2003 SKODA FABIA airbag

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Function of the front airbags
Risk of injury to the head and chest area is reduced by fully
inflated airbags.
The airbag system is designed in such a way that the driver and the front
passenger airbag* are deployed in the event of a frontal collision of major
severity.
It is also possible under certain special accident situations that the front
as well as the side airbags are deployed.
If the airbags are deployed, the airbags are filled with a propellant gas and
inflated in front of the driver and front passenger ⇒fig. 101. 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. The forward
movement of the driver and of the front passenger is cushioned when they
make contact with the fully inflated airbag and the risk of injury to head and
chest is thus reduced. The specially developed airbag allows the gas to flow out of the inflated
airbag in a controlled manner under the load of the vehicle occupant's
body in order to cushion the head and chest areas. The airbag then
deflates subsequently to such an extent, after an accident, to again
provide a clear view forward.
A fine dust is produced when airbag inflated. This is perfectly normal and
is not an indication of a fire in the vehicle.
The airbag develops enormous forces when triggered, which can lead to
injuries if the sitting position or seated position is not correct
⇒ in
“Important safety information regarding the front airbag system”.
Important safety information regarding the front
airbag system
Correct use of the airbag system considerably reduces the
risk of injury!
Fig. 101 Deployed
airbags
Fig. 102 Safe distance
to steering wheel

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124
Side airbags*
Description of side airbags
The side airbag increases protection of the passenger
concerned in the case of a side impact.
WARNING
•For the driver and front passenger it is important to maintain a
distance of at least 25 cm from the steering wheel or dash panel
⇒ page 123, fig. 102 . Not maintaining this minimum distance will
mean that the airbag system will not be able to properly protect you
- hazard! The front seats and the head restraints must always also
be correctly adjusted to match the body size of the occupant.
•Never transport children on the front seat of a vehicle without
using a proper restraint system. If the airbag system is deployed in
the event of an accident, the child might suffer severe or even fatal
injuries.
•It is essential to always switch off ⇒page 127 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 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.
•There must not by any further persons, animals or objects posi-
tioned between the front seated occupants and the deployment
area of the airbag.
•The steering wheel and the surface of the airbag module in the
dash panel on the passenger side must not be stuck onto, covered
or modified in any other way. These parts should only be cleaned
with a dry cloth or a cloth moistened with water. No objects such
as cup holders, mobile phone mounts, etc. may be attached to the
covers of the airbag modules or be located within the immediate
area.
WARNING (continued)
•No modifications of any kind may be made to parts of the airbag
system. Any work on the airbag system including installing and
removing system components because of other repair work (e.g.
removing the steering wheel) must only be carried out by a Škoda
dealer.
•Never place any objects on the surface of the front passenger
airbag in the dash panel.
Fig. 103 Driver seat:
Installed position of the
airbag

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The side airbags are located in the upholstery of the backrests of the
driver and front passenger seats. They are marked
⇒page 124, fig. 103
with the lettering “AIRBAG” on the upper part of the backrests.
The side airbag system, in combination with the three-point seat belts,
offers additional protection for the head and chest area of the driver and
front passenger in the event of any collision from the side of major severity
⇒ in “Important safety information on the side airbag” on page 126.
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 112, “Why seat belts?” the
seat belts, not only because this is required by law, but also for safety
reasons and for your own protection.
Function of the side airbags
Risk of injury to the upper part of the body is reduced by
fully inflated side airbags.
In the case of a violent side crash the side airbags on the front seat of
vehicle on the side on which the collision occurs are deployed ⇒fig. 104.
It is also possible under certain special accident situations that the front
as well as the side airbags are deployed.
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. 104 Side airbags
deployed

Airbag system
126
Important safety information on the side airbag
Correct use of the airbag system considerably reduces the
risk of injury!
WARNING
•It is essential to always switch off ⇒page 127 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 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.
•Your head should never be positioned in the deployment area
of the side airbag. You might suffer severe injuries in the event of
an accident. This applies in particular to children who are trans-
ported without using a suitable child safety seat ⇒page 133.
•If children adopt an incorrect seated position when travelling,
they may be exposed to an increased risk of injury in the event of
an accident. This can result in serious injuries ⇒page 130.
•There must not be any further persons, animals as well as
objects positioned between the occupants and the deployment
area of the airbag. There must also be no accessories such as cup
holders, attached to the doors to enable the side airbags to activate
properly.
•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.
WARNING (continued)
•Ensure that there are no excessive forces, such as violent
knocks, kicks etc., impact on the backrests of the seats otherwise
the system may be damaged. The side airbags would not be
deployed in such a case!
•Any seat or protective covers which you fit to the driver or front
passenger seats must only be of the type expressly authorized by
Škoda Auto. In view of the fact that the airbag inflates out of the
backrest of the seat, use of non-approved seat or protective covers
would considerably impair the protective function of the side
airbag.
•Any damage to the original seat covers in the area of the side
airbag module must be repaired without delay by your Škoda
dealer.
•The airbag modules in the front seats must not display any
damage, cracks or deep scratches. It is not permissible to use
force in order to open the modules.
•Any work on the side airbag system including removing and
installing system components because of other repair work (e.g.
removing seats) must only be carried out by a Škoda dealer.

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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 passenger airbag or side airbag (take out of commission).
Have the airbags and also the side airbags deactivated by a Škoda
Dealer.
On Vehicles equipped with the switch for deactivation of the airbags, you
can deactivate the front passenger airbag or the front passenger side
airbag be means of this switch ⇒page 128.
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 is seated with its back to the direction of
travel (in some countries this must be in the direction of travel due to other
legal regulations applying) ⇒ page 130, “Important safety information 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). 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.
Monitoring the airbag system
The functionality of the airbag system is monitored electronically, also
when the airbags have been switched off
An airbag which has been switched off by a Škoda dealer using the
vehicle system tester:
•The airbag indicator light in the instrument cluster lights up for about 3
seconds after switching on the ignition and then flashes after that for about
12 seconds.
Front passenger airbags switched off using the switch for front
passenger airbags* in stowage compartment on the front passenger
side:
•The airbag indicator light in the instrument cluster comes on 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   ⇒ page 128.
Note
Your Škoda dealer can provide you with further information regarding the
possibility of deactivating airbags.

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Switch for the front seat passenger airbags*The front passenger airbag as well as the side passenger airbag
(if the vehicle is fitted with a side airbag) are switched off using
the switch.
Deactivating airbags
– Switch off the ignition.
– Turn the slot of the airbag switch using the ignition key in the
direction of the arrow to the position OFF ⇒fig. 105 . 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. 106 when the ignition
is turned on.
Switching on airbags
– Switch off the ignition.
– Turn the slot of the airbag switch using the ignition key in the direction of the arrow to the position ON ⇒fig. 105 . 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 ⇒fig. 106 when the ignition
is turned on.
The airbags should only be switched off under exceptional circumstances
⇒ page 127.
Indicator light
  (airbag switched off)
The airbag indicator light in the middle of the dash panel does not light up
⇒ page 128, fig. 106 .
Fig. 105 Storage
compartment: Switch
for the front seat
passenger airbags
Fig. 106 Indicator light
for a switched off front
seat passenger airbag

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If the front passenger airbag is
switched on, the airbag warning light
comes on for a few seconds each time the ignition is switched on.
In cases where the front passenger airbag or side passenger airbag is
switched off the airbag indicator light comes on for a few seconds after
switching on the ignition, goes out for about a second and then comes on
again.
There is a system fault present in the airbag switch off ⇒ if the indi-
cator light flashes. Please have the vehicle inspected without delay by
a Škoda dealer.
WARNING
•Only switch off the airbag when the ignition is switched off!
Otherwise a fault can arise on the airbag system which could cause
the airbag to trigger.
•The driver is responsible for whether the airbag is switched on
or switched off.
•If the indicator light flashes:
− There is a risk of the front passenger airbag or the side
passenger airbag not being deployed in the event of an acci-
dent.
− There is the risk, if someone is sitting on the front passenger
seat, that the front passenger will suffer injury if the airbag is
suddenly deployed.

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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
WARNING (continued)
•Children less than 1.50 metres in height or younger than 12
years must not use a normal seat belt without a child safety seat
otherwise this may result in injuries to the stomach and neck
areas.
•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 134, “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 115. Pay partic-
ular 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 inju-
ries 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 127 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). Children transported on the front
passenger seat may suffer severe, or even fatal, injuries if the front
passenger airbag or airbags are deployed. In certain countries
national legal provisions also require that the side passenger
airbags be deactivated. When transporting a child on the front
passenger seat, please comply with the appropriate national regu-
lations regarding the use of child safety seats.
•Always comply with national legal provisions and instructions
from the relevant child safety seat manufacturer when installing
and using a child seat.
•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.