handbrake SKODA SUPERB 2008 Owner´s Manual

Operation
Cockpit
OverviewElectrical power windows
61
Door opening lever
52
Central locking button
55
Air outlet vent
110
Parking ticket holder
Operating lever: › Turn signal light, headlight and parking light, headlight
flasher
69
› Speed regulating system
161
Steering wheel:
› with horn
› with driver’s front airbag
17
› with pushbuttons for radio, navigation system phone and in-
formation system
122, 134
Instrument cluster: Instruments, warning lights and display
30
Operating lever:
› Information system
42
›Windscreen wiper and wash system
77
Air outlets in the central part of the dash panel
110
Regulator for left seat heating
85
Button for hazard warning light system
72
Regulator for right seat heating
85
Depending on equipment fitted:
› Radio
› Navigation system
Storage compartment on the front passenger side
94
Front passenger airbag
17
Air outlet vent
110
Key switch for switching off the front passenger airbag (in front
passenger storage compartment)
21
Door opening lever
52
Electric exterior mirror adjustment
801234567891011121314151617181920Light switch68
Bonnet release lever
187
Regulator for the instrument lighting and regulator for the head-
light beam range adjustment
68, 68
Storage compartment on the driver's side
89
Lever for adjusting the steering wheel
10
Driver’s knee airbag
18
Ignition lock
139
Pedals
145
Handbrake
144
Bars with buttons depending on the equipment fitted:
› 
START STOP
162
› 
Tyre pressure loss indicator
165
› 
Traction control ASR
155
›
Electronic Stability Control ESC
154
› 
Park Assist
157
› 
Parking aid
156
› 
Tailgate operation (Superb Combi)
59
Depending on equipment fitted:
› Gearshift lever (manual gearbox)
144
›Selector lever (automatic gearbox)
145
Depending on equipment fitted:
› Ashtrays
91
›Stowage compartment
90
Warning light for the deactivated front seat passenger airbag
21
Depending on equipment fitted:
› Operating controls for the air conditioning system
112
›
Operating controls for Climatronic
115
Note
The arrangement of the controls right-hand drive models may differ from the
layout shown in » Fig. 20. The symbols on the controls and switches are the
same as for left-hand drive models.212223242526272829303132333429Cockpit

The following message is shown in the MAXI DOT display.Gearbox overheated. Stop! Owner's manual!
 do not continue to drive! Stop the vehicle, switch off the engine, and wait
until the 
icon goes out – risk of gearbox damage! You can continue your
journey as soon as the icon disappears.WARNINGIf you have to stop for technical reasons, then park the vehicle at a safe
distance from the traffic, switch off the engine and activate the hazard
warning light system » page 72. The warning triangle must be set up at
the prescribed distance - observe the national legal provisions when doing
so.
Note
■ If the MAXI DOT display shows warning messages, these messages must be
confirmed in order to access the main menu » page 42 .■
As long as the operational faults are not rectified, the symbols are always in-
dicated again. After they are displayed for the first time, the symbols continue
to be indicated without any extra messages for the driver.
Warning lights
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
 Handbrake
35
 Brake system
35
 Seat belt warning light
35
 Generator
35
 Door open
36
 Engine oil pressure
36
 Coolant
36
 Bonnet
36
 Boot lid
36
 
Power steering / steering lock (system KESSY)
36
 Engine oil level
37
 Traction Control System (ASR)
37
 Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
37 Anti lock brake system (ABS)38 Rear fog light38

Lamp failure
38
 Adaptive headlights (AHL)
38
 Exhaust inspection system
38
 Glow plug system (diesel engine)
38

Engine performance check (petrol engine)
39
 Diesel particulate filter (diesel engine)
39
 Fuel reserve
39
 Airbag system
40
 Tyre inflation pressure
40
 Windscreen washer fluid level
40
 Brake linings
41

 Turn signal system
41
 Low beam
41
 Fog lights
41
 Cruise control system
41
 Selector lever lock / starter (system KESSY)
41
 Main beam
41
The warning lights indicate certain functions or faults.
Some warning lights can be accompanied by acoustic signals and messages in
the display of the instrument cluster.
After switching on the ignition, some warning lights light up briefly as a func-
tion test.
If the tested systems are OK, the corresponding warning lights go out a few
seconds after switching on the ignition or after starting the engine. 
34Operation

WARNING■Ignoring illuminated warning lights and related messages or instructions
in the instrument cluster display may lead to serious personal injury or
damage to the vehicle.■
If you have to stop for technical reasons, then park the vehicle at a safe
distance from the traffic, switch off the engine and activate the hazard
warning light system » page 72. The warning triangle must be set up at
the prescribed distance - observe the national legal provisions when doing
so.
■
The engine compartment of your car is a hazardous area. The following
warning instructions must be followed at all times when working in the en-
gine compartment » page 186, Engine compartment .
 Handbrake
Read and observe
on page 35 first.
The warning light 
illuminates if the handbrake is applied.
An acoustic signal will sound if you drive the vehicle above 6 km/h for at least
3 seconds while the handbrake is applied.
The following message is shown in the MAXI DOT display. Release parking brake!
 Brake system
Read and observe
on page 35 first.
The warning light 
illuminates if the brake fluid level in the braking system is
too low or there is a fault in the ABS.
The following message is shown in the MAXI DOT display. Brake fluid: Owner's manual!
›
Stop the vehicle, switch off the engine, and check the level of the brake flu-
id » page 193 » .
WARNING■
If the warning light  together with the warning light  » page 38 , 
Anti lock brake system (ABS) illuminates,  do not continue to drive! Seek
help from a specialist garage.■
A fault to the ABS system or the braking system can increase the vehi-
cle's braking distance – there is a risk of accident.
■
The following guidelines should be observed when opening the bonnet
and checking the brake fluid level » page 186, Engine compartment .
 Seat belt warning light
Read and observe
on page 35 first.
The warning light 
is illuminated as a reminder for the driver and front pas-
senger to fasten their seat belts.
The warning light 
goes out , after the respective seat belt has been fas-
tened.
If the driver or front passenger has not fastened their seat belt and the vehicle
speed is more than 20 km/h, the warning light 
flashes and you will hear an
acoustic warning signal.
The warning signal is switched off and the warning light 
remains perma-
nently illuminated if the driver and front passenger have not fastened their
seat belts within the next 90 seconds.
 Generator
Read and observe
on page 35 first.
If the warning light 
is illuminated , when the engine is running, the vehicle
battery is not being charged.
Seek assistance from a specialist garage immediately. The electrical system re-
quires checking.
CAUTION
 Do not continue driving if the  warning light (coolant system fault) illumi-
nates in addition to the  warning light while you are driving. Stop the engine
- there is a risk of engine damage. Seek help from a specialist garage.35Instruments and Indicator Lights

›The warning light in the driver door begins flashing.
› The anti-theft alarm system is activated.
Displaying an error If the warning icon in the driver's door initially flashes quickly for around 2 sec-
onds, and then illuminates for 30 seconds without interruption before flashing
again slowly, you will need to seek the assistance of a specialist garage.WARNING■ Never leave the key in the vehicle when you exit the vehicle. Unauthor-
ized persons, such as children, for example, could lock the car, turn on the
ignition or start the engine - there is a danger of injury and accidents!■
When leaving the vehicle, never leave people who are not completely in-
dependent, such as children, unattended in the vehicle. The children might,
for example, release the handbrake or take the vehicle out of gear. The ve-
hicle could then start to move – risk of injury and accidents! These individu-
als might also not be able to leave the vehicle on their own or to help
themselves. Can be fatal at very high or very low temperatures!
■
If the car is locked from the outside and the safe lock system is switched
on, no one must be in the car, as it is then not possible to open either a
door or a window from the inside. The locked doors make it more difficult
for rescuers to get into the vehicle in an emergency – risk to life.
Note
■ When leaving the vehicle, always check if it is locked.■In the event of an accident in which the airbags are deployed, the locked
doors are automatically unlocked in order to enable rescuers to gain access to
the vehicle.■
Upon failure of the central locking system the key can only be used to unlock
and lock the driver's door. The other doors and the boot lid can be emergency
opened or emergency released. ■ Emergency locking of the door » page 216.
■ Emergency unlocking of the boot lid » page 217.
Vehicle keyFig. 31
Remote control key
Read and observe on page 51 first.
Two remote control keys are provided with the vehicle » Fig. 31.
The transmitter with the battery is housed in the handle of the remote control
key. The receiver is located in the interior of the vehicle.
The wireless key has a flip out key bit.
The spare key must by initialised by a specialist garage after repair or replace- ment of the receiver unit. Only then can the remote control key be used again.
CAUTION
■ Each key contains electronic components; therefore it must be protected
against moisture and severe shocks.■
Keep the groove of the keys absolutely clean. Impurities (textile fibres, dust,
etc.) have a negative effect on the functionality of the locking cylinder and ig-
nition lock.
■
The battery must be replaced if the central locking or anti-theft alarm system
does react to the remote control at less than approx. 3 metres
away » page 215 .
■
When leaving the vehicle, always check if it is locked.
■
If the driver's door has been opened, the vehicle cannot be locked.
Note
Please contact a specialist garage if you lose a key as they can obtain a new
one for you.51Unlocking and opening

Driving
Starting off and Driving
Starting and stopping the engine using the key
Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Electronic immobilizer
139
Ignition Switch
139
Starting the engine
139
Stopping the engine
140
Starting and stopping the engine on vehicles with the KESSY sys-
tem » page 140 .
The engine can only be started using a correctly coded original key.
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.
WARNING■ When the vehicle is travelling with the engine off, the ignition key must
always be in position 2 » Fig. 134 on page 139 (ignition switched on). This
position is confirmed by the appearance of certain indicator lamps in the in-
strument cluster. ■If the key is not in position 2,
it could unexpectedly lock the steering -
danger of accident!
■
Only pull the ignition key from the ignition lock when the vehicle has
come to a complete stop (by applying the handbrake). Otherwise, the steer-
ing could be blocked – risk of accident!
■
Never leave the key in the vehicle when you exit the vehicle. Unauthor-
ized persons, such as children, for example, could lock the car, turn on the
ignition or start the engine - there is a danger of injury and accidents!
■
Never leave the vehicle unattended with the engine running - there is
risk of accident, damage or theft!
■
Never switch off the engine before the vehicle is stationary – risk of acci-
dent!
WARNING■ Never leave the engine running in unventilated or closed rooms. The en-
gine's exhaust gases also contain the odourless and colourless carbon
monoxide, a poisonous gas – risk of death. ■ Carbon monoxide can cause unconsciousness and death.■
Do not leave any items (e.g. cleaning cloths or tools) in the engine com-
partment. This presents a fire hazard and the risk of engine damage.
■
Never cover the engine with additional insulation material (e.g. with a
cover) – risk of fire!
CAUTION
■ The starter must only be operated when the engine is not running and the
vehicle is at a standstill. The starter or engine can be damaged if the starter is
activated when the engine is running 3
» Fig. 134 on page 139 .
■
Do not tow start the engine – there is a risk of damaging the engine and the
catalytic converter. The battery from another vehicle can be used as a jump-
start aid » page 211 , Jump-starting .
CAUTION
■
Avoid high engine revolutions, full throttle and high engine loads before the
engine has reached its operating temperature – risk of damaging the engine!■
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 accumula-
tion 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 rea-
ches its operating temperature more rapidly and the pollutant emissions are
lower.
Note
After switching off the ignition, the radiator fan can intermittently continue to
operate for approx. 10 minutes.138Driving

Electronic immobilizerRead and observe
and on page 138 first.
An electronic chip is integrated in the head of the key. The immobiliser is deac-
tivated 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
withdrawn from the lock.
The engine will not start if a non-authorized ignition key is used.
The following message is shown in the instrument cluster display. Immobilizer active.
IMMOBILIZER
Ignition Switch
Fig. 134
Positions of the vehicle key in
the ignition lock
Read and observe and on page 138 first.
Petrol engines » Fig. 134
Ignition switched off, engine off, the steering can be locked
Ignition switched on
Starting engine
Diesel engines » Fig. 134
Fuel supply interrupted, ignition switched off, engine switched off, the
steering 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.
123123If the steering is locked and the key cannot be turned or can only be turned
with difficulty to position 2 » Fig. 134 , move the steering wheel back and
forth and the steering lock will unlock.
Note
We recommend locking the steering wheel whenever leaving the vehicle. This
acts as a deterrent against the attempted theft of your car.
Starting the engine
Read and observe
and on page 138 first.
Vehicles with a diesel engine are equipped with a glow plug system. The glow
plug warning light  illuminates after the ignition has been switched on. Start
the engine once the  warning light has gone out.
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
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
Move the gearshift lever into neutral or move the selector lever into position
P or N.
›
Switch on the ignition
2
» Fig. 134 on page 139 .
›
Depress and hold the clutch pedal (vehicles with a manual gearbox) or brake
pedal (vehicles with an automatic gearbox) until the engine starts.
›
Turn the key to position
3
to the stop and release immediately the engine
has started – do not depress the accelerator.
After letting go, the vehicle key will return to position
2
.
If the engine does not start within 10 seconds, turn the key to position
1
. Re-
peat the start-up process after approx. half a minute.
Vehicles with manual transmission
The engine will not start if the clutch pedal is not depressed.
The following message is shown in the instrument cluster display. Depress clutch to start.
CLUTCH 
139Starting off and Driving

If the driver's door is opened while the ignition is on, an audible signal sounds
and the following message appears in the instrument cluster display.
Ignition on!
IGNITION SWITCHED ON
When leaving the vehicle always switch off the ignition.
Note
The ignition is switched on when indicated by the illuminating of certain indi-
cator lamps in the instrument cluster.
Starting the engine
Read and observe
and on page 140 first.
Vehicles with a diesel engine are equipped with a glow plug system. The glow
plug warning light  illuminates after the ignition has been switched on. Start
the engine once the  warning light has gone out.
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
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
Move the gearshift lever into neutral or move the selector lever into position
P or N.
›
Depress and hold the clutch pedal (vehicles with a manual gearbox) or brake
pedal (vehicles with an automatic gearbox) until the engine starts.
›
Press and hold » Fig. 135 on page 141 1)
the starter button until the engine
starts.
CAUTION
■ If the engine does not start-up after a second attempt, one of the following
fuses may be defective. ■ Petrol engine - fuse for the electric fuel pump.
■ Diesel engine - fuse for the control unit for glow plugs or glow plug relay
and fuel pump.■
Check the fuse and replace if necessary » page 220, or seek assistance from
a specialist garage.
Switching off the engine
Read and observe
and on page 140 first.
›
Stop the vehicle.
›
Press the starter button » Fig. 135 on page 141 briefly.
The engine and the ignition are switched off simultaneously.
The engine can be switched off up to a speed of 2 km/h.
Emergency start-up of the engine
Fig. 136
Emergency start-up of engine
Read and observe and on page 140 first.
If the authorisation check for the key fails, the following message appears in the instrument cluster display.
Key not found.
NO KEY
The emergency start-up must be completed.
› Press the starter button directly with the key
» Fig. 136.
or
› Press the starter button and then hold the key to the starter button.
Note
During an emergency engine start-up, the key bit must face the starter but-
ton » Fig. 136 .1)
On vehicles with the START STOP system, it is sufficient to press the starter button briefly. The motor
will then automatically start.
142Driving

Emergency ignition shutoff systemRead and observe
and on page 140 first.
The ignition can be turned off in an emergency even when travelling at a
speed of more than 2 km / hr.
›
Press the starter button » Fig. 135 on page 141 for longer than 1 second or
twice within 1 second.
After emergency stop of the ignition, the steering is unlocked.
Brakes
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Information on braking
143
Handbrake
144WARNING■ Greater physical effort is required for braking when the engine is switch-
ed off – risk of accident!■
The clutch pedal must be depressed when braking on a vehicle with man-
ual transmission, when the vehicle is in gear and at low revs. Otherwise,
the function of the brake booster may be impaired – risk of accident!
■
When leaving the vehicle, never leave persons who might, for example,
release the handbrake or take the vehicle out of gear unattended in the ve-
hicle. The vehicle could then start to move – risk of accident!
WARNINGIn the case of damage to the standard fitted front spoiler or if retrofitting
another front spoiler, hub caps etc. » page 173, Services, modifications and
technical alterations , make sure that the air supply to the front brakes is
not affected. The front brakes may overheat, which can have a negative im-
pact on the functioning of the braking system – there is a risk of an acci-
dent!CAUTION■ Observe the recommendations on the new brake pads » page 149.■Never let the brakes slip with light pressure on the pedal if braking is not
necessary. This causes the brakes to overheat and can also result in a longer
braking distance and excessive wear.
Information on braking
Read and observe
and on page 143 first.
If the brakes are applied in full and the control unit for the braking system con-siders the situation to be dangerous for the following traffic, the brake light
flashes automatically.
After the speed was reduced below around 10 km/h or the vehicle was stop-
ped, the brake light stops flashing and the hazard warning light system
switches on. The hazard warning light system is switched off automatically af- ter accelerating or driving off again.
Before travelling a long distance down a steep gradient, reduce speed and
shift into the next lowest gear. As a result, the braking effect of the engine will
be used, reducing the load on the brakes. Any additional braking should be
completed intermittently, not continuously.
Wear-and-tear
The wear of the brake pads is dependent on the operating conditions and driv- ing style.
The brake pads wear more quickly if a lot of journeys are completed in towns
and over short distances or if a very sporty style of driving is adopted.
Under these severe conditions , the thickness of the brake pads must also be
checked by a specialist garage between services.
Wet roads or road salt
The performance of the brakes can be delayed as the brake discs and brake
pads may be moist or have a coating of ice or layer of salt on them in winter.
The brakes are cleaned and dried by applying the brakes several times.
Corrosion
Corrosion on the brake discs and dirt on the brake pads occur if the vehicle has
been parked for a long period and if you do not make much use of the braking
system. The brakes are cleaned by applying the brakes several times. 
143Starting off and Driving

Faults in the brake surface
If it is found that the braking distance has suddenly become longer and that
the brake pedal can be depressed further, the brake system may be faulty.
Visit a specialist garage immediately and adjust your style of driving appropri-
ately as you will not know the exact extent of the damage.
Low brake fluid level
An insufficient level of brake fluid may result in problems in the brake system.
The level of the brake fluid is monitored electronically » page 35, 
Brake sys-
tem .
Brake booster
The brake booster increases the pressure generated with the brake pedal. The
brake booster only operates when the engine is running.
Handbrake
Fig. 137
Handbrake
Read and observe and on page 143 first.
Apply
›
Pull the handbrake lever firmly upwards.
Releasing
›
Pull the handbrake lever up slightly and at the same time push in the locking
button » Fig. 137 .
›
Move the lever right down while pressing the lock button.
The handbrake warning light  illuminates when the handbrake is applied,
provided the ignition is on.
A warning signal sounds if the vehicle is inadvertently driven off with the
handbrake applied.
The following message is shown in the MAXI DOT display.
Release parking brake!
The handbrake warning is activated if the vehicle is driven at a speed of more
than around 5 km/h for more than 3 seconds.WARNINGPlease note that the handbrake must be fully released. A handbrake which
is only partially released can result in the rear brakes overheating. This can
have a negative effect on the operation of the brake system – there is a
risk of an accident.
CAUTION
After the vehicle has come to a standstill, always tighten the handbrake first
and then select the first gear (vehicles with a manual gearbox) or move the se-
lector lever to the P-position (vehicles with an automatic gearbox).
Manual gear changing and pedals
 Introduction
This chapter contains information on the following subjects:
Manual gear changing
144
Pedals
145
Manual gear changing
Fig. 138
Gearshift pattern of 5 gear or
6 gear manual gearbox
Always depress the clutch pedal all the way down. This prevents uneven wear on the clutch.
The gearshift indicator must be observed when changing gear » page 43.
144Driving

Switching to manual shifting›Push the gear selector from position D towards the right, or left in a right-
hand drive vehicle.
Shifting up gears›
Press the selector lever forwards
+
» Fig. 141 .
›
Pull the right-hand paddle +
» Fig. 141 briefly towards the steering wheel.
Shifting down gears
›
Press the selector lever backwards
-
» Fig. 141 .
›
Pull the left-hand paddle -
» Fig. 141 briefly towards the steering wheel.
Temporarily switching to manual gear shifting in mode D or S
›
Pull one of the -/+ paddles
» Fig. 141 briefly towards the steering wheel .
Manual gear shifting is deactivated if more than 1 minute passes after either of
the -
/+ paddles was pulled. The temporary switch to manual gear shifting can
also be deactivated by pulling the right-hand + paddle towards the steering
wheel for more than 1 second.
When accelerating, the gearbox automatically shifts up into the higher gear
just before the maximum permissible engine speed is reached.
If a lower gear is selected, the gearbox does not shift down until there is no risk of the engine over revving.
Note
It may be beneficial, for example, when travelling downhill, to use manual
shifting of gears. Shifting to a lower gear reduces the load on the brakes and
hence brake wear » page 143.
Starting off and driving
Read and observe
and on page 145 first.
Starting off
›
Start the engine.
›
Firmly depress and hold the brake pedal.
›
Press the lock button in the direction of the arrow » Fig. 140 on page 146 and
keep pressing.
›
Move the selector lever into the desired position » page 145 and then release
the lock button.
› Release the brake pedal and accelerate.
Stop›
Fully depress and hold the brake pedal and bring the vehicle to a stop.
›
Keep holding the brake pedal until driving is resumed.
The selector lever position N does not have to be selected when stopping for a
short time, such as at a cross roads.
Parking
›
Fully depress and hold the brake pedal and bring the vehicle to a stop.
›
Firmly apply the handbrake.
›
Press the lock button in the direction of the arrow » Fig. 140 on page 146 and
keep pressing.
›
Move the selector lever into the position P and then release the locking but-
ton.
Launch control 1)
The launch control function allows the vehicle in mode S or Tiptronic to reach
its maximum acceleration when starting off.
›
Disable the ASR » page 154, Brake assist systems .
›
START STOP deactivate » page 164.
›
Fully depress and hold the brake pedal with your left foot.
›
Fully depress the accelerator pedal with your right foot.
›
Release the brake pedal.
The vehicle starts off with maximum acceleration.
Reactivate the ASR and START STOP when the desired speed has been
reached.
Kickdown
The kickdown function allows you to achieve maximum acceleration by your
vehicle while driving.
When the accelerator pedal is fully depressed, the kickdown function is activa-
ted in any forward driving mode.
The gearbox shifts down one or more gears depending on the vehicle speed
and engine speed, and the vehicle accelerates.
The gearbox does not shift up into the highest gear until the engine has
reached its maximum revolutions for this gear range. 
1)
This function is only valid for some engines.
147Starting off and Driving