Driving
Starting-off and Driving
Starting and turning off the engine
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Electronic immobilizer
76
Lock/unlock steering lock
76
Ignition on / off and start the engine
77
Switch off engine
77
With the key in the ignition, the ignition can be switched on and off and the
engine can be started / stopped.
WARNING■ While driving with the engine stopped, the ignition must always be
switched on » page 77, Ignition on / off and start the engine .
■ With the ignition off, the steering may lock » page 76 - danger of an
accident!■
Do not withdraw the ignition key from the ignition lock until the vehicle
has come to a stop » page 79, Parking . Otherwise, the steering could be
blocked – risk of accident!
■
Never leave the key in the vehicle when you exit the vehicle. Unauthor-
ized persons, such as children, for example, could lock the car, turn on the
ignition or start the engine - there is a danger of injury, accidents and dam-
age!
■
Never leave the vehicle unattended with the engine running - there is
risk of accident, damage or theft!
■
Never switch off the engine before the vehicle is stationary – risk of acci-
dent!
WARNING■ Never (e.g. in garages) run the engine in a closed place - there is the dan-
ger of poisoning and death!■
Do not leave any items (e.g. cloths or tools) in the engine compartment.
This presents a fire hazard and the risk of engine damage.
■
Never cover the engine with additional insulation material (e.g. with a
cover) – risk of fire!
CAUTION
■ Only start the engine when the engine and the vehicle are stationary - there
is a danger of starter and engine damage!■
Do not push-start the engine – risk of damaging the engine and the catalytic
converter. The battery from another vehicle can be used as a jump-start
aid » page 130 .
Note
Do not warm up the engine while the vehicle is stationary. If possible, start
your journey as soon as the engine has started. Through this, the engine rea-
ches its operating temperature faster.
Electronic immobilizer
Read and observe
and on page 76 first.
The electronic immobilizer makes a possible attempted theft or unauthorizeduse of your vehicle more difficult.
An electronic chip is integrated in the head of the key. The immobiliser is deac-
tivated with the aid of this chip when the key is inserted in the ignition lock.
The electronic immobiliser is automatically activated when the ignition key is
withdrawn from the lock.
The engine will not start if a non-authorized ignition key is used.
Lock/unlock steering lock
Read and observe
and on page 76 first.
The steering lock (steering lock) deters any attempted theft of your vehicle.
Locking
›
Withdraw the ignition key.
76Driving
›Turn the steering wheel to the left or right until the steering lock clicks into
place.
Unlocking›
Insert the key into the ignition lock.
›
Switch on the ignition » page 77.
The steering lock is unlocked.
If the ignition switch can not be turned on, then turn the steering wheel back and forth slightly and thereby unlock the steering lock.
Ignition on / off and start the engine
Fig. 78
Positions of the vehicle key in
the ignition lock
Read and observe and on page 76 first.
Positions of the vehicle key in the ignition lock » Fig. 78
Ignition switched off, engine switched off
Ignition switched on
Starting engine
Switching ignition on/off
›
Turn key to position
2
.
The ignition is to be switched on.
›
Turn key to position
1
.
The ignition is switched off.
Procedure for starting the engine
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
For vehicles with manual gearbox, shift gear stick to neutral, depress the
clutch pedal and hold it there until the engine starts.
123› On vehicles with
automatic gearbox , place the selector lever in position N
and depress the brake pedal until the engine starts.›
Turn the key into position
3
to the stop and release immediately after the
engine has been started – do not apply the accelerator.
After letting go, the vehicle key will return to position
2
.
If the engine does not start within 10 seconds, turn the key to position
1
. Re-
peat the start-up process after approx. half a minute.
Note
■ The engine running noises may louder at first be louder for a short time after
starting the cold engine. This is quite normal and is not an operating problem.■
You should not switch on any major electrical components during the heat-
ing period otherwise the vehicle battery will be drained unnecessarily.
Switch off engine
Read and observe
and on page 76 first.
›
Stop the vehicle » page 79, Parking .
›
Turn key to position
1
» Fig. 78 on page 77 .
The engine and the ignition are switched off simultaneously.
CAUTION
Do not switch the engine off immediately at the end of your journey after the
engine has been operated over a prolonged period at high loads but leave it to
run at an idling speed for about 1 minute. This prevents any possible accumula-
tion of heat when the engine is switched off.
Note
After switching off the ignition, the radiator fan can intermittently continue to
operate for approx. 10 minutes.
Brakes and parking
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Information on braking
78
Handbrake
79
Parking
79
77Starting-off and Driving
WARNING■Greater physical effort is required for braking when the engine is switch-
ed off – risk of accident!■
The clutch pedal must be actuated when braking on a vehicle with man-
ual gearbox, when the vehicle is in gear and at low revs. Otherwise, the
functionality of the brake system may be impaired – risk of accident!
■
When leaving the vehicle, never leave persons who might, for example,
release the handbrake or take the vehicle out of gear unattended in the ve-
hicle. The vehicle could then start to move – risk of accident!
■
Observe the recommendations on the new brake pads » page 82, New
brake pads .
CAUTION
Never let the brakes slip with light pressure on the pedal if braking is not nec-
essary. This causes the brakes to overheat and can also result in a longer brak-
ing distance and excessive wear.
Information on braking
Read and observe
and on page 78 first.
Wear-and-tear
The wear of the brake pads is dependent on the operating conditions and driv-
ing 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 service intervals.
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 by applying the brakes several times »
.
Long or steep slopes
Before travelling a long distance with 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 com-
pleted intermittently, not continuously.
Emergency brake display
If the brakes are applied in full and the control unit for the braking system con-
siders 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 stop-
ped, the brake light stops flashing and the hazard warning light system
switches on. The hazard warning light system is switched off automatically af-
ter accelerating or driving off again.
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 appropri-
ately as you will not know the exact extent of the damage.
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 34,
Braking
system .
Brake booster
The brake booster increases the pressure generated with the brake pedal. The
brake booster only operates when the engine is running.WARNINGOnly apply the brakes for the purpose of drying and cleaning the brake
discs if the traffic conditions permit this. Do not place any other road users
in jeopardy.78Driving
HandbrakeFig. 79
Handbrake
Read and observe and on page 78 first.
The hand brake is used when stopping and parking for securing the vehicle
against unwanted movement.
Apply
›
Pull the handbrake lever firmly upwards.
Loosening
›
Pull the handbrake lever up slightly and at the same time push in the locking
button » Fig. 79 .
›
Move the lever right down while pressing the lock button.
The handbrake warning light illuminates when the handbrake is applied,
provided the ignition is on.
A warning signal sounds if the vehicle is inadvertently driven off with the
handbrake applied.
The handbrake warning is activated if the vehicle is driven at a speed of more
than around 5 km/h for more than 3 seconds.
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 – risk of acci-
dent!Parking
Read and observe
and on page 78 first.
When stopping and parking, look for a place with a suitable surface » .
Only carry out the activities while parking in the specified order.
›
Bring the vehicle to a stop and depress the brake pedal.
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
For vehicles with automated gearbox shift the lever to position D or R.
›
Switch off the engine.
›
For vehicles with manual gearbox select the first gear or reverse gear.
›
Release the brake pedal.
WARNINGThe parts of the exhaust system can become very hot. Therefore, never
stop the vehicle at places where the underside of your vehicle can come in-
to contact with flammable materials such as dry grass, undergrowth,
leaves, spilled fuel or such like. - Risk of fire and serious injury can occur!
Manual gear changing and pedals
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Manual gear changing
79
Pedals
80
Manual gear changing
Fig. 80
Shift pattern of the transmission
On the shift lever, the individual gear positions are shown » Fig. 80.
79Starting-off and Driving
The gearshift indicator must be observed when changing gear » page 30.
Always depress the clutch pedal all the way down. This prevents uneven wear
to the clutch.
Reverse gear is engaged›
Stop the vehicle.
›
The clutch pedal is fully depressed.
›
Move the shift lever to the idle position switch and press down.
›
Move the shift lever fully to the right and then backwards in position R.
The reversing lights will come on once reverse gear is engaged, provided the
ignition is on.
WARNINGNever engage reverse gear when driving – risk of accident!
CAUTION
■ If not in the process of changing gear, do not leave your hand on the gear-
shift lever while driving. The pressure from the hand can cause the gearshift
mechanism to wear excessively.■
When stopping on a slope, never try to hold the vehicle in position by using
the accelerator pedal and the clutch – this may lead to clutch damage.
Pedals
The operation of the pedals must not be hindered under any circumstances!
In the driver's footwell, only a footmat, which is attached to the two corre-
sponding attachment points may be used.
Only use factory-supplied footmats or footmats from the range of ŠKODAOrigi-
nal Accessories, which are fitted to two attachment points.
WARNINGNo objects are allowed in the driver's footwell – risk of obstruction or limi-
tation in operating the pedals!Automated transmission
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Modes and lever control
81
Manual gearshift (Tiptronic)
81
Starting-off and driving
82
The automatic transmission performs automatic gear changes.
The modes of the automatic transmission are adjusted by the driver by means
of the selector lever.
WARNING■ No throttle when it is set before starting the mode for moving forward
with the selector lever - there is a risk of accident!■
Never move the selector lever to mode R when driving – risk of accident!
■
Always firmly apply the handbrake before leaving the vehicle! Otherwise
the vehicle could then start to move and potentially cause an accident!
CAUTION
When stopping on a slope, never try to hold the vehicle using the accelerator
pedal – this may lead to gear damage.
Note
■ The engine can only be left on in position N, when the brake pedal is de-
pressed .■
If the selector lever position N is accidentally selected while driving, it is first
necessary to release pressure on the accelerator pedal and wait for the idling
speed of the engine to be reached before the selector lever can be engaged in
the drive position.
■
If the N symbol flashes next to the selector lever, engage the selector lever
position N.
80Driving
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 the wear on the brakes » page 78, Information on braking .■
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
risk of the engine overrevving.
Starting-off and driving
Read and observe
and on page 80 first.
Starting off
›
Start the engine.
›
Firmly depress and hold the brake pedal.
›
Press the selector lever towards the left in the spring-tensioned position in
the direction of the arrow » Fig. 81 on page 81 and insert into position D .
›
Release the brake pedal and accelerate.
Stopping (while the car is moving)
›
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.
Kick-down
The Kick-down function allows you to achieve the maximum acceleration of
your vehicle while driving.
When the accelerator pedal is fully depressed, the Kick-down function is acti-
vated 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 vehicle
control – risk of accident!Running in and economical driving
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Driving in
82
Tips for economical driving
82
The fuel consumption, degree of pollution and vehicle wear depend on driving
style, road condition, weather conditions and the like.
Driving in
Driving in the engine
The engine has to be run in during the first 1 500 kilometres. During this peri-
od, the driving style decides on the quality of the driving-in process.
During the first 1 000 km we recommend not driving faster than 3/4 of the
maximum permissible engine speed, not to drive at full throttle and to dis-
pense with the trailer.
In the area of 1,000 to 1,500 kilometres the engine load can be increased up
to the maximum permitted engine speed.
New tyres
New tyres must firstly be “run in” since they do not offer optimal grip at first.
Therefore, drive especially carefully for the first 500 km or so.
New brake pads
New brake pads have to first “grind in” because these do not initially have the
best possible braking effect.
Therefore, drive especially carefully for the first 200 km or so.
Tips for economical driving
To achieve the lowest possible fuel consumption, the following instructions
must be observed.
Looking ahead when driving
Avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking.
Switch in an energy saving and timely manner Observe the recommended gear » page 30.
82Driving
Avoid full throttle and high speeds
Fuel consumption will be halved if you drive at only three-quarters of the pos-
sible top speed of your vehicle.
Reducing idling
When the engine is switched off, such as when waiting in a traffic jam, the fuel economy is already greater after 30 - 40 s than the fuel quantity which is re-
quired for engine re-start.
Avoid short distances
When driving a short distance of less than about 4 km, the engine cannot
reach its operating temperature. As long as the engine has not reached oper-
ating temperature, the fuel consumption is significantly higher than with the
engine hot.
Pay attention to the correct tyre inflation pressure being maintained
Further information » page 118.
Avoid unnecessary ballast
Per 100 kg of weight, consumption increases by about 1 l/100 km. At a speed of
100-120 km/h, a vehicle fitted with a roof rack cross member without a load
will use about 10 % more fuel than normal due to the increased aerodynamic
drag.
Saving electricity
Electrical consumers (e.g. seat heating, air conditioning and the like) only turn
on for as long as necessary.
Driving through water and driving off of made-up roads
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Driving through water
83
Driving off paved roads
84WARNINGImmediately after driving through water, mud, slush and the like, braking
effectiveness will be temporarily impaired » page 78, Information on brak-
ing . For this reason, sudden and violent braking manoeuvres are to be
avoided - there is a risk of accident!Driving through waterFig. 83
Maximum permissible water lev-
el when driving through water
Read and observe on page 83 first.
The following instructions must be observed if vehicle damage is to be avoided when driving through water (e.g. flooded roads).
›
Therefore determine the depth of the water before driving through bodies of
water.
The water level must not reach above the web of the lower beam » Fig. 83.
›
Do not drive any faster than at a walking speed.
At a higher speed, a water wave can form in front of the vehicle, which can
cause water to penetrate into the engine's air induction system or other parts
of the vehicle.
›
Never stop in the water, do not reverse and do not switch the engine off.
CAUTION
■ Should water penetrate into the intake system of the engine, there is a
threat of serious damage being incurred by the engine parts!■
When driving through water, some vehicle parts such as chassis, electrics or
transmission can be severely damaged.
■
Oncoming vehicles can generate water waves which can exceed the permis-
sible water level for your vehicle.
■
Potholes, mud or rocks can be hidden under the water, making it difficult or
impossible to drive through the body of water.
■
Do not drive through salt water, as the salt can cause corrosion. An vehicle
coming into contact with salt water is to be thoroughly rinsed with fresh wa-
ter.
83Starting-off and Driving
Interrupt control (sprung position) Activate ACC (control deactivated)BTake control againa)
/ Increase speedCLaunch control / reduce speeda)
If no speed stored, the current speed is adopted.
After starting the system, the current speed is stored and the instrument clus-
ter illuminates the warning light
.
After the interruption in control, the stored speed can be resumed by pressing
the
B
button.
Automatic control interruption
Automatic control interruption occurs if any of the following conditions are
met.
› By pressing the brake or clutch pedal.
› When one of the brake assist systems (e.g. ESC) intervenes.
› Through an airbag deployment.
WARNING■
Always deactivate the cruise control system after use to prevent the sys-
tem being switched on unintentionally.■
Control may only be resumed if the stored speed is not too high for the
current traffic conditions.
Note
During control, speed can be increased by pressing the accelerator pedal. Re-
leasing the accelerator pedal will cause the speed to drop again to the set
speed.
START-STOP
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Operating conditions of the system
88
Operation in vehicles with manual gearboxes
89
Operation in vehicles with automatic gearboxes
89
System related automatic start-up
89
Manually deactivating/activating the system
90The START-STOP system (hereinafter referred to as the system) saves fuel and
reduces polluting emissions and CO 2 emissions by turning the engine off, e.g.
when stopping at traffic lights, and starting the engine again when moving off.WARNING■ Never let the vehicle roll with the engine switched off.■The brake servo unit and power steering only operate if the engine is run-
ning.
Operating conditions of the system
Fig. 87
Above: Engine is automatically
switched off / down: automatic
cut off is not possible
Read and observe on page 88 first.
For system-dependent automatic engine shutdown
to work, the following conditions must be met.
The driver's door is closed.
The driver has fastened the seat belt.
The bonnet is closed.
The driving speed was higher than 4 km/h after the last stop.
Some additional conditions for the system to function correctly cannot be in-
fluenced or recognised by the driver. Therefore, the system can react differ-
ently in situations which are identical from the driver's perspective.
If, after stopping the vehicle, the check icon
» Fig. 87 appears on the display,
then the conditions for automatic engine shutdown are not met.
Running the engine is essential for the following reasons, for example.
› The engine temperature for the proper function of the system has not yet
been reached.
› The charge state of the vehicle battery is too low.
88Driving