
Instruments and Indicator/Warning Lights
22
WARNING
•
If you do not pay attention to the wa rning lights coming on and the corre-
sponding descriptions and warning notes, th is may result in severe body injuries
or major vehicle damage.
•
The engine compartment of your car is a hazardous area. There is a risk of
injuries, scalding, accidents and fire wh en working in the engine compartment,
e.g. inspecting and replenis hing oil and other fluids. It is also essential to
observe all warnings page 131, “Working in the engine compartment”.
Turn signal lights (to the left) page 23
Turn signal lights (to the right) page 23
Fog lights* page 23
Main beam light page 23
Low beam light page 23
Rear fog light page 23
Cruise control system* page 23
Failure of the light bulbs page 23
Airbag system page 23
Control system for exhaust page 24
Electromechanical power steering page 24
Engine oil pressure page 24
EPC fault light (petrol engine) page 24
Glow plug system (diesel engine) page 24
Coolant temperature/coolant level page 25
Traction control system (TCS) page 25
Electronic stability programme (ESP)* page 25
Switch off the Traction control system (TCS); page 25
Tyre pressure* page 26
Antilock brake system (ABS) page 26
Bonnet page 26
Seat belt warning light page 27
Brake pad wear* page 27
Boot lid page 27
Open door page 27
Brake system page 27
Dynamo page 27
Engine oil level page 28
Fuel reserve page 28
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Starting-off and Driving
74
Applies to all models:
Position
To lock the steering , with the ignition key withdrawn, turn the steering wheel until
the steering locking pin is heard to engage. You should always lock the steering as
a general rule if you leave your vehicle. This acts as a deterrent against possible
theft of your vehicle .
Position
Move the steering wheel back and forward a little if the ignition key cannot, or
cannot easily be turned into this positi on, in order to release the steering lock.
Position
The engine is started in this position. At the same time any switched on low beam
or main beam or other electrical compon ents with major electrical consumers are
briefly switched off. The ignition key moves back into position after being
released.
The ignition key must be turned back into position each time before starting the
engine again. The starter repeat lock in the ignition lock prevents the starter being
engaged when the engine is running and thus getting damaged.
WARNING
•
When driving, the ignition key must al ways be in the position (ignition
switched on) without the engine running. This position is indicated by the
warning lights coming on. If this is not the case, it could result in unexpected
locking of the steering wheel - risk of accident!
•
Do not withdraw the ignition key from the lock until the vehicle has come to
a stop. The steering lock can engage immediately - risk of accident!
•
Always withdraw the ignition key if you are going to leave the vehicle, even
for a short time. This is particularly import ant if children are left in the vehicle.
Children might otherwise start the engine or switch on electrical equipment (e.g.
power windows) - risk of accident or injury!
Starting the engineGeneral
You can only start the engine only using an original ignition key.•
Place the gearshift lever into neutral an d put on the handbrake firmly before
starting the engine.
•
Before starting, it is necessary to depress the clutch pedal and to keep it pressed
down until the engine starts. If you try and start the engine without pressing the
clutch pedal, the engine will not start. A message in the information display of the
instrument cluster will also appear indicate the need to press the clutch pedal.
•
Let go of the ignition key as soon as the engine starts otherwise you may
damage the starter.
The engine running noises may louder at first be louder for a short time after
starting the cold engine until oil pressure can be built up in the hydraulic valve clear-
ance compensation. This is quite norm al and is not an operating problem.
If the engine does not start ...
You can use the battery of anothe r vehicle as a jump-start aid page 153.
It is only possible to tow-start vehicles fitted with a manual gearbox. The tow-
starting distance must not be more than 50 metres. Observe the following
guidelines page 154, “Tow-starting and towing vehicle”.
WARNING
•
Never run the engine in non ventilated or enclosed areas. The exhaust gases
of the engine contain besides the odourless and colourless carbon monoxide a
poisonous gas - hazard! Carbon mono xide can cause unconsciousness and
death.
•
Never leave your vehicle unattended with the engine running.Caution
•
The starter may only be operated (ignitio n key position ), if the engine is not
running. If the starter is immediately operated after switching off the engine, the
starter or the engine can be damaged.
•
Avoid high engine revolutions, full throttle and high engine loads as long as the
engine has not yet reached its normal operating temperature - risk of damaging the
engine!
•
Vehicles which are fitted with an exhaus t gas catalytic converter should not be
tow-started over a distance of more than 50 metres.For the sake of the environment
Never warm up the engine when the vehicle is standing. Drive off right away.
Through this the engine reaches its operating temperature more rapidly and the
pollutant emissions are lower.
123
2
1
2
3
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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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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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Inspecting and replenishing
134
An authorised Škoda Service Partner can also supply you with the correct coolant
additives.
Coolant quantity
Caution
•
Other coolant additives may cause operational problems which, in particular,
involves significantly reduci ng the anticorrosion effect.
•
Any faults or problems resulting from corrosion may cause a loss of coolant
and, as a consequence of this, re sult in major engine damage.
Inspecting the coolant levelThe coolant expansion bottle is located in the engine compartment on the right.
– Switch the engine off.
–Open the bonnet page 130. – Check the level of coolant in the coolant expansion bottle
fig. 124. The
coolant level when the engine is cold must lie between the (MIN) and
(MAX) markings. The level may also rise slightly above the (MAX) marking
when the engine is warm.
If the coolant level in the reservoir is too low, this is indicated by the warning light
in the instrument cluster page 25, “Coolant temperature/coolant level ”. We
nevertheless recommend inspecting the coolant level directly at the reservoir from
time to time.
Loss of coolant
A loss of coolant is first and foremost an indication of a leak in the system. You
should not merely top up the coolant in the re servoir. It is also important to have the
cooling system inspected without delay by a specialist garage.
Losses can only occur through the pressure relief in the cap of the coolant expan-
sion bottle which is completely free of leaks if the coolant boils as a result of over-
heating and is forced out of the cooling system.
WARNING
Read and observe the warning notes page 131, “Working in the engine
compartment” before working in the engine compartment.
Caution
One should contact a specialist garage as soon as possible if the source of over-
heating itself cannot be determined and removed, since there may be grave
damage to the engine.Replenishing the coolant– Switch the engine off.
– Allow the engine to cool down.
– Place a cloth over the cap of the coolant expansion reservoir fig. 124 and
unscrew the cap carefully by turning it to the left .
– Top up the coolant.
– Screw the cap tight until it is heard to lock.
The coolant which you use for replenishing the system, must comply with one
specific specification page 133. Do not use an altern ative additive if the coolant
additive G13 is not available in an emergency. Just top up the system with water and
Petrol engines
Content
1.4 ltr./59 kW - EU4
7.1
1.6 ltr./75 kW - EU4, EU2
7.4
Diesel engine
Content
2.0 ltr./81 kW TDI CR - EU4
8.4
Fig. 124 Engine compartment: Coolant
expansion bottle
Ab
Aa
Aa
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Wheels and Tyres
144
and when adopting an appropri ately cautious style of driving. It should be replaced
as quickly as possible by a normal wheel.
WARNING
•
Only use those tyres or wheel rims which have been approved for your model
of Škoda Auto vehicle. Failure to observ e this instruction will adversely affect
the road safety of your vehicle - risk of accident! Approval and licensing of your
vehicle on public roads may also become void as a result.
•
You must on no account drive at a high er speed than is permissible for your
tyres - risk of an accident resulting from tyre damage and loss of control over
your vehicle.
•
T y r e s w h i c h a r e 6 y e a r s o l d o r m o r e s h o u l d o n l y b e f i t t e d i n e x c e p t i o n a l c a s e s
and when adopting an appropriately cautious style of driving.
•
Never fit tyres which have already been used without having adequate
knowledge of their previous history. Tyres age even if they have not been used
at all or only very little. A spare tyre must only be used in exceptional cases and
only then when adopting an appropriately cautious style of driving.
•
Do not, where possible, replace individu al tyres but at least replace them on
both wheels of a given axle at the same time. Always fit the tyres with the
deeper tread depth to the front wheels.For the sake of the environment
Old tyres must be disposed of in conformity with the appropriate regulations.
Note
It is not normally possible to fit wheels from other models of cars for technical
reasons. This may also appl y in certain circumstances to the wheels of the same
type of vehicle.Wheel boltsWheels and wheel bolts are matched to each other in terms of design. Each time
you fit other wheels - e.g. light alloy wheels or wheels with winter tyres - you must
therefore also use the matching wheel bolts of the correct length and shape of
spherical cap. This is essential to ensure that the wheels are tightly fitted and that
the brake system operates properly.
If you retrofit wheel trims (or have this done), please also ensure that an adequate
flow of air remains assured for cooling the brake system. The authorised Škoda Service Partners are instructed in the technical possibilities
which exist regarding converting or retr
ofitting tyres, wheels and wheel trims.
WARNING
•
In case of incorrect treatment of the wheel bolts, the wheel can loosen when
the car is moving - risk of accident!
•
The wheel bolts must be clean and must turn easily. However, they must
never be treated with grease or oil.
•
If the wheel bolts are tightened to a too low tightening torque, the rim can
lossen when the car is moving - risk of accident! A tightening torque which is too
high can damage the bolts and threads and this can result in permanent defor-
mation of the contact surfaces on the rim.Caution
The prescribed tightening torque of the wheel bolts for steel and light alloy wheels
is 120 Nm.Winter tyresThe handling of your vehicle will be signif icantly improved when driving on wintry
roads if you fit winter tyres. Summer tyres do not offer the same grip on ice, snow
and at temperatures below 7 °C because of their construction (width, rubber blend,
tread pattern). This particularly applies to vehicles which are equipped with low-
profile tyres or high-speed tyres (code index H or V on wall of tyre).
Winter tyres must be mounted on all four wheels to obtain the best handling char-
acteristics.
You must only fit those types of winter tyre which are approved for your vehicle. The
permissible sizes of winter tyres are stated in your vehicle documents. Approvals
may differ because of national legislation.
Please remember that the tyres should be inflated to 20 kPa (0.2 bar) more than is
the case for summer tyres page 141.
Winter tyres no longer offer the same winter performance once the tyre tread has
worn down to a depth of about 4 mm.
Ageing also causes winter tyres to lose most of their winter performance properties
- even in cases where the remaining tread depth is still clearly more than 4 mm.
Speed restrictions apply to winter tyres as well as to summer tyres page 143,
.
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