2012 SKODA YETI warning

WARNING
■ Be very alert and look ahead when driving off-road. Always adjust your driv-
ing to the current of-road, traffic and weather conditions. Excessive speed or
incorrect driving manoeuvres can cause damage to the vehicle and lead to se-
rious injuries.
■ The Assistance systems of your vehicle cannot overcome the physical limits
of your vehicle.
■ Do not drive over embankments, ramps or hillsides at too high a speed. This
can lead to the wheels of the vehicle lifting off the ground so that you can no
longer steer and control the vehicle.
■ If the wheels lose contact with the ground, for example when the vehicle re-
bounds while driving over corrugations, steer straight ahead. If the wheels are
turned when making the contact with the ground again, the vehicle can roll
over.
■ There should never be any person in front or behind the vehicle when rocks,
scrub, wood pieces or other objects are placed under the wheels in order to
achieve traction on a sandy or slippery ground. Turning the wheels can trans-
form these objects into dangerous
“bullets” – risk of death!
■ Luggage and other items, which are transported on the roof of the vehicle,
additionally raise the centre of gravity and thus increase the risk of a rollover. ■ 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! » table on page 153
■ Never attempt to make a turn on a hillside. The vehicle could tilt or roll over.
This can result in serious accidents.
■ Never let the vehicle roll down the hillside at idling speed. You can lose the
control over your vehicle.
■ If the engine cuts out, stop and restart the engine.
■ Objects trapped under the floor of the vehicle can damage the fuel lines, the
brake system, the seals and other parts of the chassis. Check the underside of
the vehicle and remove the trapped objects. Combustible objects such as dry
leaves or twigs could ignite on hot vehicle parts - risk of fire! CAUTION
■ Pay attention to the ground clearance of the vehicle! When driving over objects
which are larger than the ground clearance, the chassis and its components can
get damaged. ■ Do not leave your foot on the clutch pedal or let the clutch slip when driving off-
road. Overwise you may unintentionally depress the clutch pedal on uneven
ground leading to a loss of control over the vehicle. For the sake of the environment
Pay attention to the environment when driving off-road. Ð Explanation of technical terms
Fig. 135
Embankment angle/slope angle Fig. 136
Ground clearance/ramp angle
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 151.
The technical data » table on page 153

refer to ideal conditions. These values
may differ depending on the load and composition of the soil and the environ-
ment. The driver is responsible to decide whether a vehicle can overcome a cer-
tain situation. £
ä
152 Driving Tips

Manual gearbox
› If you are driving through difficult terrain,
on no account use the clutch or
change the gear. When the clutch is depressed, the vehicle may come to a
standstill because of the increased grip of all the tyres of the vehicle (e.g. in the
mud, in deep sand or on a slope). Once the vehicle has come to a standstill, it
may be difficult or even impossible to start off under these conditions.
› When negotiating a steep downhill section or a steep uphill section, always
shift into the 1st or 2nd gear.
› On a soft or slippery ground, you must drive at the appropriate speed and you
must select the highest possible gear for this.
Automatic gearbox
› Select the selector lever position D
for normal flat stretches of ter-
rain » page 110, Selector lever positions.
› While in Tiptronic mode, select the selector lever position 3
or 2
if you are
driving through mud, sand, water or hilly sections of terrain » page 111, Manual
shifting of gears (Tiptronic) .
› When negotiating a steep downhill section or a steep uphill section, select the
selector lever position 1
while in Tiptronic mode
› On a soft or slippery ground, you must drive at the appropriate speed and you
must select the highest possible driving stage for this. ÐDriving at an angle on a hillside
Fig. 137
Steer and maintain your trajec-
tory/in direction to exit - facing
uphill
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 151.
Driving at an angle on a hillside is one of the most dangerous situations while
driving off-road.
ä If the vehicle is at a very steep angle, the wheels on the low side must not sink
deeply into the ground or into troughs and you must not drive over stones, tree
stumps or other obstructions with the alternate raised wheels.
If there is a risk your vehicle may tilt, steer immediately in direction of dip A
and
lightly depress the accelerator » Fig. 137.
A passenger, seated at the rear, should always remain seated on the seat facing
up the hill during such a journey. In an extreme case, the passenger on the rele-
vant side must exit the vehicle until you have safely crossed the hillside.
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 B
» Fig. 137
. WARNING
■ Before driving at an angle on a hillside A
» Fig. 137
, ensure that you can
steer and maintain your trajectory. If you drive at an angle on a hillside and
there is a risk your vehicle may tilt, steer immediately downhill on your trajec-
tory and lightly depress the accelerator. ■ In case the vehicle is stationary on a hillside at a steep angle, do not exit the
vehicle when it is facing downhill. Always leave the vehicle carefully on the
side facing downhill B
» Fig. 137.
■ When driving at an angle on a hillside, the vehicle can lose its grip and slide
sideways. Always make sure that 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 acci-
dent! Ð Stuck vehicle
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 151.
If you can no longer drive on ...
›
Carefully dig out all wheels and ensure that no other parts of the vehicle are
still stuck.
› Engage reverse gear.
› Carefully press the accelerator and try to reverse in a straight line.
› Place scrub, footmats or a sackcloth directly in front of the tyres in order to im-
prove grip and thus achieve an improved traction to drive out. £
ä
155
Driving and the Environment

Towing a trailer
Towing a trailer
Technical requirements
If your vehicle has already been factory-fitted with a towing device or is fitted
with a towing device from ŠKODA Original Accessories, then it meets all of the
technical requirements and national legal provisions for towing a trailer.
On vehicles with a towing device, the ball rod is detachable and is stowed togeth-
er with separate operating instructions in the spare wheel well or in the compart-
ment for the spare wheel within the boot » page 190, Vehicle tool kit.
Your vehicle is fitted with a 13-pin power socket for the electrical connection be-
tween the vehicle and trailer. If the trailer that is to be towed has a 7-pin connec-
tor, you can use a suitable adapter from
ŠKODA Original Accessories.
If a towing device is retrofitted, it must be completed in accordance with the
manufacturer's specifications. Note
If you have any questions, please contact a ŠKODA Service Partner. ÐLoading a trailer
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 jeopardises
the 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. Maintain 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 ,
Service life of tyres.
Trailer load
The permissible trailer load must not be exceeded under any circumstan-
ces » page 208 , Technical data .
The trailer loads specified apply only to altitudes up to 1 000 metres above mean
sea level. As the engine output drops at an increasing altitude due to the declin-
ing air pressure and therefore the climbing ability is also reduced, this means that
the maximum permissible towed weight must be reduced by 10 % for every fur-
ther increase of 1 000 m in height. The towed weight comprises the actual weight
of the (loaded) towing vehicle and the (loaded) trailer. Always drive particularly
carefully with the 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 detailed
in the vehicle documents. WARNING
■ If the maximum permissible axle and drawbar load and the maximum per-
missible total or towed weight of the vehicle and the trailer are exceeded this
can cause accidents and serious injuries.
■ Slipping loads can significantly affect the stability and safety of the vehicle/
trailer combination, causing accidents and serious injuries. Ð Towing a trailer
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. The national legal
requirements must be observed.
Headlights
The headlight settings must be checked before starting a journey with a coupled
trailer. If necessary, adjust the settings with the headlight beam adjust-
ment » page 44 , Headlight beam adjustment .
Driving speed
For safety reasons, do not drive faster than the maximum permissible speed indi-
cated on the trailer. £
157
Towing a trailer

Immediately reduce your speed as soon as even the slightest swaying of the trail-
er is detected. Never attempt to stop the trailer from “swaying” by accelerating.
Brakes
Apply the brakes in good time! If the trailer is fitted with a trailer brake, apply the
brakes gently at first, then brake firmly. This will avoid brake jolts resulting from
the trailer wheels locking. On downhill sections shift down a gear in good time to
also use the engine as a brake.
Trailer stabilisation
The trailer stabilisation is an extension of the stabilisation control that works in
conjunction with the counter-steering assistance to reduce the amount the trail-
er "sways". After turning on the ignition, the ESC indicator light  in the instru-
ment cluster lights up for about 2 seconds longer than the ABS indicator light.
Prerequisites for stabilising the trailer.
› The towing device is factory-fitted or a compatible towing device has been ret-
rofitted.
› The ESC is active. The indicator light
 or  in the instrument cluster is not illu-
minated.
› The trailer is electrically connected to the towing vehicle by means of the trailer
socket.
› The speed is higher than approx. 60 km/h.
› Trailers must have a fixed drawbar.
› The ESC works for both braked and unbraked trailers.
Trailer is connected to the anti-theft alarm system. › If the vehicle is factory-fitted with an anti-theft alarm system and a towing de-
vice.
› If the trailer is electrically connected to the towing vehicle by means of the trail-
er socket.
› If the electrical system of the vehicle and trailer is fully functional.
› If the vehicle is locked with the car key and the anti-theft alarm system is acti-
vated.
When the vehicle is locked, the alarm is activated as soon as the electrical con-
nection to the trailer is interrupted.
Always deactivate the anti-theft alarm system before a trailer is connected/dis-
connected. Otherwise, the anti-theft alarm system could accidentally be trig-
gered » page 31 , Anti-theft alarm system . Engine overheating
If the needle for the coolant temperature gauge moves into the right-hand area
or the red area of the scale, the speed must be reduced immediately. Stop and
switch off the engine if the indicator light
 in the instrument cluster starts to
flash. Wait a few minutes and check the level of coolant in the coolant expansion
bottle » page 174, Checking the coolant level .
The following guidelines must be observed » page 20, Coolant temperature/cool-
ant level  .
The coolant temperature can be reduced by switching on the heating. WARNING
■ The increased safety offered by the trailer stabilisation must not tempt you
to take greater risks than otherwise. ■ Adapt your speed to the conditions of the road surface and to the traffic sit-
uation.
■ Improper or incorrectly connected electric cables can energise the trailer and
cause functional faults to the vehicle's entire electrical system as well as acci-
dents and severe injuries.
■ Any work on the electrical system must be carried out only by ŠKODA spe-
cialist garages.
■ Never directly connect the trailer's electrical system with the electrical con-
nections for the tail lights or other current sources. CAUTION
■ The trailer stabilisation need not be able to correctly detect all of driving situa-
tions.
■ Trailers that sway slightly are not always detected by the trailer stabilisation
and thus are not stabilised accordingly.
■ Release the pressure on the accelerator pedal if the system is being regulated.
■ Avoid abrupt and sudden driving/braking manoeuvres.
■ When the ball rod is removed, the mounting shaft must be sealed with an ap-
propriate cover. This prevents foreign matter from penetrating into the mounting
shaft. See the fitting instructions for the towing device. £
158 Driving Tips

General Maintenance
Taking care of and cleaning the vehicle
Taking care of your vehicle
ä
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Washing the vehicle 161
Automatic car wash systems 161
Washing by hand 161
Washing with a high-pressure cleaner 161
Preserving and polishing the vehicle paintwork 162
Chrome parts 162
Paint damage 162
Plastic parts 162
De-icing windows and exterior mirrors 163
Radio reception and aerial 163
Headlight lenses 163
Rubber seals 163
Door lock cylinders 163
Wheels 164
Underbody protection 164
Protection of hollow spaces 164
Artificial leather and materials 165
Fabric covers on electrically heated seats 165
Natural leather 165
Seat belts 166
Regular and proper care help to retain the efficiency and value of your vehicle. It
may also be one of the requirements for the acceptance of warranty claims relat-
ing to corrosion damage and paint defects on the bodywork.
We recommend using care products from
ŠKODA Original Accessories that are
available from ŠKODA Service Partners. The instructions for use on the package
must be observed. WARNING
■ Care products may be harmful to your health if not used according to the in-
structions.
■ Always store care products in a safe place, out of the reach of children - risk
of poisoning! ■ When washing your vehicle in the winter: Water and ice in the brake system
can affect the braking efficiency - risk of accident! ■ Only wash the vehicle when the ignition is switched off - risk of accident!
■ Protect your hands and arms from sharp-edged metal parts when cleaning
the underfloor, the inside of the wheel housings or the wheel trims - risk of
cuts!
■ Air fresheners and scents can be hazardous to heath when the temperature
inside the vehicle is high. CAUTION
■ Be sure to check clothing for colourfastness to avoid any damage or visible
stains on the material (leather), panels and textiles.
■ Cleaners containing solvents can damage the material being cleaned.
■ Do not wash your vehicle in bright sunlight - risk of paint damage.
■ If washing the vehicle in the winter using a hose or high-pressure cleaner, en-
sure that the jet of water is not aimed directly at the locking cylinders or the
door/panel joints - risk of freezing!
■ Do not use any insect sponges, rough kitchen sponges or similar cleaning prod-
ucts - risk of damaging the surface of paintwork.
■ Do not stick any stickers on the inside of the rear windows, the rear side win-
dows and in the vicinity of the heating elements on the windscreen or near the
window aerial. These may get damaged. With regard to the antenna, they may in-
terfere with the radio or navigation system.
■ Do not clean the inside of the windows with sharp-edged objects or corrosive
and acidic cleaning agents - risk of damaging the heating elements or window
aerial.
■ Do not attach scents and air fresheners to the dashboard - risk of damage to
the dashboard.
■ To avoid damaging the parking aid sensors while cleaning with high-pressure
cleaners or steam jets, the sensors must only be directly sprayed for short periods
while a minimum distance of 10
cm must be observed.
■ Do not clean the roof trim with a brush - risk of damage to the trim surface. £
160 General Maintenance

WARNING
Never use circular spray nozzles or dirt cutters! CAUTION
The temperature of the water used for cleaning must not exceed 60 °C - risk of
damaging the vehicle. ÐPreserving and polishing the vehicle paintwork
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 160.
Preserving the vehicle paintwork
Good wax treatment is an effective way of protecting the paintwork from harmful
environmental influences.
The vehicle must be treated with a high-quality hard wax polish at the latest,
when no more drops form on the clean paintwork.
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.
Polishing
Polishing is necessary if the vehicle's paintwork has become unattractive and if it
is no longer possible to achieve a gloss with wax preservatives.
If the polish does not contain any preserving elements, the paint must be treated
with a preservative afterwards. CAUTION
■ Never apply wax to the windows.
■ Mat painted or plastic parts must not be treated with polishing products or hard
waxes. ■ Do not polish the paintwork of the vehicle in a dusty environment, otherwise
the paintwork can be scratched. Ð
ä Chrome parts
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 160.
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. Ð Paint damage
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 160.
Slight damage to paintwork such as scratches, scuffs or traces of chip damage
must be treated immediately.
The ŠKODA Service Partners have a range of matching
touch-up pens or spray
cans available in the colour of your vehicle. Note
We recommend that any repairs to damaged paintwork are carried out by a
ŠKODA Service Partner. Ð Plastic parts
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 160.
Plastic parts can be cleaned using a damp cloth. If this does not prove to be ade-
quate, the parts can be treated with special solvent-free plastic cleaning prod-
ucts.
Paint care products are not suitable for plastic parts. Ð
ä
ä
ä
162 General Maintenance

Wheels
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 160.
Wheel rims
Also thoroughly wash the wheel rims when washing the vehicle on a regular ba-
sis. Regularly remove salt and brake abrasion from the wheel rims otherwise the
material will be affected. Damage to the paint layer on the wheel rims must be
touched up immediately.
Light alloy wheels
After washing thoroughly and treat the wheel rims with a protective product for
light alloy wheels. Products which cause abrasion must not be used to treat the
wheel rims. WARNING
Water, ice and grit in the brake system can affect the braking efficiency - risk
of accident! CAUTION
Severe layers of dirt on the wheels can also result in wheel imbalance. This may
show itself in the form of a wheel vibration which is transmitted to the steering
wheel which, in certain circumstances, can cause premature wear of the steering.
This means it is necessary to remove the dirt. Note
We recommend that any repairs to damaged paintwork are carried out by a
ŠKODA Service Partner. ÐUnderbody protection
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 160.
The underside of your vehicle is protected for life against chemical and mechani-
cal influences.ä
ä As damage to the
protective layer when driving cannot be ruled out completely,
we recommend that you inspect the protective layer on the underside of your ve-
hicle and on the chassis at specific intervals - preferably at the beginning and end
of the winter.
ŠKODA Service Partners have suitable spray products and the necessary equip-
ment available, and are familiar with the instructions for use. We therefore rec-
ommend that touch-up work or additional corrosion protection measures are car-
ried out by a ŠKODA Service Partner. WARNING
Never use additional underbody protection or anti-corrosion agents for ex-
haust pipes, catalytic converters, diesel particle filters or heat shields. When
the engine reaches its operating temperature, these substances might ignite -
risk of fire! Ð Protection of hollow spaces
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 160.
All the cavities of your vehicle which are at risk from corrosion are protected for
life by a layer of protective wax applied in the factory.
This wax protection does not require to be inspected or re-treated. If any small
amount of wax flow out of the cavities at high temperatures, these must be re-
moved with a plastic scraper and the stains cleaned using a petroleum cleaner. WARNING
Safety regulations should be observed when using petroleum cleaner to re-
move wax - risk of fire! Ð
ä
164 General Maintenance

■
Also look after the leather dye. Refresh any areas with a special coloured leath-
er cream as required.
■ The leather is a natural material with specific properties. During the use of the
vehicle, minor optical changes can occur on the leather parts of the covers (e. g
wrinkles or creases as a result of the stress of the covers). ÐSeat belts
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 160.
Keep the seat belts clean!
Clean dirty seat belts using a mild soapy solution and remove coarse dirt with a
soft brush!
Check the condition of all the seat belts on a regular basis.
Belt webbing which has become severely soiled may prevent the inertia reel from
reeling up the belt properly. WARNING
■ The seat belts must not be removed for cleaning.
■ Never clean the seat belts chemically as chemical cleaning products could
destroy the fabric. The seat belts must also not be allowed to come into con-
tact with corrosive liquids (such as acids etc.).
■ Seat belts which have damage to the webbing, connections, inertia reel or
lock should be replaced by a ŠKODA specialist garage.
■ Inertia reel belts must be completely dried before being reeled up. Ðä
166 General Maintenance