check engine light SKODA OCTAVIA 2013 3.G / (5E) User Guide

It recommended to open the windows or the doors of a vehicle for which the inte-rior has been strongly heated through the effect of direct sunlight in order to al-low the heated air to escape.
The cooling system should not be on if the windows are open.
For the sake of the environment
Pollutant emissions are also reduced when fuel is saved » page 131, Economical
driving and environmental sustainability .
Operational problems
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 106.
If the cooling system does not operate at outside temperatures higher than +5 °C,
there is a problem in the system. The reasons for this may be.
› One of the fuses has blown. Check the fuse and replace if necessa-
ry » page 253 .
› The cooling system has switched off automatically for a short time because the
coolant temperature of the engine is too hot » page 13.
If you are not able to resolve the operational problem yourself, or if the cooler output has reduced, switch off the cooling system and seek assistance from a
specialist garage.

Heating
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Control elements
108
Adjusting
109
Recirculated air mode
109
Control elementsFig. 108
Heating: Control elements
First read and observe the introductory information given on page 108.
Functions of the individual controls » Fig. 108 .
Set the temperature (turn to the left to reduce the temperature, turn to the
right to increase the temperature)
Set the blower stage (stage 0: Fan out, stage 6: the highest fan speed)
Set the direction of the air outlet » page 107
Switching the rear window heater on/off » page 64
Open/close the fresh air supply (recirculation) » page 109
WARNINGThe blower should always be on to prevent the windows from misting up.

ABC108Using the system

If the steering is still not unlocked, then the following message is displayed on
the display of the instrument cluster.
Move the steering wheel!
MOVE STEERING WHEEL
Slightly move the steering wheel and the system will make up to 3 more attempts
to unlock after 2 seconds. At the same time, the indicator light  flashes.
If the steering is still not unlocked, to try to eliminate the possible cause and then
repeat the unlocking attempt.
Switching on the ignition
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 121.
›
Press the starter button » Fig. 116 on page 122 briefly.
The ignition is switched on.
Note
The ignition is switched on when indicated by the lighting up of certain indicator
lamps in the instrument cluster.
Starting the engine
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 121.
Vehicles with a diesel engine are equipped with a glow plug system. The glow
plug warning light 
illuminates after the ignition has been switched on. Start
the engine after the warning light 
has gone out.
You should not switch on any major electrical components during the heating pe- riod otherwise the vehicle battery will be drained unnecessarily.
Procedure for starting the engine
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
Move the gearshift lever into neutral or move the selector lever into position P
or N.
›
Depress and hold the clutch pedal (vehicles with a manual gearbox) or brake
pedal (vehicles with an automatic gearbox) until the engine starts.
› Press the starter button
» Fig. 116 on page 122 briefly – the engine starts auto-
matically.›
Release the handbrake.
CAUTION
■ If the engine does not start up after a second attempt, one of the following
fuses may be defective. ■Petrol engine - fuse for the fuel pump.
■ Diesel engine - fuse for the glow plug control unit or fuel pump.■
Check the fuse and replace if necessary » page 251, or seek assistance from a
specialist garage.

Switching off the ignition
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 121.
›
Press the starter button » Fig. 116 on page 122 briefly.
The ignition is switched off.
The ignition can be switched off up to a speed of 2 km/h.
On vehicles fitted with a manual gearbox, the clutch pedal must not be de-
pressed after switching off the ignition, otherwise the system would try to start.
For automatic transmission vehicles, the brake pedal must not be depressed,
otherwise the system will try to start.
If the driver's door is opened while the igition is on, an audible signal sounds andthe following message appears in the instrument cluster display.
Ignition on!
IGNITION STILL ON
When leaving the vehicle always switch off the ignition.

Switching off the engine
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 121.
›
Stop the vehicle.
›
Press the starter button » Fig. 116 on page 122 . 
123Starting-off and Driving

The engine and the ignition are switched off simultaneously.
Emergency start-up of the engine
Fig. 117
Emergency start-up of engine
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings on page 121.
If the authorisation check for the key fails, the following message appears in the instrument cluster display.
Key not found.
NO KEY
The emergency start-up must be completed.
› Press the starter button directly with the key
» Fig. 117.
Or
› Press the starter button and then hold the key to the starter button.
Note
During an emergency start-up of the engine, the key bit must face the starter
button » Fig. 117 .
Emergency ignition shutoff system
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 121.
The ignition can be turned off in an emergency even when travelling at a speed of
more than 2 km / hr.
› Press the starter button
» Fig. 116 on page 122 for longer than 1 second or twice
within 1 second.
After emergency stop of the ignition, the steering is unlocked.

Brakes
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Information on braking
125
Handbrake
125WARNING■ Greater physical effort for braking is required when the engine is switched
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. If you fail to do
so, the functionality of the brake booster can be impaired – risk of accident!
■
Never leave children unattended in the vehicle. The children might, for ex-
ample, release the handbrake or take the vehicle out of gear. The vehicle might then move off – risk of accident!
WARNING■ In the event of damage occurring to the standard fitted front spoiler or the
retrofitting of another front spoiler, wheel hubs etc. » page 200, Service work,
adjustments and technical alterations , It must be ensured that the air supply
to the front brakes is not impaired. The front brakes may overheat which can
have a negative impact on the functioning of the braking system – risk of acci-
dent!
CAUTION
■ Observe the recommendations on the new brake pads » page 131.■Never let the brakes slip with light pressure on the pedal if braking is not neces-
sary. This causes the brakes to overheat and can also result in a longer braking
distance and excessive wear.

124Driving

Information on brakingFirst read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 124.
If the brakes are applied in full and the control unit for the braking system consid-
ers 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 stopped,
the brake light stops flashing and the hazard warning light system switches on.
The hazard warning light system is switched off automatically after accelerating
or driving off again.
Before driving a long distance at a steep incline, reduce speed and shift into the
next lowest gear. As a result, the braking effect of the engine will be used, reduc- ing the load on the brakes. Any additional braking should be completed intermit-tently, not continuously.
Wear-and-tear
The wear of the brake pads is dependent on the operating conditions and driving style.
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.
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 appropriate-ly, 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 16,  Brake system .
Brake booster
The brake booster increases the pressure generated with the brake pedal. The brake booster only operates when the engine is running.
Handbrake
Fig. 118
Handbrake
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings on page 124.
Apply
›
Pull the handbrake lever firmly upwards.
Release
›
Pull the handbrake lever up slightly and at the same time push in the lock but-
ton » Fig. 118 .
›
Move the lever right down while pressing the lock button.
The handbrake warning light 
lights up when the handbrake is applied, provided
the ignition is on.
A warning signal sounds if the vehicle is inadvertently driven off with the hand-
brake applied.
The following message is shown in the information cluster display. Release the parking brake!
PARKING BRAKE ON PLEASE RELEASE
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. 
125Starting-off and Driving

New brake padsFirst read and observe the introductory information given on page 130.
New brake pads initially do not provide optimal braking performance. They firstneed to be “run in”. Drive especially carefully for the first 200 km or so.

Economical driving and environmental sustainability
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Looking ahead
131
Economical gear changing
132
Avoiding full throttle
132
Reducing idling
132
Avoiding short distances
133
Convenience consumers
133
Checking tyre inflation pressure
133
Avoiding unnecessary ballast
134
Regular maintenance
134
Saving electrical energy
134
Environmental compatibility
134
The technical requirements for low fuel usage and economic efficiency of the ve-
hicle have already been built into the vehicle at the works. ŠKODA places a partic-
ular emphasis on minimising negative effects on the environment.
It is necessary to take note of the guidelines given in this chapter in order tomake best use of these characteristics and to maintain their effectiveness.
Fuel consumption, environmental pollution and the wear to the engine, brakes
and tyres depend essentially on the following three factors:
› your personal style of driving.
› the conditions under which your vehicle is use,
› technical requirements.
The fuel economy by can be improved by 10 -15 % by always looking ahead and
driving in an economical way.
Fuel consumption is also be influenced by external factors which are beyond the
driver's control. Consumption increases during the winter or under difficult condi-
tions, on poor roads, etc.
Fuel consumption can vary considerably from the manufacturer's data, as a result
of outside temperatures, the weather and driving style.
The optimal engine speed should be obtained when accelerating, in order to
avoid a high fuel consumption and resonance of the vehicle.
CAUTION
All the speed and engine revolution figures apply only when the engine is at its
normal operating temperature.
Looking ahead
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings
on page 131.
A vehicle's highest fuel consumption occurs when accelerating, therefore unnec-
essary accelerating and braking should be avoided. If looking ahead when driving, less braking and consequently less accelerating are required.
If possible, let your vehicle coast to a stop, or use the engine brake, if you can see that the next set of traffic lights is on red, for example.

131Starting-off and Driving

If an engine is only idling it takes much longer for it to reach its normal operating
temperature. Wear-and-tear and pollutant emissions, though, are particularly
high in the warming-up phase. Therefore, start driving as soon as the engine has
started. though high engine speeds should be avoided.
Avoiding short distances
Fig. 125
Principle sketch: Fuel consump-
tion in l/100 km at different tem-
peratures
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 131.
Short distances result in an above-average high fuel consumption. We therefore recommend avoiding distances of less than 4 km if the engine is cold.
A cold engine consumes the most fuel immediately after the start. Fuel consump-tion drops to 10 litres/100 km after just 1 kilometre. The consumption stabilises
once the engine and catalytic converter have reached their operating tempera-
ture.
An important factor in this connection is also the ambient temperature. The im-
age » Fig. 125 shows the different levels of fuel consumption after driving a cer-
tain distance at a temperature of +20 °C and at a temperature of -10 °C.
The vehicle has a higher fuel consumption in winter than in summer.

Convenience consumers
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 131.
The convenience consumers have a share in fuel consumption.
We recommend you keep these consumers on only for as long as necessary. The convenience consumers include:
› The air conditioning system;
› Rear window heater;
› Windscreen heater;
› Heating of the external mirror;
› Rear fog light;
› Fog lights;
› Heated front seats;
› Auxiliary heating (parking heating).
Information about convenience consumers and the amount of fuel con- sumed » operating instructions for Infotainment , chapter Vehicle settings (CAR
button) .
Up to three convenience consumers are displayed in the Infotainment display-
the top 3 in terms of energy consumption 1)
.

Checking tyre inflation pressure
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-ings
on page 131.
Tyres which are correctly inflated save fuel.
Always ensure the tyre inflation pressure is correct. If the inflation pressure is too
low, the tyres must overcome a higher rolling resistance. This will not only in-
crease fuel consumption but also tyre wear and the driving behaviour will worsen.
Always check the tyre inflation pressure when the tyres are cold.


1)
The exterior mirror heater will only be shown in the infotainment display when outside temperatures
are below about 20 ° C.
133Starting-off and Driving

›Never stop in the water, do not reverse and do not switch the engine off.›Deactivate the START-STOP system before driving through water
» page 158.WARNING■
Driving through water, mud, sludge etc. can reduce the braking power and
extend the braking distance – risk of accident!■
Avoid abrupt and sudden braking immediately after water crossings.
■
After driving through bodies of water, the brakes must be cleaned and dried
as soon as possible by intermittent braking. Only apply the brakes for the pur-
pose of drying and cleaning the brake discs if the traffic conditions permit this.
Do not place any other road users in jeopardy.
CAUTION
■ When driving through bodies of water, some parts of the vehicle such as the
engine, gearbox, chassis or electrics can be severely damaged.■
Oncoming vehicles can generate water waves which can exceed the permissible
water level for your vehicle.
■
Potholes, mud or rocks can be hidden under the water making it difficult or im-
possible to drive through the body of water.
■
Do not drive through salt water. The salt can lead to corrosion. Any vehicle parts
that have come into contact with salt water must be rinsed immediately with
fresh water.
Note
After driving through water, we recommend having the vehicle checked by a spe-
cialist garage.
Driving abroad
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Unleaded petrol
136
Headlights
136In certain countries it is also possible that the ŠKODA Partner network is limited
or has not been established yet. This is the reason why procuring certain spare
parts may be somewhat complicated and specialist garages may only be able to
make limited repairs.
Unleaded petrol
First read and observe the introductory information given on page 136.
A vehicle fitted with a petrol engine must always be refuelled with unleaded pet-rol » page 213 . Information regarding the locations of filling stations that offer
unleaded petrol is, for example, provided by the automobile associations.

Headlights
First read and observe the introductory information given on page 136.
The low beam of your headlights is set asymmetrically. It illuminates the side ofthe road on which the vehicle is being driven to a greater extent.
When driving in countries in which the traffic drives on the other side of the roadthan in your home country, the asymmetrical low beam may dazzle oncoming
drivers. In order to avoid this, the headlights must be adjusted at a specialist ga-
rage.
You can adjust the Xenon headlights yourself by setting the "tourist light" mode
in Infotainment » Operating instructions for Infotainment , chapter Vehicle set-
tings (button CAR) .
Note
You can find out more information on adjusting the headlights at a specialist ga-
rage.
136Driving

The sensor function may be impaired in the events of one of the following.
› The sensor is covered by mud, snow or debris, for example.
› The sensor or its immediate surroundings are covered by other objects, for ex-
ample, a sticker is attached.
› When visibility is poor, (e.g. fog, heavy rain, thick snowfall).
If the sensor is dirty or does not have “visibility” for any other reason, the follow-
ing message appears in the instrument cluster display.
Front Assist: no sensor view.
Stop the car, switch off the engine and clean the sensor or eliminate the obstacle
causing the lack of“visibility”. Should Front Assist still be unavailable after the en-
gine is restarted, consult a specialist garage for help.WARNING■ If you suspect that the sensor is damaged, deactivate Front Assist. Have the
sensor checked by a specialist garage.■
The sensor can become misaligned by collisions or by damage to the front of
the vehicle, the wheel arch or the underside of the vehicle. This can lead to
impaired function of the Front Assist function - risk of accidents! If this is the
case, have the sensor checked by a specialist garage.
■
Any improperly carried out work to the front of the vehicle may cause the
sensor to become misaligned. We therefore recommend only having these
modifications and technical alterations carried out by a specialist garage. Please also observed the instructions in » page 200, Service work, adjust-
ments and technical alterations .
■
The area in front of and around the sensor must not be covered with stick-
ers, additional lights or similar items. This can lead to impaired function of the
sensor - risk of accidents!
WARNINGThe sensor may not be able to distinguish all objects correctly under certain
circumstances. You should therefore not use Front Assist in the following ca-
ses - risk of accidents!■
When driving through places where metal objects (such as metal buildings,
railroad tracks, etc.) can be found.
■
When driving through very divided and enclosed spaces (such as large-ca-
pacity garages, car ferries and the like.)
CAUTIONRemove the snow with a brush and the ice with a solvent-free de-icer.
Operation
Fig. 142
Instrument cluster display: Note
(dangerous proximity) / advance
warning or intervention of the
city emergency braking function
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 154.
Front Assist assists the driver while driving in the following ways:
› Alerts you about a dangerous proximity to the vehicle ahead.
› Warns you of an impending collision.
› Prepares the brakes for emergency braking prior to a detected danger.
› Assists with a brake action triggered by the driver.
› If the driver fails to respond to a detected danger, an automatic brake action is
performed.
Front Assist can work only if the following basic conditions are met. Front Assist is enabled.
TCS is enabled » page 137, Brake assist systems .
The vehicle is traveling forwards at a speed of more than approx. 5 km/h.
proximity warning (dangerous proximity)
If a safe time interval to the vehicle ahead is exceeded, the display of the instru- ment cluster shows the symbol » Fig. 142 - 
.
Immediately increase the proximity if the current traffic situation allows you to do so!
The proximity at which the warning is displayed depends on the current speed.
The warning may occur when driving between about 60 km/h and 210 km/h. 
156Driving

Note■If the driver's seat belt is removed for more than approx. 30 seconds or the driv-
er's door is opened during stop mode on vehicles with manual transmission or au- tomatic transmission (when the selector lever in position P), the engine must be
started manually » page 121.■
After manually starting the engine on vehicles with manual transmission, auto-
matic engine shut down is not possible until the vehicle has travelled the re-
quired minimum distance for START-STOPP mode.
■
If on vehicles with automatic transmission, the selector lever D/S or N is selec-
ted after moving in reverse, the vehicle will first need to achieve a speed greater
than 10 km/h before automatic engine shut down takes place again.
■
Changes to the outdoor temperature can have an effect on the internal temper-
ature of the vehicle battery even after several hours. If the vehicle remains out-
doors for a long time in minus temperatures or in direct sunlight, it can take sev-
eral hours until the internal temperature of the vehicle battery reaches a suitable
temperature for proper operation of the START STOP system.
■
If the Climatronic is running in automatic mode, it is possible that under certain
conditions the engine may not switch off automatically.

Starting/shutting down the engine
Fig. 143
Instrument cluster display: En-
gine shut down (STOP phase)
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn- ings on page 158.
Vehicles with manual transmission
›
Stop the vehicle (where necessary, apply the handbrake).
›
Put the gear stick into Neutral.
›
Release the clutch pedal.
Automatic engine shut down (STOP phase) takes place. A check warning icon ap-
pears in the display  » Fig. 143 .›
Depress the clutch pedal.
The automatic start procedure takes place again (START phase). The warning icon
goes out.
Vehicles with automatic transmission
›
Bring the vehicle to a stop and depress the brake pedal.
Automatic engine shut down takes place. A check warning icon appears in the display  » Fig. 143 .
›
Release the brake pedal.
The automatic start procedure takes place again. The warning icon goes out.
Further information on automatic transmissionEngine shut down takes place when the selector lever is in positions P, D/S , N
and in Tiptronic mode.
When the selector lever is in position P the engine remains shut down after you
release the brake pedal. Start the engine by pressing the gas pedal or by moving
the selector lever into a different mode and releasing the brake pedal.
If the selector lever is moved into position R during the STOP phase , the engine
will re-start.
There is no automatic engine shutdown if the system detects a vehicle move-
ment due to a large steering angle, or when the selector lever is moved to posi-
tion R (e.g. when parking).
No automatic engine shutdown takes place when the vehicle is moving at low speed (e.g. during a traffic jam or when tuning) and remains stationary after
pressing the brake pedal lightly. Automatic engine shutdown takes place if you press the brake pedal down with more force.

159Assist systems

Operating conditions of the systemFig. 144
Instrument cluster display: En-
gine shut down is not currently
available
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 158.
The START-STOP system is very complex. Some of the procedures are hard to
check without servicing.
No engine shut down is carried out
Before each STOP phase, the system checks whether certain conditions have
been met. No engine shut down takes place in the following situations.
› The engine has not reached the minimum temperature for START STOP mode.
› The temperature inside the vehicle has not reached the desired temperature
set in the air-conditioning system/heating.
› The external temperature is very low/high.
› The windscreen heater is switched on.
› The intensive windscreen heater (Climatronic) or windscreen heater/ventilation
is switched on with the maximum air temperature setting (manual air condition-
ing system).
› The parking aid/Park Assist is switched on.
› The charge state of the vehicle battery is too low.
› The stationary vehicle is on a steep slope or a steep downhill section.
› The idling speed is too high.
A check warning icon appears in the display 
» Fig. 144 .
The automatic start procedure takes place again
During the STOP phase, the engine fires up without any active driver intervention,
e.g. in the following situations.
› The vehicle begins to roll, e.g. on a slope.
› The difference between the temperature setting of the air-conditioning sys-
tem/heating and the temperature of the interior is too large.
› The windscreen heater is switched on.
› The intensive windscreen heater (Climatronic) or windscreen heater/ventilation
is switched on with the maximum air temperature setting (manual air condition-
ing system).
› The brake pedal was pressed several times (the pressure in the braking system
is too low).
› The charge state of the vehicle battery is too low.
› The current consumption is too high.

Manually activating/deactivating the system
Fig. 145
Button for the START-STOP sys-
tem
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 158.
Activation/deactivation
›
Press the symbol button 
» Fig. 145 .
When start-stop mode is deactivated, the warning light in the button lights up.
Note
■ If the system is deactivated during the STOP phase, the automatic start proce-
dure takes place.■
Selecting the driving mode Eco when the system is deactivated will automati-
cally activate the system » page 161.

160Driving