wheel SKODA OCTAVIA 2006 Owner´s Manual

Turn signal and main beam lever
Fig. 28
Turn signal and main beam lever
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 39.
The parking light and headlight flasher are also operated with the turn signal and
main beam lever.
Right  and left  turn signal light
› Push the lever upwards A
» Fig. 28
or downwards B
.
› If you only wish to flash three times (the "convenience turn signal"), briefly
push the lever to the upper or lower pressure point and release again. This fea-
ture can be activated/deactivated via the information display » page 15.
› Turn signal for changing lanes - to only flash briefly, move the lever up or down
to the pressure point and hold it in this position.
Main beam 
› Switch on the low beam.
› Push the lever away from the steering wheel in the direction of arrow C
(spring-tensioned position).
› The main beam is switched off by pulling the lever towards the steering wheel
(spring-tensioned position) in the direction of arrow D
.
Headlight flasher 
› Pull the lever towards the steering wheel (spring-tensioned position) in the di-
rection of arrow D
- the main beam and warning light
 in the instrument clus-
ter come on.
Parking light 
Description of the operation » page 41
ä CAUTION
Only use the main beam or the headlight flasher if other road users will not be
dazzled. Note
■ The turn signal system only operates when the ignition is switched on. The cor-
responding warning light  or  in the instrument cluster also flashes.
■ The turn signal is automatically cancelled after negotiating a curve.
■ The warning light flashes at twice its normal rate if a bulb for the turn signal
light fails. Ð Interior light
Interior lighting - version 1
Fig. 29
Interior lighting - version 1
Switching on › Press switch A
» Fig. 29 towards the edge of the light, the symbol
 appears.
Switching off
› Press the switch A
»
Fig. 29
in the middle position O.
Operating with the door contact switch
› Press switch A
» Fig. 29 towards the middle of the light, the symbol
 ap-
pears.
Reading lights
› Press switch B
» Fig. 29 to switch the reading lights on or off.
£
45
Lights and visibility

CAUTION
■ In cold temperatures and during the winter, check before the journey or before
switching on the ignition that the wiper blades are not frozen to the windscreen.
If the windscreen wipers are switched on when the blades are frozen to the
windscreen, this may damage both the blades and windscreen wiper motor!
■ If the ignition is switched off while the windscreen wipers are switched on, the
windscreen wipers will continue wiping in the same mode after the ignition is
turned back on. The windscreen wipers could freeze up in cold temperatures be-
tween the time the ignition was turned off and when it was turned back on again.
■ Carefully detach frozen wiper blades from the front or rear window.
■ Remove snow and ice from the windscreen wipers before driving.
■ If the windscreen wipers are handled carelessly, there is a risk of damage to the
windscreen.
■ Replace the windscreen wiper blades once or twice a year for safety reasons.
These can be purchased from a ŠKODA Service Partner.
■ The ignition must not be switched on if the front windscreen wiper arms are fol-
ded out. The wiper blades would move back into their rest position and while do-
ing so damage the paintwork of the bonnet. Note
■ If the slower 2
» Fig. 35 on page 49 or the faster 3
wiper setting is switched
on and the vehicle speed decreases to below 4 km/h, the lower wiper step is
switched on automatically. At a speed increase of more than 8 km/h the previous
wiper setting is established again.
■ If there is an obstacle on the windscreen, the wiper will try to push away the
obstacle. If the obstacle continues to block the wiper, the wiper stops automati-
cally after 5 attempts to eliminate the obstacle, in order to avoid a damage to the
wiper. Remove the the obstacle and switch the wiper on again. ■ The windscreen washer nozzles for the windscreen are heated when the en-
gine is running and the outside temperature is less than approx. +10
°C.
■ The content of the windscreen washer fluid reservoir is 3 litres. On vehicles fit-
ted with the headlight cleaning system, the volume is 5.5
litres. On vehicles fitted
with auxiliary heating, the content of the windscreen wiper reservoir is 4.5 litres.
■ The wiper blades should be cleaned on a regular basis with a windscreen clean-
er to avoid any smears. The wiper blades should be cleaned with a sponge or
cloth if they are heavily soiled by insect residues, for example. Ð Activating the windscreen wipers and washers
Fig. 35
Windscreen wiper lever
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 48.
Flick wipe
›
If you only wish to wipe the windscreen
briefly, push the lever into the spring-
tensioned position 4
» Fig. 35. If the lever is held in the lower position for more
than 1 second, the wiper wipes faster.
Periodic wiping
› Position the lever upwards into position 1
» Fig. 35.
› Set the desired break between the individual wiper strokes with the switch A
.
Slow wipe
› Position the lever upwards into position 2
» Fig. 35.
Fast wipe
› Position the lever upwards into position 3
» Fig. 35.
Automatic wipe/wash for windscreen
› Pull the lever towards the steering wheel into the spring-tensioned position 5
» Fig. 35, the washer system is activated immediately, while the windscreen
wipers start wiping a little later. The wash system and the windscreen wiper op-
erate simultaneously at a speed of more than 120
km/h.
› Release the lever. The windscreen wash system stops and the wiper continues
for another 3 - 4 wiper strokes (depending on the period of spraying of the
windscreen). At a speed of more than 2 km/h, the wiper wipes once again 5 sec-
onds after the last wiper stroke in order to wipe the last drops from the wind-
screen. This feature can be activated/deactivated by a

ŠKODA specialist garage.
Rain sensor
› Place the lever in position 1
» Fig. 35.
£
ä
49
Lights and visibility

›
The sensitivity of the sensor can be set individually with the switch A
.
Wiping the rear window pane
› Push the lever away from the steering wheel into position 6
» Fig. 35 and the
windscreen wiper will operate every 6
seconds.
Automatic wipe/wash for the rear window
› Press the lever completely away from the steering wheel into the spring-ten-
sioned position 7
» Fig. 35, the washer system is activated immediately, while
the windscreen wiper starts wiping a little later. The wiper and washer system
will operate as long as the lever is held in this position.
› Release the lever. The washer system stops and the wiper continues for anoth-
er 2 to 3
wiper strokes (depending on the duration of the spraying process). The
lever will stay in position after releasing it 6
.
Switching windscreen wipers off
› Move the lever back into the home position 0
» Fig. 35.
Winter position
If the windscreen wipers are in rest position, they cannot be folded out from the
windscreen. For this reason we recommend adjusting the windscreen wipers in
winter so that they can be folded out from the windscreen easily.
This rest position is set as follows:
› Switch on the windscreen wipers.
› Switch off the ignition. The windscreen wipers remain in the position in which
they were when switching off the ignition.
The service position can also be used as a winter position » page 51.ÐAutomatic rear window wiper (Combi)
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 48.
If the windscreen wiper is in position 2
» Fig. 35 on page 49 or 3
the rear win-
dow is wiped every 30 or 10 seconds if the vehicle's speed exceeds 5
km/h.
When the rain sensor is active (the lever is in the position 1
) the function is only
active if the windscreen wipers operate in continuous mode (no break between
each wiping process). ä Activation/deactivation
The function of the automatic rear window wiper is activated/deactivated in the
information display in the menu:
■ Settings
■ Lights & Vision
■ Rear wiper Ð Headlight cleaning system
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 48.
The headlights are being cleaned after the windscreen has been sprayed for the
first time and fifth time, the low beam or main beam are switched on and the
windscreen wiper lever was held in the position 5
» Fig. 35 on page 49 for about
1 second.
The headlight washer nozzles are moved forward out of the bumper by the water
pressure for cleaning the headlights.
You should remove stubborn dirt (such as insect residues) from the headlight len-
ses at regular intervals, for example when refuelling. The following guidelines
must be observed » page 151, Headlight lenses.
To ensure the proper operation of the cleaning system during the winter, any
snow should be removed from the washer nozzle fixtures and ice should be
cleared with a de-icing spray. CAUTION
Never remove the nozzles from the headlight cleaning system by hand - risk of
damage! Ð
ä
50 Using the system

Seats and Stowage
Front seats
ä
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Manually adjusting the front seats 55
Adjusting front seats electrically 55
Storing setting 56
Assigning the remote control key to the memory button 56
Retrieving the seat and exterior mirror settings 56
The driver's seat should be adjusted in such a way that the pedals can be fully
pressed to the floor with slightly bent legs.
The seat backrest on the driver's seat should be adjusted in such a way that the
upper point of the steering wheel can be easily reached with slightly bent arms.
Correct adjustment of the seats is particularly important for:
› safely and quickly reaching the controls;
› a relaxed, fatigue-free body position;
› achieving the maximum protection offered by the seat belts and the airbag
system. WARNING
■ Only adjust the driver's seat when the vehicle is stationary - risk of accident!
■ Caution when adjusting the seat! You may suffer injuries or bruises as a re-
sult of adjusting the seat without paying proper attention. ■ As the electric front seats can also be adjusted when the ignition is switch-
ed off (even when the ignition key is withdrawn), never leave children unat-
tended in the car. ■ The seat backrests must not be angled too far back when driving otherwise
this will affect proper operation of the seat belts and of the airbag system -
risk of injury! ■ Never carry more people than the number of seats in the vehicle. WARNING (Continued)
■ Each occupant must correctly fasten the seat belt belonging to the seat.
Children must be fastened » page 135, Transporting children safely with a
suitable restraint system.
■ The front seats and the head restraints must always be adjusted to match
the body size of the seat occupant as well as the seat belts must always be
correctly fastened in order to provide an optimal protection for you and your
occupants.
■ Always keep your feet in the footwell when the car is being driven - never
place your feet on the instrument panel, out of the window or on the surfaces
of the seats. This is particularly important for the front seat passenger. You
will be exposed to increased risk of injury if it becomes necessary to apply the
brake or in the event of an accident. If an airbag is deployed, you may suffer
fatal injuries when adopting an incorrect seated position!
■ It is important for the driver and front passenger to maintain a distance of at
least 25 cm from the steering wheel or dash panel. Not maintaining this mini-
mum distance will mean that the airbag system will not be able to properly
protect you - hazard!
■ Ensure that there are no objects in the footwell as they may get caught be-
hind the pedals when driving or applying the braking. You would then no lon-
ger be able to operate the clutch, brake or accelerate.
■ Do not transport any objects on the front passenger seat except objects
(e.g. child safety seat) provided for this purpose - risk of accident! Note
After a certain time, play can develop within the adjustment mechanism of the
backrest angle. Ð
54 Using the system

Manually adjusting the front seats
Fig. 40
Controls for manual seat adjust-
ment
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 54.
Adjusting a seat in a forward/back direction
›
Pull the lever 1
» Fig. 40 up and push the seat into the desired position.
› Release the lever 1
and push the seat until the lock clicks into place.
Adjusting height of seat
› To lift the seat, pull or pump the lever 2
» Fig. 40 upwards.
› To lower the seat, push or pump the lever 2
downwards.
Adjusting the angle of the seat backrest
› To adjust the angle of the backrest, relieve any pressure from the seat backrest
(do not lean on it) and turn the handwheel 3
» Fig. 40.
Adjusting lumbar support
› Turn the hand wheel 4
» Fig. 40
until the most comfortable curvature of the
lumbar support is achieved. Ð
ä Adjusting front seats electrically
Fig. 41
Controls for the electric seat adjustment
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 54.
Adopt the correct seated position before setting
» page 54, Front seats.
Adjusting a seat in a forward/back direction
› Press the switch A
» Fig. 41
forwards or backwards in the direction of arrow 1.
Set the height of the seat cushion
› Press the switch A
»
Fig. 41
upwards or downwards.
Adjust the angle of the seat cushion
› Press the switch A
»
Fig. 41
in the direction of the arrow 2 or 3.
Adjusting the angle of the seat backrest
› Press the switch B
»
Fig. 41
in the direction of the desired setting.
Reducing or increasing the curvature of the lumbar support
› Press the switch C
forwards or backwards.
Raising or lowering the curvature of the lumbar support
› Press the switch C
upwards or downwards.
Note
If the movement of the seat is inadvertently interrupted during an adjustment,
once again press the switch in the appropriate direction and complete the adjust-
ment of the seat. Ð
ä
55
Seats and Stowage

Fixing floor covering of the boot
Fig. 53
Boot: Securing the floor covering
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 60.
There is a loop or hook (Combi) located on the floor covering of the boot. If you
need to access the spare wheel, for example, the raised floor cover can be attach-
ed to a hook on the boot cover » Fig. 53 - 
or to the frame of the boot lid (Com-
bi) » Fig. 53 - . ÐLuggage net
Fig. 54
Boot: Luggage net
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 60.
The luggage net is designed for the transportation of lighter objects.ä
ä WARNING
Only store soft objects in the luggage net (up to a total weight of 1.5 kg).
Heavy objects are not secured sufficiently - risk of injury! CAUTION
No objects with sharp edges should be stored in the luggage net, as they can
damage the luggage net. Ð Boot cover
Fig. 55
Removing the boot cover
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 60.
The boot cover can be removed if you wish to transport bulky goods.
›
Unhook the support straps 1
» Fig. 55.
› Place the cover in the horizontal position.
› Pull the cover out of the holders 2
horizontally towards the rear.
› To reinstall, first of all push the boot cover into the holders 2
and then hook
the support straps 1
on the boot lid.
The removed boot cover can be stowed behind the seat backrest. WARNING
No objects should be placed on the boot cover, the vehicle occupants could be
endangered if there is sudden braking or the vehicle collides with something. £
ä
63
Seats and Stowage

Air outlet vents
Fig. 86
Air vents at the front Fig. 87
Air vents at the rear
Opening
› Turn the vertical wheel
» Fig. 86 (not into the end position).
Closing
› Turn the vertical wheel
» Fig. 86 into the end position. Changing the air flow direction
›
Swivel upward or downward the grille of the vents in order to change the direc-
tion of the air flow using the vertically arranged thumbwheel » Fig. 86.
› Turn the horizontal thumbwheel on the vent to the right or left in order to
change the air flow to the appropriate side. The thumbweels are located on the
air outlet vents 3, 4 » Fig. 86 and 6 » Fig. 87.
The air outlet vents 3, 4 » Fig. 86 and 6 » Fig. 87 can be closed and opened indi-
vidually.
The air outlet vents 6 » Fig. 87 are only fitted on vehicles with the higher centre
console.
Warmed, unwarmed or cooled air will flow out of the air outlet vents according to
the setting of the regulator of the heating or the air conditioning system and the
atmospheric conditions. Note
The air outlet vents 2 » Fig. 86 ensure in the ventilation and cooling mode for a
comfortable (no-draught) ventilation of the interior of the vehicle, also if the air
outlet vents 4 » Fig. 86 are closed. Ð Heating
Using the system
Fig. 88
Heating: Control elements £
80 Using the system

Starting-off and Driving
Starting and stopping the engine
ä
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Adjusting the steering wheel position 92
Electromechanical power steering 92
Electronic immobiliser 92
Ignition lock 93
Starting engine 93
Switching the engine off 93
WARNING
■ Never adjust the steering wheel when the vehicle is moving only when the
vehicle is stationary!
■ Maintain a distance of 25 cm 1
to the steering wheel
» Fig. 93 on page 92
-  . 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
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
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
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 injure the arms, hands and head
when the driver airbag is deployed.
■ When driving, the ignition key must always be in the position 2
» Fig. 94 on
page 93 (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! WARNING (Continued)
■ Only pull the ignition key from the ignition lock when the vehicle has come
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-
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-
haust gases of the engine contain besides the odorless and colourless carbon
monoxide a poisonous gas - hazard! Carbon monoxide can cause unconscious-
ness and death. ■ Never leave the vehicle unattended with the engine running.
■ Never switch off the engine before the vehicle is stationary - risk of acci-
dent! CAUTION
■ The starter may only be operated (ignition key position 3
» Fig. 94 on
page 93), 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
could be damaged. ■ Avoid high engine revolutions, full throttle and high engine loads as long as the
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
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 » page 185, Jump-starting.
■ Do not switch the engine off immediately at the end of your journey after the
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. For the sake of the environment
Do not warm up the engine while the vehicle is stationary. If possible, start your
journey as soon as the engine has started. Through this the engine reaches its
operating temperature more rapidly and the pollutant emissions are lower. £
91
Starting-off and Driving

Note
■ The engine can only be started with a genuine ŠKODA key with the matching
code. ■ The engine running noises may louder at first be louder for a short time after
starting the cold engine. This is quite normal and is not an operating problem. ■ After switching off the ignition, the radiator fan can intermittently continue to
operate for approx. 10
minutes.
■ If the engine does not start up after a second attempt, the fuse for the fuel
pump/glow plug system (Diesel engines) may have a fault. Check the fuse and re-
place, if necessary » page 190, Fuses in the dash panel

or seek assistance from a
ŠKODA specialist garage.
■ We recommend locking the steering wheel whenever leaving the vehicle. This
acts as a deterrent against the attempted theft of your car. ÐAdjusting the steering wheel position
Fig. 93
Adjustable steering wheel: Lever below the steering wheel/safe dis-
tance to the steering wheel
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 91.
The height and forward/back position of the steering wheel can be adjusted.
›
First of all adjust the driver's seat
» page 55, Manually adjusting the front seats .
› Pull the lever below the steering wheel down
» Fig. 93 - .
› Adjust the steering wheel to the desired position (with regard to the height and
forward/back position).
› Push the lever upwards to the stop. Ð
ä Electromechanical power steering
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 91.
The power steering enables you to steer the vehicle with less physical force.
With the electromechanical power steering, the steering assist is automatically
adapted to the speed and to the steering angle.
It is still possible to fully steer the vehicle if the power steering fails or if the en-
gine is not running (vehicle being towed in). However, greater physical effort is
required to turn the steering wheel.
If there is a fault in the power steering, the warning light  or  lights up in the
instrument cluster » page 21, Electromechanical power steering   . Ð Electronic immobiliser
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 91.
An electronic chip is integrated in the head of the key. The immobiliser is deacti-
vated with the aid of this chip when the key is inserted in the ignition lock. The
electronic immobiliser is automatically activated when the ignition key is with-
drawn from the lock.
The engine will not start if a non-authorized ignition key is used.
The following is displayed in the information display: Immobilizer active. Ð
ä
ä
92 Using the system

Ignition lock
Fig. 94
Positions of the vehicle key in
the ignition lock
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 91.
Petrol engines
Ignition switched off, engine off, the steering can be locked
Ignition switched on
Starting engine
Diesel engines Fuel supply interrupted, ignition switched off, engine switched off, the steer-
ing can be locked.
Heating glow plugs on, ignition switched on
Starting engine
To lock the steering , with the ignition key withdrawn, turn the steering wheel
until the steering locking pin engages audibly.
If the steering is locked and the key cannot or can only be turned with difficulty
into the position 2
» Fig. 94, move the steering wheel back and forth and the
steering lock will unlock. ÐStarting engine
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 91.
Vehicles with a diesel engine are equipped with a glow plug system. The pre-
glow warning light  comes on after the ignition has been switched on. The en-
gine should be started immediately after the preglow warning light goes out.
ä 1
2
3
1
2
3
ä You should not switch on any major electrical components during the heating
period otherwise the vehicle battery will be drained unnecessarily.
Procedure for starting the engine
› Before starting the engine, place the gearshift lever into neutral or place the se-
lector lever in the position P or N and firmly put on the handbrake.
› Fully depress and hold the clutch pedal, switch on the ignition 2
» Fig. 94 on
page 93 and start 3
- do not operate the accelerator. Depress the clutch pedal
until the engine starts.
› Let go of the key as soon as the engine starts. After letting go, the vehicle key
will return to position 2
.
› If the engine does not start within 10
seconds, abort the start-up process and
turn the key to position 1
. Repeat the start-up process after approx. half a mi-
nute.
› Release the handbrake before starting off.
The engine will not start if the clutch pedal is not depressed.
The following is displayed in the information display:
Depress clutch to start!
The following is shown in the information display of the information cluster:
CLUTCH Ð Switching the engine off
First read and observe the introductory information and safety warn-
ings on page 91.
Switch off the engine by turning the ignition key into position 1
» Fig. 94
on
page 93. Ð Brakes and brake assist systems
ä
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Information for braking 94
Handbrake 95
Stabilisation Control (ESC) 95
£
ä
93
Starting-off and Driving