Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle139
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
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-quality hard wax polish at the latest, when no
more drops form on the clean paintwork.
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 paintwork 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 139, “Wax treatment”.
We recommend using a preserva tive from Škoda genuine accessories offered by your
Škoda dealer.
Caution
You must not treat mat painted parts or pl astic 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 carried out by a specialist garage.
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 indicated on the vehicle
data sticker page 187.
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 a specialist garage.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 the material and can damage it.WindowsOnly use a plastic ice scraper 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.
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Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle
140
You should also clean the windows regularly from the inside.
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 solvent 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 leak-
ages in this way. It is also easier to op en 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 partic ularly useful to remove any road salt and
brake abrasion from the light alloy wheels every two weeks, otherwise the paintwork
of the wheel rim will suffer damage. Wash thoroughly and then treat the wheels with a
protective product for light alloy wheels which does not contain any acidic compo-
nents. You should provide the wheel hubs with a hard wax layer every three months.
You must not use any products which cause abrasion when treating the wheel hubs.
Any damage to the paint layer on the wh eel 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!
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Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle
142
Care of the interior of vehiclePlastic parts, artificial leather and clothsYou can clean plastic parts and artificial leather with a moist cloth. You should only
treat such parts with special solvent-free plastic cleaning and care products it does
prove to be adequate.
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 electrically heated seatsDo 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 cotton or woollen cloth.Severe soiling– Clean severely soiled areas with a cloth dipped in a mild soapy 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 paper 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 the leather care product available from
specialist garages.
– Apply only a small amount of the care product.
– Dry the leather off with a soft cloth
We recommend that you consult a speciali st garage 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.
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Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle143
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Note
Use a care cream with light blocker and impregnation effect regularly and each
time after cleaning th e leather. The cream nourishes the leather, allows it to breathe
and keeps it supple and also provides moisture. It also creates surface protection.
Clean the leather every 2 to 3 months, remove fresh soiling each time this occurs.
Remove fresh stains such as those from ball-point pens, ink, lipstick, shoe cream
etc., as quickly as possible.
Care also for the leather dye. Refreshen ar eas which have lost their colour with a
special coloured leather cream as required.
The leather is a natural material with specific properties. During the use of the
vehicle, minor optical changes can occur on the leather parts of the covers (e. g wrin-
kles or creases as a result of the stress of the covers).
Seat belts– Keep the seat belts clean!
– Wash seat belts which have become soiled using a mild soapy solution.
– Inspect the seat belts regularly to ensure they are in good condition.
Belt webbing which has become severely so iled may prevent the inertia reel from
reeling up the belt properly.
WARNING
The seat belts must not be removed for cleaning.
Never clean the seat belts chemically as dry cleaning may destroy the fabric.
The seat belts must also not be allowed to come into contact with corrosive
liquids (such as acids etc.).
Seat belts which have damage to the webbing, the connections, the inertia
reel or the lock should be re placed by a specialist garage.
Inertia reel belts must be completely dried before being reeled up.
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Fuel
144
FuelPetrolGrades of petrolYour vehicle can only be operated with unleaded petrol, which complies with the
standard EN 228. The individual grades of petrol are distinguished by their octane
number (RON). On the inside of the fuel filler flap, you will find the information
regarding the RON required by your engine page 145, fig. 141 .
Prescribed fuel - unleaded petrol 95/91 RON
Use unleaded petrol 95 RON. You can also use unleaded petrol 91 RON, but this leads
to a slight loss in performance.
If, in case of necessity, the vehicle must be refuelled with petrol of a lower octane
number than the one prescribed, you must co ntinue driving at medium engine speeds
and low engine load. Driving at high engine speeds or a high engine load can severely
damage the engine! Refuel as soon as possib le with petrol of the prescribed octane
number.
Prescribed fuel - unleaded petrol min. 95 RON
Use unleaded petrol 95 RON.
In case of necessity, you can refuel with petrol 91 RON if petrol 95 RON is not avail-
able. You must continue driving at medium engine speeds and minimum engine load.
Driving at high engine speeds or a high engine load can severely damage the engine!
Refuel as soon as possib le with petrol of the prescribed octane number.
Even in case of necessity, you must not use petrol of a lower octane number than 91,
otherwise the engine can be severely damaged!
You can find further information on refuelling page 145.
Unleaded petrol with higher octane number
You can make unlimited use of unleaded pe trol which has a higher octane number
than the one prescribed. On vehicles with prescribed unleaded petrol
95/91 RON, the use of petrol with a
higher octane number than 95 does not result in a noticeable power increase or a
lower fuel consumption.
On vehicles with prescribed unleaded petrol min. 95 RON, the use of petrol with a
higher octane number than 95 does not result in a power increase or a lower fuel
consumption.
Caution
All Škoda vehicles with petrol engines are equipped with a catalytic converter and
must be only driven with unleaded petrol. Fi lling the tank even only once with leaded
petrol will result in the cata lytic converter being destroyed!
Only use unleaded petrol which complies with the standard EN 228.
If you use petrol with a lower octane num ber than the one prescribed, the engine
can be severely damaged!Note
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.DieselDiesel fuelYour vehicle can only be operated with diesel fuel, which complies with the standard
EN 590 (standard DIN 51628 in Germany, standard ÖNORM C 1590 in Austria).
Fuel additives
You must not use fuel additives, so-called “flow improvers” (petrol and similar prod-
ucts) in diesel fuel.
You can find information on refuelling page 145.
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Inspecting and replenishing
148
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 30 cm into the lock - bonnet do
not press down on it !
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 drivin g if you notice that the lock is not
properly engaged and close the bonnet properly - risk of an accident!
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.
On vehicles fitted with a manual gea rbox, move the gearshift lever into
Neutral.
Allow the engine to cool down.
Keep children clear of the engine compartment.
Never spill oil and other fluids over the hot engine. Such fluids (e.g. the anti-
freeze contained in the coolant) may ignite!
Avoid short circuits in the electrical system - particularly on the battery.
Never place your hand into the radiator fan as long as the engine is still
warm. The fan might suddenly start running!
Never open the cap of the coolant 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 lifting 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 stated below when
carrying out any essential work on the fu el system or on the electrical system:
Always separate the car battery from the electrical system.
Do not smoke.WARNING (continued)
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Inspecting and replenishing151
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Oil level within range –You may top up the oil. It is possible that the oil level may then be within range
after doing this.Oil level within range –You must top up the oil page 151. 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 if the engine has been
operating at high loads, for example during a lengthy motorway trip during the
summer months, towing a trailer or negotiating a high mountain pass, but not above
this .
The warning light in the instrument cluster wi ll indicate whether the oil level is too low
page 29. In this case, check the oil level as soon as possible. Top up with an appro-
priate quantity of oil.
Caution
The oil level must on no ac count 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.
Replenishing engine oil– Inspecting the engine oil level page 150.
– Unscrew the cap of the engine oil filler opening page 150, fig. 146 .
– Pour in a suitable grade of oil in portions of 0.5 litres page 149. – Inspect the oil level
page 150.
– 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 148, “Working in the engine
compartment” before working in the engine compartment.For the sake of the environment
The oil level must on no account be above the range page 150. Oil will otherwise
be drawn in through the cr ankcase ventilation and may pass through the exhaust
system to atmosphere. The oil may combust in the catalytic 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.
WARNING
Only carry out the engine oil change, if you have the required professional
knowledge!
Read and observe the warning notes page 148, “Working in the engine
compartment” before working in the engine compartment.
Let the engine cool down - risk of burning from hot oil.
Wear an eye protection - risk of caustic burns due to oil splashes.
Oil is toxic! Store old oil in a safe place out of the reach of children and unau-
thorized persons until you dispose of it properly.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.
Ab
Aa
AcAb
AaAa
A2
Aa
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Inspecting and replenishing153
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Caution
Other coolant additives may cause operational problems which, in partic-
ular, involves significantly reducing the anticorrosion effect.
Any faults or problems resulting from corrosion may cause a loss of coolant
and, as a consequence 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 in “Working in the engine compartment” on page 148.
– Check the level of coolant in the coolant expansion bottle fig. 148 . 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 lo w, this is indicated by the warning light in
the instrument cluster
page 28. We nevertheless recommend inspecting the
coolant level directly at the reservoir from time to time.
Loss of coolant
A loss of coolant is first and foremost an indication of a leak in the system. You should
not merely top up the coolant in the reservoir. It is also important to have the cooling
system inspected without delay by a specialist garage. Losses can only occur through the pressure
relief in the cap of the coolant expansion
bottle which is completely free of leaks if the coolant boils as a result of overheating
and is forced out of the cooling system.
WARNING
Read and observe the warning notes page 148, “Working in the engine
compartment” before working in the engine compartment.
Caution
One should contact a specialist garage as s oon as possible if the source of overheating
itself cannot be determined and removed, since there may be grave damage to the
engine.Replenishing the coolant– Switch the engine off.
– Allow the engine to cool down.
– Place a cloth over the cap of the coolant expansion reservoir fig. 148 and
unscrew the cap carefully by turning it to the left .
–Top up the coolant.
– Screw the cap tight until it is heard to lock.
The coolant which you use for replenishing th e system, must comply with one specific
specification page 152, “Coolant”. Do not use an al ternative additive if the coolant
additive G13 is not available in exceptional cases. Just top up the system with water
and as soon as possible arrange adjustment to correct the mixing ratio of water and
coolant additive again by a specialist garage.
Only use fresh coolant for topping up the system.
Do not top up the fluid above the hatched pa rt! Excess coolant which is heated up is
forced out of the cooling system through th e pressure relief valve in the cap of the
coolant compensation bottle.
Wait until the engine has cooled down for a system which has suffered a major loss of
coolant before pouring in coolant. This is necessary to avoid engine damage.
Fig. 148 Engine compartment:
Coolant expansion bottleAa
Ab
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