Driving and the Environment
151
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Driving through bodies of water on roadsIn order to avoid damage to the vehicle,
for example when driving through flooded
roads, observe the following:
Determine the depth of the water when driv
ing through bodies of water. The water
can reach at the maximum the web on
the lower sill of the vehicle
fig. 136
.
Drive no more than at walking speed. At a higher speed, a water wave can form in
front of the vehicle which can
cause water to penetrate into the air induction system of
the engine or into other parts of the vehicle.
Never let the vehicle stand in the water, never drive backwards and do not switch
off the engine.
WARNING
Driving through water, mud, sludge etc. can reduce the braking power and
extend the braking distance - risk of accident!
Avoid sudden and severe braking manoeuvres immediately after driving
through bodies of water.
After driving through bodies of water, the brakes must be cleaned and dried
as soon as possible by intermittent braking. Only apply the brakes for the purpose of drying and cleaning the brake discs if the traffic conditions permit this. Do not place any other road users in jeopardy.
Caution
When driving through bodies of water, pa
rts of the vehicle such as the engine,
gearbox, catalytic converter, chassis
or electrics can be severely damaged.
Oncoming vehicles can gene
rate water waves which ca
n exceed the permissible
water level for your vehicle.
Potholes, mud or rocks can be
hidden under the water making it difficult or impos-
sible to drive through the body of water.
Do not drive through salt water. The salt
can lead to corrosion. Immediately rinse
all the parts of the vehicle, which came into
contact with the salt water, with fresh
water.
Note
After driving through a body of water, we
recommend that the vehicle is checked by a
specialist garage.
Fig. 136 Crossing bodies of water
s3j8.a.book Page 151 Tuesday, April 20, 2010 1:10 PM
Inspecting and replenishing
166
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, acci
dents 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 safe
ty. The engine compartment 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 scalding!
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 manual
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.
Do not touch any hot engine parts - risk of burns!
Never spill oil and other fluids over the hot engine. Such fluids (e.g. the anti-
freeze contained in the wash liquid) 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 expans
ion 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 cleaning cloth or tools lie in the engine
compartment.
If you wish to work under the vehicl
e, 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 fr
om 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 it
ems 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 st
ated below when
carrying out any essential work on the fu
el system or on th
e electrical system:
Always separate the car battery from the electrical system. Do not smoke. Never carry out any work close to naked flames. Always keep a working fire
extinguisher at hand.
Caution
When replenishing fluids in the engine, always
ensure that the fluids are on no account
mixed up. This may result in major oper
ating problems and also vehicle damage!
WARNING (continued)
s3j8.a.book Page 166 Tuesday, April 20, 2010 1:10 PM
Inspecting and replenishing
172
WARNING
Read and observe the warning notes
page 166, “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. Excessive 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. One may only use new brake fluid approved
by Škoda Auto. The brake fluid must
comply with one of the following standards or specifications:
VW 501 14,
FMVSS 116 DOT4,
DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4.
We recommend that you have the brake fluid replaced 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 bubbles in the br
ake system. This greatly impairs the
braking efficiency and thus also 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 proper
disposal of brake fluid, the special tools
and the professional knowledge required, we recommend you have the brake fluid replaced by a specialist garage.BatteryWorking on the batteryFig. 144 The battery: Pull up the cove
r (automatic gearbox) / (manual gearbox)
The battery is located in the engi
ne compartment below a plastic box.
– Unlock the interlock on the positive terminal side of the battery
fig. 144
- left.
– Pull up the cover in direction of arrow
fig. 144
- left (automatic gearbox) or
fig. 144
- right (manual gearbox).
– The installation of the battery cover on th
e positive terminal side takes place in the
reverse order.
Removal and installation of the battery is
not recommended since it can, under certain
circumstances, lead to ma
jor damage to the battery and fuse boxes. 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.
s3j8.a.book Page 172 Tuesday, April 20, 2010 1:10 PM
Breakdown assistance
187
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Changing a wheelPreliminary workThe following steps should be carried ou
t before actually changing the wheel.
– If it is necessary to change a wheel, park
the vehicle as far aw
ay as possible from
the traffic flow. The place you choose should be
level
.
– Have all the occupants
get out
. While changing a wheel, the occupants of the
vehicle should not stand on the ro
ad (e.g. behind a crash barrier).
– Apply the
handbrake
firmly.
–Engage
1st gear
or if your vehicle is fitted with
an automatic gearbox, position the
selector lever into position P
.
– If a trailer is coupled, uncouple it.– Take the
vehicle tool kit
and the
spare wheel*
page 185 out of the luggage
compartment.
WARNING
If you find yourself in flowing traffic switch on the hazard warning lights
system and place the warning triangle on
the side of the road at the prescribed
distance from your vehicle while observing all national legal provisions. In this way you are protecting not only yourself but also other road users.
Never start the engine with the vehicle si
tting on the raised
jack - danger of
suffering injury.
Caution
If you have to change a wheel on a slope first block the opposite wheel with a stone or similar object in order to secure the
vehicle from unexpectedly rolling away.
Note
Comply with the national legal regulations.
Changing a wheelAlways change a wheel on a level surface as far as possible. – Take off the full wheel trim*
page 188 or the caps
page 188.
– Slacken the wheel bolts
page 189.
– Jack up the vehicle until the wheel to
be changed is clear of the ground
page 189.
– Unscrew the wheel bolts and place them
on a clean surface (cloth, paper etc.).
– Take off the wheel.– Fit on the spare wheel* and tighten the wheel bolts slightly.– Lower the car.– Tighten the wheel bolts firmly, alternatel
y and diagonally using the wrench (cross-
wise)
page 189.
– Mount the full wheel trim/wheel trim cap or the caps.
Note
All bolts must be clean and must turn easily.
You must never grease or oil the wheel bolts!
When fitting on unidirectiona
l tyres, ensure that the tyres rotate in the correct
direction
page 178.
Subsequent stepsAfter changing the wheel, you mu
st perform the following steps.
– Stow the vehicle tool kit in the space provided.– Stow the replaced wheel in the luggage compartment.–
Check
the
tyre pressure
on the spare wheel just mounted as soon as possible.
– Have the
tightening torque
of the wheel bolts
checked
with a torque wrench as
soon as possible. Steel and light alloy wheels must be tightened to a tightening torque of
120 Nm
.
s3j8.a.book Page 187 Tuesday, April 20, 2010 1:10 PM
Breakdown assistance
192
WARNING
The non-insulated parts of the terminal clamps must never make contact
with each other. Furthermore, the cable connected to the positive terminal of the battery must not come into contact with electrically conducting parts of the vehicle - risk of a short circuit!
Do not affix the jump starting cables to the negative terminal of the
discharged battery. There is
the risk of detonating gas seeping out the battery
being ignited by the strong spark which
results from the engine being started.
Do not affix the cable end to parts of the fuel and brake system.
Run the jump-start cables so that they cannot be caught by any rotating
parts in the engine compartment.
Do not bend over the batteries - risk of caustic burns!
The vent screws of the battery
cells must be tightened firmly.
Keep any sources of ignition (naked
flame, smouldering
cigarettes etc.)
away from the battery - risk of an explosion!
Never jump-start the batteries which have a too low electrolyte level - risk
of explosion and caustic burns!Jump-starting on vehicles with the “START-STOP” systemOn vehicles with the “START-STOP” syst
em, the jump-starting cable must not be
connected directly to the negative terminal
of the vehicle battery, but only to the
engine earth
fig. 158
.
Tow-starting and towing vehicleGeneralPlease pay attention to the following instru
ctions if you are going to use a tow rope:
Driver of the towing vehicle– Do not drive off until the tow rope is taught. – Release the clutch particularly gently when starting off.Driver of the towed vehicle– Switch the ignition on so that the steeri
ng wheel is not blocked and you can also
operate the turn signal lights, the headlight flasher, the windscreen wipers and windscreen washer system.
– Take the vehicle out of gear or move the selector lever into position
N if your
vehicle is fitted with an automatic gearbox.
– Note that the brake servo unit and power steering only operate if the engine is
running. You will require significantly greater physical force to depress the brake pedal and to steer the vehicle
if the engine is not running.
– Ensure that the tow rope is always kept taught. Tow rope or tow bar A tow
bar
is safest way of towing a vehicle and also minimizes any shocks. You can use
a tow
rope
only if a suitable tow bar is not available.
The tow rope must be elastic to protect the
vehicle. Thus one shou
ld only use plastic
fibre rope or a rope made out
of a similarly elastic material.
Attach the tow rope or the tow bar only to the
towing eyes
provided for this purpose
page 193, “Front towing eye” and
page 193, “Rear towing eye”.
Driving style Towing another vehicle requires a certain am
ount of practice. Both drivers should be
familiar with the particular points about to
wing a vehicle. Unskilled drivers should not
attempt to tow in another vehicle or to be towed in.
A4
Fig. 158 Jump-starting - START-STOP system
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Breakdown assistance
193
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
One should be constantly vigi
lant not to allow impermissi
bly high towing forces or
jerky loadings. There is always a risk of excessive stresses and damage resulting at the points to which you attach the tow rope or
tow bar when you attempt to tow a vehicle
which is not standing on a paved road.
Caution
If the gearbox of your vehicle no longer
contains any oil because of a defect, your
vehicle must only be towed in with the driven wheels raised clear of the ground, or on a special vehicle transporter or trailer.
Note
Please comply with any national legal provisions particularly regarding the
switched on signal systems, when towi
ng in or tow-starting another vehicle.
The tow rope must not be twisted as it ma
y in certain circumstances result in the
front towing eye being unscrewed out of your vehicle.Front towing eye The towing eye is stored in the box for the vehicle tool kit.Fig. 159 Front bumper: Cover
/ installing the towing eye
– Press on the left half of the cover at the point of the arrow
fig. 159
- left.
– Pull the cover out of the front bumper.
– Screw in the towing eye by hand to the left up to the stop
fig. 159
- right and
tighten it as much as po
ssible. For tightening, we
recommend that you use for
example the wheel wrench*, the lashing eye of another vehicle or a similar object which you can push through the eye.
– In order to reinstall the cover after screwing out the towing eye, insert it in the
mounts and then press on the right side of the cover. The cover must engage firmly.Caution
The towing eye must always be screwed in
fully and firmly tightened, otherwise the
towing eye can tear when towing in or tow-starting.Rear towing eyeThe rear towing eye is located below the rear bumper on the right
fig. 160
.
Tow-starting a vehicleIf the engine does not start, we generally do
not
recommend
to tow-start your vehicle.
One should attempt to start the engine using jump start cables
page 190 or call on
the services of the SERVICE mobile.If your vehicle has to be towed:– Engage 2nd or 3rd gear with the vehicle stationary. – Depress the clutch pedal fu
lly and keep it depressed.
Fig. 160 Rear towing eye
s3j8.a.book Page 193 Tuesday, April 20, 2010 1:10 PM
Breakdown assistance
194
– Switch on the ignition. – Wait until both vehicles are moving
then release the clutch pedal slowly.
– Depress the clutch pedal fully when the engine fires and take the vehicle out of
gear.
WARNING
There is high risk of having an accident when tow-starting a vehicle, when for example the towed vehicle ru
ns into the towing vehicle.
Caution
Vehicles which are fitted with a catalytic
converter should not be tow-started over a
distance of more than 50 metres. Unburnt fu
el may get into the catalytic converter and
damage it.Towing in a vehicle fitted with a manual gearboxPlease refer to the additional instructions
page 192.
The vehicle can be towed in with a tow bar
or a tow rope or with the front or rear
wheels raised. The maximum towing speed is
50 km/h
.
Towing of a vehicle with an automatic gearboxPlease refer to the additional instructions
page 192.
The car can be towed in with a tow bar or
a tow rope. Refer at the same time to the
following guidelines:
Move
selector lever into N
.
The maximum towing speed is
50 km/h
.
The maximum permissible
towing distance is
50 km
. The gear oil pump does not
operate when the engine is not running; th
e gearbox would not be
adequately lubri-
cated at higher speeds and ov
er longer towing distance.
Caution
If the vehicle is towed in by a recovery vehicle,
it should only be towed in with the front
wheels raised. If the vehicle is raised
at rear, the automatic gearbox is damaged!
Note
The vehicle must be transported on a special vehicle or trailer if it is not possible to tow in the vehicle in the way described or if th
e towing distance is greater than 50 km.
s3j8.a.book Page 194 Tuesday, April 20, 2010 1:10 PM
Fuses and light bulbs
196
Fuse assignment in the dash panelFig. 162 Schematic representation of the fuse
box for vehicles with left-hand steering / right-
hand steeringCertain electrical components are only standard on certain vehicle model versions or only suppliable as optional
equipment for certain models.
No.
Power consumer
Amperes
1
Not assigned
2
START - STOP
5
3
Instrument cluster, headlamp beam adjustment
7,5
4
ABS control unit
5
5
Petrol engine: Cruise control system
5
6
Reversing light (manual gearbox)
10
7
Ignition
15
Engine control unit, automatic gearbox
7,5
8
Brake pedal switch, coolant fan
5
9
Operating controls for the heating, control unit for air condi- tioning system, parking aid, control unit for cornering lights, coolant fan
5
10
Air conditioning
a)
7,5
11
Mirror adjustment
5
12
Control unit for trailer detection
5
13
Control unit for automatic gearbox
5
14
Motor for halogen projector headlights with cornering light function
10
15
Navigation PDA
5
16
Electrohydraulic power steering
5
17
START - STOP - radio
10
Daylight driving lights
7,5
18
Mirror heater
5
19
S-contact
5
20
Engine control unit
5
Engine control unit
7,5
Fuel pump relay
15
Fuel pump control unit
15
21
Reversing light, fog lights with the function “CORNER”
10
22
Operating controls for the heating, control unit for air condi- tioning system, parking aid, mobi
le phone, instrument cluster,
steering angle sender
, ESP, vehicle voltage control unit, multi-
function stee
ring wheel
7,5
23
Interior lighting, storage compartment and luggage compart- ment, side lights
15
24
Central control unit of the vehicle
5
25
Seat heaters
20
26
Rear window wiper
10
27
Not assigned
28
Petrol engine: AKF valve, petrol engine: Control flap
10
29
Injection, water pump
10
No.
Power consumer
Amperes
s3j8.a.book Page 196 Tuesday, April 20, 2010 1:10 PM