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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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 replenishing149
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
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!Overview of the engine compartment
The main inspection pointsFig. 145 1.6 ltr./75 kW petrol engine1.6 ltr./75 kW petrol engine fig. 145
Coolant expansion bottle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Reservoir for hydraulic liquid of power steering Windshield washer fluid reservoir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine oil dipstick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine oil filler opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brake fluid reservoir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Battery (below a cover) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Note
The location of the inspection points in th
e engine compartment of petrol and diesel
engines is practically identical.Engine oilEngine oil specificationsThe engine of your vehicle ha s been factory-filled with a high-grade oil which you can
use throughout the year - except in extreme climatic regions.
You can mix various oils together with each ot her when refilling with oil. This does not,
however, apply for models with flexible service intervals (QG1).
Engine oils are, of course, undergoing co ntinuous further development. Thus the
information stated in this Owner's Manual is only correct at the time of publication.
Authorised Škoda Service Partners are informed by Škoda Auto about current changes.
This why you should always have engine oi l changed by an authorised Škoda Service
Par tner.
The specifications (VW standards) stated in the following must be indicated separately
or together with other specifications on the bottle.
Engine oil specifications for models with flexible service intervals (QG1)
WARNING (continued)
A1
153
A2
Petrol engines
Specification
Content
a)
1.4 ltr./55 kW - EU4
VW 503 00, VW 504 00
3,2
1.6 ltr./75 kW - EU4/EU2 DDK
VW 503 00, VW 504 00
4,5
1.8 ltr./110 kW - EU4/EU3D
VW 504 00
4,5
A3
159
A4
150
A5
151
A6
154
A7
155
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154WARNING
The cooling system is pressurized! Do not open the cap of the coolant
expansion bottle if the engine is still hot - risk of scalding!
The coolant additive and thus all of the coolant is harmful to your health.
Avoid contact with the coolant. Coolant vapours are also harmful to the health.
It is important, therefore, to always safely store any coolant additive in its orig-
inal container out of the reach of children - risk of poisoning!
If any splashes of coolant get into yo ur eyes, rinse out your eyes immedi-
ately with clear water and contact a doctor as soon as possible.
You should also consult a doctor without delay if you have inadvertently
swallowed coolant.Caution
Do not continue your journey if for some reason it is not possible under the
conditions prevailing to top up with coolant. Switch the engine off and obtain
professional assistance from a specialist garage, otherwise it could lead to severe
engine damage.
For the sake of the environment
Do not re-use coolant if it is necessary to drain the coolant in the system. It should be
collected and disposed of in compliance with environmental protection regulations.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 ignition 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 working in the engine compartment that
the fan may switch on suddenly - risk of injury!Brake fluidInspecting the brake fluid levelThe brake fluid reservoir is located 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 in “Working in the engine compartment” on page 148.
– Inspect the brake fluid level in the reservoir fig. 149 . 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 th e 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
lighting up in the
Fig. 149 Engine compartment:
Brake fluid reservoir
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Inspecting and replenishing155
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Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
instrument cluster
page 31. In this case stop immediately and do not drive any
further! Obtain professional assistance.
WARNING
Read and observe the warning notes page 148, “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 genuine brake fluid from Škoda Auto. The brake fluid must
comply with one of the following standards or specifications:
VW 50114
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.
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 batteryThe battery is located in the engine compartment below a plastic cover*.
– Press the interlocks on the sides of the battery cover fig. 150 and pull the cover
upwards see arrow .
– The installation of the battery co ver takes place in the reverse order.
Removal and installation of the battery is not 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.
Fig. 150 Engine compartment:
The battery
AA
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Wheels and Tyres163
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
means, for example, that the tyre was ma
nufactured in the 50th week of the year 2008.
If the spare wheel* differs from the tyres fitted to the vehicle (e.g. winter tyres or low-
profile tyres), the spare wheel* should only be used for a short time in the event of a
puncture and when adopting an appropriately cautious style of driving. It should be
replaced as quickly as po ssible 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 may also become void 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 been 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 circumstan ces 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 specialist garages are informed about the technical possibilities which exist
regarding converting or retrofitting wheels, tyres 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 contac t surfaces on the rims.Caution
The prescribed tightening torque of the wh eel bolts for steel and light alloy wheels is
120 Nm.Winter tyresThe handling of your vehicle will be significantly 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).
s2rc.book Page 163 Thursday, April 22, 2010 10:58 AM
Breakdown assistance169
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
The spare wheel lies in a well under the floor covering of the luggage compartment
and is fixed in place using special screws
page 168, fig. 159 .
Before removing the spare wheel, you must take out the box with the vehicle tool kit
box page 167, fig. 157.
One should check the inflation pressure in the spare wheel (at best when generally
checking the tyre air pressures - see sign on the fuel filler flap page 160) to ensure
that the spare wheel is always ready to use.
Temporary spare wheel
A warning label displayed on the rim of the temporary spare wheel indicates that your
vehicle is equippe d with a temporary spare wheel.
Please observe the following notes when driving with a temporary spare wheel:
The warning label must not be covered after installing the wheel.
Do not drive faster than 80 km/h with this spare wheel and pay particular attention
while driving. Avoid accelerating at full throttle, sharp braking and fast cornering.
The inflation pressure for this spare wheel is identical to the inflation pressure of
the standard tyres.
Use this spare wheel only to reach the nearest specialist garage as it is not intended
for continuous use.
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 away 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 road (e.g. behind a crash barrier).
– Apply the handbrake firmly.
– Shift up into the 1st gear . – If a trailer is coupled, uncouple it.
–Take the
vehicle tool kit page 167 and the spare wheel* page 168 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 observin g 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 fi rst 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 170 or the caps page 171.
– In the case of light alloy wheels remove the wheel trim cap page 171.
– Slacken the wheel bolts page 171.
– Jack up the vehicle until the wheel to be changed is clear of the ground
page 172.
– Unscrew the wheel bolts and place them on a clean surface (cloth, paper etc.).
– Take off the wheel.
– Fit on the new spare wheel* and tighten the wheel bolts slightly.
– Lower the car.
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Breakdown assistance
174
Connecting positive terminals
– Attach one end to the positive terminal page 173, fig. 166 of the discharged
battery .
– Attach the other end to the positive term inal of the battery supplying the power
.Connecting negative terminal and engine block– Attach one end to the negative termin al of the battery supplying the power .
– Attach the other end to a solid metal part which is connected firmly to the
engine block, or to the engine block itself.Starting the engine– Start the engine of the vehicle providing current and run the engine at idling speed.
– Now start the engine of the vehicle with the discharged battery.
– Interrupt the attempt at starting an engine after 10 seconds if it does not start right
away and wait for about 30 seconds before repeating the attempt.
– Disconnect the cables on the engine in exactly the reverse order they were
connected up.
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.
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!
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 steering 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.
– 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 should only use plastic
fibre rope or a rope made out of a similarly elastic material.
Only attach the tow rope to the towing eyes provided for this purpose page 175,
“Front towing eye”.
A1
AA
A2
AB
A3
AB
A4
WARNING (continued)
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