2009 SKODA OCTAVIA lock

Intelligent Technology
195
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Traction control system (TCS) The traction control system prevents
the driven wheels from spinning
when accelerating.General The TCS makes it much easier, and sometimes at all possible, to start off, accelerate and climb a steep hill when the conditio
ns of the road surface are unfavourable.
Operating principle The TCS switches on automatically when th
e engine is started and then conducts a
self-test. The system monitors the speeds of the driven wheels with the aid of the ABS sensors. If the wheels are spinning, the force transmitted to the road surface is automatically adapted by redu
cing the engine speed. Th
is occurs at all speeds.
The TCS operates in combination with the ABS
⇒page 197, “Antilock brake system
(ABS)”. The TCS will not function if a fault exists in the ABS system. The TCS warning light lights up in the instrument cluster when there is a fault on the TCS
 ⇒page 37.
Switching off You can switch the TCS off and on again
as you wish by pressing the button
⇒ fig. 197
. The TCS warning light lights up in the instrument cluster when the TCS is
switched off
 ⇒page 37.
The TCS should normally always be switched on. It may be good practice in certain exceptional cases, such as when you wish
to have wheel slip, to switch off the
system. Examples:•
when driving with snow chains
•
when driving in deep snow or on a loose surface
•
when it is necessary to rock a vehicle when it has become stuck.
then you should switch on the TCS again.
WARNING
You should always adjust your style of driving to the conditions of the road surface and the traffic situation. The increased safety offered must not tempt you to take greater risks than otherwise - risk of an accident!
Note
•
All four wheels must be fitted with the same tyres in order to achieve problem-
free operation of the TCS. Differing rolling circumferences of the tyres can lead to an undesirable reduction in the engine output.•
Changes to vehicle (e.g. on engine, on the brakes, on chassis or other assign-
ment of tyres and wheels) can in
fluence the function of the TCS
⇒page 244,
“Accessories, changes and replacement of parts”.Active driver-steering recommendation (DSR)*Vehicles with ESP are equi
pped with active driver-steering recommendation (DSR).
This function indicates to the driver in critical situations a steering recommendation in order to stabilise the vehicle. The active driver-steering recommendation is acti-vated, for example, on the right and left
vehicle side when
braking sharply on
different road surfaces.
Fig. 197 TCS switch
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Intelligent Technology
197
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
vehicle and reduces the strain on the brakes
. Any additional braking should be done
intermittently, no
t continuously.
Note
The brake light flashes automa
tically in case of an em
ergency braking at speeds
g re a t e r t h a n 6 0 k m /h o r w i t h t he i n t e r v e n t i o n o f th e A BS , w h i ch l a s t s l o n g e r th a n 1 .5 seconds. After the speed was reduced belo
w 10 km/h or the vehicle was stopped,
the brake light stops flashing and the hazard warning light system switches on. The hazard warning light system is switched
off automatically after accelerating or
driving off again.Brake boosterThe brake booster boosts the pressure which you generate with the brake pedal. The necessary pressure is only gene
rated when the engine is running.
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 significan
tly to enhancing the active
safety of your vehicle.
Compared to a vehicle not fitted with the ABS brake system, you are able to retain optimal steering ability even during a fu
ll brake application on a slippery road
surface because the wheels do not lock up. You must not expect, however, that the br
aking distance will be shorter under all
circumstances as a result of the ABS. Th
e braking distance for example on gravel
and fresh snow, when you should anyway be driving slowly and cautiously, will be longer. Operating principle 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 tend
ing 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 optima
lly control the brake application in this
braking range. Never interrupt the application of the brakes!
WARNING
•
The ABS can also not overcome the physic
al limits of your vehicle. Please
do not forget this, particularly when driv
ing on icy or wet road surfaces. If the
ABS is operating within the control ra
nge, 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 po
ssible and adjust yo
ur 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 38.
•
Changes to vehicle (e.g. on engine, on the brakes, on chassis or other assign-
ment of tyres and wheels) can in
fluence the function of the ABS
⇒page 244,
“Accessories, changes and replacement of parts”.
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Towing a trailer
209
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical 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 63. Detachable ball head The ball rod is detachable on vehicles which feature a factory-fitted towing device. It is stowed together with separate fitting instructions in the spare wheel well in the luggage compartment of the vehicle. Further information on the towing device
⇒page 210.
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, particul
arly 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 18, “Coolant temperature gauge”.
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 229, “Inspecting the coolant level”. Please refer to the following guidelines
⇒page 36, “Coolant temperature/ Coolant
quantity
”.
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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Towing a trailer
210
of the engine speed. One should also not
drop a gear for this reason when towing
a trailer as long as the en
gine can manage the slope
without any drop in speed.
Detachable towing device*The detachable ball head of the towing device
is stowed in a box for the car tool kit
in the spare wheel well in the luggage compartment. An instruction for correct installation an
d removal of the ball head of the towing
device is supplied
with the ball head
Inspect the ball head to ensure that it is pr
operly locked each time before setting off.
The inspection is performed by turning the closed locking lever downwards. If the locking lever can only be turned around a small angle (approx. 5°), the locking mechanism is O.K. 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 closed position.
WARNING
Do not use any aids or tools for installing or removing the ball head. This might result in damage to the locking mechanism to the extent that the safety of the towing device is no longer assured - risk of an accident.
Note
•
Do not carry out any modifications or repairs to the ball head or to any other
components on the towing device.•
Contact a specialist garage if you en
counter any problems using the device.
•
Never unlock the ball head with a trailer coupled to it.
•
You should take off the ball head if you drive without towing a trailer. Inspect
whether the end cover properly seals off the mounting shaft.•
Remove the ball head beforehand if yo
u wish to clean your vehicle using a
steam jet. Ensure that the end cover properly seals the mounting shaft.•
It is recommended to wear gloves
when installing and removing.
Fig. 203 Detachable ball head
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Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle
212
Automatic vehicle wash systemsThe paintwork of the vehicle is sufficiently resistant that the vehicle can be washed normally in automatic vehicle wash plants without any problem. The actual stress to which the paintwork is subjected, however, depends greatly on the design of the vehicle wash system, the filtering of the water and the type of washing and care products used. If the paintwork of your
vehicle appears mat after being washed or
even has scratches, point this out to the operator of the vehicle wash plant. Use a different vehicle wash plant, if necessary. There are no particular points to note be
fore washing your vehicle in an automatic
vehicle wash system other than the usua
l precautionary measures (closing the
windows and the sliding/tilting roof, etc.). If you have any particular atta
ch e d p a r t s f i t te d t o y o u r c a r - s u ch a s s p o i l e r, ro o f ra ck
system, two-way radio aerial - it is best to
first of all consult the operator of the car
wash plant. It is important to degrease the lips of
the windscreen wiper rubbers after passing
through the automatic vehicle wash system.Washing vehicle by handIt is important to first soften the dirt with
plenty of water and
rinse it off as thor-
oughly as possible before wa
shing your vehi
cle by hand.
One should then clean the vehicle using a soft
washing sponge
, washing glove
or
a washing brush
and only slight pressure. Work
from the top to the bottom -
beginning with the roof. Only place slight
pressure on the vehicle paintwork during
cleaning Only use a
car shampoo
for stubborn dirt.
Wash out the sponge or washing glove thoroughly at short intervals.Clean wheels, door sills and similar parts
last. Use a second sponge for such areas.
Rinse off the vehicle well after giving it a
wash and dry it off using a chamois leather.
WARNING
•
The ignition should always be switched off when you wash your vehicle -
risk of accident!•
Protect your hands and arms from sharp-edged metal parts when you
are cleaning the underfloor, the inside
of the wheel housings or the wheel
trims - risk of cuts.
Caution
•
Do not wash your vehicle in bright
sunlight - risk of paint damage.
•
Ensure that the jet of water is not aimed directly at the locks or at the door and
panel joints if you spray your
vehicle in winter down with
a hose - risk of freezing.
•
Do not use any insect sponges, rough ki
tchen sponges or simi
lar cleaning prod-
ucts - risk of damage to the surface of paintwork.
For the sake of the environment
Only wash your vehicle at washing bays specifically reserved for this purpose. This ensures that no water which may be cont
aminated by oil flow
s into the sewage
system. It is not even permitted to wash your vehicle in certain areas except at such specific washing bays.Washing with a high-pressure cleanerWhen you wash your vehicle with a high-pre
ssure cleaner, it is
essential to comply
with the instructions for use of the cleaning equipment. This applies in particular to the
pressure
used and to the
spraying distance
. Maintain a sufficiently large
distance to soft materials such as
rubber hoses or insulation material.
On no account use
circular spray nozzles
or so-called
dirt cutters
!
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Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle
214
Plastic partsExternal plastic parts are cleaned by norm
al 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 th
e material and can damage it.
WindowsOnly 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!
The headlight lensesPlease do not use any aggres
sive cleaning or
chemical solvent pr
oducts - 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 sealsThe 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.Locking cylinderWe recommend that you use the spray from Škoda original accessories with regreasing and anticorrosive effect
for de-icing lo
cking cylinders.
Note
When washing your vehicle, ensure that as
little water as possible gets into the
locks.
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Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle
217
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Severe soiling – Clean severely soiled areas with
a cloth dipped in a mild soapy solu-
tion (2 spoonfuls of natural
soap to 1 litre of water).
– Ensure that the leather is not soaked through at any point and that no
water gets into the stitching of the seams.
– Dry off the leather with a soft, dry cloth. Removing stains – Remove fresh stains which are
water-based
(e.g. coffee, tea, juices,
blood etc.) with an absorbent cloth or household paper or use the cleaner from the care set for a
stain which has already dried in.
– Remove fresh stains on a
fat base
(e.g. butter, mayonnaise, chocolate
etc.) with an absorbent cloth or household cleaning paper or with the cleaner from the care set if the stain has not yet penetrated into the surface.
– Use a grease dissolver for
grease stains which have dried in
.
–Eliminate
special stains
(e.g. ball-point pens, felt pen, nail varnish,
dispersion paint, shoe cream etc.) with a special stain remover suit-able for leather.
Leather care – Treat the leather every six months with the leather care product avail-
able from an authorised Škoda Service Partner.
– Apply only a small amount of the care product. – Dry the leather off with a soft clothIt is best to consult an authorised Škod
a Service Partner if you have any questions
regarding cleaning and care of the
leather interior in your vehicle.
Caution
•
You must on no account treat the leathe
r with solvents (e.g. gasoline, turpen-
tine), floor wax, shoe cream or such like.•
Avoid leaving your vehicle for lengthy pe
riods in bright sunlight in order to
avoid bleaching the leather. If you leave yo
ur vehicle parked in the open for lengthy
periods, protect the leather from the direct
rays of the sun by covering it over.
•
Sharp-edged objects on items of clothing such as zip fasteners, rivets, sharp-
edged belts may leave permanent scratches or signs of rubbing on the surface.
Note
•
Use a care cream with light blocker and impregnation effect regularly and each
time after cleaning the leather. The cream no
urishes the leather, allows it to breathe
and keeps it supple and also provides moisture. It also creates surface protection.•
Clean the leather every 2 to 3 months, remove fresh soiling each time this
occurs.•
Remove fresh stains such as those from
ball-point pens, ink, lipstick, shoe
cream etc., as quickly as possible.•
Care also for the leather dye. Refreshen
areas which have lost their colour with
a special coloured leather cream as required.•
The leather is a natural material with specific properties. During the use of the
vehicle, minor optical change
s can occur on the leather parts of the covers (e. g
wrinkles or creases as a result of the stress of the covers).Seat belts– Keep the seat belts clean! – Wash seat belts which have become
soiled using a mild soapy solu-
tion.
– Inspect the seat belts regularly to
ensure they are in good condition.
Belt webbing which has become severely so
iled may prevent the inertia reel from
reeling up the belt properly.
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Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle
218
WARNING
•
The seat belts must not be removed for cleaning.
•
Never clean the seat belts chemically
as dry cleaning may destroy the
fabric. The seat belts must also not be allowed to come into contact with corrosive liquids (such as acids etc.).•
Seat belts which have damage to the webbing, the connections, the
inertia reel or the lock should be re
placed by an authorised Škoda Service
Par tner.•
Inertia reel belts must be complete
ly dried before being reeled up.
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