2013 SKODA OCTAVIA warning

WARNING■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
or cable) creates a short circuit - risk of melting the lead bars, and risk of ex-
plosion, battery fire and acid splashes.
■
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 electrical components and disconnect the negative termi-
nal (-) on the battery.
CAUTION
Improper handling of the battery can lead to damage occurring. We recommend
having all work on the vehicle battery carried out by a specialist garage.
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 environmentA 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.
Opening the cover
Fig. 187
Engine compartment: Polyester
cover of vehicle battery
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn- ings on page 224.
The battery is located in the engine compartment - in some models, underneath apolyester cover » Fig. 187.
›
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.

225Inspecting 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 244, Jump-starting in vehicles with the START-STOP
system .
Note
We therefore recommend that vehicle batteries be rapid charged by a specialist
garage.
Replacing
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 224.
When replacing a battery, the new vehicle battery must have the same capacity,
voltage, amperage and be the same size. Suitable vehicle battery types can be
purchased from a specialist garage.
We recommend having the battery replaced by a specialist garage, where the
new vehicle battery will be installed properly and the original battery will be dis-
posed of in accordance with national regulations.

Disconnecting and reconnecting
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 224.
On disconnecting and reconnecting the vehicle battery, the following functions
are initially deactivated or are no longer able to operate fault-free:
OperationOperating measureElectrical power window (operational faults)» page 49Enter the radio/navigation system code num-
ber» Operating instructions for Info-
tainment Radio or » Operating
instructions for Infotainment
NavigationSetting the clock» page 14Data in the multifunction display are deleted» page 29
Note
We recommend having the vehicle checked by a specialist garage in order to en-
sure full functionality of all electrical systems.
Automatic load deactivation
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 224.
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.
227Inspecting and replenishing

Wheels
Tyres and wheel rims
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Service life of tyres
229
New tyres
230
Unidirectional tyres
231
Tyre control display
231
Spare wheel
232
Full wheel trim
233
Wheel bolts
233
Wheel bolts
233WARNING■ The national legal requirements must be observed for the use of tyres.■Observe the national legal regulations relating to the use of snow chains
and the maximum vehicle speed with snow chains.WARNINGThe following instructions for the use of tyres must be observed.■During the first 500 km, new tyres do not offer optimum grip and appropri-
ate care should therefore be taken when driving – risk of accident!■
On all four wheels, use only radial tyres of the same type, size (rolling cir-
cumference) and the same tread pattern.
■
For safety reasons, do no replace tyres individually.
■
Never exceed the maximum permissible load bearing capacity for fitted
tyres – risk of accident!
■
Never exceed the maximum permissible speed for fitted tyres – risk of acci-
dent!
■
An incorrect wheel alignment at the front or rear impairs handling – risk of
accident!
WARNING (Continued)■ Unusual vibrations or pulling of the vehicle to one side could be a sign of
tyre damage. If there is any doubt that a wheel is damaged, immediately re-
duce your speed and stop! If no external damage is evident, drive slowly and
carefully to the nearest specialist garage to have the vehicle checked.■
Only use those tyres or wheel rims which have been approved by ŠKODA for
your model of vehicle. Failure to observe this instruction will adversely affect
the road safety of your vehicle – risk of accident!
WARNINGObserve the following information regarding damage and wear of tyres.■Never use tyres if you do not know anything about the condition and age.■
Never drive with damaged tyres – risk of accident!
■
Immediately replace damaged wheel rims or tyres.
■
You must have your tyres replaced with new ones at the latest when the
wear indicators have been worn down.
■
Worn tyres do not provide the necessary adhesion to the road surface par-
ticularly at high speeds on wet roads. One could experience “aquaplaning” (uncontrolled movements of the vehicle – “swimming” on a wet road surface).
WARNINGObserve the following information regarding the tyre inflation pressure.■The tyre control display does not absolve the driver of the responsibility to
ensure the correct tyre inflation pressure. Check the tyre inflation pressure at
regular intervals.■
Too low or too high inflation pressure impairs handling – risk of an accident!
■
If the inflation pressure is too low, the tyre must perform a greater rolling
resistance. At higher speeds the tyre will warm up as a result of this. This can
result in tread separation and a tyre blowout.
WARNINGObserve the following information regarding the wheel bolts.■The wheel bolts must be clean and must turn easily. Never treat them with
grease or oil. 228General Maintenance

WARNING (Continued)■The prescribed tightening torque of the wheel bolts for steel and light alloy
wheels is 120 Nm.■
If the wheel bolts are tightened to a too low tightening torque, the rim can
come loose 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 per-
manent deformation of the contact surfaces on the rim.
■
In case of incorrect treatment of the wheel bolts, the wheel can loosen
when the car is moving – risk of accident!
WARNINGObserve the following information regarding the spare wheel.■Only use the spare wheel while absolutely necessary.■
Never drive with more than one spare wheel mounted.
■
The snow chains cannot be used on the spare wheel.
CAUTION
■ If a spare wheel is used that is not identical to the fitted tyres, the following
must be observed » page 232, Spare wheel .■
Protect the tyres from contact with oil, grease and fuel.
■
Replace lost dust caps.
■
If, in the event of a puncture, it is necessary to fit a spare wheel with a tyre
without a dedicated running direction or the opposite running direction, drive
carefully as the optimum characteristics of the tyre are no longer applicable in
this situation.
For the sake of the environment
Tyres which are insufficiently inflated increase your fuel consumption.
Note
■ We recommend that any work on the wheels or tyres be carried out by a spe-
cialist garage.■
We recommend that you use wheel rims, tyres, full wheel trims and snow chains
from ŠKODA Original Accessories.

Service life of tyresFig. 189
Principle sketch: Tyre tread with wear indicators/Open fuel filler
flap with a table detailing the tyre size and tyre inflation pressure
Fig. 190
Changing wheels around
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 228.
The life of tyres depends on the inflation pressure, driving style, and other cir-
cumstances. Following the advice below can extend the service life of your tyres.
Tyre pressure
Check the tyre pressure, including that of the spare wheel, at least once a month and also before setting off on a long journey.
The tyre pressures for tyres are shown on the inside of the fuel filler
flap » Fig. 189 -
 .
The tyre pressure should be at the highest pressure specified for your vehicle at all times. 
229Wheels

690 kg
730 kg
775 kg
Speed symbol
This indicates the maximum permissible vehicle speed with mounted tyres for the respective category.
130 km/h
160 km/h
170 km/h
180 km/h
190 km/h
200 km/h
210 km/h
240 km/h
270 km/h
300 km/h
CAUTION
The information about the load index and the speed symbol for your vehicle are
listed in your vehicle documents.
Unidirectional tyres
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 228.
The direction of rotation of the tyres is marked by arrows on the wall of the tyre.
The indicated direction of rotation must be adhered to in order to obtain the best
benefits from the characteristics of these tyres.
These characteristics are mainly. › Increased driving stability.
› Reduced risk of aquaplaning.
› Reduced tyre noise and reduced tyre wear.
959799MQRSTUHVWYTyre control displayFig. 191
Button for setting the tyre infla-
tion pressure control value
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 228.
Calibration
After changing the tyre inflation pressure » page 229, 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 229.
›
Switch on the ignition.
›
Start the system calibration.
On vehicles with Infotainment » Operating instructions for Infotainment , chap-
ter Vehicle settings (CAR button) .
On vehicles with the radio preinstallation .
›
Press the symbol button 
» Fig. 191 for longer than 2 seconds.
While pressing the button, 
the warning light comes 
on. At the same time,
the system memory is cleared and the new calibration process is started. This is
confirmed by an acoustic signal followed by the warning light 
going off.
If the warning light 
does not go out after the calibration, this indicates a sys-
tem fault. Seek help from a specialist garage.
Tyre pressure indicator
The warning light 
lights up when any of the following conditions are true.
› The tyre inflation pressure is low.
› The structure of the tyre is damaged.
› The vehicle is loaded on one side.

231Wheels

›The wheels of one axle are loaded more heavily (e.g. when towing a trailer or
when driving uphill or downhill).
› Snow chains are mounted.
› The spare wheel is mounted.
› One wheel per axle was changed.
For vehicles with Infotainment 1)
it can be determined which tyres should be
checked » Manual Infotainment , chapter Vehicle settings (key CAR) .WARNING■
When the warning light  illuminates, immediately reduce the speed and
avoid sudden steering and brake manoeuvres. Stop the vehicle as soon as
possible and inspect the tyres and their inflation pressure.■
Under certain circumstances (e.g. sporty style of driving, wintry or unpaved
roads) the  may light up after a delay, or not at all.
CAUTION
■
The tyre control display does therefore not replace the regular tyre inflation
pressure control, as the system cannot detect an even loss of pressure.■
The system cannot warn in case of very rapid tyre inflation pressure loss, e.g. in
case of sudden tyre damage. In this case carefully bring the vehicle to a standstill
without sudden steering movements or sharp braking.
■
To ensure a proper functioning of the tyre control display, it is necessary to re-
peat the basic setting every 10000 km or once a year.

Spare wheel
Fig. 192
Luggage compartment: Spare
wheel
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 228.
The spare wheel is located in a well under the floor covering in the boot and is
fixed in place with a special bolt » Fig. 192.
Take out wheel
›
Open the boot lid.
›
Raise the floor covering in the boot » page 99.
›
Remove the box with the tool kit.
›
Pull out safety lock
1
» Fig. 192 in the direction of the arrow.
›
Unscrew the
2
bolt in a counterclockwise direction.
›
Remove the wheel.
Store wheel away
›
Place the replaced wheel into the spare wheel well with the wheel rim pointing
downward.
›
Screw in bolt
2
» Fig. 192 in a clockwise direction, until the wheel is secure.
›
Insert safety lock
1
» Fig. 192 in the opposite direction to which the arrow is
pointing.
›
Place the box with the tool kit back into the spare wheel and secure it with the
tape.
›
Fold back the floor covering in the boot » page 99.
›
Shut the boot lid.
Install a wheel having the appropriate version and dimensions as soon as possi-
ble.
If the dimensions or design of the spare wheel differ from the tyres fitted to the
vehicle (e.g. winter tyres or low-profile tyres), it must only be used briefly in the
event of a puncture and if an appropriately cautious style of driving is adop-
ted »
.
Temporary spare wheel
A yellow warning label is displayed on the rim of the temporary spare wheel.
Please note the following if you intend to use the temporary spare wheel. › The warning label must not be covered after installing the wheel.
› Be specially attentive when driving.
› The inflation pressure for the temporary spare wheel is identical to the maxi-
mum inflation pressure of the standard tyres.
› Only use this temporary spare wheel to reach the nearest specialist garage, as it
is not intended for long-term use. 

1)
Does not apply to vehicles with the Infotainment Blues and Swing system.
232General Maintenance

WARNING■Never use the temporary spare wheel if it is damaged.■If the dimensions or design of the temporary spare wheel differ from the fit-
ted tyres, never drive faster than 80 km/h (or 50 mph).■
Avoid accelerating at full throttle, sharp braking and fast cornering.
CAUTION
Observe instructions on the warning sign of the emergency wheel.
Full wheel trim
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 228.
Extracting
›
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.
Installing
›
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 only, do not strike the full wheel trim. Avoid
heavy knocks when the trim is not yet inserted in the wheel rim. This could cause damage to the guide and centring elements of the trim.■
When using the anti-theft wheel bolt, ensure that it is in the hole in the valve
area » page 240 , 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 boltsFig. 193
Remove the cap
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 228.
Extracting
›
Push the extraction pliers » page 236 sufficiently far onto the cap until the in-
ner catches of the pliers are positioned at the collar of the cap » Fig. 193.
›
Remove the cap.
Installing
›
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.

Wheel bolts
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 228.
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
also use the matching wheel bolts of the correct length and shape of spherical cap. This is a prerequisite for ensuring that wheels are attached correctly.

233Wheels

Do-it-yourself
Emergency equipment, and self-help
Emergency equipment
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
First aid kit and warning triangle
235
Fire extinguisher
236
Vehicle tool kit
236
First aid kit and warning triangle
Fig. 194
Placing of the first-aid kit
Fig. 195
Placing of the warning triangle: Octavia/Octavia Estate
First read and observe the introductory information given on page 235.
First-aid box
The first aid kit can be attached by a strap in the right-hand storage compartment
in the luggage compartment » Fig. 194.
Warning triangle – Octavia
The warning triangle can be attached to the rear wall trim panel with rubber
straps » Fig. 195 - 
.
Warning triangle – Octavia Estate
The warning triangle can be secured with straps in the right storage compart-
ment in the luggage compartment » Fig. 195 - 
.
WARNINGThe first-aid kit and warning triangle must always be secured safely so that
they do not come loose when making an emergency braking or in a vehicle
collision which could cause injuries to occupants.
Note
■ Pay attention to the expiration date of the first-aid kit.■We recommend using a first-aid box from ŠKODA Original Accessories available
from a ŠKODA Partner.

235Emergency equipment, and self-help