SKODA OCTAVIA 2009 2.G / (1Z) Owner's Manual

Inspecting and replenishing
230
Losses can only occur through the pressure
relief in the cap of the coolant expan-
sion bottle which is completely free of leak
s if the coolant boils as a result of over-
heating and is forced out of the cooling system.
WARNING
Read and observe the warning notes
⇒page 225, “Working in the engine
compartment” before working in the engine compartment.
Caution
One should contact a specialist garage as soon as possible if the source of over-heating itself cannot be
determined and removed, since there may be grave
damage to the engine.Replenishing the coolant– Switch the engine off. – Allow the engine to cool down. – Place a cloth over the cap of the coolant expansion reservoir
⇒
page 229, fig. 212
and unscrew the cap
carefully
by turning it to the
left
⇒
.
– Top up the coolant. – Screw the cap tight until it is heard to lock.The coolant which you use for replenishing the system, must comply with one specific specification
⇒page 228. Do not use an alternative additive if the coolant
additive G12 PLUS is not available in exceptional cases. Just top up the system with water and as soon as possible arrange ad
justment to correct the mixing ratio of
water and coolant additive again by a specialist garage. Only use fresh coolant for topping up the system.
Do not fill up over the “MAX” marking! Excess coolant which is heated up is forced out of the cooling system through the pressure relief valve in the cap of the coolant compensation bottle. Wait until the engine has cooled down for a system which has suffered a major loss of coolant before pouring in coolant. This is necessary to avoid engine damage.
WARNING
•
The cooling system is pressurized! Do not open the cap of the coolant
expansion bottle if the engine is
still hot - risk of scalding!
•
The coolant additive and thus all of the coolant is harmful to your health.
Avoid contact with the coolant. Coolant vapours are also harmful to the health. It is important, therefore, to always safely store any coolant additive in its original container out of the reach of children - risk of poisoning!•
If any splashes of coolant get into yo
ur eyes, rinse out
your eyes immedi-
ately with clear water and contact a doctor as soon as possible.•
You should also consult a doctor without delay if you have inadvertently
swallowed coolant.
Caution
Do not continue your journey if for some reason it is not possible under the conditions prevailing to top up with coolant. Switch of the engine and contact

and obtain professional assistance from a specialist garage.
For the sake of the environment
Do not re-use coolant if it is necessary to
drain the coolant in the system. It should
be collected and disposed of in comp
liance with environmental protection
regulations.
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Inspecting and replenishing
231
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Radiator fan The radiator fan may switch on suddenly.The radiator fan is driven by an electr
ic motor and controlled according to the
coolant temperature. The radiator fan may continue running fo
r up to 10 minutes after the engine has
been switched off - even if
the ignition is also off. It
may also switch on suddenly
after a certain time, if•
the coolant temperature has risen beca
use of an accumulation of heat or
•
the warm engine compartment is heated
up additionally by
strong sunlight.
WARNING
You must therefore be aware when work
ing in the engine compartment that
the fan may switch on suddenly - risk of injury!Brake fluidInspecting the brake fluid level
The brake fluid reservoir is located on the left of the engine compartment. The brake fluid reservoir on right-hand steering models is positioned on the other side of the engine compartment. – Switch the engine off. – Open the bonnet
⇒
page 224.
– Inspect the brake fluid level in the reservoir
⇒
fig. 213
. The level must
be between the “MIN” and “MAX” markings.
A slight drop in the fluid level results when driving due to normal wear-and-tear and automatic adjustment of the br
ake pads, and is perfectly normal.
There may be an indication of a leak in the brake system, however, if the fluid level drops significantly within a short time or if it drops below the “MIN” marking. If the brake fluid level is too low, this is indicated by the warning light
⇒page 40, “Brake
system
” lighting up in the instru
ment cluster. In this case
stop immediately and
do not drive any further! Obtain professional assistance.
WARNING
•
Read and observe the warning notes
⇒page 225, “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! Obtain 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. The specification for
the brake fluid is “FMVSS 116 DOT 4”.
Fig. 213 Engine compart- ment: Brake fluid reservoir
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Inspecting and replenishing
232
We recommend that you have the brake fluid replaced by a
Škoda Service Partner

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 Škoda Service Partner.BatteryWorking on the battery
The battery is located in the engine
compartment in a polyester cover or
in a plastic cover*. – Open the battery cover in direction of arrow
⇒
fig. 214
or press the
interlock on the side of the battery cover
⇒
fig. 215
, fold the cover up
and remove the battery.
– 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.
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).
Fig. 214 Engine compart- ment: Polyester cover of the vehicle battery
Fig. 215 Engine compart-ment: Plastic cover of the vehicle battery
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Inspecting and replenishing
233
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
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 jump-start the batteries which
have a too low electrolyte level -
risk of explosion and caustic burns!•
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 th
e 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 236, also after connecting the battery.
WARNING (continued)
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Inspecting and replenishing
234
Battery with a two-tone indicatorAn indicator for the electrolyte level, the so-called magic eye
⇒fig. 216
, is located
on the top of the battery. The indicator change
s its colour in line with the electrolyte
level in the battery. Air bubbles can influence the colour of the
indicator. For this reason carefully knock
on the indicator before
carrying out the check.
•
Black colour - electrolyte level is correct.
•
Colourless or light yellow colour - electr
olyte level too low, the battery must be
replaced. Batteries, which are more than 5 years old, must be replaced. We recommend you have the battery checked or repl
aced 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
⇒

in “Working on the battery” on page 232.
Note
•
Batteries with two-tone indicator, which
are mounted as of factory, are marked
with a code which always begins with
5K0
. The exact marking can be e.g.
5K0 915 105 D
.
•
Replacement batteries with two-tone in
dicator, which were obtained from
Škoda original accessories, are marked with the code
000 915 105 Dx
, whereby
“x” stands for a variable. The exact marking can be e.g.
000 915 105 DB
.
Battery with a three-tone indicatorAn indicator for the electrolyte level and the charge state, the so-called magic eye ⇒ fig. 216
, is located on the top of the battery. The indicator changes its colour in
line with the charge state of and the electrolyte level in the battery. Air bubbles can influence the co
lour of the indicator. For this reason carefully knock
on the indicator before carrying out the check.•
Green colour - the battery is adequately charged.
•
Dark colour - the battery has to be charged
•
Colourless or yellow colour - electrolyte level too low, the battery must be
replaced. Batteries, which are more than 5 years old, must be replaced. We recommend you have the battery checked or replaced by a specialist garage.
Caution
If the vehicle has not been driven for mo
re 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 constant
ly with a very low
charging current. Please also refer to
the notes when working on the battery
⇒

in “Working on the battery” on page 232.
Fig. 216 The battery: Show
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Inspecting and replenishing
235
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Note
•
Batteries with three-tone indicator, which are mounted as of factory, are
marked with a code which always begins with
1J0
, 7N0
or 3B0
. The exact marking
can be e.g.
1J0 915 105 AC
.
•
Replacement batteries with three-tone
indicator, which were obtained from
Škoda original accessories, are marked with the code
000 915 105 Ax
, whereby
“x” stands for a variable. The exact marking can be e.g.
000 915 105 AB
.
Inspecting the electrolyte levelThe battery is practically
maintenance-free
under normal oper
ating conditions.
We do, however, recommend that you have
the electrolyte level inspected from
time to time by a Škoda Service Partner when outside temperatures are high or when driving on long trips. You should also have the electrolyte level
⇒page 235
checked each time the battery is charged. The electrolyte level of the battery will al
so be checked 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 Škoda Service Partner 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 esse
ntial for reliably starting the
engine.– Read the warning notes
⇒
in “Working on the battery” on
page 232 and
⇒
.
– Switch the ignition and a
ll electrical components off.
– Only for “quick-charging”: Disconnect
both battery cables (first of all
“negative”, then “positive”).
– Carefully attach the terminal clamps of the charger to the battery
terminals (red = “positive”, black = “negative”).
– You can now plug the mains cable 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 amperages (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 battery
capacity (or lower)
is that which should
be used until full charging is achieved. It is, however, necess
ary to disconnect both cables be
fore charging the battery with
high amperages, so-called “
quick-charging
”.
“Quick-charging” a battery is
dangerous
⇒
in “Working on the battery” on
page 232. It requires a special charger and appropriate knowledge. We therefore recommend that you have your battery qu
ick-charged only by your Škoda Service
Par tner.
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Inspecting and replenishing
236
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 thro
ugh 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.•
Never charge a battery which has a to
o low electrolyte level - risk of
explosion and caustic burns.Disconnecting and reconnecting the batteryOn disconnecting and reconnecting the batte
ry the following functions are initially
deactivated or are no longer able to operate fault-free. We recommend having the vehicle checked
by a Škoda Service Partner 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. Škoda Service Partners have a range of suit- able batteries available.
We recommend that you only have an ol
d battery disposed of by your Škoda
Service Partner since it does require special disposal.
For the sake of the environment
Batteries contain poisonous 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.Windshield washer systemThe windshield washer reserv
oir contains the cl
eaning fluid for th
e windscreen or
rear window and for the headlamp cleaning system*. The reservoir is located at the front right of the engine compartment
⇒fig. 217
.
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 intensively 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 instructio
ns 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*.
Operation
Operating measure
Electrical power window (operational faults)
⇒page 55
Enter radio code number
see Radio Operating Instructions
Set hours
⇒page 21
Data in the multi-functional indicator* are deleted.
⇒ page 21
Fig. 217 Engine compart- ment: Windshield washer fluid reservoir
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Inspecting and replenishing
237
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
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 225, “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 headligh
t cleaning system, you should only add
cleaning products which do
not attack the poly
carbonate coating of the headlights
to the windscreen washer fluid. Please co
ntact your Škoda Service Partner, who will
tell you which cleaning agent you can use.
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Wheels and Tyres
238
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 (d
epending 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 angle 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 bodi
es from the tyre profile.
•
Damage to tyres and wheels is frequent
ly not visible. Unus
ual 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 appropriately slow speed and carefully to the nearest specialist garage in order to have your vehicle inspected.•
Also protect your tyres from cont
act 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. Unidirectional tyres* The direction of rotation of the tyres is marked by arrows on the wall of the tyre. This indicates the direction of rotation of the tyre, and it is essential that the tyres are fitted on to run in this direction. Only then are the tyres able to provide the optimal properties in terms of grip, low no
ise, wear-and-tear and aquaplaning.
Further information concerning th
e use of unidirectional tyres
⇒page 242.
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 co
nsiderably 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 pressure
at least once a month and also before
Fig. 218 An opened fuel filler flap with a tyre size and tyre inflation pressure table
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Wheels and Tyres
239
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
setting off on a long trip. Please 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
⇒page 238, fig. 218
. The inflation pressures for
winter tyres
are 20 kPa
(0.2 bar) higher than those for summer tyres
⇒page 242.
The tyre pressure should be at the highest pressure specified for your vehicle at all times. The tyre inflation pressure of the emergency spare wheel R 18 is 420 kPa (4.2 bar).Always 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 im
balance 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 adverse effect on vehicle safety. Contact your specialist garage if you no
tice 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.
•
Tyres which are 6 years old or more should only be fitted in exceptional
cases and when adopting an appropriately cautious style of driving.
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. 219
. 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 (continued)
Fig. 219 Tyre tread with wear indicators
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