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WARNINGNever let the vehicle roll with locked steering lock - there is a risk of acci-
dent!
Switch ignition on / off
Read and observe
and on page 133 first.
›
Press the button » Fig. 126 on page 133 briefly.
The ignition is switched on or off.
On vehicles fitted with a manual gearbox, the clutch pedal must not be de-
pressed while switching the ignition on or off, otherwise the system would try
to start.
On vehicles fitted with a automatic gearbox, the brake pedal must not be de-
pressed while switching the ignition on or off, otherwise the system would try
to start.
If the driver's door is opened while the ignition is on, an audible signal sounds
and the following message appears in the instrument cluster display.
Ignition on!
IGNITION SWITCHED ON
When leaving the vehicle always switch off the ignition.
Starting the engine
Read and observe
and on page 133 first.
Starting the engine
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
For vehicles with manual transmission , shift gear stick to neutral, depress
the clutch pedal and hold it there until the engine starts.
›
On vehicles with automatic transmission , place the selector lever in position
P or N and depress the brake pedal until the engine starts.
›
Press and hold the starter button » Fig. 126 on page 133 1)
until the engine
starts.
In vehicles with diesel engines after pressing the button, the glow plug warn-
ing light lights up. The engine can be started after the indicator light goes
out.
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.
Switching off the engine
Read and observe
and on page 133 first.
Switching off
›
Stop the vehicle » page 137, Parking .
›
Press the button » Fig. 126 on page 133 briefly.
The engine and the ignition are switched off simultaneously.
Emergency shutdown
If necessary, the engine in exceptional cases may also be turned off while driv-
ing.
›
Press the starter button » Fig. 126 on page 133 for longer than 1 second or
twice within 1 second.
After the emergency stop of the motor, the steering lock will remain unlocked.
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 may intermittently continue to
operate for approx. 10 minutes.1)
On vehicles with the START-STOP system, it is sufficient to press the starter button briefly. The motor
will then automatically start.
134Driving
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Problems starting the engineFig. 127
Starting the engine - Press the
button with the key
Read and observe and on page 133 first.
The key in the vehicle cannot be verified
If the key in the vehicle cannot be verified, then engine cannot be started by pressing a button.
The following message is shown in the information cluster display. Key not found.
NO KEY
The reasons for this may be as follows.
› The battery in the key is almost out of charge.
› The key is malfunctioning
› There is interference in the signal between the system and the key (strong
electromagnetic field).
Try to start the engine by pressing the knob with the key » Fig. 127.
System fault
If the following message appears on the display of the instrument cluster
there is a system malfunction.
Keyless faulty.
CHECK KEYLESS
Try to start the engine by pressing the knob with the key » Fig. 127.
CAUTION
The key can only be verified if it is in the vehicle. It is therefore not always nec-
essary to know where the key is.Note■ When attempting to start, the key bit must be pointed towards the but-
ton » Fig. 127 .■
If engine fails to start after pressing the button with the key, seek specialist
help.
Brakes and parking
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Information on braking
135
Handbrake
136
Parking
137WARNING■ Greater physical effort is required for braking when the engine is switch-
ed off – risk of accident!■
During the braking procedure on a vehicle with manual transmission,
when the vehicle is in gear and at low revs, press the clutch pedal. Other-
wise, the functionality of the brake system may be impaired – risk of acci-
dent!
■
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 140, 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 135 first.
Wear-and-tear
The wear of the brake pads is dependent on the operating conditions and driv-
ing style.
135Starting-off and Driving
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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. 128
Handbrake
Read and observe and on page 135 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. 128 .
›
Move the lever right down while pressing the lock button.
The handbrake indicator 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 MAXI DOT display. Release parking brake!
136Driving
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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 135 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 engage 1st gear or reverse gear.
›
Release the brake pedal.
WARNINGThe exhaust system components 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
137
Pedals
137Manual gear changingFig. 129
The shift pattern: 5-gear or 6-
gear manual transmission
On the shift lever, the individual gear positions are shown » Fig. 129.
The gearshift indicator should be observed when changing gear » page 43.
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. 129 .
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!
137Starting-off and Driving
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In the driver's footwell, only a format may be used, which is attached to the
two corresponding attachment points.
Only use factory-supplied foot mats or foot mats from the range of
ŠKODAOriginal 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 transmission
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Modes and use of selector lever
138
Selector lever lock
139
Manual shifting of gears (Tiptronic)
139
Starting-off and driving
140
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. 130
Selection lever / lock button / display
Read and observe
and on page 138 first.
When the ignition is switched on, the gearbox mode and the currently selected
gear are indicated in the display » Fig. 130.
The following modes can be selected with the selector lever » Fig. 130.
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.
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N - Neutral
The power transmission to the drive wheels is interrupted in this mode.D
- Mode for forwards travel (normal programme)
In mode D, the forward gears are automatically changed according to the en-
gine load, accelerator pedal actuation and driving speed.
S
- Mode for forwards travel (sports programme)
In mode S , the forward gears are shifted automatically up and down at high-
er engine speeds than in mode D.
Before changing to mode S from mode D, press the lock button in the direction
of arrow
1
» Fig. 130 .
Fault in the automatic gearbox
A fault in the automatic gearbox can, for example, be noticeable by the follow-
ing.
› Only certain gears are selected.
› The reverse gear
R cannot be used.
› Shifting gears in Tiptronic mode is not possible.
CAUTION
If an error occurs on the automatic transmission the help of a specialist firm
should be sought immediately - there is a risk of damaging the vehicle.
Selector lever lock
Read and observe
and on page 138 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). 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. 130 on page 138 .
Just depress the brake pedal, if you would like to change from the mode N to
D .
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 212.
Note
If you want to move the selector lever from mode P to mode D or vice versa,
move the selector lever quickly. This prevents that you accidentally select
mode R or N.
Manual shifting of gears (Tiptronic)
Fig. 131
Selector lever
Read and observe and on page 138 first.
Tiptronic mode makes it possible to manually shift gears on the selector lever.
This mode can be selected both while stopping and while driving.
The currently selected gear is indicated in the display » Fig. 130 on page 138 .
The gearshift indicator should be observed when changing gear » page 43.
Switching to manual shifting
›
Push the gear selector from mode D towards the right, or left in a right-hand
drive vehicle.
Shifting up gears
›
Push the selector lever forwards
+
» Fig. 131 .
Shifting down gears
›
Push the selector lever backwards
-
» Fig. 131 .
139Starting-off and Driving
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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 135, 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 138 first.
Starting off
›
Start the engine.
›
Firmly depress and hold the brake pedal.
›
Press the lock button in the direction of
1
» Fig. 130 on page 138 and hold.
›
Move the selector lever into the desired position » page 138 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.
WARNINGRapid acceleration, particularly on slippery roads, can lead to loss of control
of the vehicle – risk of accident!Running in and economical driving
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Driving in
140
Tips for economical driving
140
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”, as 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 43.
140Driving
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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 191.
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
141
Driving off paved roads
142WARNINGImmediately after driving through water, mud, slush and the like, braking
effectiveness will be temporarily impaired » page 135, 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. 132
Maximum permissible water lev-
el when driving through water
Read and observe on page 141 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. 132.
›
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
■ 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.
141Starting-off and Driving