2009 SKODA OCTAVIA towing

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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Inspecting and replenishing
227
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
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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246
The fire extinguisher must
be checked by an authoris
ed person or company annu-
ally (please observe the differing legal requirements).
WARNING
If the fire extinguisher is not correc
tly attached, in case of sudden manoeu-
vres or an accident it can be “thrown” through the interior compartment and cause injuries.
Note
•
The fire extinguisher must comply with
the relevant and valid legal require-
ments.•
Pay attention to the expiration date of the fire extinguisher. If the fire extin-
guisher is used after the expiration date,
its proper function is
no longer assured.
•
The fire extinguisher is only supplied in
certain countries within the scope of
delivery.Vehicle tool kitThe vehicle tool kit and the lifting jack*, on which a note sticker is affixed, are stored in a box in the spare wheel*
⇒fig. 223
. There is also space here for the removable
ball for the trailer towing device*. The bo
x is attached with a strap on the spare
wheel. The vehicle tool kit contains
the following parts (depen
ding on equipment fitted):
•
Wire clamps for removing the full wheel trims,
•
Plastic clip for a wheel bolt cover,
•
Wheel wrench*,
•
To w i n g e y e ,
•
Adapter for the wheel bolts lock.*
•
Screwdriver* for removing the front fog lights
20).
After using the lifting jack*, screw in the arm of the lifting jack fully before placing it back in its storage area.
WARNING
•
The factory-supplied liftin
g jack* is only intended for your model of
vehicle. On no account attempt to lift a heavier vehicle or other loads - risk of injury!•
Ensure that the vehicle tool kit is
safely attached in the luggage compart-
ment.
Note
Ensure that the box is alwa
ys secured with the strap.
Tyre repair kit*The tyre repair kit is intended for the repair of minor tyre defects. The tyre repair kit contains a compressor, inflation bottle, operating instructions and accessories. The repair with the
tyre repair kit is
not at all intended to replace
a permanent
repair on the tyre, this repair only serves
to reach the next specialist garage. The
Fig. 223 Luggage compart- ment: storage compartment for vehicle tool kit
20)Valid for Octavia RS and Octavia Scout.
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Breakdown assistance
253
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Start engineIt is important to connect the jump
-start cables in the correct order.
Connecting positive terminals – Attach one end to the positive terminal
⇒
fig. 230
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.•
Run the jump-start cables so that th
ey 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!•
Never jump-start the batteries which have a too low electrolyte level -
risk of explosion and caustic burns!Tow-starting and towing vehicleGeneralPlease pay attention to the following in
structions if you are going to use a
tow rope:
Fig. 230 Jump-starting using the battery from another vehicle: A - flat vehicle battery, B - battery providing current
A1AAA2AB
A3
AB
A4
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Breakdown assistance
254
Driver of the towing vehicle – Do not drive off until the tow rope is taught. – Release the clutch particularly gent
ly when starting off or depress the
accelerator particularly gently if yo
ur vehicle is fitted with an auto-
matic gearbox.
Driver of the towed vehicle – Switch the ignition on so that the steering wheel is not blocked and
you can also operate the turn signal
lights, the headlight flasher, the
windscreen wipers and wi
ndscreen 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.
– Note that the brake servo unit and power steering only operate if the
engine is running. You will require si
gnificantly greater physical force
to depress the brake pedal and to steer the vehicle if the engine is not running.
– Ensure that the tow rope is always kept taught.Tow rope or tow bar A tow
bar
is safest way of towing a vehicle and also minimizes any shocks. You can
use a tow
rope
only if a suitable tow bar is not available.
The tow rope must be elastic to protect
the vehicle. Thus one should only use
plastic fibre rope or a rope made
out of a similarly elastic material.
Only attach the tow rope to the
towing eyes
provided for this purpose
⇒page 254
and
⇒page 256.
Driving style Towing another vehicle requires a certain
amount of practice. Both drivers should
be familiar with the particular points
about towing a vehicle. Unskilled drivers
should not attempt to tow in another vehicle or to be towed in. One should be constantly vigilant not to allow impermissibly high towing forces or jerky loadings. There is always a risk of excessive stresses and damage resulting at
the points to which you attach the tow ro
pe or tow bar when you attempt to tow a
vehicle which is not standing on a paved road.
Caution
If the gearbox of your vehicle no longer
contains any oil because of a defect, your
vehicle must only be towed in with the driven wheels raised clear of the ground, or on a special vehicle transporter or trailer.
Note
•
Please comply with any legal requirements particularly regarding the switched
on signal systems, when towing in
or tow-starting another vehicle.
•
The tow rope must not be twisted as it may in certain circumstances result in the
front towing eye being unscrewed out of your vehicle.Front towing eye The towing eye is stored in the box for the vehicle tool kit.
Fig. 231 Front bumper: Protective grille
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Breakdown assistance
255
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Carefully remove the cover as follows. – Guide the fingers into the opening
⇒
page 254, fig. 231
.
– By pulling in the direction of arrow , first of all slacken the cover in
the upper area on the side to the fog lights.
– Afterwards, also slacken the cover on the other side in the direction of
arrow and remove it.
– Screw in the towing eye by hand anticlockwise down to the stop
⇒
fig. 232
and tighten up using the wheel wrench* (push the wheel
wrench* through the eye).
– In order to reinstall the cover after sc
rewing out the towing eye, first of
all insert it starting on the side facing the marking. Then press the cover closed on the side facing the fog light. The cover must engage firmly.
Front towing eye for Octavia RS and Octavia Scout The towing eye is stored in th
e box for the vehicle tool kit.
Octavia RS – Guide one finger into the opening of the grille
⇒
fig. 233
.
– Unlock the cover by pulling it in direction and remove it.– Screw in the towing eye by hand anticlockwise down to the stop
⇒
fig. 232
and tighten up using the wheel wrench* (push the wheel
wrench* through the eye).
Fig. 232 Front bumper: Installing the towing eye
AAA1
A2
Fig. 233 Front bumper Octavia RS: Protective grilleFig. 234 Front bumper Octavia Scout: Cover
AA
A1
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256
– After screwing out the towing eye,
reinsert the cover and lock it in
place. The cover must engage firmly.
Octavia Scout – Press on the upper part of the cover
⇒
page 255, fig. 234
and remove
it.
– Screw in the towing eye by hand anticlockwise down to the stop
⇒
page 255, fig. 232
and tighten up using the wheel wrench* (push
the wheel wrench* through the eye).
– After screwing out the towing eye,
reinsert the cover and lock it in
place. The cover must engage firmly.
Rear towing eye
– Unlock the bottom part of the cover by pulling it downwards in direc-
tion of arrow
⇒
fig. 235
.
– Unlock the upper part of the cover by pulling it in direction of arrow
and remove it.
– Screw in the towing eye by hand
anticlockwise down to the stop
⇒
fig. 236
and tighten up using the wheel wrench* (push the wheel
wrench* through the eye).
– In order to reinstall the cover after screwing out the towing eye, first of
all insert the upper part of the cover and then press in the lower part. The cover must engage firmly.
Towing in a vehicle fitted with a manual gearboxPlease refer to the notes
⇒page 253.
The vehicle can be towed in with a tow bar or a tow rope or with the front or rear wheels raised. The maximum towing speed is
50 km/h
.
Towing of a vehicle with an automatic gearboxPlease refer to the notes
⇒page 253.
Fig. 235 Rear bumper: Removing cover
Fig. 236 Rear bumper: Installing the towing eye
A1
A2
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Breakdown assistance
257
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
The car can be towed in with a tow bar or
a tow rope. Refer at the same time to the
following guidelines:•
Move
selector lever into N
.
•
The maximum towing speed is
50 km/h
.
•
The maximum permissible towing distance is
50 km
. The gear oil pump does
not operate when the engine is not runni
ng; the gearbox would not be adequately
lubricated at higher speeds an
d over longer towing distance.
Caution
If the vehicle is towed in by a recovery vehi
cle, it should only be towed in with the
front wheels raised. If the vehicle is raised at rear, the automatic gearbox is damaged! (Does not apply to the automatic gearbox DSG).
Note
The vehicle must be transported on a special ve
hicle or trailer if it is not possible to
tow in the vehicle in the way described or if the towing distance is greater than 50 km.Towing a vehicle with four-wheel drivePlease refer to the notes
⇒page 253.
The vehicle can be towed in using a tow ba
r or a tow rope or with the front axle
raised. The maximum towing speed is
50 km/h
, the maximum permissible towing
distance is
50 km
.
Note
The vehicle must be transported on a special ve
hicle or trailer if it is not possible to
tow in the vehicle in the way described or if the towing distance is greater than 50 km.
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