2004 SKODA OCTAVIA TOUR belt

102SAFETYThe lap belt should always fit tightly
across the pelvis. If necessary, pull the
belt tight.
To lengthen belt, hold the tongue at right
angles to belt webbing and pull belt web-
bing through to the required length - see
illustration.
The belt is easier to adjust if tongue and
cap are pressed together in the longitudi-
nal direction.
To shorten belt , it is only necessary to pull
the free end of the belt.
The surplus belt length is taken up by mov-
ing the plastic slide.
Seat belt tensioner*Safety for the belted driver and front pas-
senger is enhanced by the belt tensioners
at the inertia reels of the front three-point
seat belts.
The system is activated by sensors in the
event of a frontal collision of considerable
severity. A powder charge is ignited when
the seat belt tensioners are activated. This
causes the inertia reels to be rotated in the
opposite direction of unreeling so that the
seat belts are tensioned.
The belt tensioners are not activated in
minor frontal collisions, in side or rear-end
impacts, in a rollover or in accidents where
there is no significant impact to the front of
the car.
Warning
The operating life of the seat belts
and belt tensioners is 15 years from
the date of manufacture of the vehi-
cle. After this time the seat belts and
seat belt tensioners have to be re-
newed in a Škoda Dealership.

103
SAFETY
Warning


Any work on the belt tightener sys-
tem or within the immediate area, in-
cluding removal and installation of
system components because of other
repair work, must only be carried out
by a Škoda dealer.

The protection provided by the
system is adequate only for one ac-
cident. If the belt tensioners have
been activated, the entire system has
to be replaced.

If the car is sold, the buyer should
be provided with the complete vehi-
cle wallet.
Notes

Smoke is released when the belt tensio-
ners are activated. This smoke does not
indicate a fire in the car.

If the car or individual components of the
system are scrapped, it is essential to pay
attention to the relevant safety regulations.
Škoda Dealers are acquainted with these
regulations and can provide you with more
detailed information in this connection.
Airbag system*Front airbagThe front airbag system is only operational
after switching on the ignition.
Models with airbag system for driver and
passenger are recognizable from the
„AIRBAG“ inscriptions on the padded boss
of the steering wheel and on the passen-
ger side of the instrument panel.
In addition to the three-point seat belts
with belt tensioners, the Airbag System
offers further protection for the driver’s and
passenger’s head and chest in a serious
frontal collision.
Apart from its normal protective function,
the seat belt also has the task of keeping
the driver or passenger in such a position
so that the airbag can offer maximum pro-
tection in the case of a frontal collision.
For this reason, the seat belts should al-
ways be used not only because this is re-
quired by law, but also for safety reasons!
The Airbag System is not activated in the
event of:

side collisions

rear collisions

rolling-over

minor frontal collisions. The system essentially consists of:


the electronic control and monitoring unit
(control unit),

one or two airbags (airbag with gas gen-
erator) for the:
- driver (in steering wheel),
- front passenger (in instrument panel)

a warning lamp in the instrument panel -
see page 56.

a warning light in the interior lighting of
the car (front)* - see page 108.

Switch for front passenger airbags* - see
page 107.
The operational readiness of the airbag
system is monitored electronically.
The airbag warning lamp comes on for a
few seconds (self-diagnosis) each time the
ignition is switched on.
Note
The airbag system does not require any
maintenance over its entire operating pe-
riod.

105
SAFETY
Warning


It is therefore important to maintain
a distance from the steering wheel or
from the instrument panel (min. 15 cm)
to enable the occupants to be pro-
tected to the maximum possible extent
if the system is activated. In addition,
the front seats should always be cor-
rectly adjusted to the body size of the
occupant - see page 19.
Warning


The padded panel of the steering
wheel and the front passenger area of
the instrument panel between the mid-
dle and the right-hand vent (surface
with inscription „Airbag“) must not
have stickers attached, nor should
they be covered or modified in any
way. These parts should only be clea-
ned with a dry cloth or a cloth mois-
tened with water.

No modifications of any kind may
be undertaken on the parts of the
airbag system. All work on the airbag
system, including removing and in-
stalling system components during
other repair work (e.g. removing
steering wheel) should only be car-
ried out by Škoda Dealers.

It is not permitted to carry out any
modifications to any airbag compo-
nents as this could result in the
airbag being activated.

The operational life of the front
airbag modules is 15 years from the
date of manufacture of the car. After
this period, it is necessary to have
the modules renewed in a Škoda
Dealership.
Note
If the car or individual components of the
airbag system are scrapped, it is essential
to comply with the relevant safety regula-
tions. Škoda Dealers are acquainted with
these regulations.
If you do not make use of the seat belts
when driving, or if lean forward or adopt an
incorrect seated position, you are expos-
ing yourself to an increased risk of injury in
the event of an accident.

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

114SAFETYClass 2For children up to about 7 years weighing
between 15 and 25 kg it is recommended
to use child seats in combination with the
three-point seat belts.Warning
The shoulder belt part must run ap-
proximately across the middle of the
shoulder - on no account across the
neck - and fit snugly against the top
part of the body. The lap belt must run
across the pelvis - and not across the
stomach.
Class 3For children of about 7 years weighing be-
tween 22 and 36 kg and with a height of
less than 1.50 m, it is recommended to use
seat cushions in combination with the three-
point seat belts.Warning
The shoulder belt part must run ap-
proximately across the middle of the
shoulder - on no account across the
neck - and fit snugly against the top
part of the body. The lap belt must run
across the pelvis - and not across the
stomach. Children taller than 1.50 m (5') can use the
standard seat belts fitted to the car without
a seat cushion.
Notes


We recommend using child restraint
systems from the Genuine Accessories
range of Škoda dealers. Such systems
have been developed and tested for use in
Škoda vehicles, and comply with the ECE-R
44 Standard.
Warning

Particular care is required if child
restraint systems are used which are
bolted on together with the belts fit-
ted in the vehicle. The belts must be
screwed into the hole over the com-
plete nominal length and tightened to
a torque of 40 Nm.

The seat belts must be inspected
to ensure they are correctly routed.
In addition, it is important to ensure
that the belt webbing cannot be dam-
aged by any sharp-edged fittings.

Only one child may be belted in us-
ing a child restraint system.