Inspecting and replenishing
223
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
WARNING
•
Never open the bonnet if you see that steam or coolant is flowing out of
the engine compartment - risk of scaldi
ng! Wait long enough until the steam
or coolant has stopped escaping.•
For safety reasons, the bonnet must always be properly closed when
driving. One should therefore check that
the lock has in fact engaged prop-
erly after closing the bonnet.•
Stop your vehicle immediately while driv
ing if you notice that the lock is
not properly engaged and close the bonne
t properly - risk of an accident!
Caution
Ensure that the arms of the windscreen
wipers are correctly
in place against the
windscreen before opening the bonnet otherwise damage could occur to the paintwork.Working in the engine compartment Particular care is required when carrying out any work in the engine compartment!There is a risk of injuries, scalding,
accidents and fire when working in the
engine compartment, e.g. inspecting and replenishing oil and other fluids. For this reason, it is essential to comply with the warning instructions stated below and with the general applicable
rules of safety. The engine compart-
ment of your car is a hazardous area
⇒
.
WARNING
•
Never open the bonnet if you see that steam or coolant is flowing out of
the engine compartment - risk of scaldi
ng! Wait long enough until the steam
or coolant has stopped escaping.•
Switch off the engine and pull out the ignition key.
•
Apply the handbrake firmly.
•
If your vehicle is fitted with a ma
nual gearbox, move the gearshift lever
into Neutral, or if it is fitted with
automatic gearbox, move the selector lever
into position P.•
Allow the engine to cool down.
•
Keep children clear of the engine compartment.
•
Never spill oil and other fluids over the hot engine. Such fluids (e.g. the
antifreeze contained in the coolant) may ignite!•
Avoid short circuits in the electrical system - particularly on the battery.
•
Never place your hand into the radiator fan as long as the engine is still
warm. The fan might suddenly start running!•
Never open the cap of the coolant expa
nsion bottle as long
as the engine
is still warm. The cooling system is pressurized!•
Cover over the cap of the coolant expansion reservoir with a large cloth
when opening it as protection for your
face, hands and arms from hot steam
or hot coolant.•
Do not let objects, such as e.g cleani
ng cloth or tools lie in the engine
compartment.•
If you wish to work under the vehicle, you must secure the vehicle from
rolling away and support it with suitable supporting blocks: the car jack is not sufficient for this - risk of injury!•
In cases where it be necessary to carry out inspection work when the
engine is running there is an additional risk from rotating parts (e.g. the V- ribbed belt, alternator, radiator fan) and from the high-voltage ignition system. Please observe in addition the following.
− Never touch the electrical cabl
es of the ignition system.
− Absolutely avoid any jewellery, loose items of clothing or long hair from getting into the rotating parts of the engine - Hazard! Therefore remove any jewellery beforehand, tie up your hair and wear tight fitting clothing.
•
Please also comply with the warnin
g instructions stated below when
carrying out any essential work on th
e fuel system or on the electrical
system.
WARNING (continued)
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Inspecting and replenishing
225
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
– 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 225. 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. Th
e oil consumption may be sl
ightly 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 high loads, for example during a lengthy motorway trip during the
summer months, towing a trai
ler or negotiating a high
mountain pass. The warning light in the instrument cluster* will indicate
⇒page 42, “Engine oil
level
” 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 ra
nge . Danger of
damaging the catalytic 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 270.
Replenishing engine oil– Inspecting the engine oil level
⇒
page 224.
– Unscrew the cap of the engine oil filler opening.– Pour in a suitable grade of oil in portions of 0.5 litres
⇒
page 270.
– Inspect the oil level
⇒
page 224, “Check engine oil level”.
– Carefully screw on the cap of the filler opening and push the dipstick
in fully.
WARNING
•
Avoid dripping oil onto hot parts of the engine when topping up will oil -
a risk of fire!•
Read and observe the warning notes
⇒page 223, “Working in the engine
compartment” before working in the engine compartment.
For the sake of the environment
The oil level must on no account be above the range
⇒page 224. Oil will other-
wise be drawn in through the crankcas
e ventilation and may pass through the
exhaust system to atmosphere. The oil ma
y combust in the catalytic converter and
damage it.
AAAB
AA
AC
AB
AA
AA
Aa
s2dk.1.book Page 225 Wednesday, April 8, 2009 12:23 PM
Inspecting and replenishing
227
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
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 bott
le is located in the engine compartment on
the right. – Switch the engine off. – Open the bonnet
⇒
page 223, “Working in the engine compartment”.
– Check the level of coolant in
the coolant expansion bottle
⇒
fig. 204
.
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 38. We nevertheless recommend inspecting
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. Losses can only occur through the pressure relief in the cap of the coolant expan- sion bottle which is completely free of leak
s if the coolant boils as a result of over-
heating and is forced out of the cooling system.
WARNING
Read and observe the warning notes
⇒page 223, “Working in the engine
compartment” before working in the engine compartment.
Caution
One should contact a specialist garage as
soon as possible if the source of over-
heating itself cannot be determined
and removed, since there may be grave
damage to the engine.Replenishing the coolant– Switch the engine off. – Allow the engine to cool down.– Place a cloth over the cap of the coolant expansion reservoir
⇒
fig. 204
and unscrew the cap
carefully
by turning it to the left
⇒
.
– Top up the coolant. – Screw the cap tight until it is heard to lock.The coolant which you use for replenishi
ng the system, must comply with one
specific specification
⇒page 226, “Coolant”. Do not use an alternative additive if
the coolant additive G12 PLUS is not available in exceptional cases. Just top up the
Fig. 204 Engine compart- ment: Coolant expansion bottle
Ab
Aa
Aa
s2dk.1.book Page 227 Wednesday, April 8, 2009 12:23 PM
Inspecting and replenishing
229
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
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 223, “Working in the engine compartment”.
– Inspect the brake fluid level in the reservoir
⇒
page 228, fig. 205
. 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. A situ- ation where the brake fluid level is too low is indicated by the warning light
lighting up in the instrument cluster
⇒page 41. In this case
stop immediately and
do not drive any further! Obtain professional assistance.
WARNING
•
Read and observe the warning notes
⇒page 223 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 mu
st 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”.
We recommend that you have th
e brake fluid replaced by an
authorised Škoda
Service Partner
as part of an Inspection Service.
WARNING
•
Using old brake fluid can result in seve
re stress on the brakes because of
the formation of vapour bubbles in th
e brake system. This greatly impairs
the braking efficiency and thus al
so the safety of your vehicle.
•
Brake fluid is toxic! It must therefor
e be kept safely in closed original
containers and well away from children and unauthorized persons.
Caution
Brake fluid damages the paintwork of the vehicle.
For the sake of the environment
In view of the problems involved with prop
er disposal of brak
e fluid, the special
tools and the professional knowledge required, you should have the brake fluid replaced by authorised Škoda Service Partners.BatteryWorking on the battery
Fig. 206 Engine compart- ment: The battery
s2dk.1.book Page 229 Wednesday, April 8, 2009 12:23 PM
Inspecting and replenishing
231
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
•
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 compon
ents) of the vehicle may be damaged.
When disconnecting the battery from the electrical system of the vehicle, first disconnect the negative terminal (-) of
the battery. Then disconnect the positive
terminal (+).•
When reconnecting the battery, first conn
ect the positive terminal (+) and only
then the negative terminal (-) of the ba
ttery. 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 233, also after connecting the battery.
Battery with two-tone indicatorAn indicator for the electrolyte level, the so-called magic eye
⇒fig. 208
, is located
on the top of the battery. The indicator change
s its colour in line with the electrolyte
level in the battery. Air bubbles can influence the colour of the
indicator. For this reason carefully knock
on the indicator before carrying out the check.•
Black colour - electrolyte level is correct.
•
Colourless or light yellow colour - electr
olyte level too low, the battery must be
replaced. Batteries, which are more than 5 years old, must be replaced. We recommend you have the battery checked or repl
aced by a specialist garage.
Caution
If the vehicle has not been driven for more than 3 to 4 weeks, the battery will discharge because certain electrical components consume electricity (e.g. control units) also in idle state. You can prevent the discharging of the battery by discon- necting the negative terminal or charging
the battery constant
ly with a very low
charging current. Please also refer to
the notes when working on the battery
⇒ page 229, “Working on the battery”.
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 208 The battery: magic eye
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Inspecting and replenishing
233
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Charging the battery A properly charged battery is essential for reliably starting the engine.–Read the warning notes
⇒
in “Working on the battery” on
page 229 and
⇒
.
– Switch the ignition and all
electrical components off.
– Only for “quick-charging”: Disconnect
both battery cables (first of all
“negative”, then “positive”).
– Carefully attach the terminal clam
ps 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 ampera
ges (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 batter
y capacity (or lower) is that which should
be used until full charging is achieved. It is, however, necessary to disconnect both
cables before charging the battery with
high amperages, so-called “
quick-charging
”.
“Quick-charging” a battery is
dangerous
⇒
in “Working on the battery” on
page 229. It requires a special charger and appropriate knowledge. We therefore re c o m m e n d t h a t y o u h a v e y o u r b a t t e r y q u i c k - c h a rg e d o n l y b y a n a u t h o ri s e d Š ko d a Service Partner.
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 through the formation of ice and this would allow battery electrolyte to flow out. The vent plugs of the battery shou
ld not be opened for charging.
WARNING
Never charge a frozen or thawed battery - risk of explosion and caustic burns. Replace a frozen battery.Disconnecting and reconnecting the batteryOn disconnecting and reconnecting the battery the following functions are initially deactivated or are no longer able to operate fault-free. We recommend having the vehicle checked by an authorised 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. The authorised Škoda Service Partners have a range of suitable batteries available. We recommend that you only have an old
battery disposed of by an authorised
Škoda Service Partner since it does require special disposal.Operation
Operating measure
Electrical power window
(operational faults)
⇒page 56
Enter radio code number
see Radio Operating Instructions
Set hours
⇒page 21
Data in the multi-functional indicator* are deleted.
⇒ page 21
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Wheels and Tyres
235
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. 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. Only then
are the tyres able to provide the optimal
properties in terms of grip, low noise, wear-and-tear and aquaplaning.
Further information concerning
the use of unidi
rectional tyres
⇒page 239.
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
Fig. 210 An opened fuel filler flap with a tyre size and tyre inflation pressure table
s2dk.1.book Page 235 Wednesday, April 8, 2009 12:23 PM
Wheels and Tyres
237
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Changing wheels aroundIf significantly greater wear is present on the front tyres, we recommend changing the front wheels around with the rear wheels as shown in the diagram
⇒fig. 212
.
You will then obtain approximately the same life for all the tyres. It may be advantageous to swap the tyre
s over “crosswise” when certain types of
wear characteristic arise on
the running surface of the tyres (but not in the case of
unidirectional tyres). The co-workers of the authorised Škoda Service Partners are extensively familiar with the combination possibilites. We recommend that you change the wheels around every 10 000 km in order to achieve even wear on all wheels and to obtain optimal tyre life.New tyres and wheelsTyres and wheel rims are important design
elements. One should therefore use the
tyres and wheel rims which have been released for use by Škoda Auto. They are exactly matched to the vehicle type and th
erefore contribute significantly to good
road holding and safe driving characteristics
⇒
.
Only fit radial tyres of the same type on
all 4 wheels, size (rolling circumference)
and, if possible, the same tread pattern on one axle. The authorised Škoda Service Partners have access to the most current information about which tyres we have rele
ased for use on your vehicle.
We recommend that you have any work rela
ting to tyres or wheels carried out by
an authorised Škoda Service Partner
. The authorised Škoda Service Partners
have all of the necessary special tools
and replacement parts available plus the
required specialist knowledge and are also in a position to properly dispose of the old tyres. A large number of authorised Škod
a Service Partners also have an attrac-
tive range of tyres and wheels available. The tyre/wheel combinations which are appr
oved for your vehicle are indicated in
your vehicle documents. Approval and lice
nsing may differ according to the legis-
lation prevailing in individual countries. Proper knowledge of the tyre data makes it easier for you to select the correct type of tyre. Tyres do, for example, have the following
inscription
on their walls:
205 / 55 R 16 94 V
What this means is: The following
speed restrictions
apply to tyres.
Fig. 212 Changing wheels around
205
Tyre wid th i n m m
55
Height/width ratio in %
R
Code letter for the type of tyre -
R adial
16
Diameter of wheel in inches
94
Load index
V
Speed symbol
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
s2dk.1.book Page 237 Wednesday, April 8, 2009 12:23 PM