
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. 197 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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Fuel
220
Operation in winterWinter-grade diesel fuel A different grade of diesel fuel is available at
filling stations in winter than during the
summer. Using “summer-grade diesel fuel” at
temperatures below 0°C can result in
operational problems because the diesel be
comes viscous as a result of paraffin
separation. It is therefore the case that DIN EN 590 prescribes diesel fuel class for certain periods of the year which can also be pu
rchased at the corresponding time during
the year. “Winter-grade diesel fuel” will still operate properly even at a temperature of -20°C. It is often the case in countries with diff
erent climatic conditions that diesel fuels
available have a different temperature char
acteristic. The authorised Škoda Service
Partners and filling stations in the country
concerned will be able to provide you
with information regarding the diesel fuels available. Prewarming fuel The vehicle is fitted with a fuel filter prewarming system. This secures operation of a vehicle using diesel fuel down to an environmental temperature of -25°C.
Caution
It is not permitted to add the various fuel
additives on the market, including petrol,
to diesel fuel in order to
improve its flow properties.
RefuellingThe filler flap is automatically unlocked or locked with the central locking. Opening the fuel filler cap – Press onto the left side of the fuel filler flap
⇒
fig. 198
.
– Unscrew the fuel filler cap anti-clo
ckwise and place the fuel filler cap
from above on the fuel filler flap
⇒
fig. 199
.Fig. 198 Right rear side of the vehicle: Open fuel filler flapFig. 199 Filler flap with cap unscrewed
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Fuel
221
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Closing fuel filler cap – Screw on the fuel filler cap by turning it to the right until it is heard to
click.
– Close the fuel filler flap until it locks.The correct grade of fuel for your vehicle as
well as the tyre size and inflation pres-
sures are stated on a sticker affixed to the
inside of the fuel filler flap. Further infor-
mation on fuel
⇒page 219.
The fuel tank has a capacity of about 60 litres.
WARNING
Pay attention to any legal requirements if
you do carry a spare canister in the
vehicle. We do not recommend carrying any fuel canisters in your vehicle for safety reasons. The canister can be da
maged in the event of an accident and
fuel may leak out.
Caution
•
Before refuelling it is necessary to switch off the auxiliary heating system (auxil-
iary heating and ventilation) *.•
Remove any fuel which has spilled onto the paintwork of your vehicle immedi-
ately - risk of paint damage!•
Vehicles fitted with catalytic converter sh
ould never be allowed to let the fuel
tank to run completely empty. An irregular
supply of fuel to the engine can result in
misfiring and unburnt fuel may get into the exhaust system, which may result in overheating and damage to the catalytic converter.•
Make sure that the valve is not pressed into the filler tube when inserting the
pump nozzle into the filler tube. Otherwis
e you are unintentionally filling up the
volume, which in case of heat can cause an
expansion of the fuel. This can lead to
an overflow of fuel or damage
to parts of the fuel reservoir.
•
T h e f u e l t a n k i s f u l l j u s t a s s o o n a s t h
e pump nozzle switches off for the first time,
provided the nozzle has been operated properly. Do not continue refuelling - otherwise the expansion volume is filled up.
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Inspecting and replenishing
222
Inspecting and replenishingEngine compartmentBonnet remote releaseBonnet remote release – Pull the unlocking lever below the
dash panel on the driver's side
⇒
fig. 200
.
The bonnet jumps out of its lock as a result of the spring force.
Opening and closing the bonnet.Opening the bonnet – Unlock the bonnet
⇒
fig. 200
.
– Ensure that the arms of the windsc
reen wipers are correctly in place
against the windscreen
before opening
the bonnet otherwise
damage could occur to the paintwork.
– Press the locking button
⇒
fig. 201
, the bonnet is then unlocked.
– Grasp the bonnet at the bottom part
of the radiator grille and lift it
towards the top so that it is held opened by the gas pressure support.
Closing the bonnet – You can overcome the force of the gas pressure support by pulling the
bonnet towards the bottom.
– Allow the bonnet to drop from a height
of about 30 cm into the lock -
bonnet
do not press down on it
!
Fig. 200 Bonnet release lever
Fig. 201 Radiator grille: Lever of the locking button
s2dk.1.book Page 222 Wednesday, April 8, 2009 12:23 PM