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
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Inspecting and replenishing
210
Caution
Brake fluid damages the paintwork of the vehicle.
For the sake of the environment
In view of the problems involved with proper
disposal of brake fluid, the special tools
and the professional knowledge required, you should have the brake fluid replaced by authorised Škoda Service Partners.BatteryWorking on the batteryFig. 175 Engine compartment: Polyester cover
of the vehicle battery / plastic cover of the
vehicle batteryThe battery is located in the engine compar
tment in a polyester co
ver or in a plastic
cover*. – Open the battery cover in direction of arrow or press the interlock on the side
of the battery cover in direction of arrow
⇒fig. 175
, fold the cover up and
remove the battery.
– The installation of the battery co
ver takes place in the reverse order.
Removal and installation of the battery is no
t recommended since it can, under certain
circumstances, lead to major dama
ge. Contact a specialist garage.
There is a risk of injuries, scalding, accidents and burns when carrying out any work on the battery and on the electrical system. For th
is reason, it is essential to comply with
the warning instructions
⇒
stated below and with the general applicable rules of
safety.
WARNING
•
The battery acid is strongly corrosive
and must, therefore, be handled with
the greatest of care. Always wear prot
ective gloves, eye and skin protection
when handling batteries. Corrosive fumes in
the air irritate the air passages and
lead to conjunctivitis and inflammation of
the air passages in the lungs. Battery
acid corrodes dental enamel and crea
tes deep wounds after contact with the
skin which take a long time to heal. Repeated contact with diluted acids causes skin diseases (inflammations, ulcers, slin cracks). Acids coming into contact with water are diluted accompanied by significant development of heat.•
Do not tilt the battery otherwise battery electrolyte may flow out of the
battery vent openings. Protect the eyes wi
th safety glasses or a shield! There is
the danger of suffering blindness! If an
y battery electrolyte
gets into your eye,
rinse out your eye immediately with clear water for several minutes. Contact a doctor without delay.•
Splashes of acid on your skin or clothes should be neutralised as soon as
possible using soap suds and then rinsed with plenty of water. Contact a doctor immediately if you swal
low battery electrolyte.
•
Keep batteries out of the reach of children.
•
Hydrogen is released when you charge
a battery and a highly explosive gas
mixture is produced. An explosion can be
caused through sparkling over during
unclamping or loosening of the cable plug while the ignition is on.•
Bridging of the poles will create a short circuit (e.g. through metal objects,
cables). Possible consequences of a short circuit: Melting of lead struts, explo- sion and burning of the battery, jets of acid spurting out.•
It is prohi bi te d t o wo rk w ith a na ke d fl a m e an d lig ht , t o s m oke or t o c ar r y out
any activities which produc
e sparks. Avoid creating sp
arks when working with
cables and electrical devices. Strong
sparking represents a risk of injury.
•
Before carrying out any work on the el
ectrical system, swit
ch off the engine,
the ignition as well as all electrical components and disconnect the negative
A1
A2
sgg.6.book Page 210 Thursday, September 24, 2009 2:32 PM
Inspecting and replenishing
212
•
Replacement batteries with two-tone indi
cator, which were obtained from Škoda
original accessories, are marked with the code
000 915 105 Dx
, whereby “x” stands for
a variable. The exact marking can be e.g.
000 915 105 DB
.
Battery with a three-tone indicatorAn indicator for the electrolyte level and
the charge state, the so-called magic eye
⇒ page 211, fig. 176
, is located on the top of the ba
ttery. The indicator changes its
colour in line with the charge state of
and the electrolyte level in the battery.
Air bubbles can influence the colour of the in
dicator. For this reason carefully knock on
the indicator before carrying out the check.•
Green colour - the battery is adequately charged.
•
Dark colour - the battery has to be charged.
•
Colourless or yellow colour - electrolyte 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 replaced 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 consum
e electricity (e.g. control units) also in
idle state. You can prevent the discharging of
the battery by disconnecting the negative
terminal or charging the battery constantly
with a very low charging current. Please
also refer to the notes wh
en working on the battery
⇒
in “Working on the battery”
on page 210.
Note
•
Batteries with three-tone indicator, which are mounted as of factory, are marked
with a code which always begins with
1J0
, 7N0
or 3B0
. The exact marking can be e.g.
1J0 915 105 AC
.
•
Replacement batteries with three-tone indi
cator, which were obtained from Škoda
original accessories, are marked with the code
000 915 105 Ax
, whereby “x” stands for
a variable. The exact marking can be e.g.
000 915 105 AB
.
Inspecting the electrolyte levelThe battery is practically
maintenance-free
under normal operating conditions. We
do, however, recommend that you have the electrolyte level inspected from time to time by a specialist garage when outside temperatures are high or when driving on long trips. You should also have the electrolyte level
⇒page 212 checked each time
the battery is charged. The electrolyte level of the battery will al
so be checked as part of the Inspection
Service.Operation in winterThe battery has to provide greater amounts of
electricity during the
winter. It also has
only part of the initial power output at low temperatures that it has at normal temper- atures. A discharged battery may already freez
e at temperatures
just below 0°C.
We therefore recommend that you have the
battery checked by a specialist garage
before the start of the winter and recharged if necessary.
WARNING
Never charge a frozen or thawed battery - risk of explosion and caustic burns. Replace a frozen battery.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 210 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 clamps of
the charger to the battery terminals (red =
“positive”, black = “negative”).
sgg.6.book Page 212 Thursday, September 24, 2009 2:32 PM
Inspecting and replenishing
213
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
– You can now plug the mains cable of the
charger into the power socket and switch
on the charger.
– When charging is completed: switch th
e 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 “negative”). It is not normally necessary to disconnect th
e cables of the battery if you recharge the
battery using low amperages (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 battery
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 210. It requires a special charger and appropriate knowledge. We therefore recommend that you have your battery qu
ick-charged only by your Škoda Service
Par tner. A discharged battery may already
freeze
at temperatures just below 0°C
⇒
. We
recommend that you no longer use a batter
y which has thawed out because the casing
of the battery may be cracked through th
e formation of ice and this would allow
battery electrolyte to flow out. The vent plugs of the battery should not be opened for charging.
WARNING
Never charge a frozen or thawed battery
- risk of explosion and caustic burns.
Replace a frozen battery.•
Never charge a battery which has a too
low electrolyte leve
l - risk of explo-
sion and caustic burns.
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
a specialist garage to ensure full func-
tionality of all electrical systems.Replacing the batteryYou should only replace a battery with a ne
w battery of the same
capacity, voltage (12
V), amperage and of the same size. Specialist garages have a range of suitable batteries available.
For the sake of the environment
•
Batteries contain poisonous substances such as sulphuric acid and lead. They must
be disposed of in accordance with local
environmental protection regulations and on
no account as domestic waste.•
In view of the problems involved with
its proper disposal, we recommend having
the battery replaced by a specialist garage.Operation
Operating measure
Electrical power window (operational faults)
⇒ page 50
Enter radio code number
see Radio Operating Instructions
Set hours
⇒page 20
Data in the multi-functional indicator* are deleted.
⇒ page 20
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Wheels and Tyres
217
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. 180
. You will
then obtain approximately the
same life for all the tyres.
It may be advantageous to swap the tyres ov
er “crosswise” when certain types of wear
characteristic arise on the running surface of
the tyres (but not in the case of unidirec-
tional 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 releas
ed for use by Škoda Auto. They are exactly
matched to the vehicle type and therefore
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 relati
ng 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 pa
rts available plus the required specialist
knowledge and are also in a position to pr
operly dispose of the old tyres. A large
number of authorised Škoda Service Partners also have an attractive 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 licensing may differ according to the legislation 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:
225 / 50R 17 91 T
What this means is: The following
speed restrictions
apply to tyres.
The date of manufacture
is also stated on the tyre wall (possibly only on the
inside
of
wheel):
DOT ... 45 09...
Fig. 180 Changing wheels around
225
Tyre wi dt h i n mm
50
Height/width ratio in %
R
Code letter for the type of tyre -
Radial
17
Diameter of wheel in inches
91
Load index
T
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
sgg.6.book Page 217 Thursday, September 24, 2009 2:32 PM
Wheels and Tyres
218
means, for example, that the tyre was ma
nufactured in the 45th week of the year 2009.
Any
spare wheel
which differs from the tyres fitted to the vehicle (e.g. winter tyres or
low-profile tyres) should only be used for a short time in the event of a puncture and when adopting an appropriately cautious styl
e of driving. It should be replaced as
quickly as possible by a normal wheel.
WARNING
•
Only use those tyres or wheel rims
which have been approved for your
model of Škoda Auto vehicle. Failure to observe this instruction will adversely affect the road safety of your vehicle - risk of accident! Approval and licencing of your vehicle on public roads ma
y also become vo
id as a result.
•
You must on no account drive at a high
er speed than is permissible for your
tyres - risk of an accident resulting from tyre damage and loss of control over your vehicle.•
Tyres which are 6 years old or more should only be fitted in exceptional
cases and when adopting an approp
riately cautious style of driving.
•
Never fit tyres which have already b
een used without having adequate
knowledge of their previous history. Tyre
s age even if they have not been used
at all or only very little. A spare tyre must only be used in exceptional cases and only then when adopting an appropriately cautious style of driving.•
Do not, where possible, replace individu
al tyres but at least replace them on
both wheels of a given axle at the same time. Always fit the tyres with the deeper tread depth to the front wheels.
For the sake of the environment
Old tyres must be disposed of in conf
ormity with the appropriate regulations.
Note
It is not normally possible to
fit wheels from other models of cars for technical reasons.
This may also apply
in certain circumstances to the wheels of the same type of
vehicle.
Wheel boltsWheels and
wheel bolts
are matched to each other in terms of design. Each time you
fit other wheels - e.g. light alloy wheels or wheels with winter tyres - you must therefore also use the matching wheel bolts of the corr
ect length and shape of spherical cap. This
is essential to ensure that the wheels are tightly fitted and that the brake system oper- ates properly. If you retrofit
wheel trims
(or have this done), please
also ensure that an adequate
flow of air remains assured for cooling the brake system. The authorised Škoda Service Partners are instructed in the technical possibilities which exist regarding converting or retrofitting tyres, wheels and wheel trims.
WARNING
•
In case of incorrect treatment of the
wheel bolts, the wheel can loosen when
the car is moving - risk of accident!•
The wheel bolts must be clean and must
turn easily. However, they must
never be treated with grease or oil.•
If the wheel bolts are tightened to a
too low tightening torque, the rim can
lossen when the car is moving - risk of accident! A tightening torque which is too high can damage the bolts and threads and this can result in permanent deformation of the contact surfaces on the rims.
Caution
The prescribed tightening torque of the wheel bolts for steel and light alloy wheels is 120 Nm.Winter tyresThe handling of your vehicle will be signi
ficantly improved when driving on wintry
roads if you fit winter tyres. Summer tyres do not offer the same grip on ice, snow and at temperatures below 7 °C because of thei
r construction (width, rubber blend, tread
pattern). This particularly applies
to vehicles which
are equipped with
low-profile
tyres
or high-speed tyres
(code index H or V on wall of tyre).
sgg.6.book Page 218 Thursday, September 24, 2009 2:32 PM
Accessories, changes and
replacement of parts
221
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Accessories, changes and replacement of partsAccessories and re
placement parts
Škoda vehicles have been built according to the latest discoveries in safety engi- neering. Thus one should not change the co
ndition in which the vehicle was delivered
from the manufacturer without some thought. The following guidelines should be observed
when a vehicle is to be retrofitted with
accessories, have technical ch
anges made to it or a part has to be replaced at some
time in the future.•
Advise should always be obtained from an authorised Škoda Service Partner
before
buying any accessories and
before
making any technical changes
⇒
.
•
This is particularly the case when acce
ssories are bought in a foreign country.
•
Škoda Genuine Accessories and Skoda origin
al parts can be bought from author-
ised Škoda Service Partners who also prof
essionally undertake the assembly of parts
which were purchased there.•
All Škoda original accessories which are listed in the catalogue of original accesso-
ries such as spoilers, transport systems, child seats, etc., are homologized.•
Radios, aerials and other electrical acce
ssories should only be installed by a
specialist garage.•
The guidelines issued by Škoda Auto mu
st be observed when making technical
changes.•
This is to ensure that no technical damage
occurs to the vehicle, that travelling and
operating safety are maintained and that the chnages are permissible. The specialist garages also undertake this work professionally
or refer it to another specialist garage
in special cases. Any damage which is done caused by tech
nical changes made without consulting
a Skoda dealer is exclud
ed from the guarantee.
WARNING
•
We advise you, in your own interest, to only use Škoda Genuine Accessories
and Škoda original parts which have been
expressly approved for use on your
Škoda. Reliability, safety and suitabilii
ty have been established for these Škoda
original parts.•
We cannot guarantee suitability of installation into your vehicle of other
products despite keeping a constant eye
on market developments (also not in
the case where there is an attestation or permission can be produced).Technical changesInterference on the electronic components and their software can lead to operational faults. This interference can also impair no
t directly affected sy
stems because of the
networking of the electronic components. This
means that the operating safety of your
vehicle can be considerably je
opardized, a greater wear of vehicle parts can occur and
finally the vehicle regist
ration documents expire.
We trust that you will understand that Šk
oda Auto cannot be liable for damage
resulting from unprofessional work. We therefore recommend that you have all work carried out using Škoda original parts at authorised Škoda Service Partners.
WARNING
Work or modifications on your vehicle, which have been carried out unprofes-sionally, can cause operational faults - risk of accident!Vehicles of the group N1The vehicle of the group N1 is a box car
which is designed and manufactured for the
transportation of goods.
WARNING (continued)
sgg.6.book Page 221 Thursday, September 24, 2009 2:32 PM