brakes SKODA YETI 2011 1.G / 5L Owner's Manual

Head airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Deactivating an airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Transporting children safely . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
What you should know about transporting children! . 146
Child seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Attaching a child seat using the “ISOFIX” system . . . . 151
Attaching child seat using the “Top Tether” system . . 152
Driving Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Intelligent technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Electronic stability programme (ESP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Brake booster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Antilock brake system (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Uphill Start Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Electromechanical power steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Tyre pressure monitoring system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Diesel particle filter (diesel engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Off-road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Driving and the environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
The first 1 500 kilometres and then afterwards . . . . . . 162
Catalytic converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Driving in an economical and environmentally
conscious manner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Environmental compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Motoring abroad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Avoiding damage to your vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Driving through bodies of water on roads . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Off-road driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Towing a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Towing a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
General Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the
vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Care of the exterior of vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Care of the interior of vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184 Fuel
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Petrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Refuelling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Inspecting and Replenishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Cooling system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Windshield washer system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Wheels and Tyres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Accessories, changes and replacement of parts . 207
General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Breakdown assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Breakdown assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Space for first-aid box and warning triangle . . . . . . . . . 208
Fire extinguisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Vehicle tool kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Spare wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Changing a wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Tyre repair kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Jump-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
The vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Fuses and light bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Electric fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Technical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Technical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
General information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Used abbreviations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Performances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Identification details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229 Fuel consumption according to the ECE standards and
EU guidelines

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Other information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Engine oil specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Engine 1.2 l/77 kW TSI - EU5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Engine 1.4 l/90 kW TSI - EU5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Engine 1.8 ltr./118 kW TSI - EU2, EU5 (1.8 ltr./112 kW TSI
- EU5)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Engine 1.6 l/77 kW TDI CR - EU5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Engine 2.0 l/81 kW TDI CR - EU5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Engine 2.0 l/103 kW TDI CR - EU4, EU5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Engine 2.0 l/125 kW TDI CR - EU5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Multi-purpose vehicles (AF) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2404
Table of Contents

An audible signal sounds as an additional warning signal.
The warning light comes on even when the ignition is switched off. The warning
light lights up for a maximum of 5 minutes.
In vehicles with an information display, this warning light is replaced by a vehicle
symbol ⇒ page 19 
Open door  The warning light
 comes on, if one or several doors are opened. If one of the
doors opens while driving, the warning light lights  up and an audible signal
sounds.
The warning light comes on even when the ignition is switched off. The warning
light lights up for a maximum of 5 minutes.
In vehicles with an information display, this warning light is replaced by a vehicle
symbol ⇒
 page 19 
Windshield washer fluid level The warning light
 comes on when the ignition is switched on if there is insuffi-
cient fluid in the windshield washer system. Top up with liquid ⇒ page 199

.
The following text will be displayed in the information display: Top up wash fluid! 
Brake system The warning light
 lights up when the brake fluid level is too low or there is a
fault in the ABS.
if the warning light flashes  and an audible signal sounds three times, stop and
check the brake fluid level ⇒  .
The following text will be displayed in the information display: Brake fluid: Owner's manual
If there is a fault in the ABS which also influences the function of the brake sys-
tem (e.g. distribution of brake pressure), the ABS warning light  comes on and at
the same time the brake system warning light starts flashing . Be aware that
not only the ABS but also another part of th brake system is defective ⇒  .An audible signal sounds three times as an additional warning signal.
One should get used to high pedal forces, long braking distances and long free
play of the brake pedal when driving to the next specialist garage.
For further information on the brake system ⇒ page 155, Brakes

. WARNING
● Pay attention to the following instructions ⇒
 page 190, Working in the en-
gine compartment before checking the brake fluid level and opening the bon-
net.
● If the brake system warning light  does not go out a few seconds after
switching on the ignition or comes on when driving, stop immediately and
check the brake fluid in the reservoir ⇒

 page 195. If the fluid level has drop-
ped below the MIN marking, do not drive any further - risk of accident! Contact
a Škoda dealer to obtain professional assistance. 
Handbrake  The warning light
 comes on if the handbrake is applied. An audible warning is
also given if you drive the vehicle for at least 3 seconds at a speed of more than 6
km/h.
The following text will be displayed in the information display:
Release parking brake! 
Alternator  The warning light
 comes on after the ignition has been switched on. It should
go out after the engine has started.
If the warning light does not go out after the engine has started, or comes on
when driving, drive to the nearest specialist garage. The vehicle battery will be
discharged in this case so switch off all non-essential electrical components. CAUTION
If the warning light  comes on when driving and in addition the warning light 
(cooling system fault) also comes on in display, you must then stop the car imme-
diately and switch the engine off - risk of engine damage!  29
Instruments and warning lights Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

CAUTION
● You should not kneel on the seats or otherwise apply pressure at specific
points in order to avoid damaging the heating elements of the seat heaters.
● Do not use the seat heating if the seats are not occupied by persons or if ob-
jects are fastened or stored on them, for example a child seat, a bag etc. A fault of
the heating elements in the seat heating can occur.
● Do not clean the seats moist ⇒ page 184 .Note
● The seat heating should only be switched on when the engine is running. This
has a significant effect of saving on the battery capacity.
● If the on-board voltage drops, the seat heating is switched off automatically,
in order to provide sufficient electrical energy for the engine control. 
Pedals Concerning a secure depressing of the pedal, you should use only footmats from
the

ŠKODA Original Accessories.
Operation of the pedals must not be hindered! WARNING
● Greater pedal distances may be needed when there is a fault in the brake
system.
● Do not place any footmats or other additional floor coverings in the area of
the pedals in order to ensure that all the pedals can be fully depressed and are
able to return unobstructed to their initial position - risk of accident!
● There must be no objects on the floor which could roll under the pedals.
You would then no longer be able to apply the brakes, operate the clutch or
accelerator - risk of accident! 
luggage compartment
Loading the luggage compartment Please observe the following in the interest of having good handling characteris-
tics of your vehicle: –
Distribute the items of luggage as evenly as possible.
– Place heavy objects as far forward as possible.
– Attach the items of luggage to the lashing eyes or the fixing net ⇒
 page 71.
In the event of an accident, there is such a high kinetic energy which is produced
by small and light objects that they can cause severe injuries. The magnitude of
the kinetic energy depends on the speed at which the vehicle is travelling and on
the weight of the object. The speed at which the vehicle is travelling is in this case
the more significant factor.
Example: In the event of a frontal collision at a speed of 50 km/h, an unsecured
object with a weight of 4.5 kg produces an energy, which corresponds to 20 times
its own weight. This means that it results in a weight of approx. 90 kg. You can
imagine the injuries that can occur, if this “bullet” is flying through the interior
compartment and hits an occupant. WARNING
● Store the objects in the luggage compartment and attach them to the
lashing eyes.
● Loose objects in the passenger compartment can be thrown forward dur-
ing a sudden manoeuvre or in case of an accident and can injure the occupants
or other oncoming traffic. This risk is still increased, if the objects which are
flying around are hit by a deployed airbag. In this case, the objects which are
thrown back can injure the occupants - hazard.
● Please note that the handling properties of your vehicle may be affected
when transporting heavy objects as a result of the displacement of the centre
of gravity. The speed and style of driving must be adjusted accordingly.
● The items carried in the luggage compartment should be stored in such a
way that no objects are able to slip forward if there are any sudden driving or
braking manoeuvres undertaken - risk of injury!
● Never drive with the boot lid fully opened or slightly ajar otherwise ex-
haust gases may get into the interior of the vehicle - risk of poisoning!
● On no account exceed the permissible axle loads and the permissible gross
weight of the vehicle - risk of accident!
● Never transport occupants in the luggage compartment! CAUTION
Please ensure that the heating elements of the rear window heater are not dam-
aged as a result of objects sliding in this area. £70
Seats and Stowage

CAUTION
Always use matching plugs to avoid damaging the power socket. Note
● Connecting electrical components when the engine is not running will drain
the battery of the vehicle - risk of battery draining!
● Further information ⇒ page 207, Accessories, changes and replacement of
parts . 
Power socket in the luggage compartment Fig. 75 Luggage compartment: Power
socket
– Open the cover of the power socket ⇒
 fig. 75.
– Connect the plug of the electrical appliance to the socket.
You can only use the power socket for the connection of approved electrical ac-
cessories with a power uptake up to 120 watts. The vehicle battery will be dis-
charged in the process if the engine is stationary.
The same remarks apply here as for ⇒ page 79, Cigarette lighter, power sockets

.
Further information ⇒ page 207, Accessories, changes and replacement of parts. 
Storage compartments
Overview You will find the following storage facilities in your vehicle: Storage compartment on the front passenger side ⇒ page 80
Storage compartment on the dash panel ⇒ 
page 81 Stowage compartment in front centre console ⇒ 
page 82 Stowage compartment for spectacles ⇒ 
page 82 Storage compartment in the front and rear doors ⇒ 
page 82 Stowage compartment below front passenger seat ⇒ 
page 83 Front seat armrest with stowage compartment ⇒ 
page 83 Stowage compartment in rear centre console ⇒ page 84
Storage compartments in the luggage compartment ⇒ page 84
Flexible storage compartment ⇒ page 84
Clothes hooks ⇒ page 85
Through-loading bag ⇒ page 85
WARNING
● Please do not place anything on top of the dash panel. Such objects might
slide or fall down when driving (when accelerating or cornering) and may dis-
tract you from concentrating on the traffic situation - risk of accident!
● Ensure that when driving no objects from the centre console of from other
storage possibilities may get into the footwell of the driver. You would then
no longer be able to apply the brakes, operate the clutch or accelerator - risk
of accident! 
Storage compartment on the front passenger side Fig. 76 Dash panel: Storage compart-
ment on the front passenger side
£80
Seats and Stowage

The handbrake warning light
 lights up when the handbrake is applied, provided
the ignition is on.
A warning signal sounds and the following text appears in the Information display
if you have inadvertently driven off with the handbrake applied:
Release parking brake!
The handbrake warning is activated if you drive at a speed of more than 6 km/h
for more than 3 seconds. WARNING
● Please note that the handbrake must be fully released. A handbrake which
is only partially released can result in the rear brakes overheating which will
have a negative effect on the operation of the brake system - risk of accident!
In addition this can result in premature wear of the rear brake pads.
● Never leave children unattended in the vehicle. The children might, for ex-
ample, release the handbrake or take the vehicle out of gear. The vehicle
might then move off - risk of accident! CAUTION
After the car has come to a stop, always first of all apply the handbrake firmly be-
fore then additionally engaging a gear (manual gearbox) or moving the selector
lever into position P (automatic gearbox). 
Rear parking aid The parking aid provides a warning of obstacles behind the vehicle.
Fig. 99 Parking aid: Detection range of
rear sensorsThe audible parking aid determines the distance from the rear bumper to an ob-
stacle behind the car with the aid of ultrasound sensors. The tones of the parking
aid can be adapted in the menu of the Information display
⇒
 page 20. The sensors
are integrated in the rear bumper.
Range of sensors
The clearance warning begins at a distance of about 160 cm from the obstacle
(area A ⇒
 
fig. 99 ). 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 B ) - danger
area. You should not reverse any further after this signal sounds! If the vehicle is
equipped with a factory-fitted towing device, the indication threshold of the dan-
ger area starts -

continuous tone - 5 cm further behind the vehicle. The vehicle
can be extended through an installed detachable towing device.
On factory-fitted radio navigation systems and car stereos, the distance to the ob-
struction can also be shown graphically in the display. On vehicles with a factory-
fitted towing device, the rear sensors are deactivated when towing a trailer. The
driver is informed about this by a graphic display (vehicle towing a trailer) in the
radio or the radio navigation display. The factory-fitted radio or navigation system
can be set so that the play function volume decreases when activating the park-
ing aid, see Owner's Manual radio or radio navigation system. As a result, the sig-
nal tones from the parking aid can be better recognised.
Activating
The parking aid is activated automatically when reverse gear is engaged and the
ignition is turned on. This is confirmed by a brief audible signal.
Deactivating
The parking aid is deactivated by removing the reverse gear. £ 103
Starting-off and Driving Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

How are seat belts correctly fastened?
Fastening three-point seat belts Fasten your seat belt before starting!
Fig. 118 Routing of belt webbing for an expectant mother/routing of belt webbing over the
shoulders and the lap belt
–
Correctly adjust the front seat and the head restraint before fastening your
seat belt ⇒
 page 65, Head restraints.
– Slowly pull the belt webbing at the tongue of the lock over your chest and pel-
vis ⇒  .
– Insert the tongue of the lock into the seat belt buckle belonging to the seat
until it is heard to lock in place.
– Pull on the seat belt to check that it has also reliably engaged in the lock.
Each three-point seat belt is equipped with an inertia reel. This inertia reel offers
you complete freedom of movement if the belt is unreeled slowly. If the brakes
are applied suddenly, the inertia reel will block. The belts also block when the car
accelerates, when driving downhill and when cornering.
Expectant mothers must also wear the seat belt ⇒  . WARNING
● The shoulder part of the seat belt must never run across your neck but
must run approximately over the middle of the shoulder and fit snugly against
the chest. The lap part of the belt must run across the hip and must never be
routed across the stomach. It must always fit snugly ⇒

 fig. 118 on the right. Ad-
just the belt webbing as required.
● The lap part of the belt should be positioned as low as possible at the pel-
vis of an expectant mother in order to avoid exerting any pressure on the low-
er abdomen ⇒ fig. 118 - left.
● Always ensure that the webbing of the seat belts is properly routed. Seat
belts which are not correctly adjusted can themselves cause injuries even in
minor accidents.
● A seat belt which is hanging too loose can result in injuries as your body is
moved forward by the kinetic energy produced in an accident and is then sud-
denly held firm by the belt.
● Only insert the lock tongue into the lock which is the correct one for your
seat. This will affect the protection which the belt offers and increase the risk
of an injury. 
Seat belt height adjuster on the front seats Fig. 119 Front seat: Seat belt height ad-
juster
The seat belt height adjuster makes it possible for you to adapt the routing of the
front three-point seat belt in the area of the shoulder to match your body size.
– Move the height adjuster in the desired direction up or down ⇒
 fig. 119 .
– Then pull firmly on the belt to ensure that the seat belt height adjuster has
correctly locked in place. £134
Seat belts

Note
● All four wheels must be fitted with the same tyres in order to achieve prob-
lem-free operation of the ESP. 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 influence the function of the ESP ⇒
 page 207,
Accessories, changes and replacement of parts. 
Electronic Differential Lock (EDL) The electronic differential lock prevents an individual wheel from
slipping.
General
The EDL makes it much easier, and sometimes at all possible, to start off, acceler-
ate and climb a steep hill when the conditions of the road surface are unfavoura-
ble.
Operating principle
The EDL is activated automatically, that is without any action on the part of the
driver. It monitors the speeds of the driven wheels with the aid of the ABS sen-
sors. Should only
one drive wheel begin spinning on a slippery surface there will
be an appreciable difference in the speed of the driven wheels. The EDL function
brakes the slipping wheel and the differential transmits a greater driving force to
the other driven wheel. This control process is also accompanied by noises.
Overheating of the brakes
The EDL switches off automatically if unusually severe stresses exist in order to
avoid excessive heat generation in the disc brake on the wheel which is being
braked. The vehicle can continue to be driven and has the same characteristics as
a vehicle not fitted with EDL.
The EDL switches on again automatically as soon as the brake has cooled down.
EDL Off-road
After switching on the Off-road mode ⇒ page 160

, EDL Off-road is activated.
EDS Offroad assists vehicle traction when driving on unfirm ground.
EDL is activated earlier in the Off-road mode than in the normal mode. The brake
pressure builts up more quickly on the slipping wheel, on one axle, as well as diag-
onally. WARNING
● Carefully depress the accelerator when accelerating on uniformly slippery
road surfaces, such as ice and snow. The driven wheels might still spin despite
the EDL and affect the stability of the vehicle - risk of an accident!
● You should always adapt your style of driving to the condition of road sur-
face and to the traffic situation even when your vehicle is fitted with EDL. The
increased safety offered must not tempt you to take greater risks than other-
wise - risk of an accident! Note
● If the ABS or ESP warning light comes on, this may also indicate a fault in the
EDL. Have the vehicle inspected by your specialist garage as soon as you can.
● Changes to vehicle (e.g. on engine, on the brakes, on chassis or another combi-
nation of tyres and wheels) can influence the function of the EDL ⇒

 page 207,
Accessories, changes and replacement of parts. 
Traction control system (TCS) The traction control system prevents the driven wheels from spin-
ning when accelerating.
Fig. 138 TCS switch
General
The TCS makes it much easier, and sometimes at all possible, to start off, acceler-
ate and climb a steep hill when the conditions of the road surface are unfavoura-
ble. £154
Intelligent technology

Operating principle
The TCS switches on automatically when the 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 sur-
face is automatically adapted by reducing the engine speed. The system operates
at all speeds.
The TCS operates in combination with the ABS ⇒ page 157,
Antilock brake system
(ABS). The TCS will not function if a fault exists in the ABS system.
The TCS warning light lights up in the instrument cluster when there is a fault on
the TCS  ⇒ page 27.
During an intervention of the system, the TCS warning light flashes  in the in-
strument cluster ⇒ page 27.
Switching off
You can also switch off the TCS system by pressing the ⇒ fig. 138 button, or, in ve-
hicles with ESP, by pressing the ⇒ fig. 137 button. The TCS warning light 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 car free when it has become stuck.
then you should switch on the TCS again.
TCS Off-road
After switching on the Off-road mode ⇒ page 160

, TCS Off-road is activated.
TCS Off-road provides a more effective acceleration of the vehicle on an unfirm
ground, as it allows higher traction between the slipping wheels and the ground.
The system operates when starting off or at low speeds. 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 prob-
lem-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 influence the function of the TCS ⇒

 page 207, Ac-
cessories, changes and replacement of parts. 
Active driver-steering recommendation (DSR) This function indicates to the driver in critical situations a steering recommenda-
tion in order to stabilise the vehicle. The active driver-steering recommendation is
activated, for example, on the right and left vehicle side when braking sharply on
different road surfaces. WARNING
Even with this function the vehicle cannot steer itself! The driver is further-
more responsible for the steering of the vehicle! 
Brakes What 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
necessary to have the thickness of the brake pads inspected at a specialist garage
between the service inspections.
Wet roads or road salt
There may be a certain delay before the brakes take full effect under certain con-
ditions such as when driving through water, during heavy rain showers or after
the vehicle has been washed in an automatic vehicle wash, since the brake discs
and brake pads may be moist or even have a coating of ice on them in winter. You
should dry the brakes as soon as possible by applying and releasing the brakes
several times. £ 155
Intelligent technology Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

There also may be a certain delay before the full braking efficiency is available
when driving on roads which have been treated with road salt if you have not
used the brakes for some considerable time beforehand. The layer of salt on the
brake discs and brake pads must first be rubbed off when you apply the brakes.
Corrosion
Corrosion on the brake discs and dirt on the bake pads occur if the vehicle has
been parked for a long period and if you do not make much use of the braking sys-
tem.
We recommend cleaning the brake discs by firmly applying the brakes at a fairly
high speed if you do not make much use of the braking system or if surface corro-
sion is present ⇒  .
Faults in the brake surface
If you notice that the braking distance has suddenly become longer and that the
brake pedal can be depressed further, it is possible that a brake circuit of the dual-
circuit brake system has failed. Drive, in such cases, to the nearest specialist ga-
rage without delay in order to have the problem rectified. Drive at a reduced
speed while on your way to the dealer and adapt your style of driving to the high-
er brake pedal pressure required.
Low brake fluid level
An insufficient level of brake fluid may result in problems in the brake system. The
level of the brake fluid is monitored electronically ⇒ page 29, Brake system . WARNING
● 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.
● When retrospectively mounting a front spoiler, solid wheel hubs etc. one
must ensure that the air supply to the front wheel brakes is not reduced oth-
erwise the braking system could run too hot.
● Allow for the fact that new brake pads do not achieve their full braking ef-
ficiency 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. CAUTION
● Never allow the brakes to rub by applying slight pressure if you do not wish to
brake the vehicle. This causes the brakes to overheat and can also result in a lon-
ger braking distance and excessive wear.
● Before negotiating a steep downhill section, please reduce your speed, shift
down into the next lower gear (manual gearbox) or select a lower driving stage
(automatic gearbox). This enables you to make full use of the braking power of
the vehicle and reduces the strain on the brakes. Any additional braking should be
done intermittently, not continuously. Note
The brake light flashes automatically in case of an emergency braking at speeds
greater than 60 km/h or with the intervention of the ABS, which lasts longer than
1.5 seconds. After the speed was reduced below 10 km/h or the vehicle was stop-
ped, the brake light stops flashing and the hazard warning light system switches
on. The hazard warning light system is switched off automatically after accelerat-
ing or driving off again. 
Brake booster The brake booster boosts the pressure which you generate with the brake pedal.
The necessary pressure is only generated when the engine is running. WARNING
● Never switch off the engine before the vehicle is stationary.
● The brake booster only operates when the engine is running. Greater
physical effort for braking is required when engine is switched off. Because if
you do not stop as normal, this can cause an accident and severe injuries.
● While stopping or braking with a vehicle with a petrol engine and manual
transmission in the low rev range, press down on the clutch pedal. If you fail
to do so, the result may be an impairment of the function of the power brake.
You will apply a greater force to the brake pedal which you are usde to - dan-
ger of accident! 156
Intelligent technology

Antilock brake system (ABS)
ABS prevents the wheels locking when braking.
General
The ABS contributes significantly to enhancing the active safety of your vehicle.
Compared to a car not fitted with the ABS brake system, you are able to retain op-
timal steering ability even during a full brake application on a slippery road surface
because the wheels do not lock up.
You must not expect, however, that the braking distance will be shorter under all
circumstances as a result of the ABS. The braking distance for example on gravel
and fresh snow, when you should anyway be driving slowly and cautiously, will be
longer.
Operating principle
The brake pressure will be reduced on a wheel which is rotating at a speed which
is too low for the speed of the vehicle and tending to lock. This control cycle is
noticeable from a pulsating movement of the brake pedal which is accompanied
by noises. This is consciously intended to provide the driver with the information
that the wheels are tending to lock (ABS control range). You must always keep the
brake pedal depressed to enable the ABS to optimally control the brake applica-
tion in this braking range. Never interrupt the application of the brakes!
As soon as the vehicle speed has increased to about 20 km/hour an automatic
test procedure is conducted during which you will be able to hear a pumping noise
for about 1 second.
ABS Off-road
After switching on the Off-road mode ⇒ page 160, ABS Off-road is activated.
ABS Off-road increases the braking power of the vehicle on an unfirm ground, as it
keeps the wheels blocked for a longer period of time when the brake is applied
while sliding. The system is only available, if the front wheels are in the straight-
ahead position.
The system operates at speeds of up to 50
km/h. WARNING
● The ABS can also not overcome the physical limits of your vehicle. Please
do not forget this, particularly when driving on icy or wet road surfaces. If the
ABS is operating within the control range, adapt your speed immediately to
the conditions of the road surface and the traffic situation. The increased
safety offered by the ABS must not tempt you to take greater risks than oth-
erwise - risk of an accident!
● The normal braking system is still fully functional if there is an ABS fault.
Visit a specialist garage immediately and adjust your style of driving according
to the damage to the ABS as you will not know how great the damage is and
the limitation it is placing on the braking efficiency. Note
● A warning light comes on if a fault occurs in the ABS system  ⇒
 page 28.
● Changes to vehicle (e.g. on engine, on the brakes, on chassis or another combi-
nation of tyres and wheels) can influence the function of the ABS ⇒

 page 207,
Accessories, changes and replacement of parts. 
Brake Assist During a severe brake application (e.g. if a hazard exists), the Brake Assist increa-
ses the braking force and thus makes it possible to rapidly produce the pressure
required in the brake system.
The majority of drivers do apply the brakes in good time in dangerous situations,
but do not depress the brake pedal with sufficient pressure. Consequently, it is
not possible for the car to achieve its maximum deceleration and the car covers a
greater distance than necessary.
The Brake Assist is activated by the very quick operation of the brake pedal. In
such cases, a much greater braking pressure exists than during a normal brake ap-
plication. This makes it possible, even with a relatively low resistance of the brake
pedal, to produce an adequate pressure in the brake system in the shortest possi-
ble time, which is required for maximum deceleration of the car. You must apply
the brake pedal firmly and hold it in this position in order to achieve the shortest
possible braking distance. £ 157
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