2008 SKODA OCTAVIA service

Instruments and Indicator/Warning Lights
38
Electronic stability programme (ESP)*
The warning light  comes on for a few seconds when the ignition is switched on.
Components of the ESP system also include the Traction Control System (TCS),
Electronic Differential Lock (EDL), and the Antilock Brake System ABS (ABS).
The warning light comes on when driving when a control cycle is activated.
The warning light will come on and remains on if the ESP is switched off or if there
is a fault in the system.
The fact that the ESP system operates together with the ABS means that the ESP
warning light will also come on if the ABS system is not operating properly.
If the warning light
 comes on immediately after starting the engine, the ESP
system can be switched off for technical reasons. In this case, the ESP system can
be switched on again by switching the ignition on and off. If the warning light goes
out, the ESP system is fully functional again.
Further information on the ESP ⇒page 193, “Electronic stability programme
(ESP)*”.
Electronic Differential Lock (EDL)*
The EDL is a part of the ESP. A fault in the EDL is indicated by the ESP warning light
in the instrument cluster. Have the ve hicle inspected without delay by a Škoda
Service Partner. Further information on the EDL ⇒page 194, “Electronic Differen-
tial Lock (EDS)*”.
Note
If the battery has been disconnected and reconnected, the warning light  comes
on after switching on the ignition. The warn ing light must go out after driving a short
distance.
Selector lever lock* 
If the green warning light  lights up, operate the brake pedal. This is necessary, in
order to be able to move the selector lever out of the position P or N. Further information about the selector lever lock
⇒page 134.
Tyre inflation pressure*
The warning light  lights up, if there is a substantial drop in inflation pressure in
one of the tyres. Reduce the speed and check or correct as soon as possible the
inflation pressure in the tyres ⇒page 237.
If the warning light flashes, there is a system fault. Visit the nearest specialist garage
and have the fault rectified.
Further information about tyre pressure-control system ⇒page 199.
WARNING
•When the warning light  lights up, immediately reduce the speed and
avoid sudden steering and brake manoeuvres. Please stop the vehicle
without delay at the nearest possible stop and inspect the tyres and their
inflation pressures.
•Under certain circumstances (e.g. sporty style of driving, wintry or
unpaved roads) the warning light  can be delayed or does not light up at
all.
Note
If the battery has been disc onnected, the warning light  comes on after switching
on the ignition. The warning light must go out after driving a short distance.
Antilock brake system (ABS) 
The warning light  shows the functionality of the ABS.
The warning light comes on for a few seconds after the ignition has been switched
on or when starting the engine. The warnin g light goes out after an automatic check
sequence has been completed.
20A5Facelift.book Page 38 Saturday, September 6, 2008 2:13 PM

Unlocking and locking
42
Unlocking and locking
Key
The vehicle is supplied with two keys. Depending on the equipment fitted, your
vehicle can be equipped with keys without remote control ⇒fig. 37 , with keys with
light* or with keys with radio remote control* ⇒fig. 38 .
WARNING
•Always withdraw the key whenever you leave the vehicle - even if it is
only for a short time. This is particularly important if children are left in the vehicle. The children might otherwise st
art the engine or operate electrical
equipment (e.g. power windows) - risk of injury!
•Do not withdraw the ignition key from the ignition lock until the vehicle
has come to a stop. The steering lock might otherwise engage unintention-
ally - risk of accident!
Caution
•Each key contains electronic components; therefore protect them against mois-
ture and severe shocks.
•Keep the groove of the keys absolutely cl ean as impurities (textile fibres, dust
etc.) have a negative effect on proper op eration of the keys and the ignition lock.
Note
Please approach a Škoda Service Partner if you lose a key since he can obtain a new
one for you.
Key with light*
Fig. 37 Set of keys without
remote control
Fig. 38 Radio-operated key
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 39 Key with light
20A5Facelift.book Page 42 Saturday, September 6, 2008 2:13 PM

Unlocking and locking43
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Switching on the light
– Press the button in the middle in the direction of arrow .
Replacing battery or bulb
– Insert a coin into the slot of th e key housing (arrow ) and press off
the upper part through a rotary movement of the coin.
– Replace the battery or bulb.
– Place the upper and lower part above each other and press the parts together.
You can obtain replacement batteries and re placement bulbs at a specialist garage.
For the sake of the environment
Dispose of an old battery in accordance with environm ental regulations.
Note
The replacement battery must have the same specification as the original battery.
Changing the battery of the radio remote control
Each radio-operated key contains a battery which is housed in the cover
of the transmitter housing ⇒fig. 40 . We recommend that you have
the batteries of the key replaced by a Škoda Service Partner. You should,
however, proceed as follows if you wi sh to replace the battery yourself:
– Fold open the key.
– Use a thin screwdriver to carefully lever off the front part of the key ⇒fig. 40 from the transmitter housing .
– Take off the cover of the transmitter housing ⇒fig. 41 in direction of
arrow.
– Take the used battery out of the housing cover.
– Insert the new battery. Ensure that the “+” symbol on the battery is facing downwards. The correct polarity is also shown on the cover of
the transmitter housing.
– Insert cover with battery in place at the rear of the transmitter housing
and press both parts together.
– Insert the transmitter housing into the front part of the key so that the two parts lock into each other.
A1
A2
Fig. 40 Disconnect key with
radio remote control
Fig. 41 Cover of the trans-
mitter housing
AB
AA
AB
20A5Facelift.book Page 43 Saturday, September 6, 2008 2:13 PM

Unlocking and locking
50
The transmitter with the battery is housed in the handle of the master key. The
receiver is located in the interior of th e car. The operating range of the remote
control is approx. 10 m. But this range of the remote control can be reduced if the
batteries are weak.
The master key has a fold-open key bit whic h can be used for unlocking and locking
the car manually and also for starting the engine.
If a lost key is replaced or if the rece iver unit has been repaired or a new unit
installed, it is then necessary for a Škoda Dealer to initialise the system. Only after
this is it possible to again use the remote control.
Note
•The remote control is automatically deac tivated when the ignition is switched
on.
•The operation of the remote control may temporarily be affected by interfer-
ence from transmitters close to the car and which operate in the same frequency
range (e.g. mobile phone, TV transmitter).
•The battery must be replaced, ideally by a Škoda Service Partner, if the central
locking or anti-theft alarm system does re act to the remote control at less than 3
metres away.
•If the driver door is opened, the vehicle cannot be locked using the remote
control.
Unlocking and locking car
Unlocking the vehicle 
– Press the button ⇒fig. 49 for about 1 second.
Locking the vehicle

– Press button for about 1 second.
Deactivating safe securing system
– Press button twice in 3 seconds. Further information ⇒page 46.
Boot lid remote release

– Press button for about 2 second. Further information ⇒page 48.
Folding out of the key
– Press button .
Folding up of the key
– Press button and collapse the key bit in the housing.
The turn signal lights flash twice as confirmation that the vehicle has been
unlocked. The vehicle will lock again auto matically if you unlock the vehicle using
Fig. 49 Radio-operated key
A1
A3
A2
A2
A4
A4
20A5Facelift.book Page 50 Saturday, September 6, 2008 2:13 PM

Unlocking and locking
52
•Angle of the vehicle* ⇒page 52,
•Vehicle interior* ⇒page 52,
•A drop in voltage of the on-board power supply.
An alarm is immediately triggered if either of the two battery terminals is discon-
nected while the anti-theft alarm system is activated.
How is the alarm switched off?
You switch the alarm off if you unlock the car with the radio remote control in the
key or if you switch the ignition on.
Note
•The working life of the alarm siren is 6 years. More detailed information is avail-
able from your Škoda Service Partner.
•Before leaving the car, check that al l the doors, windows and the electric
sliding/tilting roof* are properly closed in order to ensure that the anti-theft alarm
system is fully operational.
•Coding of the radio remote control and the receptor part precludes the use of
the radio remote control from other vehicles.
Interior monitor* and Towing protection monitoring*
Switch off the interior monitor and towing protection monitoring
– Switch off the ignition.
– Open the driver door.
– Press the button
 at the centre c olumn o n the dr iver s ide ⇒fig. 50 ,
the symbol
 which lights up in the button changes from red to
orange.
– Lock the vehicle within 30 seconds.
The interior monitor and the towing protec tion monitoring are switched on again
automatically the next time the car is locked.
Note
•You can switch the interior monitor and th e towing protection monitoring off if
there is a possibility that movements from (e.g. children or animals) inside the
vehicle interior or if the vehicle must be tr ansported (e.g. by train or ship) or towed,
might trigger the alarm.
•The opened storage compartment for spectacles reduces the effectiveness of
the interior monitor. In order to ensure the function of the interior monitor to be
fully operational, always close the storage compartment for spectacles before
locking the vehicle.
Fig. 50 Button for interior
monitor and towing protec-
tion monitoring
20A5Facelift.book Page 52 Saturday, September 6, 2008 2:13 PM

Lights and Visibility
70
Fast wipe
– Position the lever up into position .
Automatic wipe/wash for windscreen
– Pull the lever towards the steering wheel into sprung position , the wash system sprays immediately, the windscreen wiper starts wiping
a little later. The wash system and the windscreen wiper operate
simultaneously at a speed of more than 120 km/h.
– Release the lever. The windscreen wash system stops and the wiper continues for another 3 - 4 wiper stro kes (depending on the period of
spraying of the windscreen). At a speed of more than 2 km/h, the wiper
wipes once again* 5 seconds after the last wiper stroke in order to
wipe the last drops from the windsc reen. This function can be acti-
vated/deactivated by a specialist garage.
Rain sensor*
– Move the lever into position .
– You can set the sensitivity of the sensor individually with switch .
Wiping the rear window pane*
– Push the lever away from the steering wheel into position - the widescreen wiper will operate every 6 seconds.
Automatic wipe/wash for the rear window pane*
– Press the lever from the steering wheel forward into the sprung posi- tion , the wash system sprays immediately, the windscreen wiper
starts wiping a little later. As long as you hold the lever in this position,
the wiper operates as well as the wash system.
– Letting go of the lever will cause the windscreen wash system to stop and the wiper to continue for anot her 2 - 3 wiper strokes (depending
on the period of spraying of the windscreen). The lever will stay in
position after releasing it . Switching windscreen wipers off
– Move the lever back into its home position .
After the windscreen wiper switches off each
time or the ignition switches off for
the third time, the position of the windscreen wiper changes, this counteracts an
early fatigue of the wiper rubbers.
The windscreen wipers and the wash system only operate if the ignition is switched
on and the bonnet is closed
10).
If the intermittent wipe is switched on, the intervals are also controlled depending
on speed.
The rain sensor* automatically regulates the break between the individual wiper
strokes depending on the intensity of the rain.
The rear window will be wiped again if the front window wipers are on when
reverse gear is selected.
The windscreen washer nozzles are heated* when the ignition is switched on.
Top up with wash liquid ⇒page 235.
Winter position
If the windscreen wipers are in rest posi tion, they cannot be folded out from the
windscreen. For this reason we recommend adjusting the windscreen wipers in
winter so that they can be folded out fr om the windscreen easily. You can set this
rest position as follows:
•Switch on the windscreen wipers.
•Switch off the ignition. The windscreen wipers remain in the position in which
they were when switching off the ignition.
You can also use the service position ⇒page 71 as a winter position.
A3
A5
A1
AA
A6
A7
A6
10)On vehicles which do not have a contact swit ch for the bonnet, the windshield wiper and
wash system operates also when the bonnet is opened.
A0
20A5Facelift.book Page 70 Saturday, September 6, 2008 2:13 PM

Lights and Visibility71
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
WARNING
•Properly maintained windscreen wiper blades are essential for clear visi-
bility and safe driving ⇒page 71.
•Do not use the windscreen washer sy stem at low temperatures, without
heating the windscreen beforehand. Otherwise the window cleaner could
freeze on the windscreen and re strict the view to the front.
•The rain sensor only operates as a support. The driver is not released
from the responsibility to set the function of the windscreen wipers manu-
ally depending on the visibility conditions.
Caution
In frosty weather, please first of all check whether the windscreen wiper blades are
not frozen to the windscreen before swit ching them on. Switching on windscreen
wipers when the blades are frozen to the windscreen may result in damage both to
the blades and the motor of the windscreen wipers!
Note
•If the slower or the faster wiper setting is switched on ⇒page 69, fig. 70
and the vehicle speed decreases to below 4 km/h, the lower wiper step is switched
on automatically. At a speed increase of more than 8 km/h the previous wiper
setting is esta blished again.
•If there is an obstacle on the windscre en, the wiper will try to push away the
obstacle. If the obstacle continues to block the wiper, th e wiper stops after 5 cycles,
in order to avoid a damage to the wiper. Remove the obstacle and and switch on
the wiper again.
Headlight cleaning system*
The headlights are being cleaned after the windscreen has been sprayed for the first
time and fifth time, the low beam or ma in beam are switched on and the wind-
screen wiper lever was he ld in the position ⇒page 69, fig. 70 for about 1
second. The headlight washer nozzles are moved forward out of the bumper by the water
pressure for cleaning the headlights.
You should remove stubborn dirt (such
as insect residues) from the headlight
lenses at regular intervals, for example when refuelling. Please refer to the following
guidelines ⇒page 214, “The headlight lenses”.
You should remove any snow from the fixtures of the washer nozzles and clear ice
in winter with a de-icing spray in order to ensure proper operation of the cleaning
system.
Replacing wiper blades for the windscreen wipers
One cannot fold out the wiper arms in the rest position from the wind-
screen. Before replacing the wiper arms you must put them into the
service position.
Service position for changing wiper blades
– Close the bonnet.
– Switch the ignition on and then again off.
– Then press the windscreen wiper lever in the position ⇒page 69,
fig. 70 within 20 seconds - the wiper arms move into the service posi-
tion.
A2A3
A5
Fig. 71 Wiper blade for the
windscreen wiper
A4
20A5Facelift.book Page 71 Saturday, September 6, 2008 2:13 PM

Lights and Visibility
72
Taking off the wiper blade
– Fold windscreen wiper arm out from the windscreen and position the wiper blade at right angles to the wiper arm ⇒.
– Take off the wiper blade in direction of arrow ⇒page 71, fig. 71
⇒ .
Attaching a wiper blade
– Push the new wiper blade over the wiper arm and turn the wiper blade into the vertical position.
– Check whether the wiper blade is correctly attached.
– Fold the windscreen wiper arms on to the window and switch on the
ignition. By pressing the window wi per lever into the sprung position
⇒ page 71, fig. 71 or when driving at a speed greater than 4 km/h,
the windscreen wiper arms move back into the rest position.
Wiper blades in proper condition are esse ntial to obtain good visibility. Wiper
blades should not be allowed to become dirtied by dust, insect remains and
preserving wax.
Juddering or smearing of the wiper blades could then be due to wax residues left
on the windscreen by vehicle washing in automatic vehicle wash systems. It is
therefore important to degrease the lips of the wiper blades after every pass
through an automatic vehicle wash system .
WARNING
•The ignition must not be switched on if the front windscreen wiper arms
are folded out. The wiper blades would move back into their rest position
and while doing so damage th e paintwork of the bonnet.
•If the windscreen wipers are handled carelessly, there is a risk of damage
to the windscreen.
•You should clean the wiper blades regularly with a windscreen cleaner in
order to avoid any smears. Clean a wiper bl ade with a sponge or cloth if it is
very dirty, for example from insect residues.
•Replace the wiper blades once or twice a year for safety reasons. The
wiper blades are available from Škoda Service Partners.
Replacing the wiper blade on the rear window wiper
Taking off the wiper blade
– Fold windscreen wiper arm out from the windscreen and position the wiper blade at right angles to the wiper arm ⇒fig. 72 .
– Hold the window wiper arm at the top end with one hand.
– With the other hand unlock the locking button in the direction of arrow and remove the wiper blade.
Attaching a wiper blade
– Position the wiper blade onto the wiper arm and lock the locking button .
– Check whether the wiper blade is correctly attached.
The same remarks apply here as for ⇒page 71.
A4
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 72 Wiper blade for rear
window
AA
AA
20A5Facelift.book Page 72 Saturday, September 6, 2008 2:13 PM