2009 SKODA OCTAVIA warning light

Inspecting and replenishing
227
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Technical Data
Engine oilCheck engine oil level The dipstick indicates the level of oil in the engine.Checking the oil level – Ensure that the vehicle is positioned on a level surface. – Switch the engine off. – Open the bonnet
⇒
in “Working in the engine compartment” on
page 225.
– Wait a few minutes and pull out the oil dipstick.– Wipe off the dipstick with a clea
n cloth and insert it again fully.
– Then withdraw the dipstick ag
ain and read off the oil level.
Oil level within range – You must
not
top up the oil.
Oil level within range –You
may
top up the oil. It is possible that the oil level may then be
within range after doing this.
Oil level within range –You
must
top up the oil
⇒
page 228. It is sufficient, once this is done,
to keep the oil level within range .
It is normal for the engine to consume oi
l. The oil consumption may be as much as
0.5 l/1 000 km depending on your style of driving and the conditions under which you operate your vehicle. The oil consumpt
ion may be slightly higher than this
during the first 5 000 kilometres. One should therefore check the oil level at regular intervals, preferably every time after the fuel tank is filled or after driving for long stretches. We recommend maintaining the oil level within the range -
but not above this
,
if the engine has been operating at hi
gh loads, for example during a lengthy
motorway trip during the summer months,
towing a trailer or negotiating a high
mountain pass. The warning light in the instrument cluster* will indicate
⇒page 35, “Engine oil
pressure

” whether the oil level is too low. In this case, check the oil level as soon
as possible. Top up with an appropriate quantity of oil.
Caution
•
The oil level must on no account ex
tend beyond the range . Danger of
damaging the cata
lytic converter.
•
Do not continue your journey
if for some reason it is not possible under the
conditions prev
ailing to top up with oil.
Switch of the engine and contact
and
obtain professional assistance from a specialist garage.
Note
Engine oil specifications
⇒page 271, “Technical Data”.
Fig. 211 Dipstick
AA
AB
AA
AC
AB
AA
AA
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Using the system
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also protects the cooling and heating system from corrosion. It also prevents the formation of scale and significantly increases the boiling point of the coolant. You must therefore not reduce the concentr
ation of antifreeze agent in the coolant
by adding water, also not during the summ
er months or in countries with a warm
climate.
The concentration of coolant additive in the coolant must be at least
40%. You can increase the amount of antifreeze
in the coolant if a higher concentration
of antifreeze is necessary for climatic
reasons but only up to 60% (antifreeze
protection down to approx. -40°C). The an
tifreeze protection tails off above that
concentration. Vehicles exported to countries with a co
ld climate (e.g. Sweden, Norway, Finland)
are already factory-filled with a coolant wh
ich offers antifreeze protection down to
about -35°C. In these countries the concentr
ation of coolant additive should be at
least 50 %. Coolant The cooling system is factory-filled with co
olant (purple in colour), which complies
with the specification TL-VW 774 G. We recommend that you use the same c
oolant additive - G12 PLUS-PLUS (purple
in colour) for toppi
ng up the system.
Please contact an authorised Škoda Service Partner if you have any questions regarding the coolant or if you wish to fill up with a different coolant. An authorised Škoda Service Partner can al
so supply you with the correct coolant
additives.
Caution
•
Other coolant additives may cause operational problems which, in partic-
ular, involves significantly redu
cing the anticorrosion effect.
•
Any faults or problems resulting from corrosion may cause a loss of
coolant and, as a consequence of th
is, result in major engine damage.
Inspecting the coolant levelThe coolant expansion bottle is loca
ted in the engine compartment on
the right. – Switch the engine off. – Open the bonnet
⇒
page 224.
– Check the level of coolant in the coolant expansion bottle
⇒
fig. 212
.
The coolant level when the engine is cold must lie between the (MIN) and (MAX) markings. The level may also rise slightly above the (MAX) marking when the engine is warm.
If the coolant level in the reservoir is too low, this is indicated by the warning light in the instrument cluster
⇒page 36, “Coolant temperat
ure/ Coolant quantity
”.
We nevertheless recommend in
specting the coolant level directly at the reservoir
from time to time. Loss of coolant A loss of coolant is first and foremost an
indication of a leak
in the system. You
should not merely top up the coolant in the
reservoir. It is also important to have
the cooling system inspected without delay by a specialist garage.
Fig. 212 Engine compart- ment: Coolant expansion bottle
Ab
Aa
Aa
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Inspecting and replenishing
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Radiator fan The radiator fan may switch on suddenly.The radiator fan is driven by an electr
ic motor and controlled according to the
coolant temperature. The radiator fan may continue running fo
r up to 10 minutes after the engine has
been switched off - even if
the ignition is also off. It
may also switch on suddenly
after a certain time, if•
the coolant temperature has risen beca
use of an accumulation of heat or
•
the warm engine compartment is heated
up additionally by
strong sunlight.
WARNING
You must therefore be aware when work
ing in the engine compartment that
the fan may switch on suddenly - risk of injury!Brake fluidInspecting the brake fluid level
The brake fluid reservoir is located on the left of the engine compartment. The brake fluid reservoir on right-hand steering models is positioned on the other side of the engine compartment. – Switch the engine off. – Open the bonnet
⇒
page 224.
– Inspect the brake fluid level in the reservoir
⇒
fig. 213
. The level must
be between the “MIN” and “MAX” markings.
A slight drop in the fluid level results when driving due to normal wear-and-tear and automatic adjustment of the br
ake pads, and is perfectly normal.
There may be an indication of a leak in the brake system, however, if the fluid level drops significantly within a short time or if it drops below the “MIN” marking. If the brake fluid level is too low, this is indicated by the warning light
⇒page 40, “Brake
system
” lighting up in the instru
ment cluster. In this case
stop immediately and
do not drive any further! Obtain professional assistance.
WARNING
•
Read and observe the warning notes
⇒page 225, “Working in the engine
compartment” before working in the engine compartment.•
If the fluid level has dropped below
the MIN marking, do not drive any
further - risk of accident! Obtain professional assistance.Replacing brake fluidBrake fluid absorbs moisture. This causes the fluid to absorb moisture from the surrounding air over a period of time. Excessive water in the brake fluid may be the cause of corrosion in the brake system. Th
e water content also lowers the boiling
point of the brake fluid.
This is why brake fluid must be replaced every two
years. One may only use new genuine brake fluid
from Škoda Auto. The specification for
the brake fluid is “FMVSS 116 DOT 4”.
Fig. 213 Engine compart- ment: Brake fluid reservoir
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Inspecting and replenishing
233
Using the system
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Technical Data
Acids coming into contact with water are diluted accompanied by significant development of heat.•
Do not tilt the battery otherwise battery electrolyte may flow out of the
battery vent openings. Prot
ect the eyes with safety glasses or a shield! There
is the danger of suffering blindness! If
any battery electrol
yte gets into your
eye, rinse out your eye immediately
with clear water for several minutes.
Contact a doctor without delay.•
Splashes of acid on your skin or clothes should be neutralised as soon as
possible using soap suds and then rinsed with plenty of water. Contact a doctor immediately if you swallow battery electrolyte.•
Keep batteries out of the reach of children.
•
Hydrogen is released when you char
ge a battery and a highly explosive
gas mixture is produced. An explosion
can be caused through sparkling over
during unclamping or loosening of the cable plug while the ignition is on.•
Bridging of the poles will create a short circuit (e.g. through metal
objects, cables). Possible consequences of a short circuit: Melting of lead struts, explosion and burning of the battery, jets of acid spurting out.•
It is prohibited to work with a naked flame and light, to smoke or to carry
out any activities which produce sparks. Avoid creating sparks when working with cables and electrical device
s. Strong sparking represents a risk
of injury.•
Before carrying out any work on the electrical system, switch off the
engine, the ignition as well as all electrical components and disconnect the negative cable (-) on the battery. If you wish to replace a bulb it is sufficient to switch off the appropriate light.•
Never charge a frozen or thawed battery - risk of explosion and caustic
burns! Replace a frozen battery.•
Never jump-start the batteries which
have a too low electrolyte level -
risk of explosion and caustic burns!•
Never use a battery which is damaged
- risk of explosion! Immediately
replace a damaged battery.
Caution
•
You must only disconnect the battery if the ignition is switched off, otherwise
the electrical system (electronic components) of the vehicle may be damaged. When disconnecting the battery from the el
ectrical system of the vehicle, first
disconnect the negative terminal (-) of th
e battery. Then disconnect the positive
terminal (+).•
When reconnecting the battery, first conne
ct the positive terminal (+) and only
then the negative terminal (-) of the batt
ery. You must on no account connect the
cables wrongly - risk of a cable fire.•
Ensure that battery acid does not come
into contact with the vehicle body
otherwise damage could
occur to the paintwork.
•
Do not place the battery in direct dayl
ight in order to protect the battery
housing from the effects of ultra-violet light.
For the sake of the environment
A removed battery is a special type of waste which is harmful to the environment - contact your specialist garage regarding disposing of the battery.
Note
Please also refer to the guidelines
⇒page 236, also after connecting the battery.
WARNING (continued)
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Inspecting and replenishing
236
A discharged battery may already
freeze
at temperatures just below 0°C
⇒
. We
recommend that you no longer use a ba
ttery which has thawed out because the
casing of the battery may be cracked thro
ugh the formation of ice and this would
allow battery electrolyte to flow out. The vent plugs of the battery should not be opened for charging.
WARNING
•
Never charge a frozen or thawed battery - risk of explosion and caustic
burns. Replace a frozen battery.•
Never charge a battery which has a to
o low electrolyte level - risk of
explosion and caustic burns.Disconnecting and reconnecting the batteryOn disconnecting and reconnecting the batte
ry the following functions are initially
deactivated or are no longer able to operate fault-free. We recommend having the vehicle checked
by a Škoda Service Partner to ensure
full functionality of all electrical systems.Replacing the batteryYou should only replace a battery with a
new battery of the same capacity, voltage
(12 V), amperage and of the same size. Škoda Service Partners have a range of suit- able batteries available.
We recommend that you only have an ol
d battery disposed of by your Škoda
Service Partner since it does require special disposal.
For the sake of the environment
Batteries contain poisonous substances such
as sulphuric acid and lead. They must
be disposed of in accordance with loca
l environmental protection regulations and
on no account as domestic waste.Windshield washer systemThe windshield washer reserv
oir contains the cl
eaning fluid for th
e windscreen or
rear window and for the headlamp cleaning system*. The reservoir is located at the front right of the engine compartment
⇒fig. 217
.
The
filling level
of the container is 3 litres, 5.5 li
tres on vehicles which also have a
headlight washing system. Clear water is not sufficient to intensively clean the windscreen and headlights. We therefore recommend using clean washing water together with the screen cleaner from Škoda genuine accessories (in winter
additionally with antifreeze) which is
capable of removing stubborn
dirt. Follow the instructio
ns 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*.
Operation
Operating measure
Electrical power window (operational faults)
⇒page 55
Enter radio code number
see Radio Operating Instructions
Set hours
⇒page 21
Data in the multi-functional indicator* are deleted.
⇒ page 21
Fig. 217 Engine compart- ment: Windshield washer fluid reservoir
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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 225, “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 headligh
t cleaning system, you should only add
cleaning products which do
not attack the poly
carbonate coating of the headlights
to the windscreen washer fluid. Please co
ntact your Škoda Service Partner, who will
tell you which cleaning agent you can use.
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Wheels and Tyres
241
Using the system
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The date of manufacture
is als o stated o n the tyre wa ll (pos si bl y only on the
inside

of wheel):
DOT ... 20 09...
means, for example, that the tyre was ma
nufactured in the 20th week of the year
2009. Any
spare wheel
which differs from the tyres fitted to the vehicle (e.g. winter tyres
or low-profile tyres) should only be used for a short time in the event of a puncture and when adopting an appropriately cautious
style of driving. It should be replaced
as quickly as possible by a normal wheel.
WARNING
•
Only use those tyres or wheel rims which have been approved for your
model of Škoda Auto vehicle. Failure to observe this instruction will adversely affect the road safety of your vehicle - risk of accident! Approval and licencing of your vehicle on publ
ic roads may also become void as a
result.•
You must on no account drive at a hi
gher speed than is permissible for
your tyres - risk of an accident resulting from tyre damage and loss of control over your vehicle.•
Tyres which are 6 years old or more should only be fitted in exceptional
cases and when adopting an appropriately cautious style of driving.•
Never fit tyres which have already be
en used without having adequate
knowledge of their previous
history. Tyres age even if they have not been
used at all or only very little. A spare tyre must only be used in exceptional cases and only then when adopting an appropriately cautious style of driving.•
Do not, where possible, replace indivi
dual tyres but at least replace them
on both wheels of a given axle at the sa
me time. Always fit the tyres with the
deeper tread depth to the front wheels.
For the sake of the environment
Old tyres must be disposed
of in conformity with
the appropriate regulations.
Note
It is not normally possible to fit wheels
from other models of cars for technical
reasons. This may also apply in certain
circumstances to the wheels of the same
type of vehicle.Wheel boltsWheels and
wheel bolts
are matched to each other in terms of design. Each time
you fit other wheels - e.g. light alloy wheels
or wheels with winter tyres - you must
therefore also use the matching wheel bolts of the correct length and shape of spherical cap. This is essent
ial to ensure that the wheels are tightly fitted and that
the brake system operates properly. If you retrofit
wheel trims
(or have this done), please also ensure that an adequate
flow of air remains assured for cooling the brake system. The authorised Škoda Service Partners are instructed in the technical possibilities which exist regarding converting or retrofitting tyres, wheels and wheel trims.
WARNING
•
In case of incorrect treatment of th
e wheel bolts, the
wheel can loosen
when the car is moving - risk of accident!
Speed symbol
Permissible maximum speed
S
180 km/h
T
190 km/h
H
210 km/h
V
240 km/h
W
270 km/h
Y
300 km/h
WARNING (continued)
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Wheels and Tyres
242
•
The wheel bolts must be clean and must
turn easily. However, they must
never be treated with grease or oil.•
If the wheel bolts are tightened to a too low tightening torque, the rim
can lossen when the car is moving - risk of accident! A tightening torque which is too high can damage the bolts and threads and this can result in permanent deformation of the contact surfaces on the rims.
Caution
The prescribed tightening torque of the wheel bolts for steel and light alloy wheels is 120 Nm.Winter tyresThe handling of your vehicle will be signi
ficantly improved when driving on wintry
roads if you fit winter tyres. Summer tyres do not offer the same grip on ice, snow and at temperatures below 7 °C because of
their construction (width, rubber blend,
tread pattern). This particularly applie
s to vehicles which
are equipped with
low-
profile tyres
or high-speed tyres
(code index H or V on wall of tyre).
Winter tyres must be mounted on all four
wheels to obtain the
best handling char-
acteristics. You must only fit those types of winter tyre
which are approved for your vehicle. The
permissible
sizes of winter tyres
are stated in your vehicle documents. Approvals
may differ because of
national legislation.
Please remember that the tyres should be in
flated to 20 kPa (0.2 bar) more than is
the case for summer tyres
⇒page 238.
Winter tyres no longer offer the
same winter performance once the
tyre tread
has
worn down to a depth of about 4 mm. Ageing
a l s o c a u s e s w i n t e r t y re s t o l o s e m o s t
of their winter performance properties
- even in cases where the remaining tread depth is still clearly more than 4 mm. Speed restrictions
apply to winter tyres as
well as to summer tyres
⇒page 240,
⇒
.
You can fit winter tyres of a lower speed ca
tegory to your vehicle provided that you
also do not drive faster than the permissible maximum speed for such tyres, even if the possible maximum speed of your ve
hicle is higher. The
corresponding tyre
category can damage the tyres when ex
ceeding the permissible maximum speed.
Please pay attention to the notes if
you decide to fit winter tyres
⇒page 238.
You can also fit so-called “all-year tyres” instead of winter tyres.Please contact your specialist garage if there are any points which are not clear who will be able to provide you with information regarding the maximum speed for your tyres.
WARNING
You must on no account drive your car at more than the permissible maximum speed for your winter tyres -
risk of an accident resulting from
tyre damage and loss of control over your car.
For the sake of the environment
Fit your summer tyres on again in good time since summer tyres offer you better grip and handling on roads which are free of snow and ice as well as ar tempera- tures below 7 °C - the braking distance is shorter, there is less tyre noise, tyre wear is reduced and fuel consumption is reduced.
Note
Please observe the various differing legal requirements regarding tyres.Unidirectional tyres*The direction of rotation of the tyres is marked by
arrows on the wall of the tyre
.
This indicates the direction of
rotation of the tyre, and it is essential that the tyres
are fitted on to run in this direction. On
ly then are the tyres able to provide the
optimal properties in terms of grip, lo
w noise, wear-and-tear and aquaplaning.
Should it be necessary to fit on a spare
wheel in exceptional cases with a tyre not
dedicated to the running direction or in o
pposite running direct
ion, please adopt a
WARNING (continued)
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