WARNING (Continued)■Firmly apply the handbrake.■For vehicles with manual transmission the lever into the neutral position.
For vehicles with automatic transmission , place the selector lever in the P
position.■
Allow the engine to cool.
■
Never open the bonnet if you can see steam or coolant flowing out of the
engine compartment – There is a risk of scalding! Wait until the steam or
coolant has stopped escaping.
WARNINGInformation for working in the engine room■Keep everyone away from the engine compartment.■
Do not touch any hot engine parts – risk of burns!
■
Never touch the radiator fan. The radiator fan may still turn suddenly
about 10 minutes after switching off the ignition!
■
Do not smoke in the vicinity of the engine and avoid the use of open
flames or sparks.
■
Do not leave any items (e.g. cloths or tools) in the engine compartment.
This presents a fire hazard and the risk of engine damage.
■
Read and observe the information and warning instructions on the fluid
containers.
WARNINGInformation for working in the engine compartment with the engine run-
ning■
If it is necessary to work on the engine with the engine running, beware
of rotating engine parts and electrical plants - There is a risk to life!
■
Never touch the electric wiring on the ignition system.
■
Avoid short circuits in the electrical system, particularly on the vehicle's
battery.
CAUTION
Only refill using fluids with the proper specification - There is a risk of damage
to the vehicle!
Note
■ Fluids with the proper specifications can be purchased from the ŠKODA Origi-
nal Accessories or from the ŠKODA Genuine Parts ranges.■
We recommend you have the operating fluids replaced by a specialist garage.
Opening and closing the bonnetFig. 158
Opening the bonnet
Read and observe
and on page 142 first.
Open flap
›
Ensure that the windscreen wipers are not raised away from the windscreen
-There is a risk of damage to the bonnet.
›
Open the front door and pull the release lever below the dash panel in the
direction of arrow
1
» Fig. 158 .
›
Press the release lever in the direction of the arrow
2
and the bonnet is un-
locked.
›
Raise the bonnet in the direction of the arrow
3
.
›
Remove the lid prop in the direction of arrow
4
from the holder.
›
Secure the open flap inserting the end of the post into the opening in the di-
rection of arrow
5
.
Close the flap
›
Lift the bonnet.
›
Decouple the bonnet support and press into the holder designed to hold it.
›
Drop down the bonnet lid from a height of about 20 cm applying light pres-
sure until it clicks safely into place.
WARNING■ Never drive with the bonnet lid not properly closed - There is a risk of ac-
cident!■
Make sure that when closing the bonnet, no body parts are crushed -
there is danger of injury!
143Inspecting and replenishing
CAUTION■The oil level must never be below range A » Fig. 161 – risk of damage to the
engine as well as to the exhaust system.■
If a top up with oil is not possible or the oil level is above range
A
,
Stop
driving! Switch off the engine and seek assistance from a specialist garage.
Note
Too low engine oil level is shown in the instrument cluster by the warning
light illuminating and also indicated by the message » page 33. Nevertheless,
we recommend checking the oil level on a regular basis using the dipstick.
Coolant
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Checking and refilling
146
The coolant helps to keep the engine temperature down, and consists of wa- ter and coolant additive (with additives that protect the cooling system against
corrosion and prevent furring).
The proportion of coolant additive in the coolant must be 40 to 60 %.
The correct mix of water and coolant additive should be checked and if neces-
sary corrected by a specialist garage.
WARNING■ The following instructions must be followed at all times when working on
the engine compartment » page 142.■
Never open the end cover of the coolant expansion reservoir while the
engine is still warm. The cooling system is pressurised -There is a risk of
scalding or injury from splashes of coolant!
■
To protect against the coolant splashing, cover the cap with a cloth when
opening.
■
Coolant and coolant fumes are harmful - avoid contact with the coolant. If
the coolant comes into contact with the eye or skin, wash the affected area
with plenty of water for several minutes, and where appropriate seek medi-
cal help.
CAUTIONDo not cover the radiator and install any parts (e.g auxiliary lights.) in front of
the air intakes - There is a risk of the engine overheating.
Checking and refilling
Fig. 162
Coolant expansion reservoir
Read and observe and on page 146 first.
Check and refill coolant under the following conditions.
The vehicle is on a horizontal surface.
The engine is not warm (if the engine is warm the result of the check may
be wrong).
The engine is turned off.
Check the coolant level - the coolant level must lie between the marks
A
and
B
» Fig. 162. If the coolant level is below the mark
B
, top up with coolant.
Refilling
The reservoir must always contain a small amount of coolant »
.
›
Place a cloth over the cap of the coolant expansion tank and unscrew the
cap carefully .
›
Always top up using coolant of the correct specification.
›
Turn the cap until it clicks into place.
The specification for the coolant is shown in the coolant expansion reservoir
» Fig. 162 .
If the specified coolant is not available, then refilling only with distilled or dem-
ineralised water, and get a specialist garage to correct the water-coolant addi-
tive mix as soon as possible.
146General Maintenance