2011 SKODA YETI Owner's Manual

Exiting the vehicle on a hillside
If the vehicle comes to a standstill at a steep angle on a hillside and you and your
passengers must exit the vehicle, then all the occupants should exit on the side
facing up the hill
⇒
 fig. 149 on the right. WARNING
● Never attempt to drive uphill or downhill if it is too steep for your vehicle.
The vehicle could slip, tilt or roll over - risk of accident!
● When driving at an angle on a hillside, the vehicle can lose its grip and
slide sideways. The vehicle can tilt or roll over and then roll down the hillside.
This can lead to serious injuries.
● Always make sure that when the vehicle is at an angle, the wheels on the
low side do not sink deeply into the ground or into troughs and do not drive
over stones, tree stumps or other obstructions with the alternate raised
wheels - risk of accident!
● Before you drive at an angle on a hillside ⇒
 fig. 149 , make sure that you can
steer and maintain your trajectory. If this is not possible, choose a different
path. If you drive at an angle on a hillside and there is a risk your vehicle may
tilt, steer immediately downhill on your trajectory and lightly depress the ac-
celerator.
● If the vehicle is stationary on a hillside with a too great angle of lateral in-
clination, avoid sudden and uncontrolled movements in the vehicle. The vehi-
cle can roll over and then roll down the hillside. This can lead to serious inju-
ries.
● If the vehicle is stationary on a hillside with a too great angle of lateral in-
clination, neither you nor your occupants must exit the vehicle through the
doors facing downhill. This can lead to a shift of the overall centre of gravity.
The vehicle can tilt or roll over and then roll down the hillside. This can lead to
serious injuries. To avoid this, you and your occupants must exit the vehicle
only on the side facing uphill ⇒ fig. 149 .
● When you exit the vehicle, make sure that the door which faces uphill does
not close by its own weight or by carelessness - risk of injury!
● Observe the important guidelines ⇒
 page 168. 
Driving over rutted roads and troughs You will always encounter ruts when driving on forest roads, through wet mead-
ows and fields as well as on rutted stretches of terrain. If the ruts and troughs are on firm and soft ground, you can simply follow the ruts.
Do not drive over ruts and troughs which are too deep. If you cannot avoid this, it
is better that you turn back. CAUTION
If the ruts or troughs become too deep, the underbody of the vehicle can touch
the ground, which might cause the underbody to get damaged. Therefore, avoid
driving in deep ruts and troughs. 
Crossing a trench If possible, drive through the trench at an acute angle. Make sure when driving
through the trench that the tilt angle is not too steep.
WARNING
Never attempt to drive through a trench if its embankment is too steep. The
vehicle could slip, tilt or roll over - risk of accident! CAUTION
If you drive into the trench at a right angle, the front wheels will sink into the
trench. There is also the danger that the underbody of the vehicle touches the
ground and is damaged. For these reasons (even with four-wheel drive) it is rarely
possible to get out of the trench. 
Driving in sand and mud You should therefore always drive at a constant speed through sand or mud
whenever possible and at the same time do not shift gears or change the driving
stage.
–
Switch on the Off-road mode ⇒ page 160
.
– Select a suitable gear or driving stage and maintain the gear or driving stage.
– Keep your vehicle in constant motion and do not stop until you have reached
firm ground.
Never drive too fast, otherwise the wheels may spin and the vehicle can get stuck.
If you feel that the tyres do no longer grip, then turn the steering wheel quickly
back and forth. This leads to an improved adhesion of the front tyres of the vehi-
cle for a short period of time. £ 175
Driving and the environment Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

Driving through sand
Do not reduce
the tyre inflation pressure. If you nevertheless reduce the inflation
pressure, do not forget to re-establish the correct tyre inflation pressure level be-
fore you continue driving. Driving with a reduced tyre inflation pressure increases
the risk that you lose control over your vehicle and that the vehicle rolls over.
Driving through mud
Do not change speed or direction when you drive through the mud. The tyres can
lose their grip in the mud. If the vehicle slides, you must steer in the appropriate
direction in order to regain control over the vehicle. WARNING
● Driving through mud can be dangerous. The vehicle can slide uncontrolla-
bly which causes an increased risk of injury. Adopt a particularly cautious style
of driving. Pay attention to the information and warning notes.
● An incorrect tyre inflation pressure may cause a major or fatal accident! An
incorrect tyre inflation pressure may result in bursting of a tyre, which causes
the vehicle to get out of control.
● Observe the important guidelines ⇒ page 168. 
Stuck vehicle If you can no longer drive on ...
–
Carefully dig out all the wheels and make sure that no other parts of the vehi-
cle are stuck in the sand.
– Engage reverse gear.
– Gently depress the accelerator and try to drive backwards in your own track.
– Place scrub, footmats or a sackcloth directly in front of the tyres in order to im-
prove the road adherence and thus achieve an improved traction to drive out.
Rocking out vehicle
– Switch off the TCS ⇒ page 155.
– Set the steering wheel straight.
– Drive so far back until the wheels just begin to spin.
– Quickly shift into first gear and drive forwards until the wheels begin to spin. –
Drive back and forth repeatedly until the momentum is sufficient to free the
vehicle.
– Switch on the TCS.
A few tips
– Ensure that the Off-road mode is switched on ⇒  page 160.
– Avoid prolonged spinning of the wheels, otherwise the vehicle would still sink
deeper into the ground.
– Remove mud, dirt and stones from the tread of the tyre.
You need training and experience if you wish to rock out a vehicle. If you make a
mistake, the vehicle can still sink in further and you can only free it with the help
of others. WARNING
Observe the important guidelines ⇒
 page 168. 
After driving off-road Check the vehicle for damage after driving off-road - especially on the underside
of the vehicle.
–
Switch off the Off-road mode
⇒
 page 160.
– Check the tyres and the axles for damage and remove coarse dirt, stones and
foreign bodies from the tyre tread.
– Clean the turn signal lights, the headlights, the number plate and the win-
dows.
– Check the underbody of the vehicle and remove trapped objects, such as scrub
or wood pieces.
– Contact your specialist garage if you detect any damage.
– In case of thick layers of dirt, clean the radiator grille, the engine compartment
and the underbody of the vehicle. £176
Driving and the environment

WARNING
● Combustible materials which are trapped under the vehicle floor can be
dangerous. They can impair the driving safety and the safety of all the occu-
pants of the vehicle. After driving off-road, always check the underside of the
vehicle and remove trapped objects.
● Never continue the journey if objects are trapped under the vehicle. This
can damage the fuel lines, the brake system, the seals and other parts of the
chassis.
● Combustible objects such as dry leaves or twigs could ignite on hot vehicle
parts. A vehicle fire can also lead to serious injuries.
● Observe the important guidelines ⇒ page 168.  177
Driving and the environment Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

Towing a trailer
Towing a trailer
Technical requirements Your vehicle is designed primarily for transporting persons and luggage. It can,
however, also be used for towing a trailer - provided certain technical equipment
is fitted.
If your vehicle has been
factory-fitted with a towing device or has a towing device
from
ŠKODA Original Accessories, the towing device satisfies all technical and le-
gal requirements.
Your vehicle is fitted with a 13-pin power socket for the electrical connection be-
tween the vehicle and trailer. If the trailer which you wish to tow has a 7-pin con-
nector , you can use a suitable adapter from ŠKODA Original Accessories.
This work must be carried out in accordance with the manufacturer's specifica-
tions if a towing device is retrofitted.
Authorised ŠKODA Service Partners can provide detailed information about retro-
fitting a towing device and for any necessary modifications to the cooling system. WARNING
We recommend that you have the towing device from ŠKODA Original Acces-
sories installed by an authorised
ŠKODA Service Partner. He is familiar with all
the relevant details relating to retrofitting such equipment. There is a risk of
an accident if the towing device is not properly fitted! 
General Maintenance Trailer load
The permissible trailer load must on no account be exceeded.
You can negotiate appropriately steeper inclines and descents if you do not make
full use of the permissible trailer load.
The trailer loads specified only apply for
altitudes up to 1000 metres above mean
sea level. The fact that the engine power output drops with increasing height due
to a lowering of air pressure and thus the ability to climb, means that the towed
weight must be reduced by 10 % for every further increase of 1 000 metres in height above sea level. The towed weight is the weight of the (laden) vehicle and
the (laden) trailer together. One should take this into account before driving up to
higher altitudes.
The trailer and drawbar load information on the type plate of the towing device
are merely test data for the towing device The data relating to your vehicle,
which is often less than this test data, can be found in your vehicle registration
documents.
Distribution of the load
Distribute the load in the trailer in such a way that any heavy items are located as
close as possible to the axle. Secure the items to prevent them slipping.
Tyre pressure
Correct the tyre inflation pressure on your vehicle for that of

“fully laden”
⇒  page 201. The inflation pressure of the tyres fitted to the trailer adjust in ac-
cordance with the manufacturer's recommendation.
Exterior mirrors
You have to have additional exterior mirrors fitted if you are not able to see the
traffic behind the trailer with the standard rear-view mirrors. Both exterior mirrors
should be attached to folding arms. Adjust the mirrors so that they provide you
with an adequate field of view to the rear.
Headlights
Before starting off with a hitched trailer, also check the setting of the headlights.
Alter the setting as necessary with the aid of the headlight beam adjuster
⇒  page 50.
Detachable ball head
The ball head is detachable on vehicles with towing device and can be obtained
from ŠKODA Original Accessories. It is stowed together with separate fitting in-
structions in the spare wheel well in the luggage compartment of the vehicle. Note
● We recommend that you also have your vehicle inspected between service in-
tervals if you tow a trailer frequently.
● The handbrake on the towing vehicle must be put on when coupling and de-
coupling the trailer. 178
Towing a trailer

Driving Tips
–
Do not, as far as possible, drive with your vehicle unladen and the trailer laden.
– Do not make full use of the legal maximum speeds. This applies in particular to
downhill sections.
– Apply the brakes in good time.
– Keep a check on the coolant temperature gauge if the outside temperature is
high.
Distribution of weight
The distribution of the weight is very poor if your vehicle is unladen and the trailer
is laden. Maintain a particularly low speed if you cannot avoid driving with this
combination.
Driving speed
Do not drive faster than 80 km/hour for safety reasons. This also applies for coun-
tries in which higher speeds are allowed.
The fact that the driving stability of the vehicle + trailer combination reduces with
increasing speed means that the legally allowed speed should not be used when
there are unfavourable road, weather or wind conditions, particularly near acci-
dent black spots.
You must always reduce your speed immediately as soon as you detect even just
the slightest swaying of the trailer. On no account attempt to stop the trailer
from “swaying” by accelerating.
Apply the brakes in good time! If the trailer is fitted with a trailer brake, apply the
brakes gently at first and then brake firmly. This will avoid brake jolts resulting
from the trailer wheels locking. Shift down gears in good time before negotiating
a downhill section to allow the engine to also act as a brake.
Engine overheating
Please keep a check on the coolant temperature gauge if you have to negotiate a
lengthy slope in a low gear at a high engine speed when the outside temperature
is very high ⇒ page 11, Coolant temperature gauge
.
If the needle of the coolant temperature gauge moves into the right-hand area or
even the red area of the scale, reduce your speed immediately. Stop and switch
off the engine if the warning light  in the instrument cluster begins flashing.
Wait a few minutes and check the level of coolant in the coolant expansion bottle
⇒  page 193, Inspecting the coolant level. Please refer to the following guidelines
⇒
 page 26, Coolant temperature/Coolant
quantity  .
The coolant temperature can be reduced by switching on the heating.
Any increase in the cooling effect of the coolant fan through shifting down a gear
and increasing the engine speed is not possible since the fan speed is independ-
ent of the engine speed. One should also not drop a gear for this reason when
towing a trailer as long as the engine can manage the slope without any drop in
speed.  179
Towing a trailer Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

General Maintenance
Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle
General Proper care retains the commercial value of your vehicle.
Regular and proper care retains the value of your vehicle. It may also be one of
the requirements for the acceptance of warranty claims relating to corrosion dam-
age and paint defects on the bodywork.
We recommend you use care products from
ŠKODA Original Accessories which are
available from authorised ŠKODA Service Partners. Please follow the instructions
for use on the package. WARNING
● Care products may be harmful to your health if not used according to the
instructions.
● Always store care products in a safe place, out of the reach of children -
risk of poisoning! For the sake of the environment
● Always select environmentally-friendly products when purchasing vehicle care
products.
● Do not dispose of the packages with residues of care products in domestic
waste. Care of the exterior of vehicle
Washing the vehicle Frequent washing protects your vehicle.
The best protection for your vehicle against harmful environmental influences is
frequent washing and wax treatment. How often you should wash your vehicle
depends on a wide range of factors, such as:
● Frequency of use,
● The parking situation (garage, below trees etc.),
● Season of the year,
● Weather conditions,
● Environmental influences.
The longer insect residues, bird droppings, tree sap, road and industrial dust, tar,
soot particles, road salt and other aggressive deposits remain adhering to the
paintwork of your vehicle, the more detrimental their destructive effect can be.
High temperatures, such as those caused by intensive sun's rays, accentuate this
caustic effect.
It may therefore be necessary, in certain circumstances, to wash the car once a
week. It may also be sufficient, however, to wash the car once a month followed
by appropriate wax treatment.
It is essential to also thoroughly wash the underside of your vehicle at the end of
the winter road salting and gritting period. WARNING
When washing your vehicle in the winter: Water and ice in the brake system
can affect the braking efficiency - risk of accident! 180
Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle

Automatic vehicle wash systems
The paintwork of the vehicle is sufficiently resistant that the vehicle can be wash-
ed normally in automatic vehicle wash plants without any problem. The actual
stress to which the paintwork is subjected, however, depends greatly on the de-
sign of the vehicle wash system, the filtering of the water and the type of wash-
ing and care products used. If the paintwork of your vehicle appears mat after be-
ing washed or even has scratches, point this out to the operator of the vehicle
wash plant. Use a different vehicle wash plant, if necessary.
There are no particular points to note before washing your vehicle in an automatic
vehicle wash system other than the usual precautionary measures (closing the
windows including the sliding/tilting roof, removing the external antenna, etc.).
If you have any particular attached parts fitted to your car - such as spoiler, roof
rack 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 hand It 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 - be-
ginning with the roof. Only place slight pressure on the vehicle paintwork during
cleaning Only use a car shampoo for stubborn dirt.
Wash out the sponge or washing glove 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 kitchen sponges or similar cleaning
products - 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 contaminated 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 cleaner When 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 wash water must be no hotter than 60 °C, otherwise the vehicle can be dam-
aged. 
Wax treatment Good 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-quality hard wax polish at the latest,
when no more drops form on the clean paintwork. £ 181
Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

A new layer of a high-quality hard wax polish can be applied to the clean body-
work 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. 
Polishing Polishing is only necessary if the paintwork of your vehicle has become unattrac-
tive 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 181.
We recommend using a preservative from ŠKODA Original Accessories. 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 parts First clean the chrome parts with a damp cloth and then polish them with a soft,
dry cloth. If this method does not completely clean chrome parts, use a specific
chrome care product.
CAUTION
Do not polish the chrome parts in a dusty environment, otherwise they can be
scratched. 
Paint damage Slight damage to paintwork such as scratches, scuffs or traces of chip damage
must be touched up immediately with paint (Škoda painting pen)
before any cor-
rosion 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 ve-
hicle data sticker ⇒

 page 229.
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 parts External plastic parts are cleaned by normal 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. 
Windows Only use a plastic ice scraper for removing snow and ice from the windows and
mirrors. You should not move the ice scraper forward and backward but in one di-
rection on the window which you 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 wires of the rear window heater . CAUTION
● Never remove snow or ice from the glass parts with warm or hot water - risk of
formation of cracks in the glass!
● When removing snow or ice from the windows and mirror lenses make sure
not to damage the paintwork of the vehicle. 182
Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle