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

Inspecting and replenishing
170
Battery with a charge level indicator, the so-called magic eye*There is a so-called magic eye
⇒fig. 157
located on the top of the battery. The
“magic eye” changes its colour in line with the charge state and the electrolyte level of the battery. Air bubbles can influence the colour of th
e “magic eye”. For this reason carefully
knock on the “magic eye” before carrying out the check.•
Green colour - the battery is adequately charged.
•
Dark colour - the battery has to be charged
•
Colourless or yellow colour - have the battery checked by a specialist garage.
Batteries, which are more than 5 years old, must be replaced. We recommend you have the electrolyte level inspected and adjusted to the correct level or the battery replaced if necessary by
a specialist garage.
Caution
If the vehicle has not been driven for more than 3 to 4 weeks, the battery will discharge because certain electrical comp
onents consume electricity (e.g. control
units) also in idle state. You can prevent
the discharging of the battery by discon-
necting the negative terminal or charging
the battery constantly with a very low
charging current. Please also refer to
the notes when working on the battery
⇒ page 168, “Working on the battery”.
Inspecting the electrolyte levelThe battery is practically
maintenance-free
under normal operating conditions.
We do, however, recommend that you have
the electrolyte level inspected from
time to time by a specialist garage when outside temperatures are high or when driving on long trips. You should also have the electrolyte level
⇒page 170
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 specialist garage before the start of the winter and recharged if necessary.
WARNING
Never charge a frozen or thawed battery - risk of explosion and caustic burns. Replace a frozen battery.Charging the battery A properly charged battery is essential for reliably starting the engine.– Read the warning notes
⇒
in “Working on the battery” on
page 168 and
⇒
.
– Switch the ignition and all electrical components off.
Fig. 157 Battery with a charge level indicator
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Inspecting and replenishing
171
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
– Only for “quick-charging”: Disconnect
both battery cables (first of all
“negative”, then “positive”).
– Carefully attach the terminal clam
ps 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 ampera
ges (as for example from a
mini-charger
). Please also
refer to the instructions from the charger manufacturer. A charging current of 0.1 of the total batter
y capacity (or lower) is that which should
be used until full charging is achieved. It is, however, necessary to disconnect both
cables before charging the battery with
high amperages, so-called “
quick-charging
”.
“Quick-charging” a battery is
dangerous
⇒
in “Working on the battery” on
page 168. It requires a special charger and appropriate knowledge. We therefore recommend that you have your battery qu
ick-charged only by your specialist
garage. A discharged battery may already
freeze
at temperatures just below 0°C
⇒
. We
recommend that you no longer use a ba
ttery which has thawed out because the
casing of the battery may be cracked through the formation of ice and this would allow battery electrolyte to flow out. The vent plugs of the battery should not be opened for charging.
WARNING
Never charge a frozen or thawed battery - risk of explosion and caustic burns. Replace a frozen battery.Disconnecting and reconnecting the batteryOn disconnecting and reconnecting the battery the following functions are initially deactivated or are no longer able to operate fault-free. We recommend having the vehicle checked by
a specialist garage to ensure full
functionality of all electrical systems.Replacing the batteryYou should only replace a battery with a
new battery of the same capacity, voltage
(12 V), amperage and of the same size. Specialist garages have a range of suitable batteries available. We recommend that you only have an old ba
ttery disposed of by a specialist garage
since it does require special disposal.
For the sake of the environment
Batteries contain pois
onous substances such as sulphu
ric acid and lead. They must
be disposed of in accordance with loca
l environmental protection regulations and
on no account as domestic waste.Operation
Operating measure
Electrical power window
(operational faults)
⇒page 46
Enter radio code number
see Radio Operating Instructions
Set hours
⇒page 19
Data in the multi-functional indicator* are deleted.
⇒ page 19
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Inspecting and replenishing
172
Windshield washer systemThe windshield washer reservoir contains
the cleaning fluid for the windscreen or
rear window. The reservoir is located at the front right of the engine compartment ⇒ fig. 158
.
The
filling level
of the container is 3 litres, 5.5 li
tres on vehicles which also have a
headlight washing system. Clear water is not sufficient to intensivel
y clean the windscreen
and headlights. We
therefore recommend using clean washing wa
ter together with the screen cleaner
from Škoda genuine accessorie
s (in winter additionally with antifreeze) which is
capable of removing stubborn dirt. Follow
the instructions for use on the packaging
when using screen cleaning products. You should always add antifreeze to the
cleaning water in wi
nter even if your
vehicle is fitted with heated windscreen washer nozzles*. It is also possible in exceptional cases to use methylated spirits when no screen cleaner with antifreeze is
available. The concentration
of methylated spirits must
not be more than 15 %. Please note, howeve
r, that the antifreeze protection at this
concentration is only adequate down to -5°C.
WARNING
Read and observe the warning notes
⇒page 160, “Working in the engine
compartment” before working in the engine compartment.
Caution
•
On no account should you add radiator
antifreeze or other additives to the
windscreen washer fluid.•
If the vehicle is fitted with headlight
cleaning system, you should only add
cleaning products which do not attack th
e polycarbonate coating of the headlights
to the windscreen washer fluid. Please contact your specialist garage, who will tell you which cleaning agent you can use.
Fig. 158 Engine compart- ment: Windshield washer fluid reservoir
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Wheels and Tyres
173
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Wheels and TyresWheelsGeneral information•
New tyres do not offer optimal grip at first and should therefore be run in for
about 500 km at a moderate speed and an
appropriately cautious style of driving.
You will also profit from longer tyre life.•
The tread depth of new tyres may differ
because of design features and the
configuration of the tread (depending on
the type of tyre and the manufacturer).
•
Drive over curbs on the side of the road
and other such obstacles slowly and,
where possible, at a right 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 bodies 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 appropriatel
y slow speed and carefully to the nearest
specialist garage in order to have your vehicle inspected.•
Also protect your tyres from contact with oil, grease and fuel.
•
Immediately replace any dust caps of the valves which have got lost.
•
Mark wheels before removing them so th
at their previous direction of running
can be maintained when mounted them again.•
Always store wheels or tyres which been removed in a cool, dry and, where
possible, dark place. Tyres which are not fixed to a wheel trim should be stored upright.
WARNING
•
New tyres during the first 500 km do not offer optimal grip and should
therefore be run appropriately - risk of accident!•
Never drive with damaged tyres - risk of accident!
Note
Please observe the various differing legal requirements regarding tyres.Tyre lifeThe life of your tyres very much depends on the following points: Tyre pressure The working life of tyres will be shortened considerably if the tyres are insufficiently or over-inflated and this will have an advers
e effect on the handli
ng 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 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
⇒fig. 159
. The inflation pressures for
winter tyres
are 20 kPa (0.2 bar)
higher than those for summer tyres
⇒page 177.
The tyre pressure should be at the highest
pressure specified for your vehicle at all
times.
Fig. 159 An opened fuel filler flap with a tyre size and tyre inflation pressure table
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Wheels and Tyres
174
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 imbalance and which makes themselves felt through vibration in the steering. You should have the wheels rebalanced
since any imbalance increases wear-and-
tear on the steering, the suspension and
tyres. A wheel must also be rebalanced
when a new tyre is fitted and each time a tyre is repaired. Wheel alignment errors Incorrect wheel alignment at the front and re
ar 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 notice any unusual tyre wear.
WARNING
•
If the inflation pressure is too low,
the tyre must perform a greater flexing
work. At higher speeds the tyre will warm up as a result of this. This can result in tread separation and even a tyre blowout.•
Immediately replace the damaged rims or tyres.For the sake of the environment
Tyres which are insufficiently inflated increase your fuel consumption.
Wear indicatorsThe base of the tread of the original tyres has wear indicators 1.6 mm high, installed at right angles to the direction of travel. These wear indicators are located at 6 - 8 points depending on the make and are evenly spaced around the circumference of the tyre
⇒fig. 160
. Markings on the walls of the
tyres through the letters “TWI”,
triangular symbols or other symbols identi
fy the position of the wear indicators.
A remaining tread of just 1.6 mm, measured in the grooves of the tread next to the wear indicators, means that your tyres
have reached their legally permissible
minimum tread depth.
WARNING
•
You must have your tyres replaced with new ones at the latest when the
wear indicators have been worn do
wn. The legally permissible minimum
tread depth should be observed.•
Worn tyres do not provide the necessar
y adhesion to the road surface at
high speeds on wet roads. One coul
d experience “aquaplaning” (uncon-
trolled movements of the vehicle - “swimming” on a wet road surface).
Fig. 160 Tyre tread with wear indicators
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Wheels and Tyres
175
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Changing wheels aroundIf significantly greater wear is present on the front tyres, we recommend changing the front wheels around with the rear wheels as shown in the diagram
⇒fig. 161
.
You will then obtain approximately the same life for all the tyres. It may be advantageous to swap the tyre
s over “crosswise” when certain types of
wear characteristic arise on
the running surface of the tyres (but not in the case of
unidirectional tyres). Specialist garages are familiar with details. We recommend that you change the wheels around every 10 000 km in order to achieve even wear on all wheels and to obtain optimal tyre life.New tyres and wheelsTyres and wheel rims are important design
elements. One should therefore use the
tyres and wheel rims which have been released for use by Škoda Auto. They are exactly matched to the vehicle type and th
erefore contribute significantly to good
road holding and safe driving characteristics
⇒
.
Only fit radial tyres of the same type on
all 4 wheels, size (rolling circumference)
and, if possible, the same tread pattern on one axle. The specialist garages have access to the most current information about which tyres we have released
for use on your vehicle.
We recommend that you have any work rela
ting to tyres or wheels carried out by a
specialist garage
. Specialist garages have all of the necessary special tools and
replacement parts available plus the requir
ed specialist knowledge and are also in
a position to properly dispose of the old tyres. A large number of specialist garages also have an attractive range of tyres and wheels available. The tyre/wheel combinations which are appr
oved for your vehicle are indicated in
your vehicle documents. Approval and lice
nsing may differ according to the legis-
lation prevailing in individual countries. Proper knowledge of the tyre data makes it easier for you to select the correct type of tyre. Tyres do, for example, have the following
inscription
on their walls:
195 / 65 R 15 91 T
What this means is: The following
speed restrictions
apply to tyres.
Fig. 161 Changing wheels around
195
Tyre wid th i n m m
65
Height/width ratio in %
R
Code letter for the type of tyre -
R adial
15
Diameter of wheel in inches
91
Load index
T
Speed symbol
Speed symbol
Permissible maximum speed
R
170 km/h
S
180 km/h
T
190 km/h
H
210 km/h
V
240 km/h
W
270 km/h
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Wheels and Tyres
176
The date of manufacture
is a lso s tated on the tyre wal l (poss ibly o nl y on the
inside

of wheel):
DOT ... 50 08...
means, for example, that the tyre was manufactured in the 50th week of the year 2008. If the
spare wheel*
differs from the tyres fitted to the vehicle (e.g. winter tyres or
low-profile tyres), the spare wheel* should only be used for a short time in the event of a puncture and when adopting an
appropriately cautious style of driving.
It should be replaced as quickl
y as possible by a normal wheel.
WARNING
•
Only use those tyres or wheel rims
which have been approved for your
model of Škoda Auto vehicle. Failure to observe this instruction will adversely affect the road safety of your vehicle - risk of accident! Approval and licencing of your vehicle on public roads may also become void as a result.•
You must on no account drive at a higher speed than is permissible for
y our t yre s - ris k of a n ac cid e n t re su lti ng fro m ty re d a m ag e a nd lo ss o f c ont rol over your vehicle.•
Tyres which are 6 years old or more should only be fitted in exceptional
cases and when adopting an appropriately cautious style of driving.•
Never fit tyres which have already been used without having adequate
knowledge of their previous history. Ty
res age even if they have not been
used at all or only very little. A spare tyre must only be used in exceptional cases and only then when adopting an appropriately cautious style of driving.•
Do not, where possible, replace indivi
dual tyres but at least replace them
on both wheels of a given axle at the same time. Always fit the tyres with the deeper tread depth to the front wheels.
For the sake of the environment
Old tyres must be disposed
of in conformity with the appropriate regulations.
Note
It is not normally possible to fit wheels
from other models of cars for technical
reasons. This may also apply in certain
circumstances to the wheels of the same
type of vehicle.Wheel boltsWheels and
wheel bolts
are matched to each other in
terms of design. Each time
you fit other wheels - e.g. light alloy wheels
or wheels with winter tyres - you must
therefore also use the matching wheel bolts of the correct length and shape of spherical cap. This is essent
ial to ensure that the wheels are tightly fitted and that
the brake system operates properly. If you retrofit
wheel trims
(or have this done), please also ensure that an adequate
flow of air remains assured for cooling the brake system. The specialist garages are informed abou
t the technical possibilities which exist
regarding converting or retrofitti
ng wheels, tyres and wheel trims.
WARNING
•
In case of incorrect treatment of th
e wheel bolts, the
wheel can loosen
when the car is moving - risk of accident!•
The wheel bolts must be clean and must
turn easily. However, they must
never be treated with grease or oil.•
If the wheel bolts are tightened to a too low tightening torque, the rim
can lossen when the car is moving - risk of accident! A tightening torque which is too high can damage the bolts and threads and this can result in permanent deformation of the contact surfaces on the rims.
Caution
The prescribed tightening torque of the wh
eel bolts for steel and light alloy wheels
is 120 Nm.
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Wheels and Tyres
177
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Winter tyresThe handling of your vehicle will be significantly improved when driving on wintry roads if you fit winter tyres. Summer tyres do not offer the same grip on ice, snow and at temperatures below 7 °C because of
their construction (width, rubber blend,
tread pattern). This partic
ularly applies to vehicles
which are equipped with
low-
profile tyres
or high-speed tyres
(code index H or V on wall of tyre).
Winter tyres must be mounted on all four wheels to obtain the best handling char- acteristics. You must only fit those types of winter tyre which are approved for your vehicle. The permissible
sizes of winter tyres
are stated in your vehicle documents. Approvals
may differ because of national legislation. Please remember that the tyres should be in
flated to 20 kPa (0.2 bar) more than is
the case for summer tyres
⇒page 173, fig. 159
.
Winter tyres no longer
offer the same winter performance once the
tyre tread
has
worn down to a depth of about 4 mm. Ageing
also causes winter tyres to lose most of their winter performance properties
- even in cases where the remaining tread depth is still clearly more than 4 mm. Speed restrictions
apply to winter tyres as well as to summer tyres
⇒page 175,
⇒
.
You can fit winter tyres of a lower speed ca
tegory to your vehicle provided that you
also do not drive faster than the permis
sible maximum speed fo
r such tyres, even
if the possible maximum speed of your ve
hicle is higher. The corresponding tyre
category can damage the tyres when ex
ceeding the permissi
ble maximum speed.
Please pay attention to the notes if
you decide to fit winter tyres
⇒page 173.
You can also fit so-called “all-year tyres” instead of winter tyres.Please contact your specialist garage if
there are any points which are not clear who
will be able to provide you with information regarding the maximum speed for your tyres.
WARNING
You must on no account drive your car at more than the permissible maximum speed for your winter tyres - risk of an accident resulting from tyre damage and loss of control over your car.
For the sake of the environment
Fit your summer tyres on again in good ti
me since summer tyres offer you better
grip and handling on roads which are free of snow and ice as well as ar tempera-tures below 7 °C - the braking distance is shorter, there is less tyre noise, tyre wear is reduced and fuel consumption is reduced.
Note
Please observe the various differing legal requirements regarding tyres.Snow chainsSnow chains must only be mounted on the front wheels. When driving on wintry roads, snow chains
improve not only traction, but also the
braking performance. For technical reasons, it is only permissi
ble to fit snow chains with the following
wheel/tyre combinations: Only use
fine-link snow chains
. They must not project more than 15 mm -
including the chain lock. Remove the
full wheel trims
if you wish to fit snow
chains to the wheels.
Wheel size
Depth (D)
Ty re s i z e
6J x 14
38 mm
175/80
6J x 15
38 mm
195/65
5.5J x 16
36 mm
205/55
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Wheels and Tyres
178
Observe the national legal requirements
relating to the maximum vehicle speed
with snow chains.
WARNING
Please pay attention to the information in the supplied fitting instructions of the snow chain manufacturer.
Caution
You must take the chains off as soon as you drive on roads which are free of snow. They adversely affect the handling of your
vehicle, damage the tyres and are rapidly
destroyed.
Note
We recommend that you use snow chains
from the Škoda genuine accessories.
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Accessories, changes and
replacement of parts
179
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Accessories, changes and replacement of partsAccessories and replacement partsŠkoda vehicles have been bu
ilt according to the latest discoveries in safety engi-
neering. Thus one should no
t change the condition in which the vehicle was deliv-
ered from the manufacturer without some thought. The following guidelines should be observed when a vehicle is to be retrofitted with accessories, have technical ch
anges made to it or a par t has to be replaced at some
time in the future.•
Advise should always be obtained from a specialist garage
before
buying any
accessories and
before
making any technical changes
⇒
.
•
This is particularly the case when acce
ssories are bought in a foreign country.
•
Škoda Genuine Accessories which have b
een released for use and Skoda orig-
inal parts can be bought from specialist
garages that professionally undertake the
assembly of parts which were purchased there.•
All Škoda original accessories which are listed in the catalogue of original acces-
sories such as sliding/tilting roofs, sp
oilers, wheel rims et
c. are homologized.
•
Radios, aerials and other electrical acce
ssories should only be installed by a
specialist garage.•
The guidelines issued by Škoda Auto must be observed when making technical
changes.•
This is to ensure that no technical damage
occurs to the vehicle, that travelling
and operating safety are maintained and that the chnages are permissible. The specialist garages also undertake this work professionally or refer it to another specialist garage in special cases. Any damage which is done caused by technical changes made without consulting a Skoda dealer is
excluded from the guarantee.
WARNING
•
We advise you, in your own interest, to only use Škoda Genuine Accesso-
ries and Škoda original parts which have
been expressly approved for use on
your Škoda. Reliability, safety and su
itabiliity have been established for
these Škoda original parts.•
We cannot guarantee suitability of installation into your vehicle of other
products despite keeping a constant ey
e on market developments (also not
in the case where there is an attestation or permission can be produced).Technical changesInterference on the electronic components and their software can lead to opera-tional faults. This interference can also impair not directly affected systems because of the networking of the electronic co
mponents. This means that the operating
safety of your vehicle can
be considerably jeopardized,
a greater wear of vehicle
parts can occur and finally the vehi
cle registration documents expire.
We trust that you will understand that
Škoda Auto cannot be liable for damage
resulting from unprofessional work. We therefore recommend that you have all work carried out with Škoda original parts at specialist garages.
WARNING
Work or modifications on your vehicle, which have been carried out unpro-fessionally, can cause operational faults - risk of accident!Vehicles of the group N1The vehicle of the group N1 is a box car wh
ich is designed and manufactured for the
transportation of goods.
WARNING (continued)
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