
Instruments and warning lights31
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Praktik
Technical Data
Note
If the battery has been disconnected and reconnected, the warning light 
 comes on 
after switching on the ignition. The warning light must go out after driving a short 
distance.
Antilock brake system (ABS) 
The warning light 
 shows the functionality of the ABS.
The warning light comes on for a few seconds  after the ignition has been switched on 
or when starting the engine. The warning  light goes out after an automatic check 
sequence has been completed.
A fault in the ABS
The system is not functioning properly if the ABS warning light 
 does not go out 
within a few seconds after switching on the ignition, does not light up at all or lights up 
while driving. The vehicle will only be br aked by the normal brake system. Visit a 
specialist garage as quickly as possible and adjust your style of driving to take account 
of the fault in the meantime since you will  not know the extent of the fault and in how 
far the effect of the antilock brakes is affected.
Further information about ABS  page 136, “Antilock brake system (ABS)”.
A fault in the entire brake system
If the ABS warning light 
 comes on together with the brake system warning light 
 
(handbrake must be released), there is a fa ult not only in the ABS but also in another 
part of the brake system  .
WARNING
If the brake system warning light 
 comes on together with the ABS 
warning light 
 stop the vehicle immediately and check the brake fluid level in 
the reservoir  page 167, “Brake fluid”. If the fluid level has dropped below the 
MIN marking, do not drive any further -  risk of accident! Obtain professional 
assistance.
Pay attention to the following instruct ions before checking the brake fluid 
level and opening the bonnet  page 162, “Working in the engine compart-
ment”.
If the brake fluid is at the correct leve l, the ABS control function has failed. 
The rear wheels may then block very rapi dly when braking. In certain circum-
stances, this can result in the rear end of the car breaking away - risk of skid-
ding! Drive carefully to the nearest specialist garage and have the fault 
rectified.
Brake system 
The warning light 
 flashes or comes on if the brake fluid level is too low, if there is a 
fault in the ABS or if  the handbrake is applied.
If the warning light  flashes and an audible signal so unds three times (handbrake is 
not applied),  stop and check the brake fluid level  .
The following text will be displayed in the information display*: Brake fluid Owner's manual
If there is a fault in the ABS which also infl uences the function of the brake system (e.g. 
distribution of brake pressure), the ABS warning light 
 comes on and at the same 
time the brake system warn ing light starts flashing 
. Be aware that not only the ABS 
but also another part of th brake system is defective  .
An audible signal sounds three times as an additional warning signal.
One should get used to high pedal forces, an extended free play of the brake pedal and 
long braking distances when carefully driving to the specialist garage.
For further information on the brake system  page 135, “Brakes”.
Handbrake applied
The warning light 
 also comes on if the handbrake is applied. An audible warning is 
also given if you drive the vehicle for at least 3 seconds at a speed of more than 6 km/h.
The following text will be displayed in the information display*:
Release parking brake!
WARNING (continued)
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Instruments and warning lights
32WARNING
Pay attention to the following instruct ions before checking the brake fluid 
level and opening the bonnet  page 162, “Working in the engine compart-
ment”.
If the brake system warning light 
 does not go out a few seconds after 
switching on the ignition or comes on when driving, stop immediately and 
check the brake fluid in the reservoir  page 167, “Brake fluid”. If the fluid level 
has dropped below the MIN marking, do no t drive any further - risk of accident! 
Obtain professional assistance.
Cruise control system* 
The warning light 
 lights up, when operating the speed regulating system.
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 after 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, side and head airbags or belt tensioner which have been switched off 
using the vehicle system tester:
The warning light 
 lights up for 3 seconds after switching on the ignition and then 
flashes for 12 seconds afterwards in 2 second intervals.
The following text will be displayed in the information display*:
Airbag/belt tensioner deactivated! If the passenger front airbag has been
 switched off using the switch (for 
switching off airbags)* in th e end face of the dash panel on the front passenger 
side:
The warning light 
 comes on for 4 seconds after the ignition has been switched 
on.
switching off the airbag is indicated in the middle of the dash panel by the lighting 
up of the yellow indicator light in display 
  
     page 125.
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 124, “Deactivating airbags”.Diesel particle filter* 
 (diesel engine)
If the warning light 
 comes on, this means that soot has accumulated in the diesel 
particle filter because of the frequent short distances.
In order to clean the diesel particle filter, the vehicle should be driven at an even speed 
of at least 60 km/h at engine speeds of 1  800 - 2 500 rpm for at least 15 minutes or until 
the warning light goes out with the 4th or  5th gear engaged (automatic gearbox: posi-
tion S) when the traffic situation permits it . This increases the exhaust temperature and 
the soot deposited in the diesel particle filter is burnt.
Always pay attention to the valid speed limits  .
The warning light 
 goes out after the successful cleaning of the diesel particle filter.
If the filter is not properly  cleaned, the warning light 
 does not go out and the 
warning light 
 begins to flash. In the information display* appears  Diesel-particle 
Owner's manual . Afterwards the engine control unit shifts the engine into the emer-
gency mode, which only has a reduced power  output. After switching the ignition off 
and on again the warning light 
 comes on.
Have the vehicle inspected without  delay by your specialist garage.
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Heating and air conditioning system
84
Using the air conditioning system economicallyThe compressor on the Climatic uses powe r 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 of the Climatic is defective. Check the fuse, replace it if necessary 
 page 191.
The cooling system has switched off automatically 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.
Climatronic* (automatic air conditioning)Description
The Climatronic system is a combinat ion of an automatic heating, fresh 
air and cooling system which provides optimal comfort for the occu-
pants of the car.The Climatronic maintains a constant temperat ure fully automatically, once it has been 
set. This is achieved by automatically varying the temperature of the outflowing air, the 
blower stages and the air distribution. The system also takes into account sunlight 
which eliminates the need to alter the settings manually. The  automatic mode 
 page 86 ensures maximum wellbeing of the occupants at all times of the year.
Description of Climatronic system
The cooling operates only if the following conditions are met:
engine running,
outside temperature above approx. +2°C,
 switched on.
If the cooling system is switched on, th e temperature and air humidity drops in the 
vehicle. The wellbeing of the occupants of the car is enhanced as a result of this partic-
ularly at high outside temperatures and a high air humidity. The system prevents the 
windows misting up during the cold season of the year.
The heating effect is dependent upon the coolant temperature, thus full heat output 
only occurs when the engine has reached its operating temperature.
It is possible to briefly activate recirculat ed air mode in order to enhance the cooling 
effect   .
The air inlet in front of the windscreen must be free of ice, snow or leaves in order to 
ensure that the heating and cooling systems operate properly.
The AC compressor is switched off at a high  coolant temperature in order to provide 
cooling at a high load of the engine.
After switching on the cooling  Condensation from the evaporator of the air condi-
tioning may drip down and form a puddle be low the vehicle. This is quite normal and 
not an indication of a leak!AC
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Starting-off and Driving87
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Praktik
Technical Data
Starting-off and DrivingSetting steering wheel positionFig. 91  Adjustable steering wheel: Lever be low the steering column / Safe distance to 
steering wheelYou can set the height and the forward/back  position of the steering wheel to the 
desired position.
– Adjust the driver seat  page 57.
– Pull the lever below the steering column  fig. 91 down  .
– Set the steering wheel to the desired position (concerning height and forward/back  position).
– Then push the lever up against the steering column until it locks into place.
WARNING
You must not adjust the steering wheel when the vehicle is moving!
The driver must maintain a distance of  at least 25 cm to the steering wheel 
 fig. 91  on the right. Not maintaining this minimum distance will mean that 
the airbag system will not be able to properly protect you - hazard!
For safety reasons the lever must always be firmly pushed up to avoid the 
steering wheel altering its po sition unintentionally when driving - risk of acci-
dent!
If you adjust the steering wheel furthe r towards the head, you will reduce 
the protection offered by the driver airbag in the event of an accident. Check 
that the steering wheel is  aligned to the chest.
When driving, hold the steering wheel  with both hands firmly on the outer 
edge in the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock position. Never hold the steering wheel 
firmly in the 12 o'clock position or in another way (e.g. in the middle of the 
steering wheel or at the inne r steering wheel edge). In such  cases, injuries to the 
arms, the hands and the head can occur  when the driver airbag is deployed.
Ignition lockPetrol engines
 - ignition switched off, engine off
 - ignition switched on
 - start engine
Diesel engines  - interruption of fuel supply, ignition swit ched off, engine off, the steering can be 
locked.
 - heating glow plugs on, ignition switched on
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 92  Ignition lock positions
A1A2A3A1A2
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Starting-off and Driving89
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Praktik
Technical Data
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. When 
driving the engine reaches its operating te mperature more rapidly and the pollutant 
emissions 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 
awayand wait for about 30 seconds before repeating the attempt.
It is possible that the fuse on the electric al fuel pump is defect if the engine still 
does not start. Check the fuse and replace it if necessary  page 191.
If the engine does not start, contact the nearest specialist garage to obtain profes-
sional assistance.
It may be necessary, if the engine is  very hot, to slightly depress the accelerator after 
the engine has started.
Diesel enginesGlow plug system
Diesel engines are equipped with a glow  plug system, the preglow period being 
controlled automatically in line with the coolant temperature and outside tempera-
ture.
The preglow indicator light 
 comes on after the ignition has been switched on.
You should not switch on any major electrical components during the heating 
period otherwise the vehicle battery will be drained unnecessarily.
You should start the engine immediately after the glow plug warning light 
 has 
gone out.
The glow plug warning light will come on for about one second if the engine is at a 
normal operating temperature or if the outside temperature is above +5°C. This means 
that you can start the engine  right away.
Interrupt the attempt at starting after 10 seconds if the engine does not start right 
awayand wait for about 30 seconds before repeating the attempt.
It is possible that the fuse  on the diesel preglow system is defect if the engine still 
does not start. Check the fuse and replace it if necessary  page 191.
Contact the nearest specialist garage to obtain professional assistance.
Starting the engine after 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 turnin g the ignition key from position   into 
 page 87, fig. 92 .
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.
Note
The radiator fan may continue running fo r a further 10 minutes or so after the 
engine and the ignition have been switched  off. The coolant fan may, however, also 
A1
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Intelligent Technology139
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Praktik
Technical Data
If the warning light 
 does not go out after the basic setting, there is a fault in the 
system. Have the vehicle inspected by your nearest specialist garage.
Functional description
After the basic setting of the system the “adaptation” of the tyre inflation pressures and 
then the tyre pressure control in the individual tyres are performed.
Warning light 
 lights up
If the tyre inflation pressure of at least one wheel is insufficiently inflated in comparison 
to the stored basic value, the warning light 
    lights up. Inflate all tyres to the 
specified inflation pressure  page 173, “Tyre life” and then perform a basic setting of 
the system.
Warning light 
 flashes
If the warning light flashes, there is a system fault. Have the vehicle inspected by your 
nearest specialist garage.
WARNING
When the warning light 
 lights up, immediately reduce the speed and 
avoid sudden steering and brake manoeuvr es. Please stop the vehicle without 
delay at the nearest possible stop and in spect the tyres and their inflation pres-
sures.
The driver is responsible  for the correct tyre inflation pressures. For this 
reason, the tyre inflation pressu res must be checked regularly.
Under certain circumstances (e.g. sporty style of driving, wintry or unpaved 
roads) the warning light 
 can be delayed or does not light up at all.
The tyre pressure monitoring system does not take away the responsibility 
from the driver for the correct tyre inflation pressure.Note
The tyre pressure monitoring system:
does not replace the regular tyre inflatio n pressure control, because the system 
cannot detect an even pressure loss;
cannot warn in case of very rapid tyre inflation pressure loss, e.g. in case of sudden 
tyre damage. In this case ca refully bring the vehicle to a standstill without sudden 
steering movements and without sharp braking.
Diesel particle filter* (diesel engine)In the diesel particle filter the resu lting soot particles are collected and 
burnt during the combustion of diesel fuel.Code  7GG, 7MB  or 7MG  on the vehicle data sticker, see  fig. 128 , indicates that your 
vehicle is equipped with a diesel particle fi lter. The vehicle data sticker  is located on 
the floor of the luggage compartment and is  also stated in the Service schedule.
The diesel particle filter filters the soot particles completely from the exhaust. The soot 
is collected in the diesel particle filter and  burnt regularly. To assist this procedure, we 
recommend not to drive regu larly over short distances.
If the diesel particle filter is clogged or there is a fault, it is indicated by the warning light 
   page 32, “Diesel particle filter*   (diesel engine)”.
WARNING
The diesel particle filter  achieves very high temp eratures. Therefore do not 
park at points where the hot filter comes into direct contact with dry grass or 
other combustible materials - risk of fire!
Never use additional underbody protection or corrosion-protection agents 
for the exhaust pipes, catalytic converters,  diesel particle filter or heat shields. 
Fig. 128  Vehicle data sticker
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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
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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