2008 SKODA OCTAVIA length

Lights and Visibility59
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Lights and Visibility
Lights
Switching lights on and off 
Switching on side lights
– Turn the light switch into position
.
Switching on the low beam and main beam
– Turn the light switch into position
.
– Press the main beam lever forward in order to switch on the main beam ⇒page 65, fig. 62 .
Switching off lights (except daylight driving lights)
– Turn the light switch into position 0.
Low beam comes on only if the ignition is switched on. After switching off the igni-
tion, the low beam is switched off automati cally and only the side lights come on.
For vehicles which are equipped with the function Coming/Leaving-Home*
⇒ page 61, the side lights also go out. On models fitted with
right-hand steering the position of certain switches differs
from that shown in ⇒ fig. 56. The symbols which mark the switch positions are
identical, however.
WARNING
Never drive with side lights on - risk of accident! The side lights are not
bright enough to light up the road suffic iently in front of you or to be seen by
other oncoming traffic. In this case, always switch on the low beam when it
is dark or if visibility is poor.
Note
•An audible warning will sound if you wi thdraw the ignition key and open the
driver's door when the vehicle lights are still on.
•The acoustic warning signal is switched off over the door contact when the
driver's door is closed (ignition off). The vehicle can be parked with the side lights
on.
•If the car is parked for a lengthy period , we recommend switching off all lights,
or leaving only the parking lights switched on.
•The switching on of the described lights should only be undertaken in accord-
ance with the legal requirements.
•If a fault occurs in the light switch , the low beam comes on automatically
•In the event of cool or humid weather co nditions, the headlights can be misted
up from inside.
−The temperature difference between interior and external area of the head-
light lenses is decisive.
− When the driving lights are switched on , the light outlet surfaces are free
from mist after a short period. The headlight lenses can possibly mist up at the
border areas.
− It also concerns reverse light and turn signal lights.
− This mist has no influence on th e life of the lighting system.
Fig. 56 Dash panel: Light
switch
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Lights and Visibility61
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
If the vehicle speed is below 65 km/h for at least 2 minutes, the lights are switched
off.
Rain lights
If you switch on the windscreen wipe in
the operation rain sensor* for longer than
10 seconds or in the operation permanent wipe (position 2 or 3) ⇒page 69
switching on for longer than 15 seconds, th e side lights and low beam are switched
on automatically. The light switches off if the windscreen wipe is in operation rain
sensor* for more than 4 minutes or is no t switched on in the operation permanent
wipe.
WARNING
The automatic light control only operates as a support. The driver is not
released from his responsibility to inspect the light and if necessary to switch
on the light depending on the light conditions. The light sensor cannot
detect for example rain or snow. For these conditions we recommend to
switch on the low beam
!
Note
•Do not affix any stickers in front of the light sensor, so that you do not impair its
function or put it out of operation.
•The same principles as fo r using the automatic light control also apply to the
light which is switched on manually ⇒page 59.
Cornering lights*
The cornering lights are used to illuminate the curves by means of the cone of light
swiveling together with the front headlight with Xenon lights*.
WARNING
If the cornering lights are defectiv e, the headlights are automatically
lowered to the emergency position, whic h prevents a possible dazzling of oncoming traffic. Thus the illuminated length of the road is shortened. Drive
carefully and have the car inspected
immediately by a specialist garage.
Coming Home Function
The function makes it possible to switch on the lights in the darkness for
a short time after leaving the vehicle.
Switching on Coming Home Function
– The light switch is in the position automatic driving lamp control

and the low beam illuminates.
– Switch off the ignition.
– After opening the driver's door , the function Coming Home is
switched on.
– Close all the doors and the boot lid and lock the vehicle. After a short time, switch all lights off.
Depending on equipment fitted the function Coming Home switches on the
following lights:
•Parking lights,
•Low beam,
•Entry lighting in the exterior mirrors,
•Licence plate light.
Coming Home Function
The lights go out 10 seconds after cl osing all the doors and the boot lid.
If a door or the boot lid remains open, th e lights go out 60 seconds after switching
off the ignition.
The function Coming Home is controlled wi th the light sensor in the mount of the
interior rear mirror. If the light intensity is higher than the set value of the light
WARNING (continued)
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Seats and Stowage103
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
The armrest is adjustable for height and length.
Opening stowage compartment
– Open the lid of the armrest in the direction of arrow ⇒page 102,
fig. 125 .
Closing stowage compartment
– Open the lid up to the stop, then you can fold it downwards.
Setting height
– First of all fold the lid to the bottom and lift it in the direction of arrow into one of the 4 fixed positions.
Adjusting in forward/back direction
– Push the lid into the desired position.
Opening air inlet
– Pull the lock in upward direction ⇒fig. 126 .
Closing air inlet
– Push the lock as far as the stop downwards.
On vehicles fitted with air conditioning, the storage compartment is equipped with
a lockable inlet for thermally treated (warmed-up) air.
At open air supply, air flows into the storage with a temperature which is as high as
the one out of the air outlet nozzles, depending on temperature setting.
The air inlet in the storage compar tment is connected to position
 through
adjustment of the control dial for air distribution. This position causes the
maximum amount of air to flow into th e storage compartment (depending on the
rotary regulator position for the fan).
You can use the storage compartment, for example, to temper drinks cans, etc.
If you do not use the air inlet in the storage compartment, the end cover
should always be kept closed.
Note
Push the lid of the armrest up to stop to the rear before operating the handbrake.
Rear seat armrest with storage compartment*
A storage compartment* is located in the armrest. You open the compartment by
pressing the button on the front side and raising the cover ⇒fig. 127 .
Fig. 126 Armrest: Cooling of
storage compartment
AA
AA
Fig. 127 Armrest of rear
seats:
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Heating and air conditioning system111
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Recirculated air mode
In recirculated air mode air is sucked out of the interior of the vehicle
and then fed back into the interior.
Recirculated air mode prevents polluted air outside the vehicle from
getting into the vehicle, for example when driving through a tunnel or
when standing in a traffic jam.
Switching recirculated air mode on
– Press the button - the warning light lights up in the button
⇒page 109, fig. 138 .
Switching recirculated air mode off
– Press again the button - the warning light in the button goes out.
The recirculated air mode is switched off au tomatically if the air distribution control
is in position  ⇒ page 109, fig. 138 . You can also switch recirculated air mode
on again from this setting by repeatedly pressing button .
WARNING
You should not leave recirculated air mode on over a longer period of time,
as “stale” air may result in fatigue in the driver and occupants, divert your
attention and also cause the windows to mist up. The risk of having an acci-
dent increases. Switch recirculated air mode off as soon as the windows
begin misting up.
Climatic* (semi-automatic air conditioning system)
Description
The Climatic is a combined cooling and heating system. It makes it
possible to optimally control the air temperature at any season of the
year.
Description of the Climatic
It is important for your safety and for your driving comfort that the Climatic is oper-
ating properly.
The cooling only operates if button ⇒page 112, fig. 139 is pressed, and the
following conditions are met:
•engine running,
•outside temperature above approx. +2°C and
•blower switch switched on (positions 1 to 4).
If the cooling system is switched on, th e temperature and air humidity drops in the
vehicle. The wellbeing of the occupants of the car is enhanced as a result of this
particularly at high outside temperatur es and a high air humidity. The system
prevents the windows misting up during the cold season of the year.
The heating effect is dependent upon th e coolant temperature, thus full heat
output only occurs when the engine has reached its operating temperature.
It is possible to briefly activate recirc ulated air mode in order to enhance the
cooling effect ⇒.
Air at a temperature of about 5°C may flow out of the vents under certain circum-
stances when the cooling system is operating. Lengthy and uneven distribution of
the air flow out of the vents and large differences in temperature, for example when
getting out of the vehicle, can resu lt in chills in sensitive persons.
The air inlet in front of the windscreen must be free of ice, snow or leaves in order
to ensure that the heating and cooling systems operate properly.
After switching on the cooling Condensation from the evaporator of the air condi-
tioning may drip down and form a puddle below the vehicle. This is quite normal
and not an indication of a leak!


AC
ACA1
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Heating and air conditioning system113
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
Control for air distribution
– You can adjust the direction of the air flow using the air distribution
control ⇒page 108.
switching cooling on and off
– Press the button ⇒page 112, fig. 139 . The warning light lights
up in the button.
– When you again press the switch , the cooling system is switched off. The warning light in the button goes out.
Rear window heater
– Press button . Further information ⇒page 67, “Rear window
heater”.
Auxiliary heating (auxiliary heating)
– Press the button in order to directly switch on/off the auxiliary heating (auxiliary heating and ventilation. Further information
⇒page 119, “Auxiliary heating (auxil iary heating and ventilation)*”.The set temperature will be automatically maintained other than when the
control dial is on the extreme right or extreme left position:
•Extreme right position - full heating;
•Extreme left position - full cooling;
•The blower should aways be on to prevent the windows from 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.
•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 mi nutes 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 114.
Set Climatic
Recommended settings of Climatic controls for the respective operating modes:
AC
ACA1
AC
A2
A3
Set-upSetting of the control dialButtonAir outlet vents 3
Defrosting the windscreen and
side windowsrecommended
22°C3switched offdo not switch onopen and align with the side window
Free windscreen and side win-
dows from mistdesired tempera-ture2switched ondo not switch onopen and align with the side window
the fastest heatingrecommended
22°C2switched offbriefly switched onopen
AAABACA1A4
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Heating and air conditioning system
116
WARNING
•For your own safety and that of other road users, ensure that all the
windows are free of ice, snow and mistin g. Please familiarize yourself about
how to correctly operate th e heating and ventilation systems, how to demist
and defrost the windows, as well as with the cooling mode.
•You should not leave recirculated air mode on over a longer period of
time, as “stale” air may result in fatigue in the driver and occupants, divert
your attention 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
•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 mi nutes 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.
•We recommend that you do not smoke in the vehicle when the recirculating air
mode is operating since the smoke which is drawn at the evaporator from the inte-
rior of the vehicle forms deposits in the evaporator of the air conditioning system.
This produces a permanent odour when the air conditioning system is operating
which can only be eliminated through co nsiderable effort and expense (replace-
ment of compressor).
•The used air streams out through the air removal openings in the luggage
compartment.
•On vehicles equipped with a factory-fitted radio* or navigation*, the informa-
tion of the Climatronic is also shown on the display. You can switch off this function
for the Radio* - see operating instructions for radio. This function cannot be
switched off during Navigation*.
•Using the cooling economically ⇒page 114.
•Operational problems ⇒page 115.
Overview of the control elements
The controls enable a separate setting of the temperature for the left
and right side.
Fig. 140 Climatronic: Control elements
The buttons
Defrost windscreen intensively
Air flow to the windows
Air flow to head
Air flow in the footwell
Recirculated air mode , recirculated air mode with air quality sensor*
Rear window heater
Buttons / control dial Setting of the temperature for the left side, operation of the seat heating of the
left front seat*
Automatic mode
Switching off Climatronic
Setting the blower speed
A1
A2
A3
A4
A5
A6
A7
A8AUTO
A9OFF
A10
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Heating and air conditioning system
118
the numerical scale. In both limit positions the Climatronic operates at maximum
cooling or heating capacity, respectively. The temperature is not controlled in this
case.
Lengthy and uneven distribution of the air flow out of the vents (in particular at the
leg area) and large differences in temperature, for example when getting out of the
vehicle, can result in chills in sensitive persons.
Recirculated air mode
In recirculated air mode air is sucked out of the interior of the vehicle
and then fed back into the interior.
Recirculated air mode prevents polluted air outside the vehicle from
getting into the vehicle, for example when driving through a tunnel or
when standing in a traffic jam.
Switching recirculated air mode on
– Press the button - the warning light lights up in the button.
Switching recirculated air mode off
– Press again the button or the button - the warning light in
the button goes out.
WARNING
You should not leave recirculated air mode on over a longer period of time,
as “stale” air may result in fatigue in the driver and occupants, divert your
attention and also cause the windows to mist up. The risk of having an acci-
dent increases. Switch recirculated air mode off as soon as the windows
begin misting up.
Note
If the windscreen mists up, press the button ⇒page 116, fig. 140 . After
the windscreen has been demisted, press the button .
Automatic air distribution control
When the automatic air distribution control is switched on, an air
quality sensor measures the concentration of pollutants in the drawn
in air.
If a considerable increase in concentr ation of pollutants is recognized by
the air quality sensor, the air distribution control will temporarily be
switched off. If the concentration of pollutants decreases to the normal
level, the air distribution control is au tomatically switched off so that fresh
air can be guided into the vehicle interior.
Switch on automatic air distribution control
– Press the button repeatedly * until the warning light on the right side of the button lights up.
Switch off automatic air distribution control temporarily
– If the air quality sensor does not switch on automatically when there
is a nauseating smell, you can switch it on yourself by pressing the
button *. The warning light lights up in the button on the left side.
Switch on automatic air distribution control again
– Hold the button pressed * for more than 2 seconds and on the right side of the button the warning light lights up.
Switch off automatic air distribution control
– Press again the button * until the warning lights in the button go out.
WARNING
You should not leave recirculated air mode on over a longer period of time,
as “stale” air may result in fatigue in the driver and occupants, divert your
attention and also cause the windows to mist up. The risk of having an acci-

AUTO
A1AUTO




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Starting-off and Driving127
Using the systemSafetyDriving TipsGeneral MaintenanceBreakdown assistanceTechnical Data
You should not switch on any major electrical components during the heating
period otherwise the vehicle battery will be drained unnecessarily.
•You should start the engine immediately after the glow plug warning light 
has gone out.
•The glow plug warning light will come on for about one second if the engine is
at a normal operating temperature or if th e outside temperature is above +5°C. This
means that you can start the engine right away.
•Interrupt the attempt at starting after 10 seconds if the engine does not start
right awayand wait for about 30 seconds before repeating the attempt.
•It is possible that the fuse on the diesel preglow system is defect if the engine
still does not start. Check the fuse and replace it if necessary ⇒page 257.
•Contact the nearest specialist garage to obtain professional assistance.
Starting the engine after the fuel tank has run dry
It may take longer than normal to start the engine after refuelling if the fuel tank has
run completely dry - up to one minute. This is because the fuel system must first of
all be filled while the attempting to start the engine.
Switching off the engine
– The engine can be switched off by turning the ignition key from posi- tion into ⇒page 125, fig. 146 .
WARNING
•Never switch off the engine before the vehicle is stationary - risk of acci-
dent!
•The brake booster only operates when the engine is running. Greater
physical effort for braking is required when engine is switched off. Because
if you do not stop as normal, this can cause an accident and severe injuries.
Caution
you should not switch the engine off right away at the end of your journey after the
engine has been operated for a lengthy peri od at high loads but should be allowed
it to run at idling speed for about 2 minutes . This prevents any accumulation of heat
when the engine is switched off.
Note
•The radiator fan may continue running fo r a further 10 minutes or so after the
engine and the ignition have been switched off. The coolant fan may, however, also
switch on again after some time if the coolant temperature rises because of an
accumulation of heat in the engine or if the engine is warm and the engine
compartment is additionally heated by strong sunlight.
•This is why particular care is required when carrying out any work in the engine
compartment ⇒page 225, “Working in the engine compartment”.
Shifting (manual gearbox)
Shift into reverse only when the car is stationary. Depress the clutch pedal and hold
it fully depressed. Wait a moment before engaging reverse gear in order to avoid
any shift noises.
A1
Fig. 147 The shift pattern: 5-
speed or 6-speed manual
gearbox
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