General Maintenance; Taking Care Of And Cleaning The Vehicle; Taking Care Of Your Vehicle - Skoda Octavia Owner's Manual

General Maintenance

Taking care of and cleaning the vehicle

Taking care of your vehicle

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Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Washing the vehicle
Automatic car wash systems
Washing by hand
Washing with a high-pressure cleaner
Preserving and polishing the vehicle paintwork
Chrome parts
Paint damage
Plastic parts
De-icing windows and exterior mirrors
Radio reception and aerial
Headlight lenses
Rubber seals
Door lock cylinders
Wheels
Underbody protection
Cavity protection
Artificial leather, cloths and Alcantara
Fabric covers on electrically heated seats
Natural leather
Seat belts
Regular and proper care help to retain the efficiency and value of your vehicle. It
may also be one of the requirements for the acceptance of warranty claims relat-
ing to corrosion damage and paint defects on the bodywork.
We recommend using care products from ŠKODA Original Accessories that are
available from ŠKODA Partners. The instructions for use on the package must be
observed.
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General Maintenance
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WARNING
Care products may be harmful to your health if not used according to the in-
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structions.
Always store care products in a safe place, out of the reach of children - risk
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of poisoning!
Water and ice in the brake system when washing the vehicle in winter can
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affect the braking efficiency - risk of accident!
Only wash the vehicle when the ignition is switched off - risk of accident!
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When washing the car by hand, protect your hands and arms from sharp-
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edged metal parts (e.g. when cleaning the underfloor, the inside of the wheel
housings or the wheel trims, etc.) - risk of cuts!
Air fresheners and scents can be hazardous to heath when the temperature
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inside the vehicle is high.
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CAUTION
184
Be sure to check clothing for colourfastness to avoid any damage or visible
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184
stains on the material (leather), panels and textiles.
184
Cleaners containing solvents can damage the material being cleaned.
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184
Do not wash your vehicle in bright sunlight - risk of paint damage.
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185
If washing the vehicle in the winter using a hose or high-pressure cleaner, en-
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185
sure that the jet of water is not aimed directly at the locking cylinders or the
185
door/panel joints - risk of freezing!
Do not use any insect sponges, rough kitchen sponges or similar cleaning prod-
185
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ucts - risk of damaging the surface of paintwork.
186
Do not stick any stickers on the inside of the rear windows, the rear side win-
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186
dows and in the vicinity of the heating elements on the windscreen or near the
186
window aerial. These may get damaged. With regard to the antenna, they may in-
186
terfere with the radio or navigation.
187
Do not clean the inside of the windows with sharp-edged objects or corrosive
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and acidic cleaning agents - risk of damaging the heating elements or window
187
aerial.
187 Do not attach scents and air fresheners to the dashboard - risk of damage to
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the dash panel.
188
To avoid damaging the parking aid sensors while cleaning with high-pressure
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cleaners or steam jets, the sensors must only be directly sprayed for short periods
while a minimum distance of 10 cm must be observed.
Do not clean the roof trim with a brush - risk of damage to the trim surface.
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Fold in the exterior mirrors to prevent damage before washing the vehicle in an
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automatic car wash system. Never manually fold in electric exterior mirrors - al-
ways use the electric controls.
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