Skoda Fabia (2019 year). Instruction - part 13

The instructions for use on the packaging must be observed when using care

products. We recommend that you use ŠKODA Original Accessories care

products.

WARNING

■

Vehicle care products may be harmful to your health if not used according

to the instructions.

■

Always keep the vehicle care products safe from people who are not

completely independent, e.g. children - There is a danger of poisoning!

CAUTION

■

Do not use any insect sponges, kitchen scrubbers or similar cleaning prod-

ucts – there is a risk of damaging the paintwork finish.

■

Do not use aggressive cleaning agents or chemical solvents - danger of dam-

aging the surface to be cleaned.

Note

We recommend that the vehicle is cleaned and maintained at a ŠKODA service

partner.

Car washing



Read and observe   and   on page 204 first.

The best way to protect your vehicle against harmful environmental influences

is frequent washing.
The longer insect residues, bird droppings, road salt and other aggressive de-

posits remain adhering to your vehicle, the more detrimental their destructive

effect can be. High temperatures, such as those caused by intensive sun's rays,

accentuate this caustic effect.
It is also essential to thoroughly clean the underside of the vehicle at the end

of the winter.

Washing by hand

Wash the vehicle from top to bottom, with a soft sponge or a wash mitt and

plenty of water, and, if necessary, with the appropriate detergents. Wash out

the sponge or washing glove thoroughly at short intervals.
For wheels, door sills and lower areas of the vehicle use a different sponge.

Give the vehicle a good rinse after washing it and dry it off using a chamois

leather.

Automatic Car Washes

The usual precautionary measures must be taken before washing the vehicle

(e.g. closing the windows and the tilt/slide roof etc.).
If your vehicle is fitted with any special attached parts (e.g. spoiler, roof rack

system, two-way radio aerial etc.) it is best to consult the operator of the car

wash system beforehand.
After an automatic wash with wax treatment, the wiper blades should be

cleaned with cleaning agents specially designed for the purpose, and then de-

greased.

Pressure Washers

When washing the vehicle with a high-pressure cleaner, the instructions for

use of the equipment must be observed. This particularly applies to instruc-

tions regarding the pressure and spraying distance from the vehicle surface.

WARNING

■

Washing your vehicle in the winter: Water and ice in the brake system can

affect the braking efficiency – there is the risk of an accident.

■

Take care when cleaning the underbody or the inside of the wheel wells -

there is a risk of injury from sharp metal parts!

CAUTION

■

Do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight, do not exert pressure on the body

while washing. The temperature of the washing water should be no more than

60 °C max. - otherwise there is a risk of damaging the vehicle paint.

■

Before driving through a car wash fold in the exterior mirrors - There is a risk

of damage.

■

For vehicles with a roof antenna, the antenna rod should be unscrewed be-

fore driving through a car wash - there is a risk of damage.

CAUTION

Washing the vehicle with high-pressure cleaners

■

Do not wash the foils using pressure washers - there is a risk of damage.



204

General Maintenance

■

Do not aim the water jet directly at the lock cylinders or the door or opening

joints when washing the vehicle in the winter – there is a risk of freezing.

■

During cleaning, always keep a sufficiently large spraying distance in particu-

lar from the parking sensors, the reversing camera lens, the external decorative

and protective plastic parts (e.g. roof racks, spoilers, protective strips) and oth-

er vehicle parts made of non-metallic materials, such as rubber hoses or insula-

tion materials – otherwise there is a risk of damage.

Exterior car care



Read and observe   and   on page 204 first.

Vehicle compo-

nents

Circumstances

Remedy

Paint

Spilled fuel

Clear water, cloth, (clean as soon as

possible)

No water drop-

lets form on the

paint

Use hard wax preserve (at least twice a

year), apply wax to clean and dry body

Paint has gone

matt

Use polish, then wax (if the polish does

not contain any preservative ingredi-

ents)

Plastic parts

Soiling

Clear water, cloth / sponge, possibly

cleaners provided for this purpose

Chrome

and anodised

parts

Soiling

clear water, cloth, possibly cleaners

provided for this purpose, clean then

polish with a soft dry cloth

Films

Soiling

soft sponge and mild soap solution

a)

Windows

and external mir-

ror glass

Soiling

Wash with clean water and dry with a

wipe specifically for that purpose

Headlights/lights

Soiling

soft sponge and mild soap solution

a)

Reversing camera

Soiling

Wash with clean water and dry with a

soft cloth

Snow/ice

Hand brush / de-icer

Door lock cylin-

ders

Snow/ice

De-icing fluid specifically for that pur-

pose

Vehicle compo-

nents

Circumstances

Remedy

Wipers / wiper

blades

Soiling

Windscreen cleaner, sponge or cloth

Wheels

Soiling

Clear water, then apply appropriate

substance

a)

A mild soap solution consisting of 2 tablespoons of natural soap to 1 litre of lukewarm water.

The jack is maintenance-free. If necessary, the moving parts of the jack should

be lubricated with a suitable lubricant.
The towing device is maintenance-free. Coat the ball head of the towing de-

vice with a suitable grease whenever necessary.

Protection of cavities

All the cavities of your vehicle which are at risk from corrosion are protected

by a layer of long-lasting protective wax applied in the factory.
If any small amount of wax flow out of the cavities at high temperatures, these

must be removed with a plastic scraper and the stains cleaned using a petrole-

um cleaner.

Underbody

The underside of your vehicle is already permanently protected by the factory

against chemical and mechanical influences.
We recommend having the protective coating — preferably before the begin-

ning of winter and at the end of winter.

Product life of the films

Environmental influences (e.g. sunlight, humidity, air pollution, rockfall) affect

the life of the films. The films age and become brittle, which is normal; this

shall not be considered a fault.
The sunlight may also affect the depth of the film colour.
When transporting a load on the roof rack (e.g. roof box, etc.), there is an in-

creased risk of film damage (e.g. due to rockfall from the secured load).

CAUTION

■

Vehicle paint

■

Repair damaged areas as soon as possible.

■

Matt-painted parts should not be treated with polishes or hard waxes.



205

Care and maintenance

■

Do not polish in a dusty environment - risk of paint scratches.

■

Do not apply polish to door seals or window guides.

■

Plastic parts

■

Do not use paint polish.

■

Chromed and anodised parts

■

Do not polish in a dusty environment - risk of surface scratches.

■

Films

The following instructions must be observed, otherwise there is a risk of film

damage.

■

Do not use dirty cloths or sponges for cleaning.

■

Do not use a scraper or other means to remove ice and snow.

■

Do not polish the films

■

Do not use a high pressure cleaner on the films.

■

Rubber seals

■

Do not treat the door seals and window guides deal with anything - the

protective varnish coating could be damaged.

■

Windows and door mirrors

■

Do not clean the insides of the windows/mirrors with sharp objects - risk of

damage to the filaments or the antenna.

■

Do not use a cloth which has been used to polish the body - this could dirty

the window and impair visibility.

■

Head / tail lights

■

Do not wipe head/tail lamps dry, do not use any sharp objects - risk of dam-

age to the protective coating and cracks forming on the headlamp glass cov-

ers.

■

Reversing camera

The following instructions must be observed, otherwise there is a risk of

camera damage.

■

Do not remove snow / ice with warm / hot water.

■

To wash, never use a pressure washer or steam jet.

■

For cleaning, do not use abrasive cleaners.

■

Door lock cylinders

■

Make sure that as little water as possible gets into the locking cylinder

when washing the vehicle - there is a risk of freezing the lock cylinder!

■

Wheels

■

Heavy soiling of the wheels can affect the balance of the wheels - the re-

sult can be a vibration, which can cause premature wear of the steering.

Removing snow and ice from the windscreens

Fig. 243 

Installation location of the ice

scraper, removing the scraper



Read and observe   and   on page 204 first.

Use a plastic ice scraper for removing snow and ice from the windows and

mirrors. This can be on the inside of the fuel filler flap.

›

Open the fuel filler flap and slide the scraper in the direction of arrow

» Fig. 243

.

CAUTION

■

Move the scraper in one direction only, otherwise there is a risk of damage to

the glass surface.

■

Do not remove snow / ice on the surface that is soiled (e.g. pea gravel, sand,

road salt) - there is a risk of damaging the surface.

■

Remove snow / ice carefully, otherwise there is a risk of damaging the labels

that have been fitted to the vehicle by the factory.

206

General Maintenance

Caring for the interior



Read and observe   and   on page 204 first.

Vehicle compo-

nents

Circumstances

Remedy

Natural leather /

Faux leather /

Alcantara

®

 /

Suede /

Fabric

Dust, surface

soiling

Vacuum cleaner

Soiling (fresh)

Water, slightly damp cotton / wool

cloth, if necessary, mild soap solution

a)

,

then wipe off with a soft cloth

Stubborn stains Cleaning fluid specifically for this task

Care (natural

leather)

Treat the leather periodically with a

leather protecting fluid / use a care

cream with light blocker and impregna-

tion after each cleaning

Care (Alcantara

®

suede / fabric)

Remove stubborn hair using a “cleaning

glove”

Remove pills from materials with a

brush

Plastic parts

Soiling

Water, slightly damp cloth or sponge, if

necessary cleaners specifically for this

purpose

Windows

Soiling

Wash with clean water and dry with a

wipe specifically for that purpose

Covers on electri-

cally heated seats Soiling

Cleaners specifically for this purpose

Seat belts 

» 

Soiling

soft cloth and mild soap solution

a)

a)

A mild soap solution consisting of 2 tablespoons of natural soap to 1 litre of lukewarm water.

WARNING

■

Never clean the seat belts chemically as chemical cleaning products could

destroy the fabric.

■

Air fresheners and scents can be hazardous to heath when the tempera-

ture inside the vehicle is high.

CAUTION

■

Natural leather / Faux leather / Alcantara

®

 suede / material

■

Avoid standing for lengthy periods in bright sunlight, and protect the mate-

rials by covering to prevent them from fading.

■

Remove fresh stains (e.g. from pens, lipstick, shoe polish and similar) as

soon as possible.

■

Ensure that no part of the leather is soaked through during cleaning and

that no water gets into the seams - risk of damaging the leather!

■

Do not clean the roof panelling with a brush – risk of damage to the surface

of the panelling.

■

Do not use solvents, floor wax, shoe cream, stain remover or similar agents

on Alcantara

®

 suede seat upholstery.

■

Some clothing fabrics (e.g. dark denim) do not have sufficient colour fast-

ness - this could lead to clearly visible discolouration on the upholstery. This

is not a defect in the fabric.

■

Sharp objects on garments (e.g. zips, rivets, sharp- edged belts) can dam-

age the upholstery fabrics in the vehicle. Such damage will not be recognised

as a justified complaint.

■

Plastic parts

■

Do not attach scents or air fresheners to the dash panel – risk of damage to

the dash panel.

■

Windows

■

Do not attach any stickers to the filaments or glass antenna - there is risk

of damage.

■

Covers on electrically heated seats

■

Do not clean either with water or with other liquids - risk of damage to the

heating system.

■

Do not dry by switching on the heating.

■

Seat belts

■

After cleaning the belts, allow them to dry before retracting them.

Note

During use, the leather and Alcantara

®

 and suede materials may show minor

changes (e.g. folds, discolouration).

207

Care and maintenance

Inspecting and replenishing

Fuel



Introduction

Fig. 244  Label with prescribed fuel / graphic designation of fuel types

The correct fuel for your vehicle is specified on the inside of the fuel filler flap

» Fig. 244

.

The fuel tank has a capacity of about 45 litres, including a reserve of approx.

7 litres.
Graphic name of the fuel types 

» Fig. 244

Unleaded petrol
Diesel
CNG (compressed natural gas)
Percentage of organic

WARNING

The fuel and fuel vapours are explosive - risk to life!

A
B
C
D

CAUTION

■

Never drive until the fuel tank is completely empty! Irregular supply of fuel

can cause misfiring, which can result in damage to parts of the engine and the

exhaust system.

■

Immediately remove any fuel that has spilled onto the vehicle's paintwork –

risk of paint damage.

■

If you would like to operate your vehicle in countries other than those with

the intended weather conditions, please contact a ŠKODA partner. They will

tell you whether the fuel specified by the manufacturer is offered in that coun-

try and/or whether the manufacturer will sanction operating the vehicle with

another fuel.

Petrol Refuelling

Fig. 245  Open fuel filler flap / unscrew tank cap / place the tank cap on

the fuel filler flap



Read and observe   and   on page 208 first.

Perform the refuelling under the following conditions.

The vehicle is unlocked.
The ignition is switched off.

›

Press the fuel filler flap in direction of arrow 

1

 and fold in the direction of

arrow 

2

 

» Fig. 245

.

›

Unscrew the tank cap in the direction of arrow 

3

.

›

Remove the tank cap and place on top of the fuel filler flap in direction of ar-

row 

4

.

›

Insert the pump nozzle into the fuel filler tube as far as it will go.

The fuel tank is full as soon as the pump nozzle switches off for the first time.

Do not continue refuelling.







208

General Maintenance

›

Remove the pump nozzle from the fuel filler neck and put it back in the

pump.

›

Place the filler cap onto the fuel filler neck and turn it in the opposite direc-

tion to the arrow until it securely engages 

3

.

›

Close the fuel filler flap until it clicks into place.

Unleaded petrol



Read and observe   and   on page 208 first.

The correct fuel for the vehicle is specified on the inside of the fuel filler flap

» Fig. 244

 on page 208.

The vehicle can only be operated with unleaded petrol containing maximum

10% bioethanol (E10).
Unleaded petrol must correspond to European Standard EN 228 (in Germany

DIN 51626-1 or E10 for unleaded petrol with octane number 95 and 91 or

DIN 51626-2 or E5 for unleaded petrol with octane number 95).

Unleaded petrol 95/91 or 92 or 93 RON/ROZ

We recommend using petrol 95 RON.
Optionally, the petrol 91, 92 or 93 RON can be used (slight power loss, a slight-

ly increased fuel consumption).

Specified petrol is unleaded, min. 95 RON / ROZ

Use min. 95 ROZ petrol.
In an emergency, 91, 92 or 93 ROZ petrol can be used (slight loss of power,

slightly increased fuel consumption) 

» 

.

CAUTION

The following instructions must be observed, otherwise there is a risk of dam-

age to the engine and to the exhaust system.

■

When petrol with a lower than the prescribed octane is used, only continue

driving at mid-range engine speeds and with minimal strain on the engine. Re-

fuel using petrol of the prescribed octane number as soon as possible.

■

Lower than 91 octane petrol should not be used, even in an emergency!

■

If a fuel other than unleaded fuel which complies to the above mentioned

standards (e.g. leaded petrol) is put in the tank by mistake, do not start the en-

gine or switch on the ignition.

CAUTION

Petrol additions (additives)

■

The unleaded petrol in accordance with the prescribed standards meets all

the conditions for a smooth running engine. We therefore do not recommend

mixing fuel additives into the petrol - risk of engine damage or damage to the

exhaust system.

■

The following additives may not be used - risk of engine damage or dam-

age to the exhaust system!

■

Additives with metal components (metallic additives), in particular with

manganese and iron content.

■

Fuels with metallic content (e.g. LRP - lead replacement petrol).

Note

■

Unleaded petrol that has a higher octane number than that required by the

engine can be used without limitations.

■

On vehicles with prescribed unleaded petrol 95/91, 92 or 93 RON, the use of

petrol with a higher octane number than 95 RON does not result in a noticea-

ble power increase or a lower fuel consumption.

■

On vehicles using the prescribed unleaded petrol of min. 95 RON, the use of

petrol with a higher octane number than 95 RON can lead to an increase in

power and reduction in fuel consumption.

Engine compartment



Introduction

WARNING

Never cover the engine with additional insulation material (e.g. with a blan-

ket) – risk of fire.

WARNING

When working in the engine compartment, the following instructions must

be observed - otherwise risk of injury or fire. The engine compartment of

your car is a hazardous area.



209

Inspecting and replenishing

WARNING

Instructions before beginning work in the engine compartment

■

Stop the engine and remove the ignition key, on vehicles with the KESSY

system, open the driver's door.

■

Firmly apply the handbrake.

■

On vehicles with instruction transmission, move the lever to the neutral po-

sition. For vehicles with automatic transmission, place the selector lever in

the P position.

■

Allow the engine to cool.

■

Never open the bonnet if you can see steam or coolant flowing out of the

engine compartment – risk of scalding! Wait until the steam or coolant has

stopped escaping.

WARNING

Information for working in the engine room

■

Keep everyone away from the engine compartment.

■

Do not touch any hot engine parts – there is a risk of burns.

■

Never touch the radiator fan. The radiator fan may still turn suddenly

about 10 minutes after switching off the ignition!

■

Do not smoke in the vicinity of the engine and avoid the use of open

flames or sparks.

■

Do not leave any items (e.g. cleaning cloths or tools) in the engine com-

partment. There is a fire hazard and the risk of engine damage.

■

Read the information and warning instructions on the fluid containers.

WARNING

Information for working in the engine compartment with the engine run-

ning

■

If it is necessary to work on the engine with the engine running, beware

of rotating engine parts and electrical plants - they can be fatal!

■

Never touch the electric wiring on the ignition system.

■

Avoid short circuits in the electrical system, particularly on the vehicle's

battery.

CAUTION

Only refill using fluids with the proper specification - risk of damage to the ve-

hicle!

Note

■

Fluids with the proper specifications can be purchased from the ŠKODA

Original Accessories or from the ŠKODA Genuine Parts ranges.

■

We recommend you have the operating fluids replaced by a specialist ga-

rage.

Opening and closing the bonnet

Fig. 246  Opening the bonnet



Read and observe   and   on page 209 first.

Open flap

›

Ensure that the windscreen wipers are not raised away from the windscreen

- risk of damage to the bonnet.

›

Open the front door and pull the release lever below the dash panel in the

direction of arrow 

1

 

» Fig. 246

.

›

Press the release lever in the direction of arrow 

2

 and the bonnet will be un-

locked.

›

Raise the bonnet in the direction of the arrow 

3

.

›

Remove the lid prop in the direction of arrow 

4

 from the holder.

›

Secure the open flap inserting the end of the post into the opening in the di-

rection of arrow 

5

.

Close the flap

›

Lift the bonnet.

›

Decouple the bonnet support and press into the holder designed to hold it.

›

Drop down the bonnet lid from a height of about 20 cm applying light pres-

sure until it clicks safely into place.



210

General Maintenance

WARNING

■

Never drive with the bonnet lid not properly closed - risk of accident!

■

Make sure that when closing the bonnet, no body parts are crushed -

there is danger of injury!

CAUTION

When closing the bonnet “do not press down” - there is a risk of damaging the

bonnet.

Engine compartment overview

Fig. 247  Arrangement (example) in the engine compartment



Read and observe   and   on page 209 first.

Coolant expansion tank

213

Engine oil dipstick

212

Engine oil filler opening

212

Brake fluid reservoir

214

Vehicle battery

214

Windscreen washer fluid reservoir

211

A
B
C
D

E
F

Windscreen washer fluid

Fig. 248 

Windscreen washer fluid reser-

voir



Read and observe   and   on page 209 first.

The windscreen washer fluid reservoir 

A

 is located in the engine compart-

ment 

» Fig. 248

.

The contents of the container is 3.5 litres, for vehicles with a headlamp clean-

ing system 5.4 litres (for some countries, both versions have container vol-

umes of 5.4 litres).
Use a suitable windscreen washer fluid for the current or expected weather

conditions. We recommend that you use windscreen washer fluid from

ŠKODA Original Accessories.

CAUTION

■

Only use liquids that do not attack polycarbonates - otherwise there is a risk

of damage to the headlights.

■

Do not remove the filter from the windscreen washer fluid reservoir when

replenishing it with liquid otherwise the liquid transportation system can be-

come contaminated, which can cause the windscreen washer system to mal-

function.

Engine oil

Specification

To find out which type of engine oil you can use for your vehicle, contact a

specialist garage.



211

Inspecting and replenishing

If this oil is not available, other oils can also be refilled. To prevent engine dam-

age, a maximum of 0.5 l of engine oil with the following specifications may be

used until the next oil change: VW 504 00, VW 502 00, VW 508 00, ACEA

A3/ACEA B4 or API SN, (API SM).

Check and refill

Fig. 249 

Dipstick variants

The engine uses up some oil, depending on driving style and operating condi-

tions (up to 0.5 l / 1 000 km). Consumption may be slightly higher than this

during the first 5 000 km.
Have the oil change carried out by a specialist garage during the inspection.
Check and refill oil under the following conditions.

The vehicle is standing on a horizontal surface.
The engine operating temperature is reached.
The engine is turned off.

Check the status

›

Wait a few minutes until the engine oil flows back into the sump.

›

Pull the dipstick out and wipe with a clean cloth.

›

Push the dipstick back to the stop and then pull it out again.

›

Read the oil level and push the dipstick back in.

The oil level must lie in range 

A

 

» Fig. 249

. If the oil level is below range 

A

, oil

must be added.

Refilling

›

Unscrew the cap of the engine oil filler opening 

C

 

» Fig. 247

 on page 211.

›

Add oil of the correct specification in increments of 0.5 litres 

» page 211

.

›

Check the oil level.

›

Screw the lid of the engine oil filler closed carefully.







WARNING

The following instructions must be followed at all times when working on

the engine compartment 

» page 209

.

CAUTION

■

The oil level must never fall outside range 

A

 

» Fig. 249

 – otherwise there is a

risk of damaging the engine and the exhaust system.

■

If a top up with oil is not possible or the oil level is above range 

A

, 



 stop

driving! Switch off the engine and seek assistance from a specialist garage.

■

Do not add any additives to the engine oil - risk of engine damage.

Note

■

 An engine oil level which is too low is shown in the instrument cluster by the

warning light  illuminating and also indicated by the message.

» page 43

 Nev-

ertheless, we recommend checking the oil level on a regular basis using the

dipstick.

■

We recommend that you use oils from ŠKODA Original Accessories.

Coolant



Introduction

The coolant helps to keep the engine temperature down, and consists of water

and coolant additive (with additives that protect the cooling system against

corrosion and prevent furring).
The proportion of coolant additive in the coolant must be 40 to 60 %.
The correct mix of water and coolant additive should be checked and if neces-

sary corrected by a specialist garage.

WARNING

■

The following instructions must be followed at all times when working on

the engine compartment 

» page 209

.

■

Never open the end cover of the coolant expansion reservoir while the

engine is still warm. The cooling system is pressurised - risk of scalding or

injury from splashes of coolant!



212

General Maintenance

WARNING (Continued)

■

To protect against the coolant splashing, cover the cap with a cloth when

opening.

■

Coolant and coolant fumes are harmful - avoid contact with the coolant.

If the coolant comes into contact with the eye or skin, wash the affected

area with plenty of water for several minutes, and where appropriate seek

medical help.

CAUTION

Do not cover the radiator and install any parts (e.g auxiliary lights.) in front of

the air intakes - risk of the engine overheating.

Checking and refilling

Fig. 250 

Coolant expansion reservoir



Read and observe   and   on page 212 first.

Check and refill coolant under the following conditions.

The vehicle is on a horizontal surface.
The engine is not warm (if the engine is warm the result of the check may

be wrong).
The engine is turned off.

Check the coolant level – The coolant level must lie between the marks 

A

and 

B

 

» Fig. 250

. If the coolant level is below the mark 

B

, top up with cool-

ant.

Refilling

The reservoir must always contain a small amount of coolant 

» 

.

›

Place a cloth over the cap of the coolant expansion tank and carefully un-

screw the cap.







›

Always top up using coolant of the correct specification.

›

Turn the cap until it clicks into place.

The specification for the coolant is shown in the coolant expansion reservoir

» Fig. 250

.

If the specified coolant is not available, then refilling only with distilled or dem-

ineralised water, and get a specialist garage to correct the water-coolant addi-

tive mix as soon as possible.

CAUTION

■

With an empty expansion tank top up coolant. The system could aerate - risk

of engine damage! 



 Do not drive the vehicle! Switch off the engine and seek

assistance from a specialist garage.

■

Do not fill the coolant above the mark 

A

 

» Fig. 250

. The coolant could, when

heated, be expelled from the cooling system - risk of damage to the engine

parts.

■

If it is not possible to add coolant,



stop driving! Switch off the engine and

seek assistance from a specialist garage.

■

A coolant additive which does not correspond to the correct specification

can reduce the anti-corrosion effect of the cooling system - risk of damage to

the cooling system and the engine.

■

If non-distilled (non-demineralised) water has been used to top up, the cool-

ant should be replaced by a specialist garage - risk of engine damage.

■

A loss of coolant indicates leaks in the cooling system - risk of engine dam-

age. Top up with coolant and then seek assistance from a specialist garage.

Note

A coolant level which is too low is indicated in the instrument cluster by the

warning light  and a corresponding message 

» page 43

. We still recommend

inspecting the coolant level directly at the reservoir from time to time.

213

Inspecting and replenishing

Brake fluid

Fig. 251 

Brake fluid reservoir

Check the brake fluid under the following conditions.

The vehicle is on a horizontal surface.
The engine is turned off.

Checking the brake fluid level – The brake fluid level must lie between the

markings “MIN” and “MAX”

» Fig. 251

.

Specification - The brake fluid must comply with the standard VW 501 14

(this standard meets the requirements of FMVSS 116 DOT4).
The brake fluid change is carried out during the inspection.

WARNING

■

If the date of the brake fluid change is exceeded, steam bubbles could

form in the brake system during heavy braking. This can impair the efficien-

cy of the brakes – There is a risk of accident!

■

The following instructions must be followed at all times when working on

the engine compartment 

» page 209

.

■

If the fluid level drops significantly within a short time or if it drops below

the “MIN” 

» Fig. 251

 mark, this may be an indication of a leak in the brake

system. 



 Do not continue driving - There is a risk of accident! Seek help

from a specialist garage.

Note

A brake fluid level which is too low is indicated in the instrument cluster by the

warning light 



 and a corresponding message 

» page 38

. We still recommend

inspecting the brake fluid level in the reservoir from time to time.





Vehicle battery



Introduction

The vehicle battery represents a power source for the motor to start and for

the supply of electrical consumers in the car.

Automatic consumer shutdown - Discharge protection of the vehicle

battery

The on-board power supply system tries to prevent the vehicle battery from

discharging in the following ways when it is subject to heavy loading.

▶

By increasing the engine idle speed.

▶

Through the power limitation of certain loads.

▶

By switching off some loads(heated seats, heated rear window) for as long as

necessary.

Warning symbols on the vehicle battery

Symbol

Meaning



Always wear eye protection.



Battery acid is severely caustic. Always wear gloves and eye pro-

tection.



Keep fire, sparks, open flames and lit cigarettes well clear of the

vehicle battery.



When charging the vehicle battery, a highly explosive gas mixture

is produced.



Keep children away from the vehicle battery.

WARNING

Battery acid is highly corrosive - it can cause injury, chemical burns or poi-

soning! Corrosive vapours in the air irritate and damage the respiratory

tract and the eyes. The following guidelines must be observed.

■

Always wear protective gloves, eye and skin protection when handling

the vehicle battery.

■

If your eyes or skin come into contact with the electrolytic fluid, immedi-

ately wash the affected area for a few minutes long with a lot of water. Get

medical assistance without delay.



214

General Maintenance

WARNING (Continued)

■

Keep the vehicle battery away from people who are not completely inde-

pendent (e.g. children).

■

Do not tilt the battery otherwise battery electrolyte may flow out of the

battery vent openings.

WARNING

Working on the car battery may cause explosion, fire, injury or chemical

burn! The following guidelines must be observed.

■

Do not smoke, use open flames or light or transmitting devices.

■

A discharged vehicle battery may freeze slightly. Never charge up a fro-

zen or thawed vehicle battery. Replace a frozen vehicle battery.

■

Never use a damaged vehicle battery.

■

Do not connect the battery terminals, bridging the two poles will cause a

short circuit.

CAUTION

Ensure that battery acid does not come into contact with the bodywork – risk

of damage to the vehicle.

Note

■

We recommend having all work on the vehicle battery carried out by a spe-

cialist garage.

■

You should replace batteries older than 5 years.

Checking the condition

Fig. 252 

Vehicle battery: Electrolyte level

indicator



Read and observe   and   on page 214 first.

The battery condition is checked regularly by a specialist garage as part of the

inspection service.

Check the acid level

For car batteries with acid level indicator, acidity can be checked on the basis

of a colour display. In vehicle batteries with the label “AGM” there is no acid

level examination.
Air bubbles can influence the colour of the indicator. For this reason carefully

tap on the indicator before carrying out the check 

» Fig. 252

.

Black colour - electrolyte level is correct.
Colourless or light yellow colour - electrolyte level too low, the battery must

be replaced.

Battery discharge

If frequent short journeys are made, the vehicle battery does not recharge suf-

ficiently.
The battery capacity decreases at low temperatures.
If the vehicle is not used for longer than 3 to 4 weeks, then disconnect the

negative terminal  of the battery or charge the battery constantly with a very

low charging current.

Charging



Read and observe   and   on page 214 first.

Only charge the battery when the ignition and all consumers are switched off.
Refer to the instructions of the charger manufacturer.

Charging

›

For vehicles with the START-STOP system or auxiliary heater 



, connect the

-terminal of the charger on the battery’s 



 - pole,  the - terminal of the

charger to the ground point of the engine 

» page 228

.

›

For vehicles without the START-STOP system or auxiliary heating, connect

the charger terminals to the corresponding battery poles (



 to 



,  to ).

›

Plug the mains cable of the charger into the power socket and switch the

charger on.

›

Once charging is complete: Switch off the charger and remove the mains ca-

ble from the power socket.



215

Inspecting and replenishing

›

Disconnect the terminals of the charger from the vehicle battery.

A charging current of 0.1 multiple of the total vehicle battery capacity (or low-

er) must be used until full charging is achieved.

WARNING

■

When charging the vehicle battery, hydrogen is released - risk of explo-

sion. An explosion can be caused through sparking while unclamping or

loosening the cable plug.

■

So-called “quick-charging” of the vehicle battery is dangerous and re-

quires a special charger and specialist knowledge. Therefore, have “Quick

loading” carried out by a specialist garage.

Disconnecting/reconnecting and replacing



Read and observe   and   on page 214 first.

We recommend you have the battery replaced by a specialist garage.
The new vehicle battery must have the same capacity, voltage, current and the

same size as the original battery.

Connecting/disconnecting

›

To disconnect, switch off the ignition and disconnect the negative terminal

first , then disconnect the positive terminal 



.

›

When reconnecting the battery, reconnect the positive terminal first 



,

then connect the negative terminal .

After disconnecting and re-connecting the vehicle battery, the following func-

tions or devices are partially or completely inoperative.

Function / device

Operating measure

Power windows

» page 60

Time settings

» page 46

CAUTION

■

Disconnect the battery only with the ignition and consumers turned off - risk

of damaging the electrical system of the vehicle.

■

Before disconnecting the battery, always close all electric windows other-

wise malfunctions of the window can occur.

■

Under no circumstances mix up the charging cables – risk of fire.

Note

After disconnecting and reconnecting the vehicle battery, we recommend

having the vehicle checked by a specialist to ensure that the full functionality

of the vehicle is guaranteed.

216

General Maintenance

Wheels

Wheels and tyres

Advice on tyre/wheel usage

New tyres, during the first 500 km, new tyres do not offer optimum grip and

appropriate care should therefore be taken when driving.
Tyres with the deeper profiles should always be fitted to the front wheels.
Rims and wheel bolts are matched to each other in terms of design. We rec-

ommend that you use rims and wheel bolts from ŠKODA Original Accessories.
Wheels and tyres should always be stored in a cool, dry and dark place. The

tyres themselves should be stored vertically.

Tyre life

Tyres age losing their original characteristics, even if they are not used. Do not

use tyres that are older than 6 years.
The manufacturing date is indicated on the tyre sidewall (possibly on the in-

side). E.g. DOT ... 10 18... means that the tyres were produced in the 10th week

of the year 2018.

Tyre damage

We recommend checking your tyres and wheel rims for damage (punctures,

cuts, splits and bulges etc.) on a regular basis.
Remove any foreign objects in the tyre’s profile immediately (e.g. small

stones).
Foreign bodies which have penetrated into the tyre (e.g. screws or nails)

should not be removed and help should be sought from a specialist garage.

Fitting new tyres

Only fit approved radial tyres of the same type, size (rolling circumference) and

the same tread pattern on one axle on all four wheels.
When mounting new tyres the tyres have to be replaced axle by axle.

Directional tyres

Some tyres may be directional. The direction of rotation of the tyres is marked

by arrows on the wall of the tyre.

The specified running direction must be strictly adhered to, otherwise the fol-

lowing tyre characteristics may be degraded.

▶

Driving stability.

▶

Traction.

▶

Tyre noise and tyre wear.

WARNING

Never use damaged tyres or tyres that are older than 6 years old – risk of

accident.

CAUTION

■

The tyres must be protected from contact with substances (e.g. oil, grease

and fuel) which could damage them. If the tyres with these substances come

into contact, then we recommend that you check this in a specialist workshop.

■

Do not use alloy rims with a burnished or polished surface in winter condi-

tions - there is a risk of wheel damage (e.g. from the road grit).

Tyre pressure

Fig. 253  Label with a table of tyre sizes and tyre pressure value / inflate

tyres

The prescribed tyre pressure is indicated on the sticker with pictograms 

A

» Fig. 253

 (for some countries, the pictograms are replaced with a text).

Tyre pressure is always to match the load.

Inflation pressure for half load
Inflation pressure for environmentally friendly operation (slightly lower

fuel consumption and emissions)
Inflation pressure for full load



B
C

D

217

Wheels

Tyre diameter in inches

This information serves merely as information for the prescribed tyre

pressure. This is not a list of shared tyre sizes for your vehicle. These are in

the vehicle's technical documentation, as well as in the declaration of con-

formity (in so-called COC document).
Tyre pressure value on the front axle
Tyre pressure value on the rear axle

Check tyre pressures

Check the tyre pressure, including that of the spare wheel, at least once a

month and also before setting off on a long journey.
Always check the inflation pressure when the tyres are cold. Do not reduce

the higher pressure of warm tyres.
In vehicles with tyre pressure monitoring, tyre pressure values must be saved

each time the pressures are changed 

» page 193

.

WARNING

■

Do not drive with incorrect tyre pressure - risk of accident.

■

In the event of very rapid pressure loss (e.g. in the event of tyre damage)

an attempt should be made to bring the vehicle carefully to a stop without

sudden steering movements and without any hard braking - risk of acci-

dent.

Note

The declaration of conformity (the so-called. COC document) can be obtained

from a ŠKODA Partner (only valid for some countries and some models).

E

F

G

Tyre wear and wheel change

Fig. 254  Tyre wear indicator / wheel change

Tyre wear increases in the following circumstances.

▶

Incorrect tyre pressures.

▶

Driving style (e.g. fast cornering, rapid acceleration / braking).

▶

Incorrect wheel balancing (you should have the wheels balanced after chang-

ing/repair tyres or if the steering “is drifting”).

▶

Wheel alignment errors.

There are wear indicator markers in the tyre treads, indicating whether the

minimum permissible tread depth has been reached 

» Fig. 254

 - . A tyre

should be regarded as worn out when this indicator is flush with the tread.

Markings on the walls of the tyres with the letters “TWI” or other symbols (e.g.


) indicate the position of the wear indicators.

The tread depth can be measured with a tread depth gauge on the ice scraper,

which is located on the inside of the fuel filler flap.
To ensure uniform wear on all tyres, we recommend that you change the

wheels every 10 000 km, in line with the schedule 

» Fig. 254

 - .

WARNING

■

Change the tyres at the latest when they are worn down to the wear indi-

cators - risk of accident.

■

Faulty wheel alignment affects handling - risk of accident.

■

Unusual vibrations or the vehicle “pulling” to one side could be a sign of

tyre damage. Reduce speed and stop! If there are no external signs of tyre

damage, seek the help of a specialist garage.

218

General Maintenance

Spare wheel

A full spare wheel corresponds to the wheel mounted on the vehicle in terms

of the wheel dimensions, the tire dimension and the tire type.
A temporary spare wheel is provided with a warning label on the rim. Only use

this temporary spare wheel to reach the nearest specialist garage since it is

not intended for permanent use.
Instructions for using a temporary spare wheel

▶

Do not cover the warning sign.

▶

Be specially attentive when driving.

Inflate the spare wheel to the maximum prescribed inflation pressure

» page 217

.

WARNING

A temporary spare wheel can only be used for a short time in the event of a

breakdown and with a correspondingly careful driving method.

Tyre marking

Explanation of tyre markings - e.g. 185/60 R 15 84 H

185

Tyre width in mm

60

Height/width ratio in %

R

Code letter for the type of tyre – Radial

15

Diameter of wheel in inches

84

load index

H

Speed symbol

Load index - indicates the maximum permissible load for each individual

tyre

load index

83

84

85

86

87

88

Load

(In kg)

487

500

515

530

545

560

Speed symbol - indicates the maximum permissible speed for a vehicle fit-

ted with tyres in a given category

Speed

symbol

S

T

U

H

V

W

Maximum

speed

(in km/h)

180

190

200

210

240

270

WARNING

Never exceed the maximum permissible load bearing capacity and speed

for the tyres fitted – risk of accident.

Operating in winter conditions

All-year (or “winter”) tyres

All-year or “winter”tyres (indicated by an M+S or a mountain peak/snowflake

symbol ) to improve the performance of the vehicle in winter conditions.
To get the best possible driving characteristics, all-year or “winter”tyres, with a

minimum tread depth of 4 mm on all four wheels, should be fitted.
If “winter” tyres are mounted, summer tyres should be fitted again in good

time as they provide better handling properties, a shorter braking distance,

less tyre noise and reduced tyre wear on roads which are free of snow and ice

as well as at temperatures above 7 °C.

Speed symbol

All-year or “winter”tyres (marked with M+S and a peak/snowflake symbol )

of a lower speed category than listed in the vehicle’s technical documentation

can be used provided that the maximum permissible speed for these tyres is

not exceeded even if the maximum possible speed of the vehicle is higher.
On vehicles with Infotainment, the speed limit for all-season or “winter” tyres

can be set with the button 



 in menu 



 →  → Tyres. For other vehicles,

there is the option to set the speed limit for winter tyres at a specialist garage.
If the vehicle has all-season or “winter”tires of a lower speed category then the

specified maximum speed of the vehicle (referring to tyres that have not been

delivered by the factory, a warning label with the maximum value of the speed

category provided for the mounted tyres must be fixed in the interior of the

vehicle in a constantly visible place in the driver’s field of vision. The warning



219

Wheels