2015 SKODA OCTAVIA towing

Hitch and trailer
Hitch
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Description
167
Adjusting the ready position
168
Correctly adjusted ready position
168
Assembling the bar ball – Step 1
169
Assembling the bar ball – Step 2
169
Check proper fitting
170
Removing the bar ball – Step 1
170
Removing the bar ball – Step 2
171
Mount accessories
171
The maximum trailer drawbar load is 75 kg.
For vehicles with all-wheel drive, the maximum trailer nose weight is 80 kg.
With G-TEC-vehicles, the maximum trailer drawbar load is 56 kg .
The draw bar load information on the type plate of the towing device is merely
a test value for the towing device. The vehicle-specific information is detailed
in the vehicle documents.
WARNING■ Before each time you make a journey when using the ball rod, check that
it is seated correctly and is secured in the mounting recess.■
Do not use the ball rod if it is not correctly inserted into the mounting re-
cess and secured.
■
Do not use the towing hitch if it is damaged or if there are parts missing.
■
Do not perform any modifications or changes to the towing device.
■
Keep the mounting recess of the towing device clean at all times. Such
dirt prevents the ball rod from being attached securely!
CAUTION
■ Take care when using the ball rod - there is a risk of paint damage to the
bumper.■
When the ball rod is removed always place the cover onto the mounting re-
cess - there is a danger of soiling the mounting recess.
Note■ Operation and maintenance of the tow hitch » page 186.■The towing vehicle by means of the detachable ball rod » page 222.■
If the towing device is removed completely, it must be replaced with the
original reinforcement of the rear bumper which is part of the mount for the
towing eye.
Description
Fig. 185
Support for the hitch equipment / ball bar / key (Version 1 and 2)
Read and observe
and on page 167 first.
The ball rod can be removed and is located in the spare wheel well or in a com-
partment for the spare wheel in the luggage compartment.
The hitch comes with two key versions. The handling of the hitch is identical
for the two key versions. The difference is only in the key version.
Support for the towing device and tow bar » Fig. 185
13-pin power socket
Safety eye
Mounting recess
Cap
Dust cap
Ball rod
Operating lever
Lock cap
Trigger pin
Lock
Locking ball 
1234567891011167Hitch and trailer

CAUTIONAfter removing the key, always replace the cover on the lock – there is a risk of
the lock getting dirty.
Check proper fitting
Fig. 192
Correctly connected tow bar
Read and observe and on page 167 first.
Before each use of the ball rod, check that it is attached properly.
Correctly secured ball head » Fig. 192
The ball rod does not come off the mounting recess even after strong
“shaking”.
Operating lever
A
is as far up as possible.
The release pin
B
is completely exposed (both its red and green parts are
visible).
The key is removed.
The cap
B
is on the hand-wheel.
WARNINGDo not use the towing device unless the ball rod was properly locked!Removing the bar ball – Step 1Fig. 193
Remove the cap from the lock
Fig. 194
Unlock lock: Key version 1 / key version 2
Read and observe
and on page 167 first.
Applies to both key versions
›
Remove the cover
A
from the lock in the direction of the arrow
1
» Fig. 193 .
Applies to key version 1
›
Insert key
B
into the lock in the direction of arrow
2
so that the green
marking is pointing upwards.
›
Turn key
B
in the direction of arrow
3
so that the red marking is pointing
upwards » Fig. 194 .
Applies to key version 2
›
Insert key
C
into the lock in the direction of arrow
4
so that the eye of the
key is pointing downwards.
›
Turn key
C
in the direction of arrow
5
so that the eye of the key is pointing
upwards » Fig. 194 . 
170Driving

WARNINGNever remove the tow bar while the trailer is still coupled.
Note
We recommend putting the protective cover onto the ball head before remov-
ing the tow bar.
Removing the bar ball – Step 2
Fig. 195
Release ball bar
Read and observe and on page 167 first.
To begin with, follow the first step for the ball rod assembly » page 170.
Release ball head - applies to both key versions
›
Grasp the ball rod from below » Fig. 195 .
›
Push release pin
A
in the direction of arrow
1
to the stop, and simultane-
ously push operating lever
B
in the direction of arrow
2
to the stop .
The ball rod is released in this position and falls freely into the hand. If it does
not fall freely into the hand, use your other hand to push it upwards.
At the same time, the ball rod latches into the ready position and is therefore
ready to be re-fitted »
.
›
Place the cap
4
» Fig. 185 on page 167 onto the mounting recess.
WARNINGNever allow the ball rod 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.
CAUTION
■ If lever B is held firmly and not pushed downwards to the stop, it will move
back up after the ball rod is removed and will not latch into the ready position.
The ball rod will then need to be brought into this position before the next
time it is fitted » page 168, Adjusting the ready position .■
Store the ball rod in the box in the ready position and with the key facing up-
wards - otherwise there is a risk of damage to the key!
■
Do not use excessive force when handling the operating lever (e.g. do not
climb on it)!
Note
Remove any dirt from the ball rod before stowing it away in the box with the
vehicle tool kit.
Mount accessories
Fig. 196
Depiction of the maximum per-
missible protrusion of the ball
head of the towing hitch and of
the permissible total weight of
the accessory including the load,
depending on the load centre of
gravity
Read and observe and on page 167 first.
An accessory (e.g. bicycle carrier) can be mounted on the ball head of the tow-
ing hitch.
If this accessory is used, the maximum permissible protrusion of the ball head
of the towing hitch and the permissible total weight of the accessory including
the load must be observed.
The maximum permissible protrusion of the ball head of the towing hitch is
70 cm » Fig. 196 . 

171Hitch and trailer

The total permitted weight of the accessory including load changes with in-
creasing distance of the load centre of gravity from the ball head of the towing
hitch.Distance of the load
centre of gravity from the ball headPermissible total weight of the accessory, including load» Fig. 196Vehicles with front-wheel driveVehicles with four-wheel driveG-TEC vehicles0 cmA75 kg75 kg56 kg30 cmB75 kg75 kg56 kg60 cmC35 kg35 kg28 kg70 cmD0 kg0 kg0 kgWARNING■Never exceed the permissible gross weight of the accessory including
load - there is a risk of damaging the towing device.■
Never exceed the permissible protrusion of the ball head including towing
device - there is a risk of damaging the towing device.
Note
We recommend that you use accessories from ŠKODA Original Accessories.
Trailer
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Attaching and detaching trailers
172
Loading a trailer
173
Trailer load
173
Trailer operation
176
Anti-theft alarm system
177
The trailer can be hitched to the ball head of the towing device.
Attaching and detaching trailersFig. 197
Swivel out the 13-pin power
socket, safety eyelet
Connect and disconnect
›
Fit the ball rod.
›
Grip the 13-pin socket at point
A
and swing out in the direction of the arrow
» Fig. 197 .
›
Lift off protective cap
5
» Fig. 185 on page 167 .
›
Place the trailer onto the ball head.
›
Plug the trailer cable into 13-pin socket
A
» Fig. 197 .
If the trailer that is to be towed has a 7-pin connector, you can use a suitable
adapter from ŠKODA Original Accessories.
›
Hook the breakaway cable of the trailer to the security eyelet
B
.
The breakaway cable of the trailer must sag in all trailer positions relative to
the vehicle (sharp curves, reversing and the like).
Uncoupling takes place in reverse order. 
172Driving

Exterior mirrors
You should have additional exterior mirrors fitted if you are not able to see the
traffic behind the trailer with the standard rear-view mirrors.
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 68, Operating
the lights 1)
.
Power to the trailer power grid
For the electrical connection between the vehicle and trailer, the trailer's pow-
er supply is provided by the vehicle.
The power supply works with ignition on or off.
With the ignition off, the battery of the towing vehicle is discharged by activa-
ted consumers.
At low charge state of the vehicle battery power to the trailer is interrupted.WARNING■ Improperly connected trailer electrical installations may cause accidents
or 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.
WARNING (Continued)■ After attaching the trailer and connecting the power socket, check that
the rear lights on the trailer are working correctly.■
Never use the safety eye to tow a vehicle!
CAUTION
Improperly connected trailer electrical installations may cause malfunction of
the entire vehicle electronics.
Note
■ The total power consumption of all the connected consumers on the trailer
must not exceed 350 watts.■
Coat the ball head of the towing device with a suitable grease whenever
necessary.
Loading a trailer
Distribution of the cargo
Distribute the cargo in the trailer in such a way that heavy items are located as
close to the trailer 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. Drive at a particularly low speed if you cannot avoid driving
with this combination.
Tyre pressure
Correct the tyre inflation pressure on the vehicle for a “full load” » page 205.
WARNINGSliding cargo can significantly adversely affect stability and driving safety -
risk of accident!
Trailer load
The permissible trailer load must not be exceeded under any circumstances. 1)
Applies to vehicles with xenon headlights.
173Hitch and trailer

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.WARNINGAlways drive particularly carefully with the trailer.
CAUTION
If 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 58 .
Conditions for including a trailer in the anti-theft alarm system. The vehicle is factory-fitted with an anti-theft alarm system and a towing
device.
The trailer is electrically connected to the towing vehicle by means of the
trailer socket.
The electrical system of the vehicle and trailer is functional.
The vehicle is locked 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.177Hitch and trailer

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 underfloor 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 181 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
Before driving through a car wash fold in the exterior mirrors - there is a risk of
damage.
Washing with a high-pressure cleaner
Read and observe
and on page 181 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.
CAUTION
■ The films should not be washed with any high-pressure cleaners - there is a
risk of damage » page 183.■
Do not aim the water jet directly at the lock cylinders or the door or opening
joints when washing the vehicle in the winter – there is a risk of freezing.
■
The sensors of the parking aid can be sprayed only for a short time and there
must be a minimum distance of 10 cm - there is a risk of damage.
Cleaning vehicle exterior
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Vehicle paint work
183
Films
183
Plastic parts
184
Rubber seals
184
Chrome and anodized parts
184
Windows and external mirrors
184
Headlight glasses
185
Camera lens
185
Door closing cylinder
185
Cavity protection
185
Jack
185
Wheels
185
Towing hitch and mounting recess
186
Under-body protection
186
Wiper blades
186
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. 
182General Maintenance

Regularly remove salt and brake abrasion, otherwise the rim material will be
corroded.
Light alloy wheels
After washing thoroughly and treat the wheel rims with a protective product
for light alloy wheels.
For the treatment of wheel rims do not use products which may cause damage
to the paint on the rims.
CAUTION
■ Damage to the paint layer on the wheel rims must be touched up immediate-
ly.■
Severe layers of dirt on the wheels can also result in wheel imbalance. This
may show itself in the form of a wheel vibration which is transmitted to the
steering wheel which, in certain circumstances, can cause premature wear of
the steering. This means it is necessary to remove the dirt.
Towing hitch and mounting recess
Read and observe
and on page 183 first.
Seal the mounting recess with the cap to prevent any ingress of dirt.
In the event of dirt, clean the interior surfaces of the mounting recess and
treat with a suitable preservative.
Always check the ball head before attaching a trailer. Apply suitable grease
where necessary.
Include the protective cap when stowing away the ball rod to protect the boot
from getting contaminated.
CAUTION
Apply grease to the inner part of the mounting recess. Make sure you do not
remove any grease.
Under-body protection
Read and observe
and on page 183 first.
The underside of your vehicle is already permanently protected by the factory
against chemical and mechanical influences.
It is not possible to guarantee that the protective coating will not suffer any
damage as the vehicle is driven.
We recommend having the protective coating underneath the vehicle and the
chassis checked — preferably before the beginning of winter and at the end of winter.WARNINGNever use additional underbody protection or anti-corrosion agents for ex-
haust pipes, catalytic converters, diesel particle filters or heat shields.
When the engine reaches its operating temperature, these substances
might ignite - risk of fire!
Wiper blades
Read and observe
and on page 183 first.
Clean the wiper blades regularly with a glass cleaner. The wiper blades should
be cleaned with a sponge or cloth if they are heavily soiled by insect residues,
for example.
The wiper blades can become soiled with wax residues after washing in auto-
matic vehicle wash systems for example.
Interior care
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Natural leather
187
Artificial leather, materials and Alcantara ®
187
Seat covers
188
Safety belts
188
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. 
186General Maintenance