2003 SKODA SUPERB Owner's Manual

Airbag system
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

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Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
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
⇒
page 152, fig. 134 . The protection offered by the head airbags is thus
available simultaneously 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 fine
dust is produced when airbag 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 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.
•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.
•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.

Airbag system
154
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 Škoda dealer. 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 155.
Deactivation of airbags is envisaged only for particular instances,
such as if
•Yo u m u s t i n 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 157.
•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).
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 Skoda dealer using the
vehicle system tester:
•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 indicator light in the instrument cluster comes on for about
3 seconds each time the ignition is switched on.
WARNING (continued)
•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 accessories in the area of the head airbag 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 circum-
stances be thrown into the interior of the car and cause injuries to
the occupants.
•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 Škoda Dealer.

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•Switching off airbags is indicated ⇒page 155 in the middle of the dash
panel by the lighting up of the indicator light  .
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 the front seat passenger airbags*
The front and side passenger airbag is deactivated with the
switch.
Deactivating airbags
– Switch off the ignition.
– Turn the slot of the airbag switch using the main or emergency key in the direction of the arrow to the position OFF ⇒ fig. 135.
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. 136 when the ignition
is turned on.
Switching on airbags
– Switch off the ignition.
Fig. 135 Storage
compartment: Switch
for the front seat
passenger airbags
Fig. 136 Indicator light
for a switched off front
seat passenger airbag

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– Turn the slot of the airbag switch using the main or emergency key in the opposite direction of the arrow to the position ON
⇒ page 155, fig. 135. 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 155, fig. 136 when
the ignition is turned on.
The airbags should only be switched off under exceptional circumstances
⇒ page 154.
Indicator light
  (airbag switched off)
The airbag indicator light in the middle of the dash panel does not light up
⇒ page 155, fig. 136 .
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.
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. 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 and therefore
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:
WARNING (continued)
− 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.

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.

Transporting children safely
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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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 front passenger side. 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 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 countri es 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 nation al regulations regarding the use
of child safety seats.
•If the front passenger airbag has been switched off by a Škoda
dealer using the vehicle system tester, the side and head
passenger airbag* remains switched on. The national legal provi-
sions 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 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.
WARNING (continued)
•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. Have the airbag (or airbags) deac-
tivated if necessary ⇒page 154.
•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.