2005 SKODA OCTAVIA tow

Seats and Stowage
118
•Use the hooks for hanging only light items of clothing and
ensure that there are no heavy or sharp-edged objects in the
pockets.
•Do not use clothes hangers for hanging up items of clothing
otherwise this will interfere with the protection offered by the head
airbag*.
WARNING (continued)
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Heating and air conditioning system
120
The heating effect is dependent upon the coolant temperature, thus full
heat output only occurs when the engine has reached its operating
temperature.
The blower should aways be on to prevent the windows from misting up.
WARNING
You should not leave recirculated air mode on over a longer period
of time. “Stale air” may result in fatigue in the driver and passen-
gers, reduce attention levels and also cause the windows to mist
up. The risk of having an accident increases. Switch recirculated
air mode off as soon as the windows begin misting up.
Note
•The whole heat output will be needed to unfrost the windscreen and
side windows. No warm air will be fed to the footwell. This can lead to
restriction of the heating comfort.
•The used air streams out through the air removal openings in the
luggage compartment.
Set heating
Recommended settings of heating controls for:
Defrosting the windscreen and side windows
•Turn control dial ⇒ page 119, fig. 116 to the right up to the stop
•Blower switch in position 3
•Turn the air distribution control into the position 
•Open air outlet vents 3 ⇒ page 122, fig. 117 and point towards the side
window.
•Close the air outlet vents 4
Keeping windscreen and side windows demisted
We recommend that you use the following setting in cases where the
windows are misted up more than usual (e.g. when it is raining):
•Control dial where necessary to the heating range
•Blower switch in position 2 or 3
•Control dial to  or  as required or to any desired position
between these symbols
•Open air outlet vents 3 and point towards the side window
•Close the air outlet vents 4
Warming up the inside of the ve hicle as rapidly as possible
•Turn control dial to the right up to the stop
•Blower switch in position 3
•Turn the air distribution control into the position 
•Open the air outlet vents 3 and 4
•We recommend briefly pressing button air recirculation mode. The
windows can steam up in this position however.
Heating the vehicle to a comfortable temperature
We recommend the following setting once the windows are no longer
misted up and the desired teperature has been reached:
•Control dial at the desired heat output
•Blower switch in position 2 or 3
•Turn the air distribution control into the position 
•Open the air outlet vents 3
•Close the air outlet vents 4
•Set the air distribution regulator as required between positions 
and , if the windscreen gets misted up again.
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Heating and air conditioning system 125
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
•The used air streams out through the air removal openings in the
luggage compartment.
•If the cooling system has not been switched on for a lengthy period,
odours may be produced at the evaporator because of deposits. Switch
the cooling system on at least once a month for approximately 5 minutes
at the highest blower stage - also during the cold season of the year - in
order to remove such odours. Also open a window for a short time.
•Please refer to the information regarding recirculated air mode
⇒ page 126.
Set Climatic
Recommended settings of Climatic controls for the respective operating
modes:
Defrosting the windscreen and side windows
•Put the control dial ⇒page 124, fig. 119 to the temperature selected
as usual by you (we recommend 22 °C); Climatic puts automatically the
heating to maximum power, until the temperature selected by you is
achieved
•Blower switch in position 3
•Turn the air distribution control into the position 
•Open air outlet vents 3 ⇒ page 127, fig. 120 and point towards the side
window
•Close the air outlet vents 4
Keeping windscreen and side windows demisted
We recommend that you use the following setting in cases where the
windows are misted up more than usual (e.g. when it is raining):
Blower switch in position 2
Turn the air distribution control into the position

Open air outlet vents 3 and point towards the side window
Close the air outlet vents 4
Switch on the cooling system by pressing button
Warming up the inside of the vehicle as rapidly as possible
•Put the control dial to the temperature selected as usual by you (we
recommend 22 °C); Climatic puts au tomatically the heating to maximum
power, until the temperature selected by you is achieved
•Blower switch in position 3
•Turn the air distribution control into the position 
•Open the air outlet vents 3 and 4
•We recommend briefly pressing button air recirculation mode. The
windows can steam up in this position however.
Heating the vehicle to a comfortable temperature
We recommend the following setting once the windows are no longer
misted up and the desired teperature has been reached:
•Control dial at the desired heat temperature
•Blower switch in position 2 or 3
•Turn the air distribution control into the position 
•Open the air outlet vents 3
•Close the air outlet vents 4
•Set the air distribution regulator as required between positions 
and , if the windscreen gets misted up again.
Cooling down the inside of the vehicle as rapidly as possible
•Close all windows and the sliding/tilting roof
•Put the control dial to the temperature selected as usual by you (we
recommend 22 °C); Climatic puts au tomatically the heating to maximum
power, until the temperature selected by you is achieved.
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Starting-off and Driving
138
Starting-off and Driving
Setting steering wheel positionYou can set the height and the forward/back position of the
steering wheel to the desired position.
– Adjust the driver seat ⇒page 82.
– Pull the lever below the steering column ⇒fig. 127 down ⇒.
– Set the steering wheel to the desired position (concerning height and forward/back position).
– Then push the lever up against the steering column until it locks into place.
WARNING
•You must not adjust the steering wheel when the vehicle is
moving!
•The driver must maintain a distance of at least 25 cm to the
steering wheel ⇒fig. 128 . Not maintaining this minimum distance
will mean that the airbag system will not be able to properly protect
you - hazard!
•For safety reasons the lever must always be firmly pushed up to
avoid the steering wheel altering its position unintentionally when
driving - risk of accident!
•If you adjust the steering wheel further towards the head, you
will reduce the protection offered by the driver airbag in the event
of an accident. Check that the steering wheel is aligned to the
chest.
•When driving, hold the steering wheel with both hands firmly on
the outer edge in the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock position. Never hold
the steering wheel firmly in the 12 o'clock position or in another
Fig. 127 Adjustable
steering wheel: Lever
below steering column
Fig. 128 Safe distance
to steering wheel
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Starting-off and Driving
140
WARNING
•When driving, the ignition key mu st always be in the ignition
lock in the position (ignition switched on) without the engine
running. This position is indicate d by the warning lights coming on.
If this is not the case, it could result in unexpected locking of the
steering wheel - risk of accident!
•Only remove the ignition key from the ignition lock when the
vehicle has come to a standstill (put on the handbrake or select the
selector lever position P). The steering lock might otherwise
engage unintentionally - risk of accident!
•Always withdraw the ignition key if you are going to leave the
vehicle, even for a short time. This is particularly important if chil-
dren are left in the vehicle. The children might otherwise start the
engine or switch on electrical equipment (e.g. power windows) -
risk of accident or injury!
Starting engine
General
You can only start the engine only using an original ignition
key.
•Place the gearshift lever into neutral (or place the selector lever to the
position P or N in the case of an automatic gearbox) and put on the hand-
brake firmly before starting the engine.
•The clutch pedal should be fully depressed when starting the engine
which means that the starter only has to crank the engine.
•Let go of the key as soon as the engine starts otherwise there may be
damage to the starter. The engine running noises may at first be louder for a short time after
starting the cold engine until oil pressure can be built up in the hydraulic
valve clearance compensation. This is quite normal and is not an oper-
ating problem.
If the engine does not start ...
You can use the battery of another vehicle as a jump-start aid
⇒page 281.
It is only possible to tow-start vehicles fitted with a manual gearbox. The
tow-starting distance must not be more than 50 metres ⇒page 286.
WARNING
•Never run the engine in non ventilated or enclosed areas. The
exhaust gases of the engine contain besides the odorless and
colourless carbon monoxide a poisonous gas - hazard! Carbon
monoxide can cause unconsciousness and death.
•Never leave your vehicle unattended with the engine running.
Caution
•The starter may only be operated (ignition key position ), if the
engine is not running. If the starter is immediately operated after switching
off the engine, the starter or the engine can be damaged.
•Avoid high engine revolutions, full throttle and high engine loads as
long as the engine has not yet reached its normal operating temperature
- risk of damaging the engine!
•Vehicles which are fitted with an exhaust gas catalytic converter
should not be tow-started over a distance of more than 50 metres.
For the sake of the environment
Never warm up the engine when the vehicle is standing. Drive off right
away. Through this the engine reaches its operating temperature more
rapidly and the pollutant emissions are lower.
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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
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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)
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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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