SKODA OCTAVIA 2011 2.G / (1Z) Workshop Manual

Headlamp range adjustment 
Once the low beam is switched on you can then adapt the range of
the headlights to the load of the vehicle. Fig. 28 Dash panel: Lights and Visibility
– Turn the control dial ⇒  fig. 28 until you have adjusted the low beam so that
oncoming traffic is not dazzled.
Settings
The positions correspond approximately to the following vehicle loads: Front seats occupied, luggage compartment empty.
All seats occupied, luggage compartment empty.
All seats occupied, luggage compartment laden.
Driver seat occupied, luggage compartment laden. CAUTION
Headlamp range adjustment should always be adjusted in a way that:
● it does not dazzle other road users, especially oncoming traffic,
● and the range is sufficient for safe driving. Note
Headlights fitted with Xenon bulbs adapt automatically to the load and driving
state of the vehicle (e.g. accelerating, braking) when the ignition is switched on
and when driving. Vehicles which are equipped with Xenon bulbs do not have a
manual headlight range adjustment control. 
- 1
2
3 Switch for hazard warning lights
 Fig. 29 Dash panel: Switch for hazard
warning lights
– Press switch  ⇒  fig. 29 to switch the hazard warning light system on or off.
All the turn signal lights on the vehicle flash at the same time when the hazard
warning light system is switched on. The indicator light for the turn signals and
the indicator light in the switch also flash at the same time. You can also switch
on the hazard warning light system if the ignition is switched off.
The hazard warning light system is switched on automatically if an airbag is de-
ployed in the event of an accident.
Please comply with any legal requirements when using the hazard warning light
system. Note
Switch on the hazard warning light system if, for example:
● you encounter traffic congestion;
● your vehicle breaks down or an emergency situation occurs.  49
Lights and Visibility Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

The turn signal
  and main beam lever The parking lights and headlight flasher are also switched on and
off using the turn signal and main beam lever.
Fig. 30 Turn signal and main beam lever
The turn signal and main beam lever perform the following functions:
Right  and left  turn signal light
– Push the lever upwards A or downwards
⇒  fig. 30 B .
– If you only wish to flash three times (the so-called convenience turn signal),
push the lever briefly up to the upper or lower pressure point and release it.
This function can be activated/deactivated in the Information display
⇒  page 17.
– Turn signal for changing lanes - in order 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 forwards in direction of arrow C (spring-tensioned position).
– If you push the lever towards the steering wheel in direction of arrow D(spring-tensioned position) the main beam is switched off.
Headlight flasher 
– Pull the lever towards the steering wheel (spring-tensioned position) in direc-
tion of arrow D - the main beam and warning light
 in the instrument clus-
ter come on.
Parking light
For a description of the operation, see ⇒ page 46

, Parking light. Information concerning the function of the lights.
● The turn signal system only operates when the ignition is switched on. The
corresponding warning light  or  in the instrument cluster also flashes.
● The turn signal is automatically cancelled after negotiating a curve.
● The indicator light flashes at twice its normal rate if a bulb of the turn signal
light fails. CAUTION
Use main beam or the headlight flasher only if this does not risk dazzling other
road users. Note
Use only in accordance with the legal requirements the described lighting and sig-
nal systems. 
Interior lighting Interior vehicle lighting - Variant 1 Fig. 31 Interior vehicle lighting - Variant
1
Switching on the interior lighting
– Press switch A towards the edge of the light, the symbol
 ⇒
 fig. 31 appears.
Switching off the interior lighting
– Press the switch A into the middle position
O.
Operating the lights with the door contact switch
– Press switch A towards the centre of the light, the symbol
 appears. £50
Lights and Visibility

Reading lights
–
Press switch B to switch the reading light on/off.
If operating lights with the door contact switch is enabled (switch A is in position
), the light will come on when:
● the vehicle is unlocked,
● one of the doors is opened,
● or the ignition key is removed.
If operating lights with the door contact switch is enabled (switch A is in position
), the light will turn off when:
● the vehicle is locked,
● the ignition is switched on,
● about 30 seconds after all the doors have been closed.
If a door remains open, or if the switch A is in position
, the interior lighting
goes out after 10
minutes to prevent the battery from discharging. Note
We recommend having these bulbs replaced by a specialist garage. 
Interior vehicle lighting - Variant 2 Fig. 32 Interior vehicle lighting - Variant
2
Switching on the interior lighting
– Turn the switch to the position  ⇒  fig. 32 .
Switching off the interior lighting
– Turn the switch to the position O. Operating the lights with the door contact switch
– Turn the switch to the position .
The same principles apply for interior lighting version 2 as for ⇒

 page 51.
Lighting of the storage compartment on front passenger side –
When opening the flap of the storage compartment on the front passenger
side the lighting in the storage compartment comes on.
– The light switches on automatically when the parking light is switched on and
goes out when the flap is closed. 
Front door warning light Fig. 33 Front door: Warning light
The warning light is located in the door trim panel below ⇒
 fig. 33.
The warning light goes on every time the door is opened. The light goes out about
10 minutes after opening the door in order to avoid discharging the battery of the
vehicle.
There is a reflector installed on some vehicles instead of the warning light. 
Entry lighting The lighting is positioned on the bottom edge of the exterior mirror.
The light beam is directed towards the entry area of the front door.
£ 51
Lights and Visibility Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

The light comes on after the doors have been locked or on opening the boot lid.
The light goes out after switching on the ignition or up to 30 seconds after closing
all the doors and the boot lid.
If a door or the boot lid remains open, the light goes out within 2 minutes if the
ignition is switched off. WARNING
If the entry light comes on, do not touch its cover - risk of burns! 
Luggage compartment light The lighting comes on automatically when the boot lid is opened. If the lid remains
open for more than about 10 minutes, the luggage compartment lighting switches
off automatically.

Visibility Rear window heater Fig. 34 Switch for rear window heater
– You can switch the rear window heater on or off by pressing the switch ⇒ 
fig. 34 - the indicator light in the switch comes on or goes out.
The rear window heater only operates when the engine is running.
The rear window heater switches off automatically after 10 minutes. For the sake of the environment
As soon as the window is de-iced or free from mist, the heating should be switch-
ed off. The reduced current consumption will have a favourable effect on fuel
economy ⇒ page 165, Saving electricity. Note
● If the on-board voltage drops, the rear window heater switches off automati-
cally, in order to provide sufficient electrical energy for the engine control
⇒
 page 190, Automatic consumer shut-off.
● The position and the shape of the switch can differ depending on equipment
installed in the vehicle. 
Sun visors Fig. 35 Sun visor: Swivelling out/double sun visor
You can pull the sun visor for the driver or front passenger out of the fixture and
swivel it toward the door in the direction of the arrow
1
⇒
 fig. 35.
The vanity mirrors in the sun visors are provided with covers. Push the cover in di-
rection of arrow 2 .
On vehicles which are equipped with double sun visor, you can also unfold the
auxiliary visor in direction of arrow 3 after swivelling the sun visor.
WARNING
The sun visors must not be swivelled to the side windows into the deploy-
ment area of the head airbags if any objects, such as ball-point pens etc. are
attached to them. This might result in injuries to the occupants if the head air-
bag is deployed. 52
Lights and Visibility

Sun screen
Fig. 36 Unroll/remove the sun screen
The sun screen is located in a housing on the luggage compartment cover. If re-
quired, you can remove the housing with the sun screen from the luggage com-
partment cover.
Pulling out
– Pull the sun screen at the loop A and hang it in the brackets
B
⇒  fig. 36.
Folding
– Take the sun screen out of the brackets B and hold it at the loop
A so that it
can roll up slowly and without damage into the housing on the luggage com-
partment cover.
Removing
– Unhook the fastening elements from the luggage compartment cover C .
– Roll up the sun screen again into the housing on the luggage compartment
cover.
– Press the locking button in the direction of arrow 1 and take out the sun
screen in the direction or arrow 2 .
Windshield wiper and wash system
Windshield wiper You can operate the windscreen wipers and automatic wipe/wash
using the windscreen wiper lever. Fig. 37 Windscreen wiper lever
The windscreen wiper lever ⇒  fig. 37 has the following positions:
Finger-operated wiping
– If you wish to wipe the windscreen only briefly, push the lever into the sprung
position 4 . If you hold the lever in the lower position for more than 1 second,
the wiper wipes faster.
Intermittent wiping
– Position the lever up into position 1 .
– Set with the switch A the desired break between the individual wiper
strokes.
Slow wipe
– Position the lever up into position 2 .
Fast wipe
– Position the lever up into position 3 .
£ 53
Lights and Visibility Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

Automatic wipe/wash for windscreen
–
Pull the lever towards the steering wheel into sprung position 5 , the wash
system sprays immediately, the windscreen wiper starts wiping a little later.
The wash system and the windscreen wiper operate simultaneously at a
speed of more than 120 km/h.
– Release the lever. The windscreen wash system stops and the wiper contin-
ues 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
seconds after the last wiper stroke in order to wipe the last drops from the
windscreen. This function can be activated/deactivated by a specialist garage.
Rain sensor
– Move the lever into position 1 .
– You can set the sensitivity of the sensor individually with switch A .
Wiping the rear window pane
– Push the lever away from the steering wheel into position 6 - the windshield
wiper will operate every 6 seconds.
Automatic wipe/wash for the rear window pane
– Press the lever from the steering wheel forward into the sprung position 7 ,
the wash system sprays immediately, the windscreen wiper starts wiping a lit-
tle later. As long as you hold the lever in this position, the wiper operates as
well as the wash system.
– Letting go of the lever will cause the windscreen wash system to stop and the
wiper to continue for another 2 - 3 wiper strokes (depending on the period of
spraying of the windscreen). The lever will stay in position after releasing it
6 .
Switching windscreen wipers off
– Move the lever back into its home position 0 .
After the windscreen wiper switches off each time or the ignition switches off for
the third time, the position of the windscreen wiper changes, this counteracts an
early fatigue of the wiper rubbers.
The windscreen wipers and the wash system only operate if the ignition is switch-
ed on and the bonnet is closed 1)
. If the intermittent wipe is switched on, the intervals are also controlled depending
on speed.
The rain sensor automatically regulates the break between the individual wiper
strokes depending on the intensity of the rain.
The rear window will be wiped again if the front window wipers are on when re-
verse gear is selected.
Top up with wash liquid ⇒ page 190
.
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.
You can set this rest position 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.
You can also use the service position ⇒

 page 56 as a winter position. WARNING
● Properly maintained windscreen wiper blades are essential for clear visibil-
ity and safe driving ⇒

 page 56.
● Do not use the windscreen washer system at low temperatures, without
heating the windscreen beforehand. Otherwise the window cleaner could
freeze on the windscreen and restrict the view to the front.
● The rain sensor only operates as a support. The driver is not released from
the responsibility to set the function of the windscreen wipers manually de-
pending on the visibility conditions. £1)
On vehicles which do not have a contact switch for the bonnet, the windshield wiper and wash sys-
tem operates also when the bonnet is opened. 54
Lights and Visibility

CAUTION
● In cold temperatures and in winter, check before the trip or before switching
on the ignition that the wiper blades are not frozen. Switching on windscreen
wipers when the blades are frozen to the windscreen may result in damage both
to the blades and the motor of the windscreen wipers!
● If you switch off the ignition while the windscreen wipers are on, the wipers
will sweep in the same mode the next time the ignition is switched on. At low
temperatures, the wipers may freeze to the window between switching off the ig-
nition and the next time you switch the ignition on again.
● Carefully detach frozen wiper blades from the front or rear window.
● Remove snow and ice from the window wipers before driving. Note
● If the slower 2 or the faster
3 wiper setting is switched on
⇒  fig. 37 and the
vehicle speed decreases to below 4 km/h, the lower wiper step is switched on au-
tomatically. 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 obstacle and and switch on the wiper again.
● The windscreen washer nozzles for the windscreen are heated when the en-
gine is running and the outside temperature is less than +10
°C.
● The content of the windscreen wiper reservoir is 3 litres. On vehicles which are
equipped with a headlight cleaning system, the content of the reservoir is 5.5
li-
tres. On vehicles fitted with auxiliary heating, the content of the windscreen wiper
reservoir is 4.5 litres. 
Automatic rear window wiper (Estate car) If the windshield wiper is in positions
2
⇒  fig. 37 or 3 the rear view window is
wiped every 30/10 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 front window wipers continue to operate (no break between each
wiping process). 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 Note
The function of the automatic rear window wiper is only valid for Estate car vehi-
cles which are equipped with an information display. The function is activated in
the factory. 
Headlight cleaning system 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. 37 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. Please refer to the following
guidelines ⇒

  page 172, The headlight lenses.
You should remove any snow from the fixtures of the washer nozzles and clear ice
in winter with a de-icing spray in order to ensure proper operation of the cleaning
system. CAUTION
Never remove the nozzles from the headlamp cleaning system by hand - risk of
damage!  55
Lights and Visibility Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

Replacing wiper blades for the windscreen wipers
Fig. 38 Wiper blade for the windscreen
wiper
One cannot fold out the wiper arms in the rest position from the windscreen. Be-
fore replacing the wiper arms you must put them into the service position.
Service position for changing wiper blades
– Close the bonnet.
– Switch the ignition on and then again off.
– Then press the windscreen wiper lever in the position 4
⇒  fig. 37 within
20 seconds – the wiper arms move into the service position.
Removing the wiper blade
– Fold windscreen wiper arm out from the windscreen and position the wiper
blade at right angles to the wiper arm ⇒
  .
– Take off the wiper blade in direction of arrow ⇒ fig. 38 ⇒  .
Attaching the wiper blade
– Push the new wiper blade over the wiper arm and turn the wiper blade into
the vertical position.
– Check whether the wiper blade is correctly attached.
– Fold the windscreen wiper arms onto the window and switch on the ignition.
By pressing the window wiper lever into the sprung position 4
⇒  fig. 38 or
when driving at a speed greater than 4

km/h, the windscreen wiper arms move
back into the rest position.
Windscreen wiper blades in proper condition are essential to obtain good visibility.
Wiper blades should not be allowed to become dirtied by dust, insect remains and
preserving wax. Juddering or smearing of the wiper blades could then be due to wax residues left
on the windscreen by vehicle washing in automatic vehicle wash systems. It is
therefore important to degrease the lips of the windscreen wiper blades after ev-
ery pass through an automatic vehicle wash system . WARNING
● The ignition must not be switched on if the front windscreen wiper arms
are folded out. The wiper blades would move back into their rest position and
while doing so damage the paintwork of the bonnet.
● If the windscreen wipers are handled carelessly, there is a risk of damage
to the windscreen.
● You should clean the wiper blades regularly with a windscreen cleaner in
order to avoid any smears. Clean a wiper blade with a sponge or cloth if it is
very dirty, for example from insect residues.
● Replace the windscreen wiper blades once or twice a year for safety rea-
sons. These can be bought from an authorised
ŠKODA Service Partner. 
Replacing the wiper blade on the rear window wiper Fig. 39 Wiper blade for the rear window
Removing the wiper blade
– Fold windscreen wiper arm out from the windscreen and position the wiper
blade at right angles to the wiper arm ⇒

 fig. 39.
– Hold the window wiper arm at the top end with one hand.
– With the other hand unlock the locking button A in the direction of arrow and
remove the wiper blade. £56
Lights and Visibility

Attaching the wiper blade
–
Position the wiper blade onto the wiper arm and lock the locking button A .
– Check whether the wiper blade is correctly attached.
– Fold the windscreen wiper arm back onto the windscreen.
The same remarks apply here as for ⇒ page 56
.
Rear-view mirror Manual dimming interior rear-view mirror Basic setting
–
Pull the lever on the bottom edge of the mirror forward.
Dimming mirror
– Pull the lever on the bottom edge of the mirror back. 
Automatic dimming interior mirror Fig. 40 Automatic dimming interior mir-
ror
Switching on the automatic dimming
– Press the button B
⇒  fig. 40 , the warning light A lights up.
Switching off the automatic dimming
– Press again the button B - the warning light goes out
A .If the automatic dimming is switched on, the mirror dims
automatically depending
on the light striking the mirror from the rear. The mirror has no lever on the bot-
tom edge of the mirror. After the reverse gear is engaged, the mirror always
moves back into the normal position.
Do not attach external navigation devices on the windscreen or in the vicinity of
the automatic dimming interior mirror ⇒

  .
WARNING
The display lighting of the external navigation device may cause malfunction
of the automatic dimming interior mirror – risk of accident. Note
● Automatic mirror dimming operates only properly if the sun screen for the rear
window in the housing on the luggage compartment cover is not in use or the
light striking the interior rear-view mirror is not affected by other objects.
● Do not affix any stickers in front of the light sensor, so that you do not impair
the automatic dimming function or put it out of operation.
● If you switch off the automatic dimming interior rear-view mirror, also the ex-
terior mirror dimming is switched off. 
Exterior mirror You can adjust the exterior mirrors electrically.
Fig. 41 Inner part of door: Rotary knob
Adjust the rear mirror before commencing to drive so that there is a clear view to
the rear. £ 57
Lights and Visibility Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

Heating of the external mirror
–
Turn the rotary knob to position  ⇒  fig. 41.
The exterior mirror heater only operates when the engine is running and up to an
outside temperature of +20 °C.
Adjusting left and right exterior mirrors simultaneously
– Turn the rotary knob to position . The movement of the mirror surface is iden-
tical to the movement of the rotary knob.
The adjustment of both mirrors simultaneously or each individual mirror is possi-
ble in the Information display ⇒

 page 19 in the menu point Mirror adjust. (Mirror
adjust.).
Adjusting the right-hand exterior mirror
– Turn the rotary knob to position . The movement of the mirror surface is iden-
tical to the movement of the rotary knob.
Switching off operating control
– Turn the rotary knob to position .
Folding in both exterior mirrors
– Turn the rotary knob to position .
Fold in the exterior mirrors using the remote control key
– If all the windows are closed, press the unlock button 3 on the radio remote
control ⇒ fig. 18 for approx. 2 seconds.
Tilting surface of front passenger exterior mirror
On vehicles fitted with a memory for the driver seat, the surface of the mirror tilts
down slightly when the rear gear is engaged and the rotary knob is in the posi-
tion  ⇒  fig. 41 . This provides an aid in seeing the kerb of the pavement when park-
ing the car.
The mirror returns into its initial position, after the rotary knob is moved out of the
position  and put into another position or if the speed is more than 15 km/h.
Memory for exterior mirrors
On vehicles fitted with a memory for the driver seat, the relevant setting of the
exterior mirror is also stored automatically when the seat position is stored
⇒  page 61. WARNING
● Convex (curved outward) or a spherical exterior mirrors increase the vision
field. They do, however, make objects appear smaller in the mirror. These mir-
rors are only of limited use, therefore, for estimating distances to the follow-
ing vehicles.
● Use whenever possible the interior rear mirror, for estimating the distan-
ces to the following vehicles. Note
● If the exterior mirrors are folded in using the remote control of the vehicle key,
these are folded back into the driving position after opening the door or switching
on the ignition.
● If the exterior mirrors are folded in using the rotary knob ⇒
 fig. 41, they can on-
ly be folded back into the driving position using the rotary knob.
● If the exterior mirrors were folded in using the remote control of the vehicle
key and if the rotary knob was in the fold-in position before switching on the igni-
tion, the mirrors remain in the fold-in position the next time the ignition is switch-
ed on. Folding back into the driving position is performed by actuating the rotary
knob in a different position from the fold-in position.
● Do not touch the surfaces of the exterior mirrors if the exterior mirror heater is
switched on.
● You can set the exterior mirrors by hand, if the power setting function fails at
any time, by pressing on the edge of the mirror surface.
● Contact your specialist garage if a fault exists with the power setting of the
exterior mirrors. 
Automatic dimming exterior mirror on the driver's side The exterior mirror on the driver's side is dimmed together with the interior mirror.
If the automatic dimming is switched on, the mirror dims automatically depending
on the light striking the mirror from the rear.
After the reverse gear is engaged, the mirror always moves back into the normal
(not dimmed) position. £58
Lights and Visibility