2005 SKODA OCTAVIA deactivate airbag

Instruments and Indicator/Warning Lights35
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
If the
warning light
 begins to flash while driving, a fault exists in the
engine control. The engine management system selects an emergency
programme which enables you to drive to the nearest specialist garage by
adopting a gentle style of driving.
The following text will be displayed in the information display*:
Engine fault Workshop! (Engine fault workshop!)
Airbag system 
Monitoring the airbag system
The warning light
 comes on for a few seconds when the ignition is
switched on.
There is a fault in the system if the warning light does not go out or comes
on or flashes while driving ⇒. This also applies if the warning light does
not come on when the ignition is switched on.
The following text will be displayed in the information display*:
Airbag fault!
The functionality of the airbag system is also monitored electronically,
when one airbag has been switched off
Front, side or head airbags which have been switched off using the
vehicle system tester:
•The warning light  lights up for 4 seconds after switching on the igni-
tion and then flashes again for 12 seconds afterwards in 2 second inter-
vals.
The following text will be displayed in the information display*:
Airbag belt tensioner deactivated! Front passenger airbags switched off using the switch for front
passenger airbags* in stowage compartment on the front passenger
side:
•The warning light  comes on for 4 seconds after the ignition has
been switched on.
•Switching off airbags is indicated in the middle of the dash panel by the
lighting up of the indicator light   (airbag switched off)
⇒ page 200.
WARNING
Have the airbag system checked immediately by a specialist
garage if a fault exists. Otherwise, there is a risk of the airbag not
being activated in the event of an accident.
Note
Further information about switching off airbags ⇒page 199.
Coolant temperature/coolant level 
The warning light  comes on for a few seconds 2) when the ignition is
switched on.
The coolant temperature is too high or the coolant level too low if the
warning light
 does not go out or flashes while driving.
3 peeps sound as an additional warning signal.
2)The warning light  on vehicles fitted with information display does not come on
after switching the ignition on, but only if the coolant temperature is too high or the
coolant level is too low.
s24s.book Page 35 Thursday, November 24, 2005 12:27 PM

Unlocking and locking47
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Note
•In the event of an accident in which the airbags are deployed, the
locked doors are automatically unlocked in order to enable rescuers to
gain access to the vehicle.
•Only the front doors can be unlocked and locked using the key if the
central locking system fails. You can lock or unlock manually the other
doors and the boot lid.
−Emergency locking of the door ⇒page 49.
− Emergency unlocking of the boot lid ⇒page 51.
Safe securing
The central locking system is equipped with a safe securing system.
Locking the vehicle from the outside causes the door locks to be automat-
ically blocked. It is not possible to open the doors with the door handle
either from the inside or from the outside. This acts as an effective deter-
rent for attempts to break into your vehicle.
You can deactivate the safe securing system. This is done by locking the
vehicle with the key or radio-operated key twice within 2 seconds.
If the safe securing system is not operating:
•the indicator light in the driver door flashes for about 2 seconds fast,
goes out and starts to flash slowly after about 30 seconds,
•is the fuel filler flap unlocked.
The safe securing system is again activated the next time the vehicle is
unlocked and locked again.
The doors can be opened from the inside if the vehicle is locked and the
safe securing system is deactivated:
•the door is unlocked by actuating the door-opening lever,
•the door opens upon actuating the door-opening lever again.
WARNING
If the vehicle is locked from the outside and the safe securing
system is activated, there must not be any person and animals in
the vehicle as it is then not possible to open either a door or a
window from the inside. The locked doors make it more difficult for
rescuers to get into the vehicle in an emergency - hazard!
Note
The anti-theft alarm system* is also activated with the deactivated safe
securing system when locking the vehicle. The interior monitor* is
however not activated.
Unlocking the vehicle using the key
Fig. 27 Turning the
key for unlocking and
locking the vehicle
s24s.book Page 47 Thursday, November 24, 2005 12:27 PM

Passive Safety
180
WARNING
•The front seats and the head restraints must always be adjusted
to match the body size of the seat occupant as well as the seat belts
must always be correctly fastened in order to provide an optimal
protection for you and your occupants.
•The driver must maintain a distan ce of at least 25 cm to the
steering wheel ⇒page 179, fig. 152 . Not maintaining this minimum
distance will mean that the airbag system will not be able to prop-
erly protect you - hazard!
•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
way (e.g. in the middle of the steering wheel or at the inner steering
wheel edge). In such cases, injuries to the arms, the hands and the
head can occur when the driver airbag is deployed.
•The backrests must not be angled too far back when driving
otherwise this will affect proper operation of the seat belts and of
the airbag system - risk of injury!
•Ensure that there are no objects in the footwell as any objects
may get behind the pedals during a driving or braking manoeuvre.
You would then no longer be able to operate the clutch, to brake or
accelerate.
Correct seated position for the front passenger
The front passenger must maintain a distance of at least
25 cm from the dash panel so that the airbag offers the
greatest possible safety when an airbag is deployed.
For the safety of the front passenger and to reduce the risk of injury in the
event of an accident, we recommend the following setting:
•Adjust the front passenger seat as far as possible to the rear.
•Adjust the head restraint so that the top edge of the head restraint is
at the same level as the upper part of your head ⇒page 179, fig. 153 .
•Fasten the seat belt correctly ⇒page 186, “How are seat belts correctly
fastened?”.
In exceptional cases the front passenger airbag can be deactivated
⇒ page 199, “Deactivating an airbag”.
Manual front passenger adjustment ⇒page 83, “Adjusting the front seats”.
Electrical front passenger seat adjustment ⇒page 84, “Adjusting front
seats electrically*”.
WARNING
•The front seats and the head restraints must always be adjusted
to match the body size of the seat occupant as well as the seat belts
must always be correctly fastened in order to provide an optimal
protection for you and your occupants.
•The front passenger must maintain a distance of at least 25 cm
to the dash panel. Not maintaining this minimum distance will
mean that the airbag system will not be able to properly protect you
- hazard!
•Always keep your feet in the footwell when the car is being
driven - never place your feet on the instrument panel, out of the
window or on the surfaces of the seats. You will be exposed to
increased risk of injury if it becomes necessary to apply the brake
or in the event of an accident. If an airbag is deployed, you may
suffer fatal injuries when adopting an incorrect seated position!
•The backrests must not be angled too far back when driving
otherwise this will affect proper operation of the seat belts and of
the airbag system - risk of injury!
s24s.book Page 180 Thursday, November 24, 2005 12:27 PM

Airbag system
194
Important safety informat ion regarding the front
airbag system
Correct use of the airbag system considerably reduces the
risk of injury!
WARNING
•Never transport children on the front seat of a vehicle without
using a proper restraint system. If airbags are deployed in the event
of an accident, the child might suff er severe or even fatal injuries!
•For the driver and front passenger it is important to maintain a
distance of at least 25 cm from the steering wheel or dash panel
⇒ fig. 164 . Not maintaining this minimu m distance will mean that
the airbag system will not be able to properly protect you - hazard!
The front seats and the head restraints must always also be
correctly adjusted to match the body size of the occupant.
•It is essential to always switch off ⇒page 199, “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 or head passenger airbags be
deactivated. When transporting a child on the front passenger seat,
please comply with the appropriat e national regulations regarding
the use of child safety seats.
•There must not be any further persons, animals or objects posi-
tioned between the front seated occupants and the deployment
area of the airbag.
•The steering wheel and the surface of the airbag module in the
dash panel on the passenger side must not be stuck onto, covered
or modified in any other way. Th ese parts should only be cleaned
with a dry cloth or a cloth moistened with water. No objects such
as cup holders, mobile phone mounts, etc. may be attached to the
covers of the airbag modules or be located within the immediate
area.
•No modifications of any kind may be made to parts of the airbag
system. Any work on the airbag system including installing and
removing system components because of other repair work (e.g.
removing the steering wheel) must only be carried out by a
specialist garage.
•Never carry out changes on the front bumper or on the body.
•Never place any objects on the surface of the front passenger
airbag in the dash panel.
Fig. 164 Safe distance
to steering wheel
WARNING (continued)
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Airbag system
196
In certain accident situations both the front airbags as well as the head
and side airbags may be deployed together.
If an airbag is deployed, the airbag is filled with propellant gas. The
airbags inflate in fractions of a second and at a high speed in order to be
able to offer that additional protection in the event of an accident.
A grey white, non harmful gas is released when airbag is inflated. This is
perfectly normal and is not an indication of a fire in the vehicle.
The load of the occupants is cushioned when plunging into the fully
inflated airbag and the risk of injury to the entire upper body (chest,
stomach and pelvis) is reduced on the side facing the door.
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 199, “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 or head passenger airbags be
deactivated. 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 205, “Child safety
and side airbags*”.
•If children adopt an incorrect seated position when travelling,
they may be exposed to an increased risk of injury in the event of
an accident. This can result in serious injuries ⇒page 202, “What
you should know about transporting children!”.
•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.
•The airbag control unit operates together with the pressure
sensors, which are attached in the front doors. For this reason no
adjustments must be carried out at the doors as well as at the door
panels (for example additional installation of loudspeakers).
Resulting damages can have a negative affect on the operation of
the airbag system. All work on the front doors and their panels
must only be carried out by a specialist garage.
•In the event of a side collision, the side airbags will not function
properly, if the sensors cannot measure the increasing air pressure
inside the doors, because the air can escape through large, non-
sealed openings in the door panel.
−Never drive with removed inner door panels.
− Never drive, if parts of the inner door panel have been
removed and the remaining openings have not been properly
sealed.
− Never drive, if the loudspeakers in the doors have been
removed, only if the loudspeaker openings have been properly
sealed.
WARNING (continued)
s24s.book Page 196 Thursday, November 24, 2005 12:27 PM

Airbag system199
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
provisions also require that the side or head passenger airbags be
deactivated. When transporting a child on the front passenger seat,
please comply with the appropriate national regulations regarding
the use of child safety seats.
•There must not be any objects in the deployment area of the
head airbags which might prevent the airbags from inflating prop-
erly.
•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. In addition, it is not permitted to
use clothes hangers for hanging up items of clothing.
•The airbag control unit operates together with the sensors,
which are attached in the front doors. For this reason no adjust-
ments must be carried out at the doors as well as at the door panels
(for example additional installation of loudspeakers). Resulting
damages can have a negative affect on the operation of the airbag
system. All work on the front doors and their panels must only be
carried out by a specialist garage.
•There must not be any other persons (e.g. children) or animals
between the car occupant and the deployment area of the head
airbag. In addition, none of the occupants should lean their head
out of the window when driving, or extend their arms and hands out
of the window.
•The sun visors must not be swivelled to the side windows into
the deployment area of the head airbags if any objects, such as
ball-point pens etc. are attached to them. This might result in inju-
ries to the occupants if the head airbag is deployed.
•Installing impermissible accessories in the area of the head
airbags may considerably impair the protection offered by the head
airbag in the event of it being deployed. When the deployed head
airbag is inflated, parts of the accessories fitted may in certain
circumstances be thrown into the interior of the car and cause inju- ries to the occupants
⇒page 270, “Accessories, changes and
replacement of parts”.
•Any work on the head airbag system including installing and
removing system components because of other repair work (e.g.
removing headliner) must only be carried out by a specialist
garage.
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, side* or head airbag* (take out of commission).
This is why you should have the deactivation of the airbags carried out by
a specialist garage.
On vehicles equipped with the switch for deactivation of the airbags, you
can deactivate the front and side passenger airbag by means of this
switch ⇒page 200.
Deactivation of airbags is envisaged only for particular instances,
such as if:
•you must in exceptional cases use a child seat on the front
passenger seat where the child has its back to the direction of travel of the
vehicle (in some countries this must be in the direction of travel due to
WARNING (continued)WARNING (continued)
s24s.book Page 199 Thursday, November 24, 2005 12:27 PM

Airbag system
200
other legal regulations applying) ⇒page 202, “Important safety informa-
tion 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
If the airbag was switched off using diagnostic equipment:
•The warning light for the airbag system lights up for 4 seconds after
switching on the ignition and then flashes for 12 seconds afterwards in 2
second intervals.
If the front passenger airbags were 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
4 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. 170 .
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.
Switch for the front passenger airbag*
The front passenger airbag is deactivated with the switch.
Fig. 169 Storage
compartment: Switch
for the front passenger
airbag
Fig. 170 Indicator light
for the front passenger
airbag
s24s.book Page 200 Thursday, November 24, 2005 12:27 PM

Transporting children safely 203
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 206, “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 tran sported 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 186, “How are
seat belts correctly fastened?”. Pay particular attention to the
information 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 199 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 or head passenger airbags be deactivated.
When transporting a child on the front passenger seat, please
comply with the appropriate national regulations regarding the use
of child safety seats.
WARNING (continued)WARNING (continued)
s24s.book Page 203 Thursday, November 24, 2005 12:27 PM