tow SKODA OCTAVIA TOUR 2009 1.G / (1U) User Guide
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: SKODA, Model Year: 2009, Model line: OCTAVIA TOUR, Model: SKODA OCTAVIA TOUR 2009 1.G / (1U)Pages: 224, PDF Size: 13.53 MB
Page 94 of 224

Starting-off and Driving
93
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Starting-off and DrivingSetting steering wheel positionYou can set the height and the forw
ard/back position of the steering  
wheel to the desired position. – Adjust the driver seat  
⇒
page 60. 
– Pull the lever below the steering column  
⇒
fig. 103
 down 
⇒
. 
– Set the steering wheel to the desired position  
concerning height and  
forward/back position 
. 
– Then push the lever up against the steering column until it locks into  
place.
WARNING
•
You must not adjust the steering wh 
eel when the vehicle is moving!
•
The driver must maintain a distance of at least 25 cm to the steering  
wheel  
⇒fig. 104
. Not maintaining this minimum distance will mean that the  
airbag system will not be able to properly protect you - hazard!•
For  s a fe t y re a s ons  the  le v e r m ust  a lwa y s b e  fi rm l y pus he d  up t o a vo id  the  
steering wheel altering its position unintentionally when driving - risk of  accident!•
If you adjust the steering wheel furthe 
r towards the head, you will reduce  
the protection offered by the driver airb 
ag in the event of an accident. Check  
that the steering wheel is aligned to the chest.•
When driving, hold the steering wheel 
 with both hands firmly on the  
outer edge in the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock position. Never hold the steering  wheel firmly in the 12 o'clock position or in another way (e.g. in the middle of the steering wheel or  
at the inner steering wheel edge). In such cases,  
injuries to the arms, the hands and  
the head can occur when the driver  
airbag is deployed.
Fig. 103  Adjustable steering  wheel: Lever below steering columnFig. 104  Safe distance to steering wheel
s2g8.b.book  Page 93  Tuesday, April 7, 2009  8:53 AM 
Page 96 of 224

Starting-off and Driving
95
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
•
Let go of the key as soon as the engine starts otherwise there may be damage  
to the starter. The engine running noises may louder at  
first be louder for 
a short time after  
starting the cold engine until oil pressure 
 can be built up in the hydraulic valve  
clearance compensation. This is quite normal and is not an operating problem. If the engine does not start ... You can use the battery of anothe 
r vehicle as a jump-start aid 
⇒page 188. 
It is only possible to tow-start vehicl 
es fitted with a manual gearbox. The tow- 
starting distance must not be more than 50 metres  
⇒page 191.
WARNING
•
Never run the engine in non ventilat
ed or enclosed areas. The exhaust  
gases of the engine contain besides  
the odorless and colourless carbon  
monoxide a poisonous gas - hazard! Carbon monoxide can cause uncon- sciousness and death.•
Never leave your vehicle unattended with the engine running.Caution
•
The starter may only be operated (ignition key position  ), if the engine is not 
running. If the starter is immediately oper 
ated after switching off the engine, the  
starter or the engine can be damaged.•
Avoid high engine revolutions, full throttle and high engine loads as long as the  
engine has not yet reached its normal oper 
ating temperature - risk of damaging the  
engine!•
Vehicles which are fitted wi 
th an exhaust gas catalyti
c converter should not be  
tow-started over a distance of more than 50 metres.
For the sake of the environment
Never warm up the engine when the vehi 
cle is standing. Drive off right away.  
Through this the engine reaches its operating temperature more rapidly and the  pollutant emissions are lower.
Petrol enginesThese engines are fitted with a starter system which selects the correct fuel-air mixture for every external air temperature.•
Do  
not depress
 accelerator before and when starting engine.
•
Interrupt the attempt at starting after 
10 seconds if the engine does not start  
right awayand wait for about 30 se 
conds before repeating the attempt.
•
It is possible that the fuse on the electric
al fuel pump is defect if the engine still  
does not start. Check the fuse and replace it if necessary  
⇒page 192.
•
Contact the nearest specialist garage to obtain professional assistance. 
It may be necessary, if the engine is  
very hot
, to slightly depress the accelerator  
after the engine has started.Diesel enginesGlow plug system Diesel engines are equipped with a glow  
plug system, the preglow period being  
controlled automatically in  
line with the coolant temperature and outside temper- 
ature. The preglow indicator light 
 comes on after the ignition has been switched on.
You should not switch on any major electrical components during the heating  period otherwise the vehicle battery will be drained unnecessarily.•
You should start the engine immediately after the glow plug warning light 
  
has gone out.•
The glow plug warning light will come on for about one second if the engine is  
at a normal operating temperature or if the outside temperature is above +5°C. This means that you can start the engine  
right away
.
•
Interrupt the attempt at starting after 
10 seconds if the engine does not start  
right awayand wait for about 30 se 
conds before repeating the attempt.
•
It is possible that the fuse on the diesel preglow system is defect if the engine  
still does not start. Check the fuse and replace it if necessary  
⇒page 192.
•
Contact the nearest specialist garage to obtain professional assistance.
A3
s2g8.b.book  Page 95  Tuesday, April 7, 2009  8:53 AM 
Page 99 of 224

Starting-off and Driving
98
Range of sensors The clearance warning begins at a distance of about 160 cm from the obstacle (area    ⇒page 97, fig. 108
). The interval between the warning signals becomes shorter  
as the clearance is reduced. A  continuous tone
 sounds from a distance of approx. 30 cm (area  ) - danger  
area.  
You should not reverse any further after this signal sounds! 
Activating The parking aid is activated automatically when  
reverse gear
 is engaged and the  
ignition is turned on. This is confir 
med by a brief acknowledgement signal. 
Deactivating The parking aid is deactivated by removing the reverse gear.
WARNING
•
The parking aid is not a substitute fo 
r the driver paying proper attention  
and it is always the driver's responsibility to take care when parking the  vehicle or carrying ou 
t similar manoeuvres.
•
You should therefore satisfy yourself, before reversing, that there is no  
small obstacle, such as a rock, thin post, trailer drawbar etc., behind your  vehicle. Such an obstacle might not be within the range detected by the  sensors.
Note
•
The parking aid does not operate if you  
are towing a trailer (applies to models  
which feature a factory-fitted towing device*).•
If a warning signal sounds for about 3 seconds after switching the ignition on 
and engaging reverse gear, and there is no ob 
stacle close to your vehicle, this indi- 
cates a system fault. Have the fault rectified by a specialist workshop.•
The sensors must be kept clean and free 
 of ice to enable the parking aid to  
operate properly.
Cruise control system (CCS)*IntroductionThe cruise control system (CCS) maintains a constant speed, more than 30 km/h (20 mph), once it has been set, without you  
having to depress the accelerator pedal.  
This is only possible within the range wh 
ich is permitted by 
the power output and  
braking power of the engine. The cruise control system makes it possible - particu- larly on long journeys - for you to rest your “accelerator foot”.
WARNING
•
The cruise control system must not, for safety reasons, be used in dense 
traffic or on unfavourable road surfaces 
 (such as icy roads, slippery roads or  
loose chippings) - risk of accident!•
In order to prevent unintentional use of 
 the cruise control system, always  
switch off the system after use.
Note
•
Models fitted with a manual gearbox: Al 
ways depress the clutch pedal if you  
switch on the cruise control system when  
the gearbox is in Neutral. Otherwise the  
engine can rev up unintentionally.•
The cruise control system is not able to maintain a constant speed when driving 
on steep downhill sections. The weight of the vehicle increases the speed at which  it travels. One should shift down in good  
time to a lower gear or slow the vehicle  
down by applying the foot brake.
AA
AB
s2g8.b.book  Page 98  Tuesday, April 7, 2009  8:53 AM 
Page 109 of 224

Seat belts
108
Seat beltsWhy seat belts?It is a proven fact that seat belt
s offer good protection in accidents 
⇒fig. 113
. Thus  
wearing a seat belt is a legal requirement in most countries. Seat belts which have been correctly fastened and adjusted hold the occupants of  the car in the correc 
t seated position 
⇒fig. 113
. The belts reduce the kinetic energy  
(energy of motion) to a considerable extent. They also prevent uncontrolled move-ments which, in turn, may well result in severe injuries. The occupants of a vehicle who have fastened 
 and correctly adjusted their seat belt,  
profit to a major extent from the fact that 
 the kinetic energy is optimally absorbed  
by the belts. The structure of the front end of the vehicle and other passive safety measures, such as the airbag system, also  
contribute to reducing the kinetic energy.  
The energy produced is thus absorbed and there is less risk of injury. Accident statistics prove that seat belts  
which are fastened and properly adjusted  
reduce the risk of an injury and enhance the chance of survival in a major accident ⇒ page 109. 
It is important that you pay attention to  
safety measures, particularly when trans- 
porting children in the vehicle  
⇒page 123, “What you should know about trans- 
porting children!”.
WARNING
•
Fasten your seat belt each time before setting off, also when driving in 
town! This also applies to the people seated at the rear - risk of injury!•
Expectant women must also always wear 
 a seat belt. This is the only way  
of ensuring optimal protection for the unborn child  
⇒page 110, “Fastening  
three-point seat belts”.•
It is important for the belt webbing to  
be properly routed if the seat belts  
are to offer the maximum protection. You can see a description of how safety  belts should be fitted pr 
operly on the next pages.
Note
Please comply with any differing legal 
requirements when using the seat belts.
Fig. 113  Driver wearing seat  belt
s2g8.b.book  Page 108  Tuesday, April 7, 2009  8:53 AM 
Page 114 of 224

Seat belts
113
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
The pelvic belt*The rear middle seat is fitted with a pelvic belt. The lock part of the two- point pelvic belt is operated in the same way as for a three-point safety belt. An unused pelvic belt should be stowed away together with the lock for safety reasons. Extending the pelvic belt – Hold the lock tongue at right an 
gles to the belt webbing and pull  
through the desired amo 
unt of belt webbing 
⇒
fig. 121
. 
Shortening the pelvic belt – Pull on the free end of the belt. – Fix the excess belt length by threading it through the plastic slider.The adjustment of the belt length is facili 
tated by simultaniously pressing the belt  
tongue and the belt 
 cover lengthwise.
WARNING
The pelvic belt must always sit firmly across the pelvis; tighten the belt  webbing if necessary.Belt tensionersSafety for the driver and front passenger  
wearing their seat belts
 is enhanced by  
the belt tensioners fitted to the inertia reels of the front three-point seat belts, in  addition to the protection afforded by the airbag system. The three-point seat belts are automatically tensioned in the event of a frontal colli- sion of a certain severity. The belt tensioners can also be deployed if the seat belts are not fastened. The belt tensioner is deployed in the event of a frontal collision of major severity. A  powder charge is ignited in the inertia  
reels during deployment. The belt webbing  
is pulled into the inertia reels by a mech 
anical system and the belt is tensioned. 
Belt tensioners are not activated in the ev 
ent of minor frontal collisions, side and  
rear-end collisions, in the case of a rollover and also not in accidents in which no  major forces are produced from the front.
WARNING
•
Any work on the system including removal and installation of system 
components because of other repair work, must only be carried out by a  specialist garage.
Fig. 120  Fasten pelvic beltFig. 121  Extending the pelvic  belt
s2g8.b.book  Page 113  Tuesday, April 7, 2009  8:53 AM 
Page 134 of 224

Intelligent Technology
133
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Traction control system (TCS) The traction control system prevents 
 the driven wheels from spinning  
when accelerating.General The TCS makes it much easier, and sometimes at all possible, to start off, accelerate  and climb a steep hill when the conditio 
ns of the road surface are unfavourable. 
Operating principle The TCS switches on automatically when th 
e engine is started and then conducts a  
self-test. The system monitors the speeds of the driven wheels with the aid of the ABS sensors. If the wheels are spinning, the force transmitted to the road surface is  automatically adapted by redu 
cing the engine speed. Th
is occurs at all speeds. 
The TCS operates in combination with the ABS  
⇒page 135, “Antilock brake system  
(ABS)*”. The TCS will not function if a fault exists in the ABS system. The TCS warning light  
⇒page 33 lights up in the instrument cluster when there is a  
fault on the TCS. Switching off You can switch the TCS off and on again  
as you wish by pressing the button  
⇒ fig. 140
. The TCS warning light 
⇒page 33 lights up in the instrument cluster  
when the TCS is switched off. 
The TCS should normally always be switched on. It may be good practice in certain  exceptional cases, such as when you wish 
 to have wheel slip, to switch off the  
system. Examples:•
when driving with snow chains
•
when driving in deep snow or on a loose surface
•
when it is necessary to rock a vehicle when it has become stuck.
then you should switch on the TCS again.
WARNING
You should always adjust your style of driving to the conditions of the road  surface and the traffic situation. The increased safety offered must not tempt you to take greater risks than otherwise - risk of an accident!
Note
•
All four wheels must be fitted with the same tyres in order to achieve problem-
free operation of the TCS. Differing rolling circumferences of the tyres can lead to  an undesirable reduction in the engine output.•
Changes to vehicle (e.g. on engine, on  
the brakes, on chassis or another combi- 
nation of tyres and wheels) can in 
fluence the function of the TCS 
⇒page 179,  
“Accessories, changes and replacement of parts”.BrakesWhat has a negative effect on braking efficiency?Wear-and-tear Wear-and-tear to the brake pads is greatly dependent on the operating conditions  of the vehicle and your style of driving. Particularly if you drive a great deal in towns  and over short distances or if you adopt a sporty style of driving, it may be neces- sary to have the thickness of the brake  
pads inspected at a specialist garage  
between the service inspections.
Fig. 140  TCS switch
s2g8.b.book  Page 133  Tuesday, April 7, 2009  8:53 AM 
Page 138 of 224

Driving and the Environment
137
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 permissible 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 maximum permissible  
engine revolutions.
During the first operating hours the engine  
has higher internal 
friction than later  
until all of the moving parts have harmonized. The driving style which you adopt  during the first approx.1 500 kilometres  
plays a decisive part in the success of  
running in yo 
ur vehicle. 
You should not drive at unnecessarily  
high engine revolutions
 even after the  
running-in period is  
complete. The maximum permissib
le engine spee
d 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 vehicle  
fitted with manual gearbox 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 figure 
s apply 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 unnecessarily high engine revolutions and shifting to a higher gear as early as possible are ways to minimise fuel 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 
 not 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 can, 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 period, you should  
avoid excessive stresses on the brakes.  
This includes, for example, violent braking, 
 particularly from very high speeds, and  
also when crossing mountain passes.
s2g8.b.book  Page 137  Tuesday, April 7, 2009  8:53 AM 
Page 139 of 224

Driving and the Environment
138
Catalytic converterProper operation of the emission co
ntrol system (catal
ytic converter)  
is of major significance for drivin 
g your vehicle in an environmen- 
tally conscious way.Please refer to the following guidelines: – For vehicles with petrol engine  
only refuel with unleaded petrol  
⇒ 
page 155, “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 163, “Replenishing  
engine oil”.  
– Do not tow-start the vehicle over a  
distance of more than 50 metres  
⇒ 
page 191, “Tow-starting a vehicle”.
If you drive your vehi
cle in a country in which unleaded
 petrol is not available, you  
must have the catalytic converter replaced 
 later when driving the vehicle into a  
country in which use of a cata 
lytic 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, catalyti 
c converters or heat shields. Such  
substances might ignite when driving - risk of fire!
Caution
•
On vehicles fitted with  
a catalytic converter, 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 sy 
stem and damage the catalytic converter.
•
Filling the tank even only once with le
aded petrol will resu
lt in the catalytic  
converter being destroyed.•
If you detect misfiring, 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 may be caused by a fault in the ignition system. Unburnt fuel may get in 
to the exhaust system and damage the  
catalytic converter.
For the sake of the environment
Even if the exhaust system is operating properly, a sulphur-like exhaust odour may be produced under certain op 
erating conditions of the en
gine. This depends on the  
sulphur content of the fuel. It is often su 
fficient 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  economical way with foresight. This section is intended to provide you with a 
s2g8.b.book  Page 138  Tuesday, April 7, 2009  8:53 AM 
Page 140 of 224

Driving and the Environment
139
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data 
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 fu
el consumption to increase  
in winter and under worsened 
 conditions 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 ve 
hicle at the works. 
Special attention has  
been given to minimising ne 
gative effects on the environment. It is necessary to  
take note of the guidelines given in this  
chapter in order to make best use of these  
characteristics and to maintain their effectiveness. The optimal engine speed should be obtained when accelerating, in order to avoid  a high fuel consumption an 
d resonance of the vehicle.
Looking ahead when driving A vehicle's highest fuel consumption occurs it accelerates.Avoid accelerating and brakin 
g unnecessarily. If you drive 
with forsight you will not  
need to brake so often and will also then  
not have to accelerate so much. Let your  
vehicle coast to a stop, for example, if this 
 is possible, when you see that the next  
set of traffic lights is at red.
Shifting gears and saving energy Shifting up early saves on fuel.Manual gearbox – Drive no more than about one length of your vehicle in first gear. – Always shift up into the next higher gear at approx. 2 000 to 2 500 revs.An effective way of achieving good 
 fuel economy is to shift up 
early
. You will  
consume more fuel if you drive at unnecessa 
rily high revolutions in any given gear. 
The  
⇒fig. 141
 shows the ratio of fuel consumption to the speed of your vehicle in  
the relevant gears. Fuel consumption in 1st  
gear is the highest and in 5th gear is the  
lowest.
Note
Also use the information supplied by the multi-functional indicator*  
⇒page 19.
Fig. 141  Fuel consumption  in litres/100 km. and speed in km/h.
s2g8.b.book  Page 139  Tuesday, April 7, 2009  8:53 AM 
Page 142 of 224

Driving and the Environment
141
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical 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. 143
 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. 143  Fuel consumption  in litres/100 km at different temperatures
s2g8.b.book  Page 141  Tuesday, April 7, 2009  8:53 AM