ex haust, do not touch the ground and get damaged.
This particularly applies to models with a lowered suspension (sport suspension) and also when your vehicle is fully laden.
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Towing a trailer161
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistancePraktikTechnical Data
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 headlights. Alter the setting as necessary with th e aid of the headlight beam adjuster ⇒ page 46.
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 yo ur 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 temper ature gauge if the outside temper-
ature 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 coun- tries 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.
You must always reduce your speed immedi ately as soon as you detect even just the slightest swaying of the trailer. On no account attempt to stop the trailer from “swaying” by accelerating.
Apply the brakes in good time! If the trailer is fitted with a trailer brake, apply the brakes gently at first and then brake firmly . This will avoid brake jolts resulting from the trailer wheels locking. Shift down gears in good time before negotiating a down- hill section to allow the engine to also act as a brake.
Engine overheating
Please keep a check on the coolant temperature gauge if you have to negotiate a lengthy slope in a low gear at a high engine speed when the outside temperature is very high ⇒page 10.
If the needle of the coolant temperature gauge moves into the right-hand area or even the red area of the scale, reduce yo ur speed immediately. Stop and switch off the engine if the warning light  in the instrument cluste r begins flashing. Wait a few minutes and check the level of coolant in the coolant expansion bottle ⇒ page 179, “Inspecting the coolant level”.
Please refer to the following guidelines ⇒page 24, “Coolant temperature/coolant level ”.
The coolant temperature can be reduced by switching on the heating.
Any increase in the cooling effect of the coolant fan through shifting down a gear and increasing the engine speed is not possible since the fan speed is independent
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Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle166
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 pr oducts 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 clea ning 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 preservati ves 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!
•When removing snow or ice from the windows and mirror lenses make sure not to damage the paintwork of the vehicle.
The headlight lenses
Please do not use any aggres sive cleaning or chemical solvent products - risk of damage to the plastic lenses Please use soap and clean warm water.
Caution
Never wipe the headlights dry and do not use any sharp objects for cleaning the plastic lenses, this may result in damage to the protective paintwork and conse- quently in formation of cracks on the head light lenses, e.g through effect of chem- ical products.
Door and window seals
The rubber seals on the doors, boot lid, bonnet and windows remain supple and last longer if you treat them from time to time with a rubber care product (e.g. with a spray with silicone-free oil). You also avoid premature wear of the seals and prevent leakages in this way. It is also easier to open the doors. Rubber seals which are well cared for also do not stick together in cold winter weather.
Locks
We recommend that you use the spray from Škoda original accessories with regreasing and anticorrosive effect for de-icing locks.
Note
When washing your vehicle, ensure that as little water as possible gets into the locks.
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Inspecting and Replenishing186
Windshield washer system
The windshield washer reservoir contains the cleaning fluid for the windscreen or rear window and for the headlamp cleaning system*. The reservoir is located in the front left of the engine compartment ⇒fig. 163.
The filling level of the container is 2 litres, 5.5 litres on vehicles which also have a headlight washing system.
Clear water is not sufficient to intensivel y clean the windscreen and headlights. We therefore recommend using clean washing wa ter together with the screen cleaner from Škoda genuine accessorie s (in winter additionally with antifreeze) which is capable of removing stubborn dirt. Follow the instructions for use on the packaging when using screen cleaning products.
You should always add antifreeze to the cleaning water in winter even if your vehicle is fitted with heated windscreen washer nozzles*.
It is also possible in exceptional cases to use methylated spirits when no screen cleaner with antifreeze is available. The concentration of methylated spirits must not be more than 15 %. Please note, howeve r, that the antifreeze protection at this concentration is only adequate down to -5°C.
WARNING
Read and observe the warning notes ⇒page 174, “Working in the engine compartment” before working in the engine compartment.
Caution
•On no account should you add radiator antifreeze or other additives to the windscreen washer fluid.
•If the vehicle is fitted with headlight cleaning system, you should only add cleaning products which do not attack th e polycarbonate coating of the headlights to the windscreen washer fluid. Please contact your specialist garage, who will tell you which cleaning agent you can use.
Note
Do not take the filter out of the windscreen wash container when filling it up again with liquid otherwise dirt can get into the liquid transportation system and can lead to faults in operation of the windscreen wash system.
Fig. 163 Engine compartment: Wind-shield washer fluid reser-voir
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Breakdown assistance197
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•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 stic ker 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 ne arest specialist garage as it is not intended for co ntinuous 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 stan d 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 196 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 th e 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 198 or the caps ⇒page 199.
– In the case of light alloy wheels remove the wheel trim cap
⇒ page 199.
– Slacken the wheel bolts ⇒page 200.
– Jack up the vehicle until the wheel to be changed is clear of the ground
⇒ page 200.
– Unscrew the wheel bolts and place them on a clean surface (cloth,
paper etc.).
– Take off the wheel.
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Breakdown assistance203
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistancePraktikTechnical Data
Connecting positive terminals
– Attach one end to the positive terminal ⇒page 202, fig. 175 of the
discharged battery .
– Attach the other end to the positive terminal of the battery
supplying the power .
Connecting negative term inal and engine block
– Attach one end to the negative terminal of the battery supplying
the power .
– Attach the other end to a solid metal part which is connected
firmly to the engine block, or to the engine block itself ⇒.
Starting engine
– Start the engine of the vehicle providing current and run the engine at
idling speed.
– Now start the engine of the vehicle with the discharged battery.
– Interrupt the attempt at starting an engine after 10 seconds if it does
not start right away and wait for about 30 seconds before repeating
the attempt.
– Disconnect the cables on the engine in exactly the reverse order they
were connected up.
WARNING
•The non-insulated parts of the terminal clamps must never make contact with each other. Furthermore, the cable connected to the positive terminal of the battery must not come into contact with electrically conducting parts of the vehicle - risk of a short circuit!
•Do not affix the jump starting cables to the negative terminal of the discharged battery. There is the risk of detonating gas seeping out the
battery being ignited by the strong spark which results from the engine being started.
•Do not affix the cable end to pa rts 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 cigarettes etc.) away from the battery - risk of an explosion!
Tow-starting and towing vehicle
General
Please pay attention to the following in structions 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 particular ly gently when starting off.
Driver of the towed vehicle
– Switch the ignition on so that th e 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.
A1
AA
A2
AB
A3
AB
A4
WARNING (continued)
A4
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