
Driving and the Environment
186
– Do not shift gears or release the
clutch during th
e climbing phase.
– Depress the accelerator only as much as
is necessary in order
to handle the slope.
If you can go no further on a slope– Never attempt to make a turn with the vehicle on a hillside. – If the engine cuts out, press the foot brake and restart the engine. – Engage the reverse gear and carefully
drive backwards in your own tracks.
– Press the foot brake in order to maintain a constant speed.Driving downhill–Switch on the Off-road mode
⇒page 170.
– Shift into first gear or select the first driving stage, while in the Tiptronic mode, to
drive downhill on steep hillsides in order
to use the Downhill Drive Support to its
maximum.
– Press the foot brake gently, so you do not lose the control over your vehicle. – If it is feasible and safe, drive straight down (maximum gradient).– Do not release the clutch or shift into Neutral.
WARNING
•
Never attempt to drive uphill or downhill if it is too steep for your vehicle.
The vehicle could slip or roll
over - risk of accident!
•
Never attempt to make a turn on a hillside. The vehicle could tilt or roll over.
This can result in serious accidents.•
If the engine cuts out on a slope or
you can no longer go on for whatever
other reason, then stop!•
Never let the vehicle roll down the hill
side at idling speed. You can lose the
control over your vehicle.•
If the engine cuts out, press the foot brake and restart the engine. Engage the
reverse gear and carefully drive backward
s in your own tracks. Use the engine
braking power and press the foot brake in order to maintain a slow and constant speed.
•
Observe the important guidelines
⇒page 180.
Driving at an angle on a hillsideFig. 166 Steer and maintain your trajectory
/ in direction to exit - facing uphill
Driving at an angle on a hillside is one of the most dangerous situations while driving off-road. It may look harmle
ss, but you must never underestimate the difficulties and
the dangers when driving at an angle on a
hillside. Basically you should avoid moving
your vehicle into a sideways
position on a hillside. Unde
r certain circumstances, the
vehicle can slide away uncontrollably or roll over. Check before driving in a tilted position, whether there is a different and safer route. If you have to drive in a tilted position, then
the ground should be as firm and even as
possible. Note that the vehicle may slide sideways or sink in and roll over when driving on slippery or soft ground. Make sure that
the inclination is not too steep when driving
over surface irregularities. Otherwise, the vehicle can roll over and then roll down the hillside. If the vehicle is at a very steep angle, the wheels on the low side must not sink deeply into the ground or into troughs and you mu
st not drive over stones, tree stumps or
other obstructions with the alternate raised wheels. If there is a risk your ve
hicle may tilt, steer immedi
ately in direction of dip
⇒fig. 166
and lightly depress the accelerator. The centre
of gravity of the vehicle should be as low
as possible. Distribute the weight of all the occupants of the vehicle evenly. Taller and heavier people should be seated on the rais
ed side of the vehicle. The luggage on the
WARNING (continued)
sgg.6.book Page 186 Thursday, September 24, 2009 2:32 PM

Driving and the Environment
187
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
roof should be removed and secured, as the
vehicle could tilt by
a sudden shifting of
the luggage. A passenger, seated at the rear, should always
remain seated on the seat facing up the
hill during such a journey. In an extreme ca
se, the passenger on the relevant side must
exit the vehicle until you have
safely crossed the hillside.
Exiting the vehicle on a hillside If the vehicle comes to a standstill at a steep angle on a hillside and you and your passengers must exit the vehicle, then all th
e occupants should exit on the side facing
up the hill
⇒page 186, fig. 166
on the right.
WARNING
•
Never attempt to drive uphill or downhill if it is too steep for your vehicle.
The vehicle could slip, tilt or roll over - risk of accident!•
When driving at an angle on a hillside,
the vehicle can lose its grip and slide
sideways. The vehicle can tilt or roll over
and then roll down the hillside. This
can lead to serious injuries.•
Always make sure that when the vehicle
is at an angle, the wheels on the low
side do not sink deeply into the ground or into troughs and do not drive over stones, tree stumps or other obstructions
with the alternate ra
ised wheels - risk
of accident!•
Before you drive at an angle on a hillside
⇒page 186, fig. 166
, make sure
that you can steer and maintain your trajectory. If this is not possible, choose a different path. If you drive at an angle
on a hillside and there is a risk your
vehicle may tilt, steer imme
diately downhill on your trajectory and lightly
depress the accelerator.•
If the vehicle is stationary on a hillside
with a too great angle of lateral incli-
nation, avoid sudden and uncontrolled movements in the vehicle. The vehicle can roll over and then roll down the hillside. This can lead to serious injuries.•
If the vehicle is stationary on a hillside
with a too great angle of lateral incli-
nation, neither you nor your occupants must exit the vehicle through the doors facing downhill. This can lead to a shift of the overall centre of gravity. The vehicle can tilt or roll over and then roll down the hillside. This can lead to serious injuries. To avoid this, you and your occupants must exit the vehicle only on the side facing uphill
⇒page 186, fig. 166
.
•
When you exit the vehicle, make sure
that the door which faces uphill does
not close by its own weight or by carelessness - risk of injury!•
Observe the important guidelines
⇒page 180.
Driving over rutted roads and troughsYou will always encounter ruts when drivin
g on forest roads, through wet meadows
and fields as well as on rutted stretches of terrain. If the ruts and troughs are on firm and soft ground, you can simply follow the ruts.Do not drive over ruts and troughs which are
too deep. If you cannot avoid this, it is
better that you turn back.
Caution
If the ruts or troughs become too deep,
the underbody of the vehicle can touch the
ground, which might cause the
underbody to get damaged. Therefore, avoid driving in
deep ruts and troughs.Crossing a trenchIf possible, drive through the trench at an acute angle. Make sure when driving through the trench that the tilt angle is not too steep.
WARNING
Never attempt to drive through a trench if its embankment is too steep. The vehicle could slip, tilt or roll over - risk of accident!
Caution
If you drive into the trench at a right angle,
the front wheels will sink into the trench.
There is also the danger that the underbod
y of the vehicle touches the ground and is
damaged. For these reasons (even with four-wheel drive) it is rarely possible to get out of the trench.
WARNING (continued)
sgg.6.book Page 187 Thursday, September 24, 2009 2:32 PM

Driving and the Environment
189
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
After driving off-roadCheck the vehicle for damage after driving off-road - especially on the underside of the vehicle. – Switch off the Off-road mode
⇒page 170.
– Check the tyres and the axles for damage and remove coarse dirt, stones and
foreign bodies from the tyre tread.
– Clean the turn signal lights, the headlights, the number plate and the windows. – Check the underbody of the vehicle and re
move trapped objects, such as scrub or
wood pieces.
– Contact your specialist gara
ge if you detect any damage.
– In case of thick layers of
dirt, clean the radiator grille, the engine compartment and
the underbody of the vehicle.
WARNING
•
Combustible materials which are trapped under the vehicle floor can be
dangerous. They can impair the driving
safety and the safety of all the occu-
pants of the vehicle. After driving off-
road, always check the underside of the
vehicle and remove trapped objects.•
Never continue the journey if objects
are trapped under the vehicle. This
can damage the fuel lines, the brake sy
stem, the seals and other parts of the
chassis.•
Combustible objects such as dry leaves or twigs could ignite on hot vehicle
parts. A vehicle fire can also lead to serious injuries.•
Observe the important guidelines
⇒page 180.
sgg.6.book Page 189 Thursday, September 24, 2009 2:32 PM

Towing a trailer
191
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Headlights Before starting off with a hitched trailer, also check the setting of the headlights. Alter the setting as necessary with the ai
d of the headlight beam adjuster
⇒page 58.
Detachable ball head The ball rod is detachable on vehicles which
feature a factory-fitted
towing device. It is
stowed together with separate fitting instru
ctions in the spare wheel well in the luggage
compartment of the vehicle. Further information on the towing device
⇒page 192.
Note
•
We recommend that you also have your
vehicle inspected between service inter-
vals if you tow a trailer frequently.•
The handbrake on the towing vehicle must be put on when coupling and decou-
pling the trailer.Driving Tips Particular caution is required when towing a trailer.– Do not, as far as possible, drive with
your vehicle unladen and the trailer laden.
– Do not make full use of the legal maximum speeds. This applies in particular to
downhill sections.
– Apply the brakes in good time. – Keep a check on the coolant temperature gauge if the outside temperature is high. Distribution of weight The distribution of the weight
is very poor if your vehicle
is unladen and the trailer is
laden. Maintain a particularly low speed if you cannot avoid driving with this combina-tion. Driving speed Do not drive faster than 80 km/hour for safety reasons. This also applies for countries in which higher speeds are allowed.
The fact that the driving stability of the vehicle + trailer combination reduces with increasing speed means that the legally allowed speed should not be used when there are unfavourable road, weather or wind cond
itions, particularly near accident black
spots. You must always reduce your speed immediat
ely as soon as you detect even just the
slightest swaying
of the trailer. On no account attempt to stop the trailer from
“swaying” by accelerating. Apply the brakes in good time! If
the trailer is fitted with a
trailer brake
, apply the
brakes gently at first and then brake firmly. This will avoid brake jolts resulting from the trailer wheels locking. Shift down gears in good time before negotiating a downhill section to allow the engine to also act as a brake. Engine overheating Please keep a check on the coolant temperature gauge if you have to negotiate a lengthy slope in a low gear at a high engi
ne speed when the outside temperature is
very high
⇒page 17, “Coolant temperature gauge”.
If the needle of the coolant temperature gauge moves into the right-hand area or even the red area of the scale, reduce your speed immediately. Stop and switch off the engine if the warning light
in the instrument cluster begins flashing. Wait a few
minutes and check the level of coolant in the coolant expansion bottle
⇒page 207,
“Inspecting the coolant level”. Please refer to the following guidelines
⇒page 34, “Coolant temperature/ Coolant
quantity
”.
The coolant temperature can be reduced by switching on the heating.Any increase in the cooling effect of the coolant fan through shifting down a gear and increasing the engine speed is not possible
since the fan speed is independent of the
engine speed. One should also not drop a gear
for this reason when towing a trailer as
long as the engine can manage th
e slope without any drop in speed.
sgg.6.book Page 191 Thursday, September 24, 2009 2:32 PM

Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle
194
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
ched parts fitted to your car
- such as spoiler, roof rack
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 thoroughly
as possible before washin
g your vehicle 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 di
rectly at the locking cylinders or at the
door and panel joints if you spray your vehi
cle in winter down with a hose - risk of
freezing.
•
Do not use any insect sponges, rough kitc
hen sponges or similar cleaning products
- risk of damage to the surface of paintwork.
For the sake of the environment
Only wash your vehicle at wa
shing bays specifically reserved for this purpose. This
ensures that no water which may be contaminated by oil flows into the sewage system. It is not even permitted to wash your vehicl
e in certain areas except at such specific
washing bays.Washing with a high-pressure cleanerWhen you wash your vehicle with a high-press
ure cleaner, it is essential to comply with
the instructions for use of the cleaning equi
pment. 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
!
WARNING
It is particularly important that you do not clean tyres with circular spray jets. Visible but also invisible
damage to tyres may occur ev
en at a relatively large
spraying distance and if sprayed only for a short time - risk of accident!
Caution
The water containing wax must be no hotter
than 60°C, otherwise the vehicle can be
damaged.Wax treatmentGood wax treatment is an effective way of
protecting the paintwork from harmful envi-
ronmental influences and
minor mechanical damage.
The vehicle must be treated with a high-quali
ty hard wax polish at the latest, when no
more drops form on the clean paintwork.
sgg.6.book Page 194 Thursday, September 24, 2009 2:32 PM

Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle
196
Do not use window leathers which you have us
ed to polish the vehicle body to dry off
the windows. Residues of preservatives 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 preserva
tive 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 forma-tion of cracks in the glass!The headlight lensesPlease do not use any aggressi
ve cleaning or chemical so
lvent products for cleaning
the front headlights - 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 consequently in
formation of cracks on the headlight lenses, e.g. through effect of chemical 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 locking cylinders.
Note
When washing your vehicle, ensure that as
little water as possible gets into the locking
cylinders.WheelsSteel wheels You should also thoroughly wash the wheels
and wheel trims when giving your vehicle
its regular wash. This prevents any brake dust, dirt and road salt from sticking to the wheel hubs. You can remove stubborn brake
abrasion adhering to the wheels with an
industrial cleaner. Touch up
any damage to the paintwork on the wheels before rust is
able to form. Light alloy wheels Regular care of light alloy wh
eels is necessary in order to retain their decorative
appearance over long periods. It is particul
arly important to remove regularly any road
salt and brake abrasion from light alloy wheels, otherwise the light metal will suffer. Wash thoroughly and then treat the wheels with a protective product for light alloy wheels which does not cont
ain any acidic components. We recommend to apply a
hard wax layer onto the wheel hubs every
three months. You must not use any prod-
ucts which cause abrasion when treating
the wheel hubs. Any damage to the paint
layer on the wheel hubs must
be touched up immediately.
We recommend using a preservative from Šk
oda genuine accessories offered by your
Škoda dealer.
WARNING
One should remember when cleaning th
e wheels that moisture, ice and road
salt may adversely affect braking ef
ficiency - risk of an accident!
Note
Severe layers of dirt on the wheels can also
result in wheel imbalance. This may show
itself in the form of a wheel vibration which
is transmitted to the steering wheel which,
in certain circumstances, can
cause premature wear of the
steering. This means it is
necessary to remove the dirt.
sgg.6.book Page 196 Thursday, September 24, 2009 2:32 PM

Inspecting and replenishing
203
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Inspecting and replenishingEngine compartmentBonnet remote releaseBonnet remote release– Pull the unlocking lever below the
dash panel on the driver's side
⇒fig. 169
.
The bonnet jumps out of its lock as a result of the spring force. A locking lever appears at the same time in the radiator grille.Opening and closing the bonnetFig. 170 Radiator grille: Locking lever / se
curing the bonnet with the bonnet support
Opening the bonnet– Unlock the bonnet
⇒fig. 169
.
– 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.
– Pressing on the locking lever in direction of arrow
⇒fig. 170
will unlock the
bonnet.
– Grasp the front part of the bonnet under the chrome trim. – Take the bonnet support out of its holder in direction of arrow and secure the
opened bonnet by inserting the end of the support in the opening designed for it ⇒fig. 170
.
Closing the bonnet– Lift the bonnet slightly and unhook the bonnet support. Press the bonnet support
into the holder designed to hold it.
– Allow the bonnet to drop from a height
of about 20 cm into the lock - bonnet
do
not press down on it
!
– Check whether the bonnet is properly closed.
WARNING
•
Never open the bonnet if you see that steam or coolant is flowing out of the
engine compartment - risk of scalding!
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 properly
after closing the bonnet.•
Stop your vehicle immediately while driving if you notice that the lock is not
properly engaged and close the bonnet
properly - risk of an accident!
Fig. 169 Bonnet release lever
A1
A2A3
sgg.6.book Page 203 Thursday, September 24, 2009 2:32 PM

Inspecting and replenishing
206
Oil level within range –You
must
top up the oil
⇒page 206. It is sufficient, once this is done, to keep the
oil level within range .
It is normal for the engine to consume oil.
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
consumption may be slightly hi
gher 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 load
s, for example during a lengthy motorway
trip during the summer months, towing a tr
ailer or negotiating
a high mountain pass.
The warning light in the instrument cluster* will indicate
⇒page 33, “Engine oil pres-
sure
” 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 extend
beyond the range . Danger of damaging
the catalytic converter.•
Do not continue your journey
if for some reason it is not possible under the
conditions prevailing to top up with oil.
Switch the engine off
and obtain professional
assistance from a specialist garage, otherwise it could lead to severe engine damage.
Note
Engine oil specifications
⇒page 243, “Technical Data”.
Replenishing engine oil– Inspecting the engine oil level
⇒page 205.
– Unscrew the cap of the engine oil filler opening. – Pour in a suitable grade of oil in portions of 0.5 litres
⇒page 246, “Engine oil spec-
ifications”.
– Inspect the oil level
⇒page 205.
– 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 204, “Working in the engine
compartment” before working in the engine compartment.
For the sake of the environment
The oil level must on no acco
unt extend beyond the range
⇒page 205. Oil will
otherwise be drawn in through the crankc
ase ventilation and may pass through the
exhaust system to atmosphere. The oil ma
y combust in the cata
lytic converter and
damage it.Changing engine oilThe engine oil must be changed at the intervals stated in the Service schedule or according to the service interval indicator
⇒page 18, “Service Interval Display”.
WARNING
•
Only carry out the engine oil change, if you have the required professional
knowledge!•
Read and observe the warning notes
⇒page 204, “Working in the engine
compartment” before working in the engine compartment.•
First of all, let the engine cool down, we
ar an eye protection and gloves - risk
of caustic burns due to hot oil.
Caution
You must not pour any
additives into the engine oil - risk of engine damage! Damage,
which results from such product, are excluded from the warranty.
ACAB
AAAA
AA
sgg.6.book Page 206 Thursday, September 24, 2009 2:32 PM