2004 SKODA FABIA Owner's Manual

Airbag system
136
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 137, “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 passenger airbags be deacti-
vated. 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 transported
without using a suitable child safety seat ⇒page 143, “Child safety
and side airbags*”.
•If children adopt an incorrect seated position when travelling,
they may be exposed to an increase d risk of injury in the event of
an accident. This can result in serious injuries ⇒page 140, “Trans-
porting children safely”.
•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.
•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 beca use of other repair work (e.g.
removing seats) must only be carried out by a Škoda dealer.
WARNING (continued)

Airbag system137
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
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).
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 passenger airbag or passenger side airbag by
means of this switch ⇒page 138.
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 140, “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). Monitoring the airbag system
The functionality of the airbag system is also monitored electronically,
when one airbag has 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 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. 116 .
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.

Airbag system
138
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 ⇒ page 138,
fig. 115 . 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 ⇒page 138, fig. 116 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 ⇒ page 138, fig. 115 .
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 138, fig. 116 when
the ignition is turned on.
The airbags should only be switched off under exceptional circumstances
⇒ page 137.
Indicator light
  (airbag switched off)
The airbag indicator light is located in the middle of the dash panel
⇒ page 138, fig. 116 .
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.
Fig. 115 Storage
compartment: Switch
for the front seat
passenger airbags
Fig. 116 Indicator light
for a switched off front
seat passenger airbag

Airbag system139
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
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.
WARNING
•Only switch off the airbag when the ignition is switched off!
Otherwise a fault can occur in the airbag system. There is a risk of
the front passenger airbag or the side passenger airbag not being
deployed or incorrectly deployed in the event of an accident.
•The driver is responsible for whether the airbag is switched on
or switched off.
•If the indicator light flashes:
− It is also important to have the system inspected without
delay by a Škoda dealer.
− 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
140
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 124, “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.
Only use child safety seats which are officially approved, suitable for chil-
dren and which comply with the ECE-R 44 standard, which classifies child
safety seats into 5 groups ⇒page 144, “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 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 informati on 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

Transporting children safely 141
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 144, “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 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 webb ing is properly routed if the seat
belts are to offer their maximum protection ⇒page 126, “How are
seat belts correctly fastened?”. Pay particular attention to the infor-
mation 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 137 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 regul ations regarding the use of child
safety seats.
WARNING (continued)WARNING (continued)

Transporting children safely
142
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 front passenger side ⇒page 142, fig. 117 . 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 137, “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 passenger airbags be deacti-
vated. 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 Škoda
dealer using the vehicle system tester, the side passenger airbag*
remains switched on. The national legal provisions in certain coun-
tries require that both the front and side airbags be 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.
•As soon as you no longer use the child safety seat on the front
passenger seat, you should again have the front or the side
passenger airbag activated.
Fig. 117 Sticker on the
centre column of the
body on the front
passenger side.
WARNING (continued)

Transporting children safely 143
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Child safety and side airbags*
Children must never be seated in the deployment area of
side airbags.Side airbags* offer the vehicle occupants enhanced protection in the
event of a collision from the side.
The side airbags are inflated in fractions of a second in order to be able to
provide this protection ⇒page 135, “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 137 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 regul ations 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. 118 Seated posi-
tion of an unprotected
child at risk from side
airbag
Fig. 119 Child properly
protected by safety
seat