Heating and air conditioning system
76
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 74, fig. 82 the warning light lights up in the
button.Switching recirculated air mode off– Once again press the button . The wa rning light in the button goes out.
The recirculated air mode is switched off automatically if the air distribution control
is in position
page 74, fig. 82 . You can also switch recirculated air mode on again
from this setting by repeatedly pressing pushbutton .
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.Operational malfunctionsIf the cooling system does not operate at outside temperatures higher than +5 °C,
there is a problem in the system. The reasons for this may be:
The fuse on the air conditioning system has blown. Check the fuse, replace it if
necessary page 169.
The cooling system has switched off auto matically for a short time because the
coolant temperature of the engine is too hot page 16.
If you are not able to rectify the operational problem yourself, or if the cooling capacity
decreases, switch the cooling system off. Contact a specialist garage.
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AC
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Starting-off and Driving79
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
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 operate accelerator before and when starting engine.
Interrupt the attempt at starting after 10 seconds if the engine does not start right
away and 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 169.
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
away and 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 169.
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 77, fig. 84 .
WARNING
Never switch off the engine before the vehicle is stationary - risk of accident!
The brake booster only operates when the engine is running. Greater phys-
ical effort for braking is required when en gine is switched off. Because if you do
not stop as normal, this can cause an accident and severe injuries.Caution
you should not switch the engine off right away at the end of your journey after the
engine has been operated for a lengthy period at high loads but should be allowed it
to run at idling speed for about 2 minutes. This prevents any accumulation of heat
when the engine is switched off.
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Driving and the Environment121
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 refuelling. 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. 116 shows the different fuel consumptions for the same distance, on the one
hand at +20 °C and on the other hand at -10 °C. Your vehicle has a higher fuel
consumption in winter than in summer.
Fig. 116 Fuel consumption in litres/100
km at different temperatures
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Driving and the Environment
122
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 inflation pressure is too low. This will not only
increase fuel consumption but also tyre we ar 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 speed 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.
Manufacture
Solvent-free cavity protection.
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Driving and the Environment
124
Driving through bodies of water on roadsIn order to avoid damage to the vehicle when driving through bodies of water (e.g.
flooded roads), observe the following:
Determine the depth of the water when driv ing through bodies of water. The water
can reach at the maximum the web on the lower sill of the vehicle fig. 117 .
Drive no more than at walking speed. At a higher speed, a water wave can form in
front of the vehicle which can cause water to penetrate into the air induction system of
the engine or into other parts of the vehicle.
Never let the vehicle stand in the water, never drive backwards and do not switch
off the engine.
WARNING
Driving through water, mud, sludge etc. can reduce the braking power and
extend the braking distance - risk of accident!
Avoid sudden and severe braking manoeuvres immediately after driving
through bodies of water.
After driving through bodies of water, the brakes must be cleaned and dried
as soon as possible by intermittent braking. Only apply the brakes for the
purpose of drying and cleaning the brake discs if the traffic conditions permit
this. Do not place any other road users in jeopardy.
Caution
When driving through bodies of water, parts of the vehicle such as the engine,
gearbox, catalytic converte r, chassis or electrics can be severely damaged.
Oncoming vehicles can gene rate water waves which can exceed the permissible
water level for your vehicle.
Potholes, mud or rocks can be hidden under the water making it difficult or impos-
sible to drive through the body of water.
Do not drive through salt water. The salt can lead to corrosion. Immediately rinse
all the parts of the vehicle, which came into contact with the salt water, with fresh
water.Note
After driving through a body of water, we recommend that the vehicle is checked by a
specialist garage.
Fig. 117 Crossing bodies of water
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Towing a trailer125
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Towing a trailerTo w i n g a t r a i l e rTechnical requirementsYour vehicle is designed primarily for tr ansporting persons and luggage. It can,
however, also be used for towing a traile r - provided certain technical equipment is
fitted.
If your vehicle has already been supplied with a factory-fitted towing device then
everything that is necessary for towing a trai ler in technical terms, and in terms of the
law, has already been taken into account.
Your vehicle is fitted with a 13-pin power socket for the electrical connection between
the vehicle and trailer. If the trailer which you wish to tow has a 7-pin connector, you
can use a suitable adapter
6) from Škoda original accessories.
This work must be carried out in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications if
a towing device is retrofitted.
Authorised Škoda Service Partners can provid e information about retrofitting a towing
device and for any necessary modifications to the cooling system.
WARNING
We recommend that you have the towing device from Škoda original accesso-
ries installed by an authorised Škoda Service Partner. He is familiar with all the
relevant details relating to retrofitting such equipment. There is a risk of an
accident if the towing device is not properly fitted!General MaintenanceTrailer load
The permissible trailer load must on no account be exceeded. You can negotiate appropriately steeper inclin
es and descents if you do not make full
use of the permissible trailer load.
The trailer loads specified only apply for altitudes up to 1 000 metres above mean sea
level. The fact that the engine power outp ut drops with increasing height due to a
lowering of air pressure and thus the abil ity to climb, means that the towed weight
must be reduced by 10 % for every further increase of 1 000 metres in height above
sea level. The towed weight is the weight of the (laden) vehicle and the (laden) trailer
together. One should take this into account before driving up to higher altitudes.
The trailer and drawbar load information on the type plate of the towing device
are merely test data for the towing device The data relating to your vehicle, which
is often less than this test data, can be found in your vehicle registration docu-
ments.
Distribution of the load
Distribute the load in the trailer in such a way that any heavy items are located as close
as possible to the axle. Secure th e items to prevent them slipping.
Tyre inflation pressure
Select the tyre inflation pressure on yo ur vehicle for that of “fully laden”, page 151.
The inflation pressure of the tyres fitted to the trailer adjust in accordance with the
manufacturer's recommendation.
Exterior mirrors
You have to have additional exterior mirrors fitted if you are not able to see the traffic
behind the trailer with the standard rear-view mirrors. Both exterior mirrors should be
attached to folding arms. Adjust the mirrors so that they provide you with an adequate
field of view to the rear.
Headlights
Before starting off with a hitched trailer, al so check the setting of the headlights. Alter
the setting as necessary with the aid of the headlight beam adjuster page 43.
Detachable ball head
The ball rod is detachable on vehicles whic h feature a factory-fitted towing device.6)In some countries the adapter is supplied with the towing device.
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Towing a trailer
126
Further information on the towing device page 126.
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 allo wed 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, “Engine coolant temperature Display”.
If the needle of the coolant temperature gaug e 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 143,
“Inspecting the coolant level”.
Please refer to the following guidelines page 25, “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.
Detachable towing device*The ball head of the towing device is stowed together with separate fitting instructions
in the spare wheel well in the luggage compartment of the vehicle.
Fig. 118 Detachable ball head
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Inspecting and replenishing139
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Inspecting and replenishingEngine compartmentBonnet remote releaseBonnet remote release– Pull the unlocking lever below the dash panel on the driver's side fig. 120 .
The bonnet jumps out of its lock as a result of the spring force. A locking lever appears
at the same time in the radiator grille.Opening and closing the bonnet.Fig. 121 Radiator grille: Release lever / se curing the bonnet with the bonnet support
Opening the bonnet– Unlock the bonnet fig. 120 .
– Ensure that the arms of the windscreen wipers are correctly in place against the windscreen before opening the bonnet otherwise damage could occur to the
paintwork.
– Pulling on the release lever in direction of arrow fig. 121 will unlock the
bonnet.
– Grip with the hand under the radiator grille and lift up the bonnet.
– Take the bonnet support out of its holder and set it in the opening on the bonnet.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 20 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 driving if you notice that the lock is not
properly engaged and close the bonnet properly - risk of an accident!Caution
Never open the bonnet using the locking lever - danger of causing damage.
Fig. 120 Bonnet release lever
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