Seat belts141
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Seat beltsWhy seat belts?It is a proven fact that seat belt s offer good protection in accidents fig. 124 . Thus
wearing a seat belt is a legal requirement in most countries.
Seat belts which have been correctly fasten ed and adjusted hold the occupants of the
car in the correct seated position fig. 124 . The belts reduce the kinetic energy
(energy of motion) to a considerable exte nt. They also prevent uncontrolled move-
ments which, in turn, may well result in severe injuries.
The occupants of a vehicle who have fastened and correctly adjusted their seat belt,
profit to a major extent from the fact that the kinetic energy is optimally absorbed by
the belts. The structure of the front end of the vehicle and other passive safety meas-
ures, such as the airbag system, also cont ribute to reducing the kinetic energy. The
energy produced is thus absorbed and there is less risk of injury.
Accident statistics prove that seat belts which are fastened and properly adjusted
reduce the risk of an injury and enhance the chance of survival in a major accident
page 141.
It is important that you pay attention to safety measures, particularly when trans-
porting children in the vehicle page 156, “What you should know about trans-
porting children!”.
WARNING
Fasten your seat belt each time before setting off, also when driving in town!
This also applies to the people seated at the rear - risk of injury!
Expectant women must also always wear a seat belt. This is the only way of
ensuring optimal protection for the unborn child page 143.
It is important for the belt webbing to be properly routed if the seat belts are
to offer the maximum protection. You can see a description of how safety belts
should be fitted properly on the next pages.Note
Please comply with any differing legal requirements when using the seat belts.The physical principle of a frontal collisionFig. 125 The driver is catapulted forward if not wearing a belt / The rear seat occupant is cata-
pulted forward if not wearing a beltThe physical principle of a frontal a ccident can be explained quite simply:
Motion energy, so-called kinetic energy, is produced as soon as the vehicle is moving,
both for the vehicle and its occupants. The magnitude of this kinetic energy depends
essentially on the speed at which the vehicl e is travelling and on the weight of the
vehicle and the occupants. The greater the speed and weight increase, the greater the
amount of energy which has to be ab sorbed in the event of an accident.
Fig. 124 Driver wearing seat belt
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Intelligent Technology
166
Active driver-steering recommendation (DSR)*Vehicles with ESP and ABS are equipped with active driver-steering recommendation
(DSR).
This function indicates to the driver in critical situations a steering recommendation in
order to stabilise the vehicle. The active driver-steering recommendation is activated,
for example, on the right and left vehicle si de when braking sharply on different road
surfaces.
WARNING
Even with this function the vehicle canno t steer itself! The driver is furthermore
responsible for the steering of the vehicle!BrakesWhat has a negative effect on braking efficiency?Wear-and-tear
Wear-and-tear to the brake pads is greatly dependent on the operating conditions of
the vehicle and your style of driving. Particul arly if you drive a great deal in towns and
over short distances or if you adopt a sporty style of driving, it may be necessary to
have the thickness of the brake pads inspected at a specialist garage between the
service inspections.
Wet roads or road salt
There may be a certain delay before the brakes take full effect under certain conditions
such as when driving through water, during heavy rain showers or after the vehicle has
been washed in an automatic vehicle wash , since the brake discs and brake pads may
be moist or even have a coatin g of ice on them in winter. Yo u s h o u l d d r y t h e b r a k e s a s
soon as possible by applying and releasing the brakes several times.
There also may be a certain delay before the full braking efficiency is available when
driving on roads which have been treated with road salt if you have not used the brakes
for some considerable time beforehand. The layer of salt on the brake discs and brake
pads must first be rubbed off when you apply the brakes. Corrosion
Corrosion on the brake discs and dirt on the bake pads occur if
the vehicle has been
parked for a long period and if you do not make much use of the braking system.
We recommend cleaning the brake discs by firm ly applying the brakes at a fairly high
speed if you do not make much use of the braking system or if surface corrosion is
present .
Faults in the brake surface
If you notice that the braking distance has suddenly become longer and that the brake
pedal can be depressed further, it is possib le that a brake circuit of the dual-circuit
brake system has failed. Drive, in such cases, to the nearest specialist garage without
delay in order to have the problem rectifie d. Drive at a reduced speed while on your
way to the dealer and adapt your style of driving to the higher brake pedal pressure
required.
Low brake fluid level
An insufficient level of brake fluid may result in problems in the brake system. The level
of the brake fluid is monitored electronically page 36, “Brake system ”.
WARNING
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 jeop-
ardy.
When retrospectively mounting a front spoiler, solid wheel hubs etc. one
must ensure that the air supply to the front wheel brakes is not reduced other-
wise the braking system could run too hot.
Allow for the fact that new brake pads do not achieve their full braking effi-
ciency until approximately 200 kilometres. New brake pads must be first “run
in” before they develop their optimal fric tion force. You can, however, compen-
sate for this slightly reduced braking fo rce by increasing the pressure on the
brake pedal. This guideline also applie s to any new brake pads installed at a
future date.
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Intelligent Technology
168
offered by the ABS must not tempt you to take greater risks than otherwise -
risk of an accident!
The normal braking system is still fully functional if there is an ABS fault.
Visit a specialist garage as quickly as poss ible and adjust your style of driving to
take account of the ABS fault in the meantime since you will not know the extent
of the fault and in how far the braking efficiency is affected.Note
A warning light comes on if a fault occurs in the ABS system
page 34.
Changes to vehicle (e.g. on engine, on th e brakes, on chassis or another combina-
tion of tyres and wheels) can in fluence the function of the ABS page 222, “Accesso-
ries, changes and replacement of parts”.
Brake Assist*During a severe brake application (e.g. if a hazard exists), the Brake Assist increases the
braking force and thus makes it possible to rapidly produce the pressure required in
the brake system.
The majority of drivers do apply the brakes in good time in dangerous situations, but
do not depress the brake pedal with sufficient pressure. Consequently, it is not possible
for the vehicle to achieve its maximum deceleration and the vehicle covers a greater
distance than necessary.
The Brake Assist is activated by the very quick operation of the brake pedal. In such
cases, a much greater braking pressure exists than during a normal brake application.
This makes it possible, even with a relative ly low resistance of the brake pedal, to
produce an adequate pressure in the brake system in the shortest possible time, which
is required for maximum deceleration of th e vehicle. You must apply the brake pedal
firmly and hold it in this position in order to achieve the shortest possible braking
distance.
The Brake Assist is able to help you achieve a shorter braking distance in emergency
situations by rapidly producing the pressure required in the brake system. It fully
exploits the attributes of the ABS. After you release the brake pedal, the function of the
Brake Assist is automatically switched off and the brakes operate in the normal way. The Brake Assist is part of the ESP system. If a fault occurs in the ESP, the Brake Assist
function is also not available.
Further information on the ESP page 163.
WARNING
The Brake Assist is also not able to overcome the physical limits of your
vehicle in terms of the braking distance required.
Adapt your speed to the conditions of th e road surface and to the traffic situ-
ation.
The increased safety offered by the Brake Assist must not tempt you to take
a greater safety risk than otherwise.
Uphill Start Assist*The uphill start assist makes it easier to start off on steep hills. The system assists a start
off by holding the brake pressure produced by the brake pedal actuation for approx. 2
seconds after releasing the brake pedal. The driver can therefore move his foot from
the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal and start off on the slope, without having to
actuate the handbrake. The brake pressure drops gradually the more you operate the
accelerator pedal. If the vehicle does not start off within 2 seconds, it starts to roll back.
The uphill start assist is active as of a 3% slope, if the driver door is closed. It is always
active on slopes when in forward or reverse start off. When driving downhill, it is
inactive.Electromechanical power steeringThe power steering enables you to steer the vehicle with less physical force.
With the electromechanical power steering, the steering assist is automatically
adapted to the speed and to the steering angle.
It is still possible to fully steer the vehicle if the power steering fails or if the engine is
not running (vehicle being towed in). The only difference is that greater physical effort
is required.
If there is a fault in the power steering, the warning light
or lights up in the instru-
ment cluster page 31.
WARNING (continued)
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Intelligent Technology169
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
WARNING
Contact your specialist garage if the power steering is defective.Tyre pressure monitoring system*The tyre pressure monitoring system compares with the aid of the ABS sensors the
speed and also the rolling circumference of the individual wheels. If the rolling circum-
ference of a wheel is changed, the warning light
lights up in the instrument cluster
page 34 and an audible sign al sounds. The rolling circumference of the tyre can
change if:
the tyre inflation pressure is too low,
the structure of the tyre is damaged,
the vehicle is loaded on one side,
the wheels of an axle are loaded heavily (e.g. when towing a trailer or when driving
uphill or downhill),
snow chains are mounted,
the temporary spare wheel is mounted,
one wheel per axle was changed.
Basic setting of the system
After changing the tyre inflation pressures, after changing one or several wheels, the
position of a wheel on the vehicle (e.g. exch anging the wheels between the axles) or when the warning light lights up while drivin
g, a basic setting of the system must be
carried out as follows.
Inflate all tyres to the specified inflation pressure page 216.
Switch on the ignition.
Press button fig. 148 for more than 2 seconds. While pressing the button,
the warning light
lights up. At the same time the memory of the system is erased
and the new calibration is started, which is confirmed with an audible signal and then
the warning light goes out.
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.
Warning light
lights up
If the tyre inflation pressure of at least one wheel is insufficiently inflated in comparison
to the stored basic va lue, the warning light
lights up.
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 correc t tyre inflation pressures. For this
reason, the tyre inflation pressures 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 do es not take away the responsibility
from the driver for the correct tyre inflation pressure.Note
The tyre pressure monitoring system:
Fig. 148 Button for setting the tyre infla-
tion pressure control value
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Driving and the Environment173
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
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. Extremely high engine revolutions are automatically governed, by the way.
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 fu el consumption and operating noise levels
and protects the environment.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.
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Driving and the Environment
174
Catalytic converterProper operation of the emission cont rol system (catalytic converter) is
of major significance for driving your vehicle in an environmentally
conscious way.Please refer to the following guidelines:
– For vehicles with petrol engine only refuel with unleaded petrol page 200.
– Never run the fuel tank completely empty.
– Do not switch off the ignition while you are driving the vehicle.
– Do not pour too much oil into the engine page 206, “Replenishing engine oil”.
– Do not tow-start the vehicle over a distance of more than 50 metres page 230,
“Tow-starting and towing vehicle”.
If you drive your vehicle in a country in which unleaded petrol is not available, you
must have the catalytic converter replaced la ter when driving the vehicle into a country
in which use of a catalyti c converter is mandatory.
WARNING
In view of the high temperatures which may be produced in the catalytic
converter, one should always park a vehicle in such a way that the catalytic
converter cannot come into contact with easily flammable materials below the
vehicle - a risk of fire!
Never use additional underbody protection or corrosion-protection agents
for the exhaust pipes, catalytic converters or heat shields. Such substances
might ignite when driving - risk of fire!Caution
On vehicles fitted with a catalytic converte r, never let the fuel tank run completely
empty. An irregular fuel supply can result in poor ignition or misfiring. Unburnt fuel
may get into the exhaust system and damage the cata lytic converter.
Filling the tank even only once with leaded petrol will result in the catalytic
converter being destroyed.
If you detect misfir ing, a drop in performance or irregular engine running when
driving, reduce your speed immediately and have the vehicle inspected by the nearest
specialist garage. The symptoms described ma y be caused by a fault in the ignition
system. Unburnt fuel may get into the exhaust system and damage the catalytic
converter.For the sake of the environment
Even if the exhaust system is operating pr operly, a sulphur-like exhaust odour may be
produced under certain oper ating conditions of the engine. This depends on the
sulphur content of the fuel. It is often sufficient to refuel with unleaded premium-grade
petrol of a different brand or at a different filling station.Driving in an economical and environmentally
conscious mannerGeneral
Your personal style of driving is a major factor.Your fuel consumption, any pollution of the environmental and the wear-and-tear to
the engine, brakes and tyres, depend essentially on three factors:
your personal style of driving,
the conditions under which your vehicle is operated,
technical aspects.
You can easily improve your fuel economy by 10 - 15 percent by driving in an econom-
ical way with foresight. This section is intended to provide you with a number of tips on
how to protect the environment and at the same time save money.
The fuel consumption can naturally also be influenced by factors which are beyond the
driver's control. It is, for example, normal for the fuel consumption to increase in
winter and under worsened cond itions such as poor road conditions, towing a trailer,
etc.
The technical requirements for low fuel usage and economic efficiency of the vehicle
have already been built into the vehicle at the works. Special attention has been given
to minimising negative effects on the environment. It is necessary to take note of the
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Driving and the Environment177
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
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. They
are also louder and have poorer handling characteristics and higher wear at tempera-
tures more than 10°C.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 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 re cyclable material.
Air conditioning filled with CFC-free refrigerant.
No cadmium.
No asbestos.
Reduction in the “vaporisation” of plastics.
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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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