Check and refillFig. 139
Dipstick
Read and observe and on page 123 first.
Check and refill oil under the following conditions.The vehicle is standing on a horizontal surface.
The engine operating temperature is reached.
The engine is turned off.
Checking the level
›
Wait a few minutes until the engine oil flows back into the oil trough.
›
Pull the dipstick out and wipe with a clean cloth.
›
Push the dipstick back to the stop and then pull it out again.
›
Read the oil level and push the dipstick back in.
The oil level must lie in range
A
» Fig. 139 . If the oil level is below range
A
, oil
must be added.
Refilling
›
Unscrew the cap of the engine oil filler opening
D
» Fig. 137 on page 122 .
›
Add oil of the correct specification in portions of 0.5 litres
» page 123.
›
Check the oil level.
›
Screw the lid of the engine oil filler closed carefully.
CAUTION
■
The oil level must never be below range A » Fig. 139 – 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
,
do not
continue driving! Switch off the engine and seek assistance from a specialist
garage.
NoteIf the engine oil level is too low, a warning light lights up in the instrument
cluster » 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
125
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 120.■
Never open the end cover of the coolant expansion reservoir while the
engine is still warm. The cooling system is pressurised - 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.
CAUTION
Do not cover the radiator and install any parts (e.g auxiliary lights.) in front of
the air intakes - risk of the engine overheating.124General Maintenance
Checking and refillingFig. 140
Coolant expansion reservoir
Read and observe and on page 124 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. 140. 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. 140 .
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.
CAUTION■ If the expansion tank is empty, do not top up with coolant. The system could
aerate - risk of engine damage! Stop driving! Switch off the engine and seek
assistance from a specialist garage.■
Do not fill the coolant above the mark
A
» Fig. 140 . The coolant could, when
heated, be expelled from the cooling system - risk of damage to the engine
parts.
■
If it is not possible to add coolant,
do not continue driving! Switch off the
engine and seek assistance from a specialist garage.
■
A coolant additive which does not correspond to the correct specification can
reduce the anti-corrosion effect of the cooling system - risk of damage to the
cooling system and the engine.
■
If non-distilled (non-demineralised) water has been used to top up, the cool-
ant should be replaced by a specialist garage - risk of engine damage.
■
A loss of coolant indicates leaks in the cooling system - risk of engine dam-
age. Top up with coolant and then seek assistance from a specialist garage.
Note
If the coolant level is too low, a warning light lights up in the instrument clus-
ter » page 33 . We still recommend inspecting the coolant level directly at the
reservoir from time to time.
Brake fluid
Fig. 141
Brake fluid reservoir
Check the brake fluid under the following conditions.
The vehicle is on a horizontal surface.
The engine is turned off.
Check brake fluid level - The brake fluid level must lie between the markings
“MIN” and “MAX” » Fig. 141.
125Inspecting and replenishing
Specification - The brake fluid must comply with the standard VW 501 14 (this
standard meets the requirements of FMVSS 116 DOT4).WARNING■ The following instructions must be followed at all times when working on
the engine compartment » page 120.■
If the fluid level drops significantly within a short time or if it drops below
the “MIN” » Fig. 141mark, this may be an indication of a leak in the brake
system.
Stop driving - There is a risk of an accident! Seek help from a
specialist garage.
Note
■ The brake fluid is changed as part of a compulsory inspection service.■A low brake fluid level is indicated by the warning light in the instrument
cluster » page 32 ,
Braking system . We still recommend inspecting the brake
fluid level in the reservoir from time to time.
Vehicle battery
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Checking the battery condition
127
Charging
127
Disconnect/reconnect and change
127
The vehicle battery represents a power source for the motor to start and for
the supply of electrical consumers in the car.
Automatic shutdown of consumers - vehicle battery discharge protection
The on-board power supply system tries to prevent the vehicle battery from
discharging in the following ways when it is subject to heavy loading. ▶ By increasing the engine idle speed.
▶ Through the power limitation of certain consumers.
▶ By switching off some consumers (heated seats, heated rear window) for as
long as necessary.
Warning symbols on the vehicle batterySymbolImportanceAlways wear eye protection.Battery acid is severely caustic. Always wear gloves and eye pro-
tection.Keep fire, sparks, open flames and lit cigarettes well clear of the
vehicle battery.When charging the vehicle battery, a highly explosive gas mixture
is produced.Keep children away from the vehicle battery.WARNINGBattery acid is highly corrosive - it can cause injury, chemical burns or poi-
soning! Corrosive vapours in the air irritate and damage the respiratory
tract and the eyes. The following guidelines must be observed.■
Always wear protective gloves, eye and skin protection when handling
the vehicle battery.
■
If your eyes or skin come into contact with the electrolytic fluid, immedi-
ately wash the affected area for a few minutes with a lot of water. Get
medical assistance without delay.
■
Keep the vehicle battery away from people who are not completely inde-
pendent (e.g. children).
■
Do not tilt the battery otherwise battery electrolyte may flow out of the
battery vent openings.
WARNINGWorking on the car battery may cause explosion, fire, injury or chemical
burn! The following guidelines must be observed.■
Do not smoke, use open flames or light or transmitting devices.
■
A discharged vehicle battery may freeze slightly. Never charge up a fro-
zen or thawed vehicle battery. Replace a frozen vehicle battery.
■
Never use a damaged vehicle battery.
■
Do not connect the battery terminals, bridging the two poles will cause a
short circuit.
126General Maintenance
CAUTIONEnsure that battery acid does not come into contact with the bodywork – risk
of damage to the paintwork.
Note
■ We recommend having all work on the vehicle battery carried out by a spe-
cialist garage.■
You should replace batteries older than 5 years.
Checking the battery condition
Fig. 142
Vehicle battery: Electrolyte level
indicator
Read and observe and on page 126 first.
The battery condition is checked regularly by a specialist garage as part of the inspection service.
Check the acid level
For car batteries with acid level indicator, acidity can be checked on the basis
of a colour display. In vehicle batteries with the label “AGM” there is no acid
level examination.
Air bubbles can influence the colour of the indicator. For this reason carefully
tap on the indicator before carrying out the check » Fig. 142.
Black colour – electrolyte level is correct.
Colourless or light yellow colour – electrolyte level too low, the battery must
be replaced.
Battery discharge
If frequent short journeys are made, the vehicle battery does not recharge suf-
ficiently.
The battery capacity decreases at low temperatures.
If the vehicle is not used for longer than 3 to 4 weeks, then disconnect the
negative terminal of the battery or charge the battery constantly with a very
low charging current.
Charging
Read and observe
and on page 126 first.
Only charge the battery when the ignition and all consumers are switched off.Refer to the instructions of the charger manufacturer.
Charging
›
For vehicles withthe START-STOPsystem or auxiliary heater
, connect the -
terminal of the charger on the battery’s -pole,
the -terminal of the charg-
er to the ground point of the engine » page 140.
›
For vehicles
without the START-STOPsystem or auxiliary heating, connect
the charger terminals to the corresponding battery poles ( to
,
to
).
›
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.
›
Disconnect the terminals of the charger from the vehicle battery.
A charging current of 0.1 multiple of the total vehicle battery capacity (or low-
er) must be used until full charging is achieved.
WARNING■ When charging the vehicle battery, hydrogen is released - risk of explo-
sion. An explosion can be caused through sparking while unclamping or
loosening the cable plug.■
So-called“quick-charging” of the vehicle battery is dangerous and re-
quires a special charger and specialist knowledge. Therefore, “Quick load-
ing” must be carried out by a specialist garage.
Disconnect/reconnect and change
Read and observe
and on page 126 first.
The new vehicle battery must have the same capacity, voltage, current and
size as the original battery.
We recommend you have the battery replaced by a specialist garage.
127Inspecting and replenishing
Fitting new tyres
Only fit approved radial tyres of the same type, size (rolling circumference) and
the same tread pattern on one axle on all four wheels.
When mounting new tires the tires have to be replaced axle by axle.
Unidirectional tyres
The direction of rotation of the tyres is marked by arrows on the wall of the
tyre .
The specified running direction must be strictly adhered to, otherwise the fol-
lowing tyre characteristics may be degraded. ▶ Driving stability.
▶ Traction.
▶ Tyre noise and tyre wear.WARNING■ Never use tyres if you do not know anything about their condition and
age - risk of accidents.■
Never drive with damaged tyres – risk of accident.
CAUTION
■ The tyres must be protected from contact with substances (e.g. oil, grease
and fuel) which could damage them. If the tyres come into contact with these
substances, then we recommend you have this checked out in a specialist
workshop.■
Do not use rims with ground or polished surfaces in winter conditions - there
is a risk of rim damage (e.g through salt spreading).
Note
■ We recommend that any work on the wheels or tyres be carried out by a spe-
cialist garage.■
We recommend that you use tyres, snow chains and full wheel trims from
ŠKODA Original Accessories.
Tyre pressureFig. 143
An example on the position of the sticker / tyre inflation
The specified tyre pressures are shown on label
A
» Fig. 143 .
The sticker can be located at the following locations.
▶ B-pillar on the driver's side.
▶ Inside of the fuel filler flap.
Tyre pressure is always to match the load .
Inflation pressure for cold tyres
Inflation pressure for half load
Inflation pressure for increased driving comfort at half load (slightly in-
creased fuel consumption and emissions)
Inflation pressure for full load
Tyre pressure value on the front axle
Tyre pressure value on the rear axle
The approved tyre sizes for your vehicle are listed in the vehicle's technical
documentation and in the declaration of conformity (the so-called COC docu-
ment).
Check tyre pressures
Check the tyre pressure (including that of the emergency or spare wheel) at
least once a month and also before setting off on a long journey.
Always check the inflation pressure when the tyres are cold. Do not reduce the
higher pressure on warm tyres.
In vehicles with tyre pressure monitoring, tyre pressure values must be saved
each time the pressures are changed » page 109.
BCDEFG129Wheels
Wheel wrench
Extraction pliers for the wheel bolt caps
Breakdown kitWARNING■ The factory-supplied lifting jack is only intended for your model of vehicle.
Under no circumstances attempt to lift other vehicles or loads with it –
there is a risk of injury.■
Always stow the tool safely in the box and make sure that it is attached
with the belt to the spare wheel - otherwise it could cause injury to the oc-
cupants if breaking suddenly or colliding with another vehicle.
CAUTION
Screw the jack back to its starting position prior to putting it back in its box -
risk of damage to the box.
Note
The declaration of conformity is included with the jack or the log folder.
Changing a wheel
Preliminary work
For safety's sake, the following instructions must be observed before
changing a wheel on the road.
›
As far as possible park the vehicle as far as possible away from the traffic
flow - choose a place with a flat and firm surface.
›
Switch off the engine.
›
For vehicles with manual transmission select 1st gear .
›
For vehicles with
automated transmission shift the lever to position D or R.
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
Switch on the hazard warning lights and set up the warning triangle at the
prescribed distance.
›
Have all the occupants get out . The passengers should not stand on the
road while the wheel is being changed (they should remain behind a crash
barrier, for instance).
Changing a wheel
›
Take out the emergency or spare wheel » page 135.
›
Remove the full wheel trim » page 135 or caps » page 135 .
678›Loosen the wheel bolts
» page 136 » .›Jack up the vehicle until the wheel that needs changing, is clear of the
ground » page 136 .›
Unscrew the wheel bolts and place them on a clean surface (cloth, paper,
etc.).
›
Remove the wheel carefully.
›
Attach the spare wheel and slightly screw on the wheel bolts.
›
Lower the vehicle.
›
Tighten the wheel bolts opposite each other using the wheel wrench (“pull- ing crossways”) » page 136.
›
Replace the wheel trim » page 135 and caps » page 135 .
When fitting unidirectional tyres, ensure that the direction of rotation is cor-
rect » page 129 .
All bolts must be clean and must turn easily. If screws are corroded and diffi-
cult to move, these must be replaced.
WARNING■ Undo the wheel bolts just a little (about one turn), provided the vehicle
has not yet been jacked up. Otherwise the wheel could come loose and fall
off – risk of injury.■
Under no circumstances must the bolts be greased or oiled - cause an ac-
cident.
Subsequent steps
After changing the wheel, the following work must be carried out.
›
Stow the replaced wheel in the well under the floor covering of the luggage
compartment and secure it with a nut.
›
Stow the tool kit in the space provided and secure using the band.
›
Check tyre pressure on the mounted wheel and adjust if necessary and, with
vehicles with tyre pressure monitoring, save the tyre pressure values in the
system » page 109 .
›
Have the tightening torque of the wheel bolts checked as soon as possible.
The prescribed tightening torque is 110 Nm.
Replace the damaged wheel or consult a specialist garage about repair op-
tions.
134Do-it-yourself
Description of the breakdown kitFig. 154
Description of the breakdown kit
Read and observe
on page 137 first.
The kit is located in a box under the floor covering in the luggage compart-
ment.
Sticker with speed designation “max. 80 km/h”/“max. 50 mph”Valve remover
Inflation hose with plug
12 volt cable connector
Tyre inflation pressure indicator
Screw for tyre pressure reduction
Air compressor (the layout of the controls may be different depending on
the type of air compressor delivered with the vehicle)
Tyre inflation hose
ON and OFF switch
Tyre inflator bottle with sealing agent
Replacement valve core
Note
The declaration of conformity is included with the air compressor or the log
folder.1234567891011Preparing to use the breakdown kit
Read and observe
on page 137 first.
For safety's sake, the following instructions must be observed before
undertaking a wheel repair on a road.
›
Park the vehicle as far as possible away from the traffic flow - choose a place
with a flat and firm surface.
›
Switch off the engine.
›
For vehicles with manual transmission select 1st gear .
›
For vehicles with automated transmission shift the lever to position D or R.
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
Switch on the hazard warning lights and set up the warning triangle at the
prescribed distance.
›
Have all the occupants get out . While the repair is being carried out, the pas-
sengers should not stand on the road (instead they should remain behind a
crash barrier, for instance).
Sealing and inflating tyres
Read and observe
on page 137 first.
Sealing
›
Unscrew the valve cap from the damaged tyre.
›
Insert the valve remover
2
» Fig. 154 on page 138 on the valve insert, so that
the valve insert fits into the slot of the valve remover.
›
Unscrew the valve insert and place it on a clean base (rag, paper etc.).
›
Forcefully shake bottle
10
» Fig. 154 on page 138 several times.
›
Firmly screw the inflation hose
3
onto the tyre inflater bottle
10
. The film
on the bottle cap is pierced.
›
Remove the plug from the inflation hose
3
and insert the bottle onto the
tyre valve.
›
Hold the bottle
10
with the bottom facing upwards and fill all of the sealing
agent from the tyre inflator bottle into the tyre.
›
Remove the filler plug from the tyre valve.
›
Screw in the valve insert with the valve remover
2
.
Inflating
›
Screw the tyre inflation hose
8
» Fig. 154 on page 138 firmly onto the tyre
valve.
›
For vehicles with manual transmission set the gearshift lever to the neutral
position.
138Do-it-yourself
The maximum towing speed is 50 km/h.
The vehicle must be transported on a special breakdown vehicle or trailer
if it is not possible to tow in the vehicle in the way described or if the tow-
ing distance is greater than 50 km.
Driver of the towed vehicle›
If possible, the vehicle should be towed with the engine running. The brake
booster and power steering only operate if the engine is running, otherwise
much greater force has to be applied to the brake pedal and more power has
to be expended for steering.
›
If it is not possible to start the engine, switch on the ignition so that the
steering wheel does not lock and so that the turn signal lights, windscreen
wipers and windscreen washer system can be used.
›
Take the vehicle out of gear or move the selector lever into position N if the
vehicle is fitted with an automated transmission.
›
Keep the tow rope taut at all times during the towing procedure.
WARNING■ Spiral tow ropes must not be used for towing » Fig. 156- , the towing
eye may unscrew out of the vehicle - risk of accident.■
Ensure tow rope is not twisted - risk of accident.
CAUTION
■ Do not tow-start the engine – risk of damaging the engine! The battery from
another vehicle can be used as a jump-start aid » page 139, Jump-starting .■
For off-road towing manoeuvres, there is a risk to both vehicles that the fas-
teners may become overloaded and damaged.
Note
We recommend that you use a tow rope from ŠKODA Original Accessories.Front towing eyeFig. 157
Remove cap / install towing eye
Cap removal/fitting
›
To remove , press down on the cap in the direction of arrow
1
and remove it
in the direction of arrow
2
» Fig. 157 .
›
To fit it, insert the cap in arrow range
1
and then press on the opposite
edge of the cap. The cap must engage firmly.
Removing/fitting the towing eye
›
To fit, screw in the towing eye by hand in the direction of the arrow
3
» Fig. 157 until it clicks into place » .
For tightening purposes, we recommend, for example, using the wheel
wrench, towing eye from another vehicle or a similar object that can be pushed
through the eye.
›
To remove it, unscrew the towing eye in the opposite direction to arrow
3
.
WARNINGThe towing eye must always be firmly in place, otherwise the towing eye
could break whilst being towed.141Emergency equipment and self-help