The speed of the vehicle is, nevertheless, the most important factor. Doubling the
speed of the vehicle from 25 km/h up to 50 km/hour increases the kinetic energy
four times.
The common opinion that it is possible to support your body in a minor accident
with your hands, is incorrect. Even in a collision at only a low speed, the forces
acting on the body are such that it is no longer possible to support your body.
Even if you only drive at a speed within the range from 30 km/hour to 50 km/hour,
the forces which are produced on your body in the event of an accident can easily
exceed 10.000 N (Newton). This equals a weight of one tonne (1 000 kg).
In the event of a frontal collision, occupants of the vehicle not wearing a seat belt
are thrown forward and strike in an uncontrolled way parts of the interior of the
vehicle, such as steering wheel, dash panel, windshield ⇒ fig. 117 - left. The occu-
pants of a vehicle who have not fastened their seat belts may even be thrown out
of the vehicle. This can result in fatal injuries.
It is also important that rear seat occupants fasten their seat belts as they will
otherwise be thrown through the vehicle in an uncontrolled manner in the event
of an accident A rear seat passenger who has not fastened the seat belt is a dan-
ger not only to himself but also for those seated at the front ⇒
fig. 117 - right.
Important safety information regarding the use of
seat belts The correct use of the seat belts considerably reduces the risk of
injury! WARNING
● The belt webbing must not be jammed in-between at any point or twisted,
or chafe against any sharp edges.
● It is important that the belt webbing is properly routed if the seat belts are
to offer their maximum protection ⇒ page 134.
● No two persons (also not children) should ever use a single seat belt to-
gether.
● The maximum protection which seat belts can offer is only achieved if you
are correctly seated ⇒
page 129, Correct seated position. WARNING (Continued)
● The belt webbing must not run across solid or fragile objects (e.g. specta-
cles, ball-point pens, keys etc.) as this may be a cause of injuries.
● Many layers of clothing and loose clothing (e. g. a winter coat over a jacket)
do not allow you to be correctly seated and impairs proper operation of the
seat belts.
● It is prohibited to use clamps or other objects to adjust seat belts (e. g. for
shortening the belts for smaller persons).
● The lock tongue should only be inserted into the lock which is the correct
one for your seat. Wrong use of the safety belt will reduce its capacity to pro-
tect and the risk of injury increases.
● The seat backrests of the front seats must not be tilted too far to the rear
otherwise the seatbelts can lose their effectiveness.
● The belt webbing must always be kept clean. Soiled belt webbing may im-
pair proper operation of the inertia reel ⇒
page 185, Seat belts.
● The slot of the belt tongue must not be blocked by paper or similar objects
otherwise the belt tongue will not lock in place properly.
● Inspect the seat belts regularly to ensure they are in good condition. If you
find seat belts which have damage to the belt, the seat belt connections, to
the inertia reel or to the lock, the relevant seat belt must be replaced by a
specialist garage.
● The seat belts must not be removed or changed in any way. Do not make
an attempt to repair the seat belts yourself.
● Damaged seat belts which have been subjected to stress in an accident
and were therefore stretched, must be replaced - this is best done by a spe-
cialist garage. The anchorage points of the belts must also be inspected. The
anchorage points for the belts should also be checked.
● In certain countries it is possible to use seat belts which differ in terms of
their operation from the seat belts which are described on the pages which
follow. 133
Seat belts Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data
Note
● All four wheels must be fitted with the same tyres in order to achieve prob-
lem-free operation of the ESP. Differing rolling circumferences of the tyres can
lead to an undesirable reduction in the engine output.
● Changes to vehicle (e.g. on engine, on the brakes, on chassis or another combi-
nation of tyres and wheels) can influence the function of the ESP ⇒
page 207,
Accessories, changes and replacement of parts.
Electronic Differential Lock (EDL) The electronic differential lock prevents an individual wheel from
slipping.
General
The EDL makes it much easier, and sometimes at all possible, to start off, acceler-
ate and climb a steep hill when the conditions of the road surface are unfavoura-
ble.
Operating principle
The EDL is activated automatically, that is without any action on the part of the
driver. It monitors the speeds of the driven wheels with the aid of the ABS sen-
sors. Should only
one drive wheel begin spinning on a slippery surface there will
be an appreciable difference in the speed of the driven wheels. The EDL function
brakes the slipping wheel and the differential transmits a greater driving force to
the other driven wheel. This control process is also accompanied by noises.
Overheating of the brakes
The EDL switches off automatically if unusually severe stresses exist in order to
avoid excessive heat generation in the disc brake on the wheel which is being
braked. The vehicle can continue to be driven and has the same characteristics as
a vehicle not fitted with EDL.
The EDL switches on again automatically as soon as the brake has cooled down.
EDL Off-road
After switching on the Off-road mode ⇒ page 160
, EDL Off-road is activated.
EDS Offroad assists vehicle traction when driving on unfirm ground.
EDL is activated earlier in the Off-road mode than in the normal mode. The brake
pressure builts up more quickly on the slipping wheel, on one axle, as well as diag-
onally. WARNING
● Carefully depress the accelerator when accelerating on uniformly slippery
road surfaces, such as ice and snow. The driven wheels might still spin despite
the EDL and affect the stability of the vehicle - risk of an accident!
● You should always adapt your style of driving to the condition of road sur-
face and to the traffic situation even when your vehicle is fitted with EDL. The
increased safety offered must not tempt you to take greater risks than other-
wise - risk of an accident! Note
● If the ABS or ESP warning light comes on, this may also indicate a fault in the
EDL. Have the vehicle inspected by your specialist garage as soon as you can.
● Changes to vehicle (e.g. on engine, on the brakes, on chassis or another combi-
nation of tyres and wheels) can influence the function of the EDL ⇒
page 207,
Accessories, changes and replacement of parts.
Traction control system (TCS) The traction control system prevents the driven wheels from spin-
ning when accelerating.
Fig. 138 TCS switch
General
The TCS makes it much easier, and sometimes at all possible, to start off, acceler-
ate and climb a steep hill when the conditions of the road surface are unfavoura-
ble. £154
Intelligent technology
Operating principle
The TCS switches on automatically when the engine is started and then conducts
a self-test. The system monitors the speeds of the driven wheels with the aid of
the ABS sensors. If the wheels are spinning, the force transmitted to the road sur-
face is automatically adapted by reducing the engine speed. The system operates
at all speeds.
The TCS operates in combination with the ABS ⇒ page 157,
Antilock brake system
(ABS). The TCS will not function if a fault exists in the ABS system.
The TCS warning light lights up in the instrument cluster when there is a fault on
the TCS ⇒ page 27.
During an intervention of the system, the TCS warning light flashes in the in-
strument cluster ⇒ page 27.
Switching off
You can also switch off the TCS system by pressing the ⇒ fig. 138 button, or, in ve-
hicles with ESP, by pressing the ⇒ fig. 137 button. The TCS warning light lights up
in the instrument cluster when the TCS is switched off .
The TCS should normally always be switched on. It may be good practice in certain
exceptional cases, such as when you wish to have wheel slip, to switch off the
system.
Examples:
● when driving with snow chains,
● when driving in deep snow or on a loose surface,
● when it is necessary to rock a car free when it has become stuck.
then you should switch on the TCS again.
TCS Off-road
After switching on the Off-road mode ⇒ page 160
, TCS Off-road is activated.
TCS Off-road provides a more effective acceleration of the vehicle on an unfirm
ground, as it allows higher traction between the slipping wheels and the ground.
The system operates when starting off or at low speeds. WARNING
You should always adjust your style of driving to the conditions of the road
surface and the traffic situation. The increased safety offered must not tempt
you to take greater risks than otherwise - risk of an accident! Note
● All four wheels must be fitted with the same tyres in order to achieve prob-
lem-free operation of the TCS. Differing rolling circumferences of the tyres can
lead to an undesirable reduction in the engine output.
● Changes to vehicle (e.g. on engine, on the brakes, on chassis or another combi-
nation of tyres and wheels) can influence the function of the TCS ⇒
page 207, Ac-
cessories, changes and replacement of parts.
Active driver-steering recommendation (DSR) This function indicates to the driver in critical situations a steering recommenda-
tion in order to stabilise the vehicle. The active driver-steering recommendation is
activated, for example, on the right and left vehicle side when braking sharply on
different road surfaces. WARNING
Even with this function the vehicle cannot steer itself! The driver is further-
more responsible for the steering of the vehicle!
Brakes What has a negative effect on braking efficiency?
Wear-and-tear
Wear-and-tear to the brake pads is greatly dependent on the operating conditions
of the vehicle and your style of driving. Particularly if you drive a great deal in
towns and over short distances or if you adopt a sporty style of driving, it may be
necessary to have the thickness of the brake pads inspected at a specialist garage
between the service inspections.
Wet roads or road salt
There may be a certain delay before the brakes take full effect under certain con-
ditions such as when driving through water, during heavy rain showers or after
the vehicle has been washed in an automatic vehicle wash, since the brake discs
and brake pads may be moist or even have a coating of ice on them in winter. You
should dry the brakes as soon as possible by applying and releasing the brakes
several times. £ 155
Intelligent technology Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data
WARNING
● The diesel particle filter achieves very high temperatures. Therefore do not
park at points where the hot filter comes into direct contact with dry grass or
other combustible materials - risk of fire!
● Never use additional underbody protection or corrosion-protection agents
for the exhaust pipes, catalytic converters, diesel particle filter or heat shields.
When the engine reaches its operating temperature, these materials might ig-
nite – risk of fire. Note
When using diesel fuel with high sulphur content the life of the diesel particle fil-
ter is clearly reduced. A specialist garage will be able to tell you which countries
use only diesel fuel with high sulphur content.
Off-road General Fig. 141 Off-road switch
The Off-road mode comprises functions which assist off-road driving.
The following functions are integrated in the Off-road mode:
● Start-Off Assist ⇒ page 160,
● Downhill Drive Support ⇒ page 161 ,
● EDL Off-road ⇒ page 154,
● TCS Off-road ⇒ page 154,
● ABS Off-road ⇒ page 156. Switch on Off-road
The Off-road mode is switched on by pressing the button
⇒
fig. 141. The warning
light in the button lights up. The warning light lights up in the instrument cluster
if the system is switched on ⇒ page 30.
Switch off Off-road
The Off-road mode is switched off by repeated pressing of the button. The warn-
ing light in the button goes out. When switching off the ignition, the Off-road
mode is also switched off and can be switched on again, if necessary, after
switching on the ignition. If the engine is switched off by accident and restarted
within 30 seconds, the Off-road mode remains switched on.
All four wheels must be fitted with the same tyres in order to achieve proper op-
eration of the Off-road mode. Differing rolling circumferences of the tyres can lead
to an undesirable reduction in the engine output. WARNING
● Always adjust your speed to suit weather, road and traffic conditions. The
increased safety must not tempt you to take a greater safety risk than other-
wise - risk of accident!
● The Off-road equipment can also not overcome the physical limits of your
vehicle.
● The effect of the Off-road equipment depends as well on the tyres.
● The Off-road equipment is not designed for the use on common roads.
Start-Off Assist The Start-Off Assist enhances the driving comfort and can be used when starting
off, in particular on a slope. When the vehicle is stationary, the Start-Off Assist is
activated after switching it on using the button for the Off-road mode ⇒
fig. 141
.
Operating principle
When depressing the accelerator pedal fully, the engine speed required for the
start-up procedure of the stationary vehicle is restricted. The overspeed trip unit
is automatically deactivated after terminating the start-up procedure. As part of
the Assist System, the accelerator pedal is adapted in its characteristics for an
easier start-off on slippery and loose soil. 160
Intelligent technology
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
WARNING
● Only use those tyres or wheel rims which have been approved for your
model of ŠKODA vehicle. Failure to observe this instruction will adversely af-
fect 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 higher speed than is permissible for
your tyres - risk of an accident resulting from tyre damage and loss of control
over your vehicle.
● Tyres which are 6 years old or more should only be fitted in exceptional ca-
ses 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 ca-
ses and only then when adopting an appropriately cautious style of driving.
● Do not, where possible, replace individual 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 apply in certain circumstances to the wheels of the same
type of vehicle.
Wheel bolts Wheels 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 ade-
quate flow of air remains assured for cooling the brake system.
Authorised
ŠKODA Service Partners are instructed in the technical possibilities
which exist regarding converting or retrofitting 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
deformation 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 tyres The handling of your vehicle will be significantly 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
characteristics.
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. Ap-
provals 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 201.
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 proper-
ties - 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 203,
⇒ .
£204
Wheels and Tyres
You can fit winter tyres of a lower speed category to your vehicle provided that
you also do not drive faster than the permissible maximum speed for such tyres,
even if the possible maximum speed of your vehicle is higher. The corresponding
tyre category can damage the tyres when exceeding the permissible maximum
speed.
Please pay attention to the notes if you decide to fit winter tyres
⇒
page 201.
You can also fit so-called “all-year tyres” instead of winter tyres.
Please contact your specialist garage if there are any points which are not clear
who will be able to provide you with information regarding the maximum speed
for your tyres. WARNING
You must on no account drive your car at more than the permissible maximum
speed for your winter tyres - risk of an accident resulting from tyre damage
and loss of control over your car. For the sake of the environment
Fit your summer tyres on again in good time since summer tyres offer you better
grip and handling on roads which are free of snow and ice as well as ar tempera-
tures below 7 °C - the braking distance is shorter, there is less tyre noise, tyre
wear is reduced and fuel consumption is reduced. Note
Please observe the various differing legal requirements regarding tyres.
Unidirectional tyres The direction of rotation of the tyres is marked by arrows on the wall of the tyre
.
This indicates the direction of rotation of the tyre, and it is essential that the tyres
are fitted on to run in this direction. Only then are the tyres able to provide the
optimal properties in terms of grip, low noise, wear-and-tear and aquaplaning.
Should it be necessary to fit on a spare wheel in exceptional cases with a tyre not
dedicated to the running direction or in opposite running direction, please adopt a
cautious style of driving as the tyre is no longer able to provide optimal grip and
handling in such a situation. This particularly important on wet roads. Please refer
to the additional instructions ⇒ page 209
, Spare wheel.
You should have the defective tyre replaced as soon as possible and restore the
correct direction of rotation on all tyres Snow chains When driving on wintry roads, snow chains improve not only traction, but also the
braking performance.
The use of snow chains on vehicles with front-wheel drive and on vehicles with
four-wheel drive differs.
Valid for vehicles with front-wheel drive
Snow chains can only be mounted on the front wheels.
For technical reasons, it is only permissible to fit snow chains with the following
wheel/tyre combinations: Wheel size Depth (D) Tyre size
6J x 16 50 mm 205/55
7J x 16 45 mm 205/55
6J x 17 45 mm 205/50
Valid for vehicles with four-wheel drive
Snow chains can be used on the front wheels as on vehicles with front-wheel
drive.
⇒ page 205
, Valid for vehicles with front-wheel drive.
In order to increase the traction (start-up properties), the use of snow chains is al-
so technically permissible on the rear axle (this means on the front and rear axle
at the same time) for the following wheel/tyre combinations: Wheel size Depth (D) Tyre size
6J x 16 50 mm 205/55
7J x 16 45 mm 205/55
6J x 17 45 mm 205/50
The use of snow chains is only technically permissible on the rear axle for the fol-
lowing standard wheel/tyre combinations:
Wheel size Depth (D) Tyre size
7J x 16 45 mm 215/60
7J x 17 45 mm 225/50
When fitting snow chains on the front and rear axle at the same time, the maxi-
mum speed is limited to
50 km/h.
Only fit snow chains with links and locks not larger than 12 mm. £ 205
Wheels and Tyres Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data
Connecting negative terminal and engine block
– Attach one end 3 to the negative terminal of the battery supplying the power
B .
– Attach the other end 4 to a solid metal part which is connected firmly to the
engine block, or to the engine block itself.
Starting engine
– Start the engine of the vehicle providing current and run the engine at idling
speed.
– Now start the engine of the vehicle with the discharged battery.
– Interrupt the attempt at starting an engine after 10 seconds if it does not start
right away and wait for about 30 seconds before repeating the attempt.
– Disconnect the cables in exactly the reverse order they were connected.WARNING
● The non-insulated parts of the terminal clamps must never make contact
with each other. In addition, the jump-start cable connected to the positive
terminal of the battery must not come into contact with electrically conduct-
ing parts of the vehicle - risk of short circuit!
● Do not affix the jump starting cables to the negative terminal of the dis-
charged battery. There is the risk of detonating gas seeping out the battery
being ignited by the strong spark which results from the engine being started.
● Run the jump-start cables so that they cannot be caught by any rotating
parts in the engine compartment.
● Do not bend over the batteries - risk of caustic burns!
● The vent screws of the battery cells must be tightened firmly.
● Keep any sources of ignition (naked flame, smouldering cigarettes etc.)
away from the battery - risk of an explosion!
● Never jump-start the batteries which have a too low electrolyte level - risk
of explosion and caustic burns! Jump-starting on vehicles with the “START-STOP” system Fig. 174 Jump-starting on vehicles with
the START-STOP system
One vehicles with the “START STOP” system, the negative cable of the charger
must never be connected directly to the negative pole of the vehicle battery, but
only to the engine earth ⇒ fig. 174.
The vehicle General Vehicles with manual transmission can be towed in with a tow bar or a tow rope
or with the front or rear wheels raised.
Vehicles with automatic transmission can be towed in with a tow bar or a tow
rope or with the front wheels raised. If the vehicle is raised at rear, the automatic gearbox is damaged!
Vehicles with four-wheel drive can be towed in with a tow bar or a tow rope or
with the front wheels raised.
A tow bar is safest way of towing a vehicle and also minimizes any shocks. You
can use a tow rope only if a suitable tow bar is not available.
Refer to the following guidelines when towing:
Driver of the towing vehicle
– Release the clutch particularly gently when starting off or depress the acceler-
ator particularly gently if your vehicle is fitted with an automatic gearbox.
– On vehicles with manual transmission, only push down on the accelerator ped-
al once the rope is taught. £ 217
Breakdown assistance Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data