2010 SKODA FABIA airbag off

Seats and Storage
59
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Seats and StorageFront seatsBasic informationThe front seats have a wide range of differ
ent settings and can thus be matched to the
physical characteristics of the driver and
front passenger. Correct adjustment of the
seats is particularly important for:
safely and quickly reaching the controls;

a relaxed, fatigue-free body position;

achieving the maximum protection offered by the seat belts and the airbag
system. The chapters which follow describe the procedure which you should adopt for adjusting the seats.
WARNING

Never transport more occupants than the maximum seating in the vehicle.

Each occupant must correctly fasten the seat belt belonging to the seat.
Children must be fastened
page 130, “Transporting children safely” with a
suitable restraint system.
The front seats and the head restraints must always be adjusted to match
the body size of the seat occupant as well as the seat belts must always be correctly fastened in order to provide an optimal protection for you and your occupants.
Always keep your feet in the footwell
when the vehicle is being driven -
never place your feet on the instrument panel, out of the window or on the surfaces of the seats. This is particular
ly important for the front seat passenger.
You will be exposed to increased risk of
injury if it becomes necessary to apply
the brake or in the event of an accident.
If an airbag is deployed, you may suffer
fatal injuries when adopting an incorrect seated position!
It is important for the driver and front
passenger to maintain
a distance of at
least 25 cm from the steering wheel or
dash panel. Not maintaining 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 occupant.
Ensure that there are no objects in
the footwell as any objects may get
behind the pedals during a driving or braking manoeuvre. You would then no longer be able to operate the clutch, to brake or accelerate.
Do not transport any objects on the front passenger seat except those
provided for this purpose (e.g. child safety seat) - risk of accident!Adjusting the front seatsAdjusting a seat in a forward/back direction–Pull the lever
fig. 50
up and push the seat into the desired position.
– Release the lever and push the seat further until the lock is heard to engage.Adjusting height of seat*– Lift the seat if required by pulling or pumping lever upwards.– Lower the seat if required by pushing or pumping lever downwards.
WARNING (continued)
Fig. 50 Controls at seat
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Seats and Storage
60 Adjust the angle of the seat backrest– Relieve any pressure on the seat backrest
(do not lean on it) and turn the hand-
wheel to adjust the angle of the backrest.
The driver's seat should be adjusted in such a way that the pedals can be fully pressed to the floor with slightly bent legs. The seat backrest on the driver's seat should
be adjusted in such a way that the upper
point of the steering wheel can be easi
ly reached with slightly bent arms.
WARNING

Only adjust the driver seat when the vehicle is stationary - risk of injury!

Take care when adjusting the seat! Adjusting the seat without care can lead
to bruises or injuries.
The seat backrests must not be angled too far back when driving otherwise
this will affect proper operation of the se
at belts and of the airbag system - risk
of injury!Head restraintsFig. 51 Head restraint: Adjusting / pulling outBest protection is achieved if the top edge of
the head restraint is at the same level as
the upper part of your head.
Adjusting the height of a head restraint– Grasp the side of the head restraint with both hands and push the head restraint in
the direction of axle of the metal guide rods, in the direction of arrow to the top or to the bottom
fig. 51
on the left.
– Move the head restraint downwards if required by pressing the locking button
 fig. 51
on the right and by pressing with the other hand the head restraint down-
wards.
Removing and installing a head restraint– Pull the head restraint out of the seat backrest as far as the stop. – Press the locking button in the direction of arrow
fig. 51
and pull the head
restraint out.
– To re-insert the head restraint, push it do
wn into the seat backrest far enough until
you hear the locking button engage.
The position of the front, rear outer head restraints and the rear middle head restraint* is adjustable for height. The head restraints must be adjusted to ma
tch the size of the seat occupant. Correctly
adjusted head restraints together with the
seat belts offer effective protection for the
occupants
page 114.
WARNING

The head restraints must be correctly adjusted in order to offer effective
protection for the occupants in the event of an accident.
Do not drive under any circumstance with removed head restraints - risk of
injury!
If the rear seats are occupied, the rear
head restraint must not be in the
lower position.
A3
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Seats and Storage
79
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
– Press the upper corners to the inside
and release the storage compartment by
pulling upwards.
– Take it out by pulling toward
s the middle of the vehicle.
Installing– Insert both ends of the flexible storage
compartment into the openings of the right
side trim panel of the luggage compartmen
t and push it downwards until it locks.
Note
If the variable loading floor* is installed
page 67 in the luggage compartment, no
flexible storage compartment can be installed.Clothes hooks*The clothes hooks are located on the handle of the headliner above each of the rear doors.
WARNING

Ensure that any clothes hanging from the hooks do not impair your vision to
the rear.
Use the hooks for hanging only light item
s of clothing and ensure that there
are no heavy or sharp-edge
d objects in the pockets.

The maximum permissable load of the hooks is 2 kg.

Do not use clothes hangers for hanging up items of clothing otherwise this
will interfere with the protection offered by the head airbag*.
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Starting-off and Driving
89
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Starting-off and DrivingSetting steering wheel positionFig. 93 Adjustable steering wheel: Lever be
low the steering column / Safe distance to
steering wheelYou can set the height and the forward/back
position of the steering wheel to the
desired position. – Adjust the driver seat
page 59.
– Pull the lever below the steering wheel down
fig. 93
- left

.
– Set the steering wheel to the desired position (concerning height and forward/back
position).
– Then push the lever up against the steering column until it locks into place.
WARNING

You must not adjust the steering wheel when the vehicle is moving!

The driver must maintain a distance of
at least 25 cm to
the steering wheel
 fig. 93
- right. Not maintaining this minimum distance will mean that the
airbag system will not be able to properly protect you - hazard!
For safety reasons the lever must always be firmly pushed up to avoid the
steering wheel altering its po
sition unintentionally when driving - risk of acci-
dent!

If you adjust the steering wheel furthe
r towards the head, you will reduce
the protection offered by the driver airbag in the event of an accident. Check that the steering wheel is
aligned to the chest.

When driving, hold the steering wheel
with both hands firmly on the outer
edge in the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock po
sition. Never hold the steering wheel
firmly in the 12 o'clock position or in another way (e.g. in the middle of the steering wheel or at the inne
r steering wheel edge). In such
cases, injuries to the
arms, the hands and the head can occur
when the driver airbag is deployed.
Ignition lockPetrol engines - ignition switched off, engine
off, the steering can be locked.
- ignition switched on - start engine Diesel engines - interruption of fuel supply, ignition swit
ched off, engine off, the steering can be
locked. - heating glow plugs on, ignition switched onWARNING (continued)
Fig. 94 Ignition lock positions
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Passive Safety
113
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
SafetyPassive SafetyBasic informationDriving the safe way Passive safety measures reduce the risk
of injury in accident situations.
In this section you will find important info
rmation, tips and notes on the subject of
passive safety in your vehicle. We have
combined everything here which you should
be familiar with, for example, regarding seat
belts, airbags, child seats and safety of
children. It is therefore important, in partic
ular, to comply with the notes and warnings
in this section for your own interest and in the interest of those travelling with you.
WARNING

This chapter contains important information on how to use the vehicle for
the driver and his occupants. You will find further information on safety, which concerns you and those travelling with you, in the following chapters of this Owner's Manual.
The complete on-board literature should always be in the vehicle. This
applies in particular, if you rent out or sell the vehicle.Safety equipment The safety equipment is part of the occupant protection and it can reduce the risk of injuries in accident situations.“Do not put at risk” your safety and the safety of those travelling with you . In the event of an accident, the safety equipment can redu
ce the risk of injuries. The following list
contains part of the safety
equipment in your vehicle:

three-point seat belts for all the seats;

belt force limiters for front seats;

belt tensioners for front seats;

seat belt height adjusters for front seats;

front airbags for the driver and the front passenger*;

side airbags*;

head airbags*;

anchoring points for child seat using the “ISOFIX” system;

anchoring points for child seat using the “Top Tether” system;

head restraints adjustable for height;

adjustable steering column.
The specified safety equipment works togeth
er, in order to optimally protect you and
those travelling with you in accident situat
ions. The safety equipment does not protect
you or the people travelling with you, if
you or your occupants adopt an incorrect
seated position or the equipment is
not correctly adjusted or used.
For this reason you will be provided with information on why this equipment is very important, how it protects you and the occupants, what should be observed when using the equipment and how you and the peop
le travelling with you can make full use
of the existing safety equipment. This
Owner's Manual contains important warning
notes, which you and those travelling with
you should pay attention to in order to
reduce a risk of injury. Safety concerns everybody!Before setting off The driver is always fully responsibl
e for his occupants and for the oper-
ating safety of the vehicle.For your own safety and the safety of the pe
ople travelling with you, please pay atten-
tion to the following points before setting off.
Ensure that the lighting and the turn signal system are functioning properly.

Inspect the tyre inflation pressure.
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Passive Safety
115
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
correctly fastened in order to provide an optimal protection for you and your occupants.
The driver must maintain a distance of
at least 25 cm to
the steering wheel
 page 114, fig. 108
. Not maintaining this minimum distance will mean that
the airbag system will not be able to properly protect you - hazard!
When driving, hold the st
eering wheel with both hands firmly on the outer
edge in the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock po
sition. Never hold
the steering wheel
firmly in the 12 o'clock position or in another way (e.g. in the middle of the steering wheel or at the inner steering wheel
edge). In such cases, injuries to the
arms, the hands and the head can occur
when the driver airbag is deployed.

Ensure that there are no objects in
the footwell as an
y objects may get
behind the pedals during a driving or
braking manoeuvre. You would then no
longer be able to operate the
clutch, to brake or accelerate.
Correct seated position for the front passenger The f ro n t p as s en ger mus t mai n tai n a d i s tan ce of a t l ea s t 25 c m f rom th e dash panel so that the airbag offers him the greatest possible safety it is deployed.For the safety of the front pass
enger and to reduce the risk of injury in the event of an
accident, we recommend
the following setting.

Adjust the front passenger seat as
far as possible to the rear.

Adjust the head restraint so that the top ed
ge of the head restraint is at the same
level as the upper pa
rt of your head
page 114, fig. 108
- right.

Fasten the seat belt correctly
page 119, “How are seat belts correctly fastened?”.
In exceptional cases the front pass
enger airbag can be deactivated
page 128,
“Deactivating airbags”. Adjusting the passenger seat
page 59, “Adjusting the front seats”.
WARNING

The front seats and the head restraints must always be adjusted to match
the body size of the seat occupant as well as the seat belts must always be correctly fastened in order to provide an optimal protection for you and your occupants.
The front passenger must maintain a distance of at least 25 cm to the dash
panel. Not maintaining this minimum distance will mean that the airbag system will not be able to properly protect you - hazard!
Always keep your feet in the footwel
l when the vehicle is being driven -
never place your feet on the instrument panel, out of the window or on the surfaces of the seats. You will be exposed to increased risk of injury if it becomes necessary to apply the brake or in the ev
ent of an accident. If an airbag is
deployed, you may suffer fatal injuries wh
en adopting an incorrect seated posi-
tion!
The seat backrests must not be angled
too far back when driving otherwise
this will affect proper operation of the se
at belts and of the airbag system - risk
of injury!Correct seated position for the occupants on the rear seats Occupants on the rear seats must sit upright, keep the feet in the foot- well and must have their se
at belts correctly fastened.
To reduce the risk of injury in the event of
a sudden braking manoeuvre or an accident,
the occupants on the rear seats must observe the following.
Adjust the head restraints so that the top edge of the head restraints is at the same
level as the upper part of your head
page 114, fig. 108
.

Fasten the seat belt correctly
page 119, “How are seat belts correctly fastened?”.

If you are transporting
page 130, “Transporting children safely” children in the
vehicle, please use a suitable child restraint system.
WARNING

The head restraints must always be adjusted to match the body size, in order
to offer an optimal protection for you and your occupants.
WARNING (continued)
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Passive Safety
116

Always keep your feet in the footwell
when the car is being driven - never
put your feet out of the window or on the surfaces of the seats. You will be exposed to increased risk of injury if it
becomes necessary to apply the brake or
in the event of an accident. If the head
airbag* is deployed and when adopting
an incorrect seated position, you are exposing yourself to an increased risk of injury and in the event of an acci
dent you may suffer fatal injuries!

If the occupants on the rear
seats are not sitting uprigh
t, the risk of injury is
increased due to incorrect routing of the seat belt.Examples of an incorrect seated position An incorrect seated position can lead to severe injuries or death for the occupants.Seat belts offer their optimum protection only
if the webbing of the seat belts is prop-
erly routed. Incorrect seated positions considerably reduce the protective functions of the seat belts and therefore increase the risk
of injury due to an incorrect routing of the
seat belt. The driver is fully responsible for himself and his occupants, in particular for the children. Do not permit an occupant to
adopt an incorrect seated position when
the car is moving. The following list contains
the examples of seated positions which are dangerous for
the occupants. This list is not complete, howe
ver we would like you to get interested in
this subject. Therefore, while the car is moving never:
stand up in the vehicle;

stand up on the seats;

kneel on the seats;

tilt the seat backrest fully to the back;

lean against the dash panel;

lie on the rear seat bench;

only sit on the front area of the seat;

sit to the side;

lean out of the window;

put the feet out of the window;

put the feet on the dash panel;

put the feet on the seat upholstery;

transport somebody in the footwell;

have the seat belt not fastened when driving;

occupy the luggage compartment.
WARNING

If the occupant adopts an incorrect seated position, he is exposed to life-
threatening injuries, in case he is hit by a deployed airbag.
Before setting off, please adopt the correct seated position and do not
change this seated position while the car is moving. Also advise your occupants to adopt the correct seated position and not to change this seated position while the car is moving.
WARNING (continued)
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Seat belts
117
Using the system
Safety
Driving Tips
General Maintenance
Breakdown assistance
Technical Data
Seat beltsWhy seat belts?It is a proven fact that seat belt
s offer good protection in accidents
fig. 109
. Thus
wearing a seat belt is a legal requirement in most countries. Seat belts which have been correctly fasten
ed and adjusted hold the occupants of the
car in the correct seated position
fig. 109
. The belts reduce the kinetic energy
(energy of motion) to a considerable exte
nt. They also prevent uncontrolled move-
ments which, in turn, may well result in severe injuries. The occupants of a vehicle who have fastened
and correctly adjusted their seat belt,
profit to a major extent from the fact that
the kinetic energy is optimally absorbed by
the belts. The structure of the front end of the vehicle and other passive safety meas- ures, such as the airbag system, also cont
ribute to reducing the kinetic energy. The
energy produced is thus absorbed and there is less risk of injury. Accident statistics prove that seat belts which are fastened and properly adjusted reduce the risk of an injury and enhance the chance of survival in a major accident  page 117. It is important that you pay attention to
safety measures, particularly when trans-
porting children in the vehicle
page 130, “Transporting children safely”.
WARNING

Fasten your seat belt each time before
setting off, also when driving in town!
This also applies to the people seated at the rear - risk of injury!

Expectant women must also always wear
a seat belt. This is the only way of
ensuring optimal protection for the unborn child
page 119, “Fastening
three-point seat belts”.
It is important for the belt webbing to be
properly routed if the seat belts are
to offer the maximum protection. You can see a description of how safety belts should be fitted properly on the next pages.
Note
Please comply with any differing legal requirements when using the seat belts.The physical principle of a frontal collisionFig. 110 The driver is catapulted forward if not
wearing a belt / The rear seat occupant is cata-
pulted forward if not wearing a beltThe physical principle of a frontal a
ccident can be explained quite simply:
Motion energy, so-called kinetic energy, is produced as soon as the vehicle is moving, both for the vehicle and its occupants. The
magnitude of this kinetic energy depends
essentially on the speed at which the vehicl
e is travelling and on the weight of the
vehicle and the occupants. The greater the speed and weight increase, the greater the amount of energy which has to be ab
sorbed in the event of an accident.
Fig. 109 Driver
wearing seat belt
WARNING (continued)
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