2011 SKODA OCTAVIA ignition

Selector lever positions
Fig. 106 Selector lever/information display: Selector lever positions
The current selector lever position is indicated in the information display of the in-
strument cluster ⇒ fig. 106 - right. In the positions D and S the gear you have al-
ready engaged will be additionally displayed on the display.
P - Parklock
The driven wheels are locked mechanically in this position.
The Parklock must only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary ⇒  .
If you wish to move the selector lever into or out of this position, you must press
the Shiftlock button in the handle of the selector lever and at the same time de-
press the brake pedal.
If the battery is used, the selector lever cannot be moved out of the position P.
R - Reverse gear
Reverse gear must only be engaged when the vehicle is stationary and the engine
idling ⇒  .
The brake pedal must be depressed and at the same time the Shiftlock must be
pressed, if you wish to obtain the selector lever positions R, P or N.
When the ignition is switched on and the selector lever is in position R, the re-
verse lights will come on.
N - Neutral
The transmission is in Neutral in this position. The brake pedal must be depressed (if the lever is in its position for longer than 2
seconds) in order to move the selector lever out of the position
N into the position
D or R, with the ignition switched on, on a vehicle travelling at less than 5 km/
hour or on a stationary vehicle.
D - Position for driving forward
When the selector lever is in this position, the forward gears are shifted up and
down automatically in line with engine load, vehicle speed and the dynamic shift
programme.
You must depress the brake pedal if you wish to move into position D from N
when the vehicle is travelling at less than 5
km/hour or is stationary ⇒  .
Under certain circumstances (e.g. when driving in mountainous regions or when
towing a trailer) it may be beneficial to select the manual shift programme
⇒  page 112 for a short time in order to adapt the gearbox ratios manually to the
driving situations.
S - Position for sporty style of driving
Shifting up later into a higher gear makes it possible to fully exploit the power po-
tential of the engine. The gearbox also then shifts down at higher engine speeds
as in the position D .
The gearbox does not shift into the 6th gear in the position S, because the maxi-
mum speed is reached with the 5th gear 1)
.
The Shiftlock on the selector lever grip must be pressed when moving the selec-
tor lever out of the position D into the position S. WARNING
● Never move the selector lever into position
R or P when driving - risk of an
accident!
● When the engine is running and the vehicle is stationary, it is necessary to
hold the car with the brake pedal in all the positions of the selector lever (ex-
cept P and N) since the power transmission is never completely interrupted,
also not when the engine is idling - the vehicle creeps. £1)
Not valid for vehicles with automatic gearbox DSG. 110
Automatic gearbox

WARNING (Continued)
● You must on no account unintentionally operate the throttle (e.g. by hand
from the engine compartment) if a drive position is engaged when the car is
stationary. The vehicle would otherwise immediately start off - also when the
handbrake is firmly applied - risk of an accident!
● You must move the selector lever into position P and firmly apply the
handbrake first before you or any other person opens the bonnet and starts
working on the engine when it is running - risk of accident! It is also essential
to observe all warnings ⇒ page 181, Working in the engine compartment
. 
Selector lever lock Automatic selector lever lock

With the ignition on, the selector lever is locked when it is in the positions P and
N. You must first of all depress the brake pedal in order to move the selector lever
out of this position. The warning light  ⇒

 page 27 lights up in the instrument
cluster as a reminder for the driver when the selector lever is in the positions P
and N.
A time delay element ensures that the selector lever is not blocked when rapidly
switching over the position N (e.g. from R to D). This does, for example, allow one
to seesaw out a stuck vehicle. The selector lever lock will click into place if the lev-
er is in the N position for more than 2 seconds without the brake pedal being
pressed.
The selector lever lock is only active if the vehicle is stationary or moving at speed
of less than 5 km/hour. The lock is switched off automatically into position N
when the car is travelling at a higher speed.
Shiftlock button
The Shiftlock button in the handle of selector lever prevents certain selector lever
positions being engaged inadvertently. The selector lever lock is cancelled when
you press the Shiftlock button.
Keylock - Ignition key withdrawal lock
You can only withdraw the ignition key after switching off the ignition if the selec-
tor lever is in position P. If the ignition key is withdrawn, the selector lever is
blocked in position P . Kickdown function The kickdown function provides you with maximum acceleration
power.
Fully depressing the accelerator pedal allows the kickdown function to be activa-
ted in the desired driving program. This function has precedence over the driving
programme and serves for maximum acceleration of the vehicle when exploiting
the maximum power potential of the engine without taking into account the cur-
rent selector lever position ( D, S or Tiptronic ). The gearbox shifts down to one or
several gears in line with the driving state and the vehicle accelerates. The gear-
box does not shift up into the highest gear until the engine has reached its maxi-
mum revolutions for this gear range. WARNING
Please note that using the kickdown function can result in the driven wheels
spinning on a smooth or slippery road surface - risk of skidding! 
Dynamic shift programme The automatic gearbox of your vehicle is controlled electronically. Shifting up and
down through the gears is performed automatically on the basis of pre-defined
driving programmes.
Adopting a moderate style of driving
will cause the gearbox to select the most
economical driving programme. Shifting up into a higher gear as soon as possible
and shifting down as late as possible will have a favourable effect on your fuel
consumption.
Adopting a sporty style of driving with rapid movements of the accelerator pedal
combined with sharp acceleration and frequent changes in speed, exploiting the
top speed of the car or depressing the accelerator pedal (kickdown function), will
cause the gearbox to switch over to this style of driving and shift down earlier
with frequent changes in gears in comparison to the moderate style of driving.
Selecting the most appropriate driving programme for the particular style of driv-
ing is a continuous process. Irrespective of this it is, however, possible to switch or
shift down into a dynamic shift programme by depressing the accelerator rapidly.
The gearbox shifts down into a lower gear matching the speed of the car and this
allows you to accelerate rapidly (e.g. when overtaking) without having to depress £ 111
Automatic gearbox Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

Connection of the mobile phone with the hands-free system
In order to connect a mobile phone with the hands-free system, it is necessary to
connect the telephone to the hands-free system. Detailed information on this is
provided in the operating instructions of your mobile phone. The following steps
must be carried out for the connection:
– Activate the Bluetooth ®
in your telephone and the visibility of the mobile
phone.
– Switch on the ignition.
– Select the menu Phone - Phone search in the information display and wait un-
til the control unit has ended the search.
– Select your mobile phone in the menu of the units found.
– Confirm the PIN (as standard 1234).
– If the hands-free system announces (as standard Skoda UHV) on the display of
the mobile phone, enter the PIN (as standard 1234) within 30 seconds and wait
until the connection is established 1)
.
– After ending the connection, confirm in the information display that a new
user profile was created.
If no more free space is available for creating a new user profile, delete an existing
user profile.
If you have not managed to connect your mobile phone with the hands-free sys-
tem within 3 minutes after switching on the ignition, switch the ignition off and
then again on. The visibility of the hands-free system is established again for 3
minutes. The visibility of the Bluetooth ®
device is automatically switched off if the
vehicle starts off or if the mobile phone connects to the device.
During the connecting procedure, no other mobile phone may be connected with
the hands-free system.
Up to four mobile phones can be paired to the hands-free system, whereby only
one mobile phone can communicate with the hands-free system. Connection with an already paired mobile phone
After switching on the ignition, the connection is automatically established for the
already paired mobile phone
1)
. Check on the mobile unit if the automatic connec-
tion was established.
Disconnecting the connection
● By withdrawing the ignition key.
● By disconnecting the device in the information display.
● By disconnecting the device in the mobile phone.
Solving connection problems
If the system announces No paired phone found, check the operating state of the
telephone:
● Is the telephone switched on?
● Is the PIN code entered?
● Is Bluetooth ®
active?
● Is the visibility of the mobile phone active?
● Was the telephone already paired with the hands-free system? WARNING
In the event of air transport, the Bluetooth ®
function of the hands-free sys-
tem must be switched off by a specialist garage! Note
● Not valid for all mobile phones which enable a communication via Bluetooth ®
.
You can ask at an authorised ŠKODA Service Partner if your telephone is compati-
ble with the universal telephone preinstallation GSM II.
● If a suitable adapter is available for your mobile phone, use your mobile phone
exclusively in the adapter so that the radiation in the vehicle drops to a minimum. £1)
Some mobile phones have a menu, in which the authorization for establishing a Bluetooth ®
connec-
tion is performed via the input of a code. If the input for the authorization is necessary, it must al-
ways be performed when re-establishing the Bluetooth connection. 117
Communication Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

rSAP - Remote SIM access profile
After connecting the telephone with the hands-free system via the
rSAP profile,
the telephone deregisters from the GSM network, the control unit ensures the
communication with the network via the internal antenna. In the telephone only
the interface for Bluetooth ®
remains active. In this case, you can only separate
from the control unit, switch off the Bluetooth ®
connection or select the number
of the emergency call 112 (only valid for some countries).
HFP - Hands Free Profile
After connecting the telephone with the hands-free system via the HFP profile,
the telephone continues to use its GMS module and internal antenna to communi-
cate with the GSM network. WARNING
Concentrate fully at all times on your steering! As the driver you are fully re-
sponsible for road safety. Use the telephone system only to such an extent, so
that you are in full control of your vehicle at any time. Note
● The volume can be changed individually during the call at any time with the
button for setting the radio or radio navigation system or with the buttons on the
multifunction steering wheel.
● Please refer to the following guidelines ⇒ page 115, Mobile phones and two-
way radio systems.
● Should you have any questions, please contact an authorised ŠKODA Service
Partner. 
Phone Phonebook A phone phonebook is part of the mobile phone preinstallation with voice control.
In the phone phonebook there are 2000 free memory locations available. Each
contact can contain up to 5 numbers. This phone phonebook can be used in line
with the mobile telephone.
On vehicles fitted with the radio navigation system Columbus, a maximum of 1000
telephone contacts are shown in the display of this appliance.
After the first connection of the telephone, the system begins to load the phone
book from the phone and the SIM card into the memory of the control unit. If the telephone book of the mobile phone contains more than 2 000 entries, the
system announces Phone book not fully loaded .
Each time the telephone has established a new connection with the hands-free
system, an update of the relevant phone book is performed. The updating can
take a few minutes. During this time the phone book, which was stored after the
last update was completed, is available. Newly stored telephone numbers are only
shown after the updating has ended.
If a telephone event (e.g. incoming or outgoing call, dialogue of the voice control)
occurs during the updating procedure, the updating is interrupted. After the tele-
phone event has ended, the updating starts anew. 
Connection of the telephone with the hands-free system In order to connect a mobile phone with the hands-free system, it is necessary to
connect the telephone to the hands-free system. Detailed information on this is
provided in the operating instructions of your mobile phone. The following steps
must be carried out for the connection.
Connecting the telephone with the hands-free system via the HFP profile
–
Activate the Bluetooth ®
in your telephone and the visibility of the mobile
phone.
– Switch on the ignition.
– Select the menu Phone - Phone search in the information display and wait un-
til the control unit has ended the search.
– Select your mobile phone in the menu of the units found.
– Within 30 seconds enter the 16 digit PIN of your control unit as indicated in the
information display and confirm it according to the instructions on the display
of your telephone.
– To store a new user or to download the telephone book and the identification
data of the SIM card into the control unit, follow the instructions in the infor-
mation display and on the mobile phone.
Connecting the telephone with the hands-free system via the rSAP profile
– Activate the Bluetooth ®
in your telephone and the visibility of the mobile
phone. For certain mobile phones it is necessary to switch on first the rSAP
function.
– Switch on the ignition. £ 123
Communication Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

–
Select the menu Phone - Phone search in the information display and wait un-
til the control unit has ended the search.
– Select your mobile phone in the menu of the units found.
– Within 30 seconds enter the 16 digit PIN of your control unit as indicated in the
information display and confirm it according to the instructions on the display
of your telephone.
– If your SIM card is blocked by a PIN code, enter the PIN of the SIM card of your
telephone. The telephone connects to the control unit (during the first con-
nection you can only enter it in the information display and when the vehicle is
stationary, since you can only choose whether the PIN should be stored in this
situation).
– For the first storage of a new user follow the instructions in the information
display.
– To download the telephone book and the indentification data of the SIM card
into the new control unit, confirm again the command rSAP in your mobile
phone.
The telephone connects preferentially via the rSAP profile.
If the PIN was stored, the telephone is automatically detected and connected with
the hands-free system when the ignition is switched on the next time. Check on
your mobile phone if it was automatically connected.
Disconnecting the connection
The connection to the hands-free system is disconnected:
● When removing the key from the ignition lock (during a telephone call, the
connection is disconnected).
● After disconnecting the connection in the telephone.
● After disconnecting the connection in the information display in the Bluetooth
- User - Select user - Disconnect menu. On vehicles which are fitted out with radio or radio navigation system at the fac-
tory, it is possible to terminate the telephone call after removing the key from the
ignition lock by pressing the icon on the touch-screen of the radio
1)
or the radio
navigation system, see operating instructions for radio or radio navigation system. WARNING
● Concentrate fully at all times on your steering! As the driver you are fully
responsible for road safety. Only use the system so that you are in full control
of your vehicle in every traffic situation - risk of accident!
● In the event of air transport, the Bluetooth ®
function of the hands-free
system must be switched off by a specialist garage! Note
● In the memory of the control unit, up to three users can be stored, whereby
the hands-free system can only communicate actively with one user. In the case
of mutual connection with a fourth mobile phone, you must erase one user.
● Not valid for all mobile phones which enable a communication via Bluetooth ®
.
You can ask at an authorised ŠKODA Service Partner if your telephone is compati-
ble with the universal telephone preinstallation GSM IIl.
● When connecting to the control unit, follow the instructions on your mobile
phone.
● The range of the Bluetooth ®
connection to the hands-free system is intended
for the vehicle interior. The range is dependent on local factors, e.g. obstacles be-
tween the devices and interferences with other devices. 1)
Does not apply for Radios Swing and Blues. 124
Communication

Airbag system
Description of the airbag system General information on the airbag system The 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 event of a side collision, the side airbags reduce the risk of injury to the oc-
cupants to the part of their body facing the side of the accident.
The airbag system is only functional after 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 switch-
ed on.
The airbag system (according to vehicle equipment) consists of:
● an electronic control unit;
● the front airbags for the driver and front passenger ⇒ page 140;
● the side airbags ⇒ page 142;
● head airbags ⇒  page 144;
● an airbag indicator light in the instrument cluster ⇒  page 24;
● a front passenger airbag switch ⇒  page 146;
● an indicator light for a switched off front seat passenger airbag in the middle
of the dash panel ⇒
 page 146.
A fault in the airbag system exists if:
● the airbag indicator light does 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;
● the airbag indicator light showing a switched-off front passenger airbag in the
middle of the dash panel flashes. WARNING
● To enable the occupants of a car to be protected with the greatest possi-
ble effect when the airbag is deployed, the front seats must be ⇒

 page 132,
Correct seated position correctly adjusted to match the body size of the occu-
pant.
● If you do not fasten the seat belts when driving, lean too far forward or
adopt an incorrect seated position, you are exposing yourself to increased risk
of injury in the event of an accident.
● Have the airbag system checked immediately 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 acci-
dent. The airbag system must then be replaced if the airbag has been de-
ployed.
● The airbag system needs no maintenance during its working life.
● If you sell your car, please hand over the complete vehicle documentation
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 docu-
ments!
● If the vehicle or individual parts of the airbag system are scrapped, it is es-
sential to observe the relevant safety precautions. The authorised
ŠKODA
Service Partners 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. 
When are the airbags deployed? The airbag system is designed in such a way that the driver and front passenger
airbag are deployed in the event of a violent frontal collision
.
In the case of a violent side crash , the side airbag in the front seat and the head
airbag on the side on which the collision occurs are deployed. £ 139
Airbag system Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

It is also possible under certain special accident situations that the front as well as
the side airbags and head airbags are deployed simultaneously.
The airbags are not deployed in the case of minor frontal and side collisions, rear-
end collisions, tilting of the vehicle 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 acci-
dents vary greatly. An important role in this case, for example, is played by factors
such as the type of object against which 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 oc-
curs during a collision. The control unit analyses the nature of the collision and ac-
tivates the relevant restraint system. If the vehicle deceleration which occurs and
is measured 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 acci-
dent.
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 or red, non harmful gas is released when airbag is inflated. This is
perfectly normal and is not an indication of a fire in the vehicle.
● In the event of an accident in which the airbags are deployed:
– the interior lighting comes on (if the switch for the interior light is in the
door contact position),
– the hazard warning light is switched on;
– all the doors are unlocked;
– the fuel supply to the engine is interrupted. Front airbags
Description of the front airbags The airbag system is not a substitute for the seat belt!
Fig. 122 Driver airbag in the steering wheel/front passenger airbag in the dash panel
The front airbag for the driver is housed in the steering wheel
⇒
 fig. 122 - left. The
front airbag for the front passenger is housed in the dash panel above the storage
compartment ⇒ fig. 122 - right. 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 area of the driver and front passenger in
the event of a frontal collision of major severity ⇒ page 141.
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 pro-
tection 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 pro-
tection.
You should therefore always fasten the seat belts, not only because this is re-
quired by law, but also for safety reasons and for your own protection ⇒ page 135,
Why seat belts?. Note
The dash panel must be replaced after the front passenger airbag has been de-
ployed. 140
Airbag system

If the airbag was switched off using diagnostic equipment:
●
The warning light for the airbag system lights up for 4 seconds after switching
on the ignition and then flashes for 12 seconds afterwards in 2 second intervals.
The following situation applies if the airbag has been switched off using the
switch for the airbag in the storage compartment:
● the airbag indicator light in the instrument cluster comes on for about 4 sec-
onds each time the ignition is switched on,
● if the airbags are switched off, this is indicated in the middle of the dash panel
by the lighting up of the indicator light 
  ⇒ fig. 129 - right. Note
Your authorised ŠKODA Service Partner will be able to advise you whether nation-
al legislation in your country allows airbags in your vehicle to be deactivated, and
which ones. 
Switch for the front passenger airbag Fig. 129 Storage compartment: Switch for the front passenger airbag/indicator light for a
switched off front seat passenger airbag
Only the front passenger airbag is deactivated with the switch.
Deactivating an airbag
– Switch off the ignition.
– Turn the slot of the airbag switch using the key in the position 2 (
OFF)
⇒  fig. 129 .
– Check whether the indicator light


 in the middle of the dash panel
lights up when the ignition is switched on ⇒ fig. 129 - right. Switching on an airbag
–
Switch off the ignition.
– Turn the slot of the airbag switch using the key in the position 1 (
ON)
⇒ fig. 129 .
– Check whether the airbag indicator light 
  in the middle of the dash
panel lights up when the ignition is switched on ⇒ fig. 129 - right.
The airbag should only be switched off under exceptional circumstances
⇒ page 145.
Indicator light   (airbag switched off)
The airbag indicator light is located in the middle of the dash panel ⇒ fig. 129 -
right.
If the front passenger airbag is switched off, the warning light comes on about 4
seconds after the ignition is switched on.
There is a system fault present in the airbag switch off ⇒  if the indicator light
flashes. Please have the car inspected immediately by a specialist garage. WARNING
● The driver is responsible for whether the airbag is switched on or switched
off.
● Only switch off the airbag when the ignition is switched off! Otherwise a
fault can occur in the system for the airbag deactivation.
● If the warning light 
  (airbag switched off) flashes:
– Front passenger airbag is not deployed in the event of an accident!
– It is also important to have the system inspected without delay by a
specialist garage. 146
Airbag system