2011 SKODA OCTAVIA instrument panel

Using the system
Cockpit Overview This overview will help you to quickly familiarise yourself with the
displays and the control elements.
Power windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Electric exterior mirror adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Air outlet vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Lever for the multi-functional switch:
– Turn signal light, headlight and parking light, headlight flasher . .50
– Speed regulating system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Steering wheel:
– with horn
– with driver airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
– with controls for radio, radio navigation system and phone . . . . . .114
Instrument cluster: Instruments and indicator lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Lever for the multi-functional switch:
– Multi-functional indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
– Windshield wiper and wash system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Control dial for heating on the driver's seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
Air outlet vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Switch for hazard warning lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Storage compartment on the dash panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79
Depending on equipment fitted:
– Radio
– Radio navigation system
Control dial for heating on the front passenger seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
66
Storage compartment on the front passenger side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78
Switch for the front passenger airbag (in front passenger storage
compartment) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Front passenger airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Fuse box (on side of dash panel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
1 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17 Light switch
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Control dial for the instrument lighting and control dial for the
headlight beam range regulation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48, 49
Release lever engine compartment lid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .180
Storage compartment on the driver's side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78
Lever for adjusting the steering wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .98
Ignition lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Depending on equipment fitted:
– Operating controls for the heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
– Operating controls for the air conditioning system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .88
– Operating controls for Climatronic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
TCS switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Front and rear parking aid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Depending on equipment fitted:
– Gearshift lever (manual gearbox) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
– Selector lever (automatic gearbox) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Tyre pressure monitoring system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Depending on equipment fitted:
– Ashtrays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
– Storage compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Indicator light for a switched off front seat passenger airbag . . . . . . .146 Note
● Vehicles with a factory-fitted radio or radio navigation system are supplied
with separate instructions for operating such equipment.
● The arrangement of the controls and switches and the location of some items
on right-hand drive models may differ from that shown in ⇒
 fig. 1. The symbols on
the controls and switches are the same as for left-hand drive models.  18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30 9
Cockpit Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

A key symbol  and a display regarding the remaining kilometres appear for 10
second in the display. At the same time, a display appears regarding the remaining
days until the next service interval.
On vehicles which are equipped with an information display, you can call up this
display in the menu
Settings ⇒ page 19
.
The following will be displayed in the information display for 10 seconds:
Service after ... km or... days. (Service after ... km or ... days.)
Resetting Service Interval Display
It is only possible to reset the Service Interval Display, if a service message or at
least a pre-warning is shown on the display of the instrument cluster.
We recommend having this resetting performed by a specialist garage.
The specialist garage:
● resets the memory of the display after the appropriate inspection,
● makes an entry in the Service schedule,
● affix the sticker with the entry of the following service interval to the side of
the dash panel on the driver's side.
Reset the service interval displays by using the button 5
⇒  fig. 2.
On vehicles which are equipped with an information display, you can call up this
display in the menu Settings ⇒ page 19

. CAUTION
We recommend that you do not reset the Service Interval Display yourself other-
wise this can result in the service interval display being incorrectly set, which may
also result in problems with operation of your vehicle. Note
● Never reset the display between service intervals otherwise this may result in
incorrect readouts.
● information is retained in the Service Interval Display also after the battery of
the vehicle is disconnected.
● If the instrument cluster is exchanged after a repair, the correct values must
be entered in the counter for the Service Interval Display. This work is carried out
by a specialist garage. ●
The data displayed is the same after resetting the display with flexible service
intervals (QG1) is displayed as that for a vehicle with fixed service intervals (QG2).
We therefore recommend having the Service Interval Display reset only by an au-
thorised

ŠKODA Service Partner who is familiar with the procedure for resetting
the display with a vehicle system tester.
● Please refer to the brochure Service schedule for extensive information about
the service intervals. 
Digital clock You can set the time with the rotary knob
5 ⇒
 
fig. 2.
Select the information which you wish to change by turning the button 5 and
carry out the change of the selected information by pressing the button.
On vehicles which are fitted with the information display, it is possible to set the
time in the menu Time ⇒

  page 19. WARNING
The clock should not be adjusted while driving for safety reasons but only
when the vehicle is stationary! 
Shift recommendation for changing gears Fig. 4 Shift recommendation for chang-
ing gears
An information for the engaged gear A
⇒  fig. 4 is shown in the display of the in-
strument cluster.
In order to minimise the fuel consumption, a recommendation for shifting into an-
other gear is indicated in the display. £ 13
Instruments and warning lights Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

CAUTION
As long as the warning light  lights up, one must take into account an increased
fuel consumption and in certain circumstances a power reduction of the engine. Note
Further information about diesel particle filter ⇒  page 160. 
Airbag system Monitoring the airbag system
The warning light
 comes on for a few seconds when the ignition is switched on.
There is a fault in the system if the warning light does not go out or flashes while
driving ⇒  . This also applies if the warning light does not come on when the ig-
nition is switched on.
The following text will be displayed in the information display:
Error: Airbag (Error: Airbag)
The functionality of the airbag system is also monitored electronically when one
airbag has been switched off.
The following situation applies if the front, side and head airbags or belt ten-
sioner have been switched off using the vehicle system tester:
● The warning light  lights up for 4
seconds after switching on the ignition and
then flashes again for 12 seconds in intervals of 2 seconds.
The following text will be displayed in the information display: Airbag/belt tensioner deactivated
The following situation applies if the airbag has been switched off using the
switch for the airbag in the front passenger storage compartment:
● the warning light  comes on for 4
seconds after the ignition has been
switched on,
● switching off the airbag is indicated in the middle of the dash panel by the
lighting up of the indicator light 

  (airbag switched off) ⇒  page 146. WARNING
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. Control system for exhaust
 The warning light
 comes on after the ignition has been switched on.
If the warning light does not go out after starting the engine or it lights up when
driving, a fault exists in an exhaust relevant component. The engine management
system selects an emergency programme which enables you to drive to the near-
est specialist garage by adopting a gentle style of driving. 
Electromechanical power steering   The warning light
 comes on for a few seconds when the ignition is switched on.
If the warning light after switching on the ignition or when driving lights up con-
tinuously, a fault exists in the electromechanical power steering.
● If the yellow warning light lights up , this indicates a partial failure of the
power steering and the steering forces can be greater.
● If the red warning light lights up , this indicates a complete failure of the
power steering and the steering assist has failed (significantly higher steering
forces).
Further information ⇒ page 159. WARNING
Contact your specialist garage if the power steering is defective. Note
● If the yellow warning light  goes out after starting the engine again and a
short drive, it is not necessary to visit a specialist garage.
● If the battery has been disconnected and reconnected, the yellow warning
light  comes on after switching on the ignition. The warning light must go out
after driving a short distance. 24
Instruments and warning lights

The warning light
 lights up in the instrument cluster when the fog lights are
switched on ⇒
 page 21. 
Fog lights with the function “CORNER” The fog lights with the function “CORNER” are designed for a bet-
ter illumination of the surrounding area near the vehicle when
corning, parking etc.
The fog lights with the function

“CORNER” are adjusted according to the steering
angle or after switching on the turn signal light 1)
in the following circumstances:
● the vehicle is stationary and the engine is running or it moves with a speed of
maximum 40 km/h;
● the daylight driving lights are not switched on;
● the low beam is switched on or the light switch is in the position 
 and the
intensity of the ambient light causes the low beam to be switched on;
● the fog lights are not switched on;
● no reverse gear is engaged. Note
If you engage the reverse gear during the active function “CORNER”, both fog
lights illuminate. 
Rear fog light Switching on the rear fog light
–
First of all turn the light switch into position  or  ⇒
 fig. 26 .
– Pull the switch into position 2 .
The warning light 

lights up in the instrument cluster when the rear fog light is
switched on ⇒ page 21.
Only the rear fog light of the trailer lights up if the vehicle has a factory-fitted
towing device or a towing device from ŠKODA original accessories and when you
are towing a trailer which is fitted with the rear fog light. The rear fog light is located in the rear light array on the driver's side. CAUTION
The rear fog light should only be switched on if visibility is particularly poor (con-
form with any varying legal provisions) to avoid dazzling vehicles behind your ve-
hicle. 
Instrument lighting  You can adjust the brightness of the instrument lighting.
Fig. 27 Dash panel: Instrument lighting
Instrument lighting
– Switch on the light.
– Turn the control dial ⇒
 fig. 27 to the desired intensity of the instrument light-
ing.
The illumination intensity of the Information display ⇒ page 17 is set automatically.
It is only possible to adjust the instrument lighting with the control dial if the light
intensity drops below the set value of the light sensor. 1)
If both switch on versions are conflicting, for example if the steering wheel is turned to the left and
the right turn signal light is switched on, the turn signal light has the higher priority. 48
Lights and Visibility

Seats and Stowage
Front seats
Basic information The front seats have a wide range of different 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. 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 147, 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 car is being driven - never
place your feet on the instrument panel, out of the window or on the surfaces
of the seats. This is particularly 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 proper-
ly protect you - hazard! The front seats and the head restraints must always
also be correctly adjusted to match the body size of the occupant. WARNING (Continued)
● Ensure that there are no objects in the footwell as any objects may get be-
hind 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 objects
(e.g. child safety seat) provided for this purpose - risk of accident! 
Adjusting the front seats Fig. 42 Controls at seat
Adjusting a seat in a forward/back direction
– Pull the lever 1
⇒
 fig. 42 up and push the seat into the desired position.
– Release the lever 1 and push the seat further until the lock is heard to en-
gage.
Adjusting height of seat
– Lift the seat if required by pulling or pumping lever 2 upwards.
– Lower the seat if required by pushing or pumping lever 2 downwards.
Adjust the angle of the seat backrest
– Relieve any pressure on the seat backrest (do not lean on it) and turn the
handwheel 3 to adjust the angle of the backrest.
Adjusting lumbar support
– Turn the wheel 4 until you have set the most comfortable curvature of the
seat upholstery in the area of your spine. £60
Seats and Stowage

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 driver must maintain a distance of at least 25 cm to the steering wheel
⇒ fig. 116 left. Not maintaining this minimum distance will mean that the air-
bag system will not be able to properly protect you - hazard!
● When driving, hold the steering wheel with both hands firmly on the outer
edge in the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock position. 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 de-
ployed.
● The seat backrests must not be angled too far back when driving other-
wise this will affect proper operation of the seat belts and of the airbag sys-
tem - risk of injury!
● Ensure that there are no objects in the footwell as any objects may get be-
hind 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 front passenger must maintain a distance of at least 25 cm
from the dash panel so that the airbag offers him the greatest pos-
sible safety it is deployed.
For the safety of the front passenger 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 edge of the head restraint is at the
same level as the upper part of your head ⇒
 fig. 116 - right.
● Fasten the seat belt correctly ⇒
 page 137, How are seat belts correctly fas-
tened?.
In exceptional cases the front passenger airbag can be deactivated ⇒ page 145,
Deactivating an airbag.
Manual front passenger adjustment ⇒ page 60, Adjusting the front seats. Electrical front passenger seat adjustment
⇒
 page 61, Adjusting front seats elec-
trically. 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 sys-
tem will not be able to properly protect you - hazard!
● Always keep your feet in the footwell when the car 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 nec-
essary to apply the brake or in the event of an accident. If an airbag is de-
ployed, you may suffer fatal injuries when adopting an incorrect seated posi-
tion!
● The seat backrests must not be angled too far back when driving other-
wise this will affect proper operation of the seat belts and of the airbag sys-
tem - 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
footwell and must have their seat belts correctly fastened.
To reduce the risk of injury in the event of a sudden braking manoeuvre or an acci-
dent, 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 ⇒ fig. 116 - on the right.
● Fasten the seat belt correctly ⇒ page 137,
How are seat belts correctly fas-
tened?.
● If you are transporting ⇒ page 147, Transporting children safely
children in the
vehicle, please use a suitable child restraint system. £ 133
Passive Safety Using the system Safety Driving Tips General Maintenance Breakdown assistance Technical data

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

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