SKODA OCTAVIA TOUR 2009 1.G / (1U) Owner's Manual

Inspecting and replenishing
170
WARNING
•
Read and observe the warning notes ⇒page 162, “Working in the engine
compartment” before working in the engine compartment.
•
If the fluid level has dropped below the “MIN” marking, do not drive any
further - risk of accident! Ob tain professional assistance.
Replacing brake fluidBrake fluid absorbs moisture. This causes the fluid to absorb moisture from the
surrounding air over a period of time. Excessive water in the brake fluid may be the
cause of corrosion in the brake system. Th e water content also lowers the boiling
point of the brake fluid. This is why brake fluid must be replaced every two
years.
One may only use new genuine brake fluid from Škoda Auto a.s. The specification
for the brake fluid is “FMVSS 116 DOT 4”.
We recommend that you have th e brake fluid replaced by a specialist garage as
part of an Inspection Service.
WARNING
•
Using old brake fluid can result in seve re stress on the brakes because of
the formation of vapour bubbles in the brake system. This greatly impairs
the braking efficiency and thus also the safety of your vehicle.
•
Brake fluid is toxic! It must therefore be kept safely in closed original
containers and well aw ay from children and unauthorized persons.Caution
Brake fluid damages the pa intwork of the vehicle.
For the sake of the environment
In view of the problems involved with prop er disposal of brake fluid, the special
tools and the professional knowledge required, you should have the brake fluid
replaced by a specialist garage.BatteryWorking on the batteryThe battery is located in the engine compartment below a plastic cover*.
– Press the interlocks on the sides of the battery cover ⇒fig. 158 and
pull the cover upwards see arrow .
– The installation of the battery cov er takes place in the reverse order.Removal and installation of the battery is not recommended since it can, under
certain circumstances, lead to major damage. Contact a specialist garage.
There is a risk of injuries, scalding, acci dents and burns when carrying out any work
on the battery and on the electrical system. For this reason, it is essential to comply
with the warning instructions ⇒ stated below and with the general applicable
rules of safety.
Fig. 158 Engine compart-
ment: The battery
AA
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Inspecting and replenishing171
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
WARNING
•
The battery acid is strongly corros ive and must, therefore, be handled
with the greatest of care. Always we ar protective gloves, eye and skin
protection when handling batteries. Corrosive fumes in the air irritate the
air passages and lead to conjunctivitis and inflammation of the air passages
in the lungs. Battery acid corrodes dental enamel and creates deep wounds
after contact with the skin which take a long time to heal. Repeated contact
with diluted acids causes skin diseases (inflammations, ulcers, slin cracks).
Acids coming into contact with water are diluted accompanied by significant
development of heat.
•
Do not tilt the battery otherwise battery electrolyte may flow out of the
battery vent openings. Prot ect the eyes with safety glasses or a shield! There
is the danger of suffering blindness! If any battery electrol yte gets into your
eye, rinse out your eye immediately with clear water for several minutes.
Contact a doctor without delay.
•
Splashes of acid on your skin or clothes should be neutralised as soon as
possible using soap suds and then rinsed with plenty of water. Contact a
doctor immediately if you swallow battery electrolyte.
•
Keep batteries out of the reach of children.
•
Hydrogen is released when you char ge a battery and a highly explosive
gas mixture is produced. An explosion can be caused through sparkling over
during unclamping or loosening of the cable plug while the ignition is on.
•
Bridging of the poles will create a short circuit (e.g. through metal
objects, cables). Possible consequences of a short circuit: Melting of lead
struts, explosion and burning of the battery, jets of acid spurting out.
•
It is prohibited to work with a naked flame and light, to smoke or to carry
out any activities which produce sparks. Avoid creating sparks when
working with cables and electrical device s. Strong sparking represents a risk
of injury.
•
Before carrying out any work on the electrical system, switch off the
engine, the ignition as well as all electrical components and disconnect the
negative cable (-) on the battery. If you wish to replace a bulb it is sufficient
to switch off the appropriate light.
•
Never charge a frozen or thawed battery - risk of explosion and caustic
burns! Replace a frozen battery.
•
Never use a battery which is damaged - risk of explosion! Immediately
replace a damaged battery.Caution
•
You must only disconnect the battery if the ignition is switched off, otherwise
the electrical system (electronic components) of the vehicle may be damaged.
When disconnecting the battery from the el ectrical system of the vehicle, first
disconnect the negative terminal (-) of the battery. Then disconnect the positive
terminal (+).
•
When reconnecting the battery, first conne ct the positive terminal (+) and only
then the negative terminal (-) of the batt ery. You must on no account connect the
cables wrongly - risk of a cable fire.
•
Ensure that battery acid does not come into contact with the vehicle body
otherwise damage could occur to the paintwork.
•
Do not place the battery in direct dayl ight in order to protect the battery
housing from the effects of ultra-violet light.For the sake of the environment
A removed battery is a special type of waste which is harmful to the environment -
contact your specialist garage regarding disposing of the battery.
Note
Please also refer to the guidelines ⇒page 173, “Disconnecting and reconnecting
the battery”, also after connecting the battery.
WARNING (continued)
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Inspecting and replenishing
172Battery with a charge level indicator, the so-called magic eye*There is a so-called magic eye ⇒fig. 159 located on the top of the battery. The
“magic eye” changes its colour in line with the charge state of and electrolyte level
in the battery.
Air bubbles can influence the colour of th e “magic eye”. For this reason carefully
knock on the “magic eye” before carrying out the check.•
Green colour - the battery is adequately charged.
•
Dark colour - the battery has to be charged
•
Colourless or yellow colour - have the battery checked by a specialist garage.
Batteries, which are more than 5 years old, must be replaced. We recommend you
have the electrolyte level inspected and adjusted to the correct level or the battery
replaced if necessary by a specialist garage.Caution
If the vehicle has not been driven for more than 3 to 4 weeks, the battery will
discharge because certain electrical comp onents consume electricity (e.g. control
units) also in idle state. You can prevent the discharging of the battery by discon-
necting the negative terminal or charging the battery constantly with a very low
charging current. Please also refer to the notes when working on the battery
⇒ page 170, “Working on the battery”.
Inspecting the electrolyte levelThe battery is practically maintenance-free under normal operating conditions.
We do, however, recommend that you have the electrolyte level inspected from
time to time by a specialist garage when outside temperatures are high or when
driving on long trips. You should also check the electrolyte level ⇒page 172 each
time the battery is charged.
The battery acid level will also be ch ecked as part of the Inspection Service.Operation in winterThe battery has to provide greater amounts of electricity during the winter. It also
has only part of the initial power output at low temperatures that it has at normal
temperatures.
A discharged battery may already freez e at temperatures just below 0°C.
We therefore recommend that you have the battery checked by a specialist garage
before the start of the winter and recharged if necessary.
WARNING
Never charge a frozen or thawed battery - risk of explosion and caustic
burns. Replace a frozen battery.Charging the battery
A properly charged battery is essential for reliably starting the
engine.– Read the warning notes ⇒ in “Working on the battery” on
page 170 and ⇒.
– Switch the ignition and all electrical components off.
– Only for “quick-charging” : Disconnect both battery cables (first of all
“negative”, then “positive”).
Fig. 159 Battery with a
charge level indicator
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Inspecting and replenishing173
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
– Carefully attach the terminal clam ps of the charger to the battery
terminals (red = “positive”, black = “negative”).
– You can now plug the mains cabl e of the charger into the power
socket and switch on the charger.
– When charging is completed: switch the charger off and unplug the mains cable from the power socket.
– Only then should you disconnect the terminal clamps of the charger.
– Reconnect the cables to the battery (first of all “positive”, then “nega-
tive”).It is not normally necessary to disconnect the cables of the battery if you recharge
the battery using low ampera ges (as for example from a mini-charger). Please also
refer to the instructions from the charger manufacturer.
A charging current of 0.1 of the total batter y capacity (or lower) is that which should
be used until full charging is achieved.
It is, however, necessary to disconnect both cables before charging the battery with
high amperages, so-called “ quick-charging”.
“Quick-charging” a battery is dangerous ⇒ in “Working on the battery” on
page 170. It requires a special charger and appropriate knowledge. We therefore
recommend that you have your battery qu ick-charged only by your specialist
garage.
A discharged battery may already freeze at temperatures just below 0°C ⇒. We
recommend that you no longer use a ba ttery which has thawed out because the
casing of the battery may be cracked through the formation of ice and this would
allow battery electrolyte to flow out.
The vent plugs of the battery should not be opened for charging.
WARNING
Never charge a frozen or thawed battery - risk of explosion and caustic
burns. Replace a frozen battery.
Disconnecting and reconnecting the batteryOn disconnecting and reconnecting the battery the following functions are initially
deactivated or are no longer able to operate fault-free.
We recommend having the vehicle checked by a specialist garage to ensure full
functionality of all electrical systems.Replacing the batteryYou should only replace a battery with a new battery of the same capacity, voltage
(12 V), amperage and of the same size. Specialist garages have a range of suitable
batteries available.
We recommend that you only have an old ba ttery disposed of by a specialist garage
since it does require special disposal.
For the sake of the environment
Batteries contain pois onous substances such as sulphuric acid and lead. They must
be disposed of in accordance with loca l environmental protection regulations and
on no account as domestic waste.Operation
Operating measure
Electrical power window (operational faults)
⇒page 46
Enter radio code number
see Radio Operating Instructions
Set hours
⇒page 19
Data in the multi-functional indicator* are
deleted.
⇒page 19
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Inspecting and replenishing
174Windshield washer systemThe windshield washer reservoir contains the cleaning fluid for the windscreen or
rear window. The reservoir is located at the front right of the engine compartment
⇒ fig. 160 .
The filling level of the container is 3 litres, 5.5 li tres on vehicles which also have a
headlight washing system.
Clear water is not sufficient to intensivel y clean the windscreen and headlights. We
therefore recommend using clean washing water together with the screen cleaner
from Škoda genuine accessories (in winter additionally with antifreeze) which is
capable of removing stubborn dirt. Follow the instructions for use on the packaging
when using screen cleaning products.
You should always add antifreeze to the cleaning water in winter even if your
vehicle is fitted with heated windscreen washer nozzles*.
It is also possible in exceptional cases to use methylated spirits when no screen
cleaner with antifreeze is available. The concentration of methylated spirits must
not be more than 15 %. Please note, howeve r, that the antifreeze protection at this
concentration is only adequate down to -5°C.
WARNING
Read and observe the warning notes ⇒page 162, “Working in the engine
compartment” before working in the engine compartment.
Caution
•
On no account should you add radiator antifreeze or other additives to the
windscreen washer fluid.
•
If the vehicle is fitted with headlight cleaning system, you should only add
cleaning products which do not attack th e polycarbonate coating of the headlights
to the windscreen washer fluid. Please contact your specialist garage, who will tell
you which cleaning agent you can use.
Fig. 160 Engine compart-
ment: Windshield washer
fluid reservoir
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Wheels and Tyres175
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Wheels and TyresWheelsGeneral information•
New tyres do not offer optimal grip at first and should therefore be run in for
about 500 km at a moderate speed and an appropriately cautious style of driving.
You will also profit from longer tyre life.
•
The tread depth of new tyres may differ because of design features and the
configuration of the tread (depending on the type of tyre and the manufacturer).
•
Drive over curbs on the side of the road and other such obstacles slowly and,
where possible, at a right angles in order to avoid damage to tyres and wheel trims.
•
Inspect your tyres from time to time for damage (punctures, cuts, splits and
bulges). Remove foreign bodies from the tyre profile.
•
Damage to tyres and wheels is frequent ly not visible. Unusual vibrations or
pulling of the vehicle to one side could be a sign of tyre damage. Please reduce
your speed immediately and stop if you suspect that a wheel is damaged.
Inspect the tyres for signs of damage (bulges, splits, etc.). If no visible damage is
present, please drive at an appropriatel y slow speed and carefully to the nearest
specialist garage in order to have your vehicle inspected.
•
Also protect your tyres from contact with oil, grease and fuel.
•
Immediately replace any dust caps of the valves which have got lost.
•
Mark wheels before removing them so th at their previous direction of running
can be maintained when mounted them again.
•
Always store wheels or tyres which been removed in a cool, dry and, where
possible, dark place. Tyres which are not fixed to a wheel trim should be stored
upright.
WARNING
•
New tyres during the first 500 km do not offer optimal grip and should
therefore be run appropriately - risk of accident!
•
Never drive with damaged tyres - risk of accident!
Note
Please observe the various differing legal requirements regarding tyres.Tyre lifeThe life of your tyres very much depends on the following points:
Tyre pressure
The working life of tyres will be shortened considerably if the tyres are insufficiently
or over-inflated and this will have an advers e effect on the handling of your vehicle.
Correctly inflated tyres are of partic ular importance when travelling at high
speeds . It is therefore good to check the pr essure at least once a month and also
before setting off on a long trip. Plea se do not forget the spare wheel when
checking the tyres.
The tyre inflation pressures for summer tyres are indicated on the inside of the fuel
filler flap ⇒fig. 161 . The inflation pressures for winter tyres are 20 kPa (0.2 bar)
higher than those for summer tyres ⇒page 179.
The tyre pressure should be at the highest pressure specified for your vehicle at all
times.
Fig. 161 An opened fuel filler
flap with the tyre inflation
pressure table
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Wheels and Tyres
176Always check the inflation pressure of ty res when cold. Do not reduce the higher
pressure of warm tyres. Adapt the inflation pressure of the tyres accordingly if your
vehicle is carrying a significantly higher payload.
Driving style
Fast cornering, sharp acceleration and braking (squealing tyres) increase wear-
and-tear on your tyres.
Balancing wheels
The wheels of a new vehicle are balanced. There are a wide range of influences
when driving which may result in an imbalance and which makes themselves felt
through vibration in the steering.
You should have the wheels rebalanced since any imbalance increases wear-and-
tear on the steering, the suspension and tyres. A wheel must also be rebalanced
when a new tyre is fitted and each time a tyre is repaired.
Wheel alignment errors
Incorrect wheel alignment at the front and rear will not only increase wear-and-
tear on the tyres but will also has an adve rse effect on vehicle safety. Contact your
specialist garage if you notice any unusual tyre wear.
WARNING
•
If the inflation pressure is too low, the tyre must perform a greater
flexing work. At higher speeds the tyre will warm up as a result of this. This
can result in tread separation and even a tyre blowout.
•
Immediately replace the damaged rims or tyres.For the sake of the environment
Tyres which are insufficiently inflated increase your fuel consumption.
Wear indicatorsThe base of the tread of the original tyres has wear indicators 1.6 mm high, installed
at right angles to the direction of travel. These wear indicators are located at 6 - 8
points depending on the make and are evenly spaced around the circumference of
the tyre ⇒fig. 162 . Markings on the walls of the tyres through the letters “TWI”,
triangular symbols or other symbols identi fy the position of the wear indicators.
A remaining tread of just 1.6 mm, measured in the grooves of the tread next to the
wear indicators, means that your tyres have reached their legally permissible
minimum tread depth.
WARNING
•
You must have your tyres replaced with new ones at the latest when the
wear indicators have been worn do wn. The legally permissible minimum
tread depth should be observed.
•
Worn tyres do not provide the necessar y adhesion to the road surface at
high speeds on wet roads. One could experience “aquaplaning” (uncon-
trolled movements of the vehicle - “swimming” on a wet road surface).
Fig. 162 Tyre tread with wear
indicators
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Wheels and Tyres177
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Changing wheels aroundIf significantly greater wear is present on the front tyres, we recommend changing
the front wheels around with the rear wheels as shown in the diagram ⇒fig. 163 .
You will then obtain approximately the same life for all the tyres.
It may be advantageous to swap the tyre s over “crosswise” when certain types of
wear characteristic arise on the running surface of the tyres (but not in the case of
unidirectional tyres). Specialist garages are familiar with details.
We recommend that you change the wheels around every 10 000 km in order to
achieve even wear on all wheels and to obtain optimal tyre life.New tyres and wheelsTyres and wheel rims are important design elements. One should therefore use the
tyres and wheel rims which have been released for use by Škoda Auto. They are
exactly matched to the vehicle type and th erefore contribute significantly to good
road holding and safe driving characteristics ⇒.
Only fit radial tyres of the same type on all 4 wheels, size (rolling circumference)
and, if possible, the same tread pattern on one axle.
The specialist garages have access to the most current information about which
tyres we have released for use on your vehicle. We recommend that you have any work rela
ting to tyres or wheels carried out by a
specialist garage . The specialist garages have all of the necessary special tools and
replacement parts available plus the requir ed specialist knowledge and are also in
a position to properly dispose of the old tyres. A large number of specialist garages
also have an attractive range of tyres and wheels available.
The tyre/wheel combinations which are appr oved for your vehicle are indicated in
your vehicle documents. Approval and lice nsing may differ according to the legis-
lation prevailing in individual countries.
Proper knowledge of the tyre data makes it easier for you to select the correct type
of tyre. Tyres do, for example, have the following inscription on their walls:
195 / 65 R 15 91 T
What this means is:
The following speed restrictions apply to tyres.
Fig. 163 Changing wheels
around
195
Tyre wid th i n m m
65
Height/width ratio in %
R
Code letter for the type of tyre - R adial
15
Diameter of wheel in inches
91
Load index
T
Speed symbol
Speed symbol
Permissible maximum speed
R
170 km/h
S
180 km/h
T
190 km/h
H
210 km/h
V
240 km/h
W
270 km/h
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Wheels and Tyres
178The date of manufacture is a lso s tated on the tyre wal l (poss ibly o nl y on the inside
of wheel):
DOT ... 50 08...
means, for example, that the tyre was manufactured in the 50th week of the year
2008.
Any spare wheel which differs from the tyres fitted to the vehicle (e.g. winter tyres
or low-profile tyres) should only be used only for a short time in the event of a
puncture and when adopting an appropriately cautious style of driving. It should be
replaced as quickly as po ssible by a normal wheel.
WARNING
•
Only use those tyres or wheel rims which have been approved for your
model of Škoda Auto a.s. vehicle. Failure to observe this instruction will
adversely affect the road safety of your vehicle - risk of accident! Approval
and licencing of your vehicle on public roads may also become void as a
result.
•
You must on no account drive at a higher speed than is permissible for
your tyres - risk of an accident resulting from tyre damage and loss of
control over your vehicle.
•
Tyres which are 6 years old or more should only be fitted in exceptional
cases and when adopting an appropriately cautious style of driving.
•
Never fit tyres which have already been used without having adequate
knowledge of their previous history. Ty res age even if they have not been
used at all or only very little. A spare tyre must only be used in exceptional
cases and only then when adopting an appropriately cautious style of
driving.
•
Do not, where possible, replace indivi dual tyres but at least replace them
on both wheels of a given axle at the same time. Always fit the tyres with the
deeper tread depth to the front wheels.For the sake of the environment
Old tyres must be disposed of in conformity with the appropriate regulations.
Note
It is not normally possible to fit wheels from other models of cars for technical
reasons. This may also apply in certain circumstances to the wheels of the same
type of vehicle.Wheel boltsWheels and wheel bolts are matched to each other in terms of design. Each time
you fit other wheels - e.g. light alloy wheels or wheels with winter tyres - you must
therefore also use the matching wheel bolts of the correct length and shape of
spherical cap. This is essent ial to ensure that the wheels are tightly fitted and that
the brake system operates properly.
If you retrofit wheel trims (or have this done), please also ensure that an adequate
flow of air remains assured for cooling the brake system.
The specialist garages are instructed in the technical possibilities which exist
regarding converting or retrofitti ng wheels, tyres and wheel trim.
WARNING
•
In case of incorrect treatment of th e wheel bolts, the wheel can loosen
when the car is moving - risk of accident!
•
The wheel bolts must be clean and must turn easily. However, they must
never be treated with grease or oil.
•
If the wheel bolts are tightened to a too low tightening torque, the rim
can lossen when the car is moving - risk of accident! A tightening torque
which is too high can damage the bolts and threads and this can result in
permanent deformation of the contact surfaces on the rims.Caution
The prescribed tightening torque of the wh eel bolts for steel and light alloy wheels
is 120 Nm.
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Wheels and Tyres179
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Winter tyresThe handling of your vehicle will be significantly improved when driving on wintry
roads if you fit winter tyres. Summer tyres do not offer the same grip on ice, snow
and at temperatures below 7 °C because of their construction (width, rubber blend,
tread pattern). This partic ularly applies to vehicles which are equipped with low-
profile tyres or high-speed tyres (code index H or V on wall of tyre).
Winter tyres must be mounted on all four wheels to obtain the best handling char-
acteristics.
You must only fit those type s of winter tyre which are approved for your vehicle.
The permissible sizes of winter tyres are stated in your vehicle documents.
Approvals may differ becaus e of national legislation.
Please remember that the tyres should be in flated to 20 kPa (0.2 bar) more than is
the case for summer tyres ⇒page 175, fig. 161 .
Winter tyres no longer offer the same winter performance once the tyre tread has
worn down to a depth of about 4 mm.
Ageing also causes winter tyres to lose mo st of their winter performance proper-
ties - even in cases where the remaining tread depth is still clearly more than 4 mm.
Speed restrictions apply to winter tyres as well as to summer tyres ⇒page 177,
⇒ .
You can fit winter tyres of a lower speed ca tegory to your vehicle provided that you
also do not drive faster than the permis sible maximum speed for such tyres, even
if the possible maximum speed of your ve hicle is higher. The corresponding tyre
category can damage the tyres when exceeding the permissi ble maximum speed.
Please pay attention to the notes if you decide to fit winter tyres ⇒page 175.
You can also fit so-called “all-year tyres” instead of winter tyres.
Please contact your specialist garage if there are any points which are not clear who
will be able to provide you with information regarding the maximum speed for your
tyres.
WARNING
You must on no account drive your car at more than the permissible
maximum speed for your winter tyres - risk of an accident resulting from
tyre damage and loss of control over your car.
For the sake of the environment
Fit your summer tyres on again in good ti me since summer tyres offer you better
grip and handling on roads which are free of snow and ice as well as ar tempera-
tures below 7 °C - the braking distance is shorter, there is less tyre noise, tyre wear
is reduced and fuel consumption is reduced.
Note
Please observe the various differing legal requirements regarding tyres.Snow chainsSnow chains must only be mounted on the front wheels.
When driving on wintry roads, snow chains improve not only traction, but also the
braking performance.
For technical reasons, it is only permissi ble to fit snow chains with the following
wheel/tyre combinations:
Only use fine-link snow chains . They must not project more than 15 mm -
including the chain lock.
Remove the full wheel trims if you wish to fit snow chains to the wheels.
Wheel size
Depth (D)
Ty re s i z e
6J x 14
38 mm
175/80
6J x 15
38 mm
195/65
5,5J x 16
36 mm
205/55
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