Seats and Storage
70
The roof rack*DescriptionPay attention to the following points if you wish to transport luggage or other items on
the roof of your vehicle:
A special roof luggage rack system was de veloped for the vehicle, that is why you
should only use a roof luggage rack which has been released for use by Škoda Auto.
The base carrier is the basis for a comple te roof luggage rack system. Separate
additional holders are required for safety reasons for transporting luggage, bikes, surf-
boards, skis and boats.
The basic version of the roof luggage ra ck system and further components are
obtainable as accessories from the specialist garages.Caution
If you use other roof rack systems or if th e roof bars are not properly fitted, then
any damage which may result to your car is not covered by the warranty agreements.
It is therefore essential to pay attention to the fitting instructions supplied with the roof
luggage rack system.
On models fitted with a power sliding/tilting roof, ensure that the opened
sliding/tilting roof does not strike any items of luggage transported on the roof.
Ensure that the opened boot lid does not collide with the roof load.For the sake of the environment
The increased aerodynamic drag results in a higher fuel consumption. One should
therefore take off the roof bar system after use.
Note
A roof rail is obtainable from a specialist garage if hasn't been fitted onto an estate car
at the works, which carries out the professional fitting.
Lashing points (Octavia)Installing– The plastic caps fig. 80 can be removed by inserting a thin screwdriver into the
recess of the caps and carefully leve r out the caps to avoid paint damage.
– The feet are inserted into the openings of the roof bars.
Note
Pay attention to the information regarding assembly and disassembly in the
attached instructions.
If you have any questions, plea se contact a specialist garage.
The figure is not valid for an estate car.
Roof loadDistribute weight evenly over the roof lu ggage rack system. The maximum permissible
roof load (including roof rack system) of 75 kg and the maximum permissible total
weight of the vehicle should not be exceeded.
You cannot make full use of th e permissible roof load if you use a roof luggage rack
system with a lower load carr ying capacity. The load transported on the roof luggage
rack system must not exceed the weight limit which is stated in the fitting instructions.
Fig. 80 Attachment points for
base roof carrier
s2rc.book Page 70 Thursday, April 22, 2010 10:58 AM
Heating and air conditioning system
82
Recirculated air mode
In recirculated air mode air is sucked out of the interior of the vehicle
and then fed back into the interior.Recirculated air mode prevents polluted air outside the vehicle from getting into the
vehicle, for example when driving through a tunnel or when standi ng in a traffic jam.Switching recirculated air mode on– Press the button page 80, fig. 96 - the warning light lights up in the button.Switching recirculated air mode off– Press again the button - the warning light in the button goes out.
The button cannot be pressed if the control dial is in the position
or close
to this position.
WARNING
You should not leave recirculated air mode on over a longer period of time, as
“stale” air may result in fatigue in the driver and occupants, divert your atten-
tion and also cause the windows to mist up. The risk of having an accident
increases. Switch recirculated air mode off as soon as the windows begin
misting up.Using the air conditioning system economicallyThe compressor on the air conditioning syst em uses power from the engine when in
cooling mode which will effect the fuel consumption.
It recommended to open the windows or the doors of a vehicle for which the interior
has been strongly heated through the effect of direct sunlight in order to allow the
heated air to escape.
The cooling system should not be switched on while travelling when the window is
open.
The desired interior temperature can also be achieved without switching in the cooling
system just by switching to fresh air mode.
For the sake of the environment
When you economize on fuel, you also reduce pollutant emissions.Climatronic* (automatic air conditioning)Description
The Climatronic system is a combinat ion of an automatic heating, fresh
air and cooling system which provides optimal comfort for the occu-
pants of the car.The Climatronic maintains a constant temp erature fully automatically, once it has
been set. This is achieved by automatically varying the temperature of the outflowing
air, the blower stages and the air distribution. The system also takes into account bright
sunlight which eliminates the need to alter the settings manually. The automatic
mode page 84 ensures maximum wellbeing of the occupants at all times of the
year.
Description of Climatronic system
The cooling operates only if the following conditions are met:
engine running,
outside temperature above +5 °C,
the button is not pressed.
If the cooling system is switched on, th e temperature and air humidity drops in the
vehicle. The wellbeing of the occupants of the car is enhanced as a result of this partic-
ularly at high outside temperatures and a high air humidity. The system prevents the
windows misting up during the cold season of the year.
The heating effect is dependent upon the coolant temperature, thus full heat output
only occurs when the engine has reached its operating temperature.
It is possible to briefly activate recirculat ed air mode in order to enhance the cooling
effect .
The air inlet in front of the windscreen must be free of ice, snow or leaves in order to
ensure that the heating and cooling systems operate properly.
AC
ECON
s2rc.book Page 82 Thursd ay, April 22, 2010 10:58 AM
Starting-off and Driving
88
Petrol engines
- ignition switched off, engine off, the steering can be locked.
- ignition switched on
- start engine
Diesel engines - interruption of fuel supply, ignition swit ched off, engine off, the steering can be
locked.
- heating glow plugs on, ignition switched on
You should not switch on any major elec trical components during the heating
period otherwise the vehicle battery will be drained unnecessarily.
- start engine
Applies to all models:
Position
To lock the steering , with the ignition key withdrawn, turn the steering wheel until the
steering locking pin is heard to engage. Yo u should always lock the steering as a
general rule if you leave your vehicle. This acts as a deterrent against possible theft of
your vehicle .
Position
Move the steering wheel back and forward a little if the ignition key cannot, or cannot
easily be turned into this position, in order to release the steering lock.
Position
The engine is started in this position. At th e same time switched on low beam or main
beam or other electrical components wi th major power consumption are briefly
switched off. The ignition key moves back into position when one releases the key.
The ignition key must be turned back into position each time before starting the
engine again. The starter repeat lock in th e ignition lock prevents the starter being
engaged when the engine is r unning and thus getting damaged.
WARNING
When driving, the ignition key must always be in the position (ignition
switched on) without the engine running. This position is indicated by the
warning lights coming on. If this is not the case, it could result in unexpected
locking of the steering wh eel - risk of accident!
Do not withdraw the ignition key from the lock until the vehicle has come to
a stop. The steering lock can engage immediately - risk of accident!
Always withdraw the ignition key if you are going to leave the vehicle, even
for a short time. This is particularly important if children are left in the vehicle.
The children might otherwise start the engi ne or switch on electrical equipment
(e.g. power windows) - risk of accident or injury!
Starting the engineGeneral
You can only start the engine only using an original ignition key.
Place the gearshift lever into neutral and put on the handbrake firmly before
starting the engine.
The clutch pedal should be fully depressed when starting the engine - the starter
then only has to crank the engine.
Let go of the key as soon as the engine starts otherwise there may be damage to
the starter.
The engine running noises may louder at first be louder for a short time after starting
the cold engine until oil pressure can be built up in the hydraulic valve clearance
compensation. This is quite normal and is not an operating problem.
If the engine does not start ...
You can use the battery of anothe r vehicle as a jump-start aid page 173.
It is only possible to tow-start vehicles fi tted with a manual gearbox. The tow-starting
distance must not be more than 50 metres page 175.
A1A2A3A1A2A3
A1A2A3
A2
A1
A2
s2rc.book Page 88 Thursd ay, April 22, 2010 10:58 AM
Starting-off and Driving89
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
WARNING
Never run the engine in non ventilated or enclosed areas. The exhaust gases
of the engine contain besides the odorless and colourless carbon monoxide a
poisonous gas - hazard! Carbon monoxide can cause unconsciousness and
death.
Never leave your vehicle unattended with the engine running.Caution
The starter may only be operated (ignitio n key position ), if the engine is not
running. If the starter is immedi ately operated after switching off the engine, the starter
or the engine can be damaged.
Avoid high engine revolutions, full throttle and high engine loads as long as the
engine has not yet reached its normal oper ating temperature - risk of damaging the
engine!
Vehicles which are fitted with an exhaust gas catalytic converter should not be tow-
started over a distance of more than 50 metres.For the sake of the environment
Never warm up the engine when the vehicle is standing. Drive off right away. Through
this the engine reaches its operating temperature more rapidly and the pollutant emis-
sions are lower.Petrol enginesThese engines are fitted with a starter system which selects the correct fuel-air mixture
for every external air temperature.
Do not depress accelerator before and when starting engine.
Interrupt the attempt at starting after 10 seconds if the engine does not start right
awayand wait for about 30 seconds before repeating the attempt.
It is possible that the fuse on the electric al fuel pump is defect if the engine still
does not start. Check the fuse and replace it if necessary page 177.
Contact the nearest specialist garage to obtain professional assistance. It may be necessary, if the engine is
very hot, to slightly depress the accelerator after
the engine has started.
Diesel enginesGlow plug system
Diesel engines are equipped with a glow plug system, the preglow period being
controlled automatically in line with the coolant temperature and outside tempera-
ture.
The preglow indicator light
comes on after the ignition has been switched on.
You should not switch on any major electrical components during the heating
period otherwise the vehicle battery will be drained unnecessarily.
You should start the engine immediately after the glow plug warning light
has
gone out.
The glow plug warning light will come on for about one second if the engine is at a
normal operating temperature or if the outside temperature is above +5°C. This
means that you can start the engine right away.
Interrupt the attempt at starting after 10 seconds if the engine does not start right
awayand wait for about 30 seconds before repeating the attempt.
It is possible that the fuse on the diesel preglow system is defect if the engine still
does not start. Check the fuse and replace it if necessary page 177.
Contact the nearest specialist garage to obtain professional assistance.
Starting the engine after the fuel tank has run dry
It may take longer than normal to start the engine after refuelling if the fuel tank has
run completely dry - up to one minute. This is because the fuel system must first of all
be filled while the attempting to start the engine.
Switching off the engine– The engine can be switched off by tu rning the ignition key into position
page 87, fig. 100 .
A3
A1
s2rc.book Page 89 Thursd ay, April 22, 2010 10:58 AM
Driving and the Environment129
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Catalytic converterProper operation of the emission cont rol system (catalytic converter) is
of major significance for driving your vehicle in an environmentally
conscious way.Please refer to the following guidelines:
– For vehicles with petrol engine only refuel with unleaded petrol page 144.
– Never run the fuel tank completely empty.
– Do not switch off the ignition while you are driving the vehicle.
– Do not pour too much oil into the engine page 151, “Replenishing engine oil”.
– Do not tow-start the vehicle over a distance of more than 50 metres page 175,
“Tow-starting a vehicle”.
If you drive your vehicle in a country in which unleaded petrol is not available, you
must have the catalytic converter replaced la ter when driving the vehicle into a country
in which use of a catalyti c converter is mandatory.
WARNING
In view of the high temperatures which may be produced in the catalytic
converter, one should always park a vehicle in such a way that the catalytic
converter cannot come into contact with easily flammable materials below the
vehicle - a risk of fire!
Never use additional underbody protection or corrosion-protection agents
for the exhaust pipes, catalytic converters or heat shields. Such substances
might ignite when driving - risk of fire!Caution
On vehicles fitted with a catalytic converter, never let the fuel tank run completely
empty. An irregular fuel supply can result in poor ignition or misfiring. Unburnt fuel
may get into the exhaust system an d damage the catalytic converter.
Filling the tank even only once with le aded petrol will result in the catalytic
converter being destroyed.
If you detect misfir ing, a drop in performance or irregular engine running when
driving, reduce your speed immediately and have the vehicle inspected by the nearest
specialist garage. The symptoms described ma y be caused by a fault in the ignition
system. Unburnt fuel may get into the exhaust system and damage the catalytic
converter.For the sake of the environment
Even if the exhaust system is operating pr operly, a sulphur-like exhaust odour may be
produced under certain oper ating conditions of the engine. This depends on the
sulphur content of the fuel. It is often su fficient to refuel with unleaded premium-
grade petrol of a different brand or at a different filling station.Driving in an economical and environmentally
conscious mannerGeneral
Your personal style of driving is a major factor.Your fuel consumption, any pollution of the environmental and the wear-and-tear to
the engine, brakes and tyres, depe nd essentially on three factors:
your personal style of driving,
the conditions under which your vehicle is operated,
technical aspects.
You can easily improve your fuel economy by 10 - 15 percent by driving in an econom-
ical way with foresight. This section is in tended to provide you with a number of tips
on how to protect the environment and at the same time save money.
The fuel consumption can naturally also be influenced by factors which are beyond the
driver's control. It is, for example, normal for the fuel consumption to increase in
winter and under worsened cond itions such as poor road conditions, towing a trailer,
etc.
The technical requirements for low fuel usage and economic efficiency of the vehicle
have already been built into the vehicle at the works. Special attention has been given
to minimising nega tive effects on the environment. It is necessary to take note of the
s2rc.book Page 129 Thursday, April 22, 2010 10:58 AM
Driving and the Environment
130
guidelines given in this chapter in order to make best use of these characteristics and
to maintain their effectiveness.
The optimal engine speed should be obtained when accelerating, in order to avoid a
high fuel consumption and resonance of the vehicle.Looking ahead when driving
A vehicle's highest fuel consumption occurs it accelerates.Avoid accelerating and brakin g unnecessarily. If you drive with forsight you will not
need to brake so often and will also then not have to accelerate so much. Let your
vehicle coast to a stop, for example, if this is possible, when you see that the next set of
traffic lights is at red.Shifting gears and saving energy
Shifting up early saves on fuel.Manual gearbox– Drive no more than about one length of your vehicle in first gear.
– Always shift up into the next higher gear at approx. 2 000 to 2 500 revs.
An effective way of achieving good fuel economy is to shift up early. You will consume
more fuel if you drive at unnecessaril y high revolutions in any given gear. The
fig. 136 shows the ratio of fuel consumption to the speed of your vehicle in the
relevant gears. Fuel consumptio n in 1st gear is the highest and in 5th gear is the lowest.
Note
Also use the information supplied by the multi-functional indicator* page 19.Avoiding full throttle
Driving more slowly means saving fuel.Sensitive use of the accelerator will not only significantly reduce fuel consumption but
also positively influence environmenta l pollution and wear of your vehicle.
You should avoid exploiting the top speed of your vehicle wherever possible. Fuel
consumption, pollutant emissions and vehicle noises increase disproportionally at
high speeds.
The fig. 137 shows the ratio of fuel consumption to the speed of your vehicle. You
will cut your fuel consumption by half if you only make use three-quarters of the
possible top speed of your vehicle.
Fig. 136 Fuel consumption in
litres/100 km. and speed in
km/h.
Fig. 137 Fuel consumption in
litres/100 km. and speed in
km/h.
s2rc.book Page 130 Thursday, April 22, 2010 10:58 AM
Driving and the Environment131
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Reducing idling
Idling also costs fuel.It is worthwhile switching off the engine in a traffic jam or when waiting at a level
crossing or at traffic lights with a lengthy red phase. Even after just 30 - 40 seconds you
will have saved more fuel th an that is needed when you start the engine up again.
If an engine is only idling it takes much longer for it to reach its normal operating
temperature. Wear-and-tear an d pollutant emissions, though, are particularly high in
the warming-up phase. This is why you should drive off right after starting the engine.
Do avoid high engine revolu tions at this time, however.Regular servicing
A poorly tuned engine consumes an unnecessarily high amount of fuel.Having your vehicle serviced regularly at a specialist garge enables you to satisfy one
of the requirements for economical motoring even before you set off on your journey.
Keeping your vehicle properly serviced not on ly has a positive effect on the safety of
your vehicle and maintaining its value, but also saves on fuel.
A poorly tuned engine can result in a fu el consumption which is 10% higher than
normal.
The foreseen maintenance work should be undertaken exactly according to the
Service schedule by a specialist garage.
Also check the oil level after refueling. Oil consumption is dependent to a consider-
able extent on the load and speed of the en gine. Oil consumption could be as high as
0.5 litres/1 000 km depending on your style of driving.
It is quite normal that a new engine has a higher oil consumption at first, and reaches
its lowest level only after a certain running in time. It is therefore not possible to
correctly assess the oil consum ption of a new vehicle until after you have driven about
5 000 km.
For the sake of the environment
You can achieve additional improvements in your fuel economy by using high-
lubricity oils.
Check the ground below your vehicle at regu lar intervals to detect any leakages in
good time. Please have your vehicle inspected by a specialist garge if you find any
stains caused by oil or other fluids on the floor.
Avoid driving short distances
Short distances result in an above-average high fuel consumption.– Avoid driving a distance of no more than 4 km if the engine is cold.
The engine and catalytic converter mu st first have reached their optimal operating
temperature in order to effectively reduce fuel consumption and pollutant emissions.
The cold engine vehicle cons umes approx. 15 - 20 litres/100 km of fuel immediately
after starting. Fuel co nsumption drops to 10 litres/100 km after just 1 kilometre. The
engine reaches its operating temperat ure (outside temperature and engine
dependent) only after about 4 to 10 kilometres and the fuel consumption then stabi-
lizes. You should therefore avoid driving short distances whenever possible.
An important factor in this connection is also the ambient temperature. The
fig. 138 shows the different fuel consumptions for the same distance, on the one
hand at +20°C and on the ot her hand at -10°C. Your vehicle has a higher fuel
consumption in winter than in summer.
Fig. 138 Fuel consumption in
litres/100 km at different
temperatures
s2rc.book Page 131 Thursday, April 22, 2010 10:58 AM
Driving and the Environment
132
Checking tyre inflation pressures
Tyres which are correctly inflated save fuel.Always ensure that your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure at all times. The
rolling resistance will be increased if the tyre filling pressure is t oo low. This will not
only increase fuel consumption but also tyre wear and the driving behaviour will
worsen.
Always check the inflation pr essure of the tyres when cold.
Do not drive with winter tyres all year round for this costs about 10 % more fuel.
Winter tyres are also louder.No unnecessary ballast
Transporting ballast costs fuel.The fact that every kilogram of extra weight increases your fuel consumption means
that it is worth taking a look in the lu ggage compartment to avoid transporting any
unnecessary ballast.
It is particularly in town traffic, when one is accelerating quite often, that the vehicle
weight will have a significant effect upon the fuel consumption. A rule of thumb here
is that an increase in weight of 100 kilogr ams will cause an increase in fuel consump-
tion of about 1 litre/100 kilometres.
You may frequently also leave a roof rack fitted on just out of convenience, although
you no longer need it. The increased aerodyna mic drag of your vehicle causes it to use
about 10% more fuel than normal at a sp eed of 100 - 120 km/h, even when you are
not carrying a load on the roof.Saving electricity
Generating electricity costs fuel.– Switch off electrical components as soon as you no longer need them.
When the engine is running, the alternator generates and supplies electrical power.
The greater the load on the alternator as a result of having a large number of electrical components switched on, the more fuel
will be consumed for operating the
alternator.
Keeping a log of your fuel consumptionIf you really wish to keep a close check on your fuel consumption, it is best to enter
the figures in a logbook. This does not take much time but is a very worthwhile exer-
cise. It enables you to detect any change (p ositive and negative) at an early stage and
to take any appropriate action.
If you find that your fuel consumption is too high, you should reflect on how, where
and in what conditions you have driven the vehicle since you last refuelled.Environmental compatibilityEnvironmental protection has played a major role in the design, selection of materials
and manufacture of your new Škoda. Particular emphasis has been paid to a number
of aspects, including:
Design measures
Joints designed to be easily detached;
Simplified disassembly due to the modular structure system;
Improved purity of differ ent classes of materials;
Identification of all plastic parts in accordance with VDA Recommendation 260;
Reduced fuel consumption and exhaust emission CO
2;
Minimum fuel leakage during accidents;
Reduced noise.
Choice of materials
Extensive use of recyclable material;
Air conditioning filled wi th CFC-free refrigerant;
No cadmium;
No asbestos;
Reduction in the “vaporisation” of plastics.
s2rc.book Page 132 Thursday, April 22, 2010 10:58 AM