CAUTION
● In cold temperatures and in winter, check before the trip or before switching
on the ignition that the wiper blades are not frozen. Switching on windscreen
wipers when the blades are frozen to the windscreen may result in damage both
to the blades and the motor of the windscreen wipers!
● If you switch off the ignition while the windscreen wipers are on, the wipers
will sweep in the same mode the next time the ignition is switched on. At low
temperatures, the wipers may freeze to the window between switching off the ig-
nition and the next time you switch the ignition on again.
● Carefully detach frozen wiper blades from the front or rear window.
● Remove snow and ice from the window wipers before driving. Note
The content of the windscreen wiper reservoir is 3.5 litres. On vehicles which are
equipped with a headlight cleaning system, the content of the reservoir is 5.4 li-
tres.
Headlight cleaning system The headlights are being cleaned after the windscreen washer system has been
operated for the fifth time, the low beam or main beam are switched on as well as
the windscreen wiper lever is held in the position
5 ⇒
fig. 32 for about 1 second.
You should remove stubborn dirt (such as insect residues) from the headlight len-
ses at regular intervals, for example when refuelling. Please refer to the following
guidelines ⇒
page 147, The headlight lenses.
You should remove any snow from the fixtures of the washer nozzles and clear ice
in winter with a de-icing spray in order to ensure proper operation of the cleaning
system. CAUTION
Never remove the nozzles from the headlamp cleaning system by hand - risk of
damage! Replacing wiper blades for the windscreen wipers Fig. 33 Wiper blade for the windscreen
wiper
Removing the wiper blade
– Fold windscreen wiper arm away from the windscreen.
– Press the locking button, in order to unlock the wiper blade and pull off in the
direction of arrow.
Attaching the wiper blade
– Push the wiper blade until it locks up to the stop.
– Check whether the wiper blade is correctly attached.
– Fold the windscreen wiper arm back onto the windscreen.
Windscreen wiper blades in proper condition are essential to obtain good visibility.
Wiper blades should not be allowed to become dirtied by dust, insect remains and
preserving wax.
Juddering or smearing of the wiper blades could then be due to wax residues left
on the windscreen by vehicle washing in automatic vehicle wash systems. It is
therefore important to degrease the lips of the winscreen wiper blades after ev-
ery pass through an automatic vehicle wash system .£ 49
Lights and Visibility Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data
been created, where you can trade-in your vehicle. After you trade-in your vehicle,
you will receive a confirmation stating the recycling in accordance with environ-
mental regulations.
Vehicles with special built-on types
Technical documents regarding changes carried out on the vehicle must be kept
by the vehicle user, in order to hand over later to the old car user. This ensures the
recycling in accordance with environmental regulations.
Note
Detailed information about the trade-in and recycling of old cars is available from
a ŠKODA Service Partner.
Motoring abroad General Other circumstances may exist abroad.
It is also possible, in certain countries, that the ŠKODA
Service Partner network is
limited or has not been established yet. This is the reason why obtaining certain
spare parts may be somewhat complicated and specialist garage personnel may
only be able to make limited repairs. ŠKODA in the Czech Republic and its foreign
importers are happy to provide information about technical aspects of the vehicle,
required maintenance work and possibilities for getting repairs done.
Unleaded petrol A vehicle fitted with a petrol engine must always be refuelled with unleaded pet-
rol
⇒ page 135. The automobile associations can provide you with information re-
garding the locations of filling stations which offer unleaded petrol.
Headlights The low beam of your headlights is set asymmetrically. It illuminates the side of
the road on which you are driving to a greater extent. If you drive abroad on the
other side of the road, you will dazzle oncoming traffic. Halogen projector headlights
The adaptation of the headlights (valid for vehicles which are designed for driving
on the left and on the right) must be performed by switching over a bezel by a
specialist garage.
Halogen projector headlights with cornering light function
Headlight beam setting
⇒ page 42, Tourist light.
Halogen headlight
When using Halogen headlights, it is necessary to stick a sticker over a certain
part of the headlights in order to prevent the dazzling of oncoming traffic.
You can purchase headlight stickers from the range of the
ŠKODA Original Acces-
sories. Note
You can obtain further information regarding masking over or converting the
headlights from your specialist garage.
Avoiding damage to your vehicle When driving on poor roads and lanes or when driving over kerbstones, steep
ramps etc., you must pay particular attention to ensuring that any low-slung parts
of the vehicle, such as spoiler and exhaust, do not touch the ground and get dam-
aged.
This particularly applies to models with a lowered suspension (sport suspension)
and also when your vehicle is fully laden.
140
Driving and the Environment
Towing a trailer
Towing a trailer
Technical requirements Your vehicle is designed primarily for transporting persons and luggage. It can,
however, also be used for towing a trailer - provided certain technical equipment
is fitted.
If your vehicle has been
factory-fitted with a towing device or has a towing device
from ŠKODA Original Accessories, the towing device satisfies all technical and le-
gal requirements.
Your vehicle is fitted with a 13-pin power socket for the electrical connection be-
tween the vehicle and trailer. If the trailer which you wish to tow has a 7-pin con-
nector , you can use a suitable adapter from
ŠKODA Original Accessories.
This work must be carried out in accordance with the manufacturer's specifica-
tions if a towing device is retrofitted.
Authorised ŠKODA Service Partners can provide detailed information about retro-
fitting a towing device and for any necessary modifications to the cooling system. WARNING
We recommend that you have the towing device from ŠKODA Original Acces-
sories installed by an authorised ŠKODA Service Partner. He is familiar with all
the relevant details relating to retrofitting such equipment. There is a risk of
an accident if the towing device is not properly fitted!
General Maintenance Trailer load
The permissible trailer load must on no account be exceeded.
You can negotiate appropriately steeper inclines and descents if you do not make
full use of the permissible trailer load.
The trailer loads specified only apply for
altitudes up to 1.000 metres above mean
sea level. The fact that the engine power output drops with increasing height due
to a lowering of air pressure and thus the ability to climb, means that the towed
weight must be reduced by 10% for every further increase of 1 000 metres in height above sea level. The towed weight is the weight of the (laden) vehicle and
the (laden) trailer together. One should take this into account before driving up to
higher altitudes.
The trailer and drawbar load information on the type plate of the towing device
are merely test data for the towing device The data relating to your vehicle,
which is often less than this test data, can be found in your vehicle registration
documents.
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 the items to prevent them slipping.
Tyre pressure
Correct the tyre inflation pressure on your vehicle for that of
“fully laden
”
⇒ page 164. The inflation pressure of the tyres fitted to the trailer adjust in ac-
cordance with the manufacturer's recommendation.
Exterior mirrors
You have to have additional exterior mirrors fitted if you are not able to see the
traffic behind the trailer with the standard rear-view mirrors. Both exterior mirrors
should be attached to folding arms. Adjust the mirrors so that they provide you
with an adequate field of view to the rear.
Headlights
Before starting off with a hitched trailer, also check the setting of the headlights.
Alter the setting as necessary with the aid of the headlight beam adjuster
⇒ page 44.
Detachable ball head
The ball head is detachable on vehicles with towing device and can be obtained
from ŠKODA Original Accessories. It is stowed together with separate fitting in-
structions in the spare wheel well in the luggage compartment of the vehicle. Note
● We recommend that you also have your vehicle inspected between service in-
tervals if you tow a trailer frequently.
● The handbrake on the towing vehicle must be put on when coupling and de-
coupling the trailer. 142
Towing a trailer
The headlight lenses
Please do not use any aggressive cleaning or chemical solvent products for clean-
ing 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 conse-
quently in formation of cracks on the headlight lenses, e.g. through effect of
chemical products.
Door and window seals The rubber seals on the doors, boot lid, bonnet and windows remain supple and
last longer if you treat them regularly 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 cylinder Use specific products for de-icing locking cylinders.
Note
When washing your vehicle, ensure that as little water as possible gets into the
locking cylinders.
Wheels Steel 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 wheels is necessary in order to retain their decorative
appearance over long periods. It is particularly 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 contain any acidic components. We recommend
to apply a hard wax layer onto the wheel hubs every three months. You must not
use any products which cause abrasion when treating the wheel hubs. Any dam-
age to the paint layer on the wheel hubs must be touched up immediately.
WARNING
One should remember when cleaning the wheels that moisture, ice and road
salt may adversely affect braking efficiency - 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.
Underbody protection The underside of your vehicle is protected for life against chemical and mechanical
influences.
One cannot, however, completely rule out damage to the
protective layer when
driving so we recommend that you inspect the protective layer on the underside
of your vehicle and on the chassis at certain intervals - this is best done at the be-
ginning and end of the winter - and to touch up any damaged areas.
The authorised
ŠKODA Service Partners have suitable spray products available as
well as the necessary equipment and are familiar with the instructions for use.
Therefore, we recommend you have such touch-up work or additional corrosion
protection measures carried out by an authorised ŠKODA Service Partner. WARNING
Never use additional underbody protection or corrosion-protection agents for
the exhaust pipes, catalytic converters, diesel particle filter or heat shields.
When the engine reaches its operating temperature, these substances might
ignite - risk of fire! 147
Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data
CAUTION
Vehicles with a “START-STOP” system are fitted with a special battery type which
allows the battery control unit to check the energy level for recurring engine start.
This battery must only be replaced by a battery of the same type. For the sake of the environment
Batteries contain poisonous substances such as sulphuric acid and lead. For this
reason, it must be disposed of properly. Under no circumstances must it be dis-
posed of in the communal rubbish.
Automatic consumer shut-off Under heavy load on the vehicle battery, the vehicle electrical system manage-
ment automatically takes various measures to avoid draining the vehicle battery.
●
The idling speed is raised to allow the generator to deliver more electricity to
the electrical system.
● If necessary, some electrical consumers are limited in their performance or are
temporarily switched off completely. Note
Despite such intervention by the vehicle electric system management, the vehicle
battery may be drained. For example, when the ignition is switched on a long time
with the engine turned off or the side or parking lights are turned on during lon-
ger parking.
Windshield washer system Fig. 134 Engine compartment: Wind-
shield washer fluid reservoirThe windshield washer fluid reservoir contains the cleaning fluid for the wind-
shield or rear window and for the headlamp cleaning system. The reservoir is loca-
ted in the front of the engine compartment on the right side of the vehicle
⇒ fig. 134. On some vehicles, the reservoir is located on the left side of the vehicle
next to the battery.
The filling level
of the container is about 3.5 litres and about 5.4 litres on vehicles
which have a headlight washing system.
Clear water is not sufficient to intensively clean the windscreen and headlights.
We therefore recommend using clean washing water together with the screen
cleaner from ŠKODA Original Accessories (in winter additionally with antifreeze)
which is capable of removing stubborn dirt. Follow the instructions for use on the
packaging when using screen cleaning products.
You should always add antifreeze to the cleaning water in winter even if your ve-
hicle is fitted with heated windscreen washer nozzles.
It is also possible in exceptional cases to use methylated spirits when no screen
cleaner with antifreeze is available. The concentration of methylated spirits must
not be more than 15 %. Please note, however, that the antifreeze protection at
this concentration is only adequate down to -5°C. WARNING
Read and observe the warning notes ⇒ page 153, Working in the engine com-
partment before working in the engine compartment. CAUTION
● On no account should you add radiator antifreeze or other additives to the
windscreen washer fluid.
● If the vehicle is fitted with a headlight cleaning system, you should only add
cleaning products which do not attack the polycarbonate glass of the headlights
to the windshield washer fluid. Please contact an authorised ŠKODA
Service Part-
ner who will help you select a suitable cleaning agent. Note
Do not take the filter out of the windscreen wash container when filling it up
again with liquid otherwise dirt can get into the liquid transportation system and
can lead to faults in operation of the windscreen wash system. 163
Inspecting and Replenishing Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data
Driver of the towed vehicle
–
Switch the ignition on so that the steering wheel is not blocked and you can
also operate the turn signal lights, the headlight flasher, the windscreen wip-
ers and windscreen washer system.
– Take the vehicle out of gear or move the selector lever into position N if your
vehicle is fitted with an automatic gearbox.
Note that the brake servo unit and power steering only operate if the engine is
running. You will require significantly greater physical force to depress the brake
pedal and to steer the vehicle if the engine is not running.
Ensure that the tow rope is always kept taught. CAUTION
● Do not tow start the engine - danger of damaging the engine. On vehicles with
a catalytic converter, unburnt fuel may get into the catalytic converter where it
may ignite. This in turn may damage or destroy the catalytic converter. You can
use the battery of another vehicle as a jump-start aid ⇒ page 178, Jump-starting.
● If the gearbox of your vehicle no longer contains any oil because of a defect,
your vehicle must only be towed in with the driven wheels raised clear of the
ground, or on a special vehicle transporter or trailer.
● The vehicle must be transported on a special vehicle or trailer if it is not possi-
ble to tow in the vehicle in the way described or if the towing distance is greater
than 50 km.
● To protect both vehicles when tow-starting or towing, the tow rope should be
elastic. Thus one should only use plastic fibre rope or a rope made out of a similar-
ly elastic material.
● One should be constantly vigilant not to allow impermissibly high towing
forces or jerky loadings. There is always a risk of excessive stresses and damage
resulting at the points to which you attach the tow rope or tow bar when you at-
tempt to tow a vehicle which is not standing on a paved road.
● Attach the tow rope or the tow bar only to the towing eyes
provided for this
purpose ⇒ page 180,
Front towing eye and ⇒ page 181, Rear towing eye.Note
● We recommend a tow rope from the range of ŠKODA Original Accessories that
you can purchase from an authorised
ŠKODA Service Partner.
● Towing another vehicle requires a certain amount of practice. Both drivers
should be familiar with the particular points about towing a vehicle. Unskilled driv-
ers should not attempt to tow in another vehicle or to be towed in. ●
When towing, respect the national legal provisions, especially those which re-
late to the identification of the towing vehicle and the vehicle being towed.
● The tow rope must not be twisted as it may in certain circumstances result in
the front towing eye being unscrewed out of your vehicle.
Front towing eye The towing eye is stored in the box of the vehicle tool kit.
Fig. 149 Front bumper: Cover/installing the towing eye
–
Press on the left half of the cover at the point of the arrow ⇒
fig. 149 - left.
– Pull the cover out of the front bumper.
– Screw in the towing eye by hand to the left up to the stop ⇒ fig. 149 - right. For
tightening, we recommend that you use for example the wheel wrench, the
lashing eye of another vehicle or a similar object which you can push through
the eye.
– In order to reinstall the cover after screwing out the towing eye, insert it in the
mounts and then press on the right side of the cover. The cover must engage
firmly. CAUTION
The towing eye must always be screwed in fully and firmly tightened, otherwise
the towing eye can tear when towing. 180
Breakdown assistance
Fuse assignment in the dash panel
Fig. 152 Schematic representation of the fuse box for vehicles with left-hand steering/right-
hand steering
Certain electrical components are only standard on certain vehicle model versions
or only suppliable as optional equipment for certain models. No. Power consumer
1 S-contact
2 START - STOP
3 Instrument cluster, headlight range adjustment
4 ABS control unit
5 Petrol engine: Speed regulating system
6 Reversing light (manual gearbox)
7 Ignition
Engine control unit, automatic gearbox
8 Brake pedal switch, coolant fan
9 Operating controls for the heating, control unit for air conditioning sys-
tem, parking aid, control unit for cornering lights, coolant fan
10 The air conditioning system
11 Mirror adjustment
12 Control unit for trailer detection
13 Control unit for automatic gearbox
14 Motor for halogen projector headlights with cornering light function
15 Radio navigation system PDA
16 Electrohydraulic power steering No. Power consumer
17 START - STOP - radio
Daylight driving lights
18 Mirror heater
19 S-contact
20 Anti-theft alarm system
21 Reversing light, fog lights with the function “CORNER”
22 Operating controls for the heating, control unit for air conditioning sys-
tem, parking aid, mobile phone, instrument cluster, steering angle
sender, ESP, vehicle voltage control unit, multifunction steering wheel
23 Interior lighting, storage compartment and luggage compartment, side
lights
24 Central control unit of the vehicle
25 Seat heaters
26 Rear window wiper
27 Telephone preinstallation
28 Petrol engine: AKF valve, petrol engine: Control flap
29 Injection, water pump
30 Fuel pump
Ignition
Cruise control system, operation of PTC relay
31 Lambda probe
32 High pressure pump, pressure valve
33 Engine control unit
34 Engine control unit
Vacuum pump
35 Power supply of ignition lock
36 Main beam
37 Rear fog light
38 Fog lights
39 Blower
40 Heatable windscreen washing nozzles, windscreen cleaning system
41 Not assigned
42 Rear window heater
£ 183
Fuses and light bulbs Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data
No. Power consumer
43 Horn
44 Front window wiper
45 Central control unit for convenience system
46 Engine control unit
Engine control unit
Fuel pump relay
Fuel pump control unit
47 Cigarette lighter, power socket in the luggage compartment
a)48 ABS, START-STOP - DC/DC converter ESP
49 Turn signal lights, brake lights
50 START-STOP - DC/DC converter infotainment
Radio
51 Electrical power window (front and rear) - left side
52 Electrical power window (front and rear) - right side
53 Parking light - left side
Electric sliding/tilting roof
54 START-STOP - instrument cluster
Anti-theft alarm system
55 Control unit for automatic gearbox DSG
56 Headlight cleaning system
Parking light - right side
57 Left low beam, headlight range adjustment
58 Low beam on the right
a)
If the engine is switched off already one electrical component which is connected can discharge the
battery. Replacing fuses at the battery (manual gearbox, automatic
gearbox DSG) Fig. 153 The battery: fuse cover
– Press together the interlocks of the fuse cover simultaneously in direction of
arrow A ⇒ fig. 153 and push out the cover in direction of arrow
B .
– Release the fixtures in the openings C using a flat screwdriver and fold the
cover upwards in direction of arrow D .
– Find out which fuse belongs to the component which is not operating.
– Defect fuses can be detected by their melted metal strips. Replace the defect
fuse by a new fuse of the same ampere number. WARNING
Read and observe the warning notes ⇒ page 153, Working in the engine com-
partment before working in the engine compartment. CAUTION
● Never attempt to “
repair” fuses and also do not replace them with a fuse of a
higher amperage - risk of fire! This may also cause damage at another part of the
electrical system.
● Have the electrical system checked as quickly as possible by a specialist ga-
rage if a newly inserted fuse blows again after a short time. Note
We recommend that you have these fuses replaced by a specialist garage. 184
Fuses and light bulbs