2010 SKODA ROOMSTER maintenance

Driving and the Environment141
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Praktik
Technical Data
Driving and the EnvironmentThe first 1 500 kilometres and then afterwardsA new engine
The engine has to be run in during the first 1 500 kilometres.Up to 1 000 kilometres– Do not drive faster than 3/4 of the maximum speed of the gear in use, that is 3/4 of
the maximum permissi ble engine speed.
– Do not use full throttle.
– Avoid high engine revolutions.
– Do not tow a trailer.From 1 000 up to 1 500 kilometres– Increase the power output of the engine gradually up to the full speed of the gear
engaged, that is up to the maxi mum permissible engine revolutions.
During the first operating hours the engine ha s higher internal friction than later until
all of the moving parts have harmonized. Th e driving style which you adopt during the
first approx.1 500 kilometres plays a decisive part in the success of running in your
vehicle.
You should not drive at unnecessarily high engine revolutions even after the
running-in period is complete . The maximum permissible en gine speed is marked by
the beginning of the red zone on the scale of the revolutions counter. Shift up into the
next higher gear on a vehi cle fitted with manual gear box before the red zone is
reached. During acceleration (depressing the accelerator) exceptionally high engine
speeds are automatically reduced, yet the engine is not protected against too high
engine speeds which are caused by incorrectly shifting down the gears resulting in a
sudden increase of the engine speeds above the permitted maximum revolutions
which can lead to engine damage.
For a vehicle fitted with a manual gearbox the converse situation also applies: Do not
drive at engine revolutions which are too low. Shift down as soon as the engine is no
longer running smoothly.
Caution
All the speed and engine revolution figures ap ply only when the engine is at its normal
operating temperature. Never rev up an engine which is cold, neither when the vehicle
is stationary nor when driving in individual gears.
For the sake of the environment
Not driving at unnecessari ly high engine revolutions and shifting to a higher gear as
early as possible are ways to minimise fuel consumption, operating noise levels as well
as protects the environment and contributes to a longer life and reliability of the
engine.New tyresNew tyres have to be “run in” since they do not offer optimal grip at first. You should
take account of this fact for the first 500 kilometres and drive particularly carefully.New brake padsAllow for the fact that new brake pads do no t achieve their full braking efficiency until
approximately 200 kilometres. New brake pads must be first “run in” before they
develop their optimal friction force. You ca n, however, compensate for this slightly
reduced braking force by increasing the pressure on the brake pedal.
This guideline also applies to any new brake pads installed at a future date.
During the running-in pe riod, you should avoid excessive stresses on the brakes. This
includes, for example, violent braking, part icularly from very high speeds, and also
when crossing mountain passes.
s16g.4.book Page 141 Wednesda y, February 10, 2010 3:53 PM

Driving and the Environment143
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Praktik
Technical Data
guidelines given in this chapter in order to
make best use of these characteristics and
to maintain their effectiveness.
Looking ahead when driving
A vehicle's highest fuel consumption occurs it accelerates.Avoid accelerating and braking 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.Fig. 129 Fuel consumption / Shift recommendation for changing gearsManual gearbox– Drive no more than about one length of your vehicle in first gear.
– Shift up into the next higher gear at approx. 2 000 to 2 500 revs.Automatic gearbox– Depress the accelerator pedal slowly. Do not depress it beyond the kickdown
position, however.
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. 129 shows the ratio of fuel consumption to the speed of your vehicle in the
relevant gear. Fuel consumption in 1st gear is the highest. The consumption is the
lowest in the highest gear.
You will achieve good fuel economy by shif ting up early and shifting down late.
Shift recommendation for changing gears*
An information for the engaged gear  fig. 129 is shown in the display of the
instrument cluster.
In order to minimise the fuel consumptio n, a recommendation for shifting into
another gear is indicated in the display.
If the control unit recognises that it is appropriate to change the gear, an arrow is
shown in the display. The arrow points up or down, depending on whether it is recom-
mended to shift into a higher or lower gear.
At the same time, the recommended gear is indicated instead of the currently engaged
gear .
Note
Also use the information supplied by the multi-functional indicator* page 18.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.
AA
AB
AA
Fig. 130 Fuel consumption in litres/100
km. and speed in km/h.
s16g.4.book Page 143 Wednesday, February 10, 2010 3:53 PM

Driving and the Environment
144
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 page 143, fig. 130 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.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 and pollutant emis sions, 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 consumption of a ne
w 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 regular intervals to detect any leakages in
good time. Please have your vehicle inspec ted 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. 131 shows the different fuel consumptions for the same distance, on the one
Fig. 131 Fuel consumption in litres/100
km at different temperatures
s16g.4.book Page 144 Wednesda y, February 10, 2010 3:53 PM

Driving and the Environment145
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Praktik
Technical Data
hand at +20°C and on the other hand at
-10°C. Your vehicle has a higher fuel
consumption in winter than in summer.
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 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 luggage 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 kilograms 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 1 l 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 re cyclable material.

Air conditioning filled with CFC-free refrigerant.

No cadmium.

No asbestos.
s16g.4.book Page 145 Wednesda y, February 10, 2010 3:53 PM

Driving and the Environment147
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Praktik
Technical Data
This particularly applies to
models with a lowered suspen sion (sport suspension) and
also when your vehicle is fully laden.
Driving through bodies of water on roadsIn order to avoid damage to the vehicle, for example when driving through 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. 132 .

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, pa rts of the vehicle such as the engine,
gearbox, catalytic converter, chassis or electrics can be severely damaged.

Oncoming vehicles can generate water waves which ca n 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. 132 Crossing bodies of water
s16g.4.book Page 147 Wednesda y, February 10, 2010 3:53 PM

Towing a trailer
148
Towing a trailerTo w i n g a t r a i l e rTechnical requirements
The towing device must satisfy certain technical requirements.Your 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 been equipped with a towing device from Škoda Original Accesso-
ries, then the towing device satisfies all technical and legal requirements.
Your vehicle is fitted with a 13-pin power socket for the electrical connection between
the vehicle and trailer. If the tr ailer which you wish to tow has a 7-pin connector, you
can use a suitable adapter
13) from Škoda original accessories.
This work must be carried out in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications if
a towing device is retrofitted.
Specialist garages are familiar with details re lating to 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 a specialist garage. 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 Maintenance
There are a number of points to pay attention to when towing a trailer.Trailer 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. On petrol engines without forced indu ction, the engine power output drops with
increasing height due to a lowering of air pr essure and thus the ability to climb, this
means that the trailer load must be reduced by 10% for every further increase of 1 000
metres in height above sea le vel. The towed weight is the weight of the (laden) vehicle
and the (laden) trailer together. One should ta ke this into account before driving up to
higher altitudes. Petrol engines with forced induction use an air pressure correction
method, so that their power output does not depend on the height above sea level.
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 pressure
Correct the tyre inflation pressure on yo ur vehicle for that of “fully laden”, page 173.
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 ex terior 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 49.13)In some countries the adapter is supplied with the towing device.s16g.4.book Page 148 Wednesda y, February 10, 2010 3:53 PM

Towing a trailer149
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Praktik
Technical Data
Detachable ball head
The ball rod is detachable on vehicles with towing devi
ce and suppliable from Škoda
original accessories. It is stowed together with separate fitting instructions in the spare
wheel well in the luggage compartment of the vehicle.
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/h 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.
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 166,
“Inspecting the coolant level”.
Please refer to the following guidelines  page 28, “Coolant temperature/ Coolant
quantity  ”.
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.
s16g.4.book Page 149 Wednesda y, February 10, 2010 3:53 PM

Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle151
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Praktik
Technical Data
General MaintenanceTaking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicleGeneralProper care retains the value of your vehicle.Regular and proper care retains the value of your vehicle. It may also be one of the
requirements for the acceptance of warranty claims relating to corrosion damage and
paint defects on the bodywork.
We recommend using a preserva tive from Škoda genuine accessories offered by your
Škoda dealer. Please follow the instructions for use on the package.
WARNING

Care products may be harmful to your health if not used according to the
instructions.

Always store care products in a safe place, out of the reach of children - risk
of poisoning!For the sake of the environment

Always select environmentally-friendly products when purchasing vehicle care
products.

Do not dispose of residues of ca re products in domestic waste.
Care of the exterior of vehicleWashing the vehicle
Frequent washing protects your vehicle.The best protection for your vehicle agai nst harmful environmental influences is
frequent washing and wax treatment. How of ten you should wash your vehicle
depends on a wide range of factors, such as:

Frequency of use;

The parking situation (garage, below trees etc.);

Season of the year;

Weather conditions;

Environmental influences.
The longer insect residues, bird droppings, tree sap, road and industrial dust, tar, soot
particles, road salt and other aggressive deposits remain adhering to the paintwork of
your vehicle, the more detrimental their destructive effect can be. High temperatures,
such as those caused by intensive sun' s rays, accentuate this caustic effect.
It may therefore be necessary, in ce rtain circumstances, to wash the car once a week .
It may also be sufficient, however, to wash the car once a month followed by appro-
priate wax treatment.
It is essential to also thoroughly wash the underside of your vehicle at the end of the
winter road salting and gritting period.
WARNING
When washing your vehicle in the winter : Water and ice in the brake system can
affect the braking efficiency - risk of accident!Automatic vehicle wash systemsThe paintwork of the vehicle is sufficiently resistant that the vehicle can be washed
normally in automatic vehicle wash plants without any problem. The actual stress to
which the paintwork is subjected, however, depends primarily on the design of the
vehicle wash system, the filtering of the wa ter and the type of washing and care prod-
ucts used. If the paintwork of your vehicle appears mat after being washed or even has
scratches, point this out to the operator of the vehicle wash plant. Use a different
vehicle wash plant, if necessary.
s16g.4.book Page 151 Wednesda y, February 10, 2010 3:53 PM