2011 SKODA OCTAVIA technical data

Direct switching on/off
Fig. 96 Button for direct switching on/
off of the auxiliary heating (auxiliary
heating and ventilation) on the operat-
ing part of the air conditioning system
The auxiliary heating (auxiliary heating and ventilation) can be switched on or off
directly with the  button on the air conditioning system, Climatronic- or heating
⇒  fig. 96 .
If the auxiliary heating and ventilation is not switched off earlier, it switches off
automatically after the expiration of the set operating period, in the menu Run-
ning time. 
Using the system So that the auxiliary heating (auxiliary heating and ventilation)
functions according to your expectations, it is necessary to carry
out the basic setting before its programming.
Basic setting
– On the information display, select in the Main menu the menu point Aux. heat-
ing.
– In the menu Aux. heating select the menu point Day of the wk. and set to-
day's date.
– By selecting the menu point Back, you will reach one level higher in the menu
Aux. Heating.
– In the menu Aux.
heating select the menu point Running time and set the de-
sired operating time in steps of 5 minutes. The running time can be 10 to 60
minutes.
– By selecting the menu point Back, you will reach in the menu Aux. heating.
– In the menu Aux.
heating select the menu point Mode. –
In the menu Mode select the desired mode Heating or Ventilation . 
Programming For the programming of the auxiliary heating (auxiliary heating and ventilation) in
the menu Aux. heating there are three pre-set times:
● Starting time 1
● Starting time 2
● Starting time 3
In each pre-set time, the day and the time (hour and minute) can be set for
switching on the auxiliary heating and/or ventilation.
An empty position can be found between Sunday and Monday when selecting the
day. If this empty position is selected, the activation is performed without taking
into account the day.
If you leave the pre-set menu by selecting the menu Back or do not make changes
on the display for longer than 10 seconds, the set values are stored, but the pre-
set time is not active.
Both other pre-set times can be programmed and stored in the same way.
Only one programmed pre-set time can be active.
The last programmed pre-set time remains active.
After the auxiliary heating activates at the set time, it is necessary to pre-set a
time again.
Changing the active pre-set time is carried out after selecting the menu point Ac-
tivate in the menu Aux.

heating by selecting a pre-set time.
The prerequisite for the correct switching on of the auxiliary heating (auxiliary
heating and ventilation) according to the programmed pre-set time is the correct
setting of the current time and the weekday ⇒ page 95.
If the system is running, a warning light in the button for direct switching on/off
of the auxiliary heating  lights up.
The running system deactivates after expiration of the operating period or is de-
activated earlier by pressing the button for direct switching on/off of the auxiliary
heating 
⇒
 page 95.
A random pre-set time can be deactivated by selecting the menu point Deactivate
in the menu Activate. £ 95
Heating and air conditioning system Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

Note
● Pay attention to the correct polarity when changing the battery.
● The replacement battery must have the same specification as the original bat-
tery.  97
Heating and air conditioning system Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

3
- start engine
Applies to all models:
Position 1 To
lock the steering , with the ignition key withdrawn, turn the steering wheel un-
til the steering locking pin is heard to engage. You should always lock the steering
as a general rule if you leave your vehicle. This acts as a deterrent against possible
theft of your vehicle ⇒  .
Position 2 Move the steering wheel back and forward a little if the ignition key cannot, or
cannot easily be turned into this position, in order to release the steering lock.
Position
3 The engine is started in this position. At the same time switched on low beam or
main beam or other electrical components with major power consumption are
briefly switched off. The ignition key moves back into position
2 when one relea-
ses the key.
The ignition key must be turned back into position 1 each time before starting
the engine again. The starter repeat lock in the ignition lock prevents the starter
being engaged when the engine is running and thus getting damaged.
Ignition key withdrawal lock (automatic gearbox)
You can only withdraw the ignition key after switching off the ignition if the selec-
tor lever is in position P.WARNING
● When driving, the ignition key must always be in the position 2 (ignition
switched on) without the engine running. This position is indicated by the
warning lights coming on. If this is not the case, it could result in unexpected
locking of the steering wheel - risk of accident!
● Only remove the ignition key from the ignition lock when the vehicle has
come to a standstill (by applying the handbrake or moving the selector lever
into the position
P). The steering lock can engage immediately - risk of acci-
dent!
● Always withdraw the ignition key if you are going to leave the vehicle,
even for a short time. This is particularly important if children are left in the
vehicle. The children might otherwise start the engine or switch on electrical
equipment (e.g. power windows) - risk of accident or injury! Starting the engine
General You can only start the engine only using an original ignition key.
Manual gearbox
– Place the gearshift lever into neutral and put on the handbrake firmly before
starting the engine.
– Engage the clutch pedal and keep it depressed until the engine starts.
If you start the engine without depressing the clutch pedal, the engine does not
start and the following message appears in the Information display Depress
clutch! or CLUTCH in the display of the instrument cluster.
– Let go of the key as soon as the engine starts otherwise there may be damage
to the starter.
Automatic gearbox
– Place the gearshift lever into P or N before starting the engine, and apply the
handbrake firmly.
– Let go of the key as soon as the engine starts otherwise there may be damage
to the starter.
The engine running noises may louder at first be louder for a short time after
starting the cold engine until oil pressure can be built up in the hydraulic valve
clearance compensation. This is quite normal and is not an operating problem.
If the engine does not start ...
You can use the battery of another vehicle as a jump-start aid ⇒

 page 206. WARNING
● Never run the engine in non ventilated or enclosed areas. The exhaust
gases of the engine contain besides the odorless and colourless carbon mon-
oxide a poisonous gas - hazard! Carbon monoxide can cause unconsciousness
and death.
● Never leave your vehicle unattended with the engine running. £ 99
Starting-off and Driving Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

Note
● The radiator fan may continue running for a further 10 minutes or so after the
engine and the ignition have been switched off. The coolant fan may, however, al-
so 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 com-
partment is additionally heated by strong sunlight.
● This is why particular care is required when carrying out any work in the en-
gine compartment ⇒
 page 181, Working in the engine compartment. 
Shifting (manual gearbox) Fig. 100 The shift pattern: 5-speed or 6-
speed 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.
The reversing lights will come on once reverse gear is engaged, provided the igni-
tion is on. WARNING
Never engage the reverse gear when driving - risk of accident! Note
● One should not lay the hand on the shift lever while driving the vehicle. The
pressure of the hand will be transferred to the gearshift forks in the gearbox. This
can, over a period of time, lead to early wear of the gearshift forks.
● Depress the clutch pedal fully when changing gears, in order to avoid unneces-
sary wear and damage. Pedals Operation of the pedals must not be hindered!
WARNING
● In the driver's footwell, only a footmat, which is attached to the two corre-
sponding attachment points, may be used.
● No objects are allowed in the driver's footwell – risk of obstruction or limi-
tation in operating the pedal! Note
● Greater brake pedal distances may be needed when there is a fault in the
brake system.
● Use only footmats from the range of ŠKODA Original Accessories, which are at-
tached at two attachment points. 
Handbrake Fig. 101 Centre console: Handbrake
Applying the handbrake
– Pull the handbrake lever up fully.
Releasing the handbrake
– Pull the handbrake lever up slightly and at the same time press in the locking
button ⇒

 fig. 101 .
– Hold the button pressed and push the handbrake lever down fully ⇒  .
£ 101
Starting-off and Driving Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

WARNING
● The parking aid is not a substitute for the driver paying proper attention
and it is always the driver's responsibility to take care when parking the vehi-
cle or carrying out similar manoeuvres.
● You should therefore satisfy yourself, before reversing, that there is no
small obstacle, such as a rock, thin post, trailer drawbar etc., behind your vehi-
cle. Such an obstacle might not be within the range detected by the sensors.
● Under certain circumstances, surfaces of certain objects and types of
clothing cannot reflect the signal of the parking aid. Thus, these objects or
people who wear such clothing are not recognised by the sensors of the park-
ing aid. Note
● The parking aid does not operate if you are towing a trailer (applies to models
which feature a factory-fitted towing device).
● If a warning signal sounds for about 3 seconds after switching the ignition on
and engaging reverse gear, and there is no obstacle close to your car, this indi-
cates a system fault. Have the fault rectified by a specialist workshop.
● The sensors must be kept clean and free of ice to enable the parking aid to
operate properly. 
Front and rear parking aid The parking aid provides a warning of obstacles in front and behind
the vehicle. Fig. 103 Activating the parking aid/detection range of the front sensors The audible parking aid determines the distance between the front or rear bump-
er and an obstacle with the aid of ultrasound sensors. The sensors are integrated
in the front and rear bumper. The signal tones for the front parking aid sound
higher as standard than for the rear parking aid. The tones of the parking aid can
be adapted in the menu of the Information display ⇒ page 19.
Range of sensors
The distance warning begins at a distance of about 120 cm from the obstacle in
front of the vehicle (area A ⇒ 
fig. 103) and about 160 cm from the obstacle behind
the vehicle (area A ⇒ fig. 102
). The interval between the warning signals becomes
shorter as the clearance is reduced.
A continuous tone sounds from a distance of approx. 30 cm (area B ) - danger
area. From this moment on do not continue driving! If the vehicle is equipped with
a factory-fitted towing device, the border of the danger area starts -

continuous
tone - 5 cm further away from the vehicle. The vehicle can be extended through
an installed detachable towing device.
On factory-fitted radio navigation systems and car stereos, the distance to the ob-
struction can also be shown graphically in the display. On vehicles with a factory-
fitted towing device, the rear sensors are deactivated when towing a trailer. The
driver is informed about this by a graphic display (vehicle towing a trailer) in the
radio or the radio navigation display. In some factory fitted radios or radio naviga-
tion systems, you can configure the system to reduce the playback volume when
the parking aid is active, see the owner's manual for the radio or radio navigation
system. This makes it easier to hear the parking aid.
Activating
The parking aid is activated when the reverse gear is engaged and the ignition is
switched on or by pressing the button ⇒ fig. 103 - left, the symbol  lights up in
the button. The activation is confirmed by a brief acknowledgement signal.
Deactivating
The parking aid is deactivated after pressing the button 
⇒
 fig. 103 - left, or at a
speed of more than 10 km/h - the symbol  in the button is no longer illuminated. £ 103
Starting-off and Driving Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

After you have released the rocker button
B out of the position SET
, the speed
you have just stored is maintained at a constant speed without having to depress
the accelerator.
You can increase the speed by depressing the accelerator. Releasing the accelera-
tor will cause the speed to drop again to the set speed.
This does not apply, however, if you drive at a speed which is more than 10 km/h
higher than the set speed for a period of longer than 5 minutes. The stored speed
will be cancelled in the memory. You then have to re-store the desired speed.
One can reduce the speed in the usual manner. The system is switched off tempo-
rarily by actuating the brake or clutch pedal ⇒ page 105
. WARNING
First ensure that it is not too high for the traffic conditions which exist at that
moment before resuming the stored speed. 
Changing a stored speed You can also change the speed of the vehicle without depressing
the accelerator.
Faster
– You can increase the stored speed without depressing the accelerator, by
pressing the rocker button B
⇒
 fig. 104
in the RES position.
– The speed of the car will increase continuously if you hold the rocker button
pressed in the RES position. Once the car has reached the desired speed, re-
lease the rocker button. The set speed is then stored in the memory.
Slower
– You can decrease the stored speed by pressing the rocker button B in the
SET position.
– Holding down the rocker button pressed in the SET position will cause the
speed of the vehicle to reduce continuously. Once the car has reached the de-
sired speed, release the rocker button. The set speed is then stored in the
memory.
– If you release the rocker button when the car is travelling at a speed of less
than 30 km/h, the speed is not stored, the memory is erased. It is then neces-
sary to again store the speed with the rocker button B in the position
SET
after an increase in speed of the vehicle to more than 30 km/hour. Switching off the cruise control system temporarily –
You can switch off the cruise control system temporarily by depressing the
brake pedal or clutch pedal, on vehicles fitted with an automatic gearbox only
with the brake pedal.
– You can switch off temporarily the cruise control system, if you press the
switch A in the middle position.
The set speed remains stored in the memory.
The Resumption of the stored speed is achieved by releasing the brake or clutch
pedal, on vehicles fitted with automatic gearbox only after releasing the brake
pedal and after shortly pressing the rocker button B
⇒  fig. 104 into the position
RES. WARNING
First ensure that it is not too high for the traffic conditions which exist at that
moment before resuming the stored speed. 
Switching off the cruise control system completely –
Press the switch A
⇒
 fig. 104
to the right into position OFF. 
“(START-STOP)” Fig. 105 Dash panel: START-STOP Sys-
tem button
The “START-STOP” system helps you to save fuel while at the same time reducing
harmful exhaust emissions and CO 2 emissions.
£ 105
Starting-off and Driving Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

WARNING
● The brake servo unit and power steering only operate if the engine is run-
ning.
● Never let the vehicle roll with the engine switched off. CAUTION
If the “START-STOP” system is used at very high outside temperatures over a very
long period of time, the vehicle battery can be damaged. Note
● Changes to the outdoor temperature can have an effect on the internal tem-
perature of the vehicle battery even after several hours. If the vehicle remains
outdoors for a long time in minus temperatures or in direct sunlight, it can take
several hours until the internal temperature of the vehicle battery reaches a suita-
ble temperature for proper operation of the
“START STOP” system.
● In some instances it may be necessary to start the engine manually with the
ignition key (e.g. when the seat belt is not inserted or the driver's door is opened
for more than 30 seconds). Follow the messages in the instrument cluster display.
● If the Climatronic is running in automatic mode, under certain conditions, the
engine may not switch off automatically.  107
Starting-off and Driving Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

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 112.
Starting-off and Driving
– Depress the brake pedal fully and keep it depressed.
– Press the Shiftlock button (button in handle of the selector lever), move the
selector lever into the desired position, e.g. D ⇒ page 110, 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, how-
ever, 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 . If the
selector lever is not in the P or N positions when locking the steering, switching
the ignition on or off or when leaving the engine on, the following message will
appear in the Information display Move selector lever to position P/N! or, in the
instrument cluster display:  P/N. 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 is not in the P positin
when the driver's door is open and the ignition is switched off, or if it is not in the
P position when the ignition is switched off and the driver's door is opened, the
following message will appear in the Information display: Move selector lever to
position P! or, in the instrument cluster display:  P. The message disappears af-
ter a few seconds by switching on the ignition or by moving the selector lever into
the position P . If the selector lever position
N is selected by accident while driving it is first nec-
essary 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 sta-
tionary with the gear engaged by means of the “accelerator”, this means by
letting the clutch slip. This can lead to overheating of the clutch. If there is a
risk of overheating of the clutch due to overload, the clutch is opened auto-
matically and the vehicle rolls backward - risk of accident!
● If you must stop at a slope, depress and hold the brake pedal, so that you
can prevent the vehicle from rolling back. CAUTION
● The double clutch on the automatic gearbox DSG is equipped with an overload
protection. If you make use of the uphill function on a vehicle which is stationary
or driving slowly uphill, it will result in an increase of thermal stress of the clutch-
es.
● In the event that they overheat, the symbol  appears in the information dis-
play with the warning text ⇒ page 29. In such a case bring the vehicle to a stop,
switch off the engine and wait until the warning light and the warning go out -
risk of gearbox damage! You can continue the trip as soon as the symbol and the
warning go out.  109
Automatic gearbox Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data