ŠKODA Service Partners feature modern, specially developed tools and equip-
ment. Here, trained specialists have a comprehensive range of ŠKODA Genuine Parts and ŠKODA Genuine Accessories at their disposal.
All ŠKODA Service Partners operate in accordance with the latest manufacturerguidelines and instructions. All service work is therefore carried out on time and
in accordance with the quality standards. Adhering to these instructions and
guidelines helps ensure road safety and helps keep your vehicle in a good techni-
cal condition.
The ŠKODA Service Partners also offer a wide range of other services. ŠKODA Service Partners are therefore properly prepared to service your vehicleand to provide quality work. We therefore recommend that you have your vehicle
maintained by a ŠKODA Service Partner.
Service work, adjustments and technical alterations
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Tests required by law
185
ŠKODA Service Partners
185
ŠKODA Genuine Parts
185
ŠKODA Genuine Accessories
186
Spoiler
186
Airbags
186
The instructions and guidelines from ŠKODA AUTO a.s. must be observed when
carrying out any modifications, repairs or technical alterations to your vehicle.
Adhering to these instructions and guidelines helps ensure road safety and helps
keep your vehicle in a good technical condition. After carrying out modifications,
repairs or technical alterations, the vehicle will comply with German road trans-
port regulations (StVZO)
Always consult a ŠKODA Partner » page 185 before buying accessories or parts,
or before carrying out any modifications, repairs or technical alterations to your
vehicle.
WARNING■ If work on your vehicle is not carried out properly, this can lead to operation-
al faults - risk of accident and serious injuries.■
We recommend only having these modifications and technical alterations
carried out by a specialist garage.
■
Interference on the electronic components and their software can lead to
operational faults. This interference can also impair not directly affected sys-
tems because of the networking of the electronic components. The operation- al safety of the vehicle may be at significant risk and can lead to increased
wear of parts.
■
The ŠKODA Partner accepts no liability for products that have not been ap-
proved by ŠKODA AUTO a.s. even though these may be products with an op-
erational approval or that have been approved by a government testing insti-
tute.
WARNING■ We advise you only to use ŠKODA Original Accessories and ŠKODA Original
Parts which have been expressly approved for use on your vehicle. Reliability,
safety and suitability for your vehicle are guaranteed with these.■
ŠKODA Original Accessories and ŠKODA Original Parts can be purchased
from ŠKODA Partners, who will also perform the professional assembly of the purchased parts.
For the sake of the environment
Technical documents regarding alterations carried out on the vehicle must be
kept by the vehicle user in order to be handed over to the recyclers at a later
date. This ensures that the vehicle is recycled in an environmentally sound man-
ner.
Note
Any damage caused by technical alterations made without the approval of the
manufacturer is excluded from the warranty.
184General Maintenance
ŠKODA Genuine AccessoriesFirst read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 184.
If you wish to fit accessories to your vehicle, you should remember the following:
We recommend that you use ŠKODA Genuine Accessories in your vehicle. ŠKODA
AUTO a.s. has selected these accessories to ensure that they are reliable, safe
and suitable for your particular vehicle. Although we constantly monitor the mar- ket, we are not able to assess or vouch for other products even though in some
instances such parts may have operational approval or may have been approved
by a nationally recognised testing laboratory.
All accessory products are subjected to a challenging process in the areas of tech-
nical development (technical testing) and quality inspection (customer testing), and the product only becomes a ŠKODA Genuine Accessory if all tests are passed.
Our ŠKODA Genuine Accessories service also includes expert advice and profes-
sional fitting if required by the customer.
ŠKODA Service Partners are liable for any defects of ŠKODA Genuine Accessories
for a period of 2 years after installation or delivery in accordance with the materi-
als defect liability, unless agreed otherwise in the purchase agreement or any
other agreements. You should keep the approved warranty certificate and the in-
voices for these accessories for this period of time, so that the commencement of
the term can be verified.
ŠKODA Service Partners also stock a range of suitable car care products and all
parts that are subject to natural wear-and-tear, such as tyres, batteries, bulbs
and wiper blades.
Note
The accessories authorized by the company ŠKODA AUTO a.s. will be offered by
the ŠKODA Partners in all countries where the company ŠKODA AUTO a.s. has a
sales and after-sales service network. This will usually be in the form of a printed
catalogue of ŠKODA Genuine Accessories, in the form of separate printed bro-
chures or in the form of ŠKODA Genuine Accessories on the ŠKODA Partner web-
sites.
Spoiler
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 184.
If your new vehicle is fitted with a spoiler on the front bumper in combination
with the spoiler on the luggage compartment lid, the following instructions must
be adhered to.
› For safety reasons, the vehicle must only be fitted with a spoiler on the front
bumper in combination with the associated spoiler on the luggage compart-
ment lid.
› This kind of spoiler cannot be left on the front bumper either on its own, in
combination with another spoiler not on the luggage compartment lid or in combination with an unsuitable spoiler on the luggage compartment lid.
› We recommend that you consult the ŠKODA Service Partner for any repairs to or
replacement, addition or removal of spoilers.
WARNINGIf work on your vehicle's spoilers is not carried out properly, this can lead to
operational faults - risk of accident and serious injuries.
Airbags
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 184.
The system components of the airbag system can be situated in the front bump-
er, doors, front seats, roof lining or body.
WARNINGAny work on the airbag system including the installation and removal of sys-
tem components due to other repair work (e.g. removal of the steering wheel) must only be carried out by a specialist garage.■
Modifications, repairs and technical alterations that have been carried out
unprofessionally can cause damage and operational faults, and can also seri-
ously impair the effectiveness of the airbag system – risk of accident and fatal
injury!
■
The airbag system will then have to be replaced if the airbag is deployed.
Airbag modules cannot be repaired.
186General Maintenance
WARNINGInformation on the use of the airbag system■It is prohibited to manipulate individual parts of the airbag system, as this
might result in the airbag being deployed.■
Never install any airbag parts into the vehicle that have been removed from
old cars or have been recycled.
■
Never install damaged airbag parts in the vehicle. The airbags may then not
be deployed properly or even at all in the event of an accident.
■
No modifications of any kind must be made to parts of the airbag system.
WARNING■ A change to the vehicle's wheel suspension, including the use of non-ap-
proved wheels and tire combinations, can alter the functioning of the airbag system - risk of accident and fatal injury!■
Never make any changes to the front bumper or the bodywork.
WARNINGThe airbag control unit operates using pressure sensors located in the front
doors. For this reason, no adjustments may be carried out to the doors or door
panels (e.g. installation of additional loudspeakers). Resulting damage can have a negative impact on the function of the airbag system. Any work on thefront doors and door panels must be carried out by a specialist garage. The
following instructions must be observed.■
Never drive with inner door panels removed.
■
Never drive if parts of the inner door panel have been removed and the re-
sulting openings have not been properly sealed.
■
Never drive if the loudspeakers in the doors have been removed, unless the
loudspeaker openings have been properly sealed.
■
Always make sure that the openings are covered or filled if additional loud-
speakers or other equipment parts have been installed in the inner door pan-
els.
Washing your car
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Washing by hand
188
Automatic car wash systems
188
Washing with a high-pressure cleaner
188
The best way to protect your vehicle against harmful environmental influences is frequent washing.
How often the vehicle should be washed depends on factors such as:
› Frequency of use.
› Parking situation (garage, under trees etc.).
› Season.
› Weather conditions.
› Environmental influences.
The longer insect residues, bird droppings, tree sap, road and industrial dust, tar, soot particles, road salt and other aggressive deposits remain adhering to the paintwork of your vehicle, the more detrimental their destructive effect can be.
High temperatures, such as those caused by intensive sun's rays, accentuate this
caustic effect.
It is essential to also thoroughly clean the underside of the vehicle at the end of
the winter.
WARNING■ When washing your vehicle in the winter: Water and ice in the braking sys-
tem can affect the braking efficiency – risk of accident!■
Only wash the vehicle when the ignition is switched off – risk of accident!
CAUTION
Do not wash your vehicle in bright sunlight – risk of paint damage.
For the sake of the environment
Only wash the vehicle at washing bays intended for this purpose.
187Vehicle care
Washing by handFirst read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 187.
Soak the dirt with plenty of water and rinse as well as possible.
Clean the vehicle with a soft sponge, a washing glove or a washing brush . Work
from the top to the bottom - starting with the roof.
Only use a car shampoo for stubborn dirt.
Wash out the sponge or washing glove thoroughly at short intervals.
Clean wheels, door sills and similar parts last. Use a second sponge for such areas.
Give the vehicle a good rinse after washing it and dry it off using a chamois leath- er.
CAUTION
■ When washing the car by hand, protect your hands and arms from sharp-edged
metal parts (e.g. when cleaning the underfloor, the inside of the wheel housings
or the wheel trims, etc.) - there is a risk of cuts!■
Only apply slight pressure when cleaning the vehicle's paintwork.
Automatic car wash systems
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 187.
The usual precautionary measures must be taken before washing the vehicle in
an automatic car wash system (e.g. closing the windows and the sliding/tilting
roof etc.).
If your vehicle is fitted with any particular attached parts, such as a spoiler, roof rack system, two-way radio aerial etc., it is best to consult the operator of the car
wash system beforehand.
After an automatic wash with wax treatment, the lips of the wipers should be cleaned with cleaning agents specially designed for the purpose, and then de-
greased.
WARNINGFold in the exterior mirrors to prevent damage before washing the vehicle in
an automatic car wash system.
Washing with a high-pressure cleaner
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 187.
When washing the vehicle with a high-pressure cleaner, the instructions for use
of the equipment must be observed. This applies in particular to the pressure
used and to the spraying distance .
Maintain a sufficiently large distance to the parking aid sensors and soft materials such as rubber hoses or insulation material.
WARNINGNever use circular spray nozzles or dirt cutters!
CAUTION
■ 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!■
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.
■
The temperature of the water used for cleaning must not exceed 60 °C – risk of
damaging the vehicle.
■
See also Washing cars with decorative films using a high-pressure clean-
er » page 190 .
188General Maintenance
Taking care of your vehicle exterior
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Taking care of your vehicle's paintwork
189
Plastic parts
190
Rubber seals
190
Chrome parts
190
Decorative films
190
Windows and exterior mirrors
191
Headlight lenses
191
Camera lens
191
Door lock cylinders
191
Cavity protection
192
Wheels
192
Underbody protection
192
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 vehicle care products from ŠKODA Original Accessories.These are available from ŠKODA Partners. The usage instructions on the package
must be observed.
WARNING■ Vehicle care products may be harmful to your health if not used according to
the instructions.■
Always store vehicle care products safely, in particular out of the reach of
children – risk of poisoning!
■
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!
CAUTION■ Do not use any insect sponges, rough kitchen sponges or similar cleaning prod-
ucts – risk of damaging the paintwork surface.■
Cleaner that contain solvents can damage the material being cleaned.
For the sake of the environment
Used vehicle care product cans represent hazardous waste that is harmful to the
environment. These must be disposed of in accordance with national legal regula- tions.
Note
Due to the special tools and knowledge required, and to avoid any potential prob-
lems with the cleaning and care of your vehicle's exterior, we recommend that
the cleaning and care of your vehicle be carried out by a ŠKODA Service Partner.
Taking care of your vehicle's paintwork
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 189.
Minor paint damage such as scratches, scuffs or stone chips should be treated im-
mediately if possible, using touch-up pens or sprays .
Preserving the vehicle paintwork
A thorough wax treatment provides the vehicle's paintwork with highly effective
protection against 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.
189Vehicle care
Cavity protectionFirst read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 189.
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 need to be inspected or re-applied. If any small amount of wax flow out of the cavities at high temperatures, thesemust be removed with a plastic scraper and the stains cleaned using a petroleum cleaner.
WARNINGSafety regulations should be observed when using petroleum cleaner to re-
move wax – risk of fire!
Wheels
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 189.
Wheel rims
Also thoroughly wash the wheel rims when washing the vehicle on a regular ba-
sis.
Regularly remove salt and brake abrasion, otherwise the rim material will be cor-
roded.
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.
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.
Underbody protection
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 189.
The underside of your vehicle is protected for life against chemical and mechani-
cal influences.
It is not possible to guarantee that the protective coating will not suffer any
damage as the vehicle is driven.
We recommend having the protective coating underneath the vehicle and the
chassis checked — preferably before the beginning of winter and at the end of
winter.
WARNINGNever 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 may ignite - risk of fire!
Taking care of the interior
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Natural leather
193
Artificial leather, cloths and Alcantara ®
194
Seat covers
194
Seat belts
195
Regular and proper care helps to ensure efficiency and to
maintain the value of
your vehicle.
We recommend using vehicle care products from ŠKODA Original Accessories. These are available from ŠKODA Partners. The usage instructions on the package
must be observed.
192General Maintenance
WARNING■Vehicle care products may be harmful to your health if not used according to
the instructions.■
Always store vehicle care products safely, in particular out of the reach of
children – risk of poisoning!
CAUTION
■ Be sure to check clothing for colourfastness to avoid any damage or visible
stains on the material (leather), panels and textiles.■
Remove fresh stains such as those from ball-point pens, ink, lipstick, shoe pol-
ish, etc., from the material (leather), panels and textiles as quickly as possible.
■
Air fresheners and scents can be hazardous to heath when the temperature in-
side the vehicle is high.
■
Do not attach scents or air fresheners to the dash panel – there is a risk of dam-
age to the dash panel.
■
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.
■
Do not clean the roof panelling with a brush – there is a risk of damage to the
surface of the panelling.
■
Cleaner that contain solvents can damage the material being cleaned.
■
Apply only a small amount of the cleaning and care product.
For the sake of the environment
Used vehicle care product cans represent hazardous waste that is harmful to the
environment. These must be disposed of in accordance with national legal regula- tions.
Note
Due to the special tools and knowledge required, and to avoid any potential prob-
lems with the cleaning and care of the interior of your vehicle, we recommend
that cleaning and care of the interior of your vehicle be carried out by a ŠKODA service partner.
Natural leather
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 192.
Leather is a natural material with specific properties, and requires regular clean-
ing and maintenance.
The leather should be cleaned on a regular basis depending on the amount of
wear-and-tear.
Dust and dirt in the pores and folds act as abrasive materials. This leads to severe corrosion and the premature brittleness of the leather surface.
We recommend that you remove dust regularly and at short intervals using a
cloth or vacuum cleaner.
Clean soiled leather surfaces with a water-dampened cotton or woollen cloth and
then dry with a clean, dry cloth »
.
Clean severely soiled areas with a cloth soaked in a mild soap solution (2 table-
spoons of neutral soap to 1 litre of water).
To remove stains , use a cleaning agent specially designed for this purpose.
Treat the leather regularly and at suitable intervals using a suitable leather care
product.
CAUTION
■ Ensure that no part of the leather is soaked through during cleaning and that
no water gets into the seams. Otherwise, the leather could become brittle or
cracked.■
Avoid leaving the vehicle for lengthy periods in bright sunlight to avoid the
leather from bleaching. If the vehicle is parked in the open for lengthy periods, protect the leather from direct sunlight by covering it.
■
Sharp-edged objects on items of clothing such as zip fasteners, rivets, sharp-
edged belts, jewellery and pendants may leave permanent scratches or signs of
rubbing on the surface. Such damage cannot be subsequently recognised as a
justified complaint.
■
The use of a mechanical steering wheel lock may damage the leather surface of
the steering wheel.
193Vehicle care
■Do not sit on wet seats - risk of seat deformation.■Always clean the seats from “seam to seam”.
Seat belts
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 192.
The belt webbing must always be kept clean.
Wash dirty seat belts with mild soapy water.
Remove coarse dirt with a soft brush.
Dirty belt webbing may impair the correct functioning of the inertia reel.
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 not be allowed to come into contact with corrosive liq-
uids (e.g. acids).
■
Check the condition of all the seat belts on a regular basis. If any damage to
the belt webbing, seat belt connections, inertia reel or lock is detected, the
seat belt must be replaced by a specialist garage.
■
The seat belts must be fully dried before being rolled up.
195Vehicle care