Driving and the Environment
182
Embankment angle (front and rear)
Transition from the horizontal plane to an upward slope or from a downward slope
back to the plane. The angle indication determines the angle at which you can drive the
vehicle down the embankment, at a slow speed, without the bumper or the under-
body of the vehicle touching the ground.
Slope angle
The difference of altitude (upward slope) which is overcome on a stretch of road of 100
m, is indicated in percentage or degrees, i. e the gradiant at which the vehicle can climb
a hill on its own (among other things, depe nding on the road surface and the engine
power).
Ground clearance
The distance between the road surface and the deepest point of the vehicle under-
body.
Ramp angle
The angle indication determines the angle at which you can drive the vehicle over a
ramp, at a slow speed, without the underbody of the vehicle touching the ramp edge.
WARNING
When exceeding the maximum value given in the table page 245, “Angle (in
degree)”, this can result in serious inju ries and/or vehicle damage. All of the
data was determined on flat, firm and no n-slip road surfaces as well as under
dry weather conditions. There are no id eal off-road conditions. Therefore,
never completely go according to the maximum values, but always leave a
safety margin.Useful utensilsMany items can be very useful wh en driving off-road, for example:
compass and maps,
torch and spare batteries,
mobile phone or CB radio,
tow bar or tow rope with sufficient tear strength,
electrically driven tyre pump for connect ing to the 12-volt power outlet of the
vehicle,
a blanket and rubber boots,
snow chains,
a timber plank which is approximately 4 cm thick and about 1 metre long can be
used as a traction aid when the vehicle is stuck or as a base for the lifting jack,
additional tools and a folding yardstick or a measuring tape,
spare wheel and tyre repair kit,
shovel.
Safe off-road drivingAdopt a correct seated position and always fa sten the seat belt correctly. Make sure
that your front passenger and your passengers seated on the rear seats always fasten
their seat belts correctly.
When driving off-road, it is perhaps more useful to adopt a slightly different seated
position. Depending on the terrain, an incr eased force may be required to turn the
steering wheel because the force is transferred from the front wheels to the steering
wheel. You must be seated in such a way that you have good front visibility, especially
when driving uphill or downhill. You must never be seated in such a way that the
distance between your chest and the midd le of the airbag cover is less than 25 cm
page 148.
Under no circumstances must you drive off-ro ad with high heels, slippery or open
shoes. You should wear shoes which fit your feet well and allow you to get a feel for the
pedals.
WARNING
Observe the important guidelines page 179.Before driving off-road
Make sure the tyres are suitable for the pl anned off-road journey. Be fore you dri ve
through difficult terrain, equip yo ur vehicle with off-road tyres.
AA
AB
AC
AD
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Driving and the Environment
186
Never attempt to make a turn on a hillside. The vehicle could tilt or roll over.
This can result in serious accidents.
If the engine cuts out on a slope or you can no longer go on for whatever
other reason, then stop!
Never let the vehicle roll down the hill side at idling speed. You can lose the
control over your vehicle.
If the engine cuts out, press the foot brake and restart the engine. Engage the
reverse gear and carefully drive backward s in your own tracks. Use the engine
braking power and press the foot brake in order to maintain a slow and
constant speed.
Observe the important guidelines page 179.
Driving at an angle on a hillsideFig. 158 Steer and maintain your trajectory / in direction to exit - facing uphillDriving at an angle on a hillside is one of the most dangerous situations while driving
off-road. It may look harmless, but you must never underestimate the difficulties and
the dangers when driving at an angle on a hillside. Basically you should avoid moving
your vehicle into a sideways position on a hillside. Under certain circumstances, the
vehicle can slide away uncon trollably or roll over.
Check before driving in a tilted position, whether there is a different and safer route. If
you have to drive in a tilted position, then the ground should be as firm and even as
possible. Note that the vehicle may slide sideways or sink in and roll over when driving on slippery or soft ground. Make sure that
the inclination is not too steep when driving
over surface irregularities. Otherwise, the vehicle can roll over and then roll down the
hillside.
If the vehicle is at a very steep angle, the wheels on the low side must not sink deeply
into the ground or into troughs and you mu st not drive over stones, tree stumps or
other obstructions with the alternate raised wheels.
If there is a risk your ve hicle may tilt, steer immedi ately in direction of dip fig. 158
and lightly depress the accelerator. The centre of gravity of the vehicle should be as low
as possible. Distribute the weight of all the occupants of the vehicle evenly. Taller and
heavier people should be seated on the rais ed side of the vehicle. The luggage on the
roof should be removed and secured, as the vehicle could tilt by a sudden shifting of
the luggage.
A passenger, seated at the rear, should always remain seated on the seat facing up the
hill during such a journey. In an extreme case , the passenger on the relevant side must
exit the vehicle until you have safely crossed the hillside.
Exiting the vehicle on a hillside
If the vehicle comes to a standstill at a st eep angle on a hillside and you and your
passengers must exit the vehicle, then all th e occupants should exit on the side facing
up the hill fig. 158 on the right.
WARNING
Never attempt to drive uphill or downhill if it is too steep for your vehicle.
The vehicle could slip, tilt or roll over - risk of accident!
When driving at an angle on a hillside, the vehicle can lose its grip and slide
sideways. The vehicle can tilt or roll over and then roll down the hillside. This
can lead to serious injuries.
Always make sure that when the vehicle is at an angle, the wheels on the low
side do not sink deeply into the ground or into troughs and do not drive over
stones, tree stumps or other obstructions with the alternate raised wheels - risk
of accident!
Before you drive at an angle on a hillside fig. 158 , make sure that you can
steer and maintain your trajectory. If this is not possible, choose a different
path. If you drive at an an gle on a hillside and there is a risk your vehicle may
WARNING (continued)
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Driving and the Environment187
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
tilt, steer immediat
ely downhill on your trajec tory and lightly depress the
accelerator.
If the vehicle is stationary on a hillside with a too great angle of lateral incli-
nation, avoid sudden and uncontrolled movements in the vehicle. The vehicle
can roll over and then roll down the hillside. This can lead to serious injuries.
If the vehicle is stationary on a hillside with a too great angle of lateral incli-
nation, neither you nor your occupants must exit the vehicle through the doors
facing downhill. This can lead to a shift of the overall centre of gravity. The
vehicle can tilt or roll over and then roll down the hillside. This can lead to
serious injuries. To avoid this, you and your occupants must exit the vehicle
only on the side facing uphill page 186, fig. 158.
When you exit the vehicle, make sure that the door which faces uphill does
not close by its own weight or by carelessness - risk of injury!
Observe the important guidelines page 179.
Driving over rutted roads and troughsYou will always encounter ruts when driv ing on forest roads, through wet meadows
and fields as well as on rutted stretches of terrain.
If the ruts and troughs are on firm and soft ground, you can simply follow the ruts.
Do not drive over ruts and troughs which ar e too deep. If you cannot avoid this, it is
better that you turn back.
Caution
If the ruts or troughs become too deep, the underbody of the vehicle can touch the
ground, which might cause the underbody to get damaged. Therefore, avoid driving in
deep ruts and troughs.Crossing a trenchIf possible, drive through the trench at an acute angle. Make sure when driving through
the trench that the tilt angle is not too steep.
WARNING
Never attempt to drive through a trench if its embankment is too steep. The
vehicle could slip, tilt or roll over - risk of accident!
Caution
If you drive into the trench at a right angle, the front wheels will sink into the trench.
There is also the danger that the underbod y of the vehicle touches the ground and is
damaged. For these reasons (even with four-wheel drive) it is rarely possible to get out
of the trench.Driving in sand and mudYou should therefore always drive at a cons tant speed through sand or mud whenever
possible and at the same time do not shift gears or change the driving stage.
– Switch on the Off-road mode page 170.
– Select a suitable gear or driving stage and maintain the gear or driving stage.
– Keep your vehicle in constant motion and do not stop until you have reached firm
ground.
Never drive too fast, otherwise the wheels may spin and the vehicle can get stuck. If
you feel that the tyres do no longer grip, then turn the steering wheel quickly back and
forth. This leads to an improved adhesion of the front tyres of the vehicle for a short
period of time.
Driving through sand
Do not reduce the tyre inflation pressure. If yo u nevertheless reduce the inflation
pressure, do not forget to re-establish the correct tyre inflation pressure level before
you continue driving. Driving with a reduced tyre inflation pressure increases the risk
that you lose control over your vehicle and that the vehicle rolls over.
Driving through mud
Do not change speed or direction when you drive through the mud. The tyres can lose
their grip in the mud. If the vehicle slides, you must steer in the appropriate direction
in order to regain control over the vehicle.
WARNING (continued)
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Driving and the Environment
188WARNING
Driving through mud can be dangerous. The vehicle can slide uncontrol-
lably which causes an increased risk of injury. Adopt a particularly cautious
style of driving. Pay attention to the information and warning notes.
An incorrect tyre inflation pressure may cause a major or fatal accident! An
incorrect tyre inflation pressure may result in bursting of a tyre, which causes
the vehicle to get out of control.
Observe the important guidelines page 179.
Stuck vehicleIf you can no longer drive on ...– Carefully dig out all the wheels and make sure that no other parts of the vehicle are
stuck in the sand.
– Engage the reverse gear.
– Gently depress the accelerator and try to drive backwards in your own track.
– Place scrub, footmats or a sackcloth directly in front of the tyres in order to improve
the road adherence and thus achieve an improved traction to drive out.Rocking out vehicle–Switch off the TCS page 165.
– Set the steering wheel straight.
– Drive so far back until the wheels just begin to spin.
– Quickly shift into first gear and drive forwards until the wheels begin to spin.
– Drive back and forth repeatedly until the momentum is sufficient to free the vehicle.
–Switch on the TCS.A few tips– Ensure that the Off-road mode is switched on page 170. – Avoid prolonged spinning of the wheels, otherwise the vehicle would still sink
deeper into the ground.
– Remove mud, dirt and stones from the tread of the tyre.
You need training and experience if you wish to rock out a vehicle. If you make a
mistake, the vehicle can still sink in further and you can only free it with the help of
others.
WARNING
Observe the important guidelines page 179.After driving off-roadCheck the vehicle for damage after driving off-road - especially on the underside of the
vehicle.
– Switch off the Off-road mode page 170.
– Check the tyres and the axles for damage and remove coarse dirt, stones and foreign bodies from the tyre tread.
– Clean the turn signal lights, the headlights, the number plate and the windows.
– Check the underbody of the vehicle and remove trapped objects, such as scrub or wood pieces.
– Contact your specialist gara ge if you detect any damage.
– In case of thick layers of dirt, clean the radiator grille, the engine compartment and the underbody of the vehicle.
WARNING
Combustible materials which are tra pped under the vehicle floor can be
dangerous. They can impair the driving safety and the safety of all the occu-
pants of the vehicle. After driving off-road, always check the underside of the
vehicle and remove trapped objects.
Never continue the journey if objects are trapped under the vehicle. This
can damage the fuel lines, the brake system, the seals and other parts of the
chassis.
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Towing a trailer191
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 58.
Detachable ball head
The ball rod is detachable on vehicles which feature a factory-fitted towing device. It is
stowed together with separate fitting instru ctions in the spare wheel well in the luggage
compartment of the vehicle.
Further information on the towing device page 192.
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 17, “Coolant temperature gauge”.
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 208,
“Inspecting the coolant level”.
Please refer to the following guidelines page 33, “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.
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Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle
194
There are no particular points to note be fore washing your vehicle in an automatic
vehicle wash system other than the usua l precautionary measures (closing the
windows and the sliding/tilting roof etc.).
If you have any particular attached parts fitted to your car - such as spoiler, roof rack
system, two-way radio aerial - it is best to first of all consult the operator of the car
wash plant.
It is important to degrease the lips of the windscreen wiper rubbers after passing
through the automatic vehicle wash system.Washing vehicle by handIt is important to first soften the dirt with plenty of water and rinse it off as thoroughly
as possible before washin g your vehicle by hand.
One should then clean the vehicle using a soft washing sponge, washing glove or a
washing brush and only slight pressure. Work from the top to the bottom - beginning
with the roof. Only place slight pressure on the vehicle paintwork during cleaning Only
use a car shampoo for stubborn dirt.
Wash out the sponge or washing glove thoroughly at short intervals.
Clean wheels, door sills and similar parts last. Use a second sponge for such areas.
Rinse off the vehicle well after giving it a wash and dry it off using a chamois leather.
WARNING
The ignition should always be switched off when you wash your vehicle -
risk of accident!
Protect your hands and arms from sharp-edged metal parts when you are
cleaning the underfloor, the inside of the wheel housings or the wheel trims -
risk of cuts.Caution
Do not wash your vehicle in bright sunlight - risk of paint damage.
Ensure that the jet of water is not aimed di rectly at the locking cylinders or at the
door and panel joints if you spray your vehi cle in winter down with a hose - risk of
freezing.
Do not use any insect sponges, rough kitc hen sponges or similar cleaning products
- risk of damage to the surface of paintwork.For the sake of the environment
Only wash your vehicle at wa shing bays specifically reserved for this purpose. This
ensures that no water which may be contaminated by oil flows into the sewage system.
It is not even permitted to wash your vehicl e in certain areas except at such specific
washing bays.Washing with a high-pressure cleanerWhen you wash your vehicle with a high-press ure cleaner, it is essential to comply with
the instructions for use of the cleaning equi pment. This applies in particular to the
pressure used and to the spraying distance . Maintain a sufficiently large distance to
soft materials such as rubber hoses or insulation material.
On no account use circular spray nozzles or so-called dirt cutters!
WARNING
It is particularly important that you do not clean tyres with circular spray jets.
Visible but also invisible damage to tyres may occur even at a relatively large
spraying distance and if sprayed only for a short time - risk of accident!
Caution
The water containing wax must be no hotter than 60°C, otherwise the vehicle can be
damaged.Wax treatmentGood wax treatment is an effective way of protecting the paintwork from harmful envi-
ronmental influences and minor mechanical damage.
The vehicle must be treated with a high-quali ty hard wax polish at the latest, when no
more drops form on the clean paintwork.
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Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle
196
Do not use window leathers which you have us ed to polish the vehicle body to dry off
the windows. Residues of preservatives in the window leather can dirty the window
and reduce visibility.
Do not affix any stickers over the inside of the rear window to avoid damage to the
heating elements of the rear window heater .
We recommend using a preserva tive from Škoda genuine accessories offered by your
Škoda dealer.
Caution
Never remove snow or ice from the glass parts with warm or hot water - risk of forma-
tion of cracks in the glass!The headlight lensesPlease do not use any aggressi ve cleaning or chemical solvent products for cleaning
the front headlights - risk of damage to the plastic lenses. Please use soap and clean
warm water.
Caution
Never wipe the headlights dry and do not use any sharp objects for cleaning the plastic
lenses, this may result in damage to the protective paintwork and consequently in
formation of cracks on the headlight lenses, e.g through effect of chemical products.Door and window sealsThe rubber seals on the doors, boot lid, bonnet and windows remain supple and last
longer if you treat them from time to time with a rubber care product (e.g. with a spray
with silicone-free oil). You also avoid premature wear of the seals and prevent leakages
in this way. It is also easier to open the doors. Rubber seals which are well cared for also
do not stick together in cold winter weather.Locking cylinderWe recommend that you use the spray from Škoda original accessories with regreasing
and anticorrosive effect for de-icing locking cylinders.
Note
When washing your vehicle, ensure that as little water as possible gets into the locking
cylinders.WheelsSteel wheels
You should also thoroughly wash the wheels and wheel trims when giving your vehicle
its regular wash. This prevents any brake dust, dirt and road salt from sticking to the
wheel hubs. You can remove stubborn brake abrasion adhering to the wheels with an
industrial cleaner. Touch up any damage to the paintwork on the wheels before rust is
able to form.
Light alloy wheels
Regular care of light alloy wh eels is necessary in order to retain their decorative
appearance over long periods. It is particul arly important to remove regularly any road
salt and brake abrasion from light alloy wheels, otherwise the light metal will suffer.
Wash thoroughly and then treat the wheels with a protective product for light alloy
wheels which does not cont ain any acidic components. We recommend to apply a
hard wax layer onto the wheel hubs every three months. You must not use any prod-
ucts which cause abrasion when treating the wheel hubs. Any damage to the paint
layer on the wheel hubs must be touched up immediately.
We recommend using a preservative from Šk oda genuine accessories offered by your
Škoda dealer.
WARNING
One should remember when cleaning th e wheels that moisture, ice and road
salt may adversely affect braking ef ficiency - risk of an accident!
Note
Severe layers of dirt on the wheels can also result in wheel imbalance. This may show
itself in the form of a wheel vibration which is transmitted to the steering wheel which,
in certain circumstances, can cause premature wear of the steering. This means it is
necessary to remove the dirt.
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Inspecting and replenishing203
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. 161 .
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. 162 Radiator grille: Locking lever / se curing the bonnet with the bonnet support
Opening the bonnet– Unlock the bonnet fig. 161 .
– 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.
– Pressing on the locking lever in direction of arrow fig. 162 will unlock the
bonnet.
– Grasp the front part of the bonnet under the chrome trim.
– Take the bonnet support out of its holder in direction of arrow and secure the opened bonnet by inserting the end of the support in the opening fig. 162
designed for it.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 !
– Check whether the bonnet is properly closed.
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!
Fig. 161 Bonnet release lever
A1
A2A3
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