2009 SKODA OCTAVIA maintenance

Inspecting and replenishing
231
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
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
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
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
235
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Note
•
Batteries with three-tone indicator, which are mounted as of factory, are
marked with a code which always begins with
1J0
, 7N0
or 3B0
. The exact marking
can be e.g.
1J0 915 105 AC
.
•
Replacement batteries with three-tone
indicator, which were obtained from
Škoda original accessories, are marked with the code
000 915 105 Ax
, whereby
“x” stands for a variable. The exact marking can be e.g.
000 915 105 AB
.
Inspecting the electrolyte levelThe battery is practically
maintenance-free
under normal oper
ating conditions.
We do, however, recommend that you have
the electrolyte level inspected from
time to time by a Škoda Service Partner when outside temperatures are high or when driving on long trips. You should also have the electrolyte level
⇒page 235
checked each time the battery is charged. The electrolyte level of the battery will al
so be checked as part of the Inspection
Service.Operation in winterThe battery has to provide greater amounts of
electricity during the winter. It also
has only part of the initial power output at
low temperatures that it has at normal
temperatures. A discharged battery may already freez
e at temperatures just below 0°C.
We therefore recommend that you have the battery checked by a Škoda Service Partner before the start of the winter and recharged if necessary.
WARNING
Never charge a frozen or thawed battery - risk of explosion and caustic burns. Replace a frozen battery.
Charging the battery A properly charged battery is esse
ntial for reliably starting the
engine.– Read the warning notes
⇒
in “Working on the battery” on
page 232 and
⇒
.
– Switch the ignition and a
ll electrical components off.
– Only for “quick-charging”: Disconnect
both battery cables (first of all
“negative”, then “positive”).
– Carefully attach the terminal clamps of the charger to the battery
terminals (red = “positive”, black = “negative”).
– You can now plug the mains cable of
the charger into the power socket
and switch on the charger.
– When charging is completed: switch the charger off and unplug the
mains cable from the power socket.
– Only then should you disconnect the terminal clamps of the charger.– Reconnect the cables to the battery (first of all “positive”, then “nega-
tive”).
It is not normally necessary
to disconnect the cables of the battery if you recharge
the battery using low amperages (as for example from a
mini-charger
). Please also
refer to the instructions from the charger manufacturer. A charging current of 0.1 of the total battery
capacity (or lower)
is that which should
be used until full charging is achieved. It is, however, necess
ary to disconnect both cables be
fore charging the battery with
high amperages, so-called “
quick-charging
”.
“Quick-charging” a battery is
dangerous
⇒
in “Working on the battery” on
page 232. It requires a special charger and appropriate knowledge. We therefore recommend that you have your battery qu
ick-charged only by your Škoda Service
Par tner.
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Inspecting and replenishing
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Using the system
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Technical Data
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
239
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
setting off on a long trip. Please do not
forget the spare wheel when checking the
tyres. The tyre inflation pressures for
summer tyres
are indicated on the inside of the fuel
filler flap
⇒page 238, fig. 218
. The inflation pressures for
winter tyres
are 20 kPa
(0.2 bar) higher than those for summer tyres
⇒page 242.
The tyre pressure should be at the highest pressure specified for your vehicle at all times. The tyre inflation pressure of the emergency spare wheel R 18 is 420 kPa (4.2 bar).Always check the inflation pressure of ty
res when cold. Do not reduce the higher
pressure of warm tyres. Adapt the inflation pressure of the tyres accordingly if your vehicle is carrying a significantly higher payload. Driving style Fast cornering, sharp acceleration and braking (squealing tyres) increase wear-and- tear on your tyres. Balancing wheels The wheels of a new vehicle are balanced. There are a wide range of influences when driving which may result in an im
balance and which makes themselves felt
through vibration in the steering. You should have the wheels rebalanced since any imbalance increases wear-and- tear on the steering, the suspension and tyres. A wheel must also be rebalanced when a new tyre is fitted and each time a tyre is repaired. Wheel alignment errors Incorrect wheel alignment at the front and rear will not only increase wear-and-tear on the tyres but will also has an adverse effect on vehicle safety. Contact your specialist garage if you no
tice any unusual tyre wear.
WARNING
•
If the inflation pressure is too low,
the tyre must perform a greater flexing
work. At higher speeds the tyre will warm up as a result of this. This can result in tread separation and even a tyre blowout.•
Immediately replace the damaged rims or tyres.
•
Tyres which are 6 years old or more should only be fitted in exceptional
cases and when adopting an appropriately cautious style of driving.
For the sake of the environment
Tyres which are insufficiently inflated increase your fuel consumption.Wear indicatorsThe base of the tread of the original tyres has wear indicators 1.6 mm high, installed at right angles to the direction of travel. These wear indicators are located at 6 - 8 points depending on the make and are evenly spaced around the circumference of the tyre
⇒fig. 219
. Markings on the walls of the tyres through the letters “TWI”,
triangular symbols or other symbols identi
fy the position of the wear indicators.
A remaining tread of just 1.6 mm, measured in the grooves of the tread next to the wear indicators, means that your tyres have reached their legally permissible minimum tread depth.
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 219 Tyre tread with wear indicators
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Wheels and Tyres
241
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
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
243
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
cautious style of driving as the tyre is no
longer able to provide optimal grip and
handling in such a situation. This particul
arly important on wet roads. Please refer
to the notes
⇒page 247, “Spare wheel*”.
You should have the defective tyre replac
ed as soon as possible and restore the
correct direction of rotation on all tyresSnow chainsSnow chains must only be mounted on the front wheels. When driving on wintry roads, snow chains improve not only traction, but also the braking performance. For technical reasons, it is only permissi
ble to fit snow chains with the following
wheel/tyre combinations: Remove the
full wheel trims
if you wish to fit snow chains to the wheels.
Observe the national legal requirements relating to the maximum vehicle speed with snow chains.
WARNING
Please pay attention to the information in the supplied fitting instructions of the snow chain manufacturer.
Caution
You must take the chains off as soon as you drive on roads which are free of snow. They adversely affect the handling of your vehicle, damage the tyres and are rapidly destroyed.
Note
We recommend that you use snow chains
from the Škoda genuine accessories.
Wheel size
Depth (D)
Tyre s iz e
6J x 15
a)
a)Only fit snow chains with links an
d locks not larger than 15 mm.
47 mm
195/65
6.5J x 15
a)
50 mm
195/65
6J x 16
a)
50 mm
205/55
6J x 17
b)
b)Only fit snow chains with links
and locks not larger than 9 mm.
45 mm
205/50
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Breakdown assistance
245
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Breakdown assistanceBreakdown assistanceFirst-aid box* and Warn
ing triangle* (Octavia)
The first-aid box* is attach
ed by a strap to the right-
hand side of the luggage
compartment The warning triangle can be at
tached to the trim panel of the rear wall with rubber
straps
⇒fig. 221
.
If you wish to equip your ve
hicle additionally with a warning triangle, please contact
a specialist garage.
Note
Pay attention to the use-by-date of the contents of the first-aid box.
First-aid box* and warning triangle* (Estate car)For vehicles of the type es
tate car the first-aid box and the warning triangle are
housed in a compartment on the right si
de in the luggage compartment. You can
open the compartment by turning the locks in the direction of arrow
⇒fig. 222
.
If you wish to equip your ve
hicle additionally with a warning triangle, please contact
a specialist garage.
Note
Pay attention to the use-by-date of
the contents of the first-aid box.
Fire extinguisher*The fire extinguisher is attached with straps in a holder under the driver seat. Please read carefully the
instructions which are atta
ched to the fire extin-
guisher.
Fig. 221 Placing of the warning triangle (Octavia)
Fig. 222 Placing of the warning triangle (Estate car)
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