2012 SKODA OCTAVIA check engine

Heating and air conditioning system
Heating and air conditioning system
Introductory information
The heating effect is dependent upon the coolant temperature, thus full heat output only occurs when the engine has reached its operating temperature.
If the cooling system is switched on, the temperature and air humidity drops in
the vehicle. The well-being of the occupants of the car is enhanced as a result of
this particularly at high outside temperatures and a high air humidity. The system
prevents the windows misting up during the cold season of the year.
It is possible to briefly activate recirculated air mode to enhance the cooling ef-fect.
Please refer to the information regarding recirculated air mode for the air-condi- tioning system » page 85 or for Climatronic » page 87.
The air inlet in front of the windscreen must be free of e.g. ice, snow or leaves to ensure that the heating and cooling system operates properly.
After switching on the cooling Condensation from the evaporator of the air condi-
tioning may drip down and form a puddle below the vehicle. This is not a leak!
WARNINGFor your own safety and that of other road users, ensure that all the windows
are free of ice, snow and misting. Please familiarize yourself about how to cor-
rectly operate the heating and ventilation systems, how to demist and defrost
the windows, as well as with the cooling mode.
Note
■ The used air streams out through the vents in the luggage compartment.■We recommend that you do not smoke in the vehicle when the recirculating air
mode is operating since the smoke which is drawn at the evaporator from the in-
terior of the vehicle forms deposits in the evaporator of the air conditioning sys- tem. This produces a permanent odour when the air conditioning system is oper-ating which can only be eliminated through considerable effort and expense (re-
placement of compressor).

Using the air conditioning system economically
The compressor on the air conditioning system uses power from the engine when in cooling mode which will effect the fuel consumption.
It recommended to open the windows or the doors of a vehicle for which the inte- rior has been strongly heated through the effect of direct sunlight in order to al-low the heated air to escape.
The cooling system should not be switched on while travelling when the window is open.
For the sake of the environment
Pollutant emissions are also reduced when fuel is saved » page 101, Economical
and environmentally friendly driving .
Operational problems
If the cooling system does not operate at outside temperatures higher than +5 °C,
there is a problem in the system. The reasons for this may be.
› One of the fuses has blown. Check the fuse and replace if necessa-
ry » page 200 .
› The cooling system has switched off automatically for a short time because the
coolant temperature of the engine is too hot » page 10.
If you are not able to resolve the operational fault yourself, or if the cooler output has reduced, switch off the cooling system and get assistance from a ŠKODA Spe- cialist garage.

81Heating and air conditioning system

Starting-off and Driving
Starting and stopping the engine
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Adjusting the steering wheel position
93
Power steering
93
Electronic immobiliser
93
Ignition lock
94
Starting engine
94
Switching the engine off
94
Starting and stopping the engine on vehicles with the KESSY system » page 95.
WARNING■
Never adjust the steering wheel when the vehicle is moving only when the
vehicle is stationary!■
Maintain a distance of 25 cm
1
to the steering wheel » Fig. 89 on page 93
–  . Not maintaining this minimum distance will mean that the airbag system
will not be able to properly protect you – hazard!
■
The lever for adjusting the steering wheel must be locked whilst driving so
that the position of the steering wheel cannot accidently change during the journey – risk of accident!
■
If the steering wheel is adjusted further towards the head, the protection
provided by the driver airbag in the event of an accident is reduced. Check
that the steering wheel is aligned to the chest.
■
When driving, hold the steering wheel with both hands firmly on the outer
edge in the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock position. Never hold the steering wheel in
the 12 o'clock position or in any other way (e.g. in the middle or inner edge of the steering wheel). In such cases, you could injure the arms, hands and head
when the driver airbag is deployed.
WARNING (Continued)■ When driving, the ignition key must always be in the position 2 » Fig. 90 on
page 94 (ignition switched on) without the engine running. This position is
indicated by the warning lights coming on. If this is not the case, it could result
in unexpected locking of the steering wheel – risk of accident!■
Only pull the ignition key from the ignition lock when the vehicle has come
to a complete stop (by applying the handbrake). Otherwise the steering wheel
could block – risk of accident!
■
When leaving the vehicle, the ignition must always be removed. This is par-
ticularly important if children are left in the vehicle. Otherwise the children
could, for example, start the engine – risk of accident or injury!
■
Never leave the engine running in unventilated or closed rooms. The ex-
haust gases of the engine contain besides the odorless and colourless carbon
monoxide a poisonous gas – hazard! Carbon monoxide can cause uncon-
sciousness and death.
■
Never leave the vehicle unattended with the engine running.
■
Never switch off the engine before the vehicle is stationary – risk of acci-
dent!
CAUTION
■ The starter may only be operated (ignition key position 3 » Fig. 90 on
page 94), if the engine is not running. The starter or engine can be damaged if
the starter is activated when the engine is running.■
Avoid high engine revolutions, full throttle and high engine loads as long as the
engine has not yet reached its operating temperature – risk of damaging the en-
gine!
■
Do not tow start the engine - danger of damaging the engine! On vehicles with
a catalytic converter, unburnt fuel may get into the catalytic converter where it
may ignite. This in turn may damage the catalytic converter. The battery from an- other vehicle can be used as a jump-start aid » page 195.
■
Do not switch the engine off immediately at the end of your journey after the
engine has been operated over a prolonged period at high loads but leave it to
run at an idling speed for about 1 minute. This prevents any possible accumulation of heat when the engine is switched off.
For the sake of the environment
Do not warm up the engine while the vehicle is stationary. If possible, start your
journey as soon as the engine has started. Through this the engine reaches its
operating temperature more rapidly and the pollutant emissions are lower. 92Using the system

Note■The engine can only be started with a genuine ŠKODA key with the matching
code.■
The engine running noises may louder at first be louder for a short time after
starting the cold engine. This is quite normal and is not an operating problem.
■
After switching off the ignition, the radiator fan can intermittently continue to
operate for approx. 10 minutes.
■
If the engine also does not start after the second attempt, the fuse for the elec-
tric fuel pump (in petrol engines) or the control unit for the glow plug system or
glow plug system relay and fuel pump (in diesel engines) could be faulty. Check
the fuse and replace, if necessary » page 199 or seek assistance from a ŠKODA
specialist garage.
■
We recommend locking the steering wheel whenever leaving the vehicle. This
acts as a deterrent against the attempted theft of your car.

Adjusting the steering wheel position
Fig. 89
Adjustable steering wheel: Lever below the steering wheel/safe dis-
tance to the steering wheel
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 92.
The height and forward/back position of the steering wheel can be adjusted.
›
First of all adjust the driver's seat » page 59.
›
Pull the lever below the steering wheel down » Fig. 89 – 
.
›
Adjust the steering wheel to the desired position (with regard to the height and
forward/back position).
›
Push the lever upwards to the stop.

Power steering
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 92.
The power steering enables you to steer the vehicle with less physical force.
It is still possible to fully steer the vehicle if the power steering fails or if the en- gine is not running (vehicle being towed in). However, greater physical effort is
required to turn the steering wheel.
Steering force assistance can be influenced by the selection of driving
mode » page 124 .

Electronic immobiliser
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 92.
An electronic chip is integrated in the head of the key. The immobiliser is deacti-
vated with the aid of this chip when the key is inserted in the ignition lock. The
electronic immobiliser is automatically activated when the ignition key is with-
drawn from the lock.
The engine will not start if a non-authorized ignition key is used.
The following message is shown in the information cluster display: Immobilizer active.
or
IMMOBILIZER ACTIVE

93Starting-off and Driving

Emergency start-up of the engineFig. 92
Emergency start-up of engine
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings on page 95.
If the authorisation check for the key fails,the following message appears in the
instrument cluster display:
Key not detected.
or
NO KEY
The emergency start-up must be completed.
›
Press the starter button » Fig. 92 and then hold the key to the starter button;
or
›
press the starter button directly with the key.
Note
During an emergency start-up of the engine, the key bit must face the starter
button » Fig. 92 .
Switching the engine off
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 95.
›
Stop the vehicle.
›
Switch off the engine by pressing the starter button » Fig. 91 on page 95, doing
so switches off the ignition at the same time.

Brakes
Information for braking
Wear-and-tear
The wear of the brake pads is dependent on the operating conditions and driving
style.
The brake pads wear more quickly if a lot of journeys are completed in towns and
over short distances or if a very sporty style of driving is adopted. If operated un-
der severe conditions , the thickness of the brake pads must be checked by a
ŠKODA specialist garage between service appointments as well.
Wet roads or road salt
The performance of the brakes can be delayed as the brake discs and brake pads may be moist or have a coating of ice or layer of salt on them in winter. The
brakes are cleaned and dried by applying the brakes several times.
Corrosion
Corrosion on the brake discs and dirt on the bake pads occur if the vehicle has
been parked for a long period and if you do not make much use of the braking
system. The brakes are cleaned and dried by applying the brakes several times.
Faults in the brake surface
If it is found that the braking distance has suddenly become longer and that the brake pedal can be depressed further, the brake system may be faulty. Visit a
ŠKODA specialist garage immediately and adjust your style of driving appropriate-
ly as you will not know how great the damage is.
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 14, Brake system 
.
Brake booster
The brake booster increases the pressure generated with the brake pedal. The
brake booster only operates when the engine is running. 
97Starting-off and Driving

Driving and the Environment
Running in
New engine
The engine has to be run in during the first 1 500 kilometres.
Up to 1 000 kilometres
›
Do not drive faster than 3/4 of the maximum speed of the gear in use, i.e. 3/4 of
the maximum permissible engine speed.
›
No full throttle.
›
Avoid high engine speeds.
›
Do not tow a trailer.
From 1 000 up to 1 500 kilometres
Gradually increase the power output of the engine up to the full speed of the
gear engaged, i.e. up to the maximum permissible engine speed.
During the first operating hours the engine has higher internal friction than lateruntil all of the moving parts have harmonized. The driving style which you adopt
during the first approx.1 500 kilometres plays a decisive part in the success of running in your car.
Never drive at unnecessarily high engine speeds even after the running-in period
is complete. The maximum permissible engine speed is marked by the start of the red scale area of the revolutions counter.
On vehicles fitted with a manual gearbox, at the very latest shift up into the nextgear when the red area is reached. Very high engine speeds when accelerating
(accelerator) are automatically restricted »
.
If the engine is no longer running smoothly, do not drive with unnecessarily low
engine revs on a vehicle with manual transmission. Shift down. Observe the rec-
ommended gear » page 21.
CAUTION■
The engine is not protected from excessive engine revs caused by shifting
down at the wrong time. This can result in the sudden increase in revs beyond
the permissible maximum rpm and thus cause engine damage.■
Never rev up a cold engine when the vehicle is stationary or when driving in in-
dividual gears.
■
All the speed and engine revolution figures apply only when the engine is at its
normal operating temperature.
For the sake of the environment
Never drive with unnecessarily high engine revs. Shifting up sooner helps save on
fuel, reduces engine noises and protects the environment.
New tyres
New tyres have to be “run in” since they do not offer optimal grip at first. Drive
especially carefully for the first 500 km or so.

New brake pads
New brake pads initially do not provide optimal braking performance. They first need to be “run in”. Drive especially carefully for the first 200 km or so.

Catalytic converter
Proper operation of the emission control system (catalytic converter) is of major
significance for driving your vehicle in an environmentally conscious way.
› Vehicles fitted with a petrol engine must always be refuelled with unleaded
petrol » page 168 .
› Do not pour too much oil into the engine
» page 172, Checking the engine oil
level .
› Do not switch off the ignition while you are driving the vehicle.
If you drive your vehicle in a country in which unleaded petrol is not available, you must have the catalytic converter replaced later when driving the vehicle into a
country in which use of a catalytic converter is mandatory. 
100Using the system

Information about convenience consumers and the amount of fuel con-sumed » operating instructions for Infotainment , chapter Setting vehicle systems
(CAR button) .
A maximum of three convenience consumers are displayed in the Infotainment
display- the top 3 in terms of energy consumption.
You can decide to switch off the consumers or to set them to a lower level to re-duce the level of fuel consumption.
Checking tyre inflation pressures
Tyres which are correctly inflated save fuel.
Always ensure the tyre inflation pressure is correct. If the inflation pressure is too
low, the tyres must overcome a higher rolling resistance. This will not only in-
crease fuel consumption but also tyre wear and the driving behaviour will worsen.
Always check the tyre inflation pressure when the tyres are cold.

Avoid unnecessary ballast
Transporting ballast costs fuel.
Every additional kilogram in weight increases the fuel consumption. We there-
fore recommend you do not travel with any unnecessary weight.
It is particularly in town traffic, when one is accelerating quite often, that the ve-
hicle weight will have a significant effect upon the fuel consumption. A rule of
thumb here is that an increase in weight of 100 kilograms will cause an increase
in fuel consumption of about 1 litre/100 kilometres.
At a speed of 100 - 120 km/h, a vehicle fitted with a roof rack cross member with-
out a load will use about 10 % more fuel than normal due to the increased aero- dynamic drag.

Regular servicing
A poorly tuned engine uses an unnecessarily high amount of fuel.
By having your vehicle regularly maintained by a ŠKODA specialist garage, you
create the conditions needed for driving economically. The maintenance state of your vehicle has a positive effect on traffic safety and value retention.
A poorly tuned engine can result in a fuel consumption which is 10 % higher than normal!
Check the oil at regular intervals, e.g. when filling up. Oil consumption is depend-
ent to a considerable extent on the load and speed of the engine. Oil consump-
tion could be as high as 0.5 litres/1 000 km depending on your style of driving.
It is quite normal that a new engine has a higher oil consumption at first, and rea- ches its lowest level only after a certain running in time. The oil consumption of anew vehicle can therefore only be correctly assessed after driving about5 000 km.
For the sake of the environment
■ Additional improvements to the fuel economy can be made by using synthetic
high-lubricity oils.■
Regularly check the ground under the vehicle. Have your vehicle inspected by a
ŠKODA specialist garage if you find any stains caused by oil or other fluids on the
floor.
Note
We recommend that your vehicle is serviced on a regular basis by a ŠKODA Part-
ner.
Environmental compatibility
Environmental protection has played a major role in the design, selection of mate-
rials and manufacture of your new ŠKODA. Particular emphasis has been placed
on the following points:
Design measures › Joints designed to be easily detached.
› Simplified disassembly due to the modular structure system.
› Improved purity of different classes of materials.
› Identification of all plastic parts in accordance with VDA Recommendation 260.
› Reduced fuel consumption and exhaust emission CO
2.
› Minimum fuel leakage during accidents.
› Reduced noise.
Choice of materials › Extensive use of recyclable material.
› Air conditioning filled with CFC-free refrigerant.

103Driving and the Environment

The following must be observed to avoid damage to the vehicle when driving
through bodies of water (e.g. flooded roads):
› Determine the depth of the water when driving through bodies of water. The
water level must fit around the strut on the side member as a maxi-mum » Fig. 98 ;
› Do not drive any faster than at a walking speed. At a higher speed, a water
wave can form in front of the vehicle which can cause water to penetrate into the air induction system of the engine or into other parts of the vehicle;
› Never stop in the water, do not reverse and do not switch the engine off;
› Deactivate the START-STOP system before driving through water
» page 121.WARNING■
Driving through water, mud, sludge etc. can reduce the braking power and
extend the braking distance – risk of accident!■
Avoid abrupt and sudden braking immediately after water crossings.
■
After driving through bodies of water, the brakes must be cleaned and dried
as soon as possible by intermittent braking. Only apply the brakes for the pur-
pose of drying and cleaning the brake discs if the traffic conditions permit this.
Do not place any other road users in jeopardy.
CAUTION
■ When driving through bodies of water, some parts of the vehicle such as the
engine, gearbox, chassis or electrics can be severely damaged.■
Oncoming vehicles can generate water waves which can exceed the permissible
water level for your vehicle.
■
Potholes, mud or rocks can be hidden under the water making it difficult or im-
possible to drive through the body of water.
■
Do not drive through salt water. The salt can lead to corrosion. Any vehicle parts
that have come into contact with salt water must be rinsed immediately with
fresh water.
Note
After driving through a body of water, we recommend that the vehicle is checked
by a ŠKODA specialist garage.
105Driving and the Environment

CAUTION■If the lever is held firm and not pushed downwards as far as it can go, it will go
back up after the ball rod is removed and will not latch into the ready position.
The ball rod then needs to be brought into this position before the next time it is installed.■
Stow the ball rod in the ready position with the key inserted in the box. When
doing so, make the side opposite to the inserted key face downwards - risk of damaging the key!
■
Do not use excessive force when handling the operating lever (e.g. do not climb
on it)!
Note
Remove any dirt from the ball rod before stowing it away in the box with the ve-
hicle tool kit.
Operation and maintenance
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 106.
Seal the mounting recess with the cap to prevent any ingress of dirt.
Always check the ball head before hitching a trailer. Use a suitable lubricating grease where necessary.
Include the protective cap when stowing away the ball rod to protect the boot
from getting contaminated.
In the event of dirt, clean the surfaces of the mounting recess and treat with a
suitable preservative.
CAUTION
Apply lubricating grease to the upper part of the mounting recess. Make sure you
do not remove any grease.
Loading a trailer
The vehicle/trailer combination must be balanced. whereby the maximum permis- sible drawbar load must be utilised. If the drawbar load is too low, it jeopardisesthe performance of the vehicle/trailer combination.
Distribution of the load
Distribute the load in the trailer in such a way that heavy items are located as
close to the axle as possible. Secure the items from slipping.
The distribution of the weight is very poor if your vehicle is unladen and the trail-
er is laden. Drive at a particularly low speed if you cannot avoid driving with this
combination.
Tyre pressure
Correct the tyre inflation pressure on your vehicle for a “full load” » page 182,
Tyre life .
Trailer load
The permissible trailer load must not be exceeded under any circumstan-
ces » page 207 , Technical data .
The trailer loads specified apply only to altitudes up to 1 000 metres above mean
sea level.
The engine output falls as the height increases, as does the ability to climb.
Therefore, for every additional 1 000 m in height (every one begun), the maximum
permissible towed weight must be reduced by 10 %.
The towed weight comprises the actual weight of the (loaded) towing vehicle and the (loaded) trailer.
The trailer and drawbar load information on the type plate of the towing device are merely test data for the towing device. The vehicle-specific values are de-tailed in the vehicle documents.WARNING■ Do not exceed the maximum permissible axle and drawbar load and the
maximum permissible total or towed weight of the vehicle and the trailer -
risk of accident and serious injuries!■
Always drive particularly carefully with the trailer.
■
Slipping loads can significantly affect the stability and safety of the vehicle/
trailer combination - risk of accident and serious injuries!

109Towing a trailer