Correctly secured ball head » Fig. 152
The tow bar does not come out of the mounting recess even after heavy
“shaking”.
The green marking A
on the handwheel is located in the green box on the
tow bar.
The handwheel lies flush with the tow bar - there is no gap.
The key is removed.
The cover
B
is attached to the locked handwheel lock.
WARNINGDo not use the towing equipment unless the ball head has been properly
locked - risk of accident.
Removing the ball rod
Fig. 153
Removing the lock cover/releasing the lock
Fig. 154
Removing the two bar/placing the cover on the rear bumper
Read and observe and on page 159 first.›
Remover the cover
A
from the handwheel lock in the direction of the arrow
1
» Fig. 153 .
›
Insert the key into the handwheel lock.
›
Turn the key
B
2
in the direction of the arrow as far as the stop.
›
Grip the tow bar from below and with the other hand pull the handwheel
C
in the direction of the arrow
3
» Fig. 154 .
›
Turn the handwheel in the direction of the arrow
4
to the stop , and hold in
this position.
›
Remove the tow bar from the mounting recess downwards and in the direc-
tion of the arrow
5
.
At the same time, the tow bar latches into the ready position and is therefore
ready to be re-inserted into the mounting recess »
.
›
Attach the cover for the mounting recess
4
» Fig. 147 on page 159 » .
›
Grip the cover on the rear bumper
E
» Fig. 154 at the handle
D
and position
in the direction of the arrow
6
on the checkmark underneath the upper
edge of the bumper.
›
Push this cover onto the lower edge and onto the two sides in the direction
of the arrow
7
.
WARNING■ Never allow the tow bar to remain unsecured in the boot. This could
cause damage to the boot upon sudden braking, and could put the safety
of the occupants at risk.■
Never remove the tow bar while the trailer is still coupled.
CAUTION
■ If the handwheel is not turned all the way to the stop, then it will return to
its initial position when the tow bar is removed, and will rest on the tow bar
and not engage into the ready position. The tow bar will then need to be
brought into this position before the next time it is fitted.■
The mounting recess must be closed with the cover following removal. This
prevents foreign bodies from getting into the mounting recess.
Note
■ We recommend putting the protective cover onto the ball head before re-
moving the tow bar.■
Clean any dirt from the tow bar before stowing it away in the box with the
vehicle tool kit.
162Driving
AccessoriesFig. 155
Illustration of the maximum per-
missible projection of the ball
head of the towing hitch and the
permissible total weight of the
accessories including the load
depending on the load center of
gravity.
Read and observe and on page 159 first.
An accessories can mounted on the ball head of the towing hitch (e.g. bike car-
riers).
If this accessory is used, the maximum permissible overhang of the ball head
of the towing hitch and the permissible gross vehicle weight of the accesso-
ries including load are to be checked.
The maximum permissible overhang of the ball head of the towing hitch is 70
cm » Fig. 155 .
The total permitted weight of the accessories including load changes varies
as the distance of the centre of gravity of the load from the ball head of the
towing hitch increases.
Distance of the centre of gravity of the load from the ball headPermissible total weight of the ac- cessories, including load0 cm80 kg / 85 kg a)30 cm75 kg60 cm35 kg70 cm0 kga)
Applies to 4x4 vehicles with the 2.0 l / 103 kW TDI CR and 2.0 L / 125 kW TDI CR engine.
WARNING■
Never exceed the permissible gross weight of the accessories including
load - risk of damaging the ball head of the towing hitch.■
Never exceed the permissible overhang of the ball head of the towing
hitch - risk of damaging the ball head of the towing hitch.
NoteWe recommend that you use accessories from ŠKODA Original Accessories.
Trailer
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Coupling / uncoupling trainer
163
Loading a trailer
164
Towing a trailer
165
Anti-theft alarm system
165
If your vehicle has already been factory-fitted with a towing device or is fitted
with a towing device from ŠKODA Original Accessories, then it meets all of the
technical requirements and national legal regulations for towing a trailer.
Note
If there is an error in the trailer lighting, check the fuses in the fuse box in the
dash panel » page 214.
Coupling / uncoupling trainer
Fig. 156
Swivel out the 13-pin power
socket, safety eyelet
Coupling
›
Fit the ball bar.
›
Swing the 13-pin socket in the direction of arrow
A
» Fig. 156 .
›
Lift off protective cap
5
» Fig. 147 on page 159 .
›
Place the trailer onto the ball.
›
Plug the trailer cable into the 13-pin socket
A
» Fig. 156 .
163Hitch and trailer
If the trailer that is to be towed has a 7-pin connector, you can use a suitable
adapter from ŠKODA Original Accessories to establish a connection to the elec-
tricity.›
Hook the breakaway cable of the trailer onto the safety eyelet
B
.
The breakaway cable of the trailer has to sag when mounted into the security
lock slot for all trailer positions relative to the vehicle (sharp curves, reverse
driving and the like.)
Uncoupling
›
Unhook the breakaway cable of the trailer from the safety eyelet
B
» Fig. 156 .
›
Unplug the trailer cable from the 13-pin socket.
›
Remove the trailer from the ball head.
›
Place the cap
5
» Fig. 147 on page 159 onto the ball head.
›
Grip the 13-pin socket at point
A
and swing in the opposite direction to the
arrow » Fig. 156 .
Exterior mirrors
You have to have additional exterior mirrors fitted if you are not able to see
the traffic behind the trailer with the standard rear-view mirrors. The national
legal requirements must be observed.
Headlights
The front of the vehicle may lift up when a trailer is being towed and the head-
lights may dazzle other road users.
Adjust the headlights using the headlight beam control » page 64,
Lights
and visibility 1)
.
WARNING■ Incorrect or improperly connected electrical installation can cause acci-
dents and serious injury due to electric shock.■
Work on the electrical system must only be carried out by specialist ga-
rages.
■
Never directly connect the trailer's electrical system with the electrical
connections for the tail lights or other current sources.
■
After coupling the trailer and connecting up the power socket, check the
rear lights on the trailer to ensure they are working.
WARNING (Continued)■ The handbrake on the towing vehicle must be applied when coupling and
uncoupling the trailer.■
Never use the safety eyelet for towing!
CAUTION
Incorrect or improperly connected electrical installations may cause malfunc-
tion of the entire vehicle electronics.
Loading a trailer
The vehicle/trailer combination must be balanced, whereby the maximum per-
missible drawbar load must be utilised. If the drawbar load is too low, it jeop-
ardises the performance of the vehicle/trailer combination.
Distribution of the load
Distribute the load in the trailer in such a way that heavy items are located as
close to the axle as possible. Secure the items from slipping.
The distribution of the weight is very poor if your vehicle is unladen and the
trailer is laden. Maintain a particularly low speed if you cannot avoid driving
with this combination.
Tyre pressure
Correct the tyre inflation pressure on your vehicle for a “full load” » page 191.
Towing capacity and trailer weight
The permissible trailer load must not be exceeded under any circumstan-
ces » page 222 , Technical data .
The details given in the vehicle's technical documentation always take prece-
dence over the details in the Owner's Manual.
The trailer loads specified apply only to altitudes up to 1 000 metres above
mean sea level.
The engine output falls as altitude increases, as does the vehicle's climbing
power. Therefore, for every additional 1000 m in height (or part), the maximum
permissible towed weight must be reduced by 10%.
The towed weight is made up of the actual weights of the loaded towing vehi-
cle and the loaded trailer.
1)
Applies to vehicles with bi-xenon headlights.
164Driving
The trailer and drawbar load information on the type plate of the towing de-
vice is merely a test value for the towing device. The vehicle-specific values
are detailed in the vehicle documents.WARNING■ Never exceed the maximum permissible axle and drawbar load or the per-
missible weight of the trailer - risk of accident!■
Sliding cargo can significantly adversely affect stability and driving safety
- risk of accident!
Towing a trailer
Driving speed
For safety reasons, do not drive faster than 80 km/h when towing a trailer.
Immediately reduce your speed as soon as even the slightest swaying of the
trailer is detected. Never attempt to stop the trailer from “swaying” by acceler-
ating.
Brakes
Apply the brakes in good time! If the trailer is fitted with a trailer brake, apply
the brakes gently at first, then brake firmly. This will avoid brake jolts resulting
from the trailer wheels locking.
On downhill sections shift down a gear in good time to also use the engine as
a brake.
Engine overheating
If the needle for the coolant temperature gauge moves into the right-hand
area or the red area of the scale, the speed must be reduced immediately.
Stop and switch off the engine if the indicator light in the instrument cluster
starts to flash.
The following guidelines must be observed » page 36,
Coolant
.
The coolant temperature can be reduced by switching on the heating.
WARNING■ Always drive particularly carefully with the trailer.■Adapt your speed to the conditions of the road surface and to the traffic
situation.CAUTIONIf you tow a trailer frequently, you should also have your vehicle inspected be-
tween service intervals.
Anti-theft alarm system
If the vehicle is locked, the alarm is activated when the electrical connection to
the trailer is interrupted.
Always switch off the anti-theft alarm system before a trailer is coupled or un-
coupled » page 56 .
Conditions for including a trailer in the anti-theft alarm system. The vehicle is factory-fitted with an anti-theft alarm system and towing
device.
The trailer is electrically connected to the towing vehicle via the trailer
socket.
The electrical system of the vehicle and trailer is functional.
The vehicle is locked with the vehicle key and the anti-theft alarm system
is activated.
CAUTION
For technical reasons, trailers with rear LED lights cannot be connected to the
anti-theft alarm system.165Hitch and trailer
General Maintenance
Care and maintenance
Service work, adjustments and technical alterations
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Vehicle operating under different weather conditions
166
Statutory checks
166
ŠKODA Service Partners
167
ŠKODA Original parts
167
ŠKODA Original accessories
167
Spoiler
168
Airbags
168
Acceptance and recycling of used vehicles
169
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 modifi-
cations, repairs or technical alterations, the vehicle will comply with German
road transport regulations (StVZO)
Always consult a ŠKODA Partner » page 167 before buying accessories or
parts, or before carrying out any modifications, repairs or technical alterations
to your vehicle.
WARNING■ Work on your vehicle, which have been carried out unprofessionally, can
cause operational faults – risk of accident!■
Interference on the electronic components and their software can lead to
operational faults. This interference can also impair not directly affected
systems because of the networking of the electronic components. The op-
erational safety of the vehicle may be at significant risk and can lead to in-
creased wear of parts.
For the sake of the environmentTechnical 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
manner.
Note
■ We recommend only having these modifications and technical alterations
carried out by a specialist garage.■
Any damage caused by technical alterations made without the approval of
the manufacturer is excluded from the warranty » Service schedule .
■
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.
■
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 pur-
chased parts.
Vehicle operating under different weather conditions
Read and observe
on page 166 first.
If you would like to operate your vehicle in countries other than those with its
intended weather conditions, you should contact a ŠKODA Partner.
She will advise you if certain precautions need to be taken to ensure the full
functioning of the vehicle and to prevent damage.
This involves, for example, the coolant, battery replacement and the like.
Statutory checks
Read and observe
on page 166 first.
Many countries have legislation requiring the operational reliability and road-
worthiness and/or exhaust gas properties of a vehicle to be tested at specific
intervals. These tests can be carried out by workshops or testing stations that
have been legally authorized for this purpose.
166General Maintenance
ŠKODA Service Partners are liable for any defects of ŠKODA Genuine Accesso-
ries for a period of 2 years after installation or delivery in accordance with the
materials defect liability, unless agreed otherwise in the purchase agreement
or any other agreements. You should keep the approved warranty certificate
and the invoices for these accessories for this period of time, so that the com-
mencement 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 prin-
ted brochures or in the form of ŠKODA Genuine Accessories on the ŠKODA
Partner websites.
Spoiler
Read and observe
on page 166 first.
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.
WARNING■ If work on your vehicle's spoilers is not carried out properly, this can lead
to operational faults - risk of accident and serious injuries.■
If a front spoiler, full wheel trim, etc. is mounted retrospectively, it must
be ensured that the air supply to the front wheel brakes is not reduced.
The front brakes may overheat which can have a negative impact on the
functioning of the braking system – risk of accident!
Airbags
Read and observe
on page 166 first.
The system components of the airbag system can be situated in the front
bumper, doors, front seats, roof lining or body.
WARNINGAny work on the airbag system including the installation and removal of
system 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 se-
riously 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.
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 air-
bag system - risk of accident and fatal injury!■
Never make any changes to the front bumper or the bodywork.
168General Maintenance
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 the front doors and door panels must be carried out by a specialist ga-
rage. The following guidelines must be observed.■
Never drive with inner door panels removed.
■
Never drive if parts of the inner door panel have been removed and the
resulting 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
loudspeakers or other equipment parts have been installed in the inner
door panels.
Acceptance and recycling of used vehicles
Read and observe
on page 166 first.
ŠKODA meets the requirements of the brand and its products with regard to
protecting the environment and the preserving resources. All new ŠKODAvehi-
cles can be recycled by up to 95 % and can always 1)
be returned free of charge.
In a lot of countries sufficient trade-in networks have been created, where you
can trade-in your vehicle. After you trade-in your vehicle, you will receive a
confirmation stating the recycling in accordance with environmental regula-
tions.
Note
You can find more detailed information about the trade-in and recycling of old
cars from a specialist garage.Washing vehicle
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Washing by hand
169
Automatic car wash systems
170
Washing with a high-pressure cleaner
170
The best way to protect your vehicle against harmful environmental influences
is frequent washing.
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, ac-
centuate this caustic effect.
It is essential to also thoroughly clean the underside of the vehicle at the end
of the winter.
WARNINGWhen washing your vehicle in the winter: Water and ice in the braking sys-
tem can affect the braking efficiency – risk of accident!
CAUTION
The temperature of the water used for cleaning must not exceed 60 °C – risk
of damaging the vehicle.
For the sake of the environment
Only wash the vehicle at washing bays intended for this purpose.
Washing by hand
Read and observe
and on page 169 first.
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.
1)
Subject to fulfilment of the national legal requirements.
169Care and maintenance
For stubborn dirt, agents specifically intended for this purpose are to be used.
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
leather.WARNINGProtect your hands and arms from sharp-edged metal parts when cleaning
the under floor or the inside of the wheel housings or the wheel trims – risk
of cuts!
CAUTION
■ Only apply slight pressure when cleaning the vehicle's paintwork.■Do not wash your vehicle in bright sunlight – risk of paint damage.
Automatic car wash systems
Read and observe
and on page 169 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.
CAUTION
Fold 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 169 first.
When washing the vehicle with a high-pressure cleaner, the instructions foruse 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.
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.
Note
See also Washing cars with decorative films using a high-pressure clean-
er » page 172 .
Cleaning vehicle exterior
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Vehicle paint work
171
Plastic parts
171
Rubber seals
171
Chrome parts
172
Decorative films
172
Windows and mirrors
172
Headlight glasses
172
Camera lens
173
Door closing cylinder
173
Cavity protection
173
Jack
173
Wheels
173
Towing hitch and mounting recess
174
170General Maintenance