2014 SKODA OCTAVIA engine

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.
If operated under severe conditions , the thickness of the brake pads must be
checked by a specialist garage between service appointments as well.
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 »
.
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 35,
 Brake sys-
tem .
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.
Handbrake
Fig. 132
Handbrake
Read and observe and on page 130 first.
The hand brake is used when stopping and parking for securing the vehicle
against unwanted movement.
Apply
›
Pull the handbrake lever firmly upwards.
Release
›
Pull the handbrake lever up slightly and at the same time push in the lock
button » Fig. 132 .
›
Move the lever right down while pressing the lock button.
The handbrake warning light 
lights up when the handbrake is applied, pro-
vided the ignition is on.
A warning signal sounds if the vehicle is inadvertently driven off with the
handbrake applied.
The following message is shown in the information cluster display. Release the handbrake!
RELEASE HANDBRAKE 
131Starting-off and Driving

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 130 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.
›
On vehicles with automatic transmission place the selector lever in the P po-
sition.
›
Switch off the engine.
›
For vehicles with manual transmission , select 1st 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 shifting of gears and pedals
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Manual gear changing
132
Pedals
132Manual gear changingFig. 133
Gearshift pattern of 5 gear or
6 gear manual gearbox
On the shift lever, the individual gear positions are shown » Fig. 133.
The gearshift indicator must be observed when changing gear » page 46.
Always depress the clutch pedal all the way down. This prevents uneven wear
on 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 left and then forward into R posi-
tion » Fig. 133 .
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 using the accelerator
pedal – this may lead to gear damage.
Pedals
The operation of the pedals must not be hindered under any circumstances! 
132Driving

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 may be placed in the driver's footwell – risk due to obstruction
or limitation of pedal operation.
Automatic gearbox
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Modes and use of selector lever
133
Selector lever lock
134
Manual shifting of gears (Tiptronic)
134
Starting-off and driving
135
The automatic transmission performs automatic gear changes.
The modes of the automatic transmission can be 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 or P when driving – risk of an
accident!
■
When the vehicle is stationery and the engine is running, you need to
hold the vehicle with the brake pedal in mode D, S or R. Even when the en-
gine is idling, the power transmission is never completely interrupted – the
vehicle creeps.
■
When leaving the vehicle, the selector lever is always to put in the P
mode. Otherwise the vehicle could then start to move and potentially cause
an accident.
CAUTION■ If the selector lever is moved to mode N while driving, the accelerator pedal
must be released and you will need to wait until the engine has reached its
idling speed before moving the selector lever to a forward driving mode again.■
When the outdoor temperature is below -10 ° C, the selector lever when
starting must always be in P mode.
■
When stopping on a slope, never try to hold the vehicle using the accelerator
pedal – this may lead to gear damage.
Note
After the ignition is switched off, the ignition key can only be withdrawn if the
selector lever is in the position P.
Modes and use of selector lever
Fig. 134
Selection lever / lock button / display
Read and observe
and on page 133 first.
When the ignition is switched on, the gearbox mode and the currently selected
gear are indicated in the display » Fig. 134.
The following modes can be selected with the selector lever » Fig. 134.
P
– Parking mode
The driven wheels are locked mechanically in this mode.
The parking mode must only be selected when the vehicle is stationary.
R
– Reverse gear
Reverse gear can only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary and the en-
gine is at idling speed. 
133Starting-off and Driving

N – Neutral
The power transmission to the drive wheels is interrupted in this mode.D
/
S
- mode for driving forward (Normal program) / mode for driving
forward (Sport program)
The system switches from one mode to the other by moving the selector lever
into the spring-loaded position 
» Fig. 134 .
In mode D or S, the forward gears are shifted automatically depending on the
engine load, the operation of the accelerator pedal, the vehicle speed, and the
selected driving mode .
In mode S , the forward gears are shifted automatically up and down at high-
er engine speeds than in mode D.
If the Sport driving mode is selected with the engine running » page 160, Se-
lection of travel mode (Driving Mode Selection) , the transmission is automati-
cally set in the S mode.
E – Economical driving mode
If the driving mode Eco or Individual (engine - Eco) » page 160 is selected and
the selection lever is in the setting D/S, transmission is automatically set in
mode E . This mode cannot be selected with the selector lever.
In mode E , the forward gears are shifted automatically up and down at lower
engine speeds than in mode D.
Selector lever lock
Read and observe
and on page 133 first.
The selector lever is locked in mode P and N to prevent that the forward driv-
ing is selected accidentally, thereby setting the vehicle in motion.
The selector lever is locked only when the vehicle is stationary and at speeds
up to 5 km/h.
The selector lever lock is indicated by the illumination of the warning light .
The selector lever is not locked when quickly moving across the position N
(e.g. from R to D/S ). This, for example, helps to rock out a vehicle that is stuck,
e.g. in a bank of snow. The selector lever lock will engage if the lever is in posi-
tion N for more than approx. 2 seconds without the brake pedal being de-
pressed.
Releasing selector lever from mode P or N (selector lever lock)›Press the brake pedal and the lock button at the same time in the direction
of 1
» Fig. 134 on page 133 .
Just depress the brake pedal, if you would like to change from the mode N to
D/S .
Defective selector lever lock
If the selector lever lock is defective or its power supply is interrupted (e.g. dis-
charged vehicle battery, faulty fuse), the selector lever can no longer be moved
out of position P in the normal manner and the vehicle can no longer be driven.
The selector lever must be unlocked specially » page 226.
Note
If you want to move the selector lever from mode P to mode D/S or vice versa,
move the selector lever quickly. This prevents that you accidentally select
mode R or N.
Manual shifting of gears (Tiptronic)
Fig. 135
Selector lever/multi-function
steering wheel
Read and observe and on page 133 first.
Tiptronic mode makes it possible to manually shift gears with the selector lev-
er or multifunction steering wheel. This mode can be selected both while stop-
ping and while driving.
The currently selected gear is indicated in the display » Fig. 134 on page 133 .
The gearshift indicator must be observed when changing gear » page 46.
Switching to manual shifting
›
Push the gear selector from position D/S towards the right, or left in a right-
hand drive vehicle. 
134Driving

When switching to the manual shifting while driving, the current gear is main-
tained.
Shifting up gears›
Push the selector lever forwards
+
» Fig. 135 .
›
Pull the right-hand paddle +
» Fig. 135 briefly towards the steering wheel.
Shifting down gears
›
Push the selector lever backwards
-
» Fig. 135 .
›
Pull the left-hand paddle -
» Fig. 135 briefly towards the steering wheel.
Temporarily switching to manual shifting in position D/S
›
Pull one of the -/+ paddles
» Fig. 135 briefly towards the steering wheel .
If you do not pull one of the rocker switches -
/+ for more than 1 Minute, man-
ual shifting of gears is deactivated. You can also deactivate the temporary
switch to manual shifting by pulling the right rocker switch +
towards the
steering wheel for more than 1 second.
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 of the brakes » page 130.■
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 133 first.
Starting off
›
Start the engine.
›
Firmly depress and hold the brake pedal.
›
Press the lock button in the direction of
1
» Fig. 134 on page 133 and hold.
›
Move the selector lever into the desired position » page 133 and then release
the lock button.
›
Release the brake pedal and accelerate.
Stopping (while the car is moving)
›
Depress 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.
Kickdown
The kickdown function allows you to achieve the maximum acceleration of
your vehicle while driving.
When the accelerator pedal is fully depressed, the kickdown function is activa-
ted 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.
Driving in neutral position in mode E (freewheel)›
Move the selector lever into the position D/S.
›
Select the Eco driving mode or Individual (Eco Engine) » page 160, Selection
of travel mode (Driving Mode Selection) .
›
Take the foot off the accelerator pedal.
The vehicle moves without the braking effect of the engine.
The gear is selected again automatically, when you briefly depress the acceler-
ator brake pedal or pull the left rocker switch -
towards the steering
wheel » page 134 , Manual shifting of gears (Tiptronic) .
This function is not available when towing a trailer.
Launch control 1)
The launch control function allows the vehicle in mode S or Tiptronic to reach
its maximum acceleration when starting off.
›
Disable the TCS » page 138, Braking and stabilisation systems .
›
START STOP deactivate » page 159, Manually deactivating/activating the
system .
›
Fully depress and hold the brake pedal with your left foot.
›
Fully depress the accelerator pedal with your right foot.
›
Release the brake pedal.
The vehicle starts off with maximum acceleration. 
1)
This function is only valid for some engines.
135Starting-off and Driving

Reactivate the TCS and START-STOP when the desired speed has been
reached.WARNINGRapid acceleration, particularly on slippery roads, can lead to loss of control
of the vehicle – risk of accident!
Retraction and economical driving
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Driving in
136
Tips for economical driving
136
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 1500 kilometres. During this period,
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 have to be “run in” since they do not offer optimal grip at first.
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.
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 46.
Avoid full throttle and high speeds
Fuel consumption will be halved if only three-quarters of the possible top
speed of your vehicle is used.
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 204.
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.
In Infotainment, the display is shown of up to three consumers which are cur-
rently showing the highest degree of fuel consumption » Infotainment operat-
ing instructions , chapter Vehicle settings (CAR button) .136Driving

Driving through water and driving off of made-up roads
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Driving through water
137
Driving off paved roads
137WARNINGImmediately after driving through water, mud, slush and the like, braking
effectiveness will be temporarily impaired » page 130, Information on brak-
ing . For this reason, sudden and violent braking manoeuvres are to be
avoided - there is a risk of accident!
Driving through water
Fig. 136
Maximum permissible water lev-
el when driving through water
Read and observe on page 137 first.
The following must be observed to avoid damage to the vehicle when driving through bodies of 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. 136.
›
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 air induction system of the engine or into
other parts of the vehicle.
›
Never stop in the water, do not reverse and do not switch the engine off.
CAUTION■ If water penetrates into the intake system of the engine, there is a risk of se-
rious damage to the engine parts!■
When driving through water, some vehicle parts such as the chassis, the
electrics or the 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.
Driving off paved roads
Read and observe
on page 137 first.
Only drive on such roads and in such terrain, which match the vehicle parame-ters » page 238 , Technical data as well as your driving skills.
The driver is always responsible for deciding whether the vehicle can handle
travelling in the given terrain.
WARNINGDrive particularly aware and pro-actively outside paved roads.■Always adjust your driving to the current terrain and weather conditions.
Excessive speed or incorrect driving manoeuvres can cause damage to the
vehicle and lead to serious injuries.■
Objects trapped under the floor of the vehicle can damage the fuel lines,
the brake system, the seals and other parts of the chassis. Check the un-
derside of the vehicle and remove the trapped objects.
■
Combustible objects such as dry leaves or twigs caught under the base of
the vehicle could ignite on hot vehicle parts - risk of fire!
CAUTION
■ Pay attention to the ground clearance of the vehicle! When driving over ob-
jects which are larger than the ground clearance, the chassis and its compo-
nents can get damaged.■
Drive slowly in unknown terrain and watch out for unexpected obstacles,
such as potholes, rocks, stumps, etc.
■
Check up on confusing sections of unpaved roads before travelling on them
and consider whether such travelling is possible without risk.
137Starting-off and Driving

Assist systems
Braking and stabilisation systems
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
138
Antilock Braking System (ABS)
138
Traction Control System (TCS)
139
Electronic Differential Lock (EDL and XDS)
139
Driver Steering Recommendation (DSR)
139
Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA)
140
Hill Hold Control (HHC)
140
Multi-collision brake (MCB)
140
Trailer stabilisation (TSA)
140
This chapter deals with the functions of the braking and stabilisation systems,
with the error indicator referred to in chapter » page 34, Warning lights .
The braking and stabilisation systems are automatically activated each time
the ignition is switched on.
WARNING■ A lack of fuel can cause irregular engine running or cause the engine to
shut down. The brake assist systems would then fail to function – risk of
accident!■
The increased safety provided by the brake assist systems must not
tempt you to take safety risks – risk of accident!
■
Always adjust your speed and driving style to the current visibility, weath-
er, road and traffic conditions.
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
Read and observe
on page 138 first.
The ESC improves vehicle stability in dynamic driving situations, such as when
the vehicle starts to skid.
The ESC monitors whether the desired direction of the current vehicle motion
is occurring. In case of any deviation (e.g. oversteer), the ESC automatically
brakes individual wheels to maintain the desired direction.
During an intervention of the system, the warning light  flashes in the instru-
ment cluster.
Enable/disable ESC Sport
ESC Sport allows for sportier driving style. The activation of the ESC sport
leads to the ASR being deactivated and no ESC interventions will occur in the
event of slight over- or under-steering occurring.
The activation or deactivation of the ESC sports can be done in one of two
ways.
› By pressing the Symbol key

for the activation and briefly pressing the but-
ton for the deactivation » Fig. 137 on page 139 .
› In Infotainment
» Operating instructions for Infotainment , chapter Vehicle
settings (CAR button) .
Upon activation, in the instrument cluster the indicator light  comes on and
the display shows the following message.
ESC sport: Limited driving stability.
ESC SPORT
Upon deactivation, in the instrument cluster the control indicator  turns off
and the display shows the following message.
Stabilisation control (ESC) activated.
ESC ON
Antilock Braking System (ABS)
Read and observe
on page 138 first.
ABS prevents the wheels locking when braking. Thus helping the driver to
maintain control of the vehicle.
The intervention of the ABS is noticeable from the pulsating movements of
the brake pedal which is accompanied by noises.
When the ABS system is active, do not brake periodically or reduce the pres- sure on the brake pedal.
138Driving