Seats and Storage
68
luggage compartmentLoading the luggage compartmentPlease observe the following in the inte
rest of having good handling char-
acteristics of your vehicle: – Distribute the items of luggage as evenly as possible.– Place heavy objects as far forward as possible. – Attach the items of luggage to the lashing eyes or the fixing net*
⇒
page 68.
In the event of an accident, there is such a
high kinetic energy wh
ich is produced by
small and light objects that they can caus
e severe injuries. The magnitude of the
kinetic energy depends on the speed at wh
ich the vehicle is travelling and on the
weight of the object. The speed at which the
vehicle is travelling is in this case the
more significant factor. Example: In the event of a frontal collision at a speed of 50 km/h, an unsecured object with a weight of 4.5 kg produces
an energy, which corresponds to 20 times
its own weight. This means that it results in a weight of approx. 90 kg. You can imagine the injuries that can occur, if th
is “bullet” is flying
through the interior
compartment and hits an occupant.
WARNING
•
Store the objects in the luggage comp
artment and attach them to the
lashing eyes.•
Loose objects in the passenger compartment can be thrown forward
during a sudden manoeuvre or in case of an accident and can injure the occupants or other oncoming traffic. This risk is still increased, if the objects which are flying around are hit by a depl
oyed airbag. In this case, the objects
which are thrown back can injure the occupants - hazard.•
Please note that the handling properti
es of your vehicle may be affected
when transporting heavy objects as a result of the displacement of the
centre of gravity. The speed and style
of driving must be adjusted accord-
ingly.•
The items carried in the luggage compar
tment should be stored in such
a way that no objects are able to slip forward if there are any sudden driving or braking manoeuvres undertaken - risk of injury!•
Never drive with the boot lid fully opened or slightly ajar otherwise
exhaust gases may get into the interior
of the vehicle - risk of poisoning!
•
On no account exceed the permissi
ble axle loads and the permissible
gross weight of the vehicle - risk of accident!•
Never transport occupants
in the luggage compartment!
Caution
Please ensure that the heating elements of the rear window heater are not damaged as a result of objects sliding in this area.
Note
Tyre pressure must be adjusted to the load
⇒page 173, fig. 159
.
Lashing eyes
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 69 Luggage compart- ment: Lashing eyes (Octavia)
s2g8.b.book Page 68 Tuesday, April 7, 2009 8:53 AM
Passive Safety
104
•
Ensure that the lighting and the turn signal system are functioning properly.
•
Inspect the tyre inflation pressure.
•
Ensure that all the windows offer a good visibility to the outside.
•
Safely attach the items of luggage
⇒page 68, “Loading the luggage compart-
ment”.•
Ensure that no objects can obstruct the pedal.
•
Adjust the mirror, the front seat and the head restraint to match your body size.
•
Point out to your occupants that the head restraints must be adjusted to match
their body size.•
Protect the children in suitable child se
ats with correctly fastened seat belts
⇒ page 123, “Transporting children safely”.•
Adopt the correct seated position
⇒page 104, “Correct seated position”. Also
inform your occupants to adop
t the correct seated position.
•
Fasten the seat belt correctly. Also inform your occupants to properly fasten the
seat belts
⇒page 110, “How are seat belts correctly fastened?”.
What influences the driving safety? The driving safety is primarily dete
rmined by the style of driving and
the personal behaviour of all the occupants.The driver is fully responsible for himself and his occupants. If your driving safety is effected, you place yourself and the oncomi
ng traffic at risk. Please refer to the
following guidelines.•
Do not get distracted from concentrating on the traffic situation, e.g. by your
occupants or mobile phone calls.•
Never drive when your driving ability is impaired, e.g. through medication,
alcohol, drugs.•
Keep to the traffic regulations and the permissible speed limit.
•
Adjust the driving speed at all times to the road condition as well as to the traffic
and weather conditions.•
Take regular breaks on long journe
ys - at the latest every two hours.
Correct seated positionCorrect seated position for the driver Correct seated position for the dr
iver is important for safe and
relaxed driving.For your own safety and to reduce the risk of injury in the event of an accident, we recommend the following setting:•
Adjust the steering wheel so that the distance between the steering wheel and
your chest is at least 25 cm
⇒fig. 111
.
•
Position the driver seat in the forward/back direction so that you are able to fully
press the pedals with your legs at a slight angle.
Fig. 111 The correct distance of the driver from the steering wheelFig. 112 The correct head restraint adjustment for the driver
s2g8.b.book Page 104 Tuesday, April 7, 2009 8:53 AM
Intelligent Technology
135
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
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 an
d 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 possible and adju
st your style of driving
to take account of the ABS fault in the meantime since you will not know the extent of the fault and in how far
the braking efficiency is affected.
Note
•
A warning light comes on if a fault occurs in the ABS system
⇒page 32.
•
Changes to vehicle (e.g. on engine, on
the brakes, on chassis or another combi-
nation of tyres and wheels) can in
fluence the function of the ABS
⇒page 179,
“Accessories, changes and replacement of parts”.Brake Assist*During a severe brake application (e.g. if a hazard exists), the Brake Assist increases the braking force and thus makes it possible to rapidly produce the pressure required in the brake system. The majority of drivers do apply the brakes in good time in dangerous situations, but do not depress the brake pedal with suff
icient pressure. Consequently, it is not
possible for the vehicle to achieve its maximum deceleration and the vehicle covers a greater distance than necessary. The Brake Assist is activated by the very quick operation of the brake pedal. In such cases, a much greater braking pressure ex
ists than during a
normal brake applica-
tion. This makes it possible, even with a relatively low resistance of the brake pedal, to produce an adequate pressure in the brake system in the shortest possible time, which is required for maximum decelerati
on of the vehicle. You must apply the
brake pedal firmly and
hold it in this position in order to achieve the shortest
possible braking distance. The Brake Assist is able to help you achi
eve a shorter braking distance in emergency
situations by rapidly producing the pressure
required in the brake system. It fully
exploits the attributes of the ABS. After yo
u release the brake peda
l, the function of
the Brake Assist is automatically switched off and the brakes operate in the normal way.
WARNING
•
The Brake Assist is also not able to overcome the physical limits of your
vehicle in terms of the br
aking distance required.
s2g8.b.book Page 135 Tuesday, April 7, 2009 8:53 AM
Driving and the Environment
137
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Driving and the EnvironmentThe first 1 500 kilometres and then afterwardsA new engine The engine has to be run in during the first 1 500 kilometres.Up to 1 000 kilometres – Do not drive faster than 3/4 of the
maximum speed of the gear in use,
that is 3/4 of the maximum permissible engine speed.
– Do not use full throttle.– Avoid high engine revolutions. – Do not tow a trailer. From 1 000 up to 1 500 kilometres – Increase the power output of the engine
gradually
up to the full
speed of the gear engaged, that
is up to the maximum permissible
engine revolutions.
During the first operating hours the engine
has higher internal
friction than later
until all of the moving parts have harmonized. The driving style which you adopt during the first approx.1 500 kilometres
plays a decisive part in the success of
running in yo
ur vehicle.
You should not drive at unnecessarily
high engine revolutions
even after the
running-in period is
complete. The maximum permissib
le engine spee
d is marked
by the beginning of the red zone on the scale of the revolutions counter. Shift up into the next higher gear on a vehicle
fitted with manual gearbox before the red
zone is reached.
Extremely
high engine revolutions are automatically governed, by
the way. For a vehicle fitted with a manual gearbox
the converse situation also applies: Do
not drive at engine revolutions which are
too low
. Shift down as soon as the engine
is no longer running smoothly.
Caution
All the speed and engine revolution figure
s apply only when the engine is at its
normal operating temperature. Never rev up
an engine which is cold, neither when
the vehicle is stationary nor when driving in individual gears.
For the sake of the environment
Not driving at unnecessarily high engine revolutions and shifting to a higher gear as early as possible are ways to minimise fuel consumption and operating noise levels and protects the environment.New tyresNew tyres have to be “run in” since they do
not offer optimal grip at first. You should
take account of this fact for the first 500 kilometres and drive particularly carefully.New brake padsAllow for the fact that new brake pads do
not achieve their full braking efficiency
until approximately 200 kilometres. New brake pads must be first “run in” before they develop their optimal friction force.
You can, however, compensate for this
slightly reduced braking force by increasing the pressure on the brake pedal. This guideline also applies to any new
brake pads installed at a future date.
During the running-in period, you should
avoid excessive stresses on the brakes.
This includes, for example, violent braking,
particularly from very high speeds, and
also when crossing mountain passes.
s2g8.b.book Page 137 Tuesday, April 7, 2009 8:53 AM
Driving and the Environment
141
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
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 fu
el consumption and pollutant emis-
sions. The cold engine vehicle consumes approx. 15 - 20 litres/100 km of fuel immediately after starting. Fuel co
nsumption drops to 10 litres/100 km after just 1 kilometre. The
engine reaches its operating temperat
ure (outside temperature and engine
dependent) only after about
4 to 10
kilometres and the fuel consumption then
stabilizes. You should therefore avoid driving short distances whenever possible. An important factor in this connection is also the
ambient temperature
. The
⇒ fig. 143
shows the different fuel consumptions for the same distance, on the one
hand at +20°C and on the other hand at
-10°C. Your vehicle has a higher fuel
consumption in winter than in summer.Checking tyre inflation pressures Tyres which are correctly inflated save fuel.Always ensure that your tyres are inflated
to the correct pressure at all times. The
rolling resistance will be increased if the tyre filling pressure is too low. This will not
only increase fuel consumption but also
tyre wear and the driving behaviour will
worsen. Always check the inflation pressure of the tyres when
cold
.
Do not drive with
winter tyres
all year round for this costs about 10 % more fuel.
Winter tyres are also louder.No unnecessary ballast Transporting ballast costs fuel.The fact that every kilogram of extra
weight
increases your fuel consumption
means that it is worth taking a look in the luggage compartment to avoid trans- porting any unnecessary ballast. It is particularly in town traffic, when one
is accelerating quite often, that the vehicle
weight will have a significant effect upon
the fuel consumption. A rule of thumb
here is that an increase in weight of 100
kilograms will cause an increase in fuel
consumption of about 1
litre/100 kilometres.
You may frequently also leave a
roof rack fitted
on just out of convenience,
although you no longer need it. The incr
eased aerodynamic drag of your vehicle
causes it to use about 10% more fuel th
an normal at a speed of 100 - 120 km/h,
even when you are not carr
ying a load on the roof.
Saving electricity Generating electricity costs fuel.– Switch off electrical components as
soon as you no longer need them.
When the engine is running, the alternator
generates and supplies
electrical power.
The greater the load on the alternator as a result of having a large number of elec-trical components switched on, the more
fuel will be consumed for operating the
alternator.
Fig. 143 Fuel consumption in litres/100 km at different temperatures
s2g8.b.book Page 141 Tuesday, April 7, 2009 8:53 AM
Towing a trailer
144
Towing a trailerTo w i n g a t r a i l e rTechnical requirements The towing device must satisfy
certain technical requirements.
Your vehicle is designed primarily for tr
ansporting persons and luggage. It can,
however, also be used for towing a traile
r - provided certain te
chnical equipment is
fitted. If your vehicle has already been supplied with a
factory-fitted
towing device then
everything that is necessary
for towing a trailer in technical terms, and in terms of
the law, has already been taken into account. Your vehicle is fitted with a 13-pin po
wer socket for the electrical connection
between the vehicle and trailer. If th
e trailer which you wish to tow has a
7-pin
connector
, you can use a suitable adapter
5) from Škoda original accessories.
This work must be carried out in accordan
ce with the manufacturer's specifications
if a towing device is retrofitted. Specialist garages are familiar with details
relating to retrofitting a towing device
and for any necessary modifications to the cooling system.
WARNING
We recommend that you have the towing device from Škoda original acces-sories installed by a specialist garage.
He is familiar with all the relevant
details relating to retrofitting such equi
pment. There is a risk of an accident
if the towing device is not properly fitted!
General Maintenance There are a number of points to
pay attention to when towing a
trailer.Trailer load The permissible trailer load must
on no account be exceeded.
You can negotiate appropriatel
y steeper inclines and desc
ents if you do not make
full use of the perm
issible trailer load.
The trailer loads specified only apply for
altitudes
up to 1 000 metres above mean
sea level. The fact that the engine power ou
tput drops with increasing height due to
a lowering of air pressure and thus the abil
ity to climb, means that the towed weight
must be reduced by 10% for every further increase of 1 000 metres in height above sea level. The towed weight is the weight of the (laden) vehicle and the (laden) trailer together. One should take this into account before driving up to higher alti- tudes. The trailer and drawbar load information on the type plate of the towing device are merely test data for the tow
ing device The data relating to your
vehicle, which is often less than this test data, can be found in your vehicle registration documents. Distribution of the load Distribute the load in the trailer in such a way that any heavy items are located as close as possible to the axle. Secure
the items to prevent them slipping.
Tyre inflation pressure Select the tyre inflation pressure on your vehicle for that of “fully laden”, ⇒ page 173. The inflation pressure of the tyres fitted to the trailer adjust in accord- ance with the manufacturer's recommendation. Exterior mirrors You have to have additional
exterior mirrors fitted if you are not able to see the
traffic behind the trailer with the standard rear-view mirrors. Both exterior mirrors
5)In some countries the adapter is
supplied with the towing device.
s2g8.b.book Page 144 Tuesday, April 7, 2009 8:53 AM
Wheels and Tyres
173
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Wheels and TyresWheelsGeneral information•
New tyres do not offer optimal grip at first and should therefore be run in for
about 500 km at a moderate speed and an
appropriately cautious style of driving.
You will also profit from longer tyre life.•
The tread depth of new tyres may differ
because of design features and the
configuration of the tread (depending on
the type of tyre and the manufacturer).
•
Drive over curbs on the side of the road
and other such obstacles slowly and,
where possible, at a right angle in order to avoid damage to tyres and wheel trims.•
Inspect your tyres from time to time
for damage (punctures, cuts, splits and
bulges). Remove foreign bodies from the tyre profile.•
Damage to tyres and wheels is frequent
ly not visible. Unus
ual vibrations or
pulling of the vehicle to one side
could be a sign of tyre damage.
Please reduce
your speed immediately and stop if
you suspect that a wheel is damaged.
Inspect the tyres for signs of damage (bulges,
splits, etc.). If no
visible damage is
present, please drive at an appropriatel
y slow speed and carefully to the nearest
specialist garage in order to have your vehicle inspected.•
Also protect your tyres from contact with oil, grease and fuel.
•
Immediately replace any dust caps of the valves which have got lost.
•
Mark wheels before removing them so th
at their previous direction of running
can be maintained when mounted them again.•
Always store wheels or tyres which been removed in a cool, dry and, where
possible, dark place. Tyres which are not fixed to a wheel trim should be stored upright.
WARNING
•
New tyres during the first 500 km do not offer optimal grip and should
therefore be run appropriately - risk of accident!•
Never drive with damaged tyres - risk of accident!
Note
Please observe the various differing legal requirements regarding tyres.Tyre lifeThe life of your tyres very much depends on the following points: Tyre pressure The working life of tyres will be shortened considerably if the tyres are insufficiently or over-inflated and this will have an advers
e effect on the handli
ng of your vehicle.
Correctly inflated tyres are of partic
ular importance when travelling at
high speeds
.
It is therefore good to check the pressure at least once a month and also before 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
⇒fig. 159
. The inflation pressures for
winter tyres
are 20 kPa (0.2 bar)
higher than those for summer tyres
⇒page 177.
The tyre pressure should be at the highest
pressure specified for your vehicle at all
times.
Fig. 159 An opened fuel filler flap with a tyre size and tyre inflation pressure table
s2g8.b.book Page 173 Tuesday, April 7, 2009 8:53 AM
Wheels and Tyres
174
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 imbalance 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 re
ar 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 notice 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.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. 160
. 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
•
You must have your tyres replaced with new ones at the latest when the
wear indicators have been worn do
wn. The legally permissible minimum
tread depth should be observed.•
Worn tyres do not provide the necessar
y adhesion to the road surface at
high speeds on wet roads. One coul
d experience “aquaplaning” (uncon-
trolled movements of the vehicle - “swimming” on a wet road surface).
Fig. 160 Tyre tread with wear indicators
s2g8.b.book Page 174 Tuesday, April 7, 2009 8:53 AM