Intelligent Technology
108
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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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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Driving and the Environment
114
Regular servicing
A poorly tuned engine consumes an unnecessarily high amount of
fuel.Having your vehicle serviced regularly at a specialist garge enables you to satisfy
one of the requirements for economical motoring even before you set off on your
journey. Keeping your vehicle properly serviced not only has a positive effect on the
safety of your vehicle and maintaining its value, but also saves on fuel.
A poorly tuned engine can result in a fuel consumption which is 10 % higher than
normal.
The foreseen maintenance work should be undertaken exactly according to the
Service schedule by a specialist garage.
Also check the oil level after refuelling. Oil consumption is dependent to a consid-
erable extent on the load and speed of the engine. Oil consumption could be as high
as 0.5 litres/1 000 km depending on your style of driving.
It is quite normal that a new engine has a higher oil consumption at first, and
reaches its lowest level only after a cert ain running in time. It is therefore not
possible to correctly assess the oil cons umption of a new vehicle until after you
have driven about 5 000 km.
For the sake of the environment
•
You can achieve additional improvements in your fuel economy by using high-
lubricity oils.
•
Check the ground below your vehicle at re gular intervals to detect any leakages
in good time. Please have your vehicle inspected by a specialist garge if you find any
stains caused by oil or other fluids on the floor.
Avoid driving short distances
Short distances result in an abov e-average high fuel consumption.– Avoid driving a distance of no more than 4 km if the engine is cold.
The engine and catalytic converter mu st first have reached their optimal operating
temperature in order to effectively reduce fuel consumption and pollutant emis-
sions.
The cold engine vehicle consumes approx. 15 - 20 litres/100 km of fuel immediately
after starting. Fuel consumption drops to 10 litres/100 km after just 1 kilometre. The
engine reaches its operating temperature (outside temperature and engine
dependent) only after about 4 to 10 kilometres and the fuel consumption then
stabilizes. You should therefore avoid driving short distances whenever possible.
An important factor in this connection is also the ambient temperature. The
fig. 116 shows the different fuel consumptions for the same distance, on the one
hand at +20 °C and on the other hand at -10 °C. Your vehicle has a higher fuel
consumption in winter than in summer.Checking tyre in flation pressures
Tyres which are correctl y 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 inflation pressure is too low. This will not
only increase fuel consumption but also tyre wear and the driving behaviour will
worsen.
Always check the inflation pressure of the tyres when cold.
Do not drive with winter tyres all year round for this co sts about 10 % more fuel.
Winter tyres are also louder.
Fig. 116 Fuel consumption in litres/100
km at different temperatures
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Driving and the Environment
116Note
Detailed information about the trade-in and recycling of old cars is available from a
Škoda Service Partner.Motoring abroadGeneral
Other circumstances may exist abroad.It is 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 Auto in the Czech Republic and relevant importers are
happy to provide information about technical aspects of the vehicle, required main-
tenance work and possibilities for getting repairs done.Unleaded petrolA vehicle fitted with a petrol engine must always be refuelled with unleaded petrol
page 111. The automobile associations can provide you with information
regarding the locations of filling stations which offer unleaded petrol.HeadlightThe low beam of your headlights is set asy mmetrically. 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.
In order to prevent the dazzling of oncoming traffic, it is necessary that an adjust-
ment of the headlights is carried out by your authorised Škoda Service Partner.Avoiding damage to your vehicleWhen 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 damaged.
This particularly applies to models with a lowered suspension (sport suspension)
and also when your vehicle is fully laden.
Driving through bodies of water on roadsIn order to avoid damage to the vehicle when driving through bodies of water (e.g.
flooded roads), observe the following:•
Determine the depth of the water when driving through bodies of water. The
water can reach at the maximum the web on the lower sill of the vehicle fig. 117 .
•
Drive no more than at walking speed. At a higher speed, a water wave can form
in front of the vehicle which can cause water to penetrate into the air induction
system of the engine or into other parts of the vehicle.
•
Never let the vehicle stand in the water, never drive backwards and do not
switch off the engine.
WARNING
•
Driving through water, mud, sludge etc. can reduce the braking power and
extend the braking distance - risk of accident!
•
Avoid sudden and severe braking m anoeuvres immediately after driving
through bodies of water.
•
After driving through bodies of water, the brakes must be cleaned and dried
as soon as possible by intermittent braking. 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 jeopardy.Caution
•
When driving through bodies of water, parts of the vehicle such as the engine,
gearbox, catalytic converter, chassis or electrics can be severely damaged.
•
Oncoming vehicles can generate water waves which can exceed the permissible
water level for your vehicle.
Fig. 117 Crossing bodies of water
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Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle
122
I f y o u h a v e a n y p a r t i c u l a r a t t a c h e d p a r t s f i t t e d t o y o u r c a r - s u c h a s s p o i l e r , r o o f r a c k
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 thor-
oughly as possible before washing 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 - begin-
ning with the roof. Only place slight pr essure on the vehicle paintwork during
cleaning Only use a car shampoo for stubborn dirt.
Wash out the sponge or washing gl ove 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 directly at the locking cylinders or at
the door and panel joints if you spray your vehicle in winter down with a hose - risk
of freezing.
•
Do not use any insect sponges, rough ki tchen sponges or similar cleaning prod-
ucts - risk of damage to the surface of paintwork.For the sake of the environment
Only wash your vehicle at washing bays specifically reserved for this purpose. This
ensures that no water which may be cont aminated by oil flows into the sewage system. It is not even permitted to wash your vehicle in certain areas except at such
specific washing bays.
Washing with a high-pressure cleanerWhen you wash your vehicle with a high-pressure cleaner, it is essential to comply
with the instructions for use of the cleaning equipment. 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
environmental influences and minor mechanical damage.
The vehicle must be treated with a high-qua lity hard wax polish at the latest, when
no more drops form on the clean paintwork.
A new layer of a high-quality hard wax polish can be applied to the clean bodywork
after it has dried thoroughly. Even if you use a wax preserver regularly we still
recommend that you treat the paintwork of the vehicle at least twice a year with
hard wax.
Caution
Never apply wax to the windows.
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Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle123
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
PolishingPolishing is only necessary if the paintwork of your vehicle has become unattractive
and if it is no longer possible to achieve a gloss with wax preservers.
You must treat the paintwork with a wax preserver if the polish you use does not
contain any preserving elements page 122.
We recommend using a preservative from Škoda genuine accessories offered by
your Škoda dealer.
Caution
•
You must not treat mat painted parts or plastic with polishing products or hard
wax.
•
Do not polish the paintwork of the vehicle in a dusty environment, otherwise the
paintwork can be scratched.
Chrome partsFirst clean the chrome parts with a damp cloth and then polish them with a soft, dry
cloth. If it does not prove to be adequate, use a chrome care product from Škoda
original accessories.
Caution
Do not polish the chrome parts in a du sty environment, otherwise they can be
scratched.Paint damageS li g ht da m a g e t o p a in tw o rk s uc h a s s c ra tc h e s, sc uf f s o r tra c e s o f c hi p da m a ge m ust
be touched up immediately with paint (Škoda painting pen) before any corrosion
can result. You can of course have this work carried out by authorised Škoda Service
Partners.
The authorised Škoda Service Partners have a range of matching touch-up pens or
spray cans available in the colour of your vehicle.
The paint number of the original paintwork of your vehicle is indicated on the
vehicle data sticker page 165.
Any corrosion which has already have formed must be removed thoroughly. Apply a
corrosion protection primer and then the paint to the affected point. You can of
course have this work carried out by authorised Škoda Service Partners.
Plastic partsExternal plastic parts are cleaned by norm al washing. Plastic parts and synthetic
leather can also be treated with special solvent-free plastic cleaning agents if a
damp cloth is not sufficient. Paint care products are not suitable for plastic parts.
Caution
Solvent-free cleaners attack the material and can damage it.WindowsOnly use a plastic ice scraper for removi ng snow and ice from the windows and
mirrors. You should not move the ice scraper forward and backward but in one direc-
tion on the window which yo u are cleaning in order to avoid any damage to the
surface of the glass.
You can best remove residues of rubber, oil, grease, wax or silicone by using a
special window cleaner or a special silicone remover.
You should also clean the windows regularly from the inside.
Do not use window leathers which you have used 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 preservative 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
formation of cracks in the glass!The headlight lensesPlease do not use any aggressive cleaning or chemical solvent products for cleaning
the front headlights - risk of damage to the plastic lenses. Please use soap and
clean warm water.
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Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle
124Caution
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 head light lenses, e.g. through effect of chem-
ical 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 ti me with a rubber care product (e.g. with a
spray with silicone-free oil). You also avoi d 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 wheels is nece ssary in order to retain their decorative
appearance over long periods. It is part icularly 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 contai n 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 damage
to the paint layer on the wheel hubs must be touched up immediately.
We recommend using a preservative from
Škoda genuine accessories offered by
your Škoda dealer.
WARNING
One should remember when cleaning the wh eels 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 vibrat ion 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 protectionThe 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 chassi s at certain intervals - this is best done at the begin-
ning 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 famili ar with the instructions for use. It is
therefore best to have such touch-up work or additional corrosion protection meas-
ures carried out by an authorised Škoda Service Partner.
WARNING
Never use additional underbody protection or corrosion-protection agents for
the exhaust pipes, catalytic converters or heat shields. When the engine reaches
its operating temperature, these subst ances might ignite - risk of fire!Protection of hollow spacesAll the cavities of your vehicle which are at risk from corrosion are protected for life
by a layer of protective wax applied in the factory.
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Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle125
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
This wax protection does not require to be
inspected or re-treated. Please remove
any small amount of wax which flows out of the cavities at high temperatures with
a plastic scraper and clean the spot using petroleum cleaner.
WARNING
Safety and environmental protection regulations should observed when using
petroleum cleaner to remove wax - a risk of fire!Engine compartmentGood corrosion protection is very importan t, particularly in winter when one often
drives over its salt-strewn roads. One should therefore clean the whole engine
compartment before and after the salt spre ading period and treat with preservative
in order to prevent the salt from being destructive.
The authorised Škoda Service Partners have the cleaning agents and preservatives
recommended by Škoda and also the required equipment.
WARNING
•
It is necessary to observe the guidelin es given in the chapter before working
on the engine compartment page 131, “Working in the engine compartment”.
•
Let the engine cool down before cleaning the engine compartment.Caution
•
Engine cleaning may be only be un dertaken when the ignition is off.
•
It is recommended to cover the generator before washing the engine compart-
ment.For the sake of the environment
The dirty water produced by washing the engine has washed away petrol, and resi-
dues of grease and oil and should therefore be cleaned by an oil separator. This is
why engine washing should only be undertaken in a specialist garage or at a fuelling
station (when these are fitted with the required equipment).
Care of the interior of vehiclePlastic parts, artificial leather and clothsYou can clean plastic parts and artificial le ather with a moist cloth. You should only
treat such parts with special solvent-free plastic cleaning and care products it does
prove to be adequate.
Upholstery cloth and cloth trim on the d oors, luggage compartment cover, headliner
etc. are best treated with special cleaning products, using if necessary a dry foam
and a soft sponge or brush.
We recommend using a cleaning product from Škoda genuine accessories offered
by your Škoda dealer.
Caution
Solvent-free cleaners attack the material and can damage it.Fabric covers of electrically heated seatsDo not clean the seat covers moist as this may re sult in damage to the seat heating
system.
Clean such covers using special agents, for example dry foam.Natural leather
Natural leather requires quite particular care and attention.Leather should be treated from time to time according the following guidelines
depending on how much it is used.Normal cleaning– Clean soiled areas of the leather with slightly moistened cotton or woollen cloth.Severe soiling– Clean severely soiled areas with a cloth dipped in a mild soapy solution (2 spoon-
fuls of natural soap to 1 litre of water).
– Ensure that the leather is not soaked through at any point and that no water
gets into the stitching of the seams.
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