Towing The Vehicle - Skoda Octavia Owner's Manual

Jump-starting in vehicles with the START-STOP system

First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 222.
On vehicles with the START-STOP system, the jump-start cable must be connec-
ted only to the ground point of the engine

Towing the vehicle


Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Front towing eye
Rear towing eye
Vehicles with a towing device
Vehicles with manual transmission may be towed in with a tow bar or a tow rope
or with the front or rear wheels raised.
Vehicles with automatic transmission may be towed in with a tow bar or a tow
rope or with the front wheels raised. If the vehicle is raised at rear, the automatic
gearbox is damaged!
A tow bar is the safest way of towing a vehicle and also minimises any shocks.
Only use a tow rope if a suitable tow bar is not available.
The following guidelines must be observed.
Fig. 196
Engine compartment: Earth
» Fig. 196.
Driver of the tow vehicle
›
Release the clutch particularly gently when starting off or depress the accelera-
tor particularly gently if the vehicle is fitted with an automatic gearbox.
›
On vehicles with a manual transmission, only push down on the accelerator
pedal once the rope is taught.
The maximum towing speed is 50 km/h.
Driver of the towed vehicle
›
Switch on the ignition so that the steering wheel is not blocked and so that the
turn signal lights, horn, windscreen wipers and windscreen washer system can
be used.
›
Take the vehicle out of gear or move the selector lever into position N if the ve-
hicle is fitted with an automatic gearbox.
Please note that the brake servo unit and power steering only operate if the en-
gine is running. If the engine is not running, significantly more physical force is re-
quired to depress the brake pedal and steer the vehicle.
If using a tow rope, ensure that it is always kept taught.

CAUTION
Do not tow start the engine – risk of damaging the engine and the catalytic con-
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verter! The battery from another vehicle can be used as a jump-start
aid » page 222, Jump-starting.
If the gearbox no longer contains any oil because of a defect, your vehicle must
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only be towed with the driven wheels raised clear of the ground or on a special
breakdown vehicle or trailer.
224
The vehicle must be transported on a special breakdown vehicle or trailer if it is
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224
not possible to tow in the vehicle in the way described or if the towing distance is
225
greater than 50 km.
To protect both vehicles when tow-starting or towing, the tow rope should be
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elastic. Thus one should only use plastic fibre rope or a rope made out of a simi-
larly elastic material.
While towing, take care to avoid impermissibly high tensile forces or jerky loads.
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There is always a risk of excessive stresses and damage resulting at the points to
which you attach the tow rope or tow bar when you attempt to tow a vehicle
which is not standing on a paved road.
Attach the tow rope or the tow bar to the towing eyes
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ing eye or » page 224, Rear towing eye to the detachable ball head of the towing
device » page 152.
The tow rope must not be twisted as it may in certain circumstances result in
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the front towing eye being unscrewed out of your vehicle.
» page 224, Front tow-
Emergency equipment, and self-help
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223