Starting-Off And Driving; Starting And Stopping The Engine - Skoda Rapid Owner's Manual

Starting-off and Driving

Starting and stopping the engine

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Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Adjusting the steering wheel position
Power steering
Electronic immobiliser
Ignition lock
Starting engine
Switching off the engine
WARNING
Never adjust the steering wheel when the vehicle is moving only when the
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vehicle is stationary!
Maintain a distance of 25 cm
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– . Not maintaining this minimum distance will mean that the airbag system
will not be able to properly protect you – hazard!
The lever for adjusting the steering wheel must be locked whilst driving so
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that the position of the steering wheel cannot accidently change during the
journey – risk of accident!
If the steering wheel is adjusted further towards the head, the protection
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provided by the driver airbag in the event of an accident is reduced. Check
that the steering wheel is aligned to the chest.
When driving, hold the steering wheel with both hands firmly on the outer
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edge in the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock position. Never hold the steering wheel in
the 12 o'clock position or in any other way (e.g. in the middle or inner edge of
the steering wheel). In such cases, you could severely injure the arms, hands
and head when the driver airbag is deployed.
When driving, the ignition key must always be in the position
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page 70 (ignition switched on) without the engine running. This position is
indicated by the warning lights coming on. If this is not the case, it could result
in unexpected locking of the steering wheel – risk of accident!
68
Using the system
to the steering wheel » Fig. 62 on page 69
» Fig. 63
2
WARNING (Continued)
Only pull the ignition key from the ignition lock when the vehicle has come
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to a complete stop (by applying the handbrake). Otherwise the steering wheel
could block – risk of accident!
When leaving the vehicle, the ignition must always be removed. This is par-
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ticularly important if children are left in the vehicle. Otherwise the children
could, for example, start the engine – risk of accident or injury!
Never leave the engine running in unventilated or closed rooms. The ex-
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haust gases of the engine contain besides the odorless and colourless carbon
69 monoxide a poisonous gas – hazard! Carbon monoxide can cause uncon-
sciousness and death.
69
Never leave the vehicle unattended with the engine running.
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69
Never switch off the engine before the vehicle is stationary – risk of acci-
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70
dent!
70
70
CAUTION
You will place great stresses on the power steering system if the steering is
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turned to full lock when the vehicle is stationary. Turning the steering to full lock
in such a situation will be accompanied by noises. Never leave the steering wheel
at full lock for more than 15 seconds when the engine is running – risk of damag-
ing the power steering!
The starter may only be operated (ignition key position
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page 70), if the engine is not running. The starter or engine can be damaged if
the starter is activated when the engine is running.
Let go of the ignition key as soon as the engine starts otherwise the starter
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could be damaged.
Avoid high engine revolutions, full throttle and high engine loads as long as the
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engine has not yet reached its operating temperature – risk of damaging the en-
gine!
Do not tow start the engine – danger of damaging the engine! On vehicles with
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a catalytic converter, unburnt fuel may get into the catalytic converter where it
may ignite. This in turn may damage the catalytic converter. The battery from an-
other vehicle can be used as a jump-start aid
on Do not switch the engine off immediately at the end of your journey after the
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engine has been operated over a prolonged period at high loads but leave it to
run at an idling speed for about 1 minute. This prevents any possible accumulation
of heat when the engine is switched off.
» Fig. 63 on
3
» page 152, Jump-starting.
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