2013 SKODA ROOMSTER brakes

Table of Contents
Materials defect liability and ŠKODA warranty for
new cars5
Mobility warranty and ŠKODA extended
warranty
6
Abbreviations
Operation
Cockpit
9
Overview
8
Instruments and Indicator Lights
10
Instrument cluster
10
Multifunction display (MFD)
13
Service Interval Display
16
MAXI DOT display
18
Warning lights
20
Unlocking and locking
28
Unlocking and locking
28
Central locking system
31
Remote control
34
Anti-theft alarm system
35
Luggage compartment lid
37
Electrical power windows
38
Lights and visibility
41
Lights
41
Interior lights
46
Visibility
47
Windscreen wipers and washers
48
Rear window
51
Seats and stowing
52
Front seats
52
Rear seats
54Head restraints56Boot57
Variable loading floor in the luggage
compartment (Estate)
61
Bicycle carrier in the luggage compartment
63
Roof rack system
65
Useful equipment
65
Storage compartments
68
Praktik
73
Heating and air-conditioning
77
Heating, ventilation, cooling
77
Heating
78
Air conditioning system (manual air conditioning system)
80
Climatronic (automatic air conditioningsystem)
83
Communication and multimedia
86
Universal telephone preinstallation GSM II
86
Voice control
91
Multimedia
92
Driving
Starting-off and Driving
95
Steering
95
Starting and stopping the engine
96
Brakes
98
Manual gear changing and pedals
99
Automatic transmission
100
Running in
103
Economical driving and environmental
sustainability
104
Avoiding damage to your vehicle
108
Driving abroad
109
Assist systems
110
Brake assist systems
110
Parking aid
112Cruise Control System113START-STOP115
Towing a trailer
117
Towing device
117
Trailer
120
Safety
Passive Safety
123
General information
123
Correct seated position
124
Seat belts
127
Using seat belts
127
Inertia reels and belt tensioners
130
Airbag system
132
Description of the airbag system
132
Airbag overview
133
Deactivating airbags
136
Transporting children safely
139
Child seat
139
Fastening systems
141
General Maintenance
Car care
144
Service intervals
144
Services, modifications and technical
alterations
146
Washing your car
149
Taking care of your vehicle exterior
150
Taking care of the interior
154
Inspecting and replenishing
157
Fuel
157
Engine compartment
159
Engine oil
163
Coolant
1653Table of Contents

Stop the vehicle, switch off the engine, and check the level of the brake flu-
id » page 167 .
Further information » page 98, Brakes .WARNING■
If you have to stop for technical reasons, then park the vehicle at a safe dis-
tance from the traffic, switch off the engine and activate the hazard warning
light system » page 45.■
The following guidelines should be observed when opening the bonnet and
checking the brake fluid level » page 159, Engine compartment .
■
If the warning light  is displayed simultaneously with warning light
 » page 24 ,  Anti-lock brake system (ABS) ,  do not continue your jour-
ney! Seek help from a specialist garage.
■
A fault to the ABS system or the braking system can increase the vehicle's
braking distance – there is a risk of accident.

 Seat belt warning light
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 20.
The 
indicator light comes on after the ignition is switched on as a reminder for
the driver and front passenger to fasten their seat belt. The indicator light only
goes out once the driver and front passenger have fastened their seat belt.
A steady warning signal sounds at vehicle speeds greater than 20 km/h and the 
flashes if the driver and front passenger have not fastened their seat belts.
The warning signal is switched of and the 
indicator light is permanently lit if the
driver and front passenger have not fastened their seat belts within the next 90 seconds.
Further information » page 127.

 Alternator
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 20.
If the warning light lights up 
when the engine is running, the vehicle battery is
not being charged.
Seek help from a specialist garage. The electrical system requires checking.WARNINGIf you have to stop for technical reasons, park the vehicle at a safe distance
from the traffic, switch off the engine and switch on the hazard warning lights
system » page 45 .
CAUTION
 Do not continue driving if the  warning light (coolant system fault) lights up
in addition to the  warning light while you are driving. Stop the engine - there is
a risk of engine damage.
 Door open
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 20.
The warning light 
comes on if one or several doors are opened or if the boot lid
is opened.
The warning light comes on even when the ignition is switched off. The warning
light lights up for a maximum of 5 minutes.
WARNINGIf you have to stop for technical reasons, park the vehicle at a safe distance
from the traffic, switch off the engine and switch on the hazard warning lights
system » page 45 .

  Engine oil
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn- ings
on page 20.
The warning light  lights up red (low oil pressure)
The following message is shown in the MAXI DOT display. Oil pressure: Engine off. Read manual. 
21Instruments and Indicator Lights

Seats and stowing
Front seats
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Adjusting the front seats
53
Front seat heating
53
The driver's seat should be adjusted in such a way that the pedals can be fully
pressed to the floor with slightly bent legs.
The seat backrest on the driver's seat should be adjusted in such a way that the
upper point of the steering wheel can be easily reached with slightly bent arms.
Correct adjustment of the seats is particularly important:
› for safely and quickly reaching the controls;
› for a relaxed body position that reduces fatigue;
› for achieving maximum protection from the seat belts and the airbag system.
WARNINGGeneral information■Caution when adjusting the seat! You may suffer injuries or bruises as a re-
sult of adjusting the seat without paying proper attention.■
The seat backrests must not be tilted too far back when driving, as this will
impair the function of the seat belts and of the airbag system – risk of injury!
■
Never carry more people than the number of seats in the vehicle.
■
Each occupant must correctly fasten the seat belt belonging to the seat.
Children must be fastened » page 139, Transporting children safely with a
suitable restraint system.
■
The front seats and head restraints must be adjusted to match the body
size at all times and the seat belt must always be fastened properly to provide
the most effective levels of protection to the passengers.
■
Do not carry any objects on the front passenger seat except objects de-
signed for this purpose (e.g. child seat) – risk of accident!
WARNINGInformation for the driver■Only adjust the driver's seat when the vehicle is stationary – risk of accident!■
Maintain a distance of at least 25 cm to the steering wheel. Not maintaining
this minimum distance will mean that the airbag system will not be able to
properly protect you – hazard!
■
Ensure that there are no objects in the driver's footwell, as these may get
caught in the pedal apparatus when driving or braking. You would then no
longer be able to operate the clutch, brake or acceleration pedals.
WARNINGInformation for the front seat passenger■Maintain a distance of at least 25 cm from the dash panel. Not maintaining
this minimum distance will mean that the airbag system will not be able to
properly protect you - there is a risk that you could be killed.■
Always keep your feet in the footwell when the car is being driven - never
place your feet on the instrument panel, out of the window or on the seats.
You will be exposed to increased risk of injury if it becomes necessary to apply
the brakes or in the event of an accident. You may suffer fatal injuries when
an airbag is deployed if you have adopted an incorrect seating position.
Note
After a certain time, play can develop within the adjustment mechanism of the
backrest angle.
52Operation

WARNING■Do not place anything on the dash panel. These objects might slide or fall
down while you are driving (under acceleration or when cornering) and could
distract you from the traffic - there is a risk of an accident.■
Make sure that no objects from the centre console or from other storage
compartments can get into the driver's footwell while you are driving. You
would then no longer be able to apply the brakes or operate the clutch or ac-
celerator pedal – there is a risk of an accident.
■
Ash and cigarette or cigar stubs must only be discarded in ashtrays.

Cupholders
Fig. 57
Cup holder
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 65.
Two beverage containers can be placed in the recesses
A
» Fig. 57 .
One beverage container can be placed into the recess
B
.
WARNING■ Never put hot cups in the cup holder. They may spill if the vehicle moves –
there is a risk of scalding.■
No objects should be placed in the holders that might endanger the vehi-
cle's occupants if the vehicle brakes suddenly or the vehicle is in collision.
■
Do not use any cups or beakers made of fragile material (e.g. glass, porce-
lain). This could lead to injuries in the event of an accident.
CAUTIONDo not leave open beverage containers in the cup holder during the journey.
There is a risk of spilling e.g. when braking which may cause damage to the elec-
trical components or seat upholstery.
Ashtray
Fig. 58
Centre console: Ashtray at the front/rear
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 65.
The ashtray can be used for discarding ash, cigarettes, cigars and the like » .
Removing
›
Pull out the ashtray » Fig. 58 upwards.
Fitting
›
Insert the ashtray vertically.
WARNINGNever place flammable objects in the ashtray – risk of fire!
CAUTION
When removing, do not hold the ashtray at the cover – risk of breakage.
66Operation

stowage compartments in the luggage73Flexible storage compartment73WARNING■Do not place anything on the dash panel. These objects might slide or fall
down while you are driving (under acceleration or when cornering) and could
distract you from the traffic - there is a risk of an accident.■
Make sure that no objects from the centre console or from other storage
compartments can get into the driver's footwell while you are driving. You
would then no longer be able to apply the brakes or operate the clutch or ac-
celerator pedal – there is a risk of an accident.

Storage compartment on the front passenger side
Fig. 62
Dash panel: Storage compart-
ments on the front passenger
side
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn- ings on page 68.
Open/close
›
Pull the cover handle in the direction of the arrow » Fig. 62
and fold down the
cover.
›
Lift the lid upwards until it clicks into place.
A pin holder is located inside the lower flap.
WARNINGThe storage compartments must always be closed when driving for safety
reasons.

Cooling the storage compartment on the front passenger sideFig. 63
Storage compartment: Using
cooling system
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 68.
›
Use the rotary switch » Fig. 63 to open and close the air supply.
Opening the air supply when the air conditioning system is switched on allows
cooled air to flow into the storage compartment.
Opening the air inlet when the air conditioning system is on causes fresh or inte-rior air to flow into the storage compartment.
We recommend closing the air supply if it is operated in heating mode or the cool-ing system for the storage compartment is not being used.

69Seats and stowing

Switching off the engineFirst read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 96.
Switch off the engine by turning the ignition key to position
1
» Fig. 89 on
page 97.

Brakes
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Information on braking
98
Handbrake
99WARNING■ Greater physical effort is required for braking when the engine is switched
off – risk of accident!■
The clutch pedal must be depressed when braking on a vehicle with manual
transmission, when the vehicle is in gear and at low revs. Otherwise, the func-
tion of the brake booster may be impaired – risk of accident!
■
If a front spoiler, full wheel trim, etc. is mounted retrospectively, it must be
ensured that the air supply to the front wheel brakes is not reduced. The front
brakes may overheat, which can have a negative impact on the functioning of
the braking system – there is a risk of an accident.
■
Never leave children unattended in the vehicle. The children might, for ex-
ample, release the handbrake or take the vehicle out of gear. The vehicle
could then start to move – risk of accident!
CAUTION
■ Observe the recommendations on the new brake pads » page 104.■Never let the brakes slip with light pressure on the pedal if braking is not neces-
sary. This causes the brakes to overheat and can also result in a longer braking distance and excessive wear.

Information on braking
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 98.
If the brakes are applied in full and the control unit for the braking system consid-
ers the situation to be dangerous for the following traffic, the brake light flashes
automatically.
After the speed was reduced below around 10 km/h or the vehicle was stopped,
the brake light stops flashing and the hazard warning light system switches on.
The hazard warning light system is switched off automatically after accelerating
or driving off again.
Before travelling a long distance down a steep gradient, reduce speed and shift
into the next lowest gear. As a result, the braking effect of the engine will be
used, reducing the load on the brakes. Any additional braking should be comple-
ted intermittently, not continuously.
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.
Under these severe conditions , the thickness of the brake pads must also be
checked by a specialist garage between services.
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 specialist garage immediately and adjust your style of driving appropriately as you will not know the exact extent of the damage. 
98Driving

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 20,  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.
Handbrake
Fig. 90
Handbrake
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn- ings on page 98.
Apply
›
Pull the handbrake lever firmly upwards.
Releasing
›
Pull the handbrake lever up slightly and at the same time push in the locking
button » Fig. 90 .
›
Move the lever right down while pressing the lock button.
The handbrake warning light 
lights up when the handbrake is applied, provided
the ignition is on.
WARNINGPlease note that the handbrake must be fully released. A handbrake which is
only partially released can result in the rear brakes overheating. This can have
a negative effect on the operation of the brake system – there is a risk of an
accident.

Manual gear changing and pedals
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Manual gear changing
99
Pedals
100
Manual gear changing
Fig. 91
Shift pattern of the 5-speed
manual gearbox
First read and observe the introductory information given on page 99.
Always depress the clutch pedal all the way down. This prevents uneven wear on the clutch.
The gearshift indicator must be observed when changing gear » page 13.
Only engage reverse gear when the vehicle is stationary. Depress the clutch pedal
and hold it fully depressed. Wait a moment before reverse gear is engaged to
avoid any shift noises.
The reversing lights will come on once reverse gear is engaged, provided the igni- tion is on.
WARNINGNever engage reverse gear when driving – risk of accident! 99Starting-off and Driving

Manual shifting (Tiptronic)Fig. 93
Selector lever/multi-function steering wheel
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 100.
Tiptronic mode makes it possible to manually shift gears on the selector lever.
This mode can be selected both while halted and while driving.
The gear currently selected is indicated in the display
1
» Fig. 93 .
The gearshift indicator must be observed when changing gear » page 13.
Switching to manual shifting
›
Push the gear selector from position D towards the right, or left in a right-hand
drive vehicle.
Shifting up gears
›
Press the selector lever forwards
+
» Fig. 93 .
Shifting down gears
›
Press the selector lever backwards
-
» Fig. 93 .
When accelerating, the gearbox automatically shifts up into the higher gear just
before the maximum permissible engine speed is reached.
If a lower gear is selected, the gearbox does not shift down until there is no riskof the engine overrevving.
Note
It may be beneficial, for example, when travelling downhill, to use manual shifting
of gears. Shifting to a lower gear reduces the load on the brakes and hence brake
wear » page 98 , Information on braking .
Starting-off and driving
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 100.
Starting off
›
Start the engine.
›
Firmly depress and hold the brake pedal.
›
Press and hold the shiftlock button on the selector lever grip.
›
Move the selector lever into the desired position » page 101 and then release
the lock button.
›
Release the brake pedal and accelerate.
Stop
›
Fully depress and hold the brake pedal and bring the vehicle to a stop.
›
Keep holding the brake pedal until driving is resumed.
The selector lever position N does not have to be selected when stopping for a
short time, such as at a cross roads.
Parking
›
Fully depress and hold the brake pedal and bring the vehicle to a stop.
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
Press and hold the shiftlock button on the selector lever grip.
›
Move the selector lever into the position P and then release the locking button.
Kickdown
The kickdown function allows you to achieve maximum acceleration by your vehi-
cle while driving.
When the accelerator pedal is fully depressed, the kickdown function is activated
in any forward driving mode.
The gearbox shifts down one or more gears depending on the vehicle speed and engine speed, and the vehicle accelerates.
The gearbox does not shift up into the highest gear until the engine has reached
its maximum revolutions for this gear range.
WARNINGRapid acceleration, particularly on slippery roads, can lead to loss of control of
the vehicle – there is a risk of an accident.

102Driving