2005 SKODA OCTAVIA gearbox

Starting-off and Driving143
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
•Depress the clutch pedal fully when changing gears, in order to avoid
unnecessary wear and damage.
Handbrake
Applying the handbrake
– Pull the handbrake lever up fully.
Releasing the handbrake
– Pull the handbrake lever up slightly and at the same time
press in the locking button ⇒fig. 131 .
– Hold the button pressed and push the handbrake lever down fully ⇒ .
The handbrake warning light  lights up when the handbrake is applied,
provided the ignition is on.
A warning signal sounds and the following text appears in the display* if
you have inadvertently driven off with the handbrake applied:
"Handbrake on"
The handbrake warning is activated if you drive at a speed of more than 6
km/h for more than 3 seconds.
WARNING
•Please note that the handbrake must be fully released. A hand-
brake which is only partially released can result in the rear brakes
overheating which will have a nega tive effect on the operation of
the brake system - risk of accident! In addition this can result in
premature wear of the rear brake pads.
•Never leave children unattended in the vehicle. The children
might, for example, release the handbrake or take the vehicle out of
gear. The vehicle might then move off - risk of accident!
Caution
After the car has come to a stop, always first of all apply the handbrake
firmly before then additionally engaging the first gear (manual gearbox) or
moving the selector lever into position P (automatic gearbox).
Fig. 131 Centre
console: Handbrake
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Starting-off and Driving
144
Rear parking aid*
The parking aid provides a warning of obstacles behind
the vehicle.
The audible parking aid determines the distance between the rear bumper
and an obstacle located behind the vehicle with the aid of ultrasound
sensors. The sensors are integrated in the rear bumper.
Range of sensors
The clearance warning begins at a distance of about 160 cm from the
obstacle (area ⇒ fig. 132). The interval between the warning signals
becomes shorter as the clearance is reduced.
A continuous tone sounds from a clearance of just 30 cm (Bereich ) -
danger area. You should not reverse any further after this signal
sounds!
For particular model versions, the distance to the obstruction is also
displayed on the display of the radio. You can also switch off this function
- see operating instructions for radio Activating
The parking aid is activated automatically when
reverse gear is engaged
and the ignition is turned on. This is confirmed by a brief acknowledge-
ment signal.
Deactivating
The parking aid is deactivated by removing the reverse gear.
WARNING
•The parking aid is not a substitute for the driver paying proper
attention and it is always the driver's responsibility to take care
when parking the vehicle or carrying out similar manoeuvres.
•You should therefore satisfy yourself, before reversing, that
there is no small obstacle, such as a rock, thin post, trailer drawbar
etc., behind your vehicle. Such an obstacle might not be within the
range detected by the sensors.
Note
•The parking aid does not operate if you are towing a trailer (applies to
models which feature a factory-fitted towing device*).
•If a warning signal sounds for about 3 seconds after switching the igni-
tion on and engaging reverse gear, and there is no obstacle close to your
car, this indicates a system fault. Have the fault rectified by a specialist
workshop.
•The sensors must be kept clean and free of ice to enable the parking
aid to operate properly.
•If the parking aid is activated and the selector lever of the automatic
gearbox is in the position , warning signal indicates interruption (vehicle
can no longer move).
Fig. 132 Parking aid:
Detection range of rear
sensors
AA
AB
AP
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Starting-off and Driving
146
•You should therefore satisfy yourself, before reversing, that
there is no small obstacle, such as a rock, thin post, trailer drawbar
etc., in front or behind your vehicle. Such an obstacle might not be
within the range detected by the sensors.
Caution
In order to ensure the correct functioning of the parking aid, only a licence
plate frame approved by the manufacturer Škoda for your vehicle type
should be installed at the front bumper. Un-approved licence plate frames
can project into the detection range ⇒page 145, fig. 134 . A non-proved
licence plate frame could be recognized as an obstacle by the system and
this would lead to an incorrect warning. If you have any questions, please
contact a specialist garage.
Note
•Only the front parking aid operates if you are towing a trailer (applies
only to models which feature a factory-fitted towing device*).
•If a warning signal sounds for about 3 seconds after activating the
system and there is no obstacle close to your car, this indicates a system
fault. The fault is confirmed additionally when the symbol
 flashes in the
button ⇒page 145, fig. 133 . Have the fault rectified by a specialist work-
shop.
•The sensors must be kept clean and free of ice to enable the parking
aid to operate properly.
•If the parking aid is activated and the selector lever of the automatic
gearbox is in the position , warning signal indicates interruption (vehicle
can no longer move).
Cruise control system (CCS)*
Introduction
The cruise control system (CCS) maintains a constant speed, more than
30 km/h (20 mph), once it has been set, without you having to depress the
accelerator pedal. This is only possible within the range which is permitted
by the power output and braking power of the engine. The cruise control
system makes it possible - particularly on long journeys - for you to rest
your “accelerator foot”.
WARNING
•The cruise control system must not, for safety reasons, be used
in dense traffic or on unfavourable road surfaces (such as icy
roads, slippery roads or loose chippings) - risk of accident!
•In order to prevent unintentional use of the cruise control
system, always switch off the system after use.
Note
•Models fitted with a manual gearbox: Always depress the clutch pedal
if you switch on the cruise control system when the gearbox is in Neutral.
Otherwise the engine can rev up unintentionally.
•The cruise control system is not able to maintain a constant speed
when driving on steep downhill sections. The weight of the vehicle
increases the speed at which it travels. One should shift down in good
time to a lower gear or slow the vehicle down by applying the foot brake.
•It is not possible on vehicles fitted with an automatic gearbox to switch
on the cruise control system if the selector lever is in the position P, N or
R .
WARNING (continued)
AB
AP
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Starting-off and Driving
148
– Holding down the pushbutton pressed in the SET position will
cause the speed of the vehicle to reduce continuously. Once
the car has reached the desired speed, release the button.
The set speed is then stored in the memory.
– If you release the pushbutton when the car is travelling at a speed of less than 30 km/h, the speed is not stored, the
memory is erased. It is then necessary to again store the
speed with the button in the position SET after an increase
in speed of the vehicle to more than 30 km/hour.
Switching off the cruise co ntrol system temporarily
– You can switch off temporarily the cruise control system, if
you depress the brake or clutch pedal, on vehicles fitted with
an automatic gearbox only the brake pedal.
– You can switch off temporarily t he cruise control system, if you
press the switch in the middle position.
The set speed remains stored in the memory.
The Resumption of the stored speed is achieved by releasing the brake
or clutch pedal, on vehicles fitted with automatic gearbox only after
releasing the brake pedal and after shortly pressing the pushbutton
⇒ page 147, fig. 135 into the position RES.
WARNING
First ensure that it is not too high for the traffic conditions which
exist at that moment before resuming the stored speed.
Switching off the cruise control system completely
– Press the switch ⇒page 147, fig. 135 to the right into posi-
tion OFF .
AB
AA
AB
AA
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Automatic gearbox149
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Automatic gearbox
6-speed automatic gearbox*
Introduction
Your car is equipped with an electronically controlled 6-speed automatic
gearbox. Shifting up and also down through the gears is performed auto-
matically.
At the same time this is a conventional automatic gearbox. The maximum
speed is reached in the 5th gear. The 6th gear serves as an economic
driving programme, which is intended to reduce the fuel consumption.
Information for driving wi th an automatic gearbox
Shifting up and down through the gears is performed auto-
matically.
You can also, however, switch the gearbox over into the
Tiptronic mode . This mode makes it possible for you to also shift
gears manually ⇒ page 153.
Starting-off and Driving
– Depress the brake pedal and hold it depressed.
– Press the Shiftlock button (button in handle of the selector lever), move the selector lever into the desired position, e.g. D
⇒ page 150, and then release the Shiftlock button. – Wait a moment until the gearbox has shifted (a slight engage-
ment nudge can be felt).
– Release the brake pedal and depress the accelerator ⇒.
Stopping for a short time
– The selector lever position N does not have to be selected
when stopping just for a short time, such as at cross roads. It
is sufficient to hold the vehicle stationary using the foot brake.
The engine can, however, be allowed just to idle.
Parking
– Depress the brake pedal and hold it depressed.
– Apply the handbrake firmly.
– Press and Shiftlock button in the selector lever, move the selector lever to P and then release the Shiftlock button.The engine can only be started when the selector lever is in position P or
N ⇒ page 140.
It is sufficient to engage selector lever position P when parking on a flat
surface. When parking on a slope you should first apply the handbrake
firmly and then move the selector lever into position P. This is to ensure
that there is no excessive pressure acting on the lock mechanism and that
it is easier to subsequently move the selector lever out of position P.
If the selector lever position N is selected by accident while driving it is first
necessary to release pressure on the accelerator pedal and wait for idling
speed of the engine to be reached before engaging a drive position in the
selector lever.
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Automatic gearbox
150
WARNING
•Do not depress the accelerator when changing the position of
the selector lever if the car is stationary and the engine is running
- risk of accident!
•Never move the selector lever into position R or P when driving
- risk of an accident!
•When the engine is running and the vehicle is stationary, it is
necessary to hold the car with the brake pedal in all the positions
of the selector lever (except P and N) since the power transmission
is never completely interrupted, also not when the engine is idling
- the vehicle "creeps".
Selector lever positionsThe selector lever position you have engaged is shown in the information
display of the instrument cluster with the corresponding gear symbol high-
lighted ⇒fig. 137 . In the positions D and S the gear you have engaged will
be additionally displayed on the display.
P - Parklock
The driven wheels are locked mechanically in this position.
The Parklock must only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary ⇒.
If you wish to move the selector lever into or out of this position, you must
press the Shiftlock button in the handle of the selector lever and at the
same time depress the brake pedal.
If the battery is used, the selector lever cannot be moved out of the posi-
tion P ⇒ page 154.
R - Reverse
Reverse gear must only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary and
the engine idling ⇒.
Fig. 136 Selector lever
Fig. 137 Information
display: Selector lever
positions
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Automatic gearbox151
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
The brake pedal must be depressed and at the same time the Shiftlock
must be pressed, if you wish to obtain the selector lever positions
R, P or
N .
When the ignition is switched on and the selector lever is in position R, the
reverse lights will come on.
N - Neutral
The transmission is in Neutral in this position.
The brake pedal must be depressed (if the lever is in its position for longer
than 2 seconds) in order to move the selector lever out of the position N
into the position D, with the ignition switched on, on a vehicle travelling at
less than 5 km/hour or on a stationary vehicle.
The brake pedal must be depressed (if the lever is in its position for longer
than 2 seconds) in order to move the selector lever out of the position N
into the position R, with the ignition switched on, on a vehicle travelling at
less than 5 km/hour or on a stationary vehicle.
D - Drive, position for driving forward
When the selector lever is in this position, the forward gears are shifted up
and down automatically in line with engine load, vehicle speed and the
dynamic shift programme.
You must depress the brake pedal ⇒ if you wish to move the selector
lever into position D from N when the vehicle is travelling at less than
5 km/hour or is stationary.
In certain circumstances (e.g. when driving in mountainous regions or
when towing a trailer) it may be beneficial to select the manual shift
programme ⇒page 153 for a short time in order to adapt the gearbox
ratios manually to the driving situations.
S - Position for sporty style of driving
Shifting up later into a higher gear makes it possible to fully exploit the
power potential of the engine. The gearbox also then shifts down at higher
engine speeds as in the position D. The gearbox does not shift into the 6th gear in the position
S, because the
maximum speed is achieved with the 5th gear.
The Shiftlock on the selector lever grip must be pressed when moving the
selector lever out of the position D into the position S.
WARNING
•Never move the selector lever into position R or P when driving
- risk of an accident!
•When the engine is running and the vehicle is stationary, it is
necessary to hold the car with the brake pedal in all the positions
of the selector lever (except P and N) since the power transmission
is never completely interrupted, also not when the engine is idling
- the vehicle "creeps".
•You must on no account unintentionally operate the throttle
(e.g. by hand from the engine compartment) if a drive position is
engaged when the car is stationary. The vehicle would otherwise
immediately start off - also when the handbrake is firmly applied -
risk of an accident!
•You must move the selector lever into position P and firmly
apply the handbrake first before you or any other person opens the
bonnet and starts working on the engine when it is running - risk
of accident! It is also essential to observe all warnings ⇒page 248,
“Working in the engine compartment”.
Selector lever lock
Automatic selector lever lock 
With the ignition on, the selector lever is locked when it is in the positions
P and N. You must first of all depress the brake pedal in order to move the
selector lever out of this position. The warning light
 ⇒ page 38 lights up
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Automatic gearbox
152
in the instrument cluster as a reminder for the driver when the selector
lever is in position P and N
In addition, the symbol
 for the automatic selector lever lock in the shift
gate lights up.
A time delay element ensures that the selector lever is not blocked when
rapidly switching over the position N (e.g. from R to D). This does, for
example, allow one to seesaw out a stuck vehicle. The selector lever lock
will click into place if the lever is in the N position for more than 2 seconds
without the brake pedal being pressed.
The selector lever lock is only active if the vehicle is stationary or moving
at speed of less than 5 km/hour. The lock is switched off automatically into
position N when the car is travelling at a higher speed.
Shiftlock button
The Shiftlock button in the handle of selector lever prevents certain
selector lever positions being engaged inadvertently. The selector lever
lock is cancelled when you press the Shiftlock button.
Keylock - Ignition key withdrawal lock
You can only withdraw the ignition key after switching off the ignition if the
selector lever is in position P. If the ignition key is withdrawn, the selector
lever is blocked in postion P.
Kickdown function
The kickdown function provides you with maximum accel-
eration power.
Depressing the accelerator pedal allows the kickdown function to be acti-
vated in the desired driving program. This function has precedence over
the driving programme and serves for maximum acceleration of the
vehicle when exploiting the maximum power potential of the engine without taking into account the current selector lever position (
D, S or
Tiptronic ). The gearbox shifts down to one or several gears in line with
the driving state and the vehicle accelerates. The gearbox does not shift
up into the highest gear until the engine has reached its maximum revolu-
tions for this gear range.
WARNING
Please note that using the kickdown function can result in the
driven wheels spinning on a smooth or slippery road surface - risk
of skidding!
Dynamic shift programme
The automatic gearbox of your vehicle is controlled electronically. Shifting
up and down through the gears is performed automatically on the basis of
pre-defined driving programmes.
Adopting a moderate style of driving will cause the gearbox to select the
most economical driving programme. Shifting up into a higher gear as
soon as possible and shifting down as late as possible will have a favour-
able effect on your fuel consumption.
Adopting a sporty style of driving with rapid movements of the acceler-
ator pedal combined with sharp acceleration and frequent changes in
speed, exploiting the top speed of the car or depressing the accelerator
pedal (kickdown function), will cause the gearbox to switch over to this
style of driving and shift down earlier with frequent changes in gears in
comparison to the moderate style of driving.
Selecting the most appropriate driving programme for the particular style
of driving is a continuous process. Irrespective of this it is, however,
possible to switch or shift down into a dynamic shift programme by
depressing the accelerator rapidly. The gearbox shifts down into a lower
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