2010 SKODA OCTAVIA ABS

Automatic gearbox
116
Automatic gearboxAutomatic gearbox*Information for driving with the 6-speed automatic gearbox*
Your car is equipped with a conv entional 6-speed automatic gearbox.The maximum speed is reached in the 5th gear. The 6th gear serves as an economic
driving programme, which is intended to redu ce the fuel consumption. Shifting up and
down through the gears is performed automa tically. You can also, however, switch the
gearbox over into the Tiptronic mode. This mode makes it possible for you to also shift
gears manually page 120.Starting-off and Driving– Depress the brake pedal fully and keep it depressed.
– Press the Shiftlock button (button in ha ndle of the selector lever), move the
selector lever into the desired position, e.g. D  page 118, and then release the
Shiftlock button.
– Wait a moment until the gearbox has shif ted (a slight engagement nudge can be
felt).
– Release the brake pedal and depress the accelerator .Stop– The selector lever position N does not have to be selected when stopping just for
a short time, such as at a cross roads. It is absolutely sufficient to hold the stopped
vehicle stationary by depressing the foot brake. The engine can, however, be
allowed just to idle.Parking– Depress the brake pedal and hold it depressed.
– Apply the handbrake firmly.
– Press and Shiftlock button in the selector lever, move the selector lever to P and
then release the Shiftlock button. The engine can only be
started when the selector lever is in position P or N
 page 108.
It is sufficient to engage selector lever position P when parking on a flat surface. When
parking on a slope you should first apply the handbrake firmly and then move the
selector lever into position P. This is to ensure that there is no excessive pressure acting
on the lock mechanism and that it is easier to subsequently move the selector lever out
of position P.
If the selector lever position N is selected by accident while driving it is first necessary
to release pressure on the accelerator pedal and wait for idling speed of the engine to
be reached before engaging a driv e position in the selector lever.
WARNING

Do not depress the accelerator when changing the position of the selector
lever if the car is stationary and the engine is running - risk of accident!

Never move the selector lever into position R or P when driving - risk of an
accident!

When the engine is running and the vehi cle is stationary, it is necessary to
hold the car with the brake pedal in all the positions of the selector lever (except
P and N) since the power transmission is never completely interrupted, also not
when the engine is idling - the vehicle creeps.
Information for driving with the automatic gearbox DSG*
The abbreviation DSG means Direct shift gearbox (Direct shift gearbox). Two independent clutches are needed for the power transmission between the engine
and the gearbox. These replace the torque converter of the conventional automatic
gearbox. Their shifting is matched in such a way that there are no jerks when shifting
the gear and the power transmission of the engine to the front wheels is not inter-
rupted. Shifting up and down through the gears is performed automatically. You can
also, however, switch the gearbox over into the Tiptronic mode. This mode makes it
possible for you to also shift gears manually page 120.
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Automatic gearbox117
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Starting-off and Driving– Depress the brake pedal fully and keep it depressed.
– Press the Shiftlock button (button in ha ndle of the selector lever), move the
selector lever into the desired position, e.g. in D, and then release the Shiftlock
button.
– Release the brake pedal and depress the accelerator .Stop– The selector lever position N does not have to be selected when stopping just for
a short time, such as at a cross roads. It is absolutely sufficient to hold the stopped
vehicle stationary by depressing the foot brake. The engine can, however, be
allowed just to idle.Parking– Depress the brake pedal and hold it depressed.
– Apply the handbrake firmly.
– Press and Shiftlock button in the selector lever, move the selector lever to P and
then release the Shiftlock button.
The engine can only be started when the selector le ver is in position P or N
 page 108. At temperatures below -10 °C the engine can only be started in the
selector lever position P .
It is sufficient to engage selector lever position P when parking on a flat surface. When
parking on a slope you should first apply the handbrake firmly and then move the
selector lever into position P. This is to ensure that there is no excessive pressure acting
on the lock mechanism and that it is easier to subsequently move the selector lever out
of position P.
If the selector lever position N is selected by accident while driving it is first necessary
to release pressure on the accelerator pedal and wait for idling speed of the engine to
be reached before engaging a drive position in the selector lever.
WARNING

Do not depress the accelerator when changing the position of the selector
lever if the car is stationary and the engine is running - risk of accident!

Never move the selector lever into position R or P when driving - risk of an
accident!

If you are stopping at a hill (downhill section), never try to hold the car
stationary with the gear engaged by mean s of the “accelerator”, this means by
letting the clutch slip. This can lead to ov erheating of the clutch. If there is a risk
of overheating of the clutch due to overlo ad, the clutch is opened automatically
and the vehicle rolls backward - risk of accident!

If yo u m us t s to p a t a sl ope , d e pre s s a nd ho ld t he b ra ke pe d a l , s o t ha t y ou c a n
prevent the vehicle from rolling back.Caution

The double clutch on the automatic gear box DSG is equipped with an overload
protection. If you make use of the uphill func tion on a vehicle which is stationary or
driving slowly uphill, it will result in an increase of thermal stress of the clutches.

An overheating of the clutches can be detect ed by the flashing of the selector level
indicator and the “jerk” of the clutches, finally the clutches are opened. The power
transmission from the engine to the front whee ls is interrupted and as a result of this
the vehicle can no longer be driven. If th e clutch opens automatically, depress the
brake pedal, wait a few seconds and only then continue driving.
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Seat belts145
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Seat beltsWhy seat belts?It is a proven fact that seat belt s offer good protection in accidents fig. 128 . 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. 128 . 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 145.
It is important that you pay attention to safety measures, particularly when trans-
porting children in the vehicle page 159, “What you should know about trans-
porting children!”.
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 147.

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. 129 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. 128 Driver wearing seat belt
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Intelligent Technology167
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Driving TipsIntelligent TechnologyElectronic stability programme (ESP)*GeneralThe ESP aids you in maintaining control of your vehicle in situations in which the
vehicle is driving at its dynamic limits, such as entering a curve fast. The risk of skidding
is reduced and your vehicle thus offers greater driving stability depending on the
conditions of the road surface. The system operates at all speeds.
The following systems are integrated into the electronic stability programme:
Electronic Differential Lock (EDL),

Traction control system (TCS),

active driver-steering recommendation (DSR),

Antilock brake system (ABS),

Brake Assist,

Uphill Start Assist
The ESP system cannot be switched off, only the TCS system can be switched off by
pressing the button fig. 149 , the warning light
 lights up. 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 proc-
esses additional measurement data which are supplied by highly sensitive sensors: the
rotational velocity of the vehicle about its ve
rtical axis, the lateral acceleration of the
vehicle, the braking pressure and the steering angle.
The direction which the driver wishes to take is determined based on the steering
angle and the speed of the vehicle and is co nstantly compared with the actual behav-
iour of the vehicle. If differences exist, such as the vehi cle beginning to skid, the ESP will
automatically brake the appropriate wheel.
The car is stabilised again by the forces wh ich 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 rear wh eel of a vehicle which tends to understeer
(tendency to shift out of the curve). This braking control cycle is accompanied by
noises.
During an intervention of the system, the warning light
 flashes in the instrument
cluster page 32.
The ESP operates in combination with the ABS page 171, “Antilock brake system
(ABS)”. If there is a fault in the ABS system, the ESP also does not operate.
The ESP warning light lights up in the instrument cluster when there is a fault on the
ESP
  page 32.WARNING
It is also not possible for the ESP to overcome the physical limits of the vehicle.
Even if a vehicle fitted with ESP you should still always adapt your style of
driving to the condition of the road surfac e and the traffic situation. This partic-
ularly applies when driving on slippery and wet roads. The increased safety
Fig. 149 ESP switch
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Intelligent Technology
168
offered must not tempt you to take greater risks than otherwise - risk of an acci-
dent!
Note

All four wheels must be fitted with the same tyres in order to achieve problem-free
operation of the ESP. Differing rolling circum ferences of the tyres can lead to an unde-
sirable reduction in the engine output.

Changes to vehicle (e.g. on engine, on th e brakes, on chassis or another combina-
tion of tyres and wheels) can influence the function of the ESP page 214, “Accesso-
ries, changes and replacement of parts”.
Electronic Differential Lock (EDL and XDL)*
The electronic differential lock prev ents an individual wheel from slip-
ping.Models fitted with ESP ar e equipped with electronic differential lock (EDL).
General
The EDL makes it much easier, and sometimes at all possible, to start off, accelerate
and climb a steep hill when the conditions of the road surface are unfavourable.
Operating principle
The EDL is activated automaticall y, that is without any action on the part of the driver.
It monitors the speeds of the driven wheels with the aid of the ABS sensors. Should
only one drive wheel begin spinning on a slippery surface there will be an appreciable
difference in the speed of the driven wheels. The EDL function brakes the slipping
wheel and the differential transmits a greate r driving force to the other driven wheel.
This control process is also accompanied by noises.
Overheating of the brakes
The EDL switches off automatica lly if unusually severe stresses exist in order to avoid
excessive heat generation in the disc brake on the wheel which is being braked. The
vehicle can continue to be driven and has the same characteristics as a vehicle not
fitted with EDL. The EDL switches on again automatically
as soon as the brake has cooled down.
XDL function (only for Octavia RS)
The XDL function is an extension to the electronic differential lock. The XDL function
does not respond to traction, but to the relief of the inner front wheel during fast
cornering. An active brake intervention on the brake of the inner wheel prevents it from
spinning. Thus, the trac tion is improved and the vehicle continues to follow the desired
track.
WARNING

Carefully depress the accelerator when accelerating on uniformly slippery
road surfaces, such as ice and snow. Th e driven wheels might still spin despite
the EDL and affect the stability of the vehicle - risk of an accident!

You should always adapt your style of driving to the condition of road
surface and to the traffic situation even when your vehicle is fitted with EDL.
The increased safety offered must not tempt you to take greater risks than
otherwise - risk of an accident!Note

If the ABS or ESP warning light comes on, this may also indicate a fault in the EDL.
Please have the vehicle inspected as soon as possible by a specialist garage.

Changes to vehicle (e.g. on engine, on the brakes, on chassis or another combina-
tion of tyres and wheels) can influence the function of the EDL page 214, “Accesso-
ries, changes and replacement of parts”.
WARNING (continued)
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Intelligent Technology169
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Traction control system (TCS)
The traction control system prevents the driven wheels from spinning
when accelerating.General
The TCS makes it much easier, and sometimes at all possible, to start off, accelerate and
climb a steep hill when th e conditions of the road surface are unfavourable.
Operating principle
The TCS switches on automatically when th e engine is started and then conducts a
self-test. The system monitors the speeds of the driven wheels with the aid of the ABS
sensors. If the wheels are spinning, the force transmitted to the road surface is auto-
matically adapted by reducing the engine speed. The system operates at all speeds.
The TCS operates in combination with the ABS page 171, “Antilock brake system
(ABS)”. The TCS will not function if a fault exists in the ABS system.
The TCS warning light lights up in the instru ment cluster when there is a fault on the
TCS
  page 32.
During an intervention of the system, the TCS warning light
 flashes in the instru-
ment cluster page 32.
Switching off
You can switch the TCS off and on again as you wish by pressing the button fig. 150 .
The TCS warning light lights up in the instru ment cluster when the system is switched
off
  page 32. The TCS 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:

when driving with snow chains,

when driving in deep snow or on a loose surface,

when it is necessary to rock a vehicle when it has become stuck.
then you should switch on the TCS again.
WARNING
You should always adjust your style of driving to the conditions of the road
surface and the traffic situation. The increased safety offered must not tempt
you to take greater risks than otherwise - risk of an accident!
Note

All four wheels must be fitted with the same tyres in order to achieve problem-free
operation of the TCS. Differing rolling circumferences of the tyres can lead to an unde-
sirable reduction in the engine output.

Changes to vehicle (e.g. on engine, on the brakes, on chassis or another combina-
tion of tyres and wheels) can influence the function of the TCS page 214, “Accesso-
ries, changes and replacement of parts”.
Active driver-steering recommendation (DSR)*Vehicles with ESP are equipped with active driver-steering recommendation (DSR).
This function indicates to the driver in crit ical situations a steering recommendation in
order to stabilise the vehicle. The active driver-steering recommendation is activated,
for example, on the right and left vehicle si de when braking sharply on different road
surfaces.
WARNING
Even with this function the vehicle cann ot steer itself! The driver is furthermore
responsible for the steering of the vehicle!
Fig. 150 TCS switch
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170
BrakesWhat has a negative effect on braking efficiency?Wear-and-tear
Wear-and-tear to the brake pads is greatly dependent on the operating conditions of
the vehicle and your style of driving. Particul arly if you drive a great deal in towns and
over short distances or if you adopt a sporty style of driving, it may be necessary to
have the thickness of the brake pads inspected at a specialist garage between the
service inspections.
Wet roads or road salt
There may be a certain delay before the brakes take full effect under certain conditions
such as when driving through water, during heavy rain showers or after the vehicle has
been washed in an automatic vehicle wash , since the brake discs and brake pads may
be moist or even have a coatin g of ice on them in winter. Yo u s h o u l d d r y t h e b r a k e s a s
soon as possible by applying and releasing the brakes several times.
There also may be a certain delay before the full braking efficiency is available when
driving on roads which have been treated with road salt if you have not used the brakes
for some considerable time beforehand. The layer of salt on the brake discs and brake
pads must first be rubbed off when you apply the brakes.
Corrosion
Corrosion on the brake discs and dirt on th e bake pads occur if the vehicle has been
parked for a long period an d if you do not make much use of the braking system.
We recommend cleaning the brak e discs by firmly applying the brakes at a fairly high
speed if you do not make much use of the braking system or if surface corrosion is
present .
Faults in the brake surface
If you notice that the braking distance ha s suddenly become longer and that the brake
pedal can be depressed further, it is possible that a brake circuit of the dual-circuit
brake system has failed. Drive, in such cases, to the nearest specialist garage without
delay in order to have the problem rectified. Drive at a reduced speed while on your
way to the dealer and adapt your style of driving to the higher brake pedal pressure
required. Low brake fluid level
An insufficient level of brake fluid may result in problems in the brake system. The level
of the brake fluid is monitored electronically
page 34, “Brake system ”.
WARNING

Only apply the brakes for the purpose of drying and cleaning the brake discs
if the traffic conditions permit this. Do not place any other road users in jeop-
ardy.

When retrospectively mounting a front spoiler, solid wheel hubs etc. one
must ensure that the air supply to the front wheel brakes is not reduced other-
wise the braking system could run too hot.

Allow for the fact that new brake pads do not achieve their full braking effi-
ciency until approximately 200 kilometres. New brake pads must be first “run
in” before they develop their optimal fric tion force. You can, however, compen-
sate for this slightly reduced braking fo rce by increasing the pressure on the
brake pedal. This guideline also applie s to any new brake pads installed at a
future date.Caution

Never allow the brakes to rub by applying sl ight pressure if you do not wish to brake
the vehicle. This causes the br akes to overheat and can also result in a longer braking
distance and excessive wear.

Before negotiating a steep downhill section, please reduce your speed, shift down
into the next lower gear (manual gearbox) or select a lower driving stage (automatic
gearbox). This enables you to make full us e of the braking power of the vehicle and
reduces the strain on the brakes. Any additional braking should be done intermittently,
not continuously.Note
The brake light flashes automatically in case of an emergency braking at speeds greater
than 60 km/h or with the intervention of th e ABS, which lasts longer than 1.5 seconds.
After the speed was reduced below 10 km/h or the vehicle was stopped, the brake light
stops flashing and the hazard warning light system switches on. The hazard warning
light system is switched of f automatically after accelerating or driving off again.
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Intelligent Technology171
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Brake boosterThe brake booster boosts the pressure which you generate with the brake pedal. The
necessary pressure is only genera ted when the engine is running.
WARNING

Never switch off the engine before the vehicle is stationary.

The brake booster only operates when the engine is running. Greater phys-
ical effort for braking is required when en gine is switched off. Because if you do
not stop as normal, this can cause an accident and severe injuries.
Antilock brake system (ABS)ABS prevents the wheels locking when braking.General
The ABS contributes significantly to enhanc ing 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 full br ake 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. The 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 tending to lock. This control cycle is noticeable
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 optimally control the brake application in this braking
range. Never interrupt the application of the brakes!
WARNING

The ABS can also not overcome the physical limits of your vehicle. Please do
not forget this, particularly when driving on icy or wet road surfaces. If the ABS
is operating within the control range, adapt your speed immediately to the
conditions of the road surface and 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 poss ible and adjust 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 33.

Changes to vehicle (e.g. on engine, on the brakes, on chassis or another combina-
tion of tyres and wheels) can in fluence the function of the ABS page 214, “Accesso-
ries, 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 a pply the brakes in good time in dangerous situations, but
do not depress the brake pedal with sufficient 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 qu ick operation of the brake pedal. In such
cases, a much greater braking pressure exists than during a normal brake application.
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 dece leration of the vehicle. You must apply the brake pedal
firmly and hold it in this position in or der to achieve the shortest possible braking
distance.
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