Engine compartment
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Opening and closing the bonnet
200
Engine compartment overview
201
Radiator fan
201
Windscreen washer system
201WARNINGInjuries or scolding or risks of accident or fire may occur when working in the
engine compartment. For this reason, it is essential to comply with the warn- ing instructions outlined below and with the general applicable safety rules.
The engine compartment of your car is a hazardous area!WARNINGInstructions before beginning work in the engine compartment■Turn off the engine and withdraw the ignition key.■
Firmly apply the handbrake.
■
If the vehicle is fitted with a manual gearbox, move the gearshift lever into
Neutral, or if the vehicle is fitted with an automatic gearbox, move the selec-
tor lever into position P.
■
Allow the engine to cool.
■
Never open the bonnet if you can see steam or coolant escaping from the
engine compartment – risk of scalding! Wait until no more steam or coolant is escaping.
WARNINGInformation for working in the engine room■Keep children clear of the engine compartment.■
Never touch the radiator fan while the engine is still warm. The fan might
suddenly start running!
■
Do not touch any hot engine parts – risk of burns!
■
The coolant is harmful to health.
WARNING (Continued)■ Avoid contact with the coolant.■Coolant vapours are harmful to health.■
Never open the end cover of the coolant expansion reservoir while the en-
gine is still warm. The cooling system is pressurized!
■
When opening the end cover of the coolant expansion reservoir, cover it
with a cloth to protect your face, hands and arms from hot steam or hot cool-
ant.
■
If any coolant splashes into your eyes, immediately rinse out your eyes with
clear water and contact a doctor as soon as possible.
■
Always store the coolant additive securely in its original container, and in
particular out of the reach of children – risk of poisoning!
■
If coolant is swallowed, consult a doctor immediately.
■
Do not leave any items (e.g. cloths or tools) in the engine compartment.
■
Never spill fluids on the hot engine. Such fluids (e.g. the antifreeze con-
tained in the coolant) may ignite!
WARNINGInformation for working in the engine compartment with the engine running■Pay particular attention to rotating engine parts (e.g. V-ribbed belt, genera-
tor, radiator fan) and the high-voltage ignition system – risk to life!■
Never touch the electric wiring on the ignition system.
■
Avoid short circuits in the electrical system - particularly on the vehicle's
battery.
■
Always make sure that no jewellery, loose clothing or long hair can get
caught in rotating engine parts – risk to life! Always remove any jewellery, tie
back long hair and wear tight fitting clothing before completing any work.
WARNINGInformation for working on the fuel system or the electrical system■Always disconnect the vehicle battery from the electrical system.■
Do not smoke.
■
Never work near open flames.
■
Always have a functioning fire extinguisher nearby.
199Inspecting and replenishing
›Take the bonnet support out of its holder 3
» Fig. 157 in the direction of the
arrow and secure the opened bonnet by inserting the end of the support into the opening 4
.
Closing
›
Lift the bonnet slightly and unhook the bonnet support. Insert the bonnet sup-
port into the holder
3
designed to hold it.
›
Let the bonnet drop into the lock carrier lock from a height of around 20 cm – do
not push it in .
WARNINGCheck that the bonnet is closed properly.
CAUTION
Never open the bonnet using the release lever » Fig. 156.
Engine compartment overview
Fig. 158
Principle sketch: Engine compartment
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn- ings
on page 199.
Explanation of graphic » Fig. 158
Coolant expansion reservoir
205
Windscreen washer fluid reservoir
20112Engine oil dipstick203Engine oil filler opening204
Brake fluid reservoir
206
Battery (below a cover)
207
Note
The location of the inspection points in the engine compartment of petrol and
diesel engines is practically identical.
Radiator fan
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 199.
The radiator fan is powered by an electric motor. Operation is controlled accord-
ing to the temperature of the coolant.
WARNINGAfter switching off the ignition, the fan may intermittently continue to oper-
ate for approx. 10 minutes.
Windscreen washer system
Fig. 159
Engine compartment: Wind-
screen washer fluid reservoir
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn- ings on page 199.
The windscreen washer fluid reservoir
A
is located in the engine compart-
ment » Fig. 159 .
3456201Inspecting and replenishing
If the coolant level in the coolant expansion tank is too low, this is indicated by
the warning light lighting up in the instrument cluster » page 16, Coolant .
We still recommend inspecting the coolant level directly at the reservoir from
time to time.
Loss of coolant
A loss of coolant is first and foremost an indication of a leak in the system. Do
not merely top up the coolant. Have the cooling system checked by a specialist
garage.
Replenishing
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 204.
Only top up with new coolant.
›
Switch off the engine.
›
Allow the engine to cool.
›
Place a cloth over the cap of the coolant expansion tank and unscrew the cap carefully .
›
Replenish the coolant.
›
Turn the cap until it clicks into place.
Do not use an alternative additive if the specified coolant is not available in an emergency. In this case, use just water and have the correct mixing ratio of waterand coolant additive restored by a specialist garage as soon as possible.
Brake fluid
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Checking the brake fluid level
206
Changing
207WARNING■ The engine compartment of your car is a hazardous area. The following
warning instructions must be followed at all times when working in the en-
gine compartment » page 199.■
If the fluid level has dropped below the MIN marking » Fig. 162 on page 206,
do not continue your journey - risk of accident! Seek help from a specialist
garage.
■
Do not use used brake fluid - the function of the brake system may be im-
paired – risk of accident!
CAUTION
Brake fluid damages the paintwork of the vehicle.
Note
■ The brake fluid is changed as part of a compulsory inspection service.■We recommend using oils from the ŠKODA Original Accessories range.
Checking the brake fluid level
Fig. 162
Engine compartment: Brake fluid
reservoir
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 206.
The brake fluid reservoir is located in the engine compartment » Fig. 162.
›
Switch off the engine.
›
Open the bonnet.
›
Check the level of brake fluid in the reservoir » Fig. 162.
The level must be between the “MIN” and “MAX” markings.
206General Maintenance
A slight drop in the fluid level results when driving due to normal wear-and-tear
and automatic adjustment of the brake pads.
There may be an indication of a leak in the brake system, however, if the fluid lev-
el drops significantly within a short time or if it drops below the “MIN” marking.
If the brake fluid level is too low, this is indicated by the indicator light » page 15 , Brake system lighting up in the instrument cluster.
Changing
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 206.
Brake fluid absorbs moisture. Over time it therefore absorbs moisture from the
environment.
Excessive water in the brake fluid may be the cause of corrosion in the brake sys-
tem.
The water content lowers the boiling point of the brake fluid.
The brake fluid must comply with the following standards or specifications: › VW 50114;
› FMVSS 116 DOT4.
Vehicle battery
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Opening the cover
208
Checking the battery electrolyte level
209
Charging
209
Replacing
210
Disconnecting and reconnecting
210
Automatic load deactivation
210Warning symbols on the vehicle batterySymbolImportanceAlways wear eye protection.Battery acid is severely caustic. Always wear gloves and eye protec- tion.Keep fire, sparks, open flames and lit cigarettes well clear of the ve-
hicle battery.When charging the vehicle battery, a highly explosive gas mixture is produced.Keep children away from the vehicle battery.WARNINGThere is risk of injuries, poisoning, chemical burns, explosions or fire when
working on the battery and on the electrical system. The general applicable
safety rules and the following warnings must be observed without exception.■
Keep children away from the vehicle battery.
■
Do not tilt the battery otherwise battery electrolyte may flow out of the bat-
tery vent openings. Protect your eyes by wearing safety goggles or a face
shield – risk of blindness!
■
Always wear protective gloves, eye and skin protection when handling the
vehicle battery.
■
The battery acid is strongly corrosive and must, therefore, be handled with
the greatest of care.
■
Corrosive fumes in the air irritate the air passages and lead to conjunctivitis
and inflammation of the air passages in the lungs.
■
Battery acid corrodes dental enamel and, if it comes into contact with the
skin, causes deep wounds that take a long time to heal. Repeated contact
with diluted acids causes skin diseases (inflammations, ulcers, slin cracks).
■
If any battery acid comes into contact with your eyes, rinse the affected eye
immediately with clean water for several minutes and consult a doctor imme-
diately!
■
Splashes of acid on your skin or clothes should be neutralised as soon as
possible using soap suds and then rinsed with plenty of water. If you swallow
battery acid, consult a doctor immediately!
207Inspecting and replenishing
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 warning light can be delayed or does not light up 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. 168
Boot: Spare wheel
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 212.
The spare wheel is located in a well under the floor covering in the boot and is
fixed in place with a securing bolt » Fig. 168.
Take out wheel
›
Open the boot lid.
›
Lift up the floor in the luggage compartment.
›
Remove the box with the tool kit.
›
Unscrew the bolt » Fig. 168 in an anti-cloockwise direction.
›Remove the wheel.
Store wheel away›
Place the wheel into the spare wheel well with the wheel rim pointing down- ward.
›
Screw the securing bolt » Fig. 168 in a clockwise direction until the wheel is se-
curely attached.
›
Replace the box with the tool kit.
›
Fold back the floor in the luggage compartment.
›
Shut the boot lid.
Fit a wheel in the appropriate dimensions and design as soon as possible.
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 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 particularly observant when driving.
› The inflation pressure for the temporary spare wheel is identical to the maxi-
mum inflation pressure for the standard tyres.
› Only use this temporary spare wheel to reach the nearest specialist garage, as it
is not intended for long-term use.
› The tyre inflation pressure of the spare wheel R 16 is 420 kPa.
WARNING■
Never drive with more than one spare wheel mounted!■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.
216General Maintenance
Full wheel trimFirst read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 212.
Extracting
›
Hook the clamp found in the vehicle tool kit » page 220 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.
Install
›
Press the wheel trim onto the wheel rim at the designated valve opening.
›
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 impacts when the trim has not yet been inserted into 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 224 , 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 bolts
Fig. 169
Remove the capFirst read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 212.
Pulling off
›
Push the extraction pliers » page 220 sufficiently far onto the cap until the inner
catches of the pliers are positioned at the collar of the cap.
›
Remove the cover in the direction of the arrow » Fig. 169.
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 212.
Wheels and wheel bolts are matched to each other in terms of design. Each time
you fit other wheels rims, e.g. light alloy wheel rims or wheels with winter tyres,
you must also use the matching wheel bolts with the correct length and dome
shape. This is a prerequisite for ensuring that wheels are attached correctly.
Winter operation
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Winter tyres
218
Snow chains
218
217Wheels
PreparationFirst read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 221.
Always change a wheel on a level surface as far as possible.
The following steps must be carried out before actually changing the wheel:
›
Have all of the occupants get out of the vehicle. While changing a tyre, the oc-
cupants of the vehicle should not stand on the road (they should instead remain
behind a crash barrier).
›
Switch off the engine.
›
Move the gearshift lever into Neutral or move the selector lever for the auto-
matic gearbox into position P.
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
Uncouple any trailers.
›
Remove the vehicle tool kit » page 220 and the spare wheel » page 216 from
the boot.
Changing a wheel
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 221.
›
Remove the full wheel trim » page 217 or caps » page 217 .
›
First of all slacken the anti-theft wheel bolt and then the other wheel
bolts » page 224 .
›
Jack up the vehicle until the wheel that needs changing is clear of the
ground » page 223 .
›
Unscrew the wheel bolts and place them on a clean surface (cloth, paper, etc.).
›
Remove the wheel carefully.
›
Attach the spare wheel and slightly screw on the wheel bolts.
›
Lower the vehicle.
›
Tighten the wheel bolts opposite each other using the wheel wrench (alternat-
ing crosswise). Tighten the anti-theft wheel bolt last » page 224.
›
Replace the wheel trim or the caps.
Note■
All bolts must be clean and must turn easily.■Under no circumstances grease or oil the wheel bolts!■
When fitting unidirectional tyres, ensure that the direction of rotation is cor-
rect » page 212 .
Follow-up tasks
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 221.
The following steps must also be performed after changing the wheel.
›
Stow and attach the replaced wheel in the spare wheel well using a special bolt » page 216 .
›
Stow the tool kit in the space provided and secure using the band.
›
Check the tyre pressure on the installed spare wheel as soon as possible.
›
Have the tightening torque of the wheel bolts checked with a torque wrench
as soon as possible.
›
Replace the damaged wheel or consult a specialist garage about repair options.
Note
■ If it is determined that the wheel bolts are corroded and difficult to turn when
changing the wheel, the bolts must be replaced before checking the tightening
torque.■
Drive cautiously and only at a moderate speed until the tightening torque has
been checked.
222Do-it-yourself
Note■Observe the manufacturer's usage instructions for the breakdown kit.■A new bottle of sealant can be purchased from ŠKODA Original Parts.■
Immediately replace the tyre that was repaired using the breakdown kit, or con-
sult a specialist garage about repair options.
Breakdown kit
Fig. 178
Principle sketch: Components of the breakdown kit
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 224.
The kit is located in a box under the floor covering in the luggage compartment.
Components of the breakdown kit » Fig. 178 .
Sticker with speed designation “max. 80 km/h”/“max. 50 mph” Valve remover
Inflation hose with plug
Air compressor
Button for releasing the tyre pressure
12 volt cable connector
Tyre inflation hose
Tyre inflation pressure indicator
ON and OFF switch
123456789Tyre inflator bottle with sealing agent
Replacement valve core
The valve remover 2
has a slot at its lower end which fits into the valve core.
This is the only way in which you can remove and re-install the valve core from
the tyre valve. The same also applies to the replacement valve core
11
.
Preparations for using the breakdown kit
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 224.
The following preparatory work must be carried out before using the breakdown
kit.
›
Park the vehicle as far away as possible from the flow of traffic. Park on as flat and firm a surface as possible.
›
If you are in flowing traffic, switch on the hazard warning light system and setup the warning triangle at the prescribed distance! The national legal require-
ments must be observed.
›
Have all of the occupants get out of the vehicle. While changing a tyre, the oc-
cupants of the vehicle should not stand on the road (they should instead remain
behind a crash barrier).
›
Switch off the engine and move the gearshift lever into Neutral or move the se-
lector lever on the automatic gearbox into position P.
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
Check that you can carry out the repairs with the breakdown kit » page 224.
Uncouple any trailers.
›
Remove the breakdown kit from the boot.
›
Stick the sticker
1
» Fig. 178 on page 225 onto the dash panel in the driver's
line of vision.
›
Do not remove the foreign body, e.g. screw or nail, from the tyre.
›
Unscrew the valve cap.
›
Use the valve remover
2
to unscrew the valve core and place it on a clean sur-
face (rag, paper, etc.).
1011
225Emergency equipment and self-help