Skoda Octavia Owner's Manual page 204

WARNING
The use of open flames and light should be avoided.
■
Smoking and radio triggering activities should be avoided.
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Never use a damaged vehicle battery – risk of explosion!
■
Never charge a frozen or thawed vehicle battery – risk of explosion and
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caustic burns!
Replace a frozen vehicle battery.
■
Never jump-start vehicle batteries with an electrolyte level that is too low
■
– risk of explosion and caustic burns.
CAUTION
Improper handling of the vehicle battery may cause damage.
■
Ensure that battery acid does not come into contact with the bodywork – risk
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of damage to the paintwork.
If the vehicle has not been driven for more than 3 to 4 weeks, the battery will
■
discharge. Prevent the battery from discharging by disconnecting the battery's
negative terminal  or continuously charging the battery with a very low
charging current.
Do not place the battery in direct daylight in order to protect the vehicle bat-
■
tery housing from the effects of ultra-violet light.
If the vehicle is frequently used for making short trips, the vehicle battery
■
will not have time to charge up sufficiently and may discharge.
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.
■
Opening the cover
202
General Maintenance
Fig. 209
Polyester cover of vehicle bat-
tery

Read and observe and
The battery is located in the engine compartment. For some equipment var-
iants, it is located underneath a polyester cover
›
Fold out the cover on the battery in the direction of the arrow.
The battery cover is installed in reverse order.
Checking the battery electrolyte level

Read and observe and
On vehicles with a vehicle battery fitted with a colour indicator, the electrolyte
level can be determined by looking at the change in colour of this display.
Air bubbles can influence the colour of the indicator. For this reason carefully
knock on the indicator before carrying out the check.
Check
Black colour – electrolyte level is correct.
Colourless or light yellow colour – electrolyte level too low, the battery must
be replaced.
For technical reasons, on vehicles with the description "AGM", the electrolyte
level cannot be checked.
Vehicles with the START STOP system are fitted with a battery control unit for
checking the energy level for recurring engine starts.
We recommend that you have the acid level checked regularly by a specialist
garage, especially in the following cases.
▶
High external temperatures.
▶
Longer day trips.
▶
After each charge.
on page 201 first.
» Fig. 209.
Fig. 210
Vehicle battery: Electrolyte level
indicator
on page 201 first.
