2012 SKODA OCTAVIA ignition

WARNINGWhen working in the engine compartment, injuries, scolding, accident or fire
hazards may arise. For this reason, it is essential to comply with the warning
instructions stated below and with the general applicable rules of safety. The
engine compartment of your car is a hazardous area!■
Before beginning work in the engine compartment, please read the follow-
ing advice. ■ Turn off the engine and withdraw the ignition key.
■ Firmly apply the handbrake.
■ If the vehicle is fitted with a manual gearbox, move the gearshift lever into
Neutral, or if the vehicle is fitted with an automatic gearbox, move the se- lector lever into position P.
■ Allow the engine to cool.
■ Never open the bonnet if you can see steam or coolant flowing out of the
engine compartment – risk of scalding! Wait until the steam or coolant has stopped escaping.
■
While working in the engine compartment, please read the following advice.
■ Keep children clear of the engine compartment.
■ Never touch the radiator fan while the engine is still warm. The fan might
suddenly start running!
■ Do not touch any hot engine parts – risk of burns!
■ The coolant additive and thus all of the coolant is harmful to your health.
■ Avoid contact with the coolant.
■ Coolant vapours are harmful to health.
■ Never open the end cover of the coolant expansion reservoir while the en-
gine is still warm. The cooling system is pressurized!
■ When opening the end cover of the coolant expansion reservoir, cover it
with a cloth to protect your face, hands and arms from hot steam or hot coolant. ■ If any coolant splashes into your eyes, immediately rinse out your eyes
with clear water and contact a doctor as soon as possible.
■ Always safely store the coolant additive in its original container out of the
reach of children – risk of poisoning!
■ If coolant is swallowed - consult a doctor immediately.
■ Do not leave any items such as cloths or tools in the engine compartment.
■ Never spill fluids on the hot engine. Such fluids (e.g. the antifreeze con-
tained in the coolant) may ignite!
WARNING (Continued)■ Whenever working in the engine compartment while the engine is running,
you must pay heed to the following warning instructions. ■Pay particular attention to moving engine parts (e.g. V-ribbed belt, alterna-
tor, radiator fan) and the high-voltage ignition unit - danger to life! ■ Never touch the electric wiring on the ignition system.
■ Avoid short circuits in the electrical system – particularly on the vehicle's
battery. ■ Always make sure that no jewellery, loose clothing or long hair can get
caught in rotating engine parts – hazard! Always remove any jewellery, tie back long hair and wear tight fitting clothing before completing any work.■
The following warning instructions must be observed if work has to be car-
ried out on the fuel or electrical system. ■ Always disconnect the vehicle battery from the electrical system.
■ Do not smoke.
■ Never work near open flames.
■ Always have a functioning fire extinguisher nearby.
■
Read the information and warning instructions on the fluid containers.
■
Keep fluids in their original containers and keep out of reach of children!
■
If you wish to work under the vehicle, you must secure the vehicle from roll-
ing away and support it with suitable supporting blocks: the car jack is not
sufficient for this – risk of injury!
■
The bonnet must always be properly closed when driving. This is why after
closing the bonnet, the lock must always be checked to ensure it has engaged
properly.
■
If you notice that the lock is not properly engaged while driving, stop the ve-
hicle immediately and close the bonnet – risk of an accident!
CAUTION
■ Always top up using the correct specification of fluids. This may result in major
operating problems and also vehicle damage!■
Never open the bonnet using the locking lever.
For the sake of the environment
In view of the environmentally friendly disposal of fluids, the specials tools and
knowledge required for such work, we recommend that fluids are changed by a
Škoda Partner as part of the inspection service. 170General Maintenance

CAUTION■Do not fill the coolant above the mark A » Fig. 150 .■If a fault causes the engine to overheat, we recommend visiting a ŠKODA Part-
ner, otherwise serious engine damage may occur.

Replenishing the coolant
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 169.
Only refill with new coolant.
›
Switch off the engine.
›
Allow the engine to cool.
›
Place a cloth over the cap of the coolant expansion reservoir and unscrew the
cap carefully .
›
Replenish the coolant.
›
Turn the cap until it clicks into place.
Do not use an alternative additive if the specified coolant is not available in an emergency. In this case, just use water and have the correct mixing ratio of water
and the coolant additive restored by a ŠKODA specialist garage as soon as possi-
ble.

Radiator fan
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 169.
After switching off the ignition, the fan can intermittently continue to operate for
approx. 10 minutes.
The radiator fan is powered by an electric motor. Operation is controlled accord-
ing to the temperature of the coolant.

Checking the brake fluidFig. 151
Engine compartment: Brake fluid
reservoir
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 169.
The brake fluid reservoir is located in the engine compartment.
›
Switch off the engine.
›
Open the bonnet.
›
Check the level of brake fluid in the reservoir » Fig. 151. The level must be be-
tween the “MIN” and “MAX” markings.
A slight drop in the fluid level results when driving due to normal wear-and-tear and automatic adjustment of the brake pads.
There may be an indication of a leak in the brake system, however, if the fluid lev-
el drops significantly within a short time or if it drops below the “MIN” marking.
If the brake fluid level is too low, this is indicated by the warning light 
lighting
up in the instrument cluster » page 14, Brake system 
.
WARNINGIf the fluid level has dropped below the MIN marking,  do not continue your
journey - risk of accident! Seek help from a ŠKODA specialist garage.

175Inspecting and replenishing

Disconnecting and reconnecting the vehicle battery180
Automatic load deactivation
180
Warning symbols on the vehicle battery
SymbolDescriptionAlways wear eye protection!Battery acid is severely caustic. Always wear gloves and eye protec-tion!Keep fire, sparks, open flames and lit cigarettes well clear of the ve-
hicle battery!When charging the vehicle battery, a highly explosive gas mixture is produced!Keep children away from the vehicle battery!
Improper handling of the battery can lead to damage occurring. We recommend
having all work on the vehicle battery be undertaken by a ŠKODA Partner.
WARNINGThere is a risk of injuries, poisoning, chemical burns, explosions or fire when
carrying out any work on the battery and on the electrical system. It is essen-
tial to comply with the warning instructions stated below and with the gener-
al applicable rules of safety.■
Keep children away from the vehicle battery.
■
The battery acid is strongly corrosive and must, therefore, be handled with
the greatest of care.
■
Always wear protective gloves, eye and skin protection when handling the
vehicle battery.
■
Corrosive fumes in the air irritate the air passages and lead to conjunctivitis
and inflammation of the air passages in the lungs.
■
Battery acid corrodes dental enamel and creates deep wounds after contact
with the skin which take a long time to heal. Repeated contact with diluted
acids causes skin diseases (inflammations, ulcers, skin cracks).
■
Acids coming into contact with water are diluted accompanied by significant
development of heat.
WARNING (Continued)■ Do not tilt the battery otherwise battery electrolyte may flow out of the bat-
tery vent openings. Protect the eyes with safety glasses or a shield! There is
the danger of suffering blindness!■
If any battery electrolyte comes into contact with your eyes, rinse the rele-
vant eye immediately with clear water for several minutes - consult a doctor
immediately!
■
Splashes of acid on your skin or clothes should be neutralised as soon as
possible using soap suds and then rinsed with plenty of water. If you swallow
battery acid, seek immediate medical assistance!
■
When you charge a battery, hydrogen is released, and a highly explosive gas
mixture is also produced. An explosion can be caused through sparkling over
during unclamping or loosening of the cable plug while the ignition is on.
■
Creating a bridge between the poles on the battery (e.g. with a metal object,
cable) creates a short circuit - risk of melting of lead struts, explosion and
burning of the battery, jets of acid spurting out.
■
It is prohibited to work with a naked flame and light.
■
Smoking or to carrying out any activities which produce sparks are prohibi-
ted.
■
Avoid creating sparks when working with cables and electrical devices.
Strong sparking represents a risk of injury.
■
Before carrying out any work on the electrical system, switch off the engine,
the ignition and all of the electrical components and disconnect the negative
terminal (-) on the battery.
■
The relevant lamp must always be switched off before a light bulb is re-
placed.
■
Never charge a frozen or thawed vehicle battery – risk of explosion and
caustic burns!
■
Replace a frozen vehicle battery.
■
Never jump-start vehicle batteries with an electrolyte level that is too low –
risk of explosion and caustic burns.
■
Never use a damaged vehicle battery – risk of explosion! Replace any vehicle
battery that is damaged. 
177Inspecting and replenishing

CAUTION■The vehicle battery must only be disconnected if the ignition is switched off,
otherwise the vehicle's electrical system (electronic components) can be dam-
aged. When disconnecting the battery from the electrical system, first of all dis-
connect the negative terminal (-) of the battery, followed by the positive terminal
(+).■
When connecting the battery to the electrical system, first of all connect the
positive terminal (+) of the battery, followed by the negative terminal (-). Under no
circumstances must the battery cables be connected incorrectly – risk of a cable fire.
■
Ensure that battery acid does not come into contact with the bodywork – risk of
damage to the paintwork.
■
Do not place the battery in direct daylight in order to protect the vehicle battery
housing from the effects of ultra-violet light.
■
If the vehicle has not been driven for more than 3 to 4 weeks, the battery will
discharge. This is because certain electrical components consume electricity (e. g.
control units) also in idle state. Prevent the battery from discharging by discon-
necting the battery's negative terminal (-) or continuously charging the battery
with a very low charging current.
■
If the vehicle is frequently used for making short trips, the vehicle battery will
not have time to charge up sufficiently and may discharge.
For the sake of the environment
A vehicle battery that has been removed is a special type of hazardous waste.
These must be disposed of in accordance with national legal regulations.
Note
You should replace batteries older than 5 years.
Battery coverFig. 153
Engine compartment: Polyester
cover of vehicle battery
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 176.
The battery is located in the engine compartment - in some models, underneath apolyester cover » Fig. 153.
›
Fold out the cover on the battery in the direction of the arrow .
The battery cover is installed in reverse order.
The edge of the polyester battery cover is inserted between the battery and the
side wall of the battery cover when working on the battery.

178General Maintenance

Checking the battery electrolyte levelFig. 154
Vehicle battery: Electrolyte level
indicator
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 176.
On vehicles with a vehicle battery fitted with a colour indicator, the so-called magic eye » Fig. 154, the electrolyte level can be determined by looking at the
change in colour.
Air bubbles can influence the colour of the indicator. For this reason carefully
knock on the indicator before carrying out the check.
› Black colour – electrolyte level is correct.
› Colourless or light yellow colour – electrolyte level too low, the battery must be
replaced.
For technical reasons, on vehicles with the description “AGM”, the electrolyte lev- el cannot be checked.
Vehicles with a START-STOP system are fitted with a battery control unit for checking the energy level for the recurring engine start.
We recommend you have the electrolyte level checked by a ŠKODA specialist ga-
rage from time to time, especially in the following cases.
› High external temperatures.
› Longer day trips.
› After each charge.
Winter time
The vehicle battery only has a proportion of the starting power in lower tempera- tures. A discharged vehicle battery may already freeze at temperatures just be-
low 0 °C .
We therefore recommend that you have the battery checked and, if necessary, re-
charged by a ŠKODA Partner before the start of the winter.
NoteThe battery electrolyte level is periodically checked by a ŠKODA Partner as part of
the Inspection Service.
Charging a vehicle battery
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 176.
A properly charged vehicle battery is essential for reliably starting the engine.
›
Switch off the ignition and all of the electrical components.
›
Only when performing a “quick-charge”, disconnect both battery cables (first of
all “negative”, then “positive”).
›
Attach the terminal clamps of the charger to the battery terminals (red = “posi-
tive”, black = “negative”).
›
Plug the mains cable of the charger into the power socket and switch on thedevice.
›
After charging has been successful: Switch off the charger and remove themains cable from the power socket.
›
Only then disconnect the charger's terminal clamps.
›
Reconnect the cables to the battery (first of all “positive”, then “negative”).
It is not necessary to disconnect the cables of the battery if you recharge the ve- hicle battery using low amperages (for example from a mini-charger). Refer to the
instructions of the charger manufacturer .
A charging current of 0.1 multiple of the total vehicle battery capacity (or lower) must be used until full charging is achieved.
It is necessary to disconnect both cables before charging the battery with high
amperages, so-called “ quick-charging”.
The vent plugs of the vehicle battery should not be opened for charging.
Replacing the vehicle battery
When replacing a battery, the new vehicle battery must have the same capacity,
voltage, amperage and be the same size. Suitable types of vehicle batteries can
be purchased from a ŠKODA Partner.
We recommend that the battery is replaced by a ŠKODA Partner, where the new
vehicle battery will be installed properly and the original battery will be disposed
of in accordance with national regulations. 
179Inspecting and replenishing

WARNING“Quick-charging” the vehicle battery is dangerous and requires a special
charger and specialist knowledge.
CAUTION
On vehicles with the START/STOP system, the pole terminal of the charger must
not be connected directly to the negative terminal of the vehicle battery, but only
to the engine earth » page 196, Jump-starting in vehicles with the START-STOP
system .
Note
We recommend having the quick charging of vehicle batteries undertaken by a
ŠKODA specialist garage.
Disconnecting and reconnecting the vehicle battery
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 176.
On disconnecting and reconnecting the vehicle battery the following functionsare initially deactivated or are no longer able to operate fault-free:
OperationOperating measureElectrical power window (operational faults)» page 41Enter the radio/navigation system code num-
ber» operating instructions for Info-
tainment radio or » operating in-
structions for Infotainment Navi-
gationSetting the clock» page 11Data in the multifunction display are deleted» page 22
Note
We recommend having the vehicle checked by a ŠKODA Partner to ensure the full
functionality of all electrical systems.
Automatic load deactivation
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 176.
The vehicle voltage control unit automatically prevents the battery from discharg-
ing when the bettery is subjected to heavy loads. This manifests itself by the fol-
lowing:
› The idling speed is raised to allow the generator to deliver more electricity to
the electrical system.
› Where appropriate large convenience consumers, e.g. seat heaters, rear win-
dow heaters, have their power limited or in case of emergency shut off com-pletely.
CAUTION
■ Despite such intervention by the vehicle electric system management, the vehi-
cle battery may be drained. For example, when the ignition is switched on a long
time with the engine turned off or the side or parking lights are turned on during longer parking.■
Consumers which are supplied via a 12 V socket can cause the vehicle battery to
discharge when the ignition is switched off.
Note
Driving comfort is not disrupted by any shutting off of consumers. Often the driv-
er is not aware of it having taken place.
180General Maintenance

Full wheel trimFirst read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 181.
Pulling off
›
Hook the clamp found in the vehicle tool kit into the reinforced edge of the wheel trim.
›
Push the wheel wrench through the clamp, support on the tyre and pull off the
wheel trim.
Install
›
Press the wheel trim onto the wheel rim at the valve opening provided.
›
Then press the trim into the wheel rim until its entire circumference locks cor- rectly in place.
CAUTION
■ Use the pressure of your hand, do not knock the full wheel trim! Avoid heavy
knocks when the trim is not yet inserted in the wheel rim. This could cause dam-
age to the guide and centring elements of the trim.■
Ensure that the anti-theft wheel bolt has been installed correctly » page 192,
Securing wheels against theft .
■
If wheel trims are retrofitted it must be ensured that an adequate flow of air is
assured to cool the brake system.

Wheel bolts
Fig. 158
Remove the cap
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn- ings on page 181.
Pulling off›Push the plastic clip sufficiently far onto the cap until the inner catches of the
clip are positioned at the collar of the cap » Fig. 158.›
Remove the cap.
Install
›
Push the caps onto the wheel bolts up to the stop.
The wheel bolt caps are housed in a plastic box in the spare wheel or in the stor-
age space for the spare wheel.

Tyre control display
Fig. 159
Button for setting the tyre infla-
tion pressure control value
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 181.
Calibration
After changing the tyre inflation pressure » page 182, in section Introduction ,
after changing one or several wheels, the position of a wheel on the vehicle or
when the warning light lights up while driving, a calibration of the system must
be carried out as follows:
›
Inflate all of the tyres to the specified inflation pressure » page 182.
›
Switch on the ignition.
›
Start the system calibration.
On vehicles with Infortainment » operating instructions for Infotainment , chap-
ter Setting vehicle systems (CAR button) .
On vehicles with the radio preinstallation .
›
Press and hold the button 

» Fig. 159 for longer than 2 seconds. 
185Wheels

Jump-starting
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Jump-starting using the battery from another vehicle
195
Jump-starting in vehicles with the START-STOP system
196
The battery of another vehicle can be used to jump-start your vehicle if the en-
gine will not start because the battery is flat. Jump-start cables are required for
this purpose.
Both batteries must have a rated voltage of 12 V. The capacity (Ah) of the battery
supplying the power must not be significantly less than the capacity of the dis- charged battery in your vehicle.
Jump-start cables
Only use jump-start cables which have an adequately large cross-section and in-
sulated terminal clamps. Observe the manufacturer's instructions.
Positive cable – colour coding in the majority of cases is red.
Negative cable – colour coding in the majority of cases is black.
WARNING■
A discharged vehicle battery may already freeze at temperatures just below
0 °C. In case of frozen battery carry out no jump-starting – risk of explosion!■
Pay attention to the warning instructions relating to working in the engine
compartment » page 169, Engine compartment .
■
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 clamp the jump-start cable 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.
■
Route the jump-start cables so that they cannot be caught by any rotating
parts in the engine compartment.
■
Do not bend over the battery – risk of caustic burns!
■
The vent screws of the battery cells must be tightened firmly.
WARNING (Continued)■ Keep any sources of ignition (naked flame, smouldering cigarettes, etc.)
away from the battery – risk of an explosion!■
Never jump-start vehicle batteries with an electrolyte level that is too low –
risk of explosion and caustic burns.
Note
■ There must not be any contact between the two vehicles otherwise current
may flow as soon as the negative terminals are connected.■
The discharged battery must be properly connected to the system of the vehi-
cle.
■
We recommend you buy jump-start cables from a car battery specialist.

Jump-starting using the battery from another vehicle
Fig. 167
Jump-starting: A – flat battery, B
– battery providing current
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 195.
The jump-start cables must be attached in the following sequence.
›
Attach one end
1
on the positive terminal
A
» Fig. 167 .
›
Attach the other end
2
to the positive terminal
B
.
›
Attach one end
3
on the minus terminal
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 on the vehicle providing the power and allow it to idle.
›
Now start the engine of the vehicle with the discharged battery. 
195Do-it-yourself