2009 SKODA OCTAVIA TOUR Owner's Manual

Seat belts
112
Taking seat belts off– Press the red button in the belt lock
⇒
fig. 119
. The spring force causes
the tongue of the lock to jump out.
– Guide the belt back with your hand
to enable the inertia reel to wind
up the belt webbing more easily.
A plastic knob in the belt webbing holds the belt tongue in a position which is easy to get hold of.Three-point seat belt with the Interlock System*A three-point safety belt with the Interlock System is used on some vehicles instead of a pelvic belt. If the backrest of the rear seats is not secured, the retractor blocks and the seat belt cannot be reeled down.
Rear middle three-point safety belt with safety lock for a child seat*In order to attach a child seat the rear
middle three-point safety belt with
the blocking, the so-called chil
d safety locks, can be used.
Switching child safety lock on – Attach the child safety seat with the three-point seat belt (self-
retracting) as stated in the manufacturer's instructions.
– Reel up the shoulder part of the
belt completely. When the belt is
reeled up, this can be detected by a “clicking” noise.
– After fixing the child seat in place, let the belt freely reel up. Now the
belt can no longer be reeled down.
– Check if the safety lock is activated by pulling on the belt. Switching child safety lock off – By pressing the button in the lock of
the safety belt, the blocking is
unblocked and afterwards the safety belt starts to reel up.
– After fully reeling up the belt, you can freely reel it down again.
Fig. 119 Releasing lock tongue from belt lock
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Seat belts
113
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
The pelvic belt*The rear middle seat is fitted with a pelvic belt. The lock part of the two- point pelvic belt is operated in the same way as for a three-point safety belt. An unused pelvic belt should be stowed away together with the lock for safety reasons. Extending the pelvic belt – Hold the lock tongue at right an
gles to the belt webbing and pull
through the desired amo
unt of belt webbing
⇒
fig. 121
.
Shortening the pelvic belt – Pull on the free end of the belt. – Fix the excess belt length by threading it through the plastic slider.The adjustment of the belt length is facili
tated by simultaniously pressing the belt
tongue and the belt
cover lengthwise.
WARNING
The pelvic belt must always sit firmly across the pelvis; tighten the belt webbing if necessary.Belt tensionersSafety for the driver and front passenger
wearing their seat belts
is enhanced by
the belt tensioners fitted to the inertia reels of the front three-point seat belts, in addition to the protection afforded by the airbag system. The three-point seat belts are automatically tensioned in the event of a frontal colli- sion of a certain severity. The belt tensioners can also be deployed if the seat belts are not fastened. The belt tensioner is deployed in the event of a frontal collision of major severity. A powder charge is ignited in the inertia
reels during deployment. The belt webbing
is pulled into the inertia reels by a mech
anical system and the belt is tensioned.
Belt tensioners are not activated in the ev
ent of minor frontal collisions, side and
rear-end collisions, in the case of a rollover and also not in accidents in which no major forces are produced from the front.
WARNING
•
Any work on the system including removal and installation of system
components because of other repair work, must only be carried out by a specialist garage.
Fig. 120 Fasten pelvic beltFig. 121 Extending the pelvic belt
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Seat belts
114
•
The protective function of the system is only adequate for a single acci-
dent. If the belt tensioners have been deployed, it is then necessary to replace the entire system.•
The Owner's Manual must also be handed over to the new owner if the
vehicle is sold.
Note
•
Smoke is generated when the belt tensione
rs are deployed. This is not an indi-
cation of a fire in the vehicle.•
It is essential to pay attention to relevant
safety regulations if the vehicle or indi-
vidual parts of the system are scrapped. Sp
ecialist garages are familiar with these
regulations and will be able to provide you with detailed information in this respect.•
When disposing of vehicle or parts of the system, it is important to comply with
the national legal requirements.
WARNING (continued)
s2g8.b.book Page 114 Tuesday, April 7, 2009 8:53 AM

Airbag system
115
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Airbag systemDescription of the airbag systemGeneral information on the airbag systemThe front airbag system is complementary
to the three-point seat belts and offers
additional protection for the head and chest area of the driver and passenger in the event of a frontal collision. In the case of a violent side crash, the side airbags* reduce the risk of injuries to the occupants on the side of the collision
⇒
.
The airbag system is only functional af
ter the ignition has been switched on.
The operational readiness of the airbag system is monitored electronically. The airbag warning light comes on for a few seconds each time the ignition is switched on. The airbag system (according to vehicle equipment) consists of:•
an electronic control unit,
•
front airbag for the driver and the front seat passenger*,
•
side airbags*,
•
an airbag warning light in the instrument cluster,
•
Switch for front passenger airbag* in
front passenger storage compartment
⇒ page 121,•
Indicator light for a switched off front seat passenger airbag*
⇒page 121.
A fault in the airbag system exists if:•
the airbag indicator light do
es not light up when the ignition is switched on,
•
the warning light does not go out after
about 4 seconds after the ignition is
switched on,•
the airbag indicator light goes out and comes on again after the ignition is
switched on,•
the airbag indicator light comes
on or flickers when driving.
WARNING
•
To enable the occupants of a vehicle
to be protected with the greatest
possible effect when the airbag is deployed, the front seats must be ⇒ page 104, “Correct seated position” co
rrectly adjusted to
match the body
size of the occupant.•
If you do not fasten the seat belts when driving, lean too far forward or
adopt an incorrect seated position, yo
u are exposing yourself to increased
risk of injury in the event of an accident.•
Have the airbag system checked immedi
ately 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.•
No modifications of any kind may be
made to parts of the airbag system.
•
It is prohibited to manipulate individual parts of the airbag system as this
might result in the airbag being deployed.•
The protective function of the airbag system is sufficient for only one
accident. The airbag system must then
be replaced if the airbag has been
deployed.•
The airbag system needs no main
tenance during its working life.
•
If you sell your car, please hand over the complete vehicle documenta-
tion to the new owener. Please note that the documents relating to the possibility of deactivating the front passenger airbag are also part of the vehicle documents!•
If the vehicle or individual parts of the airbag system are scrapped, it is
essential to observe the relevant safety
precautions. Specialist garages are
familiar with these regulations.•
When disposing of vehicle or parts of the airbag system, it is important
to comply with the national legal requirements.
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Airbag system
116
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* is depl
oyed on the side of the
vehicle on which the collision occurs. In certain accident situations, the front as well as the side airbags are deployed at the same time. 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 wh
ich 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 vehicle 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 is switched off;
•
a minor frontal collision;
•
a minor side collision;
•
a rear-end collision;
•
Rollover of the vehicle.Note
•
A grey white, 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.
•
The dash panel must be replaced afte
r the front passenger airbag has been
deployed.•
In the event of an accident in which the airbags are deployed: − the interior lighting comes on (if the swit
ch for the interior light is in the door
contact position), − the hazard warning light is switched on; − All the doors are unlocked.
Front airbagsDescription of the front airbags The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belt!
Fig. 122 Driver airbag in the steering wheel
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Airbag system
117
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
The front airbag for the driver is housed in the steering wheel
⇒page 116, fig. 122
.
The front airbag for the front passenger* is housed in the dash panel above the storage compartment
⇒fig. 123
. The installation positions are each marked with
the “AIRBAG” logo. The front airbag system, in combination with
three-point safety belts, offers addi-
tional protection for the head and chest ar
ea of the driver and front passenger in
the event of a frontal collision of major severity
⇒
in “Important safety informa-
tion regarding the front airbag system” on page 118. The airbag is not a substitute for the seat
belt, but is part of the complete passive
vehicle safety concept.
Please note that an airbag can only offer you optimal
protection in combination with a seat belt which is fastened
.
Apart from their normal protective function, a further task of the
seat belts
is to
also hold the driver and front passenger in
a correct seated position in the event of
a frontal collision so as to enable the front airbags to offer the maximum protection. You should therefore always fasten the seat
belts, not only because this is required
by law, but also for safety reasons and for your own protection
⇒page 108, “Why
seat belts?”.
Note
The dash panel must be replaced afte
r the front passenger airbag has been
deployed.
Function of the front airbags Risk of injury to the head and chest area is reduced by fully inflated airbags.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 certain accident situations, the front an
d side airbags may be deployed together.
If the airbags are deployed, the airbags are
filled with a propellant gas and inflated
in front of the driver and front passenger
⇒fig. 124
. The airbags inflate in fractions
of a second and at a high speed in order to
be able to offer that additional protec-
tion in the event of an accident. The forward movement of the driver and of the front passenger is cushioned when they make
contact with the fully inflated airbag
and the risk of injury to head and chest is thus reduced. The specially developed airbag allows the gas
to flow out of the inflated airbag in a
controlled manner (depending on the load
of the particular car occupant) in order
to cushion head and chest areas. The airbag
then deflates subsequently to such an
extent, after an accident, to again provide a clear view forward. 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 airbag develops enormous forces when
triggered, which can lead to injuries if
the sitting position or seated position is not correct
⇒
in “Important safety
information regarding the front airbag system” on page 118.
Fig. 123 Front passenger airbag in the dash panel
Fig. 124 Inflated airbags
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Airbag system
118
Important safety information 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 suffer 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. 125
. Not main-
taining this minimum 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 occu- pant.•
It is essential to always switch off
the front passenger airbag and/or side
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 coun- tries also when the child is facing the direction of travel)
⇒page 120, “Deac-
tivating an airbag”. 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 passenger airbags be deactivated. When transporting a child on the front
passenger seat, please comply with
the appropriate nati
onal regulations
regarding the use of child safety seats.•
There must not by any further persons, animals or objects positioned
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. These 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
module in the dash panel.
Fig. 125 Safe distance to steering wheel
WARNING (continued)
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Airbag system
119
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Side airbags*Description of side airbags The side airbag increases protection of the passenger concerned in the case of a side impact.The side airbags are housed in the uphols
tery of the seat backrests of the front
seats. The side airbag system in combination with
the three-point seat belts, offers addi-
tional protection for the upper area of th
e body (chest, stomach and pelvis) of the
occupants of the vehicle in the ev
ent of severe side collisions
⇒
in “Important
safety information on the side airbag” on page 120. Apart from their normal protective function, a further task of the
seat belts
is to
also hold the driver and front passenger in
a correct seated position in the event of
a side collision so as to enable the side
airbags to offer the maximum protection.
You should therefore always fasten the seat
belts, not only because this is required
by law, but also for safety reasons and for your own protection
⇒page 108, “Why
seat belts?”.
Function of the side airbags Risk of injury to the upper part of the body is reduced by fully inflated side airbags.In the case of a
violent side crash
, the side airbag in the front seat is deployed on
the side of the vehicle on which the collision occurs
⇒fig. 127
.
In certain accident situations, the front an
d side airbags may be deployed together.
If an airbag is deployed, the airbag is filled
with gas. The airbags inflate in fractions
of a second and at a high speed in order to
be able to offer that additional protec-
tion 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 up
per body (chest, stomach and pelvis) is
reduced on the side facing the door.
Fig. 126 Installation position of side airbag in driver seat
Fig. 127 Inflated side airbag
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