SKODA OCTAVIA TOUR 2004 1.G / (1U) Owner's Manual

100SAFETYFastening a three-point seat belt
Pull the tongue slowly and smoothly across
the chest and hips and push it into the lock
part fitted to the seat until the tongue en-
gages audibly (pull to check).
The shoulder part of the belt should run
approximately across the centre of the
shoulder as shown - on no account
against the neck - and be firmly in con-
tact with the body.
The lap part of the belt should always fit
tightly across the pelvis. If necessary,
pull the belt tight.Adjusting seat belt height
The routing of the front seat shoulder belts
can be set to fit the body properly with the
aid of the
belt height adjuster .

To adjust, push button with relay fitting
up or down so that the shoulder part of belt
runs approximately across the centre of the
shoulder as shown in the left-hand illustra-
tion - on no account against the neck .

After adjusting, pull the belt with a jerk
to ensure that the relay fitting is properly
engaged.
The height can also be corrected with the
seat adjustment - see page 19. Pregnant mothers should always wear
a seat belt.
In this case, the lap part of the belt should
be as low across the pelvis as possible
so that no pressure is exerted on the ab-
domen.
A seat belt, which is fitted too loosely,
can cause injuries.

101
SAFETY
Unfastening three-point seat belt
The belt is released by applying pressure
with your finger to the red button in the lock.
The lock tongue jumps out of the lock when
this is done as a result of the spring pres-
sure.
Pass the tongue toward the door by hand
so that the retractor can roll the belt up
properly. A plastic knob in the belt holds the
tongue in a convenient position.Three-point seat belt with the Inter-
lock system*On certain models, a three-point seat belt
with the Interlock system is used in place
of the lap belt.
If the rear seat backrest is not properly loc-
ked, the inertia reel blocks the belt which
can then not unreel.
Child safety lock for rear centre
three-point seat beltThe rear centre three-point seat belt can
be blocked (so-called child safety lock) for
attaching a child seat.
Switching on child safety lock

Attach the child safety seat with the
three-point seat belt as stated in the instruc-
tions of the manufacturer.

Wind up the shoulder part of the belt fully.
A characteristic “clicking” is typical for the
unwinding

After the belt has been locked in the seat
belt buckle, allow it to wind up loosely. The
child safety lock is now active. It is now no
longer possible to unwind the belt. Pull on
the seat belt to check that the child safety
lock is active.
Switching off child safety lock
The seat belt is unlocked by pushing the
button and can then wind up. After being
wound up completely, the belt webbing can
be unreeled again freely.
Lap belt*The centre place on the rear seat is fitted
with a two-point lap belt.
The lock part of the two-point lap belt is
operated in the same way as on the three-
point inertia reel belts.
If the lap belt is not in use, it should be fit-
ted to the lock for safety reasons

102SAFETYThe lap belt should always fit tightly
across the pelvis. If necessary, pull the
belt tight.
To lengthen belt, hold the tongue at right
angles to belt webbing and pull belt web-
bing through to the required length - see
illustration.
The belt is easier to adjust if tongue and
cap are pressed together in the longitudi-
nal direction.
To shorten belt , it is only necessary to pull
the free end of the belt.
The surplus belt length is taken up by mov-
ing the plastic slide.
Seat belt tensioner*Safety for the belted driver and front pas-
senger is enhanced by the belt tensioners
at the inertia reels of the front three-point
seat belts.
The system is activated by sensors in the
event of a frontal collision of considerable
severity. A powder charge is ignited when
the seat belt tensioners are activated. This
causes the inertia reels to be rotated in the
opposite direction of unreeling so that the
seat belts are tensioned.
The belt tensioners are not activated in
minor frontal collisions, in side or rear-end
impacts, in a rollover or in accidents where
there is no significant impact to the front of
the car.
Warning
The operating life of the seat belts
and belt tensioners is 15 years from
the date of manufacture of the vehi-
cle. After this time the seat belts and
seat belt tensioners have to be re-
newed in a Škoda Dealership.

103
SAFETY
Warning


Any work on the belt tightener sys-
tem or within the immediate area, in-
cluding removal and installation of
system components because of other
repair work, must only be carried out
by a Škoda dealer.

The protection provided by the
system is adequate only for one ac-
cident. If the belt tensioners have
been activated, the entire system has
to be replaced.

If the car is sold, the buyer should
be provided with the complete vehi-
cle wallet.
Notes

Smoke is released when the belt tensio-
ners are activated. This smoke does not
indicate a fire in the car.

If the car or individual components of the
system are scrapped, it is essential to pay
attention to the relevant safety regulations.
Škoda Dealers are acquainted with these
regulations and can provide you with more
detailed information in this connection.
Airbag system*Front airbagThe front airbag system is only operational
after switching on the ignition.
Models with airbag system for driver and
passenger are recognizable from the
„AIRBAG“ inscriptions on the padded boss
of the steering wheel and on the passen-
ger side of the instrument panel.
In addition to the three-point seat belts
with belt tensioners, the Airbag System
offers further protection for the driver’s and
passenger’s head and chest in a serious
frontal collision.
Apart from its normal protective function,
the seat belt also has the task of keeping
the driver or passenger in such a position
so that the airbag can offer maximum pro-
tection in the case of a frontal collision.
For this reason, the seat belts should al-
ways be used not only because this is re-
quired by law, but also for safety reasons!
The Airbag System is not activated in the
event of:

side collisions

rear collisions

rolling-over

minor frontal collisions. The system essentially consists of:


the electronic control and monitoring unit
(control unit),

one or two airbags (airbag with gas gen-
erator) for the:
- driver (in steering wheel),
- front passenger (in instrument panel)

a warning lamp in the instrument panel -
see page 56.

a warning light in the interior lighting of
the car (front)* - see page 108.

Switch for front passenger airbags* - see
page 107.
The operational readiness of the airbag
system is monitored electronically.
The airbag warning lamp comes on for a
few seconds (self-diagnosis) each time the
ignition is switched on.
Note
The airbag system does not require any
maintenance over its entire operating pe-
riod.

104SAFETYA fault exists in the system if

the warning lamp does not come when
the ignition is switched on,

the warning lamp does not go out a few
seconds after switching on the ignition,

the warning lamp goes out and comes
on again after switching on the ignition,

the warning lamp comes on or flickers
during the journey.
Warning
A grey white, non-harmful gas, which
is released when the airbag is in-
flated. This is perfectly normal and
is not an indication of a fire in the
vehicle.
In the event of an accident in which
the airbags are deployed:

The interior lighting comes on (if
the switch for the interior light is in
the door contact position).

The hazard warning light is
switched on.

All the doors are unlocked. Function of front airbag
The airbag system is so designed that it will
be deployed during a serious frontal collision.The effective area of the system is shown
in the illustration.
If the system is deployed, the airbags fill
with propellant gas and inflate in front of
the driver and front passenger.
The airbag is inflated in a split second and
at a high speed in order to offer the addi-
tional protection in the event of an accident.
The forward movement of the front seat
occupants is cushioned as they plunge into
the fully inflated airbag (see right-hand il-
lustration), and the risk of injury to head and
upper body is reduced. Special openings in the airbag allow a con-
trolled exit of gas when subjected to the
pressure of the occupants to cushion the
head and upper body. After an accident, the
airbag rapidly deflates again so that forward
vision is again possible.
If a person is incorrectly seated, the con-
siderable forces active when the airbag is
deployed may result in an increased risk
of injury.

105
SAFETY
Warning


It is therefore important to maintain
a distance from the steering wheel or
from the instrument panel (min. 15 cm)
to enable the occupants to be pro-
tected to the maximum possible extent
if the system is activated. In addition,
the front seats should always be cor-
rectly adjusted to the body size of the
occupant - see page 19.
Warning


The padded panel of the steering
wheel and the front passenger area of
the instrument panel between the mid-
dle and the right-hand vent (surface
with inscription „Airbag“) must not
have stickers attached, nor should
they be covered or modified in any
way. These parts should only be clea-
ned with a dry cloth or a cloth mois-
tened with water.

No modifications of any kind may
be undertaken on the parts of the
airbag system. All work on the airbag
system, including removing and in-
stalling system components during
other repair work (e.g. removing
steering wheel) should only be car-
ried out by Škoda Dealers.

It is not permitted to carry out any
modifications to any airbag compo-
nents as this could result in the
airbag being activated.

The operational life of the front
airbag modules is 15 years from the
date of manufacture of the car. After
this period, it is necessary to have
the modules renewed in a Škoda
Dealership.
Note
If the car or individual components of the
airbag system are scrapped, it is essential
to comply with the relevant safety regula-
tions. Škoda Dealers are acquainted with
these regulations.
If you do not make use of the seat belts
when driving, or if lean forward or adopt an
incorrect seated position, you are expos-
ing yourself to an increased risk of injury in
the event of an accident.

106SAFETY
Never carry out changes on the
front bumper or on the body.

The protective function of the
airbag system only lasts for a single
accident. If the airbag has been de-
ployed, the system should be re-
placed.

No persons, animals or objects
should be located between the front
seat occupants and the effective ran-
ge of the airbags.

If the vehicle is sold, the complete
vehicle wallet should also be passed
onto the new owner.
Special features if front passenger
airbag is deactivatedAs soon as possible activate the airbags,
so that the safety of the vehicle is increa-
sed.
Your car offers you the technical facility of
deactivating the front passenger airbag and
also the side airbag.
Deactivating the front airbag and also the
side airbag can be carried out by your
Škoda Dealer.
On vehicles with the switch, the front pas-
senger airbag and also the front passen-
ger side airbag can be deactivated with this
switch in the glove box - see page 107. Warning
A child seat in which the child faces
with its back in the direction of travel,
may only be used in the front passen-
ger seat if the front passenger airbag
(in certain countries also on child
seats in which the child faces the di-
rection of travel) has been deacti-
vated - refer to page 107. Otherwise,
there is a risk of the child suffering
severe or even fatal injuries if the
airbag is deployed. In certain coun-
tries, legal requirements necessitate
deactivating the side airbag. If a child
is nevertheless seated on the front
passenger seat, observe the legal
requirements for the use of child
seats.

107
SAFETY
As soon as you no longer use the child
safety seat, you should reactivate the
front passenger airbag.
If using a child seat, please read the sec-
tion headed „Safety of Children“ on page
111 .
The operational readiness of the airbag
system is monitored electronically even if
the passenger airbag is deactivated.
If the airbag was switched off with a diag-
nostic unit , the warning light comes on in
the dash panel insert for about 3 seconds
after the ignition is switched on and then
flashes for a further 12 seconds.
If the airbag was deactivated with an
Airbag switch* in the glove box, the airbag
warning light comes on in the dash panel
insert for about 3 seconds and the deacti-
vation of the airbag is signaled if the warn-
ing light “AIRBAG “ OFF” comes on in the
interior light - see page 108.
Switch for front passenger airbags*You can deactivate the passenger-side
front airbag and if the vehicle is equipped
with side airbags, also the passenger-side
side airbag with the switch
The airbag(s) may be deactivated only if,
in exceptional cases, it is necessary to in-
stall a child seat on the front passenger
seat.
It is preferable to place the child seat al-
ways at the rear.
For safety reasons the driver of the car is
under the obligation to have the airbag
switched on when driving.
Warning
Deactivate the airbag only when the
ignition is switched off! Failure to ob-
serve this instruction may result in a
fault in the airbag system and con-
sequently cause subsequent deploy-
ment of the airbag.
Deactivating airbag
Switch the ignition off.

Use the ignition key to turn the airbag
switch -arrow- into the „OFF“ position. The
ignition key must be in the vertical position.

Check whether the airbag warning light
in the interior lighting (front) lights up when
the ignition is switched on.
Warning
The driver of the car is responsible
for ensuring that the airbag is deacti-
vated or activated.

108SAFETYSwitching on airbag
Switch the ignition off.

Use the ignition key to turn the airbag
switch - arrow - into the „ON“ position. The
ignition key must be in the horizontal posi-
tion.

Check whether the airbag warning light
in the interior lighting (front) goes out when
the ignition is switched on.
After activating the airbag and then switch-
ing on the ignition, the airbag warning light
comes on for about 3 seconds.
Warning
The driver of the car is responsible
for ensuring that the airbag is deac-
tivated or activated.
„Airbag OFF“ warning light
(airbag deactivated)*The warning light is located in the front in-
terior lighting of the car.
Each time the ignition is switched on, the
warning light comes on in the dash panel
for a few seconds (self diagnosis).
The warning light comes on if the passen-
ger- side airbag or also the side airbag has
been deactivated.
If the warning light in the instrument panel
flashes, there is a fault in the airbag sys-
tem. Contact a Škoda Dealer immediately
to have this rectified Warning
If the warning light flashes:


There is a risk of the passenger-
side airbag being deployed in the
event of an accident. For this reason,
do not install a child seat on the front
passenger seat.

If the front passenger seat is oc-
cupied, there is a risk of the airbag
being deployed unexpectedly and
also causing possible injuries to the
occupant of the front passenger seat.

109
SAFETY
Side airbag*The side airbags are installed in the sides
of the backrest upholstery of the driver and
front passenger seats. They are identified
by the inscriptions „AIRBAG“ in the top half
of the backrests - see illustration.The side airbag system in combination
with the three-point seat belts offers ad-
ditional protection for the upper body of the
driver and front passenger in the event of
a side collision of considerable severity.In the event of a side collision, the side
airbags reduce the risk of injury to the part
of the body of the front occupants facing
toward the point of impact. In addition to the normal protection which
they offer,
the seat belts are also designed
to hold the driver and front passenger in
position in the event of a side impact so that
the side airbag is able to offer maximum
protection.
Warning
The maximum protection offered by
the seat belts and the airbag system
is only achieved if the occupants are
correctly seated - see page 94.
The system consists essentially of

the electronic control and monitoring unit,

the side airbags installed in the sides of
the backrests of the front seats,

a warning lamp in the instrument panel -
see page 56.
Please refer to page 56 for information
on the operational readiness and possi-
ble faults in the system. The side airbag system is not activated
in the event of:


frontal collision

minor side collision

rear collision

rollover.
The airbag system is not a substitute for
the seat belt but is part of the entire pas-
sive vehicle safety concept. Please note
that the airbag system is only able to offer
optimal protection in combination with fas-
tened seat belts.
That is why, you should always use the
seat belts not only because this is a le-
gal requirement, but also for safety rea-
sons!
Please refer to the information on pages
98 to 103 in this connection.
Note
The airbag system is maintenance-free
throughout its entire operating life.