steering wheel SKODA FABIA 2014 2.G / 5J Owner's Guide

Driving
Starting-off and Driving
Starting and stopping the engine
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Electronic immobilizer
101
Ignition lock
102
Starting the engine
102
Switching off the engine
102
The engine can only be started using a correctly coded original key.
The engine running noises may louder at first be louder for a short time after starting the cold engine. This is quite normal and is not an operating problem.
WARNING■ When the vehicle is travelling with the engine off, the ignition key must
always be in position 2 » Fig. 102 on page 102 (ignition switched on). This
position is indicated by the warning lights coming on. If this is not the case,
it could result in unexpected locking of the steering wheel – there is the
risk of an accident.■
Only pull the ignition key from the ignition lock when the vehicle has
come to a complete stop (by applying the handbrake). Otherwise the steer-
ing wheel could lock – there is the risk of an accident.
■
Never leave the key in the vehicle when you exit the vehicle. Unauthor-
ized persons, such as children, for example, could lock the car, turn on the
ignition or start the engine - there is a danger of injury and accidents!
■
Never leave the vehicle unattended with the engine running - there is an
accident, damage or theft risk!
■
Never switch off the engine before the vehicle has come to a halt – there
is the risk of an accident.
WARNING■ Never leave the engine running in unventilated or closed rooms. The en-
gine's exhaust gases also contain the odourless and colourless carbon
monoxide, a poisonous gas – risk of death. ■ Carbon monoxide can cause unconsciousness and death.CAUTION■The starter must only be operated when the engine is not running and the
vehicle is at a standstill. The starter or engine can be damaged if the starter is
activated when the engine is running 3
» Fig. 102 on page 102 .
■
If the engine does not start up after a second attempt, the fuse for the fuel
pump may have a fault. Check the fuse and replace, if necessary » page 168 or
seek assistance from a specialist garage.
■
Let go of the ignition key as soon as the engine starts otherwise the starter
could be damaged.
■
Do not tow start the engine – there is a risk of damaging the engine and the
catalytic converter. The battery from another vehicle can be used as a jump-
start aid » page 164 , Jump-starting .
CAUTION
■
Avoid high engine speeds, full throttle and high engine loads until the engine
has yet reached its operating temperature – there is a risk of damaging the en-
gine.■
Do not switch the engine off immediately at the end of your journey after the
engine has been operated over a prolonged period at high loads but leave it to
run at an idling speed for about 1 minute. This prevents any possible accumula-
tion of heat when the engine is switched off.
For the sake of the environment
Do not warm up the engine while the vehicle is stationary. If possible, start
your journey as soon as the engine has started. Through this the engine rea-
ches its operating temperature more rapidly and the pollutant emissions are
lower.
Note
The radiator fan can intermittently continue to run for approximately 10 mi-
nutes after the ignition has been switched off.
Electronic immobilizer
Read and observe
and on page 101 first.
An electronic chip is integrated in the head of the key. The immobiliser is deac-
tivated with the aid of this chip when the key is inserted in the ignition lock.
The electronic immobiliser is automatically activated when the ignition key is
withdrawn from the lock.
The engine will not start if a non-authorized ignition key is used. 
101Starting-off and Driving

The MAXI DOT display shows the following:Immobilizer active.
Ignition lock
Fig. 102
Positions of the vehicle key in
the ignition lock
Read and observe and on page 101 first.
Petrol engines » Fig. 102
Ignition switched off, engine off, the steering can be locked
Ignition switched on
Starting engine
Diesel engines » Fig. 102
Fuel supply interrupted, ignition switched off, engine switched off, the
steering can be locked.
Heating glow plugs on, ignition switched on
Starting engine
To lock the steering , with the ignition key withdrawn, turn the steering wheel
until the steering locking pin engages audibly.
If the steering is locked and the key cannot be turned or can only be turned
with difficulty to position
2
» Fig. 102 , move the steering wheel back and
forth and the steering lock will unlock.
Note
We recommend locking the steering wheel whenever leaving the vehicle. This
acts as a deterrent against the attempted theft of your car.123123Starting the engine
Read and observe
and on page 101 first.
Vehicles with a diesel engine are equipped with a glow plug system. The glow
plug warning light 
lights up after the ignition has been switched on. Start
the engine once the 
warning light has gone out.
You should not switch on any major electrical components during the heating
period 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.
›
Switch on the ignition
2
» Fig. 102 on page 102 .
›
Depress and hold the clutch pedal (vehicles with a manual gearbox) or brake
pedal (vehicles with an automatic gearbox) until the engine starts.
›
Turn the key to position
3
to the stop and release immediately the engine
has started – do not depress the accelerator.
After letting go, the vehicle key will return to position
2
.
If the engine does not start within 10 seconds, turn the key to position
1
. Re-
peat the start-up process after approx. half a minute.
Switching off the engine
Read and observe
and on page 101 first.
Switch off the engine by turning the ignition key to position
1
» Fig. 102 on
page 102 .
Brakes

Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Information for braking
103
Handbrake
104

102Driving

R - Reverse gear
Reverse gear can only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary and the en-
gine is at idling speed.
Depress the brake pedal and simultaneously press the shiftlock in the selector
lever grip before shifting to R from P or N.N
- Neutral
Power transmission to the drive wheels is interrupted in this mode.
D
- Mode for forwards travel (normal programme)
In mode D, the forward gears are automatically changed according to the en-
gine load, accelerator pedal actuation and driving speed.
S
- Mode for forwards travel (sports programme)
In mode S, the forward gears are shifted automatically up and down at higher
engine speeds than in mode D.
The shiftlock on the selector lever grip must be pressed when moving the se-
lector lever out of D mode into S mode.
Releasing selector lever from P or N modes (selector lever lock)
The selector lever is locked in the P and N modes to prevent the forwards trav-
el mode from being selected accidentally and setting the vehicle in motion.
The  warning light lights up in the instrument cluster
» page 42.
The selector lever is released by depressing the brake pedal while simultane-
ously pressing the locking button in the selection lever grip.
The selector lever is not locked when shifted quickly through N (e.g. from R to
D ). This, for example, helps to rock out a vehicle that is stuck, e.g. in a bank of
snow. The selector lever lock will engage if the lever is in position N for more
than approximately 2 seconds without the brake pedal being depressed.
The selector lever is locked only when the vehicle is stationary and at speeds
up to 5 km/h.
Note
If you want to move the selector lever from mode P to mode D or vice versa,
move the selector lever quickly. This prevents modes R or N from being selec-
ted accidentally.Manual gear shifting (Tiptronic)Fig. 106
Selector lever/multi-function steering wheel
Read and observe
and on page 105 first.
Tiptronic mode makes it possible to manually shift gears with the selector lev-
er or multifunction steering wheel. This mode can be selected both while hal-
ted and while driving.
The gear currently selected is indicated in the display
1
» Fig. 105 on
page 105 .
The gearshift indicator must be observed when changing gear » page 28.
Switching to manual shifting
›
Push the gear selector from position D towards the right, or left in a right-
hand drive vehicle.
Shifting up gears
›
Press the selector lever forwards
+
» Fig. 106 .
›
Pull the right-hand paddle +
» Fig. 106 briefly towards the steering wheel.
Shifting down gears
›
Press the selector lever backwards
-
» Fig. 106 .
›
Pull the left-hand paddle -
» Fig. 106 briefly towards the steering wheel.
Temporarily switching to manual gear shifting in mode D or S
›
Pull one of the -/+ paddles
» Fig. 106 briefly towards the steering wheel .
Manual gear shifting is deactivated if more than 1 minute passes after either of
the -
/+ paddles was pulled. The temporary switch to manual gear shifting can
also be deactivated by pulling the right-hand + paddle towards the steering
wheel for more than 1 second. 
106Driving

Assist systems
Brake assist systems
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Stabilisation control (ESC)
114
Antilock Braking System (ABS)
115
Traction Control System (ASR)
115
Electronic Differential Lock (EDL and XDS)
115WARNING■ A lack of fuel can cause irregular engine running or cause the engine to
shut down. The brake assist systems would then be without function –
there is the risk of an accident.■
Adjust the speed and driving style to the current visibility, weather, road
and traffic conditions. The increased safety offered by the brake assist sys-
tems must not tempt you to take greater risks than otherwise – there is
the risk of an accident.
■
Visit a specialist garage immediately in the event of an ABS fault. Adjust
your style of driving according to the damage to the ABS as you will not
know how great the damage is and the limitation it is placing on the brak-
ing efficiency.
CAUTION
■ All four wheels must be fitted with the same tyres approved by the manufac-
turer to ensure the brake assist systems operate correctly.■
Changes to the vehicle (e.g. to the engine, brakes, chassis) can influence the
functionality of the brake assist systems » page 126, Services, modifications
and technical alterations .
■
If a fault occurs in the ABS system, the ESC, TCS and EDL will also fail to
work. An ABS fault is indicated with by the 
warning light » page 38.
Stabilisation control (ESC)
Read and observe
and on page 114 first.
The ESC system helps to maintain control of the vehicle in situations where itis being operated at its dynamic limits, such as a sudden change to the direc-
tion of travel. Depending on the road surface conditions, the risk of skidding is
reduced, thereby improving the vehicle's driving stability .
The ESC system is automatically activated each time the ignition is switched on.
The direction which the driver wishes to take is determined based on the
steering angle and the speed of the vehicle and is constantly compared with
the actual behaviour of the vehicle. If differences exist, such as the car begin-
ning to skid, the ESC system will automatically brake the appropriate wheel.
During an intervention of the system, the warning light  flashes in the instru-
ment cluster.
The following systems are integrated into the electronic stabilisation control
(ESC) :
› Antilock brake system (ABS),
› Traction control (TCS),
› Electronic Differential Lock (EDL and XDS);
› Hydraulic brake assist (HBA);
› Hill hold control (HHC).
The ESC system cannot be deactivated. The 
» Fig. 112 on page 115 button
can only be used to deactivate the TCS. The  warning light comes on in the
instrument cluster when the TCS is deactivated.
In the event of an ESC fault, the ESC warning light illuminates in the instru-
ment cluster 
» page 38 .
Hydraulic brake assist (HBA)
HBA increases the braking effect and helps to shorten the braking distance.
The HBA is activated by very rapid depression of the brake pedal. To achieve
the shortest possible braking distance, the brake pedal must be applied firmly
until the vehicle has come to a complete standstill.
HBA is automatically switched off when the brake pedal is released.
ABS is activated sooner and more effectively with the intervention of HBA. 
114Driving

Before you decide to have damaged body parts replaced, however, you should
first contact your specialist garage to determine whether or not such parts can
also be repaired. Repairs to body parts are usually cheaper.
ŠKODA Original Accessories
Read and observe
on page 126 first.
You should note the following if you wish to fit accessories to your vehicle:
We recommend that you use ŠKODA Genuine Accessories in your vehicle.
ŠKODA AUTO a.s. offers a warranty on the reliability, safety and suitability for
your particular vehicle of these accessories. Although we constantly monitor
the market, we are not able to assess or offer a warranty on other products
even though in some instances such products may have a type approval or
may have been approved by a nationally recognised approval authority.
All accessory products go through a fastidious process of technical develop-
ment (technical tests) and quality inspection (customer tests), and only if all
tests are positive does the product become a ŠKODA Genuine Accessory.
Our ŠKODA Genuine Accessories service also provides expert advice and pro-
fessional fitting if requested by the customer.
ŠKODA Service Partners are liable for any defects in ŠKODA Genuine Parts for a period of 2 years after installation or delivery in accordance with materials de-
fect liability legislation, unless otherwise agreed in the purchase contract or in
any other agreements. You should keep the confirmed warranty certificate and
the receipt for these accessories for this period, so that the commencement of
the warranty term may be verified.
In addition, ŠKODA Service Partners also stock a range of suitable car care
products as well as those parts which are subject to natural wear and tear,
such as tyres, batteries, bulbs and wiper blades.
Note
The accessories authorized by ŠKODA AUTO a.s. will be offered by the ŠKODA
Partners in all countries where ŠKODA AUTO a.s. has a sales and service net- work. This will usually be in the form of a printed catalogue of Original ŠKODA
Accessories, in the form of separate printed brochures or in the form of offers
for ŠKODA Genuine Accessories on the ŠKODA Partner's website.Spoiler
Read and observe
on page 126 first.
The following instructions shall be observed if your new vehicle is equippedwith a spoiler fitted to the front bumper in combination with the spoiler on the
tailgate.
› For safety reasons the vehicle must only ever be equipped with a spoiler on
the front bumper in combination with the associated spoiler on the tailgate.
› A spoiler cannot be fitted alone on the front bumper nor in combination with-
out a spoiler on the tailgate or in combination with an inappropriate spoiler
on the tailgate.
› We recommend that you consult a ŠKODA Service Partner for any repairs, re-
placement, fitting or removal of spoilers.
WARNINGWork not properly performed on the spoilers on your vehicle can result in
faults - there is a risk of an accident and serious injury.
Airbags
Read and observe
on page 126 first.
The system components for the airbag system may be found in the front
bumper, doors, front seats, the roof lining or in the bodywork.
WARNINGAny work on the airbag system including the installation and removal of
system components due to other repair work (e.g. removal of the steering
wheel) must only be carried out by a specialist garage.■
Adjustments, repairs and modifications which have been carried out un-
professionally can cause damage, operational faults, and can also seriously
impair the effectiveness of airbag system – there is the risk of an accident
and fatal injury.
■
The airbag system must be replaced if an airbag has been deployed. Air-
bag modules cannot be repaired. 
127Car care

Underbody waxingRead and observe
and on page 129 first.
All the cavities of your vehicle which are at risk from corrosion are protectedfor life by a layer of protective wax applied in the factory.
Wax protection does not require to be inspected or re-treated.
If any small amount of wax flow out of the cavities at high temperatures, these
must be removed with a plastic scraper and the stains cleaned using a petrole-
um cleaner.
WARNINGSafety regulations should be observed when using petroleum cleaner to re-
move wax – there is a risk of fire.
Jack
Read and observe
and on page 129 first.
The jack is maintenance-free.
If necessary, the moving parts of the jack should be lubricated with a suitable lubricant.
Wheels
Read and observe
and on page 129 first.
Wheel rims
Also thoroughly wash the wheel rims when washing the vehicle on a regular basis.
Regularly remove salt and brake dust otherwise the rim material will be at-
tacked.
Damage to the paint layer on the wheel rims must be touched up immediately.
Light alloy wheels
After washing thoroughly and treat the wheel rims with a protective product
for light alloy wheels. Products which cause abrasion must not be used to
treat the wheel rims.
CAUTIONSevere 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.
Underbody protection
Read and observe
and on page 129 first.
The underside of your vehicle is protected for life against chemical and me-
chanical influences.
Damage to the protective coating cannot be excluded when the vehicle is
driven.
We recommend that you have the protective coating under the body and on
the chassis inspected - preferably before the beginning and at the end of the
cold season.
WARNINGNever use additional underbody protection or anti-corrosion agents for ex-
haust pipes, catalytic converters, diesel particle filters or heat shields.
These substances could ignite when the engine reaches its operating tem-
perature - there is a risk of fire.
Care of the interior
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Natural leather
133
Synthetic leather, fabrics and Alcantara ®
134
Seat covers
134
Seat belts
134
Regular and proper care help to retain the efficiency and
value of your vehicle.
We recommend using care products from ŠKODA Original Accessories that are
available from ŠKODA Partners. The instructions for use on the package must
be observed. 
132General Maintenance

WARNING■Care products may be harmful to your health if not used according to the
instructions.■
Always keep the automobile care products safe from people who are not
completely independent, e.g. children - there is a danger of poisoning!
CAUTION
■ Be sure to check clothing for colourfastness to avoid any damage or visible
stains on the material (leather), panels and textiles.■
Remove fresh stains such as those from ball-point pens, ink, lipstick, shoe
polish, etc., from the material (leather), panels and textiles as quickly as possi-
ble.
■
Air fresheners and scents can be hazardous to heath when the temperature
inside the vehicle is high.
■
Do not attach scents and air fresheners to the dashboard – risk of damage to
the dash panel.
■
Do not stick any stickers on the inside of the rear windows, the rear side win-
dows and in the vicinity of the heating elements on the windscreen or near the
window aerial. These may get damaged.
■
Do not clean the headlining with a brush – risk of damage to the lining sur-
face.
■
Cleaners containing solvents can damage the material being cleaned.
■
Apply only a small amount of the cleaning and care product.
For the sake of the environment
Used cans of vehicle care product represent hazardous waste that is harmful
to the environment. These must be disposed of in accordance with national
legislation.
Note
Because of the special tools and knowledge required, and to avoid any poten-
tial problems with the cleaning and care of the interior of your vehicle, we rec-
ommend that cleaning and care of the interior of your vehicle be carried out by
a ŠKODA Service Partner.
Natural leather
Read and observe
and on page 133 first.
Leather is a natural material with specific properties and requires regular
cleaning and maintenance.
The leather should be cleaned on a regular basis depending on the amount of
wear-and-tear.
Dust and dirt in pores and creases act as abrasives. This leads to severe abra-
sion and the premature embrittlement of the leather surface.
We recommend that you remove dust at regular short intervals with a cloth or
vacuum cleaner.
Clean soiled leather surfaces with a cotton or woollen cloth lightly moistened
with water and then dry with a clean dry cloth »
.
Clean more severely soiled areas with a cloth soaked in a mild soap solution (2
tablespoons of natural soap to 1 litre of water).
Use a cleaning agent specially developed for the purpose to remove stains.
Treat the leather with a suitable leather care product at suitable regular inter-
vals.
CAUTION
■ Ensure that the leather is not soaked through at any point during cleaning
and that no water gets into the stitching of the seams. The leather would then
become brittle and cracked.■
Avoid leaving the vehicle for lengthy periods in bright sunlight to avoid the
leather from bleaching. If the vehicle is parked in the open for lengthy periods,
protect the leather from direct sunlight by covering it.
■
Sharp-edged objects on items of clothing such as zip fasteners, rivets, sharp-
edged belts, jewellery and pendants may leave permanent scratches or signs
of rubbing on the surface. Damage of this nature cannot later be recognized as
a justified complaint.
■
The use of a mechanical steering wheel lock may damage the leather surface
of the steering wheel.
■
Use a care cream with light blocker and impregnation effect on a regular ba-
sis and each time after cleaning. The cream nourishes the leather, allows it to
breathe and keeps it supple and also provides moisture. It also creates surface
protection.
■
Some clothing materials, such as dark denim, do not have sufficient colour
fastness. This can cause damage or clearly visible discolouration to seat covers
even when treated correctly. This is particularly true for light-coloured uphols-
tery. This is not a defect in the seat cover, but poor colour fastness of the
clothing textiles. 
133Car care

Tyre service lifeFig. 133
Principle sketch: Tyre tread with wear indicators/Open fuel filler
flap with a table detailing the tyre sizes and tyre pressures
Fig. 134
Swapping wheels around
Read and observe and on page 149 first.
The life of tyres depends on the pressure, driving style, and other circumstan-
ces. Following the advice below can extend the service life of your tyres.
Tyre pressure
Check the tyre pressure, including that of the spare wheel, at least once a
month and also before setting off on a long journey.
The tyre pressures for tyres are shown on the inside of the fuel filler
flap » Fig. 133 –
.
The tyre pressure should be at the highest pressure specified for your vehicle
at all times.
Always check the inflation pressure when the tyres are cold. Do not reduce the
higher pressure of warm tyres.
Adjust the tyre pressure accordingly if you are carrying a greater load.
Driving style
Fast cornering, sharp acceleration and braking increase the wear of your tyres.
Balancing wheels
The wheels of a new vehicle are balanced. There are a wide range of influen-
ces when the car is being driven which may result in an imbalance. This may
become apparent by “vibration” in the steering.
Have the wheels rebalanced after replacing the tyres.
Wheel alignment errors
Incorrect wheel alignment at the front or rear leads to excess wear on the
tyres.
Tyre damage
Drive over kerbs and other such obstacles slowly and at right angles wherever
possible in order to avoid damage to tyres and wheel trims.
We recommend checking your tyres and wheel rims for damage (punctures,
cuts, splits and bulges, etc.) on a regular basis. Remove foreign bodies (e.g.
small stones) from the tyre profile immediately.
Swapping wheels around
If significantly greater wear is present on the front tyres, we recommend
swapping the front wheels with the rear wheels as shown in the dia-
gram » Fig. 134 . You will then obtain approximately the same life for all the
tyres.
We recommend that you swap the tyres around every 10,000 km in order to
achieve even wear on all tyres and to obtain optimal tyre life.
Storing tyres
Mark the tyres as you remove them so that you are able to refit them to run in
the same direction.
Always store wheels or tyres in a cool, dry and, where possible, dark place.
Tyres which are not fixed to a wheel trim should be stored upright.
Wear indicators
The base of the tread of the tyres has 1.6 mm high wear indicators installed. These wear indicators are arranged evenly spaced around the circumference of
the tyre a number of times depending on the make » Fig. 133 -
 . Markings on
the walls of the tyres through the letters “TWI”, triangular symbols or other
symbols identify the position of the wear indicators. 151Wheels

WARNING■When the warning light  illuminates, immediately reduce the speed and
avoid sudden steering and brake manoeuvres. Stop the vehicle as soon as
possible and inspect the tyres and their inflation pressure.■
Under certain circumstances (e.g. sporty style of driving, wintry or un-
paved roads) the warning light 
can be delayed or does not light up at all.
CAUTION
■
The system cannot warn in case of very rapid loss of tyre pressure, e.g. in the
event of a sudden puncture. In this case carefully bring the vehicle to a stand-
still without sudden steering movements or sharp braking.■
The basic setting must be repeated every 10,000 km or once a year to ensure
proper functioning of the tyre pressure monitor.
■
The tyre pressure monitor does not replace the need to check tyre pressure
regularly.
Spare and back-up wheel
Fig. 136
Fixing the back-up or spare
wheel
Read and observe and on page 149 first.
The spare wheel is located in a well under the floor covering in the boot and is fixed in place with a special bolt » Fig. 136.
Taking the wheel out
›
Open the tailgate.
›
Lift up the floor in the luggage compartment.
›
Remove the box with the tool kit.
›
Unscrew the nut » Fig. 136 anticlockwise.
›
Take out the wheel.
Stowing the wheel›Place the wheel into the spare wheel well with the wheel rim pointing down-
ward.›
Screw on the nut » Fig. 136 clockwise until the wheel is safely secured.
›
Replace the box with the tool kit into the spare wheel and secure it with the
tape.
›
Fold back the floor in the luggage compartment.
›
Close the tailgate.
Install a wheel of the appropriate version and dimensions as soon as possible.
If the dimensions or design of the spare wheel differ from the tyres fitted to
the vehicle (e.g. winter tyres or low-profile tyres), it must only be used briefly
in the event of a puncture and if an appropriately cautious style of driving is
adopted »
.
Temporary spare wheel
A yellow warning label is displayed on the rim of the temporary spare wheel.
Please note the following if you intend to use the temporary spare wheel. › The warning label must not be covered after installing the wheel.
› Be specially attentive when driving.
› The temporary spare is inflated to the maximum inflation pressure for the
vehicle » Fig. 133 on page 151 .
› Only use this temporary spare wheel to reach the nearest specialist garage
since it is not intended for permanent use.
WARNING■ Never drive with more than one spare wheel mounted!■Never use the temporary spare wheel if it is damaged.■
If the dimensions or design of the temporary spare wheel differ from the
fitted tyres, never drive faster than 80 km/h (or 50 mph).
■
Avoid accelerating at full throttle, sharp braking and fast cornering.
CAUTION
Observe the instructions on the warning sign of the temporary spare wheel.155Wheels

Negative cable - colour coding in the majority of cases is black.
Jump-starting in vehicles with the START-STOP system
Fig. 147
Engine earth: START-STOP sys-
tem
Read and observe and on page 165 first.
On vehicles with the START-STOP system, the jump-start cable of the charger
must never be connected directly to the negative pole of the vehicle battery,
but only to the engine earth » Fig. 147.
Towing the vehicle

Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Front towing eye
167
Rear towing eye
167
Vehicles with a tow hitch
167
Vehicles with manual transmission may be towed in with a tow bar or a tow
rope or with the front or rear wheels raised.
Vehicles with automatic transmission may be towed in with a tow bar or a tow
rope or with the front wheels raised. If the vehicle is raised at rear, the auto-
matic gearbox is damaged!
A tow bar is the safest way of towing a vehicle and also minimises any shocks.
Only use a tow rope if a suitable tow bar is not available.
The following guidelines must be observed when towing.
Driver of the tow vehicle
›
Release the clutch particularly gently when starting off or depress the accel-
erator particularly gently if the vehicle is fitted with an automatic gearbox.
› On vehicles with a manual transmission, only push down on the accelerator
pedal once the rope is taught.
The maximum towing speed is 50 km/h.
Driver of the towed vehicle›
Switch on the ignition so that the steering wheel is not locked and so that
the turn signal lights, horn, windscreen wipers and windscreen washer sys-
tem can be used.
›
Take the vehicle out of gear or move the selector lever into position N if the
vehicle is fitted with an automatic gearbox.
Please note that the brake servo unit and power steering only operate if the
engine is running. If the engine is not running, significantly more physical force
is required to depress the brake pedal and steer the vehicle.
If using a tow rope, ensure that it is always kept taught.
CAUTION
■ Do not tow start the engine – there is a risk of damaging the engine and the
catalytic converter. The battery from another vehicle can be used as a jump-
start aid » page 164 , Jump-starting .■
If the gearbox no longer contains any oil because of a defect, your vehicle
must only be towed with the driven wheels raised clear of the ground or on a
special breakdown vehicle or trailer.
■
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 towing dis-
tance is greater than 50 km.
■
To protect both vehicles when tow-starting or towing, the tow rope should
be elastic. Thus one should only use plastic fibre rope or a rope made out of a
similarly elastic material.
■
While towing, take care to avoid impermissibly high tensile forces or jerky
loads. There is always a risk of excessive stresses and damage resulting at the
points to which you attach the tow rope or tow bar when you attempt to tow a
vehicle which is not standing on a paved road.
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Attach the tow rope or the tow bar to the towing eyes » page 167 , Front
towing eye or » page 167 , Rear towing eye to the detachable ball head of the
towing equipment » page 120 . 
166Do-it-yourself