alternator SKODA OCTAVIA 2008 2.G / (1Z) Owner's Manual

Instruments and Indicator/Warning Lights41
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
dropped below the MIN marking, do not
drive any further - risk of accident!
Contact a Škoda dealer to obtain professional assistance.
Alternator 
The warning light  comes on after the ignition has been switched on. It should go
out after the engine has started.
If the warning light does not go out after the engine has started, or comes on when
driving, drive to the nearest specialist garage. The vehicle battery will be discharged
in this case so switch off all non-essential electrical components.
Caution
If the warning light  comes on when driving and in addition the warning light 
(cooling system fault) also comes on in di splay, you must then stop the car imme-
diately and switch the engine off - risk of engine damage!
Engine oil level 
Warning light  lights up
If the warning light
 lights up, the quantity of oil in the engine is probably too low.
Check as soon as possible the oil level or top up ⇒page 228, “Replenishing engine
oil” with engine oil.
A peep sounds as an addi tional warning signal.
The following text will be displayed in the information display*: Check oil level!
The warning light will go out if the bonnet is left open for more than 30 seconds. If
no engine oil has been replenished, the warning light will come on again after
driving about 100 km. Warning light
 flashes
A fault on the engine oil level sensor is in dicated additionally by an audible signal
and the warning light coming on several ti mes after the ignition has been switched
on.
In this case have the engine inspecte d without delay by a specialist garage.
The following text will be displayed in the information display*: Oil sensor Workshop!
Fuel reserve 
The warning light  comes on, if the fuel level is still below 9 litres.
An audible signal sounds as an additional warning signal.
The following text will be displayed in the information display*: Please refuel! Range...km
Note
The Text in the information display* goes out only after refuelling and driving a
short distance.
WARNING (continued)
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Driving and the Environment205
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Avoid driving short distances
Short distances result in an above-average high fuel consumption.
– Avoid driving a distance of no more than 4 km if the engine is cold.
The engine and catalytic converter mu st first have reached their optimal operating
temperature in order to effectively reduce fu el consumption and pollutant emis-
sions.
The cold engine vehicle consumes approx. 15 - 20 litres/100 km of fuel immediately
after starting. Fuel co nsumption drops to 10 litres/100 km after just 1 kilometre. The
engine reaches its operating temperat ure (outside temperature and engine
dependent) only after about 4 to 10 kilometres and the fuel consumption then
stabilizes. You should therefore avoid driving short distances whenever possible.
An important factor in this connection is also the ambient temperature. The
⇒ fig. 203 shows the different fuel consumptions for the same distance, on the one
hand at +20°C and on the other hand at -10°C. Your vehicle has a higher fuel
consumption in winter than in summer.
Checking tyre inflation pressures
Tyres which are correctly inflated save fuel.
Always ensure that your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure at all times. The
rolling resistance will be increased if the tyre filling pressure is too low. This will not only increase fuel consumption but also
tyre wear and the driving behaviour will
worsen.
Always check the inflation pressure of the tyres when cold.
Do not drive with winter tyres all year round for this costs about 10 % more fuel.
Winter tyres are also louder.
No unnecessary ballast
Transporting ballast costs fuel.
The fact that every kilogram of extra weight increases your fuel consumption
means that it is worth taking a look in the luggage compartment to avoid trans-
porting any unnecessary ballast.
It is particularly in town traffic, when one is accelerating quite often, that the vehicle
weight will have a significant effect upon the fuel consumption. A rule of thumb
here is that an increase in weight of 100 kilograms will cause an increase in fuel
consumption of about 1 litre/100 kilometres.
You may frequently also leave a roof rack fitted on just out of convenience,
although you no longer need it. The incr eased aerodynamic drag of your vehicle
causes it to use about 10% more fuel th an normal at a speed of 100 - 120 km/h,
even when you are not carr ying a load on the roof.
Saving electricity
Generating electricity costs fuel.
– Switch off electrical components as soon as you no longer need them.
When the engine is running, the alternator generates and supplies electrical power.
The greater the load on the alternator as a result of having a large number of elec-
trical components switched on, the more fuel will be consumed for operating the
alternator.
Fig. 203 Fuel consumption
in litres/100 km at different
temperatures
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Inspecting and replenishing225
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
– Grip with the hand under the radiator grille and lift up the bonnet.
– Take the bonnet support out of its holder and set it in the opening designed for it ⇒page 224, fig. 210 .
Closing the bonnet
– Lift the bonnet slightly and unhook the bonnet support. Press the bonnet support into the hold er designed to hold it.
– Allow the bonnet to drop from a height of about 20 cm into the lock - bonnet do not press down on it !
WARNING
•Never open the bonnet if you see that steam or coolant is flowing out of
the engine compartment - risk of scaldi ng! Wait long enough until the steam
or coolant has stopped escaping.
•For safety reasons, the bonnet must always be properly closed when
driving. One should therefore check that the lock has in fact engaged prop-
erly after closing the bonnet.
•Stop your vehicle immediately while driv ing if you notice that the lock is
not properly engaged and close the bonnet properly - risk of an accident!
Caution
Never open the bonnet using the hand le - danger of causing damage.
Working in the engine compartment
Particular care is required when carrying out any work in the engine
compartment!
There is a risk of injuries, scalding, accidents and fire when working in the
engine compartment, e.g. inspecting and replenishing oil and other fluids. For
this reason, it is essential to comply with the warning instructions stated below and with the general applicable
rules of safety. The engine compart-
ment of your car is a hazardous area ⇒ .
WARNING
•Never open the bonnet if you see that steam or coolant is flowing out of
the engine compartment - risk of scaldi ng! Wait long enough until the steam
or coolant has stopped escaping.
•Switch off the engine and pull out the ignition key.
•Apply the handbrake firmly.
•If your vehicle is fitted with a ma nual gearbox, move the gearshift lever
into Neutral, or if it is fitted with automatic gearbox, move the selector lever
into position P.
•Allow the engine to cool down.
•Keep children clear of the engine compartment.
•Never spill oil and other fluids over the hot engine. Such fluids (e.g. the
antifreeze contained in the coolant) may ignite!
•Avoid short circuits in the electrical system - particularly on the battery.
•Never place your hand into the radiator fan as long as the engine is still
warm. The fan might suddenly start running!
•Never open the cap of the coolant expa nsion bottle as long as the engine
is still warm. The cooling system is pressurized!
•Cover over the cap of the coolant expansion reservoir with a large cloth
when opening it as protection for your face, hands and arms from hot steam
or hot coolant.
•Do not let objects, such as e.g cleaning cloth or tools lie in the engine
compartment.
•If you wish to work under the vehicle, you must secure the vehicle from
rolling away and support it with suitable supporting blocks: the car jack is
not sufficient for this - risk of injury!
•In cases where it be necessary to carry out inspection work when the
engine is running there is an additional risk from rotating parts (e.g. the V-
ribbed belt, alternator, radiator fan) and from the high-voltage ignition
system. Please observe in addition the following:
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Index295
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Index
A
Abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
ABS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Adjusting seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76, 164 electrically . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Adjusting the steering wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Air conditioning system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 Air outlet vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Recirculated air mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 Deployment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Front airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Head airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Side airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Airbag system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Alternator Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Antilock brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Antilock brake system (ABS) Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Anti-theft alarm system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Ashtray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Auto Check Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Auto Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Automatic gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Emergency programme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Kickdown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Selector lever-emergency unlocking . . . . . . . 140
Tiptronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Automatic light control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Automatic seat adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Automatic vehicle wash systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Automatic wiper/washer system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Avoiding damage to your vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
B
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41, 232 change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Inspecting the electrolyte level . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Operation in winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Before setting off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Belt Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Belt tensioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Bluetooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144, 153 Bonnet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15, 224
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Boot lid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Brake Handbrake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Brake booster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Brake pads Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Buttons for the central locking system . . . . . . . . . . 47
Buttons on the driver's door Power windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
C
Car jack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246, 251
Car state . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Catalytic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
CD changer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Central locking system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
unlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Changing a wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Changing bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
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