SKODA FABIA 2010 2.G / 5J Owner's Manual

Transporting children safely
130
Transporting children safelyWhat you should know ab
out 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 who are less than 1.50 m in height and who weigh less than 36 kg should, under normal circumstances, sit on the rear
seat (take note of any national legal provi-
sions 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 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 117, “The physical principle of a fronta
l collision”. They differ from adults in
that their muscles and bone structure of children are not yet fully developed. Thus chil- dren are exposed to increased risk of injury. Children should be transporte
d by using special child safety seats in order to reduce
this risk of injury. Only use child safety seats which are offici
ally approved, suitable for children and
which comply with the standard ECE-R 44, wh
ich classifies child safety seats into 5
groups
page 132, “Classification of child seats
into groups”. Chil
d restraint systems
which have been tested for conformity to
ECE-R 44 standard have a non-detachable
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 ECE-R 44 standard.
WARNING
Always comply with national legal provisions and instructions from the rele-vant child safety seat manufacturer wh
en 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 oper-
ating 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 vehicle - particularly children - must wear a seat
belt when the ve
hicle is moving.

Children who are less than 1.50 m in height and who weigh less than 36 kg
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 132,
“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.
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 in
correct seated position when the vehicle
s3j8.a.book Page 130 Tuesday, April 20, 2010 1:10 PM

Transporting children safely
131
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
is moving. This particularly applies to children who are transported on the front passenger seat if the airbag system deploy
s 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 119, “How are seat belts correctly
fastened?”. Pay particular attention to the information provided by the manu-facturer of the child safety seat regarding correct routing of the belt. Seat belts which are not correctly adjusted can them
selves cause injuries 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 th
e front passenger airbag when attaching
a child safety seat to the front passenger
seat where the child is seated with its
back facing in direction of travel
page 128. If this is not done, there is a risk of
the child suffering severe or even fatal in
juries if the front passenger airbag is
deployed. 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 th
e child severe, or even fatal injuries,
in the event of it
being deployed.

This is also clearly stat
ed on the sticker which is located on the centre
column of the body on the front passenger side
fig. 122
. 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 the front passenger airbag when a child
safety seat is nevertheless attached to
the front passenger seat where the child
is seated with its back facing in direction of travel
page 128, “Deactivating
airbags”. If this is not done, there is a ri
sk of the child suffering severe or even
fatal injuries if the front passenger airbag is deployed. 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 te
ster, the side airbag* or
the head airbag* and the
passenger belt tensioner re
main switched on. Please comply with any differing
national legal regulations regardin
g 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 pa
ssenger seat must be moved back and
to the top fully. Move the seat backrest into the vertical position.
You should have the front passenger airbag (or airbags) reactivated just as
soon as you no longer use a child safe
ty seat on the front passenger seat.
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 122 Sticker on the centre column of the body on the front passenger side.
s3j8.a.book Page 131 Tuesday, April 20, 2010 1:10 PM

Transporting children safely
132
Child safety and side airbag* Children must never be seated in the deployment area of the side airbags and head airbags.Fig. 123 Seated position of an unprotected chil
d at risk from side airbag / Child properly
protected by safety seatSide airbags* offer the vehicle occupants en
hanced protection in the event of a colli-
sion from the side. The side airbags are inflated in fractions of a
second in order to be able to provide this
protection
page 126, “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 injuri
es. 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 chil
d 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 th
e front passenger airbag when attaching
a child safety seat to the front passenger
seat where the child is seated with its
back facing in direction of travel
page 128. If this is not done, there is a risk of
the child suffering severe or even fatal in
juries if the front passenger airbag is
deployed. When 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 fron
t passenger seat, please comply with
the appropriate national regulations r
egarding the use of child safety seats.

Children must never be seated with thei
r 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 seatClassification of child seats into groups Only child safety seats which have an official approval and are suitable for the child, may be used.ECE-R 44 standard applies to child safety seats. ECE-R means: Economic Commission for Europe - Regulation. Child safety seats which have been tested for conformity to ECE-R 44 standard 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:
Group
Weight
0
0 - 10 kg
 page 133
0+
up to 13 kg
page 133
1
9 - 18 kg
page 133
2
15 - 25 kg
page 134
3
22 - 36 kg
page 134
WARNING (continued)
s3j8.a.book Page 132 Tuesday, April 20, 2010 1:10 PM

Transporting children safely
133
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Children who are more than 1.50 m in height or who weigh more than 36 kg can use the normal seat belts without a seat bolster.Use of child seatsAn overview of the usefulness
of child seats on each of the seats according to the ECE-
R44 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 standa
rd with the fixing system “
To p Te t h e r
”.
Child seats of group 0/0+The optimal solution for babies of up to ab
out 9 months old weighing up to 10 kg or
children 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. 124
.
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 131, “Use of child safety seats on the front passenger
seat”.
WARNING

It is essential to always switch off the front passenger airbag at a specialist
garage or with the switch for front pass
enger airbag* when attaching in excep-
tional circumstances a child safety seat on the front passenger seat where the child is seated with its back facing in direction of travel
page 129.

Please comply with any differing nati
onal 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 safe
ty seat on the front passenger seat.
Child safety seats in Group 1Child seats in Group 1 are for babies and sm
all 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 ch
ild to sit with its back to the direction of
travel. It is best for children in the uppe
r range of the Group 0+, to use a child seat
which allows the child to sit
fig. 125
in the direction of travel.
Child seat of the group
Front passenger
seat
Rear seat outside
Rear seat middle
0

0+

1

2 and 3
AU
AUA+AT
AU
AU
AUA+AT
AU
AU
AUA+AT
AU
AU
AU
AU
AUA+AT
Fig. 124 Child seats of group 0/0+
Fig. 125 Child seat with padded table in Group 1 installed on rear seat bench facing the direction of travel
s3j8.a.book Page 133 Tuesday, April 20, 2010 1:10 PM

Transporting children safely
134
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 th
e vehicle is fitted with a
front passenger airbag
page 131, “Use of child safety seats on the front passenger
seat”.
WARNING

It is essential to always switch off the front passenger airbag at a specialist
garage or with the switch for front pass
enger airbag* when attaching in excep-
tional circumstances a child safety seat on the front passenger seat where the child is seated with its back facing in direction of travel
page 129.

Please comply with any differing nati
onal 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 airb
ag (or airbags) re
activated just as
soon as you no longer use a child safe
ty seat on the front passenger seat.
Child safety seats in Group 2For children up to about 7 years of age weighing between 15 and 25 kg the optimal solution is a child safety seat in comb
ination with the three-point seat belt
fig. 126
.
WARNING

When transporting a child on the fron
t passenger seat, please comply with
the appropriate national regulations rega
rding 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 129.

The shoulder part of the seat belt mu
st run approximatel
y 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 nati
onal legal regulations regarding the
use of child safety seats.Child safety seats in Group 3For 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 combina-
tion with the three-point seat belt
fig. 127
.
Children who are more than 1.50 m in heig
ht or who weigh more than 36 kg can use
the normal seat belts
without a seat bolster.
WARNING

When transporting a child on the fron
t passenger seat, please comply with
the appropriate national regulations rega
rding the use of child safety seats.
Fig. 126 Child seat in Group 2 installed on the rear seat facing the direction of travel
Fig. 127 Child seat in Group 3 installed on the rear seat facing the direction of travel
s3j8.a.book Page 134 Tuesday, April 20, 2010 1:10 PM

Transporting children safely
135
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Switch off the front passenger airbag if
necessary at a specialist garage or
switch it off with the switch for front passenger airbag*
page 129.

The shoulder part of the seat belt mu
st run approximatel
y 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 nati
onal legal regulations regarding the
use of child safety seats.Attaching a child seat using the “ISOFIX” system*Fig. 128 Locking eyes (ISOFIX system) / Push the
ISOFIX child seat into the installed mounting
funnelsThere are two locking eyes between the rear
exterior seat backrest and the surface of
the seat itself on both sides for fixing the “ISOFIX” system child seat in place. – Insert the mounting funnels onto the
locking eyes between the seat back-
rest and the seat cushion
fig. 128
.
– Push the notched arms of the child seat in
to the locking eyes until they are heard
to lock in place
fig. 128
.
–
Pull on both sides of the child seat!
One can mount a child safety seat using the “ISOFIX” system quickly, easily and reliably. Please pay close attention to
instructions from the manufa
cturer of the child safety
seat when installing and removing the seat. Child seats fitted with the “ISOFIX” system
can only be mounted and fixed in a vehicle
fitted with an “ISOFIX” system when these child seats have been released for this type of vehicle according to the ECE-R 44 standard. Child safety seats with the fixing system “ISOFIX” can be obtained from Škoda original accessories. Complete installation instructions are
enclosed with the child safety seat.
WARNING

The locking eyes have just been deve
loped 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 specialist garage whether a child seat which you bought for another
vehicle is recommended for use in your
vehicle before using a child seat with
“ISOFIX” system.
Certain child seats which use the “ISO
FIX” 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 corres
ponds to an age range up to 4 years.

The child seats can also be fitted with the “Top Tether” system
page 136.
WARNING (continued)
AA
AB
s3j8.a.book Page 135 Tuesday, April 20, 2010 1:10 PM

Transporting children safely
136
Attaching child seat using the “Top Tether” systemIIn certain countries national
legal provisions also requir
e the equipment of the rear
seat with fixing eyes for child seat using the “Top Tether” system
fig. 129
.
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
page 136, fig. 129
.

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 130.
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. 129 Rear seat: Top Tether
s3j8.a.book Page 136 Tuesday, April 20, 2010 1:10 PM

Intelligent Technology
137
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Driving TipsIntelligent TechnologyElectronic stability programme (ESP)*GeneralGeneral The ESP aids you in maintaining control of
your vehicle in situations in which the
vehicle is driving at its dynamic limits, such as
entering a curve fast. The risk of skidding
is reduced and your vehicle thus offers greater driving stability depending on the conditions of the road surface. The system operates at all speeds. The following systems are integrated into the electronic stability programme:
Electronic Differential Lock (EDL);

Traction control system (TCS);

Antilock brake system (ABS);

Brake Assist;

Uphill Start Assist.
Operating principle The ESP switches on automati
cally when the engine is started and then conducts a
self-test. The ESP control unit processes data from the individual systems. It also proc- esses additional measurement data which are supplied by highly sensitive sensors: the rotational velocity of the vehicle about its ve
rtical axis, the lateral acceleration of the
vehicle, the braking pressure and the steering angle. The direction which the driver wishes to take is determined based on the steering angle and the speed of the vehicle and is co
nstantly compared wi
th the actual behav-
iour of the vehicle. If differences exist, such
as the vehicle beginning to skid, the ESP will
automatically brake the appropriate wheel. The car is stabilised again by the forces wh
ich take effect when the wheel is braked.
Intervention into the brake system takes place primarily on the outer front wheel of a vehicle which tends to oversteer (tendency fo
r the rear of the vehicle to break away)
while occurs this is on the inner rear wh
eel of a vehicle whic
h tends to understeer
(tendency to shift out of the curve). This braking control cycle is accompanied by noises. If the ESP helps to stabilise the vehicle (f
or example when applying and releasing a
braking force to an individual wheel), then the indicator light
 flashes.
The ESP system cannot be switched off, only
the TCS system can be switched off by
pressing the button
page 138, fig. 130
. The warning light
 page 31 lights up if
the TCS system is switched off. The warning light
 lights up permanently if there is a fault in the ESP system.
The fact that the ESP system operates together with the ABS means that the ESP warning light will also come on if the ABS system is not operating properly. If the warning light
 comes on immediately after starting the engine, the ESP system
can be switched off for technical reasons. In
this case, the ESP system can be switched
on again by switching the igni
tion on and off. If the warning light goes out, the ESP
system is fully functional again.
WARNING
It is also not possible for the ESP to overcome the physical limits of the vehicle. Even if a vehicle fitted with ESP you should still always adapt your style of driving to the condition of the road surfac
e and the traffic situation. This partic-
ularly applies when driving on slippery
and wet roads. The increased safety
offered must not tempt you to take greater risks than otherwise - risk of an acci- dent!
Note

All four wheels must be fitted with the same tyres in order to achieve problem-free
operation of the ESP. Differing rolling circum
ferences of the tyres can lead to an unde-
sirable reduction in the engine output.
s3j8.a.book Page 137 Tuesday, April 20, 2010 1:10 PM

Intelligent Technology
138

Changes to vehicle (e.g. on engine, on th
e brakes, on chassis or another combina-
tion of tyres and wheels) can influence the function of the ESP
page 184, “Accesso-
ries, changes and replacement of parts”.Traction control system (TCS)* The traction control system prevents the driven wheels from spinning when accelerating.General The TCS makes it much easier, and sometimes at all possible, to start off, accelerate and climb a steep hill when the conditions
of the road surface are unfavourable.
Operating principle The TCS switches on automatically when th
e engine is started and then conducts a
self-test. The system monitors the speeds of the driven wheels with the aid of the ABS sensors. If the wheels are spinning, the force transmitted to the road surface is auto- matically adapted by reducing the engine speed. The system operates at all speeds. The TCS operates in combination with the ABS
page 140, “Antilock brake system
(ABS)”. The TCS will not function if a fault exists in the ABS system. The TCS warning light lights up in the instru
ment cluster when there is a fault on the
TCS
 page 31.
Switching off You can switch the TCS off and on agai
n as you wish by pressing the button
fig. 130
.
The TCS warning light lights up in the instrument cluster when the TCS is switched off  page 31.
The TCS should normally always
be switched on. It may be good practice in certain
exceptional cases, such as when you wish to
have wheel slip, to switch off the system.
Examples:
when driving with snow chains;

when driving in deep snow or on a loose surface;

when it is necessary to rock a vehicle when it has become stuck.
then you should switch on the TCS again.
WARNING
You should always adjust your style of driving to the conditions of the road surface and the traffic situation. The increased safety offered must not tempt you to take greater risks than otherwise - risk of an accident!
Note

All four wheels must be fitted with the same tyres in order to achieve problem-free
operation of the TCS. Differing rolling circum
ferences of the tyres can lead to an unde-
sirable reduction in the engine output.
Changes to vehicle (e.g. on engine, on the brakes, on chassis or another combina-
tion of tyres and wheels) can influence the function of the TCS
page 184, “Accesso-
ries, changes and replacement of parts”.Electronic Differential Lock (EDL)* The electronic differential lock prev
ents an individual wheel from slip-
ping.Models fitted with ESP are equipped with
electronic differential lock (EDL).
Fig. 130 TCS switch
s3j8.a.book Page 138 Tuesday, April 20, 2010 1:10 PM

Intelligent Technology
139
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
General The EDL makes it much easier, and sometimes
at all possible, to start off, accelerate
and climb a steep hill when the conditions of the road surface are unfavourable. Operating principle The EDL is activated automaticall
y, that is without any action on the part of the driver.
It monitors the speeds of the driven wheels with the aid of the ABS sensors. Should only
one
drive wheel begin spinning on a slippery surface there will be an appreciable
difference in the speed of the driven wheels. The EDL function brakes the slipping wheel and the differential transmits a greate
r driving force to the other driven wheel.
This control process is also accompanied by noises. Overheating of the brakes The EDL switches off automatically if unusually severe stresses exist in order to avoid excessive heat generation in the disc brake on the wheel which is being braked. The vehicle can continue to be driven and has
the same characteristics as a vehicle not
fitted with EDL. The EDL switches on again automatically as soon as the brake has cooled down.
WARNING

Carefully depress the accelerator when accelerating on uniformly slippery
road surfaces, such as ice and snow. The driven wheels might still spin despite the EDL and affect the stability of
the vehicle - risk of an accident!

You should always adapt your style of driving to the condition of road
surface and to the traffic situation even
when your vehicle is fitted with EDL.
The increased safety offered must not tempt you to take greater risks than otherwise - risk of an accident!
Note

If the ABS or TCS or ESP warning light comes on, this may also indicate a fault in the
EDL. Please have the vehicle inspected as
soon as possible by a specialist garage.

Changes to vehicle (e.g. on engine, on th
e brakes, on chassis or another combina-
tion of tyres and wheels) can in
fluence the function of the EDL
page 184, “Accesso-
ries, changes and replacement of parts”.
BrakesWhat has a negative effect on braking efficiency?Wear-and-tear Wear-and-tear to the brake pa
ds is greatly dependent on
the operating conditions of
the vehicle and your style of driving. Particularly if you drive a great deal in towns and over short distances or if you adopt a sporty
style of driving, it may be necessary to
have the thickness of the brake pads insp
ected at a specialist garage between the
service inspections. Wet roads or road salt There may be a certain delay before the brakes
take full effect un
der certain conditions
such as when driving through water, during
heavy rain showers or
after the vehicle has
been washed in an automatic vehicle wash
, since the brake discs and brake pads may
be moist or even have a coating of ice on them in winter. You should dry the brakes as soon as possible by applying and
releasing the brakes several times.
There also may be a certain delay before the
full braking efficiency is available when
driving on roads which have been treated with
road salt if you have not used the brakes
for some considerable time beforehand. The
layer of salt on the brake discs and brake
pads must first be rubbed off when you apply the brakes. Corrosion Corrosion on the brake discs and dirt on th
e bake pads occur if
the vehicle has been
parked for a long period and if you do
not make much use of the braking system.
We recommend cleaning the brake discs by firm
ly applying the brakes at a fairly high
speed if you do not make much use of the braking system or if surface corrosion is present

.
Faults in the brake surface If you notice that the braking distance has
suddenly become longer and that the brake
pedal can be depressed further, it is possib
le that a brake circuit of the dual-circuit
brake system has failed. Drive, in such cases, to the nearest specialist garage without delay in order to have the problem rectified. Drive at a reduced speed while on your way to the dealer and adapt your style of
driving to the higher brake pedal pressure
required.
s3j8.a.book Page 139 Tuesday, April 20, 2010 1:10 PM