2010 SKODA OCTAVIA TOUR coolant level

Instruments and warning lights17
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Cold range
If the pointer is in the left-hand area of the scale it means that the engine has not yet
reached its operating temperature. Avoid running at high engine speeds, at full throttle
and at severe engine loads.
The operating range
The engine has reached its operating temper
ature as soon as the pointer moves into
the mid-range of the scale. The pointer may also move further to the right at high
engine loads and high outside temperatures. This is not critical provided the warning
symbol
 in the instrument cluster does not flash.
If the symbol  in the instrument cluster flashes it means that either the coolant
temperature is too high or the coolant level is too low. Observe the guidelines
 page 28, “Coolant temperature/coolant level ”.
WARNING
Pay attention to the warning notes page 148, “Working in the engine
compartment” before opening the bonnet and inspecting the coolant level.
Caution
Additional headlights and other attached co mponents in front of the fresh air inlet
impair the cooling efficiency of the coolant. There is then a risk of the engine over-
heating at high outside temper atures and high engine loads!Fuel gaugeThe fuel gauge page 16, fig. 18 only operates when the ignition is switched on.
The fuel tank has a capacity of about 55 litres. The warning symbol
 in the instrument
cluster lights up when the pointer reaches the reserve marking. There are now about 7
litres of fuel remaining in the tank. This symbol is a reminder for you, that you must
refuel .
The following will be displayed in the information display*: PLEASE REFUEL
A peep sounds as an additional warning signal.
Caution
Never run the fuel tank completely empty! An irregular fuel supply can result in poor
ignition or misfiring. Unburnt fuel may get into the exhaust system and damage the
catalytic converter.SpeedometerWarning against excessive speeds*
An acoustic warning signal will sound when the vehicle speed exceeds 120 kilometres
per hour. The acoustic warning signal will switch off again when the vehicle speed goes
below this speed limit.
Note
This function is only valid for some countries.Counter for distance drivenThe distance which you have driven with your vehicle is shown in kilometres (km). On
certain model versions, the readout is shown in “miles”.
A3
Fig. 19 Instrument cluster:
Counter for distance driven
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Instruments and warning lights
24
The red symbols indicate danger (priority 1) while the yellow symbols indicate a
warning (priortity 2). Information for the driver may also appear in addition to the
symbols page 25.
Investigate the displayed faults as soon as po ssible. If several operational faults exist at
the same time, the symbols will appear one after the other and are each visible for
about 2 seconds.
The error messages are faded out after 10 seconds or by actuating the rocker switch
 page 23, fig. 25 and are stored under the information CAR STATUS.
There is at least one error message to be read when the term CAR STATUS is flashing
in the menu. In the display STATUS 1/2 lights up, for example, if a number of error
messages are present. This display indicates that the first of a total of two error
messages should be displayed.
Actuate the rocker switch , to call up the individual error messages.
If a fault occurs, a warning signal will also sound in addition to the symbol and text in
the display:
Priority 1 - three warning signals

Priority 2 - one warning signal
Red symbols
A red symbol signals danger.Proceed as follows if a red symbol is displayed:
– Stop the vehicle.
– Switch the engine off.
– Check the functions indicated.
– Obtain professional assistance.
Meaning of the red symbols: Three
successive warning signals will sound if a red symbol appears. The symbol
continues flashing until the fault is rectified.
If several operational faults of priority 1 exist, the symbols appear one after the other
and are each illuminated for about 2 seconds.
Yellow symbols
A yellow symbol signals a warning.The meaning of the yellow symbols:
One warning signal will sound if a yellow symbol appears.
If several operational faults of priority 2 exist, the symbols appear one after the other
and are each illuminated for about 2 seconds.
Check the relevant function as soon as possible.
AA
AA

Faults in the brake surface
 page 31

Coolant level too low/c oolant temperature too
high
 page 28

Engine oil pressure too low
page 29

Fuel level low
page 29

Check engine oil level, engine oil sensor faulty
page 29

Brake pad worn
page 29

Washer fluid level low
page 29

faulty bulb
page 27
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Instruments and warning lights25
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Warning lightsOverview
The warning lights indicate certain functions or faults.
Fig. 26 Instrument cluster with warning lights

Turn signal lights (to the left)
page 26

Turn signal lights (to the right)
page 26

Turn signal system for vehicles towing a
trailer*
page 26

Main beam light
page 26

Low beam light
page 26

Fog lights*
page 27

Rear fog light
page 27

Electronic immobiliser
page 27

Bulbs*
page 27

Control system for exhaust
page 27

EPC fault light* (petrol engine)
page 27

Glow plug system (diesel engine)
page 27

Airbag system*
page 28

Coolant temperature/coolant level
page 28
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Instruments and warning lights
28
Airbag system

Monitoring the airbag system
The warning light
 comes on for a few seconds when the ignition is switched on.
There is a fault in the system if the warning light does not go out or comes on or flashes
while driving  . This also applies if the warning light does not come on when the
ignition is switched on.
The following text will be displayed in the information display*:
AIRBAG FAULT
The functionality of the airbag system is also monitored electronically when one airbag
has been switched off.
Front airbag or side passenger airbag deactivated using the diagnostic equip-
ment:

The warning light
 lights up for 3 seconds after switching on the ignition and then
flashes again for 12 seconds.
The following situation applies if the ai rbag has been switched off using the
switch for the airbag* in the storage compartment:

The warning light
 comes on for 3 seconds after the ignition has been switched
on.

The deactivation of the airbag is indicated by the lighting up of the indicator light

 in the interior lighting page 113.WARNING
Have the airbag system checked immediat ely by a specialist garage if a fault
exists. Otherwise, there is a risk of the airbag not being activated in the event of
an accident.
Note
Further information about switching off airbags page 113.
Coolant temperature/coolant level

The warning light  comes on for a few seconds
2) when the ignition is switched on.
The coolant temperature is too high or the coolant level too low if the warning light

does not go out or flashes while driving.
3 peeps sound as an additional warning signal.
In this case stop and switch the engine off and check the coolant level; top up the
coolant as necessary.
Do not continue your journey if for some reason it is not possible under the condi-
tions prevailing to top up with coolant. Keep the engine switched off and obtain
professional assistance from a specialist garage, otherwise it could lead to severe
engine damage.
If the coolant is within the specified range, the increased temperature may be caused
by an operating problem at the coolant fan. Check the fuse for the coolant fan, replace
it if necessary page 178, “Fuse assignment in engi ne compartment - version 1” or
 page 179, “Fuse assignment in engine compartment - version 2”.
Do not continue driving if the warning light does not go off although the fluid is at the
correct level and also the fuse of the fan is in proper order. Contact a specialist garage
to obtain assistance.
Please refer to the following guidelines page 152, “Cooling system”.
The following text will be displayed in the information display*: STOP CHECK COOLANT SERVICE MANUAL
WARNING

If you must stop for technical reasons, then park the vehicle at a safe
distance from the traffic and switch of f the engine and switch on the hazard
warning light system  page 48.

Take care when opening the coolant expa nsion bottle. If the engine is hot,
the cooling system is pressurized - risk of scalding! It is best to allow the engine
to cool down before removing the cap.
2)The warning light  on vehicles fitted with information display does not come on after switching
the ignition on, but only if the coolant temperature is too high or the coolant level is too low.
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Instruments and warning lights29
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data

Do not touch the coolant fan The coolant fan may switch on automatically
even if the ignition is off.
Thickness of the brake pads*

The warning light
 comes on for a few seconds when the ignition is switched on.
If the warning light  comes on, contact a specialist garage immediately and have the
brake pads on all of the wheels inspected.
A peep sounds as an additional warning signal.
The following text will be displayed in the information display*: CHECK BRAKE PADS
Windshield washer fluid level*

The warning light
 comes on when the ignition is swit ched on if there is insufficient
fluid in the windshield washer system. Top up with liquid page 159.
A peep sounds as an additional warning signal.
The following text will be displayed in the information display*: TOP UP WASH FLUID
Fuel reserve

The warning light
 comes on, if the fuel level is still below 7 litres.
A peep sounds as an additional warning signal.
The following text will be displayed in the information display*: PLEASE REFUEL
Note
The Text in the information display* goes out only after refuelling and driving a short
distance.
Engine oil

The warning light

lights up red (low oil pressure)
The warning light comes on for a few seco nds when the ignition is switched on
3).
Stop the vehicle and switch the engine off if the warning light does not go off within
a few seconds after switching on the ignition or flashes while driving. Check the oil
level and top up with oil as necessary page 151.
3 peeps sound as an additional warning signal.
Do not continue your journey if for some reason it is not possible under the condi-
tions prevailing to top up with oil. Keep the engine switched off and obtain profes-
sional assistance from a specialist garage, otherwise it could lead to severe engine
damage.
Do not drive any further if the warning light remains on even if the oil is at the correct
level. Do not run the engine not at idling speed either. Contact the nearest specialist
garage to obtain professional assistance.
The following text will be displayed in the information display*:
STOP! OIL PRESS. STOP MOTOR! SERVICE MANUAL
The warning light

lights up yellow* (oil quantity too low)
If the warning light lights up yellow, there is not the correct quantity of oil in the engine.
Check as soon as possible the oil level or top up page 151 with engine oil.
A peep sounds as an additional warning signal.
The following text will be displayed in the information display*: CHECK OIL LEVEL
When opening the bonnet, the warning light goes out. If no engine oil has been replen-
ished, the warning light will come on again after driving about 100 km.
The warning light

flashes yellow* (engine oil level sensor faulty)
A fault on the engine oil level sensor is indicated additionally by an audible signal and
the warning light coming on several times after the ignition has been switched on.
WARNING (continued)
3)The warning light  on vehicles fitted with information display does not come on after switch-
ing the ignition on, but only if a fault exists or the engine oil level is too low.
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Towing a trailer135
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Headlights
Before starting off with a hitched trailer, also check the setting of the headlights. Alter
the setting as necessary with the ai
d of the headlight beam adjuster page 48.
Detachable ball head
The ball rod is detachable on vehicles which feature a factory-fitted towing device. It is
stowed together with separate fitting instructions in the spare wheel well in the
luggage compartment of the vehicle.
Further information on the towing device page 136.
Note

We recommend that you also have your vehicle inspected between service inter-
vals if you tow a trailer frequently.

The handbrake on the towing vehicle must be put on when coupling and decou-
pling the trailer.
Driving Tips
Particular caution is required when towing a trailer.– Do not, as far as possible, drive with your vehicle unladen and the trailer laden.
– Do not make full use of the legal maximum speeds. This applies in particular to downhill sections.
– Apply the brakes in good time.
– Keep a check on the coolant temperature gauge if the outside temperature is high.
Distribution of weight
The distribution of the weight is very poor if your vehicle is unladen and the trailer is
laden. Maintain a particularly low speed if you cannot avoid driving with this combina-
tion.
Driving speed
Do not drive faster than 80 km/hour for safety reasons. This also applies for countries
in which higher speeds are allowed. The fact that the driving stability of the vehicle + trailer combination reduces with
increasing speed means that the legally allowed speed should not be used when there
are unfavourable road, weather or wind cond
itions, particularly near accident black
spots.
You must always reduce your speed immediat ely as soon as you detect even just the
slightest swaying of the trailer. On no account attempt to stop the trailer from
“swaying” by accelerating.
Apply the brakes in good time! If the trailer is fitted with a trailer brake, apply the
brakes gently at first and then brake firmly. This will avoid brake jolts resulting from the
trailer wheels locking. Shift down gears in good time before negotiating a downhill
section to allow the engine to also act as a brake.
Engine overheating
Please keep a check on the coolant temperature gauge if you have to negotiate a
lengthy slope in a low gear at a high engi ne speed when the outside temperature is
very high  page 16.
If the needle of the coolant temperature gauge moves into the right-hand area or even
the red area of the scale, reduce your speed immediately. Stop and switch off the
engine if the warning light
 in the instrument cluster begins flashing. Wait a few
minutes and check the level of coolant in the coolant expansion bottle page 153,
“Inspecting the coolant level”.
Please refer to the following guidelines  page 28, “Coolant temperature/coolant
level ”.
The coolant temperature can be reduced by switching on the heating.
Any increase in the cooling effect of the coolant fan through shifting down a gear and
increasing the engine speed is not possible since the fan speed is independent of the
engine speed. One should also not drop a gear for this reason when towing a trailer as
long as the engine can manage th e slope without any drop in speed.
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Inspecting and replenishing
152For 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 material,
equipment and the knowledge required for such work, we recommend that you have
the oil and oil filter change carried out by a specialist garage.Note
After your skin has come in contact with th e oil, you must thoroughly wash your skin.Power steeringThe reservoir for hydraulic oil of power steering is located in the front right of the
engine compartment page 149, fig. 145 .
Check hydraulic oil
The hydraulic system of the power steering is filled with the hydraulic oil designated in
the catalogue as G 002 000.
Perform the inspection of the hydraulic oil level when the engine is cold and not
running.
The hydraulic oil level must be be tween the “MIN” and “MAX” markings fig. 147 . If
the level drops below the marking “MIN”, it is necessary that the power steering is
checked by a specialist garage. It is not su fficient to solely refill with hydraulic oil.
Note
If the engine is not running (when towing) or if the V-ribbed belt is torn, the power
steering does not operate. The vehicle is fully steerable however. There is however
increased force required to turn the steering wheel.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 prot ection 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 mont hs 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 protection 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 of fers 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 factory- filled with coolant (purple in colour), which complies
with the specification TL-VW 774 G.
We recommend that you use the same coolan t additive - G13 (purple in colour) - for
topping up the system.
Please contact a specialist garage if you have any questions regarding the coolant or if
you wish to fill up with a different coolant.
A specialist garage can also supply yo u with the correct coolant additives.
Fig. 147 Hydraulic oil dipstick
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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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