2011 SKODA OCTAVIA TOUR Owner's Manual

Transporting children safely
104
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Intelligent Technology105
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Driving TipsIntelligent TechnologyElectronic stability programme (ESP)*GeneralThe ESP aids you in maintaining control of your vehicle in situations in which the
vehicle is driving at its dynamic limits, such as entering a curve fast. The risk of skid-
ding is reduced and your vehicle thus offers greater driving stability depending on
the conditions of the road surface. The system operates at all speeds.
The following systems are integrated into the electronic stability programme:•
Electronic Differential Lock (EDL),
•
Traction control system (TCS),
•
active driver-steering recommendation (DSR),
•
Antilock brake system (ABS),
•
Brake Assist,
•
Uphill-Start off-Assist.
The ESP system cannot be switched off, only the TCS system can be switched off by
pressing the button fig. 111 , the warning light
 lights up.
Operating principle
The ESP switches on automatically when th e engine is started and then conducts a
self-test. The ESP control unit processes data from the individual systems. It also
processes additional measurement data which are supplied by highly sensitive sensors: the rotational velocity of the ve
hicle about its vertical axis, the lateral
acceleration of the vehicle, the braking pressure and the steering angle.
The direction which the driver wishes to take is determined based on the steering
angle and the speed of the vehicle and is constantly compared with the actual
behaviour of the vehicle. If differences exist, such as the vehicle beginning to skid,
the ESP will automatically brake the appropriate wheel.
The car is stabilised again by the forces which take effect when the wheel is braked.
Intervention into the brake system takes pl ace primarily on the outer front wheel of
a vehicle which tends to oversteer (tendency for the rear of the vehicle to break
away) while occurs this is on the inner re ar wheel of a vehicle which tends to under-
steer (tendency to shift out of the curve). This braking control cycle is accompanied
by noises.
During an intervention of the system, the warning light
 flashes quickly in the
instrument cluster page 25.
The ESP operates in combination with the ABS page 108, “Antilock brake system
(ABS)”. If there is a fault in the ABS system, the ESP also does not operate.
The ESP warning light lights up in the instrument cluster when there is a fault on
the ESP
  page 25.
WARNING
It is also not possible for the ESP to over come the physical limits of the vehicle.
Even if a vehicle fitted with ESP you sh ould still always adapt your style of
driving to the condition of the road surfac e and the traffic situation. This partic-
ularly applies when driving on slippery and wet roads. The increased safety
offered must not tempt you to take greate r risks than otherwise - risk of an acci-
dent!
Note
•
All four wheels must be fitted with the same tyres in order to achieve problem-
free operation of the ESP. Differing rolling circumferences of the tyres can lead to
an undesirable reduction in the engine output.
Fig. 111 ESP switch
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•
Changes to vehicle (e.g. on engine, on the brakes, on chassis or another combi-
nation of tyres and wheels) can influence the function of the ESP page 146,
“Accessories, changing and replacing parts”.
Electronic Differential Lock (EDL)*
The electronic differential lock prevents an individual wheel from
slipping.Models fitted with ESP are equipped with electronic differential lock (EDL).
General
The EDL makes it much easier, and sometimes at all possible, to start off, accelerate
and climb a steep hill when the conditions of the road surface are unfavourable.
Operating principle
The EDL is activated automatically, that is without any action on the part of the
driver. It monitors the speeds of the driven wheels with the aid of the ABS sensors.
Should only one drive wheel begin spinning on a slippery surface there will be an
appreciable difference in the speed of the driven wheels. The EDL function brakes
the slipping wheel and the differential transmits a greater driving force to the other
driven wheel. This control process is also accompanied by noises.
Overheating of the brakes
The EDL switches off automatically if unusually severe stresses exist in order to
avoid excessive heat genera tion in the disc brake on the wheel which is being
braked. The vehicle can continue to be driven and has the same characteristics as a
vehicle not fitted with EDL.
The EDL switches on again automatically as soon as the brake has cooled down.
WARNING
•
Carefully depress the accelerator when accelerating on uniformly slippery
road surfaces, such as ice and snow. The driven wheels might still spin despite
the EDL and affect the stability of the vehicle - risk of an accident!
•
You should always adapt your style of dr iving to the condition of road surface
and to the traffic situation even when your vehicle is fitted with EDL. The
increased safety offered must not temp t you to take greater risks than other-
wise - risk of an accident!
Note
•
If the ABS or ESP warning light comes on, this may also indicate a fault in the
EDL. Please have the vehicle inspected as soon as possible by a specialist garage.
•
Changes to vehicle (e.g. on engine, on the brakes, on chassis or another combi-
nation of tyres and wheels) can in fluence the function of the EDL  page 146,
“Accessories, changing and replacing parts”.
Traction control system (TCS)
The traction control system prevents the driven wheels from spin-
ning when accelerating.General
The TCS makes it much easier, and sometimes at all possible, to start off, accelerate
and climb a steep hill when the conditions of the road surface are unfavourable.
Operating principle
The TCS switches on automatically when the engine is started and then conducts a
self-test. The system monitors the speeds of the driven wheels with the aid of the
ABS sensors. If the wheels are spinning, th e force transmitted to the road surface is
automatically adapted by reducing the engi ne speed. The system operates at all
speeds.
The TCS operates in combination with the ABS page 108, “Antilock brake system
(ABS)”. The TCS will not function if a fault exists in the ABS system.
The TCS warning light lights up in the instrument cluster when there is a fault on
the TCS
  page 25.
During an intervention of th e system, the TCS warning light
 flashes in the instru-
ment cluster page 25.
Fig. 112 TCS switch
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Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Switching off
You can switch the TCS off and on again as you wish by pressing the button

page 106, fig. 112 . The TCS warning light lights up in the instrument cluster when
the TCS is switched off
  page 25.
The TCS should normally always be switched on. It may be good practice in certain
exceptional cases, such as when you wish to have wheel slip, to switch off the
system.
Examples:
•
when driving with snow chains
•
when driving in deep snow or on a loose surface
•
when it is necessary to rock a vehicle when it has become stuck.
then you should switch on the TCS again.
WARNING
You should always adjust your style of driving to the conditions of the road
surface and the traffic situation. The in creased safety offered must not tempt
you to take greater risks than ot herwise - risk of an accident!
Note
•
All four wheels must be fitted with the same tyres in order to achieve problem-
free operation of the TCS. Differing rolling circumferences of the tyres can lead to
an undesirable reduction in the engine output.
•
Changes to vehicle (e.g. on engine, on the brakes, on chassis or another combi-
nation of tyres and wheels) can influence the function of the TCS page 146,
“Accessories, changing and replacing parts”.
Active driver-steerin g recommendation (DSR)*Vehicles with ESP 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 acti-
vated, for example, on the right and left vehicle side when braking sharply on
different road surfaces.
WARNING
Even with this function the vehicle cannot 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. Particularly if you drive a great deal in towns
and over short distances or if you adopt a sp orty 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 condi-
tions 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 coating of ice on them in winter. You should
dry the brakes as 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 wi th 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 firmly 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 possible 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 rectified. 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.
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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 27, “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 after the first 200 kilometres. New brake pads must be first “run in”
before they develop their optimal friction force. You can, however, compensate
for this slightly reduced braking force by increasing the pressure on the brake
pedal. This guideline also applies to an y new brake pads installed at a future
date.Caution
•
Never allow the brakes to rub by applying slight pressure if you do not wish to
brake the vehicle. This causes the brakes to overheat and can also result in a longer
braking distance and excessive wear.
•
Before negotiating a steep downhill section, reduce your speed, shift down into
the next lower gear. This enables you to ma ke full use of the braking power of the
vehicle and reduces the strain on the brakes. Any additional braking should be done
intermittently, no t continuously.Note
The brake light flashes automatically in ca se of an emergency braking at speeds
greater than 60 km/h or with the interven tion of the ABS, which lasts longer than
1.5 seconds. After the speed was reduced below 10 km/h or the vehicle was stopped,
the brake light stops flashing and the hazard warning light system switches on. The
hazard warning light system is switched off automatically after accelerating or
driving off again.Brake boosterThe brake booster boosts the pressure wh ich you generate with the brake pedal.
The necessary pressure is only generated when the engine is running.
WARNING
•
Never switch off the engine be fore the vehicle is stationary.
•
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 caus e an accident and severe injuries.
Antilock brake system (ABS)ABS prevents the wheels locking when braking.General
The ABS contributes significantly to enhancing the active safety of your vehicle.
Compared to a vehicle not fitted with ABS, you are able to retain optimal steering
ability even during a full brake application on a slippe ry road surface because the
wheels do not lock up.
You must not expect, however, that the braking distance will be shorter under all
circumstances as a result of the ABS. The braking distance for example on gravel
and fresh snow, when you should anyway be driving slowly and cautiously, will be
longer.
Operating principle
The brake pressure will be reduced on a wheel which is rotating at a speed which is
too low for the speed of the vehicle and tending to lock. This control cycle is notice-
able from a pulsating movement of the brake pedal which is accompanied by
noises. This is consciously intended to pr ovide the driver with the information that
the wheels are tending to lock (ABS control range). You must always keep the brake
pedal depressed to enable the ABS to optimally control the brake application in this
braking range. Never interrupt the application of the brakes!
WARNING
•
The ABS can also not overcome the physical limits of your vehicle. Please do
not forget this, particularly when driving on icy or wet road surfaces. If the ABS
is operating within the control range, adapt your speed immediately to the
conditions of the road surface and the traffic situation. The increased safety
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
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Intelligent Technology109
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
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 26.
•
Changes to vehicle (e.g. on engine, on the brakes, on chassis or another combi-
nation of tyres and wheels) can influence the function of the ABS page 146,
“Accessories, changing and replacing 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 applica-
tion. This makes it possible, even with a relatively 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 the car. 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 achi eve 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 swit ched 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 availa ble. Further information on the ESP page 105.
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.
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
instrument cluster page 24.
WARNING
Contact your specialist garage if the power steering is defective.Tyre inflation pressure-control system*The tyre inflation pressure-control system compares with the aid of the ABS
sensors the speed and also the rolling circumference of the individual wheels. If the
rolling circumference of a wheel is changed, the warning light
 lights up in the
WARNING (continued)
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 113 Button for setting the tyre infla-
tion pressure control value
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110
instrument cluster page 26 and an audibl e signal sounds. The rolling circumfer-
ence 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 heavil y (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 tyre inflation pressure-control system
After changing the tyre inflation pressures, after changing one or several wheels,
the position of a wheel on the vehicle (e.g. exchanging the wheels between the
axles) or when the warning light lights up while driving, a basic setting of the
system must be carried out as follows.
•
Inflate all tyres to the specified inflation pressure page 141.
•
Switch on the ignition.
•
Press button page 109, fig. 113 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 value, 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 manoeu vres. Please stop the vehicle without
delay at the nearest possible stop and inspect the tyres and their inflation pres-
sures.
•
The driver is responsible for the correct tyre inflation pressure. 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 inflation pressure-control syst em does not take away the responsa-
bility from the driver for the correct tyre inflation pressure.Note
The tyre inflation pres sure-control 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 carefull y bring the vehicle to a standstill without
sudden steering movements and without sharp braking.
•
In order to ensure a proper functioning of the tyre inflation pressure-control
system, it is necessary to carry out the basic setting again every 10 000 km or 1x a
year.
 
WARNING (continued)
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Driving and the Environment111
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 permissible 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 maximum permissible engine revolutions.
During the first operating hours the engine has higher internal friction than later
until all of the moving parts have harmonized. The 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 engine speed is marked by
the beginning of the red zone on the sc ale of the revolutions counter. Before
reaching the red zone at the latest, shift up into the next highest gear. Extremely
high engine revolutions are auto matically governed, by the way.
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 apply 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 unnecessarily high engine revo lutions 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 firs t 500 kilometres and drive particularly
carefully.New brake padsAllow for the fact that new brake pads do not achieve their full braking efficiency
until after the first 200 kilometres. New br ake pads must be first “run in” before
they develop their optimal friction force. You can, 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 period, you should avoid excessive stresses on the brakes.
This includes, for example, violent braking, particularly from very high speeds, and
also when crossing mountain passes.Catalytic converterProper operation of the emission control 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 127,
“Grades of petrol”.
– Never run the fuel tank completely empty.
– Do not switch off the ignition while you are driving the vehicle.
– Do not pour too much engine oil into the engine page 132, “Replenishing
engine oil”.
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