warning SKODA SUPERB 2004 1.G / (B5/3U) Owner's Manual

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Your Škoda dealer can also supply you with the correct coolant additives.
Caution
•Other coolant additives may cause operational problems which,
in particular, 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 level
The coolant expansion bottle is located in the engine compart-
ment on the left.
– Switch the engine off. – Open the bonnet
⇒ in “Working in the engine compart-
ment” on page 209.
– Check the level of coolant in the coolant expansion bottle ⇒fig. 162. 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.
If the coolant level in the reservoir is too low, this is indicated by the
warning light in the instrument cluster  ⇒ page 28. We nevertheless
recommend inspecting the coolant level directly at the reservoir from time
to time.
Loss of coolant
A loss of coolant is first and foremost an indication of a leak in the
system. You should not merely top up the coolant in the reservoir. It is also
important to have the cooling system inspected without delay by a Škoda
dealer.
Losses can only occur through the pressure relief in the cap of the coolant
expansion bottle which is completely free of leaks if the coolant boils as a
result of overheating and is forced out of the cooling system.
WARNING
Read and observe the warning notes ⇒page 209, “Working in the
engine compartment” before working in the engine compartment.
Caution
One should contact a Škoda dealer as soon as possible if the source of
overheating itself cannot be determined and removed, since there may be
grave damage to the engine.
Fig. 162 Engine
compartment: Coolant
expansion bottle

Inspecting and Replenishing
216
Replenishing the coolant
– Switch the engine off.
– Allow the engine to cool down.
– Place a cloth over the cap of the coolant expansion reservoir
⇒page 215, fig. 162 and unscrew the cap carefully by
turning it to the left ⇒.
– Top up the coolant.
– Screw on the cap tight until it is heard to lock.
The coolant which you use for replenishing the system, must comply with
one specific specification ⇒page 214, “Coolant”. Do not use an alterna-
tive additive if the coolant additive G12 PLUS is not available in excep-
tional cases. Just top up the system with water and as soon as possible
arrange adjustment to correct the mixing ratio of water and coolant addi-
tive again by a Škoda dealer.
Only use fresh coolant for topping up the system.
Do not fill up over the “MAX” marking! Excess coolant which is heated up
is forced out of the cooling system through the pressure relief valve in the
cap of the coolant compensation bottle.
Wait until the engine has cooled down for a system which has suffered a
major loss of coolant before pouring in coolant. This is necessary to avoid
engine damage.
Do not continue your journey if for some reason it is not possible
under the conditions prevailing to top up with coolant. Switch off the
engine and obtain professional assistance from a Škoda dealer.
WARNING
•The cooling system is pressurized! Do not open the cap of the
coolant expansion bottle if the engi ne is still hot - risk of scalding!
•The coolant additive and thus all of the coolant is harmful to
your health. Avoid contact with the coolant. Coolant vapours are
also harmful to the health. It is important, therefore, to always
safely store any coolant additive in its original container out of the
reach of children - risk of poisoning!
•If any splashes of coolant get into your eyes, rinse out your eyes
immediately with clear water and contact a doctor as soon as
possible.
•You should also consult a doctor without delay if you have inad-
vertently swallowed coolant.
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.
The radiator fan
The radiator fan may switch on suddenly.
The radiator fan is driven by an electric motor and controlled by a thermo-
stat 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

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•the warm engine compartment is heated up additionally by strong
sunlight.
WARNING
You must therefore be aware when working in the engine compart-
ment that the fan may switch on suddenly - risk of injury!
Brake fluid
Inspecting the brake fluid level
You can also see the location of the brake fluid reservoir in the
engine compartment from the general view of the engine
compartment ⇒page 210. 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 compart-
ment” on page 209.
– Pull off the rubber seal ⇒fig. 163 partially away and lift the
cover slightly.
– Inspect the brake fluid level at the reservoir . The level must be between the “MIN” and “MAX” markings. The markings are
indicated on the side of the reservoir.
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 situation where the brake fluid level is too low is indi-
cated by the warning light
 lighting up in the instrument cluster
⇒ page 35. In this case stop the car immediately and do not drive any
further! Contact a Škoda Dealer to obtain professional assistance.
WARNING
•Read and observe the warning notes ⇒page 209, “Working in
the engine compartment” before working in the engine compart-
ment.
•If the fluid level has dropped below the MIN marking, do not
drive any further - risk of accident! Contact a Škoda dealer to obtain
professional assistance.
Fig. 163 Engine
compartment: Brake
fluid reservoir
AB
AC
AA

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218
Replacing brake fluid
Brake 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. This is why brake
fluid must be replaced every two years.
One may only use new genuine brake fluid from Škoda Auto. The specifi-
cation for the brake fluid is “FMVSS 116 DOT 4”.
We recommend that you have the brake fluid replaced by a Škoda dealer
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 brake system.
This greatly impairs the braking efficiency and thus also the safety
of your vehicle.
•Brake fluid is toxic! It must therefore be kept safely in closed
original containers and well away from children and unauthorized
persons.
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 dealer.
The battery
Working on the battery
Particular care is required when carrying out any work on
the battery!
The battery is located in the engine compartment in the plenum
chamber below a cover.
Taking off cover
– Press the cover in direction of arrow ⇒fig. 164 .
There is a risk of injuries, scalding, accidents and burns when carrying out
any work on the battery and on the electrical system. It is essential to
comply with the warning instructions stated below ⇒ and with the
general applicable rules of safety.
Fig. 164 Engine
compartment: plenum
chamber - battery
cover

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WARNING
•The battery acid is strongly corrosive and must, therefore, be
handled with the greatest of care. Always wear protective gloves,
eye and skin protection when handling batteries. Corrosive fumes
in the air irritate the air passages and lead to conjunctivitis and
inflammation of the air passages in the lungs. Battery acid
corrodes dental enamel and creates deep wounds after contact
with the skin which take a long time to heal. Repeated contact with
diluted acids causes skin diseases (inflammations, ulcers, slin
cracks). Acids coming into contact with water are diluted accompa-
nied by significant development of heat.
•Do not tilt the battery otherwise battery electrolyte may flow out
of the battery vent openings. Protect the eyes with safety glasses
or a shield! There is the danger of suffering blindness! If any
battery electrolyte gets into your eye, rinse out your eye immedi-
ately with clear water for several minutes. Contact a doctor without
delay.
•Splashes of acid on your skin or clothes should be neutralised
as soon as possible using soap suds and then rinsed with plenty
of water. Contact a doctor immediately if you swallow battery elec-
trolyte.
•Keep batteries out of the reach of children.
•Hydrogen is released when you charge a battery and a highly
explosive gas mixture is produced. An explosion can be caused
through sparkling over during unclamping or loosening of the
cable plug while the ignition is on.
•Bridging of the poles will create a short circuit (e.g. through
metal objects, cables). Possible consequences of a short circuit:
Melting of lead struts, explosion and burning of the battery, jets of
acid spurting out.
•It is prohibited to work with a naked flame and light, to smoke or
to carry out any activities which produce sparks. Avoid creating sparks when working with cables and electrical devices. Strong
sparking represents a risk of injury.
•Before carrying out any work on the electrical system, switch
off the engine, the ignition as well as all electrical components and
disconnect the negative cable (-) on the battery (please pay atten-
tion to the following instructions) ⇒page 223. If you wish to
replace a bulb it is sufficient to switch off the appropriate light.
•Never charge a frozen or thawed battery - risk of explosion and
caustic burns! Replace a frozen battery.
•Never use a battery which is damaged - risk of explosion! Imme-
diately replace a damaged battery.
Caution
•You must only disconnect the battery if the ignition is switched on,
otherwise the electrical system (electronic components) of the vehicle
may be damaged. When disconnecting the battery from the electrical
system of the vehicle, first disconnect the negative terminal (-) of the
battery. Then disconnect the positive terminal (+).
•When reconnecting the battery, first connect the positive terminal (+)
and only then the negative terminal (-) of the battery. You must on no
account connect the cables wrongly - risk of a cable fire!
•Ensure that battery acid does not come into contact with the vehicle
body otherwise damage could occur to the paintwork.
•Do not place the battery in direct daylight in order to protect the battery
housing from the effects of ultra-violet light.
For the sake of the environment
A removed battery is a special type of waste which is harmful to the envi-
ronment - contact your Škoda dealer regarding disposing of the battery.
WARNING (continued)

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Operation in winter
The 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 freeze at temperatures just below
0°C.
We therefore recommend that you have the battery checked by a Škoda
dealer before the start of the winter, and recharged if necessary.
Note
If the vehicle is not going to be driven for a period of some weeks when
there is very severe frost one should remove ⇒page 222 the battery and
store it in a place which is protected from frost. This prevents the battery
from freezing up and thereby being destroyed.
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 218 and ⇒.
– Switch the ignition and all electrical components off.
– Only for “quick-charging”: disconnect both battery cables (first of all “negative”, then “positive”) .
– Carefully attach the terminal clamps of the charger to the battery terminals (red = “positive”, black = “negative”). – You can now plug the mains cable of the charger into the
power socket and switch on the charger.
– When charging is completed: switch the charger off and unplug the mains cable from the power socket.
– Only then should you disconnect the terminal clamps of the charger.
– Reconnect the cables to the battery (first of all “positive”, then “negative”).
It is not normally necessary to disconnect the cables of the battery if you
recharge the battery using low amperages (as for example from a mini-
charger ). Please also refer to the instructions from the charger manufac-
turer.
A charging current of 0.1 of the total battery capacity (or lower) is that
which should be used until full charging is achieved.
It is, however, 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 218. It requires a special charger and appropriate knowledge. We
therefore recommend that you have your battery quick-charged only by
your Škoda dealer.
A discharged battery may already freeze at temperatures just below 0°C.
If a battery is frozen, it is essential that it is first of all thawed out before
being charged ⇒. We recommend that you no longer use a battery
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.

Inspecting and Replenishing
222
WARNING
Never charge a battery which is frozen - risk of explosion!
Removing and installing the battery
Removing and installing the battery
– Please also refer to the notes when working on the battery
⇒page 218.
– Switched off all electrical components and remove the ignition key.
– Pull off gasket and take out the cover of the plenum chamber in the direction of the arrow ⇒fig. 166 .
– Unclamp the battery negative terminal (-).
– Unclamp the battery positive terminal (+).
– Unscrew the screw ⇒fig. 167 completely and remove the
locking plate.
– Move the battery in the direction of the arrow and pull it out in an upward direction.
Fig. 166 Engine
compartment: plenum
chamber - cover
Fig. 167 Engine
compartment: The
battery
AA
AB
AC

Inspecting and Replenishing
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The windshield washer reservoir contains the cleaning fluid for the wind-
screen and for the headlamp cleaning system*. The reservoir is located at
the front left of the engine compartment ⇒ page 223, fig. 168.
The reservoir has a capacity of 4 liters.
Clear water is not sufficient to intensively clean the windscreen and head-
lights. We therefore recommend using clean washing water together with
the screen cleaner from Škoda genuine accessories (in winter additionally
with antifreeze) which is capable of removing stubborn dirt. Follow the
instructions for use on the packaging when using screen cleaning prod-
ucts.
You should always add antifreeze to the cleaning water in winter 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 methyl-
ated spirits must not be more than 15 %. Please note, however, that the
antifreeze protection at this concentration is only adequate down to -5°C.
WARNING
Read and observe the warning notes ⇒page 209, “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 the polycarbonate coating of
the headlights to the windscreen washer fluid. Please contact your Škoda
dealer, who will tell you which cleaning agent you can use.
Note
Do not take the filter out of the windscreen wash container when filling it
up again with liquid otherwise dirt can get into the liquid transportation
system and can lead to faults in operation of the windscreen wash
system.

Wheels and Tyres225
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Wheels and Tyres
Wheels
General comments
•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 angles 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 frequently not visible. Unusual vibra-
tions 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 appropri-
ately slow speed and carefully to the nearest Škoda dealer 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 that their previous direction of
running can be maintained when mounted them again.
•Always store wheels or tyres which been removed in a cool, dry and,
where possible, dark place. Tyres which are not fixed to a wheel trim
should be stored upright. Unidirectional tyres*
The direction of rotation of the tyres is marked by arrows on the wall of the
tyre. This indicates the direction of rotation of the tyre, and it is essential
that the tyres are fitted on to run in this direction. Only then are the tyres
able to provide the optimal properties in terms of grip, low noise, wear-
and-tear and aquaplaning.
Further information concerning the use of unidirectional tyres
⇒
page 231.
WARNING
•New tyres during the first 500 km do not offer optimal grip and
should therefore be run approp riately - risk of accident!
•Never drive with damaged tyres - risk of accident!
Note
Please observe the various differing legal requirements regarding tyres.

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also be rebalanced when a new tyre is fitted and each time a tyre is
repaired.
Wheel alignment errors
Incorrect wheel alignment at the front and rear will not only increase wear-
and-tear on the tyres but will also has an adverse effect on vehicle safety.
Contact your Škoda dealer 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 indicators
The 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 indica-
tors are located at 6 to 8 points depending on the make and are evenly
spaced around the circumference of the tyre ⇒fig. 171 . Markings on the
walls of the tyres through the letters “TWI”, triangular symbols or other
symbols identify 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 down. The legally
permissible minimum tread depth should be observed.
•Worn tyres do not provide the necessary adhesion to the road
surface at high speeds on wet roads. One could experience “aqua-
Fig. 171 Tyre tread
with wear indicators