open bonnet SKODA ROOMSTER 2009 1.G User Guide

Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle 176Plastic partsExternal plastic parts are cleaned by normal washing. Plastic parts and synthetic
leather can also be treated with special solvent-free plastic cleaning agents if a
damp cloth is not sufficient. Paint care products are not suitable for plastic parts.
Caution
Solvent-free cleaners attack the material and can damage it.WindowsOnly use a plastic ice scraper for removing snow and ice from the windows and
mirrors. You should not move the ice scraper forward and backward but in one
direction on the window which you are cleaning in order to avoid any damage to
the surface of the glass.
You can best remove residues of rubber, oil, grease, wax or silicone by using a
special window cleaner or a special silicone remover.
You should also clean the windows regularly from the inside.
Do not use window leathers which you have used to polish the vehicle body to dry
off the windows. Residues of preservatives in the window leather can dirty the
window and reduce visibility.
Do not affix any stickers over the inside of the rear window to avoid damage to the
heating elements of the rear window heater.
We recommend using a preservative from Škoda genuine accessories offered by
your Škoda dealer.
Caution
•
Never remove snow or ice from the glass parts with warm or hot water - risk of
formation of cracks in the glass!
•
When removing snow or ice from the windows and mirror lenses make sure not
to damage the paintwork of the vehicle.
The headlight lensesPlease do not use any aggressive cleaning or chemical solvent products for cleaning
the front headlights - risk of damage to the plastic lenses. Please use soap and
clean warm water.
Caution
Never wipe the headlights dry and do not use any sharp objects for cleaning the
plastic lenses, this may result in damage to the protective paintwork and conse-
quently in formation of cracks on the headlight lenses, e.g through effect of chem-
ical products.Door and window sealsThe rubber seals on the doors, boot lid, bonnet and windows remain supple and
last longer if you treat them from time to time with a rubber care product (e.g. with
a spray with silicone-free oil). You also avoid premature wear of the seals and
prevent leakages in this way. It is also easier to open the doors. Rubber seals which
are well cared for also do not stick together in cold winter weather.Locking cylinderWe recommend that you use the spray from Škoda original accessories with
regreasing and anticorrosive effect for de-icing locking cylinders.
Note
When washing your vehicle, ensure that as little water as possible gets into the
locking cylinders.
s29g.4.book Page 176 Wednesday, June 17, 2009 9:54 AM

Inspecting and replenishing 184Inspecting and replenishingEngine compartmentBonnet remote releaseBonnet remote release
– Pull the unlocking lever on the left below the dash panel ⇒fig. 174.The bonnet jumps out of its lock as a result of the spring force.
Opening and closing the bonnet.Opening the bonnet
– Unlock the bonnet ⇒fig. 174.
– Ensure that the arms of the windscreen wipers are correctly in place
against the windscreen before opening the bonnet otherwise
damage could occur to the paintwork.
Fig. 174 Bonnet release
lever
Fig. 175 Radiator grille:
Locking leverFig. 176 Securing the bonnet
with the bonnet support
s29g.4.book Page 184 Wednesday, June 17, 2009 9:54 AM

Inspecting and replenishing185
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Praktik
Technical Data
– Pull on the locking lever ⇒page 184, fig. 175, the bonnet is then
unlocked.
– Grip the bonnet and lift it up.
– Take the bonnet support out of its holder and set it in the opening
designed for it ⇒page 184, fig. 176.
Closing the bonnet
– Lift the bonnet slightly and unhook the bonnet support. Press the
bonnet support into the holder designed to hold it.
– Allow the bonnet to drop from a height of about 30 cm into the lock -
bonnet do not press down on it!
WARNING
•
Never open the bonnet if you see that steam or coolant is flowing out of
the engine compartment - risk of scalding! Wait long enough until the steam
or coolant has stopped escaping.
•
For safety reasons, the bonnet must always be properly closed when
driving. One should therefore check that the lock has in fact engaged prop-
erly after closing the bonnet.
•
Stop your vehicle immediately while driving if you notice that the lock is
not properly engaged and close the bonnet properly - risk of an accident!Caution
•
Before opening the bonnet, ensure that the arms of the windscreen wipers are
correctly in place against the windscreen. Otherwise, there is a risk of damage to the
paintwork.
Working in the engine compartment
Particular care is required when carrying out any work in the engine
compartment!There is a risk of injuries, scalding, accidents and fire when working in the
engine compartment, e.g. inspecting and replenishing oil and other fluids. For
this reason, it is essential to comply with the warning instructions stated
below and with the general applicable rules of safety. The engine compart-
ment of your car is a hazardous area ⇒.
WARNING
•
Never open the bonnet if you see that steam or coolant is flowing out of
the engine compartment - risk of scalding! Wait long enough until the steam
or coolant has stopped escaping.
•
Switch off the engine and pull out the ignition key.
•
Apply the handbrake firmly.
•
If your vehicle is fitted with a manual gearbox, move the gearshift lever
into Neutral, or if it is fitted with automatic gearbox, move the selector lever
into position P.
•
Allow the engine to cool down.
•
Keep children clear of the engine compartment.
•
Do not touch any hot engine parts - risk of burns!
•
Never spill oil and other fluids over the hot engine. Such fluids (e.g. the
antifreeze contained in the wash liquid) may ignite!
•
Avoid short circuits in the electrical system - particularly on the battery.
•
Never place your hand into the radiator fan as long as the engine is still
warm. The fan might suddenly start running!
•
Never open the cap of the coolant expansion bottle as long as the engine
is still warm. The cooling system is pressurized!
•
Cover over the cap of the coolant expansion reservoir with a large cloth
when opening it as protection for your face, hands and arms from hot steam
or hot coolant.
s29g.4.book Page 185 Wednesday, June 17, 2009 9:54 AM

Inspecting and replenishing187
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Praktik
Technical Data
Engine oilCheck engine oil level
The dipstick indicates the level of oil in the engine.Checking the oil level
– Ensure that the vehicle is positioned on a level surface and the engine
has reached its operating temperature.
– Switch the engine off.
– Open the bonnet ⇒ in “Working in the engine compartment” on
page 185.
– Wait a few minutes and pull out the oil dipstick ⇒.
– Wipe off the dipstick with a clean cloth and insert it again fully.
– Then withdraw the dipstick again and read off the oil level.
Oil level within range
– You must not top up the oil.Oil level within range
–You may top up the oil. It is possible that the oil level may then be
within range after doing this. The optimum lies in the middle of the
range .
Oil level within range
–You must top up the oil. It is sufficient, once this is done, to keep the
oil level within range .
It is normal for the engine to consume oil. The oil consumption may be as much as
0.5 l/1 000 km depending on your style of driving and the conditions under which
you operate your vehicle. The oil consumption may be slightly higher than this
during the first 5 000 kilometres.
One should therefore check the oil level at regular intervals, preferably every time
after the fuel tank is filled or after driving for long stretches.
We recommend maintaining the oil level within the range if the engine has been
operating at high loads, for example during a lengthy motorway trip during the
summer months, towing a trailer or negotiating a high mountain pass, but not
above this.
The warning light in the instrument cluster* will indicate ⇒page 33 whether the oil
level is too low. In this case, check the oil level as soon as possible. Top up with an
appropriate quantity of oil.
WARNING
Read and observe the warning notes ⇒page 185, “Working in the engine
compartment” before working in the engine compartment.
Caution
•
The oil level must on no account extend beyond the range . Danger of
damaging the catalytic converter.
•
Do not continue your journey if for some reason it is not possible under the
conditions prevailing to top up with oil. Switch the engine off and obtain profes-
Fig. 178 Dipstick
Aa
Ab
Aa
Ab
AcAb
Ab
Aa
s29g.4.book Page 187 Wednesday, June 17, 2009 9:54 AM

Inspecting and replenishing189
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Praktik
Technical Data
Cooling systemCoolant
The job of the coolant is to cool the engine.The cooling system does not require any maintenance under normal operating
conditions. The coolant consists of water with a concentration of coolant additive
of 40 %. This mixture not only provides antifreeze protection down to -25°C but
also protects the cooling and heating system from corrosion. It also prevents the
formation of scale and significantly increases the boiling point of the coolant.
You must therefore not reduce the concentration of antifreeze agent in the coolant
by adding water, also not during the summer months or in countries with a warm
climate. The concentration of coolant additive in the coolant must be at least
40%.
You can increase the amount of antifreeze in the coolant if a higher concentration
of antifreeze is necessary for climatic reasons but only up to 60% (antifreeze
protection down to approx. -40°C). The antifreeze protection tails off above that
concentration.
Vehicles exported to countries with a cold climate (e.g. Sweden, Norway, Finland)
are already factory-filled with a coolant which offers antifreeze protection down to
about -35°C. In these countries the concentration of coolant additive should be at
least 50 %.
Coolant
The cooling system is factory-filled with coolant (purple in colour), which complies
with the specification TL-VW 774 G.
We recommend that you use the antifreeze agent G12 PLUS - PLUS (purple in
colour) for topping up the system.
We recommend that you contact a specialist garage if you have any questions
regarding the coolant or if you wish to fill up with a different coolant.
A specialist garage can also supply you with the correct coolant additives.
Caution
•
Other coolant additives may cause operational problems which, in partic-
ular, involves significantly reducing the anticorrosion effect.
•
Any faults or problems resulting from corrosion may cause a loss of
coolant and, as a consequence of this, result in major engine damage.
Inspecting the coolant levelThe coolant expansion bottle is located in the engine compartment on
the right.
– Switch the engine off.
– Open the bonnet ⇒ in “Working in the engine compartment” on
page 185.
– Check the level of coolant in the coolant expansion bottle ⇒fig. 179.
The coolant level when the engine is cold must lie between the “MIN”
and “MAX” markings. The level may also rise slightly above the
“MAX” marking when the engine is warm.
Fig. 179 Engine compart-
ment: Coolant expansion
bottle
AB
AA
s29g.4.book Page 189 Wednesday, June 17, 2009 9:54 AM

Inspecting and replenishing191
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Praktik
Technical Data
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 compliance with environmental protection
regulations.Radiator fan
The radiator fan may switch on suddenly.The radiator fan is driven by an electric motor and controlled by a thermostat
according to the coolant temperature.
The radiator fan may continue running for 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 because of an accumulation of heat or
•
the warm engine compartment is heated up additionally by strong sunlight.
WARNING
You must therefore be aware when working in the engine compartment that
the fan may switch on suddenly - risk of injury!
Brake fluidInspecting the brake fluid levelThe 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 ⇒ in “Working in the engine compartment” on
page 185.
– Inspect the brake fluid level in the reservoir ⇒fig. 180. 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 brake 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. A situ-
ation where the brake fluid level is too low is indicated by the warning light

lighting up in the instrument cluster ⇒page 36. In this case stop immediately and
do not drive any further! Obtain professional assistance.
Fig. 180 Engine compart-
ment: Brake fluid reservoir
s29g.4.book Page 191 Wednesday, June 17, 2009 9:54 AM

Fuses and light bulbs225
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Praktik
Technical Data
– Open the bonnet.
– For a vehicle with petrol engine remove the activated charcoal filter
system before replacing the bulb in the right front headlight
⇒fig. 208.Positions of the light bulbs in the front headlight ⇒page 224, fig. 207.
- low beam and main beam
- parking lights
- Turn signal light (at the front)
Switching on the low beam and main beam– Open the bonnet.
– Remove the protective cap ⇒page 224, fig. 207.
– For headlights with module (halogen lamp H7) ⇒fig. 209 turn the
connector with the halogen lamp to the left up to the stop and
remove.
– For headlights with reflector (halogen lamp H4) pull off the connector
from the lamp, release the sprung wire clamp and pull out the halogen
lamp towards the rear.
– Replace the halogen lamp H7, insert the connector with the new
halogen lamp and turn to the right up to the stop.
– Replace the halogen lamp H4, insert into the opening in the reflector
(with the fixing lugs in the recesses), secure with the sprung wire
clamp, position the protective cap and mount the connector.
– We recommend that you have the headlight setting checked by a
Skoda Service Partner after replacing the light bulb.
Fig. 208 Removing the acti-
vated charcoal filter system
AAABAC
Fig. 209 Removing the light
bulb for the low beam and
main beam light
AA
s29g.4.book Page 225 Wednesday, June 17, 2009 9:54 AM

Fuses and light bulbs 226Turn signal light (at the front)– Open the bonnet.
– Turn the lamp holder to the left ⇒page 224, fig. 207 and remove
the lamp holder with the light bulb.
– Replace the defective light bulb.
– Insert the lamp holder with light bulb into the headlight. Secure the
lamp holder by turning it to the right until it locks in place.Parking light at the front– Open the bonnet.
– Remove the protective cap ⇒page 224, fig. 207.
– Grasp the light bulb holder and pull it out of the headlight.
– Replace the light bulb in the light bulb holder and re-insert into the
headlight.Fog lights
– Remove the grille next to the fog light with the function “Corner” or the
grill around the round fog light ⇒page 215.
– Release the screws ⇒fig. 210 and remove the fog light.
– Turn the connector with the light bulb up to the stop towards the left
and remove.
– Change the light bulb, put the connector back into the headlight and
secure by turning to the right.
– Put the fog light in place with the catch on the side opposite the grille
and then press in the opposite part. Valid for fog lights with the func-
tion “Corner”, for round fog light screw in the 3 screws.
– Screw in the screws ⇒fig. 210 and re-insert the grille ⇒page 215.Licence plate light– Open the boot lid and unscrew the light glass.
– Take the faulty bulb out of the holder and insert a new one.
– Insert the glass cover of the light again and press it down to the stop -
ensure that the sealing rubber is correctly seated.
AC
AB
Fig. 210 Structure of the
light bulb of the fog light
Fig. 211 Remove the licence
plate light
s29g.4.book Page 226 Wednesday, June 17, 2009 9:54 AM