Seat belts124
•No two persons (also not children) should ever use a single seat belt together.
•The maximum protection which seat belts can offer is only achieved if you are correctly seated ⇒page 119, “Correct seated position”.
•The belt webbing must not run across solid or fragile objects (e.g. spec- tacles, ball-point pens, keys etc.) as this may be a cause of injuries.
•Bulky, loose clothing (e.g. a winter coat over a jacket) does not allow you to be correctly seated and impairs proper operation of the seat belts.
•It is prohibited to use clamps or other objects to adjust seat belts (e.g. for shortening the belts for smaller persons).
•The lock tongue should only be insert ed into the lock which is the correct one for your seat. Wrong use of the safety belt will reduce its capacity to protect and the risk of injury increases.
•The backrests must not be tilted too far to the rear otherwise the seat- belts can lose their effectiveness.
•The belt webbing must always be ke pt clean. Soiled belt webbing may impair proper operation of the inertia reel ⇒page 169, “Seat belts”.
•The slot of the belt tongue must not be blocked by paper or similar objects otherwise the belt tongue will not lock in place properly.
•Inspect the seat belts regu larly to ensure they are in good condition. If you find seat belts which have damage to the seat belt webbing, seat belt connections, to the inertia reels or to the lock, the relevant safety belt must be replaced by a specialist garage.
•The seat belts must not be removed or changed in any way. Do not make an attempt to repair the seat belts yourself.
•Damaged seat belts which have been subjected to stress in an accident and were therefore stretched, must be replaced - this is best done by a specialist garage. The anchorage points of the belts must also be inspected. The anchorage points for the be lts should also be checked.
•In certain countries it is possible to use seat belts which differ in terms of their operation from the seat belts wh ich are described on the pages which follow.
How are seat belts correctly fastened?
Fastening three-point seat belts
Fasten your seat belt before starting!
– Correctly adjust the seat and the head restraint before fastening your
seat belt ⇒page 119, “Correct seated position”.
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 121 Routing of webbing over the shoul-ders and the lap belt
Fig. 122 Routing of belt webbing for an expectant mother
NKO A05R 20 MR08.book Page 124 Wednesday, March 28, 2007 9:42 AM
Airbag system129
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistancePraktikTechnical Data
When are the airbags deployed?
The airbag system is designed in such a way that the driver and the front passenger airbag* are deployed in the event of a frontal collision of major severity.
In the case of a violent side crash, the side airbag* in the front seat and the head airbag* on the side of the car at which the collision occurs are deployed.
It is also possible under cert ain special accident situations that the front as well as the side airbags and head airbags* are deployed.
The airbags are not deployed in the case of minor frontal and side collisions, in the case of rear-end collisi ons and vehicle rollover.
Deployment factors
It is not possible to state globally which deployment conditions apply to the airbag system in every situation as the circumstances which exist in the case of accidents vary greatly. An important role in this case , for example, is played by factors such as the type of object against which the vehicle impacts (hard, soft), the angle of impact, the vehicle speed etc.
A decisive factor for the deployment of the airbags is the deceleration which occurs during a collision. The control unit analyses the nature of the collision and activates the relevant restraint system. If the vehi cle deceleration which occurs and is meas- ured during the collision remains below the prescribed reference values specified in the control unit, the airbags are not deployed although the vehicle may well suffer severe damage to the bodywork as a consequence of the accident.
The airbags are not deployed if:
•ignition off,
•a minor frontal collision,
•a minor side collision,
•a rear-end collision,
•rollover.
Caution
The dash panel must be replaced afte r the front passenger airbag has been deployed.
Note
•A grey white or red, non harmful gas is released when airbag is inflated. This is perfectly normal and is not an indi cation 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.
NKO A05R 20 MR08.book Page 129 Wednesday, March 28, 2007 9:42 AM
Transporting children safely138
•Certain outside climatic conditions can cause life-threatening tempera- tures in the vehicle.
•Never allow your child to be transported 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 even t 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 acci- dent 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 airb ag system deploys in the event of an accident. This can result in severe or even fatal injuries.
•It is important that the belt webbing is properly routed if the seat belts are to offer their maximum protection ⇒page 124, “How are seat belts correctly fastened?”. Pay particular atte ntion to the information provided by the manufacturer of the child safety se at regarding correct routing of the belt. Seat belts which are not correctly adjusted can themselves cause inju- ries 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 135 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 deploy ed. In certain countries national legal provisions also require that the side or head pa ssenger 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.
Use of child safety seats on the front passenger seat
Child safety seats should always be attached to the rear seats.
We recommend, for safety reasons, that you always mount a child restraint systems on the rear seats whenever possible. If you still decide, however, to use a child safety seat on the front passenger seat th en you must pay attention to the following warnings in connection with the use of th e airbag system on the front passenger seat.
WARNING
•Warning - particular hazard! Never use a child safety seat on the front passenger seat in which the child is seat ed with its back facing the direction of travel. This child safety seat is positioned in the deployment area of the front passenger airbag. The airbag may cause the child severe, or even fatal injuries, in the event of it being deployed.
•This is also clearly stated on the st icker which is located on the centre column of the body on the front passenger side ⇒fig. 135. The sticker is visible upon opening the front passen ger door. For some countries, the sticker is affixed to the sun visor of the front passenger.
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 135 Sticker on the centre column of the body on the front passenger side.
NKO A05R 20 MR08.book Page 138 Wednesday, March 28, 2007 9:42 AM
Intelligent Technology148
Brakes
What has a negative effect on braking efficiency?
Wear-and-tear
Wear-and-tear to the brake pads is greatly dependent on the operating conditions of the vehicle and your style of driving. Particularly if you drive a great deal in towns and over short distances or if you adopt a sporty style of driving, it may be neces- sary to have the thickness of the brake pads inspected at a specialist garage between the service inspections.
Wet roads or road salt
There may be a certain delay before the brakes take full effect under certain condi- tions such as when driving through water, during heavy rain showers or after the vehicle has been washed in an automatic vehicle wash, since the brake discs and brake pads may be moist or even have a coating of ice on them in winter. You should dry the brakes as soon as possib le (by applying and releasing the brakes several times, if the road conditions and the traffic situation allows it).
There also may be a certain delay before the full braking efficiency is available when driving on roads which have been treated wi th road salt if you have not used the brakes for some considerable time beforeha nd. The layer of salt on the brake discs and brake pads must first be rubb ed off when you apply the brakes.
Corrosion
Corrosion on the brake discs and dirt on th e bake pads occur if the vehicle has been parked for a long period and if you do not make much use of the braking system.
We recommend cleaning the brake discs by firmly applying the brakes at a fairly high speed if you do not make much use of the braking system or if surface corro- sion is present ⇒.
Faults in the brake surface
If you notice that the braking distance has suddenly become longer and that the brake pedal can be depressed further, it is possible that a brake circuit of the dual- circuit brake system has failed. Drive, in such cases, to the nearest specialist garage without delay in order to have the problem rectified. Drive at a reduced speed while on your way to the dealer and adapt your style of driving to the higher brake pedal pressure required.
Low brake fluid level
An insufficient level of brake fluid may result in problems in the brake system. The level of the brake fluid is monitored electronically ⇒page 28, “Brake system ”.
WARNING
•Only apply the brakes for the purpose of drying and cleaning the brake discs if the traffic conditions permit this. Do not place any other road users in jeopardy.
•When retrospectively mounting a front spoiler, solid wheel hubs etc. one must ensure that the air supply to the front wheel brakes is not reduced otherwise the braking sy stem could run too hot.
•Allow for the fact that new brake pads do not achieve their full braking efficiency until approximately 200 kilo metres. New brake pads must be first “run in” before they develop their optimal friction force. You can, however, compensate for this slightly reduced braking force by increasing the pres- sure on the brake pedal. This guidelin e also applies to any new brake pads installed at a future date.
Caution
•Never allow the brakes to ru b by applying slight pressure if you do not wish to brake the vehicle. This causes the brakes to overheat and can also result in a longer braking distance and excessive wear.
•Before negotiating a steep downhill section, please reduce your speed and shift down into the next lower gear (manual ge arbox) or select a lower driving stage (automatic gearbox). This enables you to make full use of the braking power of the vehicle and reduces the strain on the brakes . Any additional braking should be done intermittently, not continuously.
Brake booster
The brake booster boosts the pressure which you generate with the brake pedal. The necessary pressure is only gene rated when the engine is running.
NKO A05R 20 MR08.book Page 148 Wednesday, March 28, 2007 9:42 AM
Driving and the Environment158
•Reduced fuel consumption and exhaust emission CO2
•Minimum fuel leakage during accidents
•Reduced noise
Choice of materials
•extensive use of recyclable material
•Air conditioning filled wi th CFC-free refrigerant
•no cadmium
•no asbestos
•Reduction in the “vaporisation” of plastics
Manufacture
•solvent-free cavity protection
•solvent-free protection of the vehicle for transportation from the production plant to the customer
•The use of solvent-free adhesives
•No CFCs used in the production process
•without use of mercury
•Use of water-soluble paints
Trade-in and recycling of old cars
Škoda Auto meets the requirements of the brand and its products regarding envi- ronment and ressource protection. All new Škoda vehicles can be utilized up to 95 % and always 4) be returned. In a lot of countries sufficient trade-in networks have been created, where you can trade-in your vehicle. After you trade-in your vehicle, you will receive a confirmation stating the recycling in accordance with environmental regulations.
Vehicles with special built-on types
Technical documents regarding changes carried out on the vehicle must be kept by the vehicle user, in or der to hand over later to the old car user. This ensures the recycling in accordance with environmental regulations.
Note
Detailed information about the trade-in and recycling of old cars is available from your Škoda Service Partner.
Motoring abroad
General
Other circumstances may exist abroad.
It is also possible, in ce rtain countries, that the Škoda Service Partner network is limited or has not been established yet. This is the reason why obtaining certain spare parts may be somewhat complicate d and specialist garage personnel may only be able to ma ke li mite d re pa irs. Škoda Auto a.s. i n the Czech Republic and rele - vant importers are happy to provide info rmation about technical aspects of the vehicle, required maintenance work and possibilities for getting repairs done.
Unleaded petrol
A vehicle fitted with a petrol engine must always be refuelled with unleaded petrol ⇒ page 154. The automobile associations can provide you with information regarding the locations of filling stations which offer unleaded petrol.
Headlights
The low beam of your headlights is set asym metrically. It illuminates the side of the road on which you are driving to a greater extent. If you drive abroad on the other side of the road, you wi ll dazzle oncoming traffic.
It is necessary in order to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic to stick a sticker over a certain part of the headlights.
Headlight stickers can be obtained as a spare part from the Skoda Service Partners.
Headlights with module are designed for driving in countries with traffic on the right or on the left. Have this done always at a Škoda Service Partner.4)subject to fulfilment of the national legal regulations
NKO A05R 20 MR08.book Page 158 Wednesday, March 28, 2007 9:42 AM
Inspecting and Replenishing184
Battery with a charge level indicator, the so-called magic eye*
There is a so-called magic eye ⇒fig. 162 located on the top of the battery. The “magic eye” changes its colour in line with the charge state of and electrolyte level in the battery.
Air bubbles can influence the colour of th e “magic eye”. For this reason carefully knock on the “magic eye” before carrying out the check.
•Green colour - the battery is adequately charged.
•Dark colour - the battery has to be charged
•Colourless or yellow colour - we reco mmend you have the battery checked by a Škoda Service Partner.
Batteries, which are more than 5 years old, must be replaced. We recommend you have the electrolyte level inspected and adjusted to the correct level or the battery replaced if necessary by a Škoda Service Partner.
Caution
If the vehicle has not been driven for more than 3 to 4 weeks, the battery will discharge because certain electrical comp onents consume electricity (e.g. control units) also in idle state. You can prevent the discharging of the battery by discon- necting the negative terminal or charging the battery constantly with a very low charging current. Please also refer to the notes when working on the battery ⇒ page 182, “Working on the battery”.
Inspecting the electrolyte level
The battery is practically maintenance-free under normal operating conditions. We do, however, recommend that you have the electrolyte level inspected from time to time by a Škoda Service Partner when outside temperatures are high or when driving on long trips. You should also check the electrolyte level ⇒page 184 each time the battery is charged.
The battery acid level will also be ch ecked as part of the Inspection Service.
Operation in winter
The battery has to provide greater amounts of electricity during the winter. It also has only part of the initial power output at low temperatures that it has at normal temperatures.
A discharged battery may already freez e at temperatures just below 0°C.
We therefore recommend that you have the battery checked by a Škoda Service Partner before the start of the winter, and recharged if necessary.
Charging the battery
A properly charged battery is essential for reliably starting the
engine.
– Read the warning notes ⇒ in “Working on the battery” on
page 182 and ⇒.
– Switch the ignition and all electrical components off.
– Only for “quick-charging” : Disconnect both battery cables (first of all
“negative”, then “positive”).
– Carefully attach the terminal clam ps of the charger to the battery
terminals (red = “positive”, black = “negative”).
– You can now plug the mains cable of the charger into the power socket
and switch on the charger.
Fig. 162 Battery with a charge level indicator
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Accessories, changes and replacement of parts193
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistancePraktikTechnical Data
Accessories, changes and replacement of parts
Accessories and replacement parts
Škoda vehicles have been built according to the latest discoveries in safety engi- neering. Thus one should no t change the condition in which the vehicle was deliv- ered from the manufacturer without some thought.
The following guidelines should be observed when a vehicle is to be retrofitted with accessories, have technical ch anges made to it or a par t has to be replaced at some time in the future.
•Advise should always be obtained from a Škoda Service Partner before buying any accessories and before making any technical changes ⇒.
•This is particularly the case when accessories are bought in a foreign country.
•Škoda Genuine Accessories which have been released for use and Skoda orig- inal parts can be obtained from Škoda Se rvice Partners. They will install them professionally and correctly.
•All Škoda original accessory which is listed in the catalogue such as tilting roofs, spoilers, wheels etc. must have an official stamp of approval.
•Radios, aerials and other electrical accessories should only be installed by an authorised workshop.
•The guidelines issued by Škoda Auto a.s. must be observed when making tech- nical changes.
•This is to ensure that no technical damage occurs to the vehicle, that travelling and operating safety are maintained and that the chnages are permissible. Škoda Service Partners undertake this work professionally or refer it to an specialist company in special cases.
Any damage which is done caused by technical changes made without consulting a Skoda a.s. dealer is excluded from the guarantee.
WARNING
•We advise you, in your own interest, to only use Škoda Genuine Accesso- ries and Škoda original parts which have been expressly approved for use on
your Škoda. Reliability, safety and su itabiliity have been established for these Škoda original parts.
•We cannot guarantee suitability of installation into your vehicle of other products despite keeping a constant ey e on market developments (also not in the case where there is an attestation or permission can be produced).
Technical changes
Interference on the electronic components and their software can lead to opera-tional faults. This interference can also impair not directly affected systems because of the networking of the electronic co mponents. This means that the operating safety of your vehicle can be considerably jeopardized, a greater wear of vehicle parts can occur and finally the vehi cle registration documents expire.
We trust that you will understand that yo ur Škoda Service Partner cannot be liable for damage resulting from unprofessional work.
We therefore recommend that you have a ll work carried out with Škoda original parts at your authorised Škoda Service Partners.
WARNING
Work or modifications on your vehicle, which have been carried out unpro-fessionally, can cause operational faults - risk of accident!
WARNING (continued)
NKO A05R 20 MR08.book Page 193 Wednesday, March 28, 2007 9:42 AM
Fuses and light bulbs208
Note
We recommend that you have these fuses replaced by a specialist garage.
Fuse assignment in the dash panel
Certain electrical components are only st andard on certain vehicle model versions or only suppliable as optional equipment for certain models.
No.Power consumerAmperes
1Electrohydraulic power steering5
2Instrument cluster, headlight range adjustment5
3Engine control unit - Petrol engine5
4ABS control unit5
5Petrol engine: Brake light switch, cruise control system5
6Not assigned
7Engine control unit 1.2 ltr.15
8Injection valves - 1.4 ltr.; 1.6 ltr.10
Fig. 180 Schematic representation of fuse carrier
9Operating controls for the he ating, control unit for air conditioning system, parking aid, control unit for corner- ing lights5
10PCV valve7,5
11Electrically adjustable rear mirror, power windows7,5
12Reversing light10
13Engine control unit (for vehi cles with automatic gearbox)10
14Motor for cornering lights10
15Navigation PDA5
16Not assigned
17Left parking light, licence plate light5
18Right parking light5
19Radio, central control unit5
20Instrument cluster, steering angle sender, ESP, Vehicle voltage control unit5
21Brake lights10
22Operating controls for the he ating, control unit for air conditioning system, parking aid, mobile phone7,5
23Lighting interior, storage compartment and luggage com-partment10
24Tailgate lock10
25Seat heaters20
26Heatable windscreen washing nozzles, windscreen clean- ing system15
27Not assigned
28Petrol engine: AKF valve, petrol engine: Control flap10
29Injection - 1.2 ltr. engine10
No.Power consumerAmperes
NKO A05R 20 MR08.book Page 208 Wednesday, March 28, 2007 9:42 AM