SKODA FABIA 2008 2.G / 5J Owner's Manual

Airbag system140
•special attachments are required in the area of the steering wheel because of a physical disability,
•you have installed other seats (e.g. orthopaedic seats without side airbags).
Monitoring the airbag system
The functionality of the airbag system is also monitored electronically, when one airbag has been switched off
If the airbag was switched off using diagnostic equipment:
•The airbag indicator light in the instrument cluster lights up for about 3 seconds after switching on the ignition and then flashes after that for about 12 seconds.
If the airbag was switched off using the airbag switch* on the side of the dash panel:
•The airbag warning light comes on in the instrument cluster for about 3 seconds each time the ignition is switched on.
•Switching off airbags is indicated in the middle of the dash panel by the lighting up of the indicator light   ⇒page 140, fig. 146.
Note
Your Škoda Service Partner will be able to advise you whether national legislation in your country allows airbags in your vehicle to be deactivated, and which ones.
Switch for the front seat passenger airbag(s)*
The front passenger front as well as side airbag (if the vehicle is fitted with
side airbags) are switched off using the switch.
Deactivating an airbag
– Switch off the ignition.
– Turn the slot of the airbag switch using the ignition key in the direction
of the arrow to the position OFF ⇒page 140, fig. 145.
– Check whether the airbag indicator light   in the middle of the
dash panel lights up ⇒fig. 146 when the ignition is turned on.
Switching on an airbag
– Switch off the ignition.
– Turn the slot of the airbag switch using the ignition key in the direction
of the arrow to the position ON ⇒page 140, fig. 145.
– Check whether the airbag indicator light   in the middle of the
dash panel lights up ⇒fig. 146 when the ignition is turned on.
The airbags should only be switched off under exceptional circumstances ⇒page 139.
Fig. 145 Switch for the front seat passenger airbag(s)
Fig. 146 Indicator light for a switched off front seat passenger airbag
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Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Indicator light   (airbag switched off)
The airbag indicator light is located in the middle of the dash panel ⇒fig. 146.
If the front passenger airbag is switched on, the airbag warning light comes on for a few seconds each time the ignition is switched on.
In cases where the front passenger front airbag or side airbag is switched off the airbag indicator light comes on for a few seconds after switching on the ignition, goes out for about a second and then comes on again.
There is a system fault present in the airbag switch off ⇒ if the indicator light flashes.
WARNING
•The driver is responsible for whether the airbags are switched on or switched off.
•Only switch off the airbag when the ignition is switched off! Otherwise a fault can occur in the system for the airbag deactivation.
•If the warning light   (airbag switched off) flashes:
−Front passenger airbag is not deployed in the event of an accident!
−It is also important to have the system inspected without delay by a specialist garage.
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Transporting children safely142
Transporting children safely
What you should know about transporting children!
An introduction to the subject
Accident statistics have revealed that children are generally more
safely transported on the rear seats than on the front passenger seat.
Children younger than 12 years of age should normally travel on the rear seat of the vehicle (take note of any national legal provisions which differ from this). They should be secured there by means of a child restraint system or by using the existing seat belts depending on their age, body size and weight. The child seat should be mounted behind the front passenger seat for safety reasons.
The physical principle of an accident does, of course, also apply to children ⇒page 127, “The physical principle of a frontal collision”. They differ from adults in that their muscles and bone structure of children are not yet fully developed. Thus children are exposed to increased risk of injury.
Children should be transported by using special child safety seats in order to reduce this risk of injury.
Only use child safety seats which are officially approved, suitable for children and which comply with the ECE-R 44 standard, which classifies child safety seats into 5 groups ⇒page 145, “Classification of child seats into groups”. Child restraint systems which have been tested for conformity with ECE-R 44 have a non-detach-able test seal (a large E within a circle and below this the test number) attached to the seat.
We recommend that you use child safety seats from the Škoda genuine accessories. These child seats were developed and also tested for use in Škoda vehicles. They fulfil the standard ECE-R 44.
WARNING
Always comply with national legal provisions and instructions from the rele-vant child safety seat manufacturer when installing and using a child seat
⇒ in “Important safety information regarding the use of child safety seats”.
Note
National legal provisions, which deviate from the information contained in these operating instructions, take precedence over the information contained in the operating instructions.
Important safety information regarding the use of child safety
seats
Correct use of child safety seats considerably reduces the risk of
injury!
WARNING
•All the occupants of the car - in particular children - must wear a seat belt when the car is moving!
•Children less than 1.50 m in height or younger than 12 years must not use a normal seat belt without a child restraint system otherwise this may result in injuries to the stomach and neck areas. Comply with the national legal requirements.
•One should never carry children, and also not babies! - on one's lap.
•You can transport a child safely in a suitable child safety seat ⇒page 145, “Child seat”!
•Only one child may be fastened with a seat belt into a child safety seat.
•Never leave the child sitting unattended in the seat.
•Certain outside climatic conditions can cause life-threatening tempera-tures in the vehicle.
WARNING (continued)
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Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
•Never allow your child to be transported in a vehicle without the use of a suitable restraint system.
•Children should also never stand up in a vehicle or kneel on the seats when the vehicle is moving. In the event of an accident the child will be thrown through the vehicle and may as a result suffer fatal injuries, and also injure other occupants.
•Children are exposed to an increased risk of injury in the event of an acci-dent if they lean forward or adopt an incorrect seated position when the vehicle is moving. This particularly applies to children who are transported on the front passenger seat if the airbag system deploys in the event of an accident. This can result in severe or even fatal injuries.
•It is important that the belt webbing is properly routed if the seat belts are to offer their maximum protection ⇒page 128, “How are seat belts correctly fastened?”. Pay particular attention to the information provided by the manufacturer of the child safety seat regarding correct routing of the belt. Seat belts which are not correctly adjusted can themselves cause inju-ries even in minor accidents.
•Safety belts must be checked to ensure that they are running properly. One should also ensure that the belt is not damaged by sharp-edged fittings.
•It is essential to always switch off ⇒page 139 the front passenger airbag when attaching a child safety seat on the front passenger seat where the child is seated with its back facing in direction of travel (in some countries also when the child is facing the direction of travel). If this is not done, there is a risk of the child suffering severe or even fatal injuries if the front passenger airbag is deployed. In certain countries national legal provisions also require that the side or head passenger airbags be deactivated. When transporting a child on the front passenger seat, please comply with the appropriate national regulations regarding the use of child safety seats.
Use of child safety seats on the front passenger seat
Child safety seats should always be attached to the rear seats.
We recommend, for safety reasons, that you always mount a child restraint systems on the rear seats whenever possible. If you still decide, however, to use a child safety seat on the front passenger seat then you must pay attention to the following warnings in connection with the use of the airbag system on the front passenger seat.
WARNING
•Warning - particular hazard! Never use a child safety seat on the front passenger seat in which the child is seated with its back facing the direction of travel. This child safety seat is positioned in the deployment area of the front passenger airbag. The airbag may cause the child severe, or even fatal injuries, in the event of it being deployed.
•This is also clearly stated on the sticker which is located on the centre column of the body on the front passenger side ⇒fig. 147. The sticker is visible upon opening the front passenger door. For some countries, the sticker is also affixed to the sun visor of the front passenger.
•It is essential to always switch off ⇒page 139, “Deactivating an airbag” the front passenger airbag when attaching a child safety seat on the front passenger seat where the child is seated with its back facing in direction of travel (in some countries also when the child is facing the direction of travel).
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 147 Sticker on the centre column of the body on the front passenger side.
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If this is not done, there is a risk of the child suffering severe or even fatal injuries if the front passenger airbag is deployed. In certain countries national legal provisions also require that the side or head passenger airbags be deactivated. When transporting a child on the front passenger seat, please comply with the appropriate national regulations regarding the use of child safety seats.
•If the front passenger airbag has been switched off by a specialist garage using the vehicle system tester, the side passenger airbag* remains switched on. In certain countries national legal provisions require that besides the front passenger airbag also the side or head passenger airbags are deacti-vated. Please comply with any differing national legal regulations regarding the use of child safety seats.
•If a child safety seat in which the child faces in the direction of travel is used on the front passenger seat, the front passenger seat must be moved back and to the top fully. Adjust the backrest to the vertical position.
•As soon as you no longer use the child safety seat on the front passenger seat, you should again have the front or the side passenger airbag activated.
Child safety and side airbag*
Children must never be seated in the deployment area of the side
airbags and head airbags.
Side airbags* offer the vehicle occupants enhanced protection in the event of a collision from the side.
The side airbags are inflated in fractions of a second in order to be able to provide this protection ⇒page 136, “Function of the side airbags”.
An airbag inflating develops such a strong force that an occupant who has not adopted a correct seated position may suffer injuries. Also exposed objects which are located within the area of the side airbag can cause injuries.
This applies particularly to children if they are not transported in accordance with legal requirements.
The child is protected when seated in a child safety seat matching its age. Adequate room is available between the child and the deployment area of the side airbag and head airbag. The airbag offers optimal protection.
WARNING
•It is essential to always switch off ⇒page 139 the front passenger airbag when attaching a child safety seat on the front passenger seat where the child is seated with its back facing in direction of travel (in some countries also when the child is facing the direction of travel). If this is not done, there is a risk of the child suffering severe or even fatal injuries if the front passenger airbag is deployed. In certain countries national legal provisions also require that the side or head passenger airbags be deactivated. When
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 148 Seated position of an unprotected child at risk from side airbag
Fig. 149 Child properly protected by safety seat
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Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
transporting a child on the front passenger seat, please comply with the appropriate national regulations regarding the use of child safety seats.
•When transporting a child on the front passenger seat, please comply with the appropriate national regulations regarding the use of child safety seats.
•Children must never be seated with their head in the deployment area of the side airbag - risk of injury!
•Do not place any objects within the deployment area of the side airbag - risk of injury!
Child seat
Classification of child seats into groups
Only child safety seats which have an official approval and are suit-
able for the child, may be used.
ECE-R 44 standard applies to child safety seats. ECE-R means: Economic Commis-sion of Europe - Regulation.
Child safety seats which have been tested for conformity with ECE-R 44 have a non-detachable test seal (a large E within a circle and below this the test number) attached to the seat.
Child safety seats are classified in 5 groups:
Children of more than 150 cm in height may use the seat belts fitted to the vehicle without a seat bolster.
Use of child seats
An overview of the usefulness of child seats on each of the seats according to the EG guidelines 77/541 and ECE 44 standard:
Universal category - seat is suitable for all approved types of child safety seats.
The seat can be fitted with fixing eyes for the “ISOFIX*”system.
The seat is equipped as standard with the fixing system “To p Te t h e r”.
Child seats of group 0/0+
GroupWeight
00 - 10 kg⇒page 145
0+up to 13 kg⇒page 145
19 - 18 kg⇒page 146
215 - 25 kg⇒page 147
322 - 36 kg⇒page 147
WARNING (continued)
Child seat groupsFront passenger seatRear seat outsideRear seat middle
0
0+
1
2 and 3
AUAUA+ATAU
AUAUA+ATAU
AUAUA+ATAU
AUAUAU
AU
A+
AT
Fig. 150 Child seats of group 0/0+
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The optimal solution for babies of up to about 9 months old weighing up to 10 kg or babies up to about 18 months old weighing up to 13 kg is a child safety seat which is fastened in the opposite direction of travel ⇒fig. 150.
Child seats in which the child is facing with its back towards the direction of travel should not be used on the front passenger seat when the vehicle is fitted with a front passenger airbag ⇒page 143, “Use of child safety seats on the front passenger seat”.
WARNING
•It is essential to always switch off the front passenger airbag (airbags) at a specialist garage or with the switch for front passenger airbag(s)* when attaching in exceptional circumstances a child safety seat on the front passenger seat where the child is seated with its back facing in direction of travel (in some countries also when the child is facing the direction of travel) ⇒page 140.
•In certain countries national legal provisions require that besides the front passenger airbag also the side or head passenger airbags are deacti-vated. Please comply with any differing national legal regulations regarding the use of child safety seats.
•If this is not done, a child seated on the front passenger seat may suffer severe or even fatal injuries if the front passenger airbag or airbags are deployed.
•You should have the front passenger airbag (or airbags) reactivated just as soon as you no longer use a child safety seat on the front passenger seat.
Child safety seats in Group 1
Child seats in Group 1 are for babies and small children up to 4 years of age with a weight of between 9 and 18 kilograms. It is best for children in the lower range of this group, to use a child seat which allows the child to sit with its back to the direc-tion of travel. It is best for children in the upper range of the Group 0+, to use a child seat which allows the child to sit ⇒fig. 151 in the direction of travel.
Child seats in which the child is facing with its back towards the direction of travel should not be used on the front passenger seat when the vehicle is fitted with a front passenger airbag ⇒page 143, “Use of child safety seats on the front passenger seat”.
WARNING
•It is essential to always switch off the front passenger airbag (airbags) at a specialist garage or with the switch for front passenger airbag(s)* when attaching in exceptional circumstances a child safety seat on the front passenger seat where the child is seated with its back facing in direction of travel (in some countries also when the child is facing the direction of travel) ⇒page 140.
•In certain countries national legal provisions require that besides the front passenger airbag also the side or head passenger airbags are deacti-vated. Please comply with any differing national legal regulations regarding the use of child safety seats.
Fig. 151 Child seat with padded table in Group 1 installed on rear seat bench facing the direction of travel
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•If this is not done, a child seated on the front passenger seat may suffer severe or even fatal injuries if the front passenger airbag or airbags are deployed.
•You should have the front passenger airbag (or airbags) reactivated just as soon as you no longer use a child safety seat on the front passenger seat.
Child safety seats in Group 2
For children up to about 7 years of age weighing between 15 and 25 kg the optimal solution is a child safety seat in combination with the three-point seat belt ⇒fig. 152.
WARNING
•When transporting a child on the front passenger seat, please comply with the appropriate national regulations regarding the use of child safety seats. Switch off the front passenger airbag if necessary at a specialist garage or switch it off with the switch for front passenger airbag* ⇒page 140.
•The shoulder part of the seat belt must run approximately across the middle of the shoulder and fit snugly against the chest. It must on no account run across the neck. The lap part of the seat belt must run across the pelvis
and fits snugly; it must not run over the belly. Tighten the belt webbing over your hip if necessary.
•Please comply with any differing national legal regulations regarding the use of child safety seats.
Child safety seats in Group 3
For children of about 7 years of age weighing between 22 and 36 kg and of a height of less than 150 cm, the optimal solution is a child safety seat (seat bolster) in combination with the three-point seat belt ⇒fig. 153.
Children of more than 150 cm in height may use the seat belts fitted to the vehicle without a seat bolster.
WARNING
•When transporting a child on the front passenger seat, please comply with the appropriate national regulations regarding the use of child safety seats. Switch off the front passenger airbag if necessary at a specialist garage or switch it off with the switch for front passenger airbag* ⇒page 140.
•The shoulder part of the seat belt must run approximately across the middle of the shoulder and fit snugly against the chest. It must on no account
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 152 Child seat in Group 2 installed on the rear seat facing the direction of travel
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 153 Child seat in Group 3 installed on the rear seat facing the direction of travel
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Transporting children safely148
run across the neck. The lap part of the seat belt must run across the pelvis and fits snugly; it must not run over the belly. Tighten the belt webbing over your hip if necessary.
•Please comply with any differing national legal regulations regarding the use of child safety seats.
Attaching a child seat using the “ISOFIX” system*
There are two fixing eyes between the backrest and the seat itself on both
of the outer rear seats for fixing the “ISOFIX” system child seat in place.
– Insert the mounting funnels onto the locking eyes between the
backrest and seat cushion ⇒fig. 154.
– Push the notched arms of the child seat over the mounting funnels
into the locking eyes, until it is heard to lock ⇒fig. 155.
–Pull on both sides of the child seat!
One can mount a child safety seat using the “ISOFIX” system quickly, easily and reli-ably. Please pay close attention to instructions from the manufacturer of the child safety seat when installing and removing the seat.
Child seats fitted with the “ISOFIX” clamping system can only be mounted and fixed in a vehicle fitted with an “ISOFIX system” when these child seats have been released for your type of vehicle according to the ECE-R 44 standard.
You can purchase child seats with the “ISOFIX” attachment system from Škoda Service Partners who will install it as well.
Complete installation instructions are enclosed with the child safety seat.
WARNING
•The locking eyes have just been developed for child safety seats which use the “ISOFIX” system. You should therefore never attach other child safety seats, seat belts or objects to the locking eyes - hazard!
•Ask a Škoda Service Partner whether a child seat which you bought for another vehicle is recommended for use in a Škoda before using an “ISOFIX” system.
•Certain child seats which use the “ISOFIX” system can be attached with standard three-point seat belts. Please pay close attention to instructions from the manufacturer of the child safety seat when installing and removing the seat.
Note
•Child seats which use the “ISOFIX” system are currently available for children weighing up to about 18 kg. This corresponds to an age range up to 4 years.
•The child seats can also be fitted with the “Top Tether” system ⇒page 149.
WARNING (continued)
B5J-1024HFig. 154 Locking eyes (ISOFIX system)
Fig. 155 The ISOFIX child seat is pushed into the mounting funnels
AAAB
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Attaching child seat using the “Top Tether” system
On vehicles with divided rear seats* the seats are equipped with the attachment system “Top Tether” for enhancing the safety of the children when being trans-ported ⇒fig. 156.
On vehicles with non divided rear seats* the lashing eyes in the luggage compart-ment are used to fasten the child seats with the system “Top Tether” ⇒fig. 157.
Always perform the installation and removal as stated in the instructions from the manufacturer of the child seat.
WARNING
•Attach the child seats with the “Top Tether” system only to the points provided for this purpose ⇒fig. 156.
•On no account should you equip your vehicle, e.g. mount screws or other anchorage points.
•Pay attention to the important safety information regarding the use of child seats ⇒page 142.
Note
Store the remaining part of the belt for the “Top Tether” system in a textile pocket, which is located at the child seat.
Fig. 156 Rear seat: Top Te t h e r
Fig. 157 Fixing eyes in the luggage compartment
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