
Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle
195
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
A new layer of a high-quality
hard wax polish can be applied to the clean bodywork
after it has dried thoroughly. Even if you use a wax preserver regularly we still recom- mend that you treat the paintwork of the ve
hicle at least twice a year with hard wax.
Caution
Never apply wax to the windows.PolishingPolishing is only necessary if the paintwor
k of your vehicle has become unattractive
and if it is no longer possible to
achieve a gloss with wax preservers.
You must treat the paintwork with a wax pr
eserver if the polish you use does not
contain any preserving elements
⇒page 194.
We recommend using a preserva
tive from Škoda genuine accessories offered by your
Škoda dealer.
Caution
•
You must not treat mat painted parts or plas
tic with polishing products or hard wax.
•
Do not polish the paintwork of the vehicl
e in a dusty environment, otherwise the
paintwork can be scratched.Chrome partsFirst clean the chrome parts with a damp clot
ch and then polish them with a soft, dry
cloth. If it does not prove
to be adequate, use a chrome
care product from Škoda orig-
inal accessories.
Caution
Do not polish the chrome parts in a du
sty environment, otherwise they can be
scratched.
Paint damageSlight damage to paintwork such as scratches, scuffs or traces of chip damage must be touched up immediately with paint (Škoda painting pen)
before
any corrosion can
result. You can of course have this work ca
rried out by authorised Škoda Service Part-
ners. Specialist garages have a range of matching
touch-up pens
or spray cans
available in
the colour of your vehicle. The paint number of the original paintwork of
your vehicle is indi
cated on the vehicle
data sticker
⇒page 243.
Any corrosion which has already have formed must be removed thoroughly. Apply a corrosion protection primer
and then the paint to the affected point. You can of
course have this work carried out
by authorised Škoda Service Partners.
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 scra
per for removing snow and ice from the windows and
mirrors. You should not move the ice scraper forward and backward but in one direc- tion on the window which you
are cleaning 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.
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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.
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Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle
198
Upholstery cloth and cloth trim on the d
oors, luggage compartment cover, headliner
etc. are best treated with special cleaning products, using if necessary a
dry foam
and
a soft sponge or brush. We recommend using a cleaning product from Škoda genuine accessories offered by your Škoda dealer.
Caution
Solvent-free cleaners attack th
e material and can damage it.
Fabric covers of elec
trically heated seats
Do
not clean
the seat covers moist as this may re
sult in damage to the seat heating
system. Clean such covers using specia
l agents, for example dry foam.
Natural leather Natural leather requires quite particular care and attention.Leather should be treated from time to time according the following guidelines depending on how much it is used.Normal cleaning– Clean soiled areas of the leather with
slightly moistened co
tton or woollen cloth.
Severe soiling– Clean severely soiled areas with a cloth
dipped in a mild soap
y solution (2 spoon-
fuls 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 pape
r 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 pe
netrated into the surface.
– Use a grease dissolver for
grease stains which have dried in
.
–Eliminate
special stains
(e.g. ball-point pens, felt pe
n, nail varnish, dispersion
paint, shoe cream etc.) with a special stain remover suitable for leather.
Leather care– Treat the leather every six months with th
e leather care product available from an
authorised Škoda Service Partner.
– Apply only a small amount of the care product.– Dry the leather off with a soft cloth. It 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 leather wi
th solvents (e.g. gasoline, turpentine),
floor wax, shoe cream or such like.•
Avoid leaving your vehicle for lengthy period
s in bright sunlight in order to avoid
bleaching the leather. If you
leave your vehicle parked in the open for lengthy periods,
protect the leather from the direct ra
ys of the sun by covering it over.
•
Sharp-edged objects on items of clothing su
ch as zip fasteners, rivets, sharp-edged
belts may leave permanent scratches or signs of rubbing on the surface.
Note
•
Use a care cream with ligh
t blocker and impregnation
effect regularly and each
time after cleaning the leathe
r. The cream nourishes the leather, allows it to breathe
and keeps it supple and also provides mois
ture. It also creates surface protection.
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Fuel
200
FuelPetrolGrades of petrolThere are various grades of petrol. Please read
⇒page 243, “Technical Data” in order
to know which grade of petrol your vehicle
requires. You will also find the same infor-
mation affixed to the inside of th
e fuel filler flap of your vehicle
⇒page 201, fig. 168
.
A distinction is made between unleaded and
leaded petrol. All Škoda vehicles with
petrol engines are equipped wi
th a catalytic converter and must therefore be only
driven with
unleaded petrol
. Unleaded petrol complies with the
standard EN 228
.
The individual grades of petr
ol are distinguished by their
octane number
(RON).
Please adopt the following procedure if the grade of petrol which you normally use is not be available in exceptional circumstances. Engines which need
unleaded premium petrol 95 RON
can also be run on unleaded
regular petrol 91 RON. This does, however,
result in a slight loss in performance.
If, in an emergency, the only fuel availa
ble is one which has a lower octane number
than that required by the engine then only drive at medium engine speeds and lower engine loadings. You can make unlimited use of fuel whic
h has a higher octane number than that
required by the engine. There will, however, be no advantages gained by this in terms of engine performance and fuel consumption! The handling, performance and life of your
engine are determined to a significant
extent by the quality of the fuel. Do not use any petrol additives.
Use fuel which
complies with the standard EN 228
.
You can find further information on refuelling
⇒page 201, “Refuelling”.
Caution
•
Filling the tank even only once with le
aded petrol will resu
lt in the catalytic
converter being destroyed.•
Operating the engine with petrol of a low octane number can result in engine
damage at high revolutions or severe engine loading.
DieselDiesel fuelYour vehicle can be operated with
diesel fuel
, which complies with the standard
EN 590
.
Fuel additives You must not use fuel additives, so-called “flow improvers” (petrol and similar prod- ucts) in diesel fuel. If the quality of the diesel fuel is poor, it is then necessary to drain the
fuel filter
more
often than stated in the Service schedule. You can find information on refuelling
⇒page 201, “Refuelling”.
Caution
•
Only use fuel which complies with the standard
EN 590
. Filling the tank even only
once, which does not comply with the stan
dard, can result in damage to the fuel
system.•
Water which has collected in the fuel filter can result in engine problems.
•
Your vehicle is not adapted for use of biodie
sel, therefore this fuel must not be refu-
elled and driven. Using this biodiesel can lead to damage to the engine or the fuel system.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 beco
mes viscous as a result of paraffin sepa-
ration.
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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
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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
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Inspecting and replenishing
207
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
For the sake of the environment
•
You must on no account pour oil into
the ground or into the sewage system.
•
In view of the problems involved in prop
erly disposing of old oil, the necessary
special tools and the knowledge required for such work, we recommend that you have the oil and oil filter change carried out
by an authorised Škoda Service Partner.
Note
After your skin has come in contact with th
e oil, you must thoroughly wash your skin.
Cooling systemCoolant The job of the coolant is to cool the engine.The cooling system does not require any maintenance under normal operating condi- tions. The coolant consists of water with a
concentration of coolant additive of 40 %.
This mixture not only provides
antifreeze protection down to -25°C but also protects
the cooling and heating system from corrosion.
It also prevents the formation of scale
and significantly increases the boiling point of the coolant. You must therefore not reduce the concentration of antifreeze agent in the coolant by adding water, also not during the summer mo
nths or in countries with a warm climate.
The concentration of coolant additive in the coolant must be at least 40%. You can increase the amount of antifreeze in the coolant if a higher concentration of antifreeze is necessary for climatic reasons
but only up to 60% (antifreeze protection
down to approx. -40°C). The antifreeze prot
ection tails off above that concentration.
Vehicles exported to countries with a cold
climate (e.g. Sweden, Norway, Finland) are
already factory-filled with a coolant which offers antifreeze protection down to about -35°C. In these countries the concentration of
coolant additive should be at least 50 %.
Coolant The cooling system is factor
y-filled with coolant (purple
in colour), which complies
with the specification TL-VW 774 G.
We recommend that you use the same cool
ant additive - G12 PLUS-PLUS (purple in
colour) for topping up the system. Please contact an authorised Škoda Serv
ice Partner if you have any questions
regarding the coolant or if you wish
to fill up with a different coolant.
An authorised Škoda Service Partner can also supply you with the correct coolant addi- tives.
Caution
•
Other coolant additives may cause operational problems which, in particular,
involves significantly reduci
ng the anticorrosion effect.
•
Any faults or problems resulting from corrosion may cause a loss of coolant
and, as a consequenc
e of this, result in
major engine damage.
Inspecting the coolant levelThe coolant expansion bottle is located in the engine compartment on the right. – Switch the engine off. – Open the bonnet
⇒page 203.
– Check the level of coolant in the coolant expansion bottle
⇒fig. 173
. When the
engine is cold, the coolant level must
lie between the and markings. When
the engine is warm, the level may also lie slightly above the hatched part.
If the coolant level in the reservoir is too low, this is indicated by the warning light in the instrument cluster
⇒page 34, “Coolant temperature/ Coolant quantity
”. We
Fig. 173 Engine compartment: Coolant expansion bottle
Aa
Ab
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Inspecting and replenishing
209
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Radiator fan The radiator fan may switch on suddenly.The radiator fan is driven by an electric
motor and controlled according to the coolant
temperature. The radiator fan may continue running for up
to 10 minutes after the engine has been
switched off - even if the igni
tion is also off. It may also
switch on suddenly after a
certain time, if•
the coolant temperature has risen beca
use of an accumulation of heat or
•
the warm engine compartment is heated
up additionally by strong sunlight.
WARNING
You must therefore be aware when workin
g in the engine compartment that the
fan may switch on suddenly - risk of injury!Brake fluidInspecting the brake fluid levelThe brake fluid reservoir is lo
cated 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 203.
– Inspect the brake fluid level in the reservoir
⇒fig. 174
. 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 brak
e 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. If the brake fluid level is too low, this
is indicated by the warning light
⇒page 37, “Brake
system
” lighting up in the instru
ment cluster. In this case
stop immediately and do
not drive any further! Obtain
professional assistance.
WARNING
•
Read and observe the warning notes
⇒page 204, “Working in the engine
compartment” 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. Exce
ssive water in the brake fluid may be the
cause of corrosion in the brake system. The water content also lowers the boiling point of the brake fluid.
This is why brake fluid must 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 re
placed by an
authorised Škoda
Service Partner
as part of an Inspection Service.
WARNING
Using old brake fluid can result in severe stress on the brakes because of the formation of vapour bubbl
es in the brake system. This greatly impairs the
braking efficiency an
d thus also the safety of your vehicle.
Fig. 174 Engine compartment: Brake fluid reservoir
sgg.6.book Page 209 Thursday, September 24, 2009 2:32 PM