2004 SKODA OCTAVIA TOUR airbag

109
SAFETY
Side airbag*The side airbags are installed in the sides
of the backrest upholstery of the driver and
front passenger seats. They are identified
by the inscriptions „AIRBAG“ in the top half
of the backrests - see illustration.The side airbag system in combination
with the three-point seat belts offers ad-
ditional protection for the upper body of the
driver and front passenger in the event of
a side collision of considerable severity.In the event of a side collision, the side
airbags reduce the risk of injury to the part
of the body of the front occupants facing
toward the point of impact. In addition to the normal protection which
they offer,
the seat belts are also designed
to hold the driver and front passenger in
position in the event of a side impact so that
the side airbag is able to offer maximum
protection.
Warning
The maximum protection offered by
the seat belts and the airbag system
is only achieved if the occupants are
correctly seated - see page 94.
The system consists essentially of

the electronic control and monitoring unit,

the side airbags installed in the sides of
the backrests of the front seats,

a warning lamp in the instrument panel -
see page 56.
Please refer to page 56 for information
on the operational readiness and possi-
ble faults in the system. The side airbag system is not activated
in the event of:


frontal collision

minor side collision

rear collision

rollover.
The airbag system is not a substitute for
the seat belt but is part of the entire pas-
sive vehicle safety concept. Please note
that the airbag system is only able to offer
optimal protection in combination with fas-
tened seat belts.
That is why, you should always use the
seat belts not only because this is a le-
gal requirement, but also for safety rea-
sons!
Please refer to the information on pages
98 to 103 in this connection.
Note
The airbag system is maintenance-free
throughout its entire operating life.

110SAFETYWhen are the side airbags de-
ployed?In the event of a major side collision , the
side airbag on the side of vehicle impact is
deployed.
The effective range of the side airbag sys-
tem is shown in the illustration.
It is possible, in certain accident situations,
that both the front as well as the side air-
bags are deployed. Operating principle
If the system is activated, the airbags fill
with propellant gas.
The airbag is inflated in a split second at a
high speed in order to offer additional pro-
tection in the event of an accident.
When the airbag is fully inflated, the move-
ment of the occupant is cushioned and the
risk of injury to the upper body on the side
of the impact is reduced.
The specially developed airbags allow the
propellant gas to exit in a controlled flow
under the weight of the occupant to thus
softly cushion head and upper body.
Smoke is produced when the airbag is in-
flated. This is perfectly normal and is not
an indication of a fire in the car.
Safety informationWarning


To ensure that the side airbags are
able to provide their full protection,
it is important that the occupants al-
ways maintain the seat position set
by the seat belts - see page 94 - dur-
ing the entire journey.

No persons, animals or objects
should be located between the front
seat occupants and the effective
range of the airbags. In addition, no
accessory parts, such as drink hold-
ers, should be attached to the doors
if the car is fitted with side airbags.

111
SAFETY

Only light items of clothing should
be hung up on the clothes hooks in
the car. No heavy or sharp-edged
objects should be stowed in the
pockets of the items of clothing.

Avoid any excessive force acting
on the side panels of the seats, such
as a sudden knock, or pressing with
your foot etc., otherwise the system
may be damaged. In this case, the
side airbags would not deploy!

On no account may seat or protec-
tive covers be fitted over the driver
or front passenger seats fitted with
side airbags. As the airbag inflates
out of the backrest of the seat, the
protective function offered by the
side airbags would be restricted if
seat protective covers were used.

If the original seat cover or the stit-
ching in the module area of the side
airbag is damaged, the seat cover in
question should be replaced imme-
diately by a Škoda Dealer.

The protection offered by the air-
bag system is sufficient only for one
accident. If the airbag has been de-
ployed, the system should be rene-
wed.

If the occupants lean forward or
adopt an incorrect seated position
when driving, they are exposing
themselves to an increased risk of an
injury in the event of an accident.

A child seat in which the child
faces with its back in the direction of
travel, may only be used in the front
passenger seat if the front passen-
ger airbag (in certain countries also
on child seats in which the child
faces the direction of travel) has
been deactivated - refer to page 107.
Otherwise, there is a risk of the child
suffering severe or even fatal injuries
if the airbag is deployed. In certain
countries, legal requirements neces-
sitate deactivating the side airbag. If
a child is nevertheless seated on the
front passenger seat, observe the le-
gal requirements for the use of child
seats.

The operating life of the airbag mod-
ule is 15 years from the date of manu-
facture of the vehicle. After this time,
it is necessary to have the modules re-
newed in a Škoda Dealership.
Safety of childrenAccident statistics reveal that children
who sit at the rear are generally better
protected than when seated on the front
passenger seat. Children younger than
12 years should normally travel on the
rear seat of the car
1). They should be
protected by a child restraint system or
by the standard car seat belts, depend-
ing on age, body size and weight. For
safety reasons, the child restraint sys-
tem should be installed behind the front
passenger seat.
Warning

All vehicle occupants, in particu-
lar children, must fasten their seat
belt when the car is moving.


Never allow your child to stand in
the car or to kneel on the seats when
the car is moving. If an accident oc-
curs, your child will be thrown through
the car and may suffer fatal injuries.
1)Pay attention to any varying legal requirements.

112SAFETYWarning

If children lean forward when the
car is moving or adopt an incorrect
seated position, they are exposed to
a greater risk of injury in the event of
an accident. This is particularly true
of children who are transported on
the front passenger seat if the airbag
system is deployed in the event of an
accident. This can result in severe or
even fatal injuries.

Children under 1.50 m (5’) tall or
younger than 12 years must not use
normal seat belts without a child re-
straint system as this may otherwise
result in injuries to the stomach and
neck area. Warning


On no account should children -
even small babies! - travel sitting on
an occupant’s lap.

Do not leave your child in a child
seat unattended.

Certain outside climatic condi-
tions can cause life-threatening tem-
peratures in the vehicle.

When using the seat belt, also refer to
the section on „Seat belts“.
Classification of child seatsOnly child restraint systems which have an
official seal of approval and are suitable for
child, may be used.
The Standard ECE-R
1) 44 applies to child
restraint systems and divides these into 5
classes:
Class 0: 0-10 kg
Class 0+: up to 13 kg
Class 1: 9-18 kg
Class 2: 15-25 kg
Class 3: 22-36 kg
Child restraint systems tested in accor-
dance with ECE-R 44 Standard are clearly
marked with the ECE-R 44 test symbol
(large „E“ in a circle, with test number be-
low) on the seat.
1)Economic Commission of Europe Directive

113
SAFETY
Class 0 / 0+For babies up to about 9 months weighing
up to 10 kg or babies up to about 18 months
weighing up to 13 kg, respectively, child
seats which can be adjusted into the reclin-
ing position are best suited - see illustra-
tion.
If the vehicle is equipped with front pas-
senger airbag, in certain cases, such
child seats must not be used on the front
passenger seat - see page 115.
Class 1For babies and small children up to about
4 years weighing between 9 and 18 kg it is
recommended to use child seats for the
lower weight range in which the child is
seated with its back to the direction of travel
and for the weight range above class 0+, it
is recommended to use child seats in which
the child is seated in the direction of travel
(see illustration).
If the vehicle is equipped with front pas-
senger airbag, in certain cases, such
child seats must not be used on the front
passenger seat - see page 115.
Use of child safety seats
An overview of the usefulness of child seats
on each of the seats according to the EG
guidelines 77/541:
Child seat Front Rear Rearaccording passen- seat on seat
to group ger seat the side middle
0

0+

1

2+3 - 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“.

115
SAFETY

Attention should be paid to legal
regulations and the instructions of
the relevant manufacturer for the in-
stallation and use of child restraint
systems.Use of child seats on front passen-
ger seatFor safety reasons, we recommend install-
ing child restraint systems on the rear
seats, whenever possible. If a child seat is
nevertheless used on the front passenger
seat, it is important to observe the follow-
ing instruction in connection with the front
passenger airbag:
Warning

A child seat in which the child
faces with its back in the direction of
travel, may only be used in the front
passenger seat if the front passen-
ger airbag (in certain countries also
on child seats in which the child
faces the direction of travel) has
been deactivated - refer to page 107.
Otherwise, there is a risk of the child
suffering severe or even fatal injuries
if the airbag is deployed.

In certain countries, legal require-
ments necessitate deactivating the
side airbag. If a child is nevertheless
seated on the front passenger seat,
observe the legal requirements for
the use of child seats.
This is also clearly stated on the sticker,
which is located on the centre column of
the front passenger side. The sticker is vis-
ible upon opening the front passenger door.
Another warning sticker is located on the
windscreen near the front passenger seat. Warning


If a child seat is used in which the
child is seated in the direction of
travel, the front passenger seat must
be moved fully back.
Child safety and side airbag*In addition to the driver and front passen-
ger airbags your Škoda car may also be
equipped with 2 side airbags which offer
enhanced protection to the occupants in the
event of a side impact.
To ensure that the occupants can benefit
from this additional protective function, the
side airbag must be inflated in fractions of
a second in the event of a collision (refer
also to page 109 of the Owner’s Manual).
When the airbag is deployed, a consider-
able force is generated which may result
in injuries being caused to occupants by the
airbag or by any objects which are within
the inflation range of the side airbag if the
occupant is not correctly seated.
This applies particularly to children if
they are not transported in accordance
with legal provisions.

116SAFETYWarning

To avoid severe injuries, therefore,
children must always be transported
safely in the vehicle with a restraint
system which matches the age, body
size and weight of the child.

Children must never be positioned
with their head in the inflation range
of the side airbag. Risk of injury!

Do not place any objects in the in-
flation range of the side airbag. Risk
of injury!

A child seat in which the child
faces with its back in the direction of
travel, may only be used in the front
passenger seat if the front passen-
ger airbag (in certain countries also
on child seats in which the child
faces the direction of travel) has
been deactivated - refer to page 107.
Otherwise, there is a risk of the child
suffering severe or even fatal injuries
if the airbag is deployed. In certain
countries, legal requirements neces-
sitate deactivating the side airbag. If
a child is nevertheless seated on the
front passenger seat, observe the
legal requirements for the use of
child seats.
Attaching child seats („ISOFIX“
system)Two eyes for attaching a child seat with the
„ISOFIX“ system are provided between
backrest and seat cushion at the two outer
rear seats.
Child seats with the „ISOFIX“ system can
be installed quickly, conveniently and
safely. The seat should be installed as
specified in the installation instructions
enclosed with the „ISOFIX“ child seat. Al-
ways ensure that the child seat engages
properly when installed (pull as a check!).
Notes
An „ISOFIX“ child seat must only be at-
tached in the vehicle using the „ISOFIX“
system if the child seat bears an official seal
of approval for the particular vehicle model
in conformity with the ECE-R 44 Standard.
Warning

Before using an „ISOFIX“ child
seat which you have acquired for an-
other vehicle, please check with yourŠkoda dealer whether your child seat
is recommended for the Škoda-Octavia.
Certain child seats with “ISOFIX”
attachment system can also be at-
tached with the usual three-point
seat belt. Attention should be paid to
the instructions of the child seat
manufacturer for the installation and
removal.

159
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Mobile phones
and two-way radios
In addition, it is only possible to achieve the
optimal range of such equipment with an
external aerial.
Note
Please pay attention to the operating
instructions of the mobile phone or two-
way radio!
If you wish to use a mobile phone or two-
way radio with a transmission power of
more than 10 watts, please always discuss
this with your Škoda Dealer as he is in-
structed of the technical facilities which
exist for retrofitting mobile phones and two-
way radios.Warning

Please always devote maximum
attention to driving your car!


Never install mobile phone mounts
on the covers of the airbags or in the
deployment area of the airbags other-
wise there is an increased risk of in-
jury if the airbag is deployed in the
event of an accident!
Installation of mobile phones and two-way
radios requires official approval and should
be carried out by an authorized workshop,
e.g. by a Škoda Dealer.
Škoda Auto has approved the operation of
mobile phones and two-way radios for your
car with a professionally installed external
aerial and a maximum transmission power
of 10 watts.
Use of a mobile phone or a two-way ra-
dio can result in operational problems
to the electronic systems of your car in
the following situations:
- no external aerial
- external aerial incorrectly installed
- transmission power in excess of 10 watts.For this reason, you must not use a mo-
bile phone or two-way radio inside the car
if no external aerial is fitted or if it has been
incorrectly installed.Warning
Using a mobile phone or two-way
radio inside the car without a sepa-
rate external aerial may also be harm-
ful to your health as a result of ex-
cessive electromagnetic fields! Škoda cars are designed to reflect the lat-
est state of safety engineering. To ensure
that this is always the case, do not make
any modifications to your car without proper
consideration. If you wish to retrofit acces-
sories to your car, make any technical modi-
fications or have to subsequently replace
parts, please pay attention to the following
points:


Before purchasing accessories and
before making technical modifications, al-
ways ask the advice of a Škoda Dealer.
This is particularly important when purchas-
ing accessories abroad.
Accessories, modifications
and parts