Automatic car wash systemsRead and observe
and on page 172 first.
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/tilt-
ing 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. Never manually fold in electric exterior
mirrors - always use the electric controls.
Washing with a high-pressure cleaner
Read and observe
and on page 172 first.
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 pres-
sure used and to the spraying distance .
Maintain a sufficiently large distance to the parking aid sensors and soft mate-
rials 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,
ensure 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 pe-
riods 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 175 .
Taking care of your vehicle exterior
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Taking care of your vehicle's paintwork
174
Plastic parts
174
Rubber seals
174
Chrome parts
174
Decorative films
175
Windows and exterior mirrors
175
Headlight lenses
175
Door lock cylinders
175
Cavity protection
176
Wheels
176
Underbody protection
176
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
relating 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 pack-
age must be observed.
WARNING■ Vehicle care products may be harmful to your health if not used according
to the instructions.■
Always keep the vehicle care products safe from people who are not com-
pletely independent, e.g. children - there is a danger of poisoning!
■
Protect your hands and arms from sharp-edged metal parts when clean-
ing the underfloor, the inside of the wheel housings or the wheel trims –
risk of cuts!
173Car care
CAUTION■Do not use any insect sponges, rough kitchen sponges or similar cleaning
products – risk of damaging the paintwork surface.■
Cleaner that contain solvents can damage the material being cleaned.
For the sake of the environment
Used cans of vehicle care product represent hazardous waste that is harmful
to the environment. These must be disposed of in accordance with national
legislation.
Note
Because of the special tools and knowledge required, and to avoid any poten-
tial problems with the cleaning and care of the interior of your vehicle, we rec-
ommend that cleaning and care of the interior of your vehicle be carried out by
a ŠKODA Service Partner.
Taking care of your vehicle's paintwork
Read and observe
and on page 173 first.
Minor paint damage such as scratches, scuffs or stone chips should be treated
immediately if possible, using touch-up pens or sprays .
Preserving the vehicle paintwork
A thorough wax treatment provides the vehicle's paintwork with highly effec-
tive 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 trea- ted with a preservative afterwards.
CAUTION■ Never apply wax to the windows.■Mat painted or plastic parts must not be treated with polishing products or
hard waxes.■
Do not polish the paintwork in a dusty environment - risk of paint scratches.
■
Do not apply any paint care products to door seals or window guides.
■
If possible, do not apply any paint care products to parts of the bodywork
that come into contact with door seals or window guides.
Plastic parts
Read and observe
and on page 173 first.
Clean plastic parts with a damp cloth.
If this method does not completely clean the plastic parts, use cleaning prod-
ucts specially designed for this purpose.
CAUTION
Do not use paint care products on plastic parts.
Rubber seals
Read and observe
and on page 173 first.
All door seals and window guides are factory-treated with a colourless matt
varnish layer to prevent the freezing of painted body parts and to protect
against driving noise.
Do not treat the door seals and window guides with any products whatsoever.
CAUTION
Applying additional treatments to the seals can corrode the protective coating,
and driving noise may occur.
Chrome parts
Read and observe
and on page 173 first.
First clean the chrome parts with a damp cloth and then polish them with a
soft, dry cloth.
If this method does not completely clean chrome parts, use a specific chrome
care product.
174General Maintenance
CAUTIONDo not polish the chrome parts in a dusty environment - risk of surface
scratches.
Decorative films
Read and observe
and on page 173 first.
Wash the films with a mild soap solution and clean, warm water. Never use
harsh cleaning products or chemical solvents, as this could damage the films.
The following instructions must be followed when washing the vehicle with a
high-pressure cleaner:
› The minimum distance between the nozzle and the vehicle body should be
50 cm.
› Keep jet perpendicular to the film surface.
› The maximum water temperature is 50 °C.
› The maximum water pressure is 80 bar.
CAUTION
In the winter months, do not use an ice scraper to remove ice and snow from
the areas with films. Do not use any other objects to remove frozen layers of
snow or ice – risk of film damage.
Windows and exterior mirrors
Read and observe
and on page 173 first.
Use a plastic ice scraper for removing snow and ice from the windows and mir-
rors.
Regularly clean windows from the inside with clean water.
Dry the glass surfaces with a clean chamois leather or a cloth intended for this
purpose.
When drying the windows after washing the vehicle, do not use window leath-
ers that have been used to polish the bodywork. Residues of preservatives in
the window leather can make the window dirty and reduce visibility.
CAUTION■ The ice scraper should not be moved forward and backward but in one direc-
tion to avoid any damage to the surface of the glass.■
Snow or ice that is contaminated with coarse dirt such as fine gravel, sand or
salt must not be removed from the windows and mirrors – there is a risk of
damage to the surface of the windows and mirrors.
■
Do not remove snow or ice from glass parts using warm or hot water – risk of
cracks forming in the glass.
■
When removing snow or ice from windows and mirror lenses ensure that the
paintwork of the vehicle is not to damage.
■
Do not clean the inside of the windows with sharp-edged objects or corro-
sive and acidic cleaning agents – there is a risk of damaging the heating ele-
ments or window aerial.
Headlight lenses
Read and observe
and on page 173 first.
Clean plastic front headlight lenses using clean, warm water and soap.
CAUTION
■Never wipe headlights with a dry cloth.■Do not use any sharp objects to clean the plastic lenses, as this may damage
the protective paintwork and consequently cause cracks to form on the head-
light lenses.■
Do not use any harsh cleaning products or chemical solvents to clean the
headlights, as this could damage the headlight lenses.
Door lock cylinders
Read and observe
and on page 173 first.
Specific products must be used for de-icing door lock cylinders.
CAUTION
When washing your vehicle, ensure as little water as possible gets into the
locking cylinders.175Car care
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
polish, etc., from the material (leather), panels and textiles as quickly as possi-
ble.
■
Air fresheners and scents can be hazardous to heath when the temperature
inside the vehicle is high.
■
Do not attach scents or air fresheners to the dash panel – there is a risk of
damage 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 – 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 cans of vehicle care product represent hazardous waste that is harmful
to the environment. These must be disposed of in accordance with national
legislation.
Note
Because of the special tools and knowledge required, and to avoid any poten-
tial problems with the cleaning and care of the interior of your vehicle, we rec-
ommend that cleaning and care of the interior of your vehicle be carried out by
a ŠKODA Service Partner.
Natural leather
Read and observe
and on page 176 first.
Leather is a natural material with specific properties, and requires regular
cleaning 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 se-
vere 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 ta-
blespoons 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.
■
Use a care cream with light blocker and impregnation effect on a regular ba-
sis and each time after cleaning. The cream nourishes the leather, allows it to
breathe and keeps it supple and also provides moisture. It also creates surface
protection.
■
Some clothing materials, e.g. dark denim, do not have sufficient colour fast-
ness. This can cause damage or clearly visible discolouration to seat covers,
even when used correctly. This applies particularly to light-coloured seat cov-
ers. This does not relate to a fault in the seat cover, but rather to poor colour
fastness of the clothing textiles.
Note
When using the vehicle, minor visible changes may occur to the leather parts
of the covers (e.g. wrinkles or creases) as a result of the stress applied to the
covers.177Car care
Engine compartment overviewFig. 161
Principle sketch: Engine compartment
Read and observe
and on page 182 first.
Image description » Fig. 161
Coolant expansion reservoir
188
Windscreen washer fluid reservoir
184
Engine oil filler opening
187
Engine oil dipstick
186
Brake fluid reservoir
189
Battery (below a cover)
189
Note
The location of the inspection points in the engine compartment of petrol and
diesel engines is practically identical.
Radiator fan
Read and observe
and on page 182 first.
The radiator fan is powered by an electric motor. Operation is controlled ac-
cording to the temperature of the coolant.
123456WARNINGAfter switching off the ignition, the fan may intermittently continue to op-
erate for approx. 10 minutes.
Windscreen washer system
Fig. 162
Engine compartment: Wind-
screen washer fluid reservoir
Read and observe and on page 182 first.
The windscreen washer fluid reservoir is located in the engine compart-
ment » Fig. 162 .
This contains the cleaning fluid for the windscreen or rear window and for the
headlight cleaning system.
The capacity of the reservoir is about 3 litres or about 5.5 litres on vehicles that
have a headlight cleaning system 1)
.
Clear water is not sufficient to intensively clean the windscreen and head-
lights. We recommend using clean water together with a screen cleaner from
the range of ŠKODA Original Accessories (with antifreeze in winter), which will
remove any stubborn dirt.
In Winter, the washing water should always be mixed with antifreeze even if
the vehicle has heated windscreen washer nozzles.
Under exceptional circumstances, methylated spirits can also be used if no
screen cleaner with antifreeze is available. The concentration of methylated
spirits must not be more than 15 %. The freeze protection at this concentration
is sufficient only to -5 °C.
1)
In some countries, 5.5 ltr. applies for both variants.
184General Maintenance
Winter time
The vehicle battery only has a proportion of the starting power in lower tem-
peratures. A discharged vehicle battery may already freeze at temperatures
just below 0 °C .
We therefore recommend that you have the battery checked and, if necessary,
recharged by a specialist garage before the start of the winter.
Note
■ The battery acid level is also checked regularly by a specialist garage as part
of the inspection service.■
For technical reasons, on vehicles with the description “AGM”, the electrolyte
level cannot be checked.
Charging
Read and observe
and on page 190 first.
A properly charged vehicle battery is essential for reliably starting the engine.
›
Switch off the ignition and all of the electrical components.
›
Only when performing a “quick-charge”, disconnect both battery cables (first
“negative”, then “positive”).
›
Attach the terminal clamps of the charger to the battery terminals (red =
“positive”, black = “negative”).
›
Plug the mains cable of the charger into the power socket and switch on the
device.
›
After charging has been successful: Switch off the charger and remove the
mains cable from the power socket.
›
Only then disconnect the charger's terminal clamps.
›
Reconnect the cables to the battery (first “positive”, then “negative”).
It is not necessary to disconnect the cables of the battery if you recharge the
vehicle battery using low amperages (for example from a mini-charger). Refer
to the instructions of the charger manufacturer .
A charging current of 0.1 multiple of the total vehicle battery capacity (or low-
er) must be used until full charging is achieved.
It is necessary to disconnect both cables before charging the battery with high
amperages, known as “ rapid charging”.
The vent plugs of the vehicle battery should not be opened for charging.
WARNING“Quick-charging” the vehicle battery is dangerous and requires a special
charger and specialist knowledge.
CAUTION
On vehicles with the START/STOP system, the pole terminal of the charger
must not be connected directly to the negative terminal of the vehicle battery,
but only to the engine earth » page 208, Jump-starting in vehicles with the
START-STOP system .
Note
We therefore recommend that vehicle batteries be rapid charged by a special-
ist garage.
Replace
Read and observe
and on page 190 first.
The new vehicle battery must have the same capacity, voltage, current and
size as the original battery. Suitable vehicle battery types can be purchased
from a specialist garage.
We recommend having the battery replaced by a specialist garage, where the
new vehicle battery will be installed properly and the original battery will be
disposed of in accordance with national regulations.
Disconnecting or reconnecting
Read and observe
and on page 190 first.
On disconnecting and reconnecting the vehicle battery the following functions
are initially deactivated or are no longer able to operate fault-free.
OperationOperating measureElectrical power window (operational faults)» page 62Panoramic sliding roof (operational faults)» page 214Enter the radio/navigation system code
number» User manual of the radio
or » user manual of the naviga-
tion system 192General Maintenance
OperationOperating measureSetting the clock» page 30Data in the multifunction display are de-
leted.» page 41
Note
We recommend having the vehicle checked by a specialist garage in order to
ensure full functionality of all electrical systems.
Automatic load deactivation
Read and observe
and on page 190 first.
The vehicle voltage control unit automatically prevents the battery from dis-
charging when the battery is put under high levels of strain. This manifests it-
self by the following.
› The idling speed is raised to allow the generator to deliver more electricity to
the electrical system.
› Where necessary, large convenience consumers such as seat heaters and
rear window heaters have their power limited or are shut off completely in
the event of an emergency.
CAUTION
■ Despite such intervention by the vehicle electric system management, the
vehicle battery may be drained. For example, when the ignition is switched on
a long time with the engine turned off or the side or parking lights are turned
on during longer parking.■
Consumers that are supplied via a 12-V power socket can cause the vehicle
battery to discharge when the ignition is switched off.
Note
Driving comfort is not impaired by consumers being deactivated. The driver is
often not aware of it having taken place.Wheels
Tyres and wheel rims
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Service life of tyres
194
New tyres
195
Unidirectional tyres
196
Tyre pressure monitor
196
Spare and temporary spare wheel
197
Full wheel trim
198
Wheel bolts
198
Wheel bolts
198WARNINGThe national legal regulations must be observed for the use of tyres.WARNINGInstructions for the use of tyres■For the first 500 km, new tyres do not yet provide optimum grip, and ap-
propriate care should therefore be taken when driving – risk of accident!■
Only use radial tyres of the same type, size (rolling circumference) and
tread pattern on all four wheels.
■
For reasons of driving safety, do not replace tyres individually.
■
Never exceed the maximum permissible load bearing capacity for fitted
tyres – risk of accident!
■
Never exceed the maximum permissible speed for fitted tyres – risk of ac-
cident!
■
Incorrect wheel alignment at the front or rear impairs handling – risk of
accident!
■
Unusual vibrations or pulling of the vehicle to one side could be a sign of
tyre damage. If there is any doubt that a wheel is damaged, immediately re-
duce your speed and stop! If no external damage is evident, drive slowly
and carefully to the nearest specialist garage to have the vehicle checked.
■
Only use tyres or wheel rims that have been approved by ŠKODA for your
model of vehicle. Failure to observe this instruction may impair the road
safety of your vehicle – risk of accident!
193Wheels
Note■It is necessary after each emergency operation to move the sliding/tilting
roof into the basic position. 1)
This is why the rotary switch must be set to posi-
tion A
» Fig. 45 on page 62 and pressed forwards for about 10 seconds.
■
After each emergency operation, it is necessary to activate the
roof 2)
» page 214 .
Activation after un-clamping and re-clamping the battery
The panoramic sliding/tilting roof (referred to form now on as just the sliding/
tiling roof) and the sun screen must be activated after disconnecting and re-
connecting the battery.
To activate the sliding/tilting roof, press the notch on the control dial down-
wards and forwards for approx. 10 seconds.
To activate the sun screen, press and hold the switch
G
» Fig. 47 on
page 64 for approx. 10 seconds.
If the sliding/tilting roof or sun screen is not fully closed or pushed shut when
disconnecting and reconnecting the battery, they must first be closed or push-
ed shut » page 64 , Opening/closing the sun screen » page 64 , Operation . Only
then is it possible to perform the activation.
Replacing windscreen wiper blades
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Replacing the windscreen wiper blades
214
Replacing the rear window wiper blade
215WARNINGReplace the windscreen wiper blades once or twice a year for safety rea-
sons. These can be purchased from a ŠKODA Partner.Replacing the windscreen wiper bladesFig. 194
Windscreen wiper blade
Read and observe on page 214 first.
Before replacing the windscreen wiper blade, put the windscreen wiper arms
into the service position.
Service position for changing wiper blades
›
Closing the bonnet.
›
Switch the ignition off and on again.
›
Within 10 seconds, press the lever in position
4
and hold it for around 2 sec-
onds » Fig. 62 on page 76 .
The windscreen wiper arms move into the service position.
Removing the wiper blade
›
Lift the windscreen wiper arm away from the windscreen.
›
Hold the upper part of the wiper arm and unlock the securing mechanism
1
» Fig. 194 .
›
Remove the wiper blade in the direction of the arrow
2
.
Fitting the wiper blade
›
Push the wiper blade in until it latches on the stop.
›
Check that the wiper blade is correctly attached.
›
Fold the wiper arm back to the windscreen.
›
Turn on the ignition and press the lever into position
4
» Fig. 62 on page 76 .
The windscreen wiper arms move into the home position.
1)
Applies to emergency operation of the Superb sliding/tilting roof.
2)
Applies to emergency operation of the Superb Combi sliding/tilting roof.
214Do-it-yourself