Page 105 of 205
104SAFETYA fault exists in the system if
the warning lamp does not come when
the ignition is switched on,
the warning lamp does not go out a few
seconds after switching on the ignition,
the warning lamp goes out and comes
on again after switching on the ignition,
the warning lamp comes on or flickers
during the journey.
Warning
A grey white, non-harmful gas, which
is released when the airbag is in-
flated. This is perfectly normal and
is not an indication of a fire in the
vehicle.
In the event of an accident in which
the airbags are deployed:
The interior lighting comes on (if
the switch for the interior light is in
the door contact position).
The hazard warning light is
switched on.
All the doors are unlocked. Function of front airbag
The airbag system is so designed that it will
be deployed during a serious frontal collision.The effective area of the system is shown
in the illustration.
If the system is deployed, the airbags fill
with propellant gas and inflate in front of
the driver and front passenger.
The airbag is inflated in a split second and
at a high speed in order to offer the addi-
tional protection in the event of an accident.
The forward movement of the front seat
occupants is cushioned as they plunge into
the fully inflated airbag (see right-hand il-
lustration), and the risk of injury to head and
upper body is reduced. Special openings in the airbag allow a con-
trolled exit of gas when subjected to the
pressure of the occupants to cushion the
head and upper body. After an accident, the
airbag rapidly deflates again so that forward
vision is again possible.
If a person is incorrectly seated, the con-
siderable forces active when the airbag is
deployed may result in an increased risk
of injury.
Page 106 of 205
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.
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.
Page 107 of 205
106SAFETYNever carry out changes on the
front bumper or on the body.
The protective function of the
airbag system only lasts for a single
accident. If the airbag has been de-
ployed, the system should be re-
placed.
No persons, animals or objects
should be located between the front
seat occupants and the effective ran-
ge of the airbags.
If the vehicle is sold, the complete
vehicle wallet should also be passed
onto the new owner.
Special features if front passenger
airbag is deactivatedAs soon as possible activate the airbags,
so that the safety of the vehicle is increa-
sed.
Your car offers you the technical facility of
deactivating the front passenger airbag and
also the side airbag.
Deactivating the front airbag and also the
side airbag can be carried out by your
Škoda Dealer.
On vehicles with the switch, the front pas-
senger airbag and also the front passen-
ger side airbag can be deactivated with this
switch in the glove box - see page 107. Warning
A child seat in which the child faces
with its back in the direction of travel,
may only be used in the front passen-
ger seat if the front passenger airbag
(in certain countries also on child
seats in which the child faces the di-
rection of travel) has been deacti-
vated - 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 coun-
tries, legal requirements 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.
Page 108 of 205
107
SAFETY
As soon as you no longer use the child
safety seat, you should reactivate the
front passenger airbag.
If using a child seat, please read the sec-
tion headed „Safety of Children“ on page
111 .
The operational readiness of the airbag
system is monitored electronically even if
the passenger airbag is deactivated.
If the airbag was switched off with a diag-
nostic unit , the warning light comes on in
the dash panel insert for about 3 seconds
after the ignition is switched on and then
flashes for a further 12 seconds.
If the airbag was deactivated with an
Airbag switch* in the glove box, the airbag
warning light comes on in the dash panel
insert for about 3 seconds and the deacti-
vation of the airbag is signaled if the warn-
ing light “AIRBAG “ OFF” comes on in the
interior light - see page 108.
Switch for front passenger airbags*You can deactivate the passenger-side
front airbag and if the vehicle is equipped
with side airbags, also the passenger-side
side airbag with the switch
The airbag(s) may be deactivated only if,
in exceptional cases, it is necessary to in-
stall a child seat on the front passenger
seat.
It is preferable to place the child seat al-
ways at the rear.
For safety reasons the driver of the car is
under the obligation to have the airbag
switched on when driving.
Warning
Deactivate the airbag only when the
ignition is switched off! Failure to ob-
serve this instruction may result in a
fault in the airbag system and con-
sequently cause subsequent deploy-
ment of the airbag.
Deactivating airbag Switch the ignition off.
Use the ignition key to turn the airbag
switch -arrow- into the „OFF“ position. The
ignition key must be in the vertical position.
Check whether the airbag warning light
in the interior lighting (front) lights up when
the ignition is switched on.
Warning
The driver of the car is responsible
for ensuring that the airbag is deacti-
vated or activated.
Page 109 of 205
108SAFETYSwitching on airbagSwitch the ignition off.
Use the ignition key to turn the airbag
switch - arrow - into the „ON“ position. The
ignition key must be in the horizontal posi-
tion.
Check whether the airbag warning light
in the interior lighting (front) goes out when
the ignition is switched on.
After activating the airbag and then switch-
ing on the ignition, the airbag warning light
comes on for about 3 seconds.
Warning
The driver of the car is responsible
for ensuring that the airbag is deac-
tivated or activated.
„Airbag OFF“ warning light
(airbag deactivated)*The warning light is located in the front in-
terior lighting of the car.
Each time the ignition is switched on, the
warning light comes on in the dash panel
for a few seconds (self diagnosis).
The warning light comes on if the passen-
ger- side airbag or also the side airbag has
been deactivated.
If the warning light in the instrument panel
flashes, there is a fault in the airbag sys-
tem. Contact a Škoda Dealer immediately
to have this rectified Warning
If the warning light flashes:
There is a risk of the passenger-
side airbag being deployed in the
event of an accident. For this reason,
do not install a child seat on the front
passenger seat.
If the front passenger seat is oc-
cupied, there is a risk of the airbag
being deployed unexpectedly and
also causing possible injuries to the
occupant of the front passenger seat.
Page 110 of 205
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.
Page 111 of 205
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.
Page 112 of 205
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.
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.
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