2009 SKODA OCTAVIA TOUR steering wheel

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
121
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
•
you are not able to maintain the distance
of at least 25 cm between middle of
steering wheel and chest, despite the driver seat being correctly adjusted;•
special attachments are required in the area of the steering wheel because of a
physical disability;•
you have installed other seats (e.g. orthopaedic seats without side airbags).
Monitoring the airbag system The functionality of the airbag system is also monitored electronically when one airbag has been switched off. If the airbag was switched of
f using diagnostic equipment:
•
The airbag indicator light in the instrume
nt cluster lights up for about 3 seconds
after switching on the ignition and then
flashes after that for about 12 seconds.
Front passenger airbags switched off
using the switch for front passenger
airbags* in storage compartmen
t on the front passenger side:
•
the airbag indicator light in the inst
rument cluster comes on for about 4
seconds each time the ig
nition is switched on;
•
The deactivation of the airbag is indica
ted by the lighting up of the indicator
light

 at the front interior lighting of the vehicle
⇒page 121.
Note
A specialist garage will be able to advise you whether national legislation in your country allows airbags in your vehicl
e to be deactivated, and which ones.
Switch for the front passenger airbag(s)*The front passenger airbag as well as side airbag (if the vehicle is fitted with side airbags) are switched off using the switch. Deactivating an airbag – Switch off the ignition. – Turn the slot of the airbag switch using the key in the position
OFF

⇒
fig. 128
- (vertical position).
Fig. 128 Storage compart- ment: Switch for the front passenger airbag(s)Fig. 129 Indicator light for a switched off front seat passenger airbag
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Intelligent Technology
131
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Driving TipsIntelligent TechnologyElectronic stability programme (ESP)*GeneralGeneral The ESP aids you maintain control of your vehicle in situations in borderline driving situations such as when negotiating a curve too fast. The risk of skidding is reduced and your vehicle thus offers greater driving stability depending on the conditions of the road surface. This occurs at all speeds. The following systems are integrated into the electronic stability programme:•
Electronic Differential Lock (EDL),
•
Traction control system (TCS),
•
Antilock brake system (ABS),
•
Brake Assist.
Operating principle The ESP switches on automatically when the engine is started and then conducts a self-test. The ESP control unit processes data from the individual systems. It also processes additional measurement data which are supplied by highly sensitive sensors: the rotational velocity of the vehi
cle about its vertical axis, the lateral accel-
eration of the vehicle, the brakin
g pressure and the steering angle.
The direction which the driver wishes to ta
ke is determined based on the steering
angle and the speed of the vehicle and is constantly compared with the actual behaviour of the vehicle. If differences exis
t, such as the vehicle beginning to skid,
the ESP will automatically brake the appropriate wheel. The car is stabilised again by the forces which take effect when the wheel is braked. Intervention into the brake system takes place primarily on the outer front wheel of a vehicle which tends to oversteer (tendency for the rear of the vehicle to break away) while occurs this is on the inner re
ar wheel of a vehicle which tends to under-
steer (tendency to shift out of the curve). This braking control cycle is accompanied by noises. The ESP operates in combination with the ABS
⇒page 135, “Antilock brake system
(ABS)*”. If there is a fault in the ABS system, the ESP also does not operate. The ESP warning light
⇒page 33 lights up in the instrument cluster when there is a
fault on the ESP. Switching off You can switch the ESP off and on again
as you wish, by pressing the button
⇒ fig. 139
. The ESP warning light
⇒page 33 lights up in the instrument cluster
when the ESP is switched off. The ESP should normally always be switched
on. It may be good practice in certain
exceptional cases, such as when you wish
to have wheel slip, to switch off the
system. Examples:
Fig. 139 ESP switch
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Intelligent Technology
135
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Antilock brake system (ABS)*ABS prevents the wheels locking when braking.General The ABS contributes significan
tly to enhancing the active
safety of your vehicle.
Compared to a vehicle not fitted with the ABS brake system, you are able to retain optimal steering ability even during a fu
ll brake application on a slippery road
surface because the wheels do not lock up. You must not expect, however, that the br
aking distance will be shorter under all
circumstances as a result of the ABS. Th
e braking distance for example on gravel
and fresh snow, when you should anyway be driving slowly and cautiously, will be longer. Operating principle The brake pressure will be reduced on a wheel which is rotating at a speed which is too low for the speed of the vehicle and tend
ing to lock. This control cycle is notice-
able from a
pulsating movement of the brake pedal
which is accompanied by
noises. This is consciously intended to provide the driver with the information that the wheels are tending to lock (ABS control range). You must always keep the brake pedal depressed to enable the ABS to optima
lly control the brake application in this
braking range. Never interrupt the application of the brakes!
WARNING
•
The ABS can also not overcome the physic
al limits of your
vehicle. Please
do not forget this, particularly when driv
ing on icy or wet road surfaces. If the
ABS is operating within the control ra
nge, adapt your speed immediately to
the conditions of the road surface an
d the traffic situation. The increased
safety offered by the ABS must not tempt you to take greater risks than otherwise - risk of an accident!•
The normal braking system is
still fully functional if there is an ABS fault.
Visit a specialist garage as
quickly as possible and adju
st your style of driving
to take account of the ABS fault in the meantime since you will not know the extent of the fault and in how far
the braking efficiency is affected.
Note
•
A warning light comes on if a fault occurs in the ABS system
⇒page 32.
•
Changes to vehicle (e.g. on engine, on
the brakes, on chassis or another combi-
nation of tyres and wheels) can in
fluence the function of the ABS
⇒page 179,
“Accessories, changes and replacement of parts”.Brake Assist*During a severe brake application (e.g. if a hazard exists), the Brake Assist increases the braking force and thus makes it possible to rapidly produce the pressure required in the brake system. The majority of drivers do apply the brakes in good time in dangerous situations, but do not depress the brake pedal with suff
icient pressure. Consequently, it is not
possible for the vehicle to achieve its maximum deceleration and the vehicle covers a greater distance than necessary. The Brake Assist is activated by the very quick operation of the brake pedal. In such cases, a much greater braking pressure ex
ists than during a
normal brake applica-
tion. This makes it possible, even with a relatively low resistance of the brake pedal, to produce an adequate pressure in the brake system in the shortest possible time, which is required for maximum decelerati
on of the vehicle. You must apply the
brake pedal firmly and
hold it in this position in order to achieve the shortest
possible braking distance. The Brake Assist is able to help you achi
eve a shorter braking distance in emergency
situations by rapidly producing the pressure
required in the brake system. It fully
exploits the attributes of the ABS. After yo
u release the brake peda
l, the function of
the Brake Assist is automatically switched off and the brakes operate in the normal way.
WARNING
•
The Brake Assist is also not able to overcome the physical limits of your
vehicle in terms of the br
aking distance required.
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Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle
151
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
WheelsSteel wheels You should also thoroughly wash the wheels and wheel trims when giving your vehicle its regular wash. This prevents an
y brake dust, dirt and road salt from
sticking to the wheel hubs. You can remove
stubborn brake abrasion adhering to
t h e w h e e l s w i t h a n i n d u s tr i a l c l e a n e r. To u c h u p a n y d a m a g e to t h e p a i n tw o r k o n th e wheels before rust is able to form. Light alloy wheels Regular care of light alloy wheels is necessary in order to retain their decorative appearance over long periods. It is partic
ularly useful to remove any road salt and
brake abrasion from the light alloy wheels every two weeks, otherwise the paint- work of the wheel rim will suffer damage
. Wash thoroughly and then treat the
wheels with a protective product for light alloy wheels which does not contain any acidic components. You should provide the wheel hubs with a hard wax layer every three months. You must not use any produc
ts which cause abrasion when treating
the wheel hubs. Any damage to the paint layer on the wheel hubs must be touched up immediately. We recommend using a preservative from
Škoda genuine accessories offered by
your Škoda dealer.
WARNING
One should remember when cleaning th
e wheels that moisture, ice and road
salt may adversely affect braking ef
ficiency - risk of an accident!
Note
Severe layers of dirt on th
e wheels can also result in
wheel imbalance. This may
show itself in the form of a wheel vibration which is transmitted to the steering wheel which, in certain circumstances, ca
n cause premature wear
of the steering.
This means it is necessary to remove the dirt.
Underbody protectionThe underside of your vehicl
e is protected for life against chemical and mechanical
influences. One cannot, however, completely rule out damage to the
protective layer
when
driving so we recommend that you inspect the protective layer on the underside of your vehicle and on the chassis at certain in
tervals - this is best done at the begin-
ning and end of the winter - and to touch up any damaged areas. Specialist garages have suitable
spray products
available as well as the necessary
equipment and are familiar with the instructions for use. It is therefore best to have such touch-up work or additional corros
ion protection measures carried out by a
specialist garage.
WARNING
Never use additional underbody protection or corrosion-protection agents for the exhaust pipes, catalytic converte
rs, diesel particle
filter or heat
shields. When the engine reaches its operating temperature, these substances might ignite - risk of fire!Protection of hollow spacesAll the cavities of your vehicle which are at
risk from corrosion are protected for life
by a layer of
protective wax
applied in the factory.
This wax protection does not require to be
inspected or re-treated. Please remove
any small amount of wax which flows out of
the cavities at high temperatures with
a plastic scraper and clean the spot using petroleum cleaner.
WARNING
Safety and environmental protection regulations should observed when using petroleum cleaner to re
move wax - a risk of fire!
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Inspecting and replenishing
165
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Check hydraulic oil The hydraulic system of the power steering is filled with the hydraulic oil designated in the catalogue as G 002 000. Perform the inspection of the hydraulic oil level when the engine is cold and not running. The hydraulic oil level must be between the “MIN” and “MAX” markings ⇒ page 164, fig. 153
. If the level drops below the mark
ing “MIN”, it is necessary that
the power steering is checked by a specialist
garage. It is not sufficient to solely refill
with hydraulic oil.
Note
If the engine is not running (when towing) or
if the V-ribbed belt is torn, the power
steering does not operate. The vehicle is fully steerable however. There is however increased force required to turn the steering wheel.Cooling systemCoolant The job of the coolant is to cool the engine.The cooling system does not require an
y maintenance under normal operating
conditions. The coolant consists of water
with a concentration of coolant additive
of 40 %. This mixture not only provides
antifreeze protection down to -25°C but
also protects the cooling and heating system from corrosion. It also prevents the formation of scale and significantly increases the boiling point of the coolant. You must therefore not reduce the concentr
ation of antifreeze agent in the coolant
by adding water, also not during the summ
er months or in countries with a warm
climate.
The concentration of coolant additive in the coolant must be at least
40%. You can increase the amount of antifreeze
in the coolant if a higher concentration
of antifreeze is necessary for climatic
reasons but only up to 60% (antifreeze
protection down to approx. -40°C). The an
tifreeze protection tails off above that
concentration.
Vehicles exported to countries with a co
ld climate (e.g. Sweden, Norway, Finland)
are already factory-filled with a coolant which offers antifreeze protection down to about -35°C. In these countries the concentr
ation of coolant additive should be at
least 50 %. Coolant The cooling system is factory-filled with
coolant (purple in colour), which complies
with the specification TL-VW 774 G. We recommend that you use the same c
oolant additive - G12 PLUS-PLUS (purple
in colour) for topping up the system. Please contact a specialist garage if you have any questions regarding the coolant or if you wish to fill up with a different coolant. A specialist garage can also supply
you with the correct coolant additives.
Caution
•
Other coolant additives may cause operational problems which, in partic-
ular, involves significantly reducing the anticorrosion effect.•
Any faults or problems resulting from corrosion may cause a loss of
coolant and, as a consequence of th
is, result in major engine damage.
Inspecting the coolant level
Fig. 154 Engine compart- ment: Coolant expansion bottle
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Wheels and Tyres
174
Always check the inflation pressure of ty
res when cold. Do not reduce the higher
pressure of warm tyres. Adapt the inflation pressure of the tyres accordingly if your vehicle is carrying a significantly higher payload. Driving style Fast cornering, sharp acceleration and braking (squealing tyres) increase wear-and- tear on your tyres. Balancing wheels The wheels of a new vehicle are balanced. There are a wide range of influences when driving which may result in an imbalance and which makes themselves felt through vibration in the steering. You should have the wheels rebalanced
since any imbalance increases wear-and-
tear on the steering, the suspension and
tyres. A wheel must also be rebalanced
when a new tyre is fitted and each time a tyre is repaired. Wheel alignment errors Incorrect wheel alignment at the front and re
ar will not only increase wear-and-tear
on the tyres but will also has an adverse
effect on vehicle safety. Contact your
specialist garage if you notice any unusual tyre wear.
WARNING
•
If the inflation pressure is too low,
the tyre must perform a greater flexing
work. At higher speeds the tyre will warm up as a result of this. This can result in tread separation and even a tyre blowout.•
Immediately replace the damaged rims or tyres.For the sake of the environment
Tyres which are insufficiently inflated increase your fuel consumption.
Wear indicatorsThe base of the tread of the original tyres has wear indicators 1.6 mm high, installed at right angles to the direction of travel. These wear indicators are located at 6 - 8 points depending on the make and are evenly spaced around the circumference of the tyre
⇒fig. 160
. Markings on the walls of the
tyres through the letters “TWI”,
triangular symbols or other symbols identi
fy the position of the wear indicators.
A remaining tread of just 1.6 mm, measured in the grooves of the tread next to the wear indicators, means that your tyres
have reached their legally permissible
minimum tread depth.
WARNING
•
You must have your tyres replaced with new ones at the latest when the
wear indicators have been worn do
wn. The legally permissible minimum
tread depth should be observed.•
Worn tyres do not provide the necessar
y adhesion to the road surface at
high speeds on wet roads. One coul
d experience “aquaplaning” (uncon-
trolled movements of the vehicle - “swimming” on a wet road surface).
Fig. 160 Tyre tread with wear indicators
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Breakdown assistance
190
– Release the clutch particular
ly gently when starting off.
Driver of the towed vehicle – Switch the ignition on so that the steering wheel is not blocked and
you can also operate the turn signal
lights, the headlight flasher, the
windscreen wipers and wi
ndscreen washer system.
– Take the vehicle out of gear. – Note that the brake servo unit and power steering only operate if the
engine is running. You will require si
gnificantly greater physical force
to depress the brake pedal and to steer the vehicle if the engine is not running.
– Ensure that the tow rope is always kept taught.Tow rope or tow bar A tow
bar
is safest way of towing a vehicle and also minimizes any shocks. You can
use a tow
rope
only if a suitable tow bar is not available.
The tow rope must be elastic to protect
the vehicle. Thus one should only use
plastic fibre rope or a rope made
out of a similarly elastic material.
Only attach the tow rope to the
towing eyes
provided for this purpose
⇒page 190,
“Front towing eye”. Driving style Towing another vehicle requires a certain
amount of practice. Both drivers should
be familiar with the particular points
about towing a vehicle. Unskilled drivers
should not attempt to tow in another vehicle or to be towed in. One should be constantly vigilant not to allow impermissibly high towing forces or jerky loadings. There is always a risk of excessive stresses and damage resulting at the points to which you attach the tow ro
pe or tow bar when you attempt to tow a
vehicle which is not standing on a paved road.
Caution
If the gearbox of your vehicle no longer
contains any oil because of a defect, your
vehicle must only be towed in with the driven wheels raised clear of the ground, or on a special vehicle transporter or trailer.
Note
•
Please comply with any legal requirements particularly regarding the switched
on signal systems, when towing in
or tow-starting another vehicle.
•
The tow rope must not be twisted as it may in certain circumstances result in the
front towing eye being unscrewed out of your vehicle.Front towing eyeThe front towing eye is welded on behind the bumper on the right ⇒
fig. 173
. The tow rope or the tow bar must only be attached to this eye.
The grille is secured with plastic lugs at the points of the arrows. Remove the grille as follows: – Grasp the grille on the ribs in the upper area. Press it in the direction
of arrow and take it out in the direction or arrow
⇒
fig. 173
.
Fig. 173 Front bumper: protective grille of towing eye
A1
A2
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