brakes SKODA OCTAVIA 2010 2.G / (1Z) User Guide

Intelligent Technology
172
The Brake Assist is able to help you achieve a shorter braking distance in emergency
situations by rapidly producing the pressure required in the brake system. It fully
exploits the attributes of the ABS. After you release the brake pedal, the function of the
Brake Assist is automatically switched off and the brakes operate in the normal way.
The Brake Assist is part of the ESP system. If a fault occurs in the ESP, the Brake Assist
function is also not available. Further information on the ESP page 167.
WARNING

The Brake Assist is also not able to overcome the physical limits of your
vehicle in terms of the braking distance required.

Adapt your speed to the conditions of the road surface and to the traffic situ-
ation.

The increased safety offered by the Brake Assist must not tempt you to take
a greater safety risk than otherwise.
Uphill Start Assist*The uphill start assist makes it easier to start off on steep hills. The system assists a start
off by holding the brake pressure produced by the brake pedal actuation for approx. 2
seconds after releasing the brake pedal. The driver can therefore move his foot from
the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal and start off on the slope, without having to
actuate the handbrake. The brake pressure drops gradually the more you operate the
accelerator pedal. If the vehicle does not start off within 2 seconds, it starts to roll back.
The uphill start assist is active as of a 5 % slope, if the driver door is closed. It is always
active on slopes when in forward or reverse start off. When driving downhill, it is
inactive.Electromechanical power steeringThe power steering enables you to steer the vehicle with le ss physical force.
With the electromechanical power steering , the steering assist is automatically
adapted to the speed and to the steering angle. It is still possible to fully steer the vehicle if the power steering fails or if the engine is
not running (vehicle being towed in). The only difference is that greater physical effort
is required.
If there is a fault in the power steering, the warning light
 or  lights up in the instru-
ment cluster page 30.
WARNING
Contact your specialist garage if the power steering is defective.Tyre pressure monitoring system*The tyre pressure monitoring system compares with the aid of the ABS sensors the
speed and also the rolling circumference of the individual wheels. If the rolling circum-
ference of a wheel is changed, the warning light
 lights up in the instrument cluster
 page 33 and an audible signal sounds. The rolling circumference of the tyre can
change if:

the tyre inflation pressure is too low,

the structure of the tyre is damaged,

the vehicle is loaded on one side,

the wheels of an axle are loaded heavily (e.g. when towing a trailer or when driving
uphill or downhill),

snow chains are mounted,

the temporary spare wheel is mounted,
Fig. 151 Button for setting the tyre
inflation pressure control value
s43s.1.book Page 172 Thursday, May 13, 2010 1:21 PM

Driving and the Environment175
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Driving and the EnvironmentThe first 1 500 kilometres and then afterwardsA new engine
The engine has to be run in during the first 1 500 kilometres.Up to 1 000 kilometres– Do not drive faster than 3/4 of the maximum speed of the gear in use, that is 3/4 of
the maximum permissi ble engine speed.
– Do not use full throttle.
– Avoid high engine revolutions.
– Do not tow a trailer.From 1 000 up to 1 500 kilometres– Increase the power output of the engine gradually up to the full speed of the gear
engaged, that is up to the maxi mum permissible engine revolutions.
During the first operating hours the engine ha s higher internal friction than later until
all of the moving parts have harmonized. Th e driving style which you adopt during the
first approx.1 500 kilometres plays a decisive part in the success of running in your
vehicle.
You should not drive at unnecessarily high engine revolutions even after the
running-in period is complete . The maximum permissible en gine speed is marked by
the beginning of the red zone on the scale of the revolutions counter. Shift up into the
next higher gear on a vehi cle fitted with manual gear box before the red zone is
reached. Extremely high engine revolutions are automatically governed, by the way.
For a vehicle fitted with a manual gearbox the converse situation also applies: Do not
drive at engine revolutions which are too low. Shift down as soon as the engine is no
longer running smoothly.
Caution
All the speed and engine revolution figures ap ply only when the engine is at its normal
operating temperature. Never rev up an engine which is cold, neither when the vehicle
is stationary nor when driving in individual gears.
For the sake of the environment
Not driving at unnecessari ly high engine revolutions and shifting to a higher gear as
early as possible are ways to minimise fu el consumption and operating noise levels
and protects the environment.New tyresNew tyres have to be “run in” since they do not offer optimal grip at first. You should
take account of this fact for the first 500 kilometres and drive particularly carefully.New brake padsAllow for the fact that new brake pads do no t achieve their full braking efficiency until
approximately 200 kilometres. New brake pads must be first “run in” before they
develop their optimal friction force. You ca n, however, compensate for this slightly
reduced braking force by increasing the pressure on the brake pedal.
This guideline also applies to any new brake pads installed at a future date.
During the running-in pe riod, you should avoid excessive stresses on the brakes. This
includes, for example, violent braking, part icularly from very high speeds, and also
when crossing mountain passes.
s43s.1.book Page 175 Thursday, May 13, 2010 1:21 PM

Driving and the Environment
176
Catalytic converterProper operation of the emission cont rol system (catalytic converter) is
of major significance for driving your vehicle in an environmentally
conscious way.Please refer to the following guidelines:
– For vehicles with petrol engine only refuel with unleaded petrol  page 192,
“Grades of petrol”.
– Never run the fuel tank completely empty.
– Do not switch off the ignition while you are driving the vehicle.
– Do not pour too much oil into the engine page 199, “Replenishing engine oil”.
– Do not tow-start the vehicle over a distance of more than 50 metres page 222,
“Tow-starting and towing vehicle”.
If you drive your vehicle in a country in which unleaded petrol is not available, you
must have the catalytic converter replaced la ter when driving the vehicle into a country
in which use of a catalyti c converter is mandatory.
WARNING

In view of the high temperatures which may be produced in the catalytic
converter, one should always park a vehicle in such a way that the catalytic
converter cannot come into contact with easily flammable materials below the
vehicle - a risk of fire!

Never use additional underbody protection or corrosion-protection agents
for the exhaust pipes, catalytic converters or heat shields. Such substances
might ignite when driving - risk of fire!Caution

On vehicles fitted with a catalytic converte r, never let the fuel tank run completely
empty. An irregular fuel supply can result in poor ignition or misfiring. Unburnt fuel
may get into the exhaust system an d damage the catalytic converter.

Filling the tank even only once with le aded petrol will result in the catalytic
converter being destroyed.

If you detect misfir ing, a drop in performance or irregular engine running when
driving, reduce your speed immediately and have the vehicle inspected by the nearest
specialist garage. The symptoms described ma y be caused by a fault in the ignition
system. Unburnt fuel may get into the exhaust system and damage the catalytic
converter.For the sake of the environment
Even if the exhaust system is operating pr operly, a sulphur-like exhaust odour may be
produced under certain oper ating conditions of the engine. This depends on the
sulphur content of the fuel. It is often sufficient to refuel with unleaded premium-grade
petrol of a different brand or at a different filling station.Driving in an economical and environmentally
conscious mannerGeneral
Your personal style of driving is a major factor.Your fuel consumption, any pollution of the environmental and the wear-and-tear to
the engine, brakes and tyres, depend essentially on three factors:
your personal style of driving,

the conditions under which your vehicle is operated,

technical aspects.
You can easily improve your fuel economy by 10 - 15 percent by driving in an econom-
ical way with foresight. This section is intended to provide you with a number of tips on
how to protect the environment and at the same time save money.
The fuel consumption can naturally also be influenced by factors which are beyond the
driver's control. It is, for example, normal for the fuel consumption to increase in
winter and under worsened cond itions such as poor road conditions, towing a trailer,
etc.
The technical requirements for low fuel usage and economic efficiency of the vehicle
have already been built into the vehicle at the works. Special attention has been given
to minimising negative effects on the environment. It is necessary to take note of the
s43s.1.book Page 176 Thursday, May 13, 2010 1:21 PM

Driving and the Environment181
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Driving through bodies of water on roadsIn order to avoid damage to the vehicle wh en driving through bodies of water (e.g.
flooded roads), observe the following:
Determine the depth of the water when driv ing through bodies of water. The water
can reach at the maximum the web on the lower sill of the vehicle fig. 156 .

Drive no more than at walking speed. At a higher speed, a water wave can form in
front of the vehicle which can cause water to penetrate into the air induction system of
the engine or into other parts of the vehicle.

Never let the vehicle stand in the water, never drive backwards and do not switch
off the engine.
WARNING

Driving through water, mud, sludge etc. can reduce the braking power and
extend the braking distance - risk of accident!

Avoid sudden and severe braking manoeuvres immediately after driving
through bodies of water.

After driving through bodies of water, the brakes must be cleaned and dried
as soon as possible by intermittent braking. Only apply the brakes for the
purpose of drying and cleaning the brake discs if the traffic conditions permit
this. Do not place any other road users in jeopardy.
Caution

When driving through bodies of water, pa rts of the vehicle such as the engine,
gearbox, catalytic converter, chassis or electrics can be severely damaged.

Oncoming vehicles can generate water waves which can exceed the permissible
water level for your vehicle.

Potholes, mud or rocks can be hidden under the water making it difficult or impos-
sible to drive through the body of water.

Do not drive through salt water. The salt can lead to corrosion. Immediately rinse
all the parts of the vehicle, which came into contact with the salt water, with fresh
water.Note
After driving through a body of water, we recommend that the vehicle is checked by a
specialist garage.
Fig. 156 Crossing bodies of water
s43s.1.book Page 181 Thursday, May 13, 2010 1:21 PM

Towing a trailer183
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Headlights
Before starting off with a hitched trailer, also check the setting of the headlights. Alter
the setting as necessary with the ai
d of the headlight beam adjuster page 56.
Detachable ball head
The ball rod is detachable on vehicles which feature a factory-fitted towing device. It is
stowed together with separate fitting instru ctions in the spare wheel well in the luggage
compartment of the vehicle.
Further information on the towing device page 184.
Note

We recommend that you also have your vehicle inspected between service inter-
vals if you tow a trailer frequently.

The handbrake on the towing vehicle must be put on when coupling and decou-
pling the trailer.
Driving Tips
Particular caution is required when towing a trailer.– Do not, as far as possible, drive with your vehicle unladen and the trailer laden.
– Do not make full use of the legal maximum speeds. This applies in particular to downhill sections.
– Apply the brakes in good time.
– Keep a check on the coolant temperature gauge if the outside temperature is high.
Distribution of weight
The distribution of the weight is very poor if your vehicle is unladen and the trailer is
laden. Maintain a particularly low speed if you cannot avoid driving with this combina-
tion.
Driving speed
Do not drive faster than 80 km/hour for safety reasons. This also applies for countries
in which higher speeds are allowed. The fact that the driving stability of the vehicle + trailer combination reduces with
increasing speed means that the legally allowed speed should not be used when there
are unfavourable road, weather or wind cond
itions, particularly near accident black
spots.
You must always reduce your speed immediat ely as soon as you detect even just the
slightest swaying of the trailer. On no account attempt to stop the trailer from
“swaying” by accelerating.
Apply the brakes in good time! If the trailer is fitted with a trailer brake, apply the
brakes gently at first and then brake firmly. This will avoid brake jolts resulting from the
trailer wheels locking. Shift down gears in good time before negotiating a downhill
section to allow the engine to also act as a brake.
Engine overheating
Please keep a check on the coolant temperature gauge if you have to negotiate a
lengthy slope in a low gear at a high engi ne speed when the outside temperature is
very high  page 16, “Coolant temperature gauge”.
If the needle of the coolant temperature gauge moves into the right-hand area or even
the red area of the scale, reduce your speed immediately. Stop and switch off the
engine if the warning light
 in the instrument cluster begins flashing. Wait a few
minutes and check the level of coolant in the coolant expansion bottle page 201,
“Inspecting the coolant level”.
Please refer to the following guidelines  page 31, “Coolant temperature/coolant
level ”.
The coolant temperature can be reduced by switching on the heating.
Any increase in the cooling effect of the coolant fan through shifting down a gear and
increasing the engine speed is not possible since the fan speed is independent of the
engine speed. One should also not drop a gear for this reason when towing a trailer as
long as the engine can manage th e slope without any drop in speed.
s43s.1.book Page 183 Thursday, May 13, 2010 1:21 PM

Inspecting and replenishing203
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
WARNING

Read and observe the warning notes page 197, “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. The water content also lowers the boiling point
of the brake fluid.
One may only use new genuine brake fluid from Škoda Auto. The brake fluid must
comply with one of the following standards or specifications:
VW 50114

FMVSS 116 DOT4

DIN ISO 4925 CLASS 4
We recommend that you have the brake fluid replaced by an authorised Škoda
Service Partner as part of an Inspection Service.
WARNING
Using old brake fluid can result in severe stress on the brakes because of the
formation of vapour bubbles in the br ake system. This greatly impairs the
braking efficiency and thus also the safety of your vehicle.
Caution
Brake fluid damages the paintwork of the vehicle.
For the sake of the environment
In view of the problems involved with proper 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 batteryFig. 166 Engine compartment: Polyester cover of the vehicle battery / plastic cover of the
vehicle batteryThe battery is located in the engine compartment in a polyester cover fig. 166 - left,
or in a plastic cover* fig. 166 - right.
– Open the battery cover in direction of arrow fig. 166 or press the interlock
on the side of the battery cover, fold the cover up and remove the battery.
– The installation of the battery co ver takes place in the reverse order.
The edge of the polyester battery cover fig. 166 - left is inserted between the battery
and the side wall of the battery co ver when working on the battery.
Removal and installation of the battery is not recommended since it can, under certain
circumstances, lead to major dama ge. Contact a specialist garage.
There is a risk of injuries, scalding, accidents and burns when carrying out any work on
the battery and on the electrical system. For th is 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 corrosive and must, therefore, be handled with
the greatest of care. Always wear prot ective gloves, eye and skin protection
when handling batteries. Corrosive fumes in the air irritate the air passages and
A1
A2
s43s.1.book Page 203 Thursday, May 13, 2010 1:21 PM

Index263
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Index
AAbroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
ABS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Active driver-steering recommendation . . . . . . . 169
Adjusting seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67, 142 electrically . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Adjusting the steering wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Air conditioning system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Air outlet vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Recirculated air mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 Deployment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Front airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Head airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Side airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Airbag system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150 Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Alternator Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Antilock brake system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Antilock brake system (ABS) Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Anti-theft alarm system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Ashtray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Auto Check Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Auto Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Automatic driving lamp control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Automatic gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Emergency programme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Kickdown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Selector lever-emergency unlocking . . . . . . . 121
Tiptronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Automatic seat adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Automatic vehicle wash systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Automatic wiper/washer system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Avoiding damage to your vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
BBattery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35, 203 change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Inspecting the electrolyte level . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Operation in winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Before setting off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Belt Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Belt tensioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Bonnet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13, 196 Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Boot lid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Brake Handbrake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Brake booster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Brake pads
Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Bulbs Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Button for the central locking system . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Buttons on the driver's door Power windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
CCar state . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Catalytic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Central locking system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
unlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Changing a wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Changing bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Changing the engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Changing wheels around . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Charging the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206 Warning light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Check engine oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Child safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 Side airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Child safety lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
s43s.1.book Page 263 Thursday, May 13, 2010 1:21 PM