SKODA SUPERB 2005 1.G / (B5/3U) Owner's Manual

Airbag system
170
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 side airbag on the side of the car on which the accident occurs
⇒ fig. 148 .
If the head airbag is deployed, the airbag is filled with propellant gas and
extends over the entire area of the side window including the door pillars
⇒ fig. 148 .
The protection offered by the head airbags is thus available simultane-
ously both to the front occupants of the car seated on the side on which
the accident occurs, as well as to the rear occupants. Any impact of the
head against parts of the interior or objects outside of the car, is cushioned
by the inflated head airbag. The reduction in any impact to the head and
the resultant minimizing of any movements of the head additionally reduce
the risk of injuries to the neck area. The head airbag also offers additional
protection in the case of an offset impact by covering the front door pillar. In certain accident situations both the front airbags as well as the side and
head airbags may be deployed together.
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
grey white, non harmful gas is released when airbag is inflated. This is
perfectly normal and is not an indication of a fire in the vehicle.
Important safety informat
ion on the head airbag
Correct use of the airbag system considerably reduces the
risk of injury!
WARNING
•It is essential to always switch off ⇒page 171, “Deactivating an
airbag” 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 appropriat e national regulations regarding
the use of child safety seats.
•There must not be any objects in the deployment area of the
head airbags which might prevent the airbags from inflating prop-
erly.
•Only hang light items of clothing on the clothes hooks to the
vehicle. Never leave any heavy or sharp-edged objects in the
pockets of the items of clothing. In addition, it is not permitted to
use clothes hangers for hanging up items of clothing.
Fig. 148 Inflated head
airbag
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Airbag system171
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
•There must not be any other persons (e.g. children) or animals
between the car occupant and the deployment area of the head
airbag. In addition, none of the occupants should lean their head
out of the window when driving, or extend their arms and hands out
of the window.
•The sun visors must not be swivelled to the side windows into
the deployment area of the head airbags if any objects, such as
ball-point pens etc. are attached to them. This might result in inju-
ries to the occupants if the head airbag is deployed.
•Installing impermissible accessories in the area of the head
airbags may considerably impair the protection offered by the head
airbag in the event of it being deployed. When the deployed head
airbag is inflated, parts of the accessories fitted may in certain
circumstances be thrown into the interior of the car and cause inju-
ries to the occupants ⇒ page 243, “Accessories, changes and
replacement of parts”.
•Any work on the head airbag system including installing and
removing system components because of other repair work (e.g.
removing headliner) must only be carried out by a specialist
garage.
Deactivating an airbag
Deactivating airbags
If any airbags have been deactivated, switch them on
again as soon as possible so that they are able to again
provide their proper protection.
There is the technical means installed within your vehicle to switch off the
front, side or head airbag (take out of commission).
This is why you should have the deactivation of the airbags carried out by
a specialist garage.
On vehicles equipped with the switch for deactivation of the airbags, you
can deactivate the front and side passenger airbag by means of this
switch ⇒page 172.
Deactivation of airbags is envisaged only for particular instances,
such as if:
•you must in exceptional cases use a child seat on the front
passenger seat where the child has its back to the direction of travel of the
vehicle (in some countries this must be in the direction of travel due to
other legal regulations applying) ⇒page 174, “Important safety informa-
tion on using child safety seats”
•you are not able to maintain the distance of at least 25 cm between
middle of steering wheel and chest, despite the driver seat being correctly
adjusted,
•special attachments are required in the area of the steering wheel
because of a physical disability,
•you have installed other seats (e.g. orthopaedic seats without side
airbags).
WARNING (continued)
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Airbag system
172
Monitoring the airbag system
The functionality of the airbag system is also monitored electronically,
when one airbag has been switched off
If the airbag was switched off using diagnostic equipment:
•The warning light for the airbag system lights up for 3 seconds after
switching on the ignition and then flashes for 12 seconds afterwards in 2
second intervals.
Front passenger airbags switched off using the switch for front
passenger airbags* in stowage compartment on the front passenger
side:
•The airbag warning light comes on in the instrument cluster for about
3 seconds each time the ignition is switched on.
•Switching off airbags is indicated in the middle of the dash panel by the
lighting up of the indicator light   ⇒ fig. 150 .
Note
Your Škoda dealer will be able to advise you whether national legislation
in your country allows airbags in your vehicle to be deactivated, and which
ones.
Switch for th e front seat passenger airbags*
The front and side passenger airbag is deactivated with the
switch.
Fig. 149 Storage
compartment: Switch
for the front seat
passenger airbags
Fig. 150 Indicator light
for a switched off front
seat passenger airbag
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Deactivating airbags
– Switch off the ignition.
– Turn the slot of the airbag switch using the master key in the
direction of the arrow to the position OFF ⇒ fig. 149. The slot
of the airbag switch must be located in the vertical position.
– Check whether the airbag indicator light
  in the
middle of the dash panel lights up ⇒fig. 150 when the ignition
is turned on.
Switching on airbags
– Switch off the ignition.
– Turn the slot of the airbag switch using the master key in the direction of the arrow to the position ON ⇒ page 172, fig. 149 .
The slot of the airbag switch must be located in the horizontal
position.
– Check whether the airbag indicator light
  in the
middle of the dash panel lights up ⇒page 172, fig. 150 when
the ignition is turned on.
The airbags should only be switched off under exceptional circumstances
⇒ page 171.
Indicator light
  (airbag switched off)
The airbag indicator light is located in the middle of the dash panel
⇒ page 172, fig. 150 .
If the airbags are switched on, the airbag indicator light comes on for a
few seconds after the ignition is switched on.
When the front and side passenger airbag is switched off, the indicator
light comes on after the ignition is switched on. There is a system fault present in the airbag switch off
⇒ if the indi-
cator light flashes.
On vehicles without the function windscreen heater* the indicator light
showing a switched-off front passenger airbag* is at the position 15 wind-
screen heater* see ⇒page 10, fig. 1 .
WARNING
•The driver is responsible for whether the airbags are switched
on or switched off.
•Only switch off the airbag when the ignition is switched off!
Otherwise a fault can occur in the airbag deactivation system.
•If the warning light   (airbag switched off) flashes:
− Front passenger airbag is not deployed in the event of an
accident!
− It is also important to have the system inspected without
delay by a specialist garage.
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Transporting children safely
174
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 156, “The physical principle of a frontal collision”. 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 178, “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 genuine
accessories. These child seats were developed and also tested for use in
Škoda vehicles. They fulfil the standard ECE-R 44.
WARNING
Always comply with national le
gal provisions and instructions
from the relevant child safety seat manufacturer when installing
and using a child seat ⇒ in “Important safety information on
using child safety seats”.
Note
Any national legal provisions which vary from the information contained in
this Owner's Manual take precedence over the information contained
herein.
Important safety informat ion on using child safety
seats
Correct use of child safety seats considerably reduces the
risk of injury!
WARNING
•All the occupants of the car - in particular children - must wear
a seat belt when the car is moving!
•Children less than 1.50 m in height or younger than 12 years
must not use a normal seat belt without a child restraint system
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Transporting children safely 175
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
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 178, “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
temperatures in the vehicle.
•Never allow your child to be tran sported 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 webb ing is properly routed if the seat
belts are to offer their maximum protection ⇒page 158, “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.
•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 171 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.
WARNING (continued)WARNING (continued)
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Transporting children safely
176
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 the child severe, or even fatal injuries, in the event of it being
deployed.
•This is also clearly stated on the sticker which is located on the
centre column of the body on the front passenger side ⇒page 176,
fig. 151 . The sticker is visible upon opening the front passenger
door. The next warning sticker is located on the windscreen near
the front passenger seat.
•It is essential to always switch off ⇒page 171, “Deactivating an
airbag” 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 appropriat e 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 tester, the side and
head passenger airbag* remains switched on. In certain countries
national legal provisions require that besides the front passenger
airbag also the side or head passenger airbags are deactivated.
Please comply with any differ ing national legal regulations
regarding 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 passenger seat
must be moved back fully. For vehicles with height adjustable
front passenger seat, the seat must additionally be set to the
highest position.
•You should have the front passenger airbag (or airbags) reacti-
vated just as soon as you no longer use a child safety seat on the
front passenger seat.
Fig. 151 Sticker on the
centre column of the
body on the front
passenger side.
WARNING (continued)
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Transporting children safely 177
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Child safety and side airbags
Children must never be seated in the deployment area of
the side airbags and head airbags.In the event of a side collision, the side airbags offer the vehicle occupants
enhanced protection.
The side airbags are inflated in fractions of a second in order to be able to
provide this protection ⇒page 167, “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 injuries. Also exposed
objects which are located within the area of the side airbag can cause inju-
ries.
This applies particularly to children if they are not transported in
accordance with legal requirements.
The child is protected when seated in a child 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 ⇒page 171 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.
•When transporting a child on the front passenger seat, please
comply with the appropriate national regulations regarding the use
of child safety seats.
•Children must never be seated with their head in the deploy-
ment area of the side airbag - risk of injury!
Fig. 152 Seated posi-
tion of an unprotected
child at risk from side
airbag
Fig. 153 Child properly
protected by safety
seat
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Transporting children safely
178
•Do not place any objects within the deployment area of the side
airbag - risk of injury!
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 safety seats 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
according to the EG guidelines 77/541 and ECE 44 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.
GroupWeight
00 - 10 kg⇒page 179
0+up to 13 kg⇒page 179
19 - 18 kg⇒page 179
215 - 25 kg⇒page 180
322 - 36 kg⇒page 181
WARNING (continued)
Child seat
according to groupFront passenger
seatRear seat
on the sideRear seat middle
0
0+
1
2 and 3
AUAUA+AU
AUAUA+AU
AUAUA+AU
AUAUAU
AU
A+
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Transporting children safely 179
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Child seats of group 0/0+
The optimal solution for babies of up to about 9 months old weighing up
to 10 kg or babies up to about 18 months old weighing up to 13 kg is a
child safety seat which can be adjusted into the reclining position
⇒fig. 154 .
In view of the fact that such child seats are installed that the child is seated
with its back facing the direction of travel, they must not be used on the
front passenger seat ⇒page 176, “Use of child safety seats on the front
passenger seat”.
WARNING
•It is essential to always switch off the front passenger airbag
(airbags) at a specialist garage or with the switch for front
passenger airbag(s)* 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) ⇒page 172.
•In certain countries national legal provisions require that
besides the front airbag also the side or head airbags are deacti-
vated. 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 just as soon as you no longer use a child safety seat on the
front passenger seat.
Child safety seats in Group 1
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
Fig. 154 Child seats of
group 0/0+
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 155 Child seat
with padded table in
Group 1 installed on
rear seat bench facing
the direction of travel
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