belt SKODA SUPERB 2003 1.G / (B5/3U) Owner's Guide

Airbag system145
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Airbag system
Description of the airbag system
General information on the airbag system
The front airbag system is complementary to the three-point seat belts
and offers additional protection for the head and chest area of the driver
and passenger in the event of a frontal collision.
In the case of a violent side crash, the side and head airbags reduce the
risk of injuries to the occupants on the part of the body facing the side of
the accident ⇒.
The airbag system is only functional after the ignition has been switched
on.
The operational readiness of the airbag system is monitored electroni-
cally. The airbag warning light comes on for a few seconds each time the
ignition is switched on.
The airbag system (according to vehicle equipment) essentially
consists of:
•an electronic control unit
•the two front airbags
•the side airbags
•Head airbags*
•an airbag warning light in the instrument cluster
•a front passenger airbag switch* ⇒page 155
•an indicator light showing a switched-off front passenger airbag* in the
middle of the dash panel ⇒page 155 A fault in the airbag system exists if:
•the airbag indicator light does not light up when the ignition is switched
on
•the warning light does not go out after about 3 seconds after the igni-
tion is switched on
•the airbag indicator light goes out and comes on again after the ignition
is switched on
•the airbag indicator light comes on or flickers when driving
•an airbag indicator light showing a switched-off front passenger
airbag* in the middle of the dash panel flashes
WARNING
•To enable the occupants of a car to be protected with the
greatest possible effect when the airbag is deployed, the front
seats must be ⇒page 69, “Front seats”correctly adjusted to
match the body size of the occupant.
•If you do not fasten the seat belts when driving, lean too far
forward or adopt an incorrect seated position, you are exposing
yourself to increased risk of injury in the event of an accident.
•Have the airbag system checked immediately by a Škoda Dealer
if a fault exists. Otherwise, there is a risk of the airbag not being
activated in the event of an accident.
•No modifications of any kind may be made to parts of the airbag
system.
•It is prohibited to manipulate individual parts of the airbag
system as this might result in the airbag being deployed.

Airbag system147
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Front airbags
Description of the front airbags
The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belt!
The front airbag for the driver is housed in the steering wheel ⇒fig. 127 .
The front airbag for the front passenger is housed in the dash panel above
the storage compartment ⇒fig. 128 . The installation positions are each
marked with the “AIRBAG” logo.
The front airbag system, in combination with three-point safety belts,
offers additional protection for the head and chest area of the driver and
front passenger in the event of a frontal collision of major severity ⇒
in “Important safety information regarding the front airbag system” on
page 148.
The airbag is not a substitute for the seat belt, but is part of the complete
passive vehicle safety concept. Please note that an airbag can only
offer you optimal protection in combination with a seat belt which is
fastened. .
Apart from their normal protective function, a further task of the seat belts
is to also hold the driver and front passenger in a correct seated position
in the event of a frontal collision so as to enable the front airbags to offer
the maximum protection.
You should therefore always fasten ⇒page 138 the seat belts, not only
because this is required by law, but also for safety reasons and for your
own protection.
Note
The dash panel must be replaced after the front passenger airbag has
been deployed.
Fig. 127 Driver airbag
in the steering wheel
Fig. 128 Front
passenger airbag in the
dash panel

Airbag system
150
The side airbags are housed in the upholstery of the backrests of the front
seats ⇒page 149, fig. 131 .
The side airbag system in combination with the three-point seat belts,
offers additional protection for the upper area of the body (chest, stomach
and pelvis) of the occupants of the car in the event of a side collision of
major severity ⇒ in “Important safety information on the side airbag”
on page 151.
Apart from their normal protective function, a further task of the seat belts
is to also hold the driver and front passenger in a correct seated position
in the event of a side collision so as to enable the side airbags to offer the
maximum protection.
You should therefore always fasten ⇒page 138 the seat belts, not only
because this is required by law, but also for safety reasons and for your
own protection.
Each time the side airbags are deployed, the head airbag* on the relevant
side is automatically deployed at the same time in order to provide the
occupant with enhanced protection ⇒page 152.Function of the side airbags
Risk of injury to the upper part of the body is reduced by
fully inflated side airbags.
In case of violent side collision the side airbag on the side of the vehicle
on which the collision takes place, is also deployed ⇒ fig. 132.
In certain accident situations both the front airbags as well as the head
and side airbags may be deployed together.
If an airbag is deployed, the airbag is filled with propellant gas. The
airbags inflate in fractions of a second and at a high speed in order to be
able to offer that additional protection in the event of an accident.
A fine dust is produced when airbag inflated. This is perfectly normal and
is not an indication of a fire in the vehicle.
The load of the occupants is cushioned when plunging into the fully
inflated airbag and the risk of injury to the entire upper body (chest,
stomach and pelvis) is reduced on the side facing the door.
Fig. 132 Inflated side
airbag

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152
Head airbags*
Description of the head airbags
The head airbag together with the side airbag offers
enhanced occupant protection in the event of a side colli-
sion.
The head airbags are positioned above the doors on both sides in the inte-
rior of the car ⇒ fig. 133. The installation positions are each marked with
the “AIRBAG” logo.
The head airbag together with the three-point seat belts and the side
airbags, offers additional protection for the head and neck area of the
occupants in the event of a side collision of major severity ⇒ in “Impor-
tant safety information on the head airbag” on page 153.
Apart from their normal protective function, a further task of the seat belts
is to also hold the driver and the occupants in a correct seated position in the event of a side collision so as to enable the head airbags to offer the
maximum protection.
You should therefore always fasten
⇒page 138 the seat belts, not only
because this is required by law, but also for safety reasons and for your
own protection.
Together with other elements (such as cross bars in the seats, stable
vehicle structure) the head airbags are the consequent further develop-
ment of occupant protection in the case of side collisions.
Function of the head airbags
The risk of injury to the head and neck area is reduced in
the event of a side collision by fully inflated head airbags.
In the case of a side collision the head airbag is deployed together with
the relevant side airbag on the side of the car on which the accident occurs
⇒ fig. 134 .
Fig. 133 Installation
position of the head
airbags above the door,
shown inflated, and
Airbag logo on the
pillar cover panel
Fig. 134 Inflated head
airbag

Transporting children safely 157
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Transporting children safely
What you should know about
transporting children!
An introduction to the subject
Accident statistics have revealed that children are gener-
ally more safely transported on the rear seats than on the
front passenger seat.
Children younger than 12 years of age should normally travel on the rear
seat of the vehicle (take note of any national legal provisions which differ
from this). They should be secured there by means of a child restraint
system or by using the existing seat belts depending on their age, body
size and weight. The child seat should be mounted behind the front
passenger seat for safety reasons.
The physical principle of an accident does, of course, also apply to chil-
dren ⇒page 139. They differ from adults in that their muscles and bone
structure of children are not yet fully developed. Thus children are
exposed to increased risk of injury.
Children should be transported by using special child safety seats in order
to reduce this risk of injury.
Use only child safety seats which are officially approved and are suitable
for children and which comply with the ECE-R 44 Standard, which classi-
fies child safety seats into 5 groups ⇒page 161, “Classification of child
seats into groups”. Child restraint systems which have been tested for
conformity with ECE-R 44 have a non-detachable test seal (a large E
within a circle and below this the test number) attached to the seat. We recommend that you use child safety seats from the Škoda range of
genuine accessories. These child seats were developed and also tested
for use in Skoda vehicles. They fulfil the standard ECE-R 44.
Note
Any varying national legal regulations take priority over the information
provided in these instructions for use, or stated in this chapter.
Important safety informat
ion on using child safety
seats
Correct use of child safety seats considerably reduces the
risk of injury!
WARNING
Always comply with legal provis ions and instructions from the
relevant child safety seat manufacturer when installing and using
the child seat ⇒ in “Important safety information on using child
safety seats”.
WARNING
•All the occupants of the car - in particular children - must wear
a seat belt when the car is moving.

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158
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 (continued)
•Children less than 1.50 m in he ight or younger than 12 years
must not use a normal seat belt without a child restraint system
otherwise this may result in in juries 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 161, “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.
•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 accident if they lean forward or adopt an incorrect seated
position when the vehicle is moving . This particularly applies to
children who are transported on the front passenger seat if the
airbag system deploys in the event of an accident. This can result
in severe or even fatal injuries.
•It is important that the belt webbing is properly routed if the seat
belts are to offer their maximum protection ⇒page 141, “How are
seat belts correctly fastened?”. Pay particular attention to the
information provided by the manufacturer of the child safety seat
regarding correct routing of the belt. Seat belts which are not
correctly adjusted can themselves cause injuries even in minor
accidents.
WARNING (continued)
•Safety belts must be checked to ensure that they are running
properly. One should also ensure that the belt is not damaged by
sharp-edged fittings.
•It is essential to always switch off ⇒page 154 the front
passenger airbag when attaching a child safety seat on the front
passenger seat where the child is seated with its back facing in
direction of travel (in some countries also when the child is facing
the direction of travel). If this is not done, there is a risk of the child
suffering severe or even fatal injuries if the front passenger airbag
is deployed. In certain countries national legal provisions also
require that the side or head passenger airbags be deactivated.
When transporting a child on the front passenger seat, please
comply with the appropriate national regulations regarding the use
of child safety seats.
•Particular care is required if use is made of child restraint
systems which are attached together with the seat belts fitted to
the vehicle. It is important to ensure that the bolts are inserted into
the threaded hole over their entire length and are tightened to a
torque of 35 Nm.

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Child seat
Classification 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 of Europe - Regulation.
Child restraint systems which have been tested for conformity with ECE-
R 44 have a non-detachable test seal (a large E within a circle and below
this the test number) attached to the seat.
Child safety seats are classified in 5 groups: Children of more than 150 cm in height may use the seat belts fitted to the
vehicle without a seat bolster.
Use of child seats
An overview of the usefulness of child seats on each of the seats:
U - universal category - seat is suitable for all approved types of child
safety seats.
WARNING (continued)
•Children must never be seated with their head in the deploy-
ment area of the side airbag. Risk of injury!
•Do not place any objects within the deployment area of the side
airbag. Risk of injury!
GroupWeight
00 -10 kg⇒ page 162
0+up to 13 kg⇒page 162
19 -18 kg⇒page 162
215 -25 kg⇒page 163
322 -36 kg⇒page 164
Child seat
according to
groupFront passenger seatRear seat
on the sideRear seat middle
0UUU
0+UUU
1UUU
2 and 3UUU

Transporting children safely 163
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Child seats in Group 1 are for babies and small children up to 4 years of
age with a weight of between 9 and 18 kilograms. It is best for children in
the lower range of this group, to use a child seat which allows the child to
sit with its back to the direction of travel. It is best for children in the upper
range of the Group 0+, to use a child seat which allows the child to sit
⇒
fig. 140 in the direction of travel.
Child safety seats in which the child is seated with its back facing the
direction of travel, must not be used on the front passenger seat
⇒ page 158, “Use of child safety seats on the front passenger seat”.
Child safety seats in Group 2
For children up to about 7 years of age weighing between 15 and 25 kg
the optimal solution is a child safety seat in combination with the three-
point seat belt ⇒fig. 141 .
WARNING
•It is essential to always switch off the front passenger airbag
(airbags) when attaching in exceptional circumstances a child
safety seat on the front passenger seat where the child is seated
with its back facing in direction of travel (in some countries also
when the child is facing the direction of travel).
−by allowing a Skoda dealer to do this
− or by using the switch for the front passenger airbag*
⇒ page 155.
•The national legal provisions in certain countries require that
both the front, side and head airbags be deactivated. Please
comply with any differing national legal regulations regarding the
use of child safety seats.
•If this is not done, a child seated on the front passenger seat
may suffer severe or even fatal injuries if the front passenger
airbag or airbags are deployed.
•You should have the front passenger airbag (or airbags) reacti-
vated by your Škoda dealer just as soon as you no longer use a
child safety seat on the front passenger seat.
WARNING
•When transporting a child on the front passenger seat, please
comply with the appropriate national regulations regarding the use
of child safety seats. If required, the airbag has to be deactivated,
−by allowing a Skoda dealer to do this
− or by using the switch for the front passenger airbag*
⇒ page 155.
Fig. 141 Child seat in
Group 2 installed on
the rear seat facing the
direction of travel

Transporting children safely
164
Child safety seats in Group 3
For children of about 7 years of age weighing between 22 and 36 kg and
of a height of less than 150 cm, the optimal solution is a child safety seat
(seat bolster) in combination with the three-point seat belt ⇒fig. 142 .
Children of more than 150 cm in height may use the seat belts fitted to the
vehicle without a seat bolster.
Attaching child safety seat
Child seat protection
You can block the three-point seat belt in order to attach a
child safety seat.
You can permanently block the three-point seat belt in order to
attach a child safety seat. Blocking the belt in this way ensures
that the child seat is held firmly in position in the car.
WARNING (continued)
•The shoulder part of the seat belt must run approximately
across the middle of the shoulder and fit snugly against the chest.
It must on no account run across the neck. The lap part of the seat
belt must run across the pelvis and fits snugly; it must not run over
the belly. Tighten the belt webbing over your hip if necessary.
•Please comply with any differi ng national legal regulations
regarding the use of child safety seats.
Fig. 142 Child seat in
Group 3 installed on
the rear seat facing the
direction of travel
WARNING
•When transporting a child on the front passenger seat, please
comply with the appropriate national regulations regarding the use
of child safety seats. If required, the airbag has to be deactivated,
−by allowing a Skoda dealer to do this
− or by using the switch for the front passenger airbag*
⇒ page 155.
•The shoulder part of the seat belt must run approximately
across the middle of the shoulder and fit snugly against the chest.
It must on no account run across the neck. The lap part of the seat
belt must run across the pelvis and fits snugly; it must not run over
the belly. Tighten the belt webbing over your hip if necessary.
•Please comply with any differ ing national legal regulations
regarding the use of child safety seats.

Transporting children safely 165
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Activating child seat protection
– Attach the child safety seat with the three-point seat belt as
stated in the instructions of the manufacturer of the child seat.
– Now, pull the shoulder part of the belt out fully.
– Insert the tongue of the lock into the seat belt buckle belonging to the seat until it is heard to lock in place.
– Reel up the belt webbing until it is fitted snugly against the child seat. When the belt is reeled up, this can be detected by
a “clicking” noise.
– Pull on the belt in order to check that it is no longer possible to pull out the webbing. The child seat protection is now switched
on.
Deactivating child seat protection
– Press the red button on the seat belt buckle. The tongue of the lock jumps out of the buckle as a result of the spring force
when this is done.
– Guide the belt back with your hand to enable the inertia reel to wind up the belt webbing more easily. The child safety lock is
deactivated after the full reeling up of the belt.WARNING
It is essential to always switch off ⇒page 154 the airbag (airbags)
when attaching a child safety seat on the front passenger seat
where the child is seated with its back facing in direction of travel
(in some countries also when the child is facing the direction of
travel). If this is not done, there is a risk of the child suffering
severe or even fatal injuries if the front passenger airbag is
deployed. In certain countries national legal provisions also
require that the side or head passenger airbags be deactivated.
When transporting a child on the front passenger seat, please
comply with the appropriate national regulations regarding the use
of child safety seats.