
Contents
4
Driving Tips
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Intelligent Technology
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Electronic stability programme (ESP)* . . . . . . . . . .
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brake booster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Antilock brake system (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brake Assist* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Electromechanical power steering . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tyre inflation pressure-control system* . . . . . . . .
Driving and the Environment
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The first 1 500 kilometres and then afterwards .
Catalytic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Driving in an economical and environmentally
conscious manner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Environmental compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Motoring abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Avoiding damage to your vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Driving through bodies of water on roads . . . . . .
Towing a trailer
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Towing a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
General Maintenance
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the
vehicle
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Care of the exterior of vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Care of the interior of vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuel
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Petrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Refuelling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Inspecting and replenishing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Cooling system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Windshield washer system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wheels and Tyres
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Accessories, changing and replacing parts
. .
Accessories and replacement parts . . . . . . . . . . . .
Technical changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vehicles of category N1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Breakdown assistance
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Breakdown assistance
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
First-aid box* and Warning triangle* (Octavia) . .
First-aid box* and warning triangle* (Estate car)
Fire extinguisher* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Vehicle tool kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Spare wheel* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tyre repair kit* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Changing a wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Jump-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tow-starting and towing vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuses and light bulbs
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Electric fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Technical Data
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Technical Data
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
General information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Used abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Performances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Identification details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Fuel consumption based on ECE regulations and EC
guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine oil specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.4 ltr./59 kW - EU5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.6 ltr./75 kW - EU4, EU2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.0 l/81 kW TDI CR EU4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Index
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
105105105107108108109109109111111111112115116116116118118121121121121125127127127128130130132133135
136140141141146146146146147147147147147147148148149153154156156159165165165165165165165166166166168
170172175
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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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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
s2lk.2.book Page 108 Monday, April 18, 2011 7:41 AM

Index175
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Index
AAbroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
ABS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Active driver-steering recommendation . . . . . . 107
Adjusting seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49, 82
Adjusting the steering wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Air conditioning system Air outlet vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Climatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Recirculated air mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Deployment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Front airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Head airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Side airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Airbag system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Alternator Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Antilock brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Antilock brake system (ABS) Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Anti-theft alarm system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Ashtray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Auto Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Automatic vehicle wash systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Automatic wiper/washer system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Avoiding damage to your vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
BBattery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27, 136 change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Inspecting the electrolyte level . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Operation in winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Before setting off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Belt Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Belt tensioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Bonnet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13, 130 Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Boot lid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Brake Handbrake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Brake booster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Brake pads Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Bulbs Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Button for the central locking system . . . . . . . . . 32
Buttons on the driver's door Power windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37CCatalytic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Central locking system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
unlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Changing a wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Changing bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Changing the engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Changing wheels around . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Charging the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Check engine oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Child safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Side airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Child safety lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Child safety seat on the front passenger seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Safety information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Child seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99 Classification into groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
ISOFIX system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Use of child safety seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Children and safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Chrome parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Cigarette lighter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Clothes hooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Cockpit General view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Compartments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Convenience operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Converting/masking over headlights . . . . . . . . . . 116
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133 replenishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Coolant level Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Coolant quantity Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Coolant temperature/coolant level Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
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